V3I4 (Jul/Aug 2008) by Redstone Media Group

equine

wellness Your natural resource!

Total bodywork out A 4-step program to equine well-being Crush thrush

. . .for good!

Ride like a kid again!

Understanding

Insulin Resistance

How a bareback pad improves balance

Mustang miracle

Cracked up

Must-see photos!

6 solutions for dry hooves

When

CANCER

How to prevent a

surfaces

BAD BACK in your horse

Acupressure points

July/Aug 2008 Display until Aug 19, 2008 $5.95 USA/Canada

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4

every rider should know

www.EquineWellnessMagazine.com

equine wellness

contents

30 14

features

equine wellness

Back it up!

Mustang miracle

Total bodywork-out!

Ride like a kid again!

How to keep your horse’s back healthy and strong

A Sorraia’s surprise appearance marks the start of many firsts

Material world

Crush thrush – for good!

The return of Excalibur

TTouch for performance horses

Follow these shortcuts for better wellbeing

Improve your balance using a bareback pad

9 types of therapeutic horsewear

Getting to the root of a smelly problem

The amazing story of a remarkable Mustang

Helping Winston overcome his show nerves

58 18

Click on this icon to visit featured links

When cancer surfaces

Acupressure points every rider should know

A closer look at skin cancer

Try this simple healing session on your horse

Groundwork for riders

All cracked up?

Three pre-ride stretches for every equestrian

6 causes and solutions for dry hooves

Understanding insulin resistance Veterinarian Dr. Frank Gravlee shares his expertise

equine wellness

contents Volume 3 Issue 4

columns 10 Neighborhood news

Book reviews

22 Holistic veterinary advice

Horsemanship tip

34 Did you know?

Tail End

Talking with Dr. Heather Mack

with Anna Twinney

55 Your health

departments 8 Editorial 45 Wellness resource guide 56 Heads up!

76 77 81

Classifieds Marketplace Events calender

our cover: Photo: Christina Handley

A picture of joy and well being, this five-month-old warmblood stud colt enjoys life to the full at Meadowbrook Farm in Flint Hill, Virginia. This endearing portrait by photographer Christina Handley is more than just a photo of a spunky young foal. It’s also proof positive that natural horsemanship leads to a happy, healthy animal – this lively little colt is barefoot and lives outdoors as close to nature as it’s possible for a domestic horse to be.

Editorial Department Editor-in-Chief: Dana Cox Editor: Kelly Howling Editor: Ann Brightman Senior Graphic Designer: Stephanie Wright Graphic Designer: Leanne Martin Cover Photography: Christina Handley Illustration: Leanne Rosborough Columnists & Contributing Writers Linda Cowles Lynne Gerard Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS Scot Hansen Van Harding Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS Pati Harris Lisa Huhn Anne Louise MacDonald Heather Mack, DVM Sandy Siegrist Amy Snow Linda Tellington-Jones Anna Twinney Dan Weltner Kristi Weltner Redd Valerie Wyckoff, NMD Nancy Zidonis Administration Publisher: redstone media group inc. President/C.E.O.: Tim Hockley Office Manager: Lesia Wright Editorial & Marketing Assistant: Jamie Conroy Administrative Assistant: Libby Sinden Submissions: Please send all editorial material, advertising material, photos and correspondence to Equine Wellness Magazine, 201-107 Hunter St. E., Peterborough, ON, Canada K9H 1G7. We welcome previously unpublished articles and color pictures either in transparency or disc form at 300 dpi. We cannot guarantee that either articles or pictures will be used or that they will be returned. We reserve the right to publish all letters received. Email your articles to: submissions@equinewellnessmagazine.com. Advertising Sales Michelle L. Adaway – Equine National Sales Manager (502) 868-0979 michelle@redstonemediagroup.com Tim Hockley – Sales Representative (866) 764-1212 tim@redstonemediagroup.com Classified Advertising

classified@redstonemediagroup.com

To subscribe: Subscription price at time of this issue in the U.S. $15.00 and Canada is $20.00 including taxes for six issues shipped via surface mail. Subscriptions can be processed by: Website: www.equinewellnessmagazine.com Phone: 1-866-764-1212 US Mail: Equine Wellness Magazine, PMB 168, 8174 S. Holly St., Centennial, CO 80122 CDN Mail: Equine Wellness Magazine, 201-107 Hunter St. E., Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9H 1G7 Subscriptions are payable by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, check or money order. The material in this magazine is not intended to replace the care of veterinary practitioners. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor, and different views may appear in other issues. Refund policy: call or write our customer service department and we will refund unmailed issues. Dealer or Group Inquiries Welcome: Equine Wellness Magazine is available at a discount for resale in retail shops and through various organizations. Call 1-866-764-1212 and ask for dealer magazine sales, fax us at 705-742-4596 or e-mail at sales@equinewellnessmagazine.com.

www.equinewellnessmagazine.com Equine Wellness Magazine (ISSN 1718-5793) is published six times a year by Redstone Media Group Inc. Publications Mail Agreement #40884047. Entire contents copyright© 2008. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: June 2008

equine wellness

Improving the lives of animals... one reader at a time.

equine wellness

editorial

Getting back in balance I remember the first time I had energy work done on myself. I am as far from a “touchy feely” type as you can get, so I was unsure how comfortable I would be with it. However, I gave it a go, since it was compulsory for the course I was taking. As students, we needed

to get used to being worked on, and working on other people, before progressing to putting our hands on horses. It was an intensive two-week course that focused on equine bio-energy work and acupressure, while also introducing us to nutrition, balanced hoof care, balanced dentistry, iridology, myofascial, and more. After the initial session, I “got over myself”, and found myself looking forward to being worked on and balanced on a daily basis. I honestly missed those sessions after the course ended – we don’t realize how out of whack we are until someone balances us! Our horses are much more active than we are, and as we progressed to working on them I realized just how much some of

equine wellness

them have to cope with. We ask them to perform at high levels when their bodies, health and minds are not balanced, and that can be hard on them. This issue of Equine Wellness can help bring your equine partner back into balance by teaching you how to develop a bodywork program for him. Start by reading “Acupressure points every rider should know” by Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis, “Total body workout!” by Van Harding, and “TTouch for performance horses” by Linda Tellington-Jones. And don’t forget yourself! I didn’t realize how unbalanced I was until someone worked on me. This was affecting my riding, and I noticed a huge change in my balance and functional posture when I returned to the saddle after completing the course. We put so much effort into making sure our horses are in tip-top shape that we often neglect ourselves in the process – yet we are such a big part of the equation! If we aren’t balanced ourselves, how can we ride balanced? Learn how to begin to balance your own riding with Scot Hansen’s article “Ride like a kid again”, and try out some great stretching exercises in “Groundwork for Riders”. With so many different modalities and integrative therapies to choose from these days, you’re bound to find a few that work for your horse (and for you, too)! Naturally,

Editor

equine wellness

neighborhood news Eight Belles’ legacy

Animal welfare organizations are up in arms after Eight Belles, second place winner at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, collapsed with compound fractures to both front ankles and had to be euthanized. The ASPCA has issued a statement on this tragic incident, pointing out that nearly all racing jurisdictions allow potent anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs to be administered to injured and lame horses to keep them racing. Other groups are focusing on racetrack surfaces, saying that hard-packed earth is too hard on the horses and should be replaced with synthetic surfaces. “The sport of horse racing is no different than other forms of entertainment where animals are forced to perform, oftentimes in stressful and inhumane conditions,” says ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. While there is no evidence that Eight Belles was the victim of abuse, her death has underlined the intense physical pressure racehorses often have to endure at very young ages, and has prompted The Jockey Club to form a committee to investigate the health and safety of these animals.

Recently, Thoroughbred Charities of America started the Eight Belles Memorial Fund. Donations made to this charity will assist in funding the re-training of Thoroughbreds for careers after the track and research to prevent further breakdowns. In addition, the Kentucky Equine Humane Center has started a memorial fund in the filly’s name, putting the donations towards Kentucky horses in need of shelter. As an interesting footnote, this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Big Brown, wears special glue-on plastic shoes due to his hoof issues. Differing from traditional aluminum shoes, plastic shoes offer greater flexibility and shock absorption. Photo: Sarah K. Andrew

Dollars & sense After last year’s drought, equestrians were hoping for a break this season so they could recover their financial losses. Unfortunately, this doesn’t look likely to happen. With the cost of gas, hay, and wood bedding increasing exponentially, many people are rethinking their horse management practices. Many boarding facilities and freelance equestrian professionals are raising their rates to compensate for extra costs, and trailering and show fees are also increasing. The ramifications are far-reaching, and few of us won’t feel the squeeze by the end of the season. But the news may not be all bad. These changes are forcing more riders to look beyond convenience and educate themselves on pasture management, manure management/composting, better feeding practices and bedding alternatives. In addition, sticking closer to home will encourage riders to get more involved in their local equestrian communities.

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Chiacchia on the mend Olympic rider Darren Chiacchia is recovering after being severely injured during a fall at the Red Hills Horse Trials on March 15. He was riding seven-year-old Baron Verdi cross country when the horse had a misstep and both horse and rider somersaulted. Chiacchia was taken to hospital with rib fractures, a collapsed lung, and severe head injuries. It’s said his helmet made all the difference in preventing worse injury, or even death. While Chiacchia has astounded his medical team with his progress, he is still working at regaining his mobility and cognitive skills. The equestrian community has rallied round to offer support, and several fundraising events have been held to help cover Chiacchia’s medical expenses. To learn how you can help, visit www.equestrianaidfoundation.org.

Massage & acupressure take their place Here’s good news for anyone interested in alternative horse care modalities. Animal acupressure and massage are poised to become nationally certified professions. In early June, NBCAAM (National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage), an organization dedicated to upholding standards in animal acupressure and massage, launched its new website at www.nbcaam.com. Practitioners can learn if they are eligible for NBCAAM certification, what the benefits are, and how to become certified. The website also houses the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for both animal acupressure and massage. Exams will be offered to those who have had 200 hours of study in massage and/or acupressure for animals. Developed by Nancy Zidonis, Amy Snow and a host of other top professionals, the exams will be available online through Hocking College. By taking these exams and becoming certified, animal massage and acupressure practitioners will gain recognition as trusted professionals. Photo: Noah’s Ark

Zebra on the Interstate A young Zebra recently had an unfortunate adventure, but with a happy ending. The two-month-old colt, now named Evidence, was found on the side of Interstate 75 near Atlanta, Georgia. It’s suspected he fell off a trailer and was hit by another vehicle. He was transported to the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine where he received surgery due to lacerations and internal injuries. Once Evidence has recovered, he will go to Noah’s Ark Animal Rehabilitation Center in Locust Grove, Georgia to live out the rest of his days. The center provides habitat for over 1,000 animals on 250 acres, with tenants ranging from wildlife and domestic animals to exotics. It rehabilitates and releases animals whenever possible, but if their injuries are too great to ensure their survival in the wild they are given a permanent home at the center. Learn more at www.noahs-ark.org.

Is his dewormer doing the job?

Ivermectin is one of the most widely used anti-parasitic drugs for horses. But researchers at the Gluck Equine Research Center, who have been keeping a close eye on the interaction between parasites and related dewormers, have discovered that small strongyles are building an increased resistance to the medication. Ivermectin is part of almost every rider’s herd health routine, and is regularly recommended by veterinarians. There are currently no other drugs on the market to combat small strongyles, since these parasites have already shown a resistance to pyrantel pamoate, phenothiazine and thiabendazole. The study suggests that small strongyles return nearly twice as quickly in horses treated with ivermectin, compared to when the drug first came on the market almost 30 years ago.

equine wellness

neighborhood news Standing tall Luscombe Nordram (aka Noddy) is poised to set a new record for the World’s Tallest Horse. At five years old, this big Shire already measures 20.1 hands, and weighs approximately 1.3 tons. And he will likely not finish growing until he is six or seven years old. Noddy’s owner and trainer, Jane Greenman, had no idea what she was getting into when she purchased the six-month-old colt. He currently goes under saddle, and is trained to drive, but his growth poses challenges as Jane works to find a job for him. She needs a ladder to get on him, most of his equipment needs to be custom made, and he eats three times as much as the average horse. Thankfully, he has a wonderful personality that makes him fun to be around and easy to work with!

Photo: Bill Strong

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Noddy’s closest competitor and current holder of the Guinness World Record for World’s Tallest Horse was Tina, a 20-hand Shire, who recently passed away at four years of age.

Search & rescue horses You’ve heard of search and rescue dogs. Now, Arrowsmith Search and Rescue in British Columbia, Canada, is adding horses to their team. Horses are able to pick up airborne scents, which can be much more recent than ground scents and may make the animals invaluable in situations where time is often of the essence.

that to an untrained rider could be interpreted as distraction, or a wish to graze.

Trainer Terry Nowacki was brought in from Minnesota to teach the horses to seek out missing persons. She trains them by giving them food rewards after each successful practice search. The biggest part of the training process is teaching riders to listen to their horses more closely. When they pick up a scent, the horses display subtle signs

The horses are already proving to be a big help to the team, since they are able to pick their way through rugged terrain much more easily and quickly than someone on foot or even in a small vehicle. They also have less impact on the environment than a motorized vehicle. Now, with their newfound scenting skills, they’ll have even more to offer!

The Arrowsmith Search and Rescue team rely on their horses’ help during missions.

equine wellness

Back It Up! How to keep your horse’s back healthy and strong by Sandy Siegrist

We have all reveled in watching horses at play in a field. We are struck by their power and grace, and amazed by their athleticism. At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve also seen horses growing older and losing their elasticity – just like we do!

equine wellness

Like us, horses tend to start sagging and aching and slowing down as they age. Their toplines droop and lose muscle tone. We see more and more performance issues, and we often have to deal with their aches and pains in a very real way. It’s a fact of life – for all animals. But as difficult as it is to watch, we can help mitigate the impacts of this process.

Horses are built differently. Their spines are horizontal, and gravity pulls down on the center of their span. Think of it like a suspension bridge. The muscles in the back have to support their ribcage and abdomen. Then we add a saddle, increasing the stress on the bridge. We next ask that our horse balance a rider, and perhaps move in a way that’s unnatural for him. This creates more and more stress on that fabulous skeletal and muscle structure on which the horse’s entire system relies.

How do back problems develop? A horse’s back can be stressed by many influences, not the least of which is his own conformation. Let’s look at a few possible causes of back stress:

•Poor structure – imperfect conformation •Poor hoof care – imbalance in the foot can result in unbalanced movement that stresses the entire muscular-skeletal system

tim

e.c om

•Injury – either the back itself can be injured, or an injury anywhere on the horse’s body can result in compensatory issues in the back

Dr ea ms

Let’s talk about back health – what influences it, what the signs of an unhealthy back are, and how we can keep our horses’ backs healthy and strong. Start by thinking about basic physics. Gravity pulls humans down on their bony columns. Our spines are upright, and the weight of our structure stresses our back muscles. Overexertion and improper movement can exacerbate the problem.

©Nat

•Poor saddle fit – ill-fitting gear can impede natural movement and cause pain that results in injury or compensatory issues •Poor riding habits – not warming your horse up or cooling him down, improperly asking for or forcing “collection”, and not properly building muscle and flexibility before strenuous events can all be detrimental to back health •Misuse – starting a horse too young or not allowing enough recovery time after an injury

What signs should you look for? Back problems typically begin showing up in both the horse’s performance and behavior. For example, you may see an obvious lameness. Sometimes

the gait abnormality is less noticeable – perhaps your horse struggles with only one lead or direction.

Some horses exhibit pain through behavioral changes. A horse will become “arena sour”, for example. A horse that is typically pleasant and willing may become irritated when asked to complete a familiar task. Perhaps he simply refuses to stand still for mounting, or begins to bite or buck or kick. Ear pinning, head tossing and tail swishing are clear signs of a problem.

Hint

Be sure to monitor the overall appearance of your horse’s back and how he moves, so that you will be sure to notice when something is amiss.

One of your responsibilities is to monitor the feel of your horse’s back. Be sure to check all along his spine when you’re grooming him, both before and after a ride. Notice any tender spots and feel for heat or swelling. Becoming familiar with your horse’s back (and overall health) when he is well will give you a good baseline with

©Reddy | Dreamstime.com

•Normal aging process

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which to compare when you start to notice problems.

How can you keep his back in good health? Nutrition is always the building block to optimal health and wellness. Keep your horse on a natural, healthy diet and monitor his health and body condition throughout the year. Consult your equine health professional for help in designing a program to best suit your horse’s needs and activity level. Stretching is critical to muscle health. There are many great resources on the market and internet for stretching exercises. One of the simplest techniques is what most people call “carrot stretches.” They are designed to stretch the muscles and skeletal system from the poll to the lower back. There are also many great

Three steps to a good back

1. Prevent back injury and stress.

2. Treat injuries appropriately and allow for rehabilitation.

stretches for the hindquarters that benefit the back’s structure.

Building strength and flexibility is the next step. This is best accomplished through simple cavaletti exercises. Many people consider cavaletti work to be for English riders only. Nothing could be further from the truth. Achieving optimal strength and balance through cavaletti work is valable to any equine sport. Always begin by ground driving the horse. This is critical because the horse will be able to move more naturally if he is not carrying a rider. He will begin to find his Get to know your horse’s back. Become familiar with the shape and balance and develop muscle tone so that you can promptly identify and address problems natural collection as that might arise. he builds strength.

Hint The primary goal of stretching is to flex muscles and joints – this increases circulation and frees up the muscles.

Finally, there are simple exercises you can do for your horse when grooming him, before or after you ride, that will begin to develop muscles in the topline. Each is designed to activate reflex points that cause the muscles to fire, beginning with the large muscles in the hindquarters, progressing to the long muscles in the horse’s back, and finally to the withers and neck. These exercises are easy to learn and incorporate into your daily grooming program. We have used them to bring older horses with sagging backs back to

Start a stretching and exercise program targeted toward optimal back health. 16

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Simple exercises to strengthen and balance your horse’s back are critical to optimal performance.

optimal health and performance, with toplines that would make many younger horses envious. We have also used them to maintain muscle strength and balance in horses rehabilitating from an injury. For a video of these exercises, visit www.perfectanimalhealth.com. It’s possible to keep your horse’s back strong and healthy well into his retirement – and it’s all up to you! It doesn’t matter if your horse is young or old – or if you are, for that matter. Starting a program that targets back health is appropriate at any age. Don’t try everything all at once -- introduce each new activity slowly, and perfect the techniques before moving on to the next one. Remember to relax and have fun! That’s the best gift you can give your equine companion when aiming for optimal health and performance.

Sandy Siegrist

is a lifelong

horsewoman who practices natural horsemanship, healing and horse care techniques.

She

works with

clients throughout the

U.S.

evaluate their feeding and horsekeeping programs based on their horses’ specific needs. She also does energy work and overall health analyses, often taking in horses for more extensive rehabilitation.

Sandy’s

approach is based on natural

and alternative therapy techniques and incorporates bio-energy testing, cranio-sacral therapy, acupressure, kinetics, herbs and flower essences, among others. Her lectures, articles and

DVDs

address nutrition,

hoof care, bodywork, worming, vaccinations, and emotional wellbeing, grounded in maintaining a more natural environment and healthcare practices.

Visit

www.perfectanimalhealth.com.

equine wellness

Mustang Miracle Photos: Lynne Gerard

Sorraia’s surprise appearance marks the start of many firsts by Lynne Gerard

I have always known it was a tremendous honor for the members of our herd to let me close to them during some of their most intimate and vulnerable times. To be able to lie down among a snoozing group of “unbroken” atavistically primitive young horses in a semiwild setting is a wonderful experience. Having itched and played my way into gentle relations with our three Sorraia Mustang fillies and their amorous purebred Sorraia stallion, Altamiro, I have made some marvelous friendships. But I had no idea that I would one day be witness to something even more amazing. As part of our transcontinental effort to help save the Sorraia horse from extinction (see “Saving the Sorraias”, Equine Wellness, Jan/Feb 2008), we allow our stallion and mares to live together year round at the Sorraia Mustang Preserve on our Ravenseyrie ranch, providing them opportunity to breed in accordance with the rhythms of nature.

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When we acquired Altamiro as a yearling from the Wisentgehege zoological park in Germany, we were told that Sorraia stallions typically do not become sexually fertile until age four. Altamiro just turned three this past May. Two of the fillies are turning four this summer, and the other recently celebrated her third birthday.

A big surprise One day in mid-April, I was hanging out with the herd as they were finishing up their late afternoon hay. While pulling burrs out of Belina’s tail, I noticed Altamiro take a nice long whiff from Bella’s rear and curl his lip up. Bella parted her hind legs and made herself more “presentable”. This was what I had been waiting to see – some signs of the fillies being in heat. I then worked my way towards Bella, who was calmly eating hay, and Altamiro, who was still spellbound by Bella’s backside. As I did so, I noticed a large membrane extending from Bella’s rear end. I gasped, thinking she had somehow

suffered trauma and prolapsed her uterus. I stroked her abdomen as I tried to get a better look. Just then Bella’s stomach contracted and the membrane (which was not unlike a water balloon) extended further. I could now see a leg and a hoof reaching out through the vaginal opening. I was in shock. Bella, who had previously shown no outward indications of being pregnant, was having a foal! Yet I was so convinced that something was terribly wrong, that I failed to appreciate that she wasn’t the least bit sweaty, was still eating hay and, with the exception of her stomach contracting from time to time, seemed herself.

A legend is born In less than 15 minutes, with wondrous ease, Bella delivered a foal onto the fresh snow. Bella stood up immediately, breathing heavily and looking bewildered. The foal, still encased in the membrane, was poking at it with

his head like a chick trying to chip its way out of an egg. Altamiro, who had remained with Bella, took up the role of helpmate in the birthing process without hesitation, demonstrating atypical behavior for a stallion. As the foal shrugged himself out of his amniotic pajamas, Altamiro began licking the fresh, wet body of his newborn son. Bella soon regained composure and began maternal ministrations along with Altamiro.

Father figure After a little while, Altamiro began prodding, poking, nipping and gently biting him in what appeared to be an attempt to induce his son to get up. Many near-risings and tangle-legged falls soon gave way to an unsteady, but upright posture. Next, it was time for the ever-important first meal. Once again Bella patiently waited while Altamiro took on the job of stimulating his son to move around.

This page and next: The paternal instinct kicks in as young stallion Altamiro takes the lead in cleaning his newborn son. Surprised mother Bella soon gets the idea and together they encourage the foal to rise and suckle for the first time. equine wellness

Is your horse suffering from heaves or COPD?

Nudge after nudge, and nip by nip, he stimulated the foal to get familiar with the territory of his mother, and discover her udder. For the next while, the foal circled his mother and father, licking and mouthing at different sections of their bodies, eventually being rewarded with his first suckle.

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A promising future On his first full day of life, the robust colt was scampering around the rough terrain of his environment with the ease of a gazelle. We named him Animado, which means “lively” in Portuguese. Animado’s amazingly tender and attentive father is shaping up to be the kind of horse that will be setting new records all his life. He is not only the first purebred Sorraia to come live in Canada, but he has sired the first half-bred Sorraia in Canada, and at a far younger age than his counterparts in Portugal, Germany, and the U.S.. Watching a live birth, outdoors, in a semi-wild herd situation, is an experience I will always treasure, and documenting the unusual maternal behavior of a stallion provides us all with a novel insight into equine behavior. We hope Animado is the first of many more Sorraia foals to come! Lynne Gerard is an author, artist and calligrapher. Her Ravenseyrie Studio and Gallery, on the Gore Bay waterfront, has attracted many tourists visiting Manitoulin Island and also serves to share information on the Sorraia Mustang Preserve founded by her and her husband. For more information on the Sorraia horse, visit www.sorraia.org. business,

equine wellness

holistic veterinary advice

Talking with Dr. Heather Mack Heather Mack, DVM, graduated in 1991 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and received certification from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society that same year. She is also certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and specializes in Equine sports medicine, maintaining a very busy practice in California as well as Idaho. Contact Dr. Mack at (760) 447-0776 or visit www.advancedwholehorse.com. Send your questions to: Holistic veterinary advice. email: info@equinewellnessmagazine.com Our veterinary columnists respond to questions in this column only. We regret we cannot respond to every question. This column is for information purposes only. It is not meant to replace veterinary care. Please consult your veterinarian before giving your horse any remedies.

Several times a year my horse gets fairly swollen through his jowl area. This typically happens in the spring and fall. I had the vet out once to ensure it was not strangles, but he did not know what it could be. It never seems to be more than a bit uncomfortable for him, but it is definitely unsightly. Every time anyone at the barn sees it they cry “strangles” and won’t come near him. Any ideas?

The first two things I would consider are

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the possibility that a) this is your horse’s immune system reacting to spring and fall vaccinations, or b) this is a seasonal allergic reaction. Take a closer look at the timing of it. This is a difficult question for me to narrow down without a physical exam. Is it localized or general swelling? If localized, is it salivary glands or lymph nodes? Does the horse run a fever with the swelling? Is it related to a certain pasture or feed or cutting of hay, or seasonal weeds? True holistic care requires you to be aware of all these things, be proactive in your process of discovery, and see if you can figure it

out. The goal is to find the root cause, eliminate it, and then move forward in perpetual good health – both mentally and physically. It cannot feel good to you or your horse when folks run away from him as if he has the “plague”. You can share your observations with your vet who will be able to help narrow down the possibilities. I think you need some blood work to help determine if it is an immune or allergic response. If you want an absolute diagnosis and the swelling is localized, your vet can do a fine needle aspirate. Swelling means inflammation, and this can create more free radicals and a slow drain on your

horse’s vitality. So I suggest you gather your observations and look for a holistic minded veterinarian. In the meantime, why not put him on some immune stimulating herbs, and be sure his nutrition is solid. I would also have your vet or equine dentist look at his head/skull, and palpate the hyoid bones and TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint), as well as the distance between his atlas and the ramus of the mandible. I often see horses with limited space for all the soft tissues in this area, and they have a chronic hard unreactive swelling, usually in the salivary glands.

My paint mare gets very bloated on a regular basis. She is a very easy keeper, so is kept in a dry paddock with rationed good quality hay and a vitamin/mineral supplement. The bloating does not seem to be in a pattern with her heat cycles. For the most part she will just appear to be quite fat, but some days she is visibly uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to help keep her from bloating up?

Keep in mind that most of the protein and soluble carbohydrates in a horse’s feed is broken down in the stomach and small intestine. The remainder is broken down in the hindgut with liquids, leftover fats, cellulose and other fibrous feed bits. The cell walls of plants are composed primarily of cellulose, and horses (being grass eaters) rely on special microbes in the large intestine and cecum to digest cellulose through fermentation. True bloat is an accumulation of gas in the hindgut, and usually causes a great deal of pain and colic symptoms. If your mare is an easy keeper then

she probably does not need any grains, but only hay and access to salt and minerals to stay healthy. Alfalfa is not recommended as it creates more fermentation and gas, and your mare is already sluggish in the hindgut. I suggest orchard grass or meadow grass hay only, three to four times daily instead of twice daily, as horses have a relatively small stomach and do better eating small amounts more frequently. Some horses also eat too fast and dividing up the feedings or using a device called a Grazer solves the whole problem. The Grazer is a spring-loaded cage that you put the hay in. The horse has to work at getting the hay out, and it slows him down significantly. Also, I would add probiotics to her nutritional program. I Like ABC’s (Advanced Biological Concepts) Pro-Bi – it is a highly palatable liquid that can easily be dosed orally, perhaps twice daily. I would also try giving her access to free choice salts and minerals, including Izmine from Dynamite. In addition, I would rule out parasites with a fecal exam. If this does not balance her I would suggest a thorough physical exam by your veterinarian, including a rectal exam and blood work. This mare could be pre-Cushing’s, on the verge of “metabolic syndrome”, or she may have a lipoma (a fatty tumor in the abdomen that intermittently constricts the large colon, and may cause the backup of gas). These are just a few of many differential diagnoses that come to mind, so I would rule them out first.

My gelding had a fairly significant injury to his lower leg a few months ago, and now that it has healed up we are fighting proud flesh. Can you tell me some good ways to get rid of proud flesh?

If the proud flesh has proliferated above the skin line, have it surgically trimmed back flush with the skin by your veterinarian. Be sure the hair around it is trimmed also, because the hairs can hinder the skin’s repair mechanism. I have a ranch in Idaho where our horses can be out on hundreds of acres with stumps, trees, rocks, wire, cliffs, shale slides, etc. I am now an expert in lower leg wounds! I have saved, and still enjoy riding, a horse that my board certified colleague wanted to euthanize. Here is what I have learned:

Leg wounds need diligent attention, energy, and care. You can’t just put a bandage on for three or four days with a dressing and think it’s going to heal. Find out what modalities feel good in your hands and work on increasing both circulation and the body’s attention to the wound. The reason proud flesh occurs more on the lower leg is because there is no underlying muscle, and therefore less circulation to carry neutophils, macrophages, and other constituents that help heal and clean up waste. However, there is still circulation in the surrounding tissue of blood, lymph and nerves. Put your healing intention there first and foremost. When you look at the wound, don’t envision how bad it looks. Look with admiration on the body as a whole, and how well it is working on repairing itself. When you wash it, use intention and gentleness in your touch. Perhaps run a hose around it to do some hydrotherapy on the local tissues. I also use lasers, infrared, and micro current on leg wounds. Many of these machines can be leased or rented for a short term.

Horses have an innate healing mechanism. Chances are the wound is going to heal; the question is, how well. You want to decrease scar tissue and adhesions to allow

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optimum function of the leg. Make sure the horse has:

also had luck with homeopathic Silicea and Traumeel.

•Free choice salt and minerals.

Topically, I have tried many different salves, mixtures, powders, washes, and dressings. If you get the proud flesh trimmed back, the epithelial cells will start to grow toward the center. There will be a lot of blood but that brings new energy and nutrients to the epithelial margin. Wash it with a mixture of calendula mother tincture, tea tree oil and aloe vera gel in warm water. The wound then needs a good pressure bandage. I alternate my dressings from various herbal ointments and Traumeel cream with colloidal silver concoctions, to a mixture of cortisone ointment and Novalsan antibacterial cream. I find using the topical steroids after the trimming helps prevent re-growth of proud flesh. I put a no-stick pad up against the wound with ample dressing on it – you want to keep the wound moist to

•Enough nutrition to give him the energy to heal, but not so much to get him too high. •Herbs to increase circulation to the lower extremities and bolster the immune system.

Healing occurs in stages. The proud flesh usually occurs at the end stage. You have obviously made it past the acute initial stage. If you used antibiotics, put him on some good probiotics to be sure his GI flora is balanced. In terms of oral supplementation, I like #12 (to increase circulation to the extremities) and #24 (to strengthen the immune system) from Silver Lining Herbs. I have

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encourage the cells to grow. Fresh air and sunlight also help, so when I change the bandage, at least every other day, I allow for some breathing time. After awhile, the wound will stop swelling and you’ll see healthy skin – you can stop bandaging at this point. Continue with topical salves, such as Dynamite’s Wound Balm. I love to alternate the salves with essential oil mixtures like cypress, lavender, tsuga, and tea tree in carrier oil. I massage it into the surrounding tissues, with a mind to break down any fascial adhesions that may have occurred when the body was laying down scar tissue. All of this requires diligence and timing. It is a bit of a dance – you will be surprised how quickly you learn the steps the more you trust your intuition. Remember, we all have a lot of medicine in our hands and thoughts. Put

your good intentions and healing, loving hands on him!

At the barn I am boarding at, the horses do not have access to water during turnout. They are out for around eight hours each day. Is this a problem in the summer? Also, in the winter, the barn owner told me the horses could just eat snow to stay hydrated – is this true?

Horses should have fresh water available at all times. The average horse’s body is comprised of about 85 gallons of water or fluids, including intra- and extra-cellular fluid, blood, lymph, urine, even saliva. A horse produces six to ten gallons of saliva a day. Much of the water a horse drinks is used to create

saliva, which helps in mastication and digestion. Water maintains the delicate balances within a horse’s body and keeps digestive tract mobility regular. While it is true that horses can go for extended periods without water, it is not recommended, and greatly increases the risk of impaction colic. In the summer, they may get hot and dehydrated, especially if they are active during turnout. In the winter, when it is cold, horses tend to drink less at each opportunity, so they may still be at risk for impaction and dehydration. The signs of dehydration are a bit harder to read in the winter. Some horses will eat snow, and some won’t. I have a ranch in the wilderness where the horses drink the clear, cold water that runs through the East Fork of the Salmon River. I have observed them drinking slowly, almost dreamily, especially on hot summer afternoons.

The entire herd will find a comfortable spot and stand right in the water, or on the river’s edge. The whole process of getting a drink can take over an hour. It is as if they are dining on the freshness and ionization of this water. One of my big warmbloods rolls his tongue and sips the river as if through a straw – then he picks his huge head up and rolls his eyes back as he is swallowing. Having watched this beautiful intimate relationship they have with the water, I could never recommend horses intentionally being deprived of it.

Dear Readers: The brand names recommended in this column are suggestions only. There are other brands with similar formulas. As with any product, it’s important to buy a brand you can trust.

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ÂŠBjorn Hotting | Dreamstime.com

Total bodywork-out! by Van Harding

Follow these shortcuts for better wellbeing

With all the therapy hype and new modalities out there these days, deciding which ones will benefit your horse the most can be confusing. Many owners and trainers want to do everything, but there is naturally a limit when it comes to time and resources. As a professional horse therapist, I find the challenges are the same. In this article, I will reveal the shortcuts I have developed over the years to get maximum results from several modalities in the least amount of time. 26

equine wellness

My top five therapeutic modalities are acupressure, myofascial release, craniosacral, stretching and nutrition. I regard nutrition as a therapy for horses because the demands of athletic activity increase nutrient demands. A deficiency of specific nutrients affects muscle relaxation and the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to remove wastes from the interstitial fluid, causing stiffness of the fascia tissue. (The fascia is like a net or mesh structure and is

the major connective tissue that holds the body together and establishes its shape. For example, a deficiency of magnesium causes muscle tightness. Simply put, when there are mineral and vitamin deficiencies there is a lack of Qi (energy) production. Without good nutrition and supplements, the body’s tissues remain tight and filled with toxic metabolic waste by-products.

Fascia tissue network

So when we relax muscles, loosen the fascia and encourage the Qi to move, we restore healthy physiology and increase performance!

•To stimulate the 12 major meridians, apply Acu-magnets along the coronary band in any Ting Points that are recessed.

A four-step integrative program

This program incorporates a variety of modalities. (If you don’t have acu-magnets, skip the second step.)

Warm-up Begin by warming up your horse. Hand walk him for five to ten minutes to establish a kind and casual demeanor. This gets the Qi and blood circulating.

Combining acupressure and craniosacral

Acupoints and meridians

•Apply Acu-magnets at Yin Tang and atop the Sacrum or on the tip of the tail. These acupoints stimulate Qi flow along the spine and nervous system, and open the vertebrae.

Ting Points are found along the coronary band.

•Apply the Acu-magnets along the Shelf of the Ribs, in the deeper depressions between the ribs.

The other four modalities are interrelated and can be applied in conjunction with one another. For example, the flow of Qi along the meridians (channels) happens within the fascia and interstitial fluids surrounding the muscles and under the skin. When this tissue tightens, it reduces the “range of motion” of the muscular skeletal system and may apply pressure to the nerves that pass through it, causing pain and impacting the function of the acupressure points in the skin. It also restricts cellular metabolism and the flow of Qi.

Apply Acu-magnets to acupoints. Place hands at opposing ends of the Shelf of Ribs, sink in gently and push outward; hold for 120 seconds.

Ying Tang releases anxiety, frustration and anger.

•Let the horse hang out in the Acu-magnets for ten to 20 minutes so the systems

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The quality of touch To achieve a positive effect with these techniques, observe your horse’s eye and look for the “soft eye” response. This tells you the horse is relaxing. You will also

have time to respond, then return to do the next exercises/techniques. •If your horse enjoys having his face touched, you can spend a portion of the “cooking time” lightly brushing the areas between/above the eyes, and between/around the ears. There are dozens of acupoints in these areas that when stimulated will relax your horse.

Combining stretching, myofascial release and acupressure To get the best results when stretching your horse’s legs: •Keep the hoof close to ground level. •Hold the stretch for 120 seconds so the fascia tissue responds.

For maximum results, put all your attention on the horse. From the moment you approach until you have completed this therapy session, focus on bonding and appreciating your horse’s efforts. This is about you and your horse being suspended from the busy world for awhile. Be fully in service to healing through recognition, trust, and the extension of love. What a wonderful experience! 28

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•Apply less tension than with a normal stretch. You can find the amount of tension needed by extending the leg to the point where the tissues are naturally resistant.

Hind Leg Stretch: By moving the hoof out and behind the body, the stifle and hock joints extend, applying tension on the fascia surrounding these joints. As well, the pelvis will tilt to one side, applying slight twist-tension in the lower back, stretching the latissimus dorsi muscle on the opposite side, and impacting the thick fascia layer on the back. The pelvis tilting and croup flattening will stretch the psoas muscle.

Front Leg Stretch: By moving the hoof towards the tail, the top of the scapula (next to the withers) moves towards the head and the bottom of the scapula (point of shoulder) moves towards the tail. This impacts the tissues along the neck, back, behind the scapula, and the deep pectoral muscle.

Scapula

need to establish a supportive environment for your bodywork session: no chatting with friends, no cell phones. Sessions are best done one to two hours after a workout/feeding. Check in with the horse first to see if he is willing to participate. He may be apprehensive the first few times because he doesn’t understand it, so take your time and do not impose it upon him.

Gently apply pressure to the Ting acupoint. Extend the front leg towards the tail, support the knee and pastern, and hold gently for 120 seconds.

Top of scapula moves forward and pulls on the back. Bottom of scapula moves backward and pulls on neck and deep pectoral.

Support the leg by holding at the fetlock and pastern. Gently stimulate Ting points. Extend the hind leg and hold for 120 seconds. Then apply pressure to the acupoints in the web of the hock.

Shelf of Ribs and Torso: These acupoints impact your horse’s emotional state, and relieve tension in the fascia of the intercostal muscle (used for lateral flexion). After you have worked the area along the shelf of the ribs, you can move your hands towards the withers and lower back to work on the fascia beneath the saddle area. Knee/Hock Joints and the 12 Major Meridians: The repetitive motion from exercise can deplete the fascia of joint fluids, causing stiffness and pain. There are six meridians on the front legs with very influential acupoints located at the knee. By cupping the knee joint and pulling upward, you can open the fascia that surrounds the joint capsule, and the fascia that extends down the leg into the fetlock. This technique can be repeated on the hock, impacting the remaining six major meridians on the hind legs.

Heart acupoints

Craniosacral and tail pull I wish I had a tail like a horse, because I’d get the awesome benefit of the tail pull. Unlike humans, where the spinal cord is anchored to our second or third lumbar vertebrae, the horse’s spinal cord is anchored to the sacrum. When you pull on the tail, the ligaments that connect the tail to the sacrum allow you to indirectly put tension on the fascia tissue that surrounds the spinal cord. This tissue extends the length of the spinal column and surrounds the brain! Many horses have headaches from tight fascia (in humans it is sometimes called a migraine). By applying tension for 120 seconds or more, you can stimulate the fascia to release inside the skull. Many horses will lower their heads to apply more pressure and really get into the experience. Caution: apply pressure slowly and gently. Horses that are resistant may have a bad headache or backache and the initial tension can be painful. Try one of these techniques on different days and watch the horse’s response for what he likes. Each takes only a few minutes and a couple of times a week will give you good results.

Van Harding

Equine Equilibrium Los Angeles area. He was Chairman of the International Equine Body Worker Association in 2004. He has a BFA, MFA, Certificate in Equine Science and is currently in of

is a horse therapist serving the

pursuit of his doctoral and license

Cup the knee joint capsule and apply finger pressure to the heart acupoints. Grip and gently lift upward and hold for 120 seconds.

in Oriental Medicine and Natural Health for all species. Having recovered from a stroke, his emphasis is on the nervous system, behavior and physiology. For more information, visit www.equine-equilibrium.com.

equine wellness

Ride like a kid again! by Scot Hansen

Improve your balance using a bareback pad

equine wellness

©Diana Lundin | Dreamstime.com

Do you remember when you were a kid with your first horse or pony? Do you remember when you would hop on bareback and gallop across the field, down the trail, or even go swimming in the river? As I travel across the United States doing expos and clinics, I hear those types of stories time and again. And they almost always end with: “I wish I could still ride like that. I don’t know what happened.”

After the above statement, the usual excuses then follow: “I am not as young as I used to be.” “I don’t bounce as well.” “I can’t afford to get hurt.” “I just don’t have the balance.” “My horse isn’t calm enough.”

Oh, to be young again As a kid you ran, jumped, twisted, turned, swung from monkey bars, kicked balls, played sports, sat on the floor instead of the chair, ran up and down stairs, and jumped through mud puddles. All those things strengthened your core muscles and improved your balance. You weighed less than you do now, of course, but what was really important was that your core muscle

Weightlifting

Core exercises Exercising your core and balance comes from doing freeform exercises, including weightlifting (as long as you do not use machines). There is a big difference between lifting a weight that is balanced by a machine, and lifting the same “free” weight. As you lift the free weight (barbell or dumbbell), your core muscles have to stabilize your body to balance the movement. Doing calisthenics such as jumping jacks, bend and reach, twists, squat thrusts, push-ups, and so on all help to build core strength and balance. Yoga and Pilates are also good, but don’t forget to do some fast exercises too, as your body needs to be able to keep up with the movement of the horse.

Push-ups ©Michael Svoboda | Dreamstime.com

While these are all valid, the main reason adults don’t ride bareback, and seemingly do not have the balance to do it anymore, is that they have lost the ability to use their core muscles. Core muscles are the ones inside your body that stabilize you while you stand, bend and reach. They give you the ability to balance your body better.

As an adult, you probably do not run and jump (for any particular reason, anyhow), swing from monkey bars, run up and down the stairs, etc. You might exercise on a machine for an hour, but it’s not the same and does not build the core muscles the way freeform exercises do. Neither does jogging down the road. While exercising is great, you need to do more than just ride a bike, walk on the treadmill, or do a few sit-ups or crunches. You need to exercise your core.

©Steve Lovegrove | Dreamstime.com

Excuses, excuses

strength was at a much higher ratio to your body weight than it is now.

Get up and ride! As with any other sport, exercise only does so much good, and then it is

Yoga equine wellness

time to actually participate in the sport. It would be silly to believe that you are going to improve your balance while riding through exercise only. You can’t expect to improve your balance very much if you are sitting in a saddle with your feet in stirrups, using them to compensate every time you are off balance. At the Spanish riding school, they ride for months without stirrups to learn balance.

much “padding” you have on your backside – the pressure still builds up and hurts the horse over time.

What to look for in a bareback pad:

Hint

The fastest way to improve your core muscles and balance is to actually get up and ride.

Selecting the right equipment When you ride, you need to have a bareback pad for your horse’s benefit, and your own. Many people think that riding completely bareback is better for both, but it isn’t. When you ride without a pad, your seat bones start to create pressure points, because they continuously work in the same area on your horse’s back. You don’t notice it because you sit on the horse’s soft muscle tissue. And no, it really doesn’t matter how

•A good pad needs to have a breathable, non-slip surface that contacts the horse. It is very difficult for you to work on your balance if your pad is slipping around. Cheap materials such as canvas and fleece slide all over. If your pad slips and you have to shift to get it back in place, your horse also has to shift to rebalance what you are doing, which in turn throws you off balance. •A suede-covered pad does the best job of providing grip for you. Horse hair is slick, and a suede pad can help keep you from sliding around. •A pad that allows the girth buckles to be low on the horse’s side, instead of where your leg makes contact, is important for your comfort. My personal pad (www.horsethink.com) has these features, and has enabled me to start three colts without worrying about it slipping around.

To make your experience successful you will need the following:

•A horse that is relatively calm. •A good friend (with the same qualities as the horse, preferably). •A good bareback pad. •A good lead rope. 32

equine wellness

©Amanda Perkins | Dreamstime.com

Getting started

equine wellness

Did you know?

by Dr. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS

In an attempt to “provide the best” for their easy keeper, insulin resistant or metabolic syndrome prone horses, many caretakers purchase expensive good grade hay and then spend a great deal of time soaking it to remove the soluble carbohydrates. Unfortunately, this soaking process removes not only the carbohydrates but water soluble vitamins and amino acids as well. Good “quality” hay is free of mold, fungus, weeds, weed seeds, dirt and various other environmental contaminants. Good “grade” hay is based on nutrient content, not quality. Straw or stemmy hay can be extremely good quality, yet low grade (low in nutrient content). An idle horse or one that has IR or is prone to metabolic disease is a prime candidate for good quality straw or stemmy hay because it’s low in starches, proteins, vitamins, etc., and has a lower ratio of energy to nutrients. On the other hand, straw or stemmy hay would not be advisable for a performance horse that requires extra energy. The performance horse needs good grade hay to provide the nutrients demanded by work. Instead of purchasing expensive hay and soaking it, simply buy the grade of hay required by your horse. Dr. Frank Gravlee graduated from

Auburn University School of Medicine

Eight steps to riding bareback Warm your horse up in your usual manner while he is wearing the bareback pad. If he is used to wearing a saddle, the pad should not cause any concern.

Leave the halter and lead on the horse, and put the bridle on.

Mount up. You can do this in a couple of ways: one is to use a mounting block, and the other is to use assistance from your friend (by way of a “leg up”).

Hint

If your horse has never had you on his back without a saddle before, use caution. Some find it disturbing and will react by moving around at first.

the arena. Have her lead you in straight lines. Do not let her lunge you on the end of a lunge line – that is the worst method for trying to learn your balance. A horse traveling in a circle constantly throws your balance to the outside of the circle, and you have to fight centrifugal force to stay centered.

Once you have done a long straight line, turn 90º and do another straight line. Continue to have your friend lead you for about 20 minutes (this is why you need a calm, patient friend!). This is usually enough to get you relaxed and let your body flow.

While your friend is leading you, do not steer the horse. The only reason that you have the reins is in case something happens and you need to stop the horse. During the 20 minutes of leading you do not need to do anything but concentrate on the movement of the horse, and how the horse moves you. Sit there relaxed, and think of relaxing things. The object of this exercise is to help you develop balance, but also to work on the core muscles used in riding.

and practiced veterinary medicine for several years before attending graduate school at

MIT. During a three-year residency in nutritional pathology he received a

When you mount up, your friend should have the lead rope and you should take the reins, as well as hold onto the pad’s handle.

masters degree in nutritional biochemistry and intermediary metabolism. In founded

1973, he Life Data Labs to determine

equine nutritional deficiencies through

Once you are up there, sit still for a bit.

laboratory testing, and developed individualized feeding programs to correct the deficiencies he discovered.

After

ten years of research, he launched

Farrier’s Formula. www.lifedatalabs.com

equine wellness

After a few minutes, let your friend lead you around

Riding on your own Start to ride by yourself at the walk only. Work on the walk for two or three weeks so that you can build your core muscles while working on your balance. After that you can work on the trot. Don’t be afraid to hang onto the handle attached to your bareback pad. There is no prize for falling off, so hanging on is perfectly fine while you learn your balance.

Photo: Scot Hansen

When you are ready, try the canter by going a short distance in a round pen or arena. Once you are proficient, you can ride bareback wherever you want, including the trails.

Hint

Short, correct rides are always better than long sloppy rides.

You must have patience. Most of you only ride one or two times a week. Understand that practicing for 20 minutes twice a week means it will take awhile before you see improvement. The good news is that you can ride for 20 minutes using the bareback pad, and then saddle up and go for your trail ride if you want. Most of all, have fun, and don’t make it too much like work. Safe rides!

The secret to improvement The real secret is to do a little at a time, have patience, quit early, and use a good bareback pad. Take trotting for instance; you are better off to trot ten correct, balanced strides, than 50 strides flopping all over the back of your horse. The more you bounce around, the harder it is for your horse to travel smoothly because you are hurting his back. And once you start bouncing, it is almost impossible to get back into the correct rhythm. If this happens, stop, get rebalanced, calm your horse, and try again.

Scot Hansen is a retired Mounted Police Officer who travels throughout the

U.S.

giving clinics

and performing at many major horse expos. His experience in training police horses is reflected in his horsemanship and sensory training clinics. Scot created an award-winning

DVD entitled Self Defense For Trail Riders that teaches women about safety while riding alone, and has been interviewed on RFD TV and Horse City TV. To see all his training DVDs and clinic schedule, visit www.horsethink.com.

equine wellness

Material 9 by Kelly Howling

types of

In addition to using your energy and intention to influence the healing abilities of your horse, you can turn to the growing market of horsewear and equipment that promote equine health and wellbeing. Let’s face it – not every rider is convinced they can focus their own energies on their equine partner to resolve an imbalance. But we can all use therapeutic materials in our daily routines to provide some of the same benefits. These materials can help resolve current issues, prevent others down the road, and/or reduce the effects of chronic health problems.

1. Sheepskin/Wool

3. Open Cell Foams

embedding fabrics with microscopic gemstones, stainless steel fibers, or ceramic powder offers benefits to the These offer the benefit of shock absorption and breathability, while providing a no-slip surface. Any weight, shock or pressure is distributed laterally along the surface of the horsewear, whether it be a horse boot or saddlepad. One company has created a pad that is lightweight, long-lasting, and custom molded.

Wool is one of the most wonderful therapeutic materials. Completely natural, it can be found in many forms. Equestrians will typically see it in wool/pile/felt form, or left on the hide as sheepskin. Wool is breathable and naturally wicks moisture. It also insulates, and reduces pressure points. It can be found as saddlepads, horse boot liners, coolers/dress sheets, blanket liners and more.

2. Embedded Fabrics

Several companies have discovered that

equine wellness

4. Neoprene horse. These materials are designed into saddlepads, blankets and leg wraps. Their action is twofold. They reflect the body’s energy back into its system, increasing circulation, promoting healing and utilizing thermal heat, and they shield the body from high frequency electromagnetic fields. This shielding effect gives the body a short break during which it can focus its energy inwards.

Neoprene has long been part of the horse world – you can find it in just about everything, from horse boots and girths to saddlepads and halters. While neoprene is durable, form fitting, lightweight, shock absorbing and insulating, it does not dissipate heat, breathe, or wick moisture. It has been known to cause rubs

world

therapeutic horsewear

and swelling, particularly when used as a girth lining. Horses can also be allergic to neoprene.

wick moisture, and holds heat close to your horse. Saddlefitters are currently recognizing that while gel pads have

5. Foam PVC

6. Gels

Different types of gels can be found in horse boots, saddlepads, girths, browbands and halters. Whereas most of the materials discussed above are meant to dissipate pressure, gels are designed to absorb it. A gel pad typically does not

7. Air Ride

The pros and cons of air-filled saddlepads are similar to gel pads. Most do not breathe well, wick moisture or dissipate heat. Initially designed to absorb pressure, they are now recognized as increasing the severity of pressure points.

8. Antimicrobial

Antimocrobial fabrics and materials are

9. Magnetic

Magnetic horsewear typically consists of some type of material with therapeutic magnets sewn into small pockets. Products can appear in the form of blankets, wraps, boots, browbands and saddlepads. They employ magnetic field therapy to increase circulation, promote healing, and realign the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magnetic field.

Photo: MagSan/Swiss Vet

Similar to open cell foams, foam PVC is shock absorbing, flexible and durable. Once warm, it will conform to your horse, but it does not breathe or wick moisture. As with any synthetic material, you must decide whether or not you want to place it directly against your horse. Given the concerns about PVC leaching additives from childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toys and water bottles, we must also consider if our horses are at risk. Using a light cotton or wool saddlepad between the foam PVC and your horse may be your best bet.

long been known to have shock-absorbing qualities, that shock has to go somewhere, and you typically end up accentuating pressure points.

either finished or infused with a chemical compound that destroys and inhibits the growth of microscopic organisms. Found in leg wraps, bandages, saddlepads, horse boots, and some blankets, these materials can come in handy when you are using equipment on a regular basis or sharing it with other horses. It will help prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, whether in everyday use or for wound management.

These are just several types of therapeutic materials available today for your equine friend. Each has its own pros, cons, and various applications. As most therapy type horsewear is rather pricey, do your research and figure out what will work best for you and your equine partner. The right choice can become a valuable asset in your quest for optimal equine health and performance! equine wellness

– for good! ©Tristana | Dreamstime.com

by Lisa Huhn with Anne Louise MacDonald

I arrived at the barn late in the day. It was almost feeding time, and the horses were inside. As I walked through the open barn door I smelled it -- the unmistakable stench of thrush. Studies claim over 90% of domestic horses have an active infection in their feet. That may seem high, but at least 90% of horses I encounter have a form of thrush – some mild, some severe – and the smell in this barn agreed with the statistics. Thrush is at epidemic proportions in our horses yet no one seems to notice! It’s so common it’s either not recognized

equine wellness

or is perhaps accepted as normal. Every barn has bottles of chemical treatments on hand for their never-ending battle

against thrush. Wouldn’t it be great to never have to smell, see, or worry about it again?

Does your horse have thrush? Quite possibly, the answer is “yes”. Thrush is a very common anaerobic bacterium found in the soil, and is everywhere horses are kept. It thrives in damp environments like stall floors, over-crowded or ill-designed outdoor pens, run-in sheds, and loafing areas. The land becomes saturated with high concentrations of urine and manure. As this decays, thrush grows like mold in a Petri dish. Add to this equation the other epidemics of improper foot form and high sugar feeds, and you create the perfect environment for thrush infections.

How do you know it’s thrush? Thrush does not always have a textbook presentation of black oozing “goo” with a horrible smell. While this is an advanced form (trench foot), there are moderate forms (athlete’s foot) that can wreak havoc on hoof health and negatively affect your horse’s body and behavior as a whole.

In early stages, thrush begins as a flaky sole with shiny black areas along the wall-sole connection. Thrush can affect the frog in the collateral grooves and/or central sulcus, the bulbs, the white line, and even the sole. It is similar to foot rot in cattle or sheep. In many cases, it is not uncommon for secondary infections like “greased heels” and “rain rot” to be present. What do you see? When cleaning and inspecting your horse’s feet, are they the picture of health with a clean distinction between parts? The ideal foot will have wide, thick, calloused, uniform frogs that blend into wide, smooth heel bulbs – smooth, shiny soles – and clear white line connections. Or maybe you see some warning signs of a foot susceptible to thrush: chalky, flaky sole – tattered, black frog – deep crevices that trap manure and bedding. What do you feel? Does the foot clean easily, almost as if it’s cleaning itself? Is the sole hard and shiny, or chalky and sticky? Is there soft black material in deep cracks and grooves? When you press on the frog, is it strong and super firm like a rubber stall mat, or is it weak? Does it give easily to pressure, like raw meat? What do you smell? Naturally kept and trimmed hooves simply don’t smell, or perhaps have the mild odor of fresh manure or damp clean earth. Does your hoof pick come away smelling foul – like an overused chemical toilet at the country fair? That’s “trench foot” thrush. Common, but not normal.

What can you do? The first thing is to recognize that thrush is a symptom! It is not something a horse can “catch” or come up with in one day. Several factors predispose your horse to thrush. A horse presenting thrush is in chronic stress with a compromised immune system, from one or more of the following: The shape of the foot itself. The trim has a lot to do with whether or not a horse is likely to get deep-seated thrush or an easily rectified temporary/seasonal condition. Overgrown or conventionally trimmed and shod feet are more likely to develop thrush due to unnatural hoof shape and poor circulation. A good barefoot trim creates a self cleaning foot, and promotes blood flow and function, which helps eradicate thrush. A high sugar or concentrate diet. This encourages the growth of thrush – like acne of the foot. Too many horses are over-supplemented with processed feeds/grains and other “additives”. A staple diet of free choice grass hays improves health and strengthens the immune system.

HINT

Chronic thrush is much less likely to occur in grass fed horses. Lack of movement. Stalled horses or those in small turnouts are at a much higher risk of developing thrush. Urine is very concentrated, moreso if the horse is fed grain/concentrates. Bedding soaks up the caustic urine and returns it to the foot. This shows up in the sole as an orange or cantaloupe color. We call this “urine burn”, and it is usually accompanied by black, ragged,

A foot susceptible to thrush has deep crevices that trap manure and bedding.

equine wellness

“Magic spray” To speed-treat thrush, you can use what I call the “magic spray” – active apple cider vinegar and five to ten drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Clean the feet well with a hoof pick and a steel brush. Remove any large tattered edges on the frog. Spray two to three times a day for at least six weeks. Make sure you spray the central sulcus of the frog as well as the collateral grooves. As a preventative measure, you can spray the foot daily. Be sure your treatment regimen includes a proper barefoot trim and plenty of exercise to increase circulation and strengthen immunity.

narrow frogs, dull, flat heel bulbs and a foul smell. Enhanced natural movement with a correct barefoot trim ensures better circulation, and with attention to footing and feeds, thrush will become a thing of the past. Thrush cannot exist in a healthy functioning foot – no matter how wet it is outside! Natural horses handle wet seasons with their built-in protection of a strong immune system. Their healthy feet have a thin shellac-like coating, which helps the foot self-clean and maintain proper moisture balance. The ultimate goal is to keep thrush from developing. By treating now and taking new management approaches, you may never have to deal with this problem again. Prevention is the key!

Lisa Huhn

has six years of post second-

ary schooling in equine and animal sciences and has studied and practiced natural horse care for 20 years, with Equinextion natural hoof trimming since 1995. Lisa developed, tested and implemented the protocols for the

Equinextion Therapeutic Performance Trim and now travels North America teaching clinics and giving lectures to vet schools and other equine organizations on natural horse keeping, health care and trimming. Located in Ontario, Canada, Lisa owns and operates an equine rehabilitation and training center. For more information on the Equinextion Associate Trimmers program and certification courses, visit www.equinextion.com

Anne Louise MacDonald is the author of five books, and has worked with Equinextion since 2004.

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Excalibur

The Return of

by Anna Twinney

Part I: The Departure The day I decided to take the colt home was the day he died in my arms. “Is he always this calm?” James the veterinarian asked, as he examined Bravo at the wild horse sanctuary. Running an eye over the young buckskin’s conformation, he continued, “Is he up for adoption?” I felt an overwhelming swelling of love for this young Mustang and heard myself say, “No, he’s actually coming to Colorado with me.” We were preparing Bravo for what was supposed to be a routine castration, and once he settled into the sedation James began to “do the honors”. Throughout the procedure, my handsome Australian shepherd, Merlin, who is most intuitive, continually asked to come into the stall and “assist”. I told him to wait on the outside so he didn’t disturb Bravo or get hurt should there be any unexpected movements. He left, but within a few moments returned and lay down by Bravo’s side. His actions didn’t fully register with me, and I told Merlin

equine wellness

once again to wait on the outside, reassuring him that Bravo was fine. Once James finished, we chatted our way down memory lane, waiting for Bravo to awaken. As James gathered his instruments, we realized that more time had gone by than was usual for a horse to be lying flat out. I mentioned my concerns, and James informed me that during the operation he had noticed Bravo’s inaugural rings (the entrance from the intestines to the testicles) were oversized. He said this was something that could not have been determined until he actually performed the procedure, and that I should keep a close lookout for any abnormalities during the healing process. If I saw anything out of the ordinary, I was to call him immediately. A few moments later, none of that would matter. We roused Bravo. As he began to get up, the world turned upside down. As a former police officer, I am not what you’d call faint of heart. But I was not prepared for what I was about to experience. As I looked at Bravo, his

intestines begin to flow out of his body like spaghetti. In seconds, they hit the ground. My heart sank as tears began to pour down my face. James ran to his truck to get the right tools. I radioed for backup as the young colt ran into my arms. I cradled his head, feeling helpless as the fear in his eyes desperately asked me what was happening. I had no answers for him. As others came to help, they could see the trauma written on all our faces. James told us he had no choice but to put Bravo to sleep.

Part II: The Message Several months later, my close friend was talking with Bravo. An animal communicator, she was able to connect people with animals who had passed to the other side, helping to heal the hearts of both. She connected immediately and told me things only Bravo and I knew – things personal to our relationship. As an animal communicator myself, I knew how to connect to Bravo.

Photo: Lourie Zipf

However, it is common for animal communicators to consult others when it comes to their own animals, since their strong emotions and desires can confuse the information received. To my delight, Bravo informed me that he would be returning to me in two years, when I was really ready for him. He would return as either a Gruella or a buckskin colt. I would meet him when he was approximately nine months old. He would be brought up as an untouched Mustang, and would have a dorsal stripe and three swirls. I had been studying the impact of swirls for more than a decade. Not only was it proven that swirls indicate extreme personalities and intelligence, but they were also something I wanted in my own horse, a secret I had told no one.

Part III: The Return Life sometimes has a way of getting you where you need to be, even when you don’t think you want to go.

In January 2007, I was invited to give a speech at a gathering in Livermore, Colorado in support of the Mustangs. The meeting, a good two-and-a-half-hour drive from my home, would take place in the evening. I’m always pleased to be able to bring awareness to the American Mustang, so I gladly accepted the invitation.

cold weather was exacerbating her lung condition, and she couldn’t continue. She asked if I could go out instead, although as most of the work was already done, there really was no need for me to help at this point. Nonetheless, my conscience got the better of me and I popped my head around the corner only to find that the young horses were already in their pens.

That winter was a rather unique one in Colorado. The meeting was postponed twice due to extreme weather conditions. Finally, on the third attempt to reschedule the meeting, I was unsure whether I wanted to endure over five hours of driving to give a 10-minute lecture. However, I always honor my commitments, so I went.

Gabriele, who originally asked for my help, motioned for me to visit with her and again I questioned if she really needed me. This time she suggested I come and look at the young colts. I braced for the cold and ventured to the corral.

After the meeting, I was asked if I would like to help feed the horses. With temperatures at near freezing I wasn’t too keen to venture into the cold to throw hay. I politely declined the offer, and stayed in the warmth by the fire.

Within seconds I saw what appeared to be a nine-month-old colt with a Gruella colored head, looking right at me. I asked Gabrielle to encourage him to walk closer. As he approached, I could see a buckskin body with the cute Gruella head. When he reached me, I discovered three swirls on his forehead.

Only a few moments later, one of the volunteers came back inside. The ice

This can’t be happening, I thought. equine wellness

The author’s equine friend, Excalibur, came back into her life when she was ready for his gifts.

with this full description. I was ready to invite him into my life, and here he was!

Photos: Lourie Zipf

It can’t be him. Then I saw it – the long dorsal stripe and zebra stripes on his legs. The dorsal stripe had two strips going over his withers, creating the appearance of a cross. “This is Gaultier,” Gabriele pronounced.

There are only so many signs you can ignore before you have to take that leap of faith. So on my birthday, I invited “Excalibur” into my life. He is now a very special part of our family. I am often asked what his role is to be in my life, and my response is always the same – the choice is his. Anna Twinney

is an internationally

respected animal communicator, equine specialist, natural horsemanship clinician,

Reiki master. She has been featured TV and in national and international magazines, and travels the world educating people and horses, working in the horses’ own language. As the founder of the Reach Out to Horses® program, she remains on the cutting-edge of genuine, gentle communication and

I learned he had come from the Spanish Mustang Registry in Oshoto, Wyoming. He was nine months old, and pretty much unhandled, though sociable. The most amazing piece of the puzzle was this: just days before, I had called a couple of friends and asked them to be on the lookout for a young Mustang colt

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Wellness Resource Guide

EQUINE WELLNESS MAGAZINE

Wellness Resource Guide Inside this issue: • Barefoot Hoof Trimming • Communicators • Holistic Healthcare • Natural Product Manufacturers & Distributors • Natural Product Retailers • Schools & Education View the Wellness Resource Guide online at: www.equinewellnessmagazine.com

Barefoot Hoof Trimming ALABAMA

Danny Thornburg Shelby, AL USA Phone: (205) 669-7409

ARIZONA

Richard Drewry Harrison, AR USA Phone: (870) 429-5739 The Horse’s Hoof James Welz Litchfield Park, AZ USA Toll Free: (877) 594-3365 Phone: (623) 935-1823 Email: jim@thehorseshoof.com Website: www.thehorseshoof.com Advertise your business in the Wellness Resource Guide 1-866-764-1212

JT’s Natural Hoof Care AANHCP Certified Practitioner & Instructor Scottsdale, AZ USA Phone: (480) 560-9413 Email: jonatom3h@yahoo.com

BRITISH COLUMBIA Christina Cline Abbottsford, BC Canada Phone: (604) 835-1700 Diane Brown Lumby, BC Canada Phone: (250) 547-6391 Dave Thorpe Vernon, BC Canada Phone: (250) 549-4703 Lone Pine Ranch Bruce Goode, AANHCP Practitioner Vernon, BC Canada Phone: (250) 545-6948 Email: lonepinehorse@yahoo.com Website: www.hooftrack.com Non-invasive natural hoof care Custom hoof boot fitting services

CALIFORNIA

Hoof Savvy Folsom, CA USA Phone: (916) 201-7852 Email: hoofcare.specialist@yahoo.com Hoof Help Tracy Browne, AANHCP, PT Greenwood, CA USA Phone: (530) 885-5847 Email: tracy@hoofhelp.com Website: www.hoofhelp.com

Serving Sacramento and the Gold Country

Softtouch Natural Horse Care Phil Morarre Oroville, CA USA Phone: (530) 533-7669 Email: softouch@cncnet.com Website: www.softouchnaturalhorsecare.com Good Hoof Keeping LLC Ramona, CA USA Phone: (619) 719-7903 Dr. Sugarshooz Farrier Services & Natural Hoof Care Sunland, CA USA Phone: (818) 951-0235 Serving southern CA

equine wellness

Wellness Resource Guide

Barefoot Hoof Trimming Michael Moran Sunland, CA USA Phone: (818) 951-0235 Jolly Roger Holman Professional Farrier/Natural Hoof Care Templeton, CA USA Phone: (805) 227-4835

Specializing in natural trims and BLM Wild Mustangs

COLORADO

Cindy Meyer Carbondale, CO USA Phone: (970) 945-5680

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Yvonne Moorhouse Hoof Care Practitioner AANHCP PT Marengo, IL USA Phone: (815) 923-6950 Email: y.moorhouse@att.net

IOWA

Hensley Natural Hoof Care Randy Hensley Orient, IA USA Phone: (641) 337-5409

Former Farrier - Now specializing in barefoot rehabilitation - Certified Practitioner

CONNECTICUT

KENTUCKY

Phyllis Gregerman North Stonington, CT USA Phone: (860) 599-8766

Ann Corso London, KY USA Phone: (606) 878-0466 Email: naturalhorsecare@earthlink.net

Fred Evans North Granby, CT USA Phone: (860) 653-7946

Sarah F. Block Shelton, CT USA Phone: (203) 924-5644

DELAWARE

Dawn Willoughby Wilmington, DE USA Website: www.4sweetfeet.com

FLORIDA

Sound Horse Systems Anne Daimier Deland, FL USA Phone: (386) 822-4564 Website: www.soundhorsesystems.com Brett Barteld Havana, FL USA Phone: (850) 391-4733 Email: masterfarrier@gmail.com Hoof Nexus Daniel E. Hofford Ocala, FL USA Phone: (352) 502-4384 Email: equsnarnd@gmail.com Website: www.hoofnexus.com Frank Tobias AANHCP Practitioner Palm Beach Gardens, FL USA Phone: (561) 876-2929 Email: info@barefoothoof.com Website: www.barefoothoof.com

GEORGIA

All Around Horses Andrew Leech Dahlonega, GA USA Phone: (706) 867-4890 Website: www.geocities.com/ andrewsallaroundhorses/

ILLINOIS

Mackinaw Dells II Ida Hammer Congerville, IL USA Phone: (309) 448-2212 Website: www.mackinawdells2.com No Hoof - No Horse Cheryl Sutor, M.H.G. Kirkland, IL USA Phone: (630) 267-0357 Website: www.NoHoof-NoHorse.com

equine wellness

Sharon Sanford Campbellsville, KY USA Phone: (270) 469-4481

MANITOBA

Triple S Farms Julie Sanders Altamont, MB Canada Phone: (204) 744-2487

MARYLAND

Coreen Harris Emmitsburg, MD USA Email: alboradapasos @ aol.com

MASSACHUSSETS

Gwenyth Santagate Douglas, MA USA Phone: (805) 476-1317 Website: www.barefoottrim.com

MICHIGAN

Larry Frye White Cloud, MI USA Phone: (231) 652-3505

MINNESOTA

Cynthia Niemela Duluth, MN USA Phone: (218) 721-3094

MISSISSIPPI

Jeff Farmer, AANHCP Certified Practioner 927 Abe Chapel Rd. Como, MS USA Phone: (662) 526-0821 Email: hooffixer@msn.com Also serving West Tennessee & East Arkansas

MONTANA

Bruce Nock Warrenton, MO USA Phone: (314) 740-5847 Website: http://homepage.mac.com/brucenock/ Index.html

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Luke & Merrilea Tanner Milford, NH USA Phone: (603) 502-5207 Website: www.lmhorseworks.com

NEW JERSEY

Carrie Christiansen Browns Mills, NJ USA Phone: (609) 992-3889

Lisa Markowitz High Bridge, NJ USA Phone: 908-268-6046 Natural Trim Hoof Care Hopatcong, NJ USA Phone: (973) 876-4475 Email: info@naturaltrimhoofcare.com Website: www.naturaltrimhoofcare.com

Serving NJ, central to eastern PA, and lower NY state

NEW YORK

Better Be Barefoot Sherri Pennanen Lockport, NY USA Phone: (716) 434-0146 Email: sherri@betterbebarefoot.com Website: www.betterbebarefoot.com Natural balance trimming, rehabilitation, and education centre.

Amy Sheehy Natural Hoof Care Professional IIEP Certified Equine Podiatrist Pine Plains, NY USA Phone: (845) 235-4530 Email: hoofgal@naturestrim.com Website: www.naturestrim.com

Specializing in natural trimming and rehabilitation of all hoof problems.

Margo Scofield Tully, NY USA Phone: (315) 383-6429 Email: thehoofchick@hoofkeeping.com Website: www.hoofkeeping.com Natural Concepts Joseph Skipp Wynantskill, NY USA Phone: (518) 371-0494 Email: joe@naturalhoofconcepts.com Website: www.naturalhoofconcepts.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Natural Hoof Care Lisa Dawe, AANHCP Practitioner Oriental, NC USA Phone: (508) 776-6259 Email: Lisa@ibarefoothorses.com Website: www.ibarefoothorses.com

Natural barefoot hoof care; specializing in pathologic hoof rehab

Bruce Smith Raleigh, NC USA Phone: (919) 624-2585 Email: bruce@father-and-son.net Website: www.father-and-son.net

NOVA SCOTIA

Lost July Natural Hoof Care Nina Hassinger Bridgetown, NS Canada Phone: (902) 665-2151 Email: nina@lostjuly.ca Gudrun Buchhofer Judique, NS Canada Phone: (902) 787-2292 Email: gudrun@go-natural.ca Website: www.go-natural.ca

OHIO

Steve Hebrock Akron, OH USA Phone: (330) 644-1954

Barefoot Hoof Trimming

AANHCP Certified Practitioner

Sherry Eucker Cuyahoga Falls, OH USA Phone: (216) 218-6954

PENNSYLVANIA

Bellwether Farm Katrina Ranum Morrisdale, PA USA Phone: (814) 345-1723 Email: info@ladyfarrier.com Website: www.ladyfarrier.com

OKLAHOMA

Becky Goumaz Tulsa, OK USA Phone: (918) 493-2782 Email: pulltheshoes@yahoo.com

ONTARIO

Serendales Farm Equine Hoofcare Services Brian & Virginia Knox Campbellford, ON Canada Phone: (705) 653-5989 Email: serendales@accel.net Website: www.serendalesmorgans.com Barefoot Horse Canada.com Anne Riddell, AANHCP, Hoof Care Practitioner Penetang, ON Canada Phone: (705) 533-2900 Email: ariddell@xplornet.com Website: www.barefoothorsecanada.com Natural barefoot trimming, booting & natural horsecare services.

Back To Basics Natural Hoof Care Services Carolyn Myre AANHCP Hoof Care Practitioner Renfrew, ON Canada Phone: (613) 262-9474 Email: carolyn@b2bhoofcare.com Website: www.b2bhoofcare.com Natural Barefoot Trimming, Easycare Natural Hoof Advisor, Natural Horse Care Services

Kate Romanenko Woodville, ON Canada Phone: (705) 374-5456 Website: www.natureshoofcare.com

OREGON

The Veterinary Hospital Nancy Johnson Eugene, OR USA Phone: (541) 688-1835 Email: thevethosp@aol.com ABC Hoof Care Cheryl Henderson Jacksonville, OR USA Phone: (541) 899-1535 Email: abchoofcare@msn.com Website: www.abchoofcare.com

Certified hoofcare Professional Training, Rehabilitation, Education & Clinics

Conde Pantoje Molalla, OR USA Phone: (503) 502-1102 Email: betteroffbarefoot@yahoo.com Website: www.betteroffbarefoot.us Windhorse Creations Mavis Pas Oakridge, OR USA Phone: (541) 782-3561 Website: www.windhorse-creations.com

Equine Wellness Resource Guide

Promote your holistic business inexpensively to a targeted market! 866-764-1212 wrg@equinewellnessmagazine.com

Walt Friedrich Nescopeck, PA USA Phone: (570) 379-2964

SOUTH CAROLINA

Cori Brennan Horsense - Hoof/Horse care that makes sense Sharon, SC USA Phone: (803) 927-0018 Email: brombie1@yahoo.com Natural barefoot trimming serving the Carolinas

TENNESSEE

Charles Hall Elora, TN USA Phone: (931) 937-0033 Mary Ann Kennedy Fairview, TN USA Phone: (615) 412-4222 Email: info@maryannkennedy.com Website: www.maryannkennedy.com

Trac Right Indian Mound, TN USA Phone: (931) 232-3071 Email: tracright@aol.com Website: www.tracright.com

Quality Barefoot Hoofcare in Middle Tennessee.

Marie Jackson Jonesborough, TN USA Phone: (423) 753-9349

TEXAS

Wellness Resource Guide

Emma Everly AANHCP CP Columbiana, OH USA Phone: (330) 482-6027 Email: emmanaturalhoofcare@comcast.net Website: www.barefoottrimming.com

Eddie Drabek El Campo, TX USA Phone: (979) 578-8913 Website: www.drabekhoofcare.com G & G Farrier Service London, TX USA Phone: (325) 265-4250

27 years exp. as Farrier and I promote Natural hoof care. I am a field instructor and clinician for AANHCP in Texas

Gill Goodin Moravian, NC USA Phone: (325) 265-4250

VERMONT

Autumn Mountain Sue Mellen Danby, VT USA Phone: 802-293-5260

VIRGINIA

Erin Pearson Castleton, VA USA Phone: (540) 987-9507 Flying H Farms Equine Hoof Clinic & Wellness Center Fredericksburg, VA USA Toll Free: (888) 325-0388 Phone: (540) 752-6690 Email: info@helpforhorses.com Website: www.helpforhorses.com

Barefoot Trimming, Hoof Clinic & Equine Wellness Center

Elizabeth Swank Harrisonburg, VA USA Phone: (540) 434-5286 Lei Ryan Mount Jackson, VA USA Phone: (540) 477-2489 Ann Buteau Shipman, VA USA Phone: (434) 263-4946 Natural Hoofcare Services Anne Buteau Shipman, VA USA Phone: (434) 263-4946 Email: annebuteau@yahoo.com

Have faith in the healing powers of nature

Rebecca Beckstrom Weyers Cave, VA USA Phone: (540) 234-0959

WASHINGTON

Pat Wagner Rainier, WA USA Phone: (360) 446-8699 Advertise your business in the Wellness Resource Guide 1-866-764-1212

Leslie Walls Ridgefield, WA USA Phone: (360) 887-0529 Email: barehooflcw@yahoo.com

equine wellness

Barefoot Hoof Trimming - Natural Product Retailers

Wellness Resource Guide

Maureen Gould Stanwood, WA USA Phone: (360) 629-5153 Email: maureen@forthehorse.net Website: www.forthehorse.net Cameron Bonner Wauna, WA USA Phone: (360) 895-2679

WISCONSIN

Mike Stelske Eagle, WI USA Phone: (262) 594-2936 Anita Delwiche Greenwood, WI USA Phone: (715) 267-6404 Scott McConaughey Houlton, WI USA Phone: (715) 549-6380 FHL Horse Care Mark Stuber Ridgeland, WI USA Phone: (715) 949-1002 Email: fhlhorsecare@chibardun.net Website: ww.fhlhorsecare.com Triangle P Hoofcare Chad Bembenek Rio, WI USA Phone: (920) 992-6415 Email: trianglepenterprises@centurytel.net Website: www.trianglephoofcare.com The Natural Hoof Monica Meer Waukesha, WI USA Phone: (262) 968-9499 Email: monica@thenaturalhoof.com Website: www.thenaturalhoof.com

VIRGINIA

!NIMAL 0ARADISE

#OMMUNICATION (EALING ,,#

Massage Therapists Integrative Veterinarians Trainers & Behaviorists

Holistic Healthcare

!NIMAL 0ARADISE

A#OMMUNICATION (EALING ,,# LBERTA

The Horse Mechanic Howard Jesse

Serving the Lethbridge, Calgary area Phone: (403) 795-1850 Website: www.thehorsemechanic.com

Pet Sitters Natural Product Retailers, Manufacturers & Distributors Shelters & Rescues Reiki

Natural balancing of horses with proper trimming of hooves, toothcare, BioScan & Bicom 2000

Chiropractic

CALIFORNIA

Acupressure

Acupuncture

Natural Product Retailers CONNECTICUT

Animal Herbery Greenwich, CT USA Phone: (203) 302-1991 Email: info@animalherbery.com Website: www.animalherbery.com

Communicators

Holistic health products for your horse and pets including Wendals Herbs, Emerald Valley, Tallgrass Acupressure media,

IDAHO

ARIZONA

Animal Energy Lynn McKenzie Sedona, AZ USA Phone: (250) 656-4390 or (214) 615-6505 Email: lynn@animalenergy.com Website: www.animalenergy.com

International animal intuitive offers nationwide consultations in animal communication and energy healing

CALIFORNIA

Mysticviz Lydia Hiby Escondido, CA USA Phone: (661) 269-4647 Email: mysticviz@aol.com Website: www.lydiahiby.com

O NTARIO 1/24th Claudia Hehr

Animal Communication Specialist

To Truly Know and Understand Animals World-wide phone consulations, Health and Behavior Issue Workshops, Tele-seminars, Books, Grief Counceling.

(705) 434-4679 â&#x20AC;˘ www.claudiahehr.com

1/12th 48 equine wellness

Claudia Hehr

MICHIGAN

White Willow Therapies, LLC Erin Bisco, CMT, CEMT, MMT Clinton , MI USA Phone: (734) 417-6042 Email: whitewillowtherapies@gmail.com Website: www.whitewillowtherapies.com

Manual Medicine, Crancal, Lymphatic and Visceral Therapies Horses, Dogs and People

Natural Products Manufacturers & Distributors

COLORADO

M&M Distributing, LLC Littleton, CO USA Phone: (303) 972-9260

WISCONSIN

Omega Fields Newton, WI USA Toll Free: (877) 663-4203 Website: www.omegafields.com

Advertise your business in the Wellness Resource Guide 1-866-764-1212

Schools & Education

EQUINEXTION Lisa Huhn Merrickville, ON Canada Phone: (613) 258-3921 Website: www.equinextion.com

CALIFORNIA

Equine Wellness Services Nancy Hall, Approved Instructor Beaumont, CA USA Phone: (951) 769-3774 Website: www.equinewellness.com

Equine Wellness Resource Guide

Promote your holistic business inexpensively to a targeted market! 866-764-1212 wrg@equinewellnessmagazine.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Evelyne Neall ARICP Certified Instructor Dressage Jumping Rehabilitation

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TTouch

for performance horses

by Linda Tellington-Jones

Photos:Gabriele Boiselle courtesy of Linda Tellington-Jones

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Do you know any horses who show brilliant performance potential at home but completely fall apart at a competition? It’s a common story, and one I hear repeatedly as I travel around the country sharing Tellington Training, otherwise known as TTEAM (Tellington TTouch Equine Awareness Method), with my clients and their equine partners. Horses who are dangerously reactive to loudspeakers and crowd movement, don’t eat or sleep normally, pace the stall, or are nervous in the warm-up ring, can take a long time to learn to cope with stress at a competition. Most riders hope that with time and experience a horse will learn to relax and live up to his or her potential, but that doesn’t always happen, or it can take so long it becomes discouraging.

Winston’s story

I worked with a horse just like this at the Equine Affaire expo in Pomona, California, this past January. Adrienne Bessey brought her 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Winston Churchill, to work with me on the recommendation of her dressage teacher, Amie Beauregard. Amie has hosted two TTEAM trainings with me and saw the possibilities for change when I worked with her warmblood gelding, Truman, at the Western States Horse Expo last June. During an exhibition performance the day before, Truman was spooked in the arena by a fast-moving baby carriage, and became very nervous with the movement of the crowd. When Amie saw me ride him bridleless and with only a rope around his neck in front of more than 1,000 spectators, and saw the trust that allowed Truman to move brilliantly and with confidence, she was hopeful Winston could also be helped. Adrienne sent me the following email: “Winston is my dream horse – the one I’ve waited for the 30 years I’ve been riding. He is such a gifted dressage horse,

but we’ve had so much trouble because he is so sound sensitive and nervous at our competitions. Last year in our first high performance class – a qualifier for the Pan American games – he became so upset by the background music playing over a loudspeaker that he kept spooking and bolting until I decided to excuse ourselves from the show arena. Since then I’ve been trying to expose him to sound in small doses to ‘desensitize’ him, but it is clearly not working. Even at smaller shows, a strange sound may frighten Winston so much that I can’t regain his focus for hours.”

Something I discovered many years ago is the value of lowering a horse’s head to override the flight reflex. My sister, Robyn Hood, coined the phrase “high-headed equals high-strung” to describe a horse who is extremely highheaded and tense. When you can get his nose down to chest level, a terrified horse can begin to relax and respond to the handler on the ground.

We certainly picked the right venue to demonstrate the behavior Adrienne had to deal with at competitions. The large, open arena at the Pomona expo featured loudspeakers blaring from several directions, dozens of horses warming up in the adjoining ring, carriages driving noisily back and forth, and plenty of noise and movement from the stands full of people come to learn about TTEAM work. I asked Adrienne to ride into the arena so the spectators could see the issues she was dealing with. However, he was so agitated that first afternoon that for safety’s sake I decided we should work him from the ground because of his tendency to bolt under saddle.

Head down

Winston was so fearful when he was led into the arena saddled and bridled that Adrienne was still concerned he would bolt. He was tense and high-headed and barely controllable.

We first worked Winston in the labyrinth to calm and focus him. Normally a horse settles in a matter of minutes when he is brought into the labyrinth, but in the beginning Winston could not lower his head until both the noseband and girth were loosened. Few horse people seem to realize the negative effects of a tight noseband; more often than not, horses brought to me with behavior problems have restricted breathing from a tight girth and pain caused by a tight noseband. Within minutes of loosening Winston’s girth and noseband, he was able to lower his head in the labyrinth. equine wellness

A three-part approach There are three major elements in the Tellington Method for horses:

Body work called Tellington TTouch®. .

2 Ground work .

through obstacles called The Playground for Higher Learning® and leading exercises called Dance Steps.

Under saddle work using special equipment like the Promise Wrap and Balance Rein. .

Using a combination of TTouch and Playground for Higher Learning exercises, it is possible to make huge improvements in levels of trust between horse and rider that carry over to riding, and in far less time than the usual training methods. In addition to trust, horses show improved concentration, balance, cooperation, focus and an enhanced willingness and ability to learn. Using the three elements of TTEAM, we are able to bring about an attitude that develops the horse’s ability to adapt to new situations. 52

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The wand works its magic

One of the first moves we make in hand is to stroke a horse’s legs. Flighty horses become calmer and more focused within minutes when their legs are stroked from chest to ground with the TTEAM “wand”, our name for a stiff white 4’ lightweight dressage whip. I find that if a person is asked to stroke their horse with a “whip”, all kinds of negative experiences come up for them; by calling it a “wand”, they’re quicker to see what a magical and calming effect it can have.

A measurement of equine EEGs shows a marked change in brain wave activity when a horse’s legs are stroked with the TTEAM wand. During the entire first session Winston could barely be touched with the wand, but he did settle enough to lower his head for TTouches on his ears and legs. This had a calming effect that was clearly noticeable by observers in the stands. The second day of the expo I again decided to do only ground work with Winston. He was already more relaxed from the beginning of the hour-long session. This time I could stroke his front and hind legs with the wand without him reacting.

Below the surface

A basic concept of TTEAM is teaching a horse to be comfortable and confident about walking on a variety of surfaces. This is based on a rarely acknowledged premise that when a horse is nervous, a message is sent from the brain to the body inhibiting neural impulses and bloodflow to the legs, and allowing more power for flight (or fight). Horses who are fidgety and easily stressed are usually wary of their legs being touched and are spooky about strange surfaces. Using a combination of leg TTouches and a variety of surfaces, a “grounding” occurs that makes the horse feel safe and able to adapt to new situations.

Hint

We want to take horses beyond instinctive reactions – what we call the 5 F’s of flight, fight, freeze, faint, or “fool around”. At first Winston was very spooked by the plastic on the ground, the pool noodles above his head, and the 4’ by 8’ piece of plywood he was expected to walk over. With quiet leg-stroking using the wand, and some grain placed on the platform, his response shifted from fear to calm. By the end of the session Winston was standing quietly as three people did TTouch on various parts of his body, in spite of the constant surrounding blare

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of loudspeakers. He could also walk quietly over the platform and between bales. Several people from the audience later told me that they could see him begin to think and actually seem to enjoy the attention.

Calm and collected

I decided to take Winston again on Sunday morning, even though the TTouch demo was to take place in a small indoor arena where Adrienne thought he might be terrified and uncontrollable. Quite a few spectators who had been to all three demos said they could clearly see the change in Winston. He was able to walk in quietly and stand with lowered head while I TTouched his ears and mouth, legs, tail and every other inch of his body. Adrienne’s subsequent email says it all: “I can’t thank you enough for working with Winston at the Equine Affaire in Pomona this past weekend. “I had been so discouraged, wondering

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if I would ever be able to take this beautiful and talented horse to the ‘bigger’ competitions. A friend recommended your techniques. It seemed meant to be, because soon after I heard you would be coming to Pomona! “I can’t stop telling all my stable friends about my experience. The first day I could barely lead him into the arena to work with you...he kept leaping and spinning and running backwards. (The crowd and the level of activity at the Equine Affaire were so much bigger and more intense than anything he’d ever seen.) The change in Winston by the end of the session was unbelievable – I literally felt ‘all choked up’. He walked out of the arena slowly and with his head lowered, breathing normally. I was so happy and relieved and proud and grateful – all at once! And I wasn’t alone. The next day, people who had seen him the first day could not believe it was the same horse. And by the third day we were able to walk Winsty down a long sidewalk next to the interstate into a small demo

arena surrounded on three sides by metal bleachers with children running up and down! I would never have thought that was possible for this horse! “I’ve started working on the TTouches at home and I can see the difference in Winston even there. Things that he’s always shied from don’t seem to bother him anymore. I can’t wait to see how we do in the next show!”

Linda Tellington-Jones lives with her husband, Roland Kleger, in Hawaii. Her offices are in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She travels the world teaching the Tellington Method for horses and companion animals as well as for people.

She has produced 16 books in 12 languages and many DVDs. There are more than 1,000 certified Tellington Touch practitioners working in 26 countries. To see some of the TTouches on YouTube and for more information, go to www.TTouch.com.

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your health

Move the pain away! by Dr. Valeria Wyckoff

Recently, I did something quite new and different for me. I competed in an all-women’s Race for the Cure mini-duathlon, during which I walked, jogged and rode my bicycle. After a short run and a long bike ride, I had another jogging leg to do. But when I got off the bike, I could hardly walk, let alone jog! My tailbone hurt, my right toes were numb, and my hamstrings were very tight. I decided to continue at a slow walk. After I had gone a mile, all my symptoms cleared and I was able to jog again. My experience reinforced for me the concept of “stagnation equals pain”, and the solution is re-establishing flow. By walking, I restored blood, energy and nerve flow to my legs so I was able move normally again. The other wonderful thing was that I had no soreness next day. It was tough to be patient, listen to my body, and not run while everyone else was jogging past me. But I did complete the event without any injuries. I was the turtle who finished the race in joy and good health!

Listen to your body I share this story to illustrate three key elements in taking care of yourself:

1. Listen to your body. 2. Moving stagnation reduces pain and promotes healing.

3. Keep an eye on the big picture. In a situation where everyone else is going faster than you are, it is very tempting to want to keep up. Our minds and egos can sometimes struggle with the concept of doing only what is good and appropriate for us, separate from winning or pleasing others. To avoid serious injury, however, it’s very important

to do only what is for your highest good. You also need to keep an eye on the big picture and know when to say “no” as well as “yes”. Listen to your body for clues as to when it has had enough, and when it would like more exercise. Ask it if doing more will bring injury or benefit. If you listen closely from the heart, you will make the right choice.

Hint

The goal is to improve conditioning and health while minimizing injury and pain. When I checked in with my body during the race, it was clear that it was improving with the walking. At the end of the first lap, I checked in again to see if I should stop, but to my surprise, I found I had improved enough to walk faster and jog the end of the race.

Muscles make lactic acid when they are working hard. The body requires magnesium to convert the lactic acid to pyruvate and carry it out of the muscles for reprocessing. Active people take magnesium supplements to avoid muscle cramping. Another wonderful form of magnesium is Epsom salts, available in most grocery stores and pharmacies. Add a cup to your hot bath, and the magnesium is absorbed through your skin as you soak. Taking a magnesium supplement before and after a big ride, and having an Epsom salt bath afterwards, can make a big difference in how quickly you recover. The homeopathic Arnica Montana 30C (three pellets under the tongue) is another great way to keep the blood flowing, as is applying Arnica ointment to any sore areas after the ride. Overdoing exercise and then being injured is the equivalent of alternating between binging on food, and then fasting. It does not generate health and joy. Doing too much and then being laid up for awhile can be very discouraging and self-sabotaging. I encourage you to maintain and increase your physical fitness and wellness in a steady, consistent fashion, while listening carefully to your body and keeping your eye on the big picture.

Recovery strategies Moving stagnation can be as simple as walking yourself and your horse after a ride, and can be one of the best solutions to getting blood flow though your lower limbs. When blood is flowing normally, it is able to carry in the necessary nutrients, and remove the toxins.

Dr. Valeria Wyckoff is a naturopathic physician and registered dietitian with a practice

Chandler, Arizona. She is also a Radio Doctor with a weekly talk show (wwwRadiodoctors.net) broadcast in the Phoenix area and on the internet. www.DrValeria.net in

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heads up! Smart idea

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Herbs for horses

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Space age saddlepad

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Is he a natural?

Many of us want to care for our horses in a more natural way. Zephyr’s Garden offers an herbal product line that features hand-crafted Herbal Salves, Massage Oils, and Aromatherapy Hydrosols made with the finest herbs, extra virgin olive oil, unrefined beeswax, essential oils and hydrosols. Created by a horse owner who wanted simple, natural products for her own horses’ well being, Zephyr’s Garden has grown to include a full line of topical herbal products for your equine partner. www.ZephyrsGarden.com

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Feel like royalty

Recurring or chronic pain limits your horse’s ability to “horse around” – and your ability to enjoy your rides. Royal Oil can help. This holistic, environmentally safe product contains food grade safflower oil, with no added ingredients, that serves as a carrier for a frequency that eliminates pain. Just apply a small amount to aching joints or trouble spots, and the pain disappears, allowing you and your equine partner to enjoy life to the full again. Comes in a 6oz spray bottle small enough to fit in a tack box. www.theholistichorse.com

For those aches & pains

Does your horse have a sore leg? Extend-A-Cool, a therapeutic equine cooling system from Alpharma reduces the local skin temperature by 6ºF to 8ºF, helping to relieve leg discomfort and tendon inflammation and swelling. For wounds, meanwhile, RestorAID EQ is a nutritive wound skin cream for topical use. It’s formulated to efficiently heal and reduce scarring from superficial wounds and skin lesions, and promotes microcirculation for self-healing and natural cell repair. www.alpharmaequine.com equine wellness

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When

cancer surfaces

A closer look at skin cancer

For humans, the word “cancer” is usually enough to send anyone running in fear. Fortunately, our horses are not generally prone to cancer, but there are a few we need to consider.

Types of equine cancer Cancer is the deepest breakdown of the immune system you can have, and consequently can be very difficult to treat. A tumor is produced when the immune system can no longer tell a cell what to do and when to end its life naturally. All cells have a normal lifespan, at the end of which they die off and are replaced by a fresh, young cell. This process is apoptosis. A cancer cell, however, continues to grow and multiply inappropriately. As a tumor gets larger, it will make its own blood supply. In many cases, though, it grows faster than the blood supply can keep up, and you will actually smell tissue breaking down or disintegrating, essentially rotting away. • The most common skin tumor in horses is a sarcoid, which is usually fairly benign, but can be invasive and quite messy.

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by Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS

•Melanomas are common in grey horses. In some cases, they can be very invasive and large, while in others they remain small until the horse is very old. •Squamous cell carcinoma can occur around the eye or sheath and may be quite aggressive. •Cutaneous lymphosarcoma is an uncommon but more serious form of cancer, as it involves the lymphatic system (even though you see it on the skin). •Warts are not actually a cancer, though they have some of the characteristics of a benign tumor, and respond to many of the same treatments.

Traditional treatments In Western medicine, the goal with a tumor is to cut it out and kill any possible tumor cells with a variety of treatments. When this occurs, the immune system is further weakened, and the disease process continues to get worse. The tumor may be gone, but later in life the horse often gets a similar or different disease (such as allergies, chronic diarrhea, hives, etc.).

A small benign tumor (like a sarcoid) grows slowly, and may never leave a small area. The problem is when you cut out a “quiet” tumor, or treat it in a way that irritates it. If you cut or aggravate the tumor, the body’s immune system may go haywire and make more tumor tissue. This may occur at the original location, or in a new one.

Hint

A tumor means the horse’s immune system is in poor shape. Sometimes, the tumor is so large or fastgrowing that it needs to be removed in order to give natural treatments time to work. In other cases, you may choose to have some conventional medical treatment done, and then support the healing process with natural methods. This is commonly done with human cancer treatment, and can be quite successful.

Treating cancers holistically Holistic treatment of cancer can range from simple to very complex, depending

on the aggressiveness of the tumor and the horse’s own immune system. The goal is to support the body’s immune system to help it kill off tumor cells, using a combination of nutritional supplements, homeopathy or Chinese herbs. Treating skin cancer involves taking a serious look at the horse’s complete history. Due to the complexity of the disease process, it should be done with a holistic veterinarian.

is important to use a complete holistic approach, and not just burn the tumor out with bloodroot.

Homeopathy – From the homeopathic perspective, a tumor is an expression produced by the vital force or energy of the body, basically complaining that there is a problem with the body. When a tumor keeps recurring at the same location, it indicates that the vital force is strong yet reminding you that a deep imbalance is still present. If the tumor recurs at other locations, it often means the horse is weaker at a deep level and that it may take longer, or be more difficult, to help or cure him. Having said that, a simple sarcoid may respond well to a few doses of a homeopathic remedy, such as Thuja Occidantalis or Causticum. If you are not familiar with homeopathy, please consult a homeopathic veterinarian.

Supplements – May be added to the diet of any horse with a significant type of skin cancer and can include:

Nutrition – The foundation of any health program is to feed clean, whole foods, with as little processing as possible. Be sure your environment is not a source of toxins (streams with agricultural run-off as drinking water, sludge used as fertilizer, old orchards used as pasture, etc).

•Vitamin C – in high doses (10,000 IU), can be an easy, inexpensive immune system regulator that has been used for many types of cancer. •Antioxidant mixtures – sold by a number of companies, they are excellent support nutrients. •Selenium – check to see what the natural level of selenium is in your soil; many parts of the country are deficient. Typically, 2 to 4 mg can be safely added to your horse’s diet. Higher doses require the support of your holistic veterinarian. •Zinc – very important for the immune system and skin. If your horse does not have enough zinc, use the picolinate form and give 200 mg per day.

Bloodroot

Herbs – One fairly common treatment for external tumors is bloodroot in a salve format, also called black salve. This herb, in combination with some other compounds, is a powerful anticancer agent. It will eat away at the abnormal tissue and leave the normal tissue alone. This is an effective means of removing simple skin tumors, though it does leave a wound behind that must be treated until it is healed. Remember, however, that something other than a simple sarcoid may be there because of an imbalance in your horse’s energy and immune system. In these cases, it

•Vitamin E – especially the succinate and tocotrienol forms. Give up to 500 to 700 IU. This is especially important in areas where fresh green grass is not available, and where pasture is not part of the diet. •Iodine – may be more deficient in horses than we recognize. A kelp-based mineral supplement will get higher levels of iodine into your horse than most other supplements. •Flax, hemp oils or meals – the antioxidant, anti-cancer properties of these oils are well researched. You may use 2 to 4 oz (keep refrigerated). Naturally stabilized ground meal can be used at 4 to 6 oz twice a day, or whole seeds can be fed at the same rate. equine wellness

Too many

vaccines? Over-vaccination can play an important role in the development of skin tumors because it leads to a suppressed or weakened immune system. Sarcoids tend to increase after vaccination. When undergoing a treatment program for cancer, it is best to minimize vaccines.

Hint

Fish oils are not natural for horses to eat, so I tend to avoid them. •Immune supporting products – includes IGG2000 (an immunoglobulin supplement), Artimesinin (an extract from the herb Artimesia), and Fractionated Pectin Powder (an extract from fruit that helps prevent metastasis). Many of these are expensive, so it is best to consult with your vet to help decide what will best benefit your horse.

Shiitake mushrooms

•Mushrooms – such as Shiitake, Maitake, Cordyceps and Corius versicolor have been shown to be very helpful with human and small animal tumors. They get very expensive in horses, so I do not get to use them as often as I would like. Usually 2 to 4 times the

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human dose works well for this type of supplement. The most powerful tools in my toolbox for treating most cancers in horses are constitutionally prescribed homeopathic remedies, and Chinese herbal formulas based on the Chinese diagnosis of the horse. Since these are individualized, it is beyond the scope of this article to list the related products. Treating skin cancers can be challenging if you have an aggressive growth, but can also be rewarding if you support the body and its immune system. Remain positive about the outcome of the treatment, and believe in your horse’s natural healing abilities!

Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS, graduated in 1984 from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic and has completed advanced training in homeopathy and herbal medicine.

Her practice in Virginia uses 100% holistic medicine to treat all types of horses. Her publications include The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book – the most complete source of information about English saddles – and The Western Saddle Book is on its way. www.harmanyequine.com.

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Acupressure by Amy Snow & Nancy Zidonis

We all enjoy our horses. They add such a special ingredient to our lives that we want to give them the best we can offer, so they stay happy and healthy. The issue is, while the physical and emotional needs of our horses are no different from those of their ancestors and wild counterparts, they must contend with human intervention.

Today’s horse Try as we may, it is difficult to replicate a horse’s natural existence. An equine herd can cover 30 to 40 miles in a day, seeking grasses and herbs for optimal nutrition. When the winds whip and the rain lashes, the leader knows where to find shelter from the elements. They follow the paths of their ancestors. These animals are highly adaptive, and deeply connected to their own instincts for survival. Domesticated horses depend on us for all their needs. We strive to provide a healthful environment, a reasonable activity level, quality feed, and adequate shelter. Many of us might even be overzealous about blanketing, shoeing, administering an abundance of supplements, and a host of other well-intended

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methods of equine care that may or may not be supporting the horse’s health in the long run.

How acupressure can help In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we look at the nature of the animal in relation to his environment. Though the horse has a natural ability to adapt to living in fenced pastures, being enclosed in stalls, fed from elevated feeders and so on, we need to recognize that many equine management techniques can result in horses that aren’t in optimal balance for good health. Acupressure, like acupuncture, is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. It helps direct us in supporting a horse’s health by allowing life-promoting energy, called Chi,

to flow unimpeded through his body, so all his internal organs can function properly.

Hint

A balanced and a harmonious flow of Chi is necessary for good health. According to TCM, we can influence the flow of Chi energy by stimulating specific pools of energy, called “acupoints”, located along pathways or channels known as meridians. These meridians form a network of channels that run throughout the horse’s body. If there is a blockage along a meridian pathway, then the energy in the body becomes imbalanced. Once an imbalance occurs, the affected portion of the body is not receiving the nourishment Chi provides, and the immune system may not be able to fend off illness. As esoteric as this may sound, conventional medicine is coming to accept

points every rider should know that Chinese Medicine has great value in building the immune system, accelerating healing after surgery or injury, reducing pain, enhancing blood circulation, and more. Acupressure, as opposed to acupuncture, does not require needles. It is noninvasive, safe, and always available since we can simply use our fingertips to influence the pools of Chi along the meridians. The novice as well as the trained practitioner can apply acupressure techniques and assist in removing blockages so the horse’s Chi can flow smoothly again, restoring energetic balance. A trained practitioner has the advantage of knowing which acupoints would be most effective, given a specific condition.

Five points for health Chinese medicine is best utilized as preventive medicine. The goal is for the horse’s energy to be in constant balance so there is less possibility of illness or injury. When an energetically-balanced horse experiences an injury, he will most likely recover more readily.

for strengthening and increasing the flexibility of tendons and ligaments, and maintaining the body’s ability to move freely. Stimulating this point can help minimize physical injuries.

Heart 7 (Ht 7), Spirit’s Gate, offers the horse’s heart original essential energy to help clear his mind and generally calm his emotional state. This point can be used in any stressful situation or to enhance mental clarity necessary for training.

Stomach 36 (St 36), Leg 3 Mile, is the Master Point for the gastrointestinal tract. It enhances digestive functioning so the body can break down the nutrients from food and herbs, making them bio-available for absorption.

Gall Bladder 34 (GB 34), Yang Mound Spring, is the Influential Point

Bai Hui, Point of 100 Meeting (also called Heaven’s Gate), is a classic equine point located on the dorsal aspect at the lumbosacral space. It benefits the hindquarters and spinal column. It can be used for arthritic conditions and lameness of the hips and hind legs, as well for overexertion and irregular estrous cycles.

Hint

Large Intestine 11 (LI 11), Crooked Pond, is known as a powerful immune system strengthening point. It is also a Tonification Point -- that is, it enhances the flow of blood and energy throughout the body. This point is commonly

With these five acupoints, you can make a significant difference in your horse’s physical and emotional health.

Chi Energy Balancing Bai Hui

LI 11

The acupoints on the chart (right) are designed to help with generally balancing Chi throughout your horse’s body. These five points address common equine issues: digestion, physical flexibility, calming, the immune system, and spinal and hindquarter strength.

included in most health-maintenance acupressure protocols.

St 36

Ht 7

GB 34 Lateral

Medial

Lateral

Point

Location

GB 34

Located on the outside of the hindleg, just forward to the head of the fibula.

Ht 7

Located on the caudolateral aspect of the front leg, just above the accessory carpal bone.

LI 11

Found on the lateral side of the elbow.

St 36

Lateral aspect of hind leg, one finger width from the tibial crest and head of the fibula.

Bai Hui

Located on the dorsal midline in the lumbosacral space.

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Applying acupressure The underlying intention when offering your horse an acupressure session is to assist his natural ability to balance the Chi moving through his body.

Using the soft portion of the tip of your thumb, apply about one to two pounds of pressure on each of the acupoints on both sides of your horse’s body.

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only

Move on to another acupoint after the horse has demonstrated a release, or you have completed counting to 30 or feel it is time to move on.

If the horse shows any signs of discomfort or irritation while holding an acupoint, try another point. If he continues to be agitated in any way, stop and try again another day. While you are enjoying this acupressure session together, think about how much more comfortable, healthy and emotionally stable your horse is now that his Chi is balanced!

Nancy Zidonis are Equine Acupressure: A Working Manual, The Well-Connected Dog: A Guide To Canine Acupressure and Acu-Cat: A Guide to Feline Acupressure. They own Tallgrass Publishers, which offers Meridian Charts for horses, dogs and cats, plus videos on animal acupressure. They also founded Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute, providing hands-on and online training courses worldwide including a Practitioner Certification Program. Phone 1-888-841-7211, visit www.animalacupressure.com or email info@animalacupressure.com. and

the authors of

$35 CAN. 07 value) (18 issues – $1

Call or go online today – your horses will thank you!

1-866-764-1212 www.EquineWellnessMagazine.com 9am– 5pm E.S.T.

equine wellness

Amy Snow

Count to 30 slowly, and watch for energetic releases such as a softening eye, lowering head, exhaling, relaxing, or passing air – these are all indicators that Chi is flowing more harmoniously.

Understanding

with Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS

There’s been a lot of hype lately surrounding metabolic disorders. Just as obesity and diabetes are becoming more prevalent in humans, we are seeing similar diseases cropping up in horses at an equally alarming rate. In order to get ahead of the curve, we must understand what insulin resistance is, how it can be prevented, and what we can do about it. To get some answers, Equine Wellness turned to veterinarian and researcher Dr. Frank Gravlee.

EW:

What is insulin resistance?

Dr. Frank: There is considerable diversity in terminology, causes, diagnostics, treatment and management in the broad subject of equine metabolic diseases. “Insulin resistance” (IR) is the accepted term for increased blood glucose, in combination with normal to increased levels of blood insulin. In a normally functioning system, glucose in the bloodstream is equine wellness

transported into the cells by the action of insulin. In the case of insulin resistance, this glucose transport function is impaired, resulting in an increase of glucose in the circulatory system, and a decrease of glucose within the cells. This excess of glucose in the circulatory system signals the pancreas to secrete more insulin in an attempt to bring the blood glucose back to normal. The end result is an increase in both insulin and glucose in the circulatory system, and a decrease in glucose in the tissue – thus the term “insulin resistance”.

EW:

What causes it?

utilize these fat reserves for energy. When this delicate balance is upset, the horse is at risk for metabolic problems, including insulin resistance. For example, since many modern horses are often overfed and do very little work, their situation could be compared to a person with a desk job who eats like a professional athlete at a training table. The result will be fat storage and an increased risk of metabolic diseases, which include insulin resistance as a symptom.

How is a horse diagnosed? What can happen if he remains undiagnosed? EW:

Dr. Frank: A question that remains to be answered is whether insulin resistance (IR) is a symptom resulting from other metabolic dysfunctions, or a primary disease. For example, a fever in an animal is a symptom that can be caused by many different diseases. Research has shown that fat cells secrete hormones that directly affect insulin activity, with obesity multiplying this effect. On the other hand, IR could be a primary disease, such as that occurring due to an acquired or genetic defect in energy metabolism. An example of a genetic primary disorder is glycogen storage disease.

Dr. Frank: Some of the early warning signs for IR include:

The relationships between metabolic mechanisms leading to or resulting from IR are complex. A major point to understand is the “disconnect” between calories consumed and calories utilized. When horses consume more calories than they need, they store the calories as fatty tissue. When they are burning more calories than they are fed, they

A definitive diagnosis is accomplished by your veterinarian, utilizing blood tests. These tests could include a series of blood samples drawn before and after either administration of an injection of glucose, or a feeding of grain. Sophisticated glucose challenge tests can be performed in an equine clinic or hospital setting.

equine wellness

•Abnormal weight gain or weight loss •Increased or excessive water consumption •Loss of stamina and muscle tone •Tendency to develop laminitis or colic •Abdominal bloating •Increased blood triglyceride levels

Insulin resistance is likely an “early warning” of additional metabolic related diseases, including colic and laminitis, and endocrine related problems such as Cushing’s. If the horse is diagnosed at an early stage, it can allow the attending veterinarian to take preventive rather than “treatment” measures.

What is the prognosis for a horse with insulin resistance, in terms of performance and quality of life? EW:

Dr. Frank: The prognosis is influenced by the type of care. The caretaker must understand the nature of the disease, and be willing

to carry out the veterinarian’s instructions. With the right care, many horses can return to previous activities, provided proper attention has been given to any disorders related to creating IR, or disorders that are the result of IR.

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What feeding and care practices should you observe once you know you have an insulin resistant horse?

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EW:

Dr. Frank: Feeding and care should be under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. •The vet will first attempt to establish the cause of the excess blood glucose and insulin, and treat or manage the cause. Examples of contributing factors include excess calorie consumption, lack of exercise, Cushing’s, medications such as glucocorticoids, and hypothyroidism. •Each horse should be fed and cared for as an individual. A strict weight control program should be implemented with regards to total energy intake, and with a careful consideration of balance between sugars, carbohydrates and fats. Strict attention should be paid to the restriction of soluble carbohydrate intake. There should be periodic insulin, glucose, thyroid and adrenal monitoring, utilizing the appropriate blood tests.

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•The veterinarian will likely prescribe an exercise program appropriate for the horse. The program will depend on the individual horse and his response to treatment. •Any associated conditions should be addressed, such as laminitis, colic and structural hoof damage resulting from excess weight. Too much weight can also result in other lameness conditions.

What feeding and care practices should you avoid when you have an insulin resistant horse? EW:

Dr. Frank: The first step is to limit the consumption of soluble

equine wellness

carbohydrates (sugars and starches) found in high levels in some bagged feeds and forage. If there’s a need for additional action, limit cellulose by restricting bran or sugar beet pulp, and increase lignin intake with “high stem” content hay or straw. Assure adequate nutrient intake by supplying a product designed to balance hay and pasture without contributing to calorie intake.

the only method of reducing calories is to reduce the other nutrients, thereby increasing the risk of deficiencies and inefficient nutrient utilization. The resulting “calorie imbalance” either contributes to or creates metabolic problems, including IR. With “high energy content varieties”, irrigation and fertilizers, today’s hays and pastures are often more carbohydrate and sugar dense. This increased calorie content is good for cattle and commercial milk production, but may be inappropriate for the IR horse. It may be necessary to limit grazing or dilute the hay with straw or “high stem content” hay. Another contributing factor to the increased incidence of IR may be the number of horses receiving less exercise.

Hay

Are there any ways to prevent insulin resistance? EW:

Dr. Frank: The first step to minimizing problems associated with IR should be to furnish all the nutrients your horse needs, utilizing grass hay or pasture in combination with a pasture/hay nutrient fortifier. Using this approach, the required calorie intake can be controlled and separated from other nutrients. The second step, if necessary to control weight, is to reduce the grade of hay or pasture, or substitute straw for some of the hay.

As we learn more about insulin resistance, there will be additional articles and books written on the subject. From a practical viewpoint, all this will boil down to one fact: there are many ways to feed more calories than are being burned. The calorie imbalance that results will invariably lead to many problems.

Dr. Frank Gravlee graduated from

Auburn University School of Medicine and practiced veterinary medicine for several years before attending graduate school at

MIT. During a three-year residency in nutritional pathology he received a

Is insulin resistance on the rise, and if so, why? EW:

Dr. Frank: Insulin resistance and other metabolic syndromes are being diagnosed with increasing frequency. When calorie intake is directly tied to other nutrients,

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masters degree in nutritional biochemistry and intermediary metabolism. In founded

1973, he Life Data Labs to determine

equine nutritional deficiencies through laboratory testing, and developed individualized feeding programs to correct the deficiencies he discovered.

After

ten years of research, he launched

Farrier’s Formula. www.lifedatalabs.com

Photos: Equi-Stretch

Groundwork for Riders Three pre-ride stretches for every equestrian by Kristi Weltner Redd and Dan Weltner

Let’s be honest. Time spent at the barn is a much-deserved indulgence. Whether you’re taking a lesson, riding for pleasure, or mucking stalls, it’s your “home away from home”. Most of us are aware of the importance of groundwork for our horses, yet how many times have we hurried to the barn, rushed through the aisle, tacked up, and quickly mounted – without taking a single moment to first check in and warm up? equine wellness

Tip:

Tune in before you turn out Why not take a brief physical inventory to help you get mentally focused before you ride? (Since we know how much you like to multi-task, this portion can be accomplished while driving to the barn – as long as you keep your eyes on the road!) To begin, decide to let go of any concerns that may be weighing heavy on your mind. Identify where you may be holding tension in your body, and affirm that you deserve this time to escape with your horse. Next, start to bring your attention to your breathing pattern. Don’t panic – there is no need to fix anything just yet. Simply notice the repetitive nature of inhaling and exhaling. Slowly start to generate an exhalation that is slightly longer than the inhalation, without forcing an immediate change. Allow that weight on your shoulders to just melt away, as you continue to focus on the elongated exhalation.

Stay evenly weighted. Keep weight down into both heels, and energize both arms. Scoop your abdominal muscles in and up as the shoulders, rib cage and tailbone soften and relax down towards the ground. Riding application: This exercise prepares your entire body and improves posture (shoulders back). It encourages you, as the rider, to lengthen up from the waist up, and stretch down from the waist down. •Grip the lead rope slightly wider than shoulder width, open your chest, and focus your eyes on the horizon.

•Start with one heel propped up on a trunk or hay bale(s). •Gently bend the standing leg, keeping your knee tracking over the center of your foot.

Steady Eddie!

Now just because you are carefree and breathing deeply, that doesn’t mean you are truly centered and ready to ride. It’s important to establish your mind-body connection in order to stay focused, but just as your mood fluctuates from day to day, so does your physiology. Random aches and pains can crop up as unexpectedly as an emotional outburst on a daytime drama. How many times have you thought, “Gee, I must have slept funny?” Sure, blame your mattress and not the 50 bales of hay you stacked yesterday. Take a couple of minutes to tackle those physical trouble spots with three practical exercises you can do once you arrive at the barn.

•Exhale and close the hip angle.

•Exhale, and slowly reach both arms overhead, moving just beyond vertical.

Pre-ride warm up

•Take a few deep breaths and slowly return to the start position. Repeat three times, then change legs for three repetitions.

•Begin in a long parallel lunge position with your arms forward at shoulder height, palms down.

Target areas: calf, hip flexor, chest and upper back.

1. Lead Rope Lunge 70

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2. Standing Hamstrings Stretch

•Keep your front foot flexed with your knee toward the ceiling, and send energy out though the front heel.

•Elongate into the stretch for three deep breaths, slowly recover, and switch to the other side.

•Take three deep breaths, recover to the start position, and switch to the other side.

Target area: rear portion of upper leg.

Target areas: entire spine, outer thigh.

Note: Remember to keep your hips parallel to the floor, open your chest and lengthen the back of your neck. Maintain a slight arch in your lower back (natural lumbar curve). Over time, increase the height of your front leg as necessary to increase the stretch.

Tip:

Riding application: This exercise will improve your awareness of how to close your hip angle without rounding your shoulders. It helps alleviate lower back tension, deepen the rider’s seat, and will allow the legs to reach down and long around the horse. Practicing “heels down” with straight legs can virtually eliminate tension behind the knee.

3. Spinal Spiral

•Begin in a long, parallel lunge position, with your front foot placed flat on a trunk or hay bale(s).

Deepen the rotation and get taller with each exhalation. Relax your shoulders down and wide as the abdominal muscles engage in and up (think of your navel heading towards your spine). Reach down through both seat bones. Riding application: This exercise helps you to efficiently rotate your upper body through turns, while staying neutral in the pelvis. It helps develop subtle use of the spine without collapsing, and will ultimately improve the rider’s shoulder-line symmetry. These exercises are simple to do, and don’t take up much time or require any fancy equipment. They will assist you in being a more balanced rider, and help prevent strains and injury. Try adding them to your routine – your body and your horse will thank you!

Authors Dan Weltner and Kristi Weltner Redd are creators of the home workout DVD series EquiStretch®, Strengthening and Stretching Techniques for the Rider, including Level One, Level Two and The Seated DVD. Along with the Express Toning Pak and Pre-Ride Poster, the series offers a wide range of rider specific

•Bear your weight evenly in both feet, and rotate your torso towards the front leg.

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All

cracked up?

by Linda Cowles

6 causes and solutions for dry hooves

When I give summer clinics in hot, dry areas, one of my favorite demonstrations is to wrap a rock hard hoof in plastic wrap for a few minutes – or as long as it takes for the plastic to start to steam up. It typically takes less than two minutes. Even dense, super-hard feet in the arid desert areas of Southern California have abundant moisture close to the surface! So if a healthy hoof already has all this moisture, what causes the cracks and dryness we so often see in our horses’ hooves? Let’s look at the variety of cracks, assess the causes, and see if the hoof needs moisture – or something else!

1. Hoof wall growth

When the weather warms up in the spring, a horse’s hoof walls go through a growth spurt. This accelerated growth catches most barefoot horse owners – and many trimmers – by surprise for the first few years. The hoof that usually does fine when trimmed on a five to six-week cycle can suddenly be too long at four weeks. By the time the trimmer shows up at six or seven weeks, the wall may have begun to flare and split at the

equine wellness

base, and small cracks may even have begun to travel up the wall.

in the spring, and few of us can resist turning our horses out to graze. You need to be careful, however, because for many horses a lush pasture contains toxic levels of natural sugars. This is no secret to owners of insulin resistant and Cushing’s horses, but there’s also a danger to horses that don’t appear to have insulin sensitivity. Many have low grade laminitis episodes that are usually misdiagnosed as seasonal sole sensitivity.

Unattended accelerated hoof growth can cause flares, chipping and cracking.

Solution: Adding moisture to a wall that is long and flaring will only weaken it, and the cracks can get worse! The answer in this case is a good trim that relieves the stress on flaring walls. Be aware of the length of your horse’s hoof walls, and let your trimmer or farrier know if they appear to be growing fast or wearing too slow.

2. Sub-clinical laminitis

Pastures become rich and abundant

Your horse’s sole sensitivity may be due to sugar rich grass. The resulting sub-clinical laminitis attack can cause the sole to appear flatter.

Why? A simplified explanation is that grass stores sugars created by photosynthesis during the day, and uses these sugars to continue growing at night. When the temperature drops into the 40ºF range,

the grasses go dormant, and the sugars they contain aren’t utilized. That means sthe grass starts the next day with extra sugar. This sugar storage can accumulate for several days, with the grass growing sweeter each day. I know people who, during these periods, feel confident restricting their horses to a “virtual dry lot” with extremely short grass that is almost too short to graze. This isn’t a good solution. It may sound odd, but that sparse, short grass is even higher in sugar than the long grass outside the fence. The shorter grass is trying desperately to survive, and produces abundant sugars to fuel its growth attempt. This is why horses will ignore a patch of tall, lush grass and instead crop down a clump of already short grass. If grass is stressed, it has a much higher sugar content. When a horse has a sub-clinical laminitis attack, the hoof wall attachment to the coffin bone weakens. That weakening is initially visible when the sole’s attachment to the wall is inspected, because the “white line” begins to stretch, resulting in a crevice between the sole and the wall. The weakening white line allows the walls to bend and flex, and walls that are normally strong and straight begin to flare. When this occurs, the sole usually begins to appear flatter because the coffin bone is poorly attached.

Hint

If your horse is on pasture and has pronounced growth rings and white line separation, he is a good candidate for sub-clinical laminitis. Solution: These are mechanical cracks, and as in the case above, moisturizer will only weaken the wall further. The solution for cracks resulting from subclinical laminitis is to keep your horses off grass (or use a grazing muzzle) for at least a day immediately after cold spells, and keep a close eye on how

much stressed (short and overgrazed) grass is available in their “dry lots”. It is also a good idea to re-evaluate your over-all feed program if you have horses on spring pasture, to eliminate unnecessary carbohydrates from grains, pellets and supplements.

3. Scarred walls

and tubular deformities

In fact, these “cracks” aren’t actually cracks; they are fissures in the coating of the hoof wall that contain yeast. Solution: The best way to get rid of these is to use a rasp, sanding block, or wire brush to smooth the surface of the wall. Soaking the foot for a short period makes this easier.

5. Rough skin near

the coronet band or heels

An injury to your horse’s hoof wall can cause an unsightly crack.

When horses injure their coronet bands or walls, they frequently end up with a scarred hoof capsule, and the scar usually appears as a crack. These cracks are unsightly but typically don’t impact the horse’s soundness. They are scary looking, though, and the first thing people want to do is moisturize them! Again, moisture will weaken this crack and make it more inclined to spread further. Solution: These cracks are unique, and each needs to be assessed and trimmed based on its individual characteristics. A good trim is essential, with the emphasis on balancing both sides of the crack and relieving pressure in a way that does not distort the balance of the hoof. A severe crack is intimidating to shoe or trim, and the area is usually allowed to overgrow because the assumption is that longer walls give the area more protection.

4. Multitude

of surface cracks Several times a year, I see walls that have lots of shallow vertical “cracks” that run along the tubules. Again, people want to moisturize them to protect the capsule from cracking into a million pieces.

Rough skin below the coronet band, or on the heels, can be removed easily.

The hoof wall has a cuticle-like substance that occasionally shows up below the coronet band, and in the heel area. Solution: Like our own cuticles on fingernails and toenails, this can be removed by rubbing with a rasp, a coarse rag, or a sanding block. A moisturizer will soften it so it is easier to remove – you can also wet the feet for the same effect.

6. Thin walls,

weak walls and soles When horses initially come out of shoes their feet can be very weak, with thin soles and walls that chip and peel easily. Once more, we tend to assume that the best thing we can do to encourage healing is apply a nutrient-rich moisturizer. Solution: Moisturizers make these walls look better, but don’t affect the integrity of the wall. The best thing for weak hoof capsules is a good set of well-fitting hoof boots and pads, and as much exercise as the horse is comfortable with. equine wellness

When is a moisturizer appropriate? There are many instances in which moisturizing and/or soaking is beneficial to the hoof.

a) In association with trimming: Several vegetable-based “moisturizing sprays” are available, and these are excellent for softening hooves and frogs prior to maintenance trims. If a frog has a dense hard horn with a deep, tight, central sulcus, the easiest way to open the sulcus is to soak the frog or use a softener so that the abutting edges can be trimmed with a knife or nippers. Soaking feet in water also works well, but the commercial moisturizers seem to soften the wall faster. These moisturizers either evaporate or are absorbed by the wall in a short time, so they don’t have a detrimental effect, particularly when used on tough feet.

equine wellness

Hint

Summer walls become rock-hard in many dry climates. Using a moisturizing spray on the frog, sole, and wall 20 to 30 minutes before trimming makes the job much easier, and saves wear on rasps, knives and nippers.

b) In association with hoof rehab: When hooves are transitioning from a shod or pathological condition to a healthy state, they often develop a false or retained sole and/or bars as part of the process. This sole and bar will begin to voluntarily shed at some point. Occasionally, I will encourage it to loosen by soaking the feet in an organic apple cider vinegar dilution, or use a disinfectant like Oxine or White Lightning to loosen and disinfect at the same time.

These products are also great for hoof infections, including thrush, white line disease, fungus and yeast. These products are also great for hoof infections that involve soaking the foot. A variety of other beneficial soaks utilize organic apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, oregano oil, usnea, and the list goes on. These soaks moisturize and soften the hoof short term, while cleansing, disinfecting, and balancing the pH of the foot. Don’t fall apart over cracked hooves. Take a look at what kind of crack it is and what might be causing it. Early detection and resolution, with the aid of your trimmer, can often put a quick end to any issues. Linda Cowles is a professional trimmer in Sonoma County, California. She is the author of www.HealthyHoof.com and is a founding member and Vice President of the American Hoof Association www.americanhoofassociation.org.

book reviews

Whole Horse Herbs™

Title: Longeing

Chinese herbal formulas for horses

the Rider for a Perfect Seat

Author: Linda

Benedik

For many riders, the goal of being in complete balance and harmony with their horses is an ongoing journey. Linda Benedik, author of Yoga for Equestrians, has now written Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat – A How-To Guide for Riders, Instructors, and Longeurs. This new book features 46 well-illustrated mounted exercises, and offers something for every rider looking to improve her seat. Benedik developed her longeing system by combining yoga and breathing with traditional longe exercises. She starts off with the basics, leading you through the theory of longe work, necessary equipment and safety, choosing your longe horse, and how to longe a horse and rider properly. You’ll find suggestions on how to develop effective longeing sessions for riders at various levels, and numerous helpful rider exercises, each accompanied by eye-catching photographs and easy to understand step-by-step instructions. When you consider that riders at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna are only allowed to take up a horse’s reins after six months of work on the longe, you realize how important this work is. Benedik’s book can help you aspire to a similar level of expertise.

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Hoof Prints

Author: Melanie

Sue Bowles

Horses touch the hearts of people from all walks of life. At the same time, unfortunately, others are being neglected, abused or left behind. Happily, there are some kindred spirits in the world, such as Melanie Sue Bowles, who tend and care for the equines no one else wants.

Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit is an enchanting sequel to Melanie’s first book The Horses of Proud Spirit. It centers around her vast horse sanctuary in the hills of Arkansas, where more than 150 rescue horses get the chance to run free and enjoy the safe and happy life they deserve. In her new book, you’ll read about many different equines, each having a different story to tell. Meet Jesse and her baby, Riley, the first of a whole barn full of babies! Then there’s Indigo, a very wild Mustang who finally decided he could trust Melanie enough to greet her in the laundry room. This readable book about the kindhearted people who touched the lives of these horses is sure to lift your own spirit.

Publisher: Pineapple Press Inc.

equine wellness

Photo Courtesy of Marc – French ROTH 2007 clinic

horsemanship tips Tip #563 – Thinking in pictures by Anna Twinney

Horses are associative thinkers. They see in pictures and relate certain images to specific events. For the bad events, it’s up to you to change the picture with a new and improved version! If your horse has been spooked out on a ride in a particular location, for example, she will remember this. She will associate the rain jacket flapping on the back of the saddle during a windy day with the location of the event, e.g. right where the woods began. If you don’t deal with this frightening situation, this memory will be waiting to terrorize your horse for the next ride at this location. It is crucial that you take the time to change the image for a better one. Be consistent and patient, without fear or force, and you’ll find your friend can relax and digest the new information. Use visualization techniques – visualizing not only helps you see how you want a situation to develop, but it can also positively affect your body language. Taking it another step further, we can communicate with our horses through sending and receiving pictures. Why not show them through your mind what you are working towards achieving?

Anna Twinney is an internationally respected Equine Specialist, Natural Horsemanship Clinician, Animal Communicator and Intuitive Healer. She has recently launched the DVD series Reach Out to Natural Horsemanship (her latest is De-mystifying the Round Pen) and conducts clinics in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA. www.reachouttohorses.com

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Imagine a therapy that could help a horse heal 2-3x faster! Examples of conditions successfully treated: Bowed Tendons, Suspensories, Splints, Pinched Nerves, Pulled Muscles, Chronic & Acute Injuries, Joint Inflammation, Back Problems and more! Favorable results include: Nerve Paralysis, Laminitis, Navicular, Ring Bone, Wobblers and more!

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Dr. Valeria Wyckoff is a healer, teacher and radio personality in the Phoenix area. She has a practice in Chandler, Arizona where she specializes in classical homeopathy, nutrition, herbs and listening closely. She is a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor and Registered Dietitian. Her down to earth style integrates her multiple life experiences.

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Equine Natural Health Products • Professional Product Support Expert Health Advice • Consultations – Barn or Phone “Competition or Pleasure

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immune one™ Healing Balm penetrates well, doesn’t leave a heavy, greasy layer on the skin, and quickly softens and removes crust. With appropriate cleansing and treatment the balm “does a fantastic job, even with difficult, heavily scabbed fungal infections” as noted in July 2000 Horse Journal. Treatment should be combined with ingestion of the immune one™ arabinogalactan powder if the problem has become systemic.

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events July 12-13 – McLean, VA Animal Reiki Level I workshop This Reiki Level I class is for animal people who want to deepen their relationship with animals and learn ways to heal the animals in their lives as well as themselves. This class will give you an overview of Reiki and you will learn the differences and similarities between Reiki for humans and Reiki for animals. (Reiki is Reiki. The difference is the approach used when working with animals.) Through lecture, enlightening discussion, exercises and practice, you will be led through the basic steps. Students will experience Reiki energy and learn different ways that Reiki can be used as a healing tool for both humans and animals. Upon completion of the two day course you will be able to do a Reiki self treatment, hands on healing for friends and family and be able to offer Reiki to your own animal companion(s), other animals and even wild animals. For more information: Janet Dobbs, 703-648-1866, janet@animalparadisecommunication.com www.animalparadisecommunication.com Aug 2-3 – McLean, VA Animal Reiki Level II workshop This class is for people that have completed Level I Reiki and wish to deepen their healing path with Reiki. Day 1 – Participants will receive the three level II attunements and will be taught three Reiki

symbols and their mantras. Building on what was learned in Level I, students will learn more exercises to help increase the flow and level of energy in themselves. We will practice group energy healing, long distance healing and much more.

to soul connection. Animals can touch our hearts like nothing else. They have the ability to give unconditional love and compassion. Animals are amazing and wonderful teachers. At the completion of the workshop you are likely to see and understand animals in a very different way.

Day 2 – Students will learn how to send long distance Reiki to animals as well as continue their practice and experience with in person Reiki with animals. Level II students will develop their intuition when working with Reiki.

Day 1 – You will be introduced to the basics of telepathic communication with animals. Learn how you already communicate with animals telepathically. Learn how to experience the

For more information: Janet Dobbs, 703-648-1866, janet@animalparadisecommunication.com www.animalparadisecommunication.com Aug. 23-24 – McLean, VA Animal Communication The Basic workshop Reawaken and acknowledge your ability to communicate with animals. Janet will lead you through the basic steps with guided meditations, enlightening discussion and telepathic exercises. This two-day workshop will give you an overview of what animal communication is and will teach you how you already communicate with your animal companions, animal friends and even wild animals. Your understanding of animals will deepen as you discover how they view the world. You will learn how to quiet and focus your mind, opening the channel between you and the animals as you send information and receive back from them their thoughts, images, feelings, messages, etc. This is an amazing heart to heart, mind to mind and soul

animals’ perspective and see through their eyes. Enjoy meditations and interactive exercises that will show you how to open your heart and connect to an animal heart to heart as you learn how to send and receive communication. Deepen your communion with all of life. Day 2 – Learn how to quiet and focus your mind when being with animals. Practice opening the channel to get across to animals and to receive what they communicate telepathically in thoughts, images, impressions, feelings, messages and other ways that one may receive. For more information: Janet Dobbs, 703-648-1866, janet@animalparadisecommunication.com www.animalparadisecommunication.com

Post your event online at: www.equinewellnessmagazine.com/events equine wellness

tail end

Saber switches on

One warm August morning, my husband Norm walked into the kitchen, looking irritable. “You left the light on in the barn, and I had to go out and turn it off at two o’clock in the morning,” he said accusingly. “I didn’t turn any lights on when I fed them their supper at three in the afternoon,” I replied. But the broom, shovel and fork had fallen over, and I thought

by Pati Harris

one of them might have hit the light switch and turned it on accidentally as they fell. The next night the same thing happened, although I had fed the horses at four that afternoon and made sure the switch was off at that time. “You left the light on in the barn again,” Norm said angrily next morning. “Electricity costs money and I had to go out at three a.m. to turn the light off.”

“I did not leave any lights on,” I defended myself. “I think Saber might be turning on the light with his lips, because the switch is just outside his door.” “That’s impossible,” Norm scoffed. “Well, if the light is on tonight, I’ll have to tape the switch, or something.” We both checked to make sure the light was off the third night after I fed the horses. But sure enough, it was on again in the middle of the night. “I guess you’re right,” Norm finally admitted. “Saber must be turning on the light.” Now we had to work out a solution to the problem. The inside sliding door could be closed, but that would cut off the air circulation. My husband went to the hardware store that day, and bought a new switch plate with a cover that opened and shut. That worked! The light did not come on anymore. I could turn the switch on and off, but Saber couldn’t. Our “lights on” mystery gave us a few interesting nights – and insights. Interestingly, Saber never turned the switch on during the daytime or when anyone else was around. Who says horses are “dumb animals”?

If you have a heartwarming or humorous equine story you’d like to share, send it to submissions@equinewellnessmagazine.com

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