By: Doug May
My name is Doug May and I am honored to be able to write an occasional article that deals with a passion that many of us share; horses. If you are a horse owner, like I am, then you know that when two or more of us are gathered together that a couple of things are going to happen; we are going to talk, we are going to brag about our horses, and we are going to agree to disagree. These articles will be used to discuss many aspects of the horse industry, as well as be used to answer any questions you may have concerning horses, or the aforementioned industry.
I hope, through these articles, we can visit about our passion and, at the same time, make it informative and enjoyable for those who aren’t as knowledgeable in the subject. With that said, allow me to extend an invitation to my fellow horse enthusiasts to send in any questions or comments they might have regarding horses, to e-mail me at Professionalhorseman@hotmail.com.
Some info on our Horseman - Doug May is a Florida native and has been a resident of Jackson County for 17 years. He has been passionately involved with horses for over 38 years. Along with his wife, Tina, his daughter, Katie and his son, Alex, Doug owns and operates May Performance Horses, a division of A D May Farm Inc. Presently the family trains, shows and markets western pleasure horses. They show all throughout the southeast, primarily at Palomino approved horse shows and American Quarter Horse approved horse shows. Doug is a lifetime member of American Quarter Horse Association, Palomino Horse Breeders of America and the National Snaffle Bit Association. He is also a member of American Miniature Horse Association and International Buckskin Horse Association. Doug holds judges cards with Palomino Horse Breeders of America, International Buckskin Horse Association, American Miniature Horse Association and National Snaffle Bit Association and is a member of AQHA Professional Horseman. A D May Farm Inc. is associated with Sundowner Horse trailers, Nutrena Feeds and Western Hauler Trucks. Their farm is located just north of Greenwood off highway 71. Doug has designated an email address to see to any questions or comments that you may have. Please feel free to e-mail him at
Heat and Horses - For our first discussion I thought it would be fitting to discuss Heat and Horses. A typical Floridian summer is nothing to take lightly, especially when you have horses. Horse activities slow dramatically this time of the year. Things like heat, insects, vacations, etc, change or compete with how we spend our horse time. We, as horse owners, have to be cautious during this time of year. While our personal activities may take us to a more comfortable climate, whether geographic or man made, our equine friends are left to deal with the heat and insects by themselves. Heat and insects are stressful on horses and in extreme situations can be, and have been, deadly or disabling. Here are some tips that are important to maintaining your horses’ well being:
Always have clean, fresh water available - Horses can consume near 20 gallons of water per day. Clean fresh water is very important. Water containers need to be cleaned regularly and if possible located in a shade
Make Salt/Minerals Available - Salt and minerals should be made available to your horses. Each horse is an individual and requires differing amounts. Free choice salt/mineral is preferred. Provide insect protection- Flies, gnats, mosquitoes and other insects can increase disease risk and can also cause great discomfort to horses. Several products exist that can be applied to relieve this stress, some require application daily while others can be applied once and last several weeks. A face mask is also a useful tool for keeping the insects out of the horses’ eyes. Stay Up-to-Date on Vaccinations- Living in this climate exposes our horses to many possible diseases from biting insects. Bi-annual vaccinations are a good idea to prevent these life threatening diseases. Consult your local veterinarian for recommended vaccines.
Physical Care- Just because we are not interacting as much with our horses does not remove the obvious necessities. Hoof care remains paramount in your horses well being. Usually, at the very least, a trimming every 6 weeks will keep your horses’ hooves in good condition. However, with the extreme drought, a good regime of hoof conditioner will help keep down cracking and brittleness. Another good idea with horses sweating as they do is an occasional rinsing or brushing to remove the sweat and salt build up. If left unattended it is likely a skin fungus will occur that may require more attention later.
Stalled Horses- For those of you, who choose to stall your horses, consider turning out early in the morning and late in the evening. Water supply will need to be increased. Also the addition of a fan or two will help assure your horse’s comfort. Again as with the horses kept outside, daily grooming to remove the sweat and salt accumulation will negate skin fungi.
No comments:
Post a Comment