A horse grooming course

Submitted by
Gary Sliworsky

Following is the latest Horse News and Views which is prepared by Dr. Bob Wright, Animal Health and Welfare, OMAFRA, in cooperation with the staff and researchers of the University of Guelph.
The monthly column highlights research topics, extension resources, reminders of common poisonings, disease or production concerns and coming events and is placed on our website, http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/news.html.
If you love horses and want to work with them, join the Groom One Online course, May 7 to October 21, 2007, presented by Equine Guelph. Learn about: The Horse, Horse Handling, Horse Care, Nutrition, Facilities and Management, and the Equine Industry. Participants must be 16 years of age or older to register and have regular access to a computer and the internet. The $300 tuition includes access to the course site and course materials. For more information, visit: www.groomone.ca
Early spring is the time to rejuvenate your pastures and hay fields with an application of fertilizer. Grasses may require up to 300 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year to obtain the potential maximum economic yield. A yield response requires a minimum of 75 kg of actual nitrogen per hectare. Under grazing conditions, a valuable indicator of the need for nitrogen is an overall dull green appearance with poor growth. Better and greener growth appears around urine and manure spots. These spots will not be visible in a pasture receiving sufficient nitrogen. Yearly nitrogen application should be split into 1/2 in the early spring, 1/4 in late June and π in early September. Contact your local OMAFRA office or fertilizer supplier for soil-testing information.
Small strongyles (cyathostomes) have become increasingly important as a cause of illness and death in horses and are considered the primary reason for deworming horses that spend time at pasture. Since drug resistance is becoming a significant problem in these parasites, the primary objectives of a sound parasite control program should be to minimize the number of anthelmintic treatments (dewormings) AND to minimize the environmental contamination with parasites. Consult your veterinarian on the most appropriate parasite control program for your horse. Annual monitoring of the efficacy of the program, using a fecal sample collected in July/August, should be an integral part of any preventative health program. (Dr. A. Peregrine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph)
For further information, contact Dr. Bob Wright (519) 846-3412