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"Horses That Pull On the Bit and Head Tossers," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the Horse Riding Instruction Series:

"If your horse begins to "root at the bit," that is to drop its head and try to pull or tug the reins out of your hands, then what he's saying is that you've taught him that if he pulls on the bit, your hands will move – and he'll get away from the pressure. Ninety percent of the time "rooting at the bit" is caused by the person riding. It doesn't take a horse long to realize that he can move your hand…."

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From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Rein In Your Horse's Speed Online Course
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 5:

"At that moment you have two options:

1) Ride slower, move slower, see how long the "moment" lasts — and QUIT the exercise. Go back to your quiet trail ride. The horse thinks "Funny, I slowed down and suddenly I didn't have to work so hard." When the horse speeds up again (perhaps one second later, maybe two minutes later) then go back to the exercise (rather intensely) and wait for him to signal that he'd like to move slowly. Then you quit again. The horse comes to associate hard work with shenanigans and will start to think twice before acting up.

Or, try:

2) Ride slower, move slower, see how long the "moment" lasts — and CONTINUE the exercise. Beyond teaching your horse to calm, this second option will go further toward training your horse in other aspects: He'll turn to the right sharper, stay softer, etc. And, while improving his performance, you will have captured his attention and made it easier to get it the next time.

Both options work. Experiment to see which is right for you, when and where."

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GUEST AUTHOR ARTICLES Foal Diseases

 
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"Foalhood Septicemias"
Written by Ron Petracek

Many foals are lost to septicemias every year. This is due to the fact that the foal is very susceptible to many types of infections and many types of infections can cause septicemia. The most common method for a foal to become infected is through the umbilical cord stump.

The umbilical cord should not be broken too soon after the birth of the foal. If the umbilical cord is broken too early, the foal may be deprived of a large quantity of blood. The cord should be allowed to break on its own and the disinfected quickly thereafter. Most foaling attendants will disinfect the foal with an iodine compound designed to disinfect the naval stump. This simple step is often all that is required to prevent a foal from developing septicemia and it is one that should not be skipped. Even if you don't get to the foal until several hours after birth, you should disinfect the naval stump as soon as possible after the foal has been found.

There are several bacteria that cause infection including Escherichia coli, Salmonella abortivoquina, Streptococcus pyogenes equi, Salmonella typhimrium, Actinobacillus equuili and Clostridium perfringens. Clostridium perfringens may cause the foal's intestine to become inflamed.

There are also several conditions that both the mare and foal may suffer from that may predispose the foal to developing septicemia. Many are often present when a foal develops septicemia as well. These include:

Placentitis
Fever
Dystocia
Induced parturition (labor)
Premature foals
Delayed suck reflex
Unsanitary foaling conditions
Poor ventilation
Insufficient colostral antibodies

There are several early signs that a foal will exhibit when septicemia is present. These include:

Decreased appetite
General weakness
Weak suck reflex
Mild dehydration
A fever may or may not be present

As we head into the foaling season, there are going to be several foals born before the temperatures warm up. Many of these foals may not necessarily be at risk for septicemia, but for disease such as pneumonia. These infections may also lead to septicemia as well. Bacteria may also be present despite the weather, especially if the foaling barn is not well-ventilated. Foals are very susceptible to disease, particularly when born prior to the warmer spring temperatures. Foals that are at risk should be closely watched for septicemia and other infectious diseases.

It is always in our interests to help educate and inform our readers on what to look for and prevent any possible oversites.

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