HVHS Archive

For the Good of the Horse

Field of Dreams

When the Unexpected Happens

Know Your Horse's
Vital Signs

For the Good of the Horse . . .

The Westchester Horse Council's
committment to safeguard the well-being of
the county's equine residents.

Michael Henes, DVM

Established in 1965, the Westchester Horse Council is a not-for-profit organization created to protect and enhance the interests of all horse lovers in Westchester County. Among its endeavors is a commitment to preserve the county’s horse trails in the face of growing commercial and residential encroachment. Through its diverse educational programs funded by private donations, grants and fundraising, it strives to inform, educate and expand public awareness of the vast array of activities and opportunities available for equine enthusiasts in the county.

In addition, the Westchester Horse Council . . .
raises and contributes funds to support equine-related and humanitarian programs that benefit and render service to the people of Westchester County
provides its members with current information on legal issues affecting horse and land owners
informs public officials in all levels of government of the need for horse activities and business throughout the county
is a chapter member of the New York State Horse Council, thereby serving the interests of its members on both the county and state levels

Fire Safety

WHC has held equine fire safety seminars for fire fighters, police and other rescue personnel, and has an ongoing interest in educating horse and barn owners about barn fire prevention. The Council has also prepared an Equine Rescue Handbook that includes a list of stables and barns that are willing to house displaced horses in an emergency situation, people willing to offer equine transport, and experienced equestrians who are able to respond and assist in an emergency.

Future plans for the WHC include the restoration and enhancement of the Greenway along the Hutchinson River Parkway to revive the park aspects of the parkway, and to restore the equestrian trail connecting lower Westchester to the northern Westchester trail system.

To become a member of Westchester Horse Council and/or receive a copy of the Equine Rescue Handbook, please contact John Baruc at
(914) 763-6781 or e-mail: jdbaruc@aol.com.

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Field of Dreams

Pasture management tips
from Cornell Cooperative Extension

Picture this: a beautiful emerald-green pasture filled with contented horses happily munching on lush, nutritious grass. Sounds idyllic, but it doesn’t just happen. Jennifer Fimbel at Cornell Cooperative Extension offers the following advice to keep in mind when planning work on your field.

Ideally, pastures should be located on relatively flat areas with no steep inclines. Pasture size should relate to the number of horses expected to be grazing in the field. Enough room should be set aside to allow for rotation of fields. Generally speaking, it takes a few acres of land (depending on the quality of the pasture) to support each horse. Most of us don’t have that amount of property—so how can we keep our horses and pastures healthy? By limiting the amount of time each pasture has horses on it, supplementing pasture grazing with hay year-round, and rotating grazing areas.

The type of soil, and how well-drained the field is, will relate to how well your pasture mixes will grow. You should choose your pasture seed mixtures based on the soil type that you have.

To find out what your soil needs to grow nutritious grass, you should take a sampling of your soil for testing. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Dutchess County will send your soil to Cornell to determine how much fertilizer and lime your fields need.

The addition of fertilizer and lime to your pastures will ensure quality growth when applied appropriately. Fertilize half in the spring and half in July if at all possible. Lime may be applied in the spring and/or fall. Never use more than three tons per acre at one time.

To ensure a good pasture crop, test your soil every three years. Follow the recommendations from Cornell Cooperative Extension for applications of lime and fertilizer, inspect pastures for weeds regularly and mow before the weeds seed out.

For optimum nutrition, grasses should be grown to 6 to 8" and grazed down to 4". Rotate horses into another field, mow grass and weeds, and allow regrowth to 6 to 8" before putting your horses back on the field.

For help with your pasture needs, contact
Jennifer Fimbel
Cornell Cooperative Extension / Dutchess County,
(845) 677- 8223 ext. 118
or jlf20@cornell.edu

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When the Unexpected Happens.

Adapted from “Disaster Planning”
compiled by the New York State Horse Council

What happens if you smell smoke, the ground begins to tremble under your feet, or the skies open up with a flooding downpour? Have you done your homework to have everything you need ready in an emergency? As you confront the emergency, will you be able to find the help you need, find your tools in good condition, and reach all your emergency supplies?

In the event of a disaster, many suburban horse owners may receive outside help slowly because, if a major disaster occurs, city services will respond to denser concentrations of people first. Therefore, we all need to be individually responsible, remain self-sufficient, and be able to provide our own personal and community self-help. When you plan, always consider the worst possibility—no water, too much water, no power, no gas, no roads, no communication!

	FIRST AID KIT
	• Thermometer • Stethoscope • Tweezers • Rolled cotton • Bandages • Sterile gauze pads, 4x4” • Gauze roller bandages • Stretch bandages • Adhesive tape • Duct tape • Bandage scissors • Alcohol towelettes • Sterile gauze sponges • Antibiotic ointment • Antiseptic scrub	• Anesthetic spray, gel or ointment • Pain reliever • Mineral oil • Instant cold packs • Eye ointment or drops • Saline solution • Bulb syringe for irrigation • Dose Syringe • Tourniquet • Pocket knife & hoofpick • Flashlight • First aid booklet • Emergency numbers • Medications recommended by vet

Preparing for an Emergency.

Review your own situation carefully. Decide what items are necessary to sustain your family, residence, property, outbuildings, livestock and pets during an emergency. Keep a written list of supplies and their locations in an obvious spot; perhaps by the telephone or on your refrigerator.

Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers near all telephones: fire, local police, state police for road closures, veterinarians, your county disaster services number, and a list of nearby people with trailers to assist in quick evacuation. Program in key numbers, but don’t depend on speed dialing during an emergency.

Keep emergency supplies and fire-fighting equipment in a location that will always be accessible.

Can the emergency departments find you and get equipment onto your property? Your address must be easily seen from the street. Check the width of your gates. If you have an electric security gate, make sure everyone in the household knows how to open it when the power is out.

Know where any fire hydrants are in your area to better assist fire personnel. If you have a pond, consider installing a dry hydrant. If you have neither, preplan the need for a tanker with your fire department.

If you have natural gas service, locate your gas shut-off valve and have the appropriate shut-off tool in clear sight.

Know where your main electrical service panels are located, and how to shut them off. Know how to hook up a generator, and test-run it regularly.

Store supplies of diesel fuel, gasoline, propane and kerosene elevated and at a safe distance from the house and barn. These must be clearly labeled as hazardous materials.

Have outside faucets on every building. If you’ve been warned of fire danger, make sure a hose with nozzle is attached at each location. Check the condition of hoses every six months. Consider installing sprinklers in and around barns. Consider installing lightning rods.

If you live in an area that floods, know the highest spots on your property where horses can be moved if the water rises.

Keep first aid kits handy in the house, at the barn, and in your vehicle or horse trailer. Know how to use these first aid supplies.

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Know your horse's vital signs ......

Vital signs are measurements of your horse’s body functions and are good indicators of your horse’s health status. Every horse owner should know how to take vital signs and have a record of what is normal for their individual horse, since healthy ranges can vary depending on horse’s age and level of fitness. If your horse’s vital signs aren’t within the normal range, you should speak with your veterinarian. These averages are for adult horses at rest: Temperature 99 – 101 degrees F. taken with a rectal thermometer. Pulse 30 – 40 beats per minute. The pulse can be taken at any point where a large artery is located close to the skin. Some common places to find a pulse are along the inside of the jawbone just below cheek muscles or just below the fetlock. You can also listen with a stethoscope placed just behind the left elbow. Respiration Rate 8 – 16 breaths per minute. Watch the horse’s nostrils or ribcage to count breaths. You can also use a stethescope placed over the horse’s windpipe. Gum Color pink Capilary Refill 2 seconds. To test, press your fingers on horse’s gums, then release. With normal circulation, pink color should return to the gums within 2 seconds.

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