Getting ready for the Grand National

In early April each year, the world and its media descend upon Aintree Racecourse for three of the biggest days in the British sporting and social calendar, the John Smith’s Grand National, which in 2013 will take place from Thursday 4th – Saturday 6th April. 

A British sporting institution, the Grand National attracts over 154,000 racegoers for three days like no other, which includes Grand Opening Day, Ladies’ Day and a day which needs no introduction, John Smith’s Grand National Day.

Over 11 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2012 race on the BBC and were witness to many firsts; a photo finish deciding the winner and a first Grand National victory for champion trainer, Paul Nicholls.  Neptune Collonges victory over Sunnyhill Boy also added Neptune Collonges to the history books as only the third grey to have ever won the race in its rich 165-year history.

Are you looking to entertain guests in style or are you looking for that something special to treat a loved one to this year?  Download Dining Packages for the 2013 John Smith's Grand National.


Did you know that Crieff Hydro Hotel has its very own Riding Centre? Perfect for riders of all ages, we offers Horse Riding Lessons, Horse Riding Holidays and much more. 
For more information, please check out the official Crieff Hydro Riding Centre Website at http://hydroriding.com/ 

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 threat of Neglected and Abandoned Horses

Like us, the thought of neglected horses in any capacity is probably a horrifying one to bear for any responsible Horse Owner. But sadly, like many other distressing issues surrounding the poor treatment of British horses at the moment, equine abandonment and neglect is a seemingly growing trend. 

Official statistics released last year showed that in Scotland alone, as much as seven times as many horses and ponies were abandoned in 2011 compared to ten years earlier in 2001.

Unfortunately, it's fairly easy to see the reasons why many horse owners might feel forced to choose the livelihood and well-being of the rest of their family over the upkeep and various outgoings, not to mention the responsibility, of looking after horses and ponies.  

The impact of the ongoing Global recession has left many families in a position where they can no longer afford to care for their horses, and often, as a result of bankruptcy, or other drastic changes to their financial situation, are forced to make panicked decisions, which have the potential to prove dangerous for some domestic horses. 

Those figures, released by the SSPCA last year, show that the charity recorded the abandonment of 21 horses and 8 ponies in 2011, compared to just four horses and no ponies in 2001. The rate of increase is worrying as many of Scotland's major re-homing centres struggle to keep up with the pace.  Scotland’s largest horse re-homing and adoption centre, Mountains Animal Charity, currently cares for 99 horses, but has recently warned it cannot afford to take on any more.

Although there is compassion towards families and individual horse owners who suddenly find themselves in precarious financial positions due to job loss, etc., Animal Charities like the SSPCA are battling to make it as clear as possible that it is a criminal offence to abandon a horse; one that carries a penalty of up to £5,000 and six months in prison.

You should always look to responsibly re-home your horse, but if there is ever difficulty in doing this, always be sure to contact your local SSPCA branch for re-homing advice.

Alternatively, if you happen to discover a horse that you suspect has been abandoned or is potential victim of neglect, call the charity on 03000 999 999.


Do you have a keen interest in horses and live in the Perthshire Area? Did you know that Crieff Hydro Hotel has its very own Riding Centre - check out its official website for more information - http://hydroriding.com/

Worming your horse

Anyone who owns or cares for horses knows that good health is essential if your equine is to perform all the tasks that are expected of him and to help keep him happy and settled. Horse owners work hard to ensure their horse is kept in the best of health and an effective worming programme is vital if he’s to stay fit and well.

The prevention of both internal and external parasites is key to a healthy horse. As an animal with a complex and delicate gut that provides a perfect environment for worms to live and breed, it’s very important that horses are treated to eradicate any parasites that may be present. It’s also important that any worming programme is carried out in consultation with your vet.


Types of worm


Bots
The bot is the larval stage of the bot fly which is ingested and attaches to the stomach lining causing pain and inflammation.


Hairworms
Another stomach-dwelling creature, the hairworm is unique as it can affect horses and ruminants such as cows and sheep.


Ascarids
These parasites are common in very young horses. Symptoms of a heavy ascarid burden include coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy and colic.


Threadworm
Again, this parasite is common in very young horses but rarely affects those over six months of age. The infection is usually passed through the mare’s milk.


Tapeworm
The tapeworm lives in the small intestine and caecum, feeding off the contents of the gut rather than the gut itself. Despite not feeding on the gut directly, they can cause illness by attaching themselves to the wall of the stomach, leading to ulcers that can cause abscesses and colic.


Large strongyles
A large strongyle infection is potentially very serious. These parasites can damage arteries during the migratory stage, which can lead to blood clots in the intestinal wall. Symptoms of a large strongyle infection include anaemia and a loss of condition.


Small strongyles / Small red worms
Another potentially serious invader, the small strongyle migrates into the wall of the intestine where they create cysts. When migration ceases and after a period of inhibition, a mass emergence of larva occurs from the cysts that can have a devastating impact on the horse. Loose stools, ulcers on the mucus membranes accompanied by bleeding and colic are all symptoms of a small red worm burden.


Pinworm
A pinworm infection is fairly common in horses and is usually characterised by irritated skin around the anus.


Lungworm
This is mainly a parasite of donkeys, and horses generally become infected by sharing fields with them. Although they may have an infection, horses might not necessarily show any signs of respiratory distress at the time, although the damage caused by this parasite may contribute to respiratory disease as the animal ages.


Methods of worm control

Chemical treatments called Anthelmintics can be used to effectively control bots, hairworm, lungworm (benzimidazole anthelmintics only), and large and small strongyles, while Pyrantel and Praziquantel are the only equine treatments available for threadworm in the UK. All other parasites will be controlled by a regular worming programme using one or a combination of wormers. Pasture management is also recommended for keeping parasitic infection at bay. Regularly removing faeces from the paddock and rotating grazing will help keep worms in check. 

It is also important to vary the types of wormer you use as the worms can build up a resistance to treatment if the same medication is used each time. There are many brands or wormer with many combinations of ingredients to help you keep your worming routine varied and to help prevent resistance. It’s important to research your wormers thoroughly however, and choose a different ingredient for the same job, not just another brand.


A worming programme – rotational and tactical


As the weather in the UK – damp summers and warmer winters – is perfect for worms to thrive, it’s essential that your worming programme is considered carefully and in conjunction with your vet. Dry summers and bitterly cold winters are the enemy of worms so your worming programme needs to be as tight as it can be.

By developing a tactical plan to target specific worms during the winter and a rotational approach - using different chemicals - during grazing (generally the summer months) you will certainly feel and see the benefits. 

Tactical worming means that you are worming for whichever parasite species is prevalent at that particular time of year. For example, you should worm for bots and small redworm during the winter months and tapeworm during the summer. Large and small strongyles can also be targeted during the grazing period.

It is also becoming increasingly popular to worm only when needed; by having your horse’s droppings tested and worming depending on the results. Testing kits can be purchased from farm and tack shops and include instructions on how to collect your sample. The faecal matter you collect will be sent to a laboratory where it will be screened and the results sent back to you. Using this method means you are only worming when absolutely necessary and for the species that may be present. This can save money and means your horse isn’t exposed to powerful chemicals more often than is necessary.


Health and environment

When deciding on a worming programme it’s vital you take the age and health of the horse into account. You should also gauge the weight of the horse using either a weigh bridge or a weight tape. Under estimating the weight of the horse can mean that not enough wormer is delivered which can leave the infection unaffected and could even mean the worms build up resistance to the chemicals and pass that resistance on to their larvae. Foals should only be given treatments suitable for use on foals and pasture management should also be undertaken. 

Wormers contain powerful chemicals so the environment in which your horse lives should also be considered. Do you have ponds or streams with aquatic life nearby? If so it would be wise to stable the horse during worming and for two or three days afterwards to ensure no chemicals enter the watercourses. This also protects the local plant and wildlife from spillages.

Dogs, cats and small children should also be kept away from areas where wormers are stored or used as some of the ingredients can prove fatal to dogs. Border Collies are particularly at risk.

Are you interested in horses and looking for more information and live in or around the Crieff, Perthshire area, make sure that you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's very own Riding Centre,it 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/

Using Horses as Therapy

Michael Hamm looks like your typical cowboy, but Hamm's life has been anything but normal.

Hamm- a Vietnam War veteran- is a former drug smuggler and convict.

"Some guys came to me and said we've got a business you can get into that will make a lot of money with your airplane- importing exotic plants from Central America," says Hamm.

"My first run, I came back with a thousand pounds of marijuana. They slammed the prison door shut and I didn't think I'd ever see the free world again."

Hamm did see freedom...then turned his life around. Hamm now operates a prison ministry and uses his life story to counsel both kids and young adults.

Hamm also uses horses on his 11-acre farm near Elberta as therapy and guidance for troubled kids.

Cross Roads Ranch provides "equine therapy"- an experimental therapy involving interactions between at-risk youth and horses.

Hamm hopes to expand his non-profit equine therapy program to a residential ministry and treatment facility for non-violent criminal offenders.

Cross Roads Ranch is holding a benefit rodeo May 24th and 25th at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale.

Hamm says he'll need at least six thousand bucks a month to keep the facility up and running.


If you 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 and idyllic setting for horse riding enthusiasts of all levels.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day! 

On behalf of everyone at The Equestrian Blogger and Tic Tac Equestrian, we'd like to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day!

Today's the day to celebrate all the hard work, effort and passion put in by all those mothers down the generations; if it wasn't for their steady hand on the reins, we would've all fallen off the saddle by now.

So have a great Mothering Sunday, and be sure to spoil yours if you can!

Take Care!



For more information on all things horsey, make sure you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's very own Riding Centre website!