Name the Mascot Competition
Our mascots would like to thank those who have already submitted names. We will be announcing our winners in the January issue to celebrate the New Year.
The winning submission will take home a one-year subscription to Northwest Horse Source Magazine and one of the following: Pat Parelli’s Savvy System Level One: Partnership or a certificate for $250 of Nutrena Products. Special thanks to Parelli Natural Horsemanship and Nutrena Feeds for their support of NWHS Youth.
We Need YOUth!
We need youth reps from Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Arizona and British Columbia, Canada. Youth reps will report on events in their region that are especially for youth, secure photos of youth in action with 4-H, breed showing, Pony Club or charity. If you are interested in representing the youth in your area, please email Michelle at youth@nwhorsesource.com.
QUIZ
1. Name at least six grass hays.
2. What is added to a ration to make it ''sweet feed''?
3. How long does it take a horse to eat a pound of hay?
Answers:
1.Timothy, brome, orchard grass, bermuda grass, blue grass, bluegrandma, bluestem, fescue,
wheat grass, reed canary grass, rye grass, sudan grass, and others
2.Molasses.
3. 15 to 20 minutes
Safety Tips For Barnyard Decoration
By Michelle Dempsey, Youth Editor
Christmas is coming and many people like to show their holiday cheer by decorating their homes and barnyards. Holiday decorations can be beautiful, but they can also be a health hazard for your horse. Here are a few tips to help keep your horse and barn safe for the holiday season.
1. Be sure all lights are fastened securely and out of reach of your horse. Horses can get hung up in loosely hung light cords and if they chew on it, it can cause a nasty shock or worse.
2. Do not use glass or breakable ornaments in the barn area. Horses as well as barn cats are curious by nature and could knock the ornaments to the ground causing broken glass to be scattered in the barn isle or yard. This is hazardous to the horses as well as animals or people that may step on or ingest it.
3. If using tinsel and garlands, they should be well out of the horses reach. If eaten they could cause stomach irritation, blockage, and/or colic.
4. Nativity scenes should be set up in a paddock not in use by horses, or fenced to prevent the horses from damaging the props, or sustaining injury from them.
5. If you are going to attach jingle bells to your horses tack be sure that your horse is used to it as well as any horses you will be interacting with. Unaccustomed noises can cause a horse to spook, possibly causing injury to themselves, their rider or another horse.
6. Horse treats are a big part of the holiday season. If you plan on buying horse treats for your equine friends be sure they are healthy treats. Treats are just that, a treat, not a part of the horses balanced ration. Too many can cause a digestive upset and ruin the holiday season for you and your horse.
Be safe this holiday season and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
