Did You Know
Fun Facts about Horses
1. Horses in cold, wet regions developed different natures from those in the arid deserts. They were calm and patient: those in the south, fiery and impetuous.
2. Arab horses have evolved to cope with harsh desert conditions and the constant threat of fatigue, hunger and thirst. This is why they excel at endurance competitions.
3. Cold blooded horses, such as the Percheron, adapted to life in the north. Massive, powerful and tough, it can survive in the coldest and wettest weather. Today, they are strong but docile and make ideal workhorses.
4. Palomino coloring can sometimes be achieved by crossing a cremello stallion with a chestnut mare. The cremello is a cream colored horse with blue eyes. It carries two genes for it's pale color.
Letters to the Mascots
Dear Shaboom and Clyde,
I am in 4-H and I have a 4 year-old gelding. He is not at peak fitness and he "Blows" after exercise. Can you tell me why he does this? Michael: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Michael,
When a horse is unfit, his muscles need more oxygen to provide energy then they do when he is fit. This need for oxygen goes on for some time after strenuous exercise, such as a gallop, so that heavy breathing and a fast heart rate continue for quite a while after work has finished. Regular exercise increases the muscles' ability to use oxygen and decreases the need for the horse to 'Blow' to provide it. Breathing is a good guide to fitness. Have fun!
Detecting heat in your mare, by Michelle Dempsey
It is possible to breed your mare at the ages of 2 to 3 years of age, although 4 years old is more acceptable. From early spring through autumn, mares come into season (a condition referred to as "heat" or being in estrus) at regular intervals between 18 and 21 days. Each heat lasts 5 to 7 days. You can bring your mare into season as early as January or February with the use of lights and/or drug therapy for an early foal. However you should consult with your vet before attempting this.
When she is in season, a mare will accept a stallion. There are many signs to help you tell if your mare is in season, although they do not all occur at once. Also different mares show signs of heat in varying degrees, some very obvious, some not so obvious. Mares may appear irritable and unsettled, and will seek the company of other horses more than usual. Her tail will be swishing fairly constantly and she will be passing small quantities of urine and mucus frequently. It is possible to establish the phase of a mares cycle by having an ultra sound performed by your veterinarian. The most reliable way of finding out whether she is ready to be mated is by trying her with a stallion - a practice known as "teasing". At stud farms, it is usual to have the mare brought to one side of a padded divider and the stallion to the other. The divider prevents either animal from being injured. If the mare is ready to be bred she will stand in the mating posture with her tail held to one side. If she is not, she will attempt to bite or kick the stallion.
After being bred the mare will carry the foal for about 11 months and a few days. The average gestation period varies but, as a rule, a colt will be carried longer than a filly. The term for colts is approximately 334 days and for fillies 332, but there is a possible variant of 9 1/2 days either way.
Short Essay Competition
Three winners will be chosen and their stories and photos featured in the April, 2005 Youth Issue of NWHS
Topic: “How My Horse has made a Difference in My Life.”
Words: No more than 300
Photo: Of you and your horse
Deadline: February 15, 2005
Snail Mail to: Editor, Essay Competition, NWHS, PO Box 717, Blaine, WA 98231
Or email to: kirsty@nwhorsesource.com
