Backyard Bacteria

Recently I have been getting questions from equine enthusiasts about two specific kinds of horse illnesses. I realized that not only is it important that I answer their questions, but that I also share this important information with my fans and fellow horse lovers too!

I believe that it takes “hooves-on” interaction to really get the most out of your learning. So, let’s play Jeopardy!

Horse Care and Management for 1000 points, please…

How I Beat the Heat!

How are you and your horse keeping cool during these hot and hazy summer days?  While most of my human friends can enjoy air conditioning, I seek the shade of a tree or a 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 ensure that I'm staying properly hydrated and that I'm consuming enough calories to keep my body functioning and maintain a healthy body weight.  Staying hydrated (especially while exercising) on a hot day is very important...not only for humans but for horses too!

Entering the Homestretch of Summer!

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!

If You Can't Stand the Heat...

...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!

June - Celebrations and Itchiness!

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!

Horse go to Camp in the Summer, too!

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