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Winter, Water, Worries!

2012-01-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

Do your parents like to wake up to a hot cup of coffee in the morning? Since horses don't drink coffee (that would be downright silly!) the first thing I do after I open my eyes to the morning sun is head over to my waterer and get a nice cool drink. But as I was going through my daily routine the other morning, I realized something wasn't quite right...my liquid sustenance was missing! So I started searching for it. I pushed my waterer around with my nose to see if maybe it was underneath, but when I realized there was no way to move the waterer around on my own, I had to bring in some backup. I saw one of my caretakers nearby and yelled, "Hey, can you help me move this thing? I think my water is trapped underneath!" (or at least that's what it seemed like to me and the other horses!) I don't think the caretaker understood what I was saying, but I got her attention nonetheless. Thanks to a little handy work on the well pump, the bowl was filled to the brim with sparkling clean water which I slurped up like a dry sponge! With my thirst quenched, I continued on with my day as usual (mostly eating and napping), but I'll never forget how nervous I was at the thought of not having water to drink!

As much as I look forward to my refreshing fill of H2O in the morning, some horses aren't as enthusiastic about hydration as yours truly. Often times external factors such as temperature, weather conditions, and stress as a result of changes in the environment or workload can affect a horse's drinking regimen. These factors, combined with the threat of automatic waterer malfunctions, can make it difficult for a horse to maintain proper hydration. For this reason, it is imperative that horses have access to fresh, clean water at all times and behavioral changes be addressed as soon as they are recognized. In the worst cases, dehydration can impair normal gut function, cause impaction colic, "tying up", and other health issues.

By keeping a close eye on the horse's water source, and getting to know what is "normal" in terms of water consumption are both good ways to encourage proper hydration. For a horse with a drinking problem (wink, wink), applesauce, corn syrup, molasses, and electrolytes are all useful for stimulating thirst. (Do you remember how much water horses consume daily on average? Check out this blogpost to be reminded!)

In the winter months, horses may be reluctant to drink if their water source is freezing cold, so water heaters may be useful for not only making the water a comfortable temperature for consumption, but also preventing ice from forming on the troughs and buckets. These can be dangerous if not installed correctly or in the case of a malfunction, so it is extremely important that they are checked on a daily basis. My friends at the Equine Science Center know all about how to maintain water supply in winter months - they wrote a factsheet about it!

That's all for now folks, all this talk about water is making me thirsty! Stay warm (and hydrated)!

Lord Nelson

New Year and Birthday Celebration!

2012-01-04T17:26:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends!

I hope everyone had a happy New Year! It was hard for an old guy like me to stay uppast my bedtime to celebrate, but I was told that the horses were gettingpretty rambunctious around midnight! Ofcourse they were excited about the turning of the New Year, but January 1^stholds a special place in many of our big horsey hearts. Can you guess why? I’ll give you a hint…it has something to dowith horse racing and many other breeds of horses that compete!

You see, January 1^st is the birthday of allracehorses in the northern hemisphere! (Forthe racehorses “down-under”, it’s August 1^st!) Don’t be mistaken however, that’s not to saythat all racing foals are born on New Year’s Day. Regardless of what day a horse is actuallyborn on, it is considered to be a year older on January 1^st. Even if a horse is foaled on December 28^th,it would be considered a year-old within 3 days. As a result of this system, breeders willoften try to have foaling dates in early January in order to have a competitiveadvantage. This way, when January 1^strolls around, the horse will be as close to a “true” yearling as possible interms of physical maturity. This systemhelps keep things simple when grouping horses together by age for races andcompetitions. So remember to celebrateHORSES as you celebrate the New Year!

Happy Birthday to ME!

For MY birthday, my owner brought me a veryspecial treat; my own horse-sized candy cane! Someone must have been reading last month’s blog post to know how much Iadore those minty sweets…it was gone in a matter of minutes! Well friends, I’m off to plop down and take acat nap…all this celebrating can sure make a guy tired!

Deck the Stalls!

2011-12-21T12:36:00.000-05:00


The holidays can be so exhausting!

Season's greetings friends and "neigh"bors! The holiday season is upon us and I am so excited! Nothing can compare to some soupy, hot bran mash on a chilly night, or one of those sweet and crunchy candy canes that I love so much. But it's most important this time of year to show how much we appreciate the people we love; after all, it's better to give than to receive! (Or is it?!) Well luckily, the Rutgers Equine Science Center has come up with some great ideas for gifts this holiday season so you can give and receive simultaneously!

A unique way to show a loved one (human or equine!) that you care is to make a donation to the Equine Science Center in their name. As a thank you for the donation, the Center will recognize the recipient on their website's "Honor Roll" page, which serves as a tribute for a special someone who has made an imprint (or hoofprint) on your heart. A donation gift will also provide valuable support to the nation's leading equine research center. For ways to donate, click here.

"So what about the receiving part, Lord Nelson?" Well in addition to the emotional satisfaction of helping to make the world a better place for your equine friends, for donations over $100, the Equine Science Center will send a set of correspondence cards featuring the equine-related artwork of six New Jersey 4-H Horse Project members. These kids did such a great job paying tribute to horses through their artwork that we featured them on greeting cards for you to share! Check out one of the thumbnails below!

Best wishes from me and everyone else at the Equine Science Center, for a happy, healthy, and horsey holiday season! See you next year!

Horses LOVE Turkey Day!

2011-11-22T11:30:00.001-05:00

After a big dinner, I need a nap!

I can’t believe how quickly theseasons are changing, and Thanksgiving is only a few days away! For many of you, thoughts of a big, juicyturkey, warm gravy, and sweet pumpkin pie are the things that come to mind inanticipation of the holiday. I know itsure does for me! But then again, when am I NOT thinking of food?! Although I won’t be partaking in the feast(my owner says he can’t find a chair large enough for me to sit at the table….Iwas slightly offended), try to remember to show your equine pals how thankfulyou are to have them by baking them some homemade goodies! Every horse deserves to be a little spoiled,and preparing horse treats can be a fun activity for horses and humansalike.

While there are many resources tofind recipes for horse treats both online and at your local bookstore, it isimportant to know which ingredients are healthy, and which ones could bepotentially toxic. St. John’s Wort,tomatoes, chestnuts and bull or horse nettle are a few things you want to steerclear of when making homemade treats. Poppy seeds, licorice, and cocoa or tea leaves, while not necessarilyharmful, should be avoided if you’re competing because they could cause yourhorse to test positive for banned substances.

It is also important to keep inmind any special dietary concerns as you prepare your treats. Cushing’s or laminitis prone horses shouldnot have any sugar or molasses. AlsoQuarter Horses (like me) with Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) cannothave foods high in potassium, such as bananas.

Treats are a great way to showyour horse friends you care this holiday season, and also make great gift ideasfor your human barn buddies! So what areyou waiting for? Get in the kitchen and start cooking! And be sure to save a batch for your favoritefriend Nelson!

Stay Thankful!

Lord Nelson

Dental check up...Float on!

2011-11-02T17:06:00.000-04:00

Hey Everybody!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! The snow couldn’t stop me from getting sometreats of my own. As you already know, Ilove treats any day of the year and October 31^st is noexception! I just can’t get enough ofthose sugary sweet delights! But with myaffection for confections, I need to take good care of my old chompers! I had arecent checkup from my equine dentist friend to help prevent any dentaldilemmas.

Getting my chompers floated!

You may think that an equine dentist is a funny profession,but they are actually a very important part of keeping a horse healthy. Unlike humans however, horses’ teeth neverstop growing. This may seem unusual, butit makes perfect sense; when horses used to roam the plains, much of theirdiets came from roughage. Under thosecircumstances, horses’ teeth would wear down naturally from constant grazing. However, since the horse has becomedomesticated, grazing is limited and the commercial feeds that are currently usedto supplement the traditional forage diets of my ancestors do not cause thesame wear on teeth. To help control toothgrowth, horses have their teeth “floated”.

If you aren’t familiar with the process, “floating teeth”sounds pretty peculiar, but what it really means is to smooth the surface ofteeth with a file (called a “float”). Over time, sharp edges can develop on a horse’s molars which can make itpainful to chew affecting health and sometimes performance when it comes toholding the bit. Floating the teethensures a smooth grinding surface so the horse can digest food more efficientlyand remain comfortable.

How often a horse needs its teeth floated varies, but it is agood idea to get them checked by an equine dentist at least once a year. Phew – I’m relieved that I don’t have to worryabout brushing and flossing. Can you imagehow difficult that would be with my hooves?!? But sometimes I can get a little self-conscious, so if you see me, feelfree to offer me a peppermint…I won’t be offended! In fact, I’m quite glad that one of my favoritesweets can also combat horse-breath!

Stay fresh!

Lord Nelson

The Buzz About Bees

2011-10-11T11:51:00.002-04:00

No stings on my nose!

Something strange happened the other day when my friend Magic and I took our annual trip to the apple orchard. There we were, happily munching on the "fruits" of our labor, when I saw something whiz past my head and go straight for Magic! I wanted to yell, "Magic, look out!" but my mouth was full of applesauce and before I knew it, the buzzing insect landed right on his nose and STUNG! Magic threw up his head and snorted in reaction to this unpleasant surprise...my poor friend had been caught completely off guard! As much as it is unfortunate that this blog post comes at my friend's expense, it is important to let you in on the "buzz" about these pesky insects so you don't have your own unfortunate encounter.

Although many times wasps and bees sting without warning, there are some precautionary measures you can take to prevent you and your equine pals from getting stung. It's good to avoid areas where you notice a lot of flying insect activity because it could indicate the location of a nest. It's important to identify the location of nests; insects will most likely attack in these areas. While bees usually build their nests in hollowed-out logs or trees in wooded areas, wasps and hornets prefer to build their papery hives in the open areas of barns and sheds, as well as inside horse trailers. I'm already not a big fan of trailers, but imagine getting in one that's filled with wasps? Ouch!

Like I said, not all incidents are preventable, and luckily horses don't usually exhibit serious reactions to a single sting. Usually stings appear as a small area of swelling that can be treated by simply holding an ice pack to the area. Stings happen, and although they aren't fun, the threat of an occasional bee can't stop me from visiting my beloved apple orchard!

For more information about these pesky insects, please check out Fact Sheet #1134!

Happy Trails,

Lord Nelson

Sugar in Grass?? Sweet!

2011-09-28T13:30:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I love this time of year? Although the weather has been a bit dreary, Itook full advantage of one the few nice days we’ve had and went apple pickingwith my good friend Magic. The appleorchard is one of my favorite places to be; red delicious snacks above me andlush green grass below! Speaking ofgrass, have you noticed how quickly it’s been growing lately? All theprecipitation and cooler weather provide the perfect conditions for rapidpasture growth. But as much as I lovegrass, I know that you can have too much of a good thing.

You may be surprised to hear that grasses contain largeamounts of…sugar! It’s no wonder whyhorses love it so much! But just likehumans, an excess of sugar could cause problems for horses. Grass accumulates sugar and starch throughoutthe day and uses it for growth overnight, unless there is a freeze.

Consuming high sugar grass can cause ametabolic disorder called laminitis or founder in some horses, especially oldguys like me, and also “easy keepers”; the chubby ponies and horses that getfat just thinking about grass. Althoughit is not necessarily a bad thing, you should be careful not to use this termwith a mare….I once told Christi she was an “easy keeper” and nearly got kickedin the noggin!

If a horse is an easykeeper or has had laminitis before, limiting sugar intake by grazing it earlyin the morning before the grasses accumulate sugar (provided there was noovernight freeze) or by using a grazing muzzle throughout the day can hinderthe development of metabolic disease. This is especially important in the spring and fall, when sugar contentis at its greatest. My friends at the Equine Science Center are experts on this type of stuff! For more information on metabolic disease, check out their Fact Sheet - Metabolic Problems in the Horse: Sorting out the Diagnosis.

Well I’m off to lunch…all this talking about grass and sugaris making me hungry!

Until next time friends,

Lord Nelson

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2011-09-07T10:32:00.001-04:00

Boy that rainstorm we had was quite a doozy! Forget about it raining “cats and dogs”, more like “horses and ponies”! I hope everyone stayed safe, and for those of you who lost power: now you know what living like a horse is like…it’s not so bad! Who needs electricity anyway? The flooding from the storm was something I can sympathize with however; my field was wet and muddy for days. And because my pasture was littered with puddles, I developed a little skin problem called “scratches”.

You may ask “Scratches? I think my cat has that!” Scratches is not a condition itself, but rather a description of a condition that causes skin on the bulbs of the heel and the folds of skin in the pastern area to become red, inflamed, and cracked, often looking like scratch marks. It’s also called pastern dermatitis, dew poisoning, greasy heel, or mud fever to give you a better idea of what I’m dealing with. Muddy or wet conditions contribute to a horse developing scratches because the constant moisture not only irritates the delicate skin found at the back of the pasterns and hooves, but provides the perfect conditions for bacterial and fungal infections.

The first step in treating scratches is to get the horse out of the moist environment. In my case, my caretaker has been using a homemade remedy to treat my scratches; a mixture of furacin ointment with baby diaper rash cream (zinc oxide). It may seem funny to treat with diaper rash cream, but the zinc oxide keeps the moisture out to promote healing and the bacterial action of the furacin works on the infection, so it’s the perfect combination!

Have you ever used a home remedy to treat an ailment? Don’t be afraid to share in the comment section below, or on the Equine Science Center’s Facebook page (esc.rutgers.edu/fb)!

Stay dry friends!

Lord Nelson

Entering the Homestretch of Summer!

2011-08-19T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends,

Sorry I haven't had time to post about my activities lately. Boy has my summer been hectic! I had a great time with my friends from the Harness Horse Youth Foundation; showing them around the research facilities here at Rutgers, putting on an equine treadmill demonstration, and even giving out some goodies for them to remember me by! It was a great time had by all. For pictures from the event, visit our Facebook page and don't forget to "Like" us while you're there!

Recently, my friends from the Equine Science Center and I spent our Saturday enjoying the fun, food, and festivities at the 86th annual Hambletonian harness race at the Meadowlands Racetrack. With over 25,000 people in attendance, I saw some of my old friends and made plenty of new ones as well! The race was thrilling and the weather couldn't have been better. Be sure to mark your calendars for next year!

Speaking of old friends, one of my favorite events of the summer is happening right around the corner, the State 4-H Horse Show! Opening ceremonies are Friday, August 26 at 6:00 PM. Although I won't be able to make an appearance like I did last year, I will be there in spirit supporting my 4-H friends and all their hard work. I wish everyone the best of luck, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Your Friend,

Lord Nelson

If You Can't Stand the Heat...

2011-07-25T13:30:00.000-04:00

...get out of the sun!

While most of my human friends can enjoy the air conditioning on a hot and humid day, I seek the shade of a tree or run-in shed to keep cool. This heat is tough on any horse, and since I'm (a little) older than most, I have to be especially careful to be sure I'm consuming enough calories to keep my body functioning and maintain a healthy body weight. Some horses may lose as much as 7 to 10 percent of body weight in sweat per hour in extreme temperatures. That's about 9-10 gallons of horse sweat...gross! Dr. Malinowski keeps my diet high in calories by increasing my grain, adding corn oil to my feed, and feeding me a wide variety of...doughnuts!

You know I have an affection for confections, but I think I'm speaking for all horses when I say that there's nothing more satisfying than waking up early on a summer morning to find the pasture lush and glistening with dew drops...and then grabbing mouthfuls at a time like I've never eaten grass before in my life! The best way to ensure lush pastures for grazing in the summer is through careful maintenance throughout the year. The most effective way to do this is through "rotational grazing". No, this doesn't mean grazing in a circle! This just means rotating the paddocks where horses are turned out in order to prevent over grazing and allow the pasture a chance to grow. This way, when summer "rolls around" the grass will be thick, green, and delicious (not to mention nutritious)!

Another way to ensure your fields are ready for the summertime is to set up a "sacrifice area" horses can be turned out over the fall, winter, and spring without concern for over grazing. A sacrifice area, as well as the rotational grazing method, provides area where grass will have an opportunity to grow undisturbed. For more information on pasture management, visit http://www.esc.rutgers.edu/rlp/rlpmain.htm where you can play games, read articles, and take a virtual tour of the Ryders Lane Farm! If you don't mind getting a little dirty, stop by the Ryders Lane Farm at the Rutgers New Brunswick Campus and see the best management practices in person...and maybe make some new equine friends as well!

Keep cool!

Your buddy,
Lord Nelson

Water Works!

2011-07-08T13:23:00.005-04:00

Hey Kids! Looking for something fun to do next week? Come to the Equine Science Center's Open House from 12 pm to 1 pm on Tuesday, July 12th at the Equine Exercise Physiology Laboratory on College Farm Road on the George H. Cook Campus in New Brunswick! If you ever were curious about what we do at the Equine Science Center, this is a great event for you to find out! Join Dr. Karyn Malinowski as she explains why horses make such great research models for exercise physiology and the various types of research we do at the Center. Guests will also be able to see one of the research mares gallop full speed on our 21-foot equine treadmill...what a treat! This event is free of charge, but it is asked that you pre-register by calling the Equine Science Center at (732) 932-9419.

Speaking of treadmills and exercise, staying hydrated (especially while exercising) on these hot summer days is very important...not only for humans but horses too! A source of clean water should be available at all times to your equine pals to ensure good health and performance. Did you know that the average horse drinks between 8 to 10 gallons a day, but may go as high as 15 to 20 gallons during high-intensity training? That's 720 glasses of water! If the horse sweats for a prolonged period of time during training or competition, it will need to drink more water and electrolytes than normal to replace its losses. Electrolytes are salts that help the body's cells communicate efficiently, such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium. Although electrolytes for horses usually come in a solid or powdered form, many popular sports drinks like Gatorade contain electrolytes to help humans maintain their supply while exercising. This is one of the many reasons why horses make great models for human exercise physiology; horses and humans are pretty similar after all!

Fun in the Sun!

2011-06-23T11:26:00.020-04:00

Hello Friends,

You know how important it is to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun, but what you probably don't know is that horses can get sunburned and need protection as well. You might be thinking: "Doesn't a horse's haircoat shield their skin from the sun?" While this is mostly true for horses that are dark in color, lighter colored horses (particularly appaloosas and paints) are especially susceptible to sunburn due to the lighter pigmentation of the skin. Horses do not experience the full body burn that humans can get when overexposed, but specific areas of a horse's body are also more prone to sun damage, particularly regions with little hair such as the eyes and muzzle. So what does a horse's sunburn look like? It's very similar to a human's sunburn! Depending on the severity of the burn, there may be a reddish tint to the skin, blistering, and cracking or peeling. Sunburn will be more severe in horses with "photosensitivity"; a burn that is enhanced due to chemical imbalances in the body which can be caused by specific forage plants as well as certain medications.

So where can you find horse sunscreen? Good news! The same sunscreen you apply before going riding on a sunny day can also be used to protect your four-legged friends! Make sure you apply it liberally and often to the most vulnerable areas to ensure the best protection. You can even make the process fun by using colored varieties! So what if your horse ends up looking like a clown? It's more important that he is comfortable and sunburn-free...and anyway, it makes for a good laugh! Offering a sufficient shade area in the pasture or turning the horse out at night rather than during the daylight hours are also good preventative measures.

I get a daily dose of sunscreen because of my big white blaze which burns easily due to my pinkish colored skin. I'm happy to wear protection; I'll do whatever it takes to be able to sprawl out and take a cat nap in the sun. In fact, that sounds like a pretty good idea right about now!

Until next time,

Your Friend Nelson

June - Celebrations and Itchiness!

2011-06-13T11:20:00.017-04:00

June is my favorite month of the year! Not only because it marks the official start of summer, or because the school year is finally over, but it is also the Month of the Horse! New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Doug Fisher and the Equine Science Center's own Dr. Malinowski, kicked off the month of the horse on June 10th at the Standardbred Retirement Foundation Farm (the same folks who brought my research horse pals to Rutgers!) by announcing the various events planned to celebrate New Jersey's state animal! It's like a party that lasts all month long!

Speaking of the month of June, I've been itching with anticipation for summer, which officially begins on 6/21. When people say they have a "summer itch", it usually means they are anxious for the start of the season, but for horses it has a whole different meaning (one that I personally am all too familiar with)! "Summer itch" or "sweet itch" is a horse's allergy to the saliva of tiny biting flies called culicoides, also known as "no-see-ums", which are most numerous in warm weather. Once a sensitive horse is bitten by a culicoide, an allergic reaction is caused at the site of the bite, causing the skin to become itchy and irritated. Since horses don't have handy fingernails like humans, they can come up with some pretty creative ways to scratch an itch, like rubbing against a tree or fence post! Although it may look funny, a horse can accidentally hurt itself by satisfying the urge to scratch on such objects, so it is important to address the issue as soon as it's recognized. Fortunately, since "summer itch" occurs as a result of an allergic reaction, it is not contagious to other horses and I have my gal pal Hugme Christi to help me scratch those hard to reach places like the top of my back (the most common area for bites). I'm so lucky to have a friend like her!

Well that's all for now friends. Remember to celebrate the horse by going to a race or competition to appreciate our athleticism, volunteering at a therapeutic riding center to observe our gentle nature, or visiting esc.rutgers.edu to learn how horses improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents.

Until next time pals,

Lord Nelson

Horse go to Camp in the Summer, too!

2011-05-25T12:30:00.006-04:00

Summer is just around the corner and I'm sure you've probably started planning some adventures over break. But just because school's out it doesn't mean that you should put your brain on a shelf! Summer camps are a great way to have fun while learning new things at the same time...especially when they involve horses!

Have you ever been to the Meadowlands Racetrack or Freehold Raceway and wondered what goes on behind the scenes of harness racing? Although it's not necessarily my forte, some of my best buddies, including Hugme Christi, are harness racehorses and I know that there's a lot of hard work and dedication behind every race held. One of my friends here at the Equine Science Center let me know about a great opportunity for young people hosted by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. Participants at the week-long camp will be responsible for exercising, caring for, and even racing their own Trottingbred horse. A Trottingbred is a pony-sized horse that is a cross between standardbreds and ponies, and races on either a trot or a pace - Who knew! Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of the Center, will also present a workshop about my favorite topic: Equine Science 4 Kids!

The camp runs from July 26th through the 30th from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm at Gaitway Farms in Englishtown, NJ. If you're between the ages of 12 and 14 and this sounds like something you would be interested in, log on to www.HHYF.org to sign up!

Next week, my friends at the Equine Science Center will be in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for the Equine Science Society symposium. I'm excited to learn that Equine Science 4 Kids, my favorite place to go on the web, will be presented to the equine science community during the four day conference. Be sure to check out the website to see what the buzz is all about!

Your Buddy,

Lord Nelson

Come to Jersey Fresh!

2011-05-13T12:43:00.006-04:00

Hello again friends,

I've mentioned before that the horse is the state animal of New Jersey. We even have more horses per square mile than Kentucky! Speaking of which, did you see the Kentucky Derby last Saturday? What a great race!

This weekend there is a great competition being held at the Horse Park of New Jersey that showcases the equestrian sport of eventing and is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's "Jersey Fresh" initiative. The event, which runs from today through Sunday (5/15), attracts some of the nation's best riders and is fantastic fun for the entire family!

Equine eventing originated in the military where it was used as a way to measure the fitness of military horses. To succeed, both rider and horse must be highly trained in three disciplines - dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The horse and rider combinations compete consecutively over the series of three days and at the end, individual scores from each event are totaled together and the highest ranking horse and rider pair are declared the champion.

The dressage portion of the "Jersey Fresh" competition begins today. Dressage is a French term meaning "training". It tests riders and their horses in a pre-determined series of complicated movements performed in an enclosed arena. Competitiors are judged on precision, smoothness, suppleness and obedience of the horse. In advanced levels of competition, these movements are sometimes put to music, making the horses look like they're dancing!

Saturday is the cross-country phase; it is usually the most popular amongst spectators, and there's good reason why! During the cross-country portion of the trial, riders and horses are tested for endurance as they gallop a three-mile track containing 30 jumping obstacles. These jumps are designed to mimic natural obstacles such as logs, ditches, and streams. It takes an immense amount of stamina, stratgey, and symphony between horse and rider to complete the course successfully.

Sunday is the show-jumping phase, where horses and riders must negotiate between 12 and 15 jumps roughly four feet in height within an enclosed jumping arena. Competitors must complete the intital course in a set amount of time without knocking down any of the rails or having any refusals in order to make it to the "jump-off". The jump-off is a shortened course, consisting of 6 to 10 jumps, that is timed from start to finish. The rider who completes the jump-off in the shortest amount of time is the winner of this phase.

Also, the memory of one of the Equine Science Center's best friends will be honored in a special ceremony between show-jumping rounds on Sunday at noon. Please come out and show respect for "Doc" Dey, a founding member of the Horse Park of New Jersey, Inc., and one of the best equine veterinarians ever to practice.

So round up your family and friends and come out to the Horse Park this weekend for some fun and excitement, and celebrate the versatility of our equine athletes! Don't forget to stop by the pavilion to see my friends from the Equine Science Center; they will be there all weekend!

Happy eventing!

Your Pal,
Lord Nelson

Family Fun at Ag Field Day!

2011-04-28T16:39:00.006-04:00

We all know that spring brings warmer weather, greener grass, and sunny days...but the best gift of spring is the foals! Here at the Rutgers Equine Science Center, we have one of our very own! Foals are so cute with their fluffy tails and wobbly legs, and are much more developed than newborn humans. The horse is a precocial species, meaning that newborn foals are neurologically mature after birth. This is because horses are prey animals in the wild and are most vulnerable immediately after birth, so they must be able to identify danger and flee if necessary. In fact, a foal will usually stand within an hour of being born (after a few failed attempts of course!). Can you imagine a human baby being able to stand an hour after being born?!

The new Rutgers foal's name is RU Skylark and belongs to one of the mustangs in the Young Horse Teaching and Research Program named RU ShyAnne. Both mother and baby will be on display (along with the other mustangs in the program) at Ag Field Day at Rutgers Day on April 30th at the Red Barn on the G. H. Cook Campus in New Brunswick. If you really fall in love, some of the mustangs will be available for bid at an auction held on Sunday, May 1st at the same location. If buying a real horse is out of the question, stop by the Equine Science Center's stand and get yourself the next best thing...a Lord Nelson beanie baby! They're just as much fun, they'll fit in your car on the ride home, and the best part is you'll never have to clean up after them! I look forward to meeting all of you, my loyal followers, on Saturday!

Your pal,
Lord Nelson

"April Showers bring May Flowers..."

2011-04-21T10:48:00.008-04:00

You've heard the phrase "April showers bring May flowers", but rain also brings lush green pastures that horses love! And now is the time for a delicious salad made from dandelions. As the spring season goes on, it makes me happy to see new sprouts of grass grow out of the dirt that dominated the pasture in the winter months. Don't get me wrong; I love hay, but there's nothing like grabbing a huge mouthful of fresh grass from the ground as the sun shines down and a warm breeze makes my tail float in the wind...it's almost enough to make me forget that the rider on my back is trying to get my head up!

Grasses are the foundation of horse pastures. There are many different species of grasses, but only some are adapted to New Jersey's growing conditions. They are called "cool-season" grasses because most of their growth occurs in early spring and late fall, when temperatures are cool. Some common species of cool-season grasses are Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, smooth bromegrass, and orchardgrass. The most common grass found in pasture seeding mixtures contains Kentucky bluegrass; it can survive frequent grazing, which is important when you have a horse with my appetite in the field!

Another plant species that commonly grows in pastures are called legumes, which include alfalfa and clover. Legumes provide a good source of protein and calcium. Usually, the amount of clover in pasture seed mixes is low; the most popularly used is white clover because it is hardy and grows quickly. Red clover is also commonly used but most horse owners avoid it because it can cause the slobbers. "Slobbers" or excessive drooling is caused by a fungus found on all clovers but especially red clover. So next time you see a horse with saliva dripping out of its mouth it's not because they're anxious to eat the treat you've brought them or just woke up from a nap, they've just been enjoying the red clover in their pasture!

Even though grass is my favorite food, you all know about my affection for confections! Speaking of which, Ag Field Day at Rutgers Day is right around the corner on Saturday, April 30th, and to help celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Rutgers Equine Science Center, there will be celebratory cupcakes and beanie babies made in my honor! So stop by to grab a Lord Nelson beanie baby, have a cupcake, watch a treadmill demonstration, and get a temporary tattoo with the face of yours truly! For more information on our Rutgers Day activities, visit esc.rutgers.edu!

Egg-Shaped Third Eye???

2011-04-06T11:44:00.006-04:00

Hay Friends,

Remember in my last blog post I promised to share with you the location of a horse's third eye? Well, it's right in front of the ears, hidden underneath the forelock, but you can't see it! Just kidding! Horses don't actually have a REAL third eye - that would be bizarre! They do however have something called a pineal gland in their brain that processes information about the environment, like exposure to daylight, similarly to the actual eye. The pineal is a small reddish brown egg-shaped gland located in the center of the brain tucked between the two hemispheres.

Through a series of chemical reactions, the amount of light, processed through the eye's retina, is sent through various parts of the brain and ultimately received by the pineal gland. The primary functions of the pineal gland are to synthesize and secrete the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is a powerful hormone that plays an important role in adjusting the body to photoperiod and affecting circadian rhythms, such as the sleep-wake cycle, as it processes light exposure. The release of the hormone is not constant however; it is a pattern of the lowest concentrations occurring during daylight hours and peaking at night when it's dark. The varying levels of melatonin tell a horse what season it is and whether or not it should shed its hair or for mares to begin reproductive function. Pretty cool, huh?

Spring IS in the air and my pasture is beginning to sprout new luscious grass. Better for me than hot dogs and peppermints! Did you know that there are different species of grasses grown in horse pastures? Look out for my next blog post, where I'll talk about the different varieties of my most favorite food!

Until next time,

Lord Nelson

"SPRING" into action!

2011-03-15T09:58:00.004-04:00

Hay everyone!

I know with this warmer weather we've been having, most of you have been trading in your heavy winter coats for your lighter spring jackets...I know I have! Much like your pet dogs and cats, horses shed their thicker winter coats for their sleeker summer coats as the seasons change. But unlike humans, it is not a direct result of warmer temperatures. So what causes horses to begin shedding their coats in the spring and growing them in the fall? Read on to find out!

As seasons change, the amount of daylight changes as well. Maybe you've heard of summer solstice (June 21st) as the longest day of the year with 16 hours of sunlight, or winter solstice (December 21st) as the shortest day of the year with only 10 hours of sunlight. The varying amounts of daylight is called photoperiod and tell horses when they should start shedding or growing their coats! Sometimes horse owners, particularly those who are interested in showing and breeding, will "trick" the horse's body into thinking the photoperiod is longer than they actually are by putting lights in their stalls when the horse comes in at night. The extended amount of "daylight" has the same effect on the horse as if the seasons were changing. This is useful for show horses because their coats will be short and neat for competitions. This also requires owners to provide horses with extra warmth in the winter in the form of turnout blankets to compensate for shorter hair-coats.

The horse's response to photoperiod is not as simple as it sounds. To initiate the shedding (or growing process) the horse uses its "third eye". Where is this third eye you may ask? Check out my next blogpost where I'll talk about what goes on inside a horse that causes changes on the outside!

Until then, Happy Spring Solstice!

Your pal,
Lord Nelson

Food for thought...

2011-02-28T15:33:00.005-05:00

You all know about my "affection for confections", my love for cupcakes and ice cream, but have you ever wondered what other strange things horses eat? Well, it turns out there are lots of strange foods that you would be surprised horse's enjoy...but only in moderation!

Horses come from all over the world, so they eat a wide variety of different foods. One thing is for sure; their digestive systems are geared towards a diet of forages, like grasses, stems, and leaves which can be eaten over extended periods of time. But I'm not the only horse with a sweet tooth! Traditional treats like apples and carrots can also be found in nature and are a healthy supplement to our diets. Some natural treats that are non-traditional, but perfectly safe include bananas, grapes, mangos (without the seeds), squash, and watermelon rinds. Other treats such as peppermints and sugar cubes are safe for horses in small amounts as well, even though they are not found naturally (but boy, if they were!). Jelly beans, gummy bears, carrot cake, and gingersnap cookies may be fed to horses occasionally as unique rewards.

Horses sometimes eat things that don't seem as tasty as candies and fruit, and can indicate a deficiency in our diets. Have you ever seen a horse eating dirt? It may sound gross, but there are several reasons why a horse may do this. As I mentioned before, horses need forage in their diets in order to get the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. Sometimes though, the forage available to them cannot provide enough of those minerals they need, so they must find alternative sources. In an effort to fix this problem, horses may lick rocks, dirt, and even each other to balance their need for sodium (salt) and minerals! Nowadays, it is common and recommended that horses have free access to a salt or mineral block. Not only will they no longer have to search for these supplements, but free choice salt promotes water consumption which keeps horses healthy. Water is a horses' drink of choice, so it is very important that a clean and abundant supply be offered at all times!

As you all may know, my weird food of choice is none other than a nice juicy hot dog! Share with me a strange food that a horse you know likes to eat, or if you have any questions about a particular treat!

Keep snacking!

Lord Nelson

Love is in the air!

2011-02-11T11:22:00.005-05:00

Hay everyone!

How about this crazy weather we've been having? I've been busy climbing the mountains of snow that have formed in my paddock...the other day my owner couldn't find me because I was behind a snow pile that towered over my head! Check out some of my snow filled pictures in my photo gallery below! I just can't wait for spring to come!

Anyway, Valentine's Day is coming up and love is in the air! I'm looking forward to a romantic day with my gal pal and fellow snow mountain climber HugMe Christi. I'm so in love, that when I see her, my ears perk up, my eyes light up, and my heart starts to beat just a little bit faster! Horses are lovers...we have big hearts! The average weight of an equine heart is between 7 and 9 pounds, but some are even bigger than that...the famous racehorse Secretariat's heart was an estimated 22 pounds! So how does the massive equine heart work? Read more to find out!

A horse's heart is located in the anterior region of the chest cavity, in the area between the forelimbs. The heart is a 4-chambered, muscular, hollow-organ that is divided into right and left sides by a wall-like structure called a septum. The upper chamber on each side, called the atrium, functions to receive blood. This is connected to the larger, more powerful lower chamber, or ventricle, which ejects the blood. When a heart contracts, the chambers become smaller, forcing blood out of the atria into the ventricles. From there, blood is ejected from each ventricle and into a large blood vessel at the top of the heart. One of these vessels, called the pulmonary artery, takes blood into the lungs to receive oxygen. The other, the aorta, transports freshly oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. The aorta branches into a complex network of arteries, arterioles, and capillaries to deliver the oxygenated blood to the organs and tissues which keep horses running!

Speaking of running, here at the Rutgers Equine Science Center, we do a lot of research on how a horse's heart functions while it's doing a high energy task such as working on a treadmill. We use special equipment called an electrocardiogram (ECG for short) which uses the electrical impulses of the heart to provide visual signals for researchers to record data and make observations. When exercising, a horse's heart can go from the average resting rate of 30 to 40 beats per minute to as much as over 200 beats per minute!

Horses need big hearts to pump blood to muscles and organs which enable us to perform in everything we do, from racing to grazing! The only girl my heart beats for is Christi...I have a candlelit dinner of warm bran mash with a side of alfalfa planned for us! I can only hope she remembers to bring cookies and cupcakes for dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth!

Until next time friends,
Lord Nelson

What is Lordosis??

2011-01-27T15:52:00.007-05:00

Hi friends,

Did you ever see a horse that looks like its belly is pulling its spine toward the ground, causing its back to slope downward just behind its withers? If you aren't sure what I mean, just look at some of the pictures of myself that I've posted here! The condition is commonly known as "sway back" but its scientific name applies more to yours truly..."LORDosis!"

Although the dip in my back may seem to be a cause for concern, it really doesn't bother me or prevent me from living a normal and active life. My owner does make fun of me however; he says eventually, he will have to start strapping the saddle to my belly and riding me upside-down for the saddle to fit properly!

To understand what lordosis actually is, you have to take a look at how a horse's spine is constructed. The normal rise and fall of a horse's back is not the path of the spine itself. It is actually fin-like projections on the horse's vertebrae which are longest at the withers, short in the saddle area, and long again near the hips. The spine itself is nearly horizontal, following a straight line from chest to tail head. The vertebrae are held in place by ligaments and other soft tissues, as well as tension from belly muscles. When horses get to be my age, the soft tissue begin to stretch out and belly muscles lose their tone, which causes the spine to sag a bit.

But, even though I don't have the same physique I had when I was a young stud, my gal pal Hugme Christi still thinks I'm as handsome as can be...I'm going to ask her to be my Valentine! I'll keep you updated on my plans for our romantic day!

Happy trails,
Lord Nelson

One more thing, if you like the artwork above, check out my pal Mike Scovel's website, http://cowcreekmerc.com/index.htm. He is an awesome artist and likes to paint pictures of western life and good-looking horses - like ME!

Artwork copyright by M. Scovel and used by permission

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday!

2011-01-04T16:44:00.010-05:00

Hi Friends,

Welcome to 2011! I certainly hope that the recent weather event (the blizzard!) that ended 2010 isn't a prediction of what's yet to come. I'll have more on that a little later - just keep reading!

New Year's Day is always special for horses in the Northern Hemisphere - it marks our birthday! As you can see from my picture, I celebrated enough for all of my fellow equine friends. I actually cheated and celebrated my birthday a day early (December 31) so that I could share my "affection for confections" with my owner, who brought me cupcakes with candles, and one of my caretakers, Josh, whose birthday is New Year's Eve. You may not be able to tell from the picture that I could not contain my excitement when I saw that plateful of cupcakes. Josh said that I was trembling in an effort to reach out and grab one of those treats!

Anyway, the racing industry designated January 1 as the universal birthday for all race horses some time ago. The reason for doing so was to simplify record keeping when classifying horses for different races based on age. Many sport competition, recreation, and pleasure horse breed registries followed suit. It also makes sense to have a universal birthday for horses when the actual date of birth is unknown - like in my case. I just turned 38! My friends at the Rutgers Equine Science Center will have to update my bio to reflect my true age, AHEM!

I also have to share the fact that after the blizzard on December 26, I was so cozy in my turnout shed with my gal pal Hugme Christi, that I refused to come out. I demanded that I be fed, most certainly, but my caretakers were concerned that I would not walk over to my automatic waterer and drink. One might think that it is only important to worry about horses drinking in hot weather, but it is equally as important that horses drink plenty of water in cold weather as well. My friend Josh made sure that a path was cleared from my shed to the waterer. Since my waterer is heated, I am being very careful to drink often in order to stay hydrated. As soon as this snow melts, I'll be off for a good gallop for sure!

To make sure that you all take proper care of us in the winter months, the Equine Science Center will be posting a new Fact Sheet outlining our care during the winter months. Be sure to check it out!

Don't forget, if you like what you read on my blog, post a comment below! I hope to hear from you soon!

Stay warm!
Lord Nelson

Holiday Overindulgence!

2010-12-16T14:22:00.003-05:00

Hey Gang,

Even though I JUST recovered from my Thanksgiving feast, I am already gearing up for more holiday dinners and sweet treats! I've been taking advantage of this festive holiday season to eat all the little goodies I could swindle from my caretakers! They are always careful not to over-feed me, because that could lead to some serious health problems. When humans overeat they may need to spend a couple of days at the gym, but when horses overeat, it could be deadly!

Horses have small stomachs, and are meant to spend days eating grass at a slow, leisurely pace. If horses eat too much too fast, they could suffer from laminitis or founder - two related health problems that could be fatal! Laminitis is very painful, and can lead to founder. Founder occurs when the coffin bone (the bone in the foot) becomes detached from the hoof wall and sinks down because the laminae die. When a horse can't move because of laminitis or founder, it can't get to food or water, and it is in danger of other infection or disease.

You may be saying, "What does a horse's feet have to do with its tummy?" Well, to make a long story short, if a horse eats too much grain too fast, the chemicals in its stomach get out of balance, making the population of good bacteria that live in the gut (yep - bacteria live in stomachs, and help horses and humans digest their food) very unhappy. Now, I'm skipping a few steps here, but eventually toxins build up in the blood because the gut and bacteria are all out of whack. These toxins accumulate in the feet and affect the highly sensitive laminae. Some of the work going on at the Equine Science Center is meant to better understand how the bacteria and microbes in the gut contribute to laminitis.

Another consequence of too much grain and not enough hay is colic. Colic is basically a big stomach ache, and happens because the food a horse has eaten becomes impacted, meaning it gets stuck. If this goes untreated, a horse could die. Not only is colic itself bad, but it could contribute to laminitis too!

As bad as all that sounds, laminitis, founder, and colic can all be prevented by a couple of really simple steps. First, make sure your horse's diet is mostly hay or grass. Second, make sure your horse has access to plenty of clean, fresh water. Finally, only feed grain in small amounts spread out over several times a day - three times at the least; four times would be better. A horse needs to eat about 2-2.5 pounds of feed (including hay and grain) for every 100 pounds it weighs, so if a horse weighs 1000 pounds, it needs 20-25 pounds of forage and grain per day.

No more holiday feasts for me! I'm staying slim and trim and keeping my stomach and microbes happy!

Happy holidays!

Lord Nelson

Why You Shouldn't Look A Gift Horse in the Mouth...

2010-11-15T14:00:00.002-05:00

Hey Future Equine Experts!

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth?" Ever wonder what it means? Today, it means to be thankful for a gift (even if you secretly want something better) and don't take something given to you for free for granted; but the roots of the phrase go back to when horses were used for everyday work, and when people depended on them for survival.

Did you know you can tell a horse's age by examining its teeth? I ask because to understand the phrase, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," you should know how to estimate a horse's age.

Horses have two sets of teeth, baby teeth and adult teeth - just like people. When all of a horse's adult teeth have come in, it is said that the horse has a full mouth. When a horse is between 2 and 3 years old, the first of its permanent teeth (the incisors) come in. By the time a horse is 5, all of the permanent teeth have come in. After that, you have to look at the wear and angle of the teeth to estimate a horse's age. Here is a little poem that helps some people remember the rules for estimating a horse's age:

THE AGE OF A HORSE

"To tell the age of any horse
Inspect the lower jaw of course;
The six front teeth the tale will tell
And every doubt and fear dispel.

Two middle nipper you behold
Before the colt is two weeks old;
Before eight weeks two more will come
Eight months: the corners cut the gum.

At two the middle "Nippers" drop:
At three the second pair can't stop;
When four years old the third pair goes,
At five a full new set he shows.

The deep black spots will pass from view
At six years from the middle two;
The second pair at seven years;
At eight the spot each corner clears.

From the middle "Nippers" upper jaw
At nine the black spots will withdraw.
The second pair at ten are bright;
Eleven finds the corners light.

As time goes on the horsemen know
The oval teeth three-sided grow;
Then longer get - project before -
Till twenty, when they know no more."
-Anonymous

According to that little ditty, I'm off the charts! And since my smile has a few gaps, you can't even say that I have a full mouth anymore!

Anyhow, way back in the old days, when people needed horses every day, a horse's value was based on his age. So if you were going to buy a horse, you would want to know its age before offering a price. But if someone wanted to give you a horse for free, it would be just plain rude to go peering into its mouth. That little piece of etiquette goes all the way back to at least the 5th century when a guy named St. Jerome wrote about it.

My friends at the Equine Science Center like to research old horses so I figured I would do a little independent research on old horses also! I hope you enjoyed the trivia!

Youthfully yours,
Lord Nelson

Age - is it really just a number??

2010-11-04T11:59:00.004-04:00

Last week, the Equine Science Center was well represented at the first Dorothy Havemeyer Foundation Equine Geriatric Workshop. That means that a bunch of scientists and veterinarians got together to talk about old horses - one of my favorite topics!

Representatives of the Center gave six lectures and two poster presentations during the four-day conference, which just goes to show how much your Equine Science Center emphasizes care of the older horse. Speakers reported on research happening in America, Australia, and the United Kingdom! Topics included inflammation and aging, lowered immunity and aging, and lower capacity for exercise of older horses. Older horses undergo similar ordeals that older humans go through, like diabetes and arthritis. Understanding aging in horses can help shed light on aging in humans!

Besides just talking about scientific data, the attendees of the conference tried to understand what it means to be "old." When a horse is 12, is it old? What about when it is 20? What about 37?! I guess you could say it depends. It depends on how well the horse was taken care of when it was younger, how functional it is at its current age, and what its long-term health outlook is called. Those factors contribute to what we call "physiological age," which is different than chronological age (the age you are in years). Remember, physiology is the study of how the systems of the body work, so physiological age takes into account how well these systems still work together when you compare horses (or humans) at different ages. That's why I still feel like a spry, young 20-year-old! That also might be why sometimes my owner says I wear him out and that I am making him old quick!

Do you have any questions about aging horses? Email them to me at LordNelson@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Your pal,
Lord Nelson

HAY Gang!

2010-10-22T11:33:00.004-04:00

Ooops - I meant hey!

You'll never guess what happened last week when I went apple picking - there were no apples! No matter where we looked, all the apples had already been harvested. All we could find were tomatoes (Yuck!). I was really bummed out until later in the week when a couple of pretty cool things happened...

First, the Equine Science Center held its annual Stakeholder Meeting. That meant any person with a stake in the programmatic efforts of the Center was free to attend and contribute to the discussion about equine-related issues that impact the New Jersey horse industry. There was some pretty good discussion, but most important, at least to me, was the decision to keep the Center's priorities on horse health and well-being, integrity of equestrian sport, horses and the environment, and ensuring the viability and future of the New Jersey horse industry. Equine Science 4 Kids and the new Fun on the Farm game also received a lot of attention. Did you know that Equine Science 4 Kids is the third-most visited page on the Equine Science Center website? I was as excited as a young colt when I heard that!

The second thing that really made my week was a visit from one of my adoring fans. She came out to my farm with enough doughnuts, muffins, and peppermints to feed a whole stable of Lord Nelsons! I gave her a ride out in the arena - that little bit of exercise was just what I needed since my foot is still a little sore. Hopefully I will be back up to full speed by Halloween!

That's all for now, but stay tuned!

"No foot, no horse!"

2010-10-07T09:49:00.010-04:00

Hi Friends!

The extremely dry summer we had finally took its toll on me a few weeks ago; therefore, I haven't been able to type with my hoof for a while. Let me tell you what happened...

Read more!

Several weekends ago my owner arrived at the farm to notice that I wouldn't move and had assumed a stretched out stance which looked like I was straining to urinate. He immediately thought I was colicking and ran into the pasture to offer assistance, but once he saw that I had just finished my large breakfast (like I would EVER miss a meal!), attention was drawn away from my belly to my left leg. I simply could not put my weight on it; it really hurt!

Since I had been running around with my paddock mate HugMeChristi the day before, everyone thought that I may have pulled a muscle or tendon. As a matter of fact, my leg was a little swollen near my superficial flexor tendon, which runs down the back of my leg and helps me flex my lower joints. I had to stand with my leg under a cold hose for 20 minutes followed by a leg wrap with a clay-like cream called poultice that absorbs heat and reduces swelling. They also gave me some horse aspirin called phenylbutazone or "bute" for short, but the only way I would eat them was if they were ground into powder and mixed with grain so I couldn't taste it. In fact, medicine might be the only thing I don't like to eat!

Three days later I was still lame, so my owner decided it was time to call the veterinarian. My left leg was nerve blocked from the knee down to the pastern joint that way, if the problem was my superficial flexor tendon, I wouldn't be able to feel it hurting me and I would walk soundly. However, I was still unsound even after they had made my leg numb, so the diagnosis was that the problem was in the hoof and that it was probably an abscess. An abscess can hurt pretty bad; it's basically a buildup of pus meant to fight off infection in the hoof, but since hoof walls are hard and cannot expand to accommodate swelling, a large concentration of pressure forms which is eventually relieved by draining at the bottom or sometimes the top of the hoof. It's almost like walking on a huge pimple, gross! For those of you who have ever had a corn or other foot problem, you know how painful sore feet can be. Maybe you've heard the old saying, "no foot, no horse," well now I understand what it means!

To treat my abscess, I went through two weeks of hoof soaking for 30 minutes a day in salt water and my foot had to be poulticed and wrapped with a plastic bag and heavy duty duct tape to keep the poultice where it needed to be. After a few days of this routine "voila!" my caretaker found where the abscess would be surfacing and once it did, I was back and ready for action! Too much dryness of the hoof certainly contributed to my problem.

Now that fall is here my winter hair is starting to come in, and so are the tasty apples in the orchard down the trail! I can't wait to go down there with my Equine Science 4 Kids shopping bag and pick some for myself...I think I deserve it after being so good while everyone took care of me!

Until next time...

Fun on the Farm!

2010-09-21T10:08:00.007-04:00

Hello again!

I'm excited and proud to announce a new addition to Equine Science 4 Kids - "Fun on the Farm" - an interactive game based on the environmental impact of horse farms! Fun on the Farm is closely based on the Horses and the Environment section of Equine Science 4 Kids, and on the Ryders Lane Environmental Best Management Practices Demonstration Horse Farm virtual tour on the Equine Science Center website. Test your knowledge about how green horse farms can be, and see if you have what it takes to be a farm manager at the Ryders Lane Farm!

Stay tuned for more updates and news!

Frankie Returns!

2010-09-13T15:52:00.004-04:00

Hey Kids!

Do you remember my pal Frankie? She starred in "Horses on Treadmills?!" here on Equine Science 4 Kids! Well, she is back along with some of my other friends from the Equine Science Center. Take the new Equine Exercise Physiology Laboratory virtual tour on the Equine Science Center website. The virtual tour of the "Treadmill Laboratory" will show you what the scientists and students at the Equine Science Center do.

Did any of you see me at the 4-H State Championship Horse Show on August 27th? Being back in the show ring made me feel like a colt again! I was feeling so good, I had a hard time staying still during the opening ceremonies. I ate so much cake and ice cream that I completely blew my diet! There are some new pictures of yours truly enjoying the festivities; check them out!

Remember, if you have any questions about equine science, you can email me at LordNelson@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Until next time friends!

Star Power at the State 4-H Horse Show

2010-08-23T10:10:00.005-04:00

Hello again!

It's going to be another great week for horses and horse-people in New Jersey! This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is the New Jersey State 4-H Championship Horse Show. Young equestrians from all over the Garden State who have advanced from their county shows will be competing in different events, such as Western and English riding, Driving, and Dressage. Other attractions at the horse show will include the 4-H Youth Art Show, 4-H Drill Team Exhibition, and the Horse Costume Class!

Rumor has it that there will be a special guest at the horse show on Friday, August 27th. Do you have any guesses about who will be there? Could it be Justin Bieber? The cast of Jersey Shore? Governor Christie?

I can't keep a secret - I'm making a guest appearance Friday night! Stop by to see yours truly and get the scoop on the Equine Science Center straight from the horse's mouth. You can probably find me by the ice cream; being a VIP definitely has its advantages!

Come out to the NJ State 4-H Championship Horse Show from August 27-29 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown to support your fellow young horse enthusiasts and to see me!

Your pal,

You're Virtually There!

2010-08-02T12:40:00.004-04:00

Hey friends!

Have you had a chance to check out the Ryders Lane Virtual Tour on the Equine Science Center website (http://www.esc.rutgers.edu/rlp/rl_virtual_tour.htm)? There you can find all kinds of cool information about what farmers, particularly horse farmers, can do to keep the environment clean. The guidelines farmers follow when trying to preserve the environment are called "Best Management Practices." The professors at the Equine Science Center sometimes refer to them as just BMPs.

When I was clicking (or maybe it was clopping) through the virtual tour, I saw a lot of other acronyms. It seems like grown-ups are awful fond of saying things like:

CNMP (Certified Nutrient Management Plan)
ICM (Integrated Crop Management)
LNFP (Lord Nelson Feeding Plan)

Okay, I made that last one up! But there are a lot of interesting things mentioned in the virtual tour. Have you ever heard of rain gardens or bioswales? What about humus (not hummus, which is what vegetarians eat) and pH balance ? Something that is near and dear to my heart was the rotational grazing system at Ryders Lane. Rotational grazing is the reason I have plenty of grass to eat during the summer, even during the hot and dry summer we have had this year.

If you enjoy the Ryders Lane virtual tour, you can always visit the actual farm and take the self-guided tour. You can see the BMPs up close at the farm. When you visit, please tell my equine friends I said hello!

Until next time,

King Nelson?!

2010-07-19T14:48:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends,

My ears were burning last week, and it wasn't because of the heat! People were talking about me!

Some of my friends from the Equine Science Center attended the annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science in Denver. They wanted to spread the word about Equine Science 4 Kids, but most of the professors and students at the meeting already knew about our website and yours truly! Some were a little confused though; they thought my name was Prince Nelson, or King Nelson. I'm normally pretty happy to be called Nelson, but I REALLY like the sound of "King Nelson."

While in Denver, my friends had many opportunities to listen to lectures and presentations about very interesting research, not only in horses, but in every animal species. Topics covered during the conference included nutrition, animal husbandry (or animal care), signaling between and within cells, the immune system, animal growth, the environment, and animal reproduction, to name just a few of the many, many talks.

Conferences are also a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues, and to forge new relationships. I hear Denver is an amazing city to visit with a great view of the Rocky Mountains. By the end of the year, my friends at the Equine Science Center will have attended conferences and meetings in Baltimore, Denver, Washington, D.C., Australia, Brazil, Ireland, and South Africa! Who knew that the life of a scientist could be so eventful!

While you are deciding what you want to be when you grow up, think about becoming a scientist. If you like to ask questions and find answers, you already have two of the most important qualities of a good scientist. Everyone, including horses, will depend more and more on scientists to work on the challenges facing us in the future. Plus, think about all the opportunities scientists have to travel and meet new people!

That's all for now; I wonder who I need to talk to in order to be promoted to "King" Nelson...

The EYEs Have It!

2010-07-07T16:15:00.004-04:00

Hello Friends!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July. I had a great view of some fireworks from underneath the old apple tree in my pasture, with plenty of treats from the BBQ next door!

Unfortunately, not everything this weekend went perfectly. Last week I got a scratch on my eye, which was quite irritating. My caretakers put a fly mask on my head and put tape over the spot where my right eye is located to keep the sun out. They also had antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine to put in my eye. Now, I really hate having the fly mask on since it keeps me from seeing everything that is going on out at the farm, and I especially hate having medicine rubbed in my eye, but after 37 years I've learned that sometimes you just have to take your medicine and listen to others that know what is best for you.

My caretakers did what every responsible horse-person does and called their veterinarian to take a look at my eye. It turns out that I have more than just a scratch - I have glaucoma (glä-kō-mä). It may sound like really bad news, but lucky for me, they found it early. Up until now my vision has been great and I haven't had any discomfort. You may have heard of your grandparents or people their age having glaucoma, but you might not be too familiar with what it is. Since I'm a pretty web-savvy horse, I hit-up the internet to see what I could find out. In horses, glaucoma basically means that there is a buildup of fluid and pressure in the eye, which will impair vision and be uncomfortable. There is no cure, and I will eventually lose sight in my eye, but that is part of getting old. Right now I am on medicine that will decrease the fluid in my eye and relieve some of the pressure, but it will also decrease the fluid in the rest of my body. This type of medicine is called a diuretic (dī-ur-ĕt-ik). To make sure I don't lose too much fluid, my caretakers are careful to give me plenty of electrolytes and water, and are making sure I don't get overheated!

On the bright side, I got a new feeder this weekend! It is an old tire with a bowl fit in it, so I can bang it around all I want to let my caretakers know I'm hungry. You might not get too excited about new plates and bowls, but to me it was like getting a new baseball glove, bicycle, and Hula Hoop all at once! Check out the new pics in my slideshow of my new tire, me getting some sunscreen, and other happenings at my farm!

Stay tuned for more posts this month, we have some big projects in the works for Equine Science 4 Kids!

Your pal,

Fun in the Sun!

2010-06-21T09:47:00.004-04:00

Hello again!

Looking at me calendar, I realized that today, June 21st, is the official start of summer. You may be saying - "What's the big deal?" - but as an old police horse, I can tell you that working in the summer heat can take a lot out of you. Many people spend their summers working with their horses in the show ring, at the racetrack, or riding the trails. Heat stress is a big concern to both equine athletes and their owners.

We have some natural ways of cooling off during exercise that you may be familiar with. First off, we sweat (a lot)! When sweat evaporates off horses' skin, it releases energy and helps to lower surface temperature; it's the same way you keep cool while playing on a warm, sunny day. During exercise, our hearts are also pumping a lot of blood. Much of that blood is redirected to the capillaries and blood vessels just under our skin. That's why when you see a horse finishing up some hard work it looks like there is a spidery web of veins underneath the hair. Because the surface of a horse's body is cooler than its body core, the blood flowing just under the skin cools off faster. Horses also will breathe faster because some heat can be dissipated when they exhale, and we inhale nice, cool air to keep our muscles working.

You may think that all this stuff I'm saying is just hot air because it sounds like how you keep cool during the summer, but it really has been scientifically proven! It's another way that horses and humans are connected.

If you worry that your horse is overheating, the first thing you can do is move it out of the sun and into the shade. You can also hose off your horse's legs and body with cold water. This will cool off the blood flowing just below the skin, which will then help cool off the body core. To prevent dehydration, allow your horse to have several small drinks of water, but be careful - too much cold water too fast can give us a belly ache! Electrolytes (elek-tro-lites) are also a good idea; you can find more information about those by visiting the Healthcare and Nutrition page on Equine Science 4 Kids!

All this typing has caused me to break out in a sweat! I think I'll find a nice, shady spot to cool off!

I'm Headline News!

2010-06-10T15:20:00.004-04:00

Hi Friends!

I picked up the newspaper today and it was like looking in the mirror! Two of my favorite New Jersey newspapers featured yours truly in an article about Equine Science 4 Kids! If you did not have a chance to grab a copy of the paper, you can click here to read the article.

I am glad they chose to feature me during the Month of the Horse! All this talk about June being the Month of the Horse got me to thinking, "Why does New Jersey have a month dedicated to horses?" Of course, I know why horses are so great, but what made the folks in Trenton decide to celebrate horses every June?

It turns out that a couple of kids made it happen! That's right, it all started when a fifth and eighth grader convinced the state legislature to declare the horse the official state animal in 1977. Boy they made a good call with that one!

Did you know that the horse is even featured on the state seal, representing power and strength? Since horses have such a strong history in the Garden State, and because horses improve the economy and quality of life for the people of New Jersey, we have been celebrating the Month of the Horse since 1998!

Here are some interesting facts about the horse industry in New Jersey from my friends at the Equine Science Center:

The horse industry contributes over $1 billion annually to the economy in New Jersey! That could buy a lot of apples and carrots!
13,000 people work in the New Jersey horse industry! That includes trainers, veterinarians, and the owner of your local feed or tack store, among many others.
176,000 acres are used to house horses in New Jersey! In other words, one fifth of all the agricultural land in the Garden State is related to horses. I sure am grateful for all the farmers out there raising hay and grain for us to eat (46,000 acres worth), we can't survive on hot dogs alone! I also love seeing my horse friends running and playing in nice, open, and green pastures all throughout the state!
42,500 horses live in the Garden State! Hunterdon, Monmouth, and Burlington counties have the greatest number of horse farms and stables.

Between my excitement over that awesome article and crunching all those numbers about horses in New Jersey, this old boy is getting a little sleepy! I think I'll sign off and take a nap in the sun!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Horses on Treadmills?!

2010-06-01T16:43:00.005-04:00

Have you ever seen a horse running on a treadmill? I'm just checking in to let you know that there is a new video starring my friend Frankie performing a Graded Exercise Test (GXT) on the Equine Science 4 Kids site. The video shows the work done by both horses and humans at the Equine Science Center. Click here to watch.

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend, I know I did! There are some new pictures of me featured here on my blog. Be sure to check them out to see one of the odd things I like to eat! Don't forget, you can always email me at LordNelson@njaes.rutgers.edu.

That's all for now, but stay tuned as we continue to celebrate the Month of the Horse!

My Favorite Time of the Year!

2010-05-27T11:38:00.004-04:00

Hello Everyone!

June, my favorite month, is almost here! Can you guess why June is my favorite month? Not only is everyone grilling hot dogs, but it is also the Month of the Horse! Way back in 1977, when I was still a young colt, the New Jersey Legislature and Governor Byrne proclaimed the horse as the state animal. In 1998, while I was working the beat as a mounted patrol horse, Governor Whitman declared June as the Month of the Horse here in New Jersey. Even back then, the folks in Trenton realized how important the horse was for the Garden State. All of you still know that the horses here today are part of what makes New Jersey a great state!

Can you do me a favor? During the month of June, take some time to learn about things that are important to me and my equine friends, like proper nutrition, proper housing, and horse behavior. Remember, even if you have been around horses all your life, there is always something new and exciting to learn about us (like the weird things some of us like to eat)! That is a large part of what my friends at the Equine Science Center do.

Finally, if you own a horse or help take care of a horse, be proud of it! If you know someone else who works with horses, congratulate them! If you know someone who is not directly involved with horses, but is a horse enthusiast, pat them on the back! Every breed and type of horse is unique, but we all share a special bond with our human friends. That is something everyone can celebrate in June! I'll check back in later with more fun facts about the Month of the Horse.

Until next time!

School's Out for Summer!

2010-05-14T11:15:00.004-04:00

Hello again!

Finals have finished and summer is fast approaching, and with that comes the annual graduation ceremony at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences here at Rutgers. Several of our Equine Science students are preparing to graduate with a degree in Animal Science! Many are making plans to go to vet school or to work in fields related to equine science. We are very proud of our graduates! My friends at the Equine Science Center are also excited in anticipation of meeting the recent high school grads who will be joining our program in the fall!

I'm having a busy spring just like my friends at the Equine Science Center. A few weeks ago I underwent some spring cleaning. My owner gave me a nice bubble bath and got rid of the last of my winter hair! He also put plenty of sunscreen on my nose to keep it from getting sunburned. I ate enough peppermints and carrots that day to last a whole month! Boy I sure enjoyed all of the attention, and my pasture mate, Christi, was a little jealous!

Last Friday other members of my barn were leaving early for the races, so my caretaker, Wendy, called for me to come in for an early breakfast. Since I knew it was way too early for feeding, I just thought she wanted to pester me while I was munching on grass in the cool morning, so I kept right on grazing - I didn't want to mess up my schedule! Mr. Gale, (Wendy's dad) came out and called for me to come in and then I knew it was chow time! I surprised them both by how fast I ran up to the gate, and they considered loading me up to go to the races that day! Luckily for me, horses older than 14 are not allowed to race (Phew!). I guess getting old does have some advantages!

With all the cool weather, rain, and sunshine I have plenty of grass growing in my pasture. Luckily the weather cooperated enough so that the first cutting of hay is already baled and stored. Thinking about all that grass and hay has made me hungry, so it's time to sign off for now!

Stay tuned; I'll have more stories and news next time!

Fun at Ag Field Day!

2010-04-30T09:41:00.003-04:00

Hello again!

My friends at the Rutgers Equine Science Center told me that they had over 5,000 visitors at the treadmill laboratory last weekend during Ag Field Day. They also told me the Equine Science 4 Kids bright red recycled tote bags was very popular, and that they handed out almost 1,000 bags in less than two hours! I think having my adorable face on the bag probably had something to do with the bags disappearing so quickly...

I heard the line to watch Snowdrift and Maggie run on the high-speed horse treadmill was practically wrapped around the building! People were lining-up 30 minutes before the demonstrations in order to watch Snowdrift and Maggie run.

Don't worry if you missed the equine treadmill demonstrations at Ag Field Day. I am helping my friends at the Equine Science Center put the finishing touches on a video of Frankie running on the treadmill.

Stay tuned - we'll have that video up on Equine Science 4 Kids soon!

Welcome

2010-04-18T21:26:00.002-04:00

Hi Friends,

You’re probably wondering how a horse is able to type a blog. Well, typing is easy – setting up the computer in my stall was the hard part!

As you may already know, I worked at Rutgers University for 22 years before retiring in 2000. From participating in football games, to witnessing the creation of the Equine Science Center (my favorite place on campus, for obvious reasons!) – I have just about seen it all!

When my friends at the Equine Science Center asked me help them with the Equine Science 4 Kids site, I had only one request – I wanted a blog. I have so many funny and interesting stories to share, and a blog is the perfect way for me to communicate with you.

Although I have a busy daily schedule (grazing in a pasture for 16 hours is hard work – but someone’s got to do it!), I plan to update Holy Hoofprints about 2-3 times every month.

Before I go, do you have plans on Saturday, April 24? If not, go visit my friends at the Equine Science Center during Ag Field Day. I heard they will have a couple of really cool demonstrations in the exercise physiology lab.

Stay tuned; my next blog post will be coming soon!