HORSES , horses , horses ( Continued From Page 37 ) horse dry and blanket him , ( 3 ) apply hot water bottles or heated blankets or cloths to the swollen and hardened muscles , and ( 4 ) secure professional help as quickly as possible .
0 Founder ( laminitis ) — Pending the arrival of the veterinarian , pull the shoes if the horse is shod , and stand the animal in a cold water bath or apply cold bran poultices ( preferably using ice water in either ).
0 Bleeders — Hemorrhage in the nasal cavity occurs in certain families of race horses . When observed , cease exercise , apply ice packs to the muzzle to help clot the blood , and call the veterinarian .
0 Mercury poisoning — Mercury poisoning from consuming grains treated with fungicides in not uncommon . While professional help is on the way , drench the horse with an antidote of a dozen egg whites .
FIRST AID SUPPLIES
First Aid supplies should be conveniently available , but stored where neither children nor animals have access to them . The following items are rather basic ; but the horseman is admonished to seek the counsel and advise of his local veterinarian relative to these and additional supplies :
Thermometer , Disinfectants , Scapel , Screwworm preparation , Blanket , Splints , Germicidal soap , Plastic ice bag , Boric Acid , Hot water bottle , Potassium Iodide , Hoof knife , Bucket , Scissors , Sterile absorbent cotton , Clippers , Bandages , Linament , Adhesive tape , Eyedropper , Physiologic saline , ( sterile solution ), Metal syringe , Stomach tube , Tourniquet , Epsom salts .
Common sense should always prevail when administering First Aid ; and the horseman should realize his limitations and consult a professional when he is unsure of himself or his ability .
horse talk
Recently , it was my pleasure to make major addresses before two important light horse groups ; the
APRIL 1964
Alberta Light Horse Association , and the California Thoroughbred Farm Managers ’ Association . Here are some of the things that I said to them .
The evolution of the horse — his incredible transition from a denizen of the swamp to a creature of the prairie , from Foxterrier size to
14 hands , from four toes to one — extended over a period of 58 million years . Yet , man hunted him a mere 25,000 years ago , domesticated him 5,000 years ago , and returned him to the new World 500 years ago .
When New Stone Age man domesticated horses , he accepted responsibility for their care from that remote day forward . He created a " horse welfare state ” for his equine friends . From the standpoint of Homo sapiens , this has been good ; for Equus caballus , it has been bad . Man hasn ’ t lived up to his part of the contract . Here ’ s why .
In the wild state , and as nature intended , the horse gleaned feeds grown on unleached soils , bedded down on new sites each night , roamed over natural footing for exercise , and lived in bands of 30 to
40 mares headed by a stallion leader . But man changed all this .
Today , in altogether too many cases , the caretaker inflicts upon the horse an inadequate diet , exposes him to body discharges , and limits his exercise to a stall or paddock . It ’ s small wonder , therefore , that more troubles now beset horses than in the wild state . Unsoundnesses , diseases and parasites are more commonplace , and foal crops now average 50 per cent instead of the 90 per cent which characterized the wild horse and the mustang . And that ’ s not all ! Horse owners are —
• Spending millions for concoctions and unbalanced and deficient rations .
• Keeping a stallion for each 7.3 foals produced .
• Getting 1.2 per cent return on breeding establishments .
0 Retiring an appalling number of horses from tracks , shows , and other uses due to unsoundnesses .
0 Losing through inefficiency and deaths millions of dollars due to diseases and parasites .
HORSE FEEDING FACTS Horsemen should also ponder these facts :
1 . During the past 25 years , the following progress has been made in meat animals — Feed required per pound of gain reduced ________ 1416
Rate of gain increased------ 21 % But no such progress has been made in horses !
2 . Horses inherit certain genetic possibilities for reproduction , growth , body form , speed , and endurance . But maximum genetic potential cannot be achieved unless the environment is proper — and the most important factor in the environment is the feed .
3 . Grass hay and farm grains are inadequate in nutrients .
4 . Horses differ from other farm animals because they are kept for recreation , sport and work ; they are fed for a longer life of usefulness ; they have a smaller digestive tract ; they should not carry surplus body weight ; and they are fed for nerve , mettle , animation , and character of muscle .
5 . Feeds should be purchased on a quality basis ; the ration should contain the necessary energy , protein ( quality and quantity ), minerals , vitamins and unknowns ; and the feed should be prepared properly . HORSE BUSINESS
Horse business is big business , as evidenced by the following :
Estimated expenditures per year per horse for — Feed ___ $ 274 Shoes and drugs _______ 100 Saddles , trailers and other equipment ______ 100 Clothes ... . __________ 150
Total .................... $ 624
Thus , 1.8 million horses make for an estimated total expenditure of $ 1,123,200,000 annually for the above items ; and this is exclusive of land , buildings and farm equipment , labor , race tracks and show rings , and numerous other items .
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