Video Explanation & Demo of RevitaVet IR2!

Check out this video on the explanation of the benefits of the RevitaVet system and it's many uses!

Video Link

Shoes or Barefoot

Conflicting ideas exist concerning the need for shoes.  Some people believe that shoes are completely unnecessary, while others feel uncomfortable if their mount is not shod every six to eight weeks. 

If you are considering removing your horse’s shoes, the most imperative thing to contemplate is whether or not your particular mount can go throughout his or her day unshod and still remain comfortable.  But how do you know if your horse is going to end up lame, possibly for weeks or months, if you pull his or her shoes?  The answer is quite simple:  if the horse grows more hoof than he or she wears down, then it’s a pretty safe bet that your horse can go without shoes at least while they are having some time off and the workload is light.  If on the other hand, your horse wears his or her hooves down faster than they grow, either shoes will have to constant necessity or the conditions in which the horse lives will have to be modified.  Often horses that have good hard hooves, good conformation and that live on dry hard ground will do fine without shoes even when riding on rocky ground.  If a horse lives in softer footing and then is asked to work on hard terrain, this might create a problem.

Keep in mind that some horses inherit the inability to go without shoes; consequently it is a good idea to talk to your veterinarian or your farrier before pulling your horse’s shoes.  Shoeing just two of your equine friend’s feet is also an option.  Choose either the fronts or the backs depending on how they wear.  Of course it is best to try pulling the shoes during the time of year when they are not working daily.  This will give them a chance to adapt.  There are those equines who become sore right after the shoes are pulled, especially if they live on hard packed ground.  Putting a 7% iodine solution painted onto the sole of the foot for a week or two can help.  Applying pine tar is also a solution.  Both of these products will help to toughen the soles that are soft and will assist in alleviating soreness. 

If you choose to allow your horse to go barefoot, be sure to remind your farrier that you need to keep your horse's hooves trimmed a little longer.  This means that the hoof wall, sole and the frog will be trimmed less than when your horse wears shoes.  Remember that your farrier has a busy schedule and works with many horses throughout the month, so he or she may forget that you are not trimming them as short as when your horse is shod. So, a gentle reminder is always a good idea.  Some horses will have to be trimmed more often and some less often depending on the way their hooves wear down and the time of year.  As you know, the seasons do affect hoof growth.

Watch the hoof wall for wear, check for bruises, underrun heels, or damaged frogs along with tenderness to determine if your horse can go without shoes for any length of time.

What are the benefits of allowing a horse to go barefoot?  Pete Ramey is a professional in the field of natural hoof care practitioners, and he says: “It's not about the foot alone; it's about improved overall health. Recent blood-flow studies by Robert Bowker, VMD, PhD, show that the horse's foot gets at least twice as much circulation when he or she is barefoot on yielding terrain, as compared to when he or she is wearing a metal shoe. The back part of the foot is designed by nature to flex, twist and distort with uneven terrain and turns--it helps reduce stress and prevent injury to joints, ligaments and tendons. Metal shoes prevent most of that twisting and flexion the hoof was designed for.”

“Every horseshoeing textbook I've read (and I've read all or most of them) clearly states that we farriers should avoid back-to-back shoeing, and allow shod horses a barefoot period to allow the hooves to heal. But the books fail to teach how to actually make a foot improve during that bare period. It's simply amazing how much a competent trimmer and six months of barefootedness can improve most hooves.” 

So consider taking the shoes off during part of the year, and see if it doesn’t help to improve the condition of your horse’s hooves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/

Horses: How Fat is Too Fat

During the summer season, because many horses have access to green grass, they are
going to gain weight, but how fat can a horse get before it becomes unhealthy?  This is
an age old question amongst horse enthusiasts.  Some horses are “easy keepers,” while
others can eat all day and not increase their weight. 

Professional trainers and breeders must be highly aware of this issue, and consequently
they have developed a scoring system that can help any horse lover determine if their
equine friend is a little too plump. The easiest way to determine if a horse is too fat is to feel the middle of the rib cage.  If you must press your hand down hard to feel the ribs, then you need to start reducing the amount of feed that you are giving, and or create an exercise regime. Remember to
reduce the feed slowly so that your horse’s digestive system can adapt. If, however, you can easily feel the ribs, but not see them, then your horse is carrying the correct amount of weight. Keep in mind that some horses can get fat even while being fed just grass hay, and others will only gain weight when their diet is supplemented with grain.  Digestion and metabolic rates factor into these conditions.   Vitamins and minerals are also another important component in keeping your horse’s digestive system running optimally.  The types of minerals that can be depleted from the soil are dependent on where you live and where your hay is grown.  Talk to your feed dealer and or your veterinarian to find out what minerals might be lacking from your horse’s diet, and check with your veterinarian if you are considering adding a vitamin and mineral supplement.  If you are going to turn your horse out on pasture, be sure to keep in mind that early spring and winter grasses contain carbohydrates that escalate the levels of starches and carbohydrates in the horse’s system.  In other words, they act like grain, and just like grain, must be introduced slowly in order to avoid problems like founder.

Getting your horse out on trail rides or doing work in an arena will also pay off by
helping them to maintain a better body weight and muscle condition.  Wet down a saddle
blanket to keep them cool during the hot summer months, and be sure to wear clothing,
and other sun protection for you. 

Keeping yourself conditioned by exercising is equally important for you too.  Power
Yoga, Pilates, Running, Biking, Hiking and Weight Training are just a few ways in which
you can keep fit and flexible.  If you live near the ocean, consider taking up snorkeling as
it provides both cardio and muscle conditioning that your body will need to ride and be
your best in the saddle.

How Infrared Can Heal Stifle Injuries

One of the worst injuries that a horse owner can face is a stifle injury.  Sometimes these physical problems occur because of an accident, for example when a horse becomes cast.  Other times they happen because the horse is involved in a strenuous sporting event.  None the less, the amount of time it takes for recovery and the many hours spent tending to the injury can be overwhelming.

The joint that makes up the stifle is multifaceted and large.  It works in a similar way as the human knee.  The femoral-tibal joint works to interconnect the large bone of the upper leg, the femur, with the smaller bone or tibia, below.  The femoral-patella joint communicates through the patella, or kneecap, to the femur, and a thin capsule encases the whole stifle joint.  Fluids help to reduce shock absorption and lubricate the tissues as needed.

Stability is increased with ligaments that help to keep the leg from bending too far in either direction.  These are called collaterals, and they can be damaged if a horse loses its footing or falls.  An X inside the joint is created by two crossing ligaments, these are called Cruciate ligaments, and they attach the femur and tibia.  Damage to these is similar to a knee injury in humans.  A large muscle called the quadricep, attaches the kneecap to the tibia, the lower smaller leg bone. The menisci are important as they help reduce the amount of wear on the cartilage surface of the joint.  These can be torn during falls or other injuries. Because the stifle joint is so complex, it can be difficult for a veterinarian to evaluate and diagnose.  The tearing of the support ligaments is obviously a fairly easy diagnosis, but bruising and sprains can be much more difficult to evaluate.

However, no matter what the prognosis, there is hope for a quick recovery time.

Infrared Light Therapy has become increasingly popular for healing joints and sore or injured muscles.  Its non-invasive curative powers leave no side effects behind. 

But how does it work?

It produces electronic photons which, when applied to the surface of the skin, cause the cells to grab the light energy.  This promotes natural healing and encourages the torn muscles to repair themselves by increasing circulation.  The increased circulation brings new cells and oxygen to the site of the injury.  The Lymphatic system is also stimulated, so that swelling is greatly reduced.

 Surgery on the other hand, is very invasive and often a horses’ body will react adversely to the intrusion, and pain relieving pharmaceuticals are not without their side effects. 

Infrared Light Therapy is completely non-invasive and because it increases the circulation to damaged muscles, and stimulates the lymphatic system, thereby removing damaged cells and excess liquid, it also helps to alleviate the pain caused by the injury.

So, the next time your horse has a stifle injury consider using Infrared Light Therapy.    

 

 

 

The Difference between the Barrel Racing Divisions

Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event.  The team of horse and rider must complete a pattern called a clover leaf which is created by running around three barrels set up at specific distances in an arena.  This means that there is a precise measured distance between the start line to the first barrel, the first barrel to the second barrel, and finally the second barrel to the third barrel.  The person whose horsemanship skills combined with the athleticism of his or her horse, completes the triangular pattern with the fastest time wins the event. 

The timer begins recording when the start line is crossed by the swift moving horse, and it ends when the barrel pattern has been completed and the horse and rider blaze back across the finish line.

In specific clubs, Barrel Racing events are set up with separate classes, such as youth or senior classes.  However, divisions are the most common way to separate the horse and rider teams.  The divisions are determined by the speed a horse runs the cloverleaf pattern.  The Divisions or D races are split using the designations:   1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D and 6D.  1D class are run by the horses and riders with the fastest times.  The National Barrel Racing Association splits the divisions into categories determined by .5 seconds.  The fastest time is a 1D, then the 2D would be 5 seconds slower than the 1D time.  6D is reserved for horses and riders that run the course more slowly or perhaps for young horses schooling. 

After a time, horses become more consistent, and then are generally advertised with a number and a D, wherever their speed is calculated to fit within a certain division.  An example of this would be the selling of a 1D horse.  This would be in indication to the prospective buyer that this is a fast finished and generally more expensive Barrel Racing horse!

  

 

The History of Kentucky's Rolex

This week is one of the most exciting in the world of Eventing.  At the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky, the Rolex CCI****(four star) event is being held!  It is the only four star (****) event in the Western Hemisphere.  This very prestigious show is an eventing competition held at the same level as Eventing in the Olympics.  $80,000.00 dollars is awarded to the first place winner along with a Rolex watch.  A total purse of $250,000 dollars is awarded to top winning riders.  The show is four days long, and because so many riders participate, the dressage competition begins on Thursday and goes through Friday, with Saturday being the cross-country day, and Sunday is the show-jumping competition. 

How did this event begin?  In 1974 the U.S. won the individual (Bruce Davidson) and team gold in the World Championships.  This gave the honor of holding the world championships to the United States.  In 1978 The Kentucky Horse Park was planning to open, and it was the perfect venue for the World Championships.

More than 170,000 spectators attended, and the event was broadcast worldwide.  Because the event was such a success, and was economically stimulating for the local economy, it was quickly decided that it should become an annual event.  Today it is broadcast in over 18 languages and reaches millions of people. 

RevitaVet is the proud sponsor of these Rolex riders:  Phillip Dutton, Buck Davidson, Sally Cousins, James Alliston, Hawley Bennett-Awad, Allie Knowles, Katie Ruppel and Becky Holder.

 

Let's Talk about Hunt Seat

Hunt seat is a type of forward seat riding steeped in the history and tradition of foxhunting.  Riders can choose to ride on the flat or over fences for showing hunters.  In Hunter under Saddle, or Hunter over Fences classes, the horse’s form, or conformation and way of moving and correct way of jumping, are judged.  Equitation classes are judged more upon the rider’s form and skill on the flat or jumping over small fences.  This includes the correct leg position, forgiving hands, heels positioned with the weight in them, a good and balanced posture, eyes forward and looking up, and when jumping over fences, the rider is focused towards the next jump.  The movement of the equitation horse is usually more collected than the show hunter.  This permits the rider to better regulate the stride for tricky combinations.

Keep in mind, that hunt seat can refer to any form of forward seat riding found also in eventing and showjumping.  Many professional show jumpers start by riding in hunter and equitation classes prior to progressing into the jumper division.

Jumper classes are judged on the ability of a horse and rider team to complete a jumping course with the fewest faults and within the fastest time.  The horse that competes as a show jumper is usually a horse with a higher energy level and more power than a horse that competes as a hunter.  It is rare for a horse to have the ability to show in both hunter and show jumping classes, as the style, disposition and way of going are quite different.

Hunter under saddle and Hunter over fences classes can be found in many breed registry shows.  Sometimes the Hunter under Saddle class is called English Pleasure, depending on which registry is sponsoring the show.  Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods are the most common types of horses shown in hunt seat classes.  Irrespective of the breed, the horse should have a conformation that includes very little knee action, good form over jumps, a long stride and an easy going, well-mannered attitude.