Professional Equine Presentation by Katharine Bowe in Tamworth, New South Wales | Pet service

Professional Equine Presentation by Katharine Bowe

Locality: Tamworth, New South Wales

Phone: +61 415 905 623

Address: HOME OF ALEC 2340 Tamworth, NSW, Australia

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25.01.2022 Should I Rug My Horse? As winter arrives, we feel the cold and in some instances the thicker rug is brought out for our beloved horses to keep warm. ...BUT could this be affecting their health, in particular their metabolic rate? We can determine the effect of rugging horses by understanding the physiology of the horse. The Thermoneutral Zone: This is the temperature range where body temperature is maintained with little to no energy expenditure. A horse only feels cold when the weather creates temperatures below approx. 5C and only feels hot when it reaches above approx. 25C. This is the range of their Thermoneutral Zone. This thermoregulation is maintained by the heat generated from the fermentation of fibre within the hindgut and the digestion of food inside the many cells of the body. The horse's core temperature is kept at approx. 38C, this is tightly regulated by their body. Compare this to humans; our Thermoneutral Zone is very narrow approx. between 25C and 30C. Therefore when we feel cold outside, horses still feel comfortable, which is why we shouldn't make a decision of when to rug by how cold we are. Additionally feeling your horse's face, ears or legs is a poor indicator of warmth. The best place is to position your hand inside the rug behind the withers. If damp, it indicates sweating and is probably too warm, so remove the rug. If cold (rare cases) consider an extra rug. The physiology of the horse is designed to cope with cool temperatures. The horse will increase their metabolic rate when temperatures become cooler. This can be seen with horses dropping weight in winter if calorie needs are not met. If the horse has unlimited access to pasture or grassy hay, then this constant digestion will ensure weight is maintained and warmth is produced, they will self regulate the amount they ingest. In some cases additional calories can be added. The fur coat of a horse is excellent at preventing body heat loss and holds heat much better than we do. If a horse is too heavily rugged, their metabolic rate slows as they do not need to expel energy to keep warm, this can lead to weight gain in the form of fat from the excess unburnt calories. Thermoregulation enables the ability of a small muscle associated with every hair follicle to pull the hairs to a standing "puffed-up" position (piloerection). This is controlled by the nervous system when temperature changes are detected. Rugging inhibits the function of the hair follicles from doing their job. In some circumstances a rugged horse is actually colder than an un-rugged horse if it is a badly fitting thin rug that flattens the hair and reduces the movement of the horse without providing any real warmth. Jane Myers (MSc Equine) states Using rugs on horses in summer can be a welfare issue. Rugs do not keep horses cool. A horse naturally has a sleek coat which reflects the sun and a horse will seek shade when they are hot as a natural response. All large bodied animals, such as horses, take longer to cool down (and warm up) than smaller bodied animals. Rugs prevent any cooling breeze from cooling the body. Horses are one of the few animals that rely on sweating to cool down and rugs impede this process (by preventing air from passing over the body, evaporating the sweat and cooling the body). There are a number of ways a horse trys to cool themselves down: The horse lowers its metabolism and will eat less so less internal heat is produced. Seeking shelter from direct sunlight. Sweating, which increases the respiratory rate as a result of dilated blood vessels. If a rugged horse is sweating and overheats, it can lead to many health issues: Thyroid gland function can be reduced which leads to a horse unable to control its own body temperature. Damage to body cells and tissues. Immune system function can be affected. Decrease growth and healing. Electrolyte level imbalances. Issues with sperm, embryo development and lactation in breeding horses. Promotes obesity or other metabolic issues, in particular if grain based feeds are fed for calories due to the cold weather. So when should I rug? When a horse that is severely underweight & malnourished, this is because the rugging will slow down their metabolic rate and extra calories will help add condition. When a horse who can no longer self-regulate their body temperature usually older than 20 years of age. An itchy horse, protecting from biting insects who come out at these times, we recommend adding a quality source of Omega 3 to their feed to help promote anti-inflammatory properties and strengthen the immune system. It is a multi-factor condition which requires environment and nutrition attention. Protecting clean coats for the lead up to shows - best to leave unrugged for a few hours during the day and light rug at night (depending on the temp.) In summary, having an understanding of the horses physiology will allow horse owners to make a more educated decision whether to rug or not. In general, most horses in a group setting with access to adequate shelter and plenty of roughage (pasture or grassy hay) do not need any rugging. On the other hand, elderly, sick, clipped or more sensitive horses can be assessed differently. Management of the environment and proper nutrition are the main factors when choosing to rug or not and should be made in the best interest of the horse. Any questions? Please ask in the comments below Written by Bryan Meggitt (BMedSc. PGCrtMedSc.) Manager and Co-founder of CEN - Complete Equine Nutrition Bryan is a scientist and equine nutrition educator through the nutrition principles of Dr Juliet Getty and Dr Eleanor Kellon. Bryan is passionate about improving equine health through proper natural nutrition according to science. He believes a horse should be fed according to their physiology, to achieve optimum health and enhance performance. www.EquineFeeds.com.au #Article link: https://www.equinefeeds.com.au/should-i-rug-my-horse/ More articles at: https://www.equinefeeds.com.au/blog/ CEN Healthy Horse Products: CEN Oil is a trusted high quality source of Omega 3. The healthy way to a shine, promoting anti-inflammatory conditions and is essential for overall health, particularly for brain, nerve and muscle function, the immune system, coat/skin, joints and hooves. https://www.equinefeeds.com.au/product/cen-oil-high-omega-3/ CEN Complete Formula feed is developed according to Australian conditions and research advances into digestive health and vitamin and mineral absorption. CEN Complete Formula Feed is specifically balanced and provides horses with a healthy palatable feed. The perfect addition to all equine diets by providing quality high vitamins and minerals, live probiotic and prebiotic for daily digestive health maintenance. HIGH FIBRE, LOW STARCH, LOW SUGAR Non-Grain Based Cold Pressed Pellet Feed Quality high level chelated vitamin and mineral profile (limiting the need for further supplementation just add roughage and salt) Live Probiotic + Prebiotic for optimum digestive health and immune system Safe for horses prone to tying-up, laminitis, or heat fizz from high grain diet Ideal for pleasure horses up to elite equine athletes https://www.equinefeeds.com.au/p/cen-complete-formula-20kg/ CEN XtraBalance is a high quality digestive aid that strengthens gut health and removes toxins, promoting a stronger immune system. Also contains organic humates which enhance nutrient absorption, allowing the digestive system to maximise each feed especially key minerals such as copper and zinc for skin/coat health. https://www.equinefeeds.com.au/produ/cen-xtrabalance-1-2kg/

24.01.2022 How Smart Are Horses?

22.01.2022 Find more of me and my mates at Heiniger on their page Heiniger Equine - Australia & New Zealand.

21.01.2022 The difference trimming ears and face can make!

18.01.2022 Giving my fingers a good workout with my favourite peeps at Paint Nationals

17.01.2022 Happy Easter from Professional Equine Presentation!

16.01.2022 The difference between taking a photo of a horse and taking the time to trim, wash and properly position a horse. For best results take the time to turn out your mount and invest in a professional photographer with the gear and skills to get the correct light and angles. These are just home happy snaps of before and after with no accounting for lighting, shadows, awkward angles and posts etc!

15.01.2022 The dreaded shed... Every year the spring showing season comes seemingly before our horses winter coats have left. Each September the calls and messages pour in from people wanting to know how to rid themselves it the winter woollies stat. Common questions being ;how can I make my horse shed out quicker? Or ; when is it too late to clip? The answers to these questions and more lay in understanding the equine body clock. Each year as the days shorten, receptors in the horses r...Continue reading

15.01.2022 Full Video: We caught up with Katharine Bowe of Professional Equine Presentation by Katharine Bowe to learn how she gets the perfect finish when washing horses. Here's what she had to say! :)

14.01.2022 Learning everyday. I had no idea of the depth of the horses tongue and the affect on the horses shoulder movement. Credit to Susan Harris and Peggy Brown Anatomy in Motion 1 The Visible Horse

13.01.2022 Happy Easter at home with your families and ponies!!

13.01.2022 Aussies are known world wide for being ‘over ruggers’. The information here regarding the horses lower thermoregulation zone explains alot!!

12.01.2022 Have you tried the Pro Groom range? I swear by it!

11.01.2022 Ooh yes they do!

11.01.2022 It was hot and i was tongue tied lol but i meant every word this is great product!!

08.01.2022 So professional, quick and a beautiful professional result. Can't recommend highly enough.

07.01.2022 Fascinating Facts About Horse Digestion Many people anthropomorphize horses. We think they should be clean. We think they should wear nice, warm blankets when... it’s cold, and we think they should eat two or three meals a day. Horses are horsesnot humans. They should be treated like horses. They like to get dirty. They can regulate their own body temperature in most cases. They have a unique digestive system that is very different from the human digestive tract. Understanding horse digestion should be a top priority. It sometimes seems that the horse’s digestive system is quite delicate, but many of the common digestive problems are due to the unnatural way horses are fed. When a horse is out in the wild with thousands of acres of free-roam grazing, and the only external demand is to maintain itself and occasionally run from predators, this configuration serves it quite well, most of the time. A minimum of 10 acres is required per horse to make enough forage for consumption, allow adequate movement, and to minimize parasitism. This is difficult to achieve in the modern world for most people. Riding or lunging must suffice for exercise, and the horse is much more reliant upon hay. Dewormers, of course, rid them of parasites- at least most of them, there are exceptions. Here are some fascinating (and good-to-know) facts about horse digestion: 1. The horse is a non-ruminant herbivore. The digestive system share features with dogs and cats (and humans) which are monogastric, as well as the ruminant in which there are 3-4 gastric compartments. (Camelids have three). 2. As forage (the horse’s natural food) is chewed by the horse, the salivary glands produce up to 10 gallons of saliva (per day). Saliva is crucial for neutralizing stomach acids and reducing the risk of gastric ulcers. Horses do not make as much saliva when eating grain-type feeds. 3. The esophagus, which empties into the stomach, only works in one direction for the horse. Food cannot be regurgitated or vomited. 4. Gastric capacity is 8-10 liters, which is quite small compared to other parts of the digestive system. 5. Water only remains in the horse’s stomach for about 15 minutes before moving on to the small intestine. Food retention varies depending upon the type- grass, hay, or grain. 6. When the stomach is empty, acid can attack the squamous cells in the stomach lining, often resulting in ulcers. Therefore, small frequent meals, access to a slow feeder, or access to pasture are important. 7. Most of the digestion and absorption of sugars, starches, proteins, and fats occurs in the small intestine. 8. Horses do not have a gall bladder. Instead, the small intestine aids in the digestion of fats. 9. More than 1g/kg of sugars and starches spill into the colon, potentially causing colitis and diarrhea. Horses should be fed primarily forage and only small amounts of a low carbohydrate concentrate. 10. The cecum is homologous to the human appendix. 11. The colon is shaped like a stacked horse shoe, with varying dimensions to allow proper food mixing and digestion. 12. Food enters and exits the cecum at the top. This is a common site for impaction colic, which is often due to lack of water intake. 13. The cecum and other parts of the large intestine contain active populations of bacteria and yeast, which help break food down in a process called fermentation. This results in the formation of free fatty acids, from which the horse derives most of its energy. It also results in a large amount of gas, as a by-product. 14. The bacterial and microbe populations become specific in fermenting the type of food the horse normally eats. When a new food is introduced suddenly, the bacteria/ microbes cannot ferment it effectively and the result is often colic. (Therefore, all feed changes should be made very gradually.) 15. Borborygmic sounds or ‘Gut sounds’ indicated that food is moving through the digestive tract. An absence of gut sounds likely means there is some digestive upset or obstruction. 16. A horse requires a minimum of 1.5% of his body weight daily of long-stemmed roughage (grass/ hay) for normal digestive tract activity; this is 15 pounds of roughage for a 1000 lb. horse. 17. The entire digestion process, from oral to aboral, takes about 36-72 hours. 18. If it were to be stretched from end to end, the horse’s digestive tract would be about 115 feet long, from mouth to anus. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481

07.01.2022 #Horselanddigitalstyleshotsclipmyride A Phoenix on a Phoenix!

03.01.2022 One mane three ways! No cutting.

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