HorseChannel.com Message Board / HorseChannel.com Forums / Health and Grooming

Negative P3 Palmers

canny11 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:31:54 GMT

The reason my horse has gone lame is because she has a conformation fault called a negative palmer. The vet didn't tell me what it is though. He only said that he has the worst kind! I searched the internet but couldn't find anything about them. So does anyone know what they are???

Rainrot questions

Swing_Away111 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:29:02 GMT

Hi guys,
As some of you know, my horse get rainrot very frequently. So I have a few questions...
1. Is there an oral antibiotic I can buy him to get rid of it? This is one of his worst cases, he's had it for two months now, and it would be really nice to get rid of it for the winter.
2. How do you disinfect objects that have touched rainrot? Such as brushes, coolers, saddlepads, ect.
3. How contaigious is rainrot? Such as if I used a brush on his rainrot, then the rest of his body, would it spread the rainrot to other places?
4. I have a tacky-too bareback pad, that says it is antibacterial. Will that not spread rainrot?

Thanks!

COPD

foxtrotting — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:48:26 GMT

My 8 yr old was diagnosed with copd he was on a 10 day treatment, I also bought ester-c and he gets that 2xs a day. My vet said dust was the key so I dilute it with water. He still coughs occasionally and I am worried about excercising. I have been light riding him with occasional coughs. is there anything else I can do? My hay is not dusty, but I have been wetting it anyway, he is not stalled. I really want to be able to use him without feeling guilty if he coughs. anyone have any experience with this?? thank you

Using a Sheet?

Swing_Away111 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:10:41 GMT

Hi everyone,
I was thinking about buying Merrill a sheet, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea. I was thinking it would help get rid of his rain rot. He got a pretty bad case on his back when I couldn't walk, so I've been trying to get rid of it. It sarted to get better...but then it started raining. It's been raining for a week straight, no joke. Well, his rainrot is back pretty badly.
It's supposed to clear up for a few days next week, but it's still going to rain alot for the next month (it always does in my area). So, I was thinking a sheet might keep Merrill dry enough to get rid of his rainrot for good. It's in the mid 40s, so since I want Merrill to grow a good winter coat, so not quite cold enough for a blanket.
I wasn't sure about a sheet though, because I was worried it wouldn't let him grow a normal winter coat. Thoughts?
Also, I've heard from people that sheets just make horses hot and sweaty (even used in 40 degree weather). I wasn't sure about this though, especially with Merrill, because he hardly ever sweats, even in hard work (if you remember, I made a post asking about anhidrolisis a few months back). So I wasn't too concerned about this, but still wondering. Thoughts?
Sorry to clog the boards with yet another blanket topic, this is just a unique situation.
Thanks!

BLANKET HELP New Question

jubilee2010 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:22:05 GMT

**Ok so i was told by a friend that her tb had a MAJOR issue with the shoulder slits on the blanket rubbing his shoulders majorly. she told me to try and get one without this. The ones i like all have it. so i was wondering if anyone else has had issues with blankets like these?**

Ok so i have been looking around and i really like this one. Tell me what you think.

http://www.smithbrothers.com/product.asp?pn=X3-24335&zmam=1460880&zmas=2&zmac=64&zmap=X3-24335&re=categoryrec

Is it good? Any other ideas?

Braiding

canny11 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:30:44 GMT

First of all, this is my first show season, and I don't know how to braid my mare's mane. I know how to braid her tail though. So how do I braid? Then, do I have to braid her mane and tail for hunter classes? Thanx!

Cremello horse

3horses3 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:29:46 GMT

Hi.

I am looking for boots for my horse. (I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES!)

She is a cremello with blue eyes, and we do barrel racing and other WSCA/4-H games.

I have recently done purple, but decided that it was too dark of a color for her light coat.

I REALLY like pink on her... but I am not sure yet. And I think turqouise would be cute, but idk about that because she is a girl, so yaa...

I for sure don't want red or a dark blue or anything darker like that. I really think pink would be cute on her because around her eyes and muzzle in the summer, her skin turns pink, so it really makes her eyes pop!

I also like brown on her though, but that's a little weird I think on a girl cremello horse! I guess I just like how it kind of blends with her coat in a cool way.

What do you think?

Light Weight Water proof blankets

savvy-up — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:59:00 GMT

Would they still let the horses grow their winter coat. I want my horse to but she needs to not get rain rott. Any sugjustions for good brands?

Hindquarter Condition

Triple My Gold — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:50:24 GMT

My horse's hip bones appear to be jutting out when viewed from the front, but look fine when viewed from behind. Does anybody know what could be causing this?

Here are some pictures, taken yesterday. Sorry, they are kind of big:

Equine Massage Theripists

savvy-up — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:55:23 GMT

Has anyone had them come out for their horse? What were the benifits?

Navicular?

coyote_trax_07 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:28:16 GMT

Okay...so awhile ago I posted saying how Scooter had been going slightly lame. To recap briefly at the end of May he tore a chunk out of his back hoof so we gave him the summer off. When I went to ride him again last month he was off at the trot in his FRONT left leg - not super lame, just off. We thought he'd gotten stoved up from not being ridden, since he's 14 years old, although he does have 24/7 turnout.

He went to the vet last Wednesday and they couldn't find anything. He hoof tested both of his front feet and did flexion tests as well. He also checked to see if he was out anywhere, and Scooter checked out fine. But there was an emergency with some dog and they didn't have time to go any further, so they had us schedule another appointment, which was today. Today when I trotted Scooter on the concrete he was hardly lame at all when he went straight, but he limped when he turned. He hoof tested him again and the vet said he seemed tender on his frog. He also numbed his hoof and had me trot him around, going from grass to concrete and back again. He was more lame on the concrete than the grass.

So the vet thinks he's starting to go navicular, or at the very least there's inflammation around there. He recommended that we put padding and barred shoes on his front feet and see if that makes a difference, and if it doesnt to have x-rays done. We also got some bute.

Although...I'm still not completely convinced that this is his problem. But I also don't know much about navicular. If they're navicular are they only lame at the trot? And is it possible that he may have just bruised his frog really bad? His field has a section thats pretty rocky and he runs around all the time, so it's possible he smacked it good. Either way we'll be getting the special shoeing done anyway, but my farrier is gone all week so I have to wait until he gets back.

If anyone has any navicular horses or knows any I'd like to know what you do for them to make them comfortable =)

New horse, tiny scabs?

lady — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:38:32 GMT

I bought an appy palomino a week ago, shes awesome but i have one issue. she has these tiny scabs in her coat... like its a fungus type thing or something. she's not losing hair anywhere. i was just wondering how to get rid of it. i dont wanna try 10 different methods and then ask how to treat it. can someone give me an answer?

thanks!

Popped splint bone

3horses3 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:18:30 GMT

Hi, haven't been on here in a while

Anyways.. My mare April fell all the way over while slowly cantering around a barrel during our practice about 2 months ago. She fell on her left side, (thank God I was ok) while on her left lead and just got a couple scrapes on her hind legs. A few weeks after that had happened, I noticed a huge hard bump (about 3 inches long, and 1.5 inches wide) on the inside of her left leg. I had my barn owner look at it, and she said it shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Now, 2 months after that accident, the barn owner finally got the vet out to the barn. I knew I had to have her check April's leg, because in those past 2 months, she had been extremely unbalanced while on her left lead, and would even trip on her hind legs while walking for no reason, it felt like her hind legs dragged for a step!

When she was out the other day, she just watched me lunge her, trot away from her, ect. April looked perfectly fine, but I just had to have her checked out.

I told the vet about her huge hard bump she'd had (it went away after about 1 1/2 weeks after I noticed it) and about the unbalanced part. She immediately knew April had probably twisted her left leg going around the barrel and falling just right so that her splint bone popped...

She recommended to me that I buy SMB's for April, and put the hind boots on when I am working on barrels or other fast stuff, because her leg is now prone to the splint popping again easier than before.

I have been looking on the internet, and found a couple of boots I am interested in, but want your opinions on what you like best and what would work for April best.

SMB Elite hind boots: providing 360 degrees of protection, safeguarding the cannon bone, tendons and soft tissue

SMB-3 hind boots: same description as the Elite ^^

Legacy hind boots: Shock absorbing splint pad gives maximum protection to the splint bone, tendons and other soft tissue.

I see on the SMB's, they dont directly say "splint bone protection," so I'm wondering what I should get!!

THANKS!

clipping help

Hopeful_Hunter21 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:35:30 GMT

Hi Everyone!

Ok so I'm planning on clipping my mare for the first time this winter. What are your basic rules for blanketing, clipping, etc...I think I'll try to find someone in my area to do it for me, I don't wanna butcher her, but as for when to do it and what kind of blankets to get and when she should wear what...

I live in NC and it is around 40-50 degrees around here now...stays pretty nice and sunny for the most part...it really doesn't snow too much and when it does there isn't much.

ring worm.

sillybunny11486 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:49:40 GMT

so my friend whom i board with, tells me her horse has ring worm. her horse also goes out with my two. should i expect my horses to get it as well?? the vet told her to expose it to sunlight, that will help it go away. Ive never had to treat it before, I was just wondering what everyone else has done.

White flaky spot

equinekitty — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:37:39 GMT

The horse I ride has a small spot of flaky, dry, greyish white...skin?...right on his withers. It's underneath the saddle when he's tacked up. I thought it might be a rub spot but he isn't sensitve about it all. Anybody know what it might be?
Kat

Windpuffs

pigeon123 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:19:32 GMT

So i think wind puffs are basically fluid filled little patches that develop on the horse, and I believe they are classified as a blemish but, I'm not sure so I was just wondering if they can lead to unsoundness's or anything of the sort. I'm looking into a horse that has them, and is perfectly sound except for these. thanks! :)

Horse Illustrated wants YOUR health and grooming feedback!

HC Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:55:21 GMT

As we plan for new content, we want to make sure you’re getting everything you expect from Horse Illustrated. To do so, we need your help. What type of health, nutrition and grooming content would you like to see in the coming year?

Healthy treats?

APetPal — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:28:47 GMT

I occasionally give my horse treats, sliced apples or carrots, (I kind of want to switch things up) what are some other healthy treats I could give him? Or should I stick to apples and carrots? Thanks!

Mane Pulling and Banding...HELP!

Triple My Gold — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:21:18 GMT

I know show season is a little ways away, but I wanted to get as early of a start as I possibly can.

I show my quarter horse mare in halter, showmanship, stock seat equitation, and western pleasure. And, of course, the unspoken showing rules dictate that the mane should be pulled and banded for these events. I know how to pull a mane, but part of my mare's mane never seems to look right. Her mane has a tendency to flip forward in the front, and I just can't seem to get it to lay flat and look nice. Also, I have never been able to figure out how to properly band the mane. Any help would be appreciated

Having Wolf Teeth Pulled??

caus4aplas — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:23:33 GMT

The vet came out the other day and said my mare had to have her wolf teeth pulled. I have never had to do this with any of my other horses and I'm very nervous for her! Has anyone ever had this done with their horses? How long will it take for her to heal and how long is the procedure?

Thanks for any advice!

Horsey Insurance

sillybunny11486 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:02:17 GMT

Yesterday our cat (my sister) almost died, attacked by our dog. He had to go to the er and has to get jaw surgery, and stiches. Im hoping the bill is under like $6000. (My parents will probably pay for it, but ill try to give them half.) I got to thinking what if there was a major accident with one/both of my horses, I could pay a few thousand but after that idk what i would do.

My mare has sidebone and maybe more, so she cant be totally insured for medical, i guess just nonpreexisting conditions. My weanling has no issues so im sure he could be fully covered. (I dont nead life insurance on them, as they arent worth more then a few thousand, total I paid about $2500 for them.) Who is everyone insured with, and how much does it cost? Can I insure my baby and just add my mare or do i have to pay two seperate premiums?

Floating $$$

Uma — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:31:22 GMT

Currious cause I'm shopping around for some general prices, how much do you pay for a normal floating of your horses/ponies teeth (I'm talking about a pony.) Thanks it'd help a lot if you could post the price you pay (can you make 2 seperate prices, 1 for the cost of floating alone and one for the cost of the house/farm call if possible? THANKS!!!!!)

When is a second opinion warranted?

sillybunny11486 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:53:50 GMT

My mare has been radiographed, and the vet saw sidebone. This was over a year ago. Now I know it will never go away, but the treatments he suggested dont really help her. We've done bar shoes, wedge pads... ect. The pads had to be taken out because she got brusing from them a few months ago. The farrier put regular shoes on her this time, and put in a pad thats cut to fit the shoe but it goes around the heel, kind of supporting it, but a little differently then a bar shoe would. The goal is to distribute weight more evenly. Im not riding her, shes not been ridden since june. I dont have this dying urge to ride because I know she wont be sound above a light workout.

Sidebone is treated very simmilar to navicular with regards to shoeing. Its not as uncommon as you may think, some horses go undiagnosed because they stay sound and rideable.

My question is should I get new radiographs, and possibly a second opinion from another local vet? This vet is more expensive, but I dont really care. I just want to see if there is something different, in addion to sidebone they may find, or if they have some better ideas for treatment. I would like her to be more comfortable, instead of this on of again lameness. What do you think?

TJ's tail sucks.

coyote_trax_07 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:49:37 GMT

I don't like TJ's tail =/ He has a long, thick mane and he's such a big, well-built horse and then he has a thin, scraggly tail and it sorta throws off the whole picture, haha. Even though I don't like, show him in WP or anything, I still like him to look nice. So is there anything I can do to help it grow longer/get thicker?

How long does it take?

ride*to*live — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:41:50 GMT

How long does it take for corn oil to start to make the coat shiny? Plus does it make the coat just shiny or slippery to? And a random question what is the best time of year is best for hogging a mane? thanks

My OTTB is to Skinny

jubilee2010 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:12:43 GMT

I was looking to buy Weight Builder and i know a bunch of people who use it.

what is your opinion or what do you use?

Thanks

Nutrition Plan and Weight Gain, Help?

EquineGirl — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:52:10 GMT

Hi I am still fairly new to this forum and so far I have been really pleased with the responses I have had from all of you! You have helped answer a lot of my questions

I really hope you can help me with this situation, first I will just give you a little info....or a lot.. ha ha

I own a 15.2 hand ,5 year old registered Quarter Horse mare , she just turned 5 and I am training her to be a English/hunter horse. I am still fine tuning her flat work and she has just been introduced to ground pole work and small cross rails.

She certainly needs to tune up those muscles as she was out in the pasture up in north with no exercise before coming to me.

I live in Florida and was boarding her at a barn near me.
The turnouts had NO grass, it was just dirt and sand. Usually she was turned out at night because the weather down here can be EVIL, so she either spent all day or all night in a turnout with nothing to do or eat.

I started to notice she was dropping weight and after investigating found out she was not being fed properly along with not eating when being turned out.

I have just moved her to a new barn. It is SO nice, a spacious breezy barn, roomy stalls, and acres of GRASS FILLED turnouts!!! with big pasture space too, and open spaces to ride and work her.

She has dropped A LOT of weight from being at the other barn, her ribs poke out, and her withers are beginning to jut out quite a bit. Since this new barn knows how to really care for horses and they allow me to keep track of what my horse is fed.....I am starting a whole new feeding/nutrition plan that is far more healthy and will help her gain weight and just improve her overall health.

I would LOVE advice, tips, and ideas on what I can do to help out my mare.

Right now I am transitioning her over to Nutrena SafeChoice , she will be completely on it by Saturday. I plan to feed her a scoop and a quarter twice a day. ( about 2 pounds per feeding) She is also being fed 2 flakes of compressed T&A (Timothy/Alfalfa blend) twice a day. She is also now being turned out to graze all night and I also turn her out during the day whenever I am there for a couple hours. The grass is not SUPER rich.

I need your opinion on this feeding plan, and what else do I need to do to help her gain weight in a healthy way. I know it takes time. Also, any supplements you recommend?

She's still a young horse so I want get her started on a good healthy life and keep her on track.

THANK YOU!!

Beaubys biting/itching/i dunno what at his side...?

allsmiles24/7 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:02:02 GMT

.For the past month or so Beau has been nipping at his side right after I get off him. He's nipping in the place where I would be spurring him, but I don't ride with spurs. It seems more like itching because he's rubbing his teeth on it, not really BITING it, but I gave him a bath with medicated shampoo and checked for fungi or anything like that and found nothing. He doesn't do it for long periods of time...Just a quick scratch right after I get off him or sometimes when I loosen his girth.

I'm worried about my poor pony...

Saddle size

pretty-ponies — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:22:47 GMT

I'm going to be getting a saddle to use on my new lease, Flicka. I just don't know what size seat to get. I'm planning on getting a saddle with an adjustable gullet, but if not, I'll probably get a medium. Flicka is about 15, maybe 14.3hh, so it should fit her.
so anyways, what I wanted to know, what size do you think would fit me?
I'm about 5'5 (and growing), not sure what I weigh, but I was thinking either a 17" or a 16.5"
What do you think?

What do you use for making your horses coat shiney?

gooymonster — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:38:12 GMT

I need help choosing what product will work best for giving my horse that top shine for shows or just looking good. Please help me choose. Here are some popular ones I know of.If you choose other please put what you use!

Thanks for your help!

Supplements

mythirion — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:31:37 GMT

Okay, so I am currently leasing a 17YO thoroughbred gelding and I'm just curious as to what other people would recommend supplement-wise for us. He is ridden 6 days a week and has two lessons with his owner and one maybe two lessons with me. He has had a history of joint issues, but we haven't had a problem of lameness since his old owner quit riding and I started riding him. (I believe this is because we actually work him) He's been feeling great lately; starting to carry himself more, and is out in the pasture kicking and running all day; he never used to do that!

Anyway, he is currently on only calcium, vitamin E and electrolytes right now but I'm just wondering if there is something else we should maybe look into getting. Thanks!

energy boost?

Legendary — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:04:40 GMT

so recently, one of the horses has had an energy loss. weve tried switching grains, and feed but it doesnt necissarily work. so do you have any recomendations for energy boosters, like supplements or a type of food?

please dont tell me to get a vet check, cause the vets coming tomorrow, i just want some ideas maybe before he can suggest something.

Ankle Biter??

Equitate — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:01:37 GMT

Starting today, i noticed my horse biting his ankles, and scratching them constantly. He NEVER does that. I am wondering if it might be arthritis? Hes only 10 tho, and was broke at 5 or 6. Hes a QHxPaint (if that matters...?)
Should i be worried? What could it be? let me know thanks everyone.

lonely horse!!

lonelyhorse — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:34:24 GMT

OK so i recently moved my horse, to an amazing barn huge stalls and huge pastures.. one problem, she is alone, it doesnt bother her, but i can tell she is lonely and bored... is there anything that i can do to keep her entertained outside while i wait for another boarder. Ill take anything!!!
(she likes to open cans if that helps!)
HELPPP

Choking on just a handful of feed...? Chronic Choke maybe...?

Allo — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:22:43 GMT

I meant to post this the other day...

I rode my gelding the other day and got back after dark... since it was coming a storm, and it was night, I figured I’d just give him a few (two) handfuls of his feed (alfalfa pellets and super 12 pellets) and let him go, since I had no wish to soak his feed when it was coming up a pretty bad storm and it was thundering badly and lightening in the distance. I figured that if I just gave him two handfuls, rationing his feed out in very small bits so it took about ten minutes for him to eat it, he’d be ok. But he wasn’t. As I went to turn him loose, he started acting like he was choking. He wasn’t choking badly, just tensing up and ‘squeaking’... there was no discharge from his nose and no excess saliva... he was able to breathe properly. I massaged his neck until he was better, which took about 20 minutes in the rain, then let him go.

I’ve heard of something called ‘chronic choke’ in horses, but I don’t know much about it... I’ve been told, though, that a horse with ‘chronic choke’ will coke on virtually any type of feed, and that’s how my Dakota does. He chokes on regular sweet feed, pelleted feed, and anything... He’s fine with grass and hay and he’s just perfect when I soak his feed into a slushy mess...

The next time I have the vet out, should I ask him to look at my boys throat to see if he has any scar tissue in his throat or something that is preventing perfectly chewed feed to go down properly? My gelding used to bolt his feed, but he doesn’t anymore, and his teeth don’t need to be floated. I don’t know if he’s ever injured the tissues in his throat, but I feel of his teeth regularly to make sure there are no sharp ridges or uneven areas.

Back Pain

EquineGirl — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:33:38 GMT

My Quarter horse mare is 5 and I have just recently started training her in hunters.

She was really out of shape, so I have been taking it pretty slowly.

I have only had her a few months and she has always held her head up a little and been very stiff through the neck, I assumed it was from being untrained in english and not being used to english contact and the bit.

I have noticed though that she has been pretty touchy about her lower back, on top near her tail when I press down... she is also is very resistent to bending to the left when I ride her and shifts her weight forward when I ask her to slow down.

I'm also thinking that this may be why she holds her head up and neck so stiffly.

I had a massage lady come out and check her out, she thinks its from being a young horse and getting used to training, but I can't afford to have my mare be treated by the message lady.

I am really needing advice on what to do.

what is the best way to treat her soreness?
What can I do to make things better for my mare?
Any exercises I can do on her while riding to help?
Or what can I do on the ground to treat her?

I also plan to have a dentist check her out, and a vet- when I have the money for it, just to make sure it's none of those problems.

Weight Supplements

cowgirl4life — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:15:23 GMT

I have a really hard time keeping my horses weight under control, especially now that I can't ride him because I had back surgery. I've seen some supplements in the catalogs i get that are for easy keepers. I was just wondering if anyone here has used them and if they worked. I would also appreciate any tips on keeping his weight down.
Thank you

Rotten Teeth..?

Legendary — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:50:49 GMT

alex's bottom teeth are appareantly rotting [according to my trainer who is a dentist]. he was a previous racer [with the bit thrown in his mouth] and then abused and went threw 3 other homes after that, so his [mouth/head] history isnt the best. right now hes on hay and senior pellets with hoof supplements.
so what am i supposed to do, get his teeth floated?

Have you ever heard of a pony with this many allergies?

Horserider92 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:12:52 GMT

I own a quarter horse pony with ALOT of allergies. We do the best we can but i've been trying to find people who know of horses/ponies like this.

here's the list of her allergies:

positive:

grasses -

orchard

bermuda

ryegrass

bahia

weeds -

ragweed

cocklebur

dock/sheep sorrel

waterhemp

trees:

juniper cedar

pecan hickory

mulberry

fungi-

curvularia

oaphalosporium

trichodarma

pullularia

penicillium

foods-

alfafa

molasses

indoor-

jute/sisal

insects –

stable fly

grains – wheat pollen

borderline:

grasses:

timothy

weeds:

saga