Horse Trading August 2015 by Horse Trading

‘15

August

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R S E Issue no. 254

TRADING

Healthy senior steeds Getting the best from nutrition

A F R I C A’ S M O S T L O V E D E Q U E S T R I A N P U B L I C A T I O N S I N C E 1 9 9 2

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Nutritional Advice Line (011)468 1834 All horses and ponies should be included in a regular parasite control programme. Heavy worm infestations may lead to poor performance, weight loss and digestive disturbances. Regular deworming will result in improved gut health, better digestion and better overall condition. Remember to always switch between dewormers and active ingredients to prevent resistance build up and reduced efficacy. Marquerite Oberholzer Bsc (Agric) Animal Science midfeedsbuy@mweb.co.za

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FROM THE EDITOR

GET IN TOUCH

Welcome to the 254th edition of The Horse Trading magazine where we strive to unite our readers with a passion for horses.

E / ads@horsetrading.co.za OR studio@horsetrading.co.za

It’s never easy seeing your horse get old. It wasn’t too long ago that a 15 year old horse was considered a senior, a golden oldie. But nowadays horses are living well into their 30’s. However, with age come health problems. It’s an ugly fact of life. In this issue we will be looking at how to customise your feeding programme for an older horse. Whether your horse has lost a few pearly whites or has health problems there is a feeding solution to suit your horse’s needs. On page 10 the feature article is about Cushing’s disease often a problem amongst the older equine generation. Although research has shown that this is not restricted to the older steeds. But by managing the disease successfully through diet and medication, your steed can still live a healthy, normal…and long life. I found this beautiful quote to highlight the joy of growing old with your horse. “Beautiful young horses are acts of nature, but beautiful old horses are works of art.” Enjoy this edition! Deborah Gray

FRONT COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF / Tristan Dark Photography

Last dates for ad publication are PRINT DEADLINES WE ACCEPT ADS ALL DAY EVERY DAY!!! Ads will go onto the website & appear in the first available edition.

CONTRIBUTORS HORSE TRADING Advertising / Chantel Heydenrych - ads@horsetrading.co.za graphic designers / Mike O’Brien - mike@obriendesign.co.za Lindy Augustyn - designer@obriendesign.co.za PLACING AN AD / Please ensure you have checked current prices & that your ad is acceptable in the format that you wish to send it before making payment, email it to us first. Deadline for advertising is on the 15th of every month. BANKING DETAILS / Horse Trading / FNB / Account No 62473634220 / Branch Code: 250741 NO Cash deposits! Kindly do an internet transfer, or email for assistance. Cash deposits into bank account will be held until the bank charges are paid - R18.50 per R100 – deposited. PLEASE NOTE / When making a payment via internet banking, kindly request your bank to email proof of payment to: studio@horsetrading.co.za. Proofs are supplied & Advertisements are placed once PAYMENT has been received in FULL. PROOF of PAYMENT is required by email. Beneficiary Reference / Please use the telephone number that you are placing in the ad, & your name, NOT “advert” or “classified”. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that we have your proof of payment – Thank you! Copyright / Horse Trading is published monthly by Horse Trading Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material, in part or whole, is expressly forbidden without written permission of the publisher. WEBSITE / www.horsetrading.co.za

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NECESSARY VITAMINS AND MINERALS If I had a penny for every time I heard ‘ I do not need to supplement my horses concentrates as the one I am feeding is fully balanced and has everything my horse requires’, I would be able to afford a dozen more horses. Sure you horse will indeed survive on a good concentrate, but I would prefer my horse to thrive and be the absolute maximum it can be for as long as possible. Minimised pain, discomfort and Vet bills are also of top priority.

Vitamin B & Cobalt in the correct ratio and together preform the function of metabolising carbohydrates, proteins, fats & nucleic acids, thereby improving feed utilization.

The above are but a few examples of the importance of supplementing with a good ‘Multi Vitamin & Mineral’ rather than using individual Vitamins and minerals.

For improved bone density and quality of hoof, Calcium & Phosphorus together with Vitamin D, Biotin, sunshine and sufficient amounts of Copper and Zink are needed to build and maintain strong bone, teeth and pliable quality hoof.

Again the onus is on us the owner to scrutinise the labels of all the available products in respect of not only what Vitamins and Minerals they contain, but also in what quantities Compare apples with apples.

Common sense must dictate to know that if all the vitamins and minerals in the fully allowed and needed amounts were in the concentrate, your feed would cost 100 fold more. There is zero documented proof of ‘over supplementing’ horses with Vitamins & Minerals, however where the danger comes in, is when separate Vitamins or minerals are used. Many Vitamins and minerals need to be used in the correct volumes and in conjunction with each other to be of any real value:

Calcium and Iodine are both needed to maintain temperature regulation in horses (less longer coats in winter).

Selenium & Vitamin E function as a partnership in protecting body tissue and acts as a defence against cell membrane damage. Iron enables the blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body and enhances cell and soft tissue repair.

All the above information is based and proven with the published research accepted by the USA National Research Council on nutrient requirements of horses.

Written by: L.D Delaney Promix Animal Supplements www.promixsupplements.com

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Nothing cushy about Cushing’s disease Ever wondered why your horse seems to gain weight on minimal feed, or keeps getting bouts of laminitis? Your horse may in fact be suffering from Cushing’s disease.

quine Cushing’s Disease, or to give its proper title, Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is probably the most common hormonal disorder affecting horses, especially our golden oldies. The Cushing’s disease is caused by enlargement of the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. It is an important endocrine organ that produces a variety of different hormones. Dysfunction of the gland results in the increased release of several hormones, including ACTH (adrenocorticotropin hormone). ACTH travels through the horse’s blood stream and causes the adrenal glands (located near the kidneys) to increase production of cortisol, which is a type of steroid. It’s this over production of cortisol that affects the horse and can explain the majority of clinical signs seen in this condition.

How to spot it Aside from their tendency to sport a long and shaggy hair coat that sheds unevenly between the change of seasons, horses often display muscle wasting along their top lines and hindquarters, yet abnormal fat distribution so they may have a potbelly appearance. Other symptoms include: excessive sweating lethargy delayed wound healing increased susceptibility to infections increased water consumption with passage of large amounts of urine. Clinical testing There are several approaches to diagnosis, each with advantages and disadvantages. Often a diagnosis can

be reached based on the above clinical signs alone, however, even in these extremely obvious cases then testing is worthwhile as it gives an idea of disease severity, what treatment to use, and allows monitoring of the efficacy of treatment. Endogenous ACTH Level: The root cause of Cushing’s is the overproduction of ACTH by the pituitary gland. Blood sample are taken to see if these ACTH levels are elevated. ACTH levels also vary throughout the day, so sampling is normally recommended first thing in the morning. Dexamethasone Suppression Test: This test involves taking a baseline blood sample, injecting a small amount of artificial steroid hormone, and then collecting another blood

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sample. In a normal horse, injecting steroid hormone will lower ACTH levels; in a horse with Cushing’s disease there will be little or no effect. Consult your veterinarian for the appropriate tests if you suspect your horse has Cushing’s disease. Feeding According to Hannah Botha, who holds an MSc Equine Science from the Royal Agricultural College, UK and Technical Advice & Sales for Equus says managing Cushing’s can be tricky as some horses can be overweight and some can be underweight. However both diets must be tailored to be both low in sugars and starch (Non Structural Carbohydrates- NSC). So this includes ingredients such as molasses, cereal grains (maize, oats, wheat). Also people must be aware that certain hays can be very high in NSC and personally advises no oat hay as this contains high levels. Surprisingly lucerne generally has a low NSC value and can be used in underweight Cushing’s. Soaking hay for 60 minutes can help to remove some of the sugar if you cannot use a low NSC option. “If the Cushing’s horse is overweight, avoid restricting his diet entirely. You can remove concentrates, but restricting hay is the worst thing you can do, as hunger will stress the horse. Instead, provide freechoice low percentage NSC hay,”

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she explains. “Restricted chewing time can also be stressful. Saliva production is necessary to neutralize the constant flow of acid in the stomach, and less chewing means reduced saliva amounts which could cause increased risk of ulcers.” “Underweight Cushing’s horses, however, need more calories than hay can provide. In this case consider a low-starch feed indicated by the manufacture as low NSC. Additional fat in the form of oils is a safe calorie option for these horses and can be added to the diet,” she says. “Grass feeding can be tricky as there is conflicting research about whether a horse should avoid grass or not, so I always err on the side of caution,” says Botha. It’s also not always about avoiding lush grass but whether the pasture has been stressed. Keep in mind that cold, drought, lack of proper fertilization, and overgrazing all can significantly increase grasses’ NSC content. So that small amount of grass in an overgrazed paddock may have more sugar than the grazing in a well maintained paddock. “On warm sunny day’s sugar and starch levels increase in grasses, with levels peaking in the late afternoon,” said Botha. “So when evening temperatures are mild the safest time for a horse to graze begins

approximately four hours after sunset and before 10am the next day, so it may be worth considering no turnout during the day but allowing your horse paddock time at night.” “Seasons affect NSC content as well. Spring and autumn grasses tend to contain more sugars and starch because of the colder night temperatures. Owners often use grazing muzzles to limit pasture intake, but if a grazing muzzle is frustrating to your horse, limit its use to no more than three hours’, Botha concluded. Management Management is just as important as medication. Frequently inspecting for wounds and the evidence of any kind of infection and ensuring prompt veterinary attention is very important due to reduced levels of immunity. Regular farrier visits and dental checks along with routine vaccinations and a de-worming program involving frequent faecal egg counts are vital to ensure the health of Cushing’s affected horse. Cushing’s unfortunately has no cure. When caught early, treatment is very successful in reducing clinical signs and allowing affected horses to live almost normal lives. For those horses in advanced stages of the disease, treatment still offers improved quality of life and longevity.

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F E AT U R E

Coconut: Fad or fact? While there are many fads in equine nutrition, some of which can be risky, coconut oil does seem to have some benefits for our horses.

oconut oil has been around for thousands of years with humans using it for health benefits as well as aesthetic reasons. For many decades coconut oil received bad publicity due to its saturated fat content. But of late research findings have deciphered the good fats from the bad and the interest in coconut oil has peaked, and their benefits for horses has also become fairly popular. So we know that coconut oil can improve our horses condition and shine and do wonders for cracked hooves. But what other health benefits does coconut claim to have? By no means should coconut oil and coconut meal (the dried white part of the coconut) be the main

ingredient in a horses feed but more of a supplement. Coconut meal is believed to be high in fibre and the oil high in protein. Due to its high fibre content coconut meal contains less than 2% starch (non-structural carbohydrates) reducing the risk of starch related disorders from developing, such as laminitis. But the primary reason they are added to an equine diet is for the fat content. Studies have shown that saturated fatty acids give the following effects in horses: increased content

muscle

glycogen

increased sparing of muscle glycogen during light work and

increased utilisation of muscle glycogen during heavy work. Coconut oil is said to have double the energy content to that of starch or protein. It gives your horse a readily digestible energy, without the â&#x20AC;&#x153;hotnessâ&#x20AC;? that comes with high grain diets. Coconut oil provides medium chain triglycerides (MCT), so rather than being stored as fat itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more rapidly absorbed and quickly metabolized into fuel for muscles. Great for performance horses that need long burn energy. MCT also aids in digestion and has been reported to reduce the risk of ulcers, colic and acidosis.

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F E AT U R E

Coconut oil provides seven grams of lauric acid per tablespoon. Mother’s milk is the only other source of lauric acid – a fatty acid that the body converts into monlauren. Studies have shown that monlauren has a number of health benefits and antifungal properties, most notable being its ability to inactivate certain viruses including, sarcoma virus, influenza, and vesicular stomatitis. So it seems, like humans, our equine counterparts may benefit from introducing coconut into their diet but common sense must prevail and any change to your horses diet should be done so under the guidance of an expert.

BOX Other uses for coconut oil Wound Care - Apply it liberally on cuts to help fight infection and minimize pound flesh. Entice Picky Eaters – the desirable flavour helps to hide less palatable supplements and medications. Insect Bites & Stings - Helps sooth and protect against infection. Mud Fever - The anti-microbial effects are perfect for treating mud fever and helping to prevent reinfection.

Source: Health Impact News;The Equine Nutrition Nerd; Stand Equine; The Savvy Horse Woman www.horsetrading.co.za

SARDA Gauteng’s

Annual Fundraising Dinner Date: 28th of August 2015 Time: 18h30 for 19h00 Venue: Usambara Venue Dress code: Smart Casual Cost: R250.00 pp or R2300.00 for a table of 10

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL Vegetarian options are available – please specify when booking sarda@earthcentre.org.za 011 958 5044

Plot 16 Cnr Hendrik Potgieter & Steyn Road, Honingklip, Krugersdorp

GET THE BEST FOR YOUR HORSES

CRAIG BEIJL C 083 300 8432 | F 086 687 7348 | craig@housabout.co.za | www.housabout.co.za

Timber & Brick Stables Arenas: Construction of new arenas Reconditioning of old arenas

Fencing: Gumpoles Post & Rail PVC & Electric Paddock Fencing

Stable Doors Frames & Windows Paddock Shelters

STABLING

IN HONEYDEW R 2250. 00

3 meals a day

ARAGON STABLES

Grass ad lib Large flake shavings Carynton stables

TOP QUALITY STABLING Riding lessons for beginners to advanced SUCCESS AT GRADED AND INTER-SCHOOL SHOWS SCHOOL PONIES AND HORSES Baiting options available www.aragonstables.co.za | jennyf@aragonstables.co.za | 082 666 3728

Promix uses only the maximum amounts of all the active ingredients and contains zero chemicals nor drugs Promix uses only prime natural ingredients, thereby keeping prices affordable. Amino Acids – R365 for 1 horse for 1 month Multi Vitamin & Mineral – R370 for 1 horse for 1 month Joint Q – R400 for 1 horse for 1 month Present this adv at stand No: 4 at World of Dogs & Cats @ Gallager Cnt, 17th to 19th July for a 20% discount.

Cnr pierre and hoeveld Rd Honeydew | 078 343 1112

www.promixsupplements.com for information on all Promix proven products or Contact Lesley: 083 726 7152/promixsupplements@gmail.com

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Heavy-Duty Horse Feed-Bins in Small, Medium and Large

SMALL FEEDBIN R110-00 ex VAT MEDIUM FEEDBIN R155-00 ex VAT LARGE FEEDBIN R260-00 ex VAT 25L ROUND horse water bucket R149-00 ex VAT Collect from us in Randburg.

We also supply a wide range of water troughs, from 4 litre up to 190 litre, and a BIG range of Steel Stable Racks ! Please visit our website to see our full range of Horsecare products. www.shawsonplastics.co.za Tel: 011 792 1916 | Fax: 086 693 1589 | Cell: 082 414 7864 Email: rodneytrubshaw@fastmail.fm Address: Shawson Plastics, corner of tungsten and wakis avenue, strijdom park , Randburg.

F E AT U R E

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE by Steve Clark- EqDT IAED/CA I have encountered a few “dental disasters” during my recent travels which have influenced me to bring to light the importance of maintenance for your equine friends from a young age. All too often people misunderstand that even though their horse looks or rides okay, it may still require dental treatment. Just because the horse is “fat” or doesn’t display any significant signs that it may have dental abnormalities, it is vital we get them checked regularly starting from around two and half years of age. There are many signs to indicate dental abnormalities, to name just a few, loss of weight (the most common), quidding (spitting out chewed balls of food), head shaking, stumbling or tripping, one sidedness and physiological issues (muscular and skeletal). It is essential we check our horse’s teeth BEFORE these problems arise.

Other aspects of equine care also contribute to the well being of our horses. More and more is being discovered about the links between Dentistry, Farriery, Physiotherapy and Chiropractics which I will discuss in a later article. Watch this space!

Prevention is better than cure as we all know, even as humans, regular dental check-ups can prevent serious issues when we are older. So many horses are left untreated until their teen years before ever seeing a qualified dentist and sadly end up in dire conditions. By this stage it becomes very difficult to effectively correct a mouth. Geriatric dentistry is often complicated due to the severity of the abnormalities. This is so unnecessary and easily prevented with consistent care and awareness of what is going on in your horse’s mouth. The following pictures show examples of horses in their early teens to later years having never had anyone look inside their mouths.

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EVENTS CALENDAR Month

Day

Event

Venue

August

1-2

Graded & Training Schedule

Stoneridge Equestrian

August

1-2

Winter Festival –incorporating the Children’s FEI Gold, Silver ,Bronze Tour

Kyalami Park Centre

August

August Rush All Grades Showjumping Show

The Burgh Equestrian Centre

August

Badplaas Showjumping Show

Highveld Equestrian Centre

August

Adult & Junior Graded Show Jumping Show

Fourways Riding Centre CC

August

African Dream Equestrian Centre

African Dream Horse Socierty

August

Maple Ridge (1.40- 70cm) One Day Showjumping Show 2015

Maple Ridge Equestrian Farm

August

13-16

Gauteng Dressage Champs

Kyalami Park Centre

August

15-16

Sunlands & Rivonia Toyota Graded ShowJumping

Sunlands Stables

August

15-16

Noordhoek Winter Jumping

Noordhoek Riding Club

August

29-30

Racing to Jump, VAAL

Racing to Jump

September

The Ascot Spring Show

Ascot

September

5-6

All Grades

Kyalami Park Centre

September

5-6

Glencore Shanduka Derby & Championship

Pienaardam Leisure Resort

September

19-20

Pre-Derby

Kyalami Park Centre

August

1-2

Graded SJ & Training SJ plus Open Eventing

Fourways Riding Centre

August

Training Dressage show. PR - Adult tests plus Pas De Deux.

Shepherd’s Fold Stables

September

Training Jumping Show. Pole on the ground up to 1m.

Shepherd’s Fold Stables

Training showing jumping show

The Tall Horse Equestrian Centre

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Feed for your aging steed So your Italian Stallion is more like a senior citizen. She’s officially an old gal so should she start eating like one? What should you be feeding an older horse? When is it time to adjust her diet? And how do her pearly whites or the lack thereof affect her diet. We speak to Hannah Botha, who holds an MSc Equine Science from the Royal Agricultural College, UK and provides Technical Advice for Equus about choosing the right diet for your aging horse to maximize health and wellbeing.

IF IT’S NOT BROKEN DON’T FIX IT?

Older horses do not necessarily have different daily requirements to that of adult horses, however, age related conditions such as poor teeth, digestive disturbances or chronic pain may alter the way in which the older horse is able to digest and utilie his nutrients and therefore ultimately fed. While some older horses might have health concerns that warrant specialized diets, there’s no need to change a healthy senior horse’s diet just because he reaches a certain age. Horses age at different rates and so where some horses will be struggling with their weight and have dental problems in their late teens, others will still be going strong into their mid-twenties and even later! For horses who are coping well with their old age, a normal balanced diet based on their individual needs is sufficient.

WHAT FEED DO THEY REQUIRE WHEN THEY ARE OLD?

Rather than choosing a veteran

feed just because it’s for older horses, choose a brand that focuses on digestive health, as it’s always wise to take into consideration the possibility of reduced digestion and absorption efficiency in older horses. A product that contains quality fibre, fats and proteins will go a long way to help your older horse. Reducing the level of molasses and cereal grains will also help to reduce digestive disturbances and are vital for horses with conditions such as laminitis and Cushings. But the most important thing is to treat the horse as an individual, so choosing a diet based on his workload and condition is more important than simply changing feed because he is old.

MISSING IVORIES

It’s not about poor health just a fact of life. Horses that have lost teeth may need some extra attention. Horses missing incisors might have difficulty grazing on short grass so if they are in a paddock that is overgrazed it could be hard for them to grasp and pull off. Horses without molars have difficulty

grinding their feed, so avoid feeds that require this process, whether it’s to break hard seed coats such as sunflower seeds, maize or to reduce particle size before swallowing such as with long stem grass or hay. As far as forage goes, toothless horses should always have access to either grazing or hay, allowing for more natural foraging behaviours. It can also help to decrease the chances of digestive upsets, such as gastric ulcers and colic, developing. However if your horse is missing a large number of teeth alternative fibre sources may be needed. These include hay cubes, pellets, chaff’s and sugar beet products. When looking at a concentrate feed, choose a pelleted or extruded product as the processing can help with digestibility and ease of chewing. In the pelleting process feedstuffs are ground, mixed together, pressed through a die, and cut to a desired length giving a helping hand to the older digestive system. However not all pellets contain a good level of

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F E AT U R E

fibre so do look for a high fibre pellet that also contains balanced vitamins and minerals. Pellets also have the advantage of being able to be soaked for those that really struggle to eat.

SHOULD FORAGE STILL BE THE MAIN SOURCE OF NUTRITION?

Absolutely! Fibre should always be the main source of nutrition for every www.horsetrading.co.za

horse no matter how young or old. The amount of roughage in the diet should never fall below a minimum of 1.5% of body weight per day.

is different but things like weight loss, poor coat condition, depression, difficulty chewing food or dropping food when eating are common signs.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR HORSES FEED?

So what should you remember? Keep it simple and treat as an individual! Managing the nutritional needs of your senior horse doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a complicated affair.

Once signs of aging start to appear. There are many signs and each horse