Greetings Everyone,

Included is the Weekly Pile of Information for the week of May 17, 2015, Extension's Equine related educational information & announcements for Rockingham & Guilford Counties. To have something included in the Weekly Pile, please follow these simple guidelines.

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Included in The Pile this Week:

1. TICKS, TICKS TICKS Its All About TICKS Program ­ May 27th 7pm

2. Grazing Management 3. Help Your Horse Beat the Heat this Summer 4. You Asked

5. Easy Keepers: Managing Horses Prone to Obesity

6. Daily Horse Observations for Horse Owners

7. Employment Opportunities for College Graduates

8. HorseFriends Benefit Show June 6

9. Fiore Farms Events 10. Piedmont Horseman’s Association 11. HAY 12. Swap Shop 13. Take A Load Off

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1. TICKS, TICKS TICKS Its All About TICKS Program ­ May 27th 7pm

As an Extension Agent, we often make farm visits to assist with various issues on farms. Sometimes a farm visit can turn out to be a “tick fest”… on the animals as well as on me. At an Extension Program held in April, Dr Wes Watson, a Veterinarian & NCSU Extension Entomologist had come up to discuss external parasites of Livestock. During that program there was so much interest & discussion about Ticks (control of and problems caused by ticks) that Dr Watson offered to come back to give a program focusing on Ticks.

Come learn all about ticks, the problems they cause for animals and humans, and control methods. Ticks are already very active in Rockingham County and the rest of North Carolina. The program will cover the biology and management strategies of this insect. This program is open to everyone and this program will take place on May 27th at the Rockingham County Agricultural Center beginning at 7pm.

If you are planning to attend this program, please call 342­8230 by NOON Tuesday May 26th to let us know that you’re planning to attend.

(This program will be eligible 1 Hour NC Pesticide recertification Credits available in subclasses X, N, K, and D For more information or to RSVP by noon on May 26th, please contact Rockingham County Cooperative Extension 336­342­8230)

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2. Grazing Management

C.D Teutsch, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center; and R.M. Hoffman, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Sound grazing management can decrease feeding expenses and stable cleaning and other chores, leaving more time for the recreational enjoyment of horses. In addition, pastures also help to maintain healthy horses by providing exercise and fresh air. Although properly managed pastures can be beneficial to both the horse and owner; improperly managed pastures can be a serious environmental concern. Poor grazing management results in the loss of groundcover that can lead to soil erosion, the degradation of water quality in neighboring streams and ponds, and increased weed pressure in pastures.

Proper grazing management includes allowing adequate time for the plants to establish themselves, providing adequate land area per horse, utilizing rotation and rest periods, confining horses to a "sacrifice area" or exercise lot during periods of drought or wet soil conditions, managing manure, maintaining soil fertility, and clipping the pasture to even out under­grazed areas and control weed populations.

Let the pasture become established Do not allow new seedlings to be grazed until the plants have become well established. The root systems should be well developed to prevent the seedlings from being pulled out of the soil by grazing animals and to reduce damage by the hooves of running horses. This rule applies not only to newly seeded pastures but also perennial pastures that have been renovated. New forage stands require 18 to 24 months to become fully established. Overgrazing during this period can severely damage developing sods. On the other hand, light and infrequent grazing can be beneficial for sod formation. During the establishment period do not graze sods closer than four to six inches and allow at least 30 days rest for actively growing pastures and longer for slow growing pastures during the summer months.

Provide adequate land area Pasture management begins with providing adequate area for each horse. Overstocking pasture areas will lead to the rapid loss of desirable forage species due to overgrazing and trampling. It also will encourage the growth of unpalatable and in some cases poisonous weeds. In Virginia, two to three acres of well­managed pasture should provide adequate grazing and exercise for a mature horse. However, with careful, sustainable pasture management a horse may be adequately kept on less acreage. Regardless of acreage, both the large equine business and the small hobbyist will benefit from sustainable grazing management, which is critical to a healthy sod that benefits the horse, the owner, and the environment.

Rotate and rest pastures Even the best pasture needs rest after grazing to allow plants time to regrow and replenish food reserves. The length of the rest period will depend on the time of the year and weather conditions. It should ultimately be based on the height of the regrowing plant (Table 1). Optimally, pasture acreage should be divided into at least four to six pastures. Continuous grazing weakens and thins stands and allows weeds and poisonous plants to invade pastures. Horses should be rotated from pasture to pasture based on the height of the forage. Never allow pastures or portions of pastures to become overgrazed. Since horses are spot grazers, rotate to a new pasture when the grazed areas reach the minimum height rather than waiting for the entire pasture area to be grazed to the minimum height. Target heights for starting and stopping grazing of commonly used forage species are shown in Table 1. Some forage species are more tolerant of grazing than others.

Table 1 ­ Starting and stopping grazing heights for forage species commonly used in horse pastures Forage Species Start Grazing (inches) Stop Grazing (inches) Usual Rest Period1 (weeks) Orchardgrass + Clover 8­12 4­6 2­4 Tall Fescue + Clover 6­8 2­4 2­4 Bermudagrass 4­8 1­ 2 1­2

1 Usual rest period is based on optimal growing conditions. Temperature and rainfall can dramatically impact regrowth and either shorten or lengthen the rest period significantly

Rotating livestock in pastures There are advantages to grazing different types of livestock in horse pastures, primarily because it allows more efficient use of the pasture. Although all livestock are selective grazers, compared to horses, cattle and sheep are less selective. Rotating different livestock through the pastures keeps them grazed more uniformly and helps maintain the highquality leafy stage of growth. Cows and sheep will also graze around manure piles left by horses. Cattle or sheep and horses may be stocked together in the same field or alternately, cattle or sheep may follow horses in the pasture rotation system.

Utilizing a "sacrifice" or "exercise area" In cases where land is limited to less than two acres per horse, it is nearly impossible to maintain pasture sod with continuous grazing. Maintaining an exercise area, that is, an exercise lot where no plants will grow is a practical solution. Permit grazing only when the pasture has reached the target height. Proper fertilization and timely irrigation of the pasture area can significantly increase forage growth and reduce the time period between grazing events. The exercise area should be used during periods of wet soil conditions and drought and during winter/non­growing season. Hoof action can seriously damage even well­established pasture sods when soil conditions are wet. Do not graze pastures during periods of drought stress and slowed growth. Overgrazing during these periods will significantly weaken and eventually kill even well ­established stands. Footing in exercise areas may become unsafe due to mud, so a base comprised of a geotextile (available at many agricultural or landscape supply stores) covered with six to eight inches of one­ to two­inch rock capped with two to three inches ground stone dust or sand should be constructed to improve the footing and prevent soil loss. Removing and composting manure and other organic materials such as hay and bedding every three days will also improve footing, and reduce parasite and fly exposure.

Provide hay as alternate forage During times of the year when adequate pasture is not available (e.g. drought conditions), provide hay as a forage alternative to pasture. Hay fed at a rate of 1 to 2 percent of body weight will provide adequate roughage to maintain digestive tract health. Horses will graze pasture during periods of non­growth if they have no alternative. However, limited forage availability and poor quality of non­growing pasture do not provide adequate nutrition for horses. Also, the grazing will weaken and kill desirable pasture plants. Since horses will tend to graze even if hay is provided, hay should be fed in the sacrifice area. Hay feeders should be utilized rather than feeding hay on the ground to avoid the ingestion of soil, sand, or stone dust that can lead to colic, and impaction.

Grazing Management at a Glance ­ Allow pastures to become established before grazing. ­ Do not graze pastures closer than two to four inches. ­ Allow pastures to rest between grazing events. ­ Graze pastures only after regrowth has reached a height of six to 12 inches. ­ Do not graze pastures that are not actively growing. ­ Feed hay when pasture growth is slowed or stopped. ­ Do not graze pastures when soil conditions are wet. ­ Mow pastures to remove mature forage and encourage grazing. ­ Dag/Harrow pastures to spread manure. ­ Create and utilize an "exercise area" to feed hay when pastures are not ready to be grazed.

Mowing maintenance The tendency of horses to spot graze pastures leaves some areas ungrazed. These areas need to be clipped to approximately four inches to remove mature growth and seed heads, promote new growth, increase forage quality, and encourage grazing. Mowing will also slow weed propagation by removing seed heads. Many grasses (ryegrass, fescue, bluegrass, small grains, etc.) may be susceptible to infection with an ergot mold, which may cause equine ergotism. Normally the ergot is only a problem when the forage is allowed to produce a seed head. Therefore, pastures should be clipped to avoid seed head formation.

Removing or harrowing manure Piles of manure droppings contribute to under­grazed areas of the pasture, because horses will avoid these areas and the nutrients contained in the manure will promote rapid plant growth. Manure piles in the pasture should be scattered periodically, by dragging, with a chain harrow, spiketooth harrow, or other similar implement across the pasture. Harrowing the manure will promote uniform grazing. Additionally, breaking up and spreading the manure piles may also help to reduce parasite populations. A good time to harrow the manure piles is shortly after the horses have been rotated to a fresh pasture and the resting pasture has been mowed.

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3. Help Your Horse Beat the Heat this Summer

Steven M. Jones, Extension Horse Specialist

Your horse depends upon you to provide all its basic needs for survival and good health. The enjoyment of horse ownership is dependent on your animal’s health and condition. A sick or poorly maintained animal cannot be pleasurable. Consistent maintenance of your horse’s health is much less expensive than the costs associated with returning your horse to good health should it become sick, not to mention your emotional strain and loss of potential riding time.

Basic horse care includes proper nutrition, a planned health maintenance schedule, adequate housing and space and a hoof­care routine. Other considerations include exercise programs, training programs and proper riding equipment. All these factors must be considered if you are sincere about responsible horse care. High heat and humidity can require horse owners to make changes to their management strategies when caring for horses during the summer. During hot weather, horses are vulnerable to heat or thermal stress.

Since horses cool themselves primarily by sweating, there is an increased need for water and mineral intake during the summer. If horses do not have access to water, they risk becoming dehydrated, which can lead to more severe problems such as decreased performance, shock, and even death.

Horses are unique among large domestic animals. They are not raised to produce meat, milk or wool for human consumption. Instead, horses are raised to be athletes, with work as their principle productive function. There are many different types of work that horses are asked to perform. These range from high­speed racing events to pleasure rides on the back­forty.

In the hot and humid weather, horses generate a significant amount of metabolic heat during exercise that must be dissipated to prevent thermal injury. During hot, humid conditions sweat will not evaporate; therefore, evaporative cooling becomes ineffective, quickly leading to debilitating and potentially life­threatening situations.

We often use the phrase, “sweating like a horse.” Horses and men are the only athletic mammals that cool themselves primarily by sweating. Some heat dissipation occurs by means of radiation, conduction, convection and respiratory evaporation. Evaporative cooling through sweating is the most important route for release of heat from the body to the environment.

Thermoregulation for exercising horses requires ample blood flow to carry heat from the body core to peripheral blood vessels in the skin, where dissipation of heat can occur. Simultaneously, the heart begins delivering blood to working muscles, essential organs, tissues and the brain. At the onset of exercise, blood pressure is preferentially maintained at the expense of thermoregulation, resulting in an increase in body temperature. As heat accumulates, blood flow from the body core to the surface of the skin is increased to transport the heat from the body core to the surface. As exercise continues, sweat, made up of water and minerals, carries the heat through the sweat glands to the body surface, resulting in heat loss to the environment. Continued exercise and sweating lead to progressive dehydration and loss of plasma water from the bloodstream. The greater the exercise intensity of an event, the greater the heat load generated, resulting in a greater need for heat dissipation.

Thermal injury is caused by animal dehydration. With prolonged exercise, water intake may increase 300 percent. Research in humans and a recent series of equine studies show a positive correlation between fluid losses, inability to maintain temperature and onset of fatigue during endurance exercise. The consequences of excess dehydration can be severe: electrolyte and pH disturbances, fatigue, gait incoordination, increased risk of orthopedic injury and death. Under normal conditions, dehydration can be minimized through the provision of adequate water, salt and mineral supplementation, and balanced diet. Horses rehydrate within a 24­hour recovery period between exercise programs.

Another measure used in the prevention of thermal injury is monitoring of weather conditions to determine the potential risk to the horse. Several inexpensive devices are available for quick measurement of temperature and humidity. These are used to calculate the "comfort index," which is the sum of the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity as a percentage. If the sum is below 130, thermoregulation should not be a concern. When the comfort index is between 130 and 150, horses will sweat, but they should be able to exercise without major problems if normal fluid replacement is allowed. When the comfort index exceeds 150 and the humidity is greater than 75 percent, heat dissipation can be a problem. Horsemen should monitor their horses very carefully during strenuous workouts under these conditions. When the comfort index exceeds 180, normal routes of heat dissipation fail to work and workouts should be discontinued.

Under normal conditions, a balanced ration and a salt­mineral supplementation program should be sufficient to maintain electrolyte balance. However, with intensive exercises, substantial sweating occurs, leading to water and electrolyte deficiency that results in weakness, muscle cramps, acid­base imbalance and decreased performance. Mechanisms for the conservation of sodium and potassium improve with the horse’s acclimation to temperature and humidity. A sodium and potassium deficiency occurs additionally in untrained and nonheat­ acclimated horses. It is critical to monitor and, when appropriate, to provide electrolyte supplementation to horses beginning a vigorous training schedule or adjusting to elevated environmental temperatures.

Thermal stress resulting from exercise­induced dehydration can affect performance, causing serious problems or even death for your horse. However, thermal stress is preventable with provision of adequate water and minerals, along with monitoring environmental conditions and using common sense.

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4. You Asked: Going to different places with the horses they drink water from many sources. Many of these sources include water that has had fluorides added to it. We have been told that this water could kill or poison our horses and we want to find out more about this to prevent any possible problems.

It is common for horses to be exposed to water sources that have been through a municipal system that add fluoride. Horses are less susceptible to fluoride toxicity than cattle or sheep. Maximum dietary allowance of fluoride for horses is believed to be 40 ppm (mg/kg) in dry matter intake and 4 to 8 mg/liter in drinking water. The suggested maximum dietary allowance is substantially higher than normal fluoridation levels for municipal water supplies, which is 0.5 to 1.0 mg/liter of water. Cities monitor fluoride levels very closely in municipal water supplies. Most horses will drink approximately 40 liters of water (10 gallons) daily, or about 20 to 40 mg of fluoride. Keep in mind, horses can have up to 40 mg/kg of fluoride which translates into 18,000 mg of fluoride daily for a 450 kg (1,000 pound) horse.

In most reported cases of fluoride toxicity; most have been from industrial pollution/contamination or from the use of rock phosphate sources that have not been de­fluorinated.

By: Roy Johnson, MS, Cargill Animal Nutrition

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5. Easy Keepers: Managing Horses Prone to Obesity

C.A. Shea Porr, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Equine, Loudoun County; and Kathleen Crandell, Superintendent of Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Cooperative Extension

“Easy Keepers” are horses that will maintain or even gain weight under conditions where other horses will lose weight. They are often considered a pleasure to own because they need less feed to maintain an appropriate body condition; however, these horses can easily become obese, which leads to other potentially life­threatening conditions. The challenge becomes meeting their nutritional needs in protein, vitamins, and minerals, without over­ feeding calories.

Summary Tips on Managing the Easy Keeper ­ Start or increase the level of exercise. Begin slowly and work up to longer or more intensive activities. ­ Get rid of high calorie concentrates. Easy keepers do not need the extra energy. ­ Get rid of high fat supplements. Again, easy keepers do not need the extra calories. ­ Feed grass forages and hay rather than legumes. This will decrease the caloric intake. ­ Limit access to pasture to less than 4 hours a day. Use a grazing muzzle if a drylot is not available. ­ Limit the amount of hay fed to 1­1.5% of the target body weight. Divide this amount into several feedings a day in order to extend the amount of time the horse spends eating. ­ Make sure the horse has access to salt (straight salt or a trace­mineral salt) and clean water.

Causes of Obesity Horses evolved grazing forages like those in our pastures today, right? Wrong. Forages in our pastures today are much higher in calorie content than the types of grasses that horses evolved on. They grazed on moderate to poor quality forages, often covering several miles a day to find feed in sparsely vegetated areas. Modern management practices have placed horses in unnatural confinement situations that restrict grazing activity within the limits of pasture fences while providing easy to find, high quality forages. The ultimate confinement with limited access to forage is represented by horses that are stallkept with limited turnout. These horses do not have to travel at all to find forage, and thus are not expend any calories looking for food. Despite this, many people still believe that horses need concentrates as part of the diet. Combined with decreased exercise, this creates an equine lifestyle that results in weight gain and obesity. Interestingly, a recent survey done in Virginia found that many obese horses are getting very little or no concentrate and still battle weight issues, adding emphasis to the lack of exercise as a contributor to obesity.

The basic cause of obesity is consuming more calories than are expended, usually from a combination of too much or the wrong type of feed combined with a lack of exercise. Traditionally, working horses needed more calories than they could get from forage alone, and they were fed grain to make up the deficit. Today, most horses are no longer used for work; many are kept as pleasure and recreational trail horses. Their calorie expenditure is very low when compared with horses in the past.

Effects of Obesity Sometimes owners think that “a little extra weight” on a horse isn’t a bad thing. What one person considers obese another might call a little plump. The difficulty lies in defining what “a little” means and whether or not that’s actually healthy for the animal. While some body fat is essential, excess reduces a horse’s capacity for exercise. The extra weight requires more exertion to move and added fat layers insulate the body, reducing the horse’s ability to dissipate heat which can lead to heat stress. The extra weight may also predispose an animal to musculoskeletal injuries or exacerbate arthritis, resulting in decreased performance.

Another health concern for obese horses includes the formation of lipomas: fatty tumors that can form in the abdominal cavity of obese horses. These tumors are often suspended from the tissue (mesentery) that supports the intestines and hang in such a way as to increase the chances of strangulation colic. This is a surgical situation that happens when the stalk of the lipoma wraps around intestinal tissue and deprives the gut tissue of blood. Lipomas appear to be more prevalent in older horses (over 15 years of age).

Additionally, obese horses are more prone to laminitis and founder, most likely due to abnormal glucose metabolism. Overweight animals can become resistant to the actions of insulin, resulting in higher levels of insulin being secreted when the horse eats a meal. These high levels of insulin may lead to increased incidents of laminitis and founder. The added weight of the horse may also make the rotation of the coffin bone worse than what would result in a horse of an appropriate body weight.

Monitoring for Obesity Weight gain usually occurs slowly, and without an appropriate monitoring system your horse may become obese before you realize there is a problem. While most people don’t have access to a livestock scale, there are other ways to assess your horse’s level of obesity. Weight tapes, available at most feed and tack stores, are useful for generating an approximate bodyweight and are very good at helping you monitor changes. Using the tape accurately and consistently will allow you to track increases or decreases in your horse’s weight and give you time to adjust feed intake and exercise accordingly.

The other method easily used is body condition scoring. The most commonly used system assesses fat deposition on six areas on the horse’s body: neck, withers, behind the shoulder, over the ribs, topline, and tailhead. Each area is ranked on a scale of 1­9, where a 1 is a thin, emaciated horse, and a 9 is an overweight, heavily obese horse. A score of 5 is considered moderate, and a range of 4 to 6 is acceptable for most horses. These scores are averaged to generate an overall body condition score. Again, this system can be used to subjectively evaluate a horse on a regular basis and can help track changes in body weight and condition over time. Taking pictures of your horse at the same time you score them can also be helpful in monitoring changes in weight and condition

Reducing Obesity Obese horses will only lose weight if their energy expenditure is greater than their intake. This can happen by increasing exercise and/or decreasing calorie intake. However, caution must be used. An unfit, obese horse can be easily and quickly overstressed by too much exercise and proper nutrition must be maintained to prevent nutritional deficiencies.

Sometimes turning out the confined horse will allow a greater level of exercise, but many horses will simply stand around waiting for something to eat. Forced exercise is often required. Lunging or encouraging the horse to run around a safely fenced paddock or round pen for 10­15 minutes several times a day will help them lose weight. Riding or driving will accomplish the task faster. If your schedule does not allow you time to do this, consider leasing your horse to someone who will have the time to exercise them. A slow increase the horse’s exercise level will avoid causing metabolic problems associated with exhaustion or heat stress. Begin by doing short sessions (20­30 minutes) of walking and trotting a few days a week. Exercising for longer periods of time at a walk or trot will burn more calories than cantering or galloping. Gradually increase the amount of time and the frequency of exercise until the horse is working out at least 3­4 hours each week. Although tempting, be sure not to increase their feed!

Restricting access to pasture will often help decrease the horse’s calorie intake. Limiting turnout time to a few hours (approximately 4 hours a day) will accomplish this, but turning them out “during the day” or “only at night” will not. Unless the amount of time on grass is severely limited horses will eat the same or more than horses left out 24 hours a day. If there is no drylot (area with no grass) to turn the horse out in, then a grazing muzzle should be used. Be sure to use one that allows the horse to drink but limits access to grass.

Pastures tend to be higher in energy than hay, and grasses tend to be lower in calories than legumes (such as alfalfa). Feed at least 1.5% of the horse’s target weight in good quality grass hay each day while limiting pasture access. This means if the horse should weigh 1000 lbs, at least 15 lbs of hay should be fed per day. The restricted amount of hay will usually be consumed in a few hours if fed all at once; therefore, dividing the hay into three or four feedings a day will reduce the amount of time the horse spends without feed. This will help maintain proper gut function, reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers, and keep them from getting bored and chewing down the barn.

Since concentrates are often unnecessary, consider eliminating, decreasing, or changing the horse’s grain. If the hay is poor quality and you’re concerned about overall nutrition, consider offering a ration balancer. Ration balancers are designed to be fed in small amounts and are low calorie, yet they contain the appropriate protein, vitamins, and minerals to balance a horse’s diet. High fiber feeds or feeds that are lower in calories (light feeds) can also be used. Some of the “low carb” or “low NSC” high fat concentrates or supplements, as these add concentrated calories to the diet.

Salt and water should be freely available for horses at all times.

Maintaining the Easy Keeper The diet utilized for losing weight will not be the same as the one used for maintaining weight. Once the horse has lost the appropriate amount of weight, slowly increase the amount of grass hay fed or increase access to pasture until the horse can maintain the target weight. Grazing muzzles or limited turnout may still be required, particularly during times when pasture forages are lush (spring and fall). Keep up the exercise and monitor the horse’s weight regularly to maintain a trimmer, healthier animal.

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6. Daily Horse Observations for Horse Owners Dr. Patricia A. Evans, Assistant Professor/Extension Equine Specialist, Utah State University

Dr. Karen Waite, Academic Specialist, Michigan State University

When responsible for a horse, an owner must be very observant. Knowing what is normal and what is not for each individual horse can alert the owner or caretaker to a problem before it becomes a big issue. Owners that have a routine, which can be followed at each feeding, can better observe their horses for any indications of a problem. Finding a problem early may save owners major veterinary expenses, or the loss of a horse.

When feeding, after not seeing the horse for the night or day, it is important to get an initial impression of the horse’s overall wellbeing. If the horse is stalled individually there are many aspects one can evaluate. If housed in a group it may be difficult to monitor some aspects of an individual horse; however, if a group housed horse does not come up with its herd mates, it is definitely cause \for concern.

Stalled Horse – Water When a horse is watered by a water bucket, the amount left should be evaluated at each feeding. If the horse usually has a 1/4 of a bucket left in the morning, any change in that amount should raise some questions. If there is more than 1/4 bucket left, ask yourself if it is due to a weather change, such as cooler weather. A drop in air temperature can decrease water intake, but even if due to weather it should not be taken lightly, as a drop in water intake can cause digestion problems. It could also be caused by a decrease in work load or a change in feed to one higher in moisture content.

It can indicate an ill horse so further investigation is warranted. Sprinkling a tablespoon of loose salt (table salt) onto grain, if the horse receives grain, or onto wet hay typically increases a horse’s water consumption. If water intake increases from normal, it could be due to warmer than normal weather, increased work load, or a change in diet to a drier feed.

Group Housed – Water It is more difficult to determine if a particular horse is drinking when housed in a group setting. With any concern for a horse’s health, if possible, the horse should be separated for easier monitoring. This will allow for water and manure monitoring and behavior evaluation. If the horse drinks from an automatic water system, it can be more difficult to determine water intake. Some automatic water systems have meters that measure intake. If no meter is attached, any indication of a problem requires the automatic water be turned off and a bucket hung so water intake can be monitored. Checking the horse for dehydration can be helpful in determining water intake concerns. The skin pinch test is performed by pinching the skin on neck or shoulder between the thumb and pointer finger. If the skin snaps back to normal the horse is adequately hydrated. One can also lift the upper lip and check the horse’s gums for moisture. Looking at the flank area will also indicate if the horse is drinking, as a horse that is not drinking will have flanks that are drawn in.

­ Perform a pinch test on the neck or shoulder. Pinch the skin, it should return to normal immediately.

Manure The number of manure piles and manure consistency can be evaluated for individually \housed horses. Knowing how many piles are in the stall each morning or feeding is very helpful. If the number decreases it can indicate a digestive problem developing. Consistency and color is also important. The manure should be soft round balls (road apples) with a greenish color if on grass or good quality alfalfa hay but a brownish color if on older hay. If the manure is soft, like cattle piles, it can indicate some kind of digestive upset. A horse that is switched too quickly from hay to pasture or from one type of feed to another will usually exhibit this soft manure. Shooting diarrhea is an emergency as a horse will become dehydrated very quickly with extreme diarrhea.

Feed Intake A horse’s interest in hay/concentrate provides valuable information. A horse should come up to eat with interest and eat steadily. If the horse comes up and wants to eat but does not continue, it is a strong indication of ill­health. If the horse is in a group, the person feeding should make sure each horse comes to eat and stays and continues eating. It is a good practice to put out one more feed pile than number of horses so that even the most submissive can access feed. Feeding is more than just putting feed out; it involves checking that each horse has access to and eats its feed.

Take care of a horse that bolts (eats very rapidly) feed (concentrate) by putting large rocks in the grain bin to slow the horse down. Giving hay first can also help a horse slow down when eating its grain.

­ Group feeding can lend itself to some horses left out of the feed bin.

­ Large Rocks in feeder can slow a horse down when eating grain.

Stalled Horse Checking the stall for any unusual wear during the night or day is important. If there is a path worn in the stall which is not normal, this indicates that the horse has been pacing so further checks for any other signs of distress should be done.

­ Path worn in stall could indicate that the horse should be evaluated more closely.

A horse covered in bedding or the stall very disturbed can indicate a colicky horse. If a horse rolls and stands but does not shake off, this can also indicate a problem. Holes dug in the bedding indicate the horse pawed and could mean the horse is colicky as well

Body Check Other than feeding and making sure the horse eats and looks bright, the horse should be checked over for any obvious signs of wounds or swellings. Check both sides of the body for any cuts or signs of irritation. Look at both eyes for brightness or any signs of drainage or irritation. Look and feel the legs for heat or swelling. When housed in a group, these evaluations should be performed on each horse. When housed in a large paddock or pasture, watch the horses walk or trot to the feed area. This can show signs of lameness or hesitancy to move.

­ Checking horse for any signs of heat or swelling during feeding each day. The horse should be haltered and held/tied if there is any \concern that the horse will not stand still.

Summary Observing a horse for potential problems during normal feeding times can help owners find concerns before they become even larger problems. Anytime a horse deviates from normal behavior it is cause for a closer look. Performing these observations only takes minutes a day but can keep small problems small and help prevent problems from becoming life threatening or expensive. If the horse does not appear to feel well, its vital signs should be taken and possibly the veterinarian contacted.

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7. Employment Opportunities for College Graduates

In Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, And the Environment

https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/

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8. HorseFriends Benefit Horse Show

June 6 at Flintrock Farm HorseFriends Open Benefit Horse Show will be held at Flintrock Farm, 221 Flintrock Trail, Reidsville, on Saturday, June 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be something for everyone with classes in English, Western and Therapeutic riding. (2015 Class List) The event includes a Silent Auction, t­shirt and book sales, and concessions. All proceeds benefit HorseFriends Therapeutic Riding Program. HorseFriends serves individuals with special needs and their families, by providing their services FREE of charge. For more information about the Horse Show or to be a show sponsor, [email protected]. If you would like to know more about HorseFriends, visit their websitewww.horsefriendsnc.org.

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9. Fiore Farms Activities

Summer Camp­July 13th­17th. [email protected] 336.423.6981

Boarding at Fiore Farms Happy Horses, Happy People

Red Dog Farm Rescue Horses­ Geronimo­3 yr. old sweet cute pony. 14 hands Sulli­14 yr. old quarter horse gelding. Left eye has been removed. Loves to be groomed. Great at ground work. A bit unsure to ride off away from his "seeing eye donkey".

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10. Piedmont Horseman’s Association Show This Weekend!

Piedmont Horseman's Association show on May 23 at Circle S in Gibsonville to benefit Kountry Kids 4­H Club! On May 23rd we will have next PHA show at Circle S in Gibsonville. The Kountry Kids 4­H Club will be putting on the show. We will award high point and reserve high point awards in each division. The show will start 10am. The show is open to everyone. We have something for everyone; adults and youth. This year PHA is offering field hunter, stock type hunter, working western and western pleasure. You do not have to be a member to show, but there are many benefits of being a member of PHA; reduced entry fee at sanctioned shows, accumulate points for year­end awards, and much more.

We hope you will become part of the PHA family!! You can find all the details about all the shows as well as membership forms on the web site: http://www.phasince1971.com Also find us on Facebook.

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11. HAY In the past couple of weeks we have had a lot of hay cut. Please make sure you are managing your grass if you are grazing or cutting for hay. Let grass grow to proper height before harvesting and once you do, pull animals off when taken down to proper height.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAY FOR SALE!

A Hay Directory is maintained by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service for the Rockingham County and Guilford County area. This directory is intended as a service to both hay producers and buyers in the area. If you are in need of hay or would like to be added (or removed) from this list please call me at 1­800­666­3625 or 342­8235 and let me know your name, address & phone #, type of hay, number of bales, (square or round bales) and weight per bale. MANAGE YOUR PASTURES!

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12. Swap Shop

­ Misc. High Quality name brand Saddleseat show clothes – 3 & 4 piece Saddle suits (Carl Meyer 4 piece suit & other custom made), Reed Hill & custom day coats , vests, name brand jods, ties/cumberbun sets (silk), shirts, etc. All saddle seat stuff must go! Contact Terri Aprile(336) 698­0207

­ Misc. Horse Stuff/Training Equipment – bridles, blankets, sheets, etc ­ Blankets & sheets (SZS. 72­76), English Full Bridles & accessories, Cash Lovell bits (curbs & snaffles) & other various Hunt & Western curbs/snaffles, saddle pads/blankets (English hunt/saddle seat & western), leg bandages/split boots, bits, fly masks, training equipment, etc. & more. All saddle seat stuff must go! Terri Aprile (336) 698­0207

­ Cliff Barnsby Morgan/Arab tree saddleseat flat saddle (Made in England) –– 21 inch seat –kept in house – excellent condition $ 500.00 OBO Contact Terri Aprile (336) 698­ 0207

­ County competitor dressage saddle – 18” seat, extra­wide tree, black, in excellent condition, kept in the house & not in the barn – 2005 model purchased new. $2000.00 OBO Terri Aprile (336) 698­0207

­ Equine sports massage therapy – Stay ready for Show Season or for Therapeutic concerns!! Excellent for all disciplines & improves behavior – Certified by EQUISSAGE since 1994 – therapy is performed at your farm – Contact Terri Aprile(336) 698­0207

For Sale – Winter Company Up­Right Piano ­ $475 OBO 336­623­1783– Excellent Condition!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 13. Take A Load Off I need your clean Jokes, so please send em to me! ­ Thanks For This Send In

A husband went to the sheriff‛s department to report

that his wife was missing.

Husband: My wife is missing. She went shopping yesterday and has not come home.

Sergeant: What is her height?

Husband: Gee, I‛m not sure. A little over five-feet tall.

Sergeant: Weight?

Husband: Don‛t know. Not slim, not really fat.

Sergeant: Color of eyes?

Husband: Never noticed.

Sergeant: Color of hair?

Husband: Changes a couple times a year. Maybe dark brown.

Sergeant: What was she wearing?

Husband: Could have been a skirt or shorts. I don‛t remember exactly.

Sergeant: What kind of car did she go in?

Husband: She went in my truck.

Sergeant: What kind of truck was it?

Husband: Brand new 2015 Ford F150 King Ranch 4X4 with eco-boost 5.0L V8 engine special ordered with manual transmission. It has a custom matching white cover for the bed. Custom leather seats and “Bubba” floor mats. Trailering package with gold hitch. DVD with navigation, 21-channel CB radio, six cup holders, and four power outlets. Added special alloy wheels and off- road Michelins. Wife put a small scratch on the drivers door. At this point the husband started choking up.

Sergeant: Don‛t worry buddy. We‛ll find your truck.

I always need more help with the jokes!

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I always want to know what you think of the Weekly Pile, good or bad, Especially if it has had ANY IMPACT on you. Let me hear from you!

PLEASE SEND TO ME YOUR IDEAS FOR ARTICLES IN FUTURE NEWSLETTERS! I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!

Please remember our Troops who are serving our Country (and their families), those who have come home with wounds, and the families that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

have a safe, thankful memorial day weekend! Thanks

­­ Ben Chase Rockingham and Guilford County Extension Agent Agriculture & Livestock North Carolina State University North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 525 NC 65, Suite 200, Reidsville, NC 27320 (336) 342­8235 800­666­3625 Fax: 336­342­8242 Email : [email protected] http://rockingham.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=animalagriculture