Everything about the Anderson Horse Farm

People see how large horses are and feel that they can withstand anything. That is true in some instances but they also have very sensitive skin and tack that is intended to be corrective can actually be borderline abusive.  Some horse bits can be considered abusive because they can cause pain and injury to horses. Twisted wire bit have sharp edges that can press into a horse's mouth, increasing pressure and pain. Chifney bits are made of thin metal and are shaped to depress a horse's tongue. They can cause severe injuries, including lacerated tongues, with little effort. Thinner bits spread out pressure less across a horse's mouth, making them harsher. A corrective bit goes up into the horses mouth with no break and has constant pressure.  Arabian horse trainers use halters with spikes behind the ears that forces the horse to keep its’ head at the perfect angle to release the pressure. Draw reins can put pressure on the horse's mouth and create discomfort if not used c...

Everyone’s experiences with horses can be different, whether it is how many years you have been around the animal or certain instances that stick out in your mind. Horses can do a lot for people, therapy riding centers have become very popular for treatment of certain “issues”. One person that knows this better than anyone else is Temple Grandin.  She wrote the article “Case Study: How Horses Helped a Teenager with Autism Make Friends and Learn How to Work” published July 1, 2019.  The article discusses Temple’s journey with autism, beginning with a speech delay and evolving into a successful career as a college professor of animal science. Born in 1947, Temple found comfort and social connection through horses during challenging school years due to bullying. She developed a close friendship with a girl who shared an interest in equine activities and engaging in craft projects centered around horses. Temple shows the significant benefits of equine activities for social skills ...

Having a licensed vet that knows your horses is extremely important for their health. The following links are 3 places that I recommend and the services they offer.  U of I Teaching Hospital in Urbana The University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital is one of the best places to take your animals in central IL. Since they are a teaching hospital they sometimes offer a discount on services because they use it for students’ experience. Their service is staffed by specialized veterinarians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for emergencies and by appointment for patients in need of evaluation and care from the board-certified specialists in equine surgery, internal medicine, and reproduction. Additionally, if your horse needs the expertise of a specialist in cardiology, dermatology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, or imaging the equine veterinarians can quickly and easily consult with additional board-certified specialists ...

I’m sitting with Dr Kiley Kelly, large animal veterinarian to discuss equine health and her practice treating horses. First of all, how did you decide to become a vet? Dr Kelly,”I have always been interested in animals, specifically horses and grew up riding and caring for my own animals. I went to college to study animal science and knew after getting my bachelor’s degree that I would apply to a college that offered veterinary medicine. Eight years of college and I was ready to apply what I had learned and start a small practice.” What would be a typical week in your animal practice? Dr Kelly, “I schedule patients for routine exams and general health concerns like vaccinations and tests typically two or three days per week. I schedule farm calls one or two days a week. I am also a licensed and certified equine chiropractor. Horses have a complex skeletal system and working animals are similar to human athletes and need to keep aligned and adjusted. This area of my practice has grown t...

Usually a dentist will ask about the horse’s dental history but we have only ever used the same dentist so he will ask if our horses have experienced any of the following issues from the last time he's seen them:  • Dropping feed from the mouth while chewing.  This is also known as “quidding” and can happen while eating hay or grain/pelleted feeds. • Awkward chewing motions while eating.  This may look like exaggerated chewing action, chewing on one side of the mouth, or slow or intermittent chewing rhythm. • Trouble placing a bit in the horses’ mouth or difficulty riding when the horse has a bit in the mouth.  This may be seen as fighting the bit, shaking or tossing the head when contact is made with the bit, or potentially the horse can be less willing to travel in one direction. • Weight Loss • Nasal Discharge Next the dentist typically will sedate the horse.  Sedation allows for a more thorough oral exam, as well as a more thorough dental float and...

One of the worst things about having animals is having to keep them on a schedule and routine. Depending on the day, weather and plans for the day it can become a large inconvenience. Having to feed them before doing anything for the day and making sure you’re home to feed them at night.  My mother taught me that plans come after the animals and if you have to change plans so they get fed that is what you need to do. Ideally, they get fed at the same time each day but with a busy schedule that can be extremely difficult.  Smokey is very old and needs to be fed 6 times a day and having to either stay on the farm or drive back and forth is frustrating. The rest of our horses have their quirks as well. Fireball and Whiskey need specialized grain. Denver spills most of his grain so he needs to be hand fed. Bo needs a probiotic and Durango needs supplements on his feed. Spitfire is the most low maintenance but she needs her water changed more than anyone else because she is a messy...

There have been predictions that the world of ranch riding is going to continue to get bigger.  In ranch riding, the horse is judged on its ability to work at a forward, working speed while performing required and optional maneuvers. The ranch riding horse should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and reflect the versatility, attitude and movement of a working horse. The required maneuvers are the walk, jog and lope (both directions), the extended trot and extended lope at least one direction as well as stops, back and one change of direction. The optional maneuvers are sidepass; turns of 360 degrees or more; change of lead (simple or flying); walk, jog or lope over poles or other reasonable maneuvers a ranch horse could perform.  There is no doubt that the ranch riding (formerly, ranch horse pleasure) classes have exploded in recent years at AQHA and APHA shows. This exciting, fast paced event is quickly becoming one of the largest classes at many shows ...