All About ... Mange

What is it

Mange is a skin condition which usually occurs on the fetlock area but can spread to other parts of the body.  It is generally seen in the winter and symptoms will disappear in the summer.  There are several different types but all are highly contagious!

Signs

• Severe irritation 
• Skin is red 
• Oozing serum which forms into hard crusts 
• Hair loss 
• Legs can swell 
• Maybe lameness 
• In extreme conditions the skin can form into thickened folds 
• Due to the irritation the horse will rub on fences, stables, trees etc and may roll, kick or stamp. 
• Horses can lose weight

Causes

Mange is caused by microscopic mites which are transmitted from horse to horse or between rugs, grooming equipment, tack or humans.  The mites irritate the horses skin which causes them to itch.  Long winter coats that are dirty and damp will encourage the development and spread of the mites.  Sick horses or those with vitamin and mineral deficiency are more susceptible.  If open sores develop there is also the risk of secondary infection.


Diagnosis

The vet can take a deep skin scrape and analyse using a microscope.  

Treatment

Infected horses must be isolated and infected bedding burnt.  Wear gloves to handle a horse with mange, wash all equipment and rugs.  There are specific mange powders, sprays and washes available. 


Prevention

Ensure your horse receives all the required vitamins and minerals.  Having separate tack and grooming equipment will reduce the chance of spread.  Check legs regularly in the winter especially in horses with feathers.

Have you seen this week's video 'Tommy's Spring Makeover' on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Was that summer?

Tommy is turning into a real poser...

 Basil manages to spare a second for the camera...

Chesney doesn't even look up ...

It was so nice to have some sunny weather last week, shame it didn't last :(  

Have you seen yesterday's video 'Tommy's Spring Makeover'  on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Book Review - The Dressage Horse Optimized

When I first saw this book I thought it was a great way of explaining and showing the skeleton and muscles of a horse and how they all work - and it is.  It is actually a book to explain the 'Masterson Method' which is 'designed to release tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance'.  

I particularly like the first sections of the book which take a look at anatomy in a really simple way and then the biomechanics of the horse.  The whole book has some fantastic pictures and diagrams that are positioned really well so that you can look at them together and get a great understanding.

Chapter 1 goes through the skeleton and how it works, looking at the major junctions of the horse's body.  It explains the joints simply but in enough detail to really help you understand how they work and how this links to a horses movement and performance.  

Chapter 2 looks at the muscles and how they work to control the joints to create movement.  The chapter again looks at the major junctions in a simple but effective way that I think explains movement brilliantly. 

Chapter 3 moves on to biomechanics.  Using the knowledge gained in the first 2 chapters this one then goes on to link it in more detail to how a horse bends and collects.

Chapter 4 looks at the biomechanics of dressage which I found fascinating.  There are lots of pictures of the horse moving and you can clearly see where the bones and muscles are as the horse moves forwards or sideways.  The chapter moves through from the walk to the canter covering flying changes, half pass and piaffe amongst others.

The final few chapters are the exercises or 'techniques' you can use to find and release any tension. These chapters also go through the major junctions which were mentioned earlier, looking at each area and the techniques you can use.    

There is a nifty little card that you can detach with the major joints on one side and the major muscles on the other which are a great quick reference guide you could carry around. 

Throughout the first 4 chapters of the book there are little boxes referring you to a particular exercise which will help with the area you are learning about.  I just love the way the book is set out in an interesting way and not just lines and lines of words about joints.  The pictures are great and really help to show exactly what is being explained.  

To be honest I would recommend this book for gaining a great understanding of joints and movement which will help improve your riding.

This blog is not sponsored.

Have you seen last week's video 'A Big Day'  on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

All About ... Hoof Cracks

What are they

As the name suggests, these are cracks in the wall of the hoof.  

Signs

The cracks can be short and shallow or long and deep, or anything in between!  The crack can start at the ground (often called a grass crack) or can start at the coronary band (a sand crack).  If the crack is deep to the sensitive part of the foot then the horse will be lame.

This one is superficial.

Causes

• Trauma, such as a bang or knock (horse over reaching or kicking self) 
• Drying out of hoof wall due to excessive rasping 
• Poor hoof care ie: feet not regularly trimmed 
• Poor nutrition 
• Conformational faults

Treatment

This will depend on the extent of the crack.  When the crack starts at the ground the treatment will be designed to prevent the crack spreading up to the coronary band.  This can be putting shoes with a toe clip either side of the crack.  

For deeper cracks:

• Keep clean to prevent infection 
• Rest to reduce pressure on crack 
• Trim foot to address any imbalance 
• Cracks can be wired together to help prevent further problems as it grows out 
• Cracks can be glued 
• Address any nutritional imbalances

Prevention 

•  Regular trimming 
• Using overreach boots to prevent damage 
• Balanced diet - supplemented if needed

Did you see this week's vlog 'A Big Day'  on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

May Review!

Lots of lovely weather, lots of lovely riding.  Spring/summer is finally here and we are all loving it.  May was not so great weather wise though so the horses were still in at night for most of the month.  However, they had a few rug less days which they all made the most of.

My aims for May were: 

1.       Calmness 

2.       Rhythm 

3.       Suppleness 

4.       Consistency of bend on left rein 

5.       Halt - we don't practise this enough

6.       Encouraging contact more now

7.       Canter transitions need improving the most.

8.       Trot serpentines still need to be more balanced

9.       Improver our canter, less rushed, right lead

10.   Trotting poles.

This is what May looked like: 

2nd - Lunged today, very good.

3rd - Basil's leg is a bit swollen, he has a tiny graze - typical thoroughbred!

6th - Rode in the arena today - leg seems better.  Behaved much better than last time we schooled.  Pleased today we did some better trot serpentines :)  Walked over the pole and did some walk leg yield.  Canter was a bit better but he is still not listening to me when we strike off and sometimes just 'runs' into canter. 

8th - Hack today- lovely. It is so nice getting out and about again, we hardly seem to have managed to hack since we lost Fidget last April but finally are getting out regularly again.

10th - Lunged today - very good again.

11th - Basil's birthday today - 15 years old.  We rode in the arena and he was really strong in canter today, however, I think we had a breakthrough as he suddenly decided to soften and we stopped fighting each other.  Some good walk leg yield away from the track too. 

14th - Hack out, Basil was keen but manageable today.  I think he enjoys a change of scenery as much as me. 

17th - Rode Basil in the arena today and he was SHOCKING. He was so naughty and just kept shying and jumping then shooting off across the arena.  We achieved very little today.

18th - Lunged today.  Very good.

20th - Arena again, much better.  He is beginning to work more round again now and is a fraction less strong.  We had some good trot and canter work today.

21st - Lunged - I like watching Basil on the lunge, we don't have side reins so he really gets a chance to stretch down.

22nd - Hack :)

24th - Arena again.  Good today and was a bit better in canter as I had more control.  - Progress!

25th - Lunged and again very good.  Only a matter of time before he has a mad day.

26th - Basil's glands are all up today.

27th - Lunged gently today as I am trying to decide if Basil is breathing OK - giving him Ventipulmin as I think his allergy might be trying to cause trouble.

28th - Arena , gently again.  Mostly walk, although I think Basil is OK.  Lots of walk and a little bit of trot.  We did lots of circles, serpentines leg yield and poles.

29th - Hacked out, good and relaxing. I have decided Basil is breathing fine.

30th - Lunged again today - they stayed out last night for the first time so I wonder if Basil was tired as I struggled to get the correct canter lead on the right rein. 

My aims for June with Basil are: 

1.       Calmness - especially in canter

2.       Rhythm 

3.       Suppleness 

4.       Consistency of bend on left rein 

5.       Having more consistent contact

6.       Right canter lead - this has been causing a few problems in the last few weeks

7.       Trot serpentines still need to be more balanced

8.       Improver our canter, less rushed

9.       Some new exercises

10.   Jump a little cross pole!

Have you seen this week's video - I finally managed to get it uploaded this morning ..............
 'A Big Day'     Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy. 

Until next time!

Jo