RIDERS' DIARY 2021 - Insert Club Name PONY CLUB INC
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Insert Club Name
PONY CLUB INC
2021
RIDERS’ DIARY
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name…………………………………………………………………
Address………………………………………………………………
PCQ Membership Number…………………………………………
Contact Person………………………………………………………
Contact Phone………………………………………………………
Property PIC Number………………………………………………
USEFUL INFORMATION
My Vet………………………………………………………………..
My Farrier……………………………………………………………
My Horse’s Shoe Size……………………………………………….
My Horse’s Rug Size…………………………………………………
DATES FOR 2021 PCQ STATE EVENTS:
• Show Jump/Jumping Equitation:
Venue: TBA Date:
• Dressage/Combined Training/ODE
Venue: TBA Date:
• Formal Gymkhana, Sporting, Campdraft and Mounted Games
• Venue: TBA Date:
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 1. FRIDAY 2. SATURDAY 3. SUNDAY Riding Notes
RULES OF FEEDING
• Water before feeding
• Feed sufficient bulk feeds
• Weigh the feed
• Feed regularly, horses have comparatively small stomachs
• Don’t work immediately after feeding (at least 1 hour)
• Feed best quality – no dust or mould. Fresh or well cured. Clean free from
contaminants.
• Introduce new feeds gradually
Shedded grassy Lucerne hay has better nutritional value than green Lucerne, which
can scour
1. FRIDAY
2. SATURDAY
3. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
4. MONDAY 5. TUESDAY 6. WEDNESDAY 7. THURSDAY 8. FRIDAY 9. SATURDAY 10. SUNDAY Riding Notes
11. MONDAY 12. TUESDAY 13. WEDNESDAY 14. THURSDAY 15. FRIDAY 16. SATURDAY 17. SUNDAY Riding Notes
18. MONDAY 19. TUESDAY 20. WEDNESDAY 21. THURSDAY 22. FRIDAY 23. SATURDAY 24. SUNDAY Riding Notes
25. MONDAY 26. TUESDAY 27. WEDNESDAY 28. THURSDAY 29. FRIDAY 30. SATURDAY 31. SUNDAY Riding Notes
1. MONDAY 2. TUESDAY 3. WEDNESDAY 4. THURSDAY 5. FRIDAY 6. SATURDAY 7. SUNDAY Riding Notes FOR SAFETY Ensure your horse is tied up or secured before commencing: Rugging, Grooming, Clipping, saddling or other work
8. MONDAY 9. TUESDAY 10. WEDNESDAY 11. THURSDAY 12. FRIDAY 13. SATURDAY 14. SUNDAY Riding Notes Did You Know? Licking and chewing are often misinterpreted as signs of respect and relaxation, however, this action is the result of stress and a dry mouth. Horses may lick and chew in relief after a stressful/frightening event or lick and chew when still in a high state of stress. This picture shows why it’s important to focus on more than just the horse’s ears. While the left ear is directed to the side and right ear half back, other facial features show that the horse is tense. There is tension above the eye. The nostrils are flared and the mouth is tight.
15. MONDAY
16. TUESDAY
17. WEDNESDAY
18. THURSDAY
19. FRIDAY
20. SATURDAY
21. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
Let’s have a look at how well-adapted the horse is to its habitat:
Head: The horse has a long head, so his eyes are above the grass level.
Whiskers: Because of the position of their eyes, horses have a blind spot under their
mouth, so they use their whiskers to identify stimulus and judge the distance separating
their nose/lips from things.
Teeth: The horse is a herbivore: its incisors are broad and flattened, the molars are squared
and flattened on top to provide a grinding surface. Canines are small or absent.22. MONDAY
23. TUESDAY
24. WEDNESDAY
25. THURSDAY
26. FRIDAY
27. SATURDAY
28. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
Horses’ Eyes:
With the eyes on the sides of the head, a horse can see nearly all around the body. It can see on
the sides with monocular vision (one eye) and in front with binocular vision (two eyes).
Unlike predators, the horse does not need a great binocular vision (it only covers between 55 to
65 degrees) as it does not need to accurately judge distances.
Ears: The horse has no real defence system against predators and therefore the ears need to be
very sensitive, capable of moving in different directions and funnel-shaped for good sound
collection. The fur inside also prevents the rain or flies entering the earsFARRIERS TOOLS HOOF CARE It is thoroughly recommended that you check your horses’ feet at least twice daily, and definitely before and after riding or floating. • Secure your horse • Stand to the side, close to leg you wish to pick up. • Gently run your hand down the shoulder or hip and continue down the leg. • Pick up your horses’ feet. • If the horse resists use your hip to knock him off balance, at the same time as lifting the leg • Hold the hoof close to the toe, not near the pastern • Using a good hoof pick remove any mud and stones. • Always work from the heel to the toe. • Be careful not to dig the hoof pick into the frog (2 above). Sharp stones, are uncomfortable for your horse and can cause severe bruising and lameness. Stray objects such as nails and glass, may cause puncture wounds, which in turn can cause major infections and lameness. If wet mud, soiled bedding or droppings are left in the hoof for a long time, moist, dirty conditions may cause a fungal infection, called Thrush, which is a nasty smelling infection in the frog of the foot. If not treated Thrush can cause lameness and get very sore
1.MONDAY 2.TUESDAY 3.WEDNESDAY 4.THURSDAY 5.FRIDAY 6.SATURDAY 7.SUNDAY Riding Notes
8. MONDAY 9. TUESDAY 10. WEDNESDAY 11. THURSDAY 12. FRIDAY 13. SATURDAY 14. SUNDAY Riding Notes Hoof Care Tip: In dry weather, moisturise your horses’ hooves by soaking each foot in water for up to fifteen minutes. Water is the only thing that will properly moisturise your horses’ hooves.
15. MONDAY 16. TUESDAY 17. WEDNESDAY 18. THURSDAY 19. FRIDAY 20. SATURDAY 21. SUNDAY Riding Notes If you are riding or working your horse under hot conditions and you then dismount after riding him on a still day, the air flow over his body will stop. His temperature could rise from 40-41oC to 42oC (by 1oC) within 3-5 minutes before he sweats adequately to lose heat. Once you have finished exercising or training your horse for the day, walk him for 3-5 minutes to trigger sweat loss. This will allow the air movement over his body to remove heat from the skin. If he is still saddled, dismount, remove the saddle and tack, fit a head stall and either wash him over with cool water in a bucket with a sponge (called ‘strapping’), or lightly hose his body, his underbelly and legs with cool water to wash out sweat and remove heat.
22. MONDAY 23. TUESDAY 24. WEDNESDAY 25. THURSDAY 26. FRIDAY 27. SATURDAY 28. SUNDAY Riding Notes
29. MONDAY 30. TUESDAY 31. WEDNESDAY Aging by Teeth: the age of horse is generally determined by looking at the front teeth of the bottom jaw. A foal is born with milk teeth, which are ‘u shaped’, smaller and whiter than the permanent teeth. At three years of age the two centre milk teeth are shed and replaced with permanent incisors. The two adjacent milk teeth are replaced as the young horse reaches its fourth birthday. The final pair are replaced as he reaches five years old and are fully developed at six. As each year passes the teeth become more triangular in shape and slope out more.
Correct Saddle Fitting
1. THURSDAY 2. FRIDAY 3. SATURDAY 4. SUNDAY Riding Notes How Horses Communicate: part 1 Horses and ponies rely on body language to communicate. They do make vocal noises, but generally, their “alphabet” consists of various behaviors, stances, positions and expressions to form a “sentence”. This is how equines communicate to each other naturally. Because they know nothing else this is also how they communicate to us. It It is important to understand the basics of horse and pony body language to accurately assess how and why your horse is feeling the way it does. It also helps determine your position of leadership as the animal sees it. You’ll also know if your horse is feeling frightened, spooky, flighty, aggressive, sick, or hurt. Reading horses takes more than understanding a few key things. You develop an eye for reading their body language. I recommend observing one horse to start. Watch him while in the field, in a stall, in the crossties, under-saddle and while being groomed. You will begin to notice the different moods and emotions he feels.
5. MONDAY 6. TUESDAY 7. WEDNESDAY 8. THURSDAY 9. FRIDAY 10. SATURDAY 11. SUNDAY Riding Notes Equine Sweet Itch – Queensland Itch What is Equine Sweet Itch and how can you spot the symptoms, prevent it or treat it. Equine Sweet Itch is a seasonal allergic skin condition caused by sandfly bites. although most horses and ponies are bitten show no major signs or reaction to it., some horses develop an allergy to the bites. Sweet Itch symptoms include ...severe itching; hair loss; skin thickening; and flaky dandruff. The top of the tail and the mane are most commonly affected by sweet itch; also the neck, withers, hips, ears and forehead, and other areas in more severe cases. Seaweed meal closed handful in feed daily will assist with alleviating itch. Sulphur or garlic in feed may also assist as repellent to fly
12. MONDAY 13. TUESDAY 14. WEDNESDAY 15. THURSDAY 16. FRIDAY 17. SATURDAY 18. SUNDAY Riding Notes How Horses Communicate: part 2 The overall picture when you first look at a horse there are a few things you should notice. First of all, how is he standing? What is his stance like? Check to see if his body and muscles are tense or relaxed. Look at the withers and how the tail and neck are set to determine this. How is the horse breathing? Is it a relaxed, regular breath? Is it laboured? Does the horse seem to be holding his breath?
19. MONDAY 20. TUESDAY 21. WEDNESDAY 22. THURSDAY 23. FRIDAY 24. SATURDAY 25. SUNDAY Riding Notes How Horses Communicate: part 3 There are a few things that are fairly obvious when looking at a horse. For example, if the horse is bucking or rearing, the animal is frustrated, defiant, hurting, aggressive or confused. Head tossing is a sign of defiance. If under saddle this might be a sign the animal isn’t listening or is receiving mixed signals.
26. MONDAY 27. TUESDAY 28. WEDNESDAY 29. THURSDAY 30. FRIDAY Riding Notes How Horses Communicate: part 4
1. SATURDAY 2. SUNDAY Riding Notes
3.MONDAY 4.TUESDAY 5.WEDNESDAY 6.THURSDAY 7.FRIDAY 8.SATURDAY 9.SUNDAY Riding Notes
10. MONDAY 11. TUESDAY 12. WEDNESDAY 13. THURSDAY 14. FRIDAY 15. SATURDAY 16. SUNDAY Riding Notes
17. MONDAY 18. TUESDAY 19. WEDNESDAY 20. THURSDAY 21. FRIDAY 22. SATURDAY 23. SUNDAY Riding Notes
24. MONDAY 25. TUESDAY 26. WEDNESDAY 27. THURSDAY 28. FRIDAY 29. SATURDAY 30. SUNDAY Riding Notes
31. MONDAY Riding Notes BITS: it is our responsibility, as horse owners to ensure our horse’s bit is as comfortable as possible. Bits should be correct size for your horse; the bit should be approx. 1.25cm wider than horse’s mouth. Double jointed snaffles such as KK’s or French link are the kindest as they don’t have ‘nutcracker effect. Loose ring snaffles are softer than eggbutt snaffles. **Don’t forget to wash bit after use.
1.TUESDAY 2.WEDNESDAY 3.THURSDAY 4.FRIDAY 5.SATURDAY 6.SUNDAY Riding Notes
7.MONDAY 8.TUESDAY 9.WEDNESDAY 10. THURSDAY 11. FRIDAY 12. SATURDAY 13. SUNDAY Riding Notes Carrots During Drought The carotene is actually synthesized into vitamin A in a horse's intestinal wall. The levels of carotene tend to drop in stored feeds, drought-affected forages, and overly-mature grass forages. ... So it would take about 8 carrots to meet the daily requirement of Vitamin A for an adult horse at maintenance.
14. MONDAY 15. TUESDAY 16. WEDNESDAY 17. THURSDAY 18. FRIDAY 19. SATURDAY 20. SUNDAY Riding Notes
21. MONDAY 22. TUESDAY 23. WEDNESDAY 24. THURSDAY 25. FRIDAY 26. SATURDAY 27. SUNDAY Riding Notes Warm Ups and Cool Downs: The importance of these two phases of work can never be overstated! It takes a minimum of 10 minutes of walking and stretching before the muscles of a horse are sufficiently loosened and blood flow increased to enable muscles and tendons to be exercised without risk of tears or other injuries. Conversely, it takes an equal amount of time for muscles to cool and lactic acid to be reabsorbed into the system after exercise. Failing to do so can result in serious complications such as ‘Tying Up’.
28. MONDAY 29. TUESDAY 30. WEDNESDAY Riding Notes MARTINGALES (rings) Martingales are used to prevent a horse from raising his head beyond the angle of control. Fitting: with horse’s head-up in the correct position place a hand under the martingale and push it up. It should just reach the horse’s gullet. Running martingale: a strap attached at one end between the forelegs to the girth. The other divides into two straps with rings at the end. This is supported by a neck strap. ‘Stops’ must be used on the reins, between the rings and the bit. NB: Standing Martingales are NOT allowed.
FLOATING SAFETY –
THE FLOAT AND VEHICLE:
Just like cars, floats need to ‘serviced’ – checked by a mechanic to ensure everything is
as it should be.
Drivers need to also check to see if their car is big enough to tow the float with horses
onboard There are rules for weight restrictions for car and float.
Regular checks float: lights, brakes, wheel bearings, tyres, draw bar and connections to
chassis, tow ball, light connections.
Tow vehicle should have regular services, while float should be serviced on an annual
basis.
Before loading Horse
Ensure float is properly attached to the vehicle with safety chain done up and lights
working.
Tailgate and safety chain are undone and personnel door is open.
THE HORSE
Should be wearing a halter, protective
boots/bandages and rug if
appropriate.
Horse should be tied short enough to
prevent nipping each other while
floating
Horses should be rested 2 hourly on
trips; (check feet for stones before
reloading)
Cornering should be done smoothly
Allow adequate braking distance
Carry a sharp knife in case the lead
needs to be cut in an emergency.
Horse Dressed for Travel
METHOD
Using accepted pony club method, lead horse onto float and secure tail chain.
This can be done by a single competent adult and a lead sufficiently long to enable it to be
passed under the front bar and back, to enable the handler to reach the chain.
Close Tailgate
Tie Horse
Unloading is done in the reverse order untying the horse first.
Always stand to the side of the tailgate when locking or unlocking, lifting or lowering it.1. THURSDAY 2. FRIDAY 3. SATURDAY 4. SUNDAY Riding Notes
5. MONDAY 6. TUESDAY 7. WEDNESDAY 8. THURSDAY 9. FRIDAY 10. SATURDAY 11. SUNDAY Riding Notes
12. MONDAY
13. TUESDAY
14. WEDNESDAY
15. THURSDAY
16. FRIDAY
17. SATURDAY
18. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
Signs of a Healthy Horse
General appearance and behaviour normal for the particular animal:
Eyes - bright and clear Ears – Active, moving, alert
Nostrils clean Ears, eyes, and nostrils free of discharge
Coat even and shiny Tail carried in relaxed position and not rubbed
Anus free of muck and discharge Respiration regular and appropriate
Gums Pink Eating normally
Good overall condition Sweating appropriately
Clean, firm droppings.19. MONDAY 20. TUESDAY 21. WEDNESDAY 22. THURSDAY 23. FRIDAY 24. SATURDAY 25. SUNDAY Riding Notes DAILY ROUTINE Learn to observe your horse and become familiar with his normal behaviour patterns. Know his specific temperature (38º), Resting Pulse (36-42bpm) and Respiration (8-15bpm) Learn his recovery rate Check daily for health indicators, also check both before and after exercise or transporting. Check for signs of lameness;-Resting of fore leg, foreleg sore nods when sound leg hits ground; Hind leg sore. Steps short will often drag tow and may throw head up when sore leg hits ground.
26. MONDAY 27. TUESDAY 28. WEDNESDAY 29. THURSDAY 30. FRIDAY 31. SATURDAY Riding Notes TYING HORSE Horses should always be tied with a quick release knot They should only be tied to a solid, immovable object, via bale-twine or other breakable medium Lead rope should only allow horse’s head to each down as far as base of chest Rope should allow sufficient room for horse to move head TYING HAY NETS Should be tied securely with a quick release knot so when full particles do not drop down into the horse’s eyes and when empty they do not hang below the base of the animal’s breast.
1. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
Habituation
Habituation is a form of learning in which the horse’s original response to something new gets less each
time he sees it.
This is the simplest form of learning and saves animals wasting energy on reacting to things that will not
harm them.
For habituation to be successful, the stimulus should never cause harm, or the fear will be reinforced. It
is therefore crucial when using habituation to train your horse, never to harm the animal.
For habituation to be complete, the horse needs to get used the object in different situations, so he his
learning in a variety of contexts.
For example:
A horse has been moved to a new field, close to a busy road. The first time the horse sees the
traffic he responds with fear and runs away, but with each new passing of the traffic the horse
becomes habituated, his reaction starts to decrease until, eventually, he doesn't react at all. To
complete the learning process, the horse should be exposed to the traffic in another field, outside
the field while on a lead or while riding out.
Sensitisation
Sensitisation is the opposite of habituation; the
horsel’s response increases from repeated
presentation of something.
Sensitisation occurs when the fear is reinforced.
Many trainers, especially “natural” horsemanship
trainers, claim to use desensitisation (meaning
habituation), but actually, provoke sensitisation
instead.
For example, to familiarise the horse with a flapping
tarpaulin they may chase the animal around the pen
with a tarpaulin or attach it
to the horse.
Learning about tarpaulin doesn’t have to be a scary experience. In this picture, horses are investigating
the tarp as a group and loose in the paddock. – “Habituation”2. MONDAY 3. TUESDAY 4. WEDNESDAY 5. THURSDAY 6. FRIDAY 7. SATURDAY 8. SUNDAY Riding Notes
9.MONDAY 10. TUESDAY 11. WEDNESDAY 12. THURSDAY 13. FRIDAY 14. SATURDAY 15. SUNDAY Riding Notes HAPPY HORSES Meeting the needs of your horse is important because: A lot of behaviour problems are the result of the horse’s needs not being met. Because of this many behaviour problems can be resolved (or partially resolved) by enriching the animal’s life. In their natural environment, animals have a lot to do and little time to do it in but in a domesticated environment it becomes the opposite; there is too much time and not enough to do. Horse balls are one form of enrichment -but horses need to be first habituated to them.
16. MONDAY 17. TUESDAY 18. WEDNESDAY 19. THURSDAY 20. FRIDAY 21. SATURDAY 22. SUNDAY Riding Notes In the 1960s, the Brambell Commission set out “the five freedoms” which outline different aspects of animal welfare under human control: these are very important if we are to have a healthy but just as importantly a happy horse. Pony Club recognises the importance of this and teaches the “Five Freedoms” in our Certifcate Work.
23. MONDAY 24. TUESDAY 25. WEDNESDAY 26. THURSDAY 27. FRIDAY 28. SATURDAY 29. SUNDAY Riding Notes The first two of the ‘Five Freedoms’ are: 1. Freedom from hunger and thirst 2. Freedom from environmental stress (excessive heat or cold) They are about welfare, these are relatively well taken care of, even if many times not properly. For example, many horses are given the wrong diet, one that contains too many concentrates and too little grass and hay. There is also the issue of too much rugging.
30. MONDAY 31. TUESDAY Riding Notes CONFORMATION
1 WEDNESDAY
2 THURSDAY
3 FRIDAY
4 SATURDAY
5 SUNDAY
Riding Notes
The Third of the ‘Five Freedoms’ is:
Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease:
This is a tricky one but you need to think about it:
So, if an old horse is pulling a cart and the owner whips it for not going fast enough -we
think it is cruel don’t we?
What if a young horse that is being ridden in Showjump stops at fence because it is
unsure; do you think it is okay for the owner to whip it – OR is that cruel too?6 MONDAY
7 TUESDAY
8 WEDNESDAY
9 THURSDAY
10 FRIDAY
11 SATURDAY
12 SUNDAY
Riding Notes
The fourth of the ‘Five Freedom’s is:
Freedom to act out Normal Behaviour (Just be a horse)
Wild horses or paddocked horses spend:
• 15 percent of their day drowsing and sleeping
• 16 to 18 hours foraging and browsing.
• The rest of the day is spent on activities such as playing, exploring, grooming, rolling etc;
They need time to behave naturally.13 MONDAY 14 TUESDAY 15 WEDNESDAY 16 THURSDAY 17 FRIDAY 18 SATURDAY 19 SUNDAY Riding Notes Did You Know? Stabled horses, assuming the horse would be fed concentrate twice a day and hay three times a day, is: • ridden one hour a day, • groomed 15 minutes and • sleeps like a normal horse.
20 MONDAY 21 TUESDAY 22 WEDNESDAY 23 THURSDAY 24 FRIDAY 25 SATURDAY 26 SUNDAY Riding Notes The final one of the Five Freedoms is ‘Freedom from Fear and Distress:’ In many cases, behaviours that are considered undesirable or abnormal by owners are the horses’ natural responses to unpleasant stimulus causing fear or/and pain. This may be the case when a horse refuses to trailer load or avoidance of schooling equipment. While horses are remarkably capable of adapting to a variety of environments, domestication can be difficult to cope with if the horse’s needs are not being met
27 MONDAY
28 TUESDAY
29 WEDNESDAY
30 THURSDAY
Riding Notes
Reasons For Grooming
Keep skin and coat healthy Removes dirt, mud and unclogs pores
Provides massage Stimulates circulation and muscle tone
Improves appearance Removes dead hair and creates a shine
Distributes oil through coat Removes excess oils from coat
Opportunity to check horse for soreness or injury
Grooming
Ensure the horse is secured Stay in close to animal talking as you move around him
Always place brush against coat Never ‘bang’ and beware of bony protuberances
Brush in the direction of the hair Use long firm strokes whenever possible
Start with head and neck Work down towards the feet
Sponge eyes, lips and dock Brush of dried mud or wash do not try to brush wet mud
WASHING FOR SHOW
Secure the horse Do not use excessive water pressure
Start hosing on legs and gradually work up, one side at a time
Avoid soap in eyes and ears Keep water and objects out of ears
Apply shampoo and wash Rinse thoroughly
Remove excess water with scraper Towel dry as possible
Rug if weather is cool Keep horse out of draughts while wet or damp
Excessive water should be removed from horses’ coat as this can cause dangerous variations in
temperature. ie can cause overheating in summer due to not evaporating sufficiently.1. FRIDAY
2. SATURDAY
3. SUNDAY
Considerations when Rugging/Unrugging
• Ensure horse is secured by being held or tied with a quick release knot
• Introduce rugging to horses quietly and calmly and always in an enclosed area
• Clips should be faced inward to prevent becoming blocked with manure etc
• When un-rugging:
o After unclipping leg straps, move them to outside, re-clip them to rug
o Re-thread tongue of front strap back through buckle to reduce possibility of loss.
• Fold back of rug back to waist and do same with front.
• Lift rug off horse and hang to air with inside to outer
• Rugs should be stored clean and dry when not in use.
• A stiff brushing will help to keep rugs free form hair and dirt
• Neck rugs and combos are a safer option than hoods in paddock situations
• Rugged horses should be checked a minimum of twice daily.
• If you do start rugging for winter, you should continue to do so until the weather warms
• Rugging horses in winter can save on feed bills
• For most horses, rugging in Summer is simply unnecessary.
• Even lightweight Summer rugs can prevent your horse from cooling themselves effectively.
• Horses rely on sweating to maintain a safe core body temperature.
• The problem is in some areas in particular, biting insects can cause a real problem for our horses - this is a
reason to rug a horse during the warmer months:
• When the wrong rug is used, air cannot pass over their body to evaporate the sweat and cool their body.
• The type of rug required for insect protection depends on the horse and the offenders.
• A very sensitive horse that is under attack from very small biting insects - such as sand flies - would
need a rug that offers complete block-out, such as a cotton rip-stop rug.
• For horses that are less sensitive - or for areas that are prone to biting insects of the larger variety - a
fly mesh rug is an excellent option.
• These rugs will keep larger insects from biting whilst allowing better airflow than a heavier cotton
rug.4. MONDAY 5. TUESDAY 6. WEDNESDAY 7. THURSDAY 8. FRIDAY 9. SATURDAY 10. SUNDAY Riding Notes TYPES OF FEED Bulk (Roughage) Feeds; Grass (the natural food of horses), Lucerne hay or chaff (More acidic than grass), Oaten ha or Chaff, Bran and Pollard (Both calcium depleting). Concentrate (Energy) Feeds; Grains (including grass seed), Oils, Molasses, Pellets and other processed mixes. NB Most of these contain minerals and salts, however if your country is deficient so too will be your grasses, supplements will then be required. Salts are also necessary in hotter climates. “Grain to horses is like alcohol to man; when taken in moderation in enhances health and promotes a feeling of we being ; when taken it excess it causes him to see things that do not exist and behave in an unreasonable manner” J Makin (PCAQ Southport Seminar)
11. MONDAY
12. TUESDAY
13. WEDNESDAY
14. THURSDAY
15. FRIDAY
16. SATURDAY
17. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
The Aids For Canter Left
1 Begin form a good quality, rhythmic trot.
2 Use two or three half halts
3 Ease the left hip slightly forward and put a bit more weight into the left seat bone -but don’t lean.
4 Push your left (inside) leg against the horse's girth
5 Move your right (outside) leg back to slightly behind the girth and give a quick tap with this
(outside) leg
6 Ask the horse to flex slightly to the left so you can see the inside eye, while still maintaining a feel
on the right (outside)
7 Remember to give with the left hand when the horse canters.18. MONDAY 19. TUESDAY 20. WEDNESDAY 21. THURSDAY 22. FRIDAY 23. SATURDAY 24. SUNDAY Riding Notes Arena Etiquette: • Tracks of the Arena: Outside (Large) Track 1 metre in from the edge of the arena. • Inside Track 1 metre in from the outside track (2metres from edge) • Open Order equally spaced around the arena • Closed Order set distances of 1, 2, 3, horse lengths apart • Outside track has right of way; • Highest pace uses outside track -so lateral work and canter • When changing across the diagonal those remaining on the track have right of way
25. MONDAY 26. TUESDAY 27. WEDNESDAY 28. THURSDAY 29. FRIDAY 30. SATURDAY 31. SUNDAY Riding Notes YARDS & STABLES Stables should be at least 2.75mtrs high with a floor area of 12sq mtrs (horses) 9sq mtrs (ponies) Yard minimum floor area as above Well constructed and maintained Clean bedding such as straw or wood shavings, Muck out and change bedding regularly Lime is sweetener/ deodoriser Ample water provided away from doorway and opposite feed Regular exercise
1. MONDAY
2. TUESDAY
3. WEDNESDAY
4. THURSDAY
5. FRIDAY
6. SATURDAY
7. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
TYPES OF WORMS
Round worm, Blood worm, Pin worm, Bot Worm, Tape worm
SYMPTOMS
Loosing Condition, Ill thrift, Tail rub, Poor coat, Dull eye, Lacking energy, Colic, Cough ;Death!
LIFE CYCLE (stongyles)
Eggs are passed in manure Eggs hatch and become larva
Larva move onto vegetation Horse ingests larva with feed.
Larva feed and mature within horse Eggs are laid inside horse8.MONDAY
9.TUESDAY
10.WEDNESDAY
11.THURSDAY
12.FRIDAY
13.SATURDAY
14.SUNDAY
Riding Notes
CARE AFTER RIDING
• Cool down is as important as warm up,
• a good 10 minutes of walk to allow muscles to cool, relax and lactic acid to be reabsorbed into
• Horse should not be offered water until he is sufficiently cooled
• Should not be washed unless the weather is sufficiently warm and there is a need (continual
washing strips natural oils from the coat).
• Remove all excess water from coat and keep clear of draughts and cold until dry
• Horse should then be thoroughly groomed and checked for soreness and injury.
• Then rug if applicable and stable or turn out into paddock
• A ‘light feed’, containing plenty of roughage and little concentrate should then be given
The following day he should be rechecked for soundness and injury15. MONDAY
16. TUESDAY
17. WEDNESDAY
18. THURSDAY
19. FRIDAY
20. SATURDAY
21. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
Footfalls
It is important for riders to know and feel their horse’s footfalls
Walk 4 beat 1 inside hind, 2 inside fore,
3 outside hind, 4 outside fore
Trot 2 beat Right diagonal: 1 (left hind/right fore),
2 (right hind/left fore)
Left diagonal: 1 (right hind/left fore)
2 (left hind/right fore)22. MONDAY
23. TUESDAY
24. WEDNESDAY
25. THURSDAY
26. FRIDAY
27. SATURDAY
28. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
Footfalls (contd)
Canter 3 beat 1 outside hind,
2 (inside hind/outside fore),
3 inside fore, suspension
Gallop 4 beat 1 outside hind,
2 inside hind,
3 outside fore,
4 inside fore, suspension
Rein Back 2 beat 1 (inside hind/outside fore),
2 (outside hind/inside fore)29. MONDAY
30. TUESDAY
31. WEDNESDAY
Riding Notes
Indications - Of A Healthy, Well-Shod Hoof
• Wall and Sole appear supple
• Heels not too long or hard
• Frog and Bars full and healthy
• Angle of Hoof correct and similar to that of pastern
• Base of hoof wall flat and parallel to the ground
• Placement of nails in line
• Clinches closed and firm
• Hoof Symmetrical with point of frog at centre of hoof
• Shoe firm and correct size for hoof
• Wall of hoof not overhanging the shoe
• No cracks in walls
• Heel supported by shoe
• Nails not placed further back than point of frog
A Well shod Hoof
Inside a hoof that is badly in need of shoeing.
Note how the toe has grown long and pointed, this can severely affect
the angle of the pastern and put a huge strain on the tendons and
ligaments of the legs.
In really bad cases, where the hoof is left uncared for the toe can grow
so long that it will curl upwards and make it nearly impossible or the
horse to walk.TYPES OF BITS AND THEIR ACTION
Jointed Snaffle Acts in a nutcracker action on the bars and roof of the mouth.
Mullen Mouth Snaffle Acts on the tongue and the bars of the mouth
Rubber Mullen Mouth As above may cause rubbing on sides of mouth
Port Mouth Snaffle Acts on the bars of the mouth those with high ports also act on roof of
mouth.
Tom Thumb Snaffle Less likely to pull through mouth or pinch lips than regular snaffles
FM Snaffle As above, but with longer side pieces that are usually in keepers which
then act as lever creating pressure on the poll
French Snaffle and KK Link breaks the nutcracker action, KK has rounded profile
Dr Bristol A severe bit with centre link set opposing to the French snaffle, putting
added pressure on the tongue.
Hollow Mouth Snaffle A milder bit that distributes pressure over a larger area, conversely the
finer the bit the stronger the action.
Gags Bars of the mouth plus pressure on the poll
Dutch Gag as above, but ‘crank’ length adjustable
Curbs Lever action, chain puts pressure on jaw
Kimblewick or Spanish As above, a milder curb due to length of shank
Egg Butt Unlikely to pinch mouth, tapered mouthpiece eases pressure on tongue
Weymouth Curb bit used in conjunction with bridoon in a double bridle
Bridoon Fine snaffle used with Weymouth in double bridle
Pelham A combination bit trying to emulate the above two must be used with
equalisers
1.WEDNESDAY
2.THURSDAY
3.FRIDAY
4.SATURDAY
5.SUNDAY6. MONDAY
7. TUESDAY
8. WEDNESDAY
9. THURSDAY
10. FRIDAY
11. SATURDAY
12. SUNDAY
Riding Notes
CAUSES
Care of Horses Teeth
Horses’ teeth, unlike human teeth, do not have nerves growing up into the teeth, which continue to grow
throughout most of their lives; as a grazing animal, which grinds often dry and quite harsh feed, this can be a
distinct advantage. However, sometimes the teeth, particularly the molar (grinding) teeth are prone to uneven
wear. This problem is exacerbated by two problems, firstly our feeding of processed and more refined feeds and
secondly and more markedly by the fact that the upper and lower molars are offset from one another meaning th
two do not mesh exactly and therefore wear is not across the entire surface of the tooth.
Teeth become uneven and develop sharp edges (outside-upper jaw, inside-lower jaw)that can rub and cut the
tongue and mouth lining, as well as catching on and causing discomfort with the bit and feeding.13. MONDAY 14. TUESDAY 15. WEDNESDAY 16. THURSDAY 17. FRIDAY 18. SATURDAY 19. SUNDAY Riding Notes Road Safety • Wear a Helmet and have a bridle on your Pony • Let someone responsible know where you are going and how you will be; or leave a note. • Obey the traffic rules and signs • Keep to the left at al times unless there is a wide grass verge on the right hand side. • Travel at a walk or a steady trot • If there is more than one of you riding, keep together but single file is safest especially in traffic. • Say ‘Thankyou” if a motorist slows down for you. • Consider other people on the road. • Get back to the paddock before dark
20. MONDAY 21. TUESDAY 22. WEDNESDAY 23. THURSDAY 24. FRIDAY 25. SATURDAY 26. SUNDAY
CARE OF TEETH INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS Dropping feed Improperly chewed feed in manure Chewing difficulty Biting problems Head tossing problems Losing condition CAUSES Horses’ teeth, unlike human teeth, do not have nerves growing up into the teeth, which continue to grow throughout most of their lives; as a grazing animal, which grinds often dry and quite harsh feed, this can be a distinct advantage. However, sometimes the teeth, particularly the molar (grinding) teeth are prone to uneven wear. This problem is exacerbated by two problems, firstly our feeding of processed and more refined feeds and secondly and more markedly by the fact that the upper and lower molars of offset form one another meaning the two do not mesh exactly and therefore wear is not across the entire surface of the tooth. Teeth become uneven and develop sharp edges (outside-upper jaw, inside – lower jaw) that can rub and cut the tongue and mouth lining, as well as catching on and causing discomfort with the bit and feeding. TREATMENT It is necessary to have the vet or qualified equine dentist to check the animal’s teeth that are causing problems for the animal. Once identified, damaged or sharp teeth may be filed back to eliminate sharp edges or problem teeth may be removed. 27. MONDAY 28. TUESDAY 29. WEDNESDAY 30. THURSDAY 31. FRIDAY
VICES AND THEIR REMEDIES – return to the past with some of these remedies
KICKING IN THE STABLE
Causes:
1. Boredom – horse likes to hear noise
2. Idleness
3. Irritability
4. Rats and Mice
5. Parasites
Remedies:
1. Pad stable with bales of straw or matting
2. Line box with coarse hedge material – effective for horses who like to paw or strike
at the door with their front feed.
3. Hang a bag of Straw behind hindquarters
4. Put hobbles on the horse and attach to the headcollar
5. Put kicking chains on the hind feet-
6. Keep horse well exercised – divide the exercise into two periods rather than one
7. If possible turn horse out to grass for six months, may also help
STAMPING AND PAWING
Causes:
1. Same as for kicking
2. Lack of Bedding
3. Impatience
4. May be sign of internal colic
Remedies:
1. Removal of cause
2. Good, deep clean bed
3. Some of the remedies for kicking horses may also assist with pawing horses
BITING AND SNAPPING
Causes:
1. Mismanagement
2. Irritation of horse by improper grooming
3. Feeding tit bits
4. Failure to stop playful snapping in early stages, it soon becomes a serious vice
Remedies:
1. Firmness and kindness. Sharp slap on muzzle at crucial moment will usually effect a
cure in early stages
2. Tie up confirmed biters before grooming, to protect the groom
3. Groom carefully and with consideration. Some horses are more ticklish than others
4. Avoid irritating horses by rough or careless grooming
CRIB BITING AND WIND SUCKINGSerious vices which constitute unsoundness
Crib biters take hold of a projecting object with their teeth and swallow air. Causes
damage to the incisor teeth and may result in inability to graze properly.
Wind suckers arch their neck and swallow air usually without biting on anything.
Swallowing air into the stomach is a common cause of flatulence and colic. Often impairs
digestion, and may also prevent horse putting on flesh
Causes:
1. Idleness
2. Lack of bulk food
3. Irritation of the stomach which causes a specific craving
4. Horse may start cribbing by gnawing at manger when groomed or by gnawing
unseasoned wood
Remedies
1. Prevent boredom- divide the daily exercise into two periods rather than one.
2. Paint woodwork in stable with bitter aloes or anti chew mix
3. If possible keep horse in loosebox – not tied up
4. Have rock salt constantly available
5. Provide plenty of bulk feed and ready supply of fresh clean water
6. A broad “wind-sucking” strap fastened around the thin part of the neck tightly
enough to prevent the muscles contracting will help prevent wind sucking
7. Isolate horses that crib bite or wind suck as others are liable to copy them
8. Recently surgery has been developed in a small piece of nerve on either side of the
wind pipe has been removed. This has proved successful if performed before habit
becomes ingrained
WEAVING
A continuous rocking or swaying action of the forelegs followed by a similar action of the
head. Weavers cannot rest and deteriorate in condition
Bad cases may become lame. Starts as a habit and develops into a vice and eventually
becomes a nervous disease. A horse that weaves cannot be warranted sound.
Causes:
1. Boredom
2. Nervous horses may be intermittent weavers, only actually weaving when
someone is in the stable.
Remedies:
1. Remove cause where possible; In case of boredom apply the same remedies as for
crib biting
2. Provide well bedded loose box. Encourage horses to lie down
3. Two bricks or tyres, suspended over the half door so that they knock the horse
when he weaves can sometimes be effective.
4. Avoid periods of idleness – turn them out rather than leaving in stable
5. Isolate horses that Weave as others are liable to copy themREFUSAL TO LIE DOWN
Some horses suffer no apparent harm from refusing to lie down but legs suffer and will
last longer if rested
Causes
1. Nervous- strange surroundings, or horses may have been cast
2. Lack of bedding
3. If horse is in stall, shank may be too short
Remedies
1. Put horse in loosebox with deep clean bed. Try different forms of bedding
2. Give long steady work for three days
3. Bring horse late at night (if he is tired and can once be persuaded to lie doiwn he
may overcome his nervousness
EATING BEDDING AND DROPPINGS
A sign of depraved appetite
Causes;
1. Lack of bulk foods
2. Boredom
3. Lack of minerals or salts
4. Worm infestation
Remedies:
1. Remo al of cause
2. Bed on peat moss. Mix new and used bedding well
3. Sprinkle bedding with Lysol
4. Horses may wear a cradle or muzzle
5. Tie horse up before exercise so he cannot reach bedding or droppings
TEARING CLOTHING OR BANDAGES;
Causes:
1. Horses trying to alleviate itching associated with a skin disease
2. Idleness
Remedies:
1. Examine and treat skin for disease any particular spot the horse bites
2. Paint clothing with some nasty tasting liquid
3. Use leather bib hanging from back of head collar, behind lower lip
4. Use muzzle
5. Keep plenty of bulk feeds and salt available2021 CLUB RALLIES and CAMPS
My Pony Club’s Rallies are usually held on
of each month, depending on availability of Instructors.
Make a list of things needed for:
1) Rallies:…………………………………………………………………………………….
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2) Camps…………………………………………………………………………………….
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…………………………………………………………………………………………….....COMPILED BY MEGAN WRAY
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