Expert Tips

EquestrianLIVING, Inc. is committed to providing up-to-date information on available real estate zoned to accommodate your equine friends. To enhance your experience on our web site, we have included timely articles related to housing and health for you and your horse. These articles will change on a regular basis, creating another value-added service to horse owners and enthusiasts.

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Horse Property Tip

When buying a horse property, it is important to utilize the services of a Realtor or agent who is familiar with horses and their environments. So often agents do not believe that there is any distinction between selling horse properties or houses in-town. Many of them are not sure of the difference between a round pen and a square peg. Having a specialist on your side can make a huge difference to both the neophyte horse owner and the professional horseperson when they go to buy property.

The property aspects that agents should help their clients evaluate are, for the most part, clearly defined in EquestrianLIVING's web site listing information. The type of soil, the size of stalls and arenas, the water source and waste disposal system, access to trail systems, among so many other things, are all critical components that affect the suitability of a property for a horse owner's intended use.

When agents speak "horse", it will save you time and help you avoid mistakes. Their familiarization with the key elements that create value for horse property buyers is a total benefit because they know the right questions to ask. Marketing sites like EquestrianLIVING assist even non-horse property agents in asking those questions of their sellers, improving their skill level greatly. This allows equestrians to sort-out appropriate properties to view much faster. That's a win-win!

Horse Care Tip

Summer Tips to Keep Your Horse Healthy

Now that winter has come and gone, we will soon face the warm summer days ahead. Please remember to keep your horse(s) well hydrated. Access to clean fresh water is imperative to maintain a healthy animal. Water is used by all mammals to help with thermo-regulation in the body. Like humans, horses sweat and the presence of perspiration on the body actually is a means of cooling the body as the sweat evaporates. With lost perspiration also comes the fact that salts, electrolytes and minerals are expired through the cell membranes and lost, as sweat pours from the horse's body. These salts and minerals are vital to the proper functioning of muscles, organs and the overall well-being of our equine friend. These components can be easily replaced by adding supplements that contain all the necessary minerals and electrolytes your horse needs. A simple salt lick, or free salt added to some non-sweet grain or rice bran should be sufficient. Humidity causes sweat to be more prevalent and visible, while dry, arid parts of the country will not be as conducive to perspiration. Don't be fooled by a lack of sweat on your horse after a hard workout if you live in a dry arid area. Sweat will evaporate quickly and your horse must have access to water as soon as he, or she, is cool enough to drink.

Tying up is a syndrome most often associated with horses that are excessively overworked before they are capable of handling the work load. It is believed that the rapid loss in minerals and salts may have something to do with this terrible condition, that involves the seizing up of muscles and excruciating pain. Once a horse has tied up after strenuous activity and has made a recovery, studies indicate that the propensity for the condition to re-occur is quite high. Keep in mind that horses drink, on average, five to ten gallons of water per day, at a resting heart rate. Once the heart rate has increased dramatically, followed by continuous, strenuous activity and heavy perspiration these factors can lead up to hyperthermia, or dangerously elevated body temperatures, dehydration, heat stroke, tying up, and even death. Horses may seem like large, tough creatures capable of enduring incredible amounts of activity. While this may appear to be true on some levels, the reality is that they are very sensitive animals that will do anything to survive, even if it means drinking too much water when they are not allowed to cool down properly. Drinking too much water before this cooling off period can lead to the complications of colic, or a severe tummy ache, which the horse may try to alleviate by rolling on the ground. Rolling while in pain can lead to thrashing and twisting of the animal's torso which can cause an internal organ to rupture or a portion of the intestines to twist. A twisted gut is very serious, especially if not addressed quickly, because then all activity in the bowels will stop, creating impaction, a blockage in the system, or toxicity if the horse cannot pass manure. As always, please discuss these matters with your vet as he/she will be well versed in the maintenance of your horse's fluid needs in your specific geographical area.

So, the moral to this entire little article is to keep an eye on your horse's fitness level, the intensity and duration of physical activity; ensure a proper cooling down period; and provide access to clean fresh water, minerals, electrolytes and salt. And don't forget a clean place to lie that big body down for some much deserved rest.

Written and contributed by Serge Daniels

Enjoy the summer ahead!

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