January 24, 2010
It's a Baby!
Ella is going to be a mother!
On January 21st, the vet verified that RU Canella is pregnant--with a 6-7 month foal!
Given the 11 month equine gestation length and uncertain date of conception, we can expect the baby to be born any time from late April to early June.

January 20, 2010
The beginning of spring semester marks the end of 24-hour turn-out.
Yesterday, the horses were brought in at 4pm to freshly-bedded stalls and buckets full of hay cubes. With the start of classes, we will resume our former schedule: the horses will be turned out at 8am and brought in at 4pm daily. Also note that the yearlings will no longer be receiving Safe Choice pellets, as the total mixed ration (TMR) hay cubes provide sufficient nutrients to meet their current requirements.

Also check out our newest group photos HERE!

January 14, 2010

Today all of the horses were brought in to be weighed, measured, groomed, and handled. Brisa, Genesis, Glinda, Shivna, Cass, and Ella had their hooves trimmed.  The remaining horses will have their hooves trimmed next week.

January 2, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With the arrival of 2010, the horses continue to thrive in their 24-hour turn-out routine (though they seem to equally enjoy their bi-weekly grooming sessions!) The new year also brings other updates: our "weanlings" are now yearlings and our "yearlings" are now two-year olds! There are some new photos and updates on the research students participating in the program this spring semester. 

December 23, 2009



The horses had some festive photos taken last Thursday; everyone was quite cooperative!


Ella, Glinda, Cass, and Shivna

December 15, 2009

Last Wednesday the horses started their "24-hour" turn-out routine; they will remain outside (with access to both paddocks and run-in sheds) until the start of spring semester. The weanlings (Genesis, Woody, Honky Tonk, and Brisa) are brought in daily to be fed 2 pounds of Safe Choice pellets. (This ensures proper phosphorus intake.)  The mustangs and 2-year old draft-crosses are brought in twice weekly to be reminded of their manners during brief grooming sessions.  Despite the chilly weather, the horses are acclimating well and seem to be enjoying the freedom afforded by extended turn-out.

December 8, 2009
Two weeks ago, on November 19th, the mustangs had their teeth floated for the first time.
Check their photo galleries for pictures!
November 30, 2009
RU Honky Tonk returned to his herd-mates today for the first time since his castration on the 18th.
Click here for more information.

November 16, 2009
There are many new photos up for the horses!
 Go to 2009-2010 Horses
to see both new group photos and individuals.

November 11, 2009
RU Woodstock was castrated by Dr. McAlister. The surgery was uneventful and he is recovering nicely.     RU Honky Tonk will be done on November 18 because he also needs to have a small umbilical hernia repaired.

October 15, 2009 Due to road construction the entrance to the Ryders Lane Barn is a bit difficult. New directions to Ryders Lane barn have been posted under Contacts and Directions.

October 14, 2009
Controlled behavior tests reveals that the Mustangs are as good or even better than our weanling and yearling Draft crosses in basic handling responses.
Sarah Ralston
Two weeks ago all 12 horses were put through a standardized test where in they were caught in the field by Dr. Ralston, who led them to the round pen, walked around it once, halted and made them stand still for one minute. She then rubbed their face and ears, ran her hands firmly over their torso and abdomen, asked them to back up 3 steps, turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches. The students who were observing then clapped their hands loudly outside the pen with the young horse facing them. The final tests were when Dr. Ralston picked up a broom, showed it to the horse, laid it down on the ground and asked the horse to walk over it twice, then led the horse around the pen from the right side. All tasks were graded by the students' and Dr. Ralston's consensus on a scale of 0 to 4.5, with:
 4.5 being an A+=no resistance, perfect response, and
 0=F=pulling away and resisting violently.
 Only one horse got an F on any of the tests: Shivna did NOT like the broom even though she had seen it many times during Ag Field day training in the spring, and decided to "leave".

The average overall scores were: Mustang Yearlings 3.78 +/- .06,
Draft Cross Yearlings: 3.74 +/- .14 (If we omitted Shivna, the Yearling Draft Cross average was the same as the Mustangs).
The weanling Draft Crosses got 3.63+/- .07. It should be noted that the weanlings had had only 3 weeks of training versus 5 for the mustangs.
   
Photos by Samantha VitaleOctober 13, 2009
 Mustang colts gelded
Sarah Ralston
RU Marley and RU Casanova were castrated by Dr. Dan Keenan, using a standard procedure open/open castration. They were sedated with Xylazine then dropped with Ketamine for the procedure, using normal doses of the drugs, though Dr. Keenan did increase Marley's ketamine dose a little, as he would have done for any more nervous type horse. The surgeries went well. Cass stayed down a fairly long time after the procedure was done, apparently waiting until he felt sure he could get up and walk normally because that is what he did! Marley made an initial very early attempt, decided that was not a good idea and laid there sternally with his nose on the ground for another 5 or 6 minutes. He was much more wobbly when he did get up (A bit sooner than Cass!) and it was rather cute-he kept looking at the ground and shifting his front feet as if to try find solid ground that wasn't "spinning" :-)

The next morning both geldings appeared in good spirits and had great appetites. The incision sites were draining well and normally swollen. Their students worked them in the round pen for 10 minutes and both colts were more than willing to trot and canter on command! The students watching were all commenting on the gorgeous, floating trot that especially Marley has (Though Cass is really elegant too).



Cass, Tonk (who will be gelded next month) and Marley sharing a mid-morning snack before the surgeries
Photo by Sarah Ralston
            
               
     Mustang yearling RU                          Draft Cross weanling, RU Woodstock with  the           Yearling draft cross RU Pardner with
Rambling Rose with student                    with his sponsors, the Colts Neck Trail Riders                his sponsor, Sandra Denarski
      Pam Brzezynski                                                    and student, Kim Ward                                     (hidden student, Samantha Rodgers)

                               
Carla Prentiss with "her'                      Jane and Bill Meyer with RU Honky Tonk              Part of the crowd admiring the young horses.
  weanling, RU Genesis                                    and student Kelly Steimle                                   The yellow US Wild Horse & Burro goody   
                                                                                                                                                             grab bags were courtesy of Robin Rivello
Photos by William Kaminski

October 8, 2009
Sarah Ralston
 
Mustangs and weanlings get their first hoof trim!
Eric Fisher trimmed the 4 mustangs and 4 weanlings in only 1 1/2 hours. There were no major battles and Eric even commented that Marley should come to my house to teach RU Sir Galahad (Class of 2001 who he shoes) how to behave!
           
          Casanova standing like a gentleman in the aisle                  Genesis getting her hind feet  done in the stall
           Photo by Robin Rivello                                            Photo by Sarah Ralston