Protein as an Energy Source for Performance Horses

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 2, 2016

Horses derive energy from various components of their diets, namely starch, fat, fiber, and protein. An idle mature horse likely obtains most of his dietary energy from fiber-rich feedstuffs such as pasture and hay. Fiber is fermented in the hindgut and energy created for maintenance of body processes. For horses involved in regular athletic activity, a fiber-only diet will probably not provide enough fuel for the combined toll of exercise and maintenance of body weight, so other energy sources must be added. Of those others mentioned previously—starch, fat, fiber, and protein—protein is least efficient at fueling work.

If the protein intake of a performance horse exceeds its requirement, the superfluous protein can be used as a source of energy. The amino acids from the extra protein are broken down by the liver, and the carbon skeletons that are left are oxidized to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule used to power muscular activity, or used to make glucose or fat. The nitrogen from the protein is excreted in the urine as urea and changed to ammonia as it interacts with environmental microorganisms...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/protein-energy-source-performance-horses?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ec103363e9-ker-horse-nutri-kentucky-equine-04_13_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-ec103363e9-11166

FEI joins other stakeholders in concussion conference

FEI.org

2 Apr 2016

Charting a safer course

The FEI will join some of the world’s top international sports organisations in Berlin (GER) Germany next October for the Fifth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport.

Concussions are in the spotlight more than ever, and have become the predominant safety issue for athletes competing in equestrian and other sports. For this reason, organisations like the IOC, FEI, FIFA and World Rugby have taken a lead role in organising this conference and developing it into the world’s most influential process for policy makers on concussions in sport.

The purpose of the conference is two-fold. The first objective is to present a summary of new evidence-based research that covers all aspects of concussions including definition, management, investigations, treatment, return-to play protocol, prevention and knowledge transfer.

An expert panel group, which includes FEI Medical Committee member Allen Sills, reviews the research presented at the Conference and develops the consensus from the information presented at the meeting.

With the facts presented by the world’s experts and researchers in concussion in sport, the second objective is to reach an agreement amongst the conference participants in developing a Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sports: a protocol document for physicians and healthcare professionals involved in the care of injured athletes at the recreational, elite or professional level.

Since its inception in 2001, the conference has become the main forum for concussion awareness and prevention. It led to the publication of the first Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) in 2005, which is in use by many sports leagues and federations today. The Consensus and the SCAT has formed the foundation by which the majority of sporting organisations have developed protocols with respect to concussions. The SCAT ranks as one of the most significant efforts by the sports medicine field to address concussion treatment and prevention.

The most recent conferences (the last in 2012 in Zurich) have developed and adjusted the SCAT, currently in its 3rd version (SCAT3), in order to fit better the treatment and prevention needs of both pro athletes and children (Child SCAT3). A pocket concussion recognition tool (Pocket CRT) has also been developed for parents, coaches and others to help with concussion detection.

The forthcoming Berlin Consensus will address a broad range of topics including concussion detection, evaluation and that would then be published in leading medical journals.

The Fifth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport (ICCCS) will run from 27-28 October, 2016 in Berlin, Germany.

Registration and Submission Information:

NOTE: General Registration for the Fifth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport will open in June. Invited attendees (expert group, observers, authors and Organisations will have the opportunity to register for the conference via early submission.

Click here to access the ICCCS website.

2016 Time to Ride Challenge Now Open for Registration

Equisearch.com - Full Article

Stables, clubs and businesses nationwide are invited to compete for $100,000 cash and prizes by growing their business.

By Time To Ride | 4/7/2016

April 7th, 2016 - The Time to Ride Challenge, in its third year in 2016, is now open for registration. Stables, clubs, businesses, and all other horse professionals are welcomed to visit timetoride.com and take the first step towards growing their businesses by introducing new people to horses and expanding the entire industry.

The Challenge will award $100,000 cash and prizes and take place June 1st through September 30th. Registration is free and available now at www.timetoride.com.

Since 2014, the Challenge has introduced over 60,000 people to horses through first-time horse experiences with the support and involvement of hundreds of stables, clubs and equine businesses nationwide. “Hosts” plan engaging, hands-on horse events designed to connect families interested in horses to opportunities in their area such as riding lessons, camps, and trail rides. By reaching a new segment of their community, businesses add to their own client base while supporting the entire horse industry...

- See more at: http://www.equisearch.com/article/2016-time-ride-challenge-open-registration-32137#sthash.BRiEgEaK.SlI6Bl3y.dpuf

Study: Cardiac Recovery Time Identified as Heritable Trait

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA
Apr 7, 2016

We already know that cardiac recovery time in endurance horses is related to their ability to perform well in races. But what we didn’t know—until now—is that recovery time is a heritable trait.

French researchers have determined that we could breed selectively for recovery time in endurance horses, as this trait gets passed on through genes.

“Cardiac recovery time in endurance racing appears to be strongly influenced by genetics, so a selection based on cardiac recovery time could be a supplemental physiological characteristic to take into consideration to improve the breeding selection of endurance horses,” said Eric Barrey, PhD, of AgroParisTech, the University of Paris-Saclay, and the French National Agricultural Research Institute...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37373/study-cardiac-recovery-time-identified-as-heritable-trait

Natural and Supplemental Buffers May Aid Equine Digestion

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

For many horses, the body’s natural buffers, including saliva, and a supply of forage will keep the digestive tract operating smoothly.

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 23, 2016

Horses evolved as grazers, and in order to consume sufficient forage to meet caloric demands, they must graze for many hours each day. Thus, their digestive system is designed to function through continual ingestion and processing of small amounts of forage.

As soon as a horse rips a blade of grass or grasps a piece of hay, digestion begins. Throughout the digestive process, ingested feedstuffs encounter numerous digestive fluids. One, in particular, causes problems. In the stomach, horses constantly secrete hydrochloric acid, which is naturally neutralized, or buffered, by saliva.

“When a horse isn’t eating, there is no saliva to neutralize gastric acid in the stomach. Horses kept in stalls for extended periods of time, fed only once or twice per day, or fed a high-concentrate diet are prone to gastric ulcers,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER). “Without a near-constant source of forage or a buffering supplement, gastric acid can cause painful ulcerations in the lining of the stomach, and this leads to any number of health concerns...”

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/natural-and-supplemental-buffers-may-aid-equine-digestion?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f422ff7e59-ker-horse-nutri-kentucky-equine-04_06_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-f422ff7e59-11166

Look After Your Volunteers

Esthersenduranceexploits Blog - Full Story

by Esther Young
March 17 2016

Before I launch into this blog, let me just stress that these are purely my opinions and that I am not speaking on behalf of any society or organisation that I may be involved in. I think it may also be the first opinion piece I’ve written in this blog, but it has been playing on my mind for some time so here goes.

Horse sport in the UK relies mainly on goodwill and volunteers. This is particularly true in terms of the minority disciplines. The same will apply to many sports, but as an example, in my sport Endurance GB has one full time member of staff, it pays some individuals for their specialist skills on a piecemeal basis (eg vets and farriers), and absolutely everyone else is a volunteer. Everyone. From the entire Board of Directors to the ride organisers to the local group committees to the gate openers. From these volunteers, we run a full national calendar of over 70 competitive rides each of between one and five days in length, and I’d guess around twice as many local pleasure rides. Each ride day needs 10, 20, 30 volunteers. And that’s not including all the work that needs doing in between rides; maintaining websites, keeping an active social media presence, writing newsletters, advertising events, liaising with landowners, writing articles for local publications, organising social evenings and training days, etc etc etc. Add it up. That is a lot of people working their guts out behind the scenes for absolutely nothing so that you can have a good time...

Read more here:
https://esthersenduranceexploits.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/look-after-your-volunteers/

Laura Jean's Mustang Training Adventure

Foundationsandbeyondhorsemanship Blog - Full Story

by Laura Nicholes
March 30 2016

My name is Laura Jean Nicholes. I am nine years old. I just found out I have been accepted as a competitor to participate in the Idaho Extreme Mustang Makeover youth competition for 2016!

When I first talked to my parents about applying for the EMM, they said I could do it as long as I was able to earn the money to pay for it and they said I would have to put a blog page up about it. I am required to post at least once a week about my mustang project. I like that requirement because it seems fun to me to blog!
Sarah, my little sister, was eager to help me be able to compete. Before we even talked to both of our parents, we started working extra quarter jobs and building my 'mustang fund'.

I have loved horses my whole life and I have been actively training for the past three years. I help out with riding and training several of our family horses and am responsible for the care and maintenance of my horse. My own horse, Hugo, is a six year old, half Arabian half POA who I have had for two years now. Last year I took him on several 25 mile rides and one 30 mile endurance ride. (In endurance they call those LD's for limited distance...)

Read more here:
http://www.foundationsandbeyondhorsemanship.blogspot.com/p/lauras.html

Hoof Rings in Horses: What Do They Mean?

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 6, 2013

Most horse owners have noticed that the surfaces of their horses’ hooves are not completely uniform from the coronary band to the ground.

Because new hoof originates at the coronary band and grows downward, the top part of the hoof often looks smoother and shinier than the older horn toward the sole. Environmental factors like muddy footing, wet and dry weather cycles, and normal wear and tear will cause the hoof surface to lose some of its luster and develop some degree of flaking or shallow cracking. This change is normal and does not signify a problem.

Seasonal changes in hoof growth can often be seen as minor lines or ridges on the hoof wall...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/hoof-rings-horses-what-do-they-mean

The Trouble With Mud

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Heather Smith Thomas
Mar 22, 2016

When the going gets muddy, the muddy get hoof problems; here's what to look out for.

Horses’ hooves are finicky when it comes to moisture. In arid environments they tend to dry out, and in wet conditions they become too soft. If you had to choose between the two, however, dry would probably be the winner.

Continuous exposure to moisture can cause a long list of hoof problems, ranging from difficult-to-manage soft, sensitive feet that won’t hold their shape or nails, to various types of damage and infections in the capsule and its structures. Then there are the injuries due to slipping and scrambling in deep mud or bad footing, lost bell boots, and pulled-off shoes. In short, keeping horses’ feet sound and healthy can be a difficult challenge when weather is wet and footing precarious...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35687/the-trouble-with-mud?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=03-22-2016

NATRC Offering Free Memberships

Thehorse.com

By Edited Press Release
Mar 13, 2016

The North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) is offering free 2016 memberships to people who have never been NATRC members.

“We are a distance competitive trail ride organization that values conditioned, sound, trail savvy horses that are a pleasure to ride," said executive administrator Laurie DiNatale. "We value light and balanced riding and encourage the good care of horses over the distance and in camp. We want to share that with people.”

As a nonprofit educational and distance competitive-trail-ride-sanctioning organization, NATRC education takes on many forms. One of these is the direct feedback to competitors of scores and comments on their veterinary and horsemanship scorecards, which each rider receives at the close of a ride competition.

Other resources include clinics, a new competitor section on the website, mentoring new competitors, informative articles in regional and national newsletters, an introductory video, social media, and the soon to be published second edition of the NATRC Rider’s Manual, A Complete Guide to Competitive Trail Riding.

For more information on the free membership offer, visit www.natrc.org.

10 Most Poisonous Plants for Horses

Equusmagazine.com - Full Article

OF THE HUNDREDS OF TOXIC PLANTS IN NORTH AMERICA, ONLY A HANDFUL ARE LIKELY TO BRING SERIOUS HARM TO HORSES. HERE ARE THE ONES MOST DANGEROUS TO HORSES IN THE UNITED STATES.

By the Editors of EQUUS magazine

The good news, of course, is that the vast majority of those plants pose little threat to horses. For one thing, most of them are unpalatable, and horses who are filling up on quality forage aren't likely to spend a lot of time grazing on the few bitter leaves populating their pasture. Another factor that protects horses is their size--a 1,000-pound animal has to consume significantly higher quantities of most toxins than a smaller animal does to feel any effects. So, for the most part, as long as your horses are healthy and your pasture is in good shape, you have little to worry about.

However, some plants are cause for concern either because even a curious nibble can spell doom or because repeated browsing over weeks or months can lead to serious illness and death. All are worth getting to know by sight--not only so you can eliminate them from your horsekeeping areas, but also so that you can avoid encounters with them in the woods, on the roadsides and along the waterways where you ride. According to Anthony Knight, BVSc, MRCVS, plant toxicologist from Colorado State University, these 10 plants are those most dangerous to horses in the United States:

- See more at: http://equusmagazine.com/article/10-most-poisonous-plants-for-horses-8208#sthash.zXTFv2W6.dpuf

Being a Fit Rider is Important for Your Horse's Health

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Jenni Douglas, MSc Mar 9, 2016

There are many reasons why you as a rider should also train off of the horse: to concentrate on your own weaknesses and asymmetries without impacting your horse; to add a bit of excitement to your riding program; and to prevent mental or physical staleness. Specific benefits include adding weight-bearing to your training and offsetting psychoemotional strain (the fitter you are, the better your body can cope with heart rate spikes in response to excitement or nerves). Your mental and physical performance will benefit from a program out of the saddle, and you will be more effective at making decisions under fatigue.

Let’s take a look at the first reason: Horse-rider asymmetries are well-documented...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37225/being-a-fit-rider-is-important-for-your-horses-health

Do Haynets Help Horses Lose Weight?

Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 31, 2015

The equine obesity pandemic is real, with veterinarians and nutritionists issuing warnings to owners that there is no such thing as a fat, healthy horse.

“According to the latest American Horse Publications Equine Industry Survey, horse owners are primarily responsible for feeding their horses. Thus, the onus is on owners to identify overweight horses and then institute appropriate weight-loss measures,” advised Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutritionist.

Recognizing the importance of weight management in the equine population, researchers put eight Quarter Horses on a diet*. Horses started off with a body condition score (BCS) averaging about 7.3 and were fed 1% of their body weight in grass hay, either off the ground or from a haynet in two meals...

Read the rest here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/do-haynets-help-horses-lose-weight?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=349411cac6-ker-horse-nutri-kentucky-equine-03_09_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-349411cac6-11166

Sugars and Starches: They're Not All Bad!

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Kristen M. Janicki, MS, PAS
Mar 7, 2016

Although we frequently warn against the consequences of feeding these carbohydrates, horses do need them in their diets.

Owners are more carb-conscious than ever—and with good reason. It’s a fact that carbohydrates, particularly sugar and starch, can exacerbate equine muscle conditions such as polysaccharide storage myopathy, which is commonly known as tying-up. And scientists have linked dietary sugar and starch with colic and the hoof disease laminitis—especially when a horse consumes large quantities in a single meal. Excess carbohydrate intake can lead to other conditions, as well, including obesity and insulin resistance, where cells become resistant to the hormone insulin and require more to signal glucose uptake from the blood after a meal. Some horses even experience a “sugar rush” post-carb consumption that can lead to undesirable behaviors.

Like it or not, horses do need sugar and starch in their diets and cannot thrive without them. How can you make peace with these carbs and find room for them in your horse’s feed bucket? Let’s take a closer look at sugar and starch and uncover how they help keep your horse healthy...

- See more at: http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37223/sugars-and-starches-theyre-not-all-bad?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=03-07-2016#sthash.hkaRKNZX.dpuf

Decreasing the Risk of Laminitis in the Spring

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Written by: Shannon Pratt-Phillips, Ph.D.

Equine nutritionist, Shannon Pratt-Phillips, Ph.D., explains how to avoid pasture associated laminitis in the spring.

Q.: I know laminitis risk increases with spring grass. Is there anything I can do nutritionally to help decrease the risk?

A.: The reason the risk of laminitis increases in the spring is that as the days get longer, the extra sunlight increases photosynthesis, which results in starch, sugar and, in some plants, fructan production. We also tend to have cooler temperatures at night, which prevents the plants from using these sugars, and they accumulate.

Fructans are poorly digested within the horse’s small intestine, so they pass through to the large intestine, as do sugars when consumed in large amounts. When these reach the large intestine, the microbial organisms residing there ferment these new substrates rapidly, resulting in a shift towards the production of lactic acid and compounds called vasoactive amines (substances containing amino groups), as well as a drop in pH.

Changes in pH alter the permeability of the intestinal lining, which is believed to allow the absorption of the vasoactive amines and potential other toxins, and can contribute towards laminaellar separation.

Elevated insulin concentrations have also been shown to trigger laminitis, and horses that are consuming “sugary” pasture or that are already insulin resistant (and have high resting insulin concentrations) may have their insulin concentrations reach critical levels. So, prevention of laminitis is two-fold: limit pasture intake, particularly when sugar content is expected to be high and prevent/manage insulin resistance...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/magazine_articles/decreasing-the-risk-of-laminitis-in-the-spring/

How to Choose the Best Hay for Your Horse

March 1 2016

Besides water, hay is the most important thing your horse will take into his mouth. So it's crucial that that hay be of the best quality.

But, how do you find it?

Start by using all of your senses.

Does it look good? That nice bright green that is attractive to our eye also means the hay is fresh and full of the vitamins and protein your horse needs for a healthy diet. Although the outside of a hay bale may be bleached and yellow from exposure to sun, the interior should always be green.

Grab a handful of hay and feel it. Does it feel coarse? Are there small twigs or even prickers in it? If it feels bad in your hands just think of how it would feel in your horse's mouth. Good hay is free of extraneous material and has a fine texture, feeling soft in your hands. It should also have a high leaf to stem ratio, as the majority of digestible nutrients are found in the leaf portion of both grass and legume hay.

Take that handful of hay and bring it up to your nose. Breathe in. Does it smell fresh and clean? Or do you detect dust or mold? Obviously, that clean fresh smell is coming from the hay you want your horse to have.

The result of your careful examination when buying hay will be that sound that is music to the ears of all horse lovers: the sound of horses contentedly munching on hay.

Where to Look for Good Hay

A good place to start your search for quality hay is with your county extension agency or state agricultural department. Generally, they know who the hay growers in your area are, and what the quality of each grower's hay is. To insure that you have a good selection of hay, buy early in the season while the crops are being baled.

It's always a good idea to have your hay analyzed. This can be done at your county extension agency as well. Knowing the nutrient profile of the hay will allow you to make smart decisions about what to feed, which will save you money as well as insuring that your horse receives the proper nutrition.

Good hay has a protein value of 9% or higher, which will meet the protein requirements for a variety of horses. Other values you should have analyzed are the Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) which should be at 60% or lower (otherwise your horses will stop eating the hay) and the Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) which should be under 40% to insure high digestibility.

Follow these guidelines for hay and you will have happy, healthy, well-fed horses, with little wastage of hay.

For more information contact: Eastern Hay: easternhay@yahoo.com, 845 855 3291 (485 Rt. 22, Pawling, NY).

Things You Should and Should Not Put on a Horse's Wound

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Feb 18, 2016

Horse owners and veterinarians have been treating equine wounds for centuries. After all, horses are unabashedly practiced at the art of sustaining wounds. Over the years we’ve tried many different wound ointments and salves, cleansers and dressings, but not all of them are backed by evidence of safety and/or efficacy.

So Dean Hendrickson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, professor of equine surgery at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, went back to basics, describing effective and ineffective wound-cleaning agents to an audience of veterinarians at the 2015 Annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 5-9, in Las Vegas.

Although our intentions are good, “most wound-cleaning agents and techniques will cause chemical or mechanical trauma to the wound bed,” he said. “Weigh the benefits of cleaning the wound against the trauma that agent will cause.”

In other words, ask yourself: Is that cleaning agent ultimately going to speed up or retard wound-healing?...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37165/things-you-should-and-should-not-put-on-a-horses-wound?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=02-23-2016

National Sporting Library & Museum Seeks Sporting Organizations Interested in Digitizing Historical Content

Date: 2/23/2016

National Sporting Library & Museum Seeks Sporting Organizations Interested in Digitizing Historical Content
MIDDLEBURG, Virginia­­ –The National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) in Middleburg, Virginia is seeking organizations interested in digitization partnerships. In a new initiative, NSLM is developing an online repository of historical materials related to equestrian sports, foxhunting, wing shooting, and fly fishing.

Digital partnership would include opportunities for sporting organizations to digitize and make accessible historical documents, photographs, books, journals, articles, magazines, letters, or other materials. Digitized files may be hosted in the repository, along with digital materials from NSLM’s extensive collection spanning 400 years of sporting history. Organizations that possess historical materials and would like more information on possible digitization partnership opportunities are asked to complete a brief survey no later than March 31, 2016. The survey should take about five minutes to complete.

“We are tremendously excited at the opportunity to partner with organizations in the sporting community to found an online repository,” said John Connolly, the George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Librarian at NSLM. “As we assess the needs of the organizations that have historical documents to preserve, we hope to have a strong response to the survey.”

The survey may be accessed at the following address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JL3PK5B

The National Sporting Library & Museum is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the literature, art, and culture of equestrian, angling, and field sports. Founded in 1954, the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) is located in Middleburg, the heart of Virginia’s beautiful hunt country. The inviting, 6-acre campus, world-class research Library, and fine art Museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeple chasing, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife are among the subjects one can explore in the institution’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection. The NSLM offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year.


Contact: John Connolly
Tel: 540-687-6542 x18
Email: JConnolly@NationalSporting.org
Web: NationalSporting.org
Mail: P. O. Box 1335 Middleburg, VA 20118

Just Follow the Rules - Chase Endurance

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Chase Endurance | February 23, 2016

I’ve been following the news about the atrocities being committed in the UAE endurance racing community and the inability of the FEI to ensure the safety of its equine participants. It is definitely sickening to watch these races from afar. However, I am thankful that responsible members of the endurance community are taking action to force some sort of conscience on those at fault.

Since I am participating in the Mongol Derby, which is still a mystery to some, I’ll take this opportunity to describe the extent the Derby vets and organizers take to ensure the health and safety of the Mongolian Horses...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/chase-endurance/just-follow-the-rules/

Gastric Ulcers in Horses: Update

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2015

Ulcers or erosions in the lining of the equine stomach are reportedly a common condition in performance animals. In racehorses, for example, ulcers are believed to occur in an estimated 50-90% of horses. Similarly, weanling foals have equally high rates of ulcers. Stress caused by changes in routine is thought to be an important contributor to the development of gastric ulcers.

“While some gastric ulcers can go undetected and seem not to bother certain horses, other horses show a variety of clinical signs, including colic, diarrhea, poor appetite, dull coat, decreased performance, and even behavior changes,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

The economic and widespread availability of omeprazole for both the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers theoretically could decrease the occurrence of gastric ulcers in horses. This, however, does not appear to be the case.

“According to the most up-to-date consensus statement on gastric ulcers*, the development of ulcers appears to be most frequently reported in performance horses that are actively training or competing,” Crandell explained...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/gastric-ulcers-horses-update?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=71c3b6f5cd-ker-horse-nutri-kentucky-equine-02_10_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-71c3b6f5cd-11166

Fighters, Fixers, Spectators and Eye-Rollers

Enduranceintrospection.com - Full Article

By Patti Stedman | February 18th, 2016

For a long time, I’ve been an Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) consultant and trainer.

Employers come to me to help them solve issues in their workplaces related to risks to their employees that they cannot handle on their own — dangerous chemicals or confined spaces or working on machinery.

It’s the sort of business enterprise that teaches you to quickly size up an organization’s function (or dysfunction) so that you can find out where to fit in and assist, or in some rare cases, back away slowly and say “this is not the client for me.”

While it is not necessarily my circus, they may be assigning me a monkey to manage, so I’d better figure out how that circus functions.

AERC is both like and unlike the clients with whom I work.

Similar in that people are engaged in doing what they think is best for the organization. (I believe in my heart that most people, no matter how inept or dysfunctional, are not evil.)

Dissimilar in the fact that with the exception of a tiny office staff, AERC is a volunteer-driven organization, which means that what drives the people involved is their PASSION for our sport, or some aspect of it.

By their nature such organizations have a variety of players, and this can lead to some fascinating interactions. That is, if you’re observing in an anthropological kind of way, FTSOI, as my friend Anita says, “For The Science Of It.”

It can lead to some profound frustration if you are the unstoppable force (driven by passion) moving against an un-moveable object (driven by the same magnitude of vigor).

As one might imagine, trying to lead such an organization is a bit like herding cats...

Read more here:
http://enduranceintrospection.com/fighters-fixers-spectators-and-eye-rollers/

Oops! My Horse Stumbles!

Equisearch.com - Full Article

Stumbling in horses is serious business. Here's advice from a veterinarian and a trainer on dealing with this dangerous problem.

By Elaine Pascoe | 10/26/2011

Your horse suddenly pitches forward and drops out from under you. For a split second, his balance and yours teeter on the brink. Few things are more alarming than a horse stumbling, even for an experienced rider: Will he go down and take you with him?

Horses usually manage to stay upright when they trip, and (after you catch your breath) it's tempting to quickly laugh these incidents off. Even when a horse stumbles repeatedly, you'll hear people dismiss it: "He's just lazy," or "That's just him."

Yet it takes only one misstep for Twinkletoes to go down and flip over, with results that we'd all rather not contemplate. But let's, briefly, contemplate them: You could be killed. So could your horse.

This is a problem you can't ignore.

Stumbling in horses can be a training issue, but it can also have physical causes. We asked equine veterinarian Duncan Peters of Lexington, Kentucky, to explain those causes and what you can do to correct them. For the training angle, we went to longtime Massachusetts eventer Mark Weissbecker...

- See more at: http://www.equisearch.com/article/oops-my-horse-stumbles-11609#sthash.fzHZeis8.dpuf

Feeding endurance horses: Oil, fibre, and the carbo connection

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

David Marlin | 12 February 2016

Horses that are on high fibre and or high oil diets may take longer to recover their muscle and liver glycogen after training and may fatigue earlier during competition if they are not receiving any source of available carbohydrate in their feed.

Over the past 20 years there has been a major shift towards using high fibre based feeds and feeds with a high oil content or oil added as a supplement in the nutrition of the endurance horse.

This is supported by an online survey of feeding amongst endurance riders in the UK last year (Marlin and Sadler, 2015), which found only 15% of riders fed cereal-based feeds whilst 68% fed highly digestible fibre and 63% fed oil.
oil-feed

This type of feeding has many desirable aspects. For example, energy provided by oil as opposed to starch is less likely to cause hindgut disturbance and colic, less likely to result in adverse behaviour and reduces the risk of tying-up, particularly in horses with a predisposition to tying-up...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2016/02/12/feeding-endurance-horses-oil-and-fibre-carbo-connection/#ixzz40ATloGFM

Add Vitamin E to High-Fat Horse Diets

Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 2, 2016

Equine nutritionists routinely advise horse owners to dole out more fat when hard keepers or high-performance horses have trouble maintaining or adding body condition. Fat can bump up the energy density of a ration significantly and often provides just the right top-off to achieve weight gain.

During digestion, fat is broken down into its most basic structures, fatty acids. An increase in the amount of fat fed will therefore create an upsurge in circulating levels of fatty acids. Fatty acids are prone to oxidation, the byproducts of which can be harmful to cells. As a result, nutritionists typically recommended that an antioxidant be supplemented when a diet is high in fat, especially vegetable oil.

“Though research is somewhat limited on the impact of high-fat diets in antioxidant requirements of horses, studies in other mammals suggest advantages in offering vitamin E. Giving 1-1.5 IU of vitamin E per 1 ml of oil will help minimize oxidative damage,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

What does this mean, in practical terms?...

Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/add-vitamin-e-high-fat-horse-diets

Can’t Move a Muscle: Tying Up

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Written by: Dr. Joan Norton

While tying up can be a one-time occurrence, certain horses are predisposed to repeated events warranting diagnostic investigation and preventative action.

In order to build muscle we have to tear some down first. Tiny micro tears in the fibers lead to growth of new muscle. This process is painful as is evident by the soreness we feel the day or two after a tough workout. The same process occurs in our horses as they work and become stronger and fitter. But what happens when the stiffness and soreness happen too soon, immediately after exercise or even during a training session? This abnormality is known as exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) and while it can be a one-time occurrence, certain horses are predisposed to repeated events warranting diagnostic investigation and a diet and exercise program to prevent future episodes...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/magazine_articles/cant-move-a-muscle/