Green Mountain
Draft Horse Association
of Vermont
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The
Green Mountain Draft Horse Association in
Minutes of Annual Meeting Here is a run down of the annual meeting taken from the minutes, graciously provided by Karen Myers. Rose-Ann Lombard opened the meeting with introductions and a welcome to the new members. The treasurer’s report was given, explaining how fast we are burning through money. The auction is not bringing in the money it used to and the expense to pay the teamsters to have their horses at our events, has increased. Josie Ritter made the official hand off of the newsletter to Jean Cross and Josie was thanked for her 12 years of dedicated newsletter service. The event was commemorated with a gift and cake for all to enjoy. Director Ted Russell opened the annual election of officers, they are as follows -President - Rose-Ann Lombard Everything Equine April 26 & 27, 2008 -Dina Marcotte has spoken with Betsy Green from Everything Equine who told us a proposal proposal would have to be presented to Everything Equine for any demonstrations that would be presented by the club. The proposal is subject to their approval. Everything Equine is looking for different demonstration each year to keep the show fresh. Anyone interested in doing a demonstration should contact Jean Cross. Help is needed to run the club booth both days and anyone interested in helping with that should contact Rose-Ann Lombard. Draft Horse Auction May 3, 2008 The auction is the major fundraiser for the club. We need more members to help. We discussed if it would be feasible for the club to take over the food concessions. Al Myers and Jean Cross will look into this. Let the auction committee know if you are able to help the day of sale. After much discussion about paying teamsters to bring their draft animals to events and meetings it was left as it stands, until the spring meeting when Erik Andrus and Megan Price will hopefully have some fundraising ideas to help offset the cost. They encourage anybody with ideas to contact them. The club will be providing trophies for the draft horse shows again this summer. It was decided after some discussion to raise the dues for the club to $15 single and $20 family. This is effective as of Jan. 27, 2008. If you have not paid your dues for 2008, please pay the new rates. To help defray the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter, we would like volunteers to receive an e-mail rather then paper copy. Please contact Jean Cross if you will accept an e-mail newsletter. Josie would like someone to take over the scrapbook for the club, please contact her if you are interested. What do members think about having handouts for
events to better promote the club? Come to the next meeting and find out! FALL MEETING 2007
I am thrilled to be the new editor. But first let me introduce myself. My name is Jean Cross. I live in Ferrisburgh and I have been a member of the GMDHA for only 2 years. I think I have attended every meeting and every event that the club has held since I joined. I cannot get enough of draft horses and their people. I am the proud keeper of a Percheron mare, who I have great hopes for, such as actually getting her hitched to a cart. To-date she has not stood successfully between the shafts for me, but tomorrow is another day. I look to the experienced teamsters for inspiration and will ask all of you to help in the newsletter. Please share your adventures, both good and bad. Send me stories and pictures for the coming issues. If you are a newbie like myself ask some questions, maybe we can get the answers! Jean Cross (jmnvt@yahoo.com)
The Importance of Hay Analysis Having my hay analyzed helped me understand that the amount of carbs in the hay I was feeding was approximately 17% and that my horse requires 10% or less. As a result, I now soak my hay to lower the carbs. Poulin provides a complimentary hay analysis service. Should you be interested in getting your hay tested, you will need to do the following: The hay can get sampled in one of two ways: 1.) Next time our rep is in the area, she can stop by and take core sample of your hay. 2.) You can take a quart size zip lock bag, and fill it with samples pinched from the middle (reach into the middle) of 8-10 bales. If you have more then one hay in the barn, first cut, second cut, etc. do a separate sample for each cut. Then send it into Poulin Grain, 24 RR Square, Newport, Vt. 05855 Attn: Andrew Include with the hay samples the following info on your equine: Name, age, weight, body condition (fat, skinny, just right), any other medical conditions that might affect what we are going to feed him.
From this info, they can develop a ration
for him! Laminitis can be a devastating disease but by understanding the disease, knowing how to manage it and more importantly knowing how to avoid or prevent it, laminitis can be a treatable disease. What is Laminitis? Laminitis is inflammation of the lamina (a very sensitive connective tissue between the coffin bone and hoof capsule). Basically it is the support mechanism which holds the coffin bone inside the hoof wall. A worst case scenario is when this connection is fully broken and the hoof wall detaches from the coffin bone. This can result in rotation of the coffin bone. Who’s at risk? Large, larger, largest….unfortunately, our big friends are already handicapped by the very nature of their size so any excess weight can be detrimental. Grain overload….killing with kindness is a very simple rule to remember when we talk about diet. The diet should be based on the individual’s needs and energy requirements. The NSC content (non-structural carbohydrates) can be a major contributor to the disease. NSC’s are located in a lot of grains and vary considerably in hay and pasture grass. It is very important to pay attention to what we are feeding as this is often the trigger factor that pushes a sub clinical horse into a clinical laminitis case. No foot, no horse! Foot balance and foot maintenance are very critical, especially in our big guys. If you stack 500 extra pounds on a poor foundation you are asking for trouble. Subtle changes, toe length, and foot angle can have huge influences on the rest of the limb. What to Watch For? Symptoms to watch for include heat in the foot, increased pulses, and tenderness in the sole (especially over the toe region). Horses will often shift their weight to the hind quarters and may be reluctant to get up. How do we Treat laminitis? Treatment is focused at pain control and reducing mechanical forces. This can be accomplished with a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture, vasodilators, and foot support to name a few. To understand laminitis, it is important to try and establish the underlying cause. We briefly touched on a few above; however, there are numerous situations and diseases that can trigger an onset of laminitis. What Can You Do? Prevention- attentions to pasture management, avoid over feeding, and keep a routine trim schedule. Communication- Early recognition of symptoms and aggressive treatment/therapy are imperative to success. Communication needs to exist between you, the veterinarian, and the farrier. Submitted by Matt Rose DVM, Balanced Rhythms Do you have a question for the Vet. Email your questions and Dr. Matt will try to answer it for you. Email to
jmnvt@yahoo.com, or send me a postcard at
Jean Cross 271 Plank Road, Vergennes VT 05491
Life with Honey...
July 17, 2007 changed my life and my
horse’s life . . . . when I went up to do morning chores I noticed my 4-yr old
qtr/Belgian draft cross mare was “walking” funny. Of course my mind started
racing. I called my vet who came out that day and did a “lameness evaluation”.
For more information or questions on the web site contact Jean Cross
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Vermont was formed to establish friendly communication and to encourage the
exchange of ideas for the purpose of assisting its members in the areas of
breeding, exhibiting, buying, selling and promoting the varied uses of draft
horses, and also including mules, ponies and oxen. 
