SUPERIOR TRAIL RIDERS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

December 2008

RIDE SCHEDULE FOR 2009

Tentative dates for 2009 rides are as follows:
1. May 16th
2. June 21st - Saddle Up! For St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
3. July 18th - Ride for H.O.P.E. (4-H Therapeutic Riding Program in Chippewa County)
4. August 8th
5. September 19th
6. October 17th

These are our regular rides. There will be more rides with dates to be determined at a later date.
All rides will start at 10:00 a.m.
Member ride free - non-members will pay $5.00 to ride.

DUES: Your 2008 dues expire December 31st. Dues are $10.00 single or $20.00 for a family. A membership application is enclosed. Please fill it out and mail along with your check to: Superior Trail Riders, 5940 S. Shunk Road, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.

GENERAL:
*Thanks to Denise Conroy for continuing to edit our website! Denise and her husband own Old Mill Designs Embroidery Shop in Cedarville. She does all our jackets, hats, etc.,
*Congratulations to Rebecca Smith for obtaining her first mileage certificate. She received a certificate and a gift card for her accomplishment. Way to go Rebecca - keep up the good work!
*Our condolences go out to Nick and Diane Serra on the loss of their wonderful mare, Stormy. Having raised and trained her prior to selling her to Nick and Diane, I also share in their loss.
*Congratulations to Kyle Anderson on purchasing his new horse, Bandit V. Nice horse and he is going to give others competition where ever he goes!
*Kenny Karpokowicz went to Indiana for Thanksgiving and ended up competing in a Novice Competitive Ride and placed first! Awesome job! His Aunt came in third.

I will be looking forward to getting your memberships and if you know of anyone who would like to get the newsletter, pass their name and address on to me and I will get them on the list.

PREPARING YOUR HORSE FOR WINTER

Here are tips in four different areas of horse management to help your horse not only survive, but thrive during cold weather so you have a healthy and willing partner when warmer temperatures return.
Nutrition: Forage, or hay, should make up the largest portion of your horse's diet especially in winter. Increasing the amount of hay is the best way to keep weight on horses when it's cold, as the fermentation process generates heat. Horses needing more calories can also be fed fortified grain, fat or other supplement. "Easy keepers" should be given a ration-balancer or multi-vitamin/mineral supplement to correct any deficiencies in hay alone. Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine showed that if during cold weather horses have only warm water available, they will drink a greater volume per day than if only icy cold water is available. But, if given a choice between warm and icy water simultaneously, they drink almost exclusively from the icy and drink less volume than if only warm water is available.
Exercise: Studies have found that muscular strength, cardiovascular fitness and overall flexibility decrease in horses that have been "let down" during winter, even if daily turnout is provided. While cold weather exercise can be challenging, you can improve conditions somewhat. With your farrier, determine if your horse has best traction with no shoes, regular shoes, shoes with borium, "snowball" pads, or another arrangement. Add a binding agent to indoor arenas to hold moisture, then water as often as temperature will allow. Warm up and cool down with care, spending twice as much time on each of these than when it is warmer.
Blanketing: In general, horses with an adequate hair coat, in good flesh, and with access to shelter don't need to be blanketed. However, horses that have been clipped, recently transported to a cold climate, or are thin or sick might need the additional warmth and protection of outerwear. Since horses' winter coats begin to grow as early as July, choices for inhibiting hair growth are using artificial lighting to simulate long days and adding clothing to your horse as soon as it begins to get chilly.
Health: A number of health conditions seem to be exacerbated by winter environment. Decrease the risk of impaction colic by providing only warm water (as described above) and top dressing electrolytes. Ensure proper ventilation for horses with "heaves" and consider wetting indoor arenas and aisles as well as hay. If possible, horses are better off outside as long as there is adequate shelter in periods of bad weather. Provide appropriate medications or supplements to prevent ulcers and arthritis "flare-ups" during periods of increased stall-time. Keep horses and their surroundings as clean and dry as possible to prevent thrush, scratches (pastern dermatitis, a moist exudative dermatitis affecting horses at the caudal heel and pastern area), and rain rot (dermatophilosis). Paying particular attention to your horse's nutrition, exercise, health, and protection from the elements during winter will help you have a ready and willing partner come spring.