One topic that many horse owners don't like to think about is that horses need to be transported from time to time. It is important to be prepared for this and to actually practice loading and transporting your horse in advance. Because when it suddenly comes to "putting the horse in the horse trailer," some animals can be more stubborn than expected. Loading and transporting horses causes a certain amount of stress for them. Even the most experienced horses, who travel to competitions every weekend, will show some signs of tension. But transport is a matter of practice; the more we make it a routine, the easier it becomes for the horse. To get a horse from A to B, it goes without saying that the towing vehicle and horse trailer must be compatible and that the technical requirements must be met. It is also very important to carry the horse's equine passport with you.
When we take our horse on a long journey, it makes sense to ensure that it has the necessary protection. Special transport boots are available to protect the legs. These should also be put on during all loading exercises so that our horse does not find them new and disturbing in an emergency, but is already used to the different feeling on its legs.
The question of whether a horse must wear a blanket during transport depends not only on the weather, but also on whether the horse is used to it. It is also extremely important that the blanket cannot slip during transport. A separate rubber belly strap can help here. Depending on the weather conditions, a sweat blanket or a fly blanket may be the right choice.
It is mandatory to provide bedding for the area where the horse stands. Straw or wood shavings are best suited for this purpose. The aim is not to make it soft and comfortable for our horse, but to absorb what our horse excretes during the journey.
Whether and which windows can be opened during the journey depends on the weather. Everyone can use their common sense to judge what is best for their horse. Of course, we should not keep all the windows and the tailgate closed in the middle of summer, but we should do so in freezing temperatures. It is important that our horse gets enough fresh air, even on longer journeys.
Solid, stable equipment for loading and transport is important. The horse should wear a halter that is wide enough and cannot cut into the skin anywhere. The lead rope must be long enough and well made so that it does not break immediately. It should also be equipped with a panic hook. Some trailers offer the option of tying the horse on the right and left, in which case a second lead rope is required. The person leading the horse onto the trailer should wear sturdy shoes and, ideally, gloves.
It is up to you which side the horse stands on. However, some horses prefer to stand on the left or right, so let your horse decide.
Lead the horse straight and confidently onto the trailer ramp and up in one smooth movement. The side hooks of the trailer ramp must be under the ramp to eliminate the risk of injury in the event of an accident. Ask your helper to stand to the side of the trailer ramp so that the horse cannot "fall" sideways.
Once the horse is standing at the top, an assistant should hook in the rear bar and secure it with a split pin before the horse is tied up. The rope used to tie up the horse should be long enough to allow the animal to balance itself with its neck during the journey, but not long enough for it to step over the rope with its front legs.
Close-meshed hay nets should always be hung high enough so that a hoof cannot get caught in them.
There are also a few things to keep in mind when unloading the horse. It is best to have someone to help you. First, untie the horse. Once the ramp has been opened (make sure to slide the hooks on the right and left under the ramp), the helper can stand next to the ramp to prevent the horse from slipping sideways. When leading the horse backwards, make sure to give it enough time so that it does not panic and rush down the ramp, injuring itself.
With a little practice, loading will be no problem. Slow and steady wins the race.
Birds such as budgies, beos, and parrots can not only learn to talk, they are also capable of performing small tasks. With enough patience and a few training tricks, humans and birds can have a lot of fun together. And the results are often impressive!
Inflammation of the testicles and epididymis, which usually occur together and are medically referred to as orchitis and epididymitis, are rare but can lead to reduced or even complete infertility in stallions.
Leptospirosis is a contagious infectious disease of dogs that is widespread worldwide and can also be transmitted to humans, which is why it is also referred to as a zoonosis. This bacterial disease was first discovered in dogs in 1852. Almost half a century later, it was observed at a dog show in Stuttgart, which is why it was initially called Stuttgart dog disease. In Germany, leptospirosis is a notifiable animal disease.
Both dogs and cats can have allergic reactions to certain ingredients in their food. This causes the immune system to overreact to certain ingredients in the food. Between 1 and 5% of all allergic skin diseases in dogs are caused by food allergies. Animals of all breeds and ages are affected. As in humans, an increase in allergies can also be observed in dogs and cats.
To the left and right of the anus, dogs have two anal sacs, which contain the anal glands. The foul-smelling secretion produced by these glands is collected in the anal sacs and serves as the dog's individual scent mark, which is released with each bowel movement. Inflammation of the anal sacs can be very unpleasant and painful for dogs.
Lip chewing, medically known as cheylitis, describes a common condition in domestic guinea pigs characterized by weeping eczema around the lips and corners of the mouth, which in advanced stages can spread to the mouth, nose, and entire face.
The puppy has moved in and everyone is thrilled! This is an exciting time, when your new family member has a lot to discover and learn. Of course, as a new dog owner, you also have a responsibility to ensure a good start to a happy future together. One of the most important tasks is to house-train your dog as quickly as possible.
When a cat is in heat, it can be exhausting for the people who live with her, because she will suddenly change completely. However, her instinct to mate also causes her distress.
Scintigraphy uses substances labeled with weak radioactive isotopes to visualize pathological changes in the body. The image produced is called a scintigram.
Dental disease is one of the most common reasons for visits to the vet for both rabbits and guinea pigs. Since their teeth grow throughout their lives but are not sufficiently worn down in their current living conditions, pathological changes to the teeth often occur.
Syncope refers to fainting or circulatory collapse that occurs suddenly without warning and leads to a temporary loss of consciousness in animals. The dog collapses suddenly and shows no signs of life. After a short time, it regains consciousness and behaves as it did before the syncope.
Ectropion is a malposition of the eyelid that mainly affects the lower eyelid. The outer edge of the eyelid is turned outward and hangs down, which is why it is also referred to as a "drooping eyelid." This malposition prevents the eyelid from closing normally, leaving the eye permanently slightly open.
