Thursday, April 10, 2008
The race is afoot. (er, a hoof...)
Ok folks, sorry about the long delay between posts. We are ramping up for race season, our first two races are this weekend. I'll be sure to post more either this weekend or next week!
Friday, March 14, 2008
The big thaw, and what's next.
So we're out of the sub zero temps and starting to thaw... a lot. It's nothing but mud and ... er... manure. Now is the time when you really have to be diligent with your horses in pasture. Thrush will creep up quickly in these wet conditions, especially if you have a few consecutive days where the ground has standing water or is wet.
The best way to stay on top of thrush is a weekly check of all of your horses. If you have horses that are prone to thrush, use a treatment or inhibitor every week, that will keep things from getting outta hand.
The best way to stay on top of thrush is a weekly check of all of your horses. If you have horses that are prone to thrush, use a treatment or inhibitor every week, that will keep things from getting outta hand.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
It's a girl, again!
We had our second filly of the season on Wed. morning. The birth went well, with no complications. The filly was up and nursing in good time, and has been doing great in turn out the last couple days.
I'll be updating the slide show to the right with new pics of both weenlings!
Stay tuned!
I'll be updating the slide show to the right with new pics of both weenlings!
Stay tuned!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Keeping the dust down in your arena.
One more facilities thing that I did want to touch on is keeping dust down in your indoor riding arenas during this time of year. Even though most of our horses are out for training, we still use the arena to turn out the mares and their new foals so that they can get exercise.
This means it's extremely important to keep the dust down in the arena. The new foals can't handle the dust and it may damage their developing lungs.
The problem is that in this weather our sprinkler systems won't work, and we've even busted a couple hydrants from the severe cold. What we've resorted to doing is keeping a hose in the house so that it stays thawed, then dragging it out every day and using it to hand water the soft pack. It's a pain in the rear, but it's the best way to get even watering during cold conditions. If you try to use lawn sprinklers on the end of a hose, it causes pooling and packing, which will result in you having to spend extra time tilling your arena in the spring.
This means it's extremely important to keep the dust down in the arena. The new foals can't handle the dust and it may damage their developing lungs.
The problem is that in this weather our sprinkler systems won't work, and we've even busted a couple hydrants from the severe cold. What we've resorted to doing is keeping a hose in the house so that it stays thawed, then dragging it out every day and using it to hand water the soft pack. It's a pain in the rear, but it's the best way to get even watering during cold conditions. If you try to use lawn sprinklers on the end of a hose, it causes pooling and packing, which will result in you having to spend extra time tilling your arena in the spring.
Technology is helping manage today's farms.
There are a lot of things that I have recently been introduced to that are very interesting. Being in any agricultural industry you tend to be on the back side of newer technologies, but our industries are quickly catching on to how much tech can improve our efficiency and productivity.
Here are a couple things that we use here, or that I have found and implemented that are helping in the operations of the farm.
Foal Alert.
If you do any kind of large stock breeding, you should know about this one. It's a transmitter that is sewn into the vulva with three simple sutures. Once the water breaks and the mare begins to foal, it sends a signal to the transmitter that dials a list of pre-set phone numbers. It actually calls our house, pagers, and cell phones the moment the mare begins to foal.
Maintenance Software
This is a free software program that allows you to keep and track all of your employees, equipment, and facilities. It generates work orders, preventative maint. schedules, and more. It is simple to use, and works well. Once you have all of the information in the system, it can be a huge asset. I am working on networking all of our buildings so that work orders can be put in at multiple locations and received in the shop, which will print out on a daily basis.
Both of these things have saved a ton of time in their respective areas of service.
We'll talk more in my next post of the foaling process, as we have our second foal of the season due any day.
Here are a couple things that we use here, or that I have found and implemented that are helping in the operations of the farm.
Foal Alert.
If you do any kind of large stock breeding, you should know about this one. It's a transmitter that is sewn into the vulva with three simple sutures. Once the water breaks and the mare begins to foal, it sends a signal to the transmitter that dials a list of pre-set phone numbers. It actually calls our house, pagers, and cell phones the moment the mare begins to foal.
Maintenance Software
This is a free software program that allows you to keep and track all of your employees, equipment, and facilities. It generates work orders, preventative maint. schedules, and more. It is simple to use, and works well. Once you have all of the information in the system, it can be a huge asset. I am working on networking all of our buildings so that work orders can be put in at multiple locations and received in the shop, which will print out on a daily basis.
Both of these things have saved a ton of time in their respective areas of service.
We'll talk more in my next post of the foaling process, as we have our second foal of the season due any day.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Bedding choices in the new foal's stall.
As we are getting ready for our second mare to give birth, I am looking at some of the finer details of the process that I want to discuss. Today I'd like to take a look at the bedding choices that you have in the stalls that the newborns will be in.
Since most of us use fine sawdust or a combination of sawdust and shavings, that is probably already in the foaling stall that you will use. The thing to keep in mind is that newborn foals will spend a lot of time sleeping and down near the bedding, and fine sawdust can cause some serious problems with their lungs. Since racehorses are rely heavily on their lungs, it's very important that they are given the chance to develop properly in the early days. Covering your sawdust with straw will greatly cut down on the amount of dust in the air. The sawdust makes a great absorbent on the bottom, as well as insulation from the ground on concrete or padded stalls. Remember tho, if you have heated floors, be sure to closely regulate the temps so that you don't run into problems from the extra bedding that you add.
Next we'll look at indoor arenas and keeping the dust down in the winter, which can be especially tricky in the winter, since you usually can't use your overhead watering system.
Stay tuned!
Since most of us use fine sawdust or a combination of sawdust and shavings, that is probably already in the foaling stall that you will use. The thing to keep in mind is that newborn foals will spend a lot of time sleeping and down near the bedding, and fine sawdust can cause some serious problems with their lungs. Since racehorses are rely heavily on their lungs, it's very important that they are given the chance to develop properly in the early days. Covering your sawdust with straw will greatly cut down on the amount of dust in the air. The sawdust makes a great absorbent on the bottom, as well as insulation from the ground on concrete or padded stalls. Remember tho, if you have heated floors, be sure to closely regulate the temps so that you don't run into problems from the extra bedding that you add.
Next we'll look at indoor arenas and keeping the dust down in the winter, which can be especially tricky in the winter, since you usually can't use your overhead watering system.
Stay tuned!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
About the birth
Now that I've gotten some rest, and am getting over this cold that's going around, I want to share a little more about the whole process that we went through here over the last week or so. Like I said, this was my first foaling, but old hat for the owners as well as the mare, so it was a really good experience.
The big thing that I learned is that the (almost) tell tale sign that the foal is coming tonight is the waxing. This sign is the "Big Red Flag" that let us know that it was gonna happen, and soon. We went through a couple false labor type days, several times that the mare went down on her side, her bags would fill, then recede some, then fill, and so on. Needless to say, we got worked up WAY too early, mainly because she went longer than expected before foaling.
Our next mare comes due in a couple weeks, and I am sure this one will be a lot less hectic. The thing to keep in mind is that even though waxing is the sign to watch for, some mares will skip this step all together. If you don't know your mare's history, it's important to watch all of the other signs too to be on guard for the big day.
We'll talk more about that in a while, I'm going to go back to some facilities issues here over the next few blogs.
Stay tuned!
The big thing that I learned is that the (almost) tell tale sign that the foal is coming tonight is the waxing. This sign is the "Big Red Flag" that let us know that it was gonna happen, and soon. We went through a couple false labor type days, several times that the mare went down on her side, her bags would fill, then recede some, then fill, and so on. Needless to say, we got worked up WAY too early, mainly because she went longer than expected before foaling.
Our next mare comes due in a couple weeks, and I am sure this one will be a lot less hectic. The thing to keep in mind is that even though waxing is the sign to watch for, some mares will skip this step all together. If you don't know your mare's history, it's important to watch all of the other signs too to be on guard for the big day.
We'll talk more about that in a while, I'm going to go back to some facilities issues here over the next few blogs.
Stay tuned!
Friday, February 8, 2008
It's a girl!
At 11:30 last night we welcomed the newest member of our ranch into the world. We have a beautiful (and big) baby girl. The birth went well, it was only about 30 min. from the time her water broke until the filly was out. She was standing and feeding within an hour, and is doing well. We all got a good night's sleep, and I'll be adding pictures to the slide show on the right as the day goes on. (I'll keep the more explicit ones off, don't worry.)
More to come!
More to come!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The foaling process
The normal gestation period for a mare is 335 days, or around eleven months. Some mares will go less, some will go more, but that's a good average.
Here are some of the things that we are watching as indicators of how close our mare is. Remember, each pregnancy can be different, but this is the rough outline that I have been shown.
Signs of impending foaling:
Size and movement of abdomen.
It's important to remember that you need to watch not only the size of the abdomen, but also the movement of the foal as it moves down towards the birthing canal. I actually watched this movement last night, you can see the foal actually shift towards the rear of the mare.
Udder Development.
In preparation for foaling, the mare's udder will start to fill ("bagging up") as early as a month before she foals. But some mares won't develop a bag until after she has foaled. Often mares that have developed a bag will start to drip a clear fluid that gradually turns white. Within the last 24 hours or so before foaling the substance will turn sticky and creamy.
Waxing:
Once the mare has developed a bag, she may exhibit a honey colored, waxy substance on the nipples. Some mares may wax a couple of weeks before foaling, while others don't show anything until after they have foaled.
Softness of the croup.
The muscles in the mare's hindquarters will relax, allowing softness if you feel the area, as well as an almost complete flexibility of the tail, you can almost completely flex it back against the back.
Behavior.
During the last few weeks of gestation, the mare may become cranky and restless. She may also want to be alone. As she starts into the first stage of foaling she may switch her tail, stamp her feet and kick at her abdomen. These are also signs of colic, but if she is still eating, drinking, defecating and/or urinating she is probably started into labor.
We'll look at more as the process unfolds.
Here are some of the things that we are watching as indicators of how close our mare is. Remember, each pregnancy can be different, but this is the rough outline that I have been shown.
Signs of impending foaling:
Size and movement of abdomen.
It's important to remember that you need to watch not only the size of the abdomen, but also the movement of the foal as it moves down towards the birthing canal. I actually watched this movement last night, you can see the foal actually shift towards the rear of the mare.
Udder Development.
In preparation for foaling, the mare's udder will start to fill ("bagging up") as early as a month before she foals. But some mares won't develop a bag until after she has foaled. Often mares that have developed a bag will start to drip a clear fluid that gradually turns white. Within the last 24 hours or so before foaling the substance will turn sticky and creamy.
Waxing:
Once the mare has developed a bag, she may exhibit a honey colored, waxy substance on the nipples. Some mares may wax a couple of weeks before foaling, while others don't show anything until after they have foaled.
Softness of the croup.
The muscles in the mare's hindquarters will relax, allowing softness if you feel the area, as well as an almost complete flexibility of the tail, you can almost completely flex it back against the back.
Behavior.
During the last few weeks of gestation, the mare may become cranky and restless. She may also want to be alone. As she starts into the first stage of foaling she may switch her tail, stamp her feet and kick at her abdomen. These are also signs of colic, but if she is still eating, drinking, defecating and/or urinating she is probably started into labor.
We'll look at more as the process unfolds.
Your horses and cold weather.
If you live in a cold weather climate your horses can be subject to some extreme temperatures. Horses are better off outside, even in the cold. A horses winter coat can help insulate and protect them to 5 degrees F, and with shelter and dry conditions they can withstand temps to -40 degrees F. The biggest thing to watch is the moisture in the air, and on your horses.
It's very important to keep your horses dry in cold climates. You can run into trouble from a couple of factors.
If you are training your horses for season, even in an indoor arena, you need to cool your horses down before returning them to their pasture or dry lot. (That is, if you aren't keeping them in a heated barn.)
Also, as the temperature fluctuates, you may get rain during the day, then colder temps at night. If your horses get wet from a rain or dew on a mild day, be sure to watch your weather forecast to see what the overnight temps will be. You may need to towel off your horses before the temps drop.
Here is an article that gives you some great info on horse management in cold weather.
It's very important to keep your horses dry in cold climates. You can run into trouble from a couple of factors.
If you are training your horses for season, even in an indoor arena, you need to cool your horses down before returning them to their pasture or dry lot. (That is, if you aren't keeping them in a heated barn.)
Also, as the temperature fluctuates, you may get rain during the day, then colder temps at night. If your horses get wet from a rain or dew on a mild day, be sure to watch your weather forecast to see what the overnight temps will be. You may need to towel off your horses before the temps drop.
Here is an article that gives you some great info on horse management in cold weather.
So I just stumbled across this posting on some new findings on how human interference with foals can affect their development:
Human interaction with foals at a critical early developmental age appears to be a stressor, whereas positive human interaction with the dam creates a strong model for the observing foal, according to a series of ongoing research projects at the University of Rennes in northwestern France.
Read the entire post here!
Hands Off: New Research on Impact of Human Intervention on Foal Behavior
Human interaction with foals at a critical early developmental age appears to be a stressor, whereas positive human interaction with the dam creates a strong model for the observing foal, according to a series of ongoing research projects at the University of Rennes in northwestern France.
Read the entire post here!
The waiting game...
So, I swore our mare was going to deliver the other day, but it was just a false labor. I figured since this is the first time that I have been involved in the birthing process with a horse, I'd share some of the experiences with you. After it's all said and done, I'll dig around the net and find some good articles to back up what I learn on this first one. We have two more due this year, which will be good practice. I plan on breeding my mare this season, so next year when she delivers I'll be much more experienced!
I have the good fortune to work on a farm that has well seasoned brood mares and owners with about 20 years of experience. This is old hat for them, but a whole new game for the farm manager and me.
So this mare was due on the 29th of Jan, but it's just been the last couple days that we think that she's close to ready. The owners have shown us the signs to watch for that tell that the time is getting close, and we'll take a look at them when I next write.
Keep yer fingers crossed!
I have the good fortune to work on a farm that has well seasoned brood mares and owners with about 20 years of experience. This is old hat for them, but a whole new game for the farm manager and me.
So this mare was due on the 29th of Jan, but it's just been the last couple days that we think that she's close to ready. The owners have shown us the signs to watch for that tell that the time is getting close, and we'll take a look at them when I next write.
Keep yer fingers crossed!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
It's Time
Just gonna drop a quick post right now, we should have our first foal of the year here tonight. I'll be following up with pictures and some comments on the foaling process.
Stay Tuned!!!
Stay Tuned!!!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Facilities Maintenance during cold weather.
As we are coming out of a sub zero week here in Minnesota, I thought we would take a look at some important issues that face the facilities side of running a farm in Minnesota. There are two big focuses during cold weather, your livestock and your water. Today we'll look at the water side of the issues.
If you have horses in pasture or in an unheated barn, it's very important to check water with every feed. Buckets in barns and tanks in pastures will probably have heaters in them by now, but sometimes they go out without us knowing.
Another big issue is freezing pipes in your buildings. We all have frost free spickets by now, and we've wrapped the crap out of them with heat tape. The thing that we forget about is the water lines in our buildings and housing. Often times farms will have staffing quarters of some kind, and the water lines are exposed under the building, trailer, or what have you. When temps drop to sub zero, it's a good idea to have one faucet in any building or quarters running a slight stream. The cold water pipes are often the first to freeze, even when they are insulated. By letting water flow through them, you lower the chance of having your pipes bust, and that's a real mess to deal with in this kind of weather.
Tomorrow we'll look at some important issues that face livestock in this weather.
If you have horses in pasture or in an unheated barn, it's very important to check water with every feed. Buckets in barns and tanks in pastures will probably have heaters in them by now, but sometimes they go out without us knowing.
Another big issue is freezing pipes in your buildings. We all have frost free spickets by now, and we've wrapped the crap out of them with heat tape. The thing that we forget about is the water lines in our buildings and housing. Often times farms will have staffing quarters of some kind, and the water lines are exposed under the building, trailer, or what have you. When temps drop to sub zero, it's a good idea to have one faucet in any building or quarters running a slight stream. The cold water pipes are often the first to freeze, even when they are insulated. By letting water flow through them, you lower the chance of having your pipes bust, and that's a real mess to deal with in this kind of weather.
Tomorrow we'll look at some important issues that face livestock in this weather.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Stockman's Warning Issued:
We'll start off today by mentioning that a Stockman's warning has been issued for almost every county in MN. Here is a quick link to the criteria for a warning to be issued.
All pastured horses without access to shelter should be brought in this evening, as the wind chill temps will reach below -20 degrees.
The link above also has some tips on keeping an eye on hypothermia and frostbite.
Click here for an hour by hour forecast for the southern metro area.
All pastured horses without access to shelter should be brought in this evening, as the wind chill temps will reach below -20 degrees.
The link above also has some tips on keeping an eye on hypothermia and frostbite.
Click here for an hour by hour forecast for the southern metro area.
Welcome to the Ranch!
Here we go! It's a cold January day in Minnesota, we're looking at -30 today with the wind chill. Felt like a good day to start a new blog!
Just the basics:
I have the great fortune to work and live on a Thoroughbred Ranch in Minnesota. We have a crop of some of the top earners in the state of Minnesota, and run about 30 head on our fifty acre facility. We might not be the largest farm in the area, but we sure are a force to be reckoned with. We race horses around the country, and are shooting for that great year in Kentucky!
What I'll be talking about:
There are a lot of great sites and blogs around the net on Thoroughbreds and Racing. I plan on writing about the things that affect us here in Minnesota. From weather and training issues, to facilities maintenance and all that is involved in running a Thoroughbred Farm.
I welcome all comments and input, as I believe there's always something to learn. Part of the reason that I am writing this blog is to learn more about the industry myself. I run the facilities part of the ranch, and am exploring everything I can about all aspects of the industry.
Come back soon!
Just the basics:
I have the great fortune to work and live on a Thoroughbred Ranch in Minnesota. We have a crop of some of the top earners in the state of Minnesota, and run about 30 head on our fifty acre facility. We might not be the largest farm in the area, but we sure are a force to be reckoned with. We race horses around the country, and are shooting for that great year in Kentucky!
What I'll be talking about:
There are a lot of great sites and blogs around the net on Thoroughbreds and Racing. I plan on writing about the things that affect us here in Minnesota. From weather and training issues, to facilities maintenance and all that is involved in running a Thoroughbred Farm.
I welcome all comments and input, as I believe there's always something to learn. Part of the reason that I am writing this blog is to learn more about the industry myself. I run the facilities part of the ranch, and am exploring everything I can about all aspects of the industry.
Come back soon!
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