http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html Inform and hopefully entertain on endurance competition, barefoot transition and the birth of new foals. Basically life at the yard! en-us Appaloosa Fri, 18 May 2012 07:41:27 GMT Fri, 18 May 2012 07:41:27 GMT espiritu-del-viento.com http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Buying-a-horse? http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Buying-a-horse? "Another" new law has appeared. When you purchase a horse you must now pay 4% to the Hacienda (form 600) of the purchase price. I don´t really know how they think they will apply this law. People will clearly undervalue the horse. Don´t blame them either! If you purchase a horse from another country, or your purchase is to take to another country, I see further complications with this law. Now the real nitty gritty. Has Spain not realised we are in crisis? Has Spain not woken up to the fact that a horse is a luxury item (un capricho) and the first thing to be affected when funds run out or get tight. People are selling, gifting, abandoning their horses left right and center. This added grief will only lead to more cases of abandonment (abuse!) and a different and equally big crisis. Hey, you with the beard, wake up. You are not helping anything here. Re-address your senate first. For every 300 Spaniards there is one doctor, yet for only every 100 there is a politician!! Spain has more, by 100´s, politicians than any other European country. Redirect your time and resources to reorganising your cabinete first and foremost. Fri, 18 May 2012 07:21:44 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Transporting-horses http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Transporting-horses A new law has come into effect - you do not need to notify your local dept. of Agriculture if you are temporarily moving your horse (for a show, or treatment that is less than 7 days). You just need to take their passport with you. BUT - Confirm with your local OCA that they have received written notification of this. So far, from what I´ve learnt, only Algeciras are permitting this legally/notified. In time honoured tradition - the law may have changed, but if the relevant dept. have not received written notice the old law stands! Transport journal - this needs to be completed with horses and dates moved only if you are registered as a professional service. If they are your horses, and you do the transport, no journal needed. Mon, 14 May 2012 09:44:59 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Another-great-day http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Another-great-day The day dawned, languid and clear, like most any other day in Andalucía. But today there was a river to cross and a mountain to climb, and quickly! Today was the II Equine Endurance of Espiritu del Viento. Preceded by a Fashion Show in the white village of Casares the day before, which represented some of our sponsors for the main event. Sport HG and Horze Spain strutted their fabulous stuff down the cat walk with thanks to the models Freddie, Leah and Ella. Cleo Marbella Ecuestre was the star of the show with their ´real rider´ models. Everyone who attended enjoyed award winning local cheese (thanks to Queso Crestellina) and a glass of bubbly. Saturdays proceedings began the night before as Teams started to arrive from as far afield as Huelva and Almeria, setting up their camps for the night - in true endurance style. Jess (Team Spirit) was private chef for the evening, producing a fabulous paella, despite her nerves about cooking rice for the Spanish! 28 participants enjoyed a fabulous circuit through the Spanish countryside on a beautiful day. The Local Police were a smiley happy crew, holding up the traffic as the horses crossed the road at two points. The Ambulance crew told how they had never enjoyed a work day so much. The appearance of Ruben and his camera from Canal Sur was most appreciated. People need to see how hard endurance crews work and what a beautiful sight it is to see fit healthy horses and their riders traversing beautiful countryside. Fabulous barbeque ribs and sardines (prepared and cooked by Team Spirit) were appreciated by hungry riders and crews, all washed down with plenty of drinks and all free, thanks to the organization of Espiritu del Viento and their sponsors. Then came the prize giving. Everyone went home with a baseball cap and boot bag, thanks to Horze.es and a fabulous hooded sweatshirt, thanks to Cleo Marbella. All the classified riders also received a beautiful rosette (made by Rosettes Spain) and the winner of the 0* a very nice voucher for Decathlon valued at 150€ along with a HUGE and gorgeous rosette gifted by Candice Rosettes Spain. The participants in 0* were also gifted rather smart glass photo awards (with their personalised photo) and an etched simulation of the village of Casares on the frame. Appreciation for the people ´behind the scenes´ - the crews and families - was shown with a few bottles of a rather nice red wine donated by Restaurante La Terraza Casares. The whole event was completed by the sponsorship of Zutrok Aluminium (windows), Yeguada Werner Lopez Casares, Speedmotos Estepona, Peña Caballista Casares and the support of the Town Hall of Casares. Without whom this incredible day could not have happened. Team Spirit slept well last night. FIVE participants were barefoot beauties! Sun, 13 May 2012 13:09:55 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#FRIDAY-IS-FASHION-DAY---11TH http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#FRIDAY-IS-FASHION-DAY---11TH This Friday, 11th, we´ll be celebrating the fabulous fashion of Cleo Marbella, Sport HG and Horze, at 7pm in the main square in Casares. Fun and practical clothing for in and out of the saddle, for football, tennis, paddle, cycling or just walking down the street. Hey, the 80´s are back - Jodhpurs and long boots are high fashion. And what better than the real thing instead of a fashionsita copy! Great casual wear, comfy track wear and technical sport wear all ´on parade´ this Friday. Thu, 10 May 2012 11:03:03 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Tick-tock,-tick-tock http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Tick-tock,-tick-tock Yes, stress levels are beginning to rise. The term ´headless chicken´ springs to mind. 8 days to go before the II Equine Endurance competition at our yard. CLEO MARBELLA & HORZE.COM have just confirmed fabulous prizes for everyone that classifies. I mean FABULOUS, but you´ll have to come participate to know exactly what!! ZUTROK ALUMINIUM, YEGUADA JOSE LOPEZ WERNER CASARES, CLEO MARBELLA, SPEED MOTOS ESTEPONA, RESTAURANTE LA TERRAZA CASARES & PENA CABALLISTA CASARES have all played their much appreciated part in assisting with the cost of judge and vet fees, food and drink for all the participants. ROSETTES SPAIN have come up with fabulous 1st, 2nd and 3rd place rosettes for the 0* and a beautiful neck sash for the Best Condition horse of that category. Everyone is going to walk away with something. But most of all we hope fond memories of yet another great day at Espiritu del Viento. And then OH and I can rest - for a few hours at least :o) Fri, 04 May 2012 15:00:05 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/going-barefoot.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/going-barefoot.html Why I made the decision to have all my horses barefoot. Going barefoot, the healthy alternative. Fri, 04 May 2012 14:53:42 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/hoofboots.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/hoofboots.html Making the transition, or a permanent new, healthy alternative for your equine companion is easier with hoof boots. Fri, 04 May 2012 14:51:35 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Down-came-the-rain http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Down-came-the-rain But in true resistance style - you go hard, or you go home - me, OH and two of our very loyal horses completed the Campeonato Absoluto de Raid last Saturday in Trebujena. Through rain, hail (very disconcerting riding a horse at gallop with it´s head twisted completely over to one side against the hail!) very slippy clay mud and knee deep mud, EV Georgie and MIA Bearpaws AU Anni completed the 52 km´s in great time. Given that over the past 10 weeks they´ve barely come out of their paddocks 3 times we are extremely proud of their 6th and 7th placing. I would defy a shod horse to have done the same, with the little training they had - a stalled horse even less so!! Jorge and his crew organised everything fabulously again. We camped out next to our horses along with our friends The Green Team, and surprisingly slept very well given the rain and that the facilities used are a gun club! Did you know their are glow-in-the-dark clay pigeons? Tue, 01 May 2012 15:46:48 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Who-needs-an-excuse? http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Who-needs-an-excuse? Less than a month to go before our II Equine Endurance competition on home ground, and this year we are making a weekend of it Starting with a sport and equestrian wear fashion show on Friday 11th of May, there will also be a few stalls with equine articles for sale, in the main square in Casares. Do we need an excuse to go? Our horses or our riding wardrobe always ´need´ that little something extra! Thanks to Horze, Cleo Marbella and Sport HG this should be quite a few somethings. The Fashion Show is preceded by a talk about the sport of Endurance and preparing and looking after your endurance horse, hosted by the president of endurance of the Andalucian Equine Federation and the only Equine podologist in Andalucia (who could that be?). This will be held in the Casa Blas Infante at 5pm. Many thanks go to our other sponsors - Zutrok Aluminio, Yeguada Pepe Werner, Rosettes Spain, Pena Caballista Casares, Speed Motos Estepona, and Restaurante La Terraza Casares - for helping us pull all this together and assuring this years event will be as professional and enjoyable as the last Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:49:14 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Sunday---Los-Prados http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Sunday---Los-Prados This Sunday, 15th, Jemma Louise Gooding and her horse Prince of Thieves are holding a dressage clinic at Los Prados. I´m going - so if anyone wants chaps or Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes for Horses you can kill two (or three) birds with one stone. There is always something new we can all learn - every day. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:02:52 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#DIARY-DATE---MAY-12TH http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#DIARY-DATE---MAY-12TH II ENDURANCE ESPIRITU DEL VIENTO is being celebrated on this date, with a Free talk on Endurance, horse care and preparation at 5pm on the Friday in the village of Casares preceding a FASHION SHOW of equestrian and sports wear at 7pm. Make a weekend of it. Three trails - Initiation 20 km´s, Promotion 40 km´s and 0* 80 km´s. SPONSORS - We need sponsors to guarantee the same quality event we held last year. This is a fantastic marketing opportunity with your sponsorship being announced on Canal 43, Canal Sur, various local radio stations, numerous web pages and on the posters for the event being placed all along the coast. Please help us promote this fabulous family sport - the only equestrian sport that requires real dedication, sacrifice and the help of all the family or friends. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:08:41 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Nobody´s-fool http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Nobody´s-fool Five barefoot and bitless horses trekked 15 kilometers across rough, steep mountain paths and along rocky river bed. They arrived at their destination, the Romeria of Gaucin, all healthy and very very happy. One of our team wore Equine Fusion Jogging shoes for horses. His hooves are still going through transition and the Equine Fusion are the perfect, nearest to natural, tool to assist this phase. We watched some people noticing and snearingly turn away. Others were curious enough to ask, yet none educated enough to see the proof standing before them as they all still said a barefoot horse can not be! People said, they can´t jump, they can´t walk on roads, they can´t can´t can´t......... We know our horses do all that and more. We know our horses are far healthier than all their shod horses. We have the proof, we are not the fools here. Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:54:29 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Bit-Debate-continues!! http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Bit-Debate-continues!! According to scientists best guess we domesticated the horse 6000 years ago, yet, also their best guess, we didn´t start putting metal in their mouths until 2000 years later. Is it a case of the further forward we go, the less we learn? Like Notra Dame (bare with me). When they started to build it they had the skills and ability to build the large round window on the east side with 15 equal sections. 300 years later, when they began to build the matching window on the west side, they had lost the knowledge and had to divide it up into 16 sections. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:49:56 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Baton-down-the-hatches! http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Baton-down-the-hatches! The wind is doing it´s utmost to uproot everything around here, including the horses feet. But then they never need an excuse to be dancing. Sunday, a gentle bit of hill work turned into a mad race as 4 of our horses were all determined to be the one in front, all determined to be the fastest and the quirkiest! After 21 km´s of serious hills we came home, untacked, and turned them out in the arena for a roll (to cold to shower them), and the 4 of them continued to put on a "show" of bucking, spinning, galloping and sliding, rolling and generally giving us the equine bird! A joyful sight to behold. Now Tuesday and I think my chickens and their coops may have blown away, as the wind hasn´t let up at all. Needless to say I have some very mucky horses as they are ridden, cooled off on the ride and then just turned out in all their dried sweat glory. Showering really is not a good idea in this weather. Temperatures are still going up and down during the day and night and therefore runny noses are rife. P.S. I wish I was Bill Gates daughter!!! Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:35:46 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-demon-COLIC! http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-demon-COLIC! I´m hearing of a few horses coming down with colic. Please be careful everyone. This weather is crazy - and truly, that alone can affect your horse. Also think twice before worming or vaccinating, because this DOES cause upset to their systems and if done as the seasons change, that´s an added detrimental ingredient. If you need to worm or vaccine, take them off hard feed for a few days, giving them just ad-lib forage (shouldn´t work your horse for 3 or 4 days after W or V anyway) so no excuses that it´s going to suffer any weight loss or other silly idea. If you are changing feeds, do it gradually. If you´re feeding your horse a higher ratio grain than forage you are asking for colic. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:34:15 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Hippy-Horses http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Hippy-Horses Yep, I can live with that title. Apparently that´s what some are calling us. Not sure if it´s a step up, or sideways, from being called radical, but The Hippy Horse People are here to stay. Unhogged manes, unshod feet and just brightly coloured rope around their heads to ´control´ them. We let their winter woollies grow and they can roll in the mud (or the sand school, which is their favourite place). Their feathers don´t get trimmed and their whiskers don´t get pulled. They have their faces in the feed bin most all day long eating, wait for it, wait for it, hay! Yes, the staple of ever horses diet is forage, not 5 or 6 or 7 kilos of grain a day, but 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 kilos of forage. They live out all year round in their little herds - including the stallion - and they are all laid-back, chilling, unstressed happy hippy horses. Sun, 18 Mar 2012 07:34:30 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/index.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/index.html Foundation Appaloosas. Equine Podology. Resistance riding. Barefoot & Bitless in Spain Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:48:29 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#7-things-your-horse-wants-you-to-know http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#7-things-your-horse-wants-you-to-know by Anna Twinney 1. In and ideal world we would spend all of our time with our horses, but life often seems to get in the way. Because we don’t see them all the time, we cannot always be aware of their experiences throughout the day. Maybe they woke up on the wrong side of the stall, or their companion passed away, or was sold. Perhaps something spooked them or they feel under the weather. Before you enter their stall or paddock, find out what is happening in their world. 2. How often have we gone to the barn to cry on our horse’s shoulder? Some horses willingly accept their role as “healer”, while others prefer you to leave your baggage outside the stall. Being masters of reading energy they pick up on emotions and are immediately affected by your thoughts. Some feel put upon, while others feel it’s their fault. It can be challenging for them to understand what you are going through. Horses prefer joy and serenity and it’s from this place they wish you to visit. 3. Many times we have goals and lesson plans in mind when “training” horses. But this doesn’t always allow the horse to have a voice. Make a plan, but be flexible. Listen to your heart, your intuition and above all your horse. Maybe today you sit with your horse as he eats and experience the magic of togetherness. 4. So often we fill any silence with noise. Well it’s time to put the cell phone down, stop the constant chatter with our riding buddy, and instead, be present, connect with your horse and nature. Let your horse show you how to be in the now. 5. How would you feel if you couldn’t follow your dreams or your destiny? Trapped? Lost? Stuck? Maybe you would act out or fall into depression. Horses also have a personal path, a destiny to follow. Your horse’s dreams may not fit perfectly with yours but, as you would with any partner, consider their wishes too. 6. Unlike our canine companions, horses are often sold when they no longer fit in, discarded when the show is over, or let go at first sign of pain or lameness. Remember, to them you are family and your home is their home. They trust you. Retire them with ease, considering what makes them happy. Repay them with the same unconditional kindness and devotion they gave you for their entire life. 7. You may feel it’s “time for your horse to cross over.” Before you make any decisions, connect with your companion and listen to their last wishes. They may share where, when and how they wish to cross over; who they wish to have present; the time they need to visit, say their “good byes” and share their messages. Remember to give them this final chance. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:01:11 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Burn-out http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Burn-out I´d rather have one win a year for five years on the same horse, than 5 wins in one year and then have to retire that horse. Or more truthfully the case in the latter situation is the horse is ´chucked´ out. Sold off or given away it doesn´t matter. What is the truth is that horse will have a very sad future. A friend of mine on the endurance circuit very bravely admitted that he had ruined a couple of horses in the past, in his quest to move up the ranking and win big his ignorance had cost the horses dearly. One, broken winded, the other with permanent lameness (shin splints, bone spavins). It is very sad and can´t be reversed, but he has learnt from these mistakes and wont do it again. I am now watching another horse on the road to destruction in the bid of his owner to win everything in a very short space of time. This person has already given a horse away because it no longer served his purpose (goal). This is not a person who cares about the well being of his mount, just the trophies on the shelf. This person will not listen to helpful and expert advise, despite on some occasions it being very clearly laid down in front of him, which is the saddest thing of all. This is the kind of person who needs a sport involving just running shoes or a bicycle, not a live animal. Any sport involving horses requires dedication and patience. If you´re in it for the quick fix, the big trophy, the accolade, then, if you have any conscience at all, you really need to reconsider. The particular person of which I speak is also "an accident in waiting" as there is no riding skill, the horse has not benefitted from any real training, his tack doesn´t fit and its a stallion!! An accident in which some innocent by-stander will get hurt, no doubt. Sun, 04 Mar 2012 09:00:14 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#What´s-the-difference? http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#What´s-the-difference? The Equine Fusion Jogging Shoe is extremely flexible unlike metal shoes and boots which are rigid, hard and have a thick sole separating the hoof from the ground. The Jogging Shoe conforms to the ground and to the hoof. This flexibility aids the hoof in obtaining natural hoof mechanism so the horse gets a feeling of the ground and achieves pressure on the frog. The Jogging Shoe lets the horse be as close to barefoot as possible with added protection, shock absorption and comfort. It allows a better roll over as it follows the natural concavity of the hoof. The flexibility is the key to a comfortable and natural step that strengthens the hoof because the hoof is allowed to perform as intended. Metal Shoes & Boots lift the hoof off the ground unnaturally, this prevents normal action of the frog and reduces the ground contact. The flexible sole of the Jogging Shoe distributes the weight of the horse, reducing stress and providing an easier roll over. The shoe allows the whole hoof natural contact, this aids in shock absorption and yields a healthier hoof. The Jogging Shoe is based on the principle of being a protection that works with the hoof when it needs protection and otherwise lets the hoof work without protection, this encourages a strong hoof for enhanced performance. Equine Fusion - so named by this innovative company as they believe horse and rider should be treated as equals - are a jogging shoe for horses. Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:08:50 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-Green-Team http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-Green-Team Hey, I´ve just seen that the Green Team won Best Condition at Punta Umbria. Along with their great result in Las Cañadas, I´m sending big smiles and hugs for a job well done to (my) lovely family. Go Green! Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:24:34 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/site-build-it.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/site-build-it.html Appaloosa horses are my life, computers are just a means to bring your attention to them. Apart from sending emails I know nothing about I.T. yet with just a little help I have built this web site! Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:46:34 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Breakover http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Breakover The point in a horse´s stride wear the foot is fully on the ground and the knee becomes rigid and the phase of the stride where the foot begins to lift (the heel just comes off the ground). Because hoof distortion is a common sight, it is taken as the norm and used by many as the optimum model. Therefore the Breakover point of the hoof is more often than not wrong (far to long), putting more friction on the knee by the greater leverage caused as the hoof is taking longer to leave the ground, shortening the stride and thus causing greater stress on the shoulders and spinal column, not to mention stress on the lateral ligaments and deep digital flexor tendon. This strain is even greater when the horse is working in circles and turning. Deep flexor lesions, collateral and impar ligament strains and coffin joint disease are a few of the pathologies caused by incorrect Breakover. Does your hoof care specialist know how to accurately find the widest part of the sole, not the hoof? A necessary objective in finding the correct Breakover point. Does he/she know how to calculate the correct point of Breakover? Also consider this; horses that land toe-first are considered close to lameness, being a one on the scale of lameness used by veterinarians. 0 being sound, 5 being non-weight bearing. Go take a good look at how your horse walks. You do know it should be heel/toe, right? If your horse is landing toe-first, or even flat footed, it does not have the correct Breakover point. Despite landing heel-first your horse may still not benefit from having the correct Breakover point. Once found and accomplished, the obvious improvement in gait is there for the naked eye. What you don´t see is the huge relief on many tendons, ligaments and bones. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:55:15 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Frustration-begins-where-knowledge-ends http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Frustration-begins-where-knowledge-ends Now that is a phrase everyone who works with animals or children should make their mantra. But those that work with horses should have it tattooed in their brain. We all need to be reminded from time to time that the horse is a flight animal, we are it´s predator. With that in mind remember, if you find yourself up against a brick wall with your horses training, or are getting frustrated by a lack of improvement or lack of desired result, it is your problem. It is never the horses problem. That is when you need to take a step back, ask advise, tackle things from a different view point, but most of all recognise that getting frustrated will not resolve things and further education will. Frustration often leads to anger and maybe violence. We´ve all seen people jab at the horses mouth because it ran out of a jump, or beat it stupidly with the crop because it refused one. Who´s fault was it? What is the emotion the rider is showing at that precise time? What is that behaviour telling us? Often this happens out of anger, due to embarrassment, on the part of the rider or trainer. Oh us humans are a proud race, much to our demise. This stems from lack of knowledge, as the job wasn´t done right in the first place. This leads me back to my oft used phrase; "I´d rather be called stupid, than be stupid." When it comes to your horse, if you don´t know, get educated. It is the bigger man who asks. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:50:12 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#What-the-shoe-protects http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#What-the-shoe-protects Although for 80% of the horse’s domestication he performed for us unshod, is there any benefit in nailing a shoe on his foot? Is it possible to improve on nature? To answer that question, we have to look at what the shoe is actually designed to do. As mentioned before, it was made as a sort of ‘metal hoof wall’. In the natural healthy hoof, the horse’s weight is designed to be distributed across the hoof wall and the sole (Simons-Lancaster, 2004). To prevent the hoof wall from overgrowing the sole and unbalancing the weight distribution of the horse, the hoof wall is designed to constantly wear down a little with every step to maintain a balance with the rate of growth. When we nail a shoe on, two things immediately happen: 1. The sole and frog are both raised off of the ground and taken out of function, but left exposed and unprotected (in standard keg shoes—in some shoeing set ups this is not the case). 2. The hoof wall no longer wears away at the rate it is meant to, and indeed does not wear away at all until the next time the shoe is pulled and the hoof is trimmed. Therefore the shoe ‘succeeds in protecting’ the one part that is supposed to wear constantly. Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:57:17 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Spring-Fever---Great-Offer http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Spring-Fever---Great-Offer Beginning March 1st until the end of April, you can purchase a pair of Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes for Horses from me for only 182.90 € (incl. IVA) This is a great opportunity to be a part of this revolution in hoof protection and discover true innovation for your horse hooves. March Madness, call it what you will, this is a great opportunity not to be missed. Other hoof wear companies are now trying to imitate the Equine Fusion Jogging Shoe. Remember, though imitation is a form of flattery there is nothing like the original! Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:56:56 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-Bit-Debate---continued http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-Bit-Debate---continued Talking from first hand experience; I have watched a horse that was off track when trotting on the right rein instantly recover when I removed his flash noseband and dropped his bit a hole. A horse that would not stand square or rein-back, immediately did both when his bit was lowered. A horse that had been ridden for years in a pelham and curb, developed a ewe neck and subsequent high head (despite also having a fixed martingale!), would constantly toss his head and try to get over the bit and run away with his rider. In two weeks with no bit in his mouth and no martingale, his tossing stopped and he never tried to run away with his rider. The ewe neck and the high head took a while longer to recover. A handful of many examples of where people take the short cut. They want results and don´t care what suffering goes on in order to get them. If your horse has behavioral problems try riding him in a bitless bridle to see how differently he behaves. If you don´t want to even explore the bitless route just please make note of the above and keep you hands light. I´m sticking to my bale twine. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:42:04 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-Bit-Debate http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-Bit-Debate All to often a horse has behavioral problems and the owner doesn´t think to look in his mouth. He´s tossing his head, behind the vertical, his tongue is hanging out or he´s bearing down on the bit. All these things are usually signs of pain, often bone spurs caused by the bit. All these things often get hidden away. The rider use a stronger bit or a tighter nose band. Instead of addressing the problem correctly, finding it and resolving it, they disguise it. They say their horse is badly behaved or the most commonly heard phrase "he´s being a S... today"!! Bone spurs are inflammations of the membrane of fibrous connective tissue that cover the mandible. If you ride with a bit it must be used as a tool of communication not punishment. The wrong bit (size, weight, material, incorrectly hung) is already a punishment to the horse, before the rider mounts and takes up the reins. If the rider then does not know about correct contact, independent seat and hands and balanced riding, this will cause further punishment (pain and possibly long term injury) to the horse. What so many don´t realise is, if it´s going wrong in the mouth it can cause pain and quite possibly damage anywhere along the body from the mouth, up over the poll, down the crest, along the spine, all the way to the tail dock. Have you ever had a tooth ache and it´s caused your neck or shoulders to hurt as well? Well, think on. Some people argue you can´t get collection without a bit. I personally can show many examples to the contrary. Some people argue you have to have a bit to compete. Now sadly, in dressage, this is true. In Endurance, Jumping, Cross Country, Trec, Polo, the F.E.I. rules state clearly you do not need to put metal in your horses mouth. Yet quite ridiculously in dressage, not only do you have to use a bit, the further up the scale your horse goes the more metal you HAVE to put in his mouth. I find this a hysterical contradiction. Surely the higher the level the horse has attained, the better his schooling/ability and therefore less need for more hard wear? Then you have people with trekking centres say that clients wouldn´t be happy riding a horse without a bit. This makes me want to scream. We all need our clients, but to put their ´possible´ thoughts before the health of the horse that is bringing in your bread and butter baffles me completely. I have taken people out on rides and it has not been until we´ve returned and I´ve taken off the bitless bridles of my horses that some have even noticed they had no iron in their mouths. The majority don´t have a clue, nor are interested in, what the horse is or isn´t wearing. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:41:26 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Ouch! http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Ouch! Been and gone and done it this time. I´ve broken bones, to many to remember, dislocated shoulders and had more bumps and bruises than you can shake a stick at, but never before have I torn muscles. Seriously, giving birth hurts less. Thank heavens my horses are not shod, because I just don´t want to think what would have happened when I was leading in hand a youngster I´m starting to school who spooked at something, bowled me over and then ran over me, stepping well and truly on my lower back. I´m looking at a week at least in bed, can´t walk for diddly, and it´s only day two and I´m bored crazy. Can´t type easily because I have to prop myself on one side as it is the only remotely near-painless position, so I´m watching a load of drivel on the internet. Any ideas people? Please! Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:59:58 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Readers http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Readers Yeah, it´s official. Thank you very much to my over 1000 monthly unique visitors/readers of my blog and web site. 35% of you are here in Spain - so come visit :o) Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:59:58 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Endurance-Riding http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Endurance-Riding Because Baseball Basketball & Football only require ONE ball Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:36:36 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Iron-Horse---Rusty-Donkey http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Iron-Horse---Rusty-Donkey Sad to see the demise of the Kaliber Al Andaluz, but hardly surprising. The alternative 3 day endurance event is not only a poor compromise, but the organisers clearly haven´t learnt their lesson. Penalties for covering their advertising - so if you´re cold or wet, that´s tough, no jacket - of 5 minutes against your horses time. They are dictating the right to put their logo on your car, your saddle pad or where ever they feel fit! They are not paying for any of those items (not even the fuel in the tank). They are also receiving your exorbitant inscription fee so you can participate. They are insisting you use their publicity horse rugs for any presentations, and whilst your horse is in their stables - for which you are paying! So they don´t even consider the well being of the horse and an owner who will know exactly what rug their horse requires at a certain temperature or situation. The pitiful prize money will be presented ´less taxes´!!! Illegal. They don´t know what tax bracket you´re in. They can´t dictate what tax you pay. The list goes on. I was going to participate in this event. I am sure there are many people like myself who had the Al Andaluz on their Endurance agenda sooner or later. It was the only kind of competition in all of Europe. The most important event on the Endurance calender. Well some greedy sods have put paid to that - and all for the love of the sport and the horse was their constant cry! My eye. P.S. Just read - if you have a complaint during the course of the event, besides the obvious placing it in writing etc you have to pay 30€ deposit to register your complaint! Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:20:14 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Thanks,-but-no-thanks http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Thanks,-but-no-thanks I may spend only minutes, but more often than not I spend hours pouring over requests, questions and photos. I always answer e-mails, usually within 12 hours of receiving them. I answer them using my professional knowledge, personal experience or (and duly noted) that of others. All things that have taken years of my time and money to acquire. The least some of you ungrateful bunch could do is send a ´thanks´. Even if the information is not useful to you, I can guarantee it is good information. Even if the information doesn´t resolve what ever your problem is on a particular occasion, it is honest and good information that I´ve taken the time and trouble to pen to you. Showing a little gratitude doesn´t cost a cent. I´m pissed. Wouldn´t you be? Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:39:26 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#If-it-is-in-your-blood......... http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#If-it-is-in-your-blood......... If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. When you step back, it's not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow. We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give. To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle. Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion. In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses - or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place (With thanks to Charlene Moffatt) Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:19:21 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Anni,-continued... http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Anni,-continued... Yesterday she completed her 1st promotion level endurance competition. We just wanted her to classify, not looking for any trophies. It was a very hard course. All steep mountain, either up or down, so the actual 42 km´s was an equivalent of about 80 on the flat. Her pulse took a while to come down below 56 but it did, so she went in the Vet Gate, only to have her pulse suddenly up to 70 bpm!!! The stop watch goes on (you´ve just 1 minute for the pulse to come in at 56 or below or you´re eliminated) It came down one beat at a time, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, and there it stayed (!!!!) I managed to communicate to OH, put your hand on the judges arm (the one holding the pulsometer to her chest), as he did so her pulse went 63 - 56!!! She was in :o) Anni got the message and she pulled it out of the hat. All Appy´s are special. Some are more special than others :)) Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:55:53 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#MIA-Bearpaws-AU-Anni-is-special http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#MIA-Bearpaws-AU-Anni-is-special Now, I know we all think our App´s are special but Anni is something else. I purchased her as an ´apt for breeding´ mare so despite clearly being almost constantly in season and turned out with my proven apt stallion for nearly a year, when she remained open I had her thoroughly checked over to discover she has a uterus the size of a yearling and without surgery can never foal. So it was time to saddle up! Anni also had serious head issues when she came to me. The first time I rode her she wobbled diagonally across the arena, unable to walk in a straight line. The poor girl had been ridden by a large bloke in a large saddle in a tiny pen, made to canter in circles as this ´rider´ lent inwards. She was a mess. Now, weather this mess was the cause of Anni´s mental attitude or weather she was born that way I shall never know. But now I have Anni straight, she is the sweetest girl with the biggest of hearts, she clearly appears to me to be autistic. Now keep reading, I´m not completely crazy. I have no experience of autistic horses, nor know if it is possible, but Anni see´s and does everything in a manner I have never known with any other horse. It took a very long time for both myself and my OH to gain her trust, so there is no apparent male/female preference. When a confident rider is with her she keeps her head low, nose forward and will rack on all day (Anni has an incredibly fast walk which doesn´t change speed weather on the flat, up or down hill!). The second a nervous rider passes her, and of course worse still, rides her, she becomes a bag of nerves. Yet if I or my OH just put our hand flat on her neck she immediately calms down. Though she has an incredible inner strength and wisdom. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:55:53 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Continued!!!.... http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Continued!!!.... I feel the need to say more about yesterdays competition. (AH oh, say many!!) But after conversations today, many people have said that the 42 km´s of mountain yesterday was more like 80 + on the flat, not my conservative estimate of 65. This then made me think how we, 3 riders and 3 horses, did this with no crew. No assistance or help from anyone. Although grateful to someone who let our horses drink from their bucket at the only crew point, when we arrived at the controls we each had to take responsibility for removing tack, giving our horses water and food and cooling them down, whilst constantly checking their pulse for the moment it was adequate to enter the Vet Gate. All this in a sea of mud, so we couldn´t just ´chuck´ stuff on the ground, for collection later, we couldn´t even let girths or breast plates trail, as one might, because they´d have picked up a blind of dirt making it impossible to fasten them for the next phase without first washing them down. When we arrived home - after two trips, one horse and gear then 2 horses - we had more mud to remove from buckets, tack, protectors, boots, chaps, travel boots etc than a turkish bath built for an entire village! That was before doing night feeds for everyone and putting clay from knee down on the 3 champions of the day, making sure they weren´t tucked up or dehydrated in any way and suitably rugging them for the night. All this and more is what endurance riding is about. Go hard or go home is definitely the case. But once you´re "in" you´re hooked and it is more than worth the effort. Did we sleep well last night? Absobloodylutely :) Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:15:09 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#On-top-of-the-world http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#On-top-of-the-world Yesterday THREE barefoot and bitless horses participated in the I Raid Villa de Marbella. 42 km´s of pure mountain. I think without a doubt this equates to at least 65 km´s on the flat. 31 horses participated in total, of which 1 retired after the first phase and 6 more were eliminated for metabolic reasons or being out of time after the 2nd phase. It was a tough competition. A day and night previous of hard rain had left everywhere knee deep in mud, making the going even more precarious. We all had soggy socks before we even started! Anni and Georgie participated for the 1st time at this level. Coming on 17 Georgie is an absolute veteran for this sport, but that didn´t stop him tanking up (and down!) those hills and finishing before other seasoned endurance horses, some of which have regularly competed at 80 and 120 km level. Anni wasn´t far behind, finishing two places after him. And Anni is special, she is the kind of horse that would run for you until she dropped. This is not good, nor what we want. But she see´s everything very differently to any horse I have ever known and without asking her, she knows she has to get somewhere or do something so just sticks her nose forward and one way or another she will achieve it. I am proud to bursting of both horses and their marvelous riders (Jess and OH). The Susk and I finished 2nd. It was a beautiful run through pine forests and such a shame we didn´t get photos at the half-way point of each phase because we were literally ´on top of the world´, looking down over Marbella and the coast line. GO TEAM SPIRT :O) Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:46:11 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/appaloosa-foals-in-spain.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/appaloosa-foals-in-spain.html Foundation Appaloosa Foals full of colour and character. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:15:04 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Where-is-winter? http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Where-is-winter? I think these crazy seasons are affecting the horses. Now the scientific are probably going to say poppycock when they read on, but we have wormy horses that aren´t normally (and diets and paddock picking and rotating is all the same), some have teddy bear winter woollies, others have barely autumnal coats. Nearly all have runny noses and with us having very healthy endurance horses you really notice how a slight sniffle affects their performance. Yet, they all have the same degree of ´colds´, weather they are retired or in constant training! Nothing adds up, except that the days are toasty warm and the nights freezing cold so it´s no surprise the horses are discumbooberated! Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:40:47 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Time-for-a-chat? http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Time-for-a-chat? In or near Casares? You can attend a FREE talk on equine podology, natural horse training and Endurance riding, being held in the village of Casares at the end of February. The President of Endurance from the Andalucian Equine Federation, the Spanish junior endurance champion and yours truly will be giving a short introduction to these subjects. Date yet to be confirmed so keep watching this page :o) Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:52:12 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#One-size-does-not-fit-all http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#One-size-does-not-fit-all A couple of years ago I received a phone call asking if I had a horse for sale. The man was not very specific and when pushed for what exactly he was looking for he informed me that he had a good saddle, so he wanted a horse! I politely hung up. It´s occurred again. Looking at a horse for sale the person was reminded it is not just the initial outlay of the horse that must be considered you also have to purchase, amongst many other things, a saddle. I was informed that they had a saddle, to which I replied it may not fit. The response that it would left me cold. It was clear that there wasn´t even a doubt, so not a thought as to possibly, maybe and trying and seeing, and if it didn´t getting one that would! One saddle not only does not fit any horse, but also horses change. You could buy a made to measure and when you bring a youngster under saddle, or change the training of an older horse, in no time the saddle may need shimming, or re-flocking. A horse continues to grow until it is 5 years old. In some of the bigger breeds this can be as old as 7. As they are schooled they build muscle, fat changes into muscle, their whole outline can completely change. Please, consider the saddle very important, it is not just a means to keep you on the horse. Ask a professional fitter for advise. Have your horse measured if you do not know how to do so yourself. Consider synthetic flexitree saddles if bringing on a youngster, until they build up their muscle and strength and you can then invest in a quality saddle for them. Yes, often a saddle will cost more than the horse. But it is the difference between a healthy happy horse, or one who will start with a little buck and end up in the chiropractor or worse!!! Now at the end of the day that is far more expensive both financially and mentally, without even discussing the physical expense to the poor horse. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:15:24 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Rain---at-last! http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Rain---at-last! Now is when we need to be extra vigilant of our horses hooves. A good daily clean will assure that no big problems arise as the slightest change in their feet will be noted the moment it appears. It is also the season to invest in a quality set of natural hoof protectors, for when their soles get soft due to all the mud and soft footing. Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes for Horses - innovation at our horses feet .o) Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:50:08 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Blow-out http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Blow-out For all of you that haul your horses, or anyone that takes a trailer any where CHECK YOUR TYRES and your weight limits. Yesterday I had a magnificent blow out on the motorway. I was hauling the small trailer with a pallet of bricks. We had checked the tyre pressure and all was good, so maybe it was just one of those freakish things. But better to be safe than sorry. Loosing a pallet of bricks is not as hard as loosing a horse! Remember you not only need different pressure for different weight, you also need to consider the outside temperatures. Here in Spain, with the temps able to be below freezing in the morning and toasty warm by mid-day it is something very important to remember. Your vehicle should come with a table of pressures, if not contact the manufacturer. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:26:51 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Rug-Rage http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Rug-Rage It´s that time of year again - well, it´s coming later each year - when here, in southern Spain, the nights get more than chilly (down to 2 or 3º) and the days can top up to 25ºC or more, yet there can be a wind chill factor to consider on those blustery days of somewhere near 0! We had one of those this morning, and despite my snood my ears still felt like they might drop off. The girls loved it though, and both Suska and Anni were hot to trot today, with the wind up their tails. Though careful to return them home cooled down as winter woollies and sweating can make for a cold so easily. Thus bringing the conversation, again, around to rugging. A complicated subject at the best of times, it´s something that has no answer here with temperatures able to whizz up and down between 4 seasons all in one day. Scientific research recently informed us that horses are capable of placing/holding their coats at 17 different angles or levels depending on the heat the want to expel or the cold they want to avoid. Which is all very marvelous for all those wild horses, and as much as you know I try to maintain my boys and girls as near to nature as possible, they are not living as wild horses would. What´s the solution? Hmmm - Training in the afternoon, just as temps are about to drop should be avoided. When training, bring things back to a walk a good couple of km´s before home to be assured your mount returns cooled off. Though with winter woollies you must check thoroughly that they are not still to warm underneath, or are not to wet that it may cause shivering. If you must shower your horse, do it in stages. Shower the neck and rug it, then the torso and rug, then the hind quarters and rug. Make sure your horse is fully dry before turning them back out. But shivering is not something to be to worried about. Horses will shiver to warm themselves up. It is another case of "know your horse". If it is not something they´ve done before then you must keep a watchful eye. Consider electrolytes, even in winter. Horses really are better off without rugs, you have to use your common sense and judgement if there are many consecutive days of rain for example - go for a lightweight waterproof as you can always put another layer beneath it. Layers are always better than just one thick rug. Age and work are very important factors before even considering the options of clippping out - in one of the various styles! Ah rug rage. No simple answer. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:04:55 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/appaloosa-stallion-at-stud.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/appaloosa-stallion-at-stud.html Presenting my handsome and charming 100% Foundation Pedigree Designated Blue Roan Leopard Appaloosa stallion Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:57:49 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#In-the-words-of-Nina-Simone...... http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#In-the-words-of-Nina-Simone...... .... river running free, you know how I feel. Oops, no, not that line hehehe ...... It´s a new dawn, it´s a new day, it´s a new life for me and I´m feeling good. Hope you all saw 2011 out in fine style and are not suffering to much from bringing 2012 in! I must confess that the horses wont get much attention today beyond making sure they have water and food and that everyone came home safe from their celebrations (well, we don´t know what they get up to when we´re not there!). Did you make any New Year resolutions? Or was it a case of a few revelations? Without wanting to sound sanctimonious I gave up on the revolution malarky years ago and just go forward at the start of each year with a positive outlook and always the same intention of treating everyone and everything as I would want to be treated, to remain true to me and to those in my life, and to always be the same. I know to many people who blow hot and cold. Something I can´t understand. I find it impossible, once I´ve allowed some one into my heart, to be different with them from one week to the next. I don´t think you can be around animals and be an enigma. You have to be real and constant. One thing I am going to make a concerted effort to do, or not do, this year is ´project´. I project on to people. I know it is a bad habit. I think "wow, if I had that opportunity I´d snap your hand off" and when someone doesn´t respond as I would, I feel incredibly dejected. I know not everyone gets as excited as me about doing something in my world that I never had the opportunity to do before, but can´t help myself. I also project on to other owners. Knowing they have the information to care correctly for their horse and when they don´t I feel so frustrated and angry. I can´t understand why they would do that. So this year - no projection!! To all the horse owners out there who talk the talk, I ask that in 2012 you make the effort to also walk the walk. For a happy healthy New Year, and every year, for your horse. And lets face it, if your horse is healthy and happy, then so are you. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:13:54 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/horse-care.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/horse-care.html Horse Care, Horse Husbandry or Horse Craftmanship! Whatever you choose to call it, this is about caring for your horse and giving him the best you can. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:03:56 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Equine-Atypical-Myopathy http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Equine-Atypical-Myopathy I feel this is something we need to know about. Fore-warned is fore-armed. In December 2011 116 clinical cases were reported to Liege University, Belgium. These cases were recorded in Belgium (16 cases), France (34 cases), Germany (19 cases), Great Britain (34 cases), Switzerland (6 cases), Austria (3 cases), USA (3 cases) and Canada (1 case). As you can see, it is all around us in Europe. When and where Sporadic condition after spells of warmth, heavy rain, humidity and winds. Occurs in cluster areas with several horses affected on same pasture. Wet, boggy, leafy fields. Any age of horse, no sex/breed predisposition but young females over represented. Animals not in training, good/bad condition. Causes No known cause but factors including weather conditions, poor health status and certain leafy pastures may predispose. Dead leaves, humidity may favour growth of moulds/mycotoxins that may increase risk of EAM. Speculation that a toxin producing bacterium called Clostridium sordellii and bifermantans may have a role in the disease. Poor antioxidant status of horse may predispose horses to EAM. Clinical signs Acute onset of dullness, head down, reluctant to walk, stiff legs with hindlimbs/forelimbs. Mild sweating especially in the pectoral region, flanks. Reduced appetite, water intake, urination/defecation but no overt signs of “colic”. Increased respiratory rate, heart rate, gum colour from pale pink to darker pink. As the disease progresses the above become exaggerated with eventually recumbancy, dark brown urine (muscle breakdown products) and eventually death. Veterinary treatment/prevention EAM does have a very high mortality rate but early intervention can lead to recovery. Clinical signs described along with a blood sample can greatly increase the probable diagnosis of EAM. If your horse appears as above do not walk your horse and call your veterinary surgeon. The main aims of treatment include pain relief, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and husbandry for the recumbent horses. Treatment does not guarantee a positive result. Antioxidants including vitamin E/Selenium, salt blocks may help. Regular pasture management, poo-picking, vaccination, worming regimes, feeding, exercise. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:11:09 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/transition-from-shod-to-barefoot.html http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/transition-from-shod-to-barefoot.html The transition from shod to barefoot is not a quick fix or an arduous task. But completely attainable whatever your horse or your riding discipline. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:03:04 GMT