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Study: Speed Up Foaling With Low Dose Of Oxytocin

Research has shown that a small dose of oxytocin can induce a mare to give birth so long as she demonstrates the clinical and chemical signs of being prepared for labor, reports The Horse.

This is not inducing labor so much as intensifying the process.

If the mare doesn't foal after the first injection, a second injection 24 hours later (and sometimes a third injection 24 hours after the second) can encourage a safe and healthy foaling. The key is to time the oxytocin injection as closely to the mare's actual foaling date as possible to advance foaling by a few hours.

More frequent or higher doses of oxytocin or other medications may lead to faster foaling even in mares that aren't ready, which could cause weak, immature foals and problematic births.

Being able to manipulate a mare's foaling time can mean better management, allowing for horse managers and veterinarians to be on hand in case of problem birth or issues with the foal. The ability to influence the time of birth could reduce the need for night watches.

After reviewing 114 academic publications, researchers Dr. Christine Aurich, and Christina Nagel, both of the Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, in Neustadt, Germany, concluded that a low-dose of oxytocin, given once a day in a mare that is ready to foal, can manipulate her foaling time.

The researchers state that this specific oxytocin administration should be considered a new and safe tool to use in equine reproductive medicine, especially in cases where night monitoring of the mares is not possible or guaranteed.

Mineral Content Of Pasture Affects Hoof Composition In Foals

Sampling of soil, pasture, and hoof capsules occurred in two periods. The first happened in summer and fall when all foals, between one and six months of age, were still nursing their dams; the second occurred after weaning when foals were nine to 12 months old. Forty-one foals were used in the preweaning period, 28 in the postweaning period.

All foals used in the study were Criollo, a South American breed revered for its tractability, soundness, and stamina under saddle. Mature height tends to be between 14 and 15 hands, and most are considered easy keepers. Foals were born and raised on five farms in Brazil. Mares and foals grazed native pastures consisting primarily of bahiagrass, kaimi clover, blanket grass, dallisgrass, and bermudagrass, though hundreds of other pasture species were likely part of the grazing landscape. They received no concentrate or mineral supplementation.

Prior to sampling, hooves were scoured with a mineral free-detergent and dried with anhydrous ethanol. Using a hoof rasp, 2-gram samples were collected from the front of the hoof wall, about 1 cm below the coronary band.

At the same time as hoof sampling, researchers collected pasture samples. Seventeen 1-kg samples were collected every season from the pastures grazed by mares and foals. Soil samples were also collected from each of the five farms.

In the end, researchers observed that the “levels of calcium, copper, and zinc in the hoof capsule during the preweaning and postweaning stages are influenced by the season and different physiographic regions.” More specifically, researchers found no association between calcium concentration in the hoof walls and in pasture from different regions. Contrarily, the copper concentration of the hoof and pasture in preweaning and postweaning, as well as zinc in preweaning, were positively associated. In regard to season, calcium and zinc were higher in both hoof and pasture samples in summer and spring, respectively, yet in autumn the concentration of copper increased. The lowest concentration of these minerals in hoof samples were observed in winter.

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“While this study investigated the mineral concentration of hoof samples collected from pasture-raised foals south of Earth's equator, hoof health is a concern for horse owners the world over, no matter the breed, age, or use,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research. “This research emphasizes the importance of a properly balanced diet in the formation of resilient hoof tissue even at a young age.”

A well-balanced diet often confers all of the nutrients needed for healthy, strong hooves. Whitehouse knows well, nevertheless, that some horses benefit from supernutritional hoof support. “Walk in any boarding or training barn that places high importance on nutrition, and you'll likely find hoof supplements. But, as a caveat, selecting the right supplement is imperative.”

The “right supplement,” according to Whitehouse, is one that contains not only biotin, the nutrient most notably aligned with revamping weak hooves, but also other important nutrients: the amino acid methionine, organic zinc, and iodine. Look for high-quality hoof supplements that are manufactured by reputable companies, especially those with an active research program.

“Even high-quality supplements are not a panacea for all horses,” Whitehouse explained. “While the hooves of many horses respond to supplementation, others don't, but it's the only avenue of investigation after other potential causes of poor hoof health are ruled out, namely mistakes in farriery and ration formulation.”

^*Silva, P.M., J.L.S. Silva, D.H. Bonemann, A.S. Ribeiro, L.O. Silva, G.L.B.L. Pizzi, and C.F. Martins. 2022. Influences of the seasons of the year and physiographic regions on the levels of calcium, copper and zinc in the hoof capsule of foals pre- and postweaning and raised in native pasture. Equine Veterinary Journal 109:103854.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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TAKE2 Donor Relishes Making Sure Horses Are ‘As Happy As They Can Be’

“It was an 'aha' moment.”

That's how Kyle Emmich described the feeling of standing trackside on a sunny summer day at Saratoga and watching the Thoroughbreds perform. The horses in question were not, however, racing full stride toward the finish line, but instead were demonstrating the newfound skills of retired racehorses enjoying second careers at the inaugural New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day in 2021.

“It was eye-opening,” Emmich said. “I never thought about how comparatively short a horse's racing career is to its overall lifespan. It was the first time I saw that – the horses going through their paces and going over jumps. It was fun to watch – and the horses seemed to have just as much fun jumping as they do running around the track.”

New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day was created to put the spotlight on the many resources dedicated by the racing industry to benefit retired racehorses. The event highlighted the success of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, and was the inspiration for Emmich's generous donation of $15,000 to celebrate TAKE2's 10th Anniversary.

The contribution was made possible by the eBay Foundation Matching Gifts Program. Emmich, a member of the eBay team for the past nine years, donated $5,000 to TAKE2; because the donation was made during the first quarter of the year, eBay matched it two-for-one.

“I was looking for a new charity to support, and I thought TAKE2's 10th Anniversary was as good a time as ever to get involved,” he said. “I was familiar with the organization through Saratoga events, and it felt more personal when I saw firsthand the results of their work. I knew the money would be in great hands with TAKE2.”

Emmich, a software administrator originally from Bergen County, New Jersey, was a casual racing fan to start, stopping by the local OTB on big race days to put down a bet and catch the action. That changed when he attended college in Baltimore.

“I went to Pimlico on opening day, and I'd never been so close to a Thoroughbred before,” he recalled. “It was intimidating – they look so much bigger when you can practically feel their breath on you. It opened up a whole new world for me. I went from having a passing interest in the sport, just reading what was in the local papers or watching ESPN in May and June every year, to really paying attention. I was a daily TVG watcher, I read the Daily Racing Form, I kept on top of the news.”

It was while scrolling through the Paulick Report that Emmich first learned of an opportunity to take the next step into horse racing.

“I saw an article about the Empire Racing Club and I thought, 'That's the coolest thing I've seen,'” Emmich said. “I was glad I was reading my news that day.”

Launched in 2019, the Empire Racing Club (ERC) provides members with the experience of racehorse ownership without the expense; the only cost is a one-time membership fee of $475. Members have access to the backstretch and the paddock, meet the trainers and the jockeys and grooms and exercise riders, and participate in Club events and educational seminars to learn more about the business of racing. The managing partner is legendary racecaller Tom Durkin. Emmich was one of the first to sign on, and has been a member every season.

“The Empire Racing Club caused a shift in the way I was viewing the game,” he said. “It wasn't just about what happened from the starting gate to the winner's circle photo – there's so much more that goes into it, there are so many people involved. It was fascinating.

“The experience has been everything I expected and more,” he added. “The first year, we had access like I had never had before, I got to see the racetrack from every angle.”

Unfortunately, the pandemic disrupted Season 2, but ERC switched gears to provide its members with a wealth of information on the sport.

“The second year, it was much more an educational experience,” Emmich confirmed. “We had monthly Zoom calls with owners and trainers and syndicates and veterinarians. Those filled in a lot of blanks, and answered questions I hadn't even thought to ask. We accidentally went to school the second year.”

More than one seminar centered around aftercare, including a “Lunch and Learn” at Saratoga prior to the pandemic, and Zoom calls with representatives from TAKE2 and other accredited aftercare organizations. ERC members also went through the experience of retiring a horse through TAKE2's sister program, TAKE THE LEAD.

“We follow our horses closely,” Emmich said. “We have a connection with them when they race under the ERC banner, and we want to know what happens every step of the way after they've finished racing. Now and Again was the horse that got us to the winner's circle for the first time, we wanted to repay that when he retired. We want to make sure our horses are always as happy as they can be.”

ERC colorbearer Now and Again was retired in September of 2020, and went on to his second career as a riding horse with an adopter in South Carolina six months later. His former owners get regular updates on his new life.

Always looking to get more involved, Emmich visited his first horse show this month, but not as a spectator.

“They needed people to help out at the horse show at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, so a friend signed me up,” he explained. “Her horse stepped on her foot, so she wasn't able to work, but I was happy to volunteer. They needed all hands on deck, and it is always better to learn through hands-on experience.”

Emmich is also ready to take the plunge into racehorse ownership, and he plans to utilize all he has learned to make sure he does it right.

“I'm buying a racehorse this summer,” he said. “I'll probably partner with people I've met through ERC. I'll be a Real McCoy owner. I've seen the model of how to be a responsible horse owner and I'm ready to follow that example. I want to do justice to these equine athletes.”

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Sedation And Safety: When Is A Horse Sober Enough To Go Out?

Short-acting sedatives are often administered by a veterinarian when a horse needs to stand still, either for a medical procedure or to calm him down so he can be examined.

It's important for horse owners to keep a horse safe until the sedation wears off, which is generally about an hour after administration, though some horses will come out of sedation either earlier or later than 60 minutes, reports EQUUS magazine.

A horse that has been sedated is safest in a stall. No hay or grain should be offered as he might choke if he tries to eat while still under the effects of sedation. The horse can have access to water. All items that are on the floor, like feed tubs, should be removed so he doesn't trip over them.

If a stall isn't available, a small enclosure like a dry lot is fine, so long as feed and feeders are removed. A grassy paddock isn't the best option as a groggy horse might stumble while trying to graze. The horse also should not be thrown back out in a field as he cannot safely interact with other horses – even those he knows and is friendly with.

If none of these are available, placing a leadrope on the horse's halter and waiting with him while he recovers is the next best alternative. Cross ties or tie ropes can be dangerous as the horse may lean into the pressure, and may fall if the straps break. Additionally, leaning will cause the halter to put pressure on facial nerves, which can be damaged.

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Once the horse begins to move without incoordination and acts like himself again, he will be fully recovered from sedation and can safely return to his pasture or paddock, or have hay or grain placed back in his stall.