Caring for your pony in Spring!

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1 Junior Newsletter It is so nice that Winter is finished, and we are getting some sunny days. Even though it is wet, it is warmer and the ponies love lying in the sun, and scratching or having a brush to get rid of their winter coats. The birds love it too, as they come and collect the hair that the ponies have lost, to make their nests. Caring for your pony in Spring! As you know, ponies LOVE to eat grass and anything else tasty. They don t know when to stop, so we have to keep a very close eye on them at this time of year, as they can put on lots of weight, VERY quickly. Sometimes they will need to be locked up and fed hay or feed that will not increase their weight. Your pony may not like this, but it is important to keep them healthy. What laminitis and founder? Laminitis is an inflammation of the supportive tissues that joins the foot bone to the hoof. It is a very painful condition. Founder often follows laminitis. Founder is where foot bone, properly termed the pedal bone, sinks downwards into an funny position. In severe founder, the pedal bone moves so much it starts to come through the sole of the hoof. Issue 17 Spring 2013 How can I tell if my horse has laminitis? Suspect that your horse has laminitis or founder if it is lame in any way. This will be more evident in the front feet because they bear more weight than the hind feet. The pain in the front feet causes it to take short steps, or may make it reluctant to move at all. It will look stiff in the front legs. Your horse will also shift weight from its front feet by moving them forward and onto its back legs by moving them further under its abdomen than usual. This is easily noticed. Often, an affected horse will spend a lot of time lying down to stop the pain. How does a veterinarian treat laminitis? Laminitis and founder are conditions that require immediate veterinary treatment if permanent damage to the horse s foot is to be avoided. Your veterinarian is likely to treat the laminitis with medications to reduce the pain and inflammation in your horse s hooves. Call your veterinarian immediately but meanwhile, see if you can get your

2 pedal bone does not move or to correct this problem if it has moved. Sometimes special shoes are used to reduce foot pain. Because many cases of laminitis are caused by horses engorging on grains, it is important to prevent your horse from getting into the food stores. Keep all of your horse s food in a secure container or shed that the horse cannot get into. Be careful not to exercise your horse continually on hard ground and, most importantly, don t ignore any lameness that your horse develops. WINNER! Archie Lehmann Age 6 WINNER! Mia Gowty Age 9 Welcome to our newest members of the Junior Club Emma Scott Zoe Scott Ella O'Doherty Jessica Voight Horsing Around! Polo is an exciting equestrian sport performed on horseback on a field that looks much like a soccer field. The sport is often called "the sport of kings". Watching the ball and managing and manoeuvring your horse at the same time takes focus and concentration, as well as excellent horsemanship to succeed. Special mentions for a job well done!! Gracie Age 8 Dylan Age 6

3 to all horses and ponies on 1st August!! Pony Facts! Ponies are small horses. Ponies have thicker manes and tails than horses. They also have proportionally shorter legs, thicker necks and shorter heads. Well trained ponies are good for children while they are learning to ride. As well as for riding, ponies are used in driving and working roles. Pound for pound, ponies are stronger than horses. Ponies are easy to look after, requiring half the food that a horse would if it was the same weight. My name is Jessica and my pony is Dalgangle Oleander Ariel. I love her as we do pony club and shows together and we jump very high! My name is Ella. I am 7 years old and this is my pony Meithrin Tynged Azzie. He is the best pony in the world. My Mum loves him too because he is always so good. He is never nasty and is always happy. We won the Open Welsh Leading Rein at Barastoc this year and the English judge said he was a pleasure to judge and would like to take him Lily and Delbrae Megan at the APOB Dressage Competition at Werribee Hi, my name is Bronte. Here I am with Judaroo Hollyhock Holly after winning the Champion Walk Trot Pony Hack at

4 B A D I S E E R T E I D W P S U S D X F C B V J D S D O Y H F L R T U N T S E H C L H O Y E M W E C A U O S T B E S X V Q T O D W N S L K R I M P F O I Y B Z S O A A E F L K K U R S H N H D O L D S P R I N G L J S I L F J N F Y H K W O I R X N A F G U M K J C E K I S Y E M R R O L O F M I R S X K Q N A L F G U R C X L N E U T I Z Z L H F O O Z E J Z H W U P C V A N O V C Q S F T I X B Z BRIDLE FOALS RAINBOW SPRING CHESTNUT FOUNDER SADDLES SASHES TREES Points of note Parts of a pony s body are called his points. Here are the main Points! FLOWERS GRASS SHOWS SUNSHINE

5 Name : Age : Send your entry to: The Welsh Pony & Cob Society of Australia Inc PO Box 762 Pakenham Vic 3810 Name : Age : Send your e The Welsh Pony & Australia PO Box Pakenham V