Índex per April 2016 a Equus

New beginnings I was so overcome with joy when I read “Second Chances” (Back Page, EQUUS 461), a story about the retired racehorse La Jolla Lu. My father and I have been volunteering at the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP) in New York State for almost five years now, and we knew Jolla personally. She was one of our favorites, and we were so thrilled to know that she found a home with someone who loves her and takes great care of her. I just wanted to say how amazing these horses are---they are so intelligent and athletic that they can take up any new discipline in stride with a confident hand. We adopted our own filly, Unafraid, in October of 2014. We affectionately call her Una now, and…

Reference: “Chagas disease in a Texan horse with neurologic deficits,” Veterinary Parasitology, January 2016 Chagas disease, a protozoal infection mainly affecting people and dogs in Mexico, South America and Central America, has been detected in a horse in Texas. Although canine cases of Chagas disease had previously been reported in southern Texas, this is the fi rst known case of clinical infection in an American horse. Caused by the organism Trypanosoma cruzi and spread by the feces of insects commonly called “kissing bugs,” Chagas disease may initially produce an array of vague signs, including headache, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. After the acute stage of infection, the disease enters a chronic phase. Months, years or even decades after the initial infection, about 20 percent of humans and dogs with chronic…

The first warm day of spring has you understandably itching to hit the trails, but keep your enthusiasm in check to avoid inadvertently overworking or overheating your horse. Even if you’ve maintained your horse’s fitness over the winter months, the increased temperatures of a sunny spring day combined with what’s left of his winter coat can lead to heavy but ineffective sweating, which can cause as much stress as exertion on a hot summer day. An out-of-shape horse is additionally burdened by the warmer temperatures and heavier coat. Go ahead and saddle up on that first wonderfully warm day, but keep a close eye on how your horse is handling the work. Any of these signs could indicate that you need to scale back or stop entirely for the day.…

• Definition: an infl ammatory destruction and/or abnormal overgrowth of the cementum, the yellowish outer covering of the teeth and lining of the infundibulum, below the gum line of the incisors and/or canine teeth. • Signs: Pain and infl ammation in and around the front teeth and gums; ulcers and other signs of infection may be present. In later stages, the teeth may take on a bulbous, roughened, caulifl ower-like appearance and loosen. • Causes: unknown. EOTRH appears to result from infl ammation in the gum area, but the pathogenesis is not fully understood. • Diagnosis: observation of external signs of infection; x-rays are necessary to determine the destruction and overgrowth of tissue beneath the gum line. • Treatment: There is no known cure for EOTRH. Drug therapies, with antibiotics,…

Over the past two decades, researchers have made great strides in understanding the causes of laminitis. Three primary pathways leading to the disease have been identifi ed: • The infl ammatory pathway is associated with fever and infl ammation from infections commonly associated with diarrhea or any systemic disease, such as Potomac horse fever. This form is also associated with concussion to the feet, exposure to black walnut shavings or ingestion of toxic plants. The infl ammatory form, referred to as “acute laminitis,” tends to cause intense pain and massive separation of the laminae, causing the coffi n bone to separate from the hoof wall and descend downward in the foot, which can develop within days of the onset. In the most severe cases the bone descends through the sole…

No matter your chosen discipline or your level of expertise, taking riding lessons with a professional can be extremely benefi cial. Friends who aren’t equestrians often tease me, jokingly asking whether I have fi nally---after all these years of instruction---learned how to ride a horse. And there’s something to their questions. But I feel that there is always more to learn. Whether I’m preparing for a show, learning a new skill or maneuver, or just making sure that I’m on track with my riding, I’ve found that riding lessons are worth the investment of time and money. However, I can’t afford to board my mare at a facility that has a resident trainer or riding instructor. Instead, I keep her at home. That leaves me with three choices when it…

When I first saw Frankie, he was tied to a rail. I spoke quietly to him as I approached his right shoulder. He turned toward me a bit fearfully, but then his look softened, and he began licking and chewing as I talked to him. He was receptive to my touch, and I was certain his eyes were saying, “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you.” That look was all it took to make me want to buy him. And so began my yearlong odyssey filled with many pitfalls that more seasoned horsepeople might have avoided. Yet I don’t regret my decision. I began riding in my 60s, and I’d had about three years of experience when we began searching for my “perfect” horse---a quiet one who could…

carbohydrates---large group of carbon-based compounds, including starches, sugars and cellulose, that are found in plants and form the largest class of animal foods. Carbohydrates, together with proteins and lipids, are principal components of cell protoplasm, the viscous fl uid that fi lls plant and animal cells. coffi n bone (pedal bone)---major bone within the hoof, shaped like a miniature hoof. colostrum---thick, extra-rich milk secreted by the pregnant mare’s mammary glands as they fi ll, usually before the foal’s birth. Contains globulins and other proteins that provide the foal with temporary immunity against infectious disease. Must be consumed by the foal within a few (maximum 12) hours of birth to confer protection. deep digital fl exor tendon---tendon connecting the deep muscles at the back of the forearm and gaskin to the…

EQUUS welcomes freelance submissions for practically any section of the magazine. We prefer to receive manuscripts via email; sent to EQLetters@EquiNetwork.com. We will also consider typed hard-copy manuscripts, but please note: If you would like your materials returned, a self-addressed, stamped envelope needs to be included with your submission. We do not review or accept simultaneous submissions. Here are a few guidelines for prospective contributors: • Features generally run from 1,600 to 3,000 words. • Medical Front (200- to 400-word items)—Brief articles about the latest research, technological advances, treatments and other veterinary topics pertinent to horse owners. • Hands On (100- to 400-word items)—Short items offering practical advice and useful reminders on everyday horse care issues, ranging from feeding and hoof care to training. • True Tales (700 to 2,000…

Q: A sudden storm caught you off-guard on the trail and you’ve returned home with a soaked saddle. Which of the following should you not do to care for it? a. Place it near a heat source to dry faster. b. Oil it. c. Clean it with saddle soap. Answer a. Putting soaked tack near a radiator or heater will cause more damage to the leather than the water alone. Instead, wipe off excess water with a towel, and use saddle soap to clean off any dirt or mud. Then, condition your saddle with oil and let it dry naturally. Saturated tack will be stripped of oils, leading to cracking once the leather is dry, so you’ll want to oil your tack well before that happens.…

A horse develops an especially severe, widespread infection. If the rainrot causes painful crusts over wide swaths of your horse’s body, your veterinarian may provide you with a prescriptionstrength antimicrobial treatment as well as a systemic antibiotic and phenylbutazone or Banamine to address the pain and infl ammation. She may also want to examine the horse for an underlying illness, such as Cushing’s disease, that may be compromising his natural immunity. Rainrot grows worse or does not respond to treatment. Drying out the coat and applying antimicrobial treatments ought to lead to improvement within a few days. If not, you may be dealing with something else. Your veterinarian will want to rule out other skin issues that can look like rainrot, such as ringworm, scratches, allergies, insect hypersensitivities or even…

MANAGEMENT Help for a needle-shy horse Q: My 14-year-old mare is terrifi ed of injections. She swings her hind end and stiffens her neck so the veterinarian can’t get near. Our veterinarian suggested we desensitize her by pinching her neck and poking her with toothpicks. Nothing has worked. I really don’t want to twitch her because this is already traumatizing her. When she was young she had a bad experience with a different veterinarian, and I guess she’s never forgotten it. Do you have any suggestions on how to calm her so she isn’t needle freaked? My mare is generally good-natured with no health problems. Susan Baker Waukesha, Wisconsin A: Any number of horses feel the same way about the veterinarian that yours does, and who can blame them? It is…

Having to put down a horse is one of the most wrenching decisions an owner can face. And losing one to laminitis can be especially difficult---by the time the end comes, a horse has often endured weeks or months of pain with faint hope of recovery. Laminitis has long been a scourge among horses: difficult to predict, nearly impossible to treat, killing many and often leaving survivors permanently unsound. Even the great Secretariat---a Triple Crown winner who enjoyed the highest standard of care---was euthanatized because of laminitis in 1989 at the age of 19. “The idea that they could do nothing for the most famous horse in the world at the time is devastating,” says Donald Walsh, DVM, founder of the Animal Health Foundation (AHF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Quest Plus Gel for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating mares. Quest Plus is a combination deworming product containing moxidectin and praziquantel. “Quest Plus Gel is simply our traditional Quest product with praziquantel added for control of tapeworms,” explains Kenton Morgan, DVM, an equine technical services veterinarian for Zoetis, manufacturer of the product. Moxidectin is effective against a variety of internal parasites including large and small strongyles, encysted cyathostomes, ascarids and pinworms. “Several years ago when Fort Dodge brought Quest Plus to the market, they did not pursue the pregnant mare safety claim because both moxidectin and praziquantel had each individually demonstrated safety in previous pregnant mare studies,” explains Morgan. “Because of this, similar studies were not undertaken with moxidectin and…

I put a few strips of reflective tape on my horse’s grazing muzzle. That way, he manages to remove it, I can walk his pasture at dusk, sweeping the ground with a flashlight and find it quickly.— Cynthia Harrison, York, Pennsylvania Send your suggestions for inexpensive horse-care substitutes as well as hints for saving effort and time to Hands On, EQUUS, 656 Quince Orchard Road, #600, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; Fax: 301-990-9015; email: EQLetters@EquiNetwork.com. Senders of published items will receive selected EQUUS merchandise.…

The color of your horse’s coat is so integral to his identity that it’s usually the fi rst thing you mention when describing him: A chestnut mare. A palomino Quarter Horse. A leopard Appy. But there’s so much more to the equine coat than color. A horse’s hair has important functions, both as part of his largest organ---the skin---and on its own. A year-round barrier to insects and the elements, the coat thins in time for hot weather and grows long enough to provide insulation in the winter. The equine coat is a marvel of adaptation. For horse owners, a horse’s coat plays another important role---it’s a good indicator of his overall health. One of the rewards of taking good care of your horse is enjoying the beauty of his…

A fertilizer is any material applied to the soil that supplies nutrients necessary to plant growth. In addition, some fertilizers are applied directly to plants. These products fall into two general categories: synthetic and organic. Synthetic fertilizers are generally inorganic (meaning they do not contain carbon) and are derived from mineral salts and other synthetic chemicals. The three most important ingredients they provide, called macronutrients, are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). All synthetic fertilizers are labeled with three numbers, called the fertilizer grade, which indicate the relative percentage of each macronutrient. For example, a bag labeled as “12-12-12” contains 12 percent of each macronutrient, in the form of nitrogen compounds, phosphate (P2O5) and potash (K2O). Fertilizers are formulated in different balances for specifi c usages: Nitrogen promotes leaf…

Standing on wood shavings that contain as little as 20 percent black walnut (Juglans nigra) wood can induce acute laminitis within hours. This threat is well-known, however, so bedding products packaged for horses never contain black walnut shavings. But if you purchase bulk shavings or related products from local suppliers, make certain they know you cannot accept shipments that contain black walnut. Black walnut wood has a distinctive dark brown color that will stand out against lighter woods.…

TREATS WITH A PURPOSE • Product: Equipockets L/S • Description: Designed to make it easier to give your horse oral medications, each Equipockets L/S treat has a pill pouch to hold small tablets or capsules. Low in starch and sugar, these soft, moist treats are safe for horses with Cushing’s disease and other metabolic disorders, according to the manufacturer. Ingredients include beet pulp, ground flaxseed and alfalfa meal. Available in all-natural apple or peppermint flavors. • Price: suggested retail, $28.95 for a 30-count bag; $51.95 for a 60-count bag • Source: Beet-E-Bites; www.equipockets.com NEED A LIFT? • Product: Wintec Half Risers • Description: Pads designed to balance out your saddle, Wintec Half Risers come in two styles—front and rear—to add height only where needed. Made of closed-cell foam with an…