Alfalfa Cubes Potentially Contaminated with Botulism Toxin

TheHorse.com - Full Article

Top of The Rockies alfalfa cubes are being investigated as the potential source of botulism infection in at least 15 horses.

Posted by Haylie Kerstetter | Dec 15, 2022

On Nov. 12, Top of The Rockies Horse Cubes, produced by Manzanola Feeds, released a statement to its customers asking that they discontinue feeding any alfalfa cubes dated Nov. 11-14, 2022, due to possible contamination that resulted in at least 15 horses from Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas contracting what veterinarians believe to be botulism. Ten horses were euthanized due to their rapidly declining condition, two died within two days of showing clinical signs, and two are being treated. The condition of the fifteenth horse is not known.

The company stated it has sent its alfalfa cubes for testing at Colorado State University, University of California, Davis, and the United States Department of Agriculture laboratories in Ames, Iowa. Samples of round hay bales, various feeds, and drinking water consumed by the sick horses have also been sent for testing...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1118984/alfalfa-cubes-potentially-contaminated-with-botulism-toxin/

Prepurchase Exams: Crystal Ball Not Included in Veterinarian’s Kit

Thehorse.com - Full Article

One practitioner describes the steps he takes during a prepurchase exam to help buyers make smart decisions.

Posted by Betsy Lynch | Feb 11, 2020

As much as buyers want veterinarians to perform a prepurchase exam and predict a horse’s future, the equine doctor’s medical kit doesn’t include a crystal ball.

“The client does want us to predict,” Reese Hand, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, told practitioners at the 65th Annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 7-11, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. “They want us to tell them that a horse is going to be sound for so many years and that he’s going to be productive at whatever job he’s going to be asked to do.

“But keep in mind, the prepurchase exam is not a guarantee,” he continued. “You’re looking at this horse at one point in time, and you’re trying to give the buyer as much information as you can—including possible risk factors—so he can make a proper decision. But it’s a window...”

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/184866/prepurchase-exams-crystal-ball-not-included-in-veterinarians-kit/

Virginia Tech Releases Highly Anticipated Helmet Ratings

Chronofhorse.com - Full Article

By: Melissa Wright
Dec 6, 2022 - 9:09 PM

The Virgina Tech Helmet Lab has released its much-anticipated equestrian helmet ratings. Taking the top spot in the rankings is the $460 Champion Revolve X-Air MIPS helmet, but in good news for riders who are both frugal and safety conscious, the rest of the top three slots were filled by sub-$60 helmets, the Tuffrider Carbon Fiber ($58) and the IRH Equi-Lite ($50).

The ratings are the culmination of a research project that began in 2019 to add horseback riding helmets to the roster of sport helmets the lab evaluates. It was helped along by grants from the U.S. Equestrian Federation, U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, U.S. Eventing Association and Jacqueline Mars.

For a decade, the lab has been translating its independent research into what it calls a STAR (“Summation of Tests for Analysis of Risk”) rating system for consumers...

Read more here:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/virginia-tech-releases-highly-anticipated-helmet-ratings

What Research is Saying About Supplements for Horses

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Scientists are studying the safety, efficacy, mechanisms of action, and pharmacokinetics of equine nutritional supplements.

Posted by Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc | Dec 5, 2022

Would you like a side of science to go with your horse’s supplements?

Every year equine nutritional supplements continue to increase in popularity. Verified Market Research reported that the global nutritional supplement market for horses was valued at $73.61 million in 2018. The data used to generate that report projected a steady increase in supplement sales, potentially reaching $96.18 million by 2026.

As we’ve reported in previous years, science continues to lag behind the popularity of nutritional supplements … but not for want of trying.

“While the amount of scientific information on veterinary pet supplements and nutraceuticals is increasing, there remains a paucity of quality control, safety, and efficacy data for the majority of both the substances marketed in pet supplements and the resulting products for purchase currently available,” Carrie J. Finno, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of the University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine, wrote in a 2020 edition of Nutrition Today. “Despite this lack of evidence, the use of veterinary supplements and nutraceuticals continues to increase...”

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1118630/what-research-is-saying-about-supplements-for-horses/

Does Your Horse Need Probiotics?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By supplementing horses with the same kind of beneficial microorganisms that colonize their guts, probiotics might help reestablish healthy balances in the gut microbiome without causing harm.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Sep 2, 2022

If your horse’s gut microbiota is out of whack, microorganism-packed products might get him back on track

Inside the digestive system live millions of microscopic organisms that play vital roles in the horse’s digestive—and general—health. Many of these of bacteria, protozoa, archaea, and fungi help break down food and usher nutrients efficiently into the bloodstream. They play a role in metabolizing fiber, generating energy, and promoting proper intestinal transit.

While scientists still don’t know what makes up the ideal equine gut microbiota, they do know it’s a question of balance. “All these microorganisms live in a kind of symbiotic relationship when they’re in balance,” says Kathleen Crandell, PhD, a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research, in Versailles...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1104644/does-your-horse-need-probiotics/

Does your horse need this super fiber - beet pulp?

StandleeForage.com podcast - Listen

Ep. 048: Beet Pulp – What Is It and Why Do Horses Need It?

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss anything and everything you'd ever want to now about beet pulp including:

- What is beet pulp and where does it come from?
- What type of horse shold and shouldn't be fed beet pulp?| - Can beet pulp swell in a horse's stomach? - this answer may surprise you!

How much do you know about beet pulp? Go on this deep dive with us to really understand what this super fiber is all about!

Listen:
https://www.standleeforage.com/podcast/episodes/ep-048-beet-pulp-what-is-it-and-why-do-horses-need-it/

Feed Tevis Winners

Wnatalie.com

Developing an endurance horse requires proper training and conditioning, but without a solid feeding program, even the best-trained horses can struggle. Gabriella Blakeley and her 13-year-old Arabian gelding (also known as “Pyro”) won the 2022 Tevis Cup, with Christoph Schurke and the GE VA Blizzard of Ozz coming in second. “Ozzy,” the 13-year-old Arabian gelding, was also awarded the Haggin Cup, which is an award for the top 10 horse in best condition in the morning after finishing a ride.

Both riders know that feeding their horses well is critical to their long-term success and well-being. Carrie Williams, Ph.D., equine extension specialist and professor at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, who also has experience feeding endurance horses, shared her advice with the horse.

Endurance Nutrition Program Overview

Williams said owners of endurance horses need to prioritize fats in their nutritional programs. “It is best to have them on a high-fat, forage-high fat diet because this is the primary fuel source they use for endurance exercise. It helps sustain their energy for long periods of time during exercise...”

Read more here:
https://www.vnatalie.com/feed-tevis-winners-horse/

Selecting a Horse Trailer to Fit Your Needs

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

If your horse needs a new ride, walk through this decision process so you end up with the perfect horse trailer.

By Stacey McKenna
May 14 2022

Many of us depend on trainers or friends to haul our horses to competitions, trailheads, or emergency veterinary appointments. That’s a sufficient strategy for some, but there’s a particular sort of freedom that comes from taking the leap and selecting a horse trailer of your own, especially if an emergency arises and a friend’s horse trailer is not available.

With an overwhelming array of options on the market, you won’t be starved for choice. Most trailer owners are glad to share their preferences, but it’s essential to choose the rig that’s right for you and your horse. Download our trailer-buying guide to help you navigate the market as you begin selecting a horse trailer...

Read more here:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/selecting-a-horse-trailer

Transport Effects on Endurance Horses

Equimanagement.com - Full Article

A study on transport effects on endurance horses concluded that equine athletes can experience significant changes in electrolyte concentrations prior to the start of competition during trailering and stabling.

By Nancy S. Loving, DVM | November 3, 2022

Equine athletes undergo considerable stressors even prior to competition. This is especially due to transport over significant distances to a venue. Horses that compete in long-duration sports, like endurance riding, are particularly at risk for dehydration and loss of electrolytes before and during competition. A study of horses competing in the July 2016 Tevis Cup 100-Mile One-Day Western States Trail Ride evaluated the status of horses prior to and during competition. The study aimed to determine transport effects on endurance horses. More specifically, it looked at how transport to the venue might affect their ability to compete successfully. [Fielding CL and Magdesian KG. Changes in electrolyte concentrations and hydration status in endurance horses following transport and an overnight stay prior to competition. American Journal of Veterinary Research Dec 2021, vol. 82 # 12]

Participating Horses

Researchers obtained blood samples on 19 equine participants in the Tevis Cup ride...

Read more here:
https://equimanagement.com/articles/research-medical/transport-effects-on-endurance-horses/

Careful monitoring of endurance horses urged by researchers

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

November 1, 2022
Horsetalk.co.nz

Endurance horses in more exhausting races should be carefully monitored, according to researchers who investigated the acute phase response of equines competing in the discipline.

The study by Karla Mihelić and her fellow researchers centered on 23 horses competing at one national competition held in April 2021 in Croatia.

Three races were held at the event, over distances of 43km, 67km and 86km. The races of 67 and 86km distances were classified as long while the race of 43km was considered short.

Blood samples were collected before the start and within 30 minutes after the end of the races.

Blood and biochemical tests were performed to investigate acute phase biomarkers changes...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2022/11/01/careful-monitoring-endurance-horses/

Why Should You Test Hay?

StandleeForage.com Podcast - Listen

Episode 45: Why Skipping a Hay Analysis Could Cost More Money in the Long Run with Sarah Fessenden

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr have an enlightening conversation with special guest Sarah Fessenden, Business Development Manager for the forage and soils laboratories of Dairy One and Equi-Analytical about:

• Why it’s critical to get a representative hay sample when testing
• The difference between ‘as sampled’ and ‘dry matter’
• What to do with the results you receive from a hay test

Learn more about how to understand what you’re feeding your horse!

Listen:
https://www.standleeforage.com/podcast/episodes/ep-045-why-skipping-a-hay-analysis-could-cost-more-money-in-the-long-run-with-sarah-fessenden/

Horse returns home after lost, running with wild mustangs for 8 years in northern Utah

KJZZ.com - Full Article

by Heidi Hatch, KUTV
Wednesday, October 5th 2022

FIELDING, Utah (KUTV) — A horse returned home after eight years of being lost and running with wild mustangs.

Shane Adams lost his horse Mongo while camping in Utah’s West Desert - and just this week the two were reunited.

Early on a spring morning, when there was still snow on the ground Mongo made a run for it.

The horse was tied up outside Adam’s tent, but not tight enough. A herd of wild mustangs ran past the camp and Mongo took off with his newfound friends.

Adams scrambled out of his tent in a state of half undress and tried to stop him, but he was too late...

Read more here:
https://kjzz.com/news/local/horse-returns-home-8-years-lost-running-with-wild-mustangs-in-northern-utah-mongo-west-desert-inspection-saddle-blm-managers#

In the ranches of B.C.’s Cariboo Chilcotin, I gained a deeper understanding of the connection between human and horses

TheStar.com - Full Article

With more than a dozen guest ranches, the region offers many opportunities to get back in the saddle.

By Claudia LaroyeSpecial to the Star
Fri., Sept. 16, 2022

At Historic Hat Creek Ranch, about an hour west of Kamloops, B.C., guide Reni Lind wears the snappy garb of a 19th-century saloon keeper as he tells tales of the Cariboo Wagon Road, and the American Gold Rush miners who flooded this region in the 1850s.

“More than 700 kilometres of road were built over three years [between 1862 and 1865], from Fort Yale to Quesnel and Barkerville,” says Lind. Once a crucial route to the Fraser River’s precious metal, the gravel road still runs through the ranch, where the well-preserved Hat Creek Roadhouse, built in 1861, once serviced miners and watered stagecoach horses en route north. Today, the ranch is a heritage site with costumed interpreters bringing the past to life...

Read more here:
https://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2022/09/16/in-the-ranches-of-bcs-cariboo-chilcotin-i-gained-a-deeper-understanding-of-the-connection-between-human-and-horses.html

Wyoming: The 50 Million-Year-Old Treasures of Fossil Lake

Smithsonianmag.com - Full Article

In a forbidding Wyoming desert, scientists and fortune hunters search for the surprisingly intact remains of horses and other creatures that lived long ago

September 2022
By Richard Conniff
Photographs by Taylor Glenn

One morning in September 2003, Jim E. Tynsky was working on the tip of a ridge above a canyon in southwestern Wyoming. That point of land had become known as “Tom’s Folly” because of a previous fossil hunter’s inability to find anything in the quarry there. Tynsky wasn’t doing much better. With the season racing to its snowy end, he had little to show for a summer of hard work but the commonest sort of fish fossils. Heaps of discarded stone slabs lay around like broken pottery.

Other quarries on this ridge were known for producing extraordinarily detailed and complete fossils, all from the bottom of an ancient lake. Tynsky, the third generation of his family to eke out a living from finding fossils there, knelt down beside a slab still embedded in the ground. He chose a spot along an exposed edge and started to work at it with his chisel and his geological hammer. A fragment of stone broke away above the split. He was expecting to find fossilized fish underneath. Maybe some good ones. What caught his eye instead was a foot.

He cleared a larger area, and the fossil began to take shape as a ghostly shadow across the newly exposed stone surface. It was humpbacked, and the size of a border collie, but with details obscured by the limestone matrix, as if painted over with cake batter. “I got something really cool over here,” Tynsky called out to a helper. “Might be a turtle, I don’t know.” He cleared a bit more and saw that the ordinary cracks in the stone had miraculously spared the fossil. The helper came over to look.

“Oh my God,” he said, after a moment. “You got a horse!” He started jumping up and down. “You got a horse! You got a horse!”...

Read more here:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/treasures-of-fossil-lake-180980544/

Competition history a useful predictor for lameness eliminations in endurance – study

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

September 18, 2022
Horsetalk.co.nz

The competitive history of endurance horses is important in predicting their likelihood of elimination from a competition, especially in relation to lameness, researchers have found.

Endurance is an internationally recognised equestrian sport in which horse-and-rider combinations compete over distances of up to 160km in a day.

The discipline is governed globally by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and by Endurance GB in Britain.

Protecting the welfare of the horse is a key strategic priority within the discipline. However, horse injuries and fatalities in high-profile races have led to a negative public perception of the sport.

This has resulted in calls for increased safeguards around the welfare of endurance horses in order to reduce the risk not only to the horse, but also to the discipline and its social licence to operate...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2022/09/18/competition-history-predictor-lameness-eliminations-endurance/

Tasmanian man's tales of trail riding hope to address mental health issues at work

ABC.net.au - Full Article and video

ABC Northern Tasmania / By Sarah Abbott
September 5 2022

Dakota Wolf can spend a month in a saddle without getting sore.

Since leaving his nine-to-five job of 21 years, Mr Wolf has dedicated himself to long-distance trail riding.

"I'm that used to it these days that it doesn't bother me at all," he said.

"But I struggle getting into a soft bed after [a long ride]. It takes me a couple of weeks to get used to that again."

He says riding is a childhood dream come true...

Read and watch more here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-06/tasmanian-man-long-distance-trail-riding-mental-health-work/101385808

My Nomadic Life Part 1, Traveling with Horses

Rideclimb.com - Listen

July 5, 2022
by Jess

Part 1 of the My Nomadic Life Series covers the ins and outs of traveling with horses in our fulltime digital nomad lifestyle.

I’ve spoken about our lifestyle on the podcast before and it always makes people curious. I decided to dedicate an entire episode to answering questions that I’ve received from podcast listeners, blog readers, and social media fans. It turned out to be so extensive that I broke it into a series...

Listen to the podcast here:
https://rideclimb.com/podcast/my-nomadic-life-part-1-traveling-with-horses/

Film review: The Long Rider goes the distance

Mythic Productions Photo

TheObserver.ca - Full Article

Documentary follows a man who made a trek from Calgary to Sao Paulo on horseback

Author of the article: Chris Knight
Publishing date: Jun 24, 2022

You can get from Calgary to Sao Paulo by plane in about 14 hours. Or you can do what Felipe Masetti Leite did, and go on horseback. It took him two years, but it’s a helluva story.

Leite was born in Brazil but moved to Canada with his parents when he was nine. In Canadian director Sean Cisterna’s new movie we watch as Leite, inspired by Aimé Félix Tschiffely’s solo ride from Argentina to New York in 1925, decides to make a similar trek southward. In equestrian circles, any journey of 1,000 miles or more constitutes a “long ride.” This one certainly qualifies.

Leite first goes through months of training and planning, although he decides to park the question of how to cross the Panama Canal until he gets there. That almost proves his undoing – as do traffic accidents, horse colic, sketchy border officials, extreme weather and that time a jealous hotel owner seemed on the verge of trying to kill him...

Read more here:
https://www.theobserver.ca/entertainment/movies/film-review-the-long-rider-goes-the-distance

The All-Important Equine Prepurchase Exam

Thehorse.com - Full Article

What to expect when a veterinarian performs a prepurchase exam on a prospective equine partner.

Posted by Chris White, DVM | Jul 13, 2022

Prepurchase exam steps, ethics, and best practices

You’re in the market for a new horse and find one across state lines that checks all the boxes; he’s the right age, within your budget, and you love what you see in the seller’s videos. Why spend time and money performing a prepurchase exam (PPE) on this unicorn? In this hot market, you want to snatch him up right now!

“I think of prepurchase exams as an information-gathering mission for the prospective buyer prior to making the decision of purchasing a horse,” says Rachel Roemer, DVM, owner of Great Bay Equine, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. “I perform them to look for any indication of existing issues that may limit performance in the future for whatever desired job...”

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1113827/the-all-important-equine-prepurchase-exam/

Feeding Tevis Winners

Thehorse.com - Full Article

The first and second place finishers in the 2022 Tevis Cup describe their feed strategies.

Posted by Shoshana Rudski, The Horse Digital Editor | Jul 23, 2022

Developing an endurance horse takes correct training and conditioning, but without a solid nutrition program even the best-trained horses can struggle. Gabriela Blakeley and her 13-year-old Arabian gelding LLC Pyros Choice (aka “Pyro”) won the 2022 Tevis Cup, and Christoph Schork and GE VA Blizzard of Ozz came in second. “Ozzy,” 13-year-old Arabian gelding, also took home The Haggin Cup, the award for the Top 10 horse in the best condition the morning after completing the ride.

Both riders know feeding their horses well is paramount to their success and long-term well-being. Carey Williams, PhD, equine extension specialist and professor at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, who also has experience in feeding endurance horses, shared her advice with The Horse...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1114224/feeding-tevis-winners/

Feeding the Anaerobic Equine Athlete

Thehorse.com - Full Article

How do you build a nutritional program that supports your high-­intensity equine athlete? Three experts share their advice.

Posted by Katie Navarra | Jul 21, 2022

At the National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity, the final seconds of competition can determine the champion. The winning horse stays with the last cow, preventing it from returning to the herd. Another horse loses its last cow just before the buzzer sounds, only to go home without placing. In many cases, the latter horse has simply run out of gas, says Karen Davison, PhD, an equine nutritionist and director of equine technical solutions for Purina Animal Nutrition, in Gray Summit, Missouri.

“Both horses are incredibly talented elite athletes,” she says. “One just didn’t have enough energy to sustain the high-intensity workout and make that final big move to hold the cow.”

Nutrition in the form of fats and carbohydrates (sugars, starches) is the fuel that sustains performance. However, the body uses these energy sources differently depending on a workout’s duration and intensity. Take aerobic exercise, for instance: During this longer-lasting, lower-intensity work such as endurance riding, the muscle tissues use oxygen to convert fat into energy...

Read more at:
https://thehorse.com/174529/feeding-the-anaerobic-equine-athlete/

Feeding the Foot: Nutrition For Equine Hoof Health

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Two equine nutritionists shed light on the do’s and don’ts of feeding your horse for strong and healthy hooves.

Posted by Lucile Vigouroux | Jun 13, 2022

How to feed your horse for strong and healthy hooves

Nutrition impacts everything from performance and temperament to growth and metabolic rate. Hoof quality is no exception. It can take up to a year for a full new hoof to grow, so what your horse eats today could impact his soundness much further down the road. In this article two equine nutritionists—Lynn Taylor, PhD, and Ashley Wagner, PhD—shed light on the do’s and don’ts of feeding for optimal hoof health. The Recipe for Healthy Hooves

Your horse’s diet plays a crucial role in the quality and durability of the horn that makes up his hooves. Horses require certain nutrients in specific amounts and ratios to grow and maintain strong hooves. However, even the perfect diet is not enough by itself to grow good feet—­several other factors come into play. Management, exercise, metabolic rate, hoof care including trimming and shoeing, overall health, genetics, and climate (moisture levels, in particular) can all affect the appearance and strength of horses’ feet—and not always for the better. The bottom line is hoof health requires a very holistic (whole horse) approach...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/191783/feeding-the-foot-nutrition-of-equine-hoof-health/

Fueling the Endurance Horse

PlatinumPerformance.com - Full Article

Going the Distance

Endurance riding is very popular and continues to gain the interest of horse enthusiasts throughout the world. The discipline began in the United States in 1955 when Wendell Robie, an avid California horseman joined by a group of friends set out to disprove the notion that no modern-day horse could cover the rugged trail from Lake Tahoe to Auburn in a single day. Now called the Tevis Cup Ride, this 100-mile California feat winds along much of the historic Western States Trail from the Lake Tahoe area through the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the finish line in Auburn, located a half-hour northeast of Sacramento. In 1982, the Fédération Equestre Internationale, or FEI, the international governing body of equestrian sport, recognized endurance racing as an international sport. Despite its U.S. roots, the discipline has evolved into a very competitive sport worldwide — particularly in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and New Zealand. Any horse is welcome to compete, but the Arabian breed has dominated the sport since its inception due to their incredible natural stamina and durability.

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) is the governing body for long-distance riding in the U.S. and offers over 700 races annually throughout North America for riders of all ages and ambitions, including shorter 25-mile courses. Most competitive endurance rides are 50, 75 or 100 miles long with different maximum times allowed depending on mileage length. Championship races are 100 miles completed in one day. There are also endurance rides that cover longer 150-mile trails over multiple days. Race courses can be set, such as the Tevis Cup, with horse and rider combinations traveling from one location to another, or more commonly in championship settings, courses have set “loops” that are completed several times in a race. The terrain is often undulating requiring uphill and downhill maneuvering over different types of footing and even through water crossings. Horses are checked before, during and after the race — known as “holds” — by qualified judges and veterinarians verifying that each animal is “fit to continue” both physically and metabolically. Historically, the sport required long distances at relatively low speeds but is now trending toward faster racing speeds. Today, some top-placing elite endurance horses average upwards of 12 to even 15 miles per hour — the equivalent of a medium canter — over 100-mile international tracks. The increase in pace over huge distances poses several challenges for the contemporary endurance horse, and feeding this elite equine athlete has become critically important and a significant focal point for competitive endurance riders.

About the Sport

Most competitive endurance rides are 50, 75 or 100 miles long. Championship races are 100 miles completed in one day. The terrain is often undulating requiring uphill and downhill maneuvering over different types of footing and even through water crossings.

Feeding for Endurance

Endurance is one of the most demanding disciplines of equestrian sport, and some of the nutritional nuances for these horses are unique compared to other equine athletes. With the daunting fitness work required one thing is very important — fuel. The type and amount of feed needed must meet the high-energy demands of endurance conditioning, training and on race days. Conversely, unsuitable or inadequate nutrition will significantly limit the horse’s athleticism. The most common causes for poor performance or fatigue seen during endurance riding is the depletion of energy reserves, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, or a combination of these issues.

The Arabian breed reigns supreme in the sport of endurance and most long-distance performance horses are either full Arabian or have Arab genetic influence. While this breed is often categorized as a metabolically easy-keeping type, during endurance training, it can often be difficult to supply enough calories to meet athletic output resulting in a horse with a thin body condition. Knowing the individual horse and assessing body condition throughout training is something that endurance trainers and riders closely monitor to ensure a horse is fit and at an appropriate weight. Nutrition tailored to the individual horse will allow him to compete to the best of his ability...

Read more at:
https://www.platinumperformance.com/articles/endurance-horse-riding.html

‘The Long Rider’ Chronicles an Epic Journey

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

A new documentary feature film follows Filipe Masetti Leite and his horses Dude, Bruiser, and Frenchie from Calgary to Brazil.

By: Kim Izzo | June 29, 2022

If you love trail riding and have ever dreamed of an epic ride, then The Long Rider, a new documentary feature film now in theatres, is your jam. The film, directed by award-winning filmmaker Sean Cisterna, follows Filipe Masetti Leite, who leaves his adoptive home of Canada as he sets out on quest to ride from Calgary to his family’s home in Brazil ‒ and later beyond ‒ entirely on horseback.

Filipe was inspired by Aimé Tschiffely’s 1925 equestrian journey from Argentina to New York. Filipe’s own odyssey took him and his horses eight years and over 25,000 kms across twelve international borders, where the young rider battled intense heat, drought, speeding transport trucks, nature’s wrath and corrupt border guards on his history-making long ride home.

Culled from over 500 hours of never-before-seen footage, The Long Rider deals with the issue of chronic loneliness, and the insensitive and restrictive nature of international borders, but is above all an inspirational and emotional story of the most daring and epic proportions.

Horse-Canada.com spoke with Filipe, who has written two best-selling books about his adventures on horseback, about his incredible ride...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/magazine/profiles/the-long-rider-chronicles-epic-journey/

Equestrian Adventuresses Podcast: New Zealand – Riding in Middle Earth

EquestrianAdventuresses.com - Listen

Posted by utetonia
June 1, 2022

Ever since the screening of the Lord of the Rings movies by Peter Jackson, New Zealand’s South Island is on the map of travellers from all over the world. Horses offer an amazing way to discover the amazing mountain landscapes of what people associate with Middle Earth. In today’s podcast episode I am talking with Angie, who organises horse trails and rides on amazing Kiwi Station Horses on the South Island of New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud as it is known by the Maori, the native inhabitants of the country...

Read more and listen:
https://equestrianadventuresses.com/2022/06/01/horse-podcast-ep-259-new-zealand-riding-in-middle-earth/

Health News Skin readings not a reliable indicator of core temperature in Endurance horses – study

Horsetalk.co.nz - full Article

June 2, 2022
Horsetalk.co.nz

Monitoring the skin temperature of Endurance horses does not provide a reliable proxy for their core thermoregulatory response, researchers have found.

Researchers, writing in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, believe the reason is most probably because many factors can influence skin temperature without directly affecting a horse’s core temperature.

They could find no correlation between the constantly monitored skin temperature and the core temperature in 13 Endurance horses competing in Australia.

The skin temperature of the horses in the study was continuously recorded every 15 seconds by an infrared thermistor sensor located in a modified belt. The core body temperature was similarly recorded every 15 seconds via a telemetric pill which made its way through the horse’s gastrointestinal tract...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2022/06/02/skin-core-temperature-endurance-horses-study/

Farmer, Shires and dog embark on second epic endurance challenge

Yourhorse.co.uk - Full Article

1 June 2022 by Rachael Turner

Jamie Alcock, a farmer who drove his Shire horses from his Gloucestershire farm to Scotland in 2021 is now taking on a second challenge. Jamie, his Shires, Willam and Millie, and Boo Boo Beithe the farm dog will start their journey at MOD St Athan in South Wales today (1 June).

Travelling at an average speed of 3.2 mph, they are set to complete the 280-mile journey on Monday 20 June at Hampton Court Green in East Molesey. All funds raised are going to Police Care UK, the Royal Air Forces Association and The Shire Horse Society...

Read more here:
https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/news/jamie-alcock-shires-wales-london/

Top Ten Mistakes Even Experienced Horse Buyers Make

EquineLeglSolutions.com - Full Article

At Equine Legal Solutions, horse purchase and sale disputes generate more inquiries than any other topic. Here are the top horse-buying mistakes we see horse buyers, even experienced ones, make.



1. Not Getting a Veterinary Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE)

Even if the horse is FREE, not getting a veterinary pre-purchase examination (PPE) is a bad economic decision. For example, let’s say you are buying a child’s pony for $5,000. A PPE would add $500-1,000 (or more) to the initial cost, so you decide against it. You and your child try the pony, and she appears to be a great fit, so you buy the pony and take her home. Two days later, the pony is dead lame. You have the vet out and, after paying over $800 for a farm call, a lameness exam and diagnostics, you find out the pony has advanced navicular syndrome. The seller refuses to take the pony back, noting the pony was sound when you looked at her and you declined to have a PPE. You suspect the seller drugged the pony to mask the unsoundness. However, without a blood sample drawn during a PPE, you can’t prove the pony was drugged when you looked at her. You are now paying for the pony’s ongoing expenses and vet bills, and your daughter still doesn’t have a pony to ride. You can’t sell the pony to someone else (ethically, at least) because she is lame. Guess what – you have an expensive pasture ornament AND you’re buying another pony (but this time, you’re getting a PPE)...

Read more at:
https://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/top-ten-horse-buying-mistakes.html

Study: Oral Stem Cells Might Help Horses’ Wounds Heal

TheHorse.com - Full Article

Body and leg wounds treated promptly with MSCs originating in the mouth heal better than untreated wounds.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | May 20, 2022

Scientists might have just discovered a very “cheeky” solution to equine skin wounds: oral stem cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) harvested from the mouth of one donor horse led to improved healing of other horses’ open body and leg wounds. The researchers’ findings suggest MSCs originating in the mouth might spur cellular changes that improve the way equine skin heals, said Olivier Lepage, DVM, PhD, of the Group for Medical and Rehabilitation Research in Sport Horses (GREMERES), part of the Centre for Equine Health at the National Veterinary School at Lyon – VetAgro Sup, in Marcy l’Etoile, France.

Skin wounds in horses—especially on the lower legs—are notoriously difficult and time-consuming to heal, Lepage said. They can create stubborn biofilms that further delay healing, and can close with tough layers of exuberant granulation tissue—also known as proud flesh—that is not only unsightly but also less stretchy than normal skin...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1111633/study-oral-stem-cells-might-help-horses-wounds-heal/

Equine Activity Statutes

EquineLegalSolutions.com - Full Article

As of 2022, only three states, California, Maryland and New York, do not have equine activity statutes (though New York has a “safety in agricultural tourism act” that defines certain responsibilities for visitors to agricultural facilities). Do equine activity statutes offer real protection for horse people? If so, what protection do they provide, and are there any traps for the unwary?

What Are Equine Activity Statutes?

Equine activity statutes are laws designed to limit liability for injuries and deaths connected with horse-related activities. The principle of equine activity statutes is a long-standing legal doctrine, “assumption of the risk.” A person assumes the risk of participating in an activity if they have full knowledge of the risks involved and decide to participate anyway. Assumption of the risk is often a successful legal defense in horse accident cases, even in states without equine activity statutes.

How Can Equine Activity Statutes Benefit Me?

Equine activity statutes have two key benefits...

Read more here:
https://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/equine-activity-statutes.html

Ride the Pony Express Trail

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

The Pony Express National Historic Trail provides a chance to experience a piece of romanticized American history.

By Stacey McKenna
May 4 2022

From April 1860 to October 1861, hundreds of young men rode relays between Sacramento, Calif., and St. Joseph, Mo., delivering letters for along the Pony Express Trail. Though short-lived, the system was the first truly rapid mail service to cross the Rocky Mountains and connect communities out west with those east of the Missouri River.

Today, tourists can cycle, hike, drive, and ride parts of the more than 1,800-mile route, and intrepid equestrians can replay the adventure on their own mounts by joining the National Pony Express Association’s annual Re-Ride...

Read more at:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/pony-express

Going the Distance: How Emirati Endurance Rider Fatima Al Harthi Is Paving The Way For Women In Sports

HarpersBazaarArabia.com - Full Story

by Jessica Michault
May 18, 2022

She’s giving a new face to the century-old sport of endurance riding

The first thing you notice about 30-year-old Fatima Al Harthi is her smile. It lights up her face. And she smiles quite a lot when she talks about her love of horses and her passion for endurance riding. The second thing you notice about Fatima? Her drive. As one of the first female professional endurance riders to represent the UAE, she has doggedly honed her craft since the tender age of 16. Today top endurance horse owners in the region turn to this Emirati native to ride their most challenging steeds.

It’s no wonder then that Canon Middle East recently tapped Fatima as one of its 2022 Trailblazer honorees, alongside two other groundbreaking individuals, Dubai-based Swiss watchmaker Maximilian Büsser and interior designer Laila Al Yousuf. “It was really such a happy moment when I found out about it,” admits Fatima. “Also I liked that they picked me because they thought I could inspire other women,” she adds.

Read more at:
https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/people/going-the-distance-how-emirati-endurance-rider-fatima-al-harthi-is-paving-the-way-for-women-in-sports

Genetic Elements May Hold Secret of Success in Endurance Horses

KER.com - Full Article

March 23, 2022
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

Small units of genetic material called circulating microRNAs (ci-miRNA) may prove a valuable tool in the design of training programs for athletic horses, ultimately producing fitter, healthier horses that are more likely to complete endurance competitions.

Over the last several years, endurance competitions have increased dramatically in popularity. Horses participating in long-distance events are susceptible to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and heat stress, all of which may be life-threatening if not addressed. Clinically, these events can lead to myopathies, including tying-up, diaphragmatic flutter (thumps), and cardiac arrhythmias. Lameness may also develop during a competition, prompting elimination...

More at:
https://ker.com/equinews/genetic-elements-may-hold-secret-of-success-in-endurance-horses/?partner=ker

The Enduring Arabian

Steve Bradley photo

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

This ancient breed has been influential on others while becoming a legend in its own right.

By Audrey Pavia
May 5 2022

When it comes to equine history, many believe you can’t go further back than the Arabian horse.

For centuries, the ancestors of today’s Arabians were carefully bred by the Bedouin tribes of the Sahara Desert. Used for war and for traveling long distances, these horses lived in close quarters with their nomadic keepers, sharing their tents on cold nights and developing deep bonds.

Life in the harsh desert meant only the strongest of these horses survived. The results were the development of a breed with a large lung capacity and great endurance that can travel for miles without stopping, with the heart and spirit to match.

In more recent times, Arabian horses have contributed their ancient genes to help create and refine other breeds. The Thoroughbred, Andalusian, Welsh Pony and American Quarter Horse are just a few of the breeds that owe their influence to the Arabian horse. An Arabian Horse Ambassador

What does it mean to live with a horse whose heritage is considered the oldest and purest of all of the breeds? Husband-and-wife team Lee Pearce and Naomi Preston of Baker City, Ore., know the answer...

Read more here:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/enduring-arabian-horse

Road Dog Podcast: Shannon Weil Rides Us Through the History of Western States 100

Roaddog Podcast - Listen

Apr 25, 2022

“We knew how to set up a course you know. We knew how to go out and mark a trail. We knew how to do that from horses. So when we were given the reigns to take the run and launch it on our own, we called on all our endurance riding friends.”

Shannon Weil is the author of Strike Along Trot and historian on the Western States Trail. Hear about her endurance horse riding, learn about the history of the Tevis Cup, the history of the Western States 100 Endurance Run, how the run buckle came into existence, and the birth of the Western States Trail museum.

Listen:
https://roaddog.libsyn.com/205-shannon-weil-rides-us-through-the-history-of-western-states-100

Nutrition Tips To Prevent Endurance Horses From ‘Tying Up’

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Reduce sporadic episodes of exertional rhabdomyolysis by providing plenty of forage and meeting these unique equine athletes’ nutrient requirements.

Posted by Jennifer Madera, DVM | Apr 25, 2022

The endurance horse is a distance athlete with high nutritional demands to support his work. Competitors can cover 25 to 100 miles in a single day. One health risk endurance can pose is exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) or “tying-up.” This is a condition where a horse experiences some degree of muscle stiffness usually shortly after starting exercise. It might progress to severe muscle damage or necrosis, and renal (kidney) failure secondary to myoglobinuria, which is the presence of the broken-down muscle protein in urine.

Sporadic ER is a single or rare occurrence due to overwork or other confounding factors such as hot, humid weather. Veterinarians diagnose ER episodes using bloodwork. Chronic ER is a collection of heritable myopathies, including recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER), myofibrillar myopathy (MFM), and polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) types 1 and 2. Veterinarians make definitive diagnoses of these conditions via muscle biopsy. In this article, I’ll provide nutritional recommendations to decrease episodes of sporadic ER. If you’re concerned your horse could be affected by a chronic ER condition, work closely with your veterinarian, who can make a diagnosis and management plan...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1110873/nutrition-tips-to-prevent-endurance-horses-from-tying-up/

Redwood Rangers rode horseback 125 miles in four days in 1947

PressDemocrat.com - Full Article

SUSAN MINICHIELLO
FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
April 11, 2022

While most horseback riders travel with a horse trailer hitched to their car, four Sonoma County men in 1947 decided to take a more unconventional path.

They mounted their horses in Guerneville, and after riding 125 miles in four days, they arrived during a downpour of rain in Stockton for the California State Horsemen's Association Convention on Oct. 16.

The quartet were part of the Redwood Rangers Riding and Driving Club, a group based out of Guerneville from the 1940s to the 1970s. The 1947 riders included the club’s president, Jack Luttrell, vice president Leo O’Connors and members Jack Williams and David Grant. Media sometimes referred to them as the “hardy four” or the “four mesquiteers...”

Read more here:
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/redwood-rangers-rode-horseback-125-miles-in-four-days-in-1947/

Ride & Tie 50th Annual World Championship in California in July

Rideandtie.org

Location: Cuneo Creek Horse Camp, located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA Date: July 29-30, 2022

Things to Know: In the early 1900s, loggers came to what is now Humboldt Redwoods State Park to cut down lofty ancient redwoods for grape stakes and shingles. The founders of Save the Redwoods League thought that was akin to “chopping up a grandfather clock for kindling.” From the acquisition of a single grove in 1921, the League has raised millions of dollars to build and expand this park. Today Humboldt Redwoods spans 53,000 acres, an area almost twice the size of San Francisco. About one third, or 17,000 acres, of the park is old- growth redwood forest—the largest expanse of ancient redwoods left on the planet. The South Fork of the Eel River provides excellent opportunities for fishing, boating, picnicking, and swimming. More than 100 miles of trails await hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. Summer temperatures range from 70s to 90s, with lows in the 50s. Visitors should come prepared for any type of weather. The park receives between 60 and 80 inches of rain per year; the vast majority falls between October and May. Rain in the summer season is unusual, but does occur. In the summer, frequent morning fog usually burns off by noon.

Prizes/Awards: All participants in each race will receive an athletic t-shirt. All long course finishers in the Ride & Tie as well as in the equathon will receive belt buckles. Turtle awards will be presented for each race. Top woman/woman, woman/man, and man/man awards will be given to the first place finishers for each division in the long course Ride & Tie. First, second, and third place awards will be presented to short course Ride & Tie, long and short course equathons. Best condition will be awarded to horse in the long course Ride & Tie. Special awards will be presented to: the team traveling the furthest; oldest team competing, top Pro/Am and Am/Am teams, among others...

For more information and entry form, see:
https://www.rideandtie.org/mec-schedule/50th-annual-world-championship/

How Horses Heat Up and Cool Down Varies Considerably

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Measure and understand your horse’s unique exercise heat patterns so you can promote recovery and prevent heat stroke.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Apr 19, 2022

As the planet heats up, so will our equine athletes. Belgian and Australian researchers recently reported that it’s more important than ever to understand how hot horses get during and after exercise, as well as how fast they recover.

“In the last 10 years, we have been alarmed by heat waves due to climate change and global warming,” said Elisabeth-Lidwien (E.J.M.M.) Verdegaal, MVM, DVM, Dipl. RDVS, ECEIM, a Dutch, European, and Australian registered specialist in equine internal medicine, senior lecturer equine medicine, and joint PhD candidate at Ghent University, in Belgium, and the University of Adelaide, in Australia.

“The sudden unexpected increase in hot ambient temperatures results in a significantly increased risk of heat stress because horses have not been able to acclimatize,” she said. “The global warming aspect underlines that we need to be prepared to prevent exertional heat illness...”

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1110733/how-horses-heat-up-and-cool-down-varies-considerably/

Short course: Preventing lameness in sport horses

Horsetalk.co.nz - full article

April 1, 2022
Horsetalk.co.nz

Canada’s Equine Guelph is offering a new two-week online short course on the care and prevention of injuries in sport horses.

Course instructor Dr Brianne Henderson of Rivendell Equine Veterinary Services will take the course, which runs from April 25 to May 6, 2022.

Participants will learn daily practices that can optimize health and performance and reduce the risk of lameness issues in their athletic horses. Everything from early detection, footing and exercise regime can have an impact on soundness.

Henderson will discuss common lameness issues for horses as well as early detection and prevention. Those attending will also learn about the horse’s musculoskeletal system, how they move, best practices for detecting lameness, assessment tools, management of a lame horse and the latest research...

More at:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2022/04/01/lameness-sport-horses/

Hindgut Happiness: Forages and Their Alternatives

HorseSport.com - Full Article

Good-quality forages can provide a horse with all the energy he needs, most of his protein requirements, plus many minerals and vitamins.

By: Shannon Pratt-Phillips, Ph.D. | March 23, 2022

Forages are long-stem plants and include pasture, hay (cut and dried plants) and haylage (cut and fermented plants). They typically provide the bulk of the equine diet and for good reason. The horse’s digestive system, with its well-developed cecum and large colon full of microbial organisms – or hindgut – is designed to digest and ferment these high-fibre plants to provide useful nutrients.

The fragile ecosystem of the horse’s hindgut needs a constant influx of fibre and it is well recognized that diets low in fibrous plant material can increase a horse’s risk of digestive upset such as colic. In feral horse populations, and even many domesticated populations, animals will spend up to 70 per cent of their day “foraging” and eating plant material as they meander around their location...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/magazine/nutrition/hindgut-happiness-forages-their-alternatives/

Does Your Horse Need Probiotics?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By supplementing horses with the same kind of beneficial microorganisms that colonize their guts, probiotics might help reestablish healthy balances in the gut microbiome without causing harm. Learn more in this article from the September 2021 issue of The Horse.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Sep 27, 2021

If your horse’s gut microbiota is out of whack, microorganism-packed products might get him back on track

Inside the digestive system live millions of microscopic organisms that play vital roles in the horse’s digestive—and general—health. Many of these of bacteria, protozoa, archaea, and fungi help break down food and usher nutrients efficiently into the bloodstream. They play a role in metabolizing fiber, generating energy, and promoting proper intestinal transit.

While scientists still don’t know what makes up the ideal equine gut microbiota, they do know it’s a question of balance. “All these microorganisms live in a kind of symbiotic relationship when they’re in balance,” says Kathleen Crandell, PhD, a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research, in Versailles...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1104644/does-your-horse-need-probiotics/

Equestrian Adventuresses Podcast: Traveling Mongolia by Horse Cart

EquestrianAdventuresses.com Podcast - Listen

by utetonia
March 23, 2022

If you love books, this is the perfect place for you. Once a month, Heather, Ute, and sometimes Krystal, will talk about their favorite horsey book. In today’s episode of the EQA Book Club, Ute is talking with Ruth Cox about her book Exodus, a classic traveler story about her incredible journey through Mongolia with a bunch of hippies, two horses and a cart...

Read more and listen here:
https://equestrianadventuresses.com/2022/03/23/horse-podcast-ep-248-travelling-mongolia-by-horse-cart/

Equestrian Adventuresses Podcast: Horse - Ukraine: From Horse Tour Operator to Relief Worker

EquestrianAdventuresses.com - Listen

by utetonia
March 18, 2022

The Ukraine still tops the news and the war is on-going, soon to enter its fourth week. Millions of people are fleeing the bombings and they bring their animals too if they can. Horses sometimes cannot be taken along as roads and bridges are destroyed and fodder is almost unavailable. In today’s episode I am talking to Pawel Jasinski from Poland who normally operates horse trails in different countries including the Ukraine. Poland shares a long border with Ukraine and is the prime spot to get relief aid into the war-torn country as well as welcoming refugees.

Pawel speaks Ukrainian and has a lot of friends there, bringing groups of riders several times a year. When the war started he decided to do something to help the Ukrainian people. He started a fundraiser and personally drives convoys of aid to the border where it is received by his Ukrainian horse riding partner who makes sure it will be distributed to those in need. In today’s episode he tells us about the Ukraine and his views on the war.

Listen:
https://equestrianadventuresses.com/2022/03/18/horse-podcast-ep-246-from-horse-tour-operator-to-relief-worker/

New York: Riding the local trails for a good cause

LockportJournal.com - Full Article

March 17 2022
By Jacob Fries

During the early period of the Covid pandemic, many sports and hobbies had to be put on hold. However, horseback riding was one activity that could still be done, as it’s inherently socially distanced. Considering how their activities were able to go on uninterrupted by the pandemic, a few riders from the Western New York area decided to put their hobby to good use through their riding group “RiDE,” or Riders Donating Everywhere.

“It started out of a sense of gratitude for our hobby, and the fact that we’re so fortunate to be able to do the things we do,” said RiDE member Lynn Schauer-Bewley from Newfane. “We’re able to ride our horses in our neighborhoods and communities because we have so many people who support us. We just wanted to do something to give back.”

Many of the members had known each other for years through endurance riding. They decided to make donating to charity a regular thing near the beginning of the pandemic after traveling on horseback from Burt to Olcott to deliver homemade masks...

Read more here:
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/riding-the-local-trails-for-a-good-cause/article_568fe07c-0db8-53b5-b8c3-5e7787bc77df.html

Equestrian Adventuresses Podcast: Travel Tips for Your Next Horse Riding Holiday

EquestrianAdventuresses.com - Listen

by utetonia
March 14, 2022

Holidays are the best time of the year and you want to make sure that you enjoy every single minute of them! As the world is slowly opening up, we are back looking for amazing horse riding opportunities around the world. Today Heather and Ute talk about some important points to consider while choosing and booking your next horse riding adventure.

Listen:
https://equestrianadventuresses.com/2022/03/14/horse-podcast-ep-241-travel-tips-for-your-next-horse-riding-holiday/

Gastric Ulcers as a Cause of Poor Performance in Horses

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Learn how gastric ulcers affect equine performance and the best ways for treating them in actively competing horses.

Posted by Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor | Mar 4, 2022

Poor performance in horses can result from a single cause or a combination of factors, ranging from injury to illness. When trying to diagnose a medical reason for poor performance, veterinarians should always consider gastric ulcers as a potential problem. This is because these painful lesions are incredibly common in athletic horses. Fortunately, treatment and management methods are quite effective.

Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM (LAIM), LVMA department head, equine committee professor, and director of the Equine Health Studies Program at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, in Baton Rouge, described the association between gastric ulcers and equine performance and how to treat the condition during the 2021 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Nashville, Tennessee...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1109363/gastric-ulcers-as-a-cause-of-poor-performance-in-horses/

Horse Foot Bruises

Thehorse.com - Full Article

The average horse is more likely to encounter a foot bruise than any other lameness. If you recognize the causes of foot bruises and understand their treatment and prevention, you can stave off discomfort in your horse and perhaps avoid an abscess.

Posted by Tracy Gantz | Feb 15, 2022

Understanding what causes foot bruises and how to treat and possibly prevent them can save your horse from sore feet.

While laminitis and navicular disease pose more dangerous threats to your horse’s feet, the average horse is more likely to encounter a foot bruise than any other lameness. If you recognize the causes of foot bruises and understand their treatment and prevention, you can stave off discomfort in your horse and perhaps avoid an abscess, which is a more serious problem that can develop in a bruised hoof...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/150651/horse-foot-bruises/?utm_medium=Health+enews&utm_source=Newsletter

Faced With Scary Objects, Is Your Horse Left- or Right-Brained?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Researchers studied which eye horses used to look at new objects. Their findings were unexpected.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Feb 6, 2022

Horses tend to look at scary or surprising things with one eye—but the eye they choose depends on the individual horse.

Previous study results have suggested horses investigate new and scary objects mainly with the left eye and, hence, the right brain. New research by Italian behaviorists, however, has revealed the “unexpected” finding that horses use whichever eye—and brain hemisphere—they prefer on an individual basis when they’re tackling sources of potentially negative emotions...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1108480/faced-with-scary-objects-is-your-horse-left-or-right-brained/?utm_medium=Behavior+enews&utm_source=Newsletter

Can I Tow This Horse Trailer?

Trailmeister.com - Full Article

February 28, 2022
by Robert Eversole

“Can I tow this horse trailer?” It’s a common question that I hear regularly at my horse camping clinics.

Safely towing a horse trailer can be confusing. It seems that there are a million different acronyms to learn and know. GCWR, GAWR, Tow Rating, Payload, and many more. What do all these things mean? Understanding these acronyms and numbers can be confusing without a degree in “Towology.” And, if you get it wrong, you or your horses can get hurt.

Let’s take the mystery out of one of these figures and talk about PAYLOAD Ratings – What it is and how to find yours. Most of us have an idea about towing ratings. But payload is something else entirely. We’ve all heard it – I’ve got a ¾ ton truck, and the dealer says it can tow 21,000 lbs. That’s nice, but what can it carry? You see what you can tow and what you can handle are two different things...

Read more here:
https://www.trailmeister.com/can-i-tow-this-horse-trailer/?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MAR+2022+general

Trailer Maintenance

Trailmeister.com - Full Article & Video

March 5, 2021
by Trailmeister

Horse Trailer Maintenance

Before the riding and camping season gets going full swing, now is a good time for your horse trailer’s yearly safety checks and trailer maintenance service. If you aren’t mechanically savvy, or just not inclined, to do the job yourself a qualified professional can do all the work for you. Just make sure that they know what you want to be examined as the mechanic may not be familiar enough with horse trailers unless you ask for specific tasks...

Read more and see video here:
https://www.trailmeister.com/trailer-maintenance/?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feb+2022+general

Inexpensive Pain Drug Gets a Boost for Treating Horses

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Researchers found acetaminophen is readily and rapidly absorbed, and most of the horses appeared to feel and move better.

Posted by Betsy Lynch | Feb 2, 2022

Editor’s note: Always consult your veterinarian before giving your horse any pharmaceuticals, including over-the-counter drugs.

If a little bit of acetaminophen makes your horse feel better, a little bit more might make him feel a little bit better for a little bit longer. This is welcome news for owners who are managing horses with chronic aches and pains.

Acetaminophen is a cheap and effective over-the-counter pain reliever that provides an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) with undesirable side effects such as gastric ulcers and kidney damage. Researchers confirmed that acetaminophen is safe for horses at a higher dose than tested previously, even when administered for weeks at a time...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1108425/inexpensive-pain-drug-gets-a-boost-for-treating-horses/?utm_medium=vet+and+professional+enews&utm_source=Newsletter

Study: Preload Horses With Electrolytes Before Travel, Exercise

Thehorse.com - Full article

Horses lose large quantities of sodium, potassium, and chloride, as well as smaller amounts of magnesium and calcium, through their sweat. Supplementation before work might help.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Feb 7, 2022

Horses lose so many electrolytes through their sweat—even when you don’t see them sweating—they risk drawing electrolytes from muscle cells to replace the lost ones. Fortunately, “preloading” horses with electrolytes, by having them consume an electrolyte mixture before travel or exercise, appears to protect them from such deprivation, said a team of Canadian researchers.

More specifically, a 2-gallon dose of a hypotonic electrolyte supplement can help keep fluids in the muscular cells and lead to longer exercise times, while maintaining high sweating rates—meaning the horse’s cooling system is still working as it should, said Michael Lindinger, PhD, president of The Nutraceutical Alliance, in Burlington, Ontario.

Horses lose large quantities of sodium, potassium, and chloride, as well as smaller amounts of magnesium and calcium, through their sweat...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1108544/study-preload-horses-with-electrolytes-before-travel-exercise/

Endurance Horse Podcast: Pony Express National Museum

EnduranceHorsePodcast - Listen

28 December 2021
Created by: Christina Hyke

Welcome to Episode 53 of Endurance Horse Podcast.

April 24th of 2021 was the day I turned 50 and I wanted it to be a memorable occasion. So Jim and I loaded up a rented van with two of our sons and our German Shepard and headed out our Wisconsin driveway bound for St. Joseph Missouri as our destination. We were on a mission to visit two museums, one way station and also to present the National Pony Express Museum with the 16 x 20 large wooden plaque engraved with the names of 500 riders in our Pony Express 1900 Mile Challenge.

The Pony Express 1900 Mile Challenge has been popular with our listeners and the riders of the WARHORSE Endurance Challenges as we help to promote and preserve the Pony Express National Museum. We believe that the Pony Express Museum is a unique part of equine history and one that is deserving of preservation.

We hope you enjoy a stroll down this very unique part of equine history where horses and riders were the main characters in the story.

Without further ado, I bring to you episode 53 of Endurance Horse Podcast, The Pony Express National Museum.

Listen:
https://endurancehorsepodcast.podbean.com/e/pony-express-national-museum/