Every horse needs an individualized diet. Learn how you can improve your horse’s nutrition with tips from SmartPak Equine.

Question:

Is it possible for horses to be on the recommended amount of hay and pellet feeds and still have nutritional deficiencies?

To answer this question, we sought out nutritional expert Dr. Lydia Gray from AQHA Corporate Partner SmartPak Equine.

Answer:

Yes, it is entirely possible to provide your horse with the book-recommended levels of nutrients, and they may still not be getting the nutrition they need.

Remember, the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses suggests the minimum levels of calories, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in order to prevent outright disease, not to optimize health and performance.

Horses are individuals, and while the minimum level of a nutrient might be enough to allow one horse to say, grow healthy feet, this minimum level may not be enough for another horse.

Differences in metabolism, digestive efficiency — even management and stress — can all factor in to why some horses thrive on a basic diet and others need additional support.

– Dr. Lydia Gray, SmartPak Equine

Want more horse health advice? Subscribe to The American Quarter Horse Journal, AQHA’s award-winning official publication. Each month, you’ll enjoy articles and tips on all your favorite subjects, including health, showing, breeding, training, racing and much more.

To shoe or not to shoe? Find out at what age these AQHA Professional Horsemen prefer to shoe their halter horses.

Question:

At what age does a halter horse need to wear shoes?

For our answer, we referred to AQHA Professional Horsemen Doug Landon and Luke Castle. In the May American Quarter Horse Journal, Doug and Luke share their tips for preparing halter futurity foals.

Read the rest of this entry »

Learn how to best care for your pregnant mare.

Question:

It’s time to give my pregnant mare her last shots and de-wormer. Is a basic Ivermectin OK, or should I use something ‘milder?’

We sought out experts from AQHA Corporate Partner Farnam for the answer.
Read the rest of this entry »

Be sure your horse is getting the best nutrition this summer with advice from AQHA Corporate Partner and nutrition expert Nutrena.

Question:

During summer months, I only feed my horses after a ride, as they get plenty of grass from being out in pasture. Are my horses getting enough nutrition? Should I be adding more to their diet?

– Dennis Creason, Marshall, Missouri

To answer this question, we sought out equine nutrition experts from AQHA Coporate Partner Nutrena for advice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Find out the possible causes of your horse’s returning ulcer problem.

Question:

My stallion gets ulcers ever couple of years; what could be causing them?

For the answer, we sought out Dr. Lydia Gray from AQHA Corporate Partner, SmartPak Equine, to answer your questions regarding equine nutrition.

Read the rest of this entry »

Building a great foundation for your young horse begins with proper halter starting.

Question:

I am buying a yearling who was born last May. Any suggestions as to how to gentle him and halter break him, without him hurting himself or me? He hasn’t been touched, and he’s just been hanging out with other yearlings.

Read the rest of this entry »

Finding the right rope horse prospect starts with good conformation.

Question:

I have a very stout, big-boned American Quarter Horse. Whenever I take him anywhere, people ask me if I rope on him. I don’t – we just trail ride – but what is it about him that makes him look like a rope horse? What do ropers look for in a horse?

Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the best vaccine for a mare nearing her foaling date?

Question:

I was going to buy the third Pneumabort K vaccine for my mare and vaccinate her a month before her due date. I was told that I could just get her the regular shots (Fluvac 5) because the rhinopneumonitis vaccine in it would cover the same thing.

My only thought is that if I give this to her now I won’t be giving her the regular vaccines a month before her due date. Is that still OK, and will they still be covered in her colostrum?

Read the rest of this entry »

Properly wrap your horse’s injured hock with these tips from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

For more horse health tips, visit AQHA Alliance Partner American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Question:

How do you keep a bandage on a hock-area laceration?

Read the rest of this entry »

Try your hand at halter with these tips from AQHA Professional Horseman Denny Hassett.

Question:

I want to start showing a horse in halter. Where do I start?

In the March 2012 issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal, halter legend AQHA Professional Horseman Denny Hassett of Auburn, Kansas, teaches you how to start your halter career.

Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to fixing soured barrel horses, think outside of the box.

Question:

My horse and I compete in barrel racing, but lately, he’s been refusing to go in the alley. What sort of training can I do to get him back to entering the alley calmly?

In the March issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal, AQHA Professional Horsewoman Traci Johnting of Butler, Kentucky, addresses training and rehabbing soured barrel horses.

Read the rest of this entry »

Learn how to safely haul your weanling.

Question:

I’ve been reading the “Futurity Foals” series in The American Quarter Horse Journal, and it has got me thinking that it might be fun to show a weanling. But I was wondering, how do you haul a weanling? Shouldn’t you worry about them slipping under dividers?

Answer:

Years ago, we used to haul our weanlings to shows with their heads tied, and when we arrived, the baby was stressed out and sick. When a weanling arrives at a show stressed, he’s not going to show as well, and he can become sick and die. Hauling tied is enough stress on grown horses. Babies don’t need it.

If your trailer doesn’t have specific compartments, see whether you can remove some dividers to give your weanling more room.

The next thing we do is attach a big piece of plywood across the rubber mat at the lower edge of the divider so that the weanling won’t slide through. If they lay down and get their legs under the rubber mat, they can end up in the next stall. We get the wood at the lumber yard, cut to the width of the trailer, and then we trim it at home if we need to.

–AQHA Professional Horseman Jack Brizendine

Learn more about safely hauling a weanling or foal in “Safe Travels With Baby” on Page 133  in the January 2012 issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal.