Pigeon Fever, Three Forms

Posted on July 18, 2018 by blogeditor

Pigeon Fever

One thing to look out for this year when taking care of your horses is pigeon fever (also known as dryland distemper or Colorado strangles). Pigeon fever develops when a certain type of bacteria enters a horse’s body, probably via insect bites or breaks in the skin. The infection usually causes abscesses in the chest or elsewhere in the horse’s body.

Most horses make a full recovery from pigeon fever, but it can take weeks for the disease to run its course. It is a good idea to become familiar with pigeon fever. Owners should know what it looks like, how it occurs, and when your horse is most likely to get it. Your friends at Colorado Horse Property has done some research and would like to share what we have found.

Three Forms of Pigeon Fever

One form of pigeon fever is the development of external abscesses just under the skin or within your horse’s muscles. You find them in the chest and along the middle of the belly. This is the most common and most documented form of the infection and most horses recover fully once the abscess drains and the wound heals.

Another form of this infection causes internal abscesses to develop. This occurs when the bacteria is carried into the body and infect the liver, kidney, lungs or other internal organs. If you suspect that your horse has contracted this type of infection, then make sure to take your animal to the vet as soon as possible. An ultrasound may be needed to locate abscesses, assess their size and determine their maturity.

The last form causes swelling and ulcerations on the lower legs. These abscesses form within lymph nodes, causing the swelling of the leg. Signs of this form of the infection are lameness, lethargy and loss of appetite. Again, if your animal is showing any of these signs, make sure to take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Colorado Horse Nutritional Facts

Posted on June 6, 2018 by blogeditor

A horse’s digestive system is made to process large quantities of grass. This type of diet is high in fiber and water. However, the basic diet for most horses should also include good quality hay that is free of dust and mold. Of course it almost goes without saying that your horse should be provided with plenty of fresh, clean, unfrozen water at all times, even if the horse only drinks once or twice a day. Continue reading for more information on Colorado horse nutritional facts. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Colorado Horse Nutritional Facts

Unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise, your horse should be able to graze or eat hay when they want to. However, it is important to watch your horse and make sure it is maintaining an appropriate weight. Again, your veterinarian can help you decide how to keep your horse fit and healthy. For a list of horse clinicians in Colorado, check out our Local Resources page.

Remember, you horse doesn’t have to eat grains, and sometimes its good for them to avoid such foods. Most horses don’t need the extra calories found in grains, which are high in carbohydrates. You don’t have to feed your horse extra grain in the winter to keep them warm. This is a common misconception. Hay actually produces more heat when digested than grains.

It isn’t a good idea to let your horse or pony break into the grain bin or be allowed to gorge on green pasture for the first time since the fall. Remember that if you travel with your horse, bring their food along. For some horses, you may also have to bring a supply of the water along.

Colorado Horse Travel

Posted on March 31, 2018 by blogeditor

Before doing any horse travel, go over your checklist. You don’t want to get down the road and discover you left something vital behind. Checking your list before leaving will give you time to inspect your tack and equipment. You will also have time to gather any spare items that you might need, like extra bridles and bits. Having extra is better than having none at all.

Before doing any horse travel, remember your first aid kit. Traveling with large animals can be dangerous for the animal even if you take every precaution. Make sure that all the items in your horse’s first aid kit are up to date. Also make sure that you can administer all of the items in the kit by yourself.

Horse travel is a unique challenge for horse owners.

Anticipate driving and towing challenges. There are a few things you need to know that you can do by yourself before leaving the ranch. You should be able to change a trailer tire without assistance and correctly apply a set of jumper cables to a dead battery. Even if you have done these things before, it’s always a good idea to brush up on those skills before your trip.

Always remember to review your route. You will need to be able to identify places that would be appropriate for stopping. It is important to check on your horse several times during a long trip. Knowing places to stop is also good for refueling or even handling emergency situations. Find spots along the way with parking areas and access roads spacious enough for you to comfortably maneuver and park your horse trailer. If you are not already signed up with a company that provides roadside-assistance for towing, then you should do this before leaving. If you are looking to buy a horse trailer, check out Parker Trailers, in Parker Colorado.

Horse Property Water Tank Maintenance

Posted on March 30, 2018 by blogeditor

Water tank maintenance is an important step in caring for your horses.

Water tank maintenance isn’t as easy as it sounds. If you need help, remember these few easy steps to get you started. First, the tanks need to be emptied. Then you are going to want to scrub your water tanks clean. You should rinse tanks with a ten percent bleach solution. After that, simply rinse the tanks out two more times with regular water and you are ready to go.

With that said, there are many different water tank maintenance techniques to use for your horses. Bleach can be added to the existing water in a tank. You should use regular household bleach in the recommended quantities. These can be found on the label of the product you are using. But don’t let your animals drink as soon as you apply the bleach. There should be a waiting period prior to consumption to let the chlorine dissipate. If done correctly, this can be an effective means of disinfecting your water tanks.

How long do I wait after applying bleach to the water? Following the bleach treatment, let the water stand for at least an hour before allowing your horse to drink. In Colorado, water temperatures are more on the colder side. If the water in your tank is cold, then you should increase the waiting period to at least two hours.

If you are a horse owner, then you know that water tanks need to be cleaned frequently. The goal is to avoid toxic algae buildup and unsanitary tank conditions. Make sure to follow the right instructions. Strict adherence to recommended levels of bleach and the subsequent waiting time needs to be followed in order to avoid over application. If you are looking to buy an automatic water tank system, try High Plains Cattle Supply in Platteville.

Exercising Your Horse

Posted on March 21, 2018 by blogeditor

Horses are essentially grazing athletes. When you own a horse you know that exercise is a very important part in the long term care of your a horse. It is not acceptable to keep horses confined in yards or stables. At least not without providing lots of opportunities for movement. With a field full of grass and zero natural predators, domesticated horses are known to gain weight and becomes lazy.

Horses can be just like a domesticated dog or cat that doesn’t get enough exercise. It is important to make sure your horse gets the right amount of horse exercise to stay healthy. Starting with the basics, horses exercise in three different maneuvers, including yielding the hindquarters, yielding the forequarters, and backing up.

Colorado Horse Exercise

Using these types of exercises are great for your horses health. It can also help you with your relationship with your animal. The more you direct your horse in the round pen and the more advanced the exercises get, your leadership skills increase. Horses will pick up on your confidence and show you more respect over time. While working with your horse, you have to prove to him that you’re worthy of being a leader, by leading him safely and showing how trustworthy you are. Make your horse comfortable by doing the right thing, because your horse will be uncomfortable if you do the wrong thing.

When your horse does what you’re asking, make him/her feel comfortable. When he ignores you or acts disrespectful, make him feel uncomfortable by adding pressure. Are you looking to relocate or retire to a beautiful horse property in the great state of Colorado? Contact Colorado Horse Property to find the perfect agent for you today.

Horse Clothing Cleaning Tips

Posted on March 19, 2018 by blogeditor

Horse clothing can be a hassle to keep clean. Don’t forget that horse clothing is not disinfected when cleaned. If you do own some, then you probably have what is called a turnout. Turnouts are not good with hot water, which is needed to disinfect and rid the material of germ build up, because of the nature of the membranes that make up their fabrics.

Horse clothing can be very expensive and the last thing you want to do is damage it. Though it takes extra time, keeping your equine clothing clean and disinfected is worth doing because it ensures your animals overall health when wearing these types of garments. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Tips on Cleaning Horse Clothing

As outlined above, some horse clothing is composed of materials that are sensitive to hot water. Make sure you know your material before attempting any cleaning or disinfecting for best practices. Products containing this type of oil, such as Pine-Sol, Real Pine, Spic and Span Pine, are great disinfectants. As long as the brand contains 80% pine oil is should be effective.

If you are going to use chlorine bleach then remember that you should always dilute it with water before adding it to the washer. Never pour bleach directly on it; it could possible ruin it. These types of disinfectants are extremely effective in all water temperatures but are harder to find in stores. Check out Amway’s Pursue, which is specifically formulated for laundry.

Muzzle Tips for Horses

Posted on March 15, 2018 by blogeditor

Muzzle tips are here to help your overgrazing horse. Horses love to graze freely. Horses are happier when they are not cooped up in a stables all day. However, some horses when left unsupervised will over feed.

If your horse is at risk for laminitis, Cushing’s disease, or is insulin resistant, then binging on grass while grazing can make matters much worse. Consider using a muzzle to manage how much your horse is eating. Here are a few muzzle tips to remember when using caring for your horse.

Muzzle Tips for Horses

The Right Muzzle
There are different types of muzzles in the materials they are made of and how they are made. Some models have a breakaway headstall, while others might attach to the halter. You should experiment and find out which one works best with your horse.
Muzzle Placement
Muzzle’s don’t always fit perfectly, and your job as an owner is to make sure you get one that does. With any new muzzles, keep an eye on it during the first few days and make strap adjustments when necessary.
Drinking
Your horse should still be able to drink water with its muzzle on, so make sure that your horse is getting enough water when it comes to a new muzzle.
Exposure
Though muzzles help with over feeding, make sure that your horse gets some free time away from the muzzle as well. Consider a schedule in which the muzzle is removed at certain times of their grazing periods.
Keep Watch
Just because your horse has a muzzle on doesn’t mean that your animal doesn’t need to be watched. If a horse it at risk for a disease that grass binging will affect negatively, then keep a watch and make sure the muzzle do not come off while grazing.

Horse Joints

Posted on March 7, 2018 by blogeditor

Taking care of your horses is probably the biggest worry that you have as an owner and though it can be very challenging it is very important to insure your animals are healthy all year long. Something that you may be worrying about that isn’t serious are the periodic pops or clicks coming from the joints of your horse. Colorado Horse Property is here to tell you that if your horse is a comfortable, sound animal than there is nothing to fret about.

Horse Joints

Most large animal veterinarians will tell you that noisy joints in horses are caused by the same physiological process that allows people to crack their knuckles. When you bend your fingers the joint capsule releases gas within the fluid rapidly, causing the noise; when the gases return you can crack the same joint again. This is the same thing that is happening to your horse.

The joints you usually hear cracking in your horse are the highly mobile ones closest to the saddle, which is how you can hear it in the first place. These joints include the knees, hocks, stifles, and rarely the back and neck. In most cases, cracking does not mean a joint is in any way misaligned or damaged. Though there are some injuries and orthopedic conditions that occur in horses that can cause the joints to rub against each other and cause a cracking sound, you will probably already be aware of the problems your animal has.

5 Trail Riding Rules

Posted on March 2, 2018 by blogeditor

Horseback riding is a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy. There are many places that you can go riding in Colorado, but don’t forget that you are still on someone’s land and should treat it properly. Here are some trail riding rules you can go by to make sure that you are doing everything you can to respect the trails that you are using.

Trail Riding Rules

Stay On The Path—As Thoreau described, you may be beating to the sound of your own drum, but in order to insure that your horse will not be tearing up any fresh grass or trampling plants/flowers you should steer your horse on the path only. Eroding the land is one of the biggest ways you will wear out your welcome with the land owner.
Spacial Awareness—Getting to know the land you will be riding on beforehand is always a great idea. Knowing the trail you will be taking will help you stay on track. If you plan on traversing private land, you should always contact the owner before proceeding. Many owners do not mind horseback traffic on their land, but they may specify areas they don’t want you to go.
Litterbugs Beware—The point of going horseback riding, other than connecting with the animal, is enjoying the outdoors. If there is litter on the trail, you will not be able to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings. If you are riding with a group, make sure they pick up any waste they produce.
Taking A Break—It is important to take breaks during long rides, for you and your horse. Make sure you pick a spot that is well-traveled for your rest stop. You don’t want to trample any vegetation and upset land owners. If your horse produces any manure during the ride, be sure to scatter it to reduce the mess.
Group Mentality—If you are riding with a group, whether it is with people you know or friends, make sure that you stay together. If you are a great rider and can ride like the wind, but the rest of the group is inexperienced then slow down and stick with them. It is easier to help those in need if an accident occurs when everyone is together.

Hoof Cracks

Posted on February 28, 2018 by blogeditor

Problems with your horse hoof cracks should always be taken care of quickly. These issues can get worse if not fixed right away by your farrier. In fact hoof cracks can be very painful for your horse. However, some small cracks, usually vertical, are only a minor issue. Horizontal cracks an inch or less wide could be worse. In other words, it’s hard to tell. That’s why an experienced farrier should check them out. This type of damage indicates a minor, healed trauma to the coronary band and is quite common. These two issues are fairly harmless, but not all hoof injuries are the same.

Hoof Cracks

If you discover any of these issues when checking and cleaning your horses hooves, then you should get them fixed as soon as possible. If you notice vertical cracks at the bottom of the hoof that go around the bottom of the foot, this could be affecting the sole of your animal. Cracks that extend more than an inch up the hoof can be sign of a chronically unbalanced hoof.

Odd are you are great friends with your farrier, so you should work with them to find out the cause of this issue so that you can stop it from reoccurring. Remember the longer you waits to call your veterinarian and/or farrier the more damage can be done. Check out our local resources page if you need help finding a Colorado farrier. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.