HORSE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER AND MORE!!!
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Topics in this issue:
1) Feature: Record book checklist update
2) Recommended products and services: Praziquantel for tapeworms
3) Rally and rating tips: Pens and forms
4) Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs: Cavalia
5) Fun and educational websites: NAHRA
6) Featured rule: Competitors' attire while mounted

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The Excellent Record Book Checklist UPDATED VERSION
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The following is updated from the record book checklist published in the
June 2003 issue of the Horse Management Newsletter. This current checklist
takes into consideration the new C3 record book guidelines. Items with **
before the check line have been added or updated.

This checklist is guaranteed to make your record book spectacular. A record
book fills the need for keeping track of just about everything related to
your horse. If you ever need to track a past lameness history, figure out
what your horse may be allergic to, go on vacation, or transfer ownership, a
record book provides an excellent way to do it. It is not required to use
the USPC Health & Maintenance Record Book. As long as the information below
is included, you can use whatever format you choose. It is especially nice
to keep the records on your computer and then just print it out when testing
time comes.

Examiners like to see your costs totaled when brought to a test. Total the
veterinary costs, farrier costs, feed/board costs, and any others on their
respective pages. At the end of the record book include a page where all of
these can be added together for your total cost of keeping your horse. When
totaling up for a rating, write the totals in pencil. At the end of the
year, when you're ready to start a new record book, write them in pen, or
print it from your computer.

Record book checklist:

>>General information about the horse

___ On the cover, include the start and finish days for each record book.

!!NOTE!! Organize your record books so that they are divided by years. You
may choose to start the year on January 1 or the date that you purchased the
horse. A D3 must have at least 3 months worth of records, a C1 must have at
least 6 months worth of records, a C2 must have at least 9 months worth of
records, and C3's and up must have at least a year's worth of records. If
you have multiple years or multiple horses just choose one horse and the
most current year's records. If you are a very neat record keeper, it
doesn't hurt to bring the past years as well. Organize them so that the most
current year is on top. If you haven't had your horse for a year, or are
borrowing a horse, just explain the situation to the examiner, and bring
some sort of record keeping paperwork either for the borrowed horse or
another one you take care of.

___ Horse's name/registered name
___ Breed/registration number and papers if applicable
**___ Current conformation photographs that show the horse's front, sides
and hind without tack
**___ Detailed description of the horse's markings, including blemishes and
tattoos
___ Resting temperature/pulse/respiration
___ Horse's sex (please don't list "M," that could mean mare, or male; just
write it out)
___ Horse's height
___ Approximate weight (remember to list units, pounds or kilograms)
___ Known vices (for example, cribbing, kicking, girthy etc.)
___ Any known medical conditions or allergies
___ Foaling date (or approximation)
___ Owner's name/address/phone
___ Rider's name/address/phone
___ Boarding stable's name/address/phone (if not kept at home)
___ Veterinarian's name/address/phone
___ Farrier's name/address/phone
___ Other names/address/phone numbers of people who have worked with your
horse
(for example, equine dentist, chiropractor, etc...)
___ Insurance company's name/address/emergency phone and insurance papers
(if uninsured, be sure to note that too so someone doesn't go hunting for an
insurance policy that isn't there)
*remember to include area codes with all phone numbers!*

>>Veterinary records

Ideally you would like to organize this into routine and non-routine care
sections. Vaccinations, sheath cleaning, and teeth floating would be
routine, and any other sickness or wound care visits fall under non-routine
unless your horse is being treated for a chronic illness such as Cushings
disease.

___ Pre-purchase exam papers (if any)
**___ Veterinary bills and other veterinary paperwork and costs
___ Vaccination dates and which vaccines given
___ List the date the next vaccination is due
**___ Any medications your horse is on (if applicable) dosage and reasons
**___ For each medical visit, list the person who did the work

!!NOTE!! It's not enough to just record a vaccine as "4-way," please list
which vaccines were included in the 4-way vaccination, for example it might
include: influenza, tetanus, eastern equine encephalomyelitis, and western
equine encephalomyelitis. This way you will not only become more familiar
with the specific vaccinations, it's also a good way to ensure you know
exactly what is being given in case of any reactions. Also note what company
made the vaccine, lot number, and where the injection was given (for
example, left side of neck). A horse may be allergic to a carrier in one
company's vaccine, but not another company's (this is very important with
strangles and West Nile vaccines). If you buy the vaccine yourself, include
the tag and receipt in your record book.

>>Deworming

___ Include dates, brand names, and drug names of all dewormers used
**___ Cost of dewormer
___ List the next scheduled deworming date and dewormer to use

!!NOTE!! It's very important to list the dewormers by both drug and brand
names. This way you will be sure you are rotating dewormers. For example,
did you know that Zimectrin, Equimectrin, Equvalan, and Rotectin I, all
contain the exact same dosage of the active drug Ivermectin? You will also
be able to track any allergies your horse may develop to certain drugs or
carriers. It is not always necessary to rotate dewormers, but it's generally
a good idea and a way to save some money in the long run.

>>Shoeing records

___ Dates, cost, and any changes made
___ List the next scheduled appointment as well
___ Include enough information at the beginning so that a new shoer could
shoe or trim your horse in accordance with what you have found works and why
**___ How your horse reacts while being shod

!!NOTE!! Take the time to ask your shoer how to describe what he or she
is trying to achieve or maintain with your horse's feet. An example might
be: "size 0 front , and 00 hind Natural Balance brand iron shoes, square the
hind toes and set back hind shoe to prevent forging, may need leather pads
and quarter clips in front during the summer months, horse has a tendency to
toe out in front." After you have this detailed description, then just note
if and when your shoer makes any changes. Along with all shoeing dates and
prices, be sure to record if and when your horse pulls a shoe (and which
foot), or if your horse develops a foot abscess (which foot, approximate
location, and any possible causes).

>>Other procedures

___ Use this space to include any other treatment dates, descriptions, and
costs such as work by an equine dentist, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage,
etc.... Also record if you noticed any differences after the work.

>>Feed records

___ Approximate feeding times (may change according to the season)
**___ Feed store's name, address, and phone number
**___ Amount fed in pounds for roughage and quarts or ounces for
concentrates (in addition you may also convert weights to a volume measure,
for example flakes or scoops but be sure you have pounds and quarts as well)
___ Type/brands of feed
**___ Feed tags or labels for all feeds that have them (you may need to copy
the information off of plastic tubs that have them printed on the side)
**___ Salt type and how fed
**___ Samples of all concentrates and roughages (get creative here, small
amounts in ziploc bags work well, just keep checking them for mold)
___ Any receipts or bills from the feed store (if feed is included with the
horse's board, include in board section below)
___ Dates of any changes in diet, including reasons and any reactions the
horse may show

>>Equipment used

**___ List what equipment you use on your horse for flatwork, jumping,
longeing, and turn-out. Be sure to include saddle(s), bridle(s), pads,
boots, etc.
**___ Where the items are located in the stable or tack area.

>>Conditioning records (definitely include these at the C3 level and up)

**___ Conditioning goals and objectives appropriate to the horse (For
example, what is the current riding program?)

List conditioning activities for an average week, this will include:
___ Activity (dressage, show jumping, gallops, trail ride, trot sets, etc.)
___ Specifications (This is what you are actually working on. For example,
in dressage you may be working on training or first level movements, for
show jumping you may be working on 3'3" courses, and for trot sets you could
be doing 3, 10 minute trots with 3 minute rests between.)
___ Average minutes you spend on each activity
___ Times per week you work on each activity
___ Horse's resting temperature/pulse/respiration
___ Horse's temperature/pulse/respiration immediately after strenuous work
**___ Temperature/pulse/respiration rates at 5 or 10 minute intervals after
strenuous work to determine what his or her recovery rate is (how long it
takes to return to the resting t/p/r.)

List any changes in conditioning schedule to include:
___ Dates of changes
___ What you're changing from and to, for example: 3, 10 minute trots with 3
minute rests between to 3, 12 minute trots with 3 minute rests between.
___ Record new t/p/r rates for each work increase

!!NOTE!! Pay attention to how feeding schedule changes may correlate to
conditioning.


>>Activity records

Daily log of rides, lessons, and if applicable, competitions. All entries
should include:
___ Date of activity
___ Description of activity
**___ Specific comments about how you did or what you worked on
**___ Length of ride
___ Cost (if any)

!!NOTE!! You may want to keep track of your actual riding schedule in a
calendar format. Please plan to transfer the information to a computer
program to print out, or find some other method of keeping it neat. An
examiner hates to get piles of dog-eared calendars with the candidates
saying, "It's all in there!"

>>Boarding records (if applicable)

___ If you board your horse, list costs paid to the boarding facility by
month, remember to total them before your rating and at the end of the year!

>>Other expenses

___ List any other horse-related expenses here. Include date, description,
and cost. Examples are: tack purchases, equine insurance costs, and trailer
servicing.

>>Income

This section will not necessarily include information directly related to
your horse. It is where you, the Pony Clubber, can keep track of how much
money you earn. It can be anything from baby-sitting and mowing lawns, to
exercising horses, or winning the lottery!

___ Include date, description, and amount of income

>>Breeding records (if applicable)

This section is useful to record a mare's heat cycles, breeding dates,
anticipated foaling date, and any other related activities. Most Pony Club
mounts will not need this section.

>>Sale records

___ Bill of sale or purchase/lease agreement paperwork

>>Expense summary

Include a page where all your yearly, or year-to-date expenses and income
are compared. This is a great way to start learning how equine businesses
are run and to make you appreciate what your parents are putting into your
horse habit!

>>Do not include<<

ˆ Anything unrelated to the horse, for example, past ratings certificates,
or Pony Club study material. Income records are excepted.

ˆ Any loose papers. All should be snug in a 3 ring binder or similar system.
Plastic page protectors work well for keeping loose items secure, and ziploc
bags work for feed samples.

ˆ Records for more than 1 horse (keep each horse's records separately for
Pony Club purposes.)

ˆ Excessive pictures. A few for identification purposes are fine, or
conformation photographs from each year could be useful. Photographs of
injuries could be especially useful.

ˆ Anything breakable. At a recent test someone included a glass test tube
with a sliver of the horse's splint bone that had been removed in it. Yes,
it was interesting but it was dangerous to have in the record book. A
picture would have been fine!

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Recommended products and services
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When was the last time your horse got dewormed with a product that killed
tapeworms? A really effective tapeworm dewormer hasn't been available for
horses until recently. Now there are at least three dewormers that include
the active ingredient praziquantel which targets tapeworms.

Zimectrin Gold from Merial combines the very effective ivermectin with
praziquantel. Equimax Paste is the same combination from Pfizer.
ComboCare Gel is from Farnam and it combines moxidectin (the active
ingredient in Quest Gel) with the tapeworm protection of praziquantel.

Any of these choices would be a good addition to your deworming rotation
program.

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Rally and rating tips:
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This might be hard to believe with the extensive list of required equipment
for one day and overnight rallies but there is something missing from the
list. Regular writing pens and pencils! At the end of every rally, Pony
Clubbers need to fill out evaluation forms and I can't tell you how many
times they have been written in dry erase markers, the only things that were
available to write with in the tack rooms. Please remember to add some pens
and pencils to your rally kit for the next season.

The next point is for rally organizers. Did you know that the competitor's
"Horse Management Evaluation Form" and the "Rally and Facilities Evaluation
Form" should be on separate pieces of paper? It might seem more efficient
to copy these forms back to back on one piece of paper, but the Horse
Management evaluations need to go to your HMO and then to the national
office, while the rally and facilities evaluation forms stay within the
region. Be sure to use the latest forms available on the www.ponyclub.org
website, not the old evaluations found at the back of the 2002 HM handbook.

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Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs!
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How about a recommended equine performance? For those of you down in
Southern California, you can catch the last performances of "Cavalia: A
Magical Encounter between Man and Horse" in Santa Monica. From all reports
when it was in Berkeley, it is definitely worth the ticket price. The show
will be in Santa Monica through January 8th and then be starting in Phoenix,
Arizona on January 25th. Read more about the project at www.cavalia.net .

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Fun and educational websites
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Whether you're a teenager looking for community service hours, or know
someone who might benefit from some equine-assisted physical therapy, you
can find more information at the North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association's website. NARHA is a national non-profit organization that
promotes the benefit of the horse for individuals with physical, emotional
and learning disabilities. Find a center near you!

www.nahra.org

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Featured rule
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2002 Horse Management Handbook page 33 section 22 A: Competitors' Attire
While Mounted

Clothing required for any horse sport must be neat, clean and in good
repair. Long hair reaching below the shoulder must always be neatly secured
away from the competitor's eyes and identification number. Hairnets or
braids are required for all boys and girls with long hair. A Pony Club pin
must be worn for all riding phases, (colored felt backing denoting rating is
recommended). Numbers (or color with number in Games competitions) must be
worn throughout the entire competition.

Stormy's note: It is my understanding that if D level riders have long hair,
they will be expected to have it in a hairnet or braid while riding.
However, they cannot be penalized if they don't. On page 34 of the handbook
it specifies that D's don't need to be turned out properly formal or
informal and the formal inspection sheets don't mention hairnets until the
C1 level.

The one discipline that still recommends not wearing the PC pin while riding
is Games. This is because often the pin will get broken or scratch the
saddle while the Pony Clubber is vaulting on and off. In this case, the
Chief Horse Management judge might make pins optional for formal
inspections. If the Chief still requires them for formal inspections, make
sure you have a safe place to leave your pin before you go ride.