Myhorse.com - Full Article
So you’re looking for a new horse for trail riding…but you’re only considering your tried-and-true walk, trot and canter candidates?
Maybe you should broaden your horizons!
If you don’t know anything about naturally gaited horses, well, have we got the primer for you.
It’s a series of questions based on myths and misunderstandings about gaited horses, posed by real horse people.
Sort of like myth busters–the horse version. Who knows, maybe after reading it, you’ll start looking for something gaited as your next trail-riding partner.
10 Gaited-Horse Myths: Busted!
By Jessica Jahiel PhD
Myths and misunderstandings about smooth-gaited horses abound. Here, we’ll bust 10 common myths, taken from real questions posed by horse owners from around the country. We’ll explain why each assumption is wrong – and why you should consider a gaited horse for trail riding.
Myth #1: Smooth gaits are artificial.
“The walk, the trot, and the canter are normal gaits for normal horses. Gaited horses bother me, because their smooth gaits are manmade and artificial. I’m into natural horsemanship, and I want my horse to enjoy our trail rides. I could never ride a horse that was forced to perform an artificial gait!”
Busted! Relax. You can safely enjoy gaited horses, natural horsemanship, and trail riding – these three things go together very well. The show ring and the trail are two very different places. Good trail gaits aren’t created by special tack or riding techniques; they’re bred into the horses and brought out by sensible, sympathetic training.
Myth #2: Gaited horses are high-headed nutcases...
Read more here:
http://myhorse.com/blogs/horse-breeds-information/horse-breeds/why-you-should-consider-a-gaited-horse-for-trail-riding/
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Want to Get Your Horse in Shape? Try Parelli Fluidity-Hill Therapy
Myhorse.com blogs - Full ArticleDoes your horse have a scrawny neck? A hollowed-out back? Does he move with short, choppy strides?
Pat Parelli and his wife, Linda Parelli, offer what they call a Fluidity Program for horses. It involves you, your horse, a long line and a small hill. In six weeks, they say, your horse will be transformed into a more muscular creature with better posture. Here’s how to do it.
Parelli Fluidity—Hill Therapy
by Linda Parelli
Studying the posture, musculature and movement of horses is an important component of our Fluidity Program. Horses that have been ridden often look very different from horses that have never been ridden, and unfortunately they usually don’t look better!
In ridden horses, here are some of the common issues:
Posture:
• “Down-hill” (hips are higher than the withers)
• Small or flat withers (mutton-withered)
• Sway, hollow or dipped back
• Strung-out hind legs
• Rotated scapula
• Rotated sacrum (“jumper’s bump”)
• Short neck / long back
• Ewe neck
• High tail set (instead of low and sloping)
Musculature:
• Poor top line, muscle wastage on crest, back and rump
• Irregular muscling, some are under-developed and some are overdeveloped
• Thin withers
• Overdeveloped underline (under neck, lower chest, forearms, gaskins, and top of hip)
• Dropped belly
• Thin neck
Movement:
• Short, choppy strides
• Heavy on forehand
• Hind legs weak, “disengaged”, can’t come under the body, are strung out behind
• Inability to ‘collect’ or engage
• Stiff in the body or neck
• Stiff in the legs, doesn’t bend joints well
• Doesn’t use whole body
• Pulls itself along with the forelegs vs pushing with hind legs
As you can imagine, on-going issues like this can lead to a horse breaking down in the long term, usually in the areas they over use to compensate for not sharing the load through the entire body such as the stifle, lower back, suspensories, hocks, and not to mention the knee joints from landing heavily on the forehand...
Read more here:
http://myhorse.com/blogs/horse-trainers/pat-parelli/want-to-get-your-horse-in-shape-try-parelli-fluidity-hill-therapy/?utm_source=Week35&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Week-Review
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Balancing the Microbes in the Horse's Digestive Tract
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 3, 2012
The importance of maintaining a balanced microbial population in the equine digestive tract is often underscored in popular-press articles and primers on horse nutrition, but what does “balanced” mean? What types of microbes are living in the digestive tract? How many are there, and what is their purpose? What can be done to keep them balanced?
delicate balance exists among the different types of microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Humans cannot live on forage because we lack these microbes that break down forage into usable bits. The products of forage digestion are volatile fatty acids, which horses use for energy. Humans have some microbes that should stay in balance as well, although they pale in number and function compared to those of herbivores. We are being inundated with products that address that function in humans, and nutritionists emphasize the importance of that balance in the human digestive tract in overall health and well-being. Like humans, horses cannot perform their best if digestive microbes are out of balance...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/balancing-microbes-horses-digestive-tract
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 3, 2012
The importance of maintaining a balanced microbial population in the equine digestive tract is often underscored in popular-press articles and primers on horse nutrition, but what does “balanced” mean? What types of microbes are living in the digestive tract? How many are there, and what is their purpose? What can be done to keep them balanced?
delicate balance exists among the different types of microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Humans cannot live on forage because we lack these microbes that break down forage into usable bits. The products of forage digestion are volatile fatty acids, which horses use for energy. Humans have some microbes that should stay in balance as well, although they pale in number and function compared to those of herbivores. We are being inundated with products that address that function in humans, and nutritionists emphasize the importance of that balance in the human digestive tract in overall health and well-being. Like humans, horses cannot perform their best if digestive microbes are out of balance...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/balancing-microbes-horses-digestive-tract
Bute and Banamine: Avoid Using Together (AAEP 2011)
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Nancy S. Loving, DVM
March 13 2012, Article # 19726
A common approach to lameness in the equine athlete is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) treatments, such as phenylbutazone (PBZ, Bute) or flunixin meglumine (FM, Banamine) alone or sometimes in combination. At the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Jonathan Foreman, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, of the University of Illinois, discussed the effect of these medications on lameness when used at a normal recommended dose with these strategies and whether combining the drugs confers any special effects.
Reversible lameness was induced in eight Thoroughbred horses by using an adjustable heart bar shoe that could be tightened with a screw to elicit severe non-weight-bearing lameness. After an hour of the shoe application, Foreman and his colleagues treated the horses with one or both drugs: PBZ at 4.4 mg/kg, FM at 1.1 mg/kg, or PBZ + FM at these same dosages. In line with findings from previous studies, the team found that peak effect of these drugs occurred four hours following administration.
The team measured heart rates as an indicator of pain since, as explained by Foreman, heart rate is a primary variable that is elevated in lame horses following exercise workouts...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19726
by: Nancy S. Loving, DVM
March 13 2012, Article # 19726
A common approach to lameness in the equine athlete is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) treatments, such as phenylbutazone (PBZ, Bute) or flunixin meglumine (FM, Banamine) alone or sometimes in combination. At the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Jonathan Foreman, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, of the University of Illinois, discussed the effect of these medications on lameness when used at a normal recommended dose with these strategies and whether combining the drugs confers any special effects.
Reversible lameness was induced in eight Thoroughbred horses by using an adjustable heart bar shoe that could be tightened with a screw to elicit severe non-weight-bearing lameness. After an hour of the shoe application, Foreman and his colleagues treated the horses with one or both drugs: PBZ at 4.4 mg/kg, FM at 1.1 mg/kg, or PBZ + FM at these same dosages. In line with findings from previous studies, the team found that peak effect of these drugs occurred four hours following administration.
The team measured heart rates as an indicator of pain since, as explained by Foreman, heart rate is a primary variable that is elevated in lame horses following exercise workouts...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19726
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Nursing a horse through AHS | African Horse Sickness
Perseveranceendurancehorses BlogPOSTED BY PERSEVERANCE ⋅ 13 MARCH 2012
African Horse Sickness is a disease endemic to certain parts of Africa. It is thought to be a Zebra virus carried by midges. It can be a a serious disease with high mortality, but many horses do recover. There is a vaccine but its effectiveness is hotly debated. Standard veterinary treatment, which is aimed at lowering fever with anti-inflammatories such as bute and treating potential secondary infection with antibiotics, does not produce good results generally. Consequently, horse owners have been looking at other ways of dealing with it.
Supportive nursing is vital as the horses get extremely ill. This is one horse that we dealt with successfully in the Autumn of 2011, here at Perseverance in the Karoo. In the interest of sharing information, this is what we did...
Fire’s treatment for AHS, May 2011
Fire is a purebred Arabian broodmare, a former endurance horse, vaccinated for AHS by vets and the vaccinations recorded in her passport over many years. She had a foal at foot and was two months in foal again.
During this outbreak, the Perseverance broodmares in the veld were checked daily. Fire presented with fever in early May. She was treated with an oral dose of MMS. Often this is sufficient to stop a mild case from progressing. There were a few other mares with fever for whom this was sufficient. In her case it was not.
The next day she was given IV 6 ml MMS (mixed with 30 ml 10% strength citric acid solution, allowed to activate and further diluted with Ringer’s lactate) and left in veld with her herd. Next day she was no better, she would become fatigued after walking a short distance. We brought the horse box to her and transported her and her foal back to the farmyard. The swelling over her eyes was hard to the touch.
We restrained her and the foal in a small pen to prevent further fatigue. We blanketed her when the weather cooled. Her lungs continued to fill and she became very short of breath. She started lying down. I feared she would suffocate if it became any worse. I obtained a single dose of Salix from the vet and gave that. She found some relief and urinated. Body swelling and body pain worsened (as we would expect from the Salix), but I felt this was worth the extra time gained in this particular case, the lesser of two evils. We then moved her to a stable under an infrared lamp, and this is what she was given during the first, intensive, nursing period...
Read more here:
http://perseveranceendurancehorses.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/nursing-a-horse-through-ahs-african-horse-sickness/
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Horse Owners Assess Tornado Damage, Losses
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Pat Raia
March 05 2012, Article # 19691
Horse owners in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee are assessing damage and calculating losses after a series of early spring tornadoes swept though several counties in those states last week.
According to the National Weather Service, 42 confirmed tornadoes tore through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio on March 2. The storms packed winds as high as 180 mph, knocking out utilities and flattening homes and barns. All told, the confirmed human death toll reached 39, according to the agency. The number of horses lost or injured as a result of the storms is still uncertain.
"We know there are horses missing and roaming the area, but we just don't know much else," said Jim Noel, president of the Indiana Horse Council.
Kentucky was among the hardest hit by the twisters. Farm operators William and Rhonda McCardle lost 15 of the Quarter Horses residing in a barn on their Crittendon, Ky., property when the tornado struck, demolishing the structure. Two horses remain missing. Two surviving horses, a yearling and a 2-week-old foal, were later discovered alive in the barn rubble. Those animals were placed under care at a veterinary hospital in Lexington, Ky., said Sue Haynes, friend of the McCardle family. On March 5 the yearling died as a result of his injuries, Haynes said.
Meanwhile, Kelly Carr, owner of the Saddle Up Arena equine facility in Madison, Ind., said one member of her family lost three of five horses to the storm. Other animals were injured, she said.
"Some had large wounds from flying debris and cuts from hail," she said. "We could see homes and barns just flattened..."
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19691
by: Pat Raia
March 05 2012, Article # 19691
Horse owners in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee are assessing damage and calculating losses after a series of early spring tornadoes swept though several counties in those states last week.
According to the National Weather Service, 42 confirmed tornadoes tore through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio on March 2. The storms packed winds as high as 180 mph, knocking out utilities and flattening homes and barns. All told, the confirmed human death toll reached 39, according to the agency. The number of horses lost or injured as a result of the storms is still uncertain.
"We know there are horses missing and roaming the area, but we just don't know much else," said Jim Noel, president of the Indiana Horse Council.
Kentucky was among the hardest hit by the twisters. Farm operators William and Rhonda McCardle lost 15 of the Quarter Horses residing in a barn on their Crittendon, Ky., property when the tornado struck, demolishing the structure. Two horses remain missing. Two surviving horses, a yearling and a 2-week-old foal, were later discovered alive in the barn rubble. Those animals were placed under care at a veterinary hospital in Lexington, Ky., said Sue Haynes, friend of the McCardle family. On March 5 the yearling died as a result of his injuries, Haynes said.
Meanwhile, Kelly Carr, owner of the Saddle Up Arena equine facility in Madison, Ind., said one member of her family lost three of five horses to the storm. Other animals were injured, she said.
"Some had large wounds from flying debris and cuts from hail," she said. "We could see homes and barns just flattened..."
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19691
Take Steps Now to Prevent West Nile Virus in Horses
by: Edited Press Release
March 06 2012, Article # 19695
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary George Greig has urged horse owners to consult their veterinarians about options for West Nile virus (WNV) prevention before mosquito season begins.
"From recreational trail riders and trained competitors to top-notch breeding and racing, Pennsylvania's equine industry represents an important segment of our state's leading economic driver - agriculture," said Greig. "Animal health is a top industry priority, and I encourage horse owners to speak to their veterinarians about protecting their animals against encephalitic diseases like West Nile Virus."
Equine encephalitic diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause inflammation of the brain. Mosquitoes become more active with warm weather in early spring.
First confirmed in the United States' horse population in 1999, WNV infection is responsible for equine clinical signs including flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed; fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculations (twitching); hyperesthesia, or hypersensitivity to touch and sound; changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or "just not with it"; occasional somnolence (drowsiness); propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); and "spinal" signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia (incoordination on one or both sides, respectively). Equine mortality rate can be as high as 30-40%. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported 83 cases of WNV in U.S. horses in 2011.
Vaccines are available to help prevent WNV and other equine encephalitic diseases such as Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis. Vaccines are usually administered in February or March prior to mosquito season. Horse owners should talk with their veterinarians to determine the best time to start the vaccination process.
Greig cautioned that vaccination of horses is not a guarantee of protection against infection. The best way to prevent infection of WNV is to reduce the risk of exposure to mosquitoes by eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
Understanding Equine Medications is your A-Z guide to learning more about generic and brand-name pharmaceuticals, possible side effects and precautions, and proper dosage.
He suggested several steps horse owners can take to reduce horses' mosquito exposure:
Reduce the number of birds in and around the stable area. Eliminate roosting areas in the rafters of the stable. Certain species of wild birds are the main reservoir for the virus.
Check the property for dead birds, especially crows. Any suspicious birds should be reported online to www.westnile.state.pa.us or by calling the Department of Environmental Protection at 717-346-8238 (residents of other states should report suspicious dead birds to animal health authorities in their area) . Use gloves to handle dead birds and place the birds in plastic bags. If not submitting the bird for testing, the bagged bird can be placed in the trash. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after discarding the dead bird.
Topical preparations containing mosquito repellents are available for horses. Read the product label before using and follow label instructions. Fly sheets, masks, and leg wraps are also available.
Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, buckets, ceramic pots or other unwanted water-holding containers on the property. Pay special attention to discarded tires, which can collect water and become mosquito breeding sites.
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors. Containers with drainage holes located only on the sides collect enough water to act as mosquito breeding sites.
Clean clogged roof gutters every year. Millions of mosquitoes can breed in roof gutters each season.
Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Empty and refill outdoor water troughs, buckets, and birdbaths every few days so water does not stagnate.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property, especially near manure storage areas. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.
For more information contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Health at 717-783-6897 or visit www.westnile.state.pa.us.
March 06 2012, Article # 19695
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary George Greig has urged horse owners to consult their veterinarians about options for West Nile virus (WNV) prevention before mosquito season begins.
"From recreational trail riders and trained competitors to top-notch breeding and racing, Pennsylvania's equine industry represents an important segment of our state's leading economic driver - agriculture," said Greig. "Animal health is a top industry priority, and I encourage horse owners to speak to their veterinarians about protecting their animals against encephalitic diseases like West Nile Virus."
Equine encephalitic diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause inflammation of the brain. Mosquitoes become more active with warm weather in early spring.
First confirmed in the United States' horse population in 1999, WNV infection is responsible for equine clinical signs including flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed; fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculations (twitching); hyperesthesia, or hypersensitivity to touch and sound; changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or "just not with it"; occasional somnolence (drowsiness); propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); and "spinal" signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia (incoordination on one or both sides, respectively). Equine mortality rate can be as high as 30-40%. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported 83 cases of WNV in U.S. horses in 2011.
Vaccines are available to help prevent WNV and other equine encephalitic diseases such as Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis. Vaccines are usually administered in February or March prior to mosquito season. Horse owners should talk with their veterinarians to determine the best time to start the vaccination process.
Greig cautioned that vaccination of horses is not a guarantee of protection against infection. The best way to prevent infection of WNV is to reduce the risk of exposure to mosquitoes by eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
Understanding Equine Medications is your A-Z guide to learning more about generic and brand-name pharmaceuticals, possible side effects and precautions, and proper dosage.
He suggested several steps horse owners can take to reduce horses' mosquito exposure:
Reduce the number of birds in and around the stable area. Eliminate roosting areas in the rafters of the stable. Certain species of wild birds are the main reservoir for the virus.
Check the property for dead birds, especially crows. Any suspicious birds should be reported online to www.westnile.state.pa.us or by calling the Department of Environmental Protection at 717-346-8238 (residents of other states should report suspicious dead birds to animal health authorities in their area) . Use gloves to handle dead birds and place the birds in plastic bags. If not submitting the bird for testing, the bagged bird can be placed in the trash. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after discarding the dead bird.
Topical preparations containing mosquito repellents are available for horses. Read the product label before using and follow label instructions. Fly sheets, masks, and leg wraps are also available.
Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, buckets, ceramic pots or other unwanted water-holding containers on the property. Pay special attention to discarded tires, which can collect water and become mosquito breeding sites.
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors. Containers with drainage holes located only on the sides collect enough water to act as mosquito breeding sites.
Clean clogged roof gutters every year. Millions of mosquitoes can breed in roof gutters each season.
Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Empty and refill outdoor water troughs, buckets, and birdbaths every few days so water does not stagnate.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property, especially near manure storage areas. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.
For more information contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Health at 717-783-6897 or visit www.westnile.state.pa.us.
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Nonstructural Carb Tolerance in Healthy Horses (AAEP 2011)
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Nancy S. Loving, DVM
March 05 2012, Article # 19690
The words "nonstructural carbohydrates" have become almost synonymous with "bad news" in the horse industry, mainly because many owners' goals have been to reduce these sugars and starches (while increasing fat levels) to provide "safer" calories for certain horses. Such strategies are desirable for horses with conditions such as recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis, polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), equine metabolic syndrome, or Cushing's disease, but until recently it was unclear what an NSC diet means for a "normal," nonobese horse.
At the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas, Joe Pagan, PhD, president of Kentucky Equine Research (KER), described his and colleagues' research on the effects of carbohydrate and fat intake on glucose tolerance in the healthy horse.
Pagan pointed out that there is a perception among horse owners that feeding any nonstructural carbohydrate to healthy horses will lead to insulin resistance (the inability of the hormone insulin released from the pancreas to manage glucose levels in the bloodstream) and metabolic disorders, even when horses aren't obese.
Previous studies conducted at KER found that healthy horses fed high-fat diets have a marked delay in clearing glucose, whereas when consuming carbohydrates from sweet feed, glucose returned to normal clearance rates. To test this theory further, his team evaluated four healthy, nonobese Thoroughbred geldings with body condition scores of 5-6 (out of 9), aged around 21.5 years old. The horses were stalled except for six hours of daily turnout with a grazing muzzle...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19690
by: Nancy S. Loving, DVM
March 05 2012, Article # 19690
The words "nonstructural carbohydrates" have become almost synonymous with "bad news" in the horse industry, mainly because many owners' goals have been to reduce these sugars and starches (while increasing fat levels) to provide "safer" calories for certain horses. Such strategies are desirable for horses with conditions such as recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis, polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), equine metabolic syndrome, or Cushing's disease, but until recently it was unclear what an NSC diet means for a "normal," nonobese horse.
At the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas, Joe Pagan, PhD, president of Kentucky Equine Research (KER), described his and colleagues' research on the effects of carbohydrate and fat intake on glucose tolerance in the healthy horse.
Pagan pointed out that there is a perception among horse owners that feeding any nonstructural carbohydrate to healthy horses will lead to insulin resistance (the inability of the hormone insulin released from the pancreas to manage glucose levels in the bloodstream) and metabolic disorders, even when horses aren't obese.
Previous studies conducted at KER found that healthy horses fed high-fat diets have a marked delay in clearing glucose, whereas when consuming carbohydrates from sweet feed, glucose returned to normal clearance rates. To test this theory further, his team evaluated four healthy, nonobese Thoroughbred geldings with body condition scores of 5-6 (out of 9), aged around 21.5 years old. The horses were stalled except for six hours of daily turnout with a grazing muzzle...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19690
Friday, March 02, 2012
Rabies Confirmed in Two Middle Tennessee Horses
Thehorse.com
by: Edited Press Release
February 29 2012, Article # 19665
The Tennessee Departments of Health and Agriculture have confirmed rabies in two horses recently deceased horses. One horse, submitted for testing in January 2012, died in rural Rutherford County, and the other was submitted this month from Marshall County. Both horses had a type of rabies virus found in skunks in Tennessee, although it is not known how they were infected.
“The deaths of these animals serve as a somber reminder of the importance of rabies vaccination," said Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. "Our pets--often including horses--are more likely to come into contact with wild animals than people are. Protecting pets with rabies vaccination can provide a barrier against rabies from wild animals."
Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus affecting the neurological system and salivary glands. Exposure to horses most commonly occurs through the bite of another infected (rabid) animal, typically a raccoon, skunk, bat, or fox. Clinical signs of rabies in horses are variable and can take up to 12 weeks to appear after the initial infection. Although affected horses are sometimes asymptomatic, an infected horse can show behavioral changes, such as drowsiness, depression, fear, or aggressiveness. Once clinical signs appear, there are no treatment options.
Rabies can only be diagnosed post-mortem by submitting the horse's head to a local public health laboratory to identify the rabies virus using a test called fluorescence antibody. Therefore, ensuring that all other potential diseases have been ruled out is very important in these cases.
Commercially-available rabies vaccines are safe and extremely effective. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) vaccination guidelines, adult horses should be vaccinated annually and mares in foal should be vaccinated four to six weeks pre-partum or before breeding. Foals and weanlings less than 12 months of age are administered an initial series of three vaccines. The timing is dependent on the vaccination status of the mare. Thereafter, horses are vaccinated annually.
While rabies is relatively rare in horses--usually fewer than 100 horses are infected in the United States every year--it is an important disease because it is zoonotic. That is, it can be spread to humans. Further, rabies is a reportable disease and the proper authorities should be notified in the event a horse--or any other animal--tests positive.
For questions about animal health, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at 615/837-5120 or animal.health@tn.gov.
by: Edited Press Release
February 29 2012, Article # 19665
The Tennessee Departments of Health and Agriculture have confirmed rabies in two horses recently deceased horses. One horse, submitted for testing in January 2012, died in rural Rutherford County, and the other was submitted this month from Marshall County. Both horses had a type of rabies virus found in skunks in Tennessee, although it is not known how they were infected.
“The deaths of these animals serve as a somber reminder of the importance of rabies vaccination," said Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. "Our pets--often including horses--are more likely to come into contact with wild animals than people are. Protecting pets with rabies vaccination can provide a barrier against rabies from wild animals."
Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus affecting the neurological system and salivary glands. Exposure to horses most commonly occurs through the bite of another infected (rabid) animal, typically a raccoon, skunk, bat, or fox. Clinical signs of rabies in horses are variable and can take up to 12 weeks to appear after the initial infection. Although affected horses are sometimes asymptomatic, an infected horse can show behavioral changes, such as drowsiness, depression, fear, or aggressiveness. Once clinical signs appear, there are no treatment options.
Rabies can only be diagnosed post-mortem by submitting the horse's head to a local public health laboratory to identify the rabies virus using a test called fluorescence antibody. Therefore, ensuring that all other potential diseases have been ruled out is very important in these cases.
Commercially-available rabies vaccines are safe and extremely effective. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) vaccination guidelines, adult horses should be vaccinated annually and mares in foal should be vaccinated four to six weeks pre-partum or before breeding. Foals and weanlings less than 12 months of age are administered an initial series of three vaccines. The timing is dependent on the vaccination status of the mare. Thereafter, horses are vaccinated annually.
While rabies is relatively rare in horses--usually fewer than 100 horses are infected in the United States every year--it is an important disease because it is zoonotic. That is, it can be spread to humans. Further, rabies is a reportable disease and the proper authorities should be notified in the event a horse--or any other animal--tests positive.
For questions about animal health, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at 615/837-5120 or animal.health@tn.gov.
A Black Cowboy's Ride Across America
Book Review at http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-on-the-trail-of/
Little did Miles Dean realize as he muscled his wrestling opponents to the floor in WeeQuahic High School in Newark, New Jersey that his courage and strength
would one day lead him to do what most people would think is unimaginable.
When I think of driving an automobile across the United States, I think of several drivers and a comfortable car with a protective roof and air conditioning for crossing hot states. How about crossing America riding a horse?
In A Black Cowboy’s Ride across America, Miles Dean completes that epic journey in 2007. Why, because it had never been done by a black man. Why, because it was a challenge to Miles' physical and mental endurance to draw a line in history from the African Burial Ground Memorial in Manhattan to the grounds of the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. Through his veins ran the mingled blood of countless black forefathers. Miles had charted a route that would pass through towns and cities to honor as many black heroes as possible.
Throughout the story, he speaks of the freedom that Black Americans now have compared to days when they arrived in chains aboard slave ships. Sold in “Congo Square” to the highest bidders with no regard for family. Fathers, mothers, and their children were torn from one another and then forced to perform white man’s labor under appalling conditions.
Miles determined to honor all of these desecrated people along with those who fought so bravely and tirelessly to eliminate the slave trade. In A Black Cowboy’s Ride across America, he visited memorials raised to honor all the Black Americans who fought during the horrific Civil War where, even in deadly battle, prejudice ran rampant. Fearless now, Miles rode his main horse Sankofa, through the very town where John Brown attempted to muster a slave revolt but in turn was captured by Robert E. Lee and hung.
Miles visited places where small black jockeys had ridden prized horses in prestigious races, only to be returned to their Jim Crow rank after winning a championship title for their white owners. Yet, throughout his ride, “He tried not to dwell on the tragedies black people had faced ... preferring to celebrate ... achievements.” He passed the Lorraine Motel and its balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King was slain—the prophetic leader who led this nation’s Black Americans to insist that Civil Rights finally be strongly enforced for all peoples once and for all.
Miles’s journey at times was fraught with danger. Crossing the Mississippi River Bridge with its six lanes of cars and monstrous 18-wheelers racing by forced him and Sankofa to ride perilously close to the three-foot high bridge railing. If the horse had turned quickly, stumbled, or reared at all, Miles could have been tossed over the railing and into the river — and Miles claimed to be a poor swimmer.
At times, Miles and his steed became separated from their support crew traveling along the highway. At one point while attempting to climb a steep hillside, Sankofa stopped and refused to go any farther. Climbing down to examine the horse, Miles noticed how difficult it was to stand upright, let alone go forward, so steep was the slope. The horse had sensed the danger and humbled its rider.
If you are searching for a story where man and beast, working together, overcame a host of obstacles, A Black Cowboy’s Ride Across America is the book for you. Its language is simple yet interesting and descriptive. It is a great read for young readers because its story is one of courage and the will to complete a task that most youth and adults would think foolhardy. Determined Miles completed his 5000 mile trek in 180 days. This is the fascinating story of a real man, one who rode on — rain or shine, even when saddle weary — to pay tribute to his forefathers and prove the strength of Black Cowboys.
Read more: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-on-the-trail-of/page-2/#ixzz1nyLkJdxR
Read more: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-on-the-trail-of/#ixzz1nyLfHoPY
Little did Miles Dean realize as he muscled his wrestling opponents to the floor in WeeQuahic High School in Newark, New Jersey that his courage and strength
would one day lead him to do what most people would think is unimaginable.
When I think of driving an automobile across the United States, I think of several drivers and a comfortable car with a protective roof and air conditioning for crossing hot states. How about crossing America riding a horse?In A Black Cowboy’s Ride across America, Miles Dean completes that epic journey in 2007. Why, because it had never been done by a black man. Why, because it was a challenge to Miles' physical and mental endurance to draw a line in history from the African Burial Ground Memorial in Manhattan to the grounds of the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. Through his veins ran the mingled blood of countless black forefathers. Miles had charted a route that would pass through towns and cities to honor as many black heroes as possible.
Throughout the story, he speaks of the freedom that Black Americans now have compared to days when they arrived in chains aboard slave ships. Sold in “Congo Square” to the highest bidders with no regard for family. Fathers, mothers, and their children were torn from one another and then forced to perform white man’s labor under appalling conditions.
Miles determined to honor all of these desecrated people along with those who fought so bravely and tirelessly to eliminate the slave trade. In A Black Cowboy’s Ride across America, he visited memorials raised to honor all the Black Americans who fought during the horrific Civil War where, even in deadly battle, prejudice ran rampant. Fearless now, Miles rode his main horse Sankofa, through the very town where John Brown attempted to muster a slave revolt but in turn was captured by Robert E. Lee and hung.
Miles visited places where small black jockeys had ridden prized horses in prestigious races, only to be returned to their Jim Crow rank after winning a championship title for their white owners. Yet, throughout his ride, “He tried not to dwell on the tragedies black people had faced ... preferring to celebrate ... achievements.” He passed the Lorraine Motel and its balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King was slain—the prophetic leader who led this nation’s Black Americans to insist that Civil Rights finally be strongly enforced for all peoples once and for all.
Miles’s journey at times was fraught with danger. Crossing the Mississippi River Bridge with its six lanes of cars and monstrous 18-wheelers racing by forced him and Sankofa to ride perilously close to the three-foot high bridge railing. If the horse had turned quickly, stumbled, or reared at all, Miles could have been tossed over the railing and into the river — and Miles claimed to be a poor swimmer.
At times, Miles and his steed became separated from their support crew traveling along the highway. At one point while attempting to climb a steep hillside, Sankofa stopped and refused to go any farther. Climbing down to examine the horse, Miles noticed how difficult it was to stand upright, let alone go forward, so steep was the slope. The horse had sensed the danger and humbled its rider.
If you are searching for a story where man and beast, working together, overcame a host of obstacles, A Black Cowboy’s Ride Across America is the book for you. Its language is simple yet interesting and descriptive. It is a great read for young readers because its story is one of courage and the will to complete a task that most youth and adults would think foolhardy. Determined Miles completed his 5000 mile trek in 180 days. This is the fascinating story of a real man, one who rode on — rain or shine, even when saddle weary — to pay tribute to his forefathers and prove the strength of Black Cowboys.
Read more: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-on-the-trail-of/page-2/#ixzz1nyLkJdxR
Read more: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-on-the-trail-of/#ixzz1nyLfHoPY
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Australia: Hendra Virus Quarantine Lifted in Queensland
Thehorse.com
by: Press Release
February 21 2012, Article # 19638
Two properties near Townsville, Queensland, that have been under quarantine for Hendra virus have been given the all clear, according to a press release by Biosecurity Queensland Feb. 16.
Rick Symons, BVSc, MBA, PhD, Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer, said a series of negative test results on nine horses, seven dogs, and one cat at two properties in the Townsville region meant that the quarantines could be lifted and animals could again be moved on and off the properties.
"Since June 2011, there have been 14 horses confirmed with Hendra virus and, for the first time outside of a laboratory, a dog tested positive for Hendra virus antibodies," Symons said.
"Horse owners should remain vigilant against Hendra virus.
"It is possible for Hendra virus infections to occur at anytime throughout the year, so it is very important horse owners practice good biosecurity on their properties to protect themselves and their animals.
"If horse owners notice any signs of illness in their animals, they should contact their local veterinarian."
Symons reminded horse owners that they can also play their part in helping Biosecurity Queensland learn more about the virus by sharing their experiences in the ´Horse Owners Survey on Hendra virus'.
"The survey is already providing valuable information for both Biosecurity agencies in Queensland and New South Wales," Symons said.
"There has so far been a good response with more than 750 horse owners completing the survey across Queensland and New South Wales.
"But we need feedback from more horse owners. Understanding horse owners' husbandry, property management, and feeding practices provides valuable information in understanding the transmission of Hendra virus. Every horse owner's feedback is important.
"Biosecurity Queensland is focused on learning more about the virus to ensure a safer environment for animals, horse owners, vets, and the community."
The survey has been extended to March 31 to allow even more horse owners to have their say. The survey can be completed online at https://www.research.net/s/Horse_Owner_Survey_on_Hendra_virus
Hendra virus information for horse owners packs are available from http://www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au/
by: Press Release
February 21 2012, Article # 19638
Two properties near Townsville, Queensland, that have been under quarantine for Hendra virus have been given the all clear, according to a press release by Biosecurity Queensland Feb. 16.
Rick Symons, BVSc, MBA, PhD, Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer, said a series of negative test results on nine horses, seven dogs, and one cat at two properties in the Townsville region meant that the quarantines could be lifted and animals could again be moved on and off the properties.
"Since June 2011, there have been 14 horses confirmed with Hendra virus and, for the first time outside of a laboratory, a dog tested positive for Hendra virus antibodies," Symons said.
"Horse owners should remain vigilant against Hendra virus.
"It is possible for Hendra virus infections to occur at anytime throughout the year, so it is very important horse owners practice good biosecurity on their properties to protect themselves and their animals.
"If horse owners notice any signs of illness in their animals, they should contact their local veterinarian."
Symons reminded horse owners that they can also play their part in helping Biosecurity Queensland learn more about the virus by sharing their experiences in the ´Horse Owners Survey on Hendra virus'.
"The survey is already providing valuable information for both Biosecurity agencies in Queensland and New South Wales," Symons said.
"There has so far been a good response with more than 750 horse owners completing the survey across Queensland and New South Wales.
"But we need feedback from more horse owners. Understanding horse owners' husbandry, property management, and feeding practices provides valuable information in understanding the transmission of Hendra virus. Every horse owner's feedback is important.
"Biosecurity Queensland is focused on learning more about the virus to ensure a safer environment for animals, horse owners, vets, and the community."
The survey has been extended to March 31 to allow even more horse owners to have their say. The survey can be completed online at https://www.research.net/s/Horse_Owner_Survey_on_Hendra_virus
Hendra virus information for horse owners packs are available from http://www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au/
Monday, February 27, 2012
Endurance Horse Basic Training: Hoof Boots
Enduranceridestuff Blog - Karen Chaton
If you choose to use ride in any type of hoof boots then you need to prepare your horse for the eventuality that one or more may come off during an endurance ride. Many horses will react adversely the first time that happens to them. Even more-so if it happens during an actual competition; your horse is excited, and there are other horses going by! It’s not fun to be stuck on the side of a narrow trail with a horse that is jumping about, bucking, or trying to out-run a boot that is still attached to his pastern.
For training purposes, I highly recommend exposing your horse having a boot come off of the front as well as a hind hoof in an arena or other controlled environment without a rider. Most horses will react the strongest the first time or two this happens. If you can get that behind you then when it happens while you are mounted it will usually be a non-event. Notice I said “most horses”. There will always be some horses that will never get over having a boot come off without having a fit over it.
Along with saying “my horse never kicks”, one should also consider never, ever saying “my hoof boots don’t come off”. Any horse can kick, and any brand or model of hoof boot can come off. It may not happen frequently, and for those that are fortunate enough to have a horse that happens to be easy on their boots as well as also having a great fit–may go years without having a boot come off...
Read more here:
http://enduranceridestuff.com/blog/2012/01/endurance-horse-basic-training-hoof-boots/comment-page-1/
If you choose to use ride in any type of hoof boots then you need to prepare your horse for the eventuality that one or more may come off during an endurance ride. Many horses will react adversely the first time that happens to them. Even more-so if it happens during an actual competition; your horse is excited, and there are other horses going by! It’s not fun to be stuck on the side of a narrow trail with a horse that is jumping about, bucking, or trying to out-run a boot that is still attached to his pastern.
For training purposes, I highly recommend exposing your horse having a boot come off of the front as well as a hind hoof in an arena or other controlled environment without a rider. Most horses will react the strongest the first time or two this happens. If you can get that behind you then when it happens while you are mounted it will usually be a non-event. Notice I said “most horses”. There will always be some horses that will never get over having a boot come off without having a fit over it.
Along with saying “my horse never kicks”, one should also consider never, ever saying “my hoof boots don’t come off”. Any horse can kick, and any brand or model of hoof boot can come off. It may not happen frequently, and for those that are fortunate enough to have a horse that happens to be easy on their boots as well as also having a great fit–may go years without having a boot come off...
Read more here:
http://enduranceridestuff.com/blog/2012/01/endurance-horse-basic-training-hoof-boots/comment-page-1/
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Horses and Wildlife
Myhorse.com Blog - Full Article
by Ron Zaccagnini
It seems I am getting a lot of calls lately from folks who want to spend more time in the wilderness with their animals—horses and other pets—all with common questions regarding wildlife encounters. Predators are the most common source of concern.
“What do I do if I meet a lion or a bear?” “My horse spends most of his life in the arena, and he’s not use to seeing bears. What can I expect?” “We are planning a pack trip in the Rockies, and are concerned about bears and lions. What advice can you give?”
My first response is: “Your concerns are justified, and you are wise to ask in advance.”
Bears and lions are both plentiful, as are other wild animals, and the reality is, even for horses who have encountered wildlife before, it’s will probably be a frightening experience. A person is wise to be concerned, but there are some things that you can do to minimize your exposure to danger. As always, knowledge is power.
Toward that end, here are some things that you can do to minimize your exposure to danger with wildlife encounters...
Read more here:
http://myhorse.com/blogs/english-and-western-riding/trail-riding/lions-and-bears-in-the-wilderness-oh-my/?utm_source=Week32&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Editorial-Newsletter-1
by Ron Zaccagnini
It seems I am getting a lot of calls lately from folks who want to spend more time in the wilderness with their animals—horses and other pets—all with common questions regarding wildlife encounters. Predators are the most common source of concern.
“What do I do if I meet a lion or a bear?” “My horse spends most of his life in the arena, and he’s not use to seeing bears. What can I expect?” “We are planning a pack trip in the Rockies, and are concerned about bears and lions. What advice can you give?”
My first response is: “Your concerns are justified, and you are wise to ask in advance.”
Bears and lions are both plentiful, as are other wild animals, and the reality is, even for horses who have encountered wildlife before, it’s will probably be a frightening experience. A person is wise to be concerned, but there are some things that you can do to minimize your exposure to danger. As always, knowledge is power.
Toward that end, here are some things that you can do to minimize your exposure to danger with wildlife encounters...
Read more here:
http://myhorse.com/blogs/english-and-western-riding/trail-riding/lions-and-bears-in-the-wilderness-oh-my/?utm_source=Week32&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Editorial-Newsletter-1
Study: Zebra Stripes Deter Horseflies
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre
February 22 2012, Article # 19643
Zebra stripes might soon be the new hot fashion in summer equine wear. Printed on rugs and sheets, ear covers, and leg wraps, it could be attractive to everyone.
Everyone, that is, except horseflies.
That's because, according to a recent study by Hungarian and Swedish researchers, horseflies--known to scientists as tabanids--find zebra stripes incredibly unappealing. And the thinner and more numerous the stripes, the more the flies are deterred from landing on the animal.
"We conclude that zebras have evolved a coat pattern in which the stripes are narrow enough to ensure a minimum attractiveness to tabanid flies," said Gabor Horvath, PhD, researcher at the Environmental Optics Laboratory in the Department of Biological Physics at Eotvos University, in Budapest, and chief author of the study.
This finding could be particularly beneficial for owners of black or brown horses...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19643
by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre
February 22 2012, Article # 19643
Zebra stripes might soon be the new hot fashion in summer equine wear. Printed on rugs and sheets, ear covers, and leg wraps, it could be attractive to everyone.
Everyone, that is, except horseflies.
That's because, according to a recent study by Hungarian and Swedish researchers, horseflies--known to scientists as tabanids--find zebra stripes incredibly unappealing. And the thinner and more numerous the stripes, the more the flies are deterred from landing on the animal.
"We conclude that zebras have evolved a coat pattern in which the stripes are narrow enough to ensure a minimum attractiveness to tabanid flies," said Gabor Horvath, PhD, researcher at the Environmental Optics Laboratory in the Department of Biological Physics at Eotvos University, in Budapest, and chief author of the study.
This finding could be particularly beneficial for owners of black or brown horses...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19643
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Quarter Horse Genome Sequenced
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
February 17 2012, Article # 19622
What is a fitting anniversary gift for an international team of geneticists and a Thoroughbred mare called Twilight, who sacrificed a small sample of DNA to have all of her chromosomes sequenced in their entirety five years ago? Why, a second fully sequenced equine genome, of course.
A Texas A&M University research team led by Scott Dindot, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, recently finished sequencing, or “mapping,” the genome of an 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare called Sugar.
Further, Dindot and colleagues compared Sugar’s genomic map to Twilight’s and found more than 3 million differences, called genetic variants. Many of these differences were present in genes involved in sensory perception, signal transduction (inside and between cells), and immunity.
“We also found that the mare had a different number of copies of some genes relative to Twilight, which has never been reported in horses before,” Dindot relayed. “We recently completed another study looking at these copy number variants (CNVs) to help determine what the differences in copy numbers between different horse breeds mean. For example, CNVs cause many diseases in humans, and we suspect that the same might be true in horses, but more research is needed.”
In addition, the team reported using updated “second generation” techniques to create the genomic map...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19622
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
February 17 2012, Article # 19622
What is a fitting anniversary gift for an international team of geneticists and a Thoroughbred mare called Twilight, who sacrificed a small sample of DNA to have all of her chromosomes sequenced in their entirety five years ago? Why, a second fully sequenced equine genome, of course.
A Texas A&M University research team led by Scott Dindot, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, recently finished sequencing, or “mapping,” the genome of an 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare called Sugar.
Further, Dindot and colleagues compared Sugar’s genomic map to Twilight’s and found more than 3 million differences, called genetic variants. Many of these differences were present in genes involved in sensory perception, signal transduction (inside and between cells), and immunity.
“We also found that the mare had a different number of copies of some genes relative to Twilight, which has never been reported in horses before,” Dindot relayed. “We recently completed another study looking at these copy number variants (CNVs) to help determine what the differences in copy numbers between different horse breeds mean. For example, CNVs cause many diseases in humans, and we suspect that the same might be true in horses, but more research is needed.”
In addition, the team reported using updated “second generation” techniques to create the genomic map...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19622
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Supplements in a Horse Diet: Too Much, Too Little or None at All?
Myhorse.com/blogs - Full Article
If the phrase “well-rounded equestrian” was in the dictionary, it would be accompanied by a photo of Dr. Clair Thunes.
Growing up in England, Clair competed in all disciplines, including eventing, show jumping, dressage, gymkhana, trail, fox hunting, hunters, and side saddle. She played polo in college and helped prepare FEI-level dressage horses with a local trainer. She also owned and trained a young BLM mustang and competed him in dressage and eventing before selling him on to a youth competition home.
And oh, Clair also has a master’s degree in animal science and a PhD in nutrition, both from the University of California at Davis. And since I’m always on the prowl for savvy horse folk, I asked her to explain the basics of the very confusing world of equine supplements, and she graciously complied. After reading this and talking with her, I’m convinced that I need to make a few changes, such as add more sodium to our horses’ diets.
The Equine Diet and Supplements: The Basics of What You Need to Know
By Dr. Clair Thunes
With the dizzying array of supplements available both in feed stores and online it can be a very complicated task to figure out what, if anything, your horse needs. You can easily find yourself administering multiple products a day, often with overlapping ingredients, or throwing your hands up in despair and avoiding them all together. One of the main things I do as an independent equine nutritionist is to evaluate the diets that owners are feeding their horses to see whether they are optimal.
Generally speaking (and there are always exceptions when it comes to horses), a large proportion of the horse’s daily nutrient requirement will be met by the forage in the diet. For those in little or no work, or who are easy keepers, no additional source of calories beyond forage may be necessary. However, forages are not necessarily the most balanced source of minerals, and some minerals like selenium may be lacking, depending on your geographic region and soil quality.
If you are feeding hay as your forage source, vitamin E may also be low. A vitamin mineral supplement to balance your hay and ensure adequate trace minerals and vitamins will be needed. There are lots on the market, but many of them do not provide enough of the necessary nutrients for a horse on an otherwise all-forage diet. For advice on which one would be best for your horse given the type of hay you are feeding, your location and your horse’s specific needs, contact a qualified equine nutritionist.
For those whose horses are working and/or cannot maintain their condition on forage alone, an additional source of calories will also be required. If calories are provided through the use of a fortified commercial feed and the feeding directions are followed, then the minerals and vitamins generally lacking in the forage should also be provided, and the ration should be fairly well balanced...
Read more here:
http://myhorse.com/blogs/horse-care/supplements/supplements-in-a-horse-diet-too-much-too-little-or-nothing-at-all/?utm_source=Week32&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Editorial-Newsletter-2
If the phrase “well-rounded equestrian” was in the dictionary, it would be accompanied by a photo of Dr. Clair Thunes.
Growing up in England, Clair competed in all disciplines, including eventing, show jumping, dressage, gymkhana, trail, fox hunting, hunters, and side saddle. She played polo in college and helped prepare FEI-level dressage horses with a local trainer. She also owned and trained a young BLM mustang and competed him in dressage and eventing before selling him on to a youth competition home.
And oh, Clair also has a master’s degree in animal science and a PhD in nutrition, both from the University of California at Davis. And since I’m always on the prowl for savvy horse folk, I asked her to explain the basics of the very confusing world of equine supplements, and she graciously complied. After reading this and talking with her, I’m convinced that I need to make a few changes, such as add more sodium to our horses’ diets.
The Equine Diet and Supplements: The Basics of What You Need to Know
By Dr. Clair Thunes
With the dizzying array of supplements available both in feed stores and online it can be a very complicated task to figure out what, if anything, your horse needs. You can easily find yourself administering multiple products a day, often with overlapping ingredients, or throwing your hands up in despair and avoiding them all together. One of the main things I do as an independent equine nutritionist is to evaluate the diets that owners are feeding their horses to see whether they are optimal.
Generally speaking (and there are always exceptions when it comes to horses), a large proportion of the horse’s daily nutrient requirement will be met by the forage in the diet. For those in little or no work, or who are easy keepers, no additional source of calories beyond forage may be necessary. However, forages are not necessarily the most balanced source of minerals, and some minerals like selenium may be lacking, depending on your geographic region and soil quality.
If you are feeding hay as your forage source, vitamin E may also be low. A vitamin mineral supplement to balance your hay and ensure adequate trace minerals and vitamins will be needed. There are lots on the market, but many of them do not provide enough of the necessary nutrients for a horse on an otherwise all-forage diet. For advice on which one would be best for your horse given the type of hay you are feeding, your location and your horse’s specific needs, contact a qualified equine nutritionist.
For those whose horses are working and/or cannot maintain their condition on forage alone, an additional source of calories will also be required. If calories are provided through the use of a fortified commercial feed and the feeding directions are followed, then the minerals and vitamins generally lacking in the forage should also be provided, and the ration should be fairly well balanced...
Read more here:
http://myhorse.com/blogs/horse-care/supplements/supplements-in-a-horse-diet-too-much-too-little-or-nothing-at-all/?utm_source=Week32&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Editorial-Newsletter-2
Manuka Honey for Healing Horse Wounds (AAEP 2011)
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Christy M. West
February 22 2012, Article # 19614
With the popularity of natural treatments on the rise, it’s no surprise that manuka honey—which is produced by bees—visiting the manuka bush found exclusively in New Zealand, has gained a good deal of attention. Vendors claim that it has antibacterial wound-healing properties in humans and in experimental animals.
But can it help wounds heal faster in horses than they would if left untreated? Researchers at the University of Sydney decided to find out, and they presented their findings at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas.
Presenter Andrew Dart, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ECVS, director of the university’s Veterinary Science Research and Clinical Training Unit, described two controlled studies in which he and colleagues used manuka honey on horse wounds. One evaluated UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) 20 manuka honey to see if it helped heal wounds faster, while the second compared a 66% manuka honey and water gel to 100% manuka honey for wound healing...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19614
by: Christy M. West
February 22 2012, Article # 19614
With the popularity of natural treatments on the rise, it’s no surprise that manuka honey—which is produced by bees—visiting the manuka bush found exclusively in New Zealand, has gained a good deal of attention. Vendors claim that it has antibacterial wound-healing properties in humans and in experimental animals.
But can it help wounds heal faster in horses than they would if left untreated? Researchers at the University of Sydney decided to find out, and they presented their findings at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas.
Presenter Andrew Dart, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ECVS, director of the university’s Veterinary Science Research and Clinical Training Unit, described two controlled studies in which he and colleagues used manuka honey on horse wounds. One evaluated UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) 20 manuka honey to see if it helped heal wounds faster, while the second compared a 66% manuka honey and water gel to 100% manuka honey for wound healing...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19614
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Texans Ponder Drought's Long-term Equine Impact
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Pat Raia
January 30 2012, Article # 19518
Drought conditions have been bearing down on Texas for more than a year. Now with little relief in sight, some rescue operators wonder how the persistent lack of rain will affect their missions and the future of the horse industry in that state.
According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions--an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that studies climate change and energy policy issues--Texas' 2011 drought represents the worst one-year dry spell since 1895. And though some rain has fallen in some parts of the state, Brian Fuchs, climatologist for the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska, believes dry conditions in Texas are probably not likely to significantly abate soon.
"In the past 60 to 90 days parts of Texas have had some pretty decent rains and top soil moisture levels are increasing," Fuchs said. "Most of this relief has happened in northern Texas, but central and southern Texas have not seen this type of relief."
Fuchs said that predictions indicate drought conditions will continue in Texas through 2012. Some Texas A&M University climatologists speculate the drought could persist until 2020.
Jennifer Williams, PhD, president and executive director of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, in College Station, said the dismal long-term outlook is bad news for rescue operators, law enforcement agencies, and horse owners already overburdened by drought-connected animal care costs.
Williams said rescuers are increasingly bearing the brunt of drought-related horse care issues: spikes in hay and grain costs are forcing increasing numbers of hard-pressed owners to surrender their animals to rescuers...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19518
by: Pat Raia
January 30 2012, Article # 19518
Drought conditions have been bearing down on Texas for more than a year. Now with little relief in sight, some rescue operators wonder how the persistent lack of rain will affect their missions and the future of the horse industry in that state.
According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions--an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that studies climate change and energy policy issues--Texas' 2011 drought represents the worst one-year dry spell since 1895. And though some rain has fallen in some parts of the state, Brian Fuchs, climatologist for the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska, believes dry conditions in Texas are probably not likely to significantly abate soon.
"In the past 60 to 90 days parts of Texas have had some pretty decent rains and top soil moisture levels are increasing," Fuchs said. "Most of this relief has happened in northern Texas, but central and southern Texas have not seen this type of relief."
Fuchs said that predictions indicate drought conditions will continue in Texas through 2012. Some Texas A&M University climatologists speculate the drought could persist until 2020.
Jennifer Williams, PhD, president and executive director of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, in College Station, said the dismal long-term outlook is bad news for rescue operators, law enforcement agencies, and horse owners already overburdened by drought-connected animal care costs.
Williams said rescuers are increasingly bearing the brunt of drought-related horse care issues: spikes in hay and grain costs are forcing increasing numbers of hard-pressed owners to surrender their animals to rescuers...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19518
Training tips: distance versus time
Bootsandsaddles4mel Blog - Full Article
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012
During conditioning rides, do you ride for time or distance?
When I was training for marathons (before I got smart and realized I could do this from the back of a horse....) I followed a program that believed that time spent hitting the road mattered more than the actual distance that you did. Galloway said that the mileage of 26.2 miles isn't hard - it's the 4 hours or so you spend on your feet moving. To condition for this, he suggested spending more effort getting the time in instead of focusing on the miles.
This worked well for me for several reasons. I was running without a GPS or mapped/measured course, and which wasn't a huge set back - I did enough miles on the track that I got a good sense of my pacing (even if I was run/walking). However, planning for time rather than distance was an advantage mentally. I planned my long runs for the time it should take to complete them - for example, 11 min/mile pace wasn't unreasonable for a 10-15 mile run. If I needed a 10 mile run, I would plan a 2 hour run - if I needed 15 miles, I knew I would be out there for 3 hours. In most cases, it didn't matter whether I was running for time or distance - both got accomplished. However, if something went terribly wrong I didn't worry that I was going too slow to get in the miles - I just knew I had to suck it up for "x" number of minutes. And somehow, it's easier to say "I can walk for another hour and be done", then to say "I have 5 more miles to go - and so that's 1-6 hours depending on whether I run it or crawl it...". It gave me the freedom to not push past that margin of safety that kept me from getting hurt, because I was running for time, not distance and could go as slow as I needed to get that time in without the pressure of getting the miles in.
Usually every 3rd long run or so, I would completely hit the wall and do significantly less miles than planned, but still got the time in. It never hurt me and my next long run always went well - but more importantly, my motivation remained high and I didn't get mentally burnt out.
The other training philosophy I followed once I had a few completions and I was interested in going faster, was: you train for speed, and you train for distance - but you don't combine the two until race day...
Read more here:
http://bootsandsaddles4mel.blogspot.com/2012/02/training-tips-distance-versus-time.html
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012
During conditioning rides, do you ride for time or distance?
When I was training for marathons (before I got smart and realized I could do this from the back of a horse....) I followed a program that believed that time spent hitting the road mattered more than the actual distance that you did. Galloway said that the mileage of 26.2 miles isn't hard - it's the 4 hours or so you spend on your feet moving. To condition for this, he suggested spending more effort getting the time in instead of focusing on the miles.
This worked well for me for several reasons. I was running without a GPS or mapped/measured course, and which wasn't a huge set back - I did enough miles on the track that I got a good sense of my pacing (even if I was run/walking). However, planning for time rather than distance was an advantage mentally. I planned my long runs for the time it should take to complete them - for example, 11 min/mile pace wasn't unreasonable for a 10-15 mile run. If I needed a 10 mile run, I would plan a 2 hour run - if I needed 15 miles, I knew I would be out there for 3 hours. In most cases, it didn't matter whether I was running for time or distance - both got accomplished. However, if something went terribly wrong I didn't worry that I was going too slow to get in the miles - I just knew I had to suck it up for "x" number of minutes. And somehow, it's easier to say "I can walk for another hour and be done", then to say "I have 5 more miles to go - and so that's 1-6 hours depending on whether I run it or crawl it...". It gave me the freedom to not push past that margin of safety that kept me from getting hurt, because I was running for time, not distance and could go as slow as I needed to get that time in without the pressure of getting the miles in.
Usually every 3rd long run or so, I would completely hit the wall and do significantly less miles than planned, but still got the time in. It never hurt me and my next long run always went well - but more importantly, my motivation remained high and I didn't get mentally burnt out.
The other training philosophy I followed once I had a few completions and I was interested in going faster, was: you train for speed, and you train for distance - but you don't combine the two until race day...
Read more here:
http://bootsandsaddles4mel.blogspot.com/2012/02/training-tips-distance-versus-time.html
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Acidity of Water Affects Palatability for Horses
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2011
Horses are sometimes reluctant to drink water when they’re away from home. Owners suspect that the water may taste different enough to be uninviting, but it becomes a problem when horses refuse to drink, leading to possible dehydration and increasing the risk of colic and other health concerns.
How different does the strange taste, smell, or level of acidity have to be before horses will back off from a bucket of water? In a study conducted at the University of Guelph, twelve horses were offered control water with a pH of 7.5 as well as separate buckets of water that contained citric acid to change the pH to more acidic levels of 5.0, 3.6, or 2.9. Amount of water drunk from each bucket was monitored.
Consumption was highest from the control bucket. Less water was taken from the 5.0 bucket (moderately acidic). Horses did drink from the other two buckets (most acidic) at similar rates, but showed more aversion to these choices. This seems to indicate that horses avoid drinking strongly acidic water, though in this study it seems possible that either the smell or the taste produced the aversion...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/acidity-water-affects-palatability-horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2011
Horses are sometimes reluctant to drink water when they’re away from home. Owners suspect that the water may taste different enough to be uninviting, but it becomes a problem when horses refuse to drink, leading to possible dehydration and increasing the risk of colic and other health concerns.
How different does the strange taste, smell, or level of acidity have to be before horses will back off from a bucket of water? In a study conducted at the University of Guelph, twelve horses were offered control water with a pH of 7.5 as well as separate buckets of water that contained citric acid to change the pH to more acidic levels of 5.0, 3.6, or 2.9. Amount of water drunk from each bucket was monitored.
Consumption was highest from the control bucket. Less water was taken from the 5.0 bucket (moderately acidic). Horses did drink from the other two buckets (most acidic) at similar rates, but showed more aversion to these choices. This seems to indicate that horses avoid drinking strongly acidic water, though in this study it seems possible that either the smell or the taste produced the aversion...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/acidity-water-affects-palatability-horses
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Diagnosing Respiratory Infection
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Kelleyerin Clabaugh, DVM
December 01 2011, Article # 19393
The scenario might sound familiar: You take a couple laps around the arena with your horse, and suddenly he starts coughing so hard he yanks the reins out of your hands. You let him rest but he doesn't seem to be able to catch his breath. Could he have picked up a respiratory infection at the last horse show?
This is a typical case an equine veterinarian would encounter. The owner brings a horse in to a referral clinic, reports a cough and exercise intolerance, and might immediately ask for him to be put on antibiotics. As veterinarians, our job is to decide if antibiotics are necessary and beneficial, particularly since we're seeing increasing resistance of bacteria to these drugs. So how do we decide? And if it's not a bacterial infection, what else could it be?
Your horse's recent history is incredibly relevant to the diagnosis. Be prepared to answer a barrage of questions about new hay or bedding, turnout changes, any new horses in the barn, recent travel, vaccination status, appetite, what triggers the cough, whether it's dry or wet, or if there is any discharge, among other inquiries...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19393
by: Kelleyerin Clabaugh, DVM
December 01 2011, Article # 19393
The scenario might sound familiar: You take a couple laps around the arena with your horse, and suddenly he starts coughing so hard he yanks the reins out of your hands. You let him rest but he doesn't seem to be able to catch his breath. Could he have picked up a respiratory infection at the last horse show?
This is a typical case an equine veterinarian would encounter. The owner brings a horse in to a referral clinic, reports a cough and exercise intolerance, and might immediately ask for him to be put on antibiotics. As veterinarians, our job is to decide if antibiotics are necessary and beneficial, particularly since we're seeing increasing resistance of bacteria to these drugs. So how do we decide? And if it's not a bacterial infection, what else could it be?
Your horse's recent history is incredibly relevant to the diagnosis. Be prepared to answer a barrage of questions about new hay or bedding, turnout changes, any new horses in the barn, recent travel, vaccination status, appetite, what triggers the cough, whether it's dry or wet, or if there is any discharge, among other inquiries...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19393
Nowhere to Hide
Cs.Thehorse.com - Full Article
14 February 2012
A few clicks of the mouse pull up a map with my house designated by a push pin icon surrounded by a red circle, sitting dead center like a bull’s-eye. The map tells me that there are no registered sex offenders living within a mile of me. A few more clicks expand the radius of the circle to five miles, and this time the map identifies 23 registered sex offenders living in the vicinity. The offenders are identified by name, address, often a photograph, and a link to a site where I can find out the nature of the offenders’ crimes.
Every state has a sex offender registry. A National Sex Offender Public Website is maintained by the Department of Justice and links information from all 50 states, several U.S. territories, and a large number of Indian tribes. Aside from the voyeuristic appeal of knowing your neighbors’ secrets, there are some legitimate reasons for public disclosure of sex offender information.
It’s not so easy to identify convicted animal abusers, but that may be changing.
The country’s first mandatory registration program for convicted animal abusers was established in Suffolk County, New York, in October 2010. The rationale behind the registry was to identify animal abusers to shelters and rescues, pet stores and dealers, and individuals so that abusers would not be able to buy or adopt animals.
The idea seems to be catching on around the country, with legislation establishing animal abuse registries under consideration in several states...
Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horses-and-the-law/archive/2012/02/14/nowhere-to-hide.aspx
14 February 2012
A few clicks of the mouse pull up a map with my house designated by a push pin icon surrounded by a red circle, sitting dead center like a bull’s-eye. The map tells me that there are no registered sex offenders living within a mile of me. A few more clicks expand the radius of the circle to five miles, and this time the map identifies 23 registered sex offenders living in the vicinity. The offenders are identified by name, address, often a photograph, and a link to a site where I can find out the nature of the offenders’ crimes.
Every state has a sex offender registry. A National Sex Offender Public Website is maintained by the Department of Justice and links information from all 50 states, several U.S. territories, and a large number of Indian tribes. Aside from the voyeuristic appeal of knowing your neighbors’ secrets, there are some legitimate reasons for public disclosure of sex offender information.
It’s not so easy to identify convicted animal abusers, but that may be changing.
The country’s first mandatory registration program for convicted animal abusers was established in Suffolk County, New York, in October 2010. The rationale behind the registry was to identify animal abusers to shelters and rescues, pet stores and dealers, and individuals so that abusers would not be able to buy or adopt animals.
The idea seems to be catching on around the country, with legislation establishing animal abuse registries under consideration in several states...
Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horses-and-the-law/archive/2012/02/14/nowhere-to-hide.aspx
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Plants That Kill
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Pat Raia
October 01 2011, Article # 19321
Minimize your horse's risk of ingesting a deadly plant by identifying and removing harmful species from in and around barns and pastures
One spring a few years ago, four horses on a Colorado farm began losing weight and developed photosensitization (a condition characterized by sensitivity to sun exposure) and neurologic signs. A thorough physical exam and blood work helped veterinarians determine the horses had extensive chronic liver disease, and a liver biopsy confirmed typical signs of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning. These alkaloids are typically found in groundsels such as tansy ragwort, fiddle neck, and rattle pod. However, none of these plants were present in the horses' pasture.
But when the horses' owner broke open a bale from the hay supply he had been feeding all winter, he noticed significant amounts of broad, hairy leaves that were eight to 12 inches long. These leaves were identified as hound's tongue, a noxious weed in many areas across the country that contains significant quantities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Hound's tongue remains toxic even when dried in hay. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect on the liver, and after eating the contaminated hay over the winter, the horses developed chronic irreversible liver disease. Eventually, all four of the affected horses were euthanized because of liver failure.
Hound's tongue is one of myriad plants toxic enough to cause illness and even death in horses. So it's important that owners recognize poisonous plants growing in or near their horses' pastures and prevent their animals from ingesting them...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19321
by: Pat Raia
October 01 2011, Article # 19321
Minimize your horse's risk of ingesting a deadly plant by identifying and removing harmful species from in and around barns and pastures
One spring a few years ago, four horses on a Colorado farm began losing weight and developed photosensitization (a condition characterized by sensitivity to sun exposure) and neurologic signs. A thorough physical exam and blood work helped veterinarians determine the horses had extensive chronic liver disease, and a liver biopsy confirmed typical signs of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning. These alkaloids are typically found in groundsels such as tansy ragwort, fiddle neck, and rattle pod. However, none of these plants were present in the horses' pasture.
But when the horses' owner broke open a bale from the hay supply he had been feeding all winter, he noticed significant amounts of broad, hairy leaves that were eight to 12 inches long. These leaves were identified as hound's tongue, a noxious weed in many areas across the country that contains significant quantities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Hound's tongue remains toxic even when dried in hay. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect on the liver, and after eating the contaminated hay over the winter, the horses developed chronic irreversible liver disease. Eventually, all four of the affected horses were euthanized because of liver failure.
Hound's tongue is one of myriad plants toxic enough to cause illness and even death in horses. So it's important that owners recognize poisonous plants growing in or near their horses' pastures and prevent their animals from ingesting them...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19321
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Protect Your Horse from Back Pain
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2012
Back pain in horses can be subtle or obvious; can manifest as shifting lameness or just a generally sour attitude; and is sometimes tricky to diagnose and hard to relieve. Savvy owners put their efforts into preventing back pain in their horses rather than trying to eliminate it once the discomfort sets in. Here are a few things to think about:
•Be sure your saddle fits well and your pads are in good condition. Many excellent articles address how to check your saddle for the best fit. If you still have doubts, ask an instructor or more experienced rider to help you. Keep saddle pads clean, be sure they lie flat under the saddle without pushing down on the withers, and replace pads that become thin or worn.
•Maintain a regular schedule of hoof trimming and shoe resetting (about every 4 to 6 weeks for most horses). Slight changes in the length or angle of the hooves can make a horse move differently, possibly stressing his back and legs...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/protect-your-horse-back-pain
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2012
Back pain in horses can be subtle or obvious; can manifest as shifting lameness or just a generally sour attitude; and is sometimes tricky to diagnose and hard to relieve. Savvy owners put their efforts into preventing back pain in their horses rather than trying to eliminate it once the discomfort sets in. Here are a few things to think about:
•Be sure your saddle fits well and your pads are in good condition. Many excellent articles address how to check your saddle for the best fit. If you still have doubts, ask an instructor or more experienced rider to help you. Keep saddle pads clean, be sure they lie flat under the saddle without pushing down on the withers, and replace pads that become thin or worn.
•Maintain a regular schedule of hoof trimming and shoe resetting (about every 4 to 6 weeks for most horses). Slight changes in the length or angle of the hooves can make a horse move differently, possibly stressing his back and legs...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/protect-your-horse-back-pain
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Top 5 Mistakes Horse Owners Make When Responding to Emergencies
CS.Thehorse.com - Full Article
27 January 2012
1. Assuming that they should be the animal handler
Many horse owners or horse-loving people who respond to a scene are far too emotional to be right up close and personal with the horse in these scenarios. That's why your veterinarian often has their trained technician handle the horse for exams and vaccinations, too.
The animal can read your panic, fears and frustrations, and this excites the animal even more. Then you become an obstacle to the professional emergency responders' efforts to save the animal.
When it's your horse, you may be much better off standing to the side with your veterinarian and friends for support while the professionals assist your animal. As an analogy, in the human medical world, just because you are the mom or dad does not mean you would be invited or allowed to help firefighters and paramedics working on your child.
A person that can remain calm, make rational decisions, and assist the emergency response professionals with making suggestions relevant to the scenario is to be cultivated. Focus on the problem at hand, prioritize, and coordinate with professionals such as your veterinarian to keep drama out of the scene.
2. Getting too close to the animal
Horse owners tend to overestimate how much their animal "loves them," and this anthropomorphism leads to dangerous body positioning and extrication approaches. Animals don't think in these situations; they react. Although the horse may not intend to injure you, it easily can in a struggle to save itself...
Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horse-911-whats-your-emergency/archive/2012/01/27/top-five-mistakes-horse-owners-make-when-responding-to-emergencies.aspx
27 January 2012
1. Assuming that they should be the animal handler
Many horse owners or horse-loving people who respond to a scene are far too emotional to be right up close and personal with the horse in these scenarios. That's why your veterinarian often has their trained technician handle the horse for exams and vaccinations, too.
The animal can read your panic, fears and frustrations, and this excites the animal even more. Then you become an obstacle to the professional emergency responders' efforts to save the animal.
When it's your horse, you may be much better off standing to the side with your veterinarian and friends for support while the professionals assist your animal. As an analogy, in the human medical world, just because you are the mom or dad does not mean you would be invited or allowed to help firefighters and paramedics working on your child.
A person that can remain calm, make rational decisions, and assist the emergency response professionals with making suggestions relevant to the scenario is to be cultivated. Focus on the problem at hand, prioritize, and coordinate with professionals such as your veterinarian to keep drama out of the scene.
2. Getting too close to the animal
Horse owners tend to overestimate how much their animal "loves them," and this anthropomorphism leads to dangerous body positioning and extrication approaches. Animals don't think in these situations; they react. Although the horse may not intend to injure you, it easily can in a struggle to save itself...
Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horse-911-whats-your-emergency/archive/2012/01/27/top-five-mistakes-horse-owners-make-when-responding-to-emergencies.aspx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)