Tommy Fahey Horsemanship

11/01/2025

Good reminders

Fall Reminders:

1. Deworming: Following atleast one hard frost, it is recommended to deworm with a product that contains praziquantel regardless of your horses’ shedding status. This ingredient helps to rid your horse of tape worms, while the frost eliminates them from their environment. Common examples include Quest Plus and Equimax.

A f***l egg count is a useful way to categorize your horse’s shedding status. F***l egg counts are $30, which includes a customized deworming program for your horse based on the results. Custom deworming supply packs are also available.

2. Dental exam: a dental exam is recommended every 6 months to determine if your horse would benefit from a dental float. Keeping up with dental care helps your horse to avoid weight loss, colic, and performance issues. We always include a free dental exam at every vaccine appointment.

3. Flu/rhino vaccination: if you are traveling with your horse, exposing your horse to others at events, or housing your horse at a boarding facility it is highly recommended for your horse to receive a flu/rhino vaccine every 6 months to prevent these diseases. The vaccines are guaranteed by most vaccine companies, therefore, if your horse has been vaccinated appropriately and becomes ill, the company will cover costs of diagnostics and treatment. We have seen and treated several cases of influenza this year.

4. Broodmares: for pregnant mares be sure to administer your Prodigy Or Pneumobort vaccines at 5,7, and 9 months of gestation-please give us a ring if you need these vaccines. For mares preparing for early 2026 breeding, place under lights starting around Thanksgiving to ensure they are properly cycling in the new year. Lastly, be sure to purchase fescue free forage (we recommend alfalfa) for the last 75-90 days of pregnancy to avoid foaling problems.

HAPPY FALL YALL!

As always, text us at 417-448-0131 with questions/concerns or to schedule appointments.

10/10/2025

Interesting information.

❄🐴🌾 Is it safe to graze horses after a hard freeze? What do I need to consider before turning them back out on pasture? Also, what defines a hard freeze?

🌡 A hard freeze refers to a frost that is severe enough to end the growing season. The National Weather Service defines a hard freeze when temperatures fall below 28ºF for a few hours. Cool-season grasses commonly found in Midwest horse pastures go into dormancy for winter and conserve their energy stores (starches and sugars) following a hard freeze.

❄️ We recommend keeping horses off pastures for at least 7 days after a hard freeze. Frost-damaged pastures are higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) because plants can not use up their energy stores as efficiently. It can take plants 7 days to return to more normal nonstructural carbohydrate levels. Higher levels of nonstructural carbohydrates can lead to an increase risk for laminitis, especially in horses diagnosed with or prone to obesity, laminitis, Cushings, and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

The decision to graze again after a hard freeze depends on the condition of your pasture. After a hard freeze, no additional regrowth of the pasture will occur, even though the pasture might appear green in color. If your cool-season grass pasture is

✅ taller than 3 to 4 inches, then grazing can resume 7 days after a hard freeze and can continue until the pasture is grazed down to 3 to 4 inches.
❌ shorter than 3 to 4 inches, then no grazing should occur after a hard freeze. Grazing below 3 inches can harm the plant and lead to poor productivity next season.

🌾 Plants rely on stored nonstructural carbohydrates in the lower 3 inches for energy. Therefore, the 3- to 4-inch minimum height recommendation is necessary to help maximize winter survival and can help predict a vigorous and healthy pasture come spring. We do recognize horses rarely graze uniformly and pastures tend to have areas of both over and under grazing. You will need to base decisions on the average appearance of your pasture

10/05/2025

Gillyana JL had her first ride in a double bridle!

Thanks to JLdressage LLC for letting us borrow this beautiful bridle!

Gilly girl wasn’t quite sure what to think, but settled in and went right to work. Third level here we come!!!

10/03/2025

Gillyana JL obviously very stressed at the horse show.

10/03/2025