Posted: Sunday, 14 August 2011.
New online testimonial: Big Head 100% Reversed by Belinda Blass. In December 2010 my horse was diagnosed with signs of big head disease. The swellings on each side of her head were extremely large and appeared over a matter of weeks. She was reluctant to go forward and spent hours each day standing around with an extremely depressed look in her eye. Her coat was dull. When she was ridden it was almost impossible to get her to canter and when she did she had very short, choppy strides. Apart from the facial swellings the other signs I mentioned appeared twelve months before she was diagnosed, however, as I was unaware of the early signs of big head disease I thought that she was just being difficult to ride and not wanting to go forward.
Posted: Sunday, 31 July 2011.
New online testimonial: From 'Work in Progress' to Now by Des Miller. When I was asked to do a follow-up story by Gotcha Equine on my horse Prudence, I was happy to oblige as I have so much to tell from the last time I did a story back in October, 2010. If the results from using the Gotcha Equine supplements were positive back then after some months of use, they are even more evident now ten months later. As most of you will know from reading her story, Pru has not been the easiest horse to own. Very sensitive, quick on her feet, herd bound, spooky, and always tense in her gaits and work. After speaking with Lucy last year, I put Pru on the Gotcha Equine supplements, and she has been on them religiously and without fail. The main changes I have seen are as follows...
Posted: Wednesday, 25 May 2011.
New online article: How the Seasons can affect some Horses by Lucy Prior. Have you ever noticed at certain times of the year your horse's behaviour can vary or they have been ill? For horses grazing on grass, the changes in the seasons mean quite big changes in the grass and living conditions. Here are a few explanations and tips that can help you overcome some of these issues.
Posted: Monday, 18 April 2011.
ABC's Catalyst - Thunderstorm Asthma. "Cenk Suphioglu identified the role Rye Grass plays in Melbourne's thunderstorm asthma epidemics. You can see the anther popped out to release the pollen, so on days like this, during hay-fever season, they actually pop out and they release the pollen which gets picked up by winds and taken for long distances. In fact, during a thunderstorm, half a tonne of pollen per hectare can take flight. But while it may inflict hay-fever in urban areas, something else is needed to trigger thunderstorm asthma. So what are these smaller particles and how are they released into the air? Cenk's team answered that by studying what happened when Rye Grass pollen was exposed to the moisture in thunderstorms."
Posted: Monday, 18 April 2011.
New online testimonial: Duke - A New Horse. I bought Duke in early January, 2010. When I went to try him he was a calm, unflappable horse who seemed to take everything in his stride. My mother and I brought him home and put him in a large paddock with lots of feed because he was a little skinny. The first few times I rode him, he was just as good as when I looked at him but he soon deteriorated and every time I caught him, he would try to bite me. One time he even reared up and started lashing out at me with his front legs. It was like he thought I was a ghost.
Posted: Monday, 21 March 2011.
New online testimonial: Juno the Fussy Eater. I started hard feeding Juno as he came to me in the winter. I was giving him lots of feed, mainly bulk, however he was not putting on any weight, if anything he was losing weight. What to do? If I increased his Lucerne, he would lose even more weight so I started playing around with his feed. I quickly realised I could not feed him big feeds as he just would not eat it all. I went on to processed feed and if it was too sweet he would not eat it, pellets he just did not like and cubes were a no go. So I decided just to go plain feeds such as oaten chaff, barley and a little Lucerne and made up my own combination of feed, specifically tailored for him.
Posted: Sunday, 19 March 2011.
Gotcha Equine's online store has a new product available! De-Tox is now available in a 1Kg container! This in turn has altered the Gotcha Equine Starter Kit (limit one per customer - ordered direct through Gotcha Equine only). If you have any questions regarding our online store please contact Gotcha Equine.
Posted: Sunday, 06 March 2011.
New online testimonial: Anhydrosis (Puffing or Dry Coat). Rocky was foaled in Victoria but moved to Darwin at the age of three. We purchased Rocky in May, 2009, at the age of six. His previous owner hadn't worked him a great deal but in the time she did, she noticed that he did 'puff' quite a bit. She said she had tried various remedies but to no avail. Toward the end of 2009, as we worked him more and the weather became hotter, it became clear that Rocky had anhydrosis. At one point at the end of 2009 he stopped sweating all together.
Posted: Tuesday, 01 March 2011.
Gotcha Equine's online store has a new product available! SUPREME Australian-Horse Vit & Min is now available in a 5Kg container! This in turn has altered the Gotcha Equine Starter Kit (limit one per customer - ordered direct through Gotcha Equine only). NB. Please ensure you check the dose rates on the SUPREME Australian-Horse Vit & Min label prior to supplementing your horses as the dose rates have changed. If you have any questions regarding our online store or alterations to the SUPREME Australian-Horse Vit & Min dose rates please contact Gotcha Equine.
Posted: Thursday, 24 February 2011.
New online testimonial: Barry's Back Competing! Barry was broken-in in March, 2009, at four years of age and quietly worked through the winter, attending some winter clinics. After shedding the winter woollies and going from the ugly duck to a beautiful swan, he was shown three times in August for a promising start with three Champions and one Supreme. Things looked good for his newcomer season. On the 1st of September things started to crash with Barry starting to get a bit scratchy, a subtle lameness that would seem worse on corners and not real evident which leg it was. We decided to put a set of shoes on just in case he was feeling the ground as it had started to harden up after the winter.
Posted: Thursday, 24 February 2011.
Interested in Jenny Paterson, B.Sc. conducting a talk night for your club or riding group? If so, please contact Lucy Prior of Gotcha Equine on (03) 9798 6500 or email info@gotcha.com.au for further information or to make a booking.
Posted: Sunday, 20 February 2011.
New online article: Behind the Scenes: Tips for Ensuring Proper Calcium Absorption in Growing Horses by Jenny Paterson, B.Sc. Everyone wants strong, healthy foals and for them to grow to their full potential. This depends on correct feeding of the mare from conception with particular attention paid to the last trimester of pregnancy when the foetus is in rapid growth mode. Have a think about the nutritional demands of the mare while she is lactating, as during this time she is feeding herself plus the growing foal. If there is insufficient calcium in her diet, it will be borrowed from the calcium reserves in her own bones. This can easily result in the mare suffering from calcium depletion and not being able to supply enough to build a strong skeleton in the new foal.
Posted: Sunday, 20 February 2011.
Gotcha Equine's online store has new products available! Alleviate Xtra Cal and Alleviate are now available in larger product sizes offering greater savings. This in turn has altered the Gotcha Equine Starter Kit (limit one per customer - ordered direct through Gotcha Equine only). NB. Please ensure you check the dose rates on the Alleviate Xtra Cal label prior to supplementing your horses as the dose rates have changed. If you have any questions regarding our online store or alterations to Alleviate Xtra Cal dose rates please contact Gotcha Equine.
Posted: Sunday, 19 December 2010.
New online article: Ten Steps to Reverse Head Flicking/Head Shaking by Jenny Paterson, B.Sc. Head flicking/head shaking is one of the most heartbreaking, exasperating, baffling conditions to affect horses anywhere. It has been established that it involves the trigeminal nerve in the horses head. The trigeminal nerve originates behind the horse's eye and has branches down to the mouth, nostrils and up to the ears. When this nerve is surgically cut or blocked the symptoms immediately cease but unfortunately, in the case of cutting, to some extent the nerve eventually heals up again after which symptoms are worse and in the meantime the horse has a droopy lip.
Posted: Wednesday, 03 October 2010.
Gotcha Equine's online store is now available for taking orders! Our online store provides multiple payment options including credit card, bank transfer (EFT), cheque and money order. Our quickest payment method is credit card payments as orders transfer immediately for processing. EFT and cheque payments require bank clearance before orders can be shipped whilst money orders will be processed upon receipt. Our online store complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements through the National Australia Bank (NAB) transact payment gateway providing security and peace of mind. If you have any questions regarding our online store please contact Gotcha Equine.
Posted: Friday, 16 April 2010.
Jenny Paterson, B.Sc. from Horsemanship New Zealand is currently travelling Australia providing talks on grass related issues including myco-toxins, mineral imbalances, laminitis, head flicking, photosensitivity (mud fever and sunburn) and behavioural issues caused by horse feeds and grasses. Learn how to identify if your horse is grass affected and what you can do about it. For details of dates and locations please see below:
Pakenham Upper Adult Riders Club Fund Raising Night
Date: Saturday, 17 April 2010.
Time: 6pm - 11pm.
Location: Huxtable Road Reserve, Huxtable Road, Pakenham Upper, Victoria, 3810.
Cost: $10 - includes dinner and ticket in $256 door prize. Please note there are other great prizes to be won on the night from fund raising raffles.
Contact: Helen van Deimen or phone (03) 5942 7414 or 0418 427 414 (limited numbers).
More info: BYO drinks and glasses.
Tooradin Sports Club (Small Dining Room)
Date: Monday, 19 April 2010.
Time: 6.45pm for 7pm start.
Location: Recreation Reserve, South Gippsland Hwy, Tooradin, Victoria, 3980 (Melways map ref 143 K8).
Cost: FREE.
Contact: Catheryne Bruggeman on 0424 423 891.
Alice Springs - Northern Territory
Date: Tuesday, 20 April 2010.
Time:
Location:
Cost: FREE.
Contact: Fay Hatch on (08) 8953 6229.
Date: Sunday, 25 April 2010.
Time: 2pm - 4pm.
Location: Thirlmere, New South Wales, 2572.
Cost: FREE.
Contact: Leanne Aarts on 0418 266 398.
Maybelle Farm Equestrian Centre
Date: Monday, 26 April 2010.
Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm.
Location: 87 Ebenezer Wharf Road, Ebenezer, New South Wales, 2756.
Cost: FREE.
Contact: Sally Barbera on (02) 4579 9484 or 0416 110 258.
Date: Tuesday, 27 April 2010.
Time: 5.45pm for 6.00pm start.
Location: 20 Albert Street, Warrnambool, Victoria, 3280.
Cost: FREE.
Contact: Shari on 0407 460 972.
More info: bring a chair and a plate to share.
Posted: Thursday, 18 March 2010.
ProVide It Starter Kit - limit one per customer ordered direct through Gotcha Equine only. LIMITED TIME ONLY! Starter Kit includes 750g ProVide It De-Tox, 250g ProVide It Alleviate, 1Kg ProVide It Alleviate Xtra Cal and 4Kg ProVide It SUPREME Australian-Horse Vit & Min.
Posted: Wednesday, 30 September 2010.
When I first started Casper on the ProVide It range he improved dramatically, but being the sceptical person that I can be I had to push the boundaries and test the theory out. My poor horse Casper was the guinea pig for my experiments. One thing I did that was invaluable in this process was to keep a diary of any changes and subsequent reactions, even if there was no reaction. I recorded what I did and then how he was to ride, or just general changes in behaviours. It is interesting to note that it takes Casper approximately three weeks to have a reaction to any changes.
I think I have finally learnt my lesson to leave Casper's supplements alone. The latest round of changes were that I reduced Casper's De-Tox from 10gms to 5gms right at the worst time of year - spring grasses. The reaction was that three weeks later Casper was back to his original problem of biting at himself. He had not done this for over four months. My advice is to find what dosage suits your horse and stick with it.
Why did I do the changes? Some of it was to test the products and if they truly did work, the other was to simply save a few dollars. Lucy was so right in that by trying to save a few dollars I have wasted so much more by Casper not being well enough for my lessons, so literally $70 down the drain as he just was terrible to ride. So that worked out to 2 x 750gm containers of De-Tox that I just threw out the window. Not only the money down the drain but I think Casper has been truly suffering in his health because I just had to experiment on him.
So I have promised Lucy that I won't change anything and have a darn good go at letting the products work their magic on Casper.
Leanne Aarts, Sydney, NSW.
Read Casper's Story or read Leanne's stable diary.
