Dear Shaboom and Clyde,
I want to breed my mare this year but every time she is in season we are at a rodeo. State finals are in July, would it be too late to breed her then?
Darcy, Northern Nevada.
Darcy,
If you breed your mare in July or even August she will foal a summer colt. There are really not many drawbacks to this unless you plan on racing or competing in futurities. Most breed associations use the date of January 1st as a universal birthday. This means that even if your foal was born on December 30th it would be considered a yearling on January 1st even though it is only a few days old in reality. The advantages of having a foal during the summer months are that you don't have to worry about things like snow or frostbite.
Did you know...
Fun Facts About Horses
1. A pony's body consists of about 70% water. This is why your horse should always have access to fresh, clean water.
2. When horses shed, their coats produce waterproofing oil known as sebum. This protects the coat and helps keep out the rain so the horse stays cool but dry.
3. When horses are flat out, fast asleep, they sometimes snore, just like humans.
4. Foals and small ponies have higher temperatures than adults and bigger horses. When a foal is born his temperature is 102 degrees F. It begins to drop two or three days after he is born, and by the time he is 3 years old it is steady between 99-101 degrees F.
5. Horses get bored, too. If your horse is in a stall for long periods of time, give him a toy to keep him occupied to prevent him from developing undesirable habits.
Tack Safety
Spring is here and summer is on its "hooves." It is time for horse shows, rodeos, trail rides and other horse activities. Though horses may be well-groomed and in shape, tack is often overlooked, causing accidents and injuries to both horse and rider. Here are some helpful hints to keep you and your horse safe.
Bridle:
- Check over all areas for worn, frayed or thin spots.
- Be sure all stitching is tight and free of pulled areas.
- Rivets and bridle screws should be tight and in good condition.
- Buckles should be firmly attached and holes not pulled or stretched.
- Bit should be clean and free of rust and/or rough spots.
- Reins should be free of wear and firmly attached to the bridle.
- Bridles should be cleaned regularly and leather bridles oiled.
Western saddle:
- Check the wool lining beneath the saddle for worn or bald spots and replace if necessary.
- Cinch should be clean and free of worn or broken strings.
- Billets, latigo straps and stirrup straps should be in good condition, with holes not pulled or stretched, and firmly attached to the appropriate D-ring or buckle.
- Stirrups should be at an appropriate length and firmly laced or buckled in place, secured by a keeper above the leather.
- Saddle should be in overall good condition, and cleaned and oiled regularly.
English saddle:
- Check beneath the saddle for worn leather, uneven padding and other irritants.
- Girth should be clean and free of wear and buckles firmly attached.
- Stirrup leathers should be free of thin or worn spots, and holes not pulled or stretched.
- Billet straps should be well attached to the saddle with no pulled or stretched holes or worn spots.
- Saddle should be in overall good condition, and cleaned and oiled regularly.
Other tack:
- Breast collars, martingales, tie downs, etc. should be clean, free of pulled or stretched holes, and in overall good condition. All buckles, rivets, stitching and screws should be well attached and tight.
- Horse boots should be clean and checked for missing or loose Velcro, buckles or straps.
It's always good practice to do a once-over on all tack before each ride. Remember, baling twine and duct tape DO NOT count as fixing your tack! Take your tack to a reputable repair shop and have the damaged piece repaired or replaced. Don't let a busted cinch or bridle turn a fun afternoon ride into a not-so-fun ride... to the hospital.
Copyright © 2009 The NW Horse Source, LLC
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