Hay everyone!
New Jersey is certainly getting lots of rain today! Thankfully, Dr. M made sure that my home is warm and dry, so I don’t have to worry about a thing. The weather can sometimes have a big impact on how we take care of our horses. If your horse lives on your property, or you work at a barn, you’ve probably seen the effects of rain firsthand. Ensuring that your farm is set up to handle weather like this is important to keeping your horse, and yourself, safe and comfortable. That’s why I’m happy to introduce some updated fact sheets!
You might be asking, “Lord Nelson, what are these fact sheets and how can they help me and my horse?” I’m so glad you asked! As y’all have heard plenty of times, a major purpose of the ESC is to educate and provide accurate and accessible information to everyone. One of the ways we do this is through the fact sheets on our website! These educational articles are an awesome resource for horse owners and enthusiasts who want to learn more about “everything equine.”
Today, I wanted to highlight some of the fact sheets that have been updated. These can be found on the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) website. Take some time to explore the rest of the website too! There’s a lot of cool information about events in Middlesex County, places like the Rutgers Gardens, and how you can get more involved in volunteering. Check out these updated fact sheets to answer all of your questions:
For questions like:
What should my horse be eating?
How do I interpret the labels on feed bags, and what does that mean for my horse?
Does my horse need supplements?
You should check out The Basics of Equine Nutrition
For questions like:
Why does my horse act differently around some horses?
Why is being in a herd so important for horses?
You should check out The Basics of Equine Behavior
For questions like:
How many horses can be in one pasture?
What is the best way to get rid of my horse’s manure?
Why does my pasture have so many different plants growing, and what are they?
You should check out Agricultural Management Practices for Commercial Equine Operations
For questions like:
Why is the horse the state animal of NJ?
Is the horse industry really that impactful in NJ?
You should check out New Jersey Equine Industry, 2007
For questions like:
What does it mean for a horse to be “stressed”?
Am I stressing out my horse by taking them to competitions?
You should check out Stress Management for Equine Athletes
For questions like:
How can I prevent injuries in my competition horse?
Are we doing enough to keep equine athletic competitions fair?
You should check out Equine Welfare: A New World for Equine Athletes
Happy learning!
Until next time.
Your friend,
Lord Nelson