Colic insurance

You might try the website www.smartpakequine.com to see about colic insurance for your horse.

Purina WellSolve feed recall

For those interested, I have a web site that discusses the issue:  www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20313   Please call or office if you have any further questions.

Poisonous plants

Recent blog talked about drought conditions and horses eating plants that are not good for them.  Here is a web site to see pictures of "bad" plants for horses to eat:  www.aspca.org/Pet-care/Poison-control/plants/?plantstoxicity=toxic-to-horses

Horses will eat poisonous plants in drought

This blog was noted coming out of North Carolina several years ago that is a topic for horse owners today.  "As the drought continues and pastures get browner and drier, our animals may be more likely to eat the toxic plants that live in our pastures that the animals ignore during better weather.  Not only is that because they have fewer healty options, but poisonous plants may actually increase in palatability under drought conditions.  They may also become more toxic.  Also in drought, we may use grazing areas we don't normally use at that time of year."  Look for more information in our upcoming newsletter.

Biosecurity measures for your horse

A resource the horse owner should be aware of was recently developed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture last year.  Where horse groups put on shows and where other events occur with large numbers of horses are mixed together this information might provide useful guidelines to follow.  The web address is:  http:cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Equine_Biosecurity.html

Foundered horses being fitted with"clogs".

Recedently farrier Bill Parsons has been applying wooden clogs to treat laminitic (foundered) horses.  These have been chronically laminitic horses that in some cases have had the coffin bone penetrate the sole, resulting in having the foot become infected.  There is no one way to treat foundered horses, but this innovative way is one method that has proven successful in a few tough cases.

Santa coming to Ortonville on Saturday

John Balhorn and Linda Henry of Top Hats & Tails Carriage Company of Ortonville will be bringing Santa into Ortonville during the Village Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3.  The parade will be starting at 3:00 p.m. beginning in front of the Edna Burton Senior Center at the corner of Ball and Cedar Streets.  It will go down Church Street, right on Mill Street, left on South Street and ending downtown at the Brandon Township Fire Station.