PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

Last spring, my Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) gelding, Ember, began colicking repeatedly. He would begin lying down and nipping at his sides just before feeding time, as often as two or three times per week. The episodes tended to coincide with excitement, such as dinner being a little late or exercising after a meal. A dose of Banamine was all he needed to perk him back up, but nonetheless I was very concerned.

Colic is the number one cause of death in horses. Essentially, colic is a catch-all term for a bellyache, and the underlying cause can range from gas to a twisted intestine. Sometimes the condition requires surgery; sometimes it’s too late even for surgical intervention. Fortunately (knock wood) Ember has never had a colic serious enough to require hospitalization. However, I was eager to find a solution to the recurring problem before it escalated. More →

You’ve undoubtedly noticed that your dog is much smaller than a horse. (Well, most are anyway.) Nevertheless, most horses are much more frightened of dogs than the reverse. That creates unique problems - for dog, horse and the person who has to govern both.

In this case, unlike other animal training areas, it helps very little to start the interaction out when both animals are young. Young horses are at least as skittish as older ones, and are often accompanied by a mare. Neither is naturally fond of nor curious about puppies. To a horse, nearly everything but their owners and a few other horses are threats - at least until they’re mature.

More →

By OTTB, I mean, of course, an Off the Track Thoroughbred. In other words, a retired racehorse, like my Ember, aka Embrace Reality, pictured below.

OTTBs can excel in most disciplines, are generally inexpensive compared to young sporthorses that are not retiring from the track, and have been exposed to varied environments, sights, sounds, and experiences. If you’re an experienced rider considering buying a young sporthorse prospect, the option of purchasing or adopting a Thoroughbred off the racetrack might be an attractive option. Before you head for the backside to chat up trainers, here are a few things to consider: More →

Would you like to teach your horse to lie down on command? How about improving your mare’s flying lead changes, or testing a young horse’s jumping potential without needing to place a rider on his back? All of these and more are possible with one small training device that costs under $5.00 and never touches your horse: A clicker.

Clicker training is one of the most popular methods for training dogs, but many horse owners have discovered that it works like a charm for teaching everything from parlor tricks to high-level dressage maneuvers to horses. Clicker training, developed from methods used to train dolphins, uses operant conditioning and positive reinforcement to gradually develop behaviors. Even goldfish can learn tricks this way. Check out the video posted here for proof!

More →

Many people seeking a new pet bypass the adoption option for one reason or another. While there are certainly some situations in which purchasing from a reputable, responsible breeder is ideal, consider this list of five myths about pet adoption before bypassing rescue to look for a breeder.

1. Shelter dogs are all mutts.

More →

The results of the 79th German Jumping and Dressage Grand Prix Derby can be found .. HERE

Image details: 79th German Jumping & Dressage Grand Prix served by picapp.com

What Is It?

More →

By Bonnie Martin

Frequently I talk to, hear of, or read about someone who bought a trained horse and after riding it for a period of time decide that the horse needs to go to a trainer because it has developed a problem. Some of the time it is a matter of the horse “all of the sudden” not doing as well as it did at first. Perhaps, if it is a gaited horse, the desired gait disappears and presents the rider with a rough gait in its place. Or it might be that the horse starts doing something new such as fighting the bit, moving off while being mounted, not stopping well, rearing, spooking, or some other undesirable action that the rider didn’t have a problem with at first.

Before automatically assuming that the horse has a training problem, one should always rule out pain issues-tack, teeth, and soreness. Any of these things can cause a horse to act out in avoidance of pain.

More →

By Samantha J Jane

We go to great lengths to make ourselves comfortable in the hot weather, air conditioning, fans, cold drinks. What should we do to ensure our horses are also comfortable through our hot, dry and dusty summer?

1. On the priority list - Water

More →

… no, not by me .. but I’d like to shout this out to other Horse Enthusiasts … and Horse Racing Enthusiasts!

Listen to Kevin Stafford (aka kdawg68) from The Aspiring Horseplayer talk about the Florida Derby last weekend with the boys from The Sports Mafia site … over HERE. The podcast was made March 29, 2008.

By Fiona Stone

In shopping for a horse there are a few basic rules to meet success. Do yourself a favor and read this guideline if you want a smooth transition into your next purchase of an equine. All buyers interested in horses are interested for different reasons. The most important thing you can do for yourself is know yourself. Knowing yourself will ultimately lead you to understand what you need to aim for in finding the “right” horse. For instance, if you have never owned a horse before don’t buy a untrained horse or a young one for that matter. The market right now is such that you can find a well broke experienced horse for a good price. Also understand a horse will not train you, you need to find someone to help you learn how to become a good rider and a responsible horse owner. A well trained horse makes this transition a lot smoother if your new at being a horse owner.

Here are some steps to go by

More →