Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Shannon Pratt-Phillips, MSc, PhD
March 01 2011, Article # 18816
These sugars, starches, and fibers are important energy sources for the horse and crucial to equine digestive health.
From glucose to frustose to lactose--not to mention a laundry list of other "oses"--carbohydrates can be incredibly confusing. But this group of sugar-based compounds, also called saccharides, comprises important energy sources for the horse. Therefore, understanding them and utilizing them in your horse's diet are crucial. They also are a major component of forages, a staple of the horse's diet, and are required for digestive health.
The simplest carbohydrates are monosaccharides (made up of one unit and also called simple sugars), such as glucose, fructose, xylose, and galactose. Another type of carbohydrate is a disaccharide (two sugars bonded together), which includes lactose (found commonly in milk, made from a unit of glucose and galactose) and sucrose (table sugar, made from glucose and fructose). Then there are oligosaccharides (three to 200 units each) and polysaccharides, or "complex carbohydrates" (each made up of multiple units, typically 200-2,000, which include compounds such as starch and cellulose). Cellulose is considered a type of dietary fiber, along with hemicellulose, lignin, pectins, and fructans.
How Carbs Work
After a horse consumes the carbohydrates found in forages and grains, the actions of enzymes found primarily in the small intestine break disaccharides and starch into monosaccharides that are then absorbed into the bloodstream, where they are converted for energy or energy storage (more on this in a moment). Dietary fibers, on the other hand, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins, are not digested by enzymes, but instead undergo fermentation...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18816
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Understanding Feeds for the Busy Owner
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
May 01 2008, Article # 11957
Providing a complete and balanced diet does not need to be complicated or a drain on time, energy, or finances.
Feeding horses can be a daunting and time-consuming task, particularly if owners attempt to optimize and maximize their horse's diet by unnecessarily introducing concentrates, vitamins, or other supplements. But providing a complete diet does not have to be time-consuming or expensive.
Step 1: Stop!
Horses require six nutrients in their diet: water, carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Except for most of the water requirements, almost all of a horse's remaining dietary requirements can be obtained from a single source: forage.
"Adult horses that are not involved in moderate to heavy work do not generally require grain," advises Eleanor Kellon, VMD, proprietor of Equine Nutrition Solutions in Pennsylvania.
In fact, Kellon suggests that many horses will maintain an appropriate body weight and obtain all necessary nutrients on pasture and free-choice hay alone.
The only exception to this rule is sodium. According to Equine Extension Specialist Carey Williams, PhD, from the Equine Science Center at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, all horses require plain white salt, regardless of their feeding regime. The salt can be offered either free-choice as a salt block or as 1-2 tablespoons top-dressed if the horse does not care for the licks.
A mineral block (widely known as the "red block") is not essential, required, or recommended for the majority of horses because the levels of minerals (other than sodium) in the block are not at the level required by horses.
"In addition, some horses may consume a 50-pound block in a matter of days, which could cause problems with the mineral balance of their system," explains Williams.
Step 2: Weigh your Hay
If owners wish to feed hay in a daily ration instead of free-choice, each horse requires approximately 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in hay per day. Therefore, an average 1,000-pound horse will eat approximately 20 pounds of hay on a daily basis. Since counting flakes or "eyeballing" hay is an unreliable estimate at best, the only way to know how much hay you are feeding is to weigh it...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11957
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
May 01 2008, Article # 11957
Providing a complete and balanced diet does not need to be complicated or a drain on time, energy, or finances.
Feeding horses can be a daunting and time-consuming task, particularly if owners attempt to optimize and maximize their horse's diet by unnecessarily introducing concentrates, vitamins, or other supplements. But providing a complete diet does not have to be time-consuming or expensive.
Step 1: Stop!
Horses require six nutrients in their diet: water, carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Except for most of the water requirements, almost all of a horse's remaining dietary requirements can be obtained from a single source: forage.
"Adult horses that are not involved in moderate to heavy work do not generally require grain," advises Eleanor Kellon, VMD, proprietor of Equine Nutrition Solutions in Pennsylvania.
In fact, Kellon suggests that many horses will maintain an appropriate body weight and obtain all necessary nutrients on pasture and free-choice hay alone.
The only exception to this rule is sodium. According to Equine Extension Specialist Carey Williams, PhD, from the Equine Science Center at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, all horses require plain white salt, regardless of their feeding regime. The salt can be offered either free-choice as a salt block or as 1-2 tablespoons top-dressed if the horse does not care for the licks.
A mineral block (widely known as the "red block") is not essential, required, or recommended for the majority of horses because the levels of minerals (other than sodium) in the block are not at the level required by horses.
"In addition, some horses may consume a 50-pound block in a matter of days, which could cause problems with the mineral balance of their system," explains Williams.
Step 2: Weigh your Hay
If owners wish to feed hay in a daily ration instead of free-choice, each horse requires approximately 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in hay per day. Therefore, an average 1,000-pound horse will eat approximately 20 pounds of hay on a daily basis. Since counting flakes or "eyeballing" hay is an unreliable estimate at best, the only way to know how much hay you are feeding is to weigh it...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11957
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Easyboot Gluing Tips and Tricks for Wet and Cold Weather Conditions
Easycareinc.com Blog - Full Article
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 by Garrett Ford
The 2011 Tevis Cup 100 Mile Horse Race is days away. The EasyCare staff will be helping many of the horses competing in the event with Easyboot Glue-On boot installation during the week of October 3rd. This is the third consecutive year that Easyboots have been the leading alternative choice of hoof protection choices for Tevis Cup riders. The lightweight race boots are perfect for the rocky, technical conditions.
The weather forecast for California and the Sierra Mountains calls for rain, snow and wind for Tuesday October 3rd, Wednesday October 4th and Thursday October 5th. The weather looks like it will clear for the event but will present difficult conditions for our gluing teams. Wet and cold conditions present challenges but should not influence glue-on success.
Here is my shortlist of tips and tricks that make hoof boot gluing more successful in wet or cold weather conditions.
1. Start with a well trimmed horse before the event. The last thing needed to complicate wet and cold conditions is a poorly trimmed hoof.
2. Glues don't do well with oil, moisture and cold. Make sure no oils or hoof conditioners get onto the hoof. Refrain from washing the horse before the event with shampoo: the oils run down the legs and coat the feet. No fly spray on the feet and hoof walls before the event.
3. If it’s raining, keep your horse in a trailer or stall with shavings. Although it may be cramped in there, it's a perfect place to glue because it's warm and dry...
Read more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/easyboot-glueing-tips-and-tricks-for-wet-and-cold-weather-conditions
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 by Garrett Ford
The 2011 Tevis Cup 100 Mile Horse Race is days away. The EasyCare staff will be helping many of the horses competing in the event with Easyboot Glue-On boot installation during the week of October 3rd. This is the third consecutive year that Easyboots have been the leading alternative choice of hoof protection choices for Tevis Cup riders. The lightweight race boots are perfect for the rocky, technical conditions.
The weather forecast for California and the Sierra Mountains calls for rain, snow and wind for Tuesday October 3rd, Wednesday October 4th and Thursday October 5th. The weather looks like it will clear for the event but will present difficult conditions for our gluing teams. Wet and cold conditions present challenges but should not influence glue-on success.
Here is my shortlist of tips and tricks that make hoof boot gluing more successful in wet or cold weather conditions.
1. Start with a well trimmed horse before the event. The last thing needed to complicate wet and cold conditions is a poorly trimmed hoof.
2. Glues don't do well with oil, moisture and cold. Make sure no oils or hoof conditioners get onto the hoof. Refrain from washing the horse before the event with shampoo: the oils run down the legs and coat the feet. No fly spray on the feet and hoof walls before the event.
3. If it’s raining, keep your horse in a trailer or stall with shavings. Although it may be cramped in there, it's a perfect place to glue because it's warm and dry...
Read more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/easyboot-glueing-tips-and-tricks-for-wet-and-cold-weather-conditions
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Risk Factors for Elimination During Endurance Rides Examined
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
September 21 2011, Article # 18857
Endurance rides covering distances from 40 to 160 kilometers in a 24-hour period are grueling tasks for both horse and rider. So it's not surprising to learn that up to 60% of horses can be eliminated for health reasons during the competition. A team of U.S. researchers recently set out to determine which factors, at the start and in the first or second half of rides, contribute to endurance horses' elimination from competition.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to look at a number of risk factors in a large group of horses over multiple rides to identify reasons that horses fail during competition," relayed lead author Langdon Fielding, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, of Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, in Loomis, Calif. "This data can help riders and veterinarians improve the completion rate and perhaps even prevent illness and injuries."
Fielding and colleagues collected rider cards (which contain detailed information about the animal) from 3,493 horses and collaborating veterinary information regarding the physical examinations during 2007 American Endurance Ride Conference sanctioned rides.
The researchers found that:
* The overall elimination rate was 18.9% (660 of 3,493 horses);
* The most common reasons for elimination were lameness (312/660) and metabolic problems (147/660); metabolic causes include poor heart rate recovery, colic, exhaustion, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (thumps), and exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying-up);
* Appaloosas, Quarter Horses, and other breeds with higher body mass index (compared to Arabians, one of the most common breeds in endurance competition) appeared to have an increased risk of elimination;
* Not surprisingly, higher elimination rates were noted in longer rides; and
* Abnormalities in gait at the start of the competition were not associated with elimination; however, gait abnormalities noted in the first and second halves of the competition were important and often led to elimination...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18857
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
September 21 2011, Article # 18857
Endurance rides covering distances from 40 to 160 kilometers in a 24-hour period are grueling tasks for both horse and rider. So it's not surprising to learn that up to 60% of horses can be eliminated for health reasons during the competition. A team of U.S. researchers recently set out to determine which factors, at the start and in the first or second half of rides, contribute to endurance horses' elimination from competition.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to look at a number of risk factors in a large group of horses over multiple rides to identify reasons that horses fail during competition," relayed lead author Langdon Fielding, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, of Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, in Loomis, Calif. "This data can help riders and veterinarians improve the completion rate and perhaps even prevent illness and injuries."
Fielding and colleagues collected rider cards (which contain detailed information about the animal) from 3,493 horses and collaborating veterinary information regarding the physical examinations during 2007 American Endurance Ride Conference sanctioned rides.
The researchers found that:
* The overall elimination rate was 18.9% (660 of 3,493 horses);
* The most common reasons for elimination were lameness (312/660) and metabolic problems (147/660); metabolic causes include poor heart rate recovery, colic, exhaustion, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (thumps), and exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying-up);
* Appaloosas, Quarter Horses, and other breeds with higher body mass index (compared to Arabians, one of the most common breeds in endurance competition) appeared to have an increased risk of elimination;
* Not surprisingly, higher elimination rates were noted in longer rides; and
* Abnormalities in gait at the start of the competition were not associated with elimination; however, gait abnormalities noted in the first and second halves of the competition were important and often led to elimination...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18857
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Horse physio looks to mend it like Beckham
Thenorthernecho.co.uk - Full Article
20th September 2011
By Owen McAteer
A BRIGHTLY coloured muscle tape taken-up by some of the world's top sports stars is being used by a specialist clinic to treat horses.
Darlington based Lee Clark, whose clients include equestrian teams, show jumpers and race horse trainers, is one of only two qualified Kinesio instructors in the country to use Kinesio tape on animals.
The tape, which is produced in Newcastle, has seen its profile soar after being sported by stars including footballer David Beckham, cyclist Lance Armstrong, and tennis star Novak Djokovic.
The tape, which is designed to move and behave like skin when applied, is used by athletes to enable them to keep competing while overcoming injuries.
And Mr Clark, who runs the Equine Physiotherpay Clinic at his yard in Sadberge, said it was showing the same healing properties on horses as it does on people.
The specialist in horse tendon and ligament injuries said: "People around horses can be quite sceptical to start off with when you say you are going to put this sticky tape on the horse and it will heal quicker.
"But those we have managed to persuade have been very impressed by it.
"The younger trainers are more open minded and if they think there is something that's legal and will give their horse an advantage they will give it a go."
Mr Clark, the official Physiotherapist to the British Endurance Equestrian Team, carried out tests at the Hartpury Equestrian Centre in Gloucester, one of the country's leading equine educational establishments with an international reputation for excellence...
Read more here:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/9259586.Horse_physio_looks_to_mend_it_like_Beckham/
20th September 2011
By Owen McAteer
A BRIGHTLY coloured muscle tape taken-up by some of the world's top sports stars is being used by a specialist clinic to treat horses.
Darlington based Lee Clark, whose clients include equestrian teams, show jumpers and race horse trainers, is one of only two qualified Kinesio instructors in the country to use Kinesio tape on animals.
The tape, which is produced in Newcastle, has seen its profile soar after being sported by stars including footballer David Beckham, cyclist Lance Armstrong, and tennis star Novak Djokovic.
The tape, which is designed to move and behave like skin when applied, is used by athletes to enable them to keep competing while overcoming injuries.
And Mr Clark, who runs the Equine Physiotherpay Clinic at his yard in Sadberge, said it was showing the same healing properties on horses as it does on people.
The specialist in horse tendon and ligament injuries said: "People around horses can be quite sceptical to start off with when you say you are going to put this sticky tape on the horse and it will heal quicker.
"But those we have managed to persuade have been very impressed by it.
"The younger trainers are more open minded and if they think there is something that's legal and will give their horse an advantage they will give it a go."
Mr Clark, the official Physiotherapist to the British Endurance Equestrian Team, carried out tests at the Hartpury Equestrian Centre in Gloucester, one of the country's leading equine educational establishments with an international reputation for excellence...
Read more here:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/9259586.Horse_physio_looks_to_mend_it_like_Beckham/
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Recuperating Back Muscles
Thehorse.com - full article
by: Kevin K. Haussler, DVM, DC, PhD
July 01 2007, Article # 9904
Question: I have a 17-year-old Half-Arabian gelding that underwent colic surgery in August 2005. He had a totally uneventful recovery, and within six months he was back to his usual job of pleasure and trail riding. My only remaining concern is that he lost tone in his belly muscle and his back dropped somewhat, and I haven't been able to get it to return to normal. Although I was aware of the change, I didn't realize the degree of it until I tried an English saddle on him that we hadn't used since before the surgery.
The saddle was reflocked and fitted to him two years ago, and it was a good fit. Now the fit is so poor it's unusable (it's bridging, meaning the panels are not contoured to fit the shape of his back). I thought his everyday saddle was okay, but I have had some issues with his back getting sore, and on closer inspection, it's not a great fit, either. I am now using a small pad under his regular pad.
The bigger problem is why haven't I been able to get the belly and back muscles in shape? I've read several articles about bringing a horse back from injury/illness and went through the proper reconditioning initially, and he's really quite fit as far as stamina, recovery time for pulse/respiration, etc. That part is well behind us. I've been told lots of long trotting sessions and transitions will help to strengthen the back. I also do "carrot stretches" and belly lifts, but I'm not really seeing progress. Do you think he is too old to fully recuperate these large muscles or do you have other suggestions? Alice Crooks, Michigan
See the Answer here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9904
by: Kevin K. Haussler, DVM, DC, PhD
July 01 2007, Article # 9904
Question: I have a 17-year-old Half-Arabian gelding that underwent colic surgery in August 2005. He had a totally uneventful recovery, and within six months he was back to his usual job of pleasure and trail riding. My only remaining concern is that he lost tone in his belly muscle and his back dropped somewhat, and I haven't been able to get it to return to normal. Although I was aware of the change, I didn't realize the degree of it until I tried an English saddle on him that we hadn't used since before the surgery.
The saddle was reflocked and fitted to him two years ago, and it was a good fit. Now the fit is so poor it's unusable (it's bridging, meaning the panels are not contoured to fit the shape of his back). I thought his everyday saddle was okay, but I have had some issues with his back getting sore, and on closer inspection, it's not a great fit, either. I am now using a small pad under his regular pad.
The bigger problem is why haven't I been able to get the belly and back muscles in shape? I've read several articles about bringing a horse back from injury/illness and went through the proper reconditioning initially, and he's really quite fit as far as stamina, recovery time for pulse/respiration, etc. That part is well behind us. I've been told lots of long trotting sessions and transitions will help to strengthen the back. I also do "carrot stretches" and belly lifts, but I'm not really seeing progress. Do you think he is too old to fully recuperate these large muscles or do you have other suggestions? Alice Crooks, Michigan
See the Answer here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9904
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Reconditioning After Layup
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Heather Smith Thomas
August 01 2008, Article # 12787
Whether your horse has downtime for an injury or just a much-needed vacation, how you bring him back can dictate his eventual competitive success.
After any layup an athletic horse needs to be brought back to peak condition gradually. If time off was simply a vacation over winter, you can start the horse back into work at a lower level and increase the length and intensity of workouts. At the same time you must adjust the horse's feed as needed to address present body condition (too thin or too fat) as well as nutrient requirements for the increased work. If, however, the layoff was due to illness or injury, the horse might need a more careful return to fitness.
In this article we'll address a variety of reasons your horse might have been away from activity, whether for a short time or longer period. We'll also offer you advice from experts on steps to take that will allow you to safely bring your horse back to peak condition.
Simple Layoff
A horse that's been in shape before can be brought back to fitness more quickly/easily than a green horse can be conditioned for the first time, but the process still requires a fine-tuned feel for each horse's abilities and how much and how soon to increase his work.
Barney Fleming, DVM, of Custer, S.D., has been involved with endurance horses for many years, and he says some of the important considerations when reconditioning a horse are proper warm-up and cool-down, gradual increase in work (which includes climbing hills for developing peak cardiovascular fitness and wind), and making sure the horse always has enough water during long workouts to prevent dehydration.
"Warm-up can be brisk walking, alternating with a trot, or moving in circles to limber muscles and tendons," he says. Five to 10 minutes of warm-up gets the heart rate elevated a little, increases circulation to muscles, and increases respiration rate in preparation for faster work. A warm-up increases oxygen intake for muscles, stretches the tendons, and stimulates natural lubrication of joints to prevent injuries...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12787
by: Heather Smith Thomas
August 01 2008, Article # 12787
Whether your horse has downtime for an injury or just a much-needed vacation, how you bring him back can dictate his eventual competitive success.
After any layup an athletic horse needs to be brought back to peak condition gradually. If time off was simply a vacation over winter, you can start the horse back into work at a lower level and increase the length and intensity of workouts. At the same time you must adjust the horse's feed as needed to address present body condition (too thin or too fat) as well as nutrient requirements for the increased work. If, however, the layoff was due to illness or injury, the horse might need a more careful return to fitness.
In this article we'll address a variety of reasons your horse might have been away from activity, whether for a short time or longer period. We'll also offer you advice from experts on steps to take that will allow you to safely bring your horse back to peak condition.
Simple Layoff
A horse that's been in shape before can be brought back to fitness more quickly/easily than a green horse can be conditioned for the first time, but the process still requires a fine-tuned feel for each horse's abilities and how much and how soon to increase his work.
Barney Fleming, DVM, of Custer, S.D., has been involved with endurance horses for many years, and he says some of the important considerations when reconditioning a horse are proper warm-up and cool-down, gradual increase in work (which includes climbing hills for developing peak cardiovascular fitness and wind), and making sure the horse always has enough water during long workouts to prevent dehydration.
"Warm-up can be brisk walking, alternating with a trot, or moving in circles to limber muscles and tendons," he says. Five to 10 minutes of warm-up gets the heart rate elevated a little, increases circulation to muscles, and increases respiration rate in preparation for faster work. A warm-up increases oxygen intake for muscles, stretches the tendons, and stimulates natural lubrication of joints to prevent injuries...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12787
Dutch Girl Contracts MRSA from Friesian Foal, Recovers
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre
September 12 2011, Article # 18811
A 16-year-old Dutch girl has recovered after having supposedly acquired an antibiotic-resistant staph wound infection from her Friesian foal, according to a Dutch researcher. This is only the third report of horse-to-human transmission of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection reported; multiple cases were included in one of the two reports, according to said Engeline van Duijkeren, DVM, PhD, assistant professor in the department of infectious diseases and immunology at the faculty of veterinary medicine at Utrecht University. The other horse-to-human MRSA transmissions occurred in Canada.
Although rare, horse-to-human MRSA transmission does occur, van Duijkeren added.
"Horses can be carriers of MRSA, and this horse carried MRSA without any (clinical signs) of disease," van Duijkeren said. The foal had been hospitalized in a veterinary clinic two months before the girl's infection began, and it's likely where he picked up the bacteria, she added. The foal was being treated for a wound infection, which healed with antibiotics. Although no sample from the wound infection was tested for MRSA, the equine hospital regularly sees MRSA cases, which can be passed to other horses.
In the most recent case, the bacteria--which laboratory testing found to be resistant to the drugs clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfonamide--is believed to have entered the girl's body through an open wound (an insect bite) on her leg and colonized, van Duijkeren said. The infection resolved three months later after treatment with mupirocin, fusidic acid, and rifampin, as well as chlorhexidine shampoo baths three times daily...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18811
by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre
September 12 2011, Article # 18811
A 16-year-old Dutch girl has recovered after having supposedly acquired an antibiotic-resistant staph wound infection from her Friesian foal, according to a Dutch researcher. This is only the third report of horse-to-human transmission of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection reported; multiple cases were included in one of the two reports, according to said Engeline van Duijkeren, DVM, PhD, assistant professor in the department of infectious diseases and immunology at the faculty of veterinary medicine at Utrecht University. The other horse-to-human MRSA transmissions occurred in Canada.
Although rare, horse-to-human MRSA transmission does occur, van Duijkeren added.
"Horses can be carriers of MRSA, and this horse carried MRSA without any (clinical signs) of disease," van Duijkeren said. The foal had been hospitalized in a veterinary clinic two months before the girl's infection began, and it's likely where he picked up the bacteria, she added. The foal was being treated for a wound infection, which healed with antibiotics. Although no sample from the wound infection was tested for MRSA, the equine hospital regularly sees MRSA cases, which can be passed to other horses.
In the most recent case, the bacteria--which laboratory testing found to be resistant to the drugs clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfonamide--is believed to have entered the girl's body through an open wound (an insect bite) on her leg and colonized, van Duijkeren said. The infection resolved three months later after treatment with mupirocin, fusidic acid, and rifampin, as well as chlorhexidine shampoo baths three times daily...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18811
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Researchers Take a Closer Look at Teff
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010
Teff hay is a warm-season grass that thrives in a variety of climates and soil types. Despite low resistance to frost and pests, researchers have recently tested teff to see how the grass stacks up against cool-season standbys, timothy and orchardgrass.
Using mature Quarter Horse mares, researchers at Pennsylvania State University evaluated the nutrient composition, voluntary dry matter intake (DMI), and apparent digestibility of teff hay cut at three different stages of maturity to determine its usefulness as hay. The hay was harvested at the boot, early-head, and late-head stages of maturity throughout the summer.
Nutrient composition revealed nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) increased from 5.4% in the boot stage to 8.4% in the late-head stage, while concentrations of crude protein, potassium, iron, and manganese decreased. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio was approximately 2:1 for all maturities. According to the researchers, the nutrient content of the boot and early-head maturities was sufficient to nearly meet (90-95%) average energy requirements...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/researchers-take-a-closer-look-at-teff?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6654552e11-Weekly_Feed_Northern_9_7_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010
Teff hay is a warm-season grass that thrives in a variety of climates and soil types. Despite low resistance to frost and pests, researchers have recently tested teff to see how the grass stacks up against cool-season standbys, timothy and orchardgrass.
Using mature Quarter Horse mares, researchers at Pennsylvania State University evaluated the nutrient composition, voluntary dry matter intake (DMI), and apparent digestibility of teff hay cut at three different stages of maturity to determine its usefulness as hay. The hay was harvested at the boot, early-head, and late-head stages of maturity throughout the summer.
Nutrient composition revealed nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) increased from 5.4% in the boot stage to 8.4% in the late-head stage, while concentrations of crude protein, potassium, iron, and manganese decreased. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio was approximately 2:1 for all maturities. According to the researchers, the nutrient content of the boot and early-head maturities was sufficient to nearly meet (90-95%) average energy requirements...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/researchers-take-a-closer-look-at-teff?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6654552e11-Weekly_Feed_Northern_9_7_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
Friday, September 02, 2011
Antioxidants for Tip Top Performance
Equinews.com - Full Article
Under normal circumstances, substances called antioxidants thwart much of the wreckage caused by free radicals. However, oxidation speeds up during athletic effort due to increased oxygen consumption and accelerated aerobic metabolism.
In instances of strenuous exercise, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism. Supplementation of antioxidants is therefore necessary to help ward off the ill effects of mass-produced free radicals associated with intense exercise. Horses with an inadequate reserve of antioxidants may experience muscle soreness or stiffness during an exercise bout and prolonged recovery following hard work.
The All-Star Antioxidants
Vitamin E contributes most generously to the natural antioxidant defenses of the horse. The term vitamin E is actually a collective one that encompasses eight distinctive compounds of plant origin.
These eight are divided into four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Of these only two--alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol--have antioxidant properties, and alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active. On the cellular level, alpha-tocopherol embeds in cell membranes and protects cells from the ravages of free radicals. Alpha-tocopherol has an affinity for fat and is therefore attracted to cell membranes, which are composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Feeds typically fed to horses have variable vitamin E concentrations. Cereal grains such as corn, oats, and barley contain minimal vitamin E, and processing may further decrease vitamin activity. Drying corn artificially, for example, reduces the alpha-tocopherol level by as much as 50%. And while vegetable and soybean oils possess substantially more vitamin E than grains, refining can diminish content. Even if they undergo only minimal refining, these oils have such low inclusion rates in diets that their contribution to total vitamin E intake is miniscule...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/antioxidants-for-tip-top-performance?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3895ab6086-Weekly_Feed_Northern_8_31_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
Under normal circumstances, substances called antioxidants thwart much of the wreckage caused by free radicals. However, oxidation speeds up during athletic effort due to increased oxygen consumption and accelerated aerobic metabolism.
In instances of strenuous exercise, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism. Supplementation of antioxidants is therefore necessary to help ward off the ill effects of mass-produced free radicals associated with intense exercise. Horses with an inadequate reserve of antioxidants may experience muscle soreness or stiffness during an exercise bout and prolonged recovery following hard work.
The All-Star Antioxidants
Vitamin E contributes most generously to the natural antioxidant defenses of the horse. The term vitamin E is actually a collective one that encompasses eight distinctive compounds of plant origin.
These eight are divided into four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Of these only two--alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol--have antioxidant properties, and alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active. On the cellular level, alpha-tocopherol embeds in cell membranes and protects cells from the ravages of free radicals. Alpha-tocopherol has an affinity for fat and is therefore attracted to cell membranes, which are composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Feeds typically fed to horses have variable vitamin E concentrations. Cereal grains such as corn, oats, and barley contain minimal vitamin E, and processing may further decrease vitamin activity. Drying corn artificially, for example, reduces the alpha-tocopherol level by as much as 50%. And while vegetable and soybean oils possess substantially more vitamin E than grains, refining can diminish content. Even if they undergo only minimal refining, these oils have such low inclusion rates in diets that their contribution to total vitamin E intake is miniscule...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/antioxidants-for-tip-top-performance?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3895ab6086-Weekly_Feed_Northern_8_31_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Horses Domesticated 9000 Years Ago in Saudi Arabia
News.discovery.com - Full Article
Thu Aug 25, 2011 01:43 PM ET
Content provided by AFP
Previous estimates had dated horse domestication back only 5,000 years.
Saudi Arabia has found traces of a civilization that was domesticating horses about 9,000 years ago, 4,000 years earlier than previously thought, the kingdom said.
"This discovery shows that horses were domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula for the first time more than 9,000 years ago, whereas previous studies estimated the domestication of horses in Central Asia dating back 5,000 years, Ali al-Ghabban, vice-chairman of the Department of Museums and Antiquities, said at a news conference late Wednesday.
The remains of the civilization were found close to Abha, in southwestern Asir province, an area known to antiquity as Arabia Felix.
The civilization, given the name al-Maqari, used "methods of embalming that are totally different to known processes," Ghabban said...
Read more here:
http://news.discovery.com/animals/horse-domestication-saudi-arabia-110825.html
Thu Aug 25, 2011 01:43 PM ET
Content provided by AFP
Previous estimates had dated horse domestication back only 5,000 years.
Saudi Arabia has found traces of a civilization that was domesticating horses about 9,000 years ago, 4,000 years earlier than previously thought, the kingdom said.
"This discovery shows that horses were domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula for the first time more than 9,000 years ago, whereas previous studies estimated the domestication of horses in Central Asia dating back 5,000 years, Ali al-Ghabban, vice-chairman of the Department of Museums and Antiquities, said at a news conference late Wednesday.
The remains of the civilization were found close to Abha, in southwestern Asir province, an area known to antiquity as Arabia Felix.
The civilization, given the name al-Maqari, used "methods of embalming that are totally different to known processes," Ghabban said...
Read more here:
http://news.discovery.com/animals/horse-domestication-saudi-arabia-110825.html
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Supporting Limb Laminitis: Prevention is the Best Treatment
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Marie Rosenthal, MS
August 15 2011, Article # 18678
When your horse suffers a major injury, such as a severely broken bone in a leg, the last thing you might be thinking about is laminitis. But laminitis should certainly be on your radar, as many horses that suffer serious limb or hoof injuries develop supporting limb laminitis, a condition that can prove fatal even if the original injury is well on its way to healing.
During a presentation at the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, held July 16-19 in St. Louis, Mo., Joanne Kramer, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia, discussed why supporting limb laminitis prevention is so important to keeping injured horses on the road to recovery.
Kramer noted that according to a previous study, about half of all horses that develop supporting limb laminitis are euthanized for various reasons, including the cost of care and prognosis. Despite the preventive and treatment efforts of his veterinarians, supporting limb laminitis was the ultimate reason for the euthanasia of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who shattered his right hind leg in the 2006 Preakness Stakes.
"Problems occur with the opposite limb, because the injured limb cannot be repaired fast enough to get the weight off the uninjured limb so it can share the load," said Kramer...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18678
by: Marie Rosenthal, MS
August 15 2011, Article # 18678
When your horse suffers a major injury, such as a severely broken bone in a leg, the last thing you might be thinking about is laminitis. But laminitis should certainly be on your radar, as many horses that suffer serious limb or hoof injuries develop supporting limb laminitis, a condition that can prove fatal even if the original injury is well on its way to healing.
During a presentation at the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, held July 16-19 in St. Louis, Mo., Joanne Kramer, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia, discussed why supporting limb laminitis prevention is so important to keeping injured horses on the road to recovery.
Kramer noted that according to a previous study, about half of all horses that develop supporting limb laminitis are euthanized for various reasons, including the cost of care and prognosis. Despite the preventive and treatment efforts of his veterinarians, supporting limb laminitis was the ultimate reason for the euthanasia of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who shattered his right hind leg in the 2006 Preakness Stakes.
"Problems occur with the opposite limb, because the injured limb cannot be repaired fast enough to get the weight off the uninjured limb so it can share the load," said Kramer...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18678
The Impact of Navicular Bone Shape and Fragments in Horses
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM
August 11 2011, Article # 18665
Navicular disease is not always straightforward for veterinarians to diagnose and treat, but new study findings that focus on the shape of the navicular bone (NB) and fragments found near it could help veterinarians better understand this disease in horses.
"The significance of distal border fragments of the navicular bone is not well understood," the researchers noted in the study. "There are also no objective data about changes in thickness and proximal (upper) and distal (lower) extension of the palmar cortex (rear-facing outer layer) of the navicular bone."
A recent retrospective study performed by Marianna Biggi, DVM, PhD, and Sue Dyson VetMB, PhD, at the Centre for Equine Studies at The Animal Health Trust, in Suffolk, England, examined the significance of fragments along the lower border of the NB, as well as the differences in thickness of the palmar cortex of the NB in 55 sound horses and 377 lame horses. The team hoped to better understand the distribution of distal border fragments and their association with radiological abnormalities of the NB, and to evaluate differences in the shape of the navicular bone in sound and lame horses and horses...
Read more here:
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM
August 11 2011, Article # 18665
Navicular disease is not always straightforward for veterinarians to diagnose and treat, but new study findings that focus on the shape of the navicular bone (NB) and fragments found near it could help veterinarians better understand this disease in horses.
"The significance of distal border fragments of the navicular bone is not well understood," the researchers noted in the study. "There are also no objective data about changes in thickness and proximal (upper) and distal (lower) extension of the palmar cortex (rear-facing outer layer) of the navicular bone."
A recent retrospective study performed by Marianna Biggi, DVM, PhD, and Sue Dyson VetMB, PhD, at the Centre for Equine Studies at The Animal Health Trust, in Suffolk, England, examined the significance of fragments along the lower border of the NB, as well as the differences in thickness of the palmar cortex of the NB in 55 sound horses and 377 lame horses. The team hoped to better understand the distribution of distal border fragments and their association with radiological abnormalities of the NB, and to evaluate differences in the shape of the navicular bone in sound and lame horses and horses...
Read more here:
Thehorse.com - Full Article
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Corn Oil in Equine Diets
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 21, 2011
Corn oil has been a staple in the diets of many horses for years, but has this much-loved additive fallen out of favor? Supplementing a horse's diet with corn oil has its advantages and disadvantages, but scientific headway might be making this pour-on less appealing to horse owners.
Because it is completely fat, corn oil was originally added to diets to increase the energy density without increasing bulk. Studies have shown that that regular supplementation of fat as an energy source has a glycogen-sparing effect and has been found to be beneficial in long-distance exercise. With regard to intense exercise, however, corn oil resulted in increased lactic acid production and higher heart rates in comparison to horses supplemented with rice bran (approximately 20% fat).
The use of corn oil as an energy source is particularly valuable in the hot months of the year because its digestion produces less heat than any other energy constituent in a horse's diet.
Corn oil cannot be used as the only energy source. It should never be fed at more than 15% of the total diet, but 1 to 16 ounces per day is safe. Too much oil will decrease feed consumption and may cause loose manure...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/corn-oil-in-equine-diets/1?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2b7c14d61b-Weekly_Feed_Northern_8_10_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 21, 2011
Corn oil has been a staple in the diets of many horses for years, but has this much-loved additive fallen out of favor? Supplementing a horse's diet with corn oil has its advantages and disadvantages, but scientific headway might be making this pour-on less appealing to horse owners.
Because it is completely fat, corn oil was originally added to diets to increase the energy density without increasing bulk. Studies have shown that that regular supplementation of fat as an energy source has a glycogen-sparing effect and has been found to be beneficial in long-distance exercise. With regard to intense exercise, however, corn oil resulted in increased lactic acid production and higher heart rates in comparison to horses supplemented with rice bran (approximately 20% fat).
The use of corn oil as an energy source is particularly valuable in the hot months of the year because its digestion produces less heat than any other energy constituent in a horse's diet.
Corn oil cannot be used as the only energy source. It should never be fed at more than 15% of the total diet, but 1 to 16 ounces per day is safe. Too much oil will decrease feed consumption and may cause loose manure...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/corn-oil-in-equine-diets/1?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2b7c14d61b-Weekly_Feed_Northern_8_10_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Weight Gain for Older Horses
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Michelle D. Harris, VMD
August 01 2011, Article # 18615
Q: I have a 25-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that had a stroke in March 2008. Following a year of rehabilitation after losing the use of his left side, he is living a normal life again and is able to walk, trot, canter, and play in the pasture with the other horses. He did lose his sight in his left eye, though, and the left side of his mouth droops. He has always been a "hard keeper."
Currently I have him eating 4 3/4 pounds of senior feed morning and night (with about 10-12 hours between the feedings), a scoop of comprehensive wellness supplement twice a day in his feed, and all the timothy hay he wants to eat. When he is out in the pasture he has timothy hay available and some grass in the pasture, though when it's wintertime and the grass is not great, we do put out fresh hay every day for him. His teeth are checked at least twice a year and he is up-to-date with deworming and his dental work. Ideally, he still needs to gain another 50-100 pounds. Do you have any recommendations?...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18615
by: Michelle D. Harris, VMD
August 01 2011, Article # 18615
Q: I have a 25-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that had a stroke in March 2008. Following a year of rehabilitation after losing the use of his left side, he is living a normal life again and is able to walk, trot, canter, and play in the pasture with the other horses. He did lose his sight in his left eye, though, and the left side of his mouth droops. He has always been a "hard keeper."
Currently I have him eating 4 3/4 pounds of senior feed morning and night (with about 10-12 hours between the feedings), a scoop of comprehensive wellness supplement twice a day in his feed, and all the timothy hay he wants to eat. When he is out in the pasture he has timothy hay available and some grass in the pasture, though when it's wintertime and the grass is not great, we do put out fresh hay every day for him. His teeth are checked at least twice a year and he is up-to-date with deworming and his dental work. Ideally, he still needs to gain another 50-100 pounds. Do you have any recommendations?...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18615
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Treating Equine Orthopedic Injuries with Stem Cells
Thehorse.com - full article
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
July 17 2011, Article # 18536
When it comes to treatment options for orthopedic injuries, some horse owners jump at the chance to give a new one a try. One such treatment option that has many owners excited is stem cell therapy. At the at the 2011 North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Conference held June 2-4 in Lexington, Ky., Larry Galuppo, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, professor and chief of equine surgery at the University of California (UC), Davis, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, explained to horse owners how stem cells are currently being used to treat orthopedic injuries in horses, and how the cells might be used in the future.
The Basics
Galuppo began his presentation with a brief overview of how stem cells are collected and where they're harvested from:
* Bone marrow-derived stem cells (collected from the sternum or the hip);
* Adipose-derived stem cells (collected via an incision near the horse's tailhead); and
* Maternally-derived stem cells (collected from the umbilical cord blood and tissue).
Once the stem cells have been harvested, the aspirate (stem cells that have been collected) is proliferated until there are enough cells for a treatment (although there is not yet a hard and fast rule as to how many cells to use per treatment, many veterinarians use upwards of 10 million cells per injection), and the cells are either frozen and stored for future use or injected directly into the injured horse...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18536
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
July 17 2011, Article # 18536
When it comes to treatment options for orthopedic injuries, some horse owners jump at the chance to give a new one a try. One such treatment option that has many owners excited is stem cell therapy. At the at the 2011 North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Conference held June 2-4 in Lexington, Ky., Larry Galuppo, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, professor and chief of equine surgery at the University of California (UC), Davis, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, explained to horse owners how stem cells are currently being used to treat orthopedic injuries in horses, and how the cells might be used in the future.
The Basics
Galuppo began his presentation with a brief overview of how stem cells are collected and where they're harvested from:
* Bone marrow-derived stem cells (collected from the sternum or the hip);
* Adipose-derived stem cells (collected via an incision near the horse's tailhead); and
* Maternally-derived stem cells (collected from the umbilical cord blood and tissue).
Once the stem cells have been harvested, the aspirate (stem cells that have been collected) is proliferated until there are enough cells for a treatment (although there is not yet a hard and fast rule as to how many cells to use per treatment, many veterinarians use upwards of 10 million cells per injection), and the cells are either frozen and stored for future use or injected directly into the injured horse...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18536
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wounds 101 (Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention for Horses)
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Casey Gruber, DVM
May 01 2010, Article # 17623
Warmer weather means that horses are getting more turnout time. Unfortunately, with increased activity all horses are at a higher risk of sustaining traumatic lacerations or other wound types. Some might appear more serious than others. Often the wound might be hours, days, or even weeks old before it is observed. Complications frequently develop as older wounds heal, and this can significantly impact your horse's ability to recover.
Clinical Signs
Depending on the location of the wound, horses can develop a variety of clinical signs. Often, horses with a new wound are painful and nervous (care should be taken when handling these horses to prevent further injury to the horse, you, and others around you). Alternatively, horses that have suffered a significant amount of blood loss, or had a foreign object (such as a tree branch) penetrate their abdominal or thoracic body cavities, might appear dull and lethargic, exhibit signs of colic, or have difficulty breathing. A horse with a leg wound might be reluctant to walk or might show signs of lameness. If a horse suffers eye damage or his eyelid function is compromised, his vision might be impacted.
Diagnostics
A horse that has sustained a serious wound should be considered a true emergency and you should consult your veterinarian immediately for guidance. Wounds potentially involving joints, tendons/ligaments, tendon sheaths, hoof capsules, body cavities, or eyes should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately, as trauma to these areas can lead to severe problems and even threaten your horse's life.
The wound location, its duration (how old it is), and degree of tissue damage will influence your veterinarian's wound treatment recommendations...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17623
by: Casey Gruber, DVM
May 01 2010, Article # 17623
Warmer weather means that horses are getting more turnout time. Unfortunately, with increased activity all horses are at a higher risk of sustaining traumatic lacerations or other wound types. Some might appear more serious than others. Often the wound might be hours, days, or even weeks old before it is observed. Complications frequently develop as older wounds heal, and this can significantly impact your horse's ability to recover.
Clinical Signs
Depending on the location of the wound, horses can develop a variety of clinical signs. Often, horses with a new wound are painful and nervous (care should be taken when handling these horses to prevent further injury to the horse, you, and others around you). Alternatively, horses that have suffered a significant amount of blood loss, or had a foreign object (such as a tree branch) penetrate their abdominal or thoracic body cavities, might appear dull and lethargic, exhibit signs of colic, or have difficulty breathing. A horse with a leg wound might be reluctant to walk or might show signs of lameness. If a horse suffers eye damage or his eyelid function is compromised, his vision might be impacted.
Diagnostics
A horse that has sustained a serious wound should be considered a true emergency and you should consult your veterinarian immediately for guidance. Wounds potentially involving joints, tendons/ligaments, tendon sheaths, hoof capsules, body cavities, or eyes should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately, as trauma to these areas can lead to severe problems and even threaten your horse's life.
The wound location, its duration (how old it is), and degree of tissue damage will influence your veterinarian's wound treatment recommendations...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17623
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Understanding Electrolyte Formulas
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Uckele Health and Nutrition
July 02 2011, Article # 18472
Proper electrolyte balance and hydration should be a main priority for horse owners. In stressful situations, such as travel, breeding, or heavy training, horses might not be taking in all the fluids they need. In some cases, feeding daily electrolytes is recommended for horses working in performance and endurance disciplines, pre- and post-event animal care, or with increased temperature or humidity, says Jack Grogan, CN, and chief science officer for Uckele Health & Nutrition.
Grogan explains that many effective electrolyte formulas contain balanced amounts of the major electrolytes sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride: "Highly concentrated products offer the best advantage because smaller amounts can be utilized to give the greatest benefit."
He adds that these products often aid hard-working horses in maintaining mineral balance, maintaining the balance and flow of vital body fluids, transmitting nerve impulses, and maintaining healthy function of the muscles and the circulatory system...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18472
by: Uckele Health and Nutrition
July 02 2011, Article # 18472
Proper electrolyte balance and hydration should be a main priority for horse owners. In stressful situations, such as travel, breeding, or heavy training, horses might not be taking in all the fluids they need. In some cases, feeding daily electrolytes is recommended for horses working in performance and endurance disciplines, pre- and post-event animal care, or with increased temperature or humidity, says Jack Grogan, CN, and chief science officer for Uckele Health & Nutrition.
Grogan explains that many effective electrolyte formulas contain balanced amounts of the major electrolytes sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride: "Highly concentrated products offer the best advantage because smaller amounts can be utilized to give the greatest benefit."
He adds that these products often aid hard-working horses in maintaining mineral balance, maintaining the balance and flow of vital body fluids, transmitting nerve impulses, and maintaining healthy function of the muscles and the circulatory system...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18472
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Managing Laminitis-Prone Horses
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Pat Harris, MA, VetMB, PhD, Dipl. ECVCN, MRCVS
June 27 2011, Article # 18447
There are countless "how-to's" regarding managing a horse diagnosed with laminitis, and many horse owners are familiar with these procedures. But how should you manage a horse that has not developed the debilitating disease, but is a likely candidate? Based on existing knowledge and scientific reports, the following tips could help reduce the likelihood of at-risk horses developing laminitis.
Feeding
* Base the horse's diet on forage and fiber.
* Aim to feed forage with less than a 10% nonstructural carbohydrate (i.e., starch, sugar, and fructan) content. If your hay has a higher carbohydrate content than 10%, soaking hay in fresh clean water for at least three hours (possibly overnight) might help to reduce the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content. However, as the results from soaking are variable, try to ensure the original forage has a low NSC content or feed an appropriate forage replacer...
read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18447
by: Pat Harris, MA, VetMB, PhD, Dipl. ECVCN, MRCVS
June 27 2011, Article # 18447
There are countless "how-to's" regarding managing a horse diagnosed with laminitis, and many horse owners are familiar with these procedures. But how should you manage a horse that has not developed the debilitating disease, but is a likely candidate? Based on existing knowledge and scientific reports, the following tips could help reduce the likelihood of at-risk horses developing laminitis.
Feeding
* Base the horse's diet on forage and fiber.
* Aim to feed forage with less than a 10% nonstructural carbohydrate (i.e., starch, sugar, and fructan) content. If your hay has a higher carbohydrate content than 10%, soaking hay in fresh clean water for at least three hours (possibly overnight) might help to reduce the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content. However, as the results from soaking are variable, try to ensure the original forage has a low NSC content or feed an appropriate forage replacer...
read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18447
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
EHV-1 Outbreak: USDA Releases Final Situation Report
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
June 24 2011, Article # 18439
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released its final situation report on the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak that affected the western United States and Canada starting in mid-May. The outbreak is believed to have stemmed from horses attending a national championship cutting competition held in Utah in early May. In its most recent report the USDA indicated that disease spread had been contained.
Although it's not transmissible to humans, EHV-1 is highly contagious among horses and camelids, and it is generally passed from horse to horse via aerosol transmission (when affected animals sneeze/cough) and contact with nasal secretions. The disease can cause a variety of ailments in equines, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neurologic form). Myeloencephalopathy is characterized by fever, ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, and incontinence.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued a press release June 20 indicating that animal health officials believe the outbreak has been successfully contained in that state. The release indicated that California has not diagnosed a new case of EHV-1 in the past 14 days...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18439
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
June 24 2011, Article # 18439
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released its final situation report on the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak that affected the western United States and Canada starting in mid-May. The outbreak is believed to have stemmed from horses attending a national championship cutting competition held in Utah in early May. In its most recent report the USDA indicated that disease spread had been contained.
Although it's not transmissible to humans, EHV-1 is highly contagious among horses and camelids, and it is generally passed from horse to horse via aerosol transmission (when affected animals sneeze/cough) and contact with nasal secretions. The disease can cause a variety of ailments in equines, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neurologic form). Myeloencephalopathy is characterized by fever, ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, and incontinence.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued a press release June 20 indicating that animal health officials believe the outbreak has been successfully contained in that state. The release indicated that California has not diagnosed a new case of EHV-1 in the past 14 days...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18439
Monday, June 27, 2011
Magnesium Supplementation: Is It Necessary?
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Marie Rosenthal, MS
June 26 2011, Article # 18442
In an equine society dominated by supplements for everything imaginable--from joint health and calmers to antioxidants and vitamins and minerals--some horse owners likely wonder what, if any, feed additives they should provide their horses. Take magnesium for example: Science has shown us that horses require this macromineral to keep their bodies functioning properly, so should owners provide a supplement to ensure their animals get enough in their diet? According to an Auburn University researcher, hold off on buying that magnesium supplement, as it likely isn't needed by your horse.
Magnesium is an essential macromineral for horses that aids in maintaining normal nerve and muscle function, as well as the production of protein and DNA. Previous research from Cornell University indicates that horses need to consume just under 5 mg of the mineral to carry out normal body functions.
According to Allison J. Stewart, BVSc(hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, associate professor of equine internal medicine at Auburn, who recently composed a literature review on magnesium deficiencies in horses, "As there is generally a large amount of magnesium in vegetative matter (i.e., grass, hays, and grains), deficiency is rare in horses..."
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18442
by: Marie Rosenthal, MS
June 26 2011, Article # 18442
In an equine society dominated by supplements for everything imaginable--from joint health and calmers to antioxidants and vitamins and minerals--some horse owners likely wonder what, if any, feed additives they should provide their horses. Take magnesium for example: Science has shown us that horses require this macromineral to keep their bodies functioning properly, so should owners provide a supplement to ensure their animals get enough in their diet? According to an Auburn University researcher, hold off on buying that magnesium supplement, as it likely isn't needed by your horse.
Magnesium is an essential macromineral for horses that aids in maintaining normal nerve and muscle function, as well as the production of protein and DNA. Previous research from Cornell University indicates that horses need to consume just under 5 mg of the mineral to carry out normal body functions.
According to Allison J. Stewart, BVSc(hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, associate professor of equine internal medicine at Auburn, who recently composed a literature review on magnesium deficiencies in horses, "As there is generally a large amount of magnesium in vegetative matter (i.e., grass, hays, and grains), deficiency is rare in horses..."
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18442
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Lucerne Hay in Equine Diets
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Dr. Peter Huntington · April 15, 2011
There are some differences between lucerne (alfalfa) and grass hay or oat chaff, but they all serve the same purpose of being vital fibre sources for horses. If you are fortunate enough to have a choice of forages, the decision of which type to feed should be based on what you are trying to achieve with the horse.
The major differences between a grass type forage (including oat and wheat chaff) and a legume (lucerne and clover) are energy, protein, and calcium content.
Energy content
The fibre found in forages is digested by the microbial population of the hindgut to produce energy for the horse. There are forms of digestible fibre and indigestible fibre found in any plant. The higher the percentage digestible fibre and the lower the indigestible fibre, the more energy there is in that forage. There tends to be more digestible fibre in the leafy portion of the plant and more indigestible fibre in the stem. So, forage with more leaf and less stem will provide the horse more digestible energy.
Lucerne that is harvested at the right time and handled carefully after harvesting will have a lot of very digestible leaves with some stem, and thus it is very high in energy. A poorly made lucerne will have more stems than leaves and will have less energy. The same goes for the harvesting of grass hay; the earlier in its growth it is harvested, the more leaf it will have and the better quality it will be...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/lucerne-hay-in-equine-diets1
By Dr. Peter Huntington · April 15, 2011
There are some differences between lucerne (alfalfa) and grass hay or oat chaff, but they all serve the same purpose of being vital fibre sources for horses. If you are fortunate enough to have a choice of forages, the decision of which type to feed should be based on what you are trying to achieve with the horse.
The major differences between a grass type forage (including oat and wheat chaff) and a legume (lucerne and clover) are energy, protein, and calcium content.
Energy content
The fibre found in forages is digested by the microbial population of the hindgut to produce energy for the horse. There are forms of digestible fibre and indigestible fibre found in any plant. The higher the percentage digestible fibre and the lower the indigestible fibre, the more energy there is in that forage. There tends to be more digestible fibre in the leafy portion of the plant and more indigestible fibre in the stem. So, forage with more leaf and less stem will provide the horse more digestible energy.
Lucerne that is harvested at the right time and handled carefully after harvesting will have a lot of very digestible leaves with some stem, and thus it is very high in energy. A poorly made lucerne will have more stems than leaves and will have less energy. The same goes for the harvesting of grass hay; the earlier in its growth it is harvested, the more leaf it will have and the better quality it will be...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/lucerne-hay-in-equine-diets1
Friday, June 10, 2011
Summer Riding: When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: University of Guelph
July 08 2010, Article # 16625
A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat?
It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter, much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress.
Michael Lindinger, PhD, MSc, an animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph, explains: "It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in hot, humid weather to raise a horse's temperature to dangerous levels. That's three to 10 times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do."
And the effects can be serious. If a horse's body temperature shoots up from the normal 37 to 38°C to 41°C (98.6 - 105.8°F), temperatures within working muscles may be as high as 43°C (109.4°F), a temperature at which proteins in muscle begin to denature (cook). Horses suffering excessive heat stress may experience hypotension, colic, and renal failure.
Lindinger, a faculty member in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, became interested in the effects of heat on horses when he was a lead researcher on the Canadian research team that contributed information on the response of the horse to heat and humidity for the Atlanta Summer Olympics. He recently presented a workshop on the topic at Equine Guelph's outdoor Equine Expo held June 4 at U.G.'s Arkell Research Station.
Horses are more susceptible to heat for several reasons...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16625
by: University of Guelph
July 08 2010, Article # 16625
A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat?
It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter, much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress.
Michael Lindinger, PhD, MSc, an animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph, explains: "It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in hot, humid weather to raise a horse's temperature to dangerous levels. That's three to 10 times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do."
And the effects can be serious. If a horse's body temperature shoots up from the normal 37 to 38°C to 41°C (98.6 - 105.8°F), temperatures within working muscles may be as high as 43°C (109.4°F), a temperature at which proteins in muscle begin to denature (cook). Horses suffering excessive heat stress may experience hypotension, colic, and renal failure.
Lindinger, a faculty member in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, became interested in the effects of heat on horses when he was a lead researcher on the Canadian research team that contributed information on the response of the horse to heat and humidity for the Atlanta Summer Olympics. He recently presented a workshop on the topic at Equine Guelph's outdoor Equine Expo held June 4 at U.G.'s Arkell Research Station.
Horses are more susceptible to heat for several reasons...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16625
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Blister Beetles: Deadly in Horse Hay
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
June 02 2011, Article # 18335
Purchasing hay is a ritual that many horse owners have down to a science: Select a type (i.e., grass, alfalfa, or timothy), grab a handful for a smell test, examine for dust and mold, and feed to the hungry horses waiting at home. As many hay producers will be harvesting hay in the coming weeks and months and passing the fruits of their labor on to consumers, it's important for horse owners to be aware of a tiny, toxic (and potentially fatal) tagalong in some perfectly healthy-looking alfalfa hay bales: the blister beetle.
Blister beetles naturally contain and secrete a chemical substance called cantharidin, which is extremely toxic to horses. The insects--which can be found in most parts of the United States, are ½-1 inch long, often cylindrical in shape, and can be a variety of colors--feed on alfalfa flowers and can easily, although inadvertently, be included in the hay during the baling process. Once baled in the hay, the beetles will generally appear dried up and might be crushed or broken into parts (due to the bailing equipment).
"Blister beetles tend to swarm to feed on alfalfa flowers," explained Sam L. Jones, DVM, PhD, professor of equine medicine at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "If large enough numbers of the beetles are incorporated into baled hay, horses can ingest the beetles."
Simply touching a blister beetle--either dead or alive--is enough to cause inflammation and blistering of a horse's skin within hours of contact...
Read more here:
No comments:
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
June 02 2011, Article # 18335
Purchasing hay is a ritual that many horse owners have down to a science: Select a type (i.e., grass, alfalfa, or timothy), grab a handful for a smell test, examine for dust and mold, and feed to the hungry horses waiting at home. As many hay producers will be harvesting hay in the coming weeks and months and passing the fruits of their labor on to consumers, it's important for horse owners to be aware of a tiny, toxic (and potentially fatal) tagalong in some perfectly healthy-looking alfalfa hay bales: the blister beetle.
Blister beetles naturally contain and secrete a chemical substance called cantharidin, which is extremely toxic to horses. The insects--which can be found in most parts of the United States, are ½-1 inch long, often cylindrical in shape, and can be a variety of colors--feed on alfalfa flowers and can easily, although inadvertently, be included in the hay during the baling process. Once baled in the hay, the beetles will generally appear dried up and might be crushed or broken into parts (due to the bailing equipment).
"Blister beetles tend to swarm to feed on alfalfa flowers," explained Sam L. Jones, DVM, PhD, professor of equine medicine at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "If large enough numbers of the beetles are incorporated into baled hay, horses can ingest the beetles."
Simply touching a blister beetle--either dead or alive--is enough to cause inflammation and blistering of a horse's skin within hours of contact...
Read more here:
No comments:
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Managing Wet Feet
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Marcella M. Reca Zipp, MS
May 01 2005, Article # 5695
Hoof care is one of the most important aspects of quality horse management. Hoof trimming, shoeing if necessary, good nutrition to ensure good hoof growth, and inspection for disease or injury to the foot are just a few of the tasks a horse owner needs to worry about. Yet no matter how much attention is paid to these steps, if your horse's feet are constantly wet, this can create a disastrous situation for proper hoof health.
A Product of His Environment
Water is nature's hoof moisturizer, but moderation is key. Too much moisture can lead to deformed hooves because as the hoof becomes softer, it loses its structural integrity. Prolonged and excessive environmental moisture leads to dangerously high hoof moisture levels.
To better understand hooves getting saturated, Stephen O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, owner of the Northern Virginia Equine practice in Marshall, Va., gives the analogy of water's effects on a board: "If you pour water over a board, the water will run off the board. But if you tie a rock to the board and submerge it in a water trough, the board will become saturated, become soft, and eventually fall apart.
"The horse is a product of his environment, and if he lives in a dry area, he's going to have dry feet. But if he lives in a moist area, he's going to have softer feet," he adds. "A horse from Florida does not have the same cup in the bottom of the foot as a horse in the North." This is due to softer hoof walls from excessive humidity coupled with the sandy soil (the primary type of footing); this combination causes the sole of the foot to flatten...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=5695
by: Marcella M. Reca Zipp, MS
May 01 2005, Article # 5695
Hoof care is one of the most important aspects of quality horse management. Hoof trimming, shoeing if necessary, good nutrition to ensure good hoof growth, and inspection for disease or injury to the foot are just a few of the tasks a horse owner needs to worry about. Yet no matter how much attention is paid to these steps, if your horse's feet are constantly wet, this can create a disastrous situation for proper hoof health.
A Product of His Environment
Water is nature's hoof moisturizer, but moderation is key. Too much moisture can lead to deformed hooves because as the hoof becomes softer, it loses its structural integrity. Prolonged and excessive environmental moisture leads to dangerously high hoof moisture levels.
To better understand hooves getting saturated, Stephen O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, owner of the Northern Virginia Equine practice in Marshall, Va., gives the analogy of water's effects on a board: "If you pour water over a board, the water will run off the board. But if you tie a rock to the board and submerge it in a water trough, the board will become saturated, become soft, and eventually fall apart.
"The horse is a product of his environment, and if he lives in a dry area, he's going to have dry feet. But if he lives in a moist area, he's going to have softer feet," he adds. "A horse from Florida does not have the same cup in the bottom of the foot as a horse in the North." This is due to softer hoof walls from excessive humidity coupled with the sandy soil (the primary type of footing); this combination causes the sole of the foot to flatten...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=5695
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