This newsletter features topics on the purchase, care and training of horses, and includes news and upcoming events.

This newsletter features topics on the purchase, care and training of horses, and includes news and upcoming events.

In the current turbulent economic situation, horse owners need information on how to reduce horse maintenance costs in order to be able to keep their horses. Learn what a financially strapped horse owner can do to cut costs and save money with these tips from an economist, an equine specialist, and a horse owner.

Images of major poisonous plants are presented to assist livestock owners with plant recognition. Toxic effects are also mentioned.

The primary concern in mineral nutrition is to provide salt and adequate levels of calcium and phosphorous in approximately a 1.3 to 1 ratio.

Horsemanship is more than a class in a horse show. It is the ability of a horseman to ride and handle his horse properly and in balance.

Where ever horses are bought or sold, a horseman attempts to fit his horse and set him up squarely on his feet and legs so that the horse can be presented to his best advantage to the perspective buyer. Therefore it is essential to understand the basic skills of fitting and showing a horse at halter.

Many states have passed equine liability laws that protect against the inherent risks of equine activities. In fact, California, Maryland, Nevada and New York are the only states that do not have such laws. All of the laws are fairly similar but contain different characteristics.

One of the most difficult tasks facing an instructor is teaching a student to feel and react to the horse's movement and responses. Riders who do not feel the horse's errors are unable to react correctly in a timely manner to the horse.

Vitamin supplementation in horses is generally not needed since common feeds normally contain adequate amounts. Vitamin deficiencies occur primarily when horses are sick or stressed, or if feed is improperly processed and stored over long periods of time. In these cases, vitamin supplementation may be necessary.

Horses' hooves are formed of insensitive, cornified material called horn. Inside the hoof capsule lie bone, joints, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues. While the hoof capsule is designed to protect these structures and provide the horse with a platform to support its weight, traumatic events can puncture the hoof and affect the deeper, sensitive tissues. Puncture wounds often occur from stepping on nails, screws or other such objects.

To respond properly to a horse, a rider must be able to recognize and understand what the animal is doing.

An angular limb deformity (ALD) is a side-to-side deviation of the limb. Where the limb of a horse should be straight when viewed from the front, horses with an ALD appear to have limbs that are angled away from the presumed straight line of the limb.

An attentive rider can use the rhythm of a horse's gait to influence speed and direction while riding.

The Master Horseman Advisory Committee invites you to attend the first Master Horseman Benefit Trail Ride and Campout on 750 acres of open pasture, hills and woodlands. Besides the trail ride, participants will enjoy chuck wagon cooking, educational clinics by local clinician Cory Borque and others, an auction, a campfire gathering and much more! Please join us for a fun-filled family event and stay overnight for additional fun on Sunday. Lunch and dinner will be provided on Saturday.

New horse owners can greatly benefit by finding professional assistance in caring for, training and riding horses.

Results from the 2010 4-H Horse Show held in West Monroe, La.

Conscientious owners should be aware that there can be potentially toxic substances in feeds.

Learn more about upcoming equine-related events in Louisiana including Clover Cup Polo Tournament.

Horses are important for companionship, sport, work, pleasure, education, and therapy. To be good stewards of the land, however, horse farmers should manage their farms in a way to minimize the potential for negatively impacting the environment with horse manure

Horse property barns and stables may contain large quantities of mud because of excessive traffic. Mud is more than a mess or nuisance. Winter and spring rains can cause mud and manure to runoff into nearby waterways. Nutrients and sediment in runoff are a source of non-point source pollution, which can degrade water quality. Louisiana horse owners can reduce the impact on streams and bayous by specific adopting management practices.

One of the most difficult things to do these days is to find time to do things like clean and oil saddles and tack. With all the things we have to do in our busy schedules, saddles and tack seem to always end up at the bottom of the list – or not even on the list.

4-H delegates represent Louisiana at the 2010 4-H Southern Regional Championships in Clemson, S.C.

Horse ownership can be very exciting and rewarding. The primary reasons for horse ownership are companionship, recreation and relaxation, says LSU AgCenter animal science professor Dr. Clint Depew.

The equine industry is a dynamic sector of Louisiana's economy. There are a wide variety of horse-related activities within the state of Louisiana, including registered breed shows, 4-H youth shows, rodeos, jumping shows, educational clinics, ranch horse competitions and many more.

Introduction to the Master Horseman Video series. The series is dedicated to presenting brief videos addressing common questions and issues faced by horse owners.

See demonstrations of more advanced maneuvers to practice so that your horse yields to pressure.

Learn the next phase in teaching your horse to yield to pressure.

Basic steps to teach your horse to yield to pressure.

Learn how to set your horse up for a successful turn on the hind quarters.

Learn the techniques required to teach your horse to move through small spaces.

Learn how to set your horse up squarely for showmanship.

This video demonstrates the proper and safe way to saddle your horse.

A more advanced video demonstration of hoof control.

Video showing how if you control the horses feet, you control the horse.

Video demonstration of moving the horse sideways from the ground.

Demonstration on how to practice mounting your horse (jumping on).

Video illustrating proper technique for mounting the horse to ensure safety.

This video describes the benefits of mecate reins and slobber straps when working with your horse.

This video describes teaching a horse to yield to lateral flexion.

Learn the skills to build confidence in your horse when facing everyday obstacles.

Techniques to teach your horse to lower his head.

This video will help you learn the basic steps to teach your horse to circle quietly.

Watch this video for a demonstration on how to safely catch and halter your horse.

Learn the proper method to safely and efficiently brindle your horse.

A common bone problem that occurs in young race horses during the first few months in training is dorsal metacarpal disease, commonly known as bucked shins.

Owner Fact Sheet outlining the three stages of Parturition and when to call a vet in the case of dystocia.

Information regarding the use of different joint suppliments for horses that have degenerative joint disease.

One of the most important causes of reduced fertility in the mare is endometritis. This article describes common causes, signs, and treatment for equine endometritis.

Owner information about the causes and treatment of bone spavin.

Owner information about the causes, treatment, and prognosis of white line disease in horses.

Owner Fact Sheet for causes, treatment, prevention and cost of contracting Contagious Equine Metritis

A Master Horseman class is being held at the Washington Parish Arena starting March 1 for eight weeks. For more information, contact Lacey Urick or Neely Heidorn

Introduction to the Master Horseman Video series. The series is dedicated to presenting brief videos addressing common questions and issues faced by horse owners.

The daily nutrient requirements of the horse are based on a critical need for protein, energy, vitamins, minerals and water, to enable the horse to do a specific job and achieve his genetic and physical capabilities.

Louisiana horse owners can reduce the impact of their facilities on local waterways and groundwater by adopting management practices that minimize the potential for non-point source water pollution.

DVD 1: Horse Training (1 hour and 20 minutes) covers philosophy of training; ground work exercises; techniques for gaining control of the head, shoulder and hip; basic maneuvers; and more. DVD 2: Rider Development (30 minutes) explains how to find the rhythm of the horse’s movement and influence the horse through balance and rhythm, as well as other useful information.

Pervious concrete may be an alternative surface material for such horse facilities. Pervious concrete is a mixture of the same ingredients, except the sand is reduced or omitted and the amount of water is reduced. A properly installed concrete pad, using pervious concrete, is capable of allowing high volumes of water to permeate through the material. Depending on the aggregate used and the compacted density of the pad, the amount of infiltration of material through the pad can be varied

Rotational grazing has long been used by livestock producers as a way to use pasture more efficiently. By dividing large pastures into smaller paddocks, animals make better use of available forage. Additionally, pastures that are not allowed to be grazed down to such an extent that soil erosion can occur protect the environment by preventing sediment loss into adjacent waterways.

Somatotropin, also known as growth hormone, is a protein hormone produced and secreted by the pituitary gland of mammals. Somatotropin has several functions in the body, the most notable of which is growth of the long bones (for example, the femur of the thigh), which is achieved via stimulation of an intermediate hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), from the liver.