Thunder Ridge Stud

SPECIAL NOTES

Important to note depression is a big thing with horses. When they are racing they get primary care and lots of TLC the same as competition horses but if they get hurt many of them are pushed aside and fulltime and proper care is withdrawn. Not all suffer this but many do the horses are not stupid and they wonder what have they done where is my mate (strapper) etc what is ahead for me they feel the abandonment simular to a human after a death in the family. Please take more care with retired horses and remember what they have done for you.

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Vital signs (TPR) – What’s normal & What’s not 

Are you aware of a horses normal vital signs or TPR (Temperature, Pulse, Respiratory)? Have you ever wondered what a normal temperature is for a horse, what their heart rate should be, or how many breaths they should be taking per minute? 

It’s not a bad idea to have a knowledge of what these parameters are so you can know that your horse is feeling happy and healthy. By regularly checking your own horse, you will get an idea of what their normal TPR is and you will be able to notice quickly if they aren’t feeling well or not recovering from strenuous exercise as they should be. Below is a guide to help you, however, please remember that every horse is different, and rates may vary from one to the other.  

• Temperature – normal range is between 37.4- 38.4 degrees C, a high temperature can be a sign of illness or overheating, a decrease can indicate shock or sickness. Temperature is checked via the rectum, always using a clean thermometer. As a note a foal’s temperature will be slightly higher than an adult horse so keep this in mind if checking a foal, and probably best to seek the advice of a vet.   

• Heart Rate (pulse) – is normally between 36-42 beats per minute but this can vary slightly for each horse. Things such as current health and fitness levels can affect the heart rate. To manually check your horses heart rate place 3 fingers (not your thumb) where veins are closest to the skin surface such as under the jaw, or under the tail. You can also check it with a stethoscope just behind the elbow. When checking count the heart beats for 15 secs then multiply it by 4 to get a per minute rate. Heart rate should return to normal within 30 mins after exercise. Note:  Rates for foals 70-120 beats/min, yearling 45-60 beats/min 
• Respiratory Rate – Can vary between 12-20 breaths per minute. You can check this by watching the horses rib cage or nostril and counting the breaths. Wait 30 mins after exercise to check respiratory so you can be sure the horses’ rate has returned to normal. Respiratory rates can be affected by fitness, temperature, pain, excitement or illness.  

There are another few ways to help check if you feel your horse is feeling unwell such as  

• Mucous membranes – should be a healthy pink colour, moist, with a capillary refill time of less than 2 secs 
• Gut sounds – should have good strong gut sounds on both sides 

• Hydration – using the skin pinch test should retract in around 1 sec  

Hopefully these helpful hints will let you decide what is normal or abnormal for your horse. Remember this is just a guide, if you do have any concerns regarding any of your horses vital signs please call and make an appointment with your veterinarian to have your horse fully checked over.  

5 Things Your Horse Will Always Remember!

Horses have an exceptional level of awareness meaning that they can understand situations much more deeply than other animals. They are so attentive that they can pick on other people's emotions through body language, voice, or just the general vibe you give off. This type of awareness can lead to much more intense experiences for horses. Here are some experiences your horse will remember forever!

1. Places

Horses have quasi photographic memory, meaning that they can remember places very clearly. It can be positive or negative, depending on the experience they had in a particular place. Imagine your horse witnessed a very traumatic event. Most likely he will never forget the place or event and move away from that area. If your horse seems hesitating to go somewhere, listen to him, comfort him and trust him, he knows what he's doing!

2. People

As horses have an almost photographic memory, it’s no surprise that they remember people by their faces. Show them the picture of someone they know and they will probably react. Horses can even recognize people after years of being apart! But their memory goes far beyond our general appearance. Horses can read our facial expressions and remember them for later, too.

As part of the study, horses were shown pictures of people with happy or sad expressions. After meeting these people in person (with neutral expressions), the horses reacted based on the original expression they had memorized in the photos. If you meet a horse for the first time, then you have to make a very good impression on him!

3. Emotions

Besides places and people, horses have an innate ability to recognize human emotions. Horses have a tendency to perceive body language, even the most subtle, which helps them determine a person's feelings. If we are feeling stressed, sad or angry, our physical appearance tends to reflect this. Same goes when we feel happy or excited! Horses don't just read emotions, they also remember a person based on the last emotion they felt from their last interaction. This is a useful strategy for horses to avoid any possible aggressive encounters.

4. The other horses

Humans aren't the only ones who can leave an indelible imprint on a horse! Horses can remember and recognise other horses from their social network. Whether it takes a few years or decades, one horse will never forget its relationship with another. This doesn't mean as much they will pair up with each other if they ever get together. One horse will only react to another if the bond they had was particularly strong. If he knows a horse from a previous encounter, he may treat it differently than others.

Other important bonds between horses, like the one that unites a mare and her foal, are known to last a lifetime. As horses also remember smells, this can help a mare recognize her baby, even years after separation.

5. The words

Horses are able to understand words much deeper than we thought, but not in the traditional sense we give words. They understand the words by tone, height and length of the voice. Words with fewer syllables tend to stick better to horses. They can tell when someone is insulting them and when someone is complimenting them. Don't underestimate their intelligence, because there's a good chance they're listening very attentively to every word you utter.

Horses are incredibly gifted animals, and should be treated as such! Having an idea of the memories horses hold with them forever will allow you to understand and communicate with them even more deeply. Whatever the experience, good or bad, you can be sure your horse has felt it fully. Do your best to give them a good memory, and they will surely do the same.

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Worming Pregnant Mares 

Should I worm my pregnant mare? 

Deworming pregnant mares is one protocol that most horse owners consider carefully before administering. In general, many are uncertain of the appropriate horse worming procedure to follow for expectant mares with safety usually a primary concern. 

One of the most important things to remember when worming your pregnant mare is product selection. Most horse wormers available in Australia are safe to use on a pregnant mare throughout their pregnancy. However, you should check the label or product information prior to use as it will say whether it has been tested as safe for use in pregnant mares. No wormer should be given that hasn’t been tested and approved as safe during pregnancy. Read the label carefully and consult your veterinarian if you’re unsure. 

What product to use: 

Wormers that are available in Australia and advised by the manufacturer to be as safe for use in pregnant mares include (but not limited to): 

• Equimax Elevation 
• Equimax 
• Equest Plus Tape Gel 
• Razor 
• Imax Gold 
• Promectin Plus 
• Ammo and Strategy T 

Ivermectin is a popular active ingredient in wormers used for different types of equine parasites and is also known to be a safe choice for pregnant mares. There are also other options considered to be safe for the expectant mares like fenbendazole.  It is generally recommended to rotate wormers during pregnancy. For instance, a pregnant mare should be given fenbendazole during its third month of pregnancy, provided that your property has not developed any resistance to the drug. Followed with Ivermectin during the sixth to seventh month. 

When should you worm:  

When it comes to worming pregnant mares, they should be treated as normal throughout their pregnancy. They should be kept on a regular worming rotation (every 6-8 weeks or as per the recommendations on the wormer being used). You should try to worm them about 2 weeks prior to foaling and try to limit the stress involved during the process.  

Deworming with Ivermectin can also be performed 24 hours after foaling to help prevent parasites from being passed on to the foal through its mother’s milk. You should then worm both the mare and foal again when the foal is about 6-8 weeks old. 

Other tips to remember:  

It is important to remember, no worming program is complete without proper pasture management and good husbandry. The strategies below can drastically reduce the number of parasites on your property and help safeguard your mare and foal from intestinal parasites: 

• Remove manure from pasture at least twice per week 
• Rest paddocks during hot, dry temperatures 

• Avoid over-crowding pastures 
• Ensure all horses are wormed correctly 
• Integrate faecal egg counts into your worming. A faecal egg count prior to worming, followed by a faecal egg count after worming, can be integral in ensuring your worming program is efficient and effective. 

Written by Michael-j Goddard 

There are 137 English Herbs that are very beneficial to horses. There are herbs that help maintain blood and blood flow, for tying up,  for stomach ulcers, for stamina, to strengthen the immune system, to reduce excessive mucous, for the coat and feet, for the heart, for bleeding in competition, for horses that don't eat well, for tendons and bones, for general health and well being, for colds and viruses and many other uses that are too many to mention.
 

If you need some assistance please feel free to contact us for further advice. We have all these herbs available, we do not supply herbs that are known to swab. We supply many galloper and harness horse trainers with our products.  We are a customer friendly business and really like to contribute to the health of horses. A little note here, we recommend you always use powdered herbs from a top quality supplier. Powders are easier to feed, they are much cleaner and purer, as  they are normaly made by powdering the root of the herb. This  makes them stronger than leaf or granules. When buying herbs quality is important as some suppliers put cheap fillers in, so when you are buying cheaper you may well be buying an inferior product. Which does not work as well.

Main Herbs to use:


          Raspberry Powder =  This is the perfect herb to help mares get pregnant if they  have trouble conceiving but once pregnant do not feed it to the mare again until their final trimester this will condition the Uterus and encourage milk production dosage last three months 

             White Willow Powder  = Used for thousands of years to relieve joint pain and manage fevers An excellent remedy for arthritic and rheumatic pain affecting joints.  Powerful anti-inflammatory properties. May assist in improving circulation. Recognised as an antiseptic, analgesic, tonic and astringent Pain reliever, known as a natural alternative for 'bute' Relieves inflammation and swelling and works to improve mobility in aching, painful joints The balance of ingredients found in white willow bark poses almost no ill-effects on the gastro-intestinal tract. Aspirin, even in tiny doses, can cause ulcers, blood-vessel fragility and irritation to the digestive system. White Willow Bark Powder may be used safely for long periods. 

White willow bark can be used in an external hoof-oil preparation for general healing and hoof health. Simply mix with linseed (flaxseed) oil and apply as needed. Use as a hoof-problem preventative, or to improve circulation of the hoof. 

May be used if your horse has sore joints, swollen legs, sore back, suffered from an injury, has onset arthritis or is sore from competition. 

Dosage 

10-30g per day/500kg horse 

10g = 1 tablespoon approximately 

Do not feed to pregnant mares.

           Organic Rosehips Powder =   The perfect herb for General Good Health and to improve the Immune System is also an Anti-inflammatory  helping Bones and Joints, good all the time but great at change of seasons supplying  large amounts of Vitamin C along with small amounts of Vitamin A and B
   .       Licorice Powder  = This has nothing to do with shop bought licorice, it is from the root of the Licorice herb plant. It is ideal for treating Stomach Ulcers in horses. It is a good additive for poor eaters as horses love it. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and also helps with allergic respiratory problems.  It also helps Infertile Mares with a better joining result, but do not feed to pregnant mares. 
           Nettle Powder =   This herb is very good in the treatment of the blood, it helps cleanse and revitalise the Blood and addresses Blood Disorders such as Anaemia, it improves cirulation and helps with old injuries to the muscles and joints. Good also for arthritis and laminitis if used as a poltice. 
           Parsley Powder =   This herb is very good for the treatment of the Stomach as it is a Digestive Tonic. It helps to Tone the Intestines, Minimise Gas and helps prevent the onset of Colic if included in the feed at all times.  Parsley is also very good for the Kidneys and Urinary System, it also helps cleanse the blood supply to the  body. It will help with discoloration and flaking skin as well as removing bad toxins that cause pain in the joints  Parsley powder is very good for horses in heavy work. Do not feed parsley to pregnant mares   
           Passion Flower Powder =   This is a five star herb for the treatment of Nervous Horses, Relaxing them in times of Stress and helping with taking a stallion in the season.  
           Cleavers  Powder =   Great for horses that are subject to Tying Up Syndrome. It helps get rid of the Toxins that cause this.  It Stimulates the Lymphatic System and helps with horses that are Over Loaded with Fluid or Congestion it helps relieve Swollen Legs. It has a High Silica content and it can be fed freely to your horse if it has a foot abscess or used as a tonic for to improve a Dull Coat or to promote regrowth of the Mane and  Tail. 
          Siberian Ginseng =   Ginseng is a great energy additive. It also Balances the Immune System and helps horses recovering from, and helps resist, Viral or Bacterial infections   It also supports horses after long periods of Racing and or Illness. It can be good for  the Cardovascular System and the Lungs .               
          Dong Quai =   This is a very good herb to use for mares in the Season. It regulates the Oestrus Cycle not due to any hormonal action and helps them conceive better. It assists Smooth Muscles and aids with Contractions of the Uterus. It also assists horses with Muscle and Joint pains . It will also help all horses recovering from Physical or Mental Trauma. Do not use this herb on a mare once she has been served and thought to be in foal.       
          Yucca Powder  =   Best used for horses beginning a spell. It is a natural pain killer and is excellent for Tired Muscles, Joints, Sore Feet and Laminitis. After a hard season it is a very good pick me up. 

A beloved medicinal plant, Yucca schidigera is indigenous to the deserts of southwestern America and Mexico. Also known as Mojave yucca, this flowering evergreen succulent is a hardy plant that thrives in sun and requires little water. Historically, Native Americans found many uses for this versatile plant, including fabric dyes, soap, shampoos and diet. Yucca’s herbal extract has been trusted for centuries thanks to its many compelling health benefits, and it can also offer a lot to your horse. 

How can your horse benefit from yucca? 

One of the richest sources of steroidal saponins (among nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatories), yucca can reduce inflammation and pain in horses as effectively as conventional medicines – without gastric side effects or organ toxicity. This plant serves to cleanse the liver, kidneys, blood and lymphatic system. It increases circulation, encourages tissue repair and restores cartilage, making it an excellent healer of internal and external wounds. 

Yucca’s resveratrol content acts as an antioxidant that gently detoxes the body, expels free radicals, reduces oxidative stress, protects against organ degeneration and helps prevent cancer. As if that isn’t exciting enough, the plant also detoxifies the intestinal track, reduces IBS and colitis, and aids in repairing perforations of the gut wall, popularly known as leaky gut. In turn, this helps the equine body absorb nutrients more efficiently and become less susceptible to allergies. 

The succulent also helps prevent colic, and works as a digestive aid, with beneficial effects on intestinal flora and pH. It is commonly used to treat arthritis, ulcers and skin conditions. It also helps balance blood sugar, provide cardiovascular support, reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, and more. Additionally, the plant is antimicrobial and contains vitamins and minerals that help reduce stress and anxiety, balance blood pressure and boost the immune system. Dosage rate 10 grams per day.

         Pomegranate Powder =  Terrific for the Heart, if you have a horse with suspected Heart Problems this is the herb to use.  
          Hawthorn Berry Powder =  This Berry powder is very good for the heart and stimulating  Blood Flow. It is ideal for treating horses when they retire from racing to eliminate any drugs left in their system. Also it is a very good aid in supplying blood to the legs and hoofs. This berry powder is ideal for horses recovering from Laminitis. Mares they have a history of Slipping Foals will benefit greatly form a course of this herb during their pregnancy.  Great for foals when weaning, give foals half the adult dose. Horses normaly enjoy the taste of this Hawthorn Berry Powder and it would be helpful for poor eaters. 
          Dandelion Powder = This powder is very useful for Flushing out Toxins during the change of season winter to summer. It is a great herb for Racehorses or Performance horses returning from a Long Spell, it gets the body working again. The herb helps control Flatulent Colic and aids in the treatment of Laminitis, cleansing the blood and Rebalancing the Metabolism by acting on the Liver. Do not be confused with the wild growing variety which should not be used as it can cause Stringhalt

          Ainiseed Powder = This powder fed on a regular bases is a great deterent to prevent your horse from getting colic . It also tastes good and horses like it once they get the taste it is an Anti-parasitic, it helps to  relieve congestion and upset stomach, This spice is very strong and fresh! 
       Garlic powder or flakes = 

There is debate as to how much garlic should be fed as a feed supplement to horses, although it has many claimed benefits such as having anti-septic, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effects, reducing blood pressure, improving respiratory problems in horses and acting as a fly repellent - recent research has shown that feeding large amounts of garlic to horses may have dangers as it can cause anaemia.

Garlic is used by many horse and pony owners as a regular equine feed supplement. It contains substances with benefits of pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and reduce swelling.

It is believed that garlic is one of the most effective natural healing substance in the world. It is popularly used, in conjunction with anti-biotics to treat equine respiratory diseases and infections in the horse's lungs.

Garlic is rich in Selenium and Sulphur. Sulphur is recognised as having blood cleansing properties that are useful in treating and preventing equine disease. It is also believed to contain over 25 germ-killing compounds.

Many horse owners feed an equine garlic supplement for its insect repelling qualities - the sweat produced by a horse fed on garlic gives out an odour that keeps flies, ticks and midges away - making it a natural fly repellant.

Horse owners also find feeding garlic useful as part of their equine worming program. Regular feeding of Garlic is effective in deterring tapeworms, pinworms and roundworms - but this should not exclude the use of regular wormers.

Garlic can be used used to give relief from the symptons of coughs - it contains a substance that helps to clear mucus in the airways. This cleansing action, together with its ability to reduce inflammation, also benefits the urinary tract.

The recommended amount to feed is half an ounce to 2 ounces per day depending on the horse or pony's size. It comes in several forms for equine use - powder, freeze dried granules and some herbalists claim freshly grown garlic is the best way to feed it.

However feed with care as it is being discovered that there are dangers in feeding too much garlic as it can can cause anemia in horses.

There is a toxic element in Garlic called N-propyl disulfide which can change an enzyme within a horse's red blood cells, it depletes the cell of a chemical known as phosphate dehydrogenase - whose task is to protect the blood cells from damage caused by oxidation

When the level of phosphate dehydrogenase gets too low the hemoglobin in the blood cell oxidizes and forms a bubble. This is seen as being deformed as it passes through the spleen and is removed from the bloodstream. If the blood is consistently poisoned by N-propyl disulfide contained in a garlic supplement more red blood cells are removed and the horse may slowly become anaemic.

Researchers fed a healthy horse 1 lb of onion tops, which also contain N-propyl disulfide, over an 11 day period. By the 11th day the horse had lost almost 60% of his red blood cells and was severely anaemic!

Some vets claim that the toxic effects of garlic are gradual - a low dose fed on a regular basis can result in mild anemia.

However it may be that commercially prepared equine garlic supplements are not dangerous as the active ingredient -allicin - is often destroyed during the manufacturing process when heat dried.

The benefits of garlic are many and if you do decide to feed a garlic supplement just be careful not to overdo it.

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