Drying Boots

Foals will soon be on the way and often times sloppy wet spring weather accompanies.  Leave a hair dryer plugged in by the door to dry out the insides of damp boots when you come in from your foal watch.  If you have electricity in your barn, it works great for drying newborn foals, too!



Feeding

Make all feed changes gradually.

Use only dust-free and mold-free feed.  Also, periodically clean and disinfect feeders to prevent any mold build-up in cracks and corners.

Be sure to avoid the antibiotic and growth additives found in some livestock supplements.  Even trace amounts can be highly toxic to horses causing damage to muscles and vital organs, delayed neurotoxicity and/or death.

Whenever possible, feed horses separately.  This allows those that are more timid to get their fair share.

When fed as a group, place the feed at least 20 feet apart and avoid placement in corners of the corral.  This helps insure that all horses get an adequate portion.  It also reduces stress and chances of injury.

Feed hay and grain by weight, not volume.  There can be a tremendous difference between loads.

Keep your horse wormed and parasite free. This will make sure the feed goes to your horse and not the parasites.



Fitting a Saddle Reprinted from the Pintabian Ink Spot, Vol. 2, No. 1

To measure a horse's back use a stiff wire or opened coat hanger to make three cross section measurements plus a backline measurement.  First, ... (continue)



Orphan Foals

If you have an orphan baby during inclement weather, see if you can find yourself a used play pen and bring it in the house until it is warmed up and able to be kept in a barn.



Medications Reprinted from the Pintabian Ink Spot, Vol.5, No. 4

Has your vet prescribed a nasty tasting medication and you just can't get your horse to eat it or even taste it?  Try mixing one teaspoon of raspberry jello power and one teaspoon of sugar together with a little water and medication.  Use directly on top of feed or squirt it in the mouth with a syringe.  This tip and many, many more can be found in "The Original Book of Horse Treats.  For your copy, stop by your local tack/feed store or contact Horse Hollow Press at 1-800-4-1-HORSE.



Starting A Foal by Judy Coe and reprinted from the Pintabian Ink Spot, Vol. 1, No. 2

The ideal time to start handling you foal is practically the moment it is born!  We foal out the mares next to our house where we can check on them several times a night when they are due.  I have raised foals for the last twenty years, and have found that mother nature usually takes care of the foaling just fine, but I always like to be nearby, just in case!  Do not hesitate to call your vet if you think anything is not right!  After the mare has foaled and . . .
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Tick Removal by David Herold and contributed by Bob and Gail Williams of Polar Pintabians

I once had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick.  This is great because it works in those places where it is sometimes difficult to get in with tweezers; between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.  Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball.  Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20); the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.  This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.  Also, if you just pull a tick off, their heads sometimes break off and are left under the skin so this is much safer.  Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way.  Please pass this on.  Everyone needs this helpful hint.

 

PintabianBiz Trivia Challenge


        1.   The desired color pattern of the Pintabian is:

        a)   sabino
        b)   tobiano
        c)   overo
        d)   splash-white


        2.   Pintabians are characteristically known for their:

        a)   beauty
        b)   stamina
        c)   versatility
        d)   all of the above


        3.   To qualify for registration as a Pintabian, the horse must be over:

        a)   50% Arabian
        b)   75% Arabian
        c)   90% Arabian
        d)   99% Arabian


        4.   Pintabians usually have:

        a)   one white leg
        b)   two white legs
        c)   three white legs
        d)   four white legs


        5.   Pintabians have a distinctive body type which includes:

        a)   a short back
        b)   an arched neck
        c)   a high tail carriage
        d)   all of the above


        6.   To determine the percentage of Arabian blood of a particular Pintabian, add the percentage of Arabian blood of 
          the sire to the percentage of Arabian blood of the dam; then divide by:

        a)   two
        b)   four
        c)   six
        d)   nine


        7.   Genetically, the tobiano pattern is considered to be:

        a)   recessive
        b)   pigment
        c)   dominant
        d)   solid


        8.   Most Pintabians also qualify for registration as a:

        a)   Paint
        b)   pinto
        c)   Appaloosa
        d)   none of the above


        9.   An Arabian that is used for breeding to a Pintabian is called:

        a)   a linebred horse
        b)   an outcross horse
        c)   an inbred horse
        d)   all of the above


        10. The Pintabian breed  became official in:

        a)   1982
        b)   1985
        c)   1992
        d)   1995


       11. The first international Pintabian festival took place in:

       a)   Duluth, Minnesota
       b)   Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
       c)   St. Paul, Minnesota
       d)  Grand Rapids, Minnesota


       12. The first PHRI sanctioned horse show was held in:

       a)   1995
       b)   1999
       c)   2001
       d)   2005

Answers


       1.   b) tobiano

       2.   d) all of the above

       3.   d) 99% Arabian

       4.   d) four white legs

       5.   d) all of the above

       6.   a) two

       7.   c) dominant

       8.   b) pinto

       9.   b) an outcross horse

    10.   c) 1992

    11.   b) Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

    12.   c) 2001

     Total up the number of correct answers above and compare them to the chart below.

        NUMBER OF
         CORRECT           YOUR
         ANSWERS:          PROFICIENCY:

          12        -        Congratulations!  You are an expert on the breed.
          11        -        You are very knowledgeable.
          10        -        You are knowledgeable.
          9          -        You are somewhat knowledgeable.
          8          -        You need to brush up on your equine studies.
          7          -        You haven't done your homework.

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