Olympic Games

For the full Equestrian      Schedule click on the below

We are excited to be able to share Heelan Tompkins diary of her and Sugoi's build up to the Olympic Games.  We are receiving weekly updates from Heelan and this is featured on our site, click here to read more. 

Contact Heelan Tompkins:  If you would like to send your best wishes onto Heelan email us at info@equinetrader.co.nz  we would be more than happy to pass them onto her and we are sure she would love to hear from you!

         
                                  Heelan Tompkins & Sugoi


Dr Rebecca Penman BVSc MRCVS.  The second half to her indepth article on parasites is featured below.

David Hankin Dip. WCF has eight informative reasons why it is so important to keep your regular farrier appointment!

Equine Trader is about to get bigger and better over the next few months...This month you will notice a change of colour to the site and an exciting new look to the home page.  The function of the site will remain the same and there will be no changes with your classified or directory listings.  You will receive a notification email to advise when the change is taking place.

Don't forget the  photo of the week competition.  Send your favourite horsey shot to comp@equinetrader.co.nz 
and be in to win a fantastic Stubben prize pack valued at $120.00. 

                         
 
        
                               "Amazing free jumping video!"             
             Click on picture to view the video on You Tube

Tip of the month     Grooming blocks are fantastic for getting the loose hair out of the horse's moulting coat and they also give a great shine.

Hoof-care tips with David Hankin

David heads a professional farriery practice in Christchurch.  He is passionate about improving standards of hoof care in New Zealand.  He plans to expand the practice to the North Island and other areas during 2008-2009.  Contact David through his website www.farrier.co.nz or on 0800 211 212

  Eight Reasons to Keep Regular Farrier 
        Appointments

1. Keeping you horse's feet as close as possible to their ideal 
     shape will reduce strain on their bones, tendons, ligaments
     and muscles, resulting in a healthier horse with fewer injuries.

2. Consistently good hoof balance means your horse will be able to  
     move freely and perform to an optimum level.

3. Maintaining an ideal shape and condition will reduce damage
     being caused to the internal structures of the hoof over time and
     reduces chances of navicular syndrome, laminitis and other
     problems.

4. Your farrier will be able to make improvements to your horse's
     feet over time, rather than spending each appointment trying to
     repair damage that has occurred by leaving the appointment too
     long.

5. Your farrier will appreciate the effort you put in to ensure that
     their hard work is not wasted by allowing the hooves to
     deteriorate - a great way to get into the good books!

6. Your horse's feet will always look tidy and attractive, especially
     with a coat of polish in the show ring.

7. You're unlikely to miss a competition due to lost shoes or
     preventable lameness.

8. It shows that you care about your horse when you do your best to
     look after them correctly.  You can take pride in the fact that they
     have great feet!

Dr Rebecca Penman BVSc MRCVS
                                (Veterinarian/Practice Owner)

                       
                                   

Rebecca was born in Auckland and grew up riding in Coatesville. She completed her Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 2003 at Massey University in Palmerston North. After spending 6 months practising in New Zealand she spent nearly 2 years in Australia and the UK working at various clinics. She is now the owner of Redvale Park Equine Hospital which has been open since October 2007.  In her spare time she rides her horses, mountain bikes, snowboards and does a little bit of amateur photography.

Parasite Control

Minimizing the Worm Burden in the environment

The most ideal and effective way is to pick up manure from paddocks whether by traditional methods or these fancy vacuums.  Twice a week should be the minimum.

Try to keep horse numbers per paddock to a minimum.

Top paddocks to avoid patches of long grass.

Rotational grazing with sheep and cattle.

Feeding hay and other feeds off the ground.

Putting foals and yearlings into paddocks that are as worm free as possible.

Removing bots eggs regularly during the late summer/autumn.

Harrowing: This is no longer a practice that is recommended in New Zealand, it was done traditionally as an adaptation from overseas.  We now know that this just spreads the eggs and larvae around the paddock.  The temperate conditions that we have in NZ don't kill the larvae and eggs and they will even survive through the frosts of winter quite happily.

Administration of Anthelmintics

When treating your horse for worms it is very important to be giving the correct dosages which means ideally you need an accurate weight for your horse.  The most accurate way is to find someone who has some large horse scales that you can use - perhaps a local vet clinic.  Alternatively you can use the weigh tapes, just be aware that they can be up to 20% inaccurate and even more so in small ponies and minis.  It is always better to overdose than underdose if you can't get an accurate weight.  Underdosing your horse won't kill all the worms and may contribute to drench resistance.

It is important that your horse receives ALL of the drench and that half of it doesn't end up on the ground.  Ensure that the tube is put as far back on the tongue as possible and keep your horses head held up.

Drench Resistance

While there is lots of evidence that sheep and cattle in NZ are becoming resistant to drenches, there is no current resistance with horses.  There are certainly some anecdotal reports but as yet to be confirmed.  However it is certainly a possibility that in the future we will get some resistance, it is our job as horse owners to reduce this possibility by having really good worming programs in place.  If you are concerned about a resistance problem then it would be worth doing some faecal egg counts (FEC) done before and after each worming to see if the drench you are using is effective.

So when should I be worming my horse?

The answer: As little as possible!!

Unfortunately the answer to this question is quite specific for each different horse and not really something that can be given in an article such as this.  However I will say again that the traditional worming practice of every 6-8 weeks or similar for adult horses is not really appropriate anymore.  Mares in foal should be treated 2 weeks prior to foaling and then again 24-48 hours after foaling.  All foals should be treated every 6-8 weeks until they are a year old and then they should go onto an adult program appropriate for your property.  My advice for putting together a program would be to talk to your vet.

Which drench should I use?

Pretty much all of the worms that affect horses are susceptible to Ivermectin, the exceptions are Tapeworms (Praziquantel) and encysted small strongyles (High dose fenbendazole).  There are many brands of drench in NZ that contain these ingredients, so it then becomes a matter of personal preference - it can even come down to the type of applicator on the tube!  Certainly there are other drenches available containing such ingredients as oxfendazole, morantal tartrate and abamectin.  These are all appropriate drenches for NZ.

Ensure that you read the label carefully with regards to dosage and the expiry date.  If you are worming a mare in foal or one during lactation make sure the drench you are using has been tested for this.


                              

Saddle Fitting  

Here we are - the last month of winter and spring is on its way.  For many of us we are thinking about bringing our turned out horses back into work.  An important aspect of bringing horses back into work is ensuring that their tack is all ship shape before using.  It is also a good time before the season begins to check your tack even if you have kept your horse ticking along over winter.

One particular item to check is your saddle fit on your horse.  Horses can change shape often and the frequency of these changes will relate to age, training, health and management.  Try to recognise these changes and check your saddle at least once yearly.

Some horses will have changed shape slightly after being spelled or may have lost some condition over the wet and cold winter months.  Due to various reasons, e.g. weight loss and muscle wastage, saddle fit can alter enough to potentially create a problem for your horse.  Let's face it the last thing some horses need when being brought back into work is an excuse to misbehave!



Here are some of the basic rules to adhere to when checking your saddle fit:

* Check gullet width and tree shape is correct and allows adequate
   clearance of the wither and sits comfortably 2" (5cm) behind the
   scapula or shoulder blade.  The saddle should sit around the spinal
   column resting on the fat and muscle with no pressure on the spine.

* Saddle balance - the deepest part of the saddle should be in the
   centre of the seat, so that the rider's weight is distributed evenly
   throughout the weight bearing surface of the saddle.  Sit in the
   saddle - are you tipping forward or leaning back, do you feel you
   are sitting in the centre?  If not the packing of the saddle might
   need looking at.

* It is important that the panel does not impinge on either shoulder
   blade or vertebrae.  Check the channel is sufficiently wide enough
   (approx 3 fingers width) to prevent this.

* Check there is no bridging (gap between the saddle panel and
   horses back) and that the saddle does not rock from back to front.

* Ideally the weight bearing surface of the saddle should not extend
   back further than the 18th rib (T18) 

               

A horse will never be a willing partner while suffering discomfort caused by a poorly fitting saddle.  Some signs that perhaps your saddle doesn't fit well are:

* Sores on the back
* White hairs under the saddle
* Temporary swelling after removing the saddle
* Muscle atrophy
* Objection to being saddled
* Hypersensitivity to being brushed
* Bucking or rearing
* Short, choppy strides
* Unwillingness to move
* Resistance to work
* Difficult to collect
* Tail swishing, ears pinned back, grinding teeth, head tossing etc

Remember your horse may exhibit some of these symptoms, but that does not necessarily indicate a saddle problem.

With so many brands of saddles on the market today and with so many choices of tree or treeless, wool flocked, foam, Cair or air panels it can sometimes be overwhelming to consider what is best!  If you are not particularly experienced or want a helping hand there are professional saddlers and saddle fitters that are happy to provide their expertise.  "Professional" saddle fitters in NZ today have a huge range of experience.  Some have qualifications and are specially trained in the art of "saddle fitting".  Others have many years of experience and can be just as effective in helping decide if your saddle fits your horse.  Ask around your friends or within your local pony club etc for peoples experiences with saddle fitters and make your own choice on who you want to check your saddle fit.  Some can offer alterations of your saddle if required (meaning they will send it away to be altered) while others will be able to carry out the work on the spot for you themselves.

It is important to remember that saddle fitters are there to fit the best saddle to both you and your horse as a combination.  There are many variables for them to consider e.g. your preference, your body shape, what type of riding you do, your horses shape and condition etc.  With their experience and knowledge they will help you decide what the best choice of saddle is to suit your requirements.  Another vital piece of information to note is that it is virtually impossible to have a perfect saddle fit as horses change shape constantly, but they will endeavour to get the best fit to allow for slight changes within your horses shape.

At the end of the day they want what you want - to see both you and your horse happy and safe with a well fitted saddle that suits you both!
 

                                  
                            Office Manager Ashley Balfour & Sheena

August is when I start to bring Sheena back into full work ready for the start of the season.  I love the spring events and start the season with great gusto.  All my horses have started to moult so let's hope that this is a sign that spring is well on it's way and that we are going to get a warm one.

Spice has had her front feet trimmed for the first time and it went extremely well.  I am lucky to have a farrier who is an experienced horseman as well as a fantastic farrier and his skill and patience with horses always makes it a pleasant experience for them.

                                       

I am still working on her back feet and will wait until she is happy with me picking them up before I expect my farrier to attempt to trim them.  Her feet are amazing and don't look like they are over due for a trim.

Erin's Blurb