Those horses get just like the people what owns ‘em

By Terri Jo Bek, Professor, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Jo Bek

Do you ever have days when you wish that you could go back to bed and start over just to see if things might go better as a whole? While I was in college at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan., my mother sent me a letter describing just such a day that happened to my dad. I still have it and drag it out every once in a while when I think I’m having a bad day. It helps me to realize that it wasn’t anything compared to the one that my dad experienced.

Dad was supposed to go and help my granddad ship a pasture of cattle one fall day. That meant that he would be getting up at 4:00 a.m. to get his horse fed, saddled and be in the pasture by 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. On this particular morning, the electricity was off, along with the alarm clock, and the day started behind right from the very start. To make matters worse, the horses apparently took umbrage to having someone in the pen attempting to catch them in the dark. The yardlights were all nonfunctioning, and I’m sure that my dad was giving off “cranky” vibes. Not one of those horses wanted to be his mount for the day when he was in a “mood.”

Things continued to roll downhill for the day. He found that there was no coffee, as the supply was depleted. When he went to replenish his supply of chewing tobacco, it too was as empty as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard. He finally managed to capture a mount, get it loaded into the truck and pulled up to the gas storage unit to fill the truck. By now I’m sure you know what happened at that point. Yes, you guessed it. The storage tank was completely out of gasoline. Picture, if you will, a cowboy going off to ship cattle without any coffee OR chewing tobacco. I’m laughing as I’m reading my mom’s letter and at the same time I’m thanking God that I was far, far away at college and in no way was able to participate in this fiasco.

He made it to Uncle Slim’s house to transfer his horse into another truck to make the trip to the pasture. Of course, when he went to pull his truck out of the ditch that he’d backed into in order to unload his horse, he was stuck. They finally were on their way once they pulled his truck out of the ditch. The actual penning of the cattle went with little problem. However, weighing and sorting turned bad in a bit of a hurry.

The usual procedure is to sort off 25 head at a time and for two cowboys to follow that 25 head down an alley to the scales. Once they are on the scales and the gate is shut, those cowboys ride back to get in line and get their next 25 head. It is a continuous process until the whole pasture full of cattle is weighed by the owner and the buyer in the scale house. When I was still in high school, this was all done by hand and everyone added long columns of numbers. The buyer and owner of the cattle must agree on each others’ weights or the cattle must be reweighed. No calculators were available.

This particular day, someone finally looked over the fence into the pen where the weighed cattle were being kept. They couldn’t believe their eyes. The big crossbred Brahmas were piling up in one corner of the corral like a group of hogs. They had gotten so deep that they were piling up as high as the top of the corral fence. They continued to pile up to the point that the ones on top were spilling over into the pen next to them. No one had ever seen anything like this happen. The turnpike pens had ample room for the cattle to stand in large numbers and be comfortable.

Once the cowboys entered the pens, they tried to drive the cattle away from each other. They just kept piling up and falling over into the other pens. As a result, they had to rope the ones on top, drag them off the others and put them in another pen. Dad said that he roped 10 to 15 head himself.

Miraculously, they didn’t lose even one steer. I’m sure Dad figured it wasn’t necessarily the perfect ending to a perfect day, but it certainly seemed to fit into the pattern that started his day.

Mom’s letter made it seem as if it were just another day with nothing out of the ordinary happening. I’ll probably pass that letter on to the next generation as proof that sometimes the karma for the day is just not going to be very good and one must be prepared for all eventualities. Also, we have proof that the phrase, “Just when you think things can’t get any worse, they usually do,” can be a reality.

Selling basics

By Loriann Lindner – Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. Arthur, NE

Whether your horse is a weanling or aged it should be healthy and in good physical condition. Make sure your horse is up to date on vaccinations, deworming, trimming/shoeing, and dentals, and is well groomed. We are in a buyer’s market, so paying attention to these details will enable you to ask a fair price for your horse.

If you are selling a youngster, weanling or yearling, put as much time as possible into gentling, leading, tying and grooming. He should be relaxed when being handled, not nervous, and should stand quietly when being tied, approached and groomed. Ponying the young horse is an excellent way to work on leading; you are also exposing them to new things-not to mention it’s easier on you! Having someone above them will also prepare them for that first ride. Don’t forget about their feet! All too often people overlook handling the young horse’s legs and feet. Working with weanlings and young horses takes patience and some amount of experience. If you are not comfortable doing this, find someone with experience to help you. Remember, these first lessons are critical in the early development of your horse’s behavior and disposition.

If you are selling a riding horse, make sure she is in good physical condition. A horse that has good muscle tone shows it has been ridden. If your horse has bit issues (head tossing, chewing on the bit or not in good condition) consult your veterinarian; it may be a dental problem. Also, be current on trimming and shoeing. A well-groomed horse looks healthy and shows it has been given care and attention. Do what you think is necessary. Not every inch has to be washed and clipped, but make sure he is clean and the mane and tail are combed out. A clean, shiny coat goes a long way to make your horse stand out. If you are consigning to a sale, know the requirements and how other consignors are presenting their horses. It’s no fun playing catch-up on sale day-be prepared.

See more tips in the May 2011 issue of Saddle Up Nebraska. Subscribe for only $15 for 12 monthly issues at http://goo.gl/SSKNZ

Those horses get just like the people what owns ‘em

By Terri Jo Bek, Professor, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Jo Bek

One spring my husband’s boss sent me on a cow buying expedition to Shawnee, Okla. I was going to buy cattle for myself to send to Kansas, and Max decided I needed to buy him a pot load of cows to go along with his new bull calf he purchased in Louisiana.

After making arrangements for my purchases to get to Nebraska and Kansas, I headed back to Nebraska by way of Cottonwood Falls. I was going to let my dad know what was being delivered. I also told him he needed to get rid of the big gray Brahma since I didn’t want him to fight the new bull that I had bought to put on my cows. I was pretty proud of the way I had rolled into town, strung my orders and was ready to jump in my car and zip back to Nebraska. But alas, it was not to be.

Jess stopped me on the street and said, “Gene Matile said he would help us get the Brahma bull out of the cows.” That was the statement that really grabbed my attention. It was the, “It won’t take very long, why don’t you come and help us” that had me mentally scrambling. I seized on the fact that I had not brought my saddle with me; however, Jess just as quickly said, “That’s OK, you can ride one of your old ones that is still here.” He even offered to catch me a horse. Dad got in on the act as he outlined how we (minus him) should go about capturing this bull that they had to rope and drag into a trailer to even get him to our house in the first place.

It seemed like the basic strategy would be to bring the 25 cows that the bull entertained to the corrals at the house, sort off the bull, call my dad and he would come haul the bull to the neighbors who had expressed an interest in using him. The plan was logical and straight forward; however, the bull hadn’t read the plans. We rode up the county road to the brome patch the herd called home. This bull was not enamored with cowboys, so when he saw us he gathered his cows like a stud horse and took them to the back side of the pasture. We had to come in from the downwind side to be able to get close enough to exert any kind of hold on the herd. As we approached, we could see the bull searching the brush along the creek to try and get a glimpse of us at the point where he had last seen us. He was standing on the highest point in the pasture between us and the herd of cows. Jess laughed and said, “I’d hate to be the Indian that had to sneak up on him and stab him to get something to eat.” The bull finally caught sight of us and took off into the brush, where he stood very quietly while we tried to run him out. He knew that no one could swing a rope in that mess; consequently, we could ride up very close to him. This time, when he broke out at a dead run, he took the cows to the far southwest corner of the pasture.

There were two small calves, one of which was very new. Gene stepped off his horse and handed the calf up in front of me. The cow took umbrage to this offense and proceeded to hit Gene’s horse in the rear end. There was a small sapling that Gene made sure was between his horse and himself. The cow finally tired of playing “smash the tail on the horse” and left to rejoin her friends. My new partner woke up and decided to start kicking my horse in the shoulders. Apparently, Tequila thought someone was spurring him, because he began to spin at a high rate of speed. I decided my job was to stay on the horse and hang onto the calf. If only the calf had known. Luckily, the horse didn’t get dizzy and neither did I. We finally had everyone headed north toward the gate that led out to the road and up to the house. The bull was located dead center in the middle of the cows. He kept watching each of us and decided he would make a break past me and head for the brush. All I could think of was to throw my hand in the air and yell very loud.  Apparently that was enough to make him have a flashback to cowboys and ropes. He made a beautiful sliding stop and took up his position in the middle of the cows and stayed there. As we approached the gate, we could see a jogger from town coming down the road toward us. This caused the cows and the bull to break and head west up the fence. By the time we got things straightened out and headed back toward the gate, the jogger, in his infinite wisdom, had turned around and headed back toward town. Gene laughed and said, “Darn, I thought we were going to get to see how fast a jogger can run.”

The trip back to the house was uneventful, but once we had the bull (who Jess had named Snowball) sorted off into an alley, he decided that he really didn’t care to be in the alley. He jogged down to the gate at the end and very gracefully bailed out over the six-foot-high gate. We were all standing shoulder-to-shoulder staring at the 1800 lb. bull standing in the corner of the corral with his cows. Jess said, “Well, boys, what are we going to do now?”  Snowball had a big hump, long floppy ears, one horn that went up into the air and one that circled down around his face. As he calmly stared at us, I felt he was thinking the same thing, except he had substituted the “we” for a “you.”  Gene said, “I could rope him.” And when Jess and I stared at him he added, “But I don’t know what we would do with him then.”

I looked at Gene and Jess and said, “I’m going to go call Dad and he can just come home and help us.” We waited until Dad showed up, sorted off two cows with the bull and headed toward the semi and floor trailer that Dad owned. It would have worked perfectly if Dad would have stayed where he was suppose to be and dropped the gate, since the bull was the first one into the truck. But, oh no, he had come back toward us to shout some orders, so both cows managed to make it on with the bull. We all let him know about his mistake, since I am sure he would have gladly returned the favor for us. I had to walk along the top of the stock racks and help Dad sort those cows off. Dad yelled to jump in the semi and we would take him and dump him with the neighbor’s cows. That was probably the fastest two-mile trip that bull had ever taken. Dad kept asking if I could see him as the bull was putting his head on top of the stock racks. We backed into the corner of the pasture and I climbed onto the side of the truck to open the divider gate. As soon as I reached through to unlatch the gate, Snowball was blowing snot on my hands. He jogged to the back of the truck, jumped to the ground and trotted toward the cows. One big black cow came running and bellowing toward the bull. He acted as if he were going to run off, to which my dad said, “If that heifer runs him off, I’ll kill her.” As we watched them head west over a hill, I thought, at least he hadn’t turned and gone northeast, since we were sitting in the very southwest corner of Cottonwood. Once again, Jess’ famous words, “It won’t take very long,” had turned into a major ordeal.

Review of the 2011 Nebraska Horse Expo

By Tiffany Taylor

The 11th Annual Nebraska Horse Expo was held March 11-13 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, with many great clinicians and vendors that appealed to all types of horse enthusiasts. Some of the clinicians and special guests this year were Craig Cameron, Van Hargis, Monty Bruce and Jimmie Munroe. Along with the usual events, such as the mane challenge and youth rodeo, the new event this year was the Extreme Cowboy Race ­ a big success with spectators. The Extreme Cowboy Race drew in the most people for the weekend. Pavilion 3 of the Lancaster Event Center was packed full of people to watch this new exciting event. On Sunday one of the main events was the youth rodeo, which allows riders of all experiences and levels to ride and show off their skills.

The clinicians this year were also very informative and did an outstanding job helping people solve their horse issues. They were understanding and enjoyed answering questions.

With all the unique vendors, anyone who was looking to get new tack or replace old barn items had quite a selection to choose from, with everything from saddles, grooming equipment, clothing, show supplies and trailers. Along with these vendors, there were many small businesses, entrepreneurs and colleges.

Impressions

My favorite event was the youth rodeo, because I love watching all different ages compete against each other. The talent among the riders was phenomenal and a complete joy to watch. Along with the riders, I loved all the support from the announcers and the staff. Even if the riders weren’t having a lot of luck, they encouraged the crowd to cheer them on.

The events I thought were most exciting in the youth rodeo were barrel racing and bull riding. I love seeing the different riders in speed events because the riders and the horses are all so different. For the bull riding, there were not a lot of participants, but it was still exciting to see them ride. Watching them move the bulls around in the arena was also interesting; they weren’t willing to go back in the run so they had to be moved by the volunteer riders.

A couple other people who have been to the expo in the past had thoughts and opinions about this year’s expo as well. “In my opinion, Van Hargis is the man,” said Cassandra Thurston. “The extreme cowboy race was pretty sweet and had some real nice horses and riders. The barrel horse gal was well received and down to earth. Monte Bruce did some really nice and interesting demos” said Thurston. Another opinion was from Lori Nutsch from Beatrice, Neb. She said, “I think my favorite part of the expo was seeing all of the different breeds. I really enjoyed the extreme cowboy race, which was very entertaining! The expo was about the same as usual. I missed Tommie Turvey and Stacy Westfall this year. Hope to see them again soon.”

First-time participants to the Nebraska Horse Expo overwhelmingly thought it was interesting: “I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Garrett Ashby of Omaha, Neb.  “I knew there would be a lot of venders, but I did not know that there would be so many people who brought their horses with them. I had a great time! I got to spend time with my friends and got to be around what I love and what I love to do; it was so amazing. My favorite part was by far the youth rodeo. There was so much talent in the riders that were in it,” said Ashby.

The horse expo is an experience for horse riders of all disciplines. It gives them the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinicians and allows them to meet horse people from all over the state. My past experiences at the expo have always been great. It’s an educational opportunity that really helps equine enthusiasts become better horsemen. Every year when I go I get the opportunity to meet and talk to some of my horse training idols. By talking to them and many other horse people, I learn so much, especially how to deal with horse problems I am dealing with.

The expo has helped me become the horse person I am today. It has given me the opportunity to learn and grow. I can’t wait to see what new and interesting things are in store next year.

Who and where are the Civil War reeanactors?

Most Nebraskans might expect cavalry  re-enactors, even Civil War re-enacting in general to be relegated to areas of the United States east of the Mississippi River or along the Atlantic coast, but Civil War re-enacting is alive and thriving right here in the Cornhusker State. From Kearney to Omaha, O’Neill to Lincoln, the Civil War is brought to life by organizations and clubs of historical  re-enactors and living historians who seek to educate themselves and the public about the ever popular War Between the States.

The 4th United States Cavalry is one such organization. We in the organization have chosen to portray the great storied history of the regular army and the officers and troopers who rode with the noble 4th Regiment of Regular United States Cavalry, a unit still on active duty to this day. Also, our expertise is not limited to the Civil War, with many members portraying the 4th U.S. Cavalry from its inception in 1855 (when it was known as the 1st U.S. Cavalry) thru the Indian Wars of the 1870s and 1880s.

4th U.S. Bugler Tom Winburn of Bellevue, NE suited up for battle.

Formally organized in 2005, the  re-enactors of the 4th U.S. are located largely out of the eastern half of the state and regularly participate in Civil War events spanning not only Nebraska but the neighboring states of Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. Some members have even been as far south as Oklahoma and Mississippi. Since 2008, the 4th U.S. has expanded to portraying the Indian Wars period based out of Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, located between Burwell and Ord (check the Game & Parks Commission website for more information).

What does the 4th U.S. do?

The  re-enactors seek to not only educate the general public but each other about the life of the Civil War cavalryman. They attempt to accomplish this through battle re-creations, living history encampments, parades and demonstrations. These are generally organized at a formal Civil War re-enactment weekend, a local town celebration, or during a special school program for students. During the battle re-creations, they portray the cavalrymen in combat, fully equipped and ready to go, horse and all. There are maneuvers across the field, weapons drawn, and an engagement to follow, scripted out in such a way that both sides know who is to “win” and who “loses” the battle. This is done in front of a crowd of spectators to give some small appreciation of what Civil War combat was like.

Camp of the 4th U.S. at Stand of Colors event, May 2008 Kansas City, MO.

Living history encampments and demonstrations are far more informal and more hands-on. The public is allowed to see up close and at times handle the equipment and weaponry, ask questions, see how the weapons were used, witness drill done by the troopers, and experience a segment of camp life for the soldiers: tentage, food, the works. Special types of events to attend are the large regional and national events, usually a further distance to travel to. This is where a feeling for what it may have looked like during the Civil War comes as close as possible, brought to life by hundreds or even thousands of participants. Imagine seeing infantry, cavalry, and artillery formations in huge numbers fighting across the field! Observing hundreds of horses riding into battle is something not soon forgotten by spectator and participant alike!

What is used?

The 4th U.S. is a very authentic unit and demand as such from its new members, who must wear the full wool uniforms (yes, they can get hot) and use equipment, weapons, and tack authentic to the Civil War period. The 4th U.S. focuses on the Union cavalrymen, though they have a few members who also own Confederate gear should the need arise to “switch over,” as it were, to make battles more balanced or realistic.

The saddles and tack are based off the M1859 McClellan Saddle, a very popular military saddle that saw use up through the Second World War and the dismounting of the last American units of horse cavalry. Most of us even use the correct military style bits in our horses, designed to be fairly heavy to give instant command to the horse. Halter, saddle blanket, lead strap, reins, all are Civil War correct. Weapons include six shot revolvers, a carbine (short version of a rifle) and saber. All firearms are black powder, loaded in such a way as only powder is expelled from the barrel (as you may have already guessed, the  re-enactors don’t actually shoot bullets at each other!).

All items are generally suspended with leather gear, belts and slings. All of this does cost money (nothing fun is free right?), but new recruits take heart, you are not expected to get all of it at once! There are usually enough extra items to be borrowed for the first few times out, and all the equipment can be collected over a span of a few years.

At first, all the uniforms, gear and weapons may seem crude, hot, and heavy, but given enough time one gets used to it. Safety is the preeminent concern for both horse and rider. The  re-enactors always make sure everyone gets enough water in them; their gear is fitted correctly so it won’t bounce, break, or fall; saddles and bits are correctly seated for the horse; and each person is familiar with his mount and weapons to go into a simulated battle scenario.

Can a horse really do this?

Believe it or not, the 4th U.S. experienced very few problems with acclimatizing horses to this type of hobby. Horses are intelligent animals and learn quickly, and given enough practice, drill, exposure, and understanding, just about any horse will learn what is expected of it. Of course, this all takes time. There are basic practices for getting a horse used to gunfire and carrying all the equipment, accomplished by taking simple “baby steps” the whole way.

The 4th U.S. practices maneuvers together on a fairly regular basis in order to teach each other, but especially the horses, the rudiments of cavalry drill. The  re-enactors have found drill to be absolutely essential, the foundation and soul of the cavalry. It was no easy task back then for an officer or trooper to master the intricacies of cavalry formations, and it is no different to try and re-create it today. But one thing all of the re-enactors can agree on, cavalry drill is one of the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of the hobby. Even when there is no battle to fight, no crowd to awe, drilling with horses in a rigid military formation is what gives the cavalry its appeal. It is a truly impressive sight to see a formation of horses go through the evolutions, and even more fun to actually ride in it.

It can be confusing at times to keep all the orders and formations memorized, but truth be known that given enough time the horse knows what it’s doing and cavalrymen are basically along for the ride! Also, for those who have an interest in cavalry but no horse, the 4th U.S. has a number of members who  re-enact cavalry in the “dismounted” fashion and fight on foot, their horses conveniently “hidden or lost” beyond the battle.

Is this really something I want to try?

The hardest thing is getting the new guys to come out for their first time, which is really no surprise given the fact they probably don’t know anyone, it’s something they’ve never done before, and it’s natural to be apprehensive. But after overcoming all that, you’ll realize you’ve found a hobby worth committing to. Horse participation is not limited to just cavalry. The parent organization, known as the Fremont Pathfinders, has a considerable artillery arm, with horses to draw everything from cannons to wagons, so anyone with a good team is more than welcome!

Yes, it can get expensive at times (what isn’t these days?) but also truly rewarding when you consider that you are doing these men an honor by remembering them through your deeds and not just words. It can be hard work, handling horses tends to get that way, but it creates memories with your horse and your pards that you won’t soon forget. It can be difficult times coping, dealing with all the elements of being outdoors, but it builds a character and a respect for what our ancestors endured.

The 4th U.S. is looking for good, safe individuals at any riding level who share a love of history and horses and most importantly just want to have fun!

Shane Johnson (left; in front) and 4th U.S. on the march, Brownville, NE October 2008.

Shane Johnson is a history teacher and military historian from Verdigre, Neb. As organizer and officer of the unit, Johnson has been re-enacting cavalry for 15 years with his two quarter horses, Buck and Secret. For more information, contact the author at (402) 668-7303 (if no answer, leave a message). Visit the unit website:
sites.google.com/site/fremontpathfindersreenactment/home

Pathfinder 2011 (1861) Campaign

April 15-17 Kearney, Neb.: Archway Camp of Instruction

April 30-May 1 Verdigre, Neb.: Annual Verdigre Pathfinder Tactical May 28-29 Burwell, Neb.: Fort Hartsuff Memorial Day living history

June 3-5 Plainview, Neb.: 125th Anniversary, parade/living history June 17-18 Kearney, Neb.: Otoe/Missouria Pow-Wow, Archway

July 23 North Platte, Neb.: battle reenactment, Lincoln County Museum

Designing with Dressage

Learn to effectively ride dressage movements, improve connection and feel,  and improve your horse’s overall shape, 

The Effective Rider: Part 1: Connection and body alignment

by Christina Cardenas

Have you ever wondered how to effectively influence your horse’s movements, creating that beautifully arched neck and graceful round top line? Let this series guide you to improving your horse’s overall appearance and movements.

Effectively influencing your horse while riding takes a little skill but mostly dedication, study and lots of repetition. The first thing the rider needs to establish is what we call in dressage the “feel.” Many people believe you have to be born with this connection, but I have taught many students over the years to learn this illusive “feel,” and it starts with body awareness. You must be aware of the control you have over your individual body parts, i.e., seat bones, hips, hands, legs etc. Once you master individual control through self awareness, you can achieve complete control over the horse’s movements, influencing the muscles and thus sculpting the outline and creating beauty.

Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris of Great Britain were the Individual and Freestyle dressage bronze medalists and led their team to a silver for the first time. Photo by Jen Renth/MacMillan Photography, 2010 Alltech FEI World Esquestrian Games, Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

I want to stop here and help readers understand that one of the most important aspects of riding is ensuring the horse’s comfort. If the horse is not comfortable he is not capable of carrying the rider effectively and using his body (muscles) correctly. When a horse is not 100 percent comfortable he is encouraged to hollow his back instead of lift. If the horse hollows the back he is not engaging his hindquarters properly. Incorrect development of muscles will make the underside of his neck appear thick and will cause other improper muscle developments, and you will lose the graceful top line you are trying to achieve. The horse may appear to be in frame or on the vertical; however, if he is not stepping through his back, lifting the withers and stretching the top of the trapezius muscle in the neck, he would be in a false frame. This false frame is what can do more damage to the muscles and overall outline (appearance) of the horse.

Now that we have established how important saddle fit and comfort are, we will move on, but I encourage everyone truly dedicated to the horse to educate themselves on proper saddle fit. I support an entity called Saddlefit 4 Life (www.saddlefit4life.com). 

In this first series we will discuss alignment of horse and rider as it affects overall balance and directly influences your horse’s movements, as well as contact on the bit. Let’s get started.

Individual and Freestyle dressage bronze medalists Steffan Peters and Ravel from the U.S.A. They were the highest placed Americans. The U.S. Team placed fourth. Photo by Kim MacMillan, MacMillan Photography, 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

Let’s look at the horse in three main groups, all of which overlap each other: first, the head, neck, shoulders and front legs; second, the trunk, including spine, lumbar and abdominal region; and third, the hindquarters, including hips, croup and back legs. These are the three groups that you can easily influence with the rider’s aids.

Read the rest of the story in the January issue of Saddle Up Nebraska. To subscribe call 1-800-888-1380, only $15 for 12 issues!

Fernanda Camargo, DVM, Ph.D., Animal and Food Sciences, and Roberta Dwyer, DVM, M.S., DACVPM, Veterinary Science

Used with permission from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service

Horse owners should strive to maintain the health of their horses, whether they own one recreational horse or run a breeding operation. It is very important that owners, managers, and handlers be able to identify whether a horse is ill. Before you can identify a disease state, you need to know what “normal” looks like for each particular horse. This is probably one of the most valuable aspects of identifying a sick animal. As a horse owner or manager, you need to learn the behavior and personality of each horse, such as facial expressions, eating and drinking habits, pasture friends, pecking order, stall habits, and level of playfulness, to mention just a few. Behavior varies from horse to horse, and what is normal and common for one horse may be abnormal and uncommon for another horse. The importance of learning to know your horse(s) cannot be stressed enough. Begin this learning process by studying the horse’s behavior through observation and inspection. Also, make sure you can accurately determine important measurements such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and mucous membrane color through a clinical examination. Having this information about your horse can be critical if the animal is ill or injured and you need to supply these details to your veterinarian.

Left: A healthy horse should look alert and pay attention to you when you approach it. Right: A horse that has a fever or is starting to develop a disease will be uninterested in his surroundings, have no appetite, will stop drinking water, and will be abnormally lethargic.

Left: Note how this horse is paying attention to the handler as she enters the round pen. You can see that by the perked ears and by his body position, with his neck eagerly extending toward the handler. Right: If a horse shows no interest and seems lethargic, you can try offering a handful of horse feed or treats to see his reaction then. It may be that the horse is just taking a nap. No healthy horse will turn down his favorite treat. Notice how much interest this horse is showing as the handler offers a treat, showing signs of alertness and appetite.

Inspection

All the following aspects are part of what we call “inspection,” and it simply includes things we can do by observation only, before we touch the horse. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself as you approach the horse:

Is the horse alert, or is the horse abnormally sleepy/lethargic?

It is acceptable for a horse to be taking a nap as you approach it, but most horses start to interact with a person if stimulated. It is not normal for a horse to sleep for hours at a time and be oblivious to any interaction you are attempting to get. If a horse seems too lethargic and does not seem to acknowledge your presence, you can offer the horse a treat or some grain. Most horses are very stimulated by food and should “wake up” when it is being offered.

Here is another chance you have to see how well you know your horse by knowing which treats are most appealing to your horse. Consider that a treat or grain is more enticing to a horse than hay. Do not offer new treats when you are trying to assess his condition because you run the risk that he simply does not like that particular treat, and your assessment of his condition may be confounded. For example, some horses have not been accustomed to eating apples and may not like them the first time they are offered. In this case, if you offer an apple to the horse, he may simply not be interested just because it is an apple. So try offering something that you know the horse likes. Based on his response, you can evaluate his appetite, his alertness, and his normal response toward you.

Is the horse sweaty although the weather is not humid or hot and the horse has not been exercised?
If the horse is inexplicably sweaty, the horse may be showing signs of pain. Many times, horses sweat when they are experiencing colic or abdominal pain.

Does the horse roll too much, look at his abdomen, paw the ground, kick at his abdomen, or grind his teeth?

These are all signs of abdominal pain, which is the definition of colic.

Is the horse lying down too much?

This may be a sign of colic. But this can also be a sign of laminitis (founder) that, due to the pain in his feet, makes the horse want to lie down more often than normal. A laminitic horse will adopt a different posture as well, extending his legs in front of him and putting more pressure on the heels of the foot, moving the body backward, which in turn moves the center of gravity more caudally. This change in posture is done in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on the toes of the foot.

Clinical Examination

You should perform a clinical examination of your horse on a routine basis so you learn the normal parameters of the horse and also so the horse gets accustomed to being handled.

An important aspect of the evaluation of your horse’s health status is verification of vital signs. These are parameters used to evaluate normalcy in animals and humans. The term vital signs means “necessary for life,” and the basic vital signs include temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

Temperature

Normal temperature in the adult horse ranges from 99.5 to 101.5°F. Younger horses normally have their temperature on the higher end of the range. If a horse has a temperature above 101.5°F, it is hyperthermic (usually due to exercise or a hot environment). If an elevated temperature is due to a disease process, then the horse has a true fever. Horses with fever will change their demeanor by showing lack of interest in food, acting slowly, not drinking water, etc. Conditions that increase the temperature of the horse include infectious diseases, pain, dehydration, blood loss, pneumonia, colic, etc. An abnormally low temperature can also indicate a serious problem such as hypothermia from a cold and wet environment or shock.

To measure temperature, insert the thermometer in the rectum of the horse. Be sure to approach the horse quietly and let it know that you will be by his rear end. If your horse does not accept his tail and rear end being touched, you should not attempt to measure his temperature, as your safety if paramount. Have an experienced horse handler standing on the same side of the horse as you are. Work with the horse to get him accustomed to having this area of his body handled until you can take his temperature safely.

Taking the Temperature

When measuring a horse’s temperature, you should insert a clean thermometer in the horse’s rectum. A dab of petroleum jelly or mineral oil will be appreciated by your horse! You should hold the thermometer in place until the reading is complete. The reading time varies for different thermometers. You can use either a digital or a mercury thermometer. Pay attention to the other signs the horse may be showing in addition to the increased temperature, and if he is showing any additional signs, you may need to call your veterinarian.

Heart Rate and Pulse

As part of the clinical examination, check the heart rate of the horse. The heart rate is how many times the heart beats per minute. The normal heart rate (or pulse) in the adult horse is 25 to 45 beats per minute (bpm). Younger horses normally have higher heart rates than adult horses.

Left: To measure the heart rate, place the stethoscope on the left side of the horse, at elbow level, and final the typical LUB-DUB heart sound. Right: This is the proper placement of a stethoscope to hear the heartbeat.

Left: To measure the pulse, place your fingers on some peripheral ateries of the horse. The picture above shows the measuring of pulse on the tansverse facial artery. This is one of the easiest spots to find a pulse in the horse, but it takes some practice. Right: Another artery used to find pulse is the facial artery, which runs under the jaw of the horse and is about the diameter of bailing twine.

Taking the Heart Rate

You should count how many beats per 60 seconds to get a measurement. You can also count for 30 seconds and multiply the results by 2, or you can count for 15 seconds and multiply the results by 4. It is important to know that by counting for 30 or 15 seconds, you get a good approximation of the heart rate, but it is not as accurate as counting for one minute. You should not count for less than 15 seconds, as the results can be too inaccurate.

Another place to measure the pulse of the horse is on the digital arteries, which can be felt on the ankle (fetlock) of the horse. Pulse in this artery may be increased in cases of lameness that originate in the foot. It may be difficult to find a pulse on this artery in cold weather or on horses that have hairy legs. Finding this pulse takes practice.

Pulse

There is a difference between heart rate and pulse. Every time the heart beats, blood is ejected out of the heart and into the arteries, and this creates the pulse. Pulse is measured by palpating specific arteries, such as the transverse facial, facial, or digital arteries. When you measure pulse, you should count the pulse for 60 seconds, or you can do it as explained above for heart rate. Pulse is a good approximation of heart rate but may not be the exact number. When measuring pulse, you also want to check if the pulse pressure is normal, weak and fluttery, or pounding.

Conditions that will increase the heart rate and pulse include any cause of distress, dehydration, pain, colic, blood loss, or fever. In cases of dehydration and blood loss, the pulse will be weak and fluttery. If the horse shows signs of discomfort, as in colic, and you measure the pulse and it is above 60, you may want to call your veterinarian.

Ask for help from an experienced horse person or veterinarian if you have difficulty finding it.

Respiratory Rate

The respiratory rate of a horse at rest should be between 14 to 20 breaths per minute. That number increases if a horse is in distress or in pain or if the weather is hot and humid.

Left: Measuring respiratory rate over the lung area of the horse. Middle: Measuring respiratory rate by counting breaths on the hand. Right: Measuring respiratory rate by placing a stethoscope over the horse's trachea.

Finding the Respiratory Rate

If you have a stethoscope, place it on the thorax (chest) of the horse and listen for respiration sounds. The respiration sounds are very quiet on a healthy horse, and you will need to train your ears to listen to them. You can also measure respiratory rate by:
- placing your hand close to the muzzle of the horse and counting how many times you feel the warm breath on your hand (disregard the first few breaths because it is likely your horse will sniff at your hand, giving a false higher respiratory rate);
- placing the stethoscope over the trachea (windpipe) of the horse (the sounds on this location are much louder than over the thorax), or
- looking at the flank of the horse and counting how many times in 60 seconds it expands. This is the least accurate way of measuring respiratory rate because it may be very difficult to objectively observe a resting healthy horse’s abdomen move.

Respiratory Pattern

Another very important aspect in assessing the health of your horse is the respiratory pattern. Respiratory pattern is one of the things that can be observed from a distance‹not the respiratory rate so much, but the pattern itself. You can hardly see the respiratory movements of horses at rest. Therefore, if you find a horse that is heaving at rest, nostrils flared, in the absence of exercise or hot and humid weather, it may indicate that something is wrong with the horse. He may be developing heaves or a respiratory infection.

A horse at rest should have a very quiet respiration pattern. It is not normal for a horse to be heaving and have very exacerbated respiratory movements without having exercised. If your horse shows an abnormal respiratory pattern or is intolerant to exercise, you need to contact your veterinarian because your horse may be starting to show signs of respiratory or cardiac diseases.

Left: This picture shows how to assess the ocular mucosa coloration. It should be pinkish, moist, and shiny. Middle: The buccal (mouth) mucosa coloration should be pinkish, moist, and shiny. Right: To assess the capillary refill time, press your thumb over the gum of the horse for 2 seconds and release it. The capillary refill time should be 2 seconds or less.

Mucosal Coloration

The next thing you want to check is the mucosal coloration. You do that by checking the membranes (mucosa) on the gums, the eye, and the vulva (in females). The mucosa should be pink, moist, and shiny. Pale mucosa means that the horse is anemic or in shock. Anemia can be caused by acute or chronic blood loss. Acute blood loss can happen because of hemorrhage, and chronic blood loss can happen due to high parasite load or other hemolytic anemias. If the mucosa is dark red, it can mean that there is an infection, dehydration, inflammation, congestion, etc. If the mucosa is bluish (cyanosis), that means that the blood is low in oxygen. This can be due to heart or lung problems.

If the mucosa is too dry, that may mean dehydration. If the buccal (mouth) mucosa is too wet and the horse is drooling, it may mean one or more of these conditions:
- the horse has eaten clover,
- there may be a tooth infection,
- there may be something lodged in his mouth and he is unable to swallow,
- he may have been exposed to toxins, or
- he may have eaten something unpalatable.

Excessive salivation is also a clinical sign of rabies. Always call your veterinarian if your horse shows excessive drooling.

Capillary Refill Time

While assessing the mucosal coloration, you can also measure the capillary refill time. This is done by pressing your thumb over the gum of the horse for 2 seconds and then releasing the pressure. The area where your thumb was will become whitish for an instant and then return to the normal pinkish coloration as the capillaries refill with blood. The time that it takes from being white to being refilled with blood (capillary refill time) should be 2 seconds or less.

Conditions that increase the capillary refill time above 2 seconds include dehydration, infections, fever, blood loss, etc.

Gut Sounds

Gut sounds can be heard by placing a stethoscope anywhere on the abdomen of the horse. Gut sounds are called borborygmi, and they are gurgling sounds. In cases of colic, the gut sounds will be absent, and that is a concern and reason to call your veterinarian. Gut sounds can also be absent right after exercise. It is important for you to listen to normal gut sounds before exercise and after exercise; before, during, and after feeding; and when the horse is just grazing grass or hay. This is so you can train your ears to listen for gut sounds and know when it is time to call the veterinarian.

Conclusion

It is very important to learn how to perform a clinical evaluation of your horse when he is in a normal state. This is important so you know what the normal parameters are and so you can get your horse used to having the different parts of his body handled. You should learn to do these procedures to ensure early detection of disease and to provide vital information to the veterinarian on how critical your horse’s case is when you call. Practice makes perfect!

Pictures courtesy of Rudolphi Archives

The air whistled with arrows, the ground shook under the horses’ hooves.
Arrows fell on the riders and shrieked past their ears. A man fell from his horse, never to rise. “Fall back!” one of the raiders cried, spurring his horse away from the city. The small group of marauders followed him away from the resistance, but they weren’t out of danger. The raiders’ horses were fast and agile, but their pursuers were close behind. A few of the men turned in the saddle to shoot at pursuing targets, using only their seat and legs to control the racing horses. The raiders came over the rise of a hill and relief flooded into them.

Pictures courtesy of Rudolphi Archives

Waiting behind the hill, hidden from the city’s protectors, was the main group of raiders. They were nomads who had crossed the Carpathian Mountains in 896 AD.  The looters rejoined their ranks and fired a volley of arrows at the pursuers as they crested the hill. They pulled the defenders away from the security of the city, leaving the city open for attack from the larger force. With the city exposed, the thieves charged in. Men shot arrows in every direction, the reins loose.  In the chaos they plundered and escaped with their loot on the small, quick horses.

 The staged attack, retreat, assault and final escape devised by the nomads would have been impossible without their mounts. These oriental horses were the foundation of the Hungarian breed, whose versatility and characteristics have influenced horses in much of the world, including the United States. The Hungarian breed’s history of survival is extensive, but it is a history in which Nebraska eventually played a pivotal role.

These nomads brought small, elegant yet hardy horses from the Ural-Altai plains in the east. They settled in the lowlands of the Danube (Duna) and Tisza Rivers in Hungary, and though they established homes, they did not take to farming. Instead, they looted towns and villages as far away as Italy, Germany, France, and Spain, commanding fear and reverence from their victims.

Word spread of these raiders until fear prompted action in 955 AD. Emperor Otto I and the Bishop of Augsburg conquered the Hungarian raiders and sent them home in pain and humiliation. In defeat, the horse warriors converted from stealing to farming.

Their combatant ways had ended entirely by 1242, when Tatars from Mongolia invaded Hungary. But the Tatars did not linger in Hungary, and they left after their leader died. Many of their horses were left behind, which added to the genetics of what was becoming today’s Hungarian Horse.

Hungary was again invaded in 1526 by the Ottoman Turks. Their fine Turkish and Arabian horses became important in the lines of nobles’ horses in Transylvania. Even today Erdelyi, meaning Transylvanian, can be found in old pedigrees. The Ottomans stayed for nearly 150 years, but once they left, Europe was in peace.

Small, hardy horses continued to be used in farms, but the military and aristocrats of Hungary preferred breeding Spanish and Neapolitan stallions for their size and style. Empress Maria Therezia (1740 ­ 1780) realized Hungary was unable to supply appropriate sums of horses for the military. She issued several steps to be taken to ensure better horses in larger numbers for the imperial army.

Stallions were issued for free stud services, mares were loaned to farmers, and people began hand breeding to improve their privately owned horses.  In 1784, Maria Therezia’s son, Joseph II, founded the Mezohegyes stud farm.  A few years later the Babolna stud farm and the Kisber stud farm were also built.

In the early 1800’s the Napoleonic wars, later followed by the Hungarian revolution, threatened the breed’s purity. Although the breed was negatively influenced, it remained strong.

In 1867 the stud farms were turned over to the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture.  Since then all the breeding and management decisions were controlled by the government, but the army remained in control of everyday affairs on the stud farms. To improve the breed, horses were imported from Belgium, France, Austria and Germany. However, these cold blood, or draft horses, had little to no affect on the breed. Thus the term “warmblood”-referring to light horses such as Arabians or Thoroughbreds crossed with draft breeds-does not apply to Hungarians.

By the 1900’s Hungarian horses were a great influence in endurance riding, racing and Olympic eventing. This reputation was partly due to a note made of the Vienna to Berlin endurance race held in 1892. The distance of the race was 361 miles. There were 217 entrees, but only 145 horses finished; of the top twenty-four horses, two-thirds were bred in Hungary.  Competitors flocked to these horses, but their popularity grew in more than the competitive world. Several countries of Europe, the Middle East and America began using Hungarians in their military breeding programs.

When World War II engulfed Europe, Hungary was swept into the wide spread devastation. One of the greatest fears Hungarian breeders faced was the Soviet Army. Half the breeding stock was sent to Germany under the hope that occupying Americans would protect the valuable horses. The other half of the breeding stock was scattered among farms and isolated villages to be hidden from the Red Army. Some were later taken to other countries via train, cross-country riding, or driving in herds.

In May 1945 U.S. troops, including General Patton, enjoyed a performance at the Spanish Riding School in St. Martin, Austria. Not long after this performance, 1200 horses were taken to Bavaria, part of American-occupied Germany. This was not the last act of General Patton to help preserve the Hungarian horses. Despite the efforts made, many of the thousands of horses were lost or killed.

One of the few people to grasp the importance of these horses was Col. Fred Hamilton. As the Chief of the Remount Service, Col. Hamilton selected 106 Hungarian horses to be used in the United States. A number of Hungarians were brought to Fort Robinson, Neb., the largest army remount depot in the world, for the army’s breeding program.

However, the end of World War II marked the end of horses used actively in the U.S. military. In 1949, the remount service was disbanded.

The Hungarian horses were saved from disappearance thanks to Hungarian Countesses Judith Gyurky and Margit Sigray-Bessenyey, Nebraska’s ranching Cooksley family, and another American rancher Jim Edwards. The countesses brought horses to the U.S. while Steve Cooksley and Jim Edwards acquired horses from the remount stations. The army’s careful breeding records also helped to keep the breed intact.

Edwards received a stallion named Honpolgar 4 from the army, and so made business arrangements with Bessenyey, who owned mares but not a stud. Cooksley and Edwards then chose a suitable colt from the foal crop. Edwards raised and then leased the colt for breeding Cooksley’s mares. These three individuals held the makings of the Hungarian Horse Association of America. With the help of Gyurky and Dr. Ensminger of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the book of pedigrees was recorded. In 1966 the Hungarian Horse Association of America (HHAA) was officially born.

Classifications for the HHAA, resulting from DNA, breeding, registration, and heritage are represented in four classes: the Hungarian Felver Book, Hungarian Sportlo Book, Hungarian Fajta (Part-bred) Book, and the Hungarian Riding ponies.

The Hungarians can be characterized by their intelligence and athleticism and can be used for many different disciplines. “They have a good disposition,” explained Katy Jones, Equestrian team hunt seat coach at University of Nebraska ­ Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and active member of HHAA, “I think that is why they are so versatile. And they are very smart.”

Linda Rudolphi, registrar of the HHAA, raises horses in Noble, Illinois. “[Hungarian] horses have well-rounded, cross-discipline backgrounds ranging from polocrosse, distance riding, dressage, jumping and even some calf roping and reining.” she said, describing the horses on Wine Glass farms. They have an “…excellent disposition for the family sport horse.” 

The Hungarians are gifted with speed, agility, good balance, and endurance, making them excellent mounts in athletic events. They are loyal and very willing to work. Hungarians are built to learn with a broad head and well-set eyes. Dense bone structure, large joints and well muscled loins add to their athleticism. In addition, they have good lung capacity due to well-sprung ribs and a heart girth which exceeds their height by nearly six to nine inches.

Horses of all types have always been important to Nebraska industry. According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska horse owners hold over 180,000 horses and supply $700 million annually to the agricultural industry. Compared to the Quarter Horses, which in Nebraska boasted 88,555 registered horses in 2005, Hungarians seem a small part.
Today only 376 Hungarian horses live in the entire United States. George and Barb Cooksley of Anselmo, Nebraska, witnessed 118 of those horses bred on their ranch. (Nebraska is also the home of HHAA president, Rick Brandt, and his wife Sharon, who live near Lincoln.)

The Hungarian horse has come a long way since its ancestors were used in the nomadic conquests over a thousand years ago. Instead of combat, the air roars today with the applause of friendly competition. The ground shakes under the horses’ hooves, praise falls on the winner, and cheers pass everyone’s ears. Though there were times when it seemed the Hungarian breed would fall, never to rise, it has prevailed and made its name into one of reverence.

Buying and selling: a view into another world

By Terri Bergen-Smith of Good Hands Horse Training & Sales, Shady Lanes Ranch, Council Bluffs, Iowa

“Athletic.” “Could be a great race or barrel horse!” “Jumping potential” “Fantastic kid and beginner horse potential!”

My friends and I laughingly refer to “athletic” as meaning “can really buck.” “Barrel prospects” mean “he can run through any bit you can buy!” and “jumping potential” means there’s not a fence built high enough to hold this fellow in!

Anything with the word “potential” in it is wishful thinking.

Those definitions are jokes, but there is a grain of truth in them. Always question your sellers on why they are selling and listen for the answer behind the answer. Some will tell you straight up, “I am selling this horse as no one I know can get along with him!” The larger majority is not going to do that, and the lists of reasons they will give you are as endless as they are convincing.

As a person who has been involved with the buying and selling side of the horse life for most of my own, I have seen the good, bad, ugly and unbelievable when it comes to selling a horse. I have learned that an accomplished rider can make a very green or volatile horse look really appealing, and an inexperienced, unbalanced novice rider can make the best horse look bracey, awkward and even stubborn and rebellious. There are drugs that can be administered to calm a horse that have fairly lengthy effects, and herbal pastes and feeds that can slow them down for a few hours and have very little discernible “tells” such as the glazed eyes and dropped penises on the drugged geldings. 

After the seller has ridden the horse at the walk, trot and canter, and gets along well, it's your turn to ride. Photo by Arron MacKeogh

So, how do you know? Who do you trust? I cannot give you that answer in the few short words, but I can give you some pointers. As a long-time horse dealer, here are some non-negotiable items when I am looking at a horse.

I want to see him caught. You can tell me all day that Pegasus is super easy to catch, but until I see it with my own two eyes – it’s nothing personal, but I do not know that to be the truth. I want to see his manners while being groomed, having his feet picked, and I want to watch you saddle him. I am going to take note if you are rough or crude in your handling, and I am going to take note of how the horse reacts to you. Does your tack fit, or is ill-fitting tack why he is pitching you fits? And is that the real reason he is for sale, not the “we just have too many to ride and not enough time for them all,” which seems to be the top-ten No. 1 reason people sell a horse? Sometimes it is true. The thing to think about here is are they selling their favorite horse? Sometimes they are, as finances may be demanding the sale and the favorite horse is worth the most. Sometimes, they are selling the one they’d like to catch most with a .22, and it behooves us buyers to pay attention and try to figure out which is the likely truth of the matter, as the seller probably isn”t going to tell us the exact real reason the horse is for sale.

The next item on the block is I want to see you ride your horse. Under no circumstances should a prospective buyer be asked to mount a horse that they have not already seen ridden. A seller who is not able for some reason to show the horse needs to have someone onsite to ride the animal and prove any claims they make about how well the horse is trained or what they know how to do.

Photographs of the horse being ridden are not as good, as there is no way to know how the photos were set up and no way to know if the horse had to be lunged for an hour previous to that photo. I know of a disreputable seller that set her small children on barely-broke horses, backed away long enough to fire off a quick snapshot, and sold them based on those photos to unsuspecting buyers who purchased out of state and online. That is a true story.

There is a certain level of horse buying that does not lend itself to internet purchasing. If you are in any way a novice or a beginner, or are returning to horses after a lengthy absence and still consider yourself experienced, you want to see, touch, feel and experience the horse you buy, yourself.

After the seller has ridden the horse at the walk, trot and canter, and gets along well, it’s your turn to ride. If you do not get along with the horse at the seller’s place, chances are you are not going to get along with him at home. Be aware that he is being shown in the comfort of his own home or familiar surroundings. If he’s a spook or barn sour there, imagine that getting worse, not better, at your house, unless you are familiar with how to deal with these kinds of behaviors.

As a seller, there are three answers I tend to give my buyers. My favorite is an unequivocal and resounding “yes!” I would love to sell you my horse, and let’s do what we need to do to get that done!” Believe it or not, that is not the answer I give the most frequently. Then there is the “I’m sorry, this horse is not for you. I have an idea of what you are looking for and let’s find a more appropriate match for you (or your child – buying for children should be an entire separate topic.). That is not the most used answer, either.

In a perfect world, horses are perfect and so are human beings. We are far from that, and horses are, too. My most given answer when someone comes to my house looking for a horse is “this horse will work for you IF. . ..” Then, I fill in the blank, either the horse needs a little more polish, or the rider needs a little more education, but with some small adjustments, either way, the match should work. Good buyers do their homework; they know what they want to see in a horse, what they can live with that isn’t perfect and what are deal killers. Don’t let anyone talk you into buying a horse that you know is wrong for you.

As a buyer, I always ask for a trial period of a few days (no sense tying up the seller’s good horse when someone else may be coming along who would buy him straight away), to get to know the horse at home on my own turf.

As a seller, I never give trial periods. Confusing? I can see why. I cannot control what happens to my horse once they are loaded in someone else’s trailer. A sudden stop for that idiot running the red light, my horse is thrown on his knees, and now he is not sound. I can swear up and down he was perfect before he left, but who knows the truth of that? I cannot control how my horse is fed or handled, and a lot of damage can be done in a short time. As a seller, I encourage prospective buyers to visit and ride the horse as often as they like, but he is for sale until he is sold. Deposits are nonrefundable unless the horse does not pass the vet check.

To read the rest of the story, see the December 2010 issue of Saddle Up Nebraska. To suscribe call 1-800-888-1380. Only $15 for 12 issues a year!

Ask a vet
By Steve Krull DVM

Julie Sadofsky of Omaha, Neb. writes:
When I’m riding on trails I’m always worried about my horse being bitten by a rattlesnake. What happens when my horse is bit and how do I treat it?

Rattlesnake bites are a relatively common occurrence in horses in certain parts of the country. In our area of the U.S., prairie rattlesnakes are the most common variety of snake. Most of the time the horses are found by the owner after envenomation and swelling is very evident. Most horses are bitten on their nose when they lower their head to investigate the noise or movement of the snake in the grass. The bite on the nose and/or face is the most dangerous and common area for envenomation because it will cause swelling of the face and nostrils, which in the most severe cases can cause the nostrils to swell shut, rarely resulting in death due to suffocation.

Horses can also be bitten on the legs or body. These bites are not as life threatening, but still need to be treated to try to reduce the tissue damage caused by the toxins and bacteria.

Most horses that are bitten do not die but some degree of tissue damage almost always occurs. Rattlesnake venom can cause other conditions also, such as clotting (bleeding) abnormalities, cardiovascular damage and nerve damage. It may take several months for the animal to fully recover. The length of recovery seems to be related to the amount of venom injected and time until treatment begins. Some long term effects of envenomation include tissue sloughing, osteomyelitis or bone infection, cardiac (heart) dysfunction, gangrene, and death on rare occasion. Follow-up exams should be done for several months after treatment has stopped to make sure that the horse is safe to use.

Treatment of rattlesnake bites should be initiated as soon as possible. It is not advisable to use ice or a tourniquet as a first-aid treatment. It is best to keep the horse as quiet as possible until treatment begins.

Treatment consists of blood work, antibiotics (IV if possible), and fluids to improve tissue perfusion and to keep the animal from dehydrating until it is able to drink on its own. Other treatment protocols that have worked for us include corticosteroids, a tetanus toxoid booster, and hydrotherapy, if possible. Most of these animals are in pain so some type of pain medication may be beneficial. The use of DMSO topically to help improve blood flow and reduce swelling to the affected area may also be of some benefit. In the rare cause of severe nasal swelling, it may be necessary to do a tracheotomy or insert tubes up each nostril.

Rattlesnake envenomation is a fairly common occurrence in some regions of North America. It can be frightening for both horse and owner, but with some common sense and timely veterinary intervention, a positive outcome can be obtained.