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 →

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!

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My name is Jelena, and I’m a new author on the “LVR” series of blogs. You can find my author page here. As you can see from my list of pets — one dog, one cat, twelve rats, a hedgehog, a turtle, and a horse — I have a house full of critters! I’m a behavior nerd and love to teach new things to my pets using clicker training and other positive reinforcement methods. Here on PetLvr, I’ll be blogging about behavior and training, as well as pet nutrition, and sometimes other related topics.

Allow me to introduce some of my pets in a little more detail.

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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.

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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

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… 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.

Budweiser Horse in Training

FOUND AT: BlogCatalog

If you want to successfully train a horse, you should consider adding some special equipment to your tack room. While you may be able to make do with the tack you already have, training will be much more challenging without the right tools. At a minimum, you should have a halter, a lead rope, a bridle, a bit and a saddle. If you want to work with your horse while you are on the ground, you will also need a longe line, a longeing cavesson, a longe whip, and a good pair of leather gloves.

For horses that are learning the basics, you will need to start with the halter. This is the most important piece of tack you can own and you will be using it long after you finish training your horse, so don’t be afraid to invest in a nice one. Halters are loose fitting and very adjustable, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding one that fits your horse properly. Once your horse is accustomed to wearing a halter, you will need to teach him to accept a lead rope. Again, this is a piece of tack you will use well after your horse is well trained.

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While most people realize they will need a saddle to ride their horses, they may not be aware of all the reasons why they should use a saddle instead of riding bareback. Saddles are often more comfortable than riding bareback, since many horses have bony backs. A saddle also is safer than riding bareback, since the stirrups and pommel provide some support for beginning riders. For Western riders, saddles are like an extra hand, since the saddle horn can easily be used to hold ropes.

To get a rough idea of whether a saddle will fit your horse, you should measure the width of his back. Then, measure the width of the inside of the saddle you are considering. If the widths are similar, the saddle may fit your horse. However, be sure you talk to your feed and tack supplier about whether you can exchange the saddle for a different model if it is too small or too large for the horse or is uncomfortable for you.

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