Jennifer Lagessie, our Newsletter Editor, Membership Director and Treasurer, has moved from Florida to Alabama. Her new contact information:

455 Overton Lake Road, Jacksonville, AL 36265

850-244-4655; jlagessie@gmail.com

Saddle Up Cobb expresses sincere condolences to Lori and Gary Williams, whose TWH, Abe, had to be put down on January 10th after a fall that broke his neck.The rider was not hurt. Abe was in his mid 20's. He will be greatly missed.

The new bridge at Kennesaw Park, John Ward Creek aka BIG SWAMP is complete. Future plans call for a mounting block on both sides to help with riders who need to dismount and lead their horse across.
The trail is now open and ready to use.

Press Release 07/02/2007

Agriculture Commissioner Alerts Horse Owners to Possible Toxicity with some Alfalfa Hay

Photograph of stems of hoary alyssum taken from bales of alfalfa hay.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting horse owners to a problem that has occurred with some alfalfa hay from Michigan and the upper Midwest.

The hay may contain hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), a weed that is toxic to horses.

“We have a report of 25 horses sickened from eating alfalfa hay from Michigan that contained this plant. The horses had swollen legs, fever and some were showing signs of foundering,” said Commissioner Irvin.

“What is especially troubling is that the weed was practicically invisible in the hay. It was only after close investigation after the horses got sick that the presence of this plant was found,” said Irvin.

Hoary alyssum has round stems and an alternate leaf pattern. (The leaves are not directly opposite each other but appear alternately up the stem.) Because the dried leaves are fragile, most of them will have fractured and become part of the alfalfa “dust” in the bale. The older stems may have a purple blush. Stems may have a slight fuzz or “hoary” appearance.

“I urge all horse owners in Georgia to check their alfalfa hay and to contact their veterinarian if they see any problems with their horses,” said Irvin.

Hoary alyssum is native to Europe and naturalized throughout much of the northern U.S. For more information, horse owners can refer to “Hoary Alyssum: Toxicity to Horses, Forage Quality and Control” from the University of Minnesota at: www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI5567.html.

Your Horse's Strange Slobber
Is there any reason to be concerned about a horse's excessive drooling?
By the Editors of EQUUS magazine

Clover is a favorite among many horses on pasture but can cause "slobbers."

Clover is a favorite among many horses on pasture but can cause "slobbers."
Question: For the last few days, my horse has been drooling a constant flow of thin, watery saliva. What's turned on the waterworks, and should I be concerned?

Answer: On an average day, the three pairs of salivary glands in your horse's throat and under his tongue produce 10 gallons of saliva. If the output becomes a river of watery slobber, it's unsightly, but nothing to be concerned about in an otherwise healthy horse.

In most cases, excessive salivation is a response to chemical irritation. Certain oral dewormers and medications have this effect, but, in the spring and summer, clover contaminated with Rhizoctonia leguminicola fungus is the usual trigger of what is commonly called "slobbers."

Affected clover is easy to spot: The leaves change from vibrant green to a grayish tinge and eventually turn black. When consumed in moderation, forage infected by this common fungus is harmless, but its bitter taste irritates horses' salivary glands. If you find clover-induced slobbers distasteful, your only recourse is to take your horse off clover-containing pasture until the fall.

When should you be concerned about abnormal slobbering? If, in conjunction with excessive salivation, your horse has no appetite, has difficulty swallowing, is feverish and/or looks lethargic, or if the saliva is thick and unusual looking, call your veterinarian to assess the situation.

This article originally appeared in the April 1995 issue of EQUUS magazine.

GA Equine Industry License Plate

Support Our Georgia Equine Industry

Order a New “Horse” Vehicle License Plate

Many of us have admired the stylish “horse” license tags on vehicles from Tennessee and Kentucky.  Horses are an important part of those states’ heritage and economy and they want everyone to know it.  Now Georgians will also be able to buy a specialty “horse” tag in support of the Georgia Equine Industry.

Last November Georgians voted approval of the constitutional amendment that will allow revenue to be generated foal interest groups through the sale of specialty tags.

The amendment (in part):

•         Creates an Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine beginning January 2007;
•         Authorizes a special motor vehicle license plate promoting the “Georgia Equine Industry” with designate funds disbursed to the Commission;
•         Authorizes contributions and donations to the Commission;
•         Funds advertising and sales promotions for equine;
•         Funds research studies for equine;
•         Funds educational programs.

However remarkable this sounds, there is a catch – at least 1000 of the Georgia Equine Industry tags must be pre-ordered before production of the new tags and funding of the Commission can begin.  And there is a deadline for applications, 12-31-2008.  So let’s not waste any time – order your tag(s) now!

How to Order Your Georgia Equine Industry License Plate

•         Go to your local county motor vehicle tag office
•         Fill out a form titled “Georgia Request to Manufacture Special Interest License Plate” (the name of the tag you are requesting is “Georgia Equine Industry”)
•         Pay $25 deposit (this is actually the one-time Manufacturing Fee for specialty tags and will apply to your tag when you get it or be refunded if the tags are not produced)
•         Get a receipt (save it to show proof you pre-paid the $25 Manufacturing Fee)

Annual cost of each Georgia Equine tag will be $25 Special Tag Fee ($10 goes to the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine) + $20 Vehicle Registration Fee + Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax (+ first year, one-time, $25 Manufacturing Fee).

To date, some tag offices have been found to know nothing about the new “horse” tag nor have the necessary form for you to fill out.  To expedite your order, go to CTHA’s website www.ride-ctha.org and print out the “Georgia Request to Manufacture Special Interest License Plate” Form and bring it along with you to your tag office (form is also attached to this email).

For more information about the Equine Commission and tags, go to the GDA web page: http://agr.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/12/61/74707701Equine%20Commodity%20Commission%201-29-07.pdf

(note: this is a very large file and may take a while to come up)

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