Shanes Tack Horse Care Blog

Good Hoof Care is Good Economy

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

An old adage, “Shoeing is a necessary evil,” has been prevalent throughout the history of horse owners. Though this aged saying has been accepted at face value for decades, closer assessment will disclose the error in this line of thought.

Shoeing is not always necessary; neither is it always evil. Multiple factors with the help of an accredited professional will determine if, why and how a horse should be shod.

Some of these factors are:

the proposed use of the horse,
the condition of the feet and legs,
the tasks to be performed,
the environment in which the horse is to perform, and
the surface upon which the horse will be working.

Another adage frequently heard is “No hoof, no horse.” This is as true today as when the expression was first coined. Good hoof care is good economy and there is no substitute but there are economical products from Durvet to make your job easy.

It’s best to have your horse trimmed or shod every four to eight weeks, in addition to picking your horse’s hooves daily to remove dirt and debris. Feed your horse a biotin supplement like Biotin Crumbles by Durvet to promote healthy hoof growth. Keep your horse away from wet footing or bedding to prevent soft hooves and thrush, a stinky fungus that eats away at the frog and sole of the hoof. A good and economical treatment for thrush is D-Thrush™, another competitively priced product offered by Durvet and available at http://www.shanestack.com/.

Another tip to keep in mind is that dry hooves may be caused by a lack of exercise and allowing your horse to stand in mud can damage their hooves and legs so keep up an adequate exercise program and good stable management practices.

What is Thrush?

It is a common ailment of horses’ hooves (frog degeneration) caused by a secondary anaerobic bacterial infection. What are the most notable signs of thrush? A very offensive odor may radiate from the underside of the hooves, a very dark, thick, liquid may be discharged from the hooves and possible lameness may occur in severe cases.

What are the causes of thrush?

Poor management practices, wet conditions and failure to clean hooves regularly are major causes. How is thrush treated? After thoroughly removing debris and necrotic material from the infected hoof, apply a Copper Naphthenate product, such as D-Thrush™ as directed on the label to the affected area. Repeat daily. How can thrush be prevented? Provide dry, clean standing areas free of urine-soaked bedding and manure, regular exercise, and good farrier care will also help prevent this disease.

Top 10 US Horse Breeds – Equine Trivia

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:13:18 +0000

Arabian
These horses are genetically pure. They are the pretty foundation of all light breeds. They are best-known for their intelligence, affectionate and mild disposition and stamina. They are dependable and have friendly nature that is why they are a favorite choice for therapeutic riding, clearly show ring, dressage, trail rides, cutting, reigning and jumping.
Quarter Horse
Paint
These horses are descendants of horses brought about by the Spanish conquistadors. Paints are friendly, hardworking and intelligent. It is a fitting horse for the ranch, trail riding, rodeo, and reveals and as mounts for kids.
Miniature
Miniature horses are mild, intelligent and curious. They are very best held as household pets.
Thoroughbred
Appalossa
Morgan
The Morgan was named immediately after its owner, Justin Morgan. The breed is most likely a mixture of a Thoroughbred and a Welsh cob. All Morgans can be traced to the three sons sired by Justin Morgan. The breed is a functioning and racing horse. It is the first of all American horse breed.
Tennesee Walking
Welsh Pony and Cob
Andalusian
This breed is also regarded as Pure Spanish horse. It is a war horse and a significantly coveted horse by nobility. Its powerful factors are its compact and powerful developed its regal and classy bearing and its thick mane and tail. This breed of horses is passive nonetheless remarkably sensitive and intelligent.

Epsom Salt Equine Poultice – Treating Hoof Abcesses

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:16:16 +0000

Epsom Salt Poultice is a topical gel designed for external application for temporary relief of minor pains, bruises, and sprains associated with muscle and joint injuries.

Originally labeled for horses, the newest version of this product is labeled for Horse AND Rider.

The reason that we like Durvet’s Epsom Salt Poultice is because it was rated by Horse Journal as “Best for Draining Hoof Abcesses”.

If you ever experienced having a horse with a hoof abcess, you probably will never forget it.

A hoof abscess is one of the worst things that a horse owner can witness. It almost happens overnight. The horse appears almost lame, refusing to place any weight on a specific leg. Try to think how painful an abcessed tooth feels (Have you ever had to have a root canal?)

Now think about putting your entire body weight on that tooth. Ugg, I know .. not something you want to think about.

An abscess can occur when the hoof develops an infection due to:

The sole being pierced by a sharp object such as a nail.
The hoof wall cracks (sometimes due to bad trimming or hoof neglect), which allows a piece of gravel to enter and become ingrained within the sensitive tissue above the sole (the laminae).
Damage is done to the corium due to factors such as decreased blood circulation from shoes, poor horse shoeing and/or trimming, etc.
Other less common factors can cause a hoof abscess. Many times the cause or point of origin of the abcess will never be known.

When your horse develops an absces, purulent fluid (pus) collects as the body fights off the source of the infection. (similar to that tooth) Since the hoof cannot expand to accommodate the increasing collection of pus, the increased pressure within the hoof causes a great degree of pain.

The pus will attempt to escape via the easiest path within the hoof, which most often is the coronary band. If a hoof wall is weakened or contains a crack it’s possible for the abscess to develop there instead. Once the abscess drains the pus from the horse’s hoof, the infection generally ends and your horse becomes just fine.

So draining the abcess is the quickest way to relieve for your horse.

The number one way to prevent abscesses is to keep the hoof dry, clean and well trimmed. This means picking hooves daily and ensuring that bedding is kept as clean as possible. Regular trimming keeps the sole from trapping debris under itself.

Keep Epsom Salt Poultice on hand because relieving the pain and draining the infection quickly is of the utmost importance.

Quality, Cared For Udders make Quality Milk

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:04:18 +0000

Winter brings special challenges when dealing with udders.

Udder Comfort makes tried and true products to keep your livestock’s udders in tip top shape – minimizing chapping and frosted teat ends.

The Blue Lotion comes in a handy bottle to hang from your milking line. The blue lotion remains blue from one milking to the next, taking the guesswork out of follow-up applications

The White Lotion comes in a handy bottle to hang from your milking line. The white dries clear.

Although a product like Udder Comfort does the job and keeps your cow’s udders healthier, it is important to remember that over milking can cause problems like chapping. Remember to always be cognizant of milking limits and allow your cows to stay in the parlor for a few extra minutes before going back out in the cold.

Eliminating Winter Static Electricity – on YOU and YOUR Horse

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:26 +0000

It’s a fore-gone conclusion that winter weather brings static electricity because of the increased dryness in the air.

Staticelectricity is not only in your hair but your horse’s also.

Avoiding the evil ZAP when you brush up against, take his blanket off or pat your horse is easier than you think. Adding moisture to your horse’s coat (and your own) can stop the static electricity ZAPs and bring peace to the stall once again.
We suggest using a moisturizing shampoo on your horse like Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo.

One of our best sellers, it comes in 3 sizes: 16 oz, 32 oz and Gallon size.

Not only does Cowboy Magic stop the ZAPs, it will leave your horse’s coat with a natural shine and is very easy to rinse.

If the static starts to return in between shampoos – use Cowboy Magic Detangler and Shine pictured to the right for an immediate de-zap.

Best of all, all Cowboy Magic products work on both human and equine, so go ahead and lather up to add some shine and anti-zap to your hair, too!

ShanesTack.com Holiday & Gift Giving Coupons Released

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:40:09 +0000

HOLIDAY SEASON COUPONS! – use lowercase when redeeming

Find a wonderful selection of horse lover gifts, treats for your favorite equine and a litany of housewarming gifts at www.Shanestack.com. If you have a friendly farmer or frolicking farrier on your gift list, look no further than ShanesTack Equine and Farm.

Save $3 on $35, coupon: hoho35
Save $5 on $55, coupon: hoho55
Save $7 on $75, coupon: hoho75
Save $9 on $95, coupon: hoho95
Save $11 on $115, coupon: hoho115
Save $13 on $135, coupon: hoho135
Save $15 on $155, coupon: hoho155
Save $17 on $175, coupon: hoho175

Expires: December 17, 2011

ShanesTack.com Cyber Monday / Black Friday Coupons & A Thanksgiving Poem

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:22:52 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your pets!

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

CYBER MONDAY AND BLACK FRIDAY EXTRAS!

Save $5.00 on orders > $49 – use coupon: cyber

Save $4.00 on orders > $39 – use coupon: black

(Valid until Dec. 7, 2011)

East Coast Goat and Sheep Numbers are Increasing

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:45:41 +0000

Goat and sheep numbers continue to grow in the eastern USA.

There is also a small scale farming boom, as goat and sheep farming is done on smaller than average acreage. Farm stores are the main suppliers to this part of the farming business.

ShanesTack.com continues to add products to this category as demand grows. The most recent addition was the 33 pound EnergiLass Goat Supplement.

This poured block style supplement is packaged in a convenient bucket for alot less than you would image. After the product has been consumed by the goat, you are left with a high quality bucket that can be used for all kinds of needs around the farm.

EnergiLass® Advantages

Controlled Consumption
Weather-Resistant
Low Moisture Content (2-4%)
Nutrient-Dense Package
Convenient Feeding Without Sacrificing Nutrition
Improved Roughage and Total Ration Digestion
Improved Rumen Microbe Environment
Improved Dry Matter Intake
Improved Body Condition
Stronger Heat Signs and Higher Conception Rates
20% Greater Carrying Capacity of Pasture
Contains No Chemical Hardeners or Intake Inhibitors

Get ready for that first frost..

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:41:05 +0000

The weathermen in the northeast are already worrying about that first fall frost, while gardeners in other parts of the country have already seen its devastating effects.

Prepare your plants this year with FreezePruf.

FreezePruf is an eco-friendly frost protectant spray that prepares plants on a cellular level.

The biodegradable formula is designed to resist washing away by rain or snow and application lasts up to 4 weeks with normal precipitation.

That means you can lengthen your growing season and not have the daily worry of frost, all with an easy-to-apply eco-friendly spray.

Use STALL Dry to eliminate mold from Irene’s Wrath

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:26:14 +0000

Hurricane Irene’s rampage up the East Coast will most likely prove to be one of the 10 costliest catastrophes in the nation’s history.

Unfortunately, analysts warn that much of the damage may not be covered by homeowners insurance because so much of it was not caused by winds but by flooding, which is excluded from many standard policies.

Stall Dry is a very useful product that can absorb moisture and prevent mold in basements of homeowners, as well as retailers. It will absorb 140% of its own weight in liquid–repeatedly.

Stall Dry contains Montmorillonite, which is a binder of mold.

FEMA’s website states “getting to the wet or flooded areas within 24-48 hours can help to reduce or stop the harmful effects of mold.”

Mold causes serious illnesses, even death.

Most mold infested houses are eventually condemned.