Tag: Horse Care

Dr. Brianne Henderson of Rivendell Equine Veterinary Services has been announced as the course instructor for the new Sport Horse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care course. Offered by Equine Guelph, this new two-week online short course runs from April 25 to May 6, 2022.

Participants will learn daily practices that can optimize health and performance and reduce the risk of lameness issues in their athletic horses. Everything from early detection, footing and exercise regime can have an impact on soundness.

Henderson has been immersed in the equine world since birth, growing up on an Arabian and Sport Horse breeding/training farm in Niagara, Ontario. Her involvement in the world of endurance racing includes experience as a competitor and a line veterinarian from grass roots to an international level of competition. Henderson was the Assistant Team Veterinarian for Team Canada at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington Kentucky.

Henderson graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland, focused on equine sports medicine and surgery and is a board-certified veterinarian. Her love of the equine athlete and focused interest in surgery has bolstered a great love of anatomy and understanding “form to function.”

Henderson will be discussing common lameness issues for horses as well as early detection and prevention. You will also learn about the horse's musculoskeletal system, how they move, best practices for detecting lameness, assessment tools, management of a lame horse and the latest research.

Henderson has shared her lameness prowess in many interesting articles including this archived article: “Legs, Common Injuries, and how we can Treat Them.” Henderson explains, “Bone is always changing and responding to stress. Microdamage can occur within the bone as a consequence of repetitive strain. Overtraining causes this “microdamage” to occur at a faster rate than the body can fix and so the repair is never as strong as the original bone. A similar 'micro-damage-repair' cycle occurs within the tendons and ligaments.” The chance of repetitive strain injuries can be significantly reduced with judicious training and the incorporation of lighter work days and rest days.

If you found this article interesting, sign up today for Equine Guelph's new course: Sport Horse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care, which will run from April 25 to May 6, 2022.

Read more here.

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The National HBPA Foundation is coming to the assistance of Nebraska horsemen whose horses have been quarantined since March 10 following an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

The National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association Foundation (NHBPAF) is making a per-horse monetary donation to every owner and trainer impacted by the lockdown in two barns at Fonner Park since two horses were confirmed to have died from the infectious virus.

Fonner Park is located in Grand Island, Neb., about 90 miles west of Lincoln.

The NHBPAF is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) fund developed by the National HBPA as a safety net for horsemen when other forms of assistance are unavailable or have been exhausted after disaster strikes. The foundation previously helped feed horses after equine herpes surfaced in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kentucky and an earlier outbreak in Nebraska. The National HBPA represents close to 30,000 Thoroughbred owners and trainers in America.

The Nebraska HBPA also is providing the impacted owners and trainers a per-horse amount of money to use toward expenses that continue to accrue while their horses are prevented from racing.

“Horsemen by nature are always standing ready to help other horsemen in need,” said Leroy Gessmann, the NHBPA Assistance Committee Chair. “Without question the NHBPA Assistance Committee members understand the meaning of benevolence and how much lending a helping hand means. The horsemen and horsewomen in Nebraska are temporarily going through a struggle, and this committee is proud to join with the Nebraska HBPA to provide some relief through the National HBPA Foundation. I strongly encourage any horseman or horsewoman out there to also step up and donate to the NHBPA Foundation for moments just like these that may very well involve you next.”

About 110 horses, which includes a handful of stable ponies, have been impacted. Nebraska HBPA President Garald “Wally” Wollesen said about 90 horses that were potentially exposed to the virus but have negative test results are housed in one large barn, while 20 others that tested positive were moved to an arena set up with temporary stalls. Wollesen said he was told that, if all goes well, the horses in the large barn could be released from the quarantine setting later this week.

All the horses originally were confined to their stalls. However, for the past week, the horses in the large barn have been allowed to go to the training track, which is restricted to those horses, and to hot-walking machines, Wollesen said. Rigid sterilization protocols overseen by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture are followed when those horses are taken from their stalls, he said.

“As an organization founded by horsemen and women, we know all too well the highs and lows this industry has in store for us,” said Dr. Doug Daniels, the National HBPA President. “It is important for us to recognize those having trouble and even more important to act as best we can to help those who need assistance. I am proud that the Assistance Committee chose to utilize the NHBPA Foundation to lend a financial hand to the horsemen in Nebraska in this tough time, proving once again that we are horsemen helping horsemen.”

Wollesen said the outbreak of the disease has been devastating to the horsemen.

“In the state of Nebraska, we run for very modest purses,” he said. “We run 53 days a year is all. To go into quarantine for 21 days with no income, we had to do something to try to help everyone out. In fact, in 2016 when it happened in Nebraska, my horses were involved. I know how it hurts.

“Everyone is very appreciative of the help we and the National HBPA Foundation have given them. These horsemen haven't made a dime, but at least we helped them a little bit. Nebraska has quite a history of horse-racing fans. They started contacting me at the races and out and about, wanting to help. One gentleman bought 11 round bales of hay and delivered them to the quarantine barn. People have donated $15 to cover feeding a horse for a day. As sad as it is — and we did have to euthanize two horses — the Nebraskans have really stepped up to help.”

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Clinical pharmacologist Joseph S. Bertino, Jr. (PharmD, FCP, FCCP), the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, wrote a letter to the editor of the Thoroughbred Daily News this week which explored the science behind the drug betamethasone.

First, he explained how betamethasone works: “Inflammation occurs due to the animal's immune system working and its reaction to an injury. The drug acts to calm down the immune system to produce its effect.”

Bertino continued by describing why the drug does not work immediately after application, whether by injection or application as an ointment, instead taking at least several hours: “Many drugs do not dissolve well in water, so other molecules are added to them so that they can dissolve in water in order to make useful dosage forms […] The body removes these extra molecules added leaving the main drug to do its work.

“Betamethasone from any of these salts is the same in the animal's body; it's a potent drug used to reduce inflammation and pain and its effect is long lasting in any form.”

The drug has a long-lasting effect, Bertino wrote.

“Even when the drug is completely gone from the body, the effect remains for some time (hours or days) because it takes the immune system time to gear back up (and hopefully the injury is healed). So that means even if small amounts or no drug is found in the blood, the effect on inflammation and pain lingers after a dose.”

He reiterates: “Since the drug effect is long lasting (and lasts even after the drug concentration is low or no longer measurable in the blood), a significant effect on inflammation and pain may still be occurring.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Grazing muzzles have become standard equipment in stables across the globe. When fitted properly and used appropriately, they allow horses to graze in a controlled manner, which limits consumption, curbs calorie intake, and optimizes health. While not all horses require a grazing muzzle, for those that do, the equipment is often considered a godsend. Like other pieces of equipment, muzzles come with a few challenges. Let's have a look at two everyday nutritional concerns.

Consider water sources. “When deciding to muzzle a pastured horse, water intake becomes an important management consideration,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research.

“The best option is a wide water trough because there is little danger of getting the muzzle caught up in it,” she said. “Automatic waterers that feature the floating balls can be a bit tricky, depending on the size and shape of the muzzle.” Because some of the new muzzles are designed with a square base, horses may find it difficult or impossible to drink from automatic waterers with smaller openings.

“A five-gallon bucket may work for some muzzles until the bucket gets less than half full, at which point the muzzle may not fit or may get hung up on the handle of the bucket,” Crandell said.

Bottom line. If there is any question that the horse may not be able to drink from the automatic water source in a paddock or pasture setting, offering water in a trough is advisable. Check the trough daily for cleanliness, top off as necessary, and thoroughly clean it when needed, as some horses will not drink as much if the water is dirty or overrun with algae.

Sorting out salt. Salt intake increases when temperatures climb in spring, summer, and fall. These usually coincide with times when horses are muzzled to restrict grazing. How do horse owners manage salt intake when faced with muzzled horses?

“Salt blocks are impossible with a muzzle because, as many owners can attest, a horse can't get its tongue on the block to lick it or gnaw at it,” she explained.

Crandell explained that horses worked daily or near daily with visible sweat are prime candidates for electrolytes. “The more horses sweat, the more electrolytes they lose.”

Many horses can have their salt needs met with electrolyte supplementation, assuming the manufacturer's recommendations are being followed. High-quality electrolytes contain the key electrolytes sodium, chloride, and potassium, and may include others such as magnesium and calcium.

Bottom line. For muzzled horses, the best way to add salt to a ration would be to provide a research-proven electrolyte to the concentrate meal at the recommended amount or have a salt block available in the stall or drylot.

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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