Soaking the hoof several times a day will eventually cause an abscess to erupt and drain. However, some vets now advise against frequent soaking as it may weaken the hoof wall. Some horse owners instead choose to apply drawing agents, such as ichthamol or Epsom salts, directly to the hoof under a bandage.

The goal in the treatment of a horse’s hoof abscess is to draw out the infection and keep the area clean to prevent reinfection while the hoof heals. Once you have confirmed the diagnosis with your vet, follow the steps below to put your horse on the road to recovery.

For treatment of a horse’s hoof abscess, you will need a flexible bucket or tub, Epsom salts and poultice pads or iodine. Bandaging materials include sheet cotton or a diaper, elastic bandage and duct tape.

Step 1:  Mix Epsom salts in a bucket of warm water.  Use enough salts to reach the point of saturation, where no more will dissolve.

Step 2:  Submerge the entire hoof up to the coronary band and soak for 10 minutes.  This will help draw out the infection and will encourage the abscess to erupt if it has not already been opened and drained.

Step 3:  Soak a poultice pad in hot water.

Place the pad over the sole of the hoof.

If you do not have any poultice pads, you can make a poultice with Epsom salts and iodine.

Pack the paste into the hoof so it covers the entire sole.

Step 4:  Wrap the hoof in a diaper or sheet cotton.  Secure the diaper by tightly wrapping it with elastic bandage. Cover the entire bandage with duct tape for durability. If your horse will be turned out or is prone to destroying bandages, you may want to use a hoof boot.   Click here for step-by-step instructions on bandaging a hoof.

Your horse may be sound in as little as a couple of days.  Once the abscess has drained, keeping the hoof protected from dirt and debris is the best way to avoid complications or reinfection.  And of course, always consult your vet to help you decide the best course of action. 

Further Reading on Treatment of Hoof Abscesses in Horses

◆ Hoof Abscesses and Puncture Wounds
◆ How to Manage and Treat a Hoof Abscess
◆ Causes of Equine Lameness: Foot Abscess

This article about treatment of hoof abscesses first appeared in Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Buttercups are toxic to horses and other livestock species. Fortunately, horses generally have no interest in grazing on them when other food is available, and they are adept at eating around them. But because they survive your horse’s teeth when everything else around gets grazed down, they can thrive and spread and before you know it, they seem to be the only vegetation left in the field.

Buttercup Management Practices for Horse Pastures

The best way to control buttercups is to think ahead and start managing your horse pastures months before buttercups appear and bloom in the spring season. Buttercups can take hold in bare spots in the field. Seeding your pastures, particularly those bare spots, with a variety of grass that thrives in your area, is the best ways to keep buttercups and other undesirable weeds at bay.

Also Read: Leading the Way to Greener Pastures

Overgrazing is the root cause of the buttercup problem for many horse farms. Before the grass gets grazed down to the ground, move your horses to a different field or use temporary fencing such as electric tape to section off rotating parts of the pasture to let the grass recover.

According to University of Maryland Extension, buttercup seeds germinate in late fall, so by keeping the grass in your pastures healthy throughout the summer, you’ll likely have less of a buttercup problem next year.

Keeping fields mowed won’t eliminate buttercups. However, mowing your pasture early in the buttercup bloom can help prevent them from spreading by reducing the amount of new seed produced.

Chemical Control

There are herbicides that can be used to get rid of buttercups in horse pastures. The ideal time to spray them is in early spring, before the buttercup bloom but after the average daytime temperature has reached 60 degrees. University of Maryland Extension offers some examples of commercial herbicides that are effective against buttercups: Banvel, Clarity, Crossbow, Forefront, Milestone, and Surmount. However, many of these products will kill legumes, such as clover, which means you may be sacrificing some of the good grazing along with the bad.

Also Read: How to Revitalize Drought-Stricken Pastures

Always check labeling to make sure you understand how the herbicide you’re using will affect grazing or haying. Consult your local extension office for additional guidance on what the best management practices are for your geographic area.

Key Takeaways

From this article, you should now understand how to get rid of and manage yellow buttercups in horse pastures.

This article about management of buttercups in horse pastures originally appeared in Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Fans of the breed often describe their horses’ people-oriented nature, which couples with their natural athleticism to make them an excellent choice for trail riding, ranch work, and sports like eventing and dressage, where the partnership between horse and rider is of the utmost importance.

Eventing with American Saddlebreds

Kris Wallace is the owner and trainer at Columbia Equestrian Center in Columbia, Mo., where she works with a variety of breeds and teaches several disciplines. She’s developed a love of the American Saddlebred and the sport of eventing, and Wallace has earned a reputation for success in training and competing Saddlebred event horses. Among the Saddlebreds she has competed are Absolute Lionheart (known as Dan) and Cat on a Mission (Cora).

“Both of them were previously saddle seat mounts,” says Wallace. “Dan did show hunt seat and jumping with his previous owner after she realized he wasn’t going to be her saddle seat mount, but neither of them had any eventing experience. Since we’ve had them, Cora has competed up to the Novice level [2’11”] and Dan up to Preliminary [3’7″].”

Both horses have big personalities and athleticism that have earned them fans in the competitive arena and in the barn.

“Dan loves to be the center of attention,” says Wallace. “He’s sweet, affectionate, and highly opinionated. Cross-country is his absolute favorite [eventing] phase. Cora is every bit of a red-headed mare. She acts big and bad, but secretly loves attention. When ridden, she is 100 percent business and loves to work.”

A Saddlebred for Any Role

During her junior exhibitor career, Wallace primarily rode and showed Arabians in hunter and jumper classes. She was introduced to the American Saddlebred when she attended William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., which boasts a multi-discipline equestrian program that includes many Saddlebreds. When she started her own training and lesson program after graduation, Saddlebreds were a natural fit.

“I feel that Saddlebreds have excellent qualities as sport horses,” she says. “They are extremely athletic, trainable, and love being challenged. They tend to be forward and brave, which helps them be successful in many different sport horse arenas. Most importantly, they all have a great amount of heart that keeps them trying in any situation.”

As a trainer who works with youth and amateurs, Wallace has an eye for matching riders with horses that will help them achieve their goals and have fun doing it. She finds that Saddlebreds are often a great fit.

“I think when a Saddlebred discovers a job they love, they’re so focused on pleasing that it’s not hard for them to take care of their rider,” says Wallace. “Saddlebreds all seem to be the barn favorites, as they give their riders confidence to push themselves out of their comfort zone knowing they are on a brave, intelligent horse.”

A Brief History

Originally known as the Kentucky Saddler and later the American Saddle Horse, the American Saddlebred traces its early development back to the 1700s, when colonists in North America selectively bred Thoroughbreds with a now-extinct gaited breed known as the Narragansett Pacer to produce a robust riding horse. Throughout the 1800s, breeders continued to refine the Kentucky Saddler through crosses with Thoroughbreds, Hackneys and Morgans, among others.

In the 19th century, Saddlers were valued as battlefield mounts for generals who prized their stamina and willingness to perform for their riders. Fortunately, the 1800s also saw the rise of horse shows in America, and during peacetime, the breed maintained its popularity in civilian life at these early exhibitions, particularly in Kentucky and Missouri.

The American Saddle Horse Breeders Association was founded as the official breed registry in 1891, and today is called the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA). The Association has the distinction of being the first registry for a breed of horse developed in America, and continues to support and promote the beauty, athleticism, and versatility of the breed in all its modern uses.

Through its annual High Point Awards Program, ASHBA recognizes American Saddlebreds and half-Saddlebreds competing in all disciplines. The American Saddlebred Versatility Association (VERSA) is a charter club of ASHBA that was incorporated in 2013. VERSA’s mission is to promote the versatile character of the American Saddlebred Horse by highlighting opportunities to compete in many equestrian disciplines and to educate the public about Saddlebred versatility.

This article about the American Saddlebred appeared in the March 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The small town of Weybridge, Vt., is home to a scenic gem for horse lovers and history buffs alike. Known for its picturesque beauty in the Green Mountains, the University of Vermont (UVM) Morgan Horse Farm is a popular stop for leaf-peeping tourists and city dwellers in search of some authentic rural ambience. But the farm is more than a postcard-ready historic landmark.

For the first half of the 20th century, the UVM Morgan Horse Farm was home to a government-run breeding program for U.S. cavalry horses. And while the federal government no longer breeds horses, the farm preserves the bloodlines of those exceptional Morgan horses to this day, producing strong, sound, and versatile Morgan horses that are appreciated by riders and drivers of all disciplines.

The Morgan Horse as a Versatile Companion

“Tractability is really the No. 1 characteristic we’re breeding for in our setting,” says Kim Demars, Farm Manager at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm. “They need that positive attitude. Conformation and athleticism are secondary to that. Whether a horse is going to be a dressage horse or a park harness horse, or whatever it goes on to do in its career, it needs to be conformationally correct and have athletic ability. Those are the three most important traits that we try to produce here at the farm.”

The qualities that make Morgans a great ambassador at a public-facing program like the UVM farm also make them an ideal fit for riders seeking a truly companionable equine partner.
“Morgans are incredibly versatile. They’re truly an all-around family horse,” says Demars. “The slogan for the American Morgan Horse Association is ‘The horse that chooses you,’ and that is so true with our horses here. They really find their person and become part of the family. They’re just a really cool breed.”

Cavalry History

The property that is now the UVM Morgan Horse Farm was commissioned in 1878 by Col. Joseph Battell, who is recognized as having been instrumental in saving the breed from near extinction at that time.

“Col. Battell created the first Morgan breed registry,” says Demars. “He resurrected the Morgan bloodlines and the Morgan breed. From there, the U.S. Government took over the farm as a cavalry remount station.”

At first glance, the connection between a breeding program intended to produce battlefield-ready cavalry horses and a modern program known for its personable pleasure horses and show-ring stunners may seem unlikely. But the Morgan’s war horse traits from that chapter in its history are part of what makes it a sound, reliable, and athletic partner for riders across many disciplines today.

“[The cavalry] horses needed to have copious amounts of stamina. They had to be very sturdy, very thrifty,” says Demars. “They had to have a horse that could carry soldiers for as long as they needed, and the Morgan really fit that bill.”

After the government ended its horse breeding programs, the University of Vermont took over the iconic Weybridge farm in 1951, and the University has maintained ownership ever since.

Apprenticeships & Internships

Education is an important part of the UVM Farm’s programming, and is achieved through its apprenticeship program, internships, and integration with UVM courses at the University’s main campus in Burlington.

“The apprenticeship program is our longest-running educational program with close to 300 graduates,” says Dylan Burguard, Equine and Academic Coordinator. “The goal of this program is to allow any individual interested in the equine industry an opportunity to spend a full year immersed in it.”

Apprentices are often recent high school or college graduates, although the program is open to all applicants age 18 or over, regardless of their educational status. The Morgans’ versatility, along with the expansive nature of the UVM Farm’s programs, offer a truly comprehensive experience for aspiring equine professionals that want to determine what aspect of the horse industry they’d like to specialize in.

“Apprentices live on-site and work full-time at the farm,” says Burguard. “They assist with every part of the operation, from breeding and foaling to training and sales of horses. They assist with events and demonstrations we put on for the public and for UVM students. They have the opportunity to ride, drive, and train horses and assist with veterinary procedures.”

An internship program allows current college students to earn credit while getting hands-on experience at the farm in one of three specialty programs: training and handling; equine sales and marketing; or reproduction and foaling. While these internships are primarily targeted at UVM students, interns are accepted from colleges and universities across the country.

The farm’s collaboration with the University extends to coursework, bringing Vermont’s official state animal into its state university and introducing more students to this wonderful breed.

This article about the Morgan horse appeared in the July 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe

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A Bright Future for the American Saddlebred

The American Saddlebred was the first American breed of horse to be formally established with an official registry, with the founding of the National Saddle-Horse Breeders’ Association—now the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA)—in 1891. These early American horses were bred for both beauty and utility, qualities that remain in the breed today.

Saddlebred owners have long been taking their horses outside of the confines of the breed-specific shows to compete in everything from combined driving and endurance riding to eventing and dressage. The western pleasure and hunter pleasure divisions have become so popular that they are now a fixture at most Saddlebred shows, including the World’s Championship Horse Show held annually at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, Ky. 

For 2021, the breed is preparing to add another new discipline to its official rule book: the ranch horse division. If approved by the United States Equestrian Federation, the ranch horse division for Saddlebreds will include ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch rail pleasure, and ranchmanship classes. 

American Saddlebreds Go West

Janet Thompson is an American Saddlebred owner and enthusiast in Missouri. She was introduced to Saddlebreds at a young age and started out riding saddle seat, but she soon branched out into other disciplines. She found that her Saddlebreds were able to do it all.

“One of the Saddlebreds that I showed eventually became my eventer, but first he was my working western horse,” says Thompson. “The place where I boarded him had cattle, and every summer they ran about 200 steers. Part of my board was to check fences and check the cattle, so he had to be able to ground tie, and I had to be able to rope off of him.”

Thompson is a member of the American Saddlebred Versatility Association, also known as VERSA, a charter club that promotes Saddlebreds in sport and working disciplines. VERSA has been instrumental in making the ranch horse division a reality.

“One of our board members, Carol Jones, has had a lot of success with Saddlebreds in the working western division,” says Thompson. “She raised the notion that VERSA might want to get the ranch division started for Saddlebreds, and that really fit a lot of what we were interested in. A lot of owners or potential owners and riders want to get back to a lower-key, lower-cost discipline. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a saddle that drips with silver or show clothes that are sparkly. You can just concentrate on what you can create with your horse.”

The ranch horse division includes rail classes, patterns, and trail obstacles. These classes show off some of the characteristics that let American Saddlebreds get western. And that’s exactly what enthusiasts like Thompson love about their horses.

“Right now I’m showing my horse The Kansas City Chief,” she says. “His barn name is King. He really enjoys this division; the trail stuff is kind of his forte. To me, he looks like the division. He’s really pretty and flashy, but he’s a bigger, stouter, old-fashioned kind of Saddlebred, and I think he looks the part.”

While the division was not yet official for the 2020 show season, a few Saddlebred-oriented shows offered ranch classes, and debuted at the Un-Fair Horse Show in Iowa, named in honor of the many state fair cancellations in 2020. Thompson says the response was overwhelmingly positive from participants and spectators alike.

“Sure, it was a competition, but I’ve never seen so many smiles on people’s faces as when they competed in these classes,” says Thompson. “Everybody was happy! At both shows we had an amazing audience. Everyone came over and watched because it was so different.”

The Everything Horse

Ginny Norton got hooked on Saddlebreds from a young age. Like Thompson, she found that whatever equestrian sport she wanted to pursue, the American Saddlebred—her favorite breed—was up to the task. She’s competed in saddle seat, hunters, and western pleasure in the past, and now does working western with her Saddlebred mare, Walterway’s Latest News, known as Kenzie. 

“Kenzie is my heart horse for sure,” says Norton. “In the working western, we have a trail course and a rail portion, so you have to be good on the trail and a pretty mover on the rail. She is probably the coolest horse I’ve ever ridden through a trail course. She makes me look good. If you point her at an obstacle, she’ll get you over it and not touch it. She’s really light and elegant on her feet.”

Norton and Kenzie compete on their local open circuit against all breeds in the ranch horse division, and while Kenzie is often the only Saddlebred in the class, she is always up to the task.

“She does all the maneuvers,” says Norton. “She’ll stand and move off my leg. She’ll go through gates and come back really nicely. She’s reliable when it comes to a pattern.”

Forming a true partnership between horse and rider is one of the joys of the working western and ranch horse classes, and that’s something that both Saddlebreds and their owners enjoy.

“Saddlebreds’ willing attitude and athleticism are the keys that make them really neat working western horses,” says Norton. “I’ve found that they’re really willing to please. They’re just waiting for me to say, ‘this is the path.’ You can almost feel them being proud of themselves and really enjoying that pat on the neck when you say, ‘Yes, that is exactly what I wanted!’”

Norton adds that a horse that shows in the trail course has to be athletic and talented with their feet to complete the course. 

“Saddlebreds fit the bill for that,” she says. “Our Saddlebreds generally have a little more animation in their trot, and that’s one of my favorite things. When Kenzie is trotting over an obstacle or even loping, she has a little more knee action, and to me it looks really elegant and pretty as she picks her way through a trail course.”

Norton calls Kenzie her “everything horse.” 

“I’ve shown her in just about every discipline and she’s done it all willingly and very successfully,” she continues. “I think that whatever you find for your Saddlebred to do that’s fun for you, they’re a willing partner, and that’s pretty cool to me.”

This article about western American Saddlebreds appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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It’s always a good reminder to have a plan and be ready in case of a natural disaster or other emergency. Wildfires, floods, and hurricanes are among the most destructive disasters. If you have to evacuate your home, it’s essential to know what options you have for your animals. We hope these horse emergency planning tips help you make your plan.

Create your horse emergency plan ahead of time when there is no imminent disaster and review it regularly so you won’t have to figure out logistics in the chaos of an emergency.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers these tips for horse emergency disaster preparedness.

◆ Know where to go. You’ll need to have a few options for locations that are close enough to trailer to but far enough away that they aren’t likely to be affected by the same evacuation orders. These could includes fairgrounds or a friend or family’s property. Keep a list saved at the barn, in your car, and on your phone.
◆ If you don’t travel with your horse often, practice trailer loading at home regularly so that if you need to evacuate in an emergency, your horse will be more likely to load calmly and quickly.
◆ Know your evacuation routes and practice them ahead of time if they take you to unfamiliar roads.
◆ Network with your neighbors or other boarders at your barn. Discuss how you can pool resources, such as truck and trailer space, to get all of your horses and the necessary supplies to a safe location.
◆ Prepare an emergency kit for your horses. You’ll need a travel first-aid kit,
extra lead ropes and halters, water buckets, and enough hay and grain to get through a few days longer than you think an evacuation might last.
◆ Don’t forget planning for all your pets. Not all evacuation shelters for people allow cats and dogs.

ASPCA Disaster Response Manager Tim Perciful gives expert advice about why
you shouldn’t turn your horse loose in an emergency and the benefits of microchipping.

If evacuation of horses isn’t possible, what’s the next best option?

◆ It’s crucial to heed the warning upon any advance notice for hurricane or wildfire evacuations and try to move your horses away from danger prior to
the emergency.
◆ If you have good defensible space in a wildfire and can have a fire break, then it may be best to have your horses shelter in place. one of the challenges
to this is that wildfires can send embers over long distances, and they could still ignite a barn, pasture, fencing, et cetera.
◆ If you’re inland and on high ground, then it may be best to shelter your horses in place during a hurricane.
◆ Try to identify an evacuation barn in advance that will be available in an
emergency.
◆ One of the safest places for your animals is in an emergency animal shelter where they are out of harm’s way, have access to care, and you can check on them regularly. It may take a couple of trips to move them, so it’s important to do so prior to a mandatory evacuation notice.

Are there situations where it’s better to turn your horses loose?

◆ During a hurricane, it’s not generally advised to turn your horses loose. You should work with officials on the best thing to do for any animals that are going to be immediately impacted by a disaster. Letting your horses loose during a hurricane may keep them away from danger, but it may also make it difficult for you to be reunited with your horse unless you have proper documentation.
◆ Releasing horses that are going to be immediately impacted by a wildfire
is not usually advised. You should contact emergency personnel to see if there are any other options. Evacuating your horses as soon as possible in a disaster is crucial, and will help get your horses and your family in a safe place as soon as possible.
◆ There are times when people have to evacuate and leave their animals behind. however, it may take animal rescuers a few days to get to your animals. If you are considering this, think about food, water, medications, and the animal’s overall safety.

If you are bringing your horses to an evacuation center, what are some important things to know?

◆ Proof of vaccinations and health records are important to bring with your horse. keep your veterinary records, photos of your horse and his ID information in a Ziploc bag and ready to go at all times.
◆ Be sure your horse’s vaccinations and coggins are up to date at all times. If disaster strikes and your horse needs to be evacuated or comingled with other horses, it may restrict your ability to move him if your horse is not up to date.

This article on horse emergency planning tips originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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With Halloween happening this week, you’ve undoubtedly got some extra candy in your pantry, sitting in the break room at your office, or maybe even in your tack room. Maybe you’ve thought about sharing the caloric wealth with your equine best friend, but is Halloween candy safe for horses?

Death by Chocolate

You already know that you need to keep chocolate away from the barn dogs and cats. Your horses shouldn’t have a taste of this treat, either.

“Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is potentially toxic for horses,” says Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D., an independent equine nutritionist and consultant. “The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. It can affect the central nervous system as well as the heart and kidneys.”

Getty points out that because horses are physically unable to vomit, the potentially toxic effects of chocolate need to be taken very seriously.

“If a dog were to overdose on chocolate, the treatment generally involves inducing vomiting,” says Getty. “For horses, this is not possible, making it especially dangerous.”

Taste the Rainbow

Since you probably wanted to keep that chocolate for yourself anyway, you might be thinking about slipping your horse a few Smarties or some Skittles. Horses love sugar and fruit flavors, so those Halloween candies are sure to be a hit. But proceed with caution.

“Hard candies like peppermints are okay in strict moderation if the horse is able to tolerate small amounts of sugar,” says Getty. “If the horse has equine metabolic syndrome, Cushing’s, or Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), I would not give him candy.”

Getty also recommends against giving horses sticky candies. “I would think that [chewy candies like] gummy bears would be very frustrating for horses because the candy would stick to their molars. I would avoid those,” she says.

Sugar-Free Sweets

With plenty of people cutting back on sugar in their diets, supermarket shelves are stocked with artificially-sweetened, sugar-free alternatives to some popular candies. This may seem like a good option for your horse, but they’re not necessarily any safer than their sugary counterparts.

“There have been studies that suggest that artificial sweeteners can also raise blood insulin levels,” says Getty. “So if you give a sugar-free peppermint to your horse, only give one or two. Don’t think that because they are sugar-free it’s safe to feed more.”

The Fruit of the Fall

There is one iconic Halloween food item that can be fed to most horses, as long as it’s done in moderation instead of candy.

“Pumpkin, as well as other forms of squash, is fine to feed to horses,” says Getty. She adds that the key is to limit the quantity. “Any time a new feed is introduced into the horse’s diet, it should be done gradually, so I do not recommend giving a horse a large amount of pumpkin all at once. A few pieces as a treat are fine, but don’t chop up a whole pumpkin and offer it to your horse—that’s a colic episode waiting to happen.”

If you’re looking to dispose of your Jack-o-Lantern on November 1st, the compost heap is probably a better choice than your horse’s feed bin if that carved pumpkin has been hanging around for a while.

“If the pumpkin is a day old, it may be okay to feed as long as it has been outside in cold weather,” says Getty. “If it has been indoors at room temperature, the bacterial growth may be too high to offer your horse. And be sure to only feed the meat of the pumpkin—not the hard peel. It is very fibrous and therefore digested in the hindgut. Large pieces could be problematic.”

“Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent treat for horses,” adds Getty. “They can be fed raw or roasted, including the shells. Again, feed small amounts—no more than ½ cup per day. If you want to feed pumpkin seeds on a regular basis, you can slowly increase the amount over a period of two to three weeks to avoid digestive upset.”

Click here for a recipe for homemade pumpkin horse treats >>

A little extra Halloween treat is fine for most horses. But as with kids coming home from trick-or-treating with bags full of candy, you’ll want to moderate their consumption to avoid the problems that come from overindulgence.

“Remember that a treat is meant to be offered in very small amounts,” says Getty. “Horse’s digestive systems take time to adjust to new feeds.”

Liked this article? Here are others you’ll love:
Halloween on Horseback
What Flavors do Horses Like Best?
Feeding Fruit to an Insulin-Resistant Horse

Get more nutrition advice from Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D., at GettyEquineNutrition.com.

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For 2019, Oliver will be there in person and in Breyer form! He’s the official Celebration Horse for this year’s BreyerFest, where the theme will be “Salute to Horse Heroes.” Oliver’s human police partner is Captain Lisa Rakes. Capt. Rakes has been working with Oliver since he joined the Kentucky Horse Park’s mounted police unit. His steadfast personality and ability to handle challenging situations were put to the test right away when he was put on patrol at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April of 2014. He handled the chaos like an old pro.

Oliver is half Shire, one-quarter Thoroughbred and one-quarter Paint. His flashy black-and-white coat pattern makes him stand out in a crowd, which was a problem early in his career.

“The police departments wanted solid colors at that time,” says Capt. Rakes. “Everyone wanted black or dark bay. Then it slowly evolved to where some police departments wanted gray horses. But they wanted solid colors for uniformity.”

Even though Oliver had some basic police-horse training, he spent a few years hanging out in a pasture in his home in Maryland because of his color.

A New Job

“[His owner] thought, ‘well, he needs a job,’” says Capt. Rakes. “She knew me through a friend and thought it would be a perfect job for him here at the Horse Park. A [pinto] would be perfect, because we’re here to show all the different breeds anyway. A good horse is a good horse—it doesn’t matter the color.”

The arrangement has worked out perfectly. Oliver’s good looks and friendly personality have made him the perfect greeter for visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park, and his laid-back demeanor means he’s a reliable officer when police-horse duties arise.

On an average day, Oliver and Capt. Rakes will patrol the park for a total of three to four hours in two different shifts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. During their patrol, they’ll visit any horse shows or events taking place at the park’s show grounds and meet with visitors at the park’s different attractions. If they have extra time, they’ll head out to the cross-country course to work on their fitness with trot and canter sets.

Like most horses, Oliver loves snacks and will eat just about any treat he can get. One of his favorite snacks is to share a banana with Capt. Rakes—Oliver likes to eat the peel! However, after a bout with laminitis last year, Oliver’s caretakers are very careful about making sure he doesn’t get too many treats. Fortunately, he likes getting attention in the form of pats and grooming almost as much as he likes eating.

“He’s probably the best horse I’ve ever had the pleasure of riding for police work, and I’ve been doing police work since 1996,” says Capt. Rakes. “If he trusts you, he’ll give his heart and try so hard for you. He does everything I ask. I don’t worry about him. He goes with the flow.”

Training the Next Generation

Oliver is helping to teach a new generation of police horses to be as reliable and easygoing as he is. The Kentucky Horse Park adopted three foals a few years ago to be trained as police horses. Those foals are now 4 years old.

“Oliver started out ponying them—we’d put the little one beside him and pony them around to get them used to things,” says Rakes. “He’d get turned out with them because he’s the most laid-back.”

Want to meet Oliver in person? He’ll be doing daily demos and autograph sessions at BreyerFest, which takes place from July 12-14 in Lexington, Ky.

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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No matter where you are, here are our top 8 safety tips for your barn dog to keep them out of trouble:

• For our first tip on barn dog safety, your dog should know how to reliably come when called and greet strangers without being aggressive or overexcited before even coming to the barn.
• If your dog is a barker, you’ll need to train a “quiet” command.Even if you have your own barn or your boarding barn allows dogs off-leash, keep your dog on a leash for the first several visits. It’s a new environment, and even well-behaved dogs can get excited by all the new people, animals and smells.
• Use a short leash, around 6 feet. Don’t use a retractable leash, which can get entangled and cause injury.

  

• Introduce your dog to horses slowly, preferably using a horse who is already familiar with dogs. If your dog shows any signs of aggression, back off immediately but calmly, and refocus your dog’s attention on something else.
• Remember that if your horse—or any of the horses at your barn—aren’t used to dogs, they may become scared or even aggressive at the sight of yours, so always be vigilant and pay attention to what’s happening around you. Don’t let your dog greet horses unsupervised, even if he’s used to your horse.
• Dogs like to eat some pretty gross things, including hoof trimmings and manure. Some types of equine dewormer or medication are toxic to dogs, and an enthusiastic dog might hoover up a horseshoe nail while snacking on hoof trimmings. Don’t let your dog treat the barn like a buffet!
• For our eighth tip on barn dog safety, no matter how well-trained they are, some dogs will never be totally reliable around horses due to their herding or protective instincts. Don’t force it. If your dog or horse are agitated and nervous at the sight of each other, everyone will be happier if your dog stays safely home while you’re with your horse.

Read more about caring for barn dogs and barn cats >>

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 8 Barn Dog Safety Tips appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

When discussing her love for horses, Akers sounds just like any other former horse kid. She was inspired by her childhood love of the novel, The Black Stallion, and the longing to have a bond with a horse the way the fictional hero of the story, Alec, connected with The Black. She started riding as a hobby while she was still a pro player, and after her retirement, the horses became her primary focus.

Akers personally financed her rescue operation, purchasing the small farm in 2009. But shortly after moving in, the property was flooded from an unprecedented rainfall in the area. She rescued her horses, but continued flooding nearly destroyed the property, and she had to rebuild nearly from scratch.

Unlike many professional athletes, female soccer players have infamously been underpaid, and Akers went through her savings quickly. Ultimately, Michelle Akers made the decision to sell memorabilia from her soccer career in order to rebuild her horse rescue, but thanks to private donations–many from her former coach, teammates and members of the soccer community–the rebuilding has been successful.

Today, Michelle Akers’ farm is home to several horses, dogs, and occasionally other rescued animals ranging from pigs to goats to roosters.

Find out more about Michelle Akers and her Horse Rescue at MichelleAkers.com.

The post A Retired Soccer Star is a Hero for Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.