Archive for the ‘Horse Health’ category

Crystal Therapy Horse Rugs

January 17th, 2011

Crystal therapy horse rugs are a new innovation brought to us by the same manufacturer of crystal mattresses for human beings. These rugs are similar to magnetic rugs in that they have crystal inserts within the horse blanket itself. The crystals used within  these horse rugs  have been used for centuries by such ancient cultures as the Chinese and Egyptians, because they are known for their healing qualities.

Many people are skeptical of this type of therapy blanket because they cannot physically see the blanket working. However there were many skeptics when magnetic rugs first came into existence and now it is commonly recognized that the magnetic qualities do assist in the healing process.

Crystal therapy rugs were only launched at SPOGA last September and are still a relatively new innovation. Prior to their launch the crystal blankets were thoroughly tested by Veterinary  Surgeon Dr. Deana Basar, owner of the clinic Equus Vitalis who from 2007 onwards has been exclusively dedicated to rehabilitation work with horses and house pets.

There are two different crystal therapy rugs available. The Energy equicrystal rug which helps to increase your horse’s energy levels and the Relax equicrystal rug which  helps to relax your horse. Both of these rugs can be used for as short or long a period as you like and generally assist with the well being of your horse.

I have both a relax rug and an energy one and I use both of them according to how my horses are feeling. If my horses have worked hard I will use a relax rug overnight to assist them in releasing any stress or tension that they have in their backs or limbs. During the day I will use the energy rug for an hour before riding to boost their energy levels.

Unfortunately my horses cannot talk, but they are all happy and healthy and I attribute this to the care that they receive which includes using the crystal therapy rugs. I am not alone in believing these rugs have significant benefits for my horses. Marc Boes, international show jumping rider from Belgium, and Zoltan Lazar, multiple world champion in two and four hand carriage driving, both use these rugs to enhance the performance of their horses.

So if your horse is very nervous and tense or is lackluster in the energy department, why not consider investing in one or both of these rugs to increase the quality of their performance and their overall general well being.

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Get Your Horse Moving Better with Joint Supplements For Horses

November 23rd, 2010

So you are a horse owner? Congratulations! It is a wonderful thing to have an equine partner and friend. Horses can be wonderful companions but as any horse owner knows, having horses comes with a lot of responsibility, too. You have to buy a lot of horse equipment, as well as provide them with shelter and food and do your best to keep your horses healthy and comfortable. Sometimes this means that you need to purchase joint supplements for horses. These magnificent animals put a lot of strain on their joints and as they age, the joints can begin to break down as arthritis sets in and the joints are not as well lubricated or as well protected as they should be. Even healthy young horses put a great deal of stress on their joints as they work and train and play, so it is worth your time, effort, and money to protect those joints with an equine joint supplement that can help keep them strong, well lubricated and healthy.

The trouble is, with so many choices out there, which one of those equine joint supplements is the right one for your own horse? Many horse owners and veterinarians will tell you that the horse joint supplement most apt to really do your horse good is one that contains an adequate amount of Glucosamine. This important ingredient is essential to healthy joint function and is easily absorbed and used by the horse to protect and heal joint tissues.  A number of companies produce joint supplements for horses that contain large amounts of Glucosamine. Farnam, Finish Line, NutriMax and many other brands have proven products that will help prevent arthritis and other joint pain, will rebuild damaged joint tissue and will support the normal function of the horse’s joints to allow a horse to enjoy his work or playtime. When you think about how much your horses give you, do you not feel that you owe it to your equine friends to keep them as comfortable as possible?

Many horses need a little help to maintain healthy joint tissue so they can perform and feel their best.  If you care about the health and comfort of a horse in your care, then do some research, read customer reviews written about joint supplements for horses and then choose the one you feel will help your horse. Once you see the difference in the way your horse moves, you will know it was worth it!

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Peruvian Paso Horse Hoof Care and Trimming

September 4th, 2010

There is a huge amount of disinformation and controversy regarding the proper care and especially the trimming of hooves in all of the gaited equine breeds. My personal experience is limited to the Peruvian Paso Horse and spans a period of almost 40 years.  For some inexplicable reason there are many farriers who believe that Peruvian horses require some fundamentally different hoof configuration than that of other breeds. With a few minor exceptions this is simply not true.

Another question is that of a need for shoeing Peruvian horses.  In general they rarely need to be shod and in most Peruvian horse shows, horses cannot be shod and are not allowed to have excessive toe length. Four inches is the usual maximum.  The reason is that Peruvian breeders do not want their breed to become a victim of artificial  methods to increase the degree of action in the gait by damaging them with abnormal hoof length or weighted shoes.  By eliminating the use of shoes in most classes of a  Peruvian show it demonstrates the durability of their hooves and eliminates the question of shoe weight.

The most harmful misconception and practice by some farriers is that of changing the natural hoof angle by removing too much heel.  The Peruvian horse should retain sufficient heel to provide a normal hoof angle.  This angle should be about the same as the normal angle of the fetlock and is close to 51 degrees. Increasing the angle by reducing the heel is harmful in several respects. It reduces the natural protection of the heel and places abnormal stress on the lower suspensory ligaments. Many Peruvian horses have been falsely diagnosed with the so-called “DSLD” syndrome due to this sort of misconception regarding the amount of appropriate heel and retaining a normal hoof angle. I am not aware of any justification for this approach. Excessive toe length should also be strictly avoided.

It’s a good idea that you have a good understanding of proper hoof trimming when you are looking at gaited horses for sale. Additionally, gaited horses may require specialty horse equipment; for example a saddle that fits a quarterhorse probably won’t fit a gaited horse. Keep all of this in mind as you look for that special horse to buy.

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