Community

Learn about natural horsemanship in this classic episode with the legendary show horse Rick Lamb. Natural horsemanship is a way of working and playing with horses that uses their nature rather than fighting it. The Parelli’s use a step-by-step approach to horsemanship that allows people to reach their goals with horses whether that means competing in the show ring or feeling safe on a trail ride. Get some specific techniques that you can use, right now, to help you and your horse! Watch here now!

It's a small world!.. Our very own Tom Spalding's 1970's company, Warehouse Sound, sold Rick his first professional recorder! When Tom met him some 30 years later at a horse show, they discovered their paths had crossed long ago. Rick was also the MC for the renowned Light Hands Horsemanship Events which Spalding Labs produced for several years with many talented equestrians.

The folks at Parelli have been kind enough to extend a special 25% OFF offer to all Spalding customers through April 28, 2020 on their Horsemanship Theory Guide. Simply CLICK HERE and enter code SPALDING25 at checkout to receive 25% discount.

Are your competitions canceled and scheduled group trail rides out for a while? Why not take care of your best horsey friend, your equipment, and YOU TOO during this downtime with a little equestrian inspired spa day! 

Your Horse: Wash your horse with shampoo for a clean, shiny and freshly scented coat, mane and tail. If you have a gray horse, one with lots of chrome, socks or stockings? Use a special shampoo to get the white surfaces extra white. Want to enjoy a clean coat and tangle-free mane and tail for an extra long time? Finally, treat its hooves with a hoof oil

Recently there has been increased interest in the injuries, including fractures that occur at our racetracks. This has agitated many people and caused some to campaign against the sport.

Those who are concerned about the problem, and frankly, all persons involved in horse racing an any way, should read Sports Medicine for Performance Horses, a book by William E. Jones, DVM, Ph.D., Paperback version by Doc Jones Publishing 2012.

This book effectively explains and updates the scientifically based information on how improper nutrition, exercise routines, training techniques, and inappropriate medications may cause or worsen the problem.

It is understandable why many people involved in horseracing will, in attempting to improve the horse’s speed, endurance, and welfare, impose untested training methods, dietary supplements, and other routines in an attempt to increase racing success, but, some of these unproven factors may actually increase the incidence of racetrack breakdowns.

Dr. Jones’ book will help to reduce the sad incidence of racetrack disasters.

During my practice career I treated countless hundreds, perhaps thousands of horses for colic (acute gastric or intestinal pain). Most survived, but many died. A majority was due to human error. The caretakers made avoidable mistakes.

Similar errors also resulted in many cases of laminitis and unless promptly diagnosed and treated, many laminitis (“founder”) cases ended up permanently lame due to anatomical foot damage.

I saw wild mustangs in my lifetime, in their natural environments, but I never saw one foundered or one that died from either colic or laminitis.

I have asked many people that have had extensive experience with mustangs in their natural environment (rangeland), if they have ever seen a wild mustang founder or die of colic in their natural environment. The consistent answer was, “No!”

The changes that occur in nature are gradual. Forage erupting green, after a long dry spell, comes up gradually. Grasses erupt with seed gradually. New tasty plants appear gradually. When, in captivity, horses are exposed to sudden dietary changes because of human policy, horses may not be able to cope with the change. The microflora within their digestive tract, which pre-digest much of what horses eat, are specific for that kind of plant matter. Then, the horse may not be able to cope with the dietary change. The result, so common in horses and other herbivorous domestic grazing animals, may be an attack of an acute, painful, and potentially deadly malady such as colic or laminitis.

Because I experienced so many such cases as a veterinarian, I developed a fear of such cases as laminitis, bloat, colic in horses, over-eating certain plant species at certain times of the year, and – above all, making abrupt changes in the time that such animals are fed, plus changes in diet. Such changes involve plant species, season of the year, harvesting methods, preparation of the forage (dried? baled? pelleted? ground? mixed with other vegetation species? etc. etc.).

Because I owned livestock I was attached to during my lifetime, including many breeds of horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, I became obsessive about creating unusual or too prompt dietary changes. For example:

1. I feed three times daily if the animals are confined.
2. Even if in pasture “full time” I remove them if the pasture is fresh (lush) for daily periods so they will not overeat.
3. Above all, I make dietary changes gradually. For example, before turning them out into lush, green Spring pastures, I will feed them very small amounts of cut green forage twice daily, increasing the volume at each feeding, for at least 10 days before turning them out to pasture full time.
4. Feeding grain, or supplements, if there is a change in the formula, I do it gradually.
5. I am such an extremist when it comes to gradual diet changes, that even if the feed is the same (for example alfalfa hay), I do it gradually. Even if it is the same kind of hay, I do it gradually.

So I will take two or three days to introduce them to a new hay delivery, even if it is exactly the same hay.

Am I an extremist?

Yes!

But…

I have never, ever, EVER had one of my equines suffer from a case of colic!

I have never had one of my equines suffer laminitis.

Such prudent, cautions not only avoid attacks of colic or laminitis, but also many other nutritionally based problems.

This is, I believe, so important, that I will repeat the precautions:

ALL feed changes should be made gradually. Take a full week or more to make the changes. This includes:

1. Forage. What kind? Is it dry or green? Was it produced in a similar area?
2. The quantity should be slowly and gradually increased. Going from dried hay to green forage? I start with a small bucket of cut green feed. Then I increase it by a half bucket daily while decreasing the dry forage the horse has been eating.
3. The same with grains, or meals, or pulverized feeds, or treats, or supplements, or beet pulp. or apples, or carrots, or pelleted forage or various grains. GRADUAL!