Preparing for the upcoming summer show season begins in December of the year before and continues straight through the spring. This year, I wrote all the little tasks down and even I was amazed at the sheer enormity of the…
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Blog Archives
What’s in YOUR Library?
As I sit inside during yet another New England nor’easter, I thought I would share some of the equestrian books that I’ve collected for study whenever the weather makes me think more hot chocolate than half pass. Books ARE my…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Considerations for Horse Owners Concerned About Bone Health
What should horse owners who are concerned about bone health be considering? If you have concerns about bone health, either in the mature performance horse or in the growing horse, we recommend working with your veterinarian. It is critical to…
Posted in Ask the Vet
How Do You Choose Between Bone, Joint, and Recovery Supplements?
When would you choose a bone supplement like SmartOsteo Pellets over a joint supplement, or a recovery supplement like SmartFlex Rehab Pellets? Joint health formulas such as the SmartFlex line, new SmartStride Ultra, and the wide selection of other quality…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Misc. Topics
Fun with Ground Poles!
How many poles have you and your horse gone over at one time? 4? 6? 10? At the end of each 90-minute group session in the recent “Fun with Ground Poles” clinic with Kelley Shetter-Ruiz, participants were coached through a…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Carriage Driving Truly Is for Everyone
Ever thought about getting into carriage driving but don’t know where to start? Why not join the local driving club in your area to meet some fellow enthusiasts, learn about the sport, and find out where all the cool driving…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Newman’s Winter Project: Sidesaddle!
I remember it like yesterday. I was sitting on the bleachers of the demonstration arena at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY on September 29, 2010, when into the arena came a chestnut half-Arabian park-type horse. The mare was…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Two SmartPakers Practice Their Hands-on Equine Skills at the NEAEP Wet-Labs
As the Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director for SmartPak, I consider myself lucky in that I get to attend not one, but two equine veterinarian meetings each year: the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Annual Convention usually in December…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Young & Developing Horses (and Young & Developing Riders) Share the Spotlight at Lamplight
Imagine you’re warming up for a dressage test in the same arena as . . . Laura Graves! And your judges include . . . FEI 5* judge Gary Rockwell! And then George Williams, the USDF President strolls by! This…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
A Day of Driving followed by . . . Another Day of Driving
What ranges from 9 to 17 hands? Entries in the first-ever “Day of Driving” at the Fox Valley Saddle Association and at the first-ever HUB Club Arena Driving Trial, that’s what! Held Saturday July 15 and Sunday July 16 at…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Pre-Purchase Exams
Could you review the components of a typical pre-purchase exam? Which parts do you see as vital for any buyer? Which parts might you consider optional? – via HorseChannel.com A pre-purchase examination (PPE) in a horse is a “snapshot” of…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Misc. Topics
What’s in Newman’s Journal?
I get a lot of questions about Newman’s Journal, like: what kinds of things do I record in it, how often do I write stuff down, what do I do with the information I record, and so on. I’ve been…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Moon Blindness
I have an Appaloosa/Paint mix, and my farrier once mentioned to me to be careful about moon blindness. What is it, what breeds does it affect, what can be done to prevent it, and once it’s contracted, what are the…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Diseases and Conditions
Summer Sores
We have had a few pasture horses develop “summer sores” on their lower lips, and I’ve heard it is caused by a fly-borne parasite. They were already wormed with Ivermectin about a month ago, which seems to be the most…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Skin, Coat & Hooves
HUB Club 2017 Annual Spring Clinic with Sterling Graburn: Horses, Drivers, and Auditors Take Home “Sterling” Silver Nuggets of Wisdom
If you closed your eyes – and your ears, carriages are quite noisy/squeaky – you could have imagined you were at a dressage clinic on May 27and 28 when the HUB Club hosted Sterling Graburn at the Fox Valley Saddle…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
