Stewardship of Equines
Links to Resources and Products
Updated 2017
Links Categories are listed BY ORDER OF IMPORTANCE to the Horse's Mental State, not by Human Priorities
Psycho-Physical Environs
Paddocks:
http://www.paddockparadise.com/
Non Skid Matts:
ask for "Button Matts"
Stall Doors:
http://barninteriors.com/images/bolt_bg.jpg
latches are spring loaded to self recoil. Latches that protrude from stall doors cause injury.
Cross Ties:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/tie-safe-cross-tie/p/X1-4712/
velcro cross ties
http://www.ultracite.com/products.htm
ALL TIES must be long enough so that the horse's head can turn fully to the back so s/he can see what's happening directly behind. That goes for the Right cross tie AND the left cross tie. 'No tie' is the safest and most respectful way to ask a horse to stand still. Single tie is the next best option. Any tie must have an easy breaking segment. I like dental floss. Cross ties are NOT psychologically safe for horses. If used, both sides must have easy break away pieces in the line so that both lines will snap when needed.
Self-Serve Stall and Paddock Brush or Scratcher:
http://www.twofairmares.com/equine-scratcher/
https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/sweeper-brushes/
http://www.staples.com/Chairmats-Carpet/cat_CL70205
At Staples, find the chair mats with rounded (not sharp) nubs. Slice into strips, round the corners and use round headed wood, stainless wood screws for mounting, vertically.
Hay Racks:
http://www.thinaircanvas.com/nibblenet/nibblenetframe.htm
http://www.farmgeneral.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-17362
High metal hay racks promote unnatural eating stance and bad lower back posture.
Slow Feeders:
http://www.equineautomation.com/
Halters:
http://www.smartpakequine.com/leather-and-cotton-web-halter-2082p.aspx
Halters: Any halter MUST be able to break away AND have flat "spread the load" contact with the skin. Rope halters are very bad on both scores. All halters must be assessed for their "damage done just before they break". Brass fitting are the least corrosive in weather and are the softer metal so will snap when they need to. Thin leather breaks easiest. Would you rather buy a halter every season or a surgical vet bill because it didn't break? NYLON is very dangerous because it will not break before the horse breaks.
Blankets: Horse Prefences Research
http://www.thelocal.no/20140204/researchers-ask-horses-how-they-prefer-to-stay-warm
Pests
Face and ear masks can be a sensory hazard for animals in an unstable social herd. For one year, keep a bug calendar to get to know/predict your local swarming seasons. Garlic Supplements really do keep bugs down and really is good for horse overall health.
http://horsefamilymagazine.com/
socks-for-horses-help-prevent-hooves-from-fly-stomping-damage socks on 4 legs are best for leg biting flies
http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/MizellRF/deerfly_trap.htm
blue catches deer flies
http://www.nzitrap.com/Nzi_trap/Literature/Literat.htm
bug trap science
http://www.eqyss.com/marigold_spray.asp
Marigold products are the best natural bug spray.
Never use bug spray over eyes that will drip into eyes with sweat.
GREEN GUARD by ARBICO Organics
Dyna Shield
Wasps
http://blog.ecosmart.com/index.php/page/3/
Green Head Flies
http://home.comcast.net/~nemosquito/north_shore_greenhead_fly_contro.htm
Life Threatening Events
Emergency Event
Equine Ambulance
http://www.mspca.org/adoption/methuen-nevins/equine-safety--ambulance-program/
Hurricane/ Flood: Be Prepared
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id173/id173.pdf
Horses & Hurricanes brochure:
http://cthorsecouncil.org/resources/EquineHealthEMRFiles/CHCHorsesHurricanesBrochure2007.pdf
Equine Emergency Supplies list:
http://cthorsecouncil.org/resources/EquineHealthEMRFiles/CHCEmergencySuppliesList.pdf
Equine Vital Signs Sheet:
http://cthorsecouncil.org/resources/EquineHealthEMRFiles/CHCEquineVitalSignsAssessments.pdf
Loss or Death
Security, GPS, and ID Chip:
http://www.pettracker.com/
In home Euthanasia for SMALL animals:
http://www.finaljourneyllc.com/
Carcass
http://cthorsecouncil.org/resources/EquineHealthEMRFiles/CHCCarcassDisposal2007.pdf
Geriatric Horses Ages 25-40:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10517/feeding-the-geriatric-horse
Beginners, Learning to Stay On:
Riding with no saddle teaches the most. Trail riding in the wide open spaces teaches the second most. Riding instructors (all levels) cannot hold a candle to those first two. 4H is quite good. Pony Club is often ok.
http://www.justhorses.com/91.html
Equine Brains, Equine Learning, Equine Choice
Social:
A horse will not thrive if they live alone. Any species will do for companionship, but the closer you can get to a hoofed animal, the better.
Boredom
http://www.jeffersequine.com/uncle-jimmys-hangin-balls/camid/EQU/cp/0Q-U1/cn/2555/
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16270
http://www.likit.co.uk/pages/products.php?prod=Snak-a-Ball
Stall Kickers
http://www.quitkickusa.com/store/pages/22/QuitKick_For_Stall_Doors.html
Behavior and Training
Rockin' Horse (this site) is a sport built around the horse brains and rider brains, together.
Long Distance Trail Competitions are the most healthy and rewarding sport from the horse's point of view.
http://news.discovery.com/animals/horse-friends-memory-trainers.html
Positive (Operant) Trainers
http://www.equineclickertraining.com/community/members_listAM_new.html
Learning to Teach Horses
http://www.willingresults.com/
http://www.equineclickertraining.com/members/members_listAM.html
Horse Brains, Horse Cognition (Perception and Thinking)
http://www.equineresearch.org/equine-research-foundation.html
http://www.mirrorkbranch.com/article11.htmlsleep and REM in horses
REM Sleep in horses
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37681/study-confirms-horses-talk-to-human-handlers
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871368/
The Neurology of Skin Color
how smart are horses?
https://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/horses-never-forget-human-friends/#sthash.d7L1R9Xt.dpuf
Horses Never Forget People
Remapping the Animal Brain is similar to Remapping the Human Brain
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=133026897&m=133744398
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133026897/v-s-ramachandrans-tales-of-the-tell-tale-brain
http://www.thehorse.com/TopicSearch/Default.aspx?n=behavior&nID=15
Go to the horse.com and search under behavior and you'll get a long list of all current horse brain science. As soon as you sign on to this site, you can click on the brain links below; otherwise they dont work.
Food Use in Teaching and Training
Food as motivator is proven to drastically increase learning speed, with ZERO unwanted behavioral side effects.
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16878
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11436
http://www.buckeyenutrition.com/supplements/all-natural-no-sugar-added-carrot-crunchers-treats.aspx
http://www.equinescienceupdate.com/articles/flavcon.html
Favorite Flavors of Equines
http://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/who-said-stop-the-carrots
Sound Desensitizing
Audio CD's all Animals.
Must be used with a behaviorist protocol! Click to hear the demos on the websites...
http://helpingfido.com/affiliate-products.htm
Scroll down to Training Aids to see the Sound Sensabilities™ audio sounds of Children, Dogs, Fireworks, Guns, Cars and Trucks, Kitchen and Vacuums, Car trips, Flight, Thunderstorm. Audio CDs Ideal for helping dogs or other animals overcome a noise phobia.
Assessments of the Dog Whisperer
http://www.urbandawgs.com/divided_profession.html
Riding Equipment
For the best communication, I am VERY partial to a snug halter with clipped on thick, round reins because you can get so much more information from the horse with this simple combination. Every flat rein is so much less effective at transferring information because they do not fit the shape of the human hand and fingers. Bits are downright offensive to horses. They are extremely distracting and actually stop the horse from being able to think. They are completely unecessary in performing any horse sport at any level.
Halters
http://www.smartpakequine.com/leather-and-cotton-web-halter-2082p.aspx
Round reins
http://www.longridersgear.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=132
Bitless bridle, Light rider:
http://www.lightriderbridle.com
Saddle Fit:
http://www.portlewisworkshop.com/impression-pad-page.htm
Treeless saddle:
http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/booklet.htm
Road Safety
http://www.estellesreflectivewear.com/cart/?action=View%20Items&catid=3&category=Horse%20Gear&categoryid=3
Networks
Horse Yellow Pages, Annuals and Websites:
http://www.justhorses.com/index.html
http://hvhs.net/rd_category.htm
All Horse Rescue Groups:
http://www.netpets.com/horses/horsresc/horsgrp.html