BlO—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 31,1981
University gets wild horse research grant
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A $40,000
contract for research on the
reproductive patterns of wild
horses and burros has been
awarded to Utah State University,
Logan, Utah, by the Interior
Department’s Bureau of Land
Management, according to BLM
Director Robert F. Burford.
The research effort is one of a
series of projects devised by BLM
and the National Academy of
Sciences following passage of the
1978 amendments to the Wild Free-
Roaming Horse and Burra Act of
1971. The amendments directed
BLM to work with NAS in
developing research to gain ad
ditional knowledge that would
assist the Bureau in managing and
controlling wild horses and burros
on the public lands.
The study to*-be conducted by
Utah State University will focus on
the breeding ages and rates of wild
horses and burros. A report on
11-'
;aken care rse can ei . up a
champion, like this Arabian filly. Saf Gaylima
was the reserve junior champion of the recent
Keystone International Livestock Exposition.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A
horse going into winter is likely to
stay healthy with plenty of exer
cise, a proper shelter, appropriate
diet and medical care. The hor
seowner should outline* a health
program for the horse designed
according to the circumstances
under which it is kept.
How much you ride your horse
or how much exercise it gets
determines the kinds of care that
should be taken. A horse should be
able to go freely in and out of its
shelter and be kept in a pen large
enough for it to move around a lot
on its own. A lazy horse can be
forced to get exercise by walking
to food and water which you can
place away from the shelter. Make
sure fresh water is available and
that it doesn’t freeze.
Dr. Robert Hammond,
veterinary specialist at the
University of Maryland, says a
full-sized horse should have a
shelter 12 feet long, 12 feet wide
and 10 feet tall with an entrance
away from the prevailing wind. He
says that horses do not have to be
kept warm and adds that, in many
cases, respiratory problems
develop when shelters are heated.
period is due by June 1, 1982. The
contract includes an option for an
additional vear of research at an *
additions $40,000 cost, with a final
report due June 30,1983.
Officially titled “An Initial Stuay
of Wild Horse and Burro
Demography,” the USU research
project will concentrate on mares
and jennies at BLM’s wild horse
and burro corrals at Palomino
Valley, Nevada; Rock Springs,
Wyoming; Burns, Oregon;
Kingman, Arizona; and Camp
Pendleton, California. Co-principal
investigators will be Dr. Michael
L. Wolfe, USU Department of
Wildlife Science, and Dr.
LeGrande C. Ellis, USU Depart
ment of Biology.
BLM each year removes some
10,000 excess horses and burros
from damaged or threatened areas
of the public rangelands in 10
western States and places them in
Prepare pear horse lor winter
Each day a horse will eat about 2
to 2 1/2 pounds of feed per 100
pounds of body weight. In late fall,
the horse changes from eating
grass to eating hay. You can make
this change gradually by feeding
the horse hay while it is still in the
pasture. The hay should be of high
quality “not anything that’s moldy
or extremely dusty.” Hammond
says a horse that is not ridden can
be maintained with hay but a
working horse should be fed gram
as well.
If horses are not ridden a lot,
their shoes should be taken off
because there is a chance that the
horse may gradually become lame
if the feet grow out with the shoes
on. To help prevent any foot
diseases or infections, keep the
floor of the horse’s shelter as clean
and dry as possible.
Unlike the dental growth pattern
of people, horses’ teeth grow
continuously, often growing
unevenly. They should be checked
at least once a year and in a
process called "floating the teeth”
the sharp points can be eliminated.
Keeping horses groomed by
using a curry comb and brush
improves circulation in the skin
*k, S . jj*
f *
owm jureen ichman of
Manheim. Bachman’s daughter Micki Perry is
at the halter.
an adoption program. Since 1976,
more than 30,000 animals have
been placed in foster homes
throughout the United States.
Information on this adoption
program is available from “Adopt-
A-Horse”, Dept. 618-J, Consumer
Information Center, Pueblo, CO
81009.
The research projects recom
mended by NAS are detailed in a
report titled Wild and Free-
Roaming Horses and Burros:
Current Knowledge and Recom
mended Research. Copies of this
report are available from National
Technical Information Service,
U.S. Department of Commerce,
Springfield, VA 22161,7Q3/487-4650,
Report No. BLM/AA/SR-81/01.
Copies of the 382-page report are
available at |27.50 per copy, or on
microfiche for $3.50 per copy.
BLM is currently funding three
additional research irojects
and gives them a better hair coat,
Dr. Hammond says.
As well as keeping your horse
healthy-looking on the outside, you
must treat any problems which
may develop internally. One such
problem is when horses ac-
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—Studies of wild horse habitat
preference and use, and vegetation
response to grazing and its effects
on the diet and nutritional status of
wild horses and cattle. Awarded to
the University of Wyoming,
Laramie, on June 1, 1980, the
project calls for a total ex
penditure of $792,483, of which
BLM will pay $720,000 and the
University $72,483. Final results
are due by August 16,1982.
—A study of census methods of
wild horses and burros. Costing
$268,000 over a two-year period, the
contract was awarded on July 15,
1980, to the University of Min
nesota, Minneapolis. A final report
is due by June 30, 1982, and a
technical manual describing ap
propriate census methods for use
by BLM is due September 30,1982.
—Food consumption rates and
nutrition of wild horses and cattle.
A contract for this research,
costing $184,000, was awarded to
Buying your first horse
LANCASTER With horseback
riders dotting the trails and
roadsides around the country,
many non-horse owners may want
to get a horse and join this active
group.
Horse ownership is a serious
undertaking and must be given
thorough consideration, however.
Along with the pleasures of trail
riding, horse shows, and other
events, come the responsibilities of
caring for the new companion.
The kind of riding and activities
will determine the type or breed of
horse to purchase. All breeds were
originally developed for a specific
purpose. Yet through the years,
many of these original uses have
been modified.
Certain breeds make good
“cow” horses, other are better as
show animals, while some are
noted as trail horses.
Age and sex are important
factors to consider when pur
chasing your first horse. Horses
mature at four to five years of age.
Immature, untrained horses are
not recommended for new horse
owners. The degree of training and
safety of the horse is more im
portant than the actual age.
For a first horse, one should look
at 12 to 16 year olds for quiet, mild
mannered animals which should
give six to eight years of service.
Stallions are definitely not
recommended for new owners.
is your horse ready for winter?
Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, on May 1, 1980, with a
report due by April 30,1982.
Mares can be a problem when in
heat during the spring and sum
mer . months, but have the ad
vantage of becoming broodmares
at a later date.
Geldings are usually stable and
may be the preference for a first
horse.
A big question is where to buy
that all-important horse. Breeders
are interested in promoting their
product and usually stand behind
the horses they sell. Normally,
however, they do not have older,
well-trained animals for sale, but
market young show quality horses.
A reputable horse dealer who is
known for honesty and integrity
throughout the community can
usually find a suitable horse. The
dealer should be willing to allow
you to try the horse for a few days.
A well-established business person
knows that a good reputation for
honest dealing is more important
than a few fast dollars.
New owners should require a
negative Coggins test which notes
that the horse does not have
Equine Infectious Anemia. There
is no known cure for this disease,
according to Nancy Kedwill,
Montgomery county agent.
Pennsylvania will not allow a
horse to enter or leave the state
without a negative Coggins test.
A veterinarian pre-purchase
exam of the horse is always ad
visable at the expense of the
prospective owner.
Horseback riding is an ex
tremely popular sport. It is fun,
and an excellent family activity.
But before purchasing a horse,
give careful consideration to the
responsibilities involved.
Ancient drawings on stone
and bone attest to the
fact that horse racing is at
least 3000 years old.