HORSE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER AND MORE!!!
*******************************************************************
Topics in this issue:
1) Feature: How to perform a basic physical exam
2) Report on the USPC Annual Meeting
2) Recommended products and services: Casco protective vests
3) Rally and rating tips: New HM website
4) Questions and answers: C1 rating information, feed charts at one day
rallies
5) Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs: Understanding Bits is re-released
6) Fun and educational websites: Stacy Westfall interview, Painting Horses,
Tapestry Institute
7) Featured rule: Notable new rules
8) Horsey Humor: Glossary of Horse Terms
9) Free item exchange

*******************************************************************
Feature: How to perform a basic physical exam
*******************************************************************

The following article is compiled from various ehow.com articles with
additional information added for clarity.

Your horse should look bright and alert. If he or she looks dull or
depressed but you donšt immediately notice a cause, you can try to determine
why by performing a physical exam.

Instructions

* STEP 1: Observe general body condition for cuts, abrasions, swelling or
asymmetry (for example, one hip higher than the other, or a bump on one
shoulder but not the other).

* STEP 2: Look into the eyes for cloudiness, foreign objects, tearing,
abrasions or ulcers (breaks in the tissue), and around the eyes for cuts and
abrasions.

* STEP 3: Check breath odor - it shouldn't smell bad - and observe attitude
and appetite. If the horse isn't eating, or is dropping feed from the mouth,
suspect a problem.

* STEP 4: Look at stool consistency. Note if soft (diarrhea), dry or normal.

* STEP 5: Take your horse's temperature using a thermometer specially made
for large animals. Average range is 99.0 to 101.5 degrees F.

> Take your horse's temperature when she is healthy so that you'll recognize
> when her temperature is above normal in the future.
>
> Instructions for taking a horse's temperature:
>>
>> * A: Use a mercury rectal thermometer. These are available at many feed and
>> tack stores and in catalogs. Alternatively, you may use a digital
>> thermometer designed for human use. If you're using a mercury thermometer
>> make sure you have a string tied to the end and a clip to clip to the horse's
>> tail. It's rare that the thermometer will get sucked in to the rectum but
>> frequently it will be pooped out. A digital thermometer doesnšt require a
>> string and clip because it must be held until it beeps that it's done.
>> * B: Sterilize the thermometer by dipping it in rubbing alcohol.
>> * C: Shake the thermometer until it reads below 97 degrees F or reset the
>> digital thermometer then apply petroleum jelly or a similar lubricant to the
>> tip (spit also works well).
>> * D: Stand to the side of the horse and reach around petting the hindquarters
>> and the tail. If the horse seems agitated about this, have an adult who is
>> experienced with horses help you.
>> * E: Insert the thermometer at least 3/4 of the way into the rectum, making
>> sure that it slides in easily and doesn't get obstructed by feces. Allow it
>> to stay in for 3 minutes or in the case of a digital thermometer, until it
>> beeps.
>> * F: Take the thermometer out, wiping it off with a towel or the tail, and
>> read it. Make sure you've already practiced reading a mercury thermometer.
>> * G: Wipe or rinse the thermometer after use, and then sterilize it by
>> dipping it in rubbing alcohol.

* STEP 6: Listen to gut sounds (abdominal auscultation) for abnormalities.

>> This procedure evaluates the condition of the large intestine (colon) but not
>> the small intestine or stomach.
>>
>> * A: Practice listening to gut sounds (abdominal auscultation) when your
>> horse is healthy to determine and get used to what sounds normal for your
>> horse.
>> * B: Place a stethoscope on the upper right quadrant of the abdomen (upper
>> right side of the flank).
>> * C: Listen 3 to 5 minutes for a complete cycle of sounds.
>> * D: Repeat for each of the lower right, upper left and lower left quadrants.
>> * E: Listen for a decrease or increase in frequency and intensity of gut
>> sounds; this may indicate a problem.
>> * F: Call your veterinarian if changes in gut sounds accompany other signs of
>> a physical ailment, such as distress, pain, diarrhea, fever or loss of
>> appetite.

* STEP 7: Check hydration and capillary refill time (CRT) by blanching gums,
and determine digital pulse strength and heart rate.
>>
> You can check the hydration of your horse in several ways: by measuring
> capillary refill time (CRT), checking skin turgor, and assessing eyes and
> gums.
>
> Measure Capillary Refill Time
>>
>> * A: Use both hands to part the horse's lips and expose the gums.
>> * B: Press gently and briefly on the gum of the upper jaw with the index
>> finger or thumb of one hand. This will force the blood from the capillaries,
>> "blanching" the gum (making it temporarily white).
>> * C: Watch and count how long it takes for the gum to return to its natural
>> pink color after removing your finger. If the count is longer than 2 seconds,
>> your horse may be dehydrated or have a circulatory problem.
>> * D: Take this measurement regularly to get an idea of what's normal for your
>> horse.

> Assess Eyes and Gums
>>
>> * A: Learn what your horse's eyes and gums normally look like. They should
>> appear moist and shiny, not dry.
>> * B: Inspect your horse's gums and eyes frequently.

>> Tips & Warnings:
>>>>
>> * If your horsešs gums are abnormally yellow or cool and bluish you may have
>> a veterinary emergency.

> Check Skin Turgor
>>
>> * A: Pinch the skin on the horse's neck in front of the shoulder, using your
>> thumb and forefinger.
>> * B: Note whether the skin snaps back to its normal position quickly or
>> responds slowly and remains "tented up." A slow response can indicate
>> dehydration.
>> * C: Check skin turgor regularly to get an idea of what's normal for your
>> horse. Individuals can show variation in this test.
>>
>> Tips & Warnings
>>
>> * An older horse may have less-elastic skin that returns slowly to its normal
>> position even if the horse is well hydrated.

> Checking the digital pulse helps evaluate pain and inflammation in foot and
> hoof. Finding the pulse at your horse's foot takes experience and expertise,
> but most people can learn the basics with some practice.
>
>> * A: Ask your veterinarian or an experienced horseperson to locate and point
>> out your horse's digital arteries, which are on the inside and outside of
>> each leg at the level of the fetlock and pastern.
>> * B: Palpate on the inside and outside of each leg, toward the back of the
>> midpastern or fetlock at the level of the sesamoid bones.
>> * C: Note how strong the pulse is. A normal horse should have a pulse that is
>> very slight or difficult to feel.
>> * D: Compare findings among all four feet to judge if one foot in particular
>> is abnormal.
>> * E: Know that if the pulses of more than one foot are increased, it could
>> indicate a systemic and not a localized problem.
>> * F: Contact your veterinarian if you detect a strong digital pulse.
>>
>> Tips & Warnings
>>
>> * Check the digital pulse when your horse is healthy to determine what's
>> normal for her; you'll then be able to recognize abnormalities.
>> * The case for foals (young horses) is the opposite of that for adult horses
>> - the digital pulse of a foal should be easily palpable and a weak pulse
>> should be of concern.
>> * A strong digital pulse can indicate pain associated with a foot abscess,
>> bruise, laminitis or lameness.

> Check heart rate to evaluate your horse's physical condition. An increase in
> heart rate can be associated with pain, dehydration, fever and other problems.

>> * A: Place a stethoscope against your horse's chest, behind the elbow (the
>> topmost joint in your horse's foreleg). Usually you can hear the heart the
>> best on the horsešs left side but you might check both sides.
>> * B: Listen until you hear a strong, steady heartbeat. Remember, each beat
>> has two parts (lub-dub).
>> * C: Grab a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand or have a friend time
>> you.
>> * D: Count the number of heartbeats you hear for 15 seconds.
>> * E: Multiply that number by 4 to obtain the horse's heartbeats per minute.
>> * F: Know that a normal resting heart rate for an adult horse is about 30 to
>> 40 heartbeats per minute.
>> * G: Contact your veterinarian if you determine a problem.
>>
>> Tips & Warnings
>>
>> * Some athletic horses may have resting heart rates as low as 24 beats per
>> minute; get to know your horse.

*STEP 8: Determine respiration rate to evaluate pain or respiratory disease.
While you're at it, listen for coughing.

> Measure your horsešs respiration

>> * A: Stand beside the horse and watch the rise and fall of the flank. Each
>> in and out cycle counts as one breath. Alternatively you may watch the
>> horsešs nostrils. Be sure nobody has their hands near the horsešs nose, as
>> the horse may start ŗsniffing˛ and give you a false reading.
>> * B: Count the breaths for 15 seconds (use a stopwatch or have somebody else
>> with a watch tell you when to start and stop counting).
>> * C: Multiply by 4 to get the number of breaths per minute.
>> * D: A normal resting respiration rate for a horse is 8 to 16 breaths per
>> minute but it can vary. Be sure to take your horsešs respiration rate
>> several times when shešs healthy in order to determine her normal range.

* STEP 9: Determine approximate weight with a "weight tape" that can be
purchased at a feed store or from a farm supply catalog. If you use an
english girth, you may notice one day that it goes up higher than normal,
indicating that the horse may have lost some weight, or is more difficult to
get to the normal holes, indicating that the horse has gained weight.

Tips & Warnings

* Have your results ready before you contact your veterinarian; if you're
not sure how to perform these tests, ask your vet to go over these
techniques with you.

*******************************************************************
Report on the USPC Annual Meeting
*******************************************************************
by Carolyn McCarthy

I am the Horse Management Organizer (HMO) of the Southern California region
and have recently attended the annual national meeting of the United States
Pony Clubs. This was my fourth time and I have learned so much from each
one. The workshops were wonderful and educational, and I was pleased to see
so many active pony clubbers at the meeting. The workshops included
training the eye to see Basic Balanced Position (or lack of), new
information on feeds, understanding the specialty ratings, a hands on
anatomy lab (with a horse heart, intestine, fetus, skeleton, teeth, etc.),
How to use a balance ball or a balance board to warm up and/or detect and
correct rider assymetries and weaknesses, saddle fitting, dressage test
helpful hints, conditioning for eventing, self carriage of the horse,
equine sports psychology, fundraising ideas, quadrille, polo, tetrathalon,
games, and numerous other workshops.

It is wonderful to know that those of us involved with United States Pony
Clubs are a part of an organization that has the flexibility to make
changes when they are needed. It is a joy to see in writing that primary
purpose of Horse Management is to teach at rallies (and everywhere else!).
Teaching is always predominant over judging. The new HM handbook is short,
sweet, and to the point... and more user friendly for sure. The first
section is only 8 pages and simply states the rules. The second section
explains and "amplifies" those rules. Part 3 deals with administering the HM
program at rallies, and the final portion contains the appendices. C-3's at
rallies may now given more responsibility at rallies and may be even excused
from official turnbacks since it is assumed that by having achieved the
rating of C-3 they are clearly competent in this area.

The specialty ratings, another sign of USPC's growing adaptability to
modern times and changing needs of our pony clubbers, show hours and hours
of careful planning. Many pony clubbers who wish to specialize in either
dressage or jumping will benefit from these changes. These changes may seem
confusing at first, but in another year or two they will not be at all as
everyone will be used to them. Any change is often at first stressful, but
these are positive changes designed to meet more needs.

Hopefully many more parents and pony clubbers will attend the next
annual meeting and take advantage of the wonderful workshops and outstanding
professionals that teach them.

*******************************************************************
Recommended products and services: Casco Protective Vests
*******************************************************************

This year's eventing season is fast approaching. Has your child outgrown
her cross country vest? Have you changed your colors?

Casco's West Coast representative, Krista Powers is a Pony Club mom and a
tireless Assistant Horse Management Judge in the Pacific Northwest region.
You may have met her at last year's Western Championships in Sacramento or
earlier this year at the USPC Annual Meeting when she brought these vests to
sell.

You can check out the vests online at:

http://www.cascosolutions.com/riding-vest.htm

You'll definitely want to talk to her before you order, she can get vests
made in virtually any color and at prices better than on the website. Here
are some additional words she wrote about the vests:

The kids really like wearing them, they say "they make me feel secure," and
"they move with you, not like the turtle shells." Also with their cut they
don't hit you in the back of the neck and they don't bump on your saddle.
They weigh from 3-5 pounds, depending on the size. This weight distributes
very evenly, I can attest for that myself as I've worn one too. They meet
ASTM for shock and impact, I don't know of any others that meet ASTM for
both, maybe for one or the other, but not both. Also, as your child grows,
you can replace just the front or the back as needed, you do not have to
purchase an entire new vest, and you can buy new covers in different colors
if your child changes colors from season to season or with a new horse.
Very versatile! You can even remove the covers and have them embroidered.

Krista's email and phone is:

powerfulequestrian@...
206-391-3668

*******************************************************************
Rally and rating tips: Ask The Chief on the Horse Management website
*******************************************************************

How many of you Pony Club families have checked out the new Horse Management
page on the Pony Club website? It is brand new this year and is a great
resource for all aspects of Horse Management in Pony Club and beyond. A
particularly valuable part of it is the "Ask the Chief" section which is
similar to the question and answer format used in this newsletter (in fact,
some of the questions and answers are from this newsletter!).

Get simple, definitive answers to commonly asked questions such as:

Are pre-tied stock ties acceptable?
Are suede half chaps acceptable?
Do D's have to wear garters or elastic straps with their jodhpurs?
Is the Bitless Bridle allowed in games?
Why is hay allowed to be fed in flakes now?
What bandaging materials are OK'd by USPC for ratings and rallies?
Would a heavy duty retractable X-acto knife be acceptable in place of a jack
knife in the Required Equipment Utility Kit?

The webpage can be found at: http://hm.ponyclub.org (click on the Ask The
Chief link for answers to the questions above) or you can find it from the
main Pony Club webpage (www.ponyclub.org) click on the "Instruction/HM" link
at the top of the page and then on "Horse Management".

*******************************************************************
Questions and answers
*******************************************************************

Hey Stormy. I was just looking through my C-1 flowchart and I had a few
questions. It says to know all the USPC sports but it doesn't say them in
the book. Do you know how many there are altogether and what they are? And
also it says to "describe conditions which foster internal and external
parasites, procedure for parasite control, in pasture and stall management,
ways to control flies, bot eggs" so for that do I need to know some of the
types of external and internal parasites? And it says to know the health
care schedule for your own horse. Does that mean that I have to know the
exact dates she gets them on or just how many times a year? Thank you for
helping me...I was just a little confused.

Sara Cortopassi, D3, Deer Creek Pony Club, Sierra Pacific Region

Hi Sara,

Great question. The USPC sports that we have rallies for are:

dressage, games, eventing, polocrosse, tetrathalon, showjumping, quiz
(though not really a horse sport), and vaulting. Vaulting has a rulebook
but I don't know of any vaulting rallies being held in the past several
years. Foxhunting, distance riding, and driving may be horse sports but
there are no rulebooks or rallies for them. Certainly foxhunting should be
mentioned though since it's why Pony Club started!

For the parasite question at C1 you don't need to know any real specifics
about parasites, such as ascarids, large and small strongyles etc... but you
should know general things such as "flies like to lay their eggs in manure
so it's important to keep manure cleaned up", and "internal parasites are
shed in a horse's manure and can contaminate feed or grass with their eggs".
Also be sure to know that most parasites thrive in warm, wet conditions.

The health care schedule for your own horse at C1 can be fairly general
although you'll have to start learning some specifics. In your Record Book
you should have the exact dates of when your horse was last immunized and
dewormed and what products were used but don't worry about memorizing the
exact dates. If you can remember that your horse got a 5 way shot in the
spring (do try to memorize what's in a 5-way, 4-way, or 3-way shot) and that
he's due to get that again next spring (or fall) then you should have no
trouble.

I have a list of good C1 prep type questions in the February 2004 issue of
the Horse Management Newsletter. You can read it here:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HorseManagementNewsletter/message/11

Good luck on your rating!
Stormy

***************************************

Hi Stormy,

In the HM handbook it says that if a horse is fed at a rally it needs to be
on the feed chart, but there is no feed chart required for one day rallies.
How is this resolved?

Carolyn McCarthy, HMO, Southern California Region

Hi Carolyn,

From a practical standpoint herešs what Išve advised in the past:
theoretically at a one-day rally the horse would be fed before he comes and
after he leaves, thus a feed chart would not be necessary. From a practical
standpoint though, competitors will often want to give their horses
something to chomp on (other than the trailer) to keep them occupied and
relaxed. Since at a one-day rally there arenšt feed rooms or feed charts
required I would employ a little CSAL (common sense and logic) here and
maybe minimally ask that the competitor state on their stall card that the
horse can have ŗx˛ amount (free choice, 1 flake, 8 lbs, etc...) of a certain
type of hay during the day at a rally or competition. If this wasnšt done,
I would just talk to the competitor and ask him why he chose to feed his
horse, how much the horse should get, and what type of hay it is (and if it
is the type that is normally fed). Išm more interested to know that this
competitor has a sound knowledge of why hešs doing what hešs doing rather
than splitting hairs over how itšs noted.

Stay tuned to the HM website for any further clarifications on this topic.

Thanks for asking,
Stormy

*******************************************************************
Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs! Understanding Bits DVD is
re-released
*******************************************************************

The video I produced about bits was distributed for the past two years by
Trafalgar Square and now the rights have reverted back to me. Išm
re-releasing the title in order to keep it available as a valuable resource
for anybody who wants to learn about bits. It can be ordered from the USPC
bookstore or from my website (www.stormymay.com). Herešs what one viewer
sent me:

Hi Stormy!
I wanted to share with your readers that I bought Understanding Bits with
Stormy May for my Daughter who is a D2 for Christmas. I could not believe
how much we learned in viewing your video!

As we are new to riding, we really never considered bits, we just used
whatever bit that was given to us by the horse we leased, never considering
the impact on the horse, or why certain bits were used.

Now that we are looking for our own horse, we have learned a lot about the
horses we look at by the bit they use, often ruling out horses by the bit in
the photo.

While we will have much to learn, my daughter and I want to put our horses
well -being first, and we now know that using the right bit (or the bitless
bridle) is vital for the care of the horse we will get.

Thank you so much for this much overlooked and often confusing part of horse
care! I think it is a great instructional video, and recommend it highly!

Katie and Christie Allen, 49'er Pony Club, Sierra Pacific Region

For those of you in the Grass Valley, California area, I will be giving a
talk about bits at the Nevada County Horsemanšs Association on April 18th at
7pm. Videos will be available to purchase there. Please email me at
stormy@... if you would like further information.

*******************************************************************
Fun and educational websites
*******************************************************************

Stacy Westfall is an amazing western trainer who won the 2003 National
Reining Horse Association Futurity and six other key reining events without
a bridle. Imagine that, reining without reins!

The Talking Equine Internet Radio show interviewed her and you can listen to
it here: www.talkingequine.com (scroll down to episode 10) or visit her
website: www.westfallhorsemanship.com . Be sure to watch the YouTube video
of her winning bridleless ride.

************************************************

Horses who paint? Yep, it's true! Read about how Cheryl Ward developed the
urge and ability to paint in her two Paso Fino horses, Romeo and Juliet.
Watch videos of her horses painting, dancing, and having fun. Truly a nice
site for the whole family. I especially loved the "DaVinci Diaries" where
Cheryl chronicles her work with a severely abused draft cross gelding as he
transforms from a fearful victim into a beautiful dance partner.

http://www.paintinghorse.com/

************************************************

The Tapestry Institute website states:

We teach people to recognize, use, and integrate intellectual, experiential,
spiritual, and mythic ways of knowing and learning. Participants in
programs based on this system forge deep connections to others and to the
world around them. Preserving ways of learning that establish connection,
and re-establishing connections in human lives shattered by modern stressors
is vitally, desperately essential to the future we all share.

Tapestry carries out original research on how people learn through ways
traditional to Indigenous cultures worldwide but new to Western culture. We
apply these ways to innovative education programs ranging from the
Horse-Human Relationship Program and Digital Library of Indigenous Science
Resources to unique conferences. We have been awarded four prestigious
grants by the National Science Foundation, and partner with such influential
institutions as Tribal College Journal and SnowChange (Finland).

The Tapestry Institute is sponsoring the Voice of the Horse conference which
will be held June 30 and July 1st at Iowa State University. The conference
features speakers such as renowned dressage rider and author Jane Savoie,
filmmaker Ginger Katherens, Nuno Olivera's son Joao Oliveira, artist Kim
McElroy and more. This conference will also be available as a live telecast
to watch anywhere in the world.

www.tapestryinstitute.org
www.thevoiceofthehorse.com

********************************************************************
Featured rule: A few notable new rules
********************************************************************

The 2007 Horse Management Handbook and Rules for Rallies is full of new
surprises. I wanted to point out a few key changes here:

Hairnets are now no longer required. Your hair must still be neat and not
obstruct your number but now you may do that in other ways such as fastening
it up under your helmet, braiding it, or any number of other techniques. Of
course you may still want to use a hairnet if youšve gotten used to it, it
will always look nice.

Showbows are now allowed. Due to the lack of any reports of injuries from
the metal barrette thatšs part of the showbow, you may now choose to use the
showbow, which is a barrette with a black ribbon on it and a hairnet that
hangs as a little bag below it.

Hay may now be fed in flakes although concentrates will still need to be fed
by weight. Be sure to read up on pages 21 and 22 of the HM handbook and in
the Spring HM Newsletter for clarifications.

Halters must now have some form of identification on it at all times. The
identification must enable the horse to be returned to the correct rider
and/or stall at a competition. The label may include any or all of the
following:

* Rideršs name
* Rideršs number
* Barn name/number
* Stall number

********************************************************************
Horsey Humor: Glossary of Horse Terms
********************************************************************

Stall: What your rig does at rush hour in an unfamiliar city on the way to
a big trail ride.

A Bit: What you have left in your pocket after you've been to your favorite
tack shop.

Fence: Decorative structure built to provide your horse with something to
chew on.

Horse Auction: What you think of having after your horse bucks you off.

Pinto: Green coat pattern found on freshly washed light-colored horses left
unattended for 2 minutes.

Well Mannered: Hasn't stepped on, bitten, or kicked anyone for a week.

Rasp: Abrasive metal tool used to remove excess skin from ones knuckles.

Longeing: Popular training method in which a horse exercises their owner by
spinning them in circles until dizzy.

Gallop: Customary gait a horse chooses when returning back to the barn.

Nicely Started: Longes, but not enough health insurance to even think about
riding him.

Colic: Gastro-intestinal result of eating at horse fair food stands.

Colt: What your mare gives you when you want a filly.

Easy to Load: Only takes 3 hours, 4 men, a 50-lb bag of oats, and a tractor
with loader.

Easy to Catch: In a 10x10 stall.

Easy Rider: Rides good in a trailer; not to be confused with "ride-able".

Endurance Ride: End result when your horse spooks and runs away with you.

Hives: What you get when you receive the vet bill for your 6 horses, 3
dogs, 4 cats, and 1 donkey.

Hobbles: Walking gait of a horse owner after their foot has been stepped on
by their horse.

Feed: Expensive substance used to manufacture manure.

Dog House: What you are in when you spend too much money on grooming
supplies and pretty halters.

Light Cribber: We can't afford to build anymore fencing or box stalls for
this buzz saw on four legs.

Three-Gaited Horse: A horse that: 1) trips, 2) stumbles, 3) falls.

********************************************************************
Free item exchange
********************************************************************

**FREE**FREE**FREE**

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Submit your free horse-related items or services here. If you or your club
has items they are willing to pass along to a new family, this is a great
place to list them. Listings can come from any part of the country, or even
overseas!

Free items may include but are not limited to:

riding clothes
rally equipment
horse-related games and toys
tack and training equipment
blankets, wraps, halters
books or magazines
horse-related artwork
and of course...horses and ponies!

The recipient may be expected to handle any shipping costs.

Please provide a phone and/or email contact with each listing. Items will
be listed in the next HM Newsletter and will not be renewed unless an
additional email is sent asking for the listing to be continued.

So...clean out your tackroom and make room for more stuff!

To submit your items, simply reply to this email or write to:
stormy@... .

********************************************************************
Call for submissions
********************************************************************

Help make this newsletter the best it can be. Do you have any issues you'd
like to see addressed here? How about ideas for recommended products, books,
or videos? Want to submit your own article, or a question for the questions
and answers section? Send them to: stormy@... and I'll keep a log
of topics and articles for upcoming issues.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]