Article written by Dr Christi Garfinkel (www.drgarfinkel.com)

1.    In general, aim to feed 2% of your horse's ideal body weight in pounds per day.

2.    If more calories are necessary, use a fat-based feed rather than sugar or protein-based supplements.

3.    You should be able to feel your horse's ribs easily, but you shouldn't be able to see them.

4.    You should provide access to a salt/mineral block.

5.    Horses should be fed at ground level, but not directly on the dirt.

The holiday season has started. A festive period devoted to joy, happiness as well as parties. Celebrations will be held on almost every corner and many will also enjoy fireworks. At the same moment when people will raise their glasses and make their New Year's vows, someone will be very afraid. It will panic and try to run away from the loud noise of fireworks. It turns into a shivering wreck.

Fireworks are really beautiful to watch but they include loud noises which horses and other animals perceive as threat. Some horses do not fear loud noises, thunder or lightning. But others become terrified. What to do, if your horse is trembling with fear?

Keep your horse at home during fireworks. This is where he feels safe. Each horse reacts differently and feels safe in different places - some in the stable, some in the field. You know your horse best, so think it through and decide where he feels the most comfortable. Some horses feel the safest in the stable!

Make sure you are aware of firework parties in the area. Talk to the organizers and let them know that horses are not too thrilled about loud cracking. Fireworks in the vicinity of your stable should face the opposite direction to avoid fires or injuries to horses which are in the field. There are also fireworks on the market which are not as loud.

Check the fields and pastures. Carefully check that fencing is not broken. Some horses will probably try to escape. It is also necessary that you check the fencing again the next day and make sure that there are no foreign objects lying around. Check the pastures and fencing before and after the fireworks and make sure they are safe for horses.

Turn on the radio in the stable. The music should be a bit louder than usual to camouflage the louder noises produced by fireworks. Leave the lights on and give them plenty of hay to keep them occupied.

Keep the horse in its normal routine. Do not stress the horse unnecessarily.

Have sedatives around if necessary. Talk to your vet about the use of a sedative, in case your horse goes into sheer panic. There are tons of herbal sedatives that might be a good idea to keep on hand.

Remain on hand. If you are not sure about how your horse will react to fireworks, remain on hand. Your presence will also have a reassuring effect. Even if your horses are calm, carry out checks through the evening.

Start sound desensitization training early. It is already too late to start training now. But you can record the fireworks and play the tape to your horses throughout the following year. Put it a bit louder each time and your horse will gradually become accustomed to these kind of noises
Start sound desensitization training early enough.

Hidden Trails wish you and your horses a joyful and calm New Year's eve!

Article was first published by World of Horses - www.EquiGaia.com.

On September 24th, Shawan Downs in Maryland will host the 11th Annual Legacy Chase which features multiple steeplechase races that award over $75,000 in purse money. In addition to racing, the day features 'The Meadows', a fantastic family-friendly destination that includes children’s activities, food concessions, live music and much more. Gates open at 10 am on Saturday, September 24th. For more information, please visit http://www.shawandowns.com/events-legacy-chase.php. 

HAVE FUN! Your Hidden Trails team :-)

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is one of the most prestigious horse racing events of the year. Held at The Curragh, one of Europe's oldest sporting grounds, this event attracts the attention of horse-lovers from across the globe, and especially in the horse-mad country of Ireland itself. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July. It is the Irish version of the Derby Stakes, and it is currently held three weeks after the English event. For more information visit www.curragh.ie

There are so many things to consider when going on holidays of all sorts but this applies none more closely than when choosing your first horseback adventure. To make your decision simpler, it’s important to figure out what you want to get out of your week or two away from the workplace. There are literally hundreds of destinations you can visit on horseback holidays, from riding through safari treks in Africa, to climbing mountain ranges in North America.

Establishing what you want to see, whether that be wildlife or stunning and unique landscapes, is simply vital for your holiday experience. Once you have decided on a destination, then the level of horseback riding is the next important factor to consider.If you’re relatively new to riding, you should opt for tours with similarly skilled riders, so you can improve at the same pace and over the same period of time. Everyone has to start somewhere, so there is little point in going for a trip that’s above your level during which you may find it difficult to keep up.
The more relaxed you are with your horse and the overall riding aspect of the holiday, the more you can take in and enjoy the beautiful settings you are bound to be riding through each day.Tours also offer other outdoor activities such as fishing, so you can even add other hobbies you may enjoy onto your horseback holiday experience. There is also usually a choice of accommodation on offer from horse riding companies, so keep your hotels preferences in mind when planning. The key to going on your first horseback adventure is planning. 

Once you have broken down what you want from your break away from the daily routine, you will be set for an experience you will never forget.

Call the experienced travel consultants at Hidden Trails to help you during your decision making process. They have a wealth of experience with equestrian travel all over the world.

Going to be near Sienna in July or August? Don't miss Il Palio!
The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio) is a horse race held twice each year on July 2 and August 16 in Siena, Italy, in which ten horses and riders, dressed in the appropriate colors, represent ten of the seventeen Contradas, or city wards.

The exciting race, in which the jockeys ride mixed-breed horses bareback, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid, three times and usually last no more than 90 seconds. It is not uncommon for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza and indeed it is not unusual to see unmounted horses finishing the race without their jockeys. A winning horse does not need to have its jockey! This race is unlike any other.

A magnificent pageant, the Corteo Storico, precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. Tens of thousands pack the square to get a taste of the action, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

As the E. coli outbreak continues to ravage Germany and other parts of Europe, the World Health Organization said Thursday that the aggressive intestinal bacteria is a new strain never seen before. Meanwhile fears of the illness prompted Russia to ban imports of vegetables from the EU.
Researchers are still desperately searching for the origin of the E. coli bacteria that has left 18 dead and infected hundreds of others in Germany and Europe. The number of cases within Germany continues to rise, with up to 2,000 reported cases of infection, several hundred more than at the beginning of the week. Following the death of another victim in Hamburg overnight, the World Health Organization announced that preliminary genetic sequencing had revealed the deadly strain is likely a mutant form of two separate E. coli bacteria that is new to scientists.
For more information, please visit www.spiegel.de/international or www.bbc.co.uk

As the E. coli outbreak continues to ravage Germany and other parts of Europe, the World Health Organization said Thursday that the aggressive intestinal bacteria is a new strain never seen before. Meanwhile fears of the illness prompted Russia to ban imports of vegetables from the EU.
Researchers are still desperately searching for the origin of the E. coli bacteria that has left 18 dead and infected hundreds of others in Germany and Europe. The number of cases within Germany continues to rise, with up to 2,000 reported cases of infection, several hundred more than at the beginning of the week. Following the death of another victim in Hamburg overnight, the World Health Organization announced that preliminary genetic sequencing had revealed the deadly strain is likely a mutant form of two separate E. coli bacteria that is new to scientists.
For more information, please visit www.spiegel.de/international or www.bbc.co.uk