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The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine
December 09/January 10 £2.95
New measures in place should AHS reach UK By Louise Cordell DRACONIAN new measures are to be introduced to prevent the spread of African Horse Sickness should it ever reach the UK. Recommendations giving the government the power to do whatever is deemed necessary – including compulsory slaughtering – have been put forward by the AHS Working Group. The group is finalising a series of documents for consultation, looking into what would happen if the disease, which is currently largely confined to Africa, should spread to Britain. These include an impact statement investigating the effect an outbreak would have on the UK’s £7bn a year equine industry, draft regulations that will go before Parliament in April and a working document detailing practical solutions. Paul Jepson, chief executive and veterinary director of The Horse Trust, who chairs the group said: “If an outbreak occurs, it has the potential to be devastating for a long period of time. The impact statement makes quite horrendous reading as it is dealing with the worst case scenario of the disease becoming endemic. “Because of this the Regulations are pretty draconian in that they recommend the government is given the power to do whatever they deem necessary to prevent
its spread, including the compulsory slaughtering of horses. “However, this would only be likely in the initial stages, as once the disease started to spread it would no longer be an effective tactic. If it spreads far beyond the initial infection then we will have a real problem – but it is not one that will be solved by a widespread slaughter programme.” To avoid this the Group is supporting vaccination as the preferred method of prevention. However, currently this is not a viable option as, Paul says, the only vaccine available is “not particularly safe or effective”. Its use would also mean that the UK would lose its AHS free status forever, because it is impossible to tell the difference between a horse that has been infected with the disease and one that has been vaccinated. Paul added: “The available vaccine is not good – a stockpile has been funded by the EU, but using it would be a last resort. “So the focus is on the further development and distribution of a better vaccine. We know that it can be done, but translating that into production is another matter and we are looking into ways of fast tracking this, because if the threat level increases it will be urgently needed.” The consultation documents will soon be available at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/index.htm
A student from the Royal Veterinary College has swept the prize board this autumn with her research into the 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joint in the horse. Holly Claridge has won this year’s Royal Agricultural Society of England’s ‘Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award’ and the first ever Equine Connect Scholarship.
She said: “It is so rewarding to be recognised for my research. My aim was explore this often overlooked area in more detail, describing the anatomy of the APJ in relation to the spinal cord and the potential for APJ effusion to cause spinal cord compressive disease.” Full story, Page 22
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3
Board issues Codes THE 2010 Codes of Practice for the prevention and control of equine infectious diseases has been published by the Horserace Betting Levy Board. They are focussed on the prevention and control of equine infectious diseases which represent a potential major threat to equine breeding in Britain and include: Contagious equine metritis organism CEMO, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Equine viral arteritis (EVA) Equine herpesvirus (EHV) Equine coital exanthema (ECE) Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) Guidelines on strangles For the 2010 breeding season several revisions have also been made to the recommendations relating to the CEMO, including the introduction of Polymerase chain reaction testing of swabs for the CEMO, as an alternative to culture; the removal of ‘low risk status’ for the screening of mares in the USA and Canada, following their 2008/9 outbreak of the disease and changes to the CEMO swabbing protocol for ‘high risk’ walking-in mares. Chris Rea, chairman of the Codes of Practice Sub-Committee, said: “The Codes of Practice have been a first choice of reference for over 30 years and have undoubtedly contributed to the relatively low level of infectious disease affecting the equine breeding population in Britain.”
The winners of 2009’s Search for a Star Championship were announced at the Horse of the Year Show. Black four-year-old gelding, Archwood Romeo Gigle and 13-year-old Jessica Leigh-Hilton performed to take the Supreme title and judge Marjorie Ramsay said: “He was very well ridden by this talented young rider and this pony has a superb future ahead of him.”
Public unaware of equine obesity dangers By Louise Cordell A EQUINE welfare survey has revealed that the British public can’t recognise when a horse is obese and are unaware of the health risks it poses. International charity World Horse Welfare has revealed new statistics that show that even though obesity in horses is now at an epidemic level, the majority of people are unaware of the dangers. To get the results, over 2,100 members of the public were asked to provide feedback on the biggest horse welfare problems in Britain today. These answers have been combined with the daily findings over the charity’s field officers to give an insight into the main issues faced. WHW found that more than 50 per cent of people either did not correctly recognise an overweight horse or, if they did, indicated that it posed no or a low welfare threat. Roly Owers, WHW chief executive, said: “This research is vitally important for horse welfare but the results are worrying. “We are literally killing our horses with kindness and as a nation we need to recognise the long term dangers of allowing them to carry excess fat. “Overfeeding a horse can lead to ongoing health issues which can
cause excruciating pain, such as laminitis and heart and lung problems. “Horses can also suffer from a diabetes-like condition called Equine Metabolic Syndrome, which can be equally destructive as it is with humans. When asked to investigate concerns involving thin horses, our field officers often arrive to find that the horse in question is actually the correct weight, but looks thin compared its overweight field companions.” A question directed at livery yards also found that only 20 per cent of yards were able to implement strip grazing approaches to weight management. However, the report concluded that if this type of intervention could be put in place at the remaining 80 per cent of yards, then a significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity could be achieved.
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS
Proud Gil takes vet of the year title GIL Riley of the Pool House Veterinary Hospital in Lichfield, Staffordshire has been named as this year’s Petplan Equine Vet of the Year. He was presented with the award at the 21st annual Animal Health Trust Equestrian Awards after being selected from three finalists, all nominated by horse owners for going above and beyond the call of duty. Gil said: “I was very surprised to win the award but is has made me very proud. After finding that I had been nominated, I had hoped to reach the final, but actually winning was a thought that really hadn’t occurred to me. I think it is down to the hard work of all the team at Pool House – everyone is dedicated to providing the best possible service.” Gil is now jointly responsible for the equine practice at the hospital after joining the team to expand his equine skills and now specialises in lameness and laminitis.
He had previously worked in a mainly agricultural practice in Wales and has recently acted as a British Team Vet at the International Driving Trials in Germany. Gil added: “I wanted to build up a practice based on providing genuinely good service. “I think that, as a vet, you might only get the opportunity to show off your clinical excellence two or three times a week, but you can show off your client manner nine or ten times a day. “Good communication with the clients is essential – it is important to remember that a good vet will attend an appointment and solve the problem, but a great vet will solve the problem, but then find out how it happened and advise on management changes to help stop it happening again.” Pool House is a large practice with around 10,000 equine clients on the books at any one time. The vets are mainly called on to
Forum responds to demand with art and history spot NEXT year’s National Equine Forum is to feature expert speakers on equine art and history following demand from delegates at the 2009 event. It is hoped that the new addition will provide a broader perspective to the event’s usual focus on current political, veterinary, educational and sporting matters. The new art and history spot will be led by John Stainton, international director for sporting art at Christies, who will present an insight into the role of the horse in painting. Caroline Anns-Baldock will follow with a review of the UK's new and first-ever museum of the horse. Ben Mayes will discuss the licensing of UK horse establishments, including sanctuaries and then the Swedish researcher Carolina Liljenstolpe will take a wider view with a report on her recent study on the role of the horse in Europe. In the veterinary section Dr Mark Hillyer will explore the development of systems to endoscope galloping horses, Dr Pat Harris will examine nutrition and gastric ulceration and
Professor Chris Proudman will take a look at the changing tactics on the management of worms. The winner of the Eqvalan equine undergraduate thesis of the year will present their winning paper and Dr Madeleine Campbell, will explore the legalities, logistics and welfare issues of the various methods of identifying horses. On the subject of equestrian sport the British Paralympic dressage chef d’equipe David Hunter will look at training for world-class Paralympics. Finally, the popular topical spot in the afternoon will cover the control of exotic diseases and equine flu as well as the training and regulation of paraprofessionals. John Stainton said: “I am delighted to be invited to speak at one of the British equestrian industry’s most important occasions. “The horse has always been a key subject in sporting art and through the work of British artists such as Stubbs, Landseer and Munnings I hope to engage the audience in an informative and visually exciting presentation.”
Gil Riley and Alison Andrew of Petplan treat pleasure horses in the local area, and so build up a close relationship with the owners and animals. Gil added: “We really get to know our clients and they feel that we are their friends, not just their vets. “I think that, in England, horses are members of the family and if they are ill or injured then everyone feels it – people really care about their
animals, so it makes it a fabulous place to practice. “If you really care about the horses you treat and their owners then this can be a stressful job – it affects your sleep at night. “But it is the only way to do it – being an equine vet is one of those job that you have to do properly or not at all.”
Call for probe into hyperflexion By Louise Cordell THE chairman of the British Horse Society has written to the president of the FEI demanding an investigation into hyperflexion. Patrick Print is demanding an investigation in to the circumstances surrounding the apparent distress of Patrick Kittel’s horse at Odense, and into the ethics of rollkur more generally. His letter to Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein reads: “You cannot be unaware of the disquiet - not to say anger - which has arisen following the depiction on Epona TV of Patrik Kittel’s horse in apparent distress as it competed in Odense on 18th October. “As you are doubtless aware, in terms both of membership and breadth of interest, the BHS is the largest single equestrian organisation in the UK. “Our examinations system, and the training and education which underpin it, have earned for the Society international recognition. “No less important is our work to promote the highest standards of equine welfare, which suffuses every facet of our work. “I am pleased to report that our commitment to equine welfare is shared by all our colleagues within the British Equestrian Federation, although on this occasion I am writing solely on behalf of the BHS. “Let me acknowledge straight away
that no representative of the BHS was present in Denmark to witness the horse’s apparent distress, nor do we have the benefit of a contemporaneous veterinary report. “Moreover, we do not for one minute suggest that Patrick Kittel at any time sought to treat his horse other than with proper care and respect. Nevertheless, in matters of equine welfare, the precautionary principle must always apply: if, despite the absence of conclusive proof, the wellbeing of a horse is called into question, there will exist a strong moral obligation on the FEI to respond immediately. “In our view, the concerns so widely expressed are reasonable and therefore deserving of an urgent twopart investigation: first, an inquiry into the treatment of this particular horse on this particular occasion; and, second, a broader inquiry into the ethics and consequences of hyperflexion. “In this second aspect The British Horse Society stands ready to assist the FEI in any way it can. “Please note that we pass no comment on the aesthetics of seeing a competition horse contorted in a way it never appears to choose for itself when in its natural state. “Our concern is only to speak out when we believe that the welfare of horses demands it.”
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 5
‘Branding should Credit crunch forces be abandoned Trust to launch when possible’ rehoming scheme HOT iron branding inflicts more pain than inserting a microchip according to a new study, which concludes that the practice should be abandoned wherever possible. Research has been carried out at the University of Copenhagen comparing the physiological and behavioural responses of seven horses that were subjected to both branding and microchip insertion. European law requires horses to be individually identified and hot iron branding has been used to do this for many years, however microchipping has become more widely available in recent years. In the study, which was published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, Dr Casper Lindegaard and colleagues aimed to assess the relative degree of pain caused by both methods. They did this by assessing the horses’ behavioural responses to each procedure as well as the degree of stress and the local and systemic inflammation that occurred. Seven horses were observed undergoing microchip insertion and hot iron branding under standardized conditions. The horses were also subjected to ‘sham treatments’ in which the conditions were similar
but no injection or branding occurred.Each procedure was recorded on video and four observers independently assessed the horses’ reactions. In addition, the scientists monitored the clinical condition of each horse for seven days after each treatment. They found that the horses showed significantly more signs of aversive behavior after hot iron branding than they did after microchip injection. Also, hot iron branding caused significantly greater skin sensitivity around the treatment site compared with microchip injection. For 48 hours, there was significantly more heat and swelling of the skin where the hot iron branding was carried out than there was at the site of the microchip injection. Heart rate increased at the time of branding or injection, but returned to normal quickly after the microchip injection and remained high for five minutes after hot iron branding. Neither procedure produced an increase in serum cortisol. The researchers concluded that hot iron branding caused more pain than microchip injection and recommended that the practice of hot iron branding should be abandoned if possible.
By Louise Cordell
THE Horse Trust has launched a rehoming scheme in response to demand from horse owners that have been affected by the credit crunch. The charity has seen a large increase in enquiries from owners who need to rehome their animals due to a lack of money – but at the same time has had to close its sanctuary doors due to a drop in donations. This is the first time in its 123-year history that the charity has become involved with rehoming horses, and the scheme will focus on retired, unridden horses from any background. Paul Jepson, the Trust’s chief executive and veterinary director, said: “We have been receiving so many calls from people who are desperate to rehome their horse
that we wondered what we could do to help. “Owners simply can't find anyone who is willing to take on an older horse, so euthanasia is often the only option they have. “We hope this scheme will give owners another option and will give many older horses the opportunity for the secure and happy retirement they deserve." Due to limited resources, the charity will primarily be considering horses and homes within a 50 mile radius of the sanctuary in Buckinghamshire. All horses and potential homes will be visited to assess their suitability and the charity will regularly visit the rehomed horse to ensure it is receiving an appropriate standard of care.
Training camp honour THE University of Lincoln has been designated as a 2012 Olympic training camp for equestrian sports. The facilities at the University’s Equestrian Centre, located at the Riseholme Campus, are to be used to train the region’s elite UK athletes in the build up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games of London 2012. To celebrate its involvement, the
University was awarded an Olympic flag and Robin Wright, the University’s director of sport, said: “There is no greater honour than to be associated with 2012. As a designated Olympic training camp, Riseholme has a superb performance centre that is geared to support elite athletes. It is the only one like it in the county and it will also help us to attract really good students.”
Therapies safe and practical FMBs offer a range of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), massage, laser, magnetic and cold+massage therapy products suitable for horses in training or on rehabilitation. Safe and practical, these therapies can be used for conditions including muscle tension, soft tissue damage, slow healing bones, sport injuries and arthritis plus pre warm up and post exercise. The new Activo-Med Combi Pro (pulsed electromagnetic and cyclonic massage rug) treats from the top of the neck to the tail and now also the shoulders and stifle. Special offer: £150 off. The Combi Sport also offers both pulsed electromagnetic and cyclonic massage therapies. Special offer: £200 off. It is also available with either massage only or pulsed electromagnetic only components. Price £1,200 including VAT. Activo-Med Magnetic/Massage front
and hind leg wraps are available as well as the combined pulsed electromagnetic and laser handheld unit and brand new Power Pad. William Fox-Pitt said: “Having used the Activo-Med Combi System for nearly three years now I can honestly say it’s worth the investment ten times over. “Whilst the Activo-Med systems are excellent for rehabilitation, I use the pulsed electromagnetic and massage rug on the horses before they are worked to loosen muscles and after for recovery. The magnetic element of the system is particularly effective and the Combi Pro has become an important part of our daily routine for optimising each horse’s performance.” Visit: www.fmbs.co.uk or call 01628 472440 for more information on new and second hand systems in stock.
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS
Educating the owners of pregnant mares THIS Christmas, we need to bring your attention to the desperate condition of pregnant mares in the communities where we work. Heavy with their unborn foals, undernourished and exhausted, many of them are worked hard to within days and, in extreme cases, hours of giving birth. This puts them and their unborn foals in danger of serious illness and death – a loss that will devastate the poor families who depend on them. With your support, the Brooke can reach mares and foals struggling with difficult births and we can educate owners so that they understand everything a mare needs for a healthy pregnancy and birth – plenty of rest, water, good food and peaceful surroundings. This year’s Brooke Shop www.thebrookeshop.org has a wide range of gifts to provide comfort and protection to horses and donkeys across the world including pregnant mares and baby foals.
To donate, please visit www.thebrooke.org or call 0845 367 0999
Modified whip to be introduced By Louise Cordell THE British Horseracing Authority has announced that a modified whip is set to be made available to British jockeys over the next few months. The new whip, which is an evolved design of the existing cushioned whip, will include a microchip of the same type as used to identify racehorses. The purpose of this is to allow research into the longevity of the whip, in particular its cushioning properties and enhancements have also been made to the grip following feedback from jockeys. The new whips will initially be made available to flat jockeys, followed by jump jockeys. That original cushioned whip design was developed by manufacturers Old Mill Saddlery of
NOMINATIONS have opened for this year’s annual breeders’ award, aimed at finding someone who has made an outstanding lifetime contribution to British performance sport horse and pony breeding. The British Breeding Breeders’ Awards dinner will be held in London in January and the event will include
Spray pumps added to packaging ranges MEASOM Freer have added two completely new pump ranges to their stock packaging ranges. The spray pumps are available in polypropylene in natural, white or black with colours available to order. The spray pumps fit all of their bottle ranges and are ideal for grooming products, oral care products and pest control sprays.
The gel pumps will also fit all of their bottle ranges and are ideal for gels, serums, pharmaceuticals and alcohol gel for hand hygiene. As always Measom Freer have their vast range of bottles, jars, fasteners, measures and scoops all available off the shelf, as well as a host of different caps – including flip caps, dropper caps, screw and snap on caps. They also offer bespoke product design and a printing service for their bottles and ancillary products. Contact Measom Freer to find out
requirement for a microchip. Tim Morris, director of equine science and welfare for the authority, said: “At present we do not know if the cushioning effect is sustained over time. “Identification of individual whips via the microchip will allow objective assessment of whip age, allow estimates of the number in races where it has been used and ultimately avoid any whip wear that might affect horse welfare. “The use of these microchips for whip identification is a result of racing’s ongoing positive cooperation with the PJA and our dialogue with the RSPCA. We will continue to consult with the PJA on the Rules and Penalties for any whip offences, and work closely with the PJA and Racing Schools on education over proper use of the whip.”
British Breeders’ award nominations sought
Advertiser’s announcement
The gel pumps are also available in polypropylene in natural, white or black with colours available to order.
Carrickfergus, working with a Jockey Club panel, including input from the RSPCA and was introduced in 2004 for jump racing and in 2007 for flat racing. The success of this approach of has been shown by the widespread international adoption of the principle of cushioned whips in horseracing and other equine sports. The modified whip has also been developed with manufacturers Old Mill Saddlery of Carrickfergus.The first batch of modified whips will be funded by the BHA and made available to all licensed professional jockeys at no cost to themselves, and jockeys with more than 500 rides per year will receive two whips. Once the whips have been distributed to all jockeys, the rules for the specification of whips will be updated to include the
the presentation of the prestigious ‘Meritoire’. This is awarded to an individual who has been nominated by the equestrian community and chosen by the British Breeding Awards Committee for their contribution to the industry. Desi Dillingham, committee chairman, said: “We believe that the
outstanding contribution made by British breeders to the equine industry should be heralded and applauded.” Nomination forms are available now and can be down-loaded from: www.bef.co.uk/British_Breeding/Bree ders'_Awards_Dinner.html.
Lending a helping hand WINTER time with its cold, wet weather and shorter days can be tough for horses and ponies and for their owners too. For some it can be a struggle to find the money to provide extra feed, hay and rugs and the time to look after muddy fields and muck out stables. Charities such as The Blue Cross usually find that they are asked to help more horses and ponies than ever when the weather starts getting chilly. The Blue Cross takes in and rehabilitates homeless or unwanted horses and ponies before finding them suitable long-term loan homes.
This year, because of the credit crunch, the charity already has a long waiting list of unwanted horses but only has limited space in its equine welfare centres. Please get in touch if you are considering taking on a horse or pony, as the more The Blue Cross can rehome, the more they can help. Or why not hold a sponsored event such as a horse or cycle ride, litter pick, car wash or Christmas party to raise money for horses and ponies in need?
To find out more or make a donation, please visit: www.bluecross.org.uk or phone 0845 230 1672
Trust takes on complex cases more about how these stunning dispensers can enhance your brand image and shelf presence. In addition, our stock packaging has a flexible minimum order quantity of just a single box which means minimal lead-times, optimising your cash flow and stock management.
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THE Animal Health Trust is a veterinary charity dedicated to improving the health and welfare of horses, dogs and cats. It exists to reduce and prevent unnecessary suffering caused by disease and injury. It has two animal clinics; one for horses, the other for dogs and cats. The AHT is a veterinary referral centre, meaning that cases which are too complex to be treated by your local practice get referred to its world-class vets. Be it eyes, ears, noses, tails or anything in between, it’s sure to have a vet who can help. Pioneering research is a vital part of
the AHT. The Trust is committed to developing better means of diagnosing and treating disease. It also has a strong focus on education offering training programmes to young vets wishing to specialise in a particular area. The work the AHT does could not be achieved without the help of the general public. The charity relies on generous grants and donations to keep horses, dogs and cats healthy and happy for generations to come.
To find out how you can help save the lives of thousands of horses, dogs and cats, visit: www.aht.org.uk or call 01638 555648.
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 7
Strangles vaccine breakthrough By Louise Cordell AN international group of scientists has published new results that could mean a breakthrough in finding a vaccine against strangles – the most commonly diagnosed infectious equine disease. Experts from the Animal Health Trust have been working with scientists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Karonlinska Institutet Medical University and Intervacc AB, to come up with the findings, which could benefit humans as well as animals. Professor Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT, said: “We have been working towards developing a vaccine for seven years, and finally it seems as if all the hard work is paying off. “We’ve already developed better ways of diagnosing exposure to the infection, and now, with the success of creating a safe and effective vaccine, it looks as if we’re finally bringing together the tools necessary to eradicate this terrible disease.” The vaccine consists of seven different Streptococcus proteins and results from early tests have been very positive showing a high level of protection and no side effects. This has now led to hopes that the
strangles vaccine could be commercially available in the near future. Research leader, Professor Bengt Guss of SLU, said: “This is a most exciting project, where research is generating new applications and knowledge that can be used to develop vaccines against these important bacteria. “This is particularly important considering the increased number of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.” It is also known that Streptococcus equi, the bacterium that causes strangles, shares 80 per cent identity with Streptococcus pyogenes – the leading cause of bacterial pharyngitis, tonsillitis and rheumatic fever in humans. The scientists hope that the knowledge gained through developing the strangles vaccine will also help in developing vaccines to combat these human conditions. Paul Jepson, the Horse Trust’s chief executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted that by pulling apart the genome of this plague of the horse world scientists have generated a truly safe and effective strangles vaccine. That this work could also benefit other animal and human health is beyond our wildest hopes.”
Charity completes conversion THE Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre has opened its own dedicated veterinary treatment area, thanks to donations from the Horse Trust and the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust. The charity has wanted to complete the building conversion since moving premises three years ago, but with running costs of over
£1,500 per day, it has taken until now for the development to be finished. Nicky McDonald, operations director, said: “All physiotherapy, dental and veterinary work will be carried out in the new building which provides space for horses requiring additional specific treatment and attention.”
Charity wins Royal praise at conference THE work done by World Horse Welfare has been praised by the Princess Royal at the charity’s annual conference. She said it was a ‘great comfort’ that the charity had been able to achieve so much in such a difficult financial climate and that it was ‘testament to supporters’ and WHW’s ability to ‘prove that they can make a difference’. At the event, Dr Tim Parkin from Glasgow University introduced the ongoing Stamp Out Suffering research into horse welfare and explained the key findings – including statistics in relation to horse obesity and the public perceptions of related welfare implications. Doug Howie, WHW field officer, gave a presentation about the realities of his day to day work, describing one ongoing case where a number of semi-feral horses were found living in a boggy field in Aberdeenshire and the remains of around 15 more were found in a nearby barn. The campaigns department then gave an overview of the latest developments in the charity’s transportation campaign, and lead researcher Dr David Marlin outlined the detrimental impact of these journeys and conditions of the horses involved. The team explained that the campaign to end the long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe has entered a critical stage, with a Written Declaration needing urgent MEP signatures. Finally, the charity’s international training team highlighted the
The Princess Royal at the charity’s annual conference
benefits that they provide to both horses and people. Romanian in-country coordinator and former farriery student Catalin Urasche, explained how WHW had helped him to earn an income as a farrier and improve the lives of many horses. Roly Owers WHW chief executive, said: “The annual conference is our opportunity to showcase the enormous amount of work that World Horse Welfare does to help horses. “I am very proud of our many achievements, but we can only do what we do with the support of the public, as we receive no government funding. “In these difficult financial times we have to manage our funds with great care and we need support and help more than ever if we are expand our work to help horses.”
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS
Editor’s insight...
Christine Keate
IT has not been an easy year for many horse owners, and certainly looking forwards, it seems there may well be difficult times ahead. As we go to press the wording of a consultation document on legislation, should an outbreak of African Horse Sickness occur, is being finalised, and will soon be available for us all to examine and comment upon. As a country with a valuable equine industry we are fortunate that AHS is recognised as a threat and that control measures will be in place, should the disease reach the UK. The AHS Working Party and DEFRA have been working hard towards
developing strategies which will help protect both our equine population, and those who earn their living from the industry. Their message has always been to be vigilant. Appropriate quarantine protocols should be rigorously adhered to when importing horses, and early recognition and containment is vital in maintaining the UK’s disease free status. Horse Health will continue to remind everyone of the symptoms of the disease, and endeavour to bring you the latest news and developments, in order that the better informed we all are, the greater the chance there is of containment should an animal become
Boo inspires Christmas appeal BOO the Clydesdale, who was taken in by Redwings Horse Sanctuary earlier this year after being left blind by heartless thugs, has now inspired the charity’s Christmas appeal. Boo, already blind in one eye from cancer, was shot in the eye by unknown attackers while he was turned out at his home in Surrey, leaving him totally blind. Boo’s owners were advised to put him to sleep, as at 16.1hh the heavy horse was potentially difficult and dangerous to care for. However, they had heard of Redwings’ expertise with visually
impaired horses and approached the Sanctuary for their help. After veterinary consultation, Redwings agreed to take him in as they felt in his case they could offer him a good home and all the specialist care he might need. Nicola Markwell, communications manager, said: “Very few organisations have the facilities or expertise to offer visually impaired horses a home. We hope people will help us give Boo and other visually impaired horses a future by donating to Boo’s Blind Appeal.”
To donate, please visit www.redwings.co.uk or call 01508 481010
infected. On another welfare issue, many equine charities have had a particularly difficult time this year, and we have throughout the magazine, stories and contribution details from a few of them. So as Christmas rapidly approaches, if you have yet to buy your cards, or presents for horse loving relatives, a donation or the sponsorship of a needy equine in their name might resolve the dilemma. Whatever the challenges the future might hold, all at Horse Health wish you well for Christmas and a prosperous 2010.
Research cannot be funded THE Horse Trust is best known for its Home of Rest, which provides lifetime sanctuary to retired horses and ponies. However, the charity also provides significant funding to equine research to improve the welfare of horses worldwide and has funded studies into numerous equine health conditions, including laminitis, Sweet Itch and Strangles. A drop in donations during the credit crunch has forced the Trust to suspend its grant programme meaning that urgent research, some of which was expected to
lead to the development of new vaccines and medicines, cannot be funded. Professor Chris Proudman, a worldleading colic researcher, says that research urgently needs to be funded to understand how diet influences the intestinal environment and the bacteria that live there. The Horse Trust is currently running a campaign to raise £250,000 to allow it to reopen its grant programme.
If you are able to donate or fundraise for the charity, please contact 01494 488 464 or email: info@horsetrust.org.uk.
Seminar considers challenges
Advertiser’s announcement
By Christine Keate
Association aiming to promote good practice FOUNDED in 2001, the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians is an organisation for qualified, professional Equine Dental Technicians, promoting training for new EDT’s, CPD for those already qualified, and with the aim to provide greater understanding of the need for equine dentistry through education and information.
agreed to abide by performance guidelines, a code of conduct, and who is fully insured.
The BAEDT register of members assures the horse owning public and their vets of a professional practitioner who has been examined and passed by the British Equine Veterinary Association and the British Veterinary Dental Association, has
To promote the professional training of Equine Dental Technicians.
Our Objectives: To improve the welfare of the horse. To provide an organisation of qualified Equine Dental Technicians. To promote good practice in equine dentistry.
To promote greater understanding of equine dentistry to the general public. A full list of BAEDT qualified EDTs is available at www.baedt.com
THE ninth Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Seminar was held at Cheltenham Racecourse on 12 November. Following the success of last year’s innovation of a news report, seminar chairman Dr Peter Webbon, chief executive of the Animal Health Trust introduced the proceedings then led into an overview of advances in the equine industry and the current challenges it faces. Disease control, prevention and cure featured strongly on the main seminar agenda, with a presentation from Defra representative, Arik Dondi, deputy director, Exotic Disease Policy, on the latest control measures in place and, our preparedness for an outbreak of infectious disease. Performance inhibiting issues came under scrutiny with an investigation by Dr Richard Piercy into muscle damage, diagnosis and cure, examining the possibility that some animals might have an underlying genetic predisposition to exerciseinduced muscle damage, precipitated by environmental or management factors such as diet or stress. A more unusual reason for poor performance is the possibility that horses might suffer jetlag. Dr Domingo Tortonese studied the affects of changes in daylight on the
daily rhythms of locomotion, body temperature and hormone secretions in horses, and described how his findings show that horses are extremely sensitive to light, leading to important implications for the training and transport of racehorses across time zones. Whilst the symptoms of poor performance or lameness may often be obvious, detecting the underlying cause is often far from straightforward. Professor Stephen May’s presentation examined the importance of diagnostic imaging, the systems available and how best to use them and interpret the results. Certainly, not everyone might be enthusiastic about equine droppings and diarrhoea, however, to Professor Jacqui Matthews such samples provide a cornucopia of material from which to conduct her research into equine anthelmintic resistance. Currently no new equine anthelmintics are under development, resistance is detected against all three available drug classes. She suggested worming strategies and control measures to help retain the efficacy of these products for as long as possible. The conference finished with an interactive question and discussion period which enabled the panel and delegates alike to exchange and further explore some of the ideas and issues arising from the day.
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Manufacturers commit to voluntary code transport and manufacturing. The suppliers of raw materials will be regularly audited and staff will also undergo training ensure that they stick to the rules. Professor Tim Morris, BHA director of equine science and welfare, said: “By significantly reducing the risk of NOPS the new Code provides important protection for those competing or racing under rules. “The fact that most of the UK’s major feed manufacturers have already agreed to comply with the Code confirms its viability as a workable verification system.”
A NEW voluntary code of practice has been introduced for feed manufacturers to reduce the risk of naturally occurring prohibited substances in equine feeds. The Code, brought in by the British Equestrian Trade Association, was implemented at the beginning of October with a commitment from manufacturers including Baileys, Blue Chip, British Horse Feeds, Dodson and Horrell, Natural Animal Feeds, Red Mills, Saracen, Spillers, TopSpec and Dengie. It has been introduced in response to an increased number of positive dope tests for morphine, a high priority NOPS in racehorses. The International FEI rules for competition and the British Horseracing Authority’s Rules of Racing state a no threshold policy for naturally occurring substances that could affect performance, with the exception of theobromine, and the consequences of a positive dope test are disqualification and loss of prize money. All feeds and supplements that conform to the new Code will be labelled to prove that they have undergone stringent quality management procedures during every step of sourcing, storage,
NOPS for high priority screening Morphine Caffeine Theobromine Theophylline Hysocine (Scopolamine and Metabolites) NOPS for low priority screening Bufotenine Lupanine Hordenine Sources of NOPS responsible for contamination include residues, weeds, plant bioactives, human food ingredients and commercial waste.
Industry opinion Andrea Stott, Spillers QA manager, said: “As founders members of the industry committee responsible for developing the code we are committed to the provision of an independent verification scheme to reassure our customers of the reliability of our products. “We strongly believe that a positive dope test is a disaster, not only for the trainer or rider concerned, but also for the sport, and for any company whose products might be found to contain a NOPS. “With the huge variety of feed and supplement products available, a trainer or competitor must be able to discern which companies are serious about minimising the risk of NOPS.“
Lizzie Drury, senior nutritionist and QC manager at Saracen Horse Feeds, said: “As part of our commitment to horses competing under the rules of racing and the FEI we stringently monitor for the presence of specified naturally occurring prohibitive substances. “We felt that it was essential to participate in the new code of practice along with other horse feed manufacturers, as it helps to reassure our clients of the strict quality management procedures that we adhere to in order to reduce the risk of NOPS and also brings with it a set industry standard.”
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HORSE HEALTH I
Nutritional considerations for the ageing equine By Kate Williams of Dengie JUST as the average life expectancy has increased for humans, anecdotal reports suggest that horses are living longer too. Interestingly, the concept of biological age versus chronological age is being used to explain the phenomenon of different rates of ageing. In other words, the number of years lived can mean relatively little in terms of the health and well-being of the individual compared to the effects of lifestyle and genetics. This is why two 80-year-old humans or two 25-year-old equines can be very different in their appearance and capabilities. If humans and horses live long enough the aging process will eventually take effect and results in changes to body composition, physical function and performance. It is these changes that we need to understand more if we want to maintain our horses’ health
in their later years.
Effects on the digestive system: The digestion process begins in the horse’s mouth and as soon as the biting and chewing of feed becomes compromised through poor dentition, the risk of problems increases. Weight loss is a common problem in older horses and in many cases it can simply be as a result of consuming insufficient feed to meet their energy requirements. As long length forage makes up at least half of most older horses rations, a reduction in the amount consumed can have a significant impact on energy intake. Dymastication or ‘quidding’ is commonly seen in veteran horses where partially chewed, balled up, saliva covered feed is dropped from the mouth. If piles of this are accumulating at the bottom of the haynet it is a good indication that
action is required. There are ways to manage poor dentition and a Dengie funded study explored the effect of using three different types of fibre for horses with poor teeth. The types of fibre used were hay, a combination of short chop high temperature dried grasses and alfalfa, and a soaked alfalfa and sugar beet combination. Hay was refused on 44 per cent of occasions compared to just six per cent of the chopped fibre combination and no refusals with the alfalfa and sugar beet combination. A study by Ralston et al (1989) identified reduced protein, phosphorus and fibre absorption in the aged horse. However, a later report, again by Ralston et al (2000) suggested that these findings were attributed in part to parasitic damage and or poor dentition rather than specifically the effects of age. The importance of the older horse’s teeth and ability to chew can not be
underestimated. Carson-Dunkerely and Hanson (1996) reported that impaction colic is a particular problem of the veteran horse with a prevalence of 88 per cent in older horses versus 29 per cent of all other age groups. This could be as a result of several factors including the consumption of larger particles of feed as a result of not being able to chew properly. Other factors may also be contributing to the problem; in humans, aging has been shown to result in the intestine losing strength and elasticity which slows motility and increases the risk of constipation.
Practical considerations: Deciding to care for an older horse into its retirement shouldn’t be undertaken lightly as providing an appropriate diet, medicines and care to maintain an acceptable quality of life can be costly in time and money. Continued on Page 11
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Anecdotal evidence suggests horses are living longer Continued from Page 10
Syndrome.
For the older horse that can no longer chew long length forage, easier to chew options must be provided. It is possible to find hay cutters that can be used to shorten long length forage but the alternative is to buy pre-chopped products.
Unfortunately, it is thought that if an individual with Cushing’s lives long enough they will eventually get laminitis however well the diet is managed.
These should be used on a weight for weight basis to replace hay/haylage and so a 500kg horse would typically consume seven to ten kgs per day depending on turnout etc.
For those that maintain condition with ease a high fibre, low sugar and starch ration is recommended.
It is also important to make it as easy for the horse to consume its feed as possible. Explore whether it is easier for them to eat from a raised manger compared to the floor for example. Older horses are often reported to become fussy eaters seemingly going off feeds that they have previously consumed quite happily. This might be due to the texture or hardness of the feed and so try damping the feed first to soften it. If this doesn’t work then it may be necessary to try different feeds. Using concentrated products can be helpful as a much smaller amount is needed to provide the recommended levels of nutrients.
Cushing’s and laminitis: A disease that is more common in older horses and ponies is Cushing’s
Despite this, a horse with Cushing’s should be fed to try and reduce the risk of laminitis.
As horses that hold weight easily tend to be on restricted rations it is very important to ensure that they receive an appropriate level of vitamin and mineral supplementation. Although the micronutrient requirements of the older horse haven’t been investigated, use of a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement or balancer is recommended. For veterans with Cushing’s and/or laminitis that need to gain weight, the basic strategy should be to use good quality fibre and oil to provide energy. Many veteran or conditioning mixes and cubes are likely to be unsuitable for veterans with this problem due to the level of starch that they contain. Encouraging digestive efficiency by using a live yeast supplement should increase the amount of energy and nutrients the older horse is able to extract from its ration.
Pre-chopped, easier to chew alternatives to hay are preferable
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Fibre and oil can improve stamina without leading to ‘fizzy’ behaviour
Research and development By Claire Lawrence, Nutritionist, Allen and Page RESPONDING to customer feedback is important for any business and even more so for feed manufacturers who will develop products with their customers needs in mind. While we have been aware for some time now that some ingredients can affect certain horses in a negative way, through customer feedback and research we have found that barley
and molasses tend to be the most problematic ingredients for some horses. Depending on the individual horse concerned, reactions can vary from urticaria type symptoms through to loose droppings and even excitable behaviour. Negative reactions to feed ingredients are not always necessarily a true allergy, in that the immune system is involved.
Often a horse can cope with a low level of the offending ingredient in their diet and it is only when the amounts are increased or the horse undergoes a period of stress or trauma that a problem appears, although sometimes it may take weeks or even months, as opposed to the rapid reaction in the case of allergies. Our research has focused around using elimination diets to determine which ingredients are causing a problem. An elimination diet involved cutting out all concentrate feed initially, and gradually reintroducing one ingredient at a time until a reaction occurred, this was then challenged by omitting the offending ingredient and reintroducing it again later. The results of this showed that barley and molasses were the worst offenders for causing problems, although in some cases other cereals caused problems too. By pinpointing which ingredients were causing problems the horses concerned were then fed diets that omitted the problem ingredients. Feedback included improved concentration and energy levels without fizziness. From an aesthetic point of view, urticaria reactions resolved and a significant improvement in skin and coat condition was noted. Of course not every horse reacts in a negative way to barley and molasses, but as these ingredients contain high levels of starch and sugar omitting them from the diet can have benefits for all types of horses. The horse has evolved to live on a high fibre diet, eating little and often and its digestive system is well designed for this type of natural lifestyle. The large intestine, which comprises approximately two thirds of the digestive system, effectively ferments fibre to produce energy.
In comparison the small intestine where starches and sugars are digested is much smaller. If too much starch and sugar are fed there is a risk of it passing too quickly through the small intestine and of it not being properly digested, leading to serious digestive disturbance in the large intestine, which may be seen as loose droppings and in the worst case scenario as colic or laminitis. Therefore from a digestive point of view it makes sense to feed products with low starch and sugar levels. The energy that starches and sugars provide is made available to the horse rapidly, hence the term ‘fast release energy’ and while this type of energy is ideal for horses that need a bit of extra ‘oomph’, for many horses this sudden surge of energy can lead to unwanted excitable behaviour. For horses that have a tendency to be fizzy or sharp opting for a low starch, low sugar diet can help to avoid exacerbating this behaviour. Generally speaking feeds that are low in sugar and starch will obtain their energy sources from high fibre ingredients and oils rather than from cereals. Both fibre and oil are good sources of ‘slow release energy’ and can help to improve stamina levels and are also less likely to lead to fizzy behaviour. Cutting out the barley and molasses in any horse’s diet can help not only to improve condition and performance but also it is a much more digestive system ‘friendly’ way to feed. A low starch, high fibre diet has been proven time and time again to be beneficial in the management of many different equine disorders including Equine Rhabdomyolosis Syndrome, gastric ulcers, laminitis and colic and to help prevent them in the first place.
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Understanding colonic ulcers By Emma Hardy PhD of Freedom Health NO matter how healthy your horse looks on the outside, if it is in training and regularly competing, research suggests that it is likely to be suffering from ulcers. Indeed, prevalence of gastric ulcers has been reported in as much as 97 per cent of racehorses, 50 to 60 per cent of dressage horses, showjumpers and hunters, and even in as many as 37 per cent of leisure horses. Aetiology, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for gastric ulcers have become well established in recent years; however the prevalence and impact of hindgut ulceration has been frequently overlooked and is largely misunderstood. Colonic ulceration manifests in several ways, ranging from adverse changes in temperament and performance, to loss of weight, condition and appetite, bouts of colic and subclinical anaemia. Furthermore, hindgut discomfort may even be expressed as a reluctance of the horse to extend, collect or flex through the body. These symptoms can all be attributed to the discomfort and inefficient digestion and absorption which accompany colonic ulcers.
So, why is diagnosis of colonic ulcers frequently missed? A three metre endoscope can only visualise the foregut, and colonoscopy in the horse is not only highly invasive and but also carries a significant risk of death. Thickening of the colon wall, as occurs with colonic ulcers can sometimes be identified by ultrasound but this can be difficult to interpret. As a consequence, previous diagnosis of colonic ulceration has largely been limited to necropsy. A large-scale study of 180 performance horse cadavers completed in 2003 by Dr Pellegrini, revealed that almost 90 per cent had gastric ulcers and over 60 per cent had colonic ulcers, with an overall ulceration rate of 97 per cent. There is also evidence for colonic ulceration in live horses; Dr Diana Hassel, assistant professor of equine
emergency surgery at Colorado State University, found that during emergency surgery gastric ulceration was frequently accompanied by colonic ulceration. The prevalence of colonic ulcers may be slightly lower than gastric ulcers, but as Dr Frank Andrews, director of the equine health studies program at Louisiana State University points out, they may lead to more severe clinical issues and hypoproteinaemia (low protein uptake). Clearly differential diagnosis is crucial in order to determine the most appropriate treatment strategy, particularly when standard drug treatments for gastric ulcers which limit acid secretion, are completely useless in the hindgut. Recently, a new, non-invasive ‘ELISA’ based test has been developed to aid diagnosis of intestinal conditions in a way that until now was not possible.
So why do horses get colonic ulcers? In evolutionary terms horses are nomadic trickle feeders; a lifestyle often contrary to the performance horse, which is subjected to prolonged stabling and intermittent feeding. However, in order for the performance horse to meet the demands of competition this lifestyle is considered necessary. In the horse, gastric acid secretion is continuous, which not only leaves the stomach lining vulnerable to damage when little food is present but can also lead to bolting of feed, and in turn increased gastric emptying when feed is offered. When combined with the typical diet of the performance horse, incorporating high volumes of soluble carbohydrate and limited fibrous carbohydrate further complications arise. This type of diet increases secretion of gastric acid, rate of gastric emptying and reduces the volume of saliva produced to naturally buffer gastric acid. As a consequence, enzymatic digestion in the stomach and small intestine is limited, with undigested feed ultimately reaching the site of microbial digestion; the cecum and colon. Micro-organisms in hindgut convert
A five cm cherry ulcer found within the colon a portion of this type of carbohydrate into lactic acid, which can lead to a condition called Hindgut Acidosis. From this, detrimental changes to the gut microflora occur, with growth of pathogenic bacteria colonizing compromised areas (such as the pits left by parasites) and eroding the lining of the colon. Lysis of beneficial bacteria releases damaging endotoxins, which if absorbed can result in colic, diarrheoa and laminitis. Indeed, in a study by the Japanese Racing Association in 2002 endotoxins were injected into the artery feeding the hindgut and anterior portion of the small intestine, and subsequently induced colic. Other factors such as stress limit prostaglandin E activity, stimulating gastric acid secretion whilst inhibiting gastrointestinal blood flow and mucus production. Intensive training
can also reduce blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, depress appetite and strip the horse of important amino acids needed for cell regeneration, such as glutamine. Stereotypies have frequently been associated with ulceration, although whether they are a cause or an effect is an ongoing debate, and prolonged use of NSAIDS and parasitic damage are also strongly implicated. In summary, for the horse to perform to its maximum potential an energy dense diet, stabling and intensive training are all considered necessary. Under these circumstances digestive health is paramount, particularly considering that all biological systems rely on efficient nutrient ultilsation to function properly. A healthy digestive system enables optimal ingestion, digestion and absorption and allows the horse to meet and indeed exceed, the demands placed upon it.
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HORSE HEALTH I
Polysaccharide storage myopathy By Caroline Murray BSc (Hons), Baileys Horse Feeds
Causes:
Diagnosis:
POLYSACCHARIDE Storage Myopathy is increasingly diagnosed as a cause of under-performance and the condition can be linked to genetics.
Horses with PSSM make and metabolise glycogen abnormally.
Specific diagnosis should be sought in suspected cases as this is important for selecting appropriate treatment, predicting outcome and determining whether a horse is suitable to breed from.
It stems from a genetic abnormality in muscle cell metabolism that leads to recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis. This disorder affects various breeds but is predominantly found in Quarter Horse-related breeds, drafts, and Warmbloods. Although not all horses with PSSM demonstrate clinical signs, these typically include muscle pain, stiffness, cramping, exercise intolerance/poor performance, muscle atrophy and behavioural changes. More specifically, in draft breeds, it is typical to see an abnormal gait and high-stepping action in the rear limbs eventually leading to progressive weakness and muscle atrophy. Warmbloods often demonstrate signs of a sore back and reluctance to collect, leading to overall poor performance, with many affected horses stopping to posture as if to urinate, which, it is thought, relieves cramping in the abdominal muscles.
A greater sensitivity to insulin increases transport of sugar into skeletal muscle, thus leading to a build-up of glycogen that, in the PSSM horse, is not accessible for energy generation. This accumulation is made worse if the horse is rested, whilst the excess sugar disrupts the balance of energy metabolism leading to cramping, stiffness and pain in the muscles (tying-up). It is thought that levels of glycogen can be up to four times that of normal horses, however, lactic acid levels, when tying-up occurs, are actually very low. A hundred years ago this disease was called Monday Morning Disease and its cause was unclear. After 20 years of research, a genetic cause has been uncovered and it has been reported that genetic mutation in the enzyme, glycogen synthase 1(GYS1), is an important cause of PSSM. A single mutation results in an overactive enzyme and this inherited defect allows accumulations of glycogen in the muscle.
Muscles most severely affected are the rump, thigh and back muscles and, on biopsy, muscle fibres are found to have large amounts of polysaccharide that cannot be digested by amylase (unlike ‘normal’ glycogen).
PSSM is categorised into two different types; Type-1 PSSM defines horses with a GYS1 mutation – mostly seen in Quarter Horses, Paint, and Appaloosa purebreds or crosses, draft breeds, Morgans, and Tennessee Walking Horses.
The typical horse with PSSM is usually calm in nature, well-muscled but not very fit and signs usually show up at the beginning of a training session.
Type-2 PSSM is found in a variety of other breeds and its cause is not yet fully understood.
‘Once a diagnosis is obtained, treatment relies on management with strict diet and exercise protocols. These horses will always be at risk of some underlying muscle soreness but at least 80 per cent can improve with diet and exercise’
Although there is a genetic marker test which could be available in the near future, the most definitive way to diagnose this problem is with a muscle biopsy. The results are graded as mild, moderate, or severe. A cereal-fed PSSM horse seems to produce less of an insulin response than normal, yet the insulin has a greater impact on the transportation of glucose into the cells as free, nonphosphorylated glucose which, if not immediately used, is synthesised and stored as excess glycogen. These glycogen packets are visible under the microscope through staining of the biopsy sample. Once a diagnosis is obtained, treatment relies on management with strict diet and exercise protocols. These horses will always be at risk of some underlying muscle soreness but at least 80 per cent can improve with diet and exercise.
Dietary modifications:
It is essential to modify diets to ensure starches and sugars are kept to an absolute minimum. Cereals must be eliminated from the diet and, if additional energy/calories are required, fats/oils should be added at a rate appropriate for body condition and workload. These modifications will ensure muscle cells take up less glucose whilst providing free fatty acids for muscle use during aerobic exercise. The correct balance of vitamins, minerals and proteins is imperative in order to promote overall good health.
Step One – Feed plenty of forage: Forage should form the basis of all horses’ diets and is particularly important for those horses who cannot tolerate large amounts of cereal. The better the quality of the chosen
forage, the more it can be relied on to provide energy and nutrients to meet the horse’s requirements. Quality fibres, such as alfalfa and unmolassed beet pulp, can also be added to further contribute to nutrient intake, particularly if extra energy/calories are required. In PSSM horses, researchers detected greater insulin response to high sugar hay compared to medium or low sugar hay. Blood insulin response appears to be a more sensitive indicator of the metabolic effects of high nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC – water-soluble sugar and starch) hay than glucose response. Researchers suggest hay with NSC greater than 16 per cent should not be fed to horses with PSSM. A similar issue surrounds high sugar grass which should also be avoided at all times. Grass needs light to make sugars and a temperature of 5°C or above to achieve growth. If it’s not warm enough to grow but bright enough to make sugars, this extra sugar is stored so grass can pose the same risk for PSSM horses in cold bright conditions in winter as it does in spring and autumn. Grass sugar levels also tend to rise during the day, peaking in the afternoon to early evening, and decline in the early hours of the morning. Although plentiful turnout is recommended for PSSM horses, these peak times should be avoided so, ideally, they should be turned out over night and brought in by midmorning. Grass consumption can also be limited by strip grazing or use of a grazing muzzle.
Step Two – Feed a balancer: The worse the horse’s clinical signs, the lower the starch content of the diet should be. As a guide, no more than ten per cent of the horse's daily energy should be fed as sugar or starch. Balancers are useful as they provide all the essential vitamins, minerals and proteins for health, muscle condition and to support work but have a minimal carbohydrate content. Continued on Page 17
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feeding and nutrition Continued from Page 16 Being fed in small quantities, they also help keep meal sizes to a minimum since small frequent meals work best to eliminate generation of high blood glucose surges from a meal.
Step Three – Add oil: Since balancers do not actually provide calories, if weight gain or additional energy for work is required, oil should be added to the diet either via a specially formulated high oil supplement or by the addition of straight oil. Straight oil must be provided in quantities of at least 250 to 500 ml per day which often presents palatability problems and, at these levels, makes necessary the inclusion of antioxidant supplementation (e.g. vitamin E) in order to ensure safe and efficient utilisation. A specially formulated supplement may prove more practical and beneficial, especially if the necessary supporting antioxidants are included.
Step Four – Add electrolytes: Salt or specially formulated electrolyte supplements are a must for any horse working sufficiently hard to sweat but are particularly important for individuals who suffer from muscle-related disorders. Electrolytes are involved in neuro-muscular function so it is no surprise that giving them to PSSM horses (if sweated up) can reduce the frequency of problems occurring.
Exercise: Turnout is key to keeping a PSSM horse comfortable over the long term as those PSSM horses confined to the stable will experience creatine kinase (CK) elevations, particularly within the first five minutes of exercise. Exercise should be applied through careful conditioning programs that steadily increase demand and allow the horse to adapt. There is no cure for the disease but the management changes discussed here can minimise clinical signs.
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Recent research and development By Lizzie Drury Msc RNutr of Saracen Horse Feeds
YEAST supplementation useful in some equine diets: Researchers in France carried out a study to look at the influence of feeding a preparation of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine in horses fed a high fibre or high starch diet. To provide adequate energy for work, performance horses are often fed diets that are high in cereal grains and therefore starch and may also have restricted forage intake. This type of dietary management increases a horse’s risk for colic and laminitis as undigested starch reaching the hindgut may seriously upset the activity of the bacteria that normally populate this organ and aid digestion. Supplementing the horse’s diet with yeast may be one way to avoid changing the balance of microbes, thereby keeping fermentation at a normal level. The results of the study showed that feeding horses a high starch diet resulted in a large amount of un-degraded starch reaching the colon. This allowed the rapid increase of starch utilising bacteria such as lactobacilli and streptococci, which in turn produced lactic acid in quantities up to four times greater than when horses were fed the high fibre diet. In contrast, supplementing the high starch diet with yeast culture led to more nearly normal pH values in the hindgut. The researchers suggest that yeast supplementation could have led to an increase in bacteria that utilise lactic acid in relation to those producing lactic acid. Another possible explanation of the buffering effect is a yeast produced enhancement of fibre breakdown in the hindgut. The results of this study suggest that supplementation with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae can reduce variations in pH and lactic acid concentration in the horses hindgut. This stabilizing influence may allow horses to avoid the digestive upsets that are sometimes caused by diets that are high in cereals and low in forage.
Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation provides significant benefits: Continuing research is revealing more information about the benefits of supplementing horses with omega
Omega 3 fatty acids have an important role in suppleness and flexibility for thoroughbred race horses 3 fatty acid to achieve a more nutritionally sound balance. At a study at the University of Florida, horses were fed either flax oil or fish oil, both being good sources of omega 3 fatty acid. After ten weeks, horses in both of the groups had plasma and red blood cell levels of omega 3 fatty acids that were higher than in an unsupplemented control group. For thoroughbred racehorses, omega 3 fatty acid oils have been shown to have an important role in the structure and formation of the wall of the red blood cells, conferring upon them increased suppleness and flexibility. This red blood cell flexibility is advantageous during exercise, as the more flexible the red blood cells the more easily and efficiently they pass through the narrow capillaries in the lungs and the muscles, making oxygen uptake and delivery and waste product removal more efficient. Human athletes on omega 3 supplemented diets, report improved performance times and less delayed muscle soreness and this is attributed to better oxygen delivery, higher levels of antioxidants and the protective effect of omega 3 oils have against inflammation. Stallions supplemented with marine source omega 3 fatty acids for 90 days showed a 46 per cent increase in daily sperm output, although sperm motion characteristics such as motility and viability were not different from un-supplemented stallions.
Metabolic Syndrome: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is one of several disorders affecting horses that is either triggered or aggravated by excessive starch and sugar intake. EMS is characterized by obesity, regional adiposity and insulin resistance, and it has become a huge topic of conversation, research and development mainly because the most significant clinical manifestation of EMS is laminitis. Management of EMS commonly revolves around decreasing energy intake to reduce obesity and lowering sugar and starch intake. Since laminitis in horses and ponies is often associated with pasture consumption, restricting or eliminating pasture intake is mandatory for severely affected animals. Dr Nicolas Frank from the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine recommends that exercise is a really important tool to combat EMS and suggested that a ‘more is better’ approach to exercise can be taken if the horse is not suffering from laminitis. In support of this recommendation Kentucky Equine Research suggested that horses can carry greater body condition without suffering from insulin resistance if they are exercised, based on a study in Wellington, Fla., involving 181 horses and ponies from various competition disciplines monitored through the winter show season. Bodyweight, wither height, body condition score (BCS) and neck crest
size (CNS) were measured and blood samples were taken before each horse’s morning meal and analyzed for plasma glucose, insulin and triglycerides. Dressage horses, show hunters and show jumpers carried significantly more body condition than polo ponies but had similar resting insulin, glucose and triglyceride values. Pony hunters were significantly fatter than dressage horses, show hunters and polo ponies and had significantly higher resting insulin and significantly lower resting plasma glucose values. Virginia Tech researchers have measured BCS and CNS in sedentary horses and ponies and found that 50 per cent of horses and ponies with BCS greater or equal to 7.0 were hyperinsulinemic (Insulin levels greater than 30 mU per litre). In the Wellington study, only two of the 24 individuals (eight per cent) with BCS greater than 7.0 had insulin levels greater than 30 mU per litre. In the Virginia Tech study, 43 per cent of sedentary horses and 50 per cent of sedentary ponies with cresty necks (CNS greater than three) were hyperinsulinemic. In the Wellington study, none of the 17 individuals with CNS of greater than three were hyperinsulinemic. Therefore it appears that overweight sport horses and ponies are less likely to be hyperinsulinemic than sedentary horses and ponies.
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HORSE HEALTH I
Heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation explained By Lesley Young, BVSc, DVC DVA DipECEIM Phd, MRCVS THE heart is an adaptable pump, able to supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and organs under widely differing circumstances. To work efficiently and appropriately the rate and regularity of its activity must be controlled. Occasionally this elegant control system malfunctions, resulting in a heart condition called atrial fibrillation. To understand the problems created by this frustrating, often performance-limiting condition, one must first understand how the heart works and how its rate and rhythm is controlled. The heart is divided into two sides and both pumps work in parallel. The left side supplies the muscles and vital organs with oxygenated blood and nutrients and the right side pumps blood returning from the body to the lungs to replenish it with oxygen and dispose of carbon dioxide. Each side has a muscular pumping chamber, a ventricle, and a collecting chamber, or atrium. The heart rate and rhythm is controlled by electrical impulses that originate in specialist cells, situated high in the wall of the right collecting chamber. A pulse of electricity starts here, travels rapidly through the walls of both atria and triggers their contraction, pushing any remaining blood into the ventricles. For maximum efficiency, it makes sense for the ventricles to delay their contraction until the collecting chambers have completely emptied, and that is exactly what happens. Instead of travelling directly into the ventricles, the electrical impulse reaches a special area in the dividing wall between the left and right sides of the heart.
The first small notched ‘p’ wave comes from the combined electrical activity of the two collecting chambers. Then the line goes flat, as the impulse is delayed at the junction between atria and ventricles allowing both collecting chambers to empty. The large downward pointing, ‘r’ wave, that follows this pause, is the journey of the impulse around the much larger muscle mass of both pumping chambers. As the electrical charge passes through each muscle cell, their electrical charge is reversed and the final ‘t’ wave is formed as the heart muscle returns itself back to normal in readiness for the next heart cycle. Notice that the line is flat between heart beats. Here the signal is delayed for almost half a second before it continues its journey into the pumping chambers.
firing at rest is damped down because, the larger more muscular heart need not beat so frequently.
During this time, the collecting chambers are able to fully empty.
In human athletes this damping occurs at the source of the impulse in the right atrium, so overall pulse rate slows down.
As soon as the impulse enters the ventricles it spreads rapidly and causes virtually instantaneous contraction of their massive muscular walls, forcing blood out of the heart into the aorta and pulmonary artery. It is this electrical activity that is recorded at the body surface as an electrocardiogram, or ECG. The ECG is really just a map of the journey of the electrical impulse through the heart chambers. Normal heart rhythm: The electrical impulses that fire off regularly from the specialized region in the right atrium provide a constant rhythm. As a horse becomes fitter the rate of
‘For maximum efficiency, it makes sense for the ventricles to delay their contraction until the collecting chambers have completely emptied, and that is exactly what happens’
In horses this damping is most likely to occur further down the impulse’s journey, where it is delayed between the chambers. This is why a normal horse will regularly miss beats at rest. In fact the collecting chambers do contract but the electrical signal is blocked before the pumps can be activated. This is called atrio-ventricular block, so called because the impulse stops between the atria and ventricles. An example of this can be seen in the normal ECG, when a ‘p’ wave is not accompanied by an ‘r’ or ‘t’ wave. What happens when things go wrong: atrial fibrillation: In atrial fibrillation the electrical activity of the collecting chambers is completely deranged. As a result, instead of beating regularly in a coordinated pumping motion, the atria beat completely out of synch. In fact to the naked eye a fibrillating atrium looks just like a ‘bag of worms’.
The uncontrolled chaotic electrical activity of the atria is visible on an ECG as a constant irregular wavy baseline, instead of regular neat little ‘p’ waves. Meanwhile the poor ventricles are being bombarded by electrical nonsense from their control centres. They do their best, but there is no longer a regular heart rhythm with the odd missed beat, instead there is a chaotic irregular rhythm which the vet can recognize by taking a pulse, or listening with a stethoscope. What happens to the output of the heart? Because there is no useful contraction of the atria, there is no effective turbo charge to fill either ventricle. The pumps instead have to fill under gravity. This is not as disastrous as it sounds, because at least 70 per cent of filling occurs passively under gravity anyway. At rest and during slow paces the heart can easily make up for the inefficiency by beating a little faster ever minute. Why does it occur? There are two situations in which atrial fibrillation occurs: The first and most common presentation is in large athletic horses with big hearts.
Continued on Page 21
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Horses working at peak capacity are more likely to show signs of atrial fibrilation Continued from Page 20 In fact, all big horses are an atrial fibrillation accident waiting to happen. Because their hearts are very large, it is possible for a single extra beat from somewhere outside the normal control centre to set up this strange, self-perpetuating, short circuit in the collecting chambers. Extra beats from elsewhere in the heart occur fairly commonly in horses and people. In fact, in people they often occur after a cup of strong coffee, full of caffeine. The difference in heart size between horses and people means that one extra beat at the wrong moment can start and maintain the short-circuit of atrial fibrillation in a big horse without any underlying heart disease being present. It’s just bad luck. The second less common cause of atrial fibrillation occurs when the atria become enlarged due to a heart problem; usually a major leak on one of the heart valves. A horse like this has a severely damaged heart and one that will not withstand treatment. In any case, there would be no point attempting to treat the rhythm disturbance in an individual like this because unfortunately death due to heart failure is looming. It is obviously a crucial job for the veterinary surgeon to tell the difference between these two types of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation in the healthy heart: Affected horses usually appear normal at rest, however at all levels of exercise the heart must beat faster to make up for the reduction in efficiency. In horses that work well below their maximum cardiac capacity, the rider may still be unaware of the problem.
Examples might include horses used for draught, dressage, hacking and showjumping. It is in the disciplines that require all of the heart’s capacity, that atrial fibrillation becomes obvious. Hunters can no longer gallop up hills, racehorses and point to pointers fade during the late stages of races; this is the typical picture of a horse with atrial fibrillation. What do we do? When atrial fibrillation is affecting performance, the condition is treated using a drug called quinidine, or by administering an electric shock to the atria, via catheters placed in the heart under general anaesthesia. Provided the rhythm is abolished, the horse returns to its previous levels of performance. Treatment is effective and normal rhythm is restored in eight out of nine horses. Unfortunately neither treatment method is without risks, and death, though rare, can occur in healthy horses. As a result, when the rhythm is not affecting performance and the heart rate and rhythm are acceptable during normal exercise, doing nothing is often the best course of action. However for racehorses, eventers and hunters, treatment is a worthwhile option in the first instance. Unfortunately the problem can recur, but it may be years after the first incident, and then treatment is simply repeated. Treatment is not 100 per cent successful, but if treatment fails, some horses can continue successfully in a less demanding sporting discipline, so atrial fibrillation may not mean the end of a working life.
When do we treat?
this by itself.
Treatment is always delayed for at least 48 hours after the onset of the abnormal rhythm.
In fact this self-correcting atrial fibrillation is very common in smaller flat-racing Thoroughbreds.
In a number of horses the heart will revert to normal of its own accord, so the veterinary surgeon should always give it the opportunity to do
In these horses, rhythm may have returned to normal by the time that the horse has walked back from the racecourse to his stable.
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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS
Fertiliser give away for Horse Health readers SUREGROW fertiliser, uniquely formulated for horse and pony paddocks, is now in bright, colourful 20kg bags to ensure easy identification and Horse Health has 16 bags to give away. Four winners will each receive four 20kg bags, which is the recommended spring application rate for one acre. Containing a slower release form of nitrogen proven in trials to produce more sustained, better quality grass growth over a long period, Suregrow also facilitates uptake of nutrients essential to the wellbeing of horses and ponies. For a chance to win send your name, address and contact number to SureGrow Competition, Horse Health Magazine, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Deadline is Monday 11 January 2010 and the winner’s name will be posted on the Horse Health website at www.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk.
Holly presenting her winning Equine Thesis of the Year at Stoneleigh Park
‘It is so rewarding to be recognised’ HOLLY Claridge has been recognised by the equine industry for her research into the 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joint in the horse.
joint has received little research attention yet disorders such as osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis have been linked to spinal cord compression.
The Royal Veterinary College student won this year’s Royal Agricultural Society of England’s ‘Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award’ and the first ever Intervet/ScheringPlough Animal Health Equine Connect Scholarship.
Holly said: “It is so rewarding to be recognised for my research.
In her research, Holly set out to describe the 3D anatomy of the APJ in relation to the spinal cord, and to determine the potential for APJ effusion to cause spinal cord compressive disease. She chose the study because the
“I first became interested in issues associated with the neck during my diagnostic imaging rotation and was encouraged by my student advisor to explore this often overlooked area in more detail in my research project.” Holly has just graduated from the RVC and is due to start working in a general practice in Norfolk but is keeping an open mind for the future. She added: “I am really looking
forward to getting stuck into practical work, but I enjoyed the research process much more than I expected to, so there is a good chance it will be something I’ll go back to in the future. “It is a topic that definitely needs investigating further and I am hoping that the RVC will continue looking into it. “I studied joints in normal horses, so the next step will be to look at abnormal cases to take our knowledge further. “I am currently tweaking the research so far and am aiming to get it published so that more people can benefit from seeing the results and recommendations.”
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B l o o d s t o c k m a t ter s
Pictured left: Stage two of labour, with the chorioallantoic membrane visible at the vulva. And above: Head back presentation. The foetal body should be repelled, the head and neck straightened and the foal delivered by traction
Approach to dystocia in the mare ... By David Dugdale MA VetMB MRCVS, Newmarket Equine Hospital THE incidence of dystocia in horses varies from breed to breed. In Thoroughbreds the incidence is approximately four per cent and in draught breeds the incidence is approximately ten per cent as the long foetal limbs and neck predispose the mare to foaling problems.
Normal parturition: The first stage of parturition is characterised by the development of co-ordinated uterine contractions, manifested by restless behaviour similar to that of mild colic. This stage of parturition concludes with the rupture of the chorioallantoic membrane and the release of the allantoic fluid. The second stage of parturition is characterised by strong abdominal contractions. Most mares assume lateral recumbency once active straining commences. The presence of the amnion at the vulval lips can be expected to occur within five to ten minutes of rupture of the chorioallantois. The second stage of labour is rapid and forceful, most foals are delivered within 20 to 30 minutes of the chorioallantoic membrane rupturing. The third stage of parturition involves expulsion of the foetal membranes
and this takes typically between 30 minutes and three hours.
Veterinary approach to dystocia: Foaling is a rapid process and serious complications can quickly arise. General advice while awaiting for the arrival of the vet: In the case of malpresentation, keep the mare up and walking around the box, as this will reduce straining. In cases of premature separation of the placenta, rupture the chorioallantois and assist delivery. Foals which become stuck at the shoulders or hips should have traction applied in rotation. Allow the mare to get up and down when a foal is presented upside down. With a posterior presentation deliver the foal quickly by traction. When a limb or head projects through the anus, replace the limb in the pelvic canal and deliver the foal. Initial veterinary examination: The following questions need to be answered by the veterinary surgeon: Are the presented limbs front or hind legs? Is the foal alive? Is there a possibility of twins? Is the dystocia due to malposture or foal deformity? Is there enough room to manipulate the foal when contractions are taking place?
After the initial assessment there are three broad possible causes of action: 1. Deliver the foal after relatively simple and speedy manipulation to correct abnormalities. 2. Deliver the foal alive or dead after more prolonged manipulation, either under sedation, epidural anaesthesia or general anaesthesia. 3. Caesarean section: this may be the best approach in cases of gross deformity or complicated malpostures.
Foaling technique: The mare should be restrained in a standing position where possible, which allows the best access for internal manipulation. Generally this involves repulsion of the foetus to allow room for straightening the limbs, head or body. Ropes should be applied to the legs as soon as possible before the canal starts to dry and swell and plenty of lubrication should be used. Traction should be applied in rotation so that the foal presents the least possible circumference at any time. A maximum of two or three people should be used to apply traction. Placement of an additional rope behind the ears and through the mouth is helpful when control of the head is needed. Partial embryotomy is sometimes necessary in order to repel a foal sufficiently to correct a postural abnormality. This must be carried out with great
care and where possible, outside the vulval opening. Caesarean section should be considered early if a prolonged manual delivery is anticipated.
Restraint: It must be remembered that all tranquilisers used on the mare will also affect the foal. The initial examination is best done without sedation where possible. If sedation is required, a small dose to detomodine and butorphanol is often effective. Short-term general anaesthesia is indicated when postural abnormalities are present and the maternal expulsive efforts make correction difficult. The hind limbs of the mare can then be hoisted to assist foetal repulsion and manipulation.
Causes of dystocia due to malposture: Malpostures are the commonest cause of dystocia. Common causes of malposture include the following: Incomplete elbow extension. This should be suspected if the foetal hooves lie at the same level as the muzzle. The foetal trunk should be repelled and the forelimbs extended to allow delivery. ‘Dog sitting’ or ‘hurdling’ posture. On examination, a single hind foot (hurdling posture) or both hind feet (dog sitting posture) are caught on the brim of the pelvis. Traction is unproductive. Continued on Page 25
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B l o o d s t o c k matter s Continued from Page 24 Due to the lack of room for manipulation this is very difficult to correct and early election for a general anaesthetic or caesarean may be the best option. Foot nape posture. In these cases one or both of the foetal legs is displaced over the head and pushed up against the roof of the vagina. If not corrected, the mare’s straining can cause the foetal hoof to lacerate the vaginal roof. To correct this malposture, the foetus must be repelled and the forelimb replaced under the head. Carpal flexion. This may be uni or bilateral and typically the affected carpus is located in the pelvic canal. The foetal body must be repelled and the hoof cupped in the palm of the hand and drawn forward into the pelvic canal.
posterior presentation places pressure on the umbilical cord which can rapidly lead to asphyxia. Less than one per cent of foals are presented posteriorally. If this is detected, the foal should be delivered by traction as soon as possible.
Other causes of dystocia:
Length of gestation. Foaling within one month either side of the average gestation period of 340 days may be regarded as normal. Foals born more than one month before term are likely to be weak and require careful nursing. Those earlier than six weeks from term seldom survive. Dystocia may be a problem with abortion of larger dead foals because of lack of positioning movements by the foal. Foals carried over time are often small.
The commonest congenital deformity of the forelimb is contracture of the knee, which is often bilateral. In these cases it is very difficult to extend the limb sufficiently to allow a vaginal delivery and a caesarean section may be required.
The presence of twins. As twins are smaller than single foals, it is usually relatively easy to correct such malpresentations and deliver the foals without damaging the mare. The incidence of twinning is now very low.
Head and neck flexion. A head rope should be placed around the ears and through the mouth. The foal’s trunk should then be repelled and the neck straightened and the nose engaged in the pelvic canal. Continued gentle traction should be kept on the head while the foal is being delivered.
Failure to get down. Occasionally mares will foal in the standing position. Sometimes this is due to musculoskeletal problems or may be associated with a nervous, excitable disposition.
Occasionally the foetal nose is below the pelvic brim (poll posture). This is generally relatively easy to correct by cupping the nose in the hand and drawing up upwards. Shoulder flexion. Correction of this malposture is performed in two stages. Initially the shoulder flexion is converted to carpal flexion by drawing the radius forward. The carpal flexure is then corrected as above. Posterior presentation. A foal in
If it becomes clear that a mare is not going to get down to foal, then the weight of the foal should be supported during delivery and for a few minutes afterwards to prevent premature severance of the cord. Weak contractions. This can vary in degree and may be related to a circulatory, respiratory, abdominal or orthopaedic problem. Whatever the cause, foaling should be aided by controlled traction. Pelvic deformities. Some distortion of the pelvic canal often follows pelvic fracture. However even quite pronounced changes do not
In difficult cases of dystocia the mare should be anaesthetised and the hind limbs elevated to aid correction of the malposture generally impair foaling but affected mares should be watched closely at their first foaling and the possible indication for Caesarean section borne in mind. Relative over-size. This is seen sometimes in first foaling mares and tends to result mainly from inadequate relaxation of the pelvic ligaments with lack of room for
passage of the foal. When first-foaling mares strain powerfully without adequate relaxation there is also a danger of recto-vaginal fistula formation. Hydrocephalus. This is a relatively rare complication and in most cases they are best dealt with by Caesarean section.
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forge
Horseshoe nails By Claire Brown of Farriers’ Pages WHEN a shoe is nailed on a farrier will consider the size of the horse’s foot, the shoe ‘section’, (length, depth and width of the material) and the type and quality of the foot to determine which nail to use. Accurate nailing-on is directly influenced by the correct fitting of the shoe – the nail line within the shoe needs to mirror the horny hoof within the foot. A nail is driven into the insensitive horny hoof – light taps on the hammer will encourage it to come out low whilst harder blows will encourage an exit higher on the hoof wall. Nails at the toe are more likely to exit lower than those in the quarters.
When driving in a nail the aim is for it to exit the hoof wall in good quality horn approximately one third of the way up the hoof wall. Toe nail holes within the shoe are forged to have a greater angle to the inside of the foot than the heel nail holes to encourage the nail to follow the correct contours of the foot – this is known as the ‘pitch’ of the nail. If the horse has a sloping hoof pastern axis, greater pitch is needed compared with an upright foot where less pitch is required. Historically it was common to use four nails in the outside and three in the inside – it is now more usual to have even numbers for balance and symmetry. Continued on Page 27
‘Accurate nailing-on is directly influenced by the correct fitting of the shoe – the nail line within the shoe needs to mirror the horny hoof within the foot’
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Continued from Page 26 Loose nails and/or risen clenches are a good indication that a horse needs re-shoeing. There are five main features of a nail; the top, the head, the neck, the shank and the point. The head and point are bevelled the same way so that when a nail is driven into the hoof wall it will turn outward and exit the hoof wall. Nails are made from steel and commonly manufactured by rolling and forging processes. Rolling machines, developed in the late 1800’s, involve a wire being fed through sets of roller dies to gradually form the shank of the nail and latterly the bevel, point and head, before exiting the machine. Forging involves the nail shank being formed in a swedging machine which delivers hammer blows on all four sides of a wire. The resulting nail blank is finished by a separate machine to form the nail head and point. Nails are identified by a number which refers to the length of the shank and a name which refers to the shape of the head. Probably the most common in the UK are the ‘E’ or ‘European’ head which is suitable for sport, pleasure and draft horses. The ‘E-slim’ was introduced as the number of workhorses decreased,
and the number of sport and pleasure horses increased to reflect the demand for a nail with the same size head, but with a thinner shank to suit the lighter horses with thinner hoof walls better. However it should be noted that using a nail with a thinner shank in a hoof wall capable of taking a thicker one may cause the nail to ‘shear off’ between the foot surface on the shoe and the foot itself and therefore the choice of nail needs some careful consideration. Other types of nail include the ‘MX’
range which have an even thinner shank in relation to a larger head which makes them more suited to very thin walled horses and the ‘FJ’ range which has a short neck, more suited to racehorses and ponies with shoes of a smaller section. Nails designed for racehorses sit level in the shoe as it is not permitted for them to be protruding. Nails may also assist with grip on hard surfaces. Road nails for example, have a tungsten tip inserted into the top of the nail.
The range of nails from which to choose from is vast. Mustad, the world’s largest farriery manufacturer and supplier, produces just over 320 different types. The design and manufacture of each nail, and any new nail, is a complex process and will take into consideration not just the horse and the work that it is being asked to do but also considers geographical trends and styles, the environmental conditions and the development of farriery skills and techniques.
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Farriery for the veteran horse By Andrew Poynton FWCF MANY horses are living longer despite debilitating problems such as laminitis, they are still being ridden and in work into their twenties. Some top level event horses have even competed successfully into their late teens.
Signs of ageing: As horses age so their physique gradually changes. Muscle suppleness becomes diminished, it takes longer to warm up and loosen. Arthritis may affect some joints, collateral ligaments tighten, the suspensory apparatus of the limbs the suspensory ligament and the flexor tendons, have often suffered injury and this together with reduced muscle from natural wastage means there is less to support the horse and it is more prone to ‘breaking down’. An old horse may, for example, stand with the fore limbs tucked under, over at the knee and the hoof pastern axis alignment broken forward, the pastern at a low angle and the fetlock sitting low – obvious signs of suspensory demise.
Shock absorbing heartbar with shortened breakover
Windgalls also provide evidence of distension of the joint capsule and tendon sheath. Alternatively there may be a severely broken back hoof pastern axis (HPA), little angle at the fetlock and a virtually upright pastern. Horses with this stance usually are experiencing pain in the heels which are low and often under-run, most likely resulting in a short stride liable to stumbling. The hind limbs are affected more in the hocks; spavins seen as hard swelling on the inside base of the hock, and the toes will be squared off from dragging due to lack of flexion. When the limb is flexed the horse is reluctant to allow the limb to be extended to the rear, preferring to hold it up tight under the abdomen. Shoe wear apart from the squared toe is heavy on the outside branch.
Realistic expectations: If this horse has not already come to the end of his working life, starting with the front limbs, shoes with a shortened breakover would be appropriate whether a dub toed shoe or ground rolled, there are a number of brand named shoes that achieve this end. They reduce the effect in taking a stride and reduce the likelihood of stumbling. The broken back HPA upright pastern would benefit from a graduated shoe, thinner at the toe rather than raising the heel height. The shoe would best be a bar shoe, a heart bar for maximum surface
area and heel support – this provides elevation for the foot on soft surfaces. It relieves the heels of so much loading, so a square/dubbed toe graduated heart bar shoe meets the requirement. Some farriers will favour filling the back half of the foot with some form of elastomer or silicon filler to achieve the same end, or in conjunction with a regular heart bar shoe. These synthetic and plastic materials can be used effectively to create cushioning and enhance the area of the foot. A flexible plastic heart bar can again often achieve surprisingly good results. The limb with a low fetlock would not benefit from any form of raising the heel, but be shod similarly with a flat heart bar shoe fitted with fullness in the heel quarters and right to the bulbs of the heels – definitely not short. Studs are not advised, but if the horse is prone to slipping on the road then to avoid falling, a pair of tungsten pins or nails can be fitted in the back half of the shoes, one in each side; they stand proud by about 2mm or 1/8” and give traction, but increase the jarring on the foot/limb. Addressing the hind limbs – the traditional shoe in the UK for spavin has a set toe, a strong turned up toe set into the toe of the hoof with wedged up heels; this shoe is only really effective on a hard surface. As many horses now spend much time on arenas, shoeing appropriate to this type of surface seems sensible. I prefer and find effective a broad webbed shoe, quarter clipped set well under the toe, with a lateral extension. This shoe wears well and gives more stability to the limb. It again must not be fitted short, but with some extra length providing floatation to the back of the foot, it will not sink into the surface so much, therefore relieving the hock of excessive strain. The horses need a sympathetic and patient farrier; they object to being pulled around. Intolerance to uneven ground could indicate arthritic joints, ringbone, medio lateral imbalance or sidebone to mention just some possibilities. The experienced farrier in addition to working with the vet, utilising any radiographic or other evidence, will notice the horse’s stance, watch the horse move, will notice any unevenness of footfall, tripping, lack of flexion and lameness if present. The wear of the hoof or shoe if shod is invaluable evidence in determining peculiarities of the gait of the horse.
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Continued from Page 28 The shape and quality of feet will be noted, and their relationship to the horse’s conformation. Once aware of the evidence an appropriate treatment can be formulated. The type of shoe and fit will aim to encourage an as fluent as possible stride, level foot fall, or, if not possible, a roll into landing and a central base of support below the limb, when moving through the weight-bearing phase of the stride. So, easing the stride and cushioning the impact sums up much of what can be done. Other than wear and tear on the veteran horse’s feet, the metabolic changes in some horses sadly induce laminitis which is a subject on its own. Provided the above points are routinely addressed, both the horse and farrier should grow old gracefully together. It is up to the owner to provide a suitable environment in which the horse can thrive and have realistic expectations of both the horse and farrier. I know a number of horses in their thirties, but still enjoying quality of life, even one or two ponies over forty, one still a leading rein pony.
Base narrow, weak hocks
Moderate lateral extension The areas on which to concentrate to enable the older horse to remain active in relative soundness are: Keep the toes of the hooves short to ease natural breakover and avoid stumbling, particularly because there may be reduced flexion and stiffness in the limbs. Provide ample support in the back half of the hoof to reduce excessive tension on the
suspensory ligament and flexors of the limb. Incorporate anti-concussive shock absorbing materials in the shoeing equation. Provide extra support in the way of lateral or medial or caudal extensions for limb stability, especially for the hocks in the hind limbs. We shoe for the limbs’ sake as much as the feet.
Hind limb ample heel support
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product reviews
HORSE HEALTH I
The first hoof supplement to be tested and marketed ‘Twice as effective’ MAGNETIC therapy has been proven to have both positive effects in humans and animals in treating scar tissue, inflammation, reducing swelling, stiffness, muscle cramps and arthritis, all afflictions which are commonly experienced by veteran horses and ponies. The Equilibrium Therapy range uses VitaFlex magnets, which have been shown to be twice as effective as standard Neodymium magnets. This is because Neodymium magnets present only one pole to the body, meaning they only repel or attract blood vessels of opposite charge to the magnet.
However, VitaFlex magnets present both positive and negative poles to the body and thereby encourage the constant repelling or attracting the blood cells, making them highly effective at keeping cells in an active regenerating state. In addition, they have a heat insulating structure in the form of extremely thin gold or platinum coloured aluminium reflector. This results in a slight local warming where the magnet touches the skin and dilation of the blood vessels, improving circulation, which accelerates the influx of nutrients and the removal of toxins.
LIFE Data Labs is a family-owned business and founder Dr Frank Gravlee has a background in equine medicine. The company was established in 1973 with the purpose of determining equine nutritional deficiencies by performing laboratory tests. Dr Gravlee developed individualised feeding programmes to correct the deficiencies or excesses and re-tested every six months to one year to adjust the exact amounts of nutrients needed. Farrier's Formula is based on ten years of research and is a nutritional supplement that contains guaranteed nutrients necessary for healthy dermal tissues.
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The balanced nutrients produce protein cross links that allow the horse to produce strong hooves. It also helps in growth, old age, and improves the skin and coat condition. Farrier’s Formula was the first hoof supplement to be tested and marketed. It is the only nutritional product of its kind that has both specific field research and independent university research standing behind the name.
Why horse owners are turning to steaming their hay
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It is important to provide a balanced nutritional supplement that covers the requirements for dermal tissues, rather than only one or two ingredients such as biotin or methionine.
WITH good quality hay increasingly difficult to come by in the UK, many owners of performance horses are turning to steaming their hay to help reduce the threat posed by mould and fungal spores. Recent testing undertaken by the Irish Equine Centre (one of the world’s foremost equine veterinary research laboratories) on behalf of Happy Horse Products show that steaming hay is an effective method to reduce the risk posed by Aspergillus.
Professor Thomas Buckley, head of microbiology at the Irish Equine Centre, said: “Aspergillus is one of the main causes of RAO, EIPH, immune suppression and poor performance in racehorses. This fungus is heat sensitive and can be reduced by steaming with the Happy Horse Steamer. When used properly as per manufacturers instruction, is very effective at reducing mould counts, in particular Aspergillus in hay to be used for performance horses.”
The benefits of Think Pink THINK Pink is a formulated powdered supplement from Brinicombe which ensures your horse is at the pinnacle of health while remaining cost effective to feed. The balanced formula contains Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I1077 (Yeast-Ex), one of only two probiotic yeasts which has gained EU authorisation for use as a digestibility
enhancer for horses. Trials have shown that this yeast can significantly improve fibre and overall dry matter digestibility in the horse. The yeast also stimulates the growth of celluloytic bacteria populations in a horse’s hind gut microflora leading to better feed utilisation and hence improved weight gain, performance and general well-being.
Keeping horses strong and healthy A TOP priority for horse owners, who are thinking ahead, is preventing winter ailments by helping their horses build strong and healthy digestive and immune systems to face the challenges posed by winter.
inner health of their animals.
Protexin’s Equine Premium range of supplements includes Gut Balancer and Quick Fix, which provide a ready supply of good quality probiotics to help horse owners look after the
Quick Fix is an oral probiotic paste that calms the animal and prepares the digestive system for seasonal change by boosting levels of healthy bacteria.
Gut Balancer is a probiotic powder to add to your horse’s feed which maintains the ‘good’ bacteria in the horse’s gut for sustained everyday health.
31 Discount feeds
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32 Poynton
26/11/09
16:37
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