Tabla de contenidos para March 2015 en Equus

Equus|March 2015

LETTERS

Straight toward a better ride I want to thank physical therapist John Macy for sharing “Straighten Up and Ride Right” (EQUUS 447). He has given me the long-wanted explanation of why so many of us ride out of balance. For the past 26 years I have ridden with a lowered right shoulder. Two-pointing over uneven terrain on competitive trail rides always seemed awkward for me. You would think as an athletic person that I could have figured out the reason for the lowered shoulder, but it took this article to help me. Macy explains our physical asymmetry in an incredibly simple and clear way, and he has given me the tools to correct myself. Already, I am finding his four-point correction suggestion feeling normal and comfortable. He was very right…

3 min.

Equus|March 2015

Flu strains are always changing. Give your horse the vaccine that’s kept up.

Don’t settle for an outdated influenza vaccine Getting a flu shot each year is second nature for most people. Although it has been thought of as a risk-based vaccine for horses, in reality, most horses could be at risk. As human influenza flooded the news in late 2014, it’s time to take a closer look at what makes some equine influenza vaccines work better than others. Not your grandpa’s flu strain Influenza viruses, human and equine, change as time goes by through a process called antigenic drift. Influenza vaccines need to be constantly updated to reflect this change in the circulating flu strains. Antigenic drift occurs in both human and equine influenza, and different organizations work to prevent flu outbreaks by determining the current circulating viruses and then recommending what…

2 min.

Equus|March 2015

A common language

When you’re working with horses, two decisions take priority. First, from the moment you begin interacting with a horse, you must use your line of direction. Second, you must decide how you get there. You can’t just wander aimlessly; you need a plan. That’s true whether you’re thinking about jumping a course or how you will train the horse. As you go on this journey, be aware that you take on a daunting responsibility as a rider: You are the custodian of the horse’s trust, honesty, integrity and dignity. You must respect the horse and make sure he has everything he needs. History has too many examples of horses’ trust and dignity being taken away by force. Thankfully, we live in a more enlightened age, where people are learning that…

5 min.

Equus|March 2015

THE ART & SCIENCE OF Hay

Cutting open a bale of hay and doling it out to your horses is one of those chores we all do countless times. Unless you’re fortunate enough to live where there’s year-round pasture, you probably do it several times a day, especially in the cold months. And, if you’re like me, you probably don’t think too much about hay unless you’re shopping for it, storing it or hefting it around the barn. “Hay is humble stuff, it’s true,” says Steven Hoffbeck, a history professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead and author of The Haymakers: A Chronicle of Five Farm Families. “When an old farmer from northern Minnesota found out I’d written a book about haymaking he said, ‘Imagine that---that someone could write a book about the lowly subject of making…

12 min.

Equus|March 2015

TRUE TALE

a loss and so humiliated he couldn’t speak, he just nodded. “OK,” I said. “Give me a rope and 20 minutes.” Their curiosity piqued, the press contingent agreed to wait for me. First I removed the stable halter and let the blood-stained shank drop to the ground lest the horse associate them with his recent fear. Then I fashioned a makeshift halter and lead from the rope and led him over a little hill out of sight. In my wake I heard a few snide remarks about women babying horses. I ignored them and proceeded to become a friend to a lovely Thoroughbred who really did need one at that time. I talked to him softly while I cleaned the blood from his mouth and dirt from his pretty white…

3 min.

Equus|March 2015

ADVERTISERS’ PRODUCT GUIDE

Equus Issue 450 (ISSN 0149-0672/USPS 501-430) Copyright 2015, Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Published monthly by Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. The known office of publication is at 5720 Flatiron Parkway Boulder, CO 80301. Periodicals postage paid at Boulder, CO and at additional mailing offices. Subscription Rate: $24 per year (12 issues). Add $12 per year for Canadian subscriptions and $24 per year for international subscriptions. Postmaster: Send address changes to Equus, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL32142-0235.. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40612608, Canadian GST Number 12345 2781 RT0001. Canada returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Canada. Reprints: Contact Wright’s Reprints to purchase quality custom reprints or e-prints of articles appearing in this publication…

1 min.

Equus|March 2015

A SUBTLE EFFECT OF ENDURANCE COMPETITION

A Kansas State University study shows that the physiological effects of endurance competition can sometimes be found in an unexpected part of a horse’s body: the eyes. The researchers monitored the intraocular pressure (IOP) of 69 horses in five 50-mile endurance events in 2009. IOP is the fluid pressure inside the globe of the eye and is measured with a tool called a tonometer in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). “IOP is not static and actually fluctuates by a few millimeters of mercury over the course of the day,” says Rachel Allbaugh, DVM. “In many species it is highest in the morning and lower in the afternoon/evening, but this is opposite in horses.” The researchers monitored the intraocular pressure (IOP) of 69 horses in five 50-mile endurance events in 2009. Prior…

8 min.

Equus|March 2015

Treatment trade-off

Imp, my Trakehner gelding, had been a generous gift from a friend about five years ago. He was 19 then, and in addition to being a sweet and handsome guy, he was a talented and experienced upper-level dressage horse. He was also safe and sane under saddle, and his new job was to be my schoolmaster. I moved Imp into a training barn, and all went well. He did have his quirks---he didn’t always get along with his pasturemates, he often demanded to be brought in well before his outside time was up, and he tended to have strong opinions about just about everything. But he was a dream to ride. Then, just months later, Imp suddenly turned up head-bobbing lame. The veterinarian diagnosed a tear in his sesamoid ligament.…

9 min.

Equus|March 2015

Heads up

Gain your peace of mind with a helmet that is stylish as well as safe. Now available in plum, the Contender (suggested retail, $64.99), from Lami-Cell, offers an ABS outer shell molded as a single piece, with seven large vents to maximize airflow. The low-profile design provides added support for the back of the skull and neck, and a dial-fit system adjusts to accommodate head sizes from toddlers to adults. Available in S to L, in plum, navy, black or brown. Call 800-223-2102 or visit www.partrade.net. For a traditional look that maximizes safety, the One K Racer Skull Cap (suggested retail, $224.95) is made with an injection-molded polycarbonate and ABS composite shell, stainless steel mesh and a padded harness lined with synthetic suede. Other features include a washable, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial…

2 min.

Equus|March 2015

Your preseason checklist

At this time of year, even in the northernmost climes, green shoots are at last poking through the soil in pastures and robins can be seen flitting down fence lines. But at many barns there’s another sure sign of spring: riders pulling tack out of storage and restocking their grooming kits in eager anticipation of the first big trail ride, show or clinic of the season. Those debut outings can be a little rough, though. Horses who are otherwise sensible and sedate may jig and bolt. Others lag behind the group, too winded to keep up. One horse may be tender footed and another so rotund after a lazy winter that his saddle no longer fits. And then there are the practicalities to contend with: leaky buckets, flat tires and…

10 min.

Equus|March 2015

CONSULTANTS

MANAGEMENT Keeping a muzzle on Q:My overweight, easy-keeper gelding should wear a muzzle most of the year. The problem is that he is very crafty at getting the muzzle off his head. He has used a hook and the fence to catch and rip off muzzles, destroying them in the process. His latest scheme is having his herdmate grab onto the muzzle with his teeth and pull it off. What can I put on the muzzle to deter his buddy? Is there something that would taste bad but not be harmful to the skin or the horse if he ate it? Any help would be appreciated as I don’t want my guy to founder or colic. Amy Swing Newark, Delaware A:Muzzles that limit or prevent grazing are important to protect…

4 min.

Equus|March 2015

GLOSSARY

antigen---substance, often a protein, that the body’s immune system recognizes as foreign and reacts to by producing an antibody. body condition score (BCS)---a designation, based on a nine-point numeric scale, indicating the amount of fat on a horse’s body. A BCS is assigned after a visual and hands-on appraisal. carotid artery---main artery running along the horse’s windpipe at the underside of the neck. It supplies blood to the head. Coggins test---laboratory blood test for the presence of antibodies against the equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus. conjunctiva---membrane lining the inside of the eyelid and covering the exposed surface (“white”) of the eyeball around the cornea. dexamethasone---synthetic corticosteroid that mimics the function of cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenals. eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE, encephalomyelitis)---brain and spinal-cord inflammation in horses, caused by…

3 min.

Equus|March 2015

HANDS ON

The chirps from a nest full of baby birds can be a delightful sign of spring. Unless, of course, they come from a nest situated directly over your grooming space or feed-storage area. You can’t fault birds for nesting in your barn rafters; the space is dry, out of reach of most predators and within easy swooping range of spilled grain. But the mess a bird family makes through droppings can try the patience of even the most avian-friendly barn owner. Droppings from birds aren’t likely to spread disease to your horse here in North America, but they do contain fungi and other microorganisms that you’ll want to avoid. And the mites sometimes found in the nests themselves may cause itchy reactions if they drop onto creatures below. To make…

5 min.

Equus|March 2015

IN FOCUS: EXTRA-ADRENAL PARAGANGLIOMA (EAPG)

Definition: adrenaline-producing tumors that grow in the cells of the sympathetic nervous system (which helps to monitor and control the internal organs) Signs: Although EAPGs can occur anywhere along the sympathetic nervous system, in horses the tumors are more likely to become apparent when they develop in the orbit, the cavity in the skull that holds the eyeball and related tissues. They are reported to be the most common tumor of the equine orbit. The most common sign is exophthalmia, the protrusion of the eyeball outward from the socket. Bleeding or other discharge from the nose may be present. Vision is not commonly affected in earlier stages of the disease, unless the tumor affects the optic nerve. Once the protrusion is pronounced, the horse may develop chronic inflammation of the…

1 min.

Equus|March 2015

DECODING YOUR HORSE’S BLOODWORK

Drawing blood for laboratory testing has been a routine part of equine veterinary care for decades. Along with a physical examination and review of a horse’s history, bloodwork can offer valuable insights into the health and function of the body’s systems. What’s more, routine screenings can detect brewing trouble long before a horse might show outward signs of anything amiss. The procedure is simple enough---the blood is drawn, placed into test tubes, and then a few days later your veterinarian calls with new information and possible recommendations for management changes or treatments. And many blood samples are taken when a horse is perfectly healthy. “It’s good to have baseline values that are taken when your horse is normal because then you can compare them to additional results taken later on…

19 min.

Equus|March 2015

GETTING THE FEEL

Last month, we considered proprioception---the brain’s awareness of body location, pressure and movement. Proprioception works much the same way in Homo sapiens and Equus caballus, and it can be adjusted to similar levels of sensitivity. Of all senses, it allows riders the most direct communication with a horse. By now, you’ve probably completed an assessment of misalignments and imbalances in your body. Don’t worry, we all have them. They’re places where your brain tells you you’re level when in fact you are not. These errors occur because our proprioceptive nerves---and the brain cells connected to them---are not tuned as precisely as they could be. But with a little work, we’ll press them into shape. You might wonder why such small discrepancies need to be addressed. If your brain thinks your…

15 min.

Equus|March 2015

STOCK&TRADE

TO MONITOR VITAL SIGNS Product: VetCheq Monitoring and Diagnostic System Description: Placed against a horse’s leg in a specialized wrap boot, VetCheq is an electronic device with noninvasive sensors that continuously monitor pulse, blood pressure, respiration, hydration and blood volume. The data can be stored and downloaded later or shared in real time via Bluetooth, cellular or Wi-Ficonnections to smartphones, tablets or computers. In addition, VetCheq can send alerts when a horse’s physiological data reach certain thresholds. Price: $2,000 Source: PonyUp Technologies, Inc; www.ponyuptechnologies.com FOR A WARM GRIP Product: Perfect Fit 3 Season Glove Description: Made of stretchable softshell fabric, Perfect Fit riding gloves are designed to provide lightweight warmth. The gloves feature double-stitched seams, reinforced friction points and adjustable wrist closures. A synthetic suede palm allows for a secure…

1 min.

Equus|March 2015

Never too late

I’d wanted a horse of my own since I was 3 years old, when my grandmother gave me a Breyer Appaloosa stallion. I remember that moment so clearly. It was as if a lightning bolt had struck me with horse-craziness, and I haven’t been the same since. Fifty-five years later, I’ve still got that toy. I became the kid who bugged her parents for a horse at every opportunity. But it was never to be. As my parents never stopped saying, horses are expensive. Horses are a lot of work. Horses can be dangerous. Over time, I became convinced that I didn’t have a horse because I didn’t deserve one. I tried taking lessons as an adult, but I was frustrated by judgmental instructors who had learned the basics when…

3 min.