August 2021
Serving the Michigan, Indiana & Ohio Tri-State Horse Community
CLUB NEWS
Association Michigan MichiganFox Fox Trotter Trotter Association
included a competition for the camping reservations most ambitious member with themYOUR (dbardranchPROTECT LARGEwho BALE HAY INVE$TMENT! demonstrates their horsemanship michigan.com) now so you skills in a wide variety of categories. can go on guided awards trail ride, Quarterly andayear-end will be bring Go a todessert to pass for the given. www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to read the rules and printand off the forms to join in on Saturday night meet greet, play Bingo the friendly competition and fun. astride and sing around the campfire. Tell D bar More Fox Trotters are slowly becoming available to D that you are with the Michigan Fox Trotter purchase but they are selling fast. There is a good video on group. You notgait have to be a member tosite parthe correct Foxdo Trot posted on our Face Book to refer to when youwill are considering MFT to buy. Be sure ticipate. This be a reallyanfun time! to bring knowledgeable witht-shirt you,too,on when you Takea your new Foxperson Trotter a trail narrow down your search. Breeders, Chuck Fanslow (rivride! Take a picture of yourself wearing it and erflatranch.com) and Gale Gunders (989-534-1207), have post it onyoung the Michigan FoxThey Trotter Facebook well-gaited stock available. also have quality page!toIt willtobe funhave to asee where everyone has studs breed if you mare you want bred. Chuck has a Buckskin stallion and a palomino stallion(both sons gone this summer. These comfortable stoneof Cottonblue Eyed(100% Joe). Gale has a spotted who will washed cotton) t-shirtsstallion emblazoned throw color to your foal. Both are located in Gladwin,MI. with a black MFT and State of mare Michigan silx 78” 76” Contact them if you wantDimensions: to have your72” bred.x There
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Wethe have resources people available for you to learn is nothing like expectation a well-bred foal! Kathy Kruch. To order,andgoof to the michiganfoxfrom and breeders to refer you to if you want to Don't forget to transfer yourthe newly-bought horse's trotters.com website toone use For buy a young to train orlink if youon wantthe to further registration papers into your name with the MFTHBA,too. theatraining with your present horse. Sale page or send check for $25/$30 for XXL We are growing! New welcomes gomembers out to Themember MFTHBA needs registered (made out toequine MFTA) to MFTA, 2333 Hagadorn Naomi Haas, dentist Kris Modreske and to fill their committees for 2021. I justHarry agreed Road, MINaomi state size needed and Struble Mason, all of MI. rides sorrel sabino gelding to48854, help out on athe Trail Committee again. (Dexter) and a black mare (Hank's Serenity Liberty Bell Surely you can,too! Various committees need it will be shipped to you. Your help is apprecimembers(younger ones too) for their input B). Kris rides a black and white gelding (Radar's Spotted ated in helping and us advice succeed in this fundraiser so togoincrease Prior). And congratulations out toaffiliate Harrynumbers,think Struble on that we can continue to offer more educational of ways to make the shows better,to improve and his purchase of Joe's Golden Chip, a handsome buckskin okay Trail next Ride applications,give on and fun National activities year.All theseideas gelding, from Chuck Fanslow. memclinics (let's get more closer to our state),getting more verbersOur are riding quality Trotters!!! 22 Versatility particisatility riders interested,give ideas on training and Fox picking judges, plus New members are always welmore. Many positions can bepants supported remotely. this istraina great have beenAlso, busy Go www.michiganfoxway to meet those from other come! areas of theto USA who raise,train and ing, chasing miles, camptrotters.com print not off have the ride MFTs. I have made new friends this way whotoI would ing in Michigan otherwise. Contact the MO Fox Trotting Horse Breeding membership form.Association We and meet via www.mfthba.com to become a member and forsomore information other states and pracvirtually all members on helping out. are ablefor to shows meet without ticing since Also, PLEASE send in your MFTA dues and your MFTHBA dues having to drive long dislast month. Who asap! tances. Wishing everyone a blessed and safe Christmas! will be high Our Eventthe Committee Respectfully submitted, point winners for is busy planning next Marilynthe Mannino clinic. It will be a Gaited the next quarter? Western Dressage Clinic at StayMoney tuned to find out! For the Finest Can Buy the end of May. More details hearts go out to From One Piecewill TobeOur Anavailable Entire Stall thenext Julie Parliament familyis month. The clinician Or An Exhibition Stall. in the loss of their son, Elon. top-notch! SLIDING ORhistory SWINGING DOORS A will littlebe on remembered our breed: The He forever as presthe ent-day Missouri Fox Trotter evolved from Morgans in sweet, fun-loving, happy guy who had a great New England being crossed with Arabians, Plantation smile and always lent a hand wherever needed. Horses, American Saddlebreds, TWHs and pacing Hugs to the Parliament family. Standardbreds. The genetic mix of square-trotting horses andNew pacing horses created the comfortable trot gait! families ($20) and individualsfox($15) are Missouri Fox Trotting horses have been used by farmers in always welcome! Go to michiganfoxtrotters. Missouri and surrounding states to ride long distances to com to print off the membership form. You will check their fencing and work cows, pull buggies, by US learn the where Forest more Serviceabout workers, bybreed, mounted policeto andbuy nowthem, people what people these horses and across the Uniteduse States and wonderful Europe use them for recreation (showing, trail riding, Dressage,reining, 4H and ponies for, help promote Foxtrotting equines Design Stalls that work for you and your Equestrian Team, Hippotherapy,etc.). They are truly and make new friends. You will be amazed at versatile and also canComponent be found in allPieces colors and sizes! Try Horses.... With how many people ride them. Hope toor meet you one out and find out why everyone loves them so! soon! the Entire Stall! • Removable Grills
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Hello December! Marilyn Time is sure flying!! Marilyn Mannino Mannino At our November meeting we elected some new officers for 2021. Congratulations go out Hello April! Spring is upon us! People are out Fox to Bob Howell elected asweather the new MFTA The unusual forPresus continues this Trotting and enjoying theMarilyn weather. Many are accumulatident, Kathy Kruch is now VP, is still summer, sothe many days of rain! Hopefully you ing points in Versatility that we are offerSecretary/Treasurer, Char Ostrom isChallenges the new are finding relief from the mosquitoes and bugs ing. 2-year Director and Miranda Mannino is now Registration still open all three the Versatility the 1-year Director. is your by foxtrotting horseforthrough open We are accepting renewals Not Under Saddle Challenges (Under membership Saddle Challenge, areas where there are fewer of are them. Be sure to and new memberships for 2021 now. Youth Challenge). Challenge and Ultimate Horseman This proprotect your horse by keeping current on their encouraged to join too! Go to www.michiganfoxgram is designed to show how versatile the Missouri Fox trotters.comEquine to print offEncephalitis,Western the form. You will learn alot Equine Eastern Trotter is. Registered and grade MFTs are allowed. from our members about the history of Fox Trotters,their All and through Encephalitis Nile Virus useshandicapped and availabilityand and regular beWest able toyouth network with those of us who adults are welcome. Every imaginable camp,train and show them. Our association is blessed to have skilled vaccinations too. activity and category included trainers,breeders and a farrieristoto learn from. We love promoting this Everyone is invited join from in they hand work Dressage, so versatile and come in breed as have greatto personalities,are us onsizes the MFTHBA/MFTA many and different colors.toA benefit to joining is that we short distance trail coat riding can offer clinics at a reduced price to our members. Due to Covid we National Trail Ride endurance competitions and are meeting remotely each month. Michigan is a big state and this is a everything in-between (cow September 17 through good way to easily see and talk with each other within and outside of work, driving, extreme trail, September MI. Come join the19 fun!at D bar 4H Sign and open showing, up now forin the popular Versatility Challenge for 2021. Print D Ranch Chase parades, reining, form trailfrom mainteoff the enrollment our website. There are may areas in Michigan. MakeWepoints-even your nance and also which you can more!). accumulate in the non-rideable months.
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August April 2021
December 2020
Equine Times
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Know What You Grow Clover Toxicity And Horses
Taylor Fabus EAST LANSING, MI. — While fresh summer pastures may provide your wallet some temporary relief with lower feed and hay bills, fall is quickly approaching. The cooler, wetter weather provides the perfect breeding ground for clover and, unknowingly, the fungi and toxins that may come with it. The most typical fungus to infect clover is Rhizoctonia leguminicola. More commonly known as black patch for the bronze to black spots it creates on the stems and leaves, the fungus is likely to be found on either white or red clover. The clover plants themselves are non-toxic and it is the fungus that contains the toxin slaframine that causes the undesirable symptoms in horses. Slaframine is known to stimulate the salivary glands of a horse and lead to an excessive amount of drooling, or “slobbers.” While it is a nuisance and rather unpleasant, the condition is not life threatening. The toxin slaframine
can be found in pasture or dried hay. Once identified, the fungus can be effectively eliminated by removing the horses from the infected pastures and using a pasture-friendly broad leaf herbicide to eliminate any remaining broadleaf plants, such as clover. Another clover likely to grow in your pastures as fall weather begins is alsike clover. Although similar-looking to other clovers, alsike clover can be identified by its flowers, which are dark pink at the base and light pink towards the tip. Unlike the relatively non-toxic red and white clovers, alsike clover is known to cause two more serious conditions in horses: photosensitization and big liver syndrome. The toxin in alsike clover that causes these two severe conditions remains unidentified. Photosensitization occurs with short-term exposure and clinically appears to look like sunburn that becomes crusty, dies and may slough off entirely. Horses that remain inside for the day or are blanketed while outAugust 2021
side may not show these more typical symptoms and, in these cases, photosensitization can present as oral lesions, diarrhea and even colic. Long-term exposure to the alsike clover may lead to big liver syndrome, which is the progressive destruction of the liver. Symptoms of liver failure due to alsike clover consumption include loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, jaundice, colic and death. It goes without saying that if you observe any of these changes in your horse, contact a veterinarian immediately because liver failure is often fatal. With fall weather comes changes in pasture vegetation and you should always be on the look out for significant clover growth. Pasture management plans should be reviewed annually, especially if you continue to notice a problem with toxic plant growth. The easiest way to prevent your horses from consuming toxic plants is to know what you grow and watch what your horses eat. Equine Times
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Carrot and Apple Horse Treats Kyanah Blair
This recipe comes from SaddleLockers. Combining two common horse snacks into one, SaddleLockers has come up with an easy yet delicious homemade horse treat!
Te m p e r atu r e 350°
B a k e Ti m e 20-25 minutes
In g r e d i e n t s 1 cup grated carrots (about 2 large carrots) 1 cup grated apple (about 1 small apple) 2 tbsps applesauce ¼ cup molasses 1 cup oats 1 cup flour (the recipe author used whole wheat) 1 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the carrots, apple, applesauce, and molasses until combined. Form it into 1 inch sized balls. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Equine Disease: Cerebellar Abiotrophy
Taylor Fabus
EAST LANSING, MI. — There are many things that can go wrong in the equine industry, including diseases. There are diseases horse owners vaccinate to prevent and there are also genetic diseases. Cerebellar abiotrophy is a neurological genetic disease found mostly in the Arabian horse breed. There is no way to cure cerebellar abiotrophy and it is not contagious, but there are ways to prevent the spread of it through responsible breeding practices. Cerebellar abiotrophy affects the neurons in the cerebellum that controls coordination and balance. Cerebellar abiotrophy is a recessive disease, meaning the symptoms are only present when the horse carries both the recessive genes. A horse can be a carrier and live a normal life. This happens when the horse only has one recessive gene for cerebellar abiotrophy. Cerebellar abiotrophy symptoms can begin as early as six weeks old, but may take up to 18 months. Symptoms include lack of
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Equine Times
balance and coordination. A horse will have a hard time standing up and will stand with their legs spread out to secure themselves. The head may tremor and shake a bit, and the movement of the forelimbs might be exaggerated when walking. The spread of cerebellar abiotrophy carriers can be maintained through responsible breeding. If you are unsure if a horse is a cerebellar abiotrophy carrier, there is a test to determine if your horse is a carrier. It normally requires 30-40 individual hairs with the follicle still attached. The decision to test a horse is only necessary when deciding to breed a mare and the stallion is a cerebellar abiotrophy carrier. You will want to make sure the mare is not a carrier as well to prevent the chance of the foal being positive for cerebellar abiotrophy. Research has shown there is only a 25 percent for the offspring to have cerebellar abiotrophy. However, with the investing into breeding a mare and keeping a foal mare, it is not a smart economical decision or ethical decision to knowingly breed a cerebellar abi-
August 2021
otrophy carrier. Cerebellar abiotrophy is a common genetic disease that is serious and fatal. Increased awareness of the symptoms as well as responsible breeding practices are key to controlling the spread of this genetic equine disease.
Cerebellar abiotrophy is a neurological disease found mostly in Arabian horses. Though there is no cure, there are ways to prevent its spread through responsible breeding. Michigan State University
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The Impact of Packaging on the Stability of Horse Treats Dr. Krishona Martinson Horse treat packaging might be composed of materials such as plastic and paper that protect the product from the environment to improve shelf life. The objectives of this research, conducted at Southern Illinois University, were to assess the impact of packaging on shelf life of horse treats and to evaluate the impact of packaging on horse preferences. Three packaging treatments were examined over a 12-month period. Treatments included a control (stored in solid-sheet polyethylene bags at -80° C), polyethylene bags (stored at ambient temperature and relative humidity), and paper bags (single ply paper bags at ambi-
ent temperature and relative humidity). Moisture content and water activity increased in all treatments from month 0 to month 12, with paper packaging providing a greater fluctuation and containing visible mold at month 12. No difference was observed in horse preference. However, a trend for the number of treats consumed was observed, with treats stored in polyethylene bags increasing in preference while treats stored in paper bags decreased. The researchers concluded that packaging type impacted shelf life and horse preference of treats. For more information on this research, the abstract can be assessed from the Journal of Equine Veterinary Medicine. August 2021
Equine Times
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Hay Storage for Safety and to Prevent Losses zone in which the hay should be closely monitored. If the temperature rises to 160 or above, a fire is likely. Fire is imminent if interior bale temperatures exceed 175°F and fire is present at temperatures greater than 200°F. Always use the oldest hay first and rotate your bales so that the oldest hay is in the front of the stack. As long as moisture entry is completely avoided from any direction, and the hay was adequately dry when put into storage, it should keep indefinitely (Reference Table 1). In hot climates, high humidity might increase moisture content and reduce storage life, so feeding hay within 2 years of purchase is recommended. Regardless, it's a good practice to always use older hay first. Nutrient Content of Stored Hay This is a common horse owner concern. If hay has been stored in a dry environment, it’s suitable for feeding for a long period of time after harvesting. The nutritional value of hay remains relatively constant, whether a horse eats it two months or two years post-harvest. Philip Kaatz If hay is baled with a moisture content of 10-15 percent, it should not lose more Forage (fiber) is the most important than 5 percent of its original dry matter part of any horse’s diet. The majority of during the first year of storage. It will lose horses get their forage requirements from very little of its digestible nutrients during hay. Most horse owners go to great lengths that time or in succeeding years. Exceptions to ensure their horse grain is stored in a – The hay will suffer some loss of carotene, secure location, but hay storage is not the pre-cursor of vitamin A, following one always held to the same standards. When year of storage. It will also lose vitamin e it comes to hay storage, there are a few content within approximately 1 to 2 weeks things horse owners can do to help guaranof cutting and baling. tee their hay will stay in good condition Large bales stored outside will suffer and have minimal loss and waste: variable losses, depending upon a combinaDo not allow hay to get wet tion of factors. These factors include: Water and moisture cause mold and • Moisture of the hay at baling time are the biggest culprits in hay losses. Mold • Amount of rain and snow during the and other organisms that grow on hay can storage period make your horse sick. Mold can cause skin • Internal drainage of the soil on which allergies and inflammation, as well as bales are stored respiratory problems. Mycotoxins are • Amount of space between the bales harmful compounds produced by molds • Type of hay (grass or grass-legume) and these toxins can cause a wide range of • The skill of the operator making the clinical signs in horses, including respiratobales ry, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and reproLong-term storage does increase the dryness of hay, in some instances. Dry hay TABLE 1. LONGEVITY OF STORED HAY tends to be more brittle, so more may be Hay Storage Options Storage Longevity (Years) Dry Matter Loss (%) wasted during feeding. Hay that has been in storage for longer periods is more prone Conventional Shed 20 4 to 7 to accumulation of dust. This is likely due to increased dryness. Total dry matter lossTarped on Pallet 5 4 to 7 es increase with more exposure to environOn Ground 1 25 to 35 mental conditions (Table 1). ductive problems, even death. Pest proof your hay storage area Seal rodent holes and attempt to detour larger wildlife, such as raccoons, from moving in during winter months. Not only do these animals deposit feces which can carry several diseases, including Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), but they can also chew through twine, creating a mess in your hay storage area. Do not stack hay on the ground Stacking bales on pallets encourages air circulation beneath the bales and can help prevent the bales from absorbing condensation from the ground. Hay bales stored on wet surfaces can have as much as 50% spoilage. Try not to stack hay directly against a wall, especially an external wall, as this will also decrease air circulation and can heat up hay unnecessarily, potentially causing mold growth. Hay can be stored outside if it is stacked on pallets. Tarps or other coverings should be used to protect bales from dust, sun and moisture. Minimize the risk of fire Fire in stored hay may occur from either external or internal causes. Internal heating is a direct result of microorganism activity in hay stored at excessively high moisture levels. Even if excessive heating does not result in a fire, it will reduce forage quality. A caramel smell may indicate that the hay is becoming hot. A metal pipe or rod driven into the center of the stack can be pulled out from time to time to feel for heat. Hay that is extremely hot or beginning to steam, often smolders until the stack is pulled apart, at which time the increased oxygen can cause the bales to burn more rapidly. Moisture and heat should be monitored for about two to six weeks after freshly baled hay is stacked in a barn or shed. When hay temperature remains below 120 degrees Fahrenheit, it is considered safe. The range between 120 and 140 degrees is considered a caution
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Equine Times
August 2021
The Scoop on Dr. Stephen Duren Are you curious about hay cubes? Maybe you’ve had these questions come up, whether you’re a beginner horse owner or veteran, lifelong owner of horses: • What are hay cubes? • How are hay cubes made? • How do you feed hay cubes? • What horses may benefit from consuming hay cubes? The following is the scoop on Standlee cubes, made with premium western quality forage. The Making of a Cube Hay cubes consist of dried forage, such as alfalfa, that is formed into 1.25” wide x 2.5” long rectangular pieces. To make a cube, Standlee Premium Products first grows the forage plant to the proper stage of maturity, and then cuts, dries and bales the forage into conventional bales for storage. Throughout the year, this baled forage is then coarsely chopped to a fiber length of approximately 2 – 2.5”, mixed with water and bentonite (a natural clay binder). Bentonite is an approved horse feed ingredient that is used to prevent the crumbling of cubes prior to feeding (NRC, 2007). The moistened forage is then pushed through a dye with pressure to form the cube. Once made, the forage cubes are dried to a moisture level that allows for proper storage. Standlee Premium Western Forage currently manufactures certified alfalfa cubes, premium alfalfa cubes, alfalfa/timothy grass cubes and alfalfa/oat grass cubes. Feeding Cubes The mechanical process of making a forage cube does not change the digestibility of the forage. Therefore, the digestibility of a bale of high-quality alfalfa is the same as a cube made with the same high-quality alfalfa. When replacing long-stem baled hay with forage cubes, you would replace one pound of hay with one pound of forage cubes. To swallow and digest a forage cube, the horse must properly chew the cube. If the cube is not properly chewed, the horse can potentially choke. Most horses will properly chew forage cubes. However, for any horse that is new or naïve to forage cubes, tends to bolt their feed, or with poor dentition, it is recom-
Hay Cubes mended to soak the cubes in water prior to feeding them. To properly soak forage cubes, the cubes should be totally submerged in water for approximately 30-60 minutes prior to feeding. This will soften the cubes until they dissolve into short pieces of forage fiber. Types of Horses that Benefit from Forage Cubes High-quality forage cubes can be beneficial for many different types of horses. Poor Dentition - First, any horse that is having difficulty chewing due to poor or missing teeth can benefit from soaked forage cubes. The soaked forage cube provides fiber that is shorter in length and easy to swallow for horses with dental issues. Underweight Horses - Horses that are underweight are also good candidates for forage cubes. The high-quality forage utilized to make Standlee Premium Western Forage Cubes will provide an elevated calorie intake compared to most local hay sources.
August 2021
for Horses
Performance Horses – For horses with a higher activity level, alfalfa cubes are a good choice since they provide the protein needed for muscle and bone development and repair. Horses with Gastric Ulcers – The calcium in alfalfa cubes buffers stomach acid, potentially reducing the occurrence of gastric ulcers in performance horses. Certified Noxious Weed Free – Federal and State authorities require certified noxious weed free forage to be fed in protected national lands. Certified Standlee products are ideal for horses used for trail riding or guided pack trips. Finally, forage cubes can be fed to all types of horses when baled hay is in short supply or when the quality of local hay is marginal. Replacing all or part of baled hay with forage cubes will provide high-quality nutrient-rich forage for you horses. Simply replacing 1 pound of baled hay with 1 pound of forage cubes will boost forage quality and nutrient intake.
Equine Times
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Ask the Expert: Feeding Baleage to Horses Krishona Martinson, PhD
Since baleage is becoming more readily available, I’m wondering what your thoughts are on feeding it to horses? Should horses be vaccinated against botulism if feeding baleage? Is warm weather feeding of baleage going to result in mold formation? Additionally, I know of some horses that eat haylage and corn silage. Is the lower pH in haylage and corn silage enough to reduce the botulism risk? Baleage (baled silage), haylage and silage are gaining popularity as farmers can harvest it more quickly (e.g. less drying time) to avoid adverse weather. Baleage is mostly large round or square bales baled at 45 to 60% moisture and then wrapped in plastic to allow fermentation. Baleage is usually harvested as long-stemmed forage, but some specialized balers have pre-cutting systems that preprocess the forage into shorter lengths. In comparison, traditional dried hay is usually baled at 15% or less moisture. Haylage is a broader forage term referring to forage that is harvested at 40 to 60% moisture, so baleage and haylage are terms often used interchangeably. Silage is a term that has a broader definition including any forage that is harvested at a slightly higher moisture than haylage, but it is most commonly used in the context of corn silage. Both haylage and silage tend to be chopped, and are usually stored in some sort of structure (e.g. bunker silo, bag, or upright silo). Although baleage, haylage and silage can be fed to horses, it should be done with caution. Baleage, haylage and silage can be very nutrient dense and contains microbes and potential probiotics that can affect the gastrointestinal microbe population. A slow transition (e.g., over the course of 10 to 14 days) to this type of forage reduces the risks and incidences of colic, founder and other digestive upset. Additionally, mold formation can be a concern if not preserved correctly, or if the plastic wrap on the baleage is punctured and exposed for long periods of time. Additionally, once the baleage is opened, it should be consumed quickly (e.g. within 24 to 48 hours) or there is a chance of mold formation due to the high harvest moisture. The warmer the temperatures (e.g., summer months), the more quickly baleage should be consumed. Mold growth in baleage largely poses a different risk than the mold growth in hay. In hay, a major risk is from the spores that certain species of molds produce and the impact that those spores have on respiratory distress. However, molds that are commonly produced in and on baleage are less likely to produce spores and so are of minimal risk of respiratory distress. However, some molds under certain conditions can produce mycotoxins that might be toxic to horses and other livestock. Visible white mold growth on the exterior of the bale is unlikely to cause an issue. However, molds that are green, yellow, orange, or red are species that can produce mycotoxins that are highly toxic. Fortunately, these are very rare and usually avoidable when those who feed the baleage are trained to be attentive to those colors and the soured and putrid smells that often accompany such bales. A concern of any preserved forage is the presence of Clostridium botulinum, as very small amounts of the botulism toxin they produce can cause death. However, botulin production in well-preserved silage or haylage is highly unlikely, as pH is too low for C. botulinum to survive and grow. A killed vaccine (toxoid) directed against C. botulinum type B only is licensed for use in horses in the U.S. The vaccine is recommended for horses at increased risk of developing botulism due to residence in (or travel to) endemic regions (C. botulinum is also found in soil) and horses fed high-risk forages (e.g high moisture forage). Horse owners should consult their veterinarian to discuss what vaccinations are necessary and appropriate for their horses. Much of the research focused on feeding silage and haylage to horses has been done in Europe, where these forage forms are commonly fed. In one research project, horses preferred grass silage over grass hay and grass haylage. In a separate research trial, feeding silage to Standardbred horses in race training did not affect fecal water content, but apparent digestibility was higher when fed a silage (55% moisture) diet compared to a hay (18% moisture) diet. The silage diet did not adversely affect the response to intensive exercise compared with haylage (32% moisture). Finally, in a separate research project where horses were fed hay and silage, no differences between the diets were found in the concentration of the total volatile fatty acids, the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and fiber and in vitro neutral detergent fiber disappearance throughout the digestive tract. While horses can be fed baleage, silage and haylage, we recommend horses be fed primarily dried hay. Transition to these feeds (or any new feedstuff) should be done gradually. Just like evaluating dried hay for mold and dust, baleage, silage and haylage should also be evaluated for mold. Moldy forage should never be fed to horses. Risks associated with C. botulinum is very low if moderately high moisture forages are preserved properly. Additionally, horse owners should discuss the pros and cons of vaccinating horses against C. botulinum with their veterinarian.
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Equine Times
August 2021
Baleage is different than all other forage making practices Philip Kaatz EAST LANSING, MI. — Baleage is made in round-bale and big-square hay packages so some people assume it is very similar to making dry hay. Others assume because the end product of baleage is a fermented wet silage that it is just like making haylage. According to Dr. Wayne Coblentz, from the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin, making baleage is different in some significant ways than other forage harvesting practices and farmers need to understand those differences if they are to make better quality forage from baleage. Coblentz spoke at the Michigan State University Ag Innovation Day in Lake City, Michigan. He highlighted the great advantages of making baleage which include: fewer weather delays, less wilting time required, reduced respiration of plant sugars resulting in better feed quality, reduced dry matter losses in the field compared to dry hay, less storage loss and oftentimes reduced feeding losses compared to hay. He added that baleage requires less expensive equipment and offers more flexibility for feeding than does a traditional haylage system. However, he also explained that there are some major differences that forage producers need to understand about baleage to be more successful in making it. These differences include: • Baleage takes longer to ferment than chopped haylage. One reason for this is that the long plant stems in baleage do not release plant sugars as quickly to fuel fermentation as shorter, chopped haylage particles. • Baleage usually is not packed as tightly as haylage. This permits more oxygen to be trapped within the bale, allowing extended respiration that further slows fermentation. • Baleage is usually drier than chopped silages, which inherently restricts fermentation. Normally, the production of fermentation acids increases with higher forage moisture. For these and other reasons, baleage goes through a slower and more incomplete fermentation than most chopped silages. This slower process usually allows the forage to remain above a pH of 5.0, and shifts even more emphasis towards maintaining anaerobic (oxygen free) conditions in order to preserve the silage. Air exclusion is then the key to making stable baleage and it is accomplished by wrapping the bales in airtight
plastic. This is especially important with drier baled silages (less than 40 percent moisture) that are more permeable to air and are at risk for spoilage should holes in the plastic wrap occur during storage. Baleage that is too wet (greater than 60 percent moisture) can undergo a secondary fermentation that produces butyric acid and ammonia, which can cause depressed animal feed consumption. These clostridial-type of fermentations are more likely to occur in difficult to ensile crops, such as alfalfa, that have high buffering capacity and have very limited amounts of sugar. Cool-season grasses are usually more forgiving in this respect. To make the highest quality baleage, and to avoid the feeding of a lower quality product Coblentz recommends the following: • Make baleage from forages that are harvested at the proper stage of maturity and are of good quality. Do not assume that baled silage techniques will magically improve poor-quality forage. • Harvest baleage in the moisture range of 45 – 55 percent. The bales will be lighter to handle, will optimize intake and performance, and will prohibit clostridial activity during fermentation and storage. • Make bales that are packed tightly with high density. Excluding as much air as possible from the bale is important. Maximize revolutions within the baler for each bale by slowing ground speed, maintaining appropriate engine rpm, and by baling only moderately sized windrows. • Wrap bales with six or more layers of plastic as soon as possible after baling; significant damage may occur after 24-hour or
longer delays. Consider using a lactic-acid producing inoculant from a reputable manufacturer anytime conditions are less than optimum. The key to making high quality baleage is to make a bale within the recommended moisture range that is as dense as possible (> 10 lbs DM/ft3), and wrap it in plastic as quickly as possible. This will allow oxygen depletion to occur rapidly inside the plastic. Once oxygen depletion is complete, fermentation will occur, but because of the slow and limited fermentation within baled silages, maintaining anaerobic conditions is absolutely critical. As such, plastic should be monitored closely for damage, and patched promptly when holes or leaks are discovered. Some farms are successfully baling very dry silages (25 – 40 percent moisture), and preserving the forage in plastic. Coblentz says these bales typically will not ferment aggressively, and preservation is largely achieved by limiting air access. However, in the absence of air, preservation can be accomplished, provided the producers are diligent about maintaining the integrity of the silage plastic. As forages become drier, there may be increased risk of internal puncturing of the plastic as these drier plant stems become more rigid. This often occurs along the junction of the flat and circumferential sides of the round bale. A small investment in additional plastic layers may be appropriate for these very dry silages. Baleage has many advantages and continues to grow in popularity. When done right it can make high quality forage that can optimize animal performance.
USDA Forage Specialist says knowing how baleage is different can get you a long way toward making better quality baleage. Michigan State University Extension
August 2021
Equine Times
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Drink Up!
Keeping Your Horse Well Hydrated
Roy J.
Many regions of the country have been experiencing high heat and humidity this summer, so naturally, the concern of proper hydration comes to mind. Reduced water consumption in horses may impair performance and increase the risk of impaction colic. Additionally, horses may sweat more profusely, resulting in faster dehydration. So what’s a horse owner to do? The first key element is to make certain that horses have ready access to clean, palatable, cool water at all times or at very frequent intervals. Horses will normally consume about 1 gallon of water per 100 lbs body weight, so an 1100 lb horse will require a minimum of 11 gallons of water per day. This quantity can increase substantially during periods of exercise, high heat/humidity or for lactating mares. Some tips to keep in mind to keep water consumption up: • Horses do not like to consume warm water in warm temperatures. Automatic waterers or large tanks, located in the shade and cleaned regularly, may be good options. If water is supplied in buckets, they need to be cleaned regularly and re-filled regularly. • If you are traveling to a show or other competition, it is essential to monitor water consumption, particularly if temperature conditions change. • It is routine in many barns to flavor the water with something like wintergreen or peppermint at home so that you can flavor the water in new facilities to match the home water. Read here for tips on training your horse to drink water away from home. • Do NOT use soft drinks or any material containing caffeine as these can trigger positive drug tests. • Taking horses to facilities with chlorinated water can sometimes reduce water consumption without proper precautions. The second key element is to make certain that salt is offered free choice. Things to keep in mind for salt consumption in horses include: • Horses require 1-2 ounces of salt Page 10 Equine Times
per day, and this can increase to 6 ounces per day with exercise in hot weather conditions. • Loose salt is consumed more readily than salt blocks in many cases. • When evaluating the total diet for salt consumption, commercial feeds normally contain 0.5-1.0% salt. It is not typically any higher than this, due to problems with palatability. • If a horse has been salt deficient or is bored, they may over-consume salt while in a stall. • Additional electrolytes, commercial or personal recipe, may be used per directions before, during and following completion, but care must be taken to ensure that the horses are drinking adeAugust 2021
quate water. Administering electrolytes to a horse that is not drinking properly, or allowing a horse to over consume salt without adequate water, can lead to electrolyte imbalances. If electrolytes are added to the water, plain water should be offered also. Horses need to be offered water throughout the day at a competition, and should be re-hydrated following exertion. They cannot cool out and recover properly without being re-hydrated. Keeping horses properly hydrated and maintaining electrolyte balance is extremely important in order to make a safe transition from cool temperatures to summer time and competition.
How to Dr. Krishona Martinson
Beat the Heat
Horses have a relatively small surface area to body mass ratio, which makes thermoregulation a challenge in hot and humid conditions. As such, horses tend to need aggressive cooling to prevent exertional heat illness after strenuous exercise in hot and humid conditions. A recent study, conducted in Japan, compared various methods for cooling horses in such conditions. Five Thoroughbreds were exercised on a treadmill at an average temperature of 89°F until their pulmonary artery temperature reached 108°F. The time until the pulmonary artery temperature returned to <102°F and the rectal temperature at 30 minutes after
the onset of cooling were compared between five cooling methods including: 1) walking, 2) walking with fans, 3) walking with the intermittent application of cold water (50°F), 4) walking with the intermittent application of cold water with scraping, and 5) stationary with continuous tap water (79°C) application. The stationary with continuous tap water application produced the shortest time to return to a pulmonary artery temperature <102°F, which averaged 2 minutes. The intermittent application of cold water produced the next shortest time length with an average of 10 minutes, while adding scrapping to that protocol lengthened the time to 12 minutes. Simply walking the horse took the longest time and
averaged 25 minutes, while walking plus the fan took 15 minutes. All cooling methods resulted in lower rectal temperatures at 30 minutes compared to walking. Continuously showering the horse with cool tap water was the most effective method to decrease core temperature in horses. This study demonstrated that showering horses continuously with tap water was superior to the intermittent application of cold water for cooling a hot horse after exercising in hot and humid conditions. The essential feature was not the water temperature or the use of scraping, but that the horse was kept covered in water cooler than its body temperature over an extended period.
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Equine Times
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A Precursor to Metabolic Disease in Horses Dr. Tania Cubitt Obesity is associated with insulin resistance in horses and ponies. Overweight horses also have an increased risk of laminitis, and overweight mares have decreased reproductive function. Human studies show that regional fat deposition, such as abdominal fat, is more predictive of metabolic disease than overall body fat. Currently, the most common system for assessing a horse’s fatness is using body condition scoring (1-9 scale). This method determines the overall fatness of a horse but does not differentiate between specific regions of fat. Like abdominal fat in humans, neck crest fat in horses has been suggested to be associated with insulin resistance and increased risk for laminitis. Recent research has developed a novel scoring system for grading neck crest fatness. The “cresty neck scoring system” is on a scale of 0 to 5, where a score of zero equals no visual appearance of a crest, and a score of five equals enormous and permanently drooping to one side. Like the current overall body condition scoring system, the cresty neck scoring system is subjective and requires experience in learning to judge condition and practice to obtain consistent values. Even with these limitations, the cresty neck scoring system has been proven to be a valuable tool when predicting a horse’s risk of metabolic disease. An increase in cresty neck score (CNS) was associated with an increase in circulating insu-
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Equine Times
August 2021
lin and a decrease in insulin sensitivity in the equines studied. These factors potentially amplify the animals’ risk for an array of metabolic diseases, including laminitis. Points to consider when implementing any condition scoring system are that horse owners should be trained by someone with experience at scoring animals, i.e., your local feed company representative or equine nutritionist. Also, the same person should be assessing the horse each time to be consistent and account for variation between people. Perhaps taking a monthly photograph of your horse in the same position each time (best in front of a blank wall) would help assess increases or decreases in your horse’s condition. It is crucial to find convenient, easy-to-use methods for the assessment of regional fatness. While body condition scoring is an accepted method for the assessment of overall fatness, neck scoring can standardize the assessment of regional fat distribution on the crest of the neck. This system will provide critical information to horse owners to proactively manage their equines to reduce the risk of them developing these devastating diseases. When dealing with horses or ponies with a CNS of 4 or 5, we must be cautious of feeding diets high in sugar and starch, as these may make any underlying risk for metabolic disease worse.
August 2021
Equine Times
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Silver cleaning secrets
Photo 1. The backside of a tarnished piece of silver from a show halter. Taylor Fabus
Taylor Fabus EAST LANSING, MI. — It’s no secret that high quality horse show tack is often a large investment for buyers, and these investments need to be handled with great care. What you may not have realized is just how easy it can be to do. With a bit of time, elbow grease and useful products, you can take your horse show tack from dull and tarnished to polished and gleaming. The step that is most often overlooked, but will pay dividends in the end, is removing the actual pieces of silver from the tack. Most silver is fastened onto equipment using Chicago screws, which can easily be removed using an ordinary screwdriver. Often times a flathead screw driver is needed, but evaluate your piece of tack to find the appropriate tool. Removing the silver will allow you to more effectively clean all parts of the piece of silver without concern about affecting the leather. As you can see in Photo 1, when removing silver you may find a Page 14
Equine Times
great deal more tarnish than you realized was initially there. This is especially true on tack like a show halter. The halter is directly on the horse’s hide, which allows for more dirt, sweat, hair, grooming products and other irritants that can lead to your silver tarnishing and leather wearing. Removing the silver from time to time is a good habit to get into in order to properly clean the silver and leather. I recommend placing the silver and coordinating Chicago screws into a small, plastic
Before and after silver polishing. Taylor Fabus
August 2021
storage container or plastic storage bag to prevent losing any important pieces. Now that the silver is removed, it is time to get cleaning. An industry-favorite silver polish is Haggerty Silver Polish (found in a blue aerosol can). Other great silver cleaning products are Weiman Silver Polish or Simichrome Polish. You’ll spray the product onto a terry cloth towel and rub the product onto the silver, which will leave a light film. Using a clean, dry towel, polish the silver until no more tarnish is seen on the rag. The tarnish will appear as a black or gray soiling on the rag. Keep rotating the rag as you use it to prevent rubbing tarnish back onto the silver. If you’re cleaning silver that is still attached to the leather tack, don't worry if you get a bit of the black tarnish on the leather. A great tip from Blue Ribbon Custom Tack is that “you can usually remove it if you wipe the area with a clean terry cloth towel sprayed with Glass Plus or Windex.” You can see the results in Photo 2 of before and after the
Silver cleaning secrets Haggerty Silver Polish was used. Don’t have access to silver cleaning products? Don’t worry, we have other suggestions that are likely right in your kitchen! Take a look in your fridge or pantry and grab ketchup. You read this correctly— that ketchup is a very effective silver cleaner. Why does it work? Silver tarnishes when the sulfur compounds in the air react with it and form silver sulfide. The most likely reason some people swear by ketchup is because it contains acetic acid, better known as vinegar. It’s very simple to use this household item to clean your silver. First, pour ketchup into a dish. Place the silver piece into the ketchup, making sure it is totally submerged. Let the silver sit in the ketchup for 5-10 minutes. Remove silver piece from the bowl, rinse with warm water and buff dry with a rag. See Photo 3 for the results on this silver belt buckle. You may have been advised to use toothpaste as a silver cleaner in the past, but some experts advise against it. While toothpaste as a cleaning product is easy to come by, it often contains ingredients that are abrasive. This is especially true of plated items because the toothpaste can damage the silver plating and expose the other metal underneath to corrosion. Before you return the now clean silver back onto a dirty piece of tack, be sure you allot extra time to clean the leather portion of your tack as well. Not only will this improve the overall longevity, usefulness and appearance of your equipment, it will also prevent tarnish building up more quickly onto
the silver. Blue Ribbon Custom Tack suggests cleaning the leather with Farnum’s Leather New or Fiebings Liquid Glycerine Saddle Soap. The liquid glycerine soap should be sprayed onto a sheep's wool pad, never directly onto the leather, and
then rubbed evenly onto the leather and into any tooling. Using a second piece of dry sheep’s wool, buff the leather well. When finished, put the sheep's wool pad you used into a plastic storage bag where it can be used again for any quick cleaning needs.
Photo 3. The results of using ketchup as a silver cleaner. Taylor Fabus
August 2021
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OH-0001251310
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Equine Times
August 2021