Horse Health

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The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine

April/May 09 £2.95

Eradication of Strangles ‘real possibility’

By Louise Cordell LEADING UK researchers have solved the DNA sequence for the bacterium that causes Strangles – meaning that the eradication of the disease could soon be ‘a real possibility’.

Strangles is the most common infectious equine disease and there is currently no effective treatment or vaccine.

However, a consortium including the Animal Health Trust, the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has now published genome sequences for Streptococcus equi.

The findings provide new information on how these bacteria cause the disease and highlight many new areas for developing better diagnostic tests, therapies and preventative vaccines. Dr Andrew Waller, AHT head of bacteriology, said: “The publication of these genomes is the culmination of over seven years of research. We are extremely excited about their implication for future international work towards improving animal health.”

The research, funded by The Horse Trust and the Horserace Betting Levy Board, has already enabled the AHT to develop DNA and blood tests to diagnose Strangles and efforts are now being concentrated on developing a safe and effective vaccine.

The team have also produced a DNA sequence for Streptococcus zooepidemicus, a relative of the Strangles bacteria which can cause inflammatory airway disease, upper respiratory disease and abortion in horses. S. equi evolved from S. zooepidemicus and Dr Matthew Holden, leader of the analysis team at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, confirmed that the new genome findings show weaknesses in S. equi that had not been predicted. He said: “S. zooepidemicus and S. equi are brothers in arms who share a common ancestry but, while acquiring some genes, S. equi has been discarding others it no longer needs.

“The makings of this pathogen may very well be its undoing: it has lost functions found in its more versatile relatives, and consequently finds itself backed into a corner. With the new improved diagnostics, and the prospect of an effective vaccine round the corner, eradication becomes a real possibility.”

The research also has the potential to help other animals and even people, as many of the genes found in S. equi are very similar to those found in a type of Streptococcus that causes pharyngitis, toxic shock syndrome, impetigo and scarlet fever in humans.

It’s not every day you see polo in the centre of Birmingham, but Amy Guy – aka Siren from Sky One’s hit series Gladiator – had her first lesson in Chamberlain Square.

The event was put on to celebrate the city hosting the first ever Celebrity Arena Polo competition, which is set to take place at the British Open Show Jumping Championship at Birmingham’s NEC. Amy will be appearing alongside Katie Price at

the event and they will compete against each other, both captaining a team of two professionals.

Amy said: I am really excited about playing Polo at the British Open with Katie and some top professionals.

“My Gladiator training keeps me fit, but I will be having a few lessons to get me prepared for the match!”

Amy is pictured with her instructor, Rugy Polo Club proprietor Philip Baker.

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3

New findings could bring leap forward in tendonitis treatment

By Louise Cordell A ‘SURPRISE discovery’ made in an ongoing tendon research project could result in a leap forward for the prevention and treatment of tendonitis.

The project, funded by The Horse Trust, has produced new findings on differences between low and high strain tendon renewal.

The research is being carried out by Dr Helen Birch of the Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, and aims to understand how tendons are renewed and how this process changes as horses age.

things go wrong.”

the matrix.

The research is focused on the tissue surrounding the tendon cells, known as the matrix, and the rate at which this tissue renews.

While the reason behind this has not yet been found, she believes that SDFTs may be protected from being turned over too much as this weakens the tendon.

The mechanical properties of the tendon depend on the matrix, so understanding this tissue is key to understanding tendon injury.

She compared matrix turnover in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and the common digital extensor tendon (CDET).

The SDFT is a high-strain, spring-like tendon that is prone to injury, while the CDET is low-strain, positional tendon that is less prone to injury.

She said: “Our long term goal is to understand why tendons become injured and why some are affected more than others.

Helen originally hypothesised that the SDFT would have a higher turnover of matrix to repair the damage caused by the higher strain experienced by the tendon.

“To do this we need to understand more about how tendons maintain themselves and what happens when

However, she found that in fact it is the opposite way round - the highstrain SDFT has less ability to renew

Domestication discovery by team AN international team of archaeologists has uncovered the earliest known evidence of horses being domesticated by humans.

The discovery, published in Science by researchers from Exeter and Bristol University, traces domestication back to the Botai culture of Kazakhstan around 5,500 years ago. This is over 1,000 years earlier than previously thought and about 2,000 years earlier than horses are known to have been domesticated in Europe.

The findings strongly suggest that horses were originally kept, not just for riding, but also to provide food, including milk.

Lead author, Dr Alan Outram of the

University of Exeter, said: “The domestication of horses is known to have had immense social and economic significance, advancing communications, transport, food production and warfare. Our findings indicate that horses were being domesticated about 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.”

The researchers concluded that horses appeared to have been domesticated in preference to cattle, sheep or goats, due to their ability to adapt to severe winters and graze year round, even through snow. Other herding animals needed to be provided with winter fodder and therefore were a later addition.

Helen added: “If we can understand more about how different tendons deal with different strains, we may be able to modify the way horses are trained in order to limit the damage done.

“We know that micro damage occurs in the tendon well before any clinical signs appear and by then it can be too late - so it is important to find what drives the process so that we can intervene in time.”

Helen’s research is now set to continue - focussing on investigating how the matrix is turned over and looking at the differences in the enzymatic process that are found in CDET and SDFT and also in tendons of different ages.

EDITORIAL GROUP EDITOR:

Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 email: ah@whpl.net CONTRIBUTIONS EDITOR:

Christine Keate chris.keate@horsehealthmagazine.co.uk Tel: 07825 097 464 Reporter

Louise Cordell

Tel: 01226 734694

lcordell@whpl.net

PRODUCTION STUDIO MANAGER:

Stewart Holt sth@whpl.net DEPUTY GROUP EDITOR:

Judith Halkerston jhalkerston@whpl.net ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR:

Tony Barry SALES EXECUTIVE:

Beverley Parkin Tel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 734478 bp@whpl.net Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur.

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS

Owner given five-year ban THE owner of a ‘skeletal’ mare has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering after admitting he had not checked on the animal for 18 months.

Peter Rix, 59 of Ashford appeared before Hastings Magistrates Court accused of failing to provide veterinary care and an appropriate diet.

Defending himself, he boasted that he ‘hadn’t called a vet out for 20 years’ and was ‘proud of it’ and has now been banned from keeping horses for five years and ordered to pay costs of £4,500.

World Horse Welfare Field Officer Ted Barnes visited Mr Rix’s rented land near Battle in East Sussex following a call from a concerned member of the public.

He found two fillies in bad condition and the mare, who was in urgent need of help.

Ted said: “I could see the full length of her spine which was raised and prominent and all her ribs were clearly visible.

“The whole of her pelvis was raised and there was dried faeces covering the insides of both hind legs.She was having difficulty walking and her coat was thick, dirty and infested with lice.”

An RSPCA inspector and veterinary surgeon were called out, but in the time it took them to arrive at the

Above: Sharny before and, below, Sharny after.

scene, the mare had collapsed with exhaustion.

All three horses were removed but the vet was unsure whether the mare, renamed ‘Sharny’, would survive – she was so weak she had to be suspended in a sling for six weeks with round the clock care.

However, she gradually improved enough to join the fillies at World Horse Welfare Hall Farm and it is now hoped that all three will eventually be rehomed.

New measures in bid to cut thefts of on-loan horses THE National Equine Database has introduced new measures to reduce the theft of horses out on loan.

The move follows several recent incidents involving freezemarked horses being put on loan and subsequently sold of for slaughter with new passports.

Currently, under EU legislation, it is not compulsory for Passport Issuing Organisations to collect freezemark information and supply it to the database – although many of them do.

However, in recent cases of repassported horses, their freezemarks were not marked on the original passports or the details had not been passed on to NED. Therefore, when the PIO approached to issue the new passport checked NED records, they did not find a passport linked to the freezemark supplied. To help avoid the possibility of this situation happening again, Defra will be advising all PIOs to check NED for existing freezemarks and microchips before issuing passports to adult horses.

On top of this, NED will be launching an online facility that will allow owners to notify the database directly of their horse’s freezemark and/or microchip details.

This information will clearly be marked as data which has been entered by owners, rather than supplied by PIOs, but it will mean that a warning flag is raised if a second passport is applied for.

This will indicate to the PIO that further investigation might be required before a passport is issued.

Jan Rogers, NED spokesman, said: “Once it goes live, the success of this initiative relies on horse owners making sure that they have checked and entered security information for all the horses they own on to NED. “This is clearly the place where all horse information comes together to protect and inform the horse owning community and we are pleased to be able to work with horse owners to deliver the service they need by constantly reviewing what NED can offer.”

Karen develops ‘product for all seasons’ ...

STOP-IT-ALL, a gentle, low lather shampoo and natural vegetable oil really is a ‘product for all seasons’.

Developed by ex-international rider, Karen Ruggles, the two products offer a solution to no less than 18 different skin and itching problems affecting horses as well as other animals.

From repelling mites, flies and other bugs to skin problems caused by itching, mud and dry, sore crusty patches, Stop-it-All is now becoming recognised by many vets as an extremely useful product to have for year-round use.

Karen said: “Our whole ethos was to pioneer products for animals that deliver results to the highest standards but using only the most natural and gentle of ingredients.”

With over 60 testimonials from horse owners, stud farms and international competitors on the website, the powers of this totally natural and chemical-free product speak for themselves.

Horse owner, Barbara Hotchin, said: “I have used Stop-it-All on my Irish Draught horse for sweet-itch and flies as well as for mud-related

problems on a friend’s pony, and it really works. It is a great product and so versatile – I even use it on my own dry skin!”

And, as many horse owners also keep other animals, whether pets or livestock, the knowledge that Stopit-All can also be used on them makes it even more versatile.

Mention this magazine to receive a discount on your first order.

For more information visit: www.karenruggles.co.uk or call 01823 259952.

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 5

Partnership may Euro vaccine bank move over AHS threat lead to better medication control PROGRESS is finally being made against the threat of African Horse Sickness according to government minister Jane Kennedy.

By Louise Cordell MEDICATION control in racing could be set to improve with a new partnership between the British Horseracing Authority and British Racing School.

A new Centre for Racehorse Studies will be opening at the school, with the aim of continuing and developing research and education for medication control.

Tim Morris, director of equine science and welfare at the BHA, said: “The rules of racing state that horses must race free of any medication and we conduct extensive surveillance for evidence of misuse of drugs in horses, or inadvertent presence of veterinary medications. Our figures show that inadvertent carry-over of such medication is the most common reason for a positive drug test in a horse on racedays. Our focus is therefore education and prevention on medication control.

“This involves training, information and advice to trainers and their vets

– and an important component of this is providing data for medicine withdrawal times.”

Horses will be housed in a state of the art barn at the School and kept at a level of training that makes them as representative as possible of horses in training. The Authority will then be able to conduct studies using the horses, giving them the same treatments as those given in training and taking blood and urine samples like those taken on race days. This will hopefully allow them to determine drug levels over time, in order to advise veterinary surgeons on how best to use them on horses in training. The test subjects will be former racehorses which, after life at the Centre, will then go on to other roles, for example retirement or rehoming. Tim added: “We recognise the need to provide trainers and their vets with this important information to allow them to treat their horses, but also avoid raceday positive tests.”

It is a fact that there are herbs that are classed as vermifuge (a herbal agent that will cause the expulsion of worms from the body) and there are herbs classed as vermicide (a herbal agent that destroys worms within the body).

This combination contains herbs that aid the body to cleanse, and demulcents to help soothe the mucous membranes, thus causing no discomfort.

It also contains herbs that help to condition, so this formula is an excellent conditioning powder as well as being an excellent parasite repellent.

We are unable to describe this

The move has been made thanks to pressure from the AHS Working Group, led by The Horse Trust, which brings together the government, scientists and the horse industry to develop an ongoing action plan for tackling the disease if it reaches Northern Europe.

AHS is the most devastating horse illness worldwide, killing around 90 per cent of infected horses.

At present, the disease is largely confined to Africa, but with global warming, there is a risk that the disease could spread to Northern Europe, including Britain.

Unfortunately, the current vaccine has various limitations, but an improved vaccine is in development, and it is hoped it will be available

within two years.

In July, the Working Group also plans to publish a strategy document detailing the measures that will need to be taken to control an outbreak of AHS. This document will include information on how the movement restrictions following an AHS outbreak could impact the £4bn horse industry, including the impact on horse racing, eventing, agriculture and private horse owners.

Paul Jepson, chief executive and veterinary director of The Horse Trust, said: "I am delighted with the progress made so far by the African Horse Sickness Working Group.

“The vaccine stockpiles are a vital step forward that will allow European governments to rapidly

Therapies used for many conditions

NoVerms performs well in trials ...

NOVERMS has undergone years of trials with outstanding results and in many cases it has outperformed so called 'conventional' wormers.

A speech, written by her, was delivered at this year’s National Equine Forum, where it was confirmed that the EU parliament has now established a European vaccine bank which holds a stockpile of 100,000 doses for each of the nine strains of AHS.

FMBs offer a range of pulsed electromagnetic field, massage, laser, magnetic and hot/cold compression therapy products suitable for horses, riders and their dogs.

product as a ‘herbal wormer’ due to guidelines laid down by the Veterinary Medical Directive.

To use the word wormer it would mean that the product would have to undergo registration costing several tens of thousands of pounds.

NoVerms is the number one choice as an alternative to using chemical wormers.

Mrs J S MacGregor, chairman of the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, said: “We have been very satisfied with the herbal worming.

“We carry out regular worm counts and using the herbal wormer has meant that we have only had to worm twice a year.”

For more information call: 0845 2603 602 or visit www.equineiridology.eu.

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 Combi Pro (pulsed electromagnetic and cyclonic massage rug) treats from the top of the neck to the tip of the tail and now also the shoulders and stifle.

It contains 33 therapy components: 19 pulsed electromagnetic and 14 cyclonic massage.

The newly launched Combi Sport, is a traditional rug shape and also offers both pulsed electromagnetic and cyclonic massage therapies. Like the Combi Pro it has preset prewarm up and recovery therapy programmes and is available with either massage or pulsed electromagnetic only components to further reduce the cost.

William Fox-Pitt said: “Having used

the Activo-Med Combi System for over two years now I can honestly say it’s worth the investment ten times over.

“Whilst excellent for rehabilitation, I use the rug on all the horses both before they are worked to loosen and relax their muscles and after to aid the recovery process.”

For more details call 01628 472440 or visit www.fmbs.co.uk.

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS

Editor’s insight...

AS the debate on the number of horses bred for racing develops and accusations fly, I am part of the proof that there are many owners who care very much about their horses.

Meet Sidney, or Super Sid as he is rapidly becoming known.

Christine Keate

Until the middle of last year he was Supercilious the racehorse, but his owner realising he was no longer enjoying his career, sent him to the Racehorse Sanctuary in Sussex to be retrained as a riding horse.

I met him after he had been in work for a few weeks, and am delighted to have been able to give him a home. He has been with me less than a fortnight, and though still quite green, has yet to put a foot wrong.

A livery yard on a working dairy farm in the depths of Sussex is quite a change from the racecourse and cows most definitely not the sort of creatures he is used to rubbing noses with, but so far nothing has fazed him.

Whilst there are many who may not be quite such straightforward characters, given the opportunity they really can go on to have long and rewarding careers away from the track.

There are many centres across the country specialising in rehabilitating and retraining racehorses, sadly, their waiting lists are long and for too many horses time may well run out. I would urge anyone who has the experience and capacity to take on one of these horses to consider the option.

Search for the best equine apprentices A NEW national competition has been launched to find the best equine apprentices in the country.

Stubbing Court Training has created the SkillHorse trial which will test the entrants’ grooming, plaiting and lunging skills as well as their ability to ride on the flat and over jumps.

Six advanced apprentices will compete at the final in May and judge Ian Stark will present the winner with a £500 training bursary.

The competition has been developed by Chesterfield based SCT with the support of equestrian figures including chief executive of

British Eventing, Mike EtheringtonSmith and course designer and trainer, Ian Stark.

Its aim is to showcase excellent vocational skills in order to motivate and reward young people to work to world class standards.

Belinda Turner, SCT’s chief executive, said: “The competition

will give apprentices a unique opportunity to show their skills in their work with horses through competition.

“We are delighted to be able to hold the final during Chatsworth International Horse Trials, a hugely prestigious venue, and offer this fantastic reward for the winner.”

Association slams ‘sensationalist’ claims

By Louise Cordell

over-production of thoroughbreds.

THE industry has reacted angrily to claims that thousands of horses are being slaughtered every year simply because they don’t make the grade.

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association has now entered the debate, acknowledging that while there are some concerns about overproduction, the UK industry is producing foals for an open market.

The bold claims by animal rights campaigners that foals were ‘being killed at birth, mares shot in the field, pregnant horses aborted, and healthy prize winners butchered in the abattoir’ have been branded ‘inaccurate and sensationalist’ by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Animal Aid hit national headlines with its claims which also won the support of MP Mike Hancock who tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for an end to the

In a statement, the TBA said: “We have been advised that imposing restrictions on production would incur a legal challenge – therefore the only measures available to influence change are market forces and education.”

The statement confirms that the industry is currently witnessing a reduction in demand for racehorses as the economic climate worsens.

But it also points out that over 26,000 individual horses are needed in training to meet the Fixture List requirements – and British foal production alone – which stood at 5,912 at 31 December 2008 – cannot provide sufficient numbers.

It added: “Thoroughbred racehorses have some of the highest costs of production of all horse breeds, and their care and welfare are of paramount importance to breeders.

“It makes no economic sense for breeders to destroy healthy foals or mares solely because of the current economic downturn, when they could be kept in order to be sold or to be covered in later years.

“At this stage there is only anecdotal evidence to support a perceived reduction in the number of British mares to be covered in 2009.

“In the meantime, the TBA accepts that a reduction in numbers may not be fully reflected in the resulting foal crop of 2009.

“The Racing Post survey of 2008 noted that 67 per cent of breeders own horses in training and 77 per cent of breeders have been in the industry longer than 10 years. This level of investment confirms that racing and breeding in Great Britain are interdependent, and breeding in particular is dependent on a healthy racing industry for its future.”

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 7

E-booklet offers advice on chronic grass sickness A NEW e-booklet has been launched on the care and management of horses affected with chronic grass sickness.

Commissioned by World Horse Welfare and written by experts from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the booklet aims to provide advice and guidance on the diagnosis, treatment and risk factors associated with the illness.

Professor Bruce McGorum, head of the School’s equine hospital, said: “In the last 20 years, 61 per cent of horses with chronic grass sickness admitted to the hospital have been nursed to recovery and the majority of these have even returned to work.

“Sadly, horses with the acute and sub-acute forms of the disease do not recover, but the research continues.”

For the last decade, World Horse Welfare has contributed towards the cost of employ a nurse at the hospital specifically to care for the management of these cases.

These nurses are able to provide advice to owners and veterinarians and they have developed a nursing protocol which has greatly improved the survival rate.

Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare chief executive, said: “Our nursing programme has provided unparalleled care for horses suffering from chronic grass sickness as well as considerable support to their distressed owners. In addition, the nurses help anxious owners anywhere who are caring for horses themselves. We believe that this e-booklet will be indispensable to anyone who is faced with the challenges of this appalling disease.”

Website tool wins innovation award ABBEYVIEW Equine has won a BETA International Innovation Award for PagePlay, their new easy website tool.

It has been designed to enable businesses of all sizes to control their own website, offering unlimited pages and content, including photographs and videos.

Abbeyview specialises in online marketing for equine and agricultural businesses of all sizes and

was set up in October, making BETA it's first major exhibition. World class performance manager, Yogi Breisner, said: “PagePlay makes it affordable for every equestrian to have their own website and would be useful to a wide range of people across all horse sports and businesses.”

All products entered for the award were new onto the market within the last 12 months and many past winners have gone on to become household names in the equine world.

Magazine focuses on the holistic approach NATURAL Horsemanship Magazine is becoming a full colour A4 glossy magazine this April.

The bi-monthly magazine is unique as it is the only equestrian title that focuses on the natural and holistic approach to horses and their management.

The team, headed up by founder editor Lorraine Stanton, and the former Pacemaker publisher Alex Wilson, have big plans.

New feature ideas to complement old favourites, including an exclusive interview with champion dressage rider, Lucinda McAlpine, the barehoof approach with Dan Guerrera, holistic dentistry with Garry Draper, iridology, Lyn Henry’s Think Like a Pony column, Panel of Experts,

First ‘independent partner’ for society THE Classical Riding Club has become the first ‘independent partner’ of the British Horse Society.

The new form of association has been created to allow the Society to work together with other organisiation that share its aims and objectives, and to help the smaller organisations benefit from the Society’s strengths. Patrick Print, BHS chairman, said: “It has been one of my overriding objectives that the BHS should share its resources with organisations whose aims are consistent with our own but which lack the capacity to make the most of their potential.

“If we can help them we will be promoting a much greater good for horses and equestrians than if we simply jostle for pre-eminence.”

However, Mr Print made clear that the BHS and its independent partners were not obliged, or even likely, to agree on everything.

He added: “Long gone are the days when there were perceived to be only two ways of doing things: the BHS way and the wrong way. This means that there will always be room for debate, and even disagreement, when matters of judgement and perspective are concerned.”

CRC Founder Sylvia Loch said: “We will certainly look for opportunities to support each other where our specific interests overlap but we reserve the right to disagree with the Society when our judgement and theirs diverge. This is not a merger, still less a takeover, but a true partnership.”

Massage system targets main muscle groups where readers can ask experts their questions; as well as Paws for Thought with expert dog behaviourist and author, Marie Miller bringing the natural approach to dogs to the magazine.

To celebrate the re-launch, Natural Horsemanship is offering readers of Horse Health the opportunity to try the magazine for free.

Subscribe and receive seven issues for the price of six, and if you are not 100 per cent satisfied with your first issue receive a money back, no questions asked, guarantee and, of course, you keep your trial issue.

For more details call 0330 088 2860 or subscribe on-line at www.naturalhorsemanship magazine.co.uk.

NEW Cyclo-ssage Pro Equine Massage System directly targets main muscle groups from neck to hind quarters.

Used and favored by professional riders, vets and physiotherapists, the lightweight, rug-based system now features extended massage areas which encompass the shoulder and hind quarter areas – ensuring the cycloidal massage is applied directly to the horse’s main muscle groups via a choice of various intensities and programs.

The inclusion of a detachable neck piece brings the total massage motor number to fourteen and leads to a softer, more relaxed horse from poll to tail.

Cyclo-ssage have also fine-tuned the

system to include a soft breathable mesh along the spine and crest, elasticated cross surcingles, lithium ion battery and twin, removable and washable fleece linings in both the neck piece and rug.

The system has already proved to assist in easing muscle pain and tension, improving spinal and joint mobility, reducing lactic acid build up, stimulating the lymph system and helping the body evacuate metabolic products.

In addition, the system relaxes before, during and after travelling and helps to accelerate recovery after injury.

For more information, or to organise a free demonstration call: 0800 169 2808 or visit: www.cyclo-ssage.com.

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS

Breeding awareness day planned for May THE first event to publicise the British Horse Society’s Responsible Breeding campaign is set to take place in May. The BHS SEIB Breeding Awareness Day will feature a practical demonstration from worldrenowned equine behaviourist Richard Maxwell.

It will take place on 2 May at Hartpury College and is open to anyone with an interest in breeding horses, from the complete novice to those with more experience.

Also attending to speak on the issue will be equine reproduction vet Tim Galer of Peasebrook Equine Clinic and Redwings veterinary surgeon Nick de Brauwere. A BHS spokesperson said: “We are really looking forward to the BHS and SEIB Breeding Awareness Day. “The quality of our speakers means that there will be something for everybody to learn and we hope it will encourage people to think very carefully before breeding from their horses.”

Tickets for the SEIB-sponsored event are strictly limited and priced at £5 each.

For more information contact welfare@bhs.org.uk.

The growing population of horses in the UK has been described as the country’s most significant equine welfare problem. Now, with the British Horse Society set to launch a new Responsible Breeding campaign, Horse Health finds out how those taking part hope to tackle the issues involved.

Breeding campaign launched is actually good breeding stock.

THE British Horse Society has announced plans to launch a new campaign aimed at encouraging responsible breeding in the UK.

“Others do it because they think it is a money making scheme, but even well bred, valuable horses are going for extremely low prices at the moment - so the chances of any of lower quality doing so are not very high.”

The society has reported its alarm at the number of horses and ponies currently being bred without enough consideration for their future and has pointed out the the current recession has made the issue more important than ever.

Lee Hackett, BHS welfare senior executive, said: “The most significant welfare problem in the country is that there are too many horses and not enough competent people to care for them.

“We felt that it was time that efforts were made to highlight the problems and hopefully get people thinking.

“There is plenty of evidence of irresponsible breeding around – you only have to visit rescue centres or lower end sales to see that there are many poorly conformed horses of little value that really shouldn’t have been bred in the first place.”

The society is claiming that, with an

estimated 1.35m horses and ponies in the UK, there are simply not enough experienced homes to cope with the current equine population and is urging anyone contemplating breeding a foal to think carefully before adding to the problem.

So it has teamed up with South Essex Insurance Brokers in order to put on a series of events to raise awareness of the issues involved.

Lee added: “We often hear from people who are considering breeding their horses, but are doing it for all the wrong reasons.

“They haven’t really considered if she

The Society has stressed that there are many defects and diseases that are heritable and could be passed on to a foal – limiting its worth.

Not all traits like this are visible, so many breeders may have no idea that they are compromising any future value on the commercial market.

Lee added: “Ideally we would like anyone who is inexperienced or breeding for the first time to get an independent evaluation of the mare, preferably by a vet and an experienced instructor, who are able to impartially consider if she is of sufficient genetic merit.

“Obviously doing this can’t guarantee success, but it would definitely be a step in the right direction.”

Call for potential breeders to seek expert advice IT is often the equine charities that are left to pick up the pieces when unwanted horses are abandoned after being passed over for sale.

Redwings veterinary surgeon Nick de Brauwere is supporting the BHS campaign and believes that any owner thinking about breeding a mare should get expert advice from someone with a knowledge of the mechanics of breeding, as well as what qualities are wanted in the foal.

He said: “The world would be a much happier place if people would think beyond their desire to have a cute foal – the first question people ask themselves should be ‘do I have a really good reason for wanting to breed?’

“Without this, at best they are being bred from parents with no breeding or performance history to appeal to prospective buyers and at worst from parents with heritable genetic conditions, putting the foal at a serious disadvantage.”

He pointed out that for many years the standard advice to horse owners was that putting a retired mare in foal was a viable option.

However, while vets are now taking a different approach, there are still many foals being bred from

fundamentally unsound horses.

He added: “I would strongly urge anyone considering breeding from their mare to get a vet in to examine her first, as they will be able to point our any potential difficulties – from whether the mare is built to support a successful pregnancy in the first place, to whether she has desirable traits to pass on to a foal.”

Nick also advises potential breeders to make use of the many underused resources which are available to help them make the right decisions.

An example is the National Equine Database, which follows breeding success and bloodlines, and can be a good way of considering a foal’s potential performance, as breeding from stock that has done well in a desired discipline will give any offspring an immediate advantage.

Nick added: “It should be look at as a very logical decisions – owners need to consider exactly what they want from a foal, and decide if the mare can provide it.

“It is easy to see why the desire for a foal takes over, but at the end of the day you are responsible for bringing a living thing into the world, and you could end up being responsible for its welfare for the rest of its life.”

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HORSE HEALTH I

The latest techniques for predicting laminitis risk

By Clare Barfoot RNutr Spillers R&D manager and Pat Harris MRCVS WALTHAM and Director of Science MARS HorseCare LAMINITIS sometimes seems to have no rhyme or reason as to why or which horses it strikes.

Some seemingly fat animals never seem to get it and others that you would think wouldn’t fall foul can be affected.

Therefore alongside pasture and dietary management, a way of predicting susceptible animals would be a useful tool for owners and veterinarians alike and this has been the subject of much research at Virginia Tech University.

Insulin resistance: It has been well recognised that obese animals, especially ponies, are more prone to laminitis; this may in part be linked with mechanical trauma but is more likely to be associated with insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a component of several metabolic conditions and a risk factor for the development of many diseases in humans as well as the horse.

In man these conditions include diabetes mellitus type II, obesity, coronary heart disease and cancer.

In the horse changes in insulin sensitivity are associated with certain diseases, including some forms of the equine rhabdomyolysis syndrome, osteochondrosis, hyperlipidemia and laminitis.

Insulin resistance is regarded generally as a decrease in tissue responses to insulin and more specifically as a decrease in insulin mediated uptake of glucose or more simply as a diminished ability of a given concentration of insulin to

exert its normal biological effects.

Obesity and diet have been shown to have an effect on insulin sensitivity.

Insulin sensitivity has also been shown to be lower in laminitic animals suggesting its role in the development of laminitis.

The ‘syndrome’ of obesity, insulin resistance and laminitis in mature horses has been referred to as either ‘peripheral Cushing’s syndrome’ or an equine ‘metabolic syndrome’ although this description has been disputed.

Insulin sensitivity has also been found to be affected by diet; large fluctuations in glucose and insulin following meals high in sugar and starch may supply inappropriate signals of energy availability to the glucose regulatory system, altering insulin sensitivity of the tissue.

Researchers in Virginia have recently developed a specific quantitative method for measuring insulin resistance, the minimal model, which can be used as part of an evaluation to predict laminitis susceptible animals.

Obese animals, especially ponies, are more prone to laminitis.

Research findings:

Researchers at the university have also been studying fat distribution and morphometric measurements in horses and ponies with a view to using them to predict animals that may be more prone to laminitis.

Previous studies have used a measurement of insulin resistance, insulin response to glucose, blood triglyceride level and obesity (body condition score greater than six) on a one to nine scale to predict animals at risk, however the predictive power was lower than desirable at 65 per

A typical laminitic stance. Picture courtesy of RVC

A body condition scoring system could help minimise risks. cent. Therefore researchers began to start looking at other variables that might improve the predictive power.

Out of all the additional morphometric and physiological measures which included bodyweight, height, length, girth and abdominal circumferences, neck length, neck crest height and neck circumferences, body condition scores and cresty neck scores alongside various physiological parameters such as insulin, glucose, leptin and triglycerides. A cresty neck score greater than three along with a body condition score greater than six increased the predictive power to 75 per cent.

Spillers is also working with researchers at Liverpool Veterinary School, who are undertaking a key project sponsored by the World Horse Welfare looking at developing a brand new condition scoring system especially designed for ponies.

Ponies represent half of all equines in the UK and with half these animals being overweight the obese pony comprises a major welfare issue that could be improved by the provision of clear indicators for estimating total body fat.

The aim for the development of such a system would be to produce a practical body condition scoring system for ponies which can monitor changes in overall ‘fatness’ and prioritise ‘risky’ regional deposits.

However, before the system can be developed it is important that the adipose biology of ponies and its relevance to disease is understood.

As our understanding of the predisposing factors for laminitis develops and we develop objective methods to help predict which animals may be susceptible to this debilitating condition hopefully we can direct management strategies more effectively to help prevent laminitis occurring.

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feeding and nutrition

North Yorkshire-based British Horse Feeds are set to support a series of events throughout the Midlands this summer.

Organised by Stuart and Anna Buntine, the Midlands area Horse Trials events at Oasby, Prestwold, Wolverhampton, Southwell and Shelford Manor

are widely regarded throughout the region.

Simon Parker, British Horse Feeds marketing manager, said: “Stuart and Anna organise events that are well run, that both competitors and spectators enjoy and we are very pleased to be supporting them this year.”

A new hay steamer from Happy Horse Products aims to eliminate the dangers that dusty or mouldy hay can pose to horses health.

The steamer introduces steam to the hay at 100°C, which helps to kill the majority of fungal spores, bacteria and dust mites, which are not eliminated by soaking alone.

The steaming process takes around 40 minutes, depending on hay type and quality, and the new model features a timer which means that the hay can be ready and waiting in time for a yard visit.

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feeding and nutrition

How to maintain digestive health

By Ali Howe of Biotal THE lifestyle of a horse that competes on a regular basis and often stays away for short periods makes it susceptible to digestive upset.

Frequent changes in routine, in terms of dietary makeup and feeding time, significantly increases the risk of digestive problems.

Epidemiological studies of colic for example, have reported that recent travel, a change in type of forage and large infrequent meals that are high in starch; significantly increase the risk of an episode of colic.

Loose droppings are also common in competition horses that are under stress and that travel away to competition on a frequent basis.

Travel can also exacerbate gastric ulcers, especially where no feed or forage is provided over longer journeys.

This increases the amount of time that the sensitive non-glandular region of the stomach is exposed to a high acid medium.

The balance of microflora in the digestive tract, especially the hindgut provides the key to maintaining digestive efficiency and health in horses with busy competitive schedules.

changes in the diet.

the diet.

This may mean that you need to take adequate supplies of feed and or forage with you.

This is beneficial as the immune system can be transiently depressed during prolonged travel, leaving horses susceptible to respiratory disease including shipping fever.

Feeding forage during travel is good, as it helps to maintain saliva production to ward off gastric ulcers, but also to help maintain fermentation in the hindgut and encourages drinking.

Any concentrate feed should be given on a little and often basis, avoiding large meals that can compromise the hindgut and lead to digestive problems such as colic.

For horses that have a history of gastric ulcers, or where travel time is relatively long, anti-ulcerogenic supplements are useful to help maintain gastric health.

Careful consideration of feed and management therefore in competition horses, especially during travel, can help to ensure that they remain fit to compete.

Strategic use of a probiotic supplements for a few days before travel and during the travel itself, including any periods away can help to maintain the status quo in your horses gut and alleviate the potential effects of travel stress.

Many feeding steps can be taken to alleviate the negative effects of frequent travel on the gut.

Use of probiotic yeast will help to maintain an optimum environment in the hindgut needed to retain good fermentation and maintain the level of ‘friendly bacteria’ in the hindgut, which can be adversely affected by stress.

Live yeast also helps prevent undesirable bacteria such as salmonella sp from gaining a foothold in the gut and causing trouble such as scouring.

There are many feeding steps that can be taken to alleviate the negative effects of competition stress and frequent travel on the gut.

Maintaining the balance of healthy bacteria and a good pattern of fermentation is also important to ensure adequate reabsorption of water from the colon to help prevent dehydration, which can be a problem during travel especially in horses that sweat profusely.

Try to maintain your feeding regime as near to normal as possible, avoiding any radical

The immune system can also receive a boost from the presence of a probiotic such as live yeast in

Horses that compete on a regular basis can be susceptible to digestive upset

Product uses therapeutic tissue cooling A NEW product has been launched which uses therapeutic tissue cooling to help stop the onset of acute laminitis.

The Apex 5C has been developed with Dr James Orsini and Dr Andrew van Eps at the University of Pennsylvania who have been working to reproduce the results of a 2004 study carried out at the University of Queensland.

The researchers believe the original

research showed that using cryotherapy to continuously cool the distal limb to bring the internal hoof temperature to five degrees or less successfully arrested the onset of laminitis.

However, in the Australian study immersion in iced water was used to cool the limb, while the Apex 5C produces similar temperatures using dry technology.

This helps to prevent problems that

can result in the legs from prolonged immersion in water and also allows the horse to maintain some mobility within a stall.

Following the study, researchers Dr van Eps and Dr Orsini noted that while further research is needed, they feel the initial findings using new technology showed: “Considerable promise as a technique for preventing acute laminitis.”

New supplement provides targeted nutrition CORRECT nutrition is vital for good health, correct bodily functions, repair and maintenance of tissue, as well as, fighting disease.

If a horse is lacking in vital nutrients or anti-oxidants, the systems within

the body are not working at full capacity and therefore will have a reduced ability to regain and maintain good health. Laminitis causes tremendous stress to the body, increasing its requirements for

specific nutrients and anti-oxidants.

A new supplement, Lamigard Xxxtreme Paste provides targeted nutrition to the horse or pony with laminitis to encourage health and support the body’s systems. Laminitis

is a dangerous disease and signs of an attack should be treated as a medical emergency. Good health can then be maintained with Lamigard Powder alongside a carefully managed routine and feeding regime.

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feeding and nutrition

‘You are what you eat’

By Katie Williams M.S.c (Dist) R Nutr, Senior Nutritionist for Dengie Horse Feeds THE recent media interest in omega 3 fatty acids and their beneficial effects for health and well-being has added yet more weight to the argument that ‘you are what you eat’.

But how about our horses – could they benefit from increased omega 3 fatty acids in their diet too?

What are essential fatty acids: As the name suggests, essential fatty acids must be supplied in the diet as the body can’t synthesise them itself.

Essential fatty acids are long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and to understand what this means we need to break it down further.

Fatty acids are chains of carbon atoms joined together; long chains contain 12 or more carbon atoms.

The bonds that join the carbon atoms are either single or double bonds – a fatty acid containing only single bonds is a saturated fatty acid and a polyunsaturated fatty acid contains more than one double bond.

So, essential fatty acids contain more

than 12 carbon atoms and contain more than one double bond.

They are also often referred to as omega 3 or omega 6.

The number refers to the position of the first double bond in the chain; omega 3s have the double bond linked to the third carbon atom whereas in omega 6 it is linked to the 6th carbon atom.

So why are essential fatty acids important?

Fatty acids are incorporated into a number of tissues in the body including the brain.

Cell membranes contain fatty acids and it tends to follow that the proportions of fatty acids consumed in the diet are incorporated into cell membranes in the same ratios.

6 puts the body in an ‘inflammatory’ state and is linked to diseases such as arthritis.

Where do omega 3 and 6 fatty acids come from?

Oily fish are recognised as the best sources of omega 3 which is why humans are encouraged to eat two portions of oily fish each week.

As omega 3 and 6 both compete for the enzymes in the body that convert them into a useful format, the ratio of each in the diet is important.

The fatty acids in cell membranes can be released and transformed into prostaglandins and thromboxanes.

For humans it is generally recommended that a maximum 5:1 omega 6:3 ratio is consumed.

If omega 6 are converted to these substances they create proinflammatory prostaglandins whereas omega 3 create anti-inflammatory ones.

But how does this translate to horses?

To summarise, it is generally accepted that high intake of omega

Omega 3 in equine diets: The horse’s natural diet contains very little oil and even when

supplementary oil is fed, horses tend to consume much lower levels in relation to their total diet than humans.

However, feeding oils that contain high omega 6:3 ratios as well as cereals is undoubtedly changing the ratio of fatty acids compared to what would normally be found in the horse’s natural diet.

Although we don’t yet know the full implications of this, if work in other animals and humans is an indicator, it is not advisable to significantly increase the 6:3 ratio and so it is worth considering adding more omega 3 to your horse’s diet.

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feeding and nutrition

Introducing new liquid joint supplement A NEW liquid joint supplement aimed at increasing mobility has been launched by Blue Chip.

The product has been developed using natural ingredients, including a rosehip extract which has been shown in equine studies to improve joint health and movement.

In the trials, a group of 74 racehorses fed this extract ran one second faster over 1000 metres and were considered to be more lithe after strenuous exercise. The supplement also contains glycosides, vitamin and a saponin extract of

yucca to achieve the best results.

Racehorse trainer Henry Candy said: “I have used Joint RLF supplement on four horses over the winter and they have all shown marked improvements in their action.”

Clare Blaskey, Blue Chip founder, added: “The powerful properties of rosehip have been known for decades, but we are the first to bring this product to the equine sector.

“The natural formulation really is a breakthrough in drug free support and maintenance of healthy, mobile joints.”

Electrolyte supplement launched A NEW electrolyte supplement has been developed to help horses suffering from stress or travelling nerves.

The product, from Carl Hester’s Net Tex range, helps to replace lost electrolytes as well as reducing lactic acid build up to help improve performance.

Replacing electrolytes is particularly important in the summer, due to increased activity and excessive heat and humidity and the supplement can

be given up to an hour before or after strenuous activity for maximum effect.

It can also help horses undertaking long journeys, as time spent in a lorry or trailer can have a detrimental effect on health, for example, muscles that are forced to brace against the movement during a journey rather than contracting and relaxing as they would normally, can stiffen and will require more warming up than usual.

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During spring and summer months grass is the primary source of nutrition for many horses

Is grass alone enough for your horses?

By Louise Jones MSc, BSc (Hons), R.Nutr – Nutritionist, Dodson and Horrell HORSES have naturally survived on a diet of grass for centuries and many look spectacular during the spring and summer months on a diet of grass alone.

So, are supplementary feeds really needed or are feed companies just trying to boost their profits?

For over 20 years Dodson and Horrell have been collecting grass samples from all over the UK and sending them to independent laboratories for mineral analysis.

This scientific research has for the first time shown that UK pasture may not provide your horse with a fully balanced diet and this could have serious implications for their health.

During the spring and summer months grass is the primary source of nutrition for many horses and can significantly contribute to their energy, protein and fibre

‘During the spring and summer months grass is the primary source of nutrition for many horses and can significantly contribute to their energy, protein and fibre requirements.’

requirements.

Indeed research has shown that horses can gain between one to 3.7 kg a day on a diet of grass alone.

This indicates that in many cases grazing will oversupply calories but what about minerals?

Although, horses don’t require minerals in large quantities they are essential for health and well-being.

Our research has shown that, with the exception of potassium, a diet of pasture alone will not provide your horse with optimal levels of all the essential minerals they require to remain healthy.

For example, zinc plays an important role in the maintenance of healthy hooves and deficiencies will result in poor hoof condition.

Horses at grass during the summer may only receive 70 per cent of their minimum zinc requirements, i.e. are 30 per cent deficient in zinc.

The same is true for several other important minerals and this highlights the importance of providing all horses with an additional source of minerals (e.g. a concentrate feed or supplement) even during the spring and summer.

You can get the mineral content of your grass tested and most feed companies can arrange this for a fee of around £40-50 per sample.

Your nutritionist will then be able to advise you on the most suitable feed or supplement for your individual horses to balance any mineral deficiencies in your grazing.

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feeding and nutrition

Arena celebration THE 2009 Parelli Celebration is set to take place at Birmingham’s LG Arena in November.

During the two-day show, Pat and Linda Parelli will be looking at everything from leisure riding to the competition area and from novice to world championship level.

Parelli students will be demonstrating the skills they have learned individually, in pairs and in teams and lessons will be given on developing partnerships and working with introvert and extrovert horses.

Pat will also hold a session teaching visitors to use patterns to exercise their horses mentally, emotionally and physically.

Finally, Walter Zettl, one of the modern masters of classical dressage, will use the afternoon to give talks and demonstrations about his work with horses.

The key to maintaining gastric health in horses?

BIOTAL Gastro Gold is a new supplement that may hold the key to maintaining gastric health in horses at risk of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.

The incidence of EGUS in non-racing performance horses is reported to be as high as 80 per cent and can manifest its self in a number of clinical symptoms such as poor performance, loss of appetite and loss of condition to name a few. Biotal Gastro Gold, originally developed for human health, can be used during competition and may provide a much needed dietary solution

for the maintenance of gastric health in competition and leisure horses.

BIOTAL Equine Gold is a live yeast probiotic supplement that supports essential ‘friendly bacteria’ in the gut.

Fed daily it helps to stabilise the digestive system, promote efficient digestion and support natural immunity.

It is a supplement to consider for all horses, especially those on cereal diets and for those whose systems are placed under greater stress such as when competing, travelling, while on antibiotics or during worming.

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Horse wormer wins award THIS year’s BETA International Innovation Award was presented to Virbac for their new combination wormer for horses.

The ‘Equimax Tabs’ have been developed over eight years and, aimed at addressing the problems often encountered with a conventional syringe, provide worming care in an easy to administer tablet.

One tablet is given per 100 kg body weight and any unused supply can be stored for use at a later date, cutting down on waste.

The award judges said: “This is a genuinely innovative idea that cuts down on waste and makes worming easy – and it is the result of excellent, robust trial work.”

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HORSE HEALTH I

Right: It is important to dose horses accurately according to bodyweight to ensure the worm burden is treated effectively.

And far right, tapeworm inside the horse’s gut.

By Ben Gaskell, BVSc MRCVS, Veterinary Adviser at Pfizer Animal Health

Tackling tapeworm THE equine tapeworm, although an elusive creature, tends to be a particular worry for horse owners because of its association with certain types of colic.

Here, we take a look at some basic aspects of a tapeworm lifecycle, how they are thought to affect the horse and a summary of effective diagnostic and treatment protocols currently available.

What are they?

Tapeworms are white flattened, segmented worms with small round heads, which can grow to around 8cm long and 1.5cm wide.

The adult worms live in the equine gut, at the ileo-caecal junction between the small and the large intestine, firmly attaching themselves into the gut wall.

The species of tapeworm that is linked to clinical equine disease in the UK is Anoplocephala perfoliata.

How do they affect horses?

Various studies examining the prevalence of tapeworm infection suggest that up to 81 per cent of horses may have some level of tapeworm infection but this figure will vary hugely with climatic conditions and management.

Although a greater understanding of prevalence is important when assessing a potential worm burden, it is the level of infection that is more significant.

Horses with higher levels of infection are more at risk from intestinal disease.

Research indicates that a horse infected with tapeworm is around eight times more likely to develop spasmodic colic than a non-infected horse and up to 26 times more likely to suffer ileal impaction colic.

Tapeworm infection can also cause other significant health problems such as loss of performance, diarrhoea and loss of hair, to the potentially fatal perforation of the intestine.

Investigations have indicated that any horse can be at risk of tapeworm infection from as young as five months to over 30 years old but that the highest risk group is horses of under five years of age.

The tapeworm lifecycle: Tapeworm eggs, passed in the faeces by infected horses are eaten by forage mites present in the pasture.

Once ingested the tapeworm eggs hatch into the infective intermediate stage inside the mite.

At pasture, the horse inadvertently grazes these tapeworm infected mites, the mite is digested in the intestine and the immature tapeworm is released.

The tapeworm matures inside the horse’s gut into the segmented adult worm, which attaches to the gut lining and proceeds to shed segments of its body that contain eggs.

The segments are broken down during gut transit and the eggs are passed out of the horse in faeces within 48 hours.

The eggs are ingested by forage

‘Tapeworm infection can also cause other significant health problems such as loss of performance, diarrhoea and loss of hair, to the potentially fatal perforation of the intestine’ mites and the cycle begins again.

Although the timings are not completely understood, the life-cycle takes between four and six months to complete and tapeworm eggs can survive on pasture for up to nine months.

infection in your horses.

Testing for tapeworm:

However the effects of tapeworm ingestion may be seen later as the adults develop.

A horse’s tapeworm burden and a yard’s prevalence for infection can be tough to determine.

The worms show no real preference for a particular season and in addition, because the segments break off randomly and are passed intermittently in the horse’s dung, a faecal egg count can be an unreliable method for identifying the level of infection.

The best way to test for tapeworm is a tapeworm antibody test, which can be carried out by your vet.

The level of antibody is used to identify the level of exposure to tapeworm and associated risk of tapeworm related disease.

This test is limited when it comes to identifying between non-infected horses and low grade infections, and it also can’t accurately reflect the effects of a recent treatment, but the information is still useful in building a picture of overall tapeworm

Controlling tapeworm: Horses are essentially susceptible to tapeworm infection during the grazing season when they will be exposed to the ingestion of tapeworm eggs.

On this basis treatment towards the end of the grazing season to remove a build up of infection, and if needed, in springtime to remove any burden before the grazing season starts, would seem a sensible approach.

However combining a basic approach with strategic testing for tapeworm burden, will allow you to build a more complete picture of the risk periods and optimum treatment times for your horse.

Tapeworm need to be controlled with either a double dose of a pyrantel-based wormer or by the administration of praziquantel-based wormer.

It is important to dose horses accurately according to bodyweight when using any worming treatments, to ensure that the worm burden is treated effectively.

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HORSE HEALTH I

Managing the worm burden

By Rachael Conwell BVetMed CertEM MRCVS of Equine Medicine Referrals THERE has never been a more important time for horse owners to take a responsible and educated approach to worm management.

There are only three main groups of wormers available for use in horses, and already resistance to several of these groups has been identified in common worms affecting horses in the UK, rendering some wormers ineffective.

Widespread worm resistance would have potentially disastrous economic and horse health effects.

There is no single worming regime suitable for all yards - the number of horses, degree of pasture contamination, age group, movement of new horses, methods of pasture rotation, dung collection and any current resistance problems must all be taken into account before formulating an individual worm programme.

Diagnostic testing: It is becoming increasingly apparent that routine interval dosing of all animals on a yard (administration of a specific drug at regular time intervals) is not only expensive and often unnecessary but may select for resistance.

We now know that individual worm burdens can vary significantly from one horse to another.

Even horses on the same yard and under the same management can have significantly different infestation levels.

A study in Georgia found that 27 per cent of horses produced 83 per cent of the total egg output, whilst 55 per cent of horses produced only four per cent.

The reason for this is not yet understood, but using regular faecal egg counts to obtain a pattern of each horse’s egg output can be really

useful in determining whether or not it needs treatment.

Targeted strategic dosing is therefore now advocated by experts.

Sample bags or pots from your vet, testing lab or local retailer, should be returned for analysis as quickly as possible after sample collection (if necessary, refrigerate until posting/delivery).

Individuals that have a high worm burden can then be identified and treated appropriately.

However, the egg count will not pick up all the different types of worm that a horse may carry.

It is a measure of the large strongyle burden, but will generally not identify the presence of tapeworm or small redworm larvae.

Whilst a blood sample can show the degree of tapeworm infection, there is no simple test to identify the presence of inhibited small redworm, which are recognised as the cause of a wide range of major disease problems such as weight loss and diarrhoea.

Treatments: The three major drug groups available are: the benzimidazoles (fenbendazole is most commonly

used in horses), the tetrahydropyrimidines (pyrantel), and the macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin and moxidectin).

The small redworms, or cyathostomins, cause the most significant disease in horses, in particular the inhibited stages.

Control can be difficult as each wormer group is effective against different stages of the life cycle.

Ivermectin is effective against the adult worms and some larvae but not the encysted and inhibited stages of small redworms (cyathostomins) whereas moxidectin is also effective against these stages.

To preserve the efficacy of the macrocyclic lactones to which widespread resistance has not yet (to our knowledge) developed.

It is therefore very important to avoid inappropriate or over use of moxidectin so that it can continue to be used to treat cyathostomins for some years to come.

Resistance in tapeworm has not yet been identified, and both double dose pyrantel and single dose praziquantel are effective.

Prevention is better than cure: The most effective way to reduce the level of worm challenge is by

removal of droppings from the pasture. This will help reduce the number of worms that the horse ingests and should be carried out at least twice weekly, with once weekly acceptable in the winter.

High stocking density, over-grazing, horses with high worm egg counts, young horses, warm wet weather and multiple horses on the same pasture all increase the level of worm infection on any given pasture.

Rotating with or grazing alongside other species such as cattle and sheep is effective at reducing the worm burden as the larvae are effectively ‘mopped up’.

The future: ‘Refugia’ is a concept that is becoming ever more popular amongst veterinary parasitologists.

This is the population of worms not exposed to treatment. The greater the number of worms in refugia, the slower the development of resistance, as these worms remain susceptible and can dilute the resistant genes within the worm population.

Future areas of interest for biological control include use of a fungus and also dung beetles that reduce the survival of the larvae.

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tack technology JOHN Whitaker International launched its Passion saddle ten years ago and the manufacturers say it is still as popular now as ever – with nothing on the market to match it.

A spokesperson said: “There are similar things out there but it’s held its own in the market for the last ten years and the fact that John Whitaker still uses his says it all.’

The one-piece nylon tree – guaranteed for life – moves with the horses back and latex memory foam means there is less restriction on the shoulders, benefitting

Gemma Tattersall

Newly-launched saddle cost £1m to develop RECENTLY launched saddle brand Quantum have announced a new association with international eventer Gemma Tattersall.

The Quantum AMS saddle has been developed over the last ten years at a cost of £1m and features the latest tack technology.

Gemma’s 2009 competition focus includes the under 25 championship at Branham and Burghley and she said:

“With a string of novice and advanced horses, I had to be sure that the saddle worked for them all, and it did – beyond my expectations.

“It gives the rider a secure feel, but allows the horses to move without restriction and as a consequence we have seen a dramatic improvement in both their ability and attitude.”

HORSE HEALTH I 25

movement and flexibility. It also means the saddle doesn’t lift while jumping.

Responding to demand, John Whitaker International launched a more affordable version – The Whittaker – at the end of last year, available with suede seat and knee rolls.

For riders that often change horses, a reshaping service is available for both saddles, meaning the tree can be adapted to suit each mount.

The spokesperson added: “It’s not just John’s name that’s put to the products, he has full involvement in everything and if he doesn’t like it, it doesn’t go to market. But in ten years we have actually changed very little – why fix something that’s not broken?”

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS

Winning opportunity A full set of the latest John Whitaker Massage Boots are up for grabs for one lucky reader.

The boots have been described as a ‘miracle relief’ for arthritic horses and work to reduce swelling of the lower leg and speed up repair of damaged tendons and tissues. They can be used before exercise to warm up the muscles to reduce the possibility of damage to the leg and also provide a circulatory massage to improve blood flow and lymphatic drainage. The boots feature large scuff plates to prevent injury to the horse and excess wear and are battery operated and machine washable.

For your chance to win send a postcard with your name, address and phone number to John Whitaker Competition, Horse Health Magazine, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Last date for entries is Friday May 8 2009 and winners’ details will be available at www.horsehealthmagazine. co.uk.

Research reveals endoscopy hope for dental exams ORAL endoscopy has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of dental examinations according to new research from the University for Veterinary Medicine in Vienna.

The study was started because the shape of a horse’s mouth and the fact that it does not open very wide makes it difficult to fully examine the cheek teeth as part of a routine dental exam, even with dental mirrors.

However, rigid endoscopes can be used as another way of examining the teeth, so lead researcher Hubert Simhofer, decided to assess the value of the technique in both hospital and field situations.

A randomly chosen group of 300 horses was examined following a standardised examination protocol.

Dr Simhofer said: “Starting at the back of the right upper detal arcade, we gradually moved the scope forward, examining the masticatory surfaces.

“We then reintroduced the scope to examine the inside aspect of the same dental arcade and then the outer aspect.”

They then repeated the process with the other dental arcades, and finally inspected the soft tissue – tounge, cheeks, palate and gums.

As a result, the researchers found much higher levels of dental defects than had been reported previously.

In particular they found that sharp enamel edges were present in almost all horses - over 96 per cent, focal overgrowths were found in over 64 per cent and fissure fractures were present in over 54 per cent.

Reporting the work in the Veterinary Journal, Simhofer concludes that this is a safe diagnostic technique that allows a very thorough visual examination of the equine oral cavity. He also suggests that oral endoscopy should be considered as an additional diagnostic tool in cases of tooth infections in horses.

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breeding matters

HORSE HEALTH I

Frame Overo and Lethal White Overo Syndrome

By Daniel Reeves of Animal Genetics UK

72 hours of living after its first meals are not properly digested.

FRAME Overo is widely regarded as a highly desirable white coat pattern in the equine species, and its popularity and introduction into breeding programs has grown along with the rising numbers of the American Paint horses being bred in the United Kingdom.

All Frame Overo horses alive, carry a single inherited copy of the dominant Frame Overo gene, which causes pigment loss to the coat of the carrying horse – hence distinct white markings on certain areas, similar – although more minimal than those seen on the Tobiano Piebald or Skewbald specimen.

Breeders often report newborn lethal-white foals to be suffering from colic and the afflicted LWO horse will suffer agangliosis of the bowel – intestinal abnormalities which are irreversible.

However, aside from the aesthetic charms of the Frame Overo horse, there lies a more ominous side to the genes responsible for this pattern: a fatal condition caused by genetic predisposition from inheriting the Frame-Overo gene from both parents.

Lethal White Overo Syndrome: Officially termed as ‘Lethal White Overo syndrome’ the foal is born almost pure white in appearance, and dies within it's first few days of life, although correct breeding can avoid this occurrence.

Lethal White Overo syndrome occurs when a horse inherits two copies of the Frame Overo gene, one from both parents and they are scientifically designated as Homozygous LWO. Whereas horses with just one copy of the gene will live normally and exhibit the desirable pattern, a horse with two copies will suffer intestinal abnormalities and die within the first

Due to increasing genetic understanding of equine science, British veterinary knowledge of LWO is increasing, but unfortunately the condition remains totally untreatable, always fatal, and in many cases foals are euthanised shortly after LWO has been confirmed.

Breeding: The healthy Frame Overo horses that carry just a single copy of the gene, will pass a copy of it to their foals approximately 50 per cent of the time when bred.

Therefore when breeding an Overo horse to a solid non-Overo horse, the foal can only inherit one copy.

This pairing results in a 50 per cent chance of a Frame Overo foal and a 50 per cent chance of a ‘solid’ foal.

It is clear that unless two FrameOvero specimens are bred together, there is no risk of a lethal white foal occurring.

However, if two Overo horses are mated they could potentially both pass the Overo gene to the foal, meaning it inherits two copies.

The likelihood of this happening stands at 25 per cent each time two Frame Overo horses are paired, with another 25 per cent chance of a ‘solid’ foal and a 50 per cent chance of a Frame Overo foal.

This shows that mating two Frame-

Frame Overo is widely regarded as a desirable coat pattern.

Overo horses does not increase the chances of producing the desirable frame pattern, but does introduce the risk of the LWO syndrome.

crossbreeding of paint-types with native species, usually for the visual qualities associated with the white markings.

Frame Overo is a dominant gene, so where it is present it is expressed, a horse carrying the responsible genetic mutation will display the Frame Overo markings.

Most European horse breed types have no connection to Frame Overo or the associated LWO.

DNA testing exists for a few reasons, primarily to determine if a whitemarked horse is a carrier of the gene, but also to confirm if an unwell foal is suffering from LWO. It should be noted that the responsible gene occurs most commonly in the American Paint Horse, the Spanish Mustang and derivatives thereof.

The gene is only introduced into British breed types through

There are numerous other non-lethal genes known to cause white markings, most commonly the Tobiano gene seen across a huge variety of horse breeds, particularly common in Cob-types and British riding ponies to name but two.

The term ‘Overo’ may be used refer to any number of other white-pattern genes, however it is the distinct Frame Overo that is known to cause the fatal condition.

A foal with Lethal White Overo Syndrome.

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B l o o d s t o c k m a tter s

Recognising and dealing with injuries to the reproductive tract of the mare complicated surgical procedure is used to reconstruct the reproductive tract. This technique can only be performed by a specialist surgeon.

By Patrick J Pollock BVMS,CertES(Soft Tissue),DipECVS,MRCVS, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Surgery, Weipers Centre Equine Hospital IN recent years great advances have been made in the treatment of infertility in the mare.

Most of these treatments have been based around manipulation of the equine reproductive cycle, the introduction of artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

A number of injuries to the reproductive tract of the mare have long been known to lead to infertility or abortion.

Some of these injuries are easily recognised during a basic examination, others require a more in-depth investigation.

Equine reproductive anatomy: In order to identify these injuries it is important to have some knowledge of equine reproductive anatomy. The birth canal of the mare is particularly long and contains a number of anatomical structures designed to protect the uterus (and developing foal if present) from unwanted external factors.

The vulva is the external opening of the tract and leads into the vestibule, a long tube containing the opening of the urethra (urinary tract).

In the roof of the vestibule is the perineal body, a muscular region (constrictor vulvae muscle) which helps keep the vulva closed.

The vestibule is separated from the vagina by the vestibulovaginal fold, which is a curtain of tissue (this and the perineal body form the second protective barrier).

In contrast to other mammals the horse has a short vagina which ends at the cervix (the third protective barrier), a muscular tube protecting the uterine opening.

This anatomical region is referred to as the ‘perineum’ of the mare.

Because of the various folds of tissue, this area is easily damaged during foaling if any of the folds catch a foot or muzzle of the foal.

In mares parturition (giving birth) is a particularly explosive event, and if the mare continues to push out the foal, a tear can easily occur.

This may result in damage to the mares cervix or to the muscles and soft tissue of the vagina, vestibule and vulva.

Rectovaginal Fistulae:

Top: Figure 1: Injuries can occur during foaling or less commonly, during service. Bottom left: Figure 2: A first degree perineal laceration and, bottom right: A haematoma on the wall of the reproductive tract.

In the worst cases the foot can be pushed through the roof of the birth canal into the rectum.

Such injuries can also occur during service, this is particularly likely with a young, or over vigorous stallion (Figure 1).

These injuries are classified as perineal lacerations and are separated into three different types.

First degree perineal lacerations: In these injuries only the mucosal (or outer layer of soft tissue) and skin of the vulva is damaged (Figure 2).

Such injuries are easily recognised by lifting the mares tail.

Fortunately a simple surgical procedure called a vulvoplasty or Caslick’s Procedure can be performed in order to repair this type of damage. This can be easily accomplished by your own veterinary surgeon.

Second degree perineal lacerations: In this type of injury, the muscle which makes up the perineal body is torn.

Because this occurs inside the mare, these injuries can only be detected by a manual examination of the reproductive tract.

As a result these injuries often go un-noticed. Mares with untreated second degree perineal lacerations often suffer from a condition called urovagina, in which urine from the bladder runs back into the reproductive tract rather than out of the mare during urination.

Alternatively or in combination with

urovagina, these mares may suck air into their reproductive tract (pneumovagina).

Both of these conditions lead to inflammation within the birth canal which can spread to the uterus (womb). If the veterinary surgeon suspects that there is damage to the perineal body a simple test can be performed to determine if there is a second degree laceration.

Once again a fairly simple surgical procedure can be used to re-create the perineal body, this is called a vestibuloplasty or Gadd’s procedure.

The technique is more complex than the Caslick’s procedure and is generally undertaken by specialist veterinary surgeons.

Third degree perineal lacerations: This is the most serious type of injury to the mare. In these cases the tear is so severe as to create a common opening between the rectum and the reproductive tract.

These injuries are obviously easy to recognise and lead to contamination of the birth canal with faeces. After these tears occur, there is a great amount of swelling, and the tissue may become necrotic and infected and may fall away.

For this reason, repair of these injuries must be left for a period of six to eight weeks.

During this time the mare is treated with antimicrobials and antiinflammatory drugs which allows the damaged tissue to heal.

Once healing has occurred a

These injuries are similar to third degree lacerations, only the skin between the anus and the vulva survives.

A hole can be found inside the rectum leading into the reproductive tract.

The repair is difficult and similar to that described for the injury above.

All of the injuries described so far can be prevented if the foaling is supervised, if the foals foot or muzzle become stuck it can be repositioned.

Even if a small tear occurs, careful repositioning can reduce the severity of the damage.

All of these injuries are more likely to occur in young mares, foaling for the first time (primiparus mares).

Cervical tears: The cervix is the crucial last line of defence for the uterus, and consists of a muscular tube which is tightly constricted during pregnancy.

The cervix can be torn during birth, however because it is deep inside the reproductive tract these injuries frequently go un-noticed.

Mares with cervical tears are able to conceive normally, however they have a high chance of aborting the foal late in the pregnancy as the foal becomes heavier and puts more pressure on the damaged cervix.

Cervical tears are more common in older mares that have had several foals.

The cervix is an odd looking structure and can be quite variable in appearance, subsequently, diagnosis of cervical damage can only be made by manually palpating the cervix when the mare is in dioestrus.

Cervical tears can be repaired, however the technique is demanding and carries a variable success rate.

Currently a large study is underway in three separate countries to determine the best method for cervical repair and report the success rate.

Urovagina or urine pooling: As previously stated this condition may occur as a result of some of these injures.

In some cases treating the perineal laceration will stop the urine from building up within the reproductive Continued on Page 31 tract.

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B l o o d s t o ck matter s Continued from Page 30 However some mares require a special surgery to make the tube carrying the urine (the urethra) longer. This is called a urethral extension.

Poor conformation: In some mares, injuries may go un-treated for many years, simply because they haven’t been noticed. Another group are those mares who have poor conformation, this may be something that developed from their own birth or may be the result of old age or poor nutrition.

In the normal mare the vulva should be vertical in position and should sit directly below the anus.

Although this cannot be detected from outside the mare, the top of the vulva should not extend beyond the top of the brim of the pelvis (a vet can easily check this).

Abnormal mares often have a vulva that slopes forwards and the anus may be sunken and so is forward of the vulva, this can lead to contamination of the reproductive tract. If a mare is suspected of having one of these injuries, fails to get in foal, aborts, or if she has a bad foaling, it is worth asking the veterinary surgeon to perform a full examination.

In order to do this properly, the vet will clean the skin around the anus and vulva and wear sterile gloves and use sterile lubricant. He/she may also use a speculum and a light to look deep into the reproductive tract.

All of the surgical repair techniques are performed with the mare sedated and standing in stocks.

Each mare is given an epidural to remove sensation in the surgical area. In most cases the mares are treated as “outpatients” in the equine hospital.

Special long instruments, and a device to open up the reproductive tract called a retractor are used.

Most surgeons prefer the mares to be living at grass so that their faeces are soft so as not to put too much pressure on the surgical repair.

At the Weipers Centre Equine Hospital we treat a large number of mares with these injuries.

Success rates are high with a large proportion of mares successfully breeding and producing live foals in subsequent pregnancies.

The invaluable teaser ...

Dr Mark Kennedy, CEO of Anglia Equine Consultancy, considers the role of the teaser stallion.

A TEASER is invaluable in helping stud staff assess the oestrus behaviour of mares and make decisions regarding breeding management.

As the mare approaches ovulation she should become more accepting of the presence and behaviour of the stallion, responding to his investigations with oestrus behaviour. A mare in anoestrus (not yet having commenced the oestrus cycle after its suppression over the winter) or in dioestrus (the period of the mare’s oestrus cycle when she shows no sexual interest) will usually respond to the stallion’s advances with aggression, which may be quite violent in some cases.

When assessing the progression of mares into oestrus, a good stud groom will not only assess the mare’s behaviour but will also play close attention to the behaviour of the teaser.

Sixty-five million years of natural selection have honed the stallion’s ability to detect the phases of the mare’s oestrus cycle; he is better equipped to identify when mares are ready to mate than we are.

It is also worth remembering that in observing the mare’s oestrus display we are trying to interpret behaviour which evolved to signal oestrus to the stallion, not to us. Studs which do not make use of a teaser are possibly denying themselves a very useful member of the horse breeding team. It is essential, however, that teaser stallions are very carefully selected. Over-enthusiastic or downright aggressive teasers are likely to frighten mares into suppressing oestrus behaviour, masking this with aggression dangerous to both horse and human, yet teasers must exhibit enough libido to provide appropriate stimulation.

The issue of maintenance of the libido of the teaser is where those not involved in horse breeding sometimes express anthropomorphic misunderstanding.

As teaser stallions are repeatedly asked to perform pre-copulatory behaviour, but are not permitted to proceed to copulation, do they lose interest in mares, or are they afflicted with some kind of sexual frustration?

If we look at the behaviour of the breeding stallion in the feral state we see that in the reproductive season he daily performs much pre-copulatory ‘teasing’ behaviour to assess the oestrus state of his mares, yet only on relatively rare occasions does he actually copulate.

Most of the time his teasing meets with rejection.

Interestingly, there does seem to be a difference in opinion over the benefit of allowing the teaser to ever cover mares.

Some studs will let their teasers cover a few selected mares towards the end of the breeding season, and some do not, maintaining that this does not result in any negative impact on the teaser’s libido.

Another job that the teaser may be required to perform is to actually mount or ‘bounce’ mares, particularly maidens, to ensure that they will truly accept copulation with the stallion they are to be bred to.

On such occasions the teaser is allowed to mount the mare for a short period, his penis being deflected away from the mare’s vulva to prevent intromission. It is obviously essential to ensure that the teaser does not enter the mare; if he is accidentally permitted to do so it is highly unlikely that anything will get him to dismount. The stud manager will then have the embarrassing job of explaining to the mare’s owners that she has been covered by the teaser rather than the intended stallion.

Any genital contact between teaser and mare is also a concern because of the possibility of contamination with sexually transmitted disease.

For this reason, some horse breeding studs use small ponies as teasers, and some teasers are trained to mount side-on to the mare. Some studs use a very useful device known as a ‘teaser shield’ when bouncing mares.

This is a sturdy leather shield which covers the rear portion of the stallion’s belly and the erect penis.

This prevents any possibility of intromission on mounting, and also protects the stallion from injury should the mare kick. The teaser may ejaculate into the shield, but anecdotal reports are that this does not reduce his willingness to tease or bounce. Of course, the reason a teaser is used to assess the oestrus behaviour of the mare rather than the valuable breeding stallion is to reduce the risks of the latter being injured. For this reason, teasers are often stallions of low genetic merit and hence low monetary value. His contribution to the breeding operation must not however be underrated; from this point of view he is a very valuable horse indeed.

A good teaser is a great asset to any breeding operation. Furthermore, his welfare is of as much concern and importance as that of any other horse. We therefore have the same duty to understand his behaviour and to ensure his safety as we have to our expensive breeding stallions and mares.

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HORSE HEALTH I

No excuse for complacency as laminitis continues to be a problem

By Andrew Poynton FWCF NO equine is immune to laminitis although native breeds appear to be more susceptible – this may be because they easily overindulge and their nutritional requirements are less than the thoroughbred competition horse.

There is no excuse for complacency however as, for whatever reason, the prevalence of laminitis does not appear to be reducing.

There are undoubtedly laminitic

cases that frustrate vets, owners and farriers alike that do not respond to treatment, thankfully these are in the minority, and the focus here is on the majority cases.

Acute laminitis: Acute laminitis is an emergency and, with the best will in the world when it happens, it is very easy to be caught out.

When an acute attack of laminitis is suspected or diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon it is wise to

‘When an acute attack of laminitis is suspected or diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon it is wise to assume this is factual and to do everything the veterinary surgeon suggests’

assume this is factual and to do everything the veterinary surgeon suggests.

Remove the horse from the cause – if known, stable on a supportive bed – possibly with an area where it can also stand without the bedding on the rubber matting.

Wood shavings, sand or a soil base to stand on provides complete sole support but whenever the patient shifts its weight or takes a step arterial blood is able to circulate within the foot.

The veterinary surgeon will advise on diet, medication and take on site xrays.

Mechanical breakdown: When an acute attack strikes, the peripheral arterial circulation which supplies the lamella bed contain arteriovenous anastamosis (AVA), vessels that shunt blood from arteries to veins in order to bypass capillaries; their normal function has

to do with thermo-regulation, but laminitis corrupts this function resulting in ischemia and tissue breakdown.

The laminae which suspend the weight of the horse within the hoof via the bone column are compromised and within hours can break down causing devastation within the foot.

The pedal bone is liable to rotate forward or in a devastating attack completely detach and sink within the hoof capsule; either way, part or all the sole and the solar corium become crushed.

If the pedal bone (P3) partially detaches and rotates, its tip crushes against the sole and may even perforate in medium size ponies and larger; in smaller ponies this is less likely.

The larger the animal the more devastating the trauma can be.

Continued on Page 33

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HORSE HEALTH I 33

Continued from Page 32

Minimising damage and aiding recovery: With the advent of modern farriery techniques and materials there is much more that can be done for laminitics.

The farrier will work from the x-rays to trim the hooves to ideal proportions, minimising excess leverage on the capsule.

To bring relief at this acute stage, frog support can be applied and the sole raised from the ground by means of a mould on support shoe which can be fitted without the trauma of nailing at the earliest opportunity.

However, complete constant sole ‘support’ is liable to constrict circulation and not provide pain relief.

So a shoe with a frog support or even initially some form of casting material to support the frog can and will give support to the bone column via the digital cushion which is a compressible structure.

This transfers load from the hoof wall to the centre of the bone column alleviating laminal tearing, whilst still allowing for solar circulation.

Both the frog and the digital cushion above it are compressible, a perfect firm cast beneath it provides a defined base of support.

This should be applied as soon as

Before and after a hoof reconstruction possible, before any P3 descent ideally – prevention is better than cure.

Ongoing treatment and recovery: The P3 hoof alignment is of prime importance, so regular trimming at approximately five to six weeks or as advised by your farrier should be maintained.

Once lamella breakdown has occurred, the hoof it is aligned with will not re-attach but be lost, so the route to recovery is lengthened.

Recovery comes when new, attached horn grows down from the coronary corium realigned with P3; so rather than one pair of shoes, it may be many months and more before total recovery is realised – if at all. Once a horse has suffered from laminitis it is at higher risk of a recurrence.

The transitionary period from losing a hoof to regenerating a new one is tricky, but it now can be replaced with a synthetic hoof, as such, whilst the new one is growing.

If a foot can regenerate new horn from the coronary border from heel to heel whilst maintaining the comfort of the patient throughout, there is hope.

The farrier/vet and owners joint cooperation in the treatment and nursing of a recovering laminitic is vital.

The shoeing treatment does not cure laminitis, but is frequently a vital component to the complete recovery of many laminitics and provides immense relief for horses and ponies that would otherwise be subjected to unnecessary and prolonged suffering.

The owner is the one who can have

the greatest effect on the recovery and maintaining health thereafter.

Summary Acute laminitis is an emergency and must be treated as such with veterinary and farrier intervention sought as soon as possible.

It is important to stick to a clear regime, review the diet, visually assess the patient daily both in physique and comfort and when the patient is able and recovered enough, gentle exercise is conducive to enabling circulation and removal of toxins in the hoof and using up energy.

However, not in the acute phase when the laminal attachment is tentative at best – preserve, protect and support, but don’t go anywhere at that stage. Instead identify the cause, remove it, treat the symptoms and anticipate recovery.

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS

Vets backing vaccination campaign

By Louise Cordell

Owners are to be encouraged to protect their horses.

Apprenticeships ‘give firms edge’ APPRENTICESHIPS have a central role to play in helping the equestrian and horse racing sectors improve business during the economic downturn according to Lantra.

Recent research has shown that 77 per cent of employers believe apprenticeships help make them more competitive and the Sector Skills Council claims they can also lead to improved productivity and performance.

Liz Pridgeon, Lantra’s standards and qualifications development manager, said: “Apprenticeships give

businesses a practical and effective way to develop staff without the need for expensive training courses or taking time away from the work place. There is clear evidence that employers find apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce. This in turn helps to reduce staff turnover, boost productivity and leads to higher profitability. Employers find apprenticeships give them the edge over their competitors and that can make a massive difference in the current economic climate.”

Equestrian job site launched A NEW website dedicated to advertising nationwide equestrian careers has been launched.

Equine Careers has been set up to fill a gap in the market by providing a one stop shop for job seekers looking for an academic

Bedding

vacancy in the equestrian industry.

The Buckinghamshire based website will also provide companies with a vacancy to fill, to place same day adverts live on the site.

A NEW campaign to drive up vaccination levels in the horse population has secured the support of the country’s equine vets.

Launching in June, National Vaccination Month will aim to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination – specifically against equine tetanus and flu – and encourage owners to protect their horses and those they may come into contact with.

A recent industry survey suggested that 90 per cent of equine vets felt that tetanus vaccinations should be mandatory, however, current estimates suggest that only half of the country’s 1.2m horses have received the jab.

Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus, which is almost always fatal in unvaccinated animals, because the organism which causes the disease lives in the soil and can infect animals through even a small puncture wound.

The campaign will also aim to highlight the danger of equine flu, which is extremely contagious, making even small outbreaks very serious.

Although the vaccination is compulsory for all competition

‘The campaign will also aim to highlight the danger of equine flu, which is extremely contagious, making even small outbreaks very serious’ horses, many owners still fail to inoculate regularly – endangering others in the process.

An industry poll of those working in the thoroughbred industry showed that three quarters of vets, owners and trainers believed that poor vaccination compliance in the riding community could be exposing their horses to infection.

To help increase uptake during the campaign, participating vets are giving the second dose of a primary vaccination course (tetanus or flu/tetanus) and a wormer free of charge.

To be eligible for the scheme, horses will need to be over 12 months of age, and be unvaccinated or to have lapsed from their normal booster vaccination by more than three months.

The voucher, and information on diseases, is available for download from the website www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk.

New scheme encourages stem cell banking A SPECIALIST equine insurer has introduced a new scheme to encourage foal owners to bank stem cells.

Amlin Plus, which insures thoroughbreds and high value competition horses, is offering a reduction in foal insurance premiums to clients who bank the stem cells from their new born foals with Protectas Health. The company has researched the benefits of stem cell

treatment over the last few years, particularly as a way of repairing damage to cartilage, tendons and event the brain, and is now aiming to reward the expected decrease in injury or death of insured animals with this treatment option.

David Ashby of Amlin Plus said: “We believe that owners who invest in storing the stem cells of their foals are contributing greatly to the overall

future health of their bloodstock.

“This in turn should reduce the cost of claims and we are ready to reflect this in a premium reduction.”

David Crimmins, Protectas Health MD said: “The availability of stem cells, both for treatment and when the horse comes to the sales, coupled with reduced insurance costs, is a positive factor for breeders hoping to maximise their return.”

Arenas

Stable Equipment

DNA

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