wi equestrian

8/10/2019 WI Equestrian

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Wisconsin

E V E N T I N Ghe

FALLissue

Fall 2014 | Volum

os going to work harder

this winter?

YOUorYOURcompetition?

PROVEN WORKOUTS FROM THE

BEST IN THE SPORT

>>season recawinners, losers, a

championship resu

a summer hay shortagyourworstnightm


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Wisconsin

EVENTINGFall 2014Volume III CONTENTSFEATURES REGULARS

5

3

107

12

9

17

Words from our editorWhats the scoop on USEAs potential rule

changes?

Dressage Test HomeworkLearn more about the components of Training

Test A and how to improve your scores

SmartPaks Interviews a ProHear from Area IVs own Brad Hall on his

teaching and training tips for success

The latest in course designHow can we make courses safer without

decreasing the flow of adrenaline?

Whats next for Becca Gall?Wisconsins rising star has just been

named to USEAs Under 25 Development

Sundance SuccessIn its first year, Sundance Farm HT

competitors enjoyed a great event

Hay is for Horses...But what happens when hay is gone?Learn more about the Summer drought

www.WIEventing.com

@WIEventing on TwitterWI Eventing on Facebook

Editor in Chief: Sedate Ann Ko

Cover photo (c) Sedate Holland Ko

Background image (c) Eventing Nat


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hat is the question many arm owners have had to ask

themselves over the past ew weeks. Nothing drastic hashappened to their arm or arm management practices, or even

a change in the number o horses they are caring or. Rather, thedilemma arises rom the drought Wisconsin aced this summer,and its eects are now hitting horses and horse owners hard.

Between the months o June and September 2012,

Wisconsin had only 6 inches o rain. The normal rainall is around10-12 inches. Though this may not seem like a signiicant dierence,it means a lot or the production o hay or the purpose o equineconsumption. The U.S. Drought Monitor even classiied thesouthwestern quarter o the state in a state o severe to extreme drought.

A lack of water affects farmers and their crops greatly. When watersources are limited, plants growth is limited, and that determines

HAY IS FOR HORSESbut when the hay runs out, what do horses eat?

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the amount & quality, as well as subsequent value of the crop. Itwas like nothing I had seen before, said Karin Manley, ownerof Ulao Meadows, an equestrian facility on the North side ofMilwaukee. As the 70 year old owner and sole operator o herarm, Karin participates in something rare or her age: in addition

to managing her acility, she also grows and harvests her own hay.

Around the area, Manleys hay is known or its consistently good

quality. She requently sells part o her seasonal hay cuttingto local arm owners who cant grow the crop themselves.Last summers drought eliminated all possibility o that.

I can usually get 3-4 cuttings each growing season, startingas early as June. The phrase knee high by the ourth o July reallyonly applies to corn, but I usually have at least two cuttings doneby the holiday. This year I barely came out with one., said Manley.

Because o the wintery Wisconsin climate, those whorun out o hay in the colder months are orce to order hayrom an outside location, such as Florida or Texas This is notonly costly, but also worrisome, as the type and quality o thehay may not match that which is normally seen in this area.

Background image by Flickr user BeanheadWiscon

It was like nothing I had seen before

I usually have at least two cutngsdone by the holiday.Tis year I barely came out wh

one.


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tepping Stone Farm ownerand operator, Lia Sader, didnot reach that point, but she

came close. Her arm is a non-or-proit acility that participates

in Equine Assisted Psychotherapyand Equine Assisted Learning.

Just like many acilities,Lia was hit especially hardby the drought conditions.

I have my regular hay guy, andwhen he ran out, my backupguys. But then everyone startedrunning out. I had stored upsome reserve hay or this veryreason, but I had to be a lot lesspicky about what I was eeding

my [horses]. I even put up aFacebook post asking people or any and all haydonations! And that was the hardest part or me.

Horses are herbivores, meaning that they are non-meat eaters. However, unlike their Wisconsinarming counterpart, the cow, they have a much

more unstable digestive system. At any sign odisruption o their normal eeding schedule, ahorse may show signs o colic, which is an equinestomach ache. The muscles surrounding thehorses esophagus only move in one direction,and as a result horses are unable to throw up. Thelength o the digestive tract is long and twisted,

I have my regularhay guy, and whenhe ran out, my backup

guys. But then everyonestarted running out.

A Stepping Stone Farm lessonhorse muching away on hay

donated by a local armer. Photorom SSF Facebook Page

Lia Sader and one o her therapy horses, who are all smiles afefinding hay during the drought and subsequential shortage thi

summer. Photo rom SSF Facebook Page.

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providing ample opportunity or eed and hay to become lodged in themany twists and turns. Low quality eed can also cause gas colic, where thehorse eels intense pain and discomort because o the gas in its intestines.

Ultimately, the consequence o eeding a horse poor quality hayand grain could end up being devastating to their digestive system, aswell as to an owners checkbook.

Luckily, none o Lias horses endured colic as a result o thedierent hays they were given throughout the all and winter.Lia also considers hersel lucky that she had such a great response

rom her Facebook call to arms about inding hay or her horses.I put out the notice that we needed hay and within a ew hours I hadpeople calling me and oering their hay at incredibly reduced prices.

M fah in this communy was fullled.Story by Sedate Ann Kohler

Background photo o Ulao Meadows fields by Sedate Holland Kohler

Full hay carts like this one were no where to be ound. Photo by Sedate Holland Kohler

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