January 2023 Equine Times

Serving the Michigan, Indiana and Ohio tri-state horse community

The federations for modern pentathlon approved a decision to replace horse riding with “American Ninja Warrior”-style obstacle courses as a fifth discipline in order to save the sport from Olympic elimination.

There were 83 members who submitted a valid vote during the organization's congress session, with 69 casting a ballot in favor, 11 against and three abstaining.

The next step: approval from the International Olympic Committee for the change.

As it currently stands, modern pentathlon in its current form of fencing, swimming, laser shooting, running and show jumping would be off the program after the 2024 Paris Games.

Modern pentathlon faced a major crossroads with the show-jumping component of the five-event competition coming under scrutiny after a German coach was filmed hitting an uncooperative horse during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

In an effort to get back on the Olympic program, modern pentathlon’s governing body, known by its French acronym UIPM, tested out obstacle-course racing to replace horse riding. Ring swings and rope mazes could take center stage for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

There’s still time to get back on the program for LA ’28, too, should the IOC approve of a change.

“We are not forgetting our

past, our heritage, but our goal is the future,” UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann said in a release. “It’s very important that our voting members today provided a strong mandate for obstacle discipline to be integrated into our Olympic multi-sport."

To some in the modern-pentathlon community, this sort of change tears at the very essence of a sport that’s intricately tied to horses. This is a sport that’s

been part of the Olympics for more than 100 years. Invented by IOC founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin, it has gone through several transformations, like pistol shooting replaced by laser guns before the 2012 London Games.

This change also has been viewed as a way to modernize the sport in a time when the Olympics seek a younger audience.

What You Need To Know About A Hair Mineral Analysis

Mane hair analysis is gaining interest for determining mineral intake of horses. Researchers at Leipzig University compared hair mineral test results between commercial laboratories and evaluated the relationship between mineral intake and hair mineral content.

The study was conducted using four gelding warmbloods (14 ± three years) that were kept under the same management conditions for two months. The horses received free access to meadow grass hay and water. The researchers provided a commercial mineral supplement to meet the horses' energy and nutrient requirements. After two months, mane samples were taken within two centimeters to three centimeters of the hairline. Hair samples were sent to three commercial laboratories for mineral analysis. The hay and mineral supplement were analyzed for nutrient content.

During the study, the horse’s diet exceeded

their mineral requirements except for zinc. Results of the hair mineral analysis varied between the commercial laboratories. Differences between laboratories was greatest for iron content (58%) and least for selenium content (10%). Only two of the three laboratories used the same reference ranges for each mineral. For example, two laboratories found insufficient selenium in all horses while one laboratory found adequate selenium in all horses.

Misleading reference ranges can lead to inappropriate feeding recommendations. Additionally, mineral intake of the horses did not align with hair mineral analysis results. Differences in results between laboratories and actual mineral intake suggest hair mineral analysis is not reliable for assessing mineral intake of horses.

For more information on this research, view the abstract published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Sciences at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S0737080622002817?via%3Dihub.

Hannah Lochner

Cold

American Association of Equine Practitioners

Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association

Michigan Fox Trotter Association

Hello December! Time is sure flying!!

Marilyn Mannino

Marilyn Mannino

At our November meeting we elected some new officers for 2021. Congratulations go out to Bob Howell elected as the new MFTA President, Kathy Kruch is now VP, Marilyn is still Secretary/Treasurer, Char Ostrom is the new 2-year Director and Miranda Mannino is now the 1-year Director.

to getting this done!

is nothing like the expectation of a well-bred foal!

Hello April! Spring is upon us! People are out Fox Trotting and enjoying the weather. Many are accumulating points in the Versatility Challenges that we are offering.

We have resources and people available for you to learn from and breeders to refer you to if you want to buy a young one to train or if you want to further the training with your present horse.

We are accepting membership renewals and new memberships for 2021 now. Youth are encouraged to join too! Go to www.michiganfox trotters.com to print off the form. You will learn alot from our members about the history of Fox Trotters,their uses and availability and be able to network with those of us who camp,train and show them. Our association is blessed to have skilled trainers,breeders and a farrier to learn from. We love promoting this breed as they have great personalities,are so versatile and come in many sizes and different coat colors. A benefit to joining is that we can offer clinics at a reduced price to our members. Due to Covid we are meeting remotely each month. Michigan is a big state and this is a good way to easily see and talk with each other within and outside of MI. Come join the fun!

Sign up now for the popular Versatility Challenge for 2021. Print off the enrollment form from our website. There are may areas in which you can accumulate points-even in the non-rideable months.

Happy New Year! Start your year off right by sending in your MFHA membership. Go to the michi ganfoxtrottinghorse.com website and click on the membership application button to print your form. Your support will provide needed funds to help us to promote the Fox Trotter breed as well as to assist in educating people about this breed and support the variety of activities that can be done with them. Fox Trotters are rock stars in versatility! Plus, your membership qualifies you for dis counts at our various clinics and with our sponsors (Levi Beechy reduced clinic fee, Chuck Fanslow reduced breeding fee, Jackson's Western Store discount and others). Your MFTHBA membership qualifies you for discount pricing at Stateline Tack as well as access to the many programs that they have to offer. Meet the 2023 officers! President Bob Howell officiates at our monthly meetings, Vice President Miranda Mannino also provides Zoom support, Secretary Marilyn Mannino records the meeting minutes and Treasurer Charleen Ostrom handles the financial transactions. Our three directors are Nancy GreenDuffy, Susan Williams and Chuck Fanslow.

Registration is still open for all three Versatility Challenges (Under Saddle Challenge, Not Under Saddle Challenge and Ultimate Horseman Challenge). This program is designed to show how versatile the Missouri Fox Trotter is. Registered and grade MFTs are allowed. All handicapped and regular youth through adults are welcome. Every imaginable activity and category is included from in hand work to Dressage, short distance trail riding to endurance competitions and everything in-between (cow work, driving, extreme trail, 4H and open showing, parades, reining, trail maintenance and more!). We also included a competition for the most ambitious member who demonstrates their horsemanship skills in a wide variety of categories. Quarterly and year-end awards will be given. Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to read the rules and print off the forms to join in on the friendly competition and fun.

More Fox Trotters are slowly becoming available to purchase but they are selling fast. There is a good video on the correct Fox Trot gait posted on our Face Book site to refer to when you are considering an MFT to buy. Be sure to bring a knowledgeable person with you,too, when you narrow down your search. Breeders, Chuck Fanslow (riverflatranch.com) and Gale Gunders (989-534-1207), have well-gaited young stock available. They also have quality studs to breed to if you have a mare you want bred. Chuck has a Buckskin stallion and a palomino stallion(both sons of Cotton Eyed Joe). Gale has a spotted stallion who will throw color to your foal. Both are located in Gladwin,MI. Contact them if you want to have your mare bred. There

Our newly elected three-year Director Nancy Green-Duffy of Paris, Michigan has a registered gelding called Pippin. He is a hand some black and white four-year-old who origi nally came from Gladwin, Michigan. They plan to hit the trails this year. Our 501c3 com mittee will be submitting the application this month which will allow us to become a non-profit association. We are looking forward

Don't forget to transfer your newly-bought horse's registration papers into your name with the MFTHBA,too. We are growing! New member welcomes go out to Naomi Haas, equine dentist Kris Modreske and Harry Struble all of MI. Naomi rides a sorrel sabino gelding (Dexter) and a black mare (Hank's Serenity Liberty Bell B). Kris rides a black and white gelding (Radar's Spotted Prior). And congratulations go out to Harry Struble on his purchase of Joe's Golden Chip, a handsome buckskin gelding, from Chuck Fanslow. All these members are riding quality Fox Trotters!!!

The MFTHBA needs registered members to fill their committees for 2021. I just agreed to help out on the Trail Committee again. Surely you can,too! Various committees need members(younger ones too) for their input and advice to increase affiliate numbers,think of ways to make the shows better,to improve and okay National Trail Ride applications,give ideas on clinics (let's get more closer to our state),getting more versatility riders interested,give ideas on training and picking judges, plus more. Many positions can be supported remotely. Also, this is a great way to meet those from other areas of the USA who raise,train and ride MFTs. I have made new friends this way who I would not have otherwise. Contact the MO Fox Trotting Horse Breeding Association via www.mfthba.com to become a member and for more information

New members are always welcome! Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to print off the membership form. We meet virtually so all members are able to meet without having to drive long distances.

Also, PLEASE send in your MFTA dues and your MFTHBA dues

Wishing everyone a blessed and safe Christmas!

In the winter, some of our members take their horses and go south to Florida or to Arizona to escape the Michigan snow and cold, but they still stay in contact via Zoom for our monthly meetings. Once a member, no matter where you live, you can attend similarly to learn about Missouri Fox Trotters and all that they can do as well as network with other owners while the weather is preventing most of

Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Mannino

Our Event Committee is busy planning the next clinic. It will be a Gaited Western Dressage Clinic at the end of May. More details will be available next month. The clinician is top-notch!

Submit your 2023 versatility program regis lenge (owner/rider), Missouri Fox Trotter under saddle/in harness and Missouri Fox Trotter not under saddle divisions for adults and youth. ferent ways that you can start learning and doing things with your horse. Yes, you can do ter months and get credit for them. You will get a lot done and earn prizes along the way. bership also. Go to mfthba.com to see all of their programs and benefits, then renew or

A little history on our breed: The present-day Missouri Fox Trotter evolved from Morgans in New England being crossed with Arabians, Plantation Horses, American Saddlebreds, TWHs and pacing Standardbreds. The genetic mix of square-trotting horses and pacing horses created the comfortable fox trot gait! Missouri Fox Trotting horses have been used by farmers in Missouri and surrounding states to ride long distances to check their fencing and work cows, pull buggies, by US Forest Service workers, by mounted police and now people across the United States and Europe use them for recreation (showing, trail riding, Dressage,reining, 4H and Equestrian Team, Hippotherapy,etc.). They are truly versatile and also can be found in all colors and sizes! Try one out and find out why everyone loves them so!

ate of the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association (mfthba.com) based in Ava,

Our mission is to promote Missouri Fox Trotters and to encourage the breeding and ers learn to enjoy their horses more through

Krishona Martinson

Coping With the Loss of a Horse

you are stumbling through the loss of a beloved horse.

The bond between humans and horses has inspired myth, philosophy and magic across cultures for centuries. Surprisingly, little attention has been paid to the human experience of losing a horse. Losing a horse is a distinctly different experience than losing any other relationship, human or otherwise.

Many months spent caring for an ailing horse can be both labor and cash intensive, and it can be a struggle to meet the horse's every need. It can be exhausting and heart wrenching to watch a beloved companion become ill and die. The death of a horse may leave you feeling empty, rudderless and drifting without the routine and commitment of a usually long-term relationship.

A better understanding of grief can help if

Grief is highly individual

Professional counselors use many models to make sense of the grieving process which can be helpful. Know that grief is highly individual, variable and illogical. No two people will grieve a loss exactly alike and often grief defies explanation and expectation. Knowing this can be oddly comforting. You are grieving as you need to and somehow, someway you will find a way through to the other side.

Grief is a whole-body experience

Grief affects our whole body and often shows itself on physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual lev-els. People who are grieving often have tired, uncooperative bodies, broken hearts and brains that change

Jeannine Moga

between numbness, confusion and too much time spent on “what ifs.” Learning to sit with the many faces of grief is key to working through a loss.

Grief is misunderstood

We fear and avoid death because it is simply too big to wrap our brains around. Many people may of-fer well meaning, but illtimed or off-putting advice to those who have lost a horse. If this happens to you, thank them kindly for their thoughts. Then find support from others who resist the urge to offer a quick fix. Horses are not appliances that we replace. They are loved ones that we should mourn and honor.

Grief can be isolating

Many bereaved people feel alone in their grief. It is common to feel isolated by the indifference of people who may not understand. Connect with people who will listen to you without judgment. You may find them within the horse community, your family or a more formal route such as a grief counselor. You will find power in sharing your story with others who can understand your experience.

Grief does not have a timetable

People may expect you to finish grieving in a matter of weeks or months but there is no timetable for grief. People who are lucky

enough to enjoy the trust of a horse have invested a lot of time and ener-gy into building that relationship. As such, they must also spend time and energy adjusting after the loss of a horse. Do not expect yourself to get over the loss. Loss is not something you get over, but something you must adapt to.

Grief feels rotten

Grief often hits us surprisingly hard. Even people who have survived many experiences with death describe the loss of a certain animal as more distressing. You may find that you have lost the capacity for finding comfort. Your usual calming, self-soothing activities may not work. When all else fails, go back to the basics. Stay hydrated and nourished, rest as needed and exercise. Support your body so your body can support your grief.

Grief is transformative

Sometimes one of the most healing things we can do is to honor grief as the teacher it is. By entering into relationships with horses, we open ourselves up to partnership, challenge and transformation. When we lose our horses, reflecting on their gifts can enable us to live their legacies. It is not just in loving them, but in losing them that we receive the opportunity to become better people.

St. Johns woman offers horse assisted therapy to heal trauma

Pamela Allen, left, watches as her horse Miko eats grass at Marek Saddle Up Stables in St. Johns. Allen runs an equine assisted wellness business providing her clients therapy using her horses. Nick King

Pamela Allen pets her horse Miko at Marek Saddle Up Stables. Nick King

Pamela Allen walks her horse Miko in the horse arena at Marek Saddle Up Stables. Nick King

Pamela Allen leads her horse Miko out of a gate as her other horse Ase, left, looks on at Marek Saddle Up Stables. Nick King

Pamela Allen hugs her horse Miko in the horse arena at Marek Saddle Up Stables. Nick King

One of Pamela Allen's horses, Ase, stands in a pin at Marek Saddle Up Stables in St. Johns. Nick King

Pamela Allen opens a barn door before visiting with her horses at Marek Saddle Up Stables. Nick King

Pamela Allen familiarizes her horse Miko with cones in the horse arena at Marek Saddle Up Stables. Nick King

Creating the Right Mix: Understanding Nutrients in a Horse's Diet

One of the most important aspects of keeping your horse healthy is feeding a balanced, appropriate diet. But similar to the options you might find a grocery store for your family, the options of what to feed your horse can seem overwhelming. Understanding what nutrients are found in specific types of forages and grains can help you decide the best diet for your horse.

The six nutrient classes

A nutrient is something that is consumed in the diet and is essential to the animal's body. You will find a variety of nutrients in every feed and forage given to a horse, but the specific amount and types of nutrients will vary. There are six key classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. Let's review each class of nutrients and explain why they are important for the healthy horse, and where in the diet you will find them.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are one of the two main sources of energy for the body. Carbohydrates also provide fiber to the diet. There are many different carbohydrates and they can be categorized in several ways. One way is to consider their chemical structure and whether they are used to create structure for a plant or not. For example, hemicellulose and cellulose are complex, large carbohydrates used to maintain the structure of a plant. These carbohydrates are known as structural carbohydrates and give plant stems their rigidity. When we think about fiber in the horse's diet, hemicellulouse and cellulose are a big part of that fiber component. Structural carbohydrates are digested by microbes

in the horse's hindgut. When we analyze feed for carbohydrates, cellulose and hemicellulose are measured in acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF).

On the other hand, glucose and fructose are very small carbohydrates and are examples of simple sugars. This molecule is not used for plant structure but as an energy source (both for the plant and the horse that eats it). There are also more complex sugars, such as disaccharides (two simple sugars bonded together), oligosaccharides (three to ten simple sugars), fructans (a long chain of fructose sugars) and starch (a long chain of glucose sugars). All of these molecules provide energy and are considered nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). These carbohydrates are found in all plants but are particularly high in grains such as corn, oats, barley, etc. They are digested in the horse's foregut (the small intestine, specifically). When analyzing feed, these nonstructural carbohydrates can be measured as part of several different fractions, including ethanol soluble carbohydrates (ESC), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) or simply as NSC.

Carbohydrates are key components of plants and so, it is really impossible for a horse to have a “low-carb" diet since their whole diet is made of plants. From pasture grass to hay, to oats and pelleted feed, carbohydrates are everywhere in a horse's diet. It is possible to create a diet for a horse that is low in NSC. This is needed for horses that have metabolic issues, such as chronic laminitis or metabolic syndrome. But for a healthy horse with no diagnosed metabolic issues, NSC is an important source of energy in the diet.

Fats

Fats are the other key source of energy for the horse. In fact, fats provide approximately three times as much energy as carbo-

Danielle Smarsh

Laura Kenny and Danielle Smarsh

hydrates do which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the horse. For a horse that is working hard or needs to gain a little weight, fat in the diet can be very helpful. For a horse that is overweight, fat might not be needed.

Beyond providing energy to the horse, fat can provide a number of other benefits to your horse. A higher fat diet can give your horse a nice shiny coat. Adding liquid fats, like oils, to concentrates can help reduce dust, thus lowering irritation for horses sensitive to dust in their environment. Fat can also be used to replace calories for horses that must be on a low NSC diet.

Horses on a forage only diet will consume very little fat. Grass and hay simply do not contain a lot of fat. Similarly, grains also do not contain a lot of fat. So where do we find fat in the horse's diet? Pelleted feed is one source, and the amount of fat will vary depending on the product (typical range is 5% to 15% fat). There are certain products that are designed to add a lot of energy to the diet, which are typically sold as high-fat products and can contain up to 30% fat. The fat found in pelleted feed can come from sources such as flaxseed or rice bran. Oil is another excellent way to add fat to a horse's diet; while there are many types of oil you could use, most commonly vegetable, corn, or canola oil is used. This oil can be used to topdress grain or pellets.

There has been recent interest in specific fats called omegas. Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linoleic acid) are essential fatty acids, which means they are required by the horse and must be supplied by the diet. As long as your horse is receiving a balanced diet, they should be receiving enough omegas in their diets. But omega-3 and omega-6 are of special interest due to their roles in the inflammatory pathway in the body. Omega-3 is considered anti-inflammatory, while omega-6 is considered pro-inflammatory. Both are necessary in the body for normal physiological processes, but current research is ongoing to see if there are health benefits to adding additional omega-3 fats in the diet of horses.

If adding extra fat to your horse's diet, it is important to do

so slowly. It should take up to two to three weeks for you to add fat to the diet. When adding oil, start with ¼ cup total each day, and gradually add an additional ¼ cup every few days until the desired amount is reached. Divide the total fat evenly between meals. No more than one to two cups of oil or 20% of the dietary energy needs of the horse should be added. If using rice bran, make sure to select stabilized rice bran, as unstabilized rice bran can go bad quickly. Follow the same protocol to add it to the diet gradually.

Proteins

Proteins play a variety of important roles in the body. While many people associate proteins with their part in building muscle, proteins in the body are also important for communication (as hormones and enzymes), structure (as muscle and collagen), transport of nutrients in the blood, and buffering the pH (acidity) of the body. Proteins are composed of chains of amino acids; while some amino acids are made by the horse, other amino acids must be provided in the horse’s diet and these are known as essential amino acids. Essential amino acids include histidine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine and valine. On many feed tags for commercial horse feeds, you will find some of these essential amino acids listed, in particular lysine.

Protein can be found in many different places in the horse's diet. While forage will contain protein, the amount can vary based on the species and maturity of the forage. In general, legumes (such as alfalfa or clover) will contain more protein than cool season grasses (such as orchardgrass or timothy) and warm season grasses (such as Bermuda grass). In terms of maturity, protein amounts are usually highest when the plant is more immature and in a leafy, vegetative state (compared to mature, stemmy plants with seed heads).

Protein can also be found in grain and concentrates. The amount of protein found in each grain will vary, but generally, grains have less protein on a dry matter basis as compared to forages. However, the largest amount of protein will be found in seed meals, which are the by-product created when oil is extracted from oil seeds (such as canola, soybean and sunflower). The most common one used in equine diets is soybean meal; it is also a legume and legumes in general also have higher levels of protein. Concentrates (such as sweet feed or pelleted feed) that are high in protein often contain some soybean meal.

Vitamins

A vitamin is defined as a compound that is required in small amounts in the diet for essential body functions. Vitamins are typically grouped by their solubility, in other words, how well a substance dissolves in water or fat. Vitamins A, D, E and K are considered fat-soluble, while vitamin C and the many B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, biotin, etc.) are considered water-soluble.

Each vitamin plays an important role in the body. For example, vitamin A is vital to healthy vision, while vitamin D is important for healthy bones. Deficiencies in many of these vitamins cause disease and less commonly, excess amounts can also cause disease.

Because vitamins are found in such small amounts in the body, they can be hard to accurately measure. Generally, if you are feeding your horse enough moderate to good quality forage and a commercial feed, and the horse is healthy, they are proba-

Soybeans, when made into soybean meal, are one of the most common sources of protein in concentrates. Andrea Kocher

bly receiving sufficient levels of vitamins. If your horse has poor quality forage (for example, if the hay is sun bleached, then it will have lower amounts of vitamins), then consider adding a ration balancer to your horse's diet. If your horse is not healthy and a veterinarian thinks the issue is a vitamin imbalance, then you should work with a nutritionist to balance the diet.

Minerals

Minerals are essential elements needed by the body for essential life functions. Similar to vitamins, minerals are needed in very small quantities in the diet and each mineral plays a specific role. For example, calcium is an important component of bone.

The list of minerals found in the horse's diet is lengthy and includes calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, iodine, cobalt and zinc. Three minerals (sodium, potassium and chloride) are collectively known as electrolytes and play an important role in helping maintain the correct balance of water in the body. Electrolytes are lost from the body when the animal sweats, which is why after strenuous exercise (particularly in hot, humid climates) it is necessary to give a horse not just water but water with electrolytes so that they can recover more quickly.

Similar to vitamins, deficiencies and excesses in minerals can cause various diseases in the horse. If your horse is healthy and receiving good quality forage with a commercial feed, its diet is most likely balanced for minerals. If your horse is doing poorly and you are unsure that the diet is balanced for nutrients, work with a veterinarian and nutritionist to determine which mineral might be the issue and how to adjust the diet to resolve the problem.

Water

Water is often overlooked as a nutrient, but it is the most important nutrient for an animal. About 60% to 70% of the adult horse's body weight is composed of water; this water is found both within cells and outside of the cells, in what is called the extracellular fluid. Many animals, if needed, could survive weeks with poor/minimal amounts of food, but no animal will survive longer than a few days without water. The average adult horse needs about six to ten gallons of water a day and that amount can increase based on the environmental conditions and exercise level of the horse. Mares that are nursing foals will have a higher water intake requirement. Horses fed a high hay diet tend to drink more water than those with a concentrate/forage diet or those consuming lots of fresh pasture.

Conclusions

When you take a closer look at the forage and grain that a horse eats over the course of a day, it is amazing to realize how many different nutrients they are consuming. By ensuring that your horse is getting enough feed each day (the feed should equal about 2% to 3% of your horse’s body weight) and that the quality of the feed is good, you can be confident that your horse is likely to be consuming a balanced diet. Remember to consider the activity level and physiological status of the horse when analyzing the diet; for example, if the horse is being exercised four to five times a week, it will have a higher demand for most nutrients than the horse exercised just once a week. If your horse is having health issues, it is always important to assess the diet with a trained nutritionist to ensure that it is providing the nutrients your horse needs.

Horse drinking water from automatic waterer. Danielle Smarsh