Welcome to e-Tips!
Welcome to the August 2010 e-Tips brought to you by My Horse University and eXtension/horses. With August being one of the hottest months of the year, horses are more at risk for thermal stress, which can result in decreased performance, injury, or even death. However, thermal stress can be prevented by monitoring environmental conditions, providing adequate water and minerals and using common sense. This month's Did You Know article offers strategies and tips for helping your horse beat the heat!
All summer long, My Horse University has been getting ready for back-to-school season! Our fall line-up for free monthly webcasts will be announced soon. We also hope you will participate in our short online survey about the e-Tips newsletters so we can deliver the most useful and effective horse management information to your inbox! Click here to take the eTips Survey!
Did you know...?
Responsible Horse Care for Summer
Adapted from Extension article by Steven M. Jones, Extension Horse Specialist
Proper horse care year-round is important to maintaining a healthy horse. Although you have no control over seasonal changes, they have an effect on horses that you must recognize. Extreme variances in temperature require adjusting your management programs for the benefit of the horse.
In the hot and humid weather, horses generate a significant amount of metabolic heat during exercise that must be dissipated to prevent thermal injury. During hot, humid conditions sweat will not evaporate; therefore, evaporative cooling becomes ineffective, quickly leading to debilitating and potentially life-threatening situations. Read on.
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This Month's e-Tips
Understand how horses regulate their body temperatures and make adjustments to your horse management practices to prevent heat-related stress and injuries.
• Horses cool themselves primarily by sweating. During hot and humid conditions, sweat will not evaporate, putting the horse at risk for thermal injuries.
• Keep your horse hydrated. With prolonged exercise, water intake may increase 300 percent.
• Monitor weather conditions. Use a device that monitors heat and humidity and calculates the “comfort index,” and adjust fluid and exercise accordingly.
• Maintain electrolyte balance. Horses beginning a vigorous training schedule or adjusting to elevated environmental temperatures may need an electrolyte supplement to prevent sodium and potassium deficiency.
Question of the Month
Signs of Shivers are most likely to appear when:
A. Moving the horse forwards
B. Moving the horse backwards
C. Turning the horse out to pasture
D. Feeding the horse
Click here for the answer!
Photo of the Month
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Here is a photo of me and my Quarter Horse mare, Sugar, my trail horse extraordinaire. I had a friend of mine shoot some random shots because I had no photos of me and Sugar together. After getting the film developed, my initial response to this photo was, "this is the one. It's perfect". However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that just at the moment of the shutter click, Sugar decided to show how she really felt about this whole picture taking thing. Look closely, she has her tongue stuck out!!!! So much for the perfect shot!!!
Photo Submitted by Judy Kirkman
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Want your extraordinary equine featured in the next Photo of the Month?
Send your photo along with your name and a little background info to info@myhorseuniversity.com and we'll also feature your horse on our brand new Facebook page!
Write "Photo of the Month" in the subject line.
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August 2010
In This Issue
Gold Sponsor
Purina Mills is a proud sponsor of My Horse University and eXtension.
News & Updates
Horse Owners Seminar Series: Colic in the Horse
Ames, IA
August 3, 2010
7:30 PM
Weed Identification and Control Pasture Walk
Clarksville, MD
August 12, 2010
6:00 PM
2010 Horse Pasture Seminar Clarksville, MD
September 11, 2010
9:00 AM-3:00 PM
2010 World Equestrian Games
Lexington, KY
September 25, 2010
Purina Horse Owner's Workshops
Various dates and locations
MHU on Facebook
@MyHorseU
@eXtensionHorses
Ask the Experts
eXtension invites you to Ask the Experts your horse-related questions.
Free Horse Learning Lessons
eXtension's team of horse experts have developed specialized lessons on various topics.
Online Horse Management Courses
Take an online course from My Horse University! eXtension HorseQuest participants can receive a 10% discount by entering the coupon code HQ1 when registering for a course.
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