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In This Issue
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Equine Strangles
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Springtime Thrush
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Spring Conditioning
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EQUINE STRANGLES from horse.com pdf
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Strangles is a highly contagious and debilitating
equine disease. Strangles is an
important disease worldwide because it is highly contagious (meaning it can spread quickly through horse
populations). With our riding season fast approaching it behooves all
of us to be on the lookout for any symptoms and treat as necessary to
prevent spread to other equine populations.
Fast Facts
¦ Strangles is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus
equi subspecies equi and is an
important, highly contagious respiratory
tract infection of horses.
¦ C lassic signs of disease include a nasal discharge,
swelling/abscessation of the lymph
nodes of the head and neck, fever, coughing,
difficulty eating, and lethargy.
¦ Metastatic or "bastard" strangles
occur when the bacterium infects areas
elsewhere in the horse's body, such as the
chest, abdomen, or brain.
¦ Recovery for most horses occurs uneventfully
within six to eight weeks with appropriate
nursing care.
¦ To minimize the spread of infection, all
infected horses should be immediately
quarantined and strict hygiene measures
should be instituted.
¦ Carriers or chronic shedders can occur
following recovery in a small percentage of
horses with S. equi; these are an important
source of infection for susceptible horses.
¦ Vaccination against S. equi might be
beneficial depending on risk factors for the
disease your horses experience and should
be discussed with your veterinarian.hosted on your website
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SPRING TIPS for the HORSELOVER
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Hi All! Just wanted to offer a few tips for springtime teaching here.
We're all excited to see, smell and feel the warm sunshine and first
little showings of spring flowers. That includes our ponies and horses,
too! And while we've been diligently trudging through banks of snow in
freezing rain and frigid temps to make sure our horses were snug, warm
and with filled bellies and warm water sources, I'm sure even the
heartiest soles did not do much "formal" training during such inclement
weather! So a couple fo thoughts before you head out in earnest to get
ready for the riding season:
1.
Remember, horses and ponies get excited about Spring too! This means
they will act out just the way they're made to do .. kicking up their
heels, rearing high in play, galloping away only to rush back in the
"catch me if you can" game. And while we don't ever want to punish them
for being horses and ponies they may need a couple of reminders that
humans perhaps don't play that way in close proximity to them. Just a
few reminders of who is the true leader will help to quell most
aberrant behaviors and get things on the safe path again. The Hind End
Disengagement is an awesome "tool" to use to establish who is leader.
Done in a quiet, confident yet assertive manner will help to allay any
unsurety the horse or pony might have and will help to set you up
firmly as his fearless leader.
2. In our frustrations with
springtime acting-out behaviors we may get frustrated and even angry.
It is ALWAYS important NEVER to punish a fear based behavior. In the
case of Equine, ALL behaviors are fear based - meaning, their flight or
fight behaviors in order to survive. Work with positive reinforcement
in order to reward the horse for WANTED behavior and try to ignore the
unwanted behaviors. As long as the wanted ones are rewarded, the
unwanted will soon self-extiguish.
3. Spring grasses are
filled with sugars. Some horses are extremely sensitive to this and
their behavior can become equal to that of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.
Recognize this and take note of the sugars your horse or pony is
getting. It may be too much for his system to handle.
4. One
other quick mention ... heat cycles. Mares are now coming out of
anestrus and some of them can be downright snarky. Try to be empathetic
to them as they can be as uncomfortable with PMS as any woman on the
face of the earth. There are herbs and supplements that can help with
extremes. Do some research if you must but always, please, be
empathetic to your horses.
Well, that's it for now. I need to
go muck some paddocks and clean out some vegetable beds to plant soon!
YIPEEEEEEEE! I love springtime!
:) --Gwen
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Springtime THRUSH!
"April showers may bring May flowers,but what it brings to our horse's hooves doesn't always smell pretty."
With
spring upon us, the urge to ride can become overwhelming. For those of
us that have chosen the road of High Performance Barefoot and Equine
Podiatry, it can be a very frustrating time. Wet weather and adverse
conditions make it very difficult to maintain a strong healthy hoof
under our horses. When it comes to the changing environment, it has
become apparent that some horses fair better than others. The horse
that goes into springtime with good structure to its hooves is less
likely to suffer the ravages of excessive moisture and the adverse
affects of daily exposure to mud.
If you are unfortunate enough
to have a horse with less than healthy hooves, spring can be a
nightmare. Just as a healthy person can handle a spring cold better
than a weak, frail person can, the horse with good structure and proper
function within the hoof can handle the changing environment spring
forces upon us. For the horse with less than ideal structure,
imbalances or loss of equilibrium of function, a mild attack of
laminitis or a simple hoof infection can be devastating. Quick
and on-going intervention is the best course of treatment.
On
a recent trip to Idaho, it was interesting to see that the affects of
the environment on the horse's hoof was quite different from that of
the East Coast or that of the UK. We were faced with trimming rock hard
hooves with very thick, false sole. What was interesting was that most
all of these horses had very poor weak frogs. With a little
investigation, it became clear as to what was happening there. It
seemed that they had a
very wet winter and as they entered into
spring, it became very dry, some would say a drought had set in. The
wet season had apparently caused the frogs to deteriorate, and as the
hoof began to dry out, nature laid down large amounts of sole to cope
with the added stress of the hard, unforgiving footing. Now the
question arises, how do we get a healthy
frog back under this foot?
Unlike
the horses here on the East Coast or in the UK, the Idaho horses had
loads going for them in the form of solid structure to wall and sole.
It would now be a simple matter of creating an environment that would
eliminate any infection that was present and then exposing the frog to
mild pressure to stimulate growth. On the East Coast and
abroad, we
are not so lucky. Often we have massive loss of structure, not only to
the frog, but also to the sole and wall. The reason, longer, wetter
times that make it difficult to maintain that ideal environment.
Recent
studies indicate that excessive moisture is only one of the problems
and that the problem is compounded by extreme changes. For instance,
when a horse is stabled part of the day and then turned out part of the
day, the horse's feet are exposed to extremes in the
environment
going from very dry to very wet and back again. This constant wicking
and soaking action is very damaging to the horn of both the inner and
outer wall. So what can be done about this? Do a little investigating
of your own and try to determine if you can regulate your horse's
movement to limit extremes. Turning a horse out 24 - 7 is great
provided the environment is correct. Turn out in very wet conditions
for extended periods of time may be detrimental. Common sense is the
rule of thumb here.
Here are a few suggestions on how to return loss of structure that an incorrect environment may have caused.
--Weak and unhealthy frogs
If
your horse has a poor frog, you will ascertain that other structures
have suffered as well. Having a good understanding of the frog's
function is paramount. Even if you adhere to the traditional beliefs
that the frog is a shock absorber and aids in pumping blood, it is
important that you open you mind to some of the other roles it plays in
foot function. It is responsible for aiding in stimulating the proper
growth of the bars, heels,
digital cushion and lateral cartilages.
This said it should be clear that addressing the frog should be your
first step in achieving your goal of a healthy sound foot. If there is
any doubt in your mind as to whether or not there is infection
involved, treat the problem. Use a broad-spectrum anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal cleanser such as Clean Trax. If the loss of
frog
structure has caused severe instability to the hoof capsule, I
recommend light hand walking for 10 to 15 minutes a day on firm flat
ground. Uneven ground will cause undue stresses. Pressure to the frog
area is achieved by applying Sole Mates Therapeutic Support Pads held
in place by duct tape. Once stability is observed, you can then safely
progress to walking 20 minutes a day on sand without the Styrofoam to stimulate further growth.
--Lack of heel purchase
Heel
purchase is crucial to achieving equilibrium of function. Applied
research and on going field studies have confirmed that proper
placement of the angle of the bar is required for proper neurological
function. Under slung heels are helped by walking 20 minutes a day on
asphalt. Friction generated by the gait when the foot strikes the
ground aids in establishing proper orientation of the wall tubules
throughout the rehabilitation
process. If your horse is not landing
flat or to the heels, it is likely that your horse is feeling pain in
this area. Try the Styrofoam and be sure to treat for infection of the
frog. With the return of structure, the pain should subside. Keep in
mind that internal structures have also suffered and must be allowed to
return. Soft tissue injury can take a very long
time to heal.
Inflammation within the hoof must be reduced if there is any hope of
recovery. Seek the advice of an experienced holistic veterinarian for
recommendations on how to deal with inflammations.
 This
right front hoof exhibits poor frog structure, showing deep central
sulcus and lack of heel purchase with under slung heels. Also evidenced
is excessive false sole growth, indicated by deep collateral grooves.
--Thin live sole
A
thin live sole can result from improper trimming, which removed needed
structure. Another cause is having an excess of improper structure
elsewhere in the foot. An example of excessive improper structure would
be excessive wall growth or a shoe. Both would cause a lack of needed
pressure on the sole. The result is a lack of healthy growth.
A thin
sole often results in bruising from trauma. This bruising can result in
sub solar abscesses, pedal osteitis and even fracturing of the pedal
bone; avoid pinpoint pressure at all cost. Very thin soles require
protection. Provide protection that will apply uniform pressure in the
form of support. I do recommend using an iodine based product to harden
the sole provided there is no sign of hoof infection present. With the
application of these
mixtures, spores responsible for various
infections become trapped in the tubules of the sole and surrounding
structures. Soak for infections first. Do not use any iodine products
on the hoof if you plan to have X-rays taken. Iodine is radio opaque
medium and as such, will make it difficult to get a good image on film.
Walking a thin-soled horse over asphalt or other smooth hard surfaces
will not cause trauma, nor will it aid in proper sole growth.
Therefore, you will need to combine your efforts by walking this horse
over sand or other soft surfaces that will not cause pinpoint pressure.
Moisture
is also of great concern. Excessive moisture will hinder proper sole
production. Remove all pads immediately after exercise. Though I do
recommend twenty-four hour turnout, I do not recommend extended turn
out in a wet environment. Keep the thin-soled horse in a very dry
environment until such time proper structure returns. Hand walking in
Sole Mates tm pads or in sand 20 minutes a day will do wonders for the
thin-soled horse.
There was a recent article in one of the more
popular magazines, the topic: Getting ready for the trails. What was
most frustrating about this article, not one mention of hoof care or
foot preparation was mentioned, go figure.
Best of luck in all your efforts to achieve High Performance from your horse.
KC La Pierre, RJF, MEP
Copyright © April, 2004
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Conditioning Your Horse For Trail Riding
By Darlene M. Cox
Trail
riding is fast becoming a great American past-time and recreation. Many
people who have always possessed a love for horses and nature have
combined these two wonderful elements into beautiful camping and trail
riding weekends or vacations. Trail riding is an event that allows
whole family participation.
With time being a limited commodity
in our lives, we may find ourselves loading up the family and horses
and heading out for a lovely weekend or more of riding. Anyone who has
been in the saddle for hours can attest that it can definitely take its
toll on your body when you aren't used to straddling a horse for hours
on end. Keep in mind that as hard as it most assuredly may be on you to
adjust yourself to these occasional jaunts in the saddle, it is even
harder on your horse if he has not been properly conditioned for trail
riding.
You cannot take a 'pasture potato' horse that is used to
leisurely grazing and lazing away his days at home communing with his
pasture mates and insert him into a high performance position requiring
hours under saddle, whereby he has to navigate over rocks and deadfall
trees while climbing or descending steep hillsides and expect him to be
at "peak performance" or condition for such riding. Doing so will put
your horse in harm's way of injury or certain medical conditions as
colic or tying up. Equivocate the stress your unconditioned horse would
endure on such a ride as described above as what you would suffer if
you entered a mini-marathon unprepared and unconditioned. You wouldn't
start your season off with the mini, rather you would begin
walking/running in smaller, incremental distances.
When
conditioning my horse for an upcoming ride I will begin riding them
three days a week for at least a half hour each day. This time will be
increased to one hour each day the next week an hour and a half the
third week and leveling off at to two hours the fourth week. A general
rule of thumb that I have used is that by the end of the conditioning
period, a daily ride of about half the distance of an average day on
the trail is sufficient. In other words, if my average ride on the
trail is four hours in the saddle, the conditioning period should be
composed of two hours. Each session is begun lightly on the lounge line
and then progressing under saddle at a walk, then with sustained
trotting first at :05, :10, :15, and :20 intervals. After each interval
of trotting I will slow to a walk to allow my horse's heartbeat to
slowly come down to normal. To adequately work all muscle groups, I
will alternate the lead the horse is on. I rarely canter my horse
during these conditioning workouts, as I believe his cardiovascular
workout is best heightened at the trot. Each session is ended at a walk
with my horse's heart rate close to a resting normal.
I also
utilize conditioning over ground obstacles that will require my horse
to pick up his feet to step over them. I will place these obstacles at
various places, to better simulate what my horse may encounter on the
trail. I have found the implementation of this particular type of
conditioning very helpful as it further builds my horse's endurance
ability. You will most likely notice that your horse is fatigued when
he begins to stumble when stepping over trail obstacles. A fatigued
horse is one more likely to suffer a fall or injury when stepping over
this obstacle. It is easy to understand why this is true, again by
using ourselves as an example. How would we perform clearing obstacles
after we have worked beyond our conditioning level? And once we
stumble, aren't we too tired to avoid the spill that is destined to
happen?
Equally important to the amount of exercise conditioning
that your horse receives prior to a trail riding trip is an appropriate
feeding ration. Horses that are overweight going into their
conditioning period should have their grain intake reduced and,
possibly, their conditioning regimen increased. For horses that may be
thin going into the conditioning period, the grain amount should be
increased, with the conditioning time remaining consistent. Exercise
coupled with increased grain will bring a thin horse into an acceptable
condition.
Incorporating the above conditioning sequence or
modifying it to meet the needs for the type of riding you do with your
horse will ensure that you both will be better able to tackle the
obstacles encountered along the miles of trail you will traverse and to
avoid any unnecessary injuries that may be sustained if you don't
prepare for them. Ride safe, ride sound.
Happy trails! |
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I
hope you've enjoyed this issue of PENZANCE EQUINE SOLUTIONS
Newsletter! Please don't hesitate to contact me with any comments or
questions. If there is a topic which you would like to see addressed in
a future issue, let me know! Simply send to caballus@charter.net
HAPPY SPRING! 
Gwenyth Santagate
PENZANCE
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