university of minnesota | Horse Racing Free Tips

University of MN Researchers to Study Death of Medina Spirit

Researchers at the University of Minnesota will assist in investigating the high-profile death of GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico), who collapsed on Monday due to a suspected cardiac event.

While an official necropsy will be conducted at the University of California, Davis, samples of hair, blood, and heart tissue are en route to the university's College of Veterinary Medicine's (CVM) Equine Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, where scientists are already studying cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in racehorses. Researchers are expected to release their findings to the California Horse Racing Board independently of and well after the necropsy report, and “hope to determine whether Medina Spirit had specific genetic factors putting him at risk for sudden cardiac death.”

” The CVM scientists, led by Assistant Professor Sian Durward-Akhurst and Professor Molly McCue, will also incorporate the Medina Spirit samples into an ongoing research project seeking to understand genetic and other risk factors for sudden cardiac death in racehorses,” said a release from UMN. “The researchers' goal is to identify horses at risk for sudden cardiac death–and to put tools into the hands of racetrack veterinarians that will allow them to identify those horses in time to scratch them from a race–in order to prevent future such tragedies. Those tools include an at-rest electrocardiogram (ECG) combined with artificial intelligence to identify horses likely to develop irregular heartbeats during a race–even if their resting ECG looks normal.”

“Medina Spirit's death is devastating, and sadly, such deaths occur all too frequently,” Dr. McCue said. “Our hope is to find ways to pinpoint horses at risk so we can intervene before they lose their lives. In addition to helping equine athletes, this research may also provide answers for sudden cardiac death in young human athletes.”

The post University of MN Researchers to Study Death of Medina Spirit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

UMN Researchers Studying Sudden Cardiac Death In Racehorses To Aide In Medina Spirit Investigation

University of Minnesota researchers will assist in investigating the death of famed Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who collapsed and died on the racetrack Monday in Arcadia, California, of a suspected cardiac event.

The horse's necropsy—the animal equivalent of an autopsy—will be conducted at the University of California, Davis. But samples of hair, blood, and heart tissue are en route to the College of Veterinary Medicine's (CVM) Equine Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, where scientists studying cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in racehorses will apply their expertise to the overall picture of the 3-year-old colt's death.

Unlike the breakneck pace for which he was famous in life, the study of Medina Spirit's death will be slow and methodical. California racing authorities have said there is no timetable for necropsy results but that it could take months. The CVM researchers will release the results of their analysis to the California Horse Racing Board separately, and likely much later. Ultimately, to buttress the necropsy, the researchers hope to determine whether Medina Spirit had specific genetic factors putting him at risk for sudden cardiac death.

The CVM scientists, led by Assistant Professor Sian Durward-Akhurst and Professor Molly McCue, will also incorporate the Medina Spirit samples into an ongoing research project seeking to understand genetic and other risk factors for sudden cardiac death in racehorses. The researchers' goal is to identify horses at risk for sudden cardiac death—and to put tools into the hands of racetrack veterinarians that will allow them to identify those horses in time to scratch them from a race—in order to prevent future such tragedies. Those tools include an at-rest electrocardiogram (ECG) combined with artificial intelligence to identify horses likely to develop irregular heartbeats during a race—even if their resting ECG looks normal.

McCue's lab has been studying horse genetic disease for nearly two decades. Durward-Akhurst and McCue have been working on sudden cardiac death in racehorses since 2015, when Durward-Akhurst was a PhD student, including creating with their collaborators the largest publicly available comprehensive catalog of equine genetic variation.

The post UMN Researchers Studying Sudden Cardiac Death In Racehorses To Aide In Medina Spirit Investigation appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

As Drought Takes Over, Beware The Signs Your Horse Has Ingested A Poisonous Plant

The pastures were recently cleared from overgrown trees and brush, and Kris Hiney, PhD, Oklahoma State University assistant professor and Extension equine specialist, closely looked over the brush piles to make sure no poisonous plants or trees had surfaced. “All clear,” she thought as she let her two horses back into the field.

“The very next day, they were already showing toxicity symptoms,” Dr. Hiney said. “It turns out I did have black locust trees in the pasture, and when the horses had a chance to get to them, it almost killed them.”

Of the two horses, one had lower tolerance to the toxic tree. His heart rate was elevated over 90 for a full 24 hours and to save his life, he required three days of supportive care in the veterinary clinic. Luckily, both horses survived.

Horse owners need to be familiar with poisonous plants and signs of toxicity. There are many poisonous grasses, plants and trees that can gravely impact horse health, such as black locust trees, Johnsongrass, white clover, maple trees, locoweed, tansy ragwort and black walnut trees. Fescue grass can be toxic to broodmares and their foals, causing thickened placentas and even abortions. Look to this University of Minnesota poster for pictures of poisonous plants and to better understand signs of toxicity.

Watch for these common toxicity symptoms:

Change in behavior
Anxiety
Depression
Neurologic issues
Seizure
Abnormal gait
Tremors
Stocking up or founder
Elevated heart rate
Brown or discolored urine
Mouth blisters
Colic

If horse owners fear their horse might have ingested a poisonous plant, “Call a veterinarian immediately,” Dr. Hiney said. “If horses do not receive the right care, toxicity can be a big deal. Death is often a real possibility.”

As the weather affects forage available to horses in turnout situations (especially with summer drought or winter conditions), horses are more inclined to ingest unfamiliar plants or leaves. To help prevent plant toxicity, make sure horses have adequate rations of quality hay or grass in front of them. Dr. Hiney encourages horse owners to work closely with their county extension agent to identify potentially harmful grasses, plants or trees that may surface in their pastures. Horse owners can also invest in a spray system to eliminate unwanted plants and weeds.

“Anytime there is something novel in their pasture, horses are going to investigate it,” Dr. Hiney warned. “I thought everything in my pasture was safe, but it turns out I was wrong. Be very careful, and take a look at what is accessible to the horses.”

Continue learning about horse care, with additional information from veterinarian-founded Valley Vet Supply.

The post As Drought Takes Over, Beware The Signs Your Horse Has Ingested A Poisonous Plant appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ten Tips To Improve Your Adult Horse’s Diet

The University of Minnesota's Dr. Marcia Hathaway, retired professor, provided this ten-step guide to feeding the adult horse through the UMN Equine Extension program. Consult your veterinarian or nutritionist to tailor advice to your horse's specific needs and medical considerations.

Always provide unlimited access to clean, fresh water. Water is the most important nutrient your horse needs. Most 1,000-pound horses will drink 10 to 12 gallons of water daily. Horse will need more water when temperature, humidity, or activity increase. Keeping water between 45 and 65 F tends to encourage horse to drink.
Maximize the amount of forage a horse eats. Fresh (pasture) or harvested (hay) forages are the ideal energy source for horses. Most mature horses should consume 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in forages daily.
Minimize the amount of concentrate a horse eats. Owners frequently feed cereal grains when horses need more energy than forages can provide. To reduce the chance of colic and gastric upset, do not feed mature horses more than 0.3 to 0.4% of their body weight in cereal grains per feeding.
Meet a horse's mineral needs. If feeding a commercial grain product according to manufacturer directions, the horse is most likely receiving the correct amount of these minerals. Ration balancers are great ways to ensure horses not being fed a commercial grain product are meeting their mineral requirements. Always provide free choice salt as horses will regulate their intake of salt.
Meet a horse's vitamin needs. Horses may receive enough vitamins through natural feedstuffs, their own production, and microbial production in the gut. However, most horses should receive a vitamin supplement unless they are being fed a commercial grain product according to manufacturer directions.
Establish a balanced ration for horse: energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Owners and managers are strongly encouraged to work with an equine nutritionist or purchase a prepared commercial feed that is professionally balanced to meet the horse's needs. There are numerous products on the market that are tailored to specific classes of horses, including but not limited to, growing, working, idle, or pregnant horses.
Monitor a horse's body weight and body condition score (BCS). When deciding a horse's nutritional needs, it is necessary to know their body weight and body condition score. Body weight can be determined by weighing on a scale or estimated using the Healthy Horse App, weight tapes, or mathematical equations. Body condition scoring determines the amount of fat deposit under the horse's skin in certain areas and a BCS between 4 to 6 is ideal. Body weight and BCS should be tracked monthly.
Routinely care for horse's teeth. Horse's teeth continually erupt and are simultaneously ground down as they chews feedstuffs, especially forages. Sharp points occur on the teeth requiring routine filing down or “floating.”
Change feeds gradually. Replace only 20 to 25% of a horse's current feed every other day when changing hay or grain types. This will allow for a complete change over a week or more. A gradual change from one feed to another provides enough time for microbes to adapt in your horse's gut.
Feed each horse as an individual. All horses have common nutritional needs including water, energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. However, how much of each will vary with age, activity level, and physiological condition.

For more information on feeding the adult horse, visit our website.

The post Ten Tips To Improve Your Adult Horse’s Diet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post