Equine Care and Nutrition - www.ShanesTack.comShane's Tack was established in 2002 and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of horses throughout the US. We want to share our knowledge and products with like-minded horse lovers, get feedback and develop an ongoing dialogue with our readers.Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Choosing the Right Vitamin Supplement for Your Horse Horses require a smaller amount of daily vitamins in comparison to what humans need in a daily diet, so it is important to choose a vitamin supplement that provides them with the essential nutrients that are needed for good health. The requirement amount of vitamins required may vary depending on the size, age, and function of your horse. There are a variety of great supplements, such as Vita Flex Accel, made to improve the help the overall health of your horse. Look for a vitamin supplement that contains the following vitamins: Vitamin A, the Vitamin B group, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Folic Acid.Vitamin A is essential for a variety of bodily functions including: vision, skin cell growth, bone development and reproduction. If your horse is lacking in Vitamin A, cell growth is slowed down and your horse may have decreased immunity to infections. A diet low in carotene may be the cause to a deficiency in Vitamin A, so a vitamin supplement is essential for preventing a variety of problems in young and adult horses. In regard to the Vitamin B group, which includes Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B12, most horse get their daily requirement from grazing in the pasture, eating good hay, or manufacturing the vitamin in the colon. If you notice that your horse does not have a good energy metabolism, vision problems or problems utilizing the feed in the body, then choose a supplement with the Vitamin B group. Vitamin C, which is ascorbic acid, is essential for a variety body functions including collagen production and preventing infections. Typically horses are able to produce this important vitamin in the liver. However, if your horse is suffering from viral infections, provide your horse with a Vitamin C supplement. Vitamin D is used to regulate your horse’s blood calcium and a lack of Vitamin D can cause rickets in young horses, whose bones are not fully developed. If your horse is not getting enough Vitamin D from the hay, you may want to choose a supplement that contains this vitamin. Vitamin E helps to stabilize cell walls and helps reproductive and muscular problems. If your horse is susceptible to azoturia or needs a performance boost and is not getting enough from eating cereal, green forage, or hay, then use a supplement with Vitamin E. Vitamin K helps the blood to clot and is typically digested when your horse eats green forage and hay. This vitamin is beneficial in stopping exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. A supplement is only recommended when there is a deficiency in the diet. Folic Acid is essential for producing red blood cells. Even though this vitamin is typically ingested when your horse grazes or eats legume hay, it is harder for the body to absorb and a vitamin supplement is recommended. Before you choose a vitamin supplement, always make sure that it is appropriate for your horse. Check the dosage amount required for your horse before adding it to your horse’s feed. Labels: equine vitamin supplement
Monday, June 22, 2009 Protect Your Horse from Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus Since horses are greatly affected by the West Nile Virus just like humans, it is important to provide your horse with protection from mosquito bites to help avoid contracting this disease. If your horse is bitten by an infected mosquito, it may lead to West Nile Virus, which causes serious neurological symptoms or death. West Nile Virus occurs when a mosquito bites into an infected bird and then bites a horse. The virus is injected into the bloodstream after the bite and can make your horse very, very sick. One-third of horses get sick after a bite from an infected mosquito and one-third of those horses die from the infection.Prevention is the best way to avoid contracting the West Nile Virus. Here are some simple mosquito solutions to help avoid this harmful disease: 1. Get your horse vaccinated once or twice a year, depending on the vaccine. It is important to make sure your horse has year-round protection, since some areas of the United States have mosquitoes year round or even when the weather gets colder. 2. Use Mosquito Control Stock Tank Dispenser in your horse’s stock tank to prevent mosquito larvae from growing into adults and transmitting the disease. Make sure the stock tank is cleaned regularly and add this larvicide as directed. 3. Use a mosquito repellent around the barn. Spray Natural Mosquito Repellent 32 oz. around the barn to help kill and keep mosquitoes away from the stable away. 4. Apply mosquito protection directly on your horse. Manna Pro Equine Fly & Mosquito Spray can be applied directly on your horse to help repel mosquitoes. 5. Make sure to eliminate areas that have standing water. For ponds, add a filter and pump to keep the water moving. It is harder for mosquitoes to breed in moving water. By following these steps, you will help prevent your horse from contracting the West Nile Virus and becoming sick and possibly dying. Mosquito prevention is the best way to prevent this terrible disease from damaging your horse. Labels: equine mosquito, equine west nile virus protection
Monday, June 15, 2009 Create a First-Aid Kit for Your Horse Whether your horse is in competition or training, it is a great idea to have a first-aid kit handy for injuries. The kit should be able to travel with you and be available at all times. It is not a good idea to keep your kit locked up in the barn. Take the kit wherever you and your horse go. Also, train others who work with your horse to know how to use the items in the kit. After you put the kit together make sure that you check it regularly to see if the items are still good. Here are some items that are essential for your kit:1. The most important item for a first-aid kit is Gamgee. Gamgee, when applied to the wound with pressure, helps to control and stop bleeding. It can also be used to wipe the wound clean with an anti-septic and in a dressing to help immobilize the leg. 2. Anti-septic is essential for cleaning the wound and preventing bacteria from causing an infection in the wound. There are a variety of types to choose from, but powder and aerosols are ideal for applying a light layer to the wound without disturbing it. Scarlex Aerosol Equine Antiseptic works effectively at preventing infection and is easy to apply to your horse’s wound. It is also good to pack anti-septic swabs for minor cuts and scrapes. 3. Flexible bandages are great for keeping the wound dressing in place and are comfortable for your horse to have on. 3M Vetrap Bandaging Tape is available in assorted colors and stays on very well. 4. A small pair of scissors for cutting the dressing and bandages. 5. A thermometer for taking your horse’s temperature. 6. Insect repellent to help keep the insects away from your horse. 7. Hoof oil and hoof ointment for injuries related to the hoof. 8. Animalintex poultice is great for treating a variety of wounds and infections. 9. Fungicide to help prevent a variety of fungal infections. 10. A tote for keeping your first-aid items together. 11. Include other healthcare items that your horse may need. 12. Have your vet’s phone number available at all times and include it in the kit. Labels: equine first-aid kit, equine wound care
Monday, June 8, 2009 How to Keep Your Horse’s Mane and Tail Hair Looking Great Keeping your horse’s hair is great shape takes some time and effort, even if your horse is lucky to be born with silky, soft hair. Here are some important steps to follow when improving the condition of your horse’s hair:1. Keep your horse’s mane and tail hair skin clean and exfoliated. Using a scrub helps to remove dead skin cells and helps to stimulate hair growth. A great scrub to use on your horse is the Big and Sexy Tail Scrub for Horses. This cleansing scrub is ideal for removing dead skin and generating hair growth. 2. Shampoo the mane and tail hair once a month or as needed. As soon as the mane and tail hair becomes dirty and dingy, it is time for a shampoo. Keeping the mane and tail hair clean, greatly approves the appearance. Mane 'n Tail Equine Shampoo is great for cleansing both the skin and hair. 3. After cleaning the skin and hair, apply a conditioner to the mane and tail hair. Applying conditioner is critical for making the hair soft and silky. It also makes brushing much easier. Some conditioners need time to absorb into the hair, so be sure to read the label to see how much time the conditioner needs to set before rinsing it away. Rinse the mane and tail hair thoroughly to avoid over-conditioning and leaving a residue on the hair. 4. Brush your horse’s mane and tail hair gently after a bath or a ride to keep it tangle free. Use a brush made especially for the mane and tail hair, such as the Equestria Sport Mane and Tail Brush. This type of brush will not break the hair stands or pull out hair. 5. Braid or bag the tail hair to keep it clean and free of tangles. A loose braid is great for keeping the tail hair neat and clean. Undo the braid every few days to prevent hair from falling out. Bagging the tail hair also protects it from dirt and tangles. Both of this tricks help to encourage hair growth. Labels: equine brush, Equine Shampoo, Equine Skin Care, Equine Skin Scrub
Monday, June 1, 2009 How to Prepare for Your Horse for a Bath Now that summer is almost here, it is a great time to wash your horse. Washing your horse is a big job and being prepared makes the job a lot easier for you and your horse. Plan on spending at least an hour to wash, rinse, and dry. Follow these simple steps and it should go smoothly:First Step: See if your horse is in a good mood. If your horse is acting up, you should avoid giving your horse a bath. If you have to give your horse a bath, then it is a good idea to have a helper. Second Step: Make sure that your horse is secure. If possible, tie your horse in a washrack. A washrack is an ideal place for washing your horse and made for the purpose of washing a horse. A washrack has a hard, concrete floor and a hitch for tying up your horse. If you don’t have a washrack available, choose an area that has a hard floor and a place to secure your horse. Use a halter and a lead rope to help secure your horse. Nylon material works the best. Third Step: Prepare your water. A horse should be bathed in warm water. A garden hose, attached to a warm water source, is great for spraying off your horse. Using a hose to rinse your horse off is very convenient and saves you time. If you don’t have a hose available, prepare warm water buckets. The amount of water needed to bathe your horse depends on the size of your horse and most horses need approximately 75 gallons of water for a bath. When you don’t have easy access to warm water, a bucket heater is very handy. Always check the water first before using it on your horse. Make sure that it is warm to the touch. Fourth Step: Prepare your tools. Have your shampoo, conditioner, sponges, scraper, towels, sheet, and anything else you will need to bathe your horse ready to use and within reach. Fifth Step: Dress appropriately. You will definitely get wet when washing your horse, so make sure that you dress in clothes and shoes that can get wet. Sixth Step: Reward your horse. To help encourage good behavior during a bath, give your horse a treat when finished. Labels: bucket heaters, heated buckets
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Horse Training Improves Your Horse’s Stamina and More A training program will greatly benefit and improve the overall health and well-being of your horse. It is important to train your horse because it helps to increase energy, helps to reduce fatigue, and helps with coordination and stamina. Here are some helpful tips to get you started:1. Start with the basics – walking your horse. Your horse should start off slowly by trotting or walking at a slow canter for a long distance. You will start to see results in your horse soon after you begin and you should continue to see results as long as the training intensifies. As your horse's training progresses and stamina is increased, continue increasing the distance and the amount of time spent training. 2. Once you’ve start long distance training, add an incline to your horse’s routine. This will also help to increase your horse’s muscle strength by building up the muscles. Just choose hilly areas of land for your horse to walk up and down on. Walking on an incline is great for boosting stamina and increasing muscle strength. 3. Add a variety of fun activities for your horse to do. Just like humans, horses need a variety of exercises to do to help prevent boredom and continue making progress in their exercise routine. 4. If you have the resources available, trying adding a treadmill for your horse to walk on. Treadmills are adjustable, so you can set the speed or incline. Also, you can easily track your horse’s progress when using a treadmill. 5. Remember to keep your horse hydrated. After exercise your horse may be depleted of water and may need electrolytes. It is a good idea to add an electrolyte supplement such as, Electro-Dex Electrolyte Supplement, to your horse’s feed or drinking water to ensure that your stays hydrated. Labels: horse electrolytes, horse training
Thursday, May 21, 2009 Equine Wound Care, Skin Infections and Pain Relief Horse wounds and skin infections vary when it comes to type, size, and severity. All equine wounds fall into five basic categories. The type of care and first aid you administer depends, in part, on the wound type. Viral Skin Infections: Ditton Cream which is now known as Virex Cream is designed to help with viral skin infections such as warts, sarcoids and other types of viruses. Made from high quality Calendula cream and consists of Witch Hazel extract, Calendula Oil and Thuja. Witch Hazel is known to be a cool, soothing, drying astringent. Calendula Oil and Thuja are great for helping to maintain resistance against viral infections. Safe for use on most sensitive areas and it will not harm your horse if ingested Equine Abrasions: Superficial wounds like abrasions are usually not critical, unless caused by a fall; however, abrasions can be very painful. Use a pain killer like Arthrieze Plus. Abrasions may occur when your horse scrapes against a rough surface, or as a result of a poor fitted saddle or saddle blanket. Use an antiseptic like Super-H. Super-H Antiseptic Powder is a non-toxic blend of aluminum silicate boric acid, natural oils, and menthol. It is formulated to heal damaged euqine tissue and therefore is ideal in the treatment of scrapes, burns, abrasions, sores, scratches, cuts, and thrush. Equine Bites: The Sauce is Sore No More's horse liniment combined with Povidone Iodine. This herbal dressing combined with sugar may be one the most effective sugardine combination yet. Sugardine is an old time remedy of mixing iodine and sugar to form a paste that is then applied to open wounds, bites, abscesses, or resected hooves to reduce inflammation, infection, and healing time. Punctures: Punctures should always treated aggressively due to the possibility of tetanus and other infections. Caused by sharp objects that penetrate deep into the skin, muscles, or hooves. Fungus and Bacterial Skin Problems: Equine America Fungasol Spray is a topical spray for horses with skin conditions associated with fungus and bacteria such as girth itch, rain rot and wound bacteria. Labels: equine care, Equine Skin Care, Horse Wound
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