nutrition | Horse Racing Free Tips

Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance To Host Broodmare Nutrition Webinar

The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA), in conjunction with Kentucky Equine Research (KER), will be hosting a free webinar focusing on broodmare nutrition on Thursday, February 4, starting at 7 p.m. EST.

The webinar will focus on proper nutrition practices for breeders and farm managers for all stages of the broodmare's reproductive cycle—from pre-conception through gestation and late gestation to nursing. The information will be presented by Peter Huntington BVSc, MACVSc, an external lecturer and examiner at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Science program and Director of Equine Nutrition for Kentucky Equine Research Australasia.

“A lot of stars need to be aligned to both achieve pregnancy and maintain it. Horses are notoriously challenging to routinely breed successfully compared to many other mammals, with foaling rates of only about 60 to 70 percent,” explains Dr. Huntington. “In addition to feeding high-quality, forage-based diets to achieve and maintain an appropriate body condition score, micronutrient balance, especially the trace minerals copper, zinc and selenium, and nutritional supplements also need to be considered.”

The webinar is open to anyone looking to continue their education and provide the best care for their broodmares. Pre-registration is required for access to the Zoom webinar or the livestream on ITA's Facebook page.

“We are excited to partner with Kentucky Equine Research to provide more education for Indiana breeders and owners,” says Crystal Chapple, DVM, president of ITA. “This is what this group is dedicated to do—educate and encourage breeding and racing of Thoroughbreds in Indiana. We are thankful that Kentucky Equine Research is willing to work with us on this mission.”

You can RSVP for the webinar by emailing Indythoroughbred.social@gmail.com or by clicking on the event on the ITA Facebook page.

For more information on the ITA and the webinar, visit the ITA website or follow them on social media.

The post Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance To Host Broodmare Nutrition Webinar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Simple Ways To Prevent Tendon And Ligament Injuries In Horses

Horses seem to seek out ways to hurt themselves and injuries to tendons and ligaments in the limbs are common., says Dr. David Ramey, owner of Ramey Equine and an internationally recognized researcher, author and lecturer. Though tendon and ligament injuries tend to heal well, it can take multiple months, as well as a lot effort and money, to get the horse to his performance level pre-injury.

There are multiple ways to help prevent tendon and ligament injuries, though some are often overlooked. These include:

Adequate nutrition. Proper nutrition to maintain horse health is essential. Thus far, there have been no supplements that have proven to prevent tendon and ligament injuries.
Correct body condition. Tendons and ligaments are more likely to be damaged when a horse is overweight as it placed additional strain on supporting structures.
Proper shoeing and trimming. Trimming or shoeing a horse in the most-simple manner is generally associated with more soundness.
Leg wraps and bandages. Boots and bandages, even when applied properly, cannot stop a tendon or ligament injury.
Walk. Warming up a horse at the walk makes it harder for tendons and ligaments to become damaged at faster speeds.
Systemic training. Tendons and ligaments are more-often damaged in horses that are asked to perform athletic endeavors like running, jumping or sliding. Keys to help keep a horse's legs injury-free include: don't do too much too quickly; work him regularly; cross train when possible; and don't overtrain—strong tissues come from stressing them and then allowing them time to rest and repair.
Proper footing. Horses should not be worked for extended amounts of time in deep, soft ground.
Address issues. If a horse is sore, address the issue to prevent compensation complications in tendons and ligaments.

Tips For Top-Notch Hoof Care

Certified Journeyman Farrier Sean Elliott shoes horses that compete in a myriad of disciplines. He offers tips to promote hoof health and notes some things to avoid. Sean says the top three things healthy hooves need are good nutrition, a dry environment and balance.

Proper nutrition will give a horse the building blocks he needs to have quality feet. Sean recommends good hay, clean water and a ration balancer, and he discourages owners and caretakers from adding supplements just to use them if they claim they can make a difference in hoof quality. He reminds horse owners and caretakers to treat each horse like an individual and that feeding programs aren't one size fits all.

First and foremost, horses shouldn't stand for extended periods of time in mud or wet conditions, Sean says. He also recommends that horses not be bathed daily, which can strip hooves of oil essential to keeping them healthy. Sean also isn't a fan of topical hoof treatments, noting that a dry environment is more essential than anything that could be applied to the hooves.

Hooves should be seen by a qualified farrier every four to six weeks to ensure that the hoof capsule is placed correctly underneath the horse's leg. Routine trims will also deal with issues like long toes and flares in the hoof wall. Sean notes that a good farrier must have a grasp of equine anatomy and conformation, as well as understand the biomechanics of how hooves handle concussion.

Each hoof should be trimmed to be in balance and not to create hooves that look like they match one another. Shoes should be shaped to the foot and not the foot shaped to the shoe, Sean says.

Hooves can crack because the toe is too long, the heel is underrun or because the horse has been standing in a too-wet environment. Though most cracks aren't a big deal, ones that go all the way through the hoof capsule or all the way up to the hairline require an intervention by a farrier.

Contracted heels are also a common issue and are most often caused by improper hoof balance, which can affect blood flow and hoof expansion. Abscess can be startling to see as the horse tends to become suddenly, severely lame. Sean suggests that genetics may predispose a horse to abscesses and thin soles can exacerbate the problem. Abscesses are most common during spring and wet winter months, when moisture softens the hoof and the foot becomes bruised, which can lead to an abscess.

EQUITANA USA Unveils Month-long Virtual Program To Celebrate The Horse

The equine industry won't have to wait a year to celebrate the horse with EQUITANA USA after all. The event announced today a month-long virtual celebration of the horse in September, free and open to anyone. Registration and more information about the full programming schedule can be found here.

Virtual sessions begin Tuesday, Sept. 1, and include a variety of webinars with equine industry notables, expert horsemen and women, and an array of exhibitors with innovations and products to advance the care, performance and celebration of horses of all breeds and pedigrees. Sessions include live interviews, panel discussions, expert seminars and educational content ranging from equine nutrition to yoga on horseback as well as behind the scenes with notables like Sydney Collier, Mikhail Proctor and Jamilah Simms.

Select Saturdays in September will feature special Kid's Edition content. Plans are also in the works for barn tours in collaboration with Horse Country, Inc. sessions on training the performing arts horse, equine photography sessions and Q&A's with equine legal experts, among other topics.

“We listened to the feedback from the industry after our very difficult decision to cancel the in-person event due to COVID-19 concerns and instantly knew our fans still wanted to connect and learn,” said Meghan Margewicz, the event's director. “A lot of the session leaders and experts we would have seen at the event have joined us to present a September packed full of great learning for everyone. We're excited to have everyone join the celebration online now which will offer a sneak peek of the amazing programming we'll witness when we're back together again at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2021.”

Next year's event is slated for Oct. 1-3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

EQUITANA USA invites equestrian professionals, enthusiasts, and everyone interested in learning more to join the online events throughout September. The daily schedule will be updated as sessions are added to the EQUITANA USA website at www.equitanausa.com. Fans are also encouraged to follow the event's social channels and e-newsletters for updates on the live 2021 event, but also several planned live streamed content sessions during the September celebration.

Exhibitors interested in the 2021 event, virtual celebration, or year-round promotional opportunities can learn more at equitanausa.com or by contacting Kaitlyn Fritz at kfritz@reedexpo.com.