Tag: Horse Care

It's not unusual to see horses with scabs and painful crusts on their lower legs, especially during warm, wet spring weather. There are several reasons horses might develop this painful condition, reports EQUUS magazine, and rectifying the condition depends on the ability to identify the condition's cause. 

Some possible conditions include: 

• Photosensitization 

If only the white markings on a horse's legs are affected, he may be suffering from photosensitization – especially if all of his white legs are affected. Photosensitivity occurs when the horse ingests plants that contain phototoxic compounds; these compounds enter the bloodstream and cause an intense inflammatory reaction of blistering and crusting when exposed to sunlight through pink skin.

To heal the horse's skin, his legs will need to be protected with UV-blocking sheets or wraps; turning him out only after the sun goes down is preferred. Severe cases may require a vet to prescribe systemic medications to reduce swelling and pain; topical treatments are also available. 

To completely remove the chance of photosensitization recurring, the plants causing the condition will need to be eradicated. Though many plants contain these compounds, St. John's Wort and alsike clover are often the cause in horse pastures. 

• Scratches

If the irritated area of the horse's leg is solely located on the back of the fetlock, he is most likely suffering from a case of scratches. The condition occurs when the skin in this area gets chapped and infection sets in. 

The best way to handle this condition is to wash the area, dry it thoroughly and carefully clip the hair. Slather on a layer of antibiotic ointment and then diaper rash cream, and keep this concoction on dry legs for a few days. If there has been no improvement in three or four days, call a veterinarian. 

• Rain Rot

If the horse has crusting on his legs as well as on his flanks and rump, he most likely is suffering from rain rot. Rain rot is caused by bacteria on the horse's skin that multiplies in wet, humid weather, irritating the hair follicles. 

Applying mineral oil to the scabs will encourage them to fall off; once the scabs have gone, bathe the horse in a medicated shampoo. Persistent cases, like those that an old, ill or immunocompromised horse may get, may need antibiotics prescribed by a vet. 

Read more at EQUUS magazine. 

The post Painful Lower Limb Skin Conditions Could Have A Variety of Causes  appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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For the third consecutive year, Louisville, Kentucky-based Stoneware & Co. will offer a limited number of signed Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottles to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). This year's signed collector's edition will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Orb winning the Run for the Roses and will be signed by his Hall of Fame trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey and Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario.

TRF Executive Director Kelly Armer stated, “The Kentucky Derby is one of the greatest sporting events in the country. With a captive horse racing audience, we are thrilled to be able to inform folks of the significance of Thoroughbred aftercare. We are so grateful for the continued support from Stoneware & Co., as well as the generosity of Shug McGaughey and Joel Rosario who are dedicating their precious time to participate.”

Available exclusively through Stoneware & Co. for $149, horse racing fans and bourbon enthusiasts can now purchase, via pre-sale, their own signed and numbered bottles through Stoneware and Co.'s website at stonewareandco.com. The collectible bottles are available for limited shipping (based on state) or they can be conveniently picked up at the Stoneware & Co. store at 731 Brent Street in Louisville during regular business hours after May 1st. For more information or to place orders by phone, please call Stoneware & Co. at 502-582-1900 or visit the TRF's webpage: https://www.trfinc.org/2023-woodford-reserve-commemorative-bottles/

Stoneware & Co. is one of the oldest stoneware manufacturers in the United States. Its connection to Kentucky's bourbon industry goes back to the 1820s when general stores and saloons sold bourbon straight from manufacturer's wooden barrels. Customers used stoneware jugs to package and refill bourbon for home consumption.

“This highly sought-after bottle for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby will be an attractive collectable for Thoroughbred racing fans and bourbon collectors,” said Steve Smith, Stoneware & Co. owner. “Complementing one of the world's finest bourbons and the bottle's beautiful artwork, these signatures represent some of the finest connections in Kentucky Derby history. We are thrilled the project will again support TRF in saving horses and changing lives,” he added.

In 2021 and 2022, this collaboration raised $25,000 for the TRF to support its mission of saving retired racehorses from possible neglect, abuse, and slaughter.

About TRF: Founded in 1983 and currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a national organization devoted to saving Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete at the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse, and slaughter. As the oldest Thoroughbred rescue in the country, the TRF provides lifelong sanctuary to retired Thoroughbreds throughout their lifetime. In 2023, the TRF celebrates four decades of Saving Horses and Changing Lives with gratitude for all who have made this possible.

Best known for its pioneering TRF Second Chances Program, the organization provides incarcerated individuals with life-changing vocational training through its accredited equine care and stable management program. At eight correctional facilities across the US, including one juvenile justice facility, this program offers second careers to its horses and a second chance at life for program graduates upon release from prison.

For more information visit: www.trfinc.org.

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Researchers in Ireland have identified specific genes in Thoroughbreds that are linked to temperament and the horse's ability to cope in a racetrack training environment. Identifying at-risk animals and proactively reducing their stress load can have positive effects on both animal welfare and economic impacts, while knowing which horses are most susceptible to stress can also impact rider and handler safety.

The research team, composed of scientists from the University College Dublin and Plusvital employees, noted that successful racehorses are able to mentally and physically handle a rigorous training regimen. They are able to undergo training more consistently than their more-delicate counterparts, which may need time off to mentally mature and handle a stringent schedule. 

Successful racehorses are also tractable, the researchers said. Horses with temperament issues are often retired from racing early. 

The scientists report that not all horses in race training handle the stress of their environment in the same manner. Some horses develop an “active coping style,” which makes the horse behave in a hyperactive manner: they're easily distracted and impulsive, and they have trouble concentrating. This coping style can negatively affect body condition and training response, as well as put the horse at increased risk of disease.  

The researchers performed a four-year study that focused on 100 yearlings and their achievement of milestones during early training; it also involved studying cortisol levels at these training stages. 

One of the key research findings was that experienced handlers didn't perceive the stress response in yearlings that elevated their cortisol levels. This indicates that some horses are stressed, but don't act out; this could have long-term effects on the horse's wellbeing if the stress is not managed appropriately. 

For the study, the researchers compared the genetic profiles of yearlings that could cope with early training to the horses that were more anxious throughout training. They then used genetic data from two different brain tissues that regulate fear and behavior modification to help determine which genes were more likely to affect the horse's ability to cope. 

The genes that were highlighted also affect other species, often in the form of suicide, alcohol and cocaine addiction, stress-induced anxiety and depression, neuroinflammatory disease and other behaviors.

The necdin (NDN) gene was identified as the most important in the Thoroughbred response. In humans, this gene is associated with paranoia; in cattle it's affiliated with temperament. 

The ability to use genetic screening tools to determine which horses may need additional support to maintain their mental soundness will raise the level of equine welfare of racehorses, the scientists said.

They noted that identification of these genes may allow for improved breeding and management to identify horses that may be better suited for training and racing. 

Read more at HorseTalk. 

The post Research: Specific Genes Culpable For Thoroughbreds’ Coping Ability  appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Measuring rectal temperatures with a digital thermometer is considered accurate and reliable for estimating a horse's body temperature. But noncontact infrared thermometers may provide a safer, more efficient option for taking a horse's temperature. Researchers at Texas A&M University evaluated the validity of a noncontact infrared thermometer (NCIT) on the neck and forehead compared to a rectal digital thermometer when estimating a horse's body temperature.

The researchers included 142 adult Quarter Horses (76 mares, 55 geldings, and 11 stallions) and 34 foals (17 male and 17 female) in the study. The adult horses had body condition scores between 5 and 6. Temperatures were taken using a NCIT by holding it .98 inches above the skin in two locations: 1) midline of the forehead, 1.96 inches above a line extending from the medial canthus of each eye and 2) center of the neck on the right hand side, 4.7 inches from the base on adults and 2.3 inches on foals. Rectal temperatures were taken using a digital thermometer.

For adult horses, the mean rectal temperature (99.4 degrees F) was significantly higher than forehead (97.4 degrees F) and neck (97.7 degrees F) temperatures. No differences were observed between male and female horses. In foals, mean rectal temperatures were highest (100.7 degrees F) followed by neck (97.6 degrees F) and forehead (97.1 degrees F) temperatures. No differences were observed between male and female foals.

The researchers found that the accuracy of NCIT temperature readings were poor and differences were large by clinical standards (nearly 2 to 3 degrees F) when compared to rectal temperatures taken with a digital thermometer. Therefore, without additional research, NCITs are not a good alternative to rectal thermometry when monitoring a horse's body temperature.

For more information on this research, read the abstract published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Sciences.  

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