Artist Nick Cave launches Horse Sculpture installation in New York

We love it when people get creative with their love of horses; and you can't get much more creative than this!

Renowned American artist and sculptor, Nick Cave - not to be confused with the fantastic Australian musician of the same name - this week unveiled a horse-themed live art installation to celebrate the centennial of New York City's Grand Central Terminal that already has captured the imagination of the city's many thousands of daily commuters, and not to mention us too!

Running until the 31st March, HEARD NY, is a combination of performance art and sculpture which involves 30 costumed horses (or Soundsuits) grazing, moving and dancing on the main floor of the Vanderbilt Hall, to the sounds of live music from around the world. 

The horses, although operated by pairs of live performers inside carefully-constructed costumes, the figures take on lives of their own, flitting in and out of moments of still movement and seemingly random choreography. The performances, spread throughout the day are intended as a colourful representation of how important Grand Central Terminal has been in bringing many different people from vastly different parts of the world together through its transport network. 

But above all, it's also meant to provide an escape from the regularity of every day routine, and the hustle and bustle of the big city, and instead serve almost as an momentary escape from the grind for anyone with a child-like imagination and a of course a love of horses!

Each costume is uniquely designed, with each 'horse' being decorated with a mask made from hand-selected textiles from all over the world, almost giving each one its own fun identity! The piece has also been performed in other locations, so keep an eye out!

In the meantime, however, let your mind run free in the fields of your imagination and watch this great video of HEARD NY below!

New safety guidelines to Slow down horses for the Grand National

There has been some concern over the
safety of courses such as Aintree (Photo: Carine06)

In light of recent fatalities and injuries sustained in major horse racing competitions in the U.K., particularly at the annual gathering at Cheltenham, there have been concerns about the welfare of participating horses with regards to hardness of the track and race speeds. 

According to an article in The Guardian, a set of new guidelines have been issued by Aintree ahead of this year's Grand National, which takes place next month, with the aim at slowing down participating horses during the initial run to the first fence, which has been known to be precarious during previous meetings. 

As also detailed in the article, "the start of the race has already been moved forward 90 yards further away from the grandstands in an attempt to keep the horses as calm as possible."

The issue of reducing the pace early in the race is among a series of new guidelines issued in conjunction with Aintree and the Professional Jockeys' Association, following a series of incidents during last year's event. During this one race alone, there were two false starts and two major fatalities, including the death of former Gold Cup winner, Synchronised.

Officials have voiced concern that slowing horses down for the initial portion of the popular race meet is 'easier said than done', due to the logistics of keeping 40 horses together prior to the beginning of the race.

Although these incidents are fairly rare in terms of statistics, it's sensible to try to impose new measures to prevent the repetition of previous tragedies, but is has been suggested that the natural unpredictability of circumstance and indeed that of the horses' behaviour themselves in these kinds of situations is part and parcel of the nature of the event, although measures to reduce the potential threat of difficult fences on this initial run has been welcomed.

However, it has also been reported that the RSPCA has suggested that the iconic Becher's Brook fence should be axed, although this isn't likely to happen. Again, there is concern over the employment of extraneous safety measures turning arguably the most famous competitive horse meeting in the U.K. into a 'flat race', with many arguing that there are more challenging fences and obstacles on other tracks, with some of the lesser fences being the source of several accidents in the past too, so there is no guaranteeing such a drastic measure would solve the problem. 

Either way, there appears to be a lot to think about in the lead up to this year's Grand National, which should be, regardless of apparent controversy, just as big an event as ever. 

Amazing Horse Snow Sculptures

Seeing as the winter weather is back with a vengeance and has been for quite some time this month already, we thought we would try and find the good in the bad (weather) and show that sometimes a lot of show ain't so bad; as seen by the incredible Snow Sculptures constructed in China last year as a celebration of the beauty, the power and cultural/spiritual significance of the Horse.

Inspired by closely watching a local herd of wild horses, dedicated ice sculptors spent days last December carving out what they claim to be the world's biggest horse sculpture of it's kind as part of the annual Jingyue Snow World festival in Jingyuetan National Forest in the heart of China's Jilin Province.

After incredible work hours and bracing punishing temperatures of -30, the results were absolutely breathtaking, as can be seen in the video below. 

SO, next time you're complaining about the snow, why not get inspired and make your own Snow Horse? World Record or not, it's got to be more fun than staying indoors!

Easter gift Ideas from Tic Tac Equestrian

It's fast approaching Easter and although we're fairly convinced your horses and ponies aren't aware of the story of Jesus - if we're wrong and you have somehow happened to teach them, then we would be very impressed indeed! - Easter Time is not only a religious holiday for some, but also signals the arrival of Spring - properly this time!

Although we are rumoured to be destined for a continuous cold snap until further into May, there's no reason why we shouldn't make the most of this bank holiday weekend and celebrate this time with our loved ones - and that goes double for the horses!

In lieu of Horsey Easter Eggs, we have a wide range of Treats, Accessories and Fun Gift Ideas over at TicTac Equestrian.com to see this Easter Weekend in, in style; just what you need to get through this last little cold snap, then we are one step closer to summer, and loooooong, warm treks into the countryside! Well, fingers crossed eh?!

Do you want to find out more about horses and live in or around the Crieff, Perthshire area, make sure that you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's very own Riding Centre, set within 900 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside at the foot of the Knock of Crieff, the Crieff Hydro Riding Centre boasts a unique setting for horsey lovers. Check out the official Hydro Riding Website for more information- http://hydroriding.com/.

The More You Know - STUD HORSES

The word "stud" comes from the Old English 'stod' meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding"

Around the world, private individuals have breeding farms of various sizes that are dedicated to animal breeding, usually of purebred livestock. Some of the largest and most impressive are those dedicated to Thoroughbred horse breeding, such as the historic Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, USA or the Darley Stud, owned by Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which stands over fifty stallions at stud in facilities located in seven countries.

Many stud farms make male animals available for breeding to outside female animals that are not owned by the stud farm. Doing so provides an outside source of revenue to a stud farm via the stud fees paid to obtain the services of the stud animal as well as contributing to the overall genetic diversity of the animal's offspring. At state stud farms, stud service is not only a source of income, but due to the high standards set for breeding animals, has an overall effect of improving the quality of animals throughout an area.

In most cases, the owner of the female brings the animal to the stud farm for breeding, sometimes leaving her there for over a month to be sure that pregnancy has occurred. However, with the invention of artificial insemination and the ability to ship semen, combined with the availability of DNA testing for parentage verification, many breed registries allow semen to be shipped from the stud farm to the location of the female animal, thus reducing or eliminating the need for animals to travel.

For more information on Stud Farms in the U.K., and for a list of potential farms in your area, click HERE. 


If you live in or around the Crieff, Perthshire area, make sure that you check outCrieff Hydro Hotel's very own Riding Centre, set within 900 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside at the foot of the Knock of Crieff, the Crieff Hydro Riding Centre boasts a unique setting for horsey lovers. Check out the official Hydro Riding Website for more information- http://hydroriding.com/

Thoroughbred Horses

We Photo: Five Furlongs

We love everything about horses and one of the most fascinating aspects of horse care and any interest in Horses and professional riding, is horse breeding. 

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word 'thoroughbred' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of pure-bred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. 

Thoroughbreds are known for their agility, speed and spirit and, the breed, as it is known today, originally developed in 17th- and 18th-century England, when native mares were crossbred with imported Oriental stallions of Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman descent. 

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Thoroughbred spread throughout the world; they were imported into North America starting in 1730 and into Australia, Europe, Japan and South America during the 19th century. Millions of Thoroughbreds exist today, and more than 118,000 foals are registered each year worldwide.

Thoroughbreds are used mainly for racing, but are also bred for other riding disciplines such as show jumping, combined training, dressage, polo, and fox hunting.

Thoroughbred racehorses perform with maximum exertion, which can resulted in high accident rates and health problems. There are several theories for the reasons behind the prevalence of accidents and health problems in the Thoroughbred breed, and research continues. However, Thoroughbred horses are still highly sought after for both their aesthetic qualities and athletic brilliance. 

Equine Cremation

Here at Tic Tac we know that saying goodbye to a beloved horse is one of the hardest things any owner can face. But rather than avoiding the inevitable, it's much better to be well-prepared to give your much-loved family friend the special send-off it deserves. 

For some owners, the option of burying their horse at home is sadly not possible. However, an increasing number of horse and pony owners are using pet cemeteries or crematoriums as a suitable way to take care of their pets after they pass away. 

Most of these establishments offer a range of options to suit all budgets and tastes, but above all, they allow you the chance to provide your horse with a fitting tribute. 

Dealing with the aftermath of a death can be traumatic, but many services cater for all your needs and most offer some form of bereavement counselling.

The Association of Private Pet Cemeteries & Crematoria (APPCC) has a standard code of practise that covers pet cremations and burials and is currently the only organisation in the UK setting standards for cremation. 

Where a service is described as either a cremation or burial, it will offer the following:

• The sympathetic handling of the pet at all times

• The burial or cremation carried out according to the legal requirement of the country

• The committal of the body or the ashes to a particular area intended for that purpose, or in cremation the return of the ashes to the owner.

For more info, go to the APPCC site for a list of local services. 

Thrush in Horses and How to Prevent It

Further to our previous posts on Horse health and conditions that can affect the comfort and well-being of your equine buddies, here's a brief insight into another common, and somewhat irritating condition - Thrush.  

Thrush is a bacterial infection that occurs on the hoof of a horse, specifically in the soft inner region of the hoof known as 'the frog'. The reason it can be quite common is that unfortunately, the bacteria which cause thrush occur naturally in the animal's environment — especially in wet, muddy, or unsanitary conditions, such as an unclean stall — and grow best with low oxygen. Therefore, Horses with particularly deep clefts, or narrow or contracted heels are more at-risk to develop thrush.

Symptoms

One of the most obvious indications of thrush is an unpleasant odour that occurs when picking out your horses feet. Additionally, the areas of the hoof that are infected will be black in colour and will easily break or crumble when scraped with a hoof pick. When picking the hooves, around thrush areas, the differences between healthy and infected areas can be seen when there is healthy white/grey tissue surrounding a dark and unpleasant-smelling area.

Thankfully, Thrush is easy to diagnose, fairly easy to treat and is generally much less harmful than some of the other unpleasant conditions found in horses which can have much more serious effects. However, if left untreated, the bacteria can potentially migrate deeper into the sensitive parts of the hoof, which can sometimes even result in lameness. At this point, the horse may also react when his feet are picked out, and blood may be seen.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment for horses with thrush includes picking out the feet twice a day, taking special care to clean out the two collateral grooves and the central sulcus. The feet may then be scrubbed clean using a detergent and/or disinfectant and warm water, before coating the infected area with a specially-designed thrush-treatment product (which you can ask your vet for more information about), or with iodine solution, which may be soaked into cotton balls and packed into the clefts to reduce the spread of infection and to maintain a clean and sterile area within the vulnerable part of the hoof. 

As always however, it's usually wise to consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns. As a rule though, Horses with thrush, or those at risk for contracting it, are best kept in a dry, clean environment. 

Daily cleaning of the hooves also contributes to the prevention of thrush. In general, thrush is relatively easy to treat, although it can easily return and it can take up to a year for a fully healthy 'frog' to regrow after a severe infection.

For a helpful guide to identifying and treating thrush in horses, here's a quick video:

Miniature Horses

What's the science that makes smaller things more adorable? Who knows, but whether it's puppies, kittens, foals, or even babies, even the most serious among us would surely melt at the sight of these tiny critters.

But it's not just infants that get all of the attention. There are in fact several breeds of naturally tiny miniature horses. 

Miniature horses are found in many nations, particularly in Europe and the Americas. The designation of what qualifies as a miniature horse is determined by the height of the animal, which, depending on the particular breed involved, is usually less than 34–38 inches (86–97 cm). While miniature horses are the size of a very small pony, many retain horse characteristics and are considered "horses" by their respective registries. Like regular, full-sized horses, they have various colours and coat patterns.

Miniature horses are friendly and interact well with people. For this reason they are often kept as family pets, though they still retain natural horse behaviours, including a natural fight or flight instinct, and must be treated like an equine, even if they being kept as a companion animal or domestic pet. They are also trained as service animals, similar to assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

While miniature horses can be trained to work indoors, they are still real horses and are healthier when allowed to live outdoors (with proper shelter and room to run). They are generally quite hardy, often living longer on average than some full-sized horse breeds; the average life span of miniature horses is from 25 to 35 years.

In popular culture they are also adored, as shown by this great clip from popular US comedy show, Parks and Recreation, which shows the employees of the local government of a small city in Indiana getting a little too excited over their city's official mascot, 'Lil Sebastian'!

TicTac Equestrian.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For horse lovers like ourselves, it feels like every year is 'year of the horse'! 

2013 is no different and its arrival brings hope and excitement for the future. With each new day comes a new opportunity and new places to explore with your favourite four-legged friends!

Over the coming months we will be bringing you a huge range of exciting and informative articles, from fun activities, news and events to stable tips and the finer points of equine care and all the ins and outs of horse ownership!

So, we'd like to wish you and your stablemates all the best for 2013 and we hope you have a very horsey new year!

http://www.tictacequestrian.com

A Horse Is For Life Not Just For Christmas

'A pet is for life, not just for Christmas'

It's an old saying, but at this time of year, it's particularly important to remember. There is nothing quite as special as the first time the horse of your dreams comes into your life, especially on such a special day as Christmas Day itself. But as any horse owner will tell you, the reward of making this special connection comes with a lot of hard work. 

We don't need to tell you that it's worth it, but there is sadly a growing trend for treating animals as if they're disposable gifts, with many new owners who were once enamoured by the idea of spoiling a loved one with a wonderful Christmas gesture soon feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility and maintenance that comes with caring for a new pet, especially a horse. 

The BHS (British Horse Society) is currently trying to raise awareness of the problem, warning against any company that is encouraging people to buy a horse for Christmas.

As the BHS states: Horses need and deserve skilled care from knowledgeable people. In this market, they may be inexpensive to buy, but they can be costly to keep.

The company, Horsemart, recently sent out an email advertising: 'Horses under £500 make great Christmas presents.'

BHS Senior Welfare Executive Lee Hackett said: “We were so disappointed to see such an irresponsible email coming from Horsemart. A horse is for life, not just for Christmas.

Particularly reprehensible is that the horses shown in the email are all young animals designed to pull at the emotions of unsuspecting buyers. These horses would need careful handling from experienced people to develop and prepare for their future. They are most certainly not to be exploited for Christmas.”

The British Horse Society and we here at The Equestrian Blogger encourage anyone with the ability to properly care for a new horse to contact any reputable local Horse Rescue Centre, where you will find plenty of wonderful horses in need of a safe and reliable home. 

Spoil your horse this Christmas with gift ideas from Tic Tac Equestrian!

Horses know how to live it up
 at Christmas too!

It's getting even closer to Christmas, and at Tic Tac Equestrian, the excitement is beginning to mount! It's a magical time of year, and a perfect opportunity to show your loved ones just how much you care - especially your beloved horses and ponies!

Believe us when we say our four-legged buddies appreciate the excitement of getting a special new gift on Christmas Day as much as their owners, so at Tic Tac, there are plenty of fantastic x-mas gift ideas for horses, from comfy riding gear and winter rugs, to delicious treats and lots of horsey toiletries to keep them looking happily, healthy and smart. 

For the full range of Christmas gift ideas from Tic Tac Equestrian, go to the official store today, or for some more ideas, check out our earlier post on stocking and stable fillers this Christmas!

From all of us here, we hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Christmas Gift ideas for Horses!

There’s a lot more to Christmas day than the presents, but it’s a good place to start! At Tic Tac Equestrian, we have plenty of gift solutions for friends, family and horses alike, and fun little twists to make the careful art of stocking filling less of a burden and more of festive highlight!

First up, our Junior Grooming Kit Box (£18.99) is the perfect gift for your happy little stable hands. This sizable grooming kit comes in a nice big plastic carry case and contains a Junior sweat Scraper, Glitter Rubber Curry Comb, Plastic Curry Comb, Horse's head Hoof Pick, Body Brush, Dandy Brush, mane comb and a sponge. Perfect for a new pony owner!

Junior Grooming Kit Box - £18.99

The smaller, great value Pony Care Kit (£8.99) is a great little addition the pile under the Christmas Tree, with a small selection of accessories (including a mane comb, hoof oil and soaps) to help you keep your favourite pony looking pretty. 

Pony Care Kit - £8.99

Our fantastic ChristmasGift Pack (£5.99) is one just for the horses, with lots of lovely treats and horsey toiletries to keep them satisfied and smelling sweet! There’s apple treats, mane and tail lotion and tea tree shampoo – if horses could shop at Boots, this would be top of the list! 

Christmas gift pack - £5.99

Another fun little extra is our very own Christmas Stocking for Horses and Ponies (£5.99), bursting at the seams with healthy treats sure to earn you plenty of extra kisses over the festive period; just don’t get too tempted to try them yourself! 

And for friends and loved ones we’ve got a great range of accessories form our good pals at Maccessori including wallets, bags and bears all made from genuine Harris Tweed. Price start at £16.99, with some truly great quality items available, so if you fancy spoiling a fellow horse-crazy secret santa, you won’t be stuck for choice! 

We also have a great range of Silly Moo cosmetics including Hand Cream (£4.99) and Lip Balm (£4.59) or if you can’t decide we also have a nifty little Gift Basket with a choice selection of top quality products from this fun and friendly company to help you keep yourself looking radiant when you’re out riding!

Silly Moo Gift Basket - £8.99

So there you go, just a few of the many wonderful gift ideas available from Tic Tac Equestrian this Christmas. If you’ like more info, please feel free to give our full product range a proper look over at tictacequestrian.com.

We look forward to hearing from and hope you have a truly wonderful Christmas this year!

Christmas Day Treats for Horses!

Here's hoping for horsey white christmas!

We're getting ready for the holidays here at Tic Tac Equestrian! Now,  Christmas day is what you make it, but for us it’s a time to get fat and enjoy yourself - but don’t forget about your horses! They deserve a treat too and we’ve searched far and wide among horse lovers to get some great ideas for special ways to treat your four-legged friends at this wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Cake for Horses

Who doesn’t love Christmas cake? Exactly – no one! And that goes for our equine neighbours too. There are lots of different ways to spruce up their Christmas feed, so let’s start off with a simple but irresistible festive and wonderfully horsey Christmas cake.

Ingredients

Dark brown sugar - 500 g

1 Mug of bran

2 Mugs of chaff

1 apple

1 big carrot grated

1 small tin of black treacle

(You can add a mug of mix if you feed it)

Instructions

Heat up the sugar and treacle until melted, then stir in the rest of the ingredients -you may need to add little more chaff or bran so it is very thick.

Put into a medium-sized container and leave to set.

This recipe is very rich and sugary so be sure to feed with care to horses with sugar intolerance or if you like, you can reduce the amount of sugar you put in and replace with fruit - but it’s safe to say most healthy horses love this!

Other treats

You can also use many of the same ingredients to make different variations of fun, delicious horses treats, including these similar, candy-style treats.

To make, simply mix 1 can of black treacle, 500g of dark brown sugar, melt in a pan and pour into little lickit containers to make fun tongue twisters – lots of brown sticky noses but they adore them.

Big Horse Treats

For bigger horses looking for a heartier wee feed, slices of apple and long strips of carrot dipped into slices of toffee are also a great Christmas day treat. You can also mix in chaff and leave to set in balls - very messy to make but worth it.

Ingredients for the Toffee

200g sugar

55ml of water

15 g of butter

1 tablespoon of Golden Syrup

TO MAKE

Heat the sugar and water together until fully melted, add butter and syrup and boil until 290 on jam thermometer or till it reaches the soft crack stage.

Dip your carrot and apple or other fruit/veg of choice into this and put on baking parchment until hard – and yes, the apple treats can be nice for humans too, so don’t be afraid to give them a taste test!

Christmas Pudding

For an alternative Christmas Pudding recipe, here’s a quick and easy way to keep your horses happy this winter:

Ingredients

Round bread roll

Golden syrup or molasses (optional)

Carrots

Apples

Pears (optional)

Polos

To Make

1. First cut a hole in your roll as if you are cutting the stem out of the strawberry.

2. Keep the top part of the bread safe! You will need it later!

3. Cut your carrots, apples and pears into thin sticks.

4. Arrange your sticks in the roll with at least three pointing up, out of the bowl.

5. Place a polo on each stick pointing up.

6. Pour golden syrup in to help it stay together. (optional)

7. Place the "lid" of bread on top.

8. Put a splodge of golden syrup on top. (optional)

9. In the splodge put some pear and polos in the shape of mistletoe on top. (optional)

10. Either put in feed or feed by hand!

REMEMBER: Only feed these treats a little at a time as they are very rich and full of sugar. But even a tiny taste will be a nice touch to help your horses and ponies enjoy this holiday season! Also, if you’re feeling extra merry, a nice big splash of Guinness in their Christmas dinner always goes down a treat too!

You can make fun variations of these recipes, or if you like, please feel free to send us any of your own ideas and recipes, we’d love to hear from you!

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Horsey New Year!!

Likit Boredom Buster

At Tic Tac Equestrian, we know that winter boredom is bad enough for humans but we've got plenty of gadgets and TV boxsets to see in the long winter nights with a smile! For horses it's a tougher challenge staying sharp and satisfied having to spend long hours in the stable, but have no fear, before you start hooking up a flatscreen and an HD copy of Black Beauty there are plenty of fun ways to stave off the winter blues without breaking the bank and help keep your equine buddies full of beans and not just fed up!

One of our favourites is the Likit Boredom Buster (£20.99). As most horse lovers will know, lickable treats are universally loved by our four-legged friends, they can't get enough of them, and the fantastic range of diverse and delicious treats from Likit are among the best.

Their unique Boredom Buster Treats consist of a small plastic ball, suspended from a bouncy cord which you can hang inside the stable - just not too close to any walls! You pop your Horse's favourite Likit inside and watch them go! The more they try to control the ball, the more it spins, bounces and jumps, making it a fun way to make the most of a good treat! 

The more they spin, knock and push the Boredom Buster, the more irresistible the treat becomes and the more satisfying the reward! Don't worry, it's not to hard to get the hang of, but it's certainly a satisfying way to spend time and keep busy during long hours in the stable! 

At the Tic Tac Store, we have a huge range of Likit products you can use with the Boredom Buster, so have fun and try different combinations to keep your horses nice and busy this winter! Perfect Christmas Stocking Fillers!

In the meantime, here's a great video of the Boredom Buster in action!

How to combat Winter Stable Vices

Stable Vices can occur during long winter periods

As cosy as it can be, it is known fact that a stable is an unnatural environment for a horse. As a result, it is common for some horses develop abnormal behaviours, also known as stable vices. So, to help you prepare for the next few months, at Tic Tac Equestrian we've rounded up a few ideas and helpful info to make sure you and your horses enjoy peace of mind and have a lovely winter!

At this time of the year, many horses spend longer periods stabled, so some stereotypic behaviours such as weaving - caused when a horse leans its head over the top of a stable stall and grazes from side to side - and crib biting - where a horse periodically chews on wood inside the stable - become more common. 

It is thought that some traditional deterrents such as anti-weave grilles - stainless steel grills mounted on stall doors - and cribbing collars can cause more harm than the vices themselves so many owners look for alternatives. 

First of all, it is recommended that you turn your horses out as much as possible to avoid long, lonely periods in the same space, and it is also thought that larger paddocks may also help prevent boredom or feelings of stress within the confines of a stable.

Increased exercise and social activities are widely considered to be the best first line of defence against stress/boredom-related Stable Vices and sometimes, even putting up large pictures of other horses within the stable has been known to keep some horses calm and more comfortable by themselves.

There is some mystery surrounding the exact causes of as crib biting, however, there may be a link to acids in the stomach, and antacid supplements are now available. Whereas, Weavers and box walkers  - horses that constantly walk back and forth within their stalls, sometimes out of anxiety or stress - can put strain on their limbs so in can help to make an opening at the back of the stable in order to give the horse a wider view and if possible, you can use rubber matting to alleviate any strain. 

Rubber matting on the floor and coconut matting on the door are also useful tips to prevent horses from pawing the ground and banging doors. Horses tend to avoid these activities if they stop making a noticeable sound. Although many of these tips are universally effective, there is plenty of leeway for gentle experimentation on your own. There are a number of other simple, and perhaps more unorthodox ways of curbing Stable Vices by attacking the root causes such as boredom and stress. For example, stable owners have been known to let chickens into the yard, which gives a visual stimulus and can occupy horses who are left in their own space for long periods of time.

Above all else, if you are particularly worried about your horses behaviour, be sure to contact your local vet for advice. In the meantime, over the next few days we will be looking into some of the ways you can prevent boredom and unwanted physical effects brought on by Stable Vices in more detail, so be sure to check back for more info.

Cold Weather Colic

Cold Weather Colic can be a real stress for horse owners over the Christmas period and winter in general. 

There are several reasons why horses tend to colic more when the weather changes, but in winter, three main culprits are:

Lack of routine exercise: With darker skies at night and the sun rising later in the morning, combined with colder temperatures, and often wetter cold days, horses get less turn out and less riding time, spending more time in the stall. Regular exercise and movements helps to keep both horse and human digestive systems functioning properly. If you have ever been laid up sick and cannot move around, you know that your digestive system has a tendency to not work as well as when you move. The same thing happens to horses.  Even if you can only turn your horse out for a few hours or hand walk around the barn, it is better than no exercise at all.

Cold water and iced over water: horses will drink up to ten gallons a day on a regular basis, but in winter, they may drink fewer than three due to cold. Adding a salt block in the stall will encourage drinking or if possible, you can purchase a water de-icer that will keep the water at a comfortable temperature or perhaps even bring hot water from home to mix in with the cold to help encourage your horse to drink more often. Water helps to aid proper digestion which will help prevent conditions like colic. 

Lack of pasture: This problem is two-fold, first, in that there is little green grass which helps to absorb moisture into the gut and adds wet fiber to help move food along the digestive tract, secondly, horses that are kept on wooded pasture land will tend to eat tree bark, leaves and tree nuts when no other food source is around. Keeping hay in the pasture with plenty of water which is not too cold, will help keep a horse healthy and happy, though beware of getting a large round roll from a dealer you have not gotten hay from before, as many horses have colicked on new hay, especially finer hays like Alicia which tend to cause more impact collics than courser hays like coastal bermuda.

Bottom line - to prevent colic in horses during cold winter months, provide them with a convenient source of clean, ice free water, plenty of turn out, regular routine, soft music in the stall to prevent stress from being cooped up during foul weather days and be careful about feeding too much hay from different sources without giving the horse a chance to switch over gradually.

As always, if in doubt, don't hesitate to contact your vet.

Olympia International Horse Show - London 2012

This year's Olympia Christmas show promises to be a big one!

The London International Horse Show Olympia, or as it's known simply, 'Olympia', is the UK’s biggest Equestrian Christmas Party! It takes place this year at Olympia Grand Hall, London, from 17-23 December.

The show is one of the most renowned worldwide, attracting over 80,000 visitors every year. Olympia is the only event in the UK where you can enjoy the FEI World Cup ™ Legs for Show Jumping, Dressage and Carriage Driving all under one roof.

Each performance is packed with top class sporting action, outstanding equestrian displays, and the classic crowdpleasers – The Shetland Pony Grand National, The Kennel Club Dog Agility and The Christmas Finale which has a Circus theme this year.  There is also a great Shopping Village with over 200 shops where you can fulfil all of your equestrian Christmas wishes.


Here is the schedule for this year's show. 

• Monday 17th – Reem Acra FEI World Cup ™ Dressage Qualifier (evening)
• Tuesday 18th - Reem Acra FEI World Cup ™ Dressage Kur (evening)
• Wednesday 19th– Pony Club Mini Major and Christmas Pudding Stakes (afternoon)
• Wednesday 19th - FEI World Cup ™ Driving Qualifier and Speed Stakes (evening)
• Thursday 20th - FEI World Cup ™ Driving Qualifier and Christmas Cracker (afternoon)
• Thursday 20th - Alltech Christmas Puissance (evening)
• Friday 21st – Team Murka World Class Performance Under 23 British Championships and The Renault Christmas Masters (afternoon)
• Friday 21st – The Christmas Tree Stakes and Santa Stakes (evening)
• H&M Saturday 22nd – The Rolex FEI World Cup ™ Qualifier (afternoon) and Veteran Horse Showing Championships (morning)
• H&M Saturday 22nd– The H&M Mini Stakes and The H&M Ivy Stakes (evening)
• Sunday 23rd– JJ Jumping Junior Stakes, Six Bar and BSPS Ridden Mountain & Moorland Championships (afternoon)
• Sunday 23rd – The Olympia Grand Prix (evening)

For More Info go to the Olympia Site

Tying-Up in Horses

Tying up in horses, also known as azoturia is a muscle metabolism problem. The muscles over the loins and the quarters harden, with cramps and stiffness. The stride becomes shorter and eventually may lead the horse to stagger behind and potentially go lame. The horse may refuse to work or collapse during work. The temperature is usually raised, and there may be sweating. In severe cases the urine may turn dark red or brown.

The many reasons for tying-up or azoturia all have something in common; the normal balance of the horse's metabolic system is subjected to unexpected change. This may be a change of exercise or work routine, of temperature, of diet, of stress, or, in mares in heat, a hormonal change. The horse's system suddenly does not know what is going to happen next and so activates protective measures - it conserves, or holds on to, electrolytes. In tying-up, the cells have taken priority and the horse is in a poor state of improperly functioning muscles and digestion.

Tying-up may be Sporadic, that is occasional and temporary, occurring often but clearing up, or it may become Chronic, making the horse useless for further work. All grades of tying-up or azoturia introduce uncertainty about the performance of the horse in any competitive sport.

For more information, contact your local vet. 

Tic Tac Equestrian

Valentines Day for Horses

Love conquers all, even in horses!

Love conquers all they say, but this isn't just the case with humans. As any horse-owner and us here at Tic Tac Equestrian knows fine well; the mutual love and respect felt between horses and their owners can be just as important. Of course horses can't celebrate Valentine's Day in the same way we can, but we can guarantee you they feel the love! 

So as a salute and a loving sign of affection to our beloved four-legged pals, we've decided to feature a few of what we consider to be some of the best pieces of poetry, not only about horses but about love itself!

We hope you enjoy and make sure you get your Valentine's preparations under way in good time to show your loved ones just how much you care!

Love Poem by Paul Zimmer

Four Horses by David Whyte

The Love Chase by James Sheridan Knowles

Just a Horse - Jess Schwarcz