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"Thought vs Action," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the Learning to Ride a Horse Series:

"When you think different, you are different. The more you raise your expectations, the better your horse will become. Those two thoughts bring us to a concept called "Thought vs Action." Riding an "action" is how ninety-nine percent of the people ride ninety-nine percent of the time. That is to say they ride "a left turn," "a spin," "a stop." They release their rein on a maneuver. "When the head softens up, we release." That's "riding the maneuver" or the "action." But instead of riding the action, why not ride the "thought"? The thought is simply "Why is the horse doing it?" Then when I ride, it's not so much the action that I release on as..."

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From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Rein In Your Horse's Speed Online Course
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A sample from Day 4:

"Second, by simply picking up the rein till he takes a step over and releasing, your horse never feels trapped. He doesn't stop moving forward and he learns to deal with pressure. (No need to fight because you're not cuttting off his flight.)

It has the bonus, cumulative effect of causing your horse to relax his neck and drop his high head. It accomplishes this because the horse learns that when you pick up the reins, you're not looking to get into a wrestling match — you just want him to move his hips.

Remember, anytime you ride your horse and pick up on the reins you're asking (or causing) your horse to slow down because his natural inclination will be to resist the bit. But when you've worked through this, when your horse understands to "give," you will have a better-trained horse. (Underline that; read it again.) This simple exercise is all about getting the horse to learn to give to that pressure, while continuing his forward motion."

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GUEST AUTHOR ARTICLES Mud Fever in Horses

 
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"Mud Fever in Horses and Ponies"
Written by Alison Grimston

Copyright © 2008 The Naturally Healthy Pet.com

Mud fever, greasy heel and cracked heels are all problems experienced by horses and ponies that are kept outside in wet, muddy conditions.

In this article I will outline the underlying problem, symptoms and signs, and management of this illness.

As the feet are continually exposed to the elements, the heels and the skin below the fetlocks become increasingly red and inflamed, and there may be a pus-stained discharge and crusting. Greasy heel and cracked heels can occur in winter or summer, and may be related to allergy.

Mud fever occurs mainly in the winter, and can affect the leg further up to the knee or hock. With mud fever the hair becomes matted, and the animal may become lame and unwell. The main culprit seems to be the organism Dermatophilus congolensis.

Signs that your horse is suffering from mud fever include: red, inflamed skin, matted hair, crusting, discharge and lameness.

Prevention is always the best treatment; so keep the animal's legs dry and warm if possible; ensure they have access to a dry area; ensure bedding is dry, and reduce over-washing your horse's legs; rotate paddocks and if possible gateways; cordon off the muddiest areas with electric fencing; disinfect all equipment and stables periodically to reduce the chance of Dermatophilus spores remaining.

There are a variety of western treatments currently in use. You may need to clip some of the hair to gain access to all of the affected area. Gentle bathing is necessary to remove the scabs before other treatments will reach the affected area; a mild antiseptic such as dilute chlorhexidine is very useful. You may need to soak the area to ease away the worst of the scabs. Dry with a hair dryer if you can, as it is essential that the legs are not left damp. Topical creams such as zinc and castor oil (as a barrier) or anti-inflammatory creams can be helpful, as long as the leg is dry first. Keep the horse's legs dry ' bandaging may be needed. Waterproof leg wraps are available for turnout. Antibiotics may be needed.

Complementary Therapies can hasten and aid the healing process.

A variety of herbal remedies may be helpful. The effect of barrier creams may be enhanced if they contain tea tree oil, aloe vera, honey, Vitamin E, MSM, calendula, hypericum, and/ or sulphur. Feed supplements containing cod liver or soya oil, anti-oxidants and seaweed (not in pregnant mares) may help promote a healthy skin.

Aromatics and Aromatherapy are frequently found to be helpful. Garlic, thyme, lavender, yarrow, Roman chamomile or German chamomile aromatic oils can be offered for a horse to self select by inhalation or licking, or if added to an aloe vera and water base can be applied to the affected area 1-2 times daily.

Healing with Reiki or Spiritual healing can help calm a horse and bring in her own self-healing abilities, reducing pain and helping the affected skin to heal. The effect may be enhanced with the use of crystals, such as amethyst. Healing is also likely to be aided with the use of magnetic therapy.

Selection of appropriate Bach flower remedies depends on the personality and current mood of your horse, so it is better to seek expert advice to get the optimal remedy combination.

Rescue remedy, which contains star of Bethlehem, rock rose, cherry plum, impatiens and clematis, is ideal for use in emergency situations. Homeopathy works best if you consult a trained veterinary homeopath, as the specific remedies can be targeted to your horse.

Mud fever is common in our climate, but with good care can be prevented and with a combination of veterinary and complementary therapies, treated when it does arise.

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Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor and animal healer with a website that helps to inform the public about complementary animal therapies while connecting animal therapists worldwide. http://www.TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com

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