Equine Extension Team at Penn State

How to become your vet's favorite client:

It's ! Help us celebrate all the veterinary professionals that help our animals (especially our equine friends) thrive and live long, happy lives!

If you are looking for ways to say “thank you” to your veterinary team, there are plenty of options. However, it’s very possible that the best way to thank your horse doctors and equine vet techs and assistants is to make their job easier.

Some small things can make the biggest difference; check out this graphic for a few simple ways you can ease the strain on your veterinarians and show them your appreciation. No matter how you choose to say thank you today, there is no doubt you will brighten your vet team’s day!

Lastly, show some love for your veterinarian in the comments below and tag them, some words of encouragement and appreciation are sure to bring a smile to their face! ⬇️

New article alert! Learn normal vital signs for donkeys- they are not the same as horses!

Recognizing a Healthy Donkey Donkeys and horses share some similarities; however, there are differences in resting vital signs, behaviors, and body condition scoring methods.

Sunday Funday!

Here are some great tips on using fans in stables.

💡 Summer Horse Management Tip

When temperatures rise, improving airflow can go a long way toward keeping horses comfortable. Fans can help increase air movement, support cooling through sweat evaporation, and make shelters and barns more comfortable during hot, humid weather.

At my house, we recently added motion sensors to the outlets powering our barn fans in the run-in shed, which allows the fans to automatically turn on when horses walk underneath them. Our horses spend a surprising amount of time under the fans during the hottest parts of the day and can freely move in and out as they choose. The motion sensors help reduce unnecessary fan runtime while still providing horses access to airflow when they want it.

If adding fans to your barn or shelter setup, be sure to:
• use outdoor-rated, closed-motor fans
• ensure wiring is safely installed and protected
• position fans where horses cannot contact cords or hardware

As an added bonus, improved airflow may also help reduce fly and mosquito pressure, since many flying insects struggle in moving air.

Two eastern PA pasture walks are coming up this summer! Practice taking soil samples, identifying grasses, and evaluating pasture condition in an actual horse pasture.

🔷July 23: Lancaster County
🔷July 30: Monroe County

Each are from 6-8pm and cost $15 per person. See the link in the comments for more information and to register!

Here is a new survey about need for a new fly control product.
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The company is interested in getting feedback from horse owners and farmers regarding the prevalence of filth fly or stable fly pressure at their facilities, their current practices for control of these pests, and their preferences for development of new control technologies. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. You can access the survey at https://forms.gle/CZWqMBfe5fdxVTPFA.

Stable Fly and Filth Fly Usage Questionnaire The purpose of this short questionnaire is to obtain feedback from livestock producers and other owners or caretakers of livestock regarding their experience with stable flies and filth flies (house flies or blow flies) as pests. Your responses will help guide the development of more powerful produc...

A new episode of Tack Box Talk looks to be quite a discussion-starter!

🐴 Should wild horse populations be actively managed?

It's a question that sparks strong opinions. Wild horses are an iconic part of the American West, but managing growing populations presents unique challenges.

Join Dr. Jason Bruemmer, retired CSU professor and current wildlife population management expert for USDA, as he discusses the current management process for keeping wild horses healthy and in balance. We explore which horses are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), population growth, and why wild horses may be doing well for their own good.

🎧 Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/242373/episodes/19314514-wild-horses-the-story-of-managing-a-difficult-situation

💬 Where do you think the balance should be between preserving wild horse populations and managing their numbers?

Here's a new opportunity to contribute to equine science research if you manage a horse 15 years or older!

Scan the QR code or find the link to the survey in the comments.