News and Announcements

Winter is here

Water consumption is always a problem when the water starts to freeze. Heated water tanks and bucket warmers may help to prevent impaction colics we see this time of year when adequate water is not consumed.  Small amounts of table salt (few teaspoons) can be added per feeding to encourage drinking.

Hay keeps your horses warm.  The key to keeping your horses warm during these cold months are relatively simple.  Feed plenty of good quality hay is number one.  Horses generate heat when they eat roughage.

Keep you horse dry.  If it is going to rain or sleet keep your horses in the dry or use a water proof blanket to keep them dry.  This is important if the temperatures are going to drop. Some horses act colicky and shiver even at degrees in the 40's F if they get wet.

Due to the economic down turn prices have not been raised for 2010, in fact some of the prices have been reduced.

Best wishes from the staff at EVS for the new year.

INSULIN RESISTANCE aka IR

It’s time to check insulins.

IR is becoming an increasing problem in our horses.  Usually this problem isn’t diagnosed until laminitis causes your horse to be lame, sometimes severely.  Let’s be proactive. Blood tests for insulin are available and may direct us toward preventing laminitis from occurring.

PARASITES

We are already see radical differences in parasite counts between different horses on the same farm, same field, same dewormer schedule. We need to start checking all horses for parasite eggs.

Parasites are becoming resistance to our deworming agents. Rotation of pastures will help to decrease your parasite load, but pastures need to be free of horses for over 6 months at a time.  The only way to know if what you are doing is working is through routine fecal exams. Remember every horse’s immunity is different.