Blog site dedicated to helpful Ideas on the building and enjoying of Attractive, Functional, and Low Maintenance Horse facilities. These ideas will allow the Horse owner to spend MORE time RIDING and enjoy a thrilling Equine Lifestyle.
Using the traditional training methods perfected by the Californio Vaquero tradition usually assure a well balanced and Level headed Horse, by the time they are ready for the bridle.
The video were produced in the Affordable, Safe and Maintenance Free Barn provided by Dave Harrah of Barns By Harrahs, the Largest West Coast Blue Ribbon Barn dealer
Safe and Affordable Horse Fencing is always a concern for the serious Horseman. This unique fencing system was introduced at the 2009 Western States Horse Expo, by Keith Johnston, owner of Tri-County Fence, located in Corning California.
This system allow quality Fencing for so many terrain and elevation situations. Galvanized steel materials and easy installation makes this unique Product a Viable Fencing Alternative for Safe Horse Confinement.
This Fourth in a series of a wonderful visit Shirley and I experienced at Buckaroo Leather and John Brand in Diamond Springs, California. Check out John's Video on http://youtube.com/buckaroojohn for more of the visit.
We have been using Quality USA Raised Leather Tack form Buckaroo Leather for 25 years.
The following article is from a good friend and associate, Peter Moon. Peter has perfected a Compost system system to be efficiently used for a Small "backyard Horse Operation" to a "Racetrack" size Facility.
Contact Peter at this site and Mention Chuck Bartok in your Inquiry and be eligible for a nice DISCOUNT
Contact Peter Peter Moon : Many years ago, I was involved with an agricultural waste management study conducted by King County, Washington. This study had several objectives - to estimate the:
Number of horses in the county;
Types, quantities and characteristics of bedding used;
Volume of waste generated;
Methods employed to manage this waste; and
Nature and magnitude of environmental impact that resulted from these practices.
At first glance, this seemed to me to be a relatively straight-forward study, however, it quickly became apparent that the answers were illusive and not forthcoming. Several methods were employed to determine the answers, including an extensive telephone survey of horse owners, a windshield survey in known horse communities, and direct sampling and laboratory testing of manure piles where permission to access the pile was (seldom) granted.
In the end, the results were very fuzzy with an estimated 30,000 horses in scattered areas throughout the county, mostly bedded on shavings (with a growing awareness of wood pellets as an alternative) and with manure mostly "piled out back". While the environmental impact was difficult to measure, it became clear that virtually every watershed in the county was adversely impacted by nutrients originating on horse farms (i.e. non-point source pollution).
This study brought to my attention a critical need in the equine community, and from this was borne the early concept for the O2Compost Training Program. The Training Program took roughly 10 years to conceive, develop, test and refine, and many people were directly and indirectly involved in this process. Historically, the O2Compost Training Program has been conducted remotely on a one-on-one basis. Now we are pursuing our vision to conduct group training programs at host facilities around the country.
What brings all of this to mind is a study conducted by the American Horse Council that estimates the total number of horses in the United States to be approximately 9.2 million. How this number was determined is anyone's guess, but let's - for the purpose of this discussion - assume that it is reasonably accurate. Given that one horse produces roughly one cubic yard of manure each and every month, it stands to reason that the total volume of manure produced in the United States is on the order of 9 million cubic yards per month. And this does not include the volume of bedding which can easily double or triple the total volume of manure depending on the type of bedding used.
Aside: For those not familiar with the "cubic yard" as a unit of measure, it is equal to a cube that is 3 feet wide by 3 feet long and 3 feet high. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. A standard pickup truck will hold 2 cubic yards if mounded.
Now, I find a volume of 9 million cubic yards hard to imagine in real terms, so I did some research and learned that the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, would hold over 84 million gallons of water if filled to the brim. Given that there are approximately 200 gallons in a cubic yard, you could fill the Rose Bowl roughly 22 times with horse manure each month, or 265 times a year.
Another way to look at this: if a year's worth of horse manure were to be stacked vertically on a football field, from end zone to end zone and sideline to sideline, the pile would stand 10 miles high - that's higher than commercial airliners fly. Now I think you'll agree, that's a LOT of manure.
Add to that the amount of bedding used and you can begin to see the order of magnitude of the problem - or opportunity - that we face. This volume of manure also represents a tremendous quantity of nutrients that can either be mismanaged and allowed to impact our fresh water resources and aquatic wildlife, or properly managed and utilized in a wide array of applications that help heal the earth.
The message that I am trying to leave you with is this:
Each of us impacts the world we live in, either negatively or positively.
This is especially true for those of us who own horses and other livestock. Properly managing horse manure is our responsibility! The impact from horse manure can be negative if we disregard our responsibilities to the earth. Alternatively, the impact can be positive and financially rewarding if we view manure as a resource and an opportunity. Composting is easy when you know what you are doing and with the O2Compost Training Program, your success is guaranteed.
Composting, in my opinion, is the most effective and profitable means to properly manage horse manure, to support sustainable agriculture, and to leave the world a better place for the generations that will follow ours.
I invite you to begin composting - to be a part of the solution.
A Unique Herbal Treatment For Equine Respiratory Disease By Jean Hofve, DVM
Sport and performance horses are extremely susceptible to lung disease. Even seemingly healthy horses are frequently affected. Studies have shown that 90-100% of sport horses tested have evidence of damage to their airways that can lead to Equine Reactive Airway Disease (RAD, also called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD)--a serious and career-ending condition. The first (and often only) early sign is decreased performance.
Herbs can be a safe, effective way to both prevent and treat Equine RAD/COPD. In fact, many herbs would help with some of the symptoms of this disease. For instance, Yarrow is often used for upper respiratory complaints.
Properties of the ideal herb for preventing and treating RAD/COPD would include:
Antioxidant, to reduce inflammation-causing molecules in the body that contribute to asthma
Antifungal, to inhibit mold particles that commonly cause respiratory disease in horses
Immune-modulating, to decrease the over-reactive immune response to allergens
Anti-inflammatory, to protect the lungs from the harmful effects of chronic inflammation
Free from heavy metal contamination, to prevent toxic build-up
Contain no substance prohibited by equine sports regulatory bodies such as USEF or racing commissions
Funtumia elastica is a medium-sized African rubber tree; its bark has a long history of use for respiratory complaints. Funtumia has important antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic properties. It has no known toxicity, and is not barred by any equine sport governing body.
Natural compounds found in Funtumia include:
Anthocyanins: plant pigments that give berries their color (such as blueberries, blackberries, and cherries). Anthocyanins have been called "the mother lode in a gold mine of antioxidants." Anthocyanins have shown specific benefit in reducing immune-stimulated inflammation, and are thought to be valuable in preventing the development of asthma.
Flavonoids: Vitamin C is the most familiar member of this class of plant-derived antioxidant compounds. Flavonoids are useful in both preventing and treating COPD, asthma, and other chronic lung diseases.
Plant sterols: natural plant steroids are safer than synthetic steroid drugs like prednisone and dexamethasone. Phytosterols have immuno-modulating effects--normalizing an over-reactive antibody response--as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Natural anti-fungals: Funtumia specifically inhibits growth of many molds, including Aspergillus, which is commonly associated with equine respiratory disease.
Tannins: These compounds have shown promise in the treatment of allergic inflammation and asthma.
Funtumia has demonstrated excellent safety (low toxicity) in multiple laboratory experiments, and has tested negative for heavy metals including cadmium, zinc, lead, chromium, and nickel. It does not contain any substances that are prohibited by any equine sport authority.
Preventing equine respiratory disease is easier---and smarter---than trying to treat established disease. Excellent hygiene, clean feeds, fresh air, and preventive herbal therapy could make all the difference for your horse.
Dr. Jean Hofve is a retired holistic veterinarian with a special interest in horses and respiratory disease. She formulated Equinabine, a high-potency Funtumia product ( http://www.equinawellness.com). Dr. Hofve also founded Spirit Essences Holistic Remedies for Animals ( http://www.spiritessence.com) in 1995; and it remains the only line of flower essence formulas designed by a veterinarian. She is a certified Medicine Woman of the Nemenhah Native American Traditional Organization who uses holistic remedies as a part of body-mind-spiritual healing
Horse Ownership is a huge responsibility, but offers great Rewards
Announcing up to 32 Horse Shows a year a have seen almost every scenario... One most common is the Rider's inability to understand the "necessity of Give and Take" when handling an Equine.
The folowing article brings out some very important ideas to be considered before you make that very Decision to be an Owner or maybe consider changing some habits to more enjoy your HORSE today Why Have A Horse Why Have A Horse?
I have met so many people during my life that had horses. The first type of people I met was when I was a young girl and my father owned race horses. I can't really remember any of them actually loving the horse. The actual animal. They loved what the horse could do for them regarding making them money, if they won the race that is. If the horse was a winner it was treated ok. It wasn't given much human attention other than training. Remember this is the part I saw, I am sure there are some owners and trainers in the 'bigger' winners that had more of hands on and I read of some owners that said they truly loved their race horses, the ones that owned the big winners.
The point being is the horse is not just an animal to be used and then to get rid of. I cannot believe how many people I have met through the years that want a 'quarter' horse. I am not talking about the breed quarter horse, I am talking about the wooden horse you put a quarter in, ride for a few minutes and it doesn't buck, bite, rear, spook, or do anything humans would call 'bad'. How could it, it is made out of wood or plastic or whatever this mechanical horse is made of. It isn't a living, breathing, emotional feeling animal.
However, that is what some of these so called 'horse people' need to buy because they complain about their horse doing what a horse does, or they complain just about all horses.
A horse is a horse of course, of course!! Even these so called trainers who have been around horses, trained horses, yada, yada, yada, since they have been 'born'!! And still don't know anything about the horse!! I have been to so many clinics, I have almost gone broke buying training videos to see what else someone has come up with and my own horse almost lost her life because of a 'trainer' that has 'grown up and been around horses and showed and trained all her life'.
Well be careful of these kind of trainers. When you can get a horse to do what you want without any bit, saddle, and of course without all those other gadgets (martingale, tie downs etc.) then your talking 'natural horsemanship'
Go to a trainer who uses love and patience not bits and binders and that hurry up and get that first ride today attitude!
We do live in a fast food society and fast everything society, and it is going into the way we train our animals and children for that matter and with that kind of training you will only get a short-term result and you will wonder what happened thinking "well I trained him, what happened?"
I won't even get into the people that won't even train Arabian horses because they say they don't think, they are just crazy. How sad are those people! Well if you just want something to get on and ride it into the ground, please go have a robot made into a horse! Now, if you want a journey that will lead to a joyful and meaningful and fulfilling relationship then get a horse as there is nothing like it.
This saying is true but I changed it a bit: the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a caring person.
Although this Article focuses on the English Style of Riding and Dressage, those of us involved in the Western Disciplines can learn as well. My son Jonathan Bartok, Cutting Horse Trainer in Weatherford Texas, has always worked his horse with the lightest of contact. As a teenager he and his horse, Crow, enjoyed many events Bridless.
On the first day of the Royal Melbourne Summer Horse Show last year a group of friends and I sat ringside watching some of the classes. Rider after rider, or handler after handler, yanked, jerked and wrenched at their horse's mouths with the bit making us endlessly cringe.
All of us, in the previous week, had read an article that had forever changed our view of the bit and its use with horses.
One of us is an elite theatrical show horse trainer; another is a breeder, two more are pony club instructors, one is a saddlery store owner. All of us, at one time or another, have been converted to so called "natural" horsemanship. That is to say, we have sought a different way, a non-aggressive way, of achieving a well mannered and calm horse.
We are sitting in the shade, watching an in-hand class of supremely turned out hacks. Two handlers have curbs on their horses and they repeatedly yank on their charges' mouths.
The stories flow thick and fast between us.
The theatrical show horse trainer recounts how her equine dentist discussed anatomy with her once, explaining that most people - because they want to do the right thing - will buy a thicker, plainer bit, thinking the thinner kind sharper and more cruel. And this is fine.For some horses.
But you get other horses, horses with smaller mouths, less room between top and bottom jaw, for whom a thick bit like that can be incredibly uncomfortable. Because it just doesn't fit, it's too big. And then the horse resists and opens its mouth and fights the rider's control.
"So we go and tie its mouth closed!" my friend exclaims.
The saddlery store owner talks about a Pony Club parent who came in seeking a twisted wire W bit because their pony, after years of good behaviour, suddenly refused to go left. Another PC parent advised them to try this bit, the magical answer to all control.
"Thankfully," says the saddlery owner, "we didn't have one."
She goes on to say that in a round about way her husband, an equine vet, got to go out and see that pony later on the same day. It had a very severe abscess in its left near hoof.
Privately I have always thought if you have to add more and more equipment to your horse to make it do what you want then it's time to give the game up.
FEI rules require submission to the rider and the bit. But which bit? Does it have to be a curb or double bridle? Top trainers, Monty Roberts, Andrew McLean, Janice Usherwood, Parelli, and others, all have said that the double and curb bridles made mandatory by FEI rules are instruments of torture that should, that must, be outlawed.
I am about to show you why.
Some of you may be familiar with the Nevzarov's, a Russian couple who practice and teach Haute Ecole Dressage bitless and bridleless. Alexander Nevzarov created the both horrifying and ultimately beautiful and liberating film & book The Horse Crucified And Risen, a documentary about the horse's long association with man.
The Nevzarov's commissioned a scientific study with the Forensics & Medical Examination Office, St Petersburg, Russia, to document the effects of double and curb bits on the horse's mouth. Taking part in the experiment were Forensic scientists, Vets and journalists (who recorded the experiment on video). The results were published in Horses For Life Magazine (US).
For the purpose of the experiments a model horse head was created that included a tongue made from Ballistin, a substance that closely fits the structure and density of living tissue (though not the flexibility). The Ballistin tongue was used to record the "hit", or pressure, placed upon the mouth by the bit.
While the experiment itself could not measure pain it was able to measure the amount of pressure placed on the tongue, jaw and other oral structures in the horse's mouth.
To begin with it was discovered that an "ordinary rider" with "good" (light) hands exerts about 120-130kg of pressure per square centimetre. The pressure is felt directly by the Trigeminal Nerve, a branch of which (mandibular nerve) runs along the jawbone and - owing to the lack of muscle along the bar of the jaw - is reasonably unprotected and exposed. This means there is almost direct contact with this nerve by the bit.
An article by staff at the University Of Lincoln, UK, on headshaking reports that it is thought that the head shaking condition is thought to be caused by either pressure to this nerve or the nerve itself "misfiring", causing spasms of pain. "There are many sources for potential nerve pain in the horse's head but the vets think that branches of the trigeminal nerve which conducts sensation from the muzzle and face to the brain may be the main source, particularly the Infraorbital nerve which is a branch of the maxillary. For some reason, parts of this nerve may be damaged and 'fire' inappropriately causing painful sensations in a particular area, i.e. the nerves are telling the horse that it is being hurt in this area when in reality it is not."
Lidia Nevzarov writes that this particular nerve is super-sensitive. She says, "According to descriptive adjectives pain like that in the area of the nerve is called 'especially acute, burning, paralysing'."
And that's from a rider with good hands.
A sharp jerk, like those we witnessed at the Royal Show last week, can exert a pressure of 300kg per square centimetre.
Now you know why a horse's first reaction is to throw his head up and back when being jerked in the mouth like that.
This jerking in the mouth syndrome is not uncommon. In fact I would say that most of us witness it regularly, even daily, at riding schools, Agistment parks, shows, pony clubs. But it is so common we don't think about it.
The central lingual (lingualis) nerve of the tongue also feels this pressure - 100kg per square centimetre in ordinary ("not doing anything") contact. A jerk increases pressure to this area to about 250-300kg per square centimetre. As with the Trigeminal Nerve this pressure causes intense discomfort and pain. In the experiment the Ballistin tongue was crushed by such pressure; a real tongue, comprised of living tissue, reshapes itself, though the pressure and pain is still felt and injury still occurs.
Lidia Nevzarov presents photos of two jawbones - one from a bitted horse and one from a horse that has never known a bit. The jaw of the unbitted horse is smooth and clean while the jaw of the bitted horse shows clear wear right on the bar where the bit rests; grooves and chips. So, our hands' action on the horse's mouth is strong enough to groove and chip bone.
Another branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (which runs along the jaw) exists in the groove under the chin - exactly where the curb chain rests. Again this area has no muscle to protect it, just skin, blood vessels and bone exist. Anatomically it is an ideal place to apply crippling pressure.
The researchers found that the curb chain applies an average of 300kg of pressure per square centimetre to this sensitive area. In fact, they found that exerting pressure on this area was able to break off the lower part of the model horse's jaw.
A living horse's jaw, of course, can withstand far greater pressure but we are not talking about breaking a horse's jaw, but rather the amount of pain we subject horses to through the use of standard riding equipment.
Lidia Nevzarov goes on to say that the Hard Palate (palatum duram) also sustains damage and experiences two kinds of pressure - constant, caused by the bit resting in the mouth; and hits, caused by applied pressure to the reins in a jerking motion. The palate is composed of mucous membrane that varies in thickness between 2mm (the grooves of the palate) and 6mm (the ridges) and this mucous membrane is all that sits between the bit and the palate nerve, palatines major. Pressures of 180-200kg per square centimetre were recorded and Nevzarov talks about the hematomas (bruises) present under the mucous membrane of the hard palate (on a dissected horse used in the experiment) as being an indication of the force applied causing injury.
Dr Cook, FRCVS., PhD, who created the modern Bitless Bridle, points out that "A fundamental principle of correct saddle fit is that the saddle should never contact bone. This principle is forgotten when it comes to bits. A metal rod in the mouth makes direct contact with unprotected bone at the bars [and], not surprisingly, bits commonly cause painful bone spurs to develop on the bars."
The Nevzarov study successfully proved the amount of pressure that is applied directly to the horse's jaw and oral structures and the damage it can do.
As a "technology" - The practical application of science to commerce or industry - the bit was developed some 5000 years ago by bronze age horsemen. While the design has changed and evolved, the use of the bit has not.
As we continuously expand our knowledge and our ability for scientific research we perhaps also need to expand, or change, the way we think in line with the results we find and the knowledge we gather.
To say that we cannot ride without the bit, or control the horse without the bit, that the whole concept of dressage (for example) relies on the bit, is a belief firmly entrenched in mythology, "tradition" and a rigid unwillingness to explore new paths.
There are many examples of fine horsemanship - and horse men and women - who exhibit perfect control of their horses without the need for a bit. Stacey Westfall, rode a winning round in a high level reining competition, bareback and bridleless. Steve Jeffries, the Nevzarov's, Cavalia, Zingaro Monty Roberts, Quantum Savvy - all perform without the use of bits and bridles, so we know it can be done.
In many ways I see it as a shame that riders and regulatory bodies seem incapable of exploring horse control and submission without the use of such aids.
What a contest it would be where riders competed at the highest level bridleless. This would test a rider's control of their horse, and the horse's willingness to submit, like no other method. Further, as horse riders and competitors I believe we should challenge the peak ruling bodies - FEI, EFA, AQHA and all others - to instigate non -point rounds of competition for riders to compete bitless and demonstrate that control of the horse, at the highest level, is achievable without the use of a piece of metal in their mouth.
Don't tell me it can't be done. The only thing stopping you is the way you think.
Shirley & I have been married for 30 years. We have enjoyed raising our 3 children, and now enjoy spending time with our Grandchildren. Health issue caused us to change from the large breed horse to the Miniatures and we enjoy showing Shirley's gelding "Elvis"
Chuck and Shirley Bartok
