Equine
A bit for every horse
By contributing writer Krista Lucas
Imagine a horse running out of control in an arena in front of hundreds of people. Is the horse scared, hurt or just plain crazy? It could be that the headgear is what is causing so must distress to the horse.
The bit is a vital part of horsemanship and has developed over time to fit the needs of many types of performance horses. For many horse men and women, having too many bits is like having too many shoes; one can never have enough. This tool comes in all shapes and sizes, and it is important to understand how each one will fit and be used.
Every bit is designed for a specific reaction. The bit needs to fit properly, so as to not cause any pain or discomfort to the horse. The equine head has several pressure points. The inside of the mouth, to the bridge of the nose and all the way up to the poll between the ears are areas where the horse can be affected by the bit.
The terminology of a western bit is fairly simple. The purchase is the part of the bit that is located above the mouthpiece. The shanks, the metal pieces below the mouth, can be long or short and provide leverage. The sides of a bit are referred to as the cheeks, with the mouthpiece sitting in the horse’s mouth always on top of the tongue. Bars secure the bit as well, putting pressure on the sides of the mouth.
Control on these pressure points is determined by what type of bit is used. The longer shank bits give more control to the rider, while shorter shank bits offer less. To read more pick up the September 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
By Phillip Kitts
Is the face of professional rodeo changing? The rodeo purist and those that were present years ago when rodeo had a different look often like to refer to the good old days. Those who were not privy to those years may not understand what rodeo looked like in the past.
The modern rodeo has evolved from a mix of ranch cowboys accepting challenges of riding the unrideable stock, to seeing who can rope and ride the fastest. Mixing this with the old-world wild west shows and rodeo began its evolution. Traditional rodeo did not contain the glitz and glamor you see today. Often rodeo performances were conducted in the daytime because lighted arenas were not an option. Music was much less of a priority and tended to be based around traditional country and western sounds, and not all arenas had big grandstands and presentation platforms.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Dr. Garrett Metcalf
Many horse owners that breed and produce foals routinely know that foals are prone to many issues in the first few days or weeks of life. There are multiple issues that are possible with newborns but the focus of this article will be on the urinary tract of foals.
A common urinary tract issue that foals can have in the first few days or weeks of life are issues with urine leaking from the umbilicus called a patent urachus. The urachus is the fetal pathway for urine to escape the bladder in the amniotic fluid. This pathway is disrupted normally with the umbilical cord is broken at birth and the attachment of the bladder to the body wall at the umbilicus will regress.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Krista Lucas Wynn
Getting a horse back in shape that has had significant time off takes time and patience. A performance horse may have had time off due to an injury, breeding or in foal, bad weather, among other reasons. Otherwise, it is always wise to keep a horse in shape as long as possible. Just like a person, it is harder to get back in shape than to just stay in shape. If a horse has had an extensive amount of time off, you may find yourself wondering where to begin, so as not to cause reinjury to your equine partner.
There are plenty of opinions out there on ways to go about building a workout plan for a horse. It is always best to work up to more strenuous activity, after a veterinarian gives the go ahead. For example, if a horse has been on stall rest, it is best to introduce small amounts of turn out at a time. This gives horses an opportunity to stretch their legs on their own, but they may need to be supervised at first.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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