Confirmation of colic is a situation that concerns any horse owner. So what is equine colic? What symptoms should you keep an eye out for?

Colic in horses is in reference to pain originating in the abdomen. Normally horses will not hide abdominal pain very well. So in the event of any abnormality in gut functioning they will usually display signs of discomfort.

Visible signs of mild discomfort might be stretching, a stance as if to urinate, and pawing the ground. If the pain is greater the horse will get up and down, and try rolling to get more comfortable.

It will start to sweat. More serious cases it will get up and down and continuously roll.

What Should You Do?
Should you believe your horse has colic, it’s best to call an experienced equine vet immediately. He or she will be in a position to provide rapid pain relief and decide whether further treatment is necessary.

What can you do while you wait for the vet? Leading your horse for a walk often helps. It may encourage his guts to start working normally and surpress the pain. It could also stop your horse lying down to roll. However if he is lying on the floor peacefully then you should let him stay there.

It used to be thought that horses could twist its gut by rolling. That is probably incorrect. But it is preferred to restrict him rolling around if possible. That way you can stop him injuring himself by striking itself on the stable walls. Of course take care that you don’t cause injury to yourself. Horses often forget all their manners when they are in pain.

There are many different reasons for horses to get colic. Often the signs look the same regardless of the cause.

So how will the vet look into the problem? He or she will have a listen to the abdomen using a stethoscope which will show them whether there is more or less activity in the intestines than there should be.

Monitoring the heart rate helps give a good indication of the severity of the discomfort and the severity of the problem. Usually a horse with a normal heart beat doen’t have a sever case. Whereas higher heart rates are not such a promising sign.

A very useful part of the examination will be the rectal examination. By physically feeling the intestines, the vet may be able to find the cause of the issue. It goes without saying that this is a incredibly skilled examination, that hasthe potential to be hazardous for both parties. However for an experienced vet the information it provides is incredibly useful in deciding the nature of the issue. It may reveal a blockage, or a swollen loop of intestines as a result of a twist or another intestinal issue.

It’s likely that in all but the most straightforward cases the vet may inset a tube through the horses’ nose into the stomach. It sounds unpleasant but can make the horse comfortable by releasing the built up pressure in the stomach. Doing this can also give the vet useful feedback as to whether the stomach is emptying properly.

Sometimes the horse is in so much distress that it isn’t possible for the vet to examine him properly without first giving a quantity of pain killer.

Only by collecting all of the signs revealed by a detailed examination is the vet able to make a tentative diagnosis. Though it might not be possible to tell exactly what the problem is.

It might be the case that, after the initial examination, the horse requires surgery. Though more usually the vet will decide to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and monitor his condition after a few hours. Most cases show a quick improvement. Although others will show no response to the treatment, or they will respond at first, then start showing signs of discomfort again later on.

In preference to having to call the vet to your horse several times, it is usually better to transport these cases to a specialist practice where they can be monitored closely and surgery can be performed if necessary.

Conclusion
Luckily the vast majority of cases respond to medical treatment. Although if surgery is needed – it is important to operate as soon as possible. The chance of a successful outcome is far greater if the surgery is performed before too much damage has taken place.

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The Arabian horse originates from the Arabian Peninsula, where it can be traced back over 2000 years.

Arabian horses were bred for their many desirable qualities including endurance, beauty and strength. Horse experts have researched Arabian horse origins and concluded that they are one of the most ancient breeds to exist.

The nomadic Bedouins were first given credit for taming Arabs. The Bedouins took pride in the purity of the Arabian breed and could trace the history of every horse they owned. During this time, it was critical to have a horse which was strong, fast, and courageous. It was vitally important that it was able to survive within a desert setting. Horses were used to take the Bedouin people into battle against other tribes.

The Bedouins bred some of the most striking horses. Many people would trade horses with them, and they would get together and share the lineages of the horses which were traded. Arabian horses come in a variety of different variations or strains. These horses have a common ancestor and look. Some of these are Hadban, Kuhaylan, and Dahman.

Arabian horses are said to be one of, if not the most recognised breeds in the world. Large expressive eyes and a comparatively small muzzle can be found on a wedge shaped head. Arabian horses which have a concave shaped nose are highly prized. The neck of an Arabian horse should be arched, and their legs should be muscular and lean. Their coats should have a sheen, often referred to as being silk-like. Consequently, Arabian breeds are not often viewed at top end competitions due to their inadequate bascule in comparison to other breeds.

Typically, their coat is brown or grey although it is not unusual for some Arabian horses to have black coats. As the desert heat is so intense, black coated Arabs were a lot more rare as the heat absorption could be dangerous. Such is the purity of the Arabian horse gene, it is frequently used in accentuating the features of other breeds. Arabian horses are mild mannered and have a good temperament, as a result they are very attractive to breeders.

Professional horse competitions have used Arabian horses for a great deal of time, and there are even competitions each year between Arabian horses and there owners.

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When you care for your horse, it is important to make arrangements for the winter months. Horses should be able to tolerate the winter climate and remain as healthy as possible. During the winter horses will have special requirements which you as the owner will have to tackle. It is imperative to plan for winter ahead of time.

Horses are generally tolerant to cold conditions. In fact, horses cope with frosty weather a lot better than warm weather. Regardless of this, there are some basic things horse owners will want to do to ensure their horses stay in good health. You will want to make sure the horse doesn’t have any lice, and has been vaccinated up to date. The expenses for doing these things will significantly pay off in the winter, as the outlay of feeding the horse will be reduced.

You may also want to work with your vet in planning up a health plan to care for your horses. Preparing your horse for cold weather will help it lower the requirement to eat larger amounts of food in order to maintain its weight. Your horse shouldn’t lose any weight during the colder months. Permitting your horse to gain a slight amount of weight will help them in the colder months, as the superfluous fat will work as a cushion to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. Through the winter you will want to provide your horse with some additional calories.

The best protection for a horse in the winter is its natural winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a warm jumper which will lessen the loss of heat that the horse experiences in winter environments. A horse’s coat is also smooth and will help brush off off snow and ice. If your horses are kept outside, you will want to ensure their coats grow enough before the temperature drops for winter.

To monitor the state of your horse, you will need to rub its ribs. A longer coat may indeed hide the fact that your horse has lost weight Your horse should weigh enough that you are not able to see the ribs but can feel them when touching the horse. You should also feel your horses ears. Are they cold? If so it’s a good indication that your horse is cold.

Like all animals which are warm-blooded, horses must maintain their body temperature in order to survive. It is vital that they retain heat through the winter, so you should ensure they’re prepared for the frost.

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Taking care of hooves is a crucial part of ensuring your horses overall health. It’s advisable to look at your horses hooves daily, and minimum two times each week.  You should become familiar with what is usual and what isn’t, and be able to to notice any issues that might be beginning.

Using this simple checklist might help you in your daily routiene.

1. Approaching your horse be sure the symmetry is close, however they do not have to be exactly equal, but very similar to the same size and form.

2. Examine for defects in the hoof wall and coronary band.  Raise up each hoof, run your hand over the outside of the wall to notice any impairments.  You can use the exact procedure for the coronary band and then squeeze it softly. Using these two procedures will also point out soft areas and water bearing areas.

3. Examine the sole. Check the colour of each hoof. If correct they should be the same in colour.  A well delineated dark spot indicates a bruise or damage.

4. Look at and compare the frogs.  The hooves at the front should be the sae size and shapeand it should be a similr case with the hooves at the rear. You should lightly press each frog using your hoof pick, mostly, with the exception of desert areas, it should be a little spongy.

5. If your horse is shod, grasp the horseshoe and see if it wiggles. Examine for missing clinches, if the shoe is loose you may choose to remove the shoe in case your horse misplaces it on its own and risks taking a section of hoof with it.

If you frequently check each hoof, you will be able to avoid a lot of problems by catching the problem before it worsens.

It is recommended you work into your routiene some quick steps. Use your pick working from heel to toe.  If packed tightly you might need to loosen it up somewhat before it is removed. Once all the debris is taken out, look at all the regions of the hoof and make sure that there isn’t a smelly odour as this is usually a clear sign of thrush.  Make sure there aren’t any rocks or gravel embedded anywhere, particularly beneath the shoe.

The hooves should show a natural gloss on the hoof wall.

If you find a smooth level surface free of cracks, circles, depressions, flares and a concave sole that touches the shoe, then you should be confident that the hooves are in great shape.

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Origins of the Thoroughbred:
This breed of horse was originally bred in England as a result of the English horsemens want to have a fast horse. There are three that founded this bloodline which are: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian, named after their owners, Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin and Captain Robert Byerley. Each and every one of these stallions were imported to England from the Mediterranean Middle East between 1670 and 1710. The conclusion was a breed that could carry weight with consistent speeds over extended distances. Approximately 9/10 of present thoroughbreds have derived from Eclipse the grandsire of whom was Darley Arabian, who was never beaten in eighteen races. This started a very refined breeding practice which has been going on for all but 250 years, producing the greatest race horses, giving them authorityand brilliance on the race track.

About the turn of the 1700′s, breeding reports for Thoroughbreds were meager and regularly incomplete, and on any occasions, they would not refer to a horse until the young horse had proven themself commendable. A gentleman called James Weatherby, through his own inquiries and hard work, and by the consolidation of his personal privately owned pedigree accounts published the earliest volume of the General Stud Book. He achieved this in 1791. The initial book listed 387 mares, every one of which could be traced back to Eclipse. The General Studbook is still published in the UK by Weatherby and Sons. Many years afterward, as thoroughbred racing became popular in North America the requirement for a pedigree registry for American Bred Thoroughbreds, comparable to the General Stud Book became clear.

In 1873, the first American Stud Book was published by Colonel Sanders D. Bruce. This man used up almost a lifetime studying the pedigrees of American Throughbred horses. He continued the example of the General Stud Book producing six volumes of the register up until 1896 when the project was carried on by The Jockey Club. The integrity of the American Stud Book is the foundation on which all Thoroughbred racing in North America depends. The first edition of the American Stud Book released by The Jockey Club had a foal amount of approximately 3,000. In 1986 in had grown to an astonishing 51,000. Nowadays The Jockey Club uses a complicated new computer system to counter the registration issues presented by the massive quantity of annual registrations. The Jockey Club owns and operates one of the most complicated computer operations in the world at the moment, with its record holding in excess of 1.8 million thouroughbreds on a main pedigree store, with names that can be tracked back to the 1800′s. Including bloodlines, this computer database also deals with daily racing results of all Thoroughbred race in North America, not forgetting the ability to handle digitally sent pedigree and racing data from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and other principal Thoroughbred countries. An additional progeny of Darley Arabian is Diomed; who won the principal running of the Kentucky Derby in 1780. At just 21 years old he was brought to the United States where he started the male line through his son, Sir Archie.

Thoroughbred horses are the first choice for track racing. Most thoroughbreds are born somewhere between January and April, however their certified date of birth is January 1 of the present year. In their first year of growth, they are developing bulk and muscle with the youngster commencing his training as a yearling. The horse learns to accept a bridle and a saddle and a short while after a rider on its back to break in the horse and prepare him for the starting gate and the run around the track.

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When purchasing a horse trailer, there are numerous features to consider. One significant feature is whether the horse trailer will have a gooseneck or bumper pull design. There are numerous reasons why you could gain from either design. Below we will look at the two designs and explain a little further.

Bumper Pull Designs – Good and Bad Points
Bumper pull trailers, also known as tag-along trailers, are horse trailers that connect to a hitch on the towing vehicle. The trailer simply “tags along” behind the towing vehicle and is not a part of the complete vehicle.

Plus Points
There are many plus points of bumper pull horse trailers. They normally cost less than a gooseneck trailer. It’s not required to own a 4×4 pickup for hauling the trailer, because of this more people can haul this layout of trailer with their normal car. Manouverability is frequently easier because the horsebox will keep to the path of your tow vehicle. You won’t need as much storage space for the horsebox as you would for a gooseneck trailer. Lastly, the trailer does not need to be classified as a “commercial” vehicle when it comes to licences because the combined weight of both the horsebox and towing vehicle is usually below 10,001 lbs.

Bad Points
There are several disadvantages as well. These style of trailers do not offer as much room for clothing and tack. Some bumper pull horseboxes may not be adequate for hauling over two horses as a result of the style of hitch needed for the load of the trailer. Also, bumper pull trailers have a tendency to snake on wavy roads, which can be risky.

Gooseneck Trailers – Advantages and Disadvantages
Gooseneck trailers are different from bumper pull trailers in their style of hitch. The hitch is joined from within the hauling 4×4′s load bed with a ball and coupler joint. This layout offers a number of benefits. It doesn’t wobble or fishtail like a bumper trailer is likely to, and towing is more stable. It provides more room for living quarters, which can be suitable for camping and long trips. The gooseneck layout is also more easy to back up to and align with the ball whilst joining it to your hauling vehicle, because you can view it without problem from the rear window. The gooseneck design is safer without the fear of the load becoming unhitched while driving anywhere.

Disadvantages
There are also a few issues. Gooseneck trailers normally cost more and are as a rule larger so they must be pulled with a 4×4 that is powerful enough to tow it. The hitching design is also more expensive for a gooseneck design. A further negative point is that while hitching the trailer, you normally have to climb into the bed of the 4×4 to finish the process. Also, you will need to detach your load cover from your pickup to tow a gooseneck trailer.

Choosing the Right Style
Whether you’re thinking of a bumper pull or gooseneck layout, you can search on the internet to check out various features of each. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find many used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Think about the plus points and disadvantages of both designs before handing over any money. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory