Equitana 2012 Program MB Equine Services
At this year’s Equitana, MB Equine Services will host two presentations on horse & land management. In the first presentation we will highlight the current challenges we face in horse and land management and how we can move forward with property/pasture planning and decision making to restore our land and improve the health of our horses. In the second presentation we will discuss in more detail ecosystem processes and tools how to regenerate the land. Unfortunately we don’t have enough time to go into all the details about grass growth, development, grazing and land planning, horse management and nutrition. So after the presentation come and see us at the Horse SA Stand #473 Epsom Hall. We will also be visiting the Hoofbeats Magazine Stand #292 Grand Hall.
Decision Making in Horse & Land Management – Where to start when you want to regenerate your pastures & land?
Mariette van den Berg & Nick Huggins
Thursday 15th of November
11:45- 12:45 am
Healthy land= healthy horses – Ecosystem processes and tools for regenerating your land.
Saturday 17th of November
3:45-4:45 pm
Holistic Management for Horse Properties Part 5: Pasture Management
Overgrazing and over-resting pastures are common problems on horse properties, which may result in ‘horse sick’ pastures with poor quality grasses, accumulation of weeds, compacted and eroded soils, salinity and populations of parasites. Moreover, overgrazing can also trigger the accumulation of Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) in grasses, which puts horses at risk of developing digestive and metabolic disorders such as acidosis and laminitis.
This means that when we keep horses in captivity we must aim to mimic this natural migrating and foraging process and therefore we must manage and plan the movement of our horses. If they are left in any one place too long, or if they returned to it too soon, they will overgraze plants and compact and pulverise the soils. Many horse owners will use a rotation system if they have multiple paddocks available for their horses, however generally the management and rotations are done randomly without an actual plan.
A proper grazing plan is important for maintaining healthy pastures and by using the principles of the Holistic Grazing Planning as described in “Holistic Management – A new Framework for Decision Making” we are able to get a clearer picture of where horses need to be and when, and this determines how you plan their moves. The Holistic Grazing Planning procedure was featured in the previous edition.
Without correct management this will result in overgrazing of grasses. To be able to provide sufficient amounts of grass to meet the dietary needs of your horses and avoid overgrazing or over-resting the grasses in your paddocks, you must develop a proper grazing plan. However, to be able to apply the plan we need adequate knowledge on how grasses and legumes grow and leaf management. This will provide us with a clearer picture of where horses need to be and when, and this determines how you plan their moves.
Read more about grass growth & development in the latest edition of the Horses & People Magazine!
Dressage Riders & Safety helmets
The FEI Dressage Committee strongly recommends that all riders should wear properly fastened safety helmets when training and in pre-competition warm-ups at all international Dressage shows.
Riders still have the choice of wearing protective headgear in the competition arena. However, there is a movement happening in the dressage top and we see more elite riders with safety helmets during their GP dressage test (like on the last London Olympics).
In Europe there was up till a few years a very loose policy when it came to riding with helmets (maybe still in some countries – I can only speak of my experiences in Holland and Germany). It was advocated in the riding schools, but once riders started to ride at private training stables and/or at home and they entered a certain level we kind of left the helmet on the bench (including myself!). However also in Europe we see more dressage riders with helmets in their training and competition arena. Now I would not think twice about wearing a helmet! It’s a must – as horse riding (even at top level) is and remains a dangerous sport ( we work with flight animals! they can do “horse” things at any time!).
Because I support this movement and would like to set a good example 🙂 I also made my “Logo” Rider wear a safety helmet!
For more information about the importance of wearing helmets:
http://www.riders4helmets.com/
Equitana Horse SA Stand
This year MB Equine Services will be hosting two seminars on horse and land management at the Equitana in Melbourne. We won’t have our own stand, but we will be visiting stands of organisations and horse magazine for Q&A hours!
You can find us at the Horse SA stand – together with some other educators! Worth a visit!
Equitana: Horse SA Stand No.473 Epsom Hall
Visit Horse SA at Equitana and check out
** Large animal rescue equipment, books & information ** Horse SA information ** Check back to this webpage soon for item listings!
Guests in the stand- available for Q&A and book signings (as indicated) include
- Dr Rebecca Gimenez www.tlaer.org Providing demonstrations at Equitana & book signing “Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue”
- Alayne Blickle www.horsesforcleanwater.com Keynote speaker for the Australian Horse Keeping Conference
- Mariette van den Berg www.mberg.com.au
- Jane Myers www.equiculture.com.au (to be confirmed)
- Mary Anne Leighton www.equineER.com signing for “Equine Emergency Rescue“
Equitana Melbourne – November 2012
We are half way through the year and the Equitana event is almost insight! The next event will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds from 15th to 18th November 2012.
This year MB Equine Services was selected to join the team of horse care & health educators. We will be hosting two seminars on integrated horse and land management. Our topics will focus on:
- Decision Making in Horse and Land management – How do you vision your horse property?
- Regenerative Horse Property Design & Pasture Management –Healthy soil = healthy horses
Over the months we will be working on our program and try to compile something that applies to all horse owners – that have small or large acreage, have their horses in agistment or are running a horse business such as breeding stud, training stable, spelling etc. So keep checking our website and facebook page for more information about our program and times.
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