Tag: Horse Care

The Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWB) for the FEI delivered its first report to FEI delegates at the FEI General Assembly (GA) in Cape Town on November 12, 2022.

The independent EEWB was founded in June 2022 to address equine welfare issues of public and equestrian concern to ensure the welfare of the horse is paramount – and so strengthen horse sport's “social license” to operate. The Commission, which meets monthly, immediately commissioned two substantial surveys to provide concrete data to help shape its proposals.

The surveys were conducted in English, Spanish and French; one designed for horse enthusiasts, the other for the general public. Almost 28,000 equestrians – including almost 8,000 FEI affiliates – responded to the former from 116 countries, and more than 14,000 people from 14 nations were surveyed in the latter.

Full details of the methodology and findings can be viewed at the EEWB Commission's website. Amongst the key findings were:

• Clear evidence that both equestrians (75 percent of those surveyed) and the general public (65 percent) have concerns about the welfare of horses in sport
• 67 percent of the general public, and 50 percent of surveyed equestrians, believe horses sometimes or never enjoy being used in sport
• 78 percent within the equestrian community and 52 percent of the public believe welfare standards need to improve
• The six priority areas amongst equestrians are: 1) training and riding/tack and equipment; 2) recognizing physical and emotional stress; 3) accountability/enforcement/knowledge; 4) the other 23 hours; 5) competitive drive/horses seen as a number 6) not fit to compete/masking health problems
• There is general optimism (77 percent of equestrians) for horses' future use in sport, but only with welfare improvements
• Equestrian stakeholders consider that for horses' welfare to be improved: current welfare rules must be better enforced; new welfare rules should be informed by science; and those involved with horses should have a required level of equine welfare knowledge

From these findings, the EEWB Commission has made six initial recommendations which range from tack and equipment issues (eg. double bridles no longer being mandatory in Grand Prix dressage) to education (an Education Focus Group is being established to review and adapt horsemanship teaching as necessary).

A list of further sources used by the EEWB in producing its tack and equipment recommendations is also available on the Commission's website.

Professor Dr. Natalie Waran, Chair of the EEWB, told delegates: “As the Commission, we will be blunt. We will be direct and we will tell you the truth. But in the end, we will be here with you. There is change that needs to happen and we are here to develop a strategy, provide objective advice, make recommendations and then see how these recommendations can be put into operation.

“I am pleased FEI members recognize that the data from the surveys is extremely valuable to identify concerns as well as suggested courses of action to mitigate them. While it's clear that change is needed, I am confident that the FEI, the National Federations and equestrians around the world are committed to the journey. The work of the Commission will provide the structure, set the direction and help with navigating the actions that can be taken, but it will be the ongoing leadership of the FEI and work at local level that will help ensure that equine welfare is fully prioritized – and seen to be so – and so help equestrianism maintain its social license.”

She then outlined the EEWB's strategy to address social license based on six main pillars: evidence, education, engagement, effective regulation, enforcement and empowerment. Commission member Professor Kathalijne Visser, who led the analysis of the survey results, presented the key findings and where there were differences in perspectives within equestrian audiences.

The Q&A session at the GA enabled open and positive discussion between delegates and EEWB members for the first time on a wide range of topics. The EEWB's strategic roadmap will now be further developed and consulted on at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2023.

The post New Equine Ethics And Wellbeing Commission Presents First Report To FEI Members appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Wakanaka has been scratched from Sunday's Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar out of “an abundance of caution” after shipping to California from Churchill Downs, which has had an outbreak of the highly contagious equine herpesvirus.

A statement from Dr. Jeff Blea, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, said:

“Three horses arrived at the Del Mar racetrack from Churchill Downs on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Due to the recent EHV-1 issue identified at Churchill Downs, the horses were placed in a quarantine barn with biosecurity measures implemented upon arrival, which continue to remain in place. Since their arrival, all three horses remain healthy and show no clinical signs of illness. Furthermore, bloodwork has been and continues to remain normal.

“The horses were tested for EHV-1 at UC Davis and all horses were negative for EHV-1 in blood. However, one horse, Wakanaka, was mildly positive on a nasal swab sample with a very low viral load. The viral load was too weak to differentiate between neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic EHV-1. This is only one test at a single time point, so we will continue to monitor the situation. Out of an abundance of caution, Wakanaka will not be allowed to compete in the Dec. 4 Matriarch Stakes as planned.”

Trained by William Mott, Irish-bred Wakanaka has won eight of 15 lifetime starts, including four of five races in Italy, where she began her career. Since arriving in the U.S. she has won two of seven races – the Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine in July at Woodbine and the Fall Harvest Stakes at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

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The following update was posted on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website on Dec. 2, 2022:

As previously reported, testing of 13 horses that resided on the backside of Churchill Downs in Barn 37 with the EHV index case did identify five additional positive horses. This brings the number of affected horses to six. The index case remains hospitalized. The five additional positive horses were immediately placed in secured isolation at Barn 42. The eight remaining horses testing negative continue to be housed in Barn 37, while being monitored multiple times daily for any evidence of illness. Thus far, all have remained alert, responsive, and have shown no symptoms of EHV infection.

In addition, an epidemiologic investigation did identify two barns as having an elevated risk due to potential indirect transmission having occurred as a result of individuals working and caring for horses in the affected barn (Barn 37), as well as two additional barns (Barns 36 and 38). As a result of this elevated risk, Barns 36 and 38 have also been placed under quarantine to restrict horses stabled in those barns from having contact with the general population.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture continues to closely monitor the exposed horses in Barn 37. If no evidence of illness is found, this group of horses will be resampled as they approach 14 days since last known exposure. If this group tests negative, the imposed restrictions will be rescinded on those horses.

Horses in Barns 36 and 38 are considered to have had indirect exposure. To date, there have been no clinical cases suspected in either barns 36 or 38, and all horses appear alert, responsive, and with no fevers reported. Kentucky Department of Agriculture will continue monitoring these horses and will immediately test if symptoms appear or illness is suspected and has provided two approved protocols to qualify horses in these two barns for release. As described above, these horses can qualify for release by testing negative 14 days since last opportunity of indirect exposure. Alternatively, assuming no clinical cases develop or are suspected in Barns 36 and 38, these horses could qualify for release 28 days after last opportunity of indirect exposure. Kentucky Department of Agriculture currently identify Nov. 30, 2022, as last known indirect exposure with Dec. 1, 2022 being day one post indirect exposure.

Additionally, beginning Friday morning Dec. 2, 2022, Churchill Downs has amended training hours to allow horses in Barns 36, 37 and 38 access to the track. Training hours for the general population will be 5:30 – 8 a.m. Horses from Barns 36, 37 and 38 will have restricted access to the track between 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. with a dedicated outrider pony. Horses testing positive for infection in Barn 42 will remain in isolation with no scheduled access to the track.

Churchill Downs has implemented heightened biosecurity measures and will lift exit restrictions on horses from the unaffected barns provided they have a valid Health Certificate issued within 24 hours of departure beginning Dec. 3, 2022. The Stable Gate will retain copies of Health Certificates for departing horses. We appreciate the continued efforts, understanding and cooperation of our Kentucky horsemen as we work together to maintain a healthy racing environment. As we've demonstrated in the past, mitigating risk of disease transmission in environments such as this requires a 'team effort' and success is dependent on all parties working in unison.;

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As horses age, they become more susceptible to pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), an endocrine disease which occurs in about 20 percent of horses older than 15. PPID, formerly known as Cushing's disease, causes horses to grow long, thick haircoats that don't shed, a cresty neck, and a pot belly.

PPID is the result of oxidative damage of the brain, reports EQUUS magazine. The damage kills the nerves in the hypothalamus, causing it to secrete excessive amounts of hormones. Supplementing the equine diet with vitamin E can help prevent the oxidative damage that leads to PPID.

Horses naturally get vitamin E from grazing. If horses can't be on pasture because of equine metabolic syndrome (or other issues), it's beneficial to supplement his vitamin E intake. Though supplementing a horse's diet can't replace good management or proper nutrition, vitamin E supplementation via a multivitamin can be helpful. 

Older horses may benefit from specific vitamin E supplementation. While there are no studies showing that vitamin E supplementation prevents PPID from occurring, it may help, and it cannot hurt.

Read more at EQUUS magazine.  

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