Newsletter XXXII
Hi
Welcome back to this month’s HorseConscious Newsletter!
Lots to catch up on from the postbag this month, so let’s dive straight in with this from Karen Murdock, the owner and trainer of Lukas, the World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers correctly identified by a horse in one minute: 19”).
Lukas has joined an elite group: those with the capacity for self-awareness. He has proven that he is able to recognize his own reflection in a mirror as an image of himself. To date, only humans (after the age of eighteen months), great apes, bottlenose dolphins, orcas, elephants and European magpies have successfully passed this test.
Apparently, according to most animal intelligence ranking scales, equine statistics are dismal: horses rank anywhere from fifth to ninth in intelligence comparisons between species. In addition, the horse population in general is thought to be a typically reactive group at the mercy of flight instincts and walnut-sized brains.
Karen believes that the commonly used repetitive machine trials to assess horses’ learning capabilities are missing some important components: a social and interactive element, intermediary voice prompts and reinforcement variations. Furthermore, she proposes that the prevailing methods of force training are inadequate and even counter-productive. In contrast, Lukas’ lessons resemble those used for children: enjoyable, gentle and a mutual exploration into possibilities.
What are your thoughts and experiences on a horse’s intelligence? Please let us know over on the HorseConscious Facebook page.
My Father tells the tale of the old gelding he used to have working for him on the farm. He used to give my Dad the runaround all the time. He would pretend not to be able to pull the cart on his own and my Dad would have to hook the mare up as well and the gelding would still let her do all the pulling!
One day, my Dad and he were out turning the hay in the fields and my Dad stopped to look at this piece of new-fangled machinery called a combine (harvester). He was was only gone 5 minutes and when he came back the horse had disappeared. My Dad knew where to look. He just followed the trail of hay out of the field, down the road and back into the farmyard. That old gelding was certainly not stupid – ask my Father!
The next item to catch my eye was something I saw in Anna Twinney‘s newsletter, where the Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary in New Milford, Connecticut is auctioning and original letter from John Lennon. Their site says that in celebration of John Lennon’s birthday, October 9th, a letter written by John Lennon has been anonymously donated to Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary (EARS) to help save baby horses from slaughter. The letter containing self portrait drawings by John and Yoko and written over 40 years ago, will be auctioned off to raise funds to save doomed equines.
When I looked earlier in the week, the bidding was at a little over $7,000 and now stands at $11,250 so if this is something that appeals get over to the Sanctuary website by clicking either the image or their name above.
Of course, younger readers might be asking, “Who is John Lennon?”! I tell my kids that there will only ever be one Elvis and only ever one Beatles, that no other singer or group will ever eclipse them or their achievements. I was blessed to see Paul McCartney play live in London about 20 years ago when we were about 20 rows back from the stage. Then last New Year’s Eve, one TV channel here in Germany showed a whole afternoon and evening of pop concerts: Michael Jackson, U2 amongst other luminaries of the music industry but they were all blown clean out of the water by Paul McCartney. There’s no substitute for class.
If you haven’t subscribed to Horses In Art, I highly recommend you pick a copy. My friend Davina Andree has done a fabulous job in not only rescuing the magazine but moving it forward and she is to be wholeheartedly congratulated on the great job she has done.
The current Fall issue is packed full of talent and stories including Sophy Brown, War Horse, Buck Brannaman, and Sung Tae Park. The issue is dedicated to the working horses out there and the blessed difference they make in our world.
Remember, this is an actual full, glossy, colour physical magazine that is mailed out to you 4 times a year, all for less than $20 if you live in US, which is an absolute steal if you ask me. I must have a word with Davina and tell her to increase her prices so do yourself a favour and grab a subscription before I do!
Click either of the magazine images above to go straight to the online subscription form.
Following on from the furore over rollkur that arose following the ‘blue-tongue’ video, the FEI it seems is about to sanction another atrocity. Here’s the background as far as I understand it:
Currently a dressage horse in competition will normally be stopped and disqualified if it seen to be bleeding.
However, in June of this year, the FEI Dressage Committee proposed what has become known as the ‘Blood rule’, which stated:
“The committee proposed a new blood rule explicitly stating that the test would be stopped if blood appears anywhere on the horse.
At top level events (Olympic Games, Championships and Finals for seniors), where FEI vets will be present at the warm-up arena, they would examine the horse and the test would resume if bleeding from minor injuries had stopped.
If the bleeding had not stopped, the horse would be eliminated. Where vets are not present to examine the horse, bleeding would result in immediate elimination.”
I pulled this from a german website (see below) and so I’m not sure whether this was the original statement from the FEI or a translation of it, so let me clarify what I think it means.
If there are no vets present and a horse is seen bleeding, then it will automatically be disqualified. In other words, no change.
HOWEVER, in top level competitions, if in the opinion of the FEI vet on duty the injury is only minor, then the horse will be allowed to continue and compete.
The German governing body, the Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN), which has voting rights at the FEI, have indicated they will agree to the Blood Rule. Their reasoning being that at a major championship, if a rider and horse fails, then the whole team is disqualified and they therefore consider this disproportionate to the injury suffered.
What all this comes down to is where you want to draw the line. If it’s OK for horses to bleed, then it opens up a whole vista of abuse of both horse and system.
So, how much blood does the horse have to lose before they are stopped? A thimbleful? A cupful? 3 cupfuls? And what drugs might they be given to prevent or stop any such bleeding?
As we know, these riders get paid extremely well, not to mention the prestige and acclaim they receive from winning these large competitions and who’s to say that a rich sponsor or owner wouldn’t be averse to presenting the duty vet with a suitable ‘gift’ should the need arise?
Next Monday 14th November, the FEI meet again to ratify the rule and if they pass it, I think it opens up a very unsavoury can of worms.
So does the german website “Fair zum Pferd” (Fair to Horses), which considers passing of such a rule to be indirect contravention of animal protection laws and rightly state that the success of the competition is being given a higher value than the well-being of the horse.
They have therefore organised an on-line petition against the Blood Rule and since it started on the 13th October, about 10,000 people have signed the petition, including famous and well-known members of the equestrian community, including Olympic winner Klaus Balkenhol and his daughter Belli Balkenhol, herself a championship rider.
The site is asking for your support and in spreading the word. You can find more information and sign the petition here: http://no-fei.com
I have been remiss in not telling you about a new documentary DVD that has just come out, which tells the story of how America’s wild horses are lawfully protected but unlawfully managed by the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program.
Mara LeGrand’s award-winning documentary Wild Horses in Winds of Change, which premiered at The Egyptian in Hollywood in December 2010. It has won two TELLY awards and is now available as a DVD for horse and conservation groups to show as a fundraiser or for classrooms/libraries.
It is unique in approach. Mara came into this project with no knowledge of wild horses and she spent two years researching and creating the film. It reaches out to the environmental community as well as the horse community, framing it as an crisis of global importance and encouraging all of us to do what we can and it will help shift thinking on the wild horse issue. Here’s the trailer:
This is an excerpt from the accompanying press release:
The opening scenes of Wild Horses in Winds of Change take us on an unforgettable journey into the souls of mustangs, portraying their freedom, sensitivity and delightful family units. It is a trail interwoven with our own freedom. This award-winning documentary stimulates awareness, offers fresh understanding of the wild horse crisis, and is a film for all who care about our planet’s fate.
The stunning photography cuts abruptly to the current reality of wild horse lives. These “dolphins of the land” are driven from their natural habitat by the Bureau of Land Management helicopters into holding pens to be held indefinitely in cramped conditions. Many die of untreated disease or turn up in slaughter pipelines. Their protection, enshrined by law in 1971, originally won by Wild Horse Annie and huge public outcry, has been lost.
Can we re-direct the path of wild horse injustice and extermination we are currently following?
Yes we can, according to LeGrand, “We should be able to find solutions for all the problems we’ve created for Nature and its inhabitants.”
Wild Horse experts and long-time advocates Mary Ann Simonds and Karen Sussman are the main storytellers of this film, observing that these horses are born, raised and survive in the wild and have always existed here. Yet based on outdated myths and attitudes, we don’t study them as we do other wild species.
While there is a need for more unbiased studies, LeGrand meticulously illustrates that archeology, molecular biology and paleontology already make a plausible claim that the horse is indigenous to North America. An animated map is woven into the film, along with footage of ice age, desert and plains horses, explaining exactly how they belong in our ecosystem like other wildlife.
Viewers are skillfully shown what is being lost, what urgently needs to change and what can be done to help. This outstanding film reflects LeGrand’s mission of calling people to action for the health of the planet and its inhabitants. The next steps clearly belong to us.
I haven’t seen the DVD yet but am going to request a preview copy with a view to interviewing Mara along with other voices from the wild horse supporters arena.You can find out more and order the DVD by going to the film’s website at http://wildhorsesinwindsofchange.com.
Finally, before I wrap up for this month, I must let you know that the first Power Of The Herd Web Symposium call with Linda Kohanov is taking place tomorrow, Saturday 12th November at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK / 7pm Europe.
There is already a great buzz of activity within the site, I seem to be getting notification emails every hour as new comments are posted. I’m not sure how she does it but in addition to the workshops she holds, Linda has now added a new article called Horse Power, Lesson #1 in PDF and audio format and a whole new introductory audio in addition to rewriting the whole of the 2 opeing pages of the site.
If you’ve not been back there since we launched the site, you should take a look: http://www.PowerOfTheHerd.com, especially as we have brought back the introductory discounts for 1 week only to coincide with the relaunch and the first call. Click the image below to read all about it:
That’s your lot for this month! I hope you enjoy the HorseConscious Newsletters, we endeavour to bring you a variety of new ideas, fresh articles and hopefully a few laughs along the way.
I suspect next month’s issue might be a little skinny due to the holiday period and given that a week before Christmas, I celebrate rather a large birthday (gulp!). Which one? Why not send your suggestions on a postcard to: Mr Senior Moment, 21 Again Lane, Little Doddering, near Oldham, Pensionshire, UK
Till next time, all best wishes
Mark
DIARY DATES:
Click Events to see a list of classes and workshops being held by the HorseConscious Teachers.
‘There are only two emotions that belong on the saddle; one is a sense of humor, the other is patience.’ – John Lyons
NUTRACEUTICALS TO ENHANCE STALLION FERTILITY?
Do you ever wish you could give your breeding stallion a magic supplement to enhance his fertility? Science isn’t there yet, but according to an equine reproduction specialist, some supplements and diet changes might help, as research has shown that some dietary alterations really do have a beneficial effect on semen quality and stallion fertility.
“A number of supplements have recently been studied that show real promise for improving the breeding performance of stallions,” said Steve Brinsko, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, professor and chief of theriogenology in Texas A&M University’s Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. Brinsko presented on the topic at the 2011 Florida Association of Equine Practitioner’s Annual Promoting Excellence in the Southeast Convention, held Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 in Amelia Island, Fla.
“These supplements include ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, the polyamines spermine and spermidine, vitamins C and E, and other antioxidants such as L-carnitine,” continued Brinsko, who is also president of the American College of Veterinary Theriogenologists.
Of all of the different supplements touted to improve semen quality (ergo stallion fertility), the most recent research has focused on altering the fatty acid component of a stallion’s diet, he said.
“Semen contains large amounts of lipids, which are important for the motility and fertilizing capacity of the sperm as well as their sensitivity to cold,” explained Brinsko.
Two of the most common lipids in semen are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), an omega-6 fatty acid. Studies have found that the more DHA there is in semen compared to the amount of DPA, the better.
Brinsko explained, “High DPA to DHA ratios in semen are not desirable as they are associated with reduced sperm quality and fertility.”
Unfortunately, most equine diets (which are corn- and soybean-based) favor the production of DPA over DHA. Brinsko suggested one way to turn the tables is to supplement a stallion’s diet with DHA and/or to alter the diet’s fat content so it favors the production of DHA over DPA. This approach can result in a threefold increase in semen DHA levels, increased semen motility, concentration, and percentage of live sperm, he noted.
“It is important to note that these improvements were most noticeable in stallions that initially had poorest semen quality,” cautioned Brinsko. “Supplementing the diet of highly fertile stallions does not appear warranted at this time.”
Additional information about the conference and Brinsko’s presentation is available online.
thehorse.com, Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc, October 26 2011, Article # 19032
‘There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a horse, that should forever exempt him from indignities.’ - Herman Melville
‘There’s nothing in life that’s worth doing, if it can’t be done from a horse.’ - Red Steagall
BHA AMENDS WHIP RULES; WORLD HORSE WELFARE ‘DISAPPOINTED’
Following an outcry from jockeys, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has amended rules implemented Oct. 10, including those that result in disciplinary measures for jockeys using their whips more than five times inside the final furlong of a flat race or after the final hurdle in a jump race. However, World Horse Welfare (WHW), a U.K.-based equine welfare charity, is disappointed in the amendments.
The rules had proven controversial, with the suspensions of several leading riders, one of whom announced his retirement, and the forfeiture of a purse for the jockey in a group I race at Ascot.
In its Oct. 21 action the BHA left in place rules that call for disciplinary action when a rider uses the whip a total of seven times in a flat race and eight jumps over hurdles.
But the amended rules, which were scheduled to take effect with racing as of Oct. 21, also mean riders will no longer lose their purse earnings in a race for which they were suspended for violating a whip rule. The BHA also said that it has rescinded penalties imposed on jockeys while the new rules were in place and will adjust them accordingly based on its actions.
According to the BHA, the adjusted guidelines are:
- Removal of the numerical limits in place on the use of the whip in the final stages of races (the last furlong of a flat race and after the last obstacle in a jumps race). It should be noted in this context that numerical limits on the use of the whip in the final stages of races were in place prior to the new rules being introduced, including in the final furlong. Numerical limits relating to the number of times that the whip can be used in total throughout a race will remain in place (up to seven times in a flat race and eight times in a jumps race). – Jockeys’ riding fees will no longer be included in the penalties for whip offenses.
- The number of days’ suspension for whip rule breaches before the jockey’s prize money percentage will be forfeited is to be increased from three to seven days. The effect of this is that where a jockey has used the whip one more time than is allowed under the rules, the jockey’s prize money percentage will no longer be forfeited, but a suspension will continue to apply.
- Amending the penalty advice where a rider is referred to the Disciplinary Panel having incurred a fourth suspension of five days or more within the previous 12 months. This advice will be changed to a suspension within the range of two months to six months and an entry point of three months.
“As with all of the Authority’s work, these adjustments will be subject to constant monitoring,” the BHA said on its website. “Additionally, clear processes are in place for annual reviews of all rules. The Board has also considered the impact on those jockeys who have received penalties that would not have been applied if these adjustments had been in place since the introduction of the new rules. These penalties will be rescinded and appropriate measures have been taken, including the release of riding fees and prize money where applicable, and riding suspensions either annulled or adjusted.”
Meanwhile, WHW is “deeply disappointed” with the BHA’s amendments, according to a statement on the organization’s website.
Chief Executive Roly Owers said, “We have said throughout the review that it is important for any penalty structure to be aimed at changing the behavior of jockeys as well as trainers and owners. The rules and the penalties have now been weakened, which must decrease their chances of working. We will be watching closely to see if the rules are followed, enforced, and result in a major reduction in the number of whip offenses.
“It is unfortunate that this has been watered down, but we appreciate that a significant financial deterrent for jockeys that overuse the whip remains,” he continued. “We feel that by hitting the pockets of the minority who do so will make them think twice before they use their whip. No one should profit at the expense of the horse.”
Read inspiring true stories of ex-racehorses that successfully transitioned from track to new careers when re-trained in Second-Chance Horses and the difference they made in the lives of people around them.
thehorse.com CBBC Newsround, September 27, 2011
‘They drink the fountains, Fiery and sacred is their breath, and like the whirlwind they must go.’ - Dorothy Wellesley
FALL IN PLACE: CREATE A WINTER PADDOCK
Probably the most important aspect of managing pastures is the time when you take your horses off the pasture. You can greatly improve the health and productivity of your pastures by creating and using a winter paddock or “sacrifice area” to confine your horses for this time period.
Fall is the time to get your horse property chore efficient and ready for winter.
In the winter, keeping horses off saturated, rain-soaked soils and dormant or frozen pasture plants is critical if you want to maintain a healthy pasture next summer. Soggy soils or dormant plants simply cannot survive continuous grazing and trampling in winter months. Horses are particularly hard on pastures — the pounding of their hooves compacts the soil, which suffocates plant roots. In addition, when the soils are wet horse hooves act like plungers by loosening fine particles of topsoil to be washed away by rain.
A winter paddock is meant to be your horse’s outdoor living quarters. Your horses should be confined to this area during the winter and early spring—plus during the summer before your pastures become overgrazed.
Here are some points to consider when creating and locating a winter paddocks:
- Locate area on higher ground away from creeks, wetlands or other water bodies as well as from surface water flows.
- For chore efficiency your winter paddock should be convenient to your barn, hay storage and manure compost to make it easy for you to care for your horse and maintain the area.
- A good option is to have one paddock per horse, set up like a run off of each stall or shelter. This gives the horse free access to a clean, dry, convenient place to eat.
- Size can vary from that of a generous box stall, 16 feet x 16 feet, to that of a long, narrow enclosure where the horse could actually run or play in his paddock. For that you might want something 20 or 30 feet wide by 100 feet in length.
- The amount of land you have available, the number of horses, their ages, temperaments and the amount of regular exercise they receive all play a role in determining the size you choose for your winter paddock.
- Pick up manure every one to three days to help reduce your horse’s parasite load as well as reducing flies and insects—and mud.
- To reduce mud and improve drainage, use some type of footing at least in the high-traffic areas like around gates or in front of stalls. Popular choices are crushed rock (no larger than 5/8
- inch) or coarse washed sand. Footing should be 3 to 6 inches deep.
- Install rain gutters and downspouts on any roofs surrounding your winter paddock. This diverts clean rainwater away from your horse’s confinement area, thereby reducing mud. It also prevents manure and urine from being washed out of the paddock into surface waters. Divert clean rainwater to include a ditch, rain barrel or undisturbed area of your pasture or woods.
- Choose the very safest fencing you can for your winter paddock. Whatever type of fencing you choose, you may want to reinforce it with some type of electric tape or hot wire as a psychological barrier.
- Be sure that building corners are safe and there are no protruding objects where a horse could get hurt like bolt ends, nails, boards, or the tops of metal T-posts. Watch out for the corners of roofs and the bottom edges of metal buildings. There should be no wires or cords hanging in the yard and absolutely no junk, garbage or machinery in the paddock.
- Gates on fences need to be adequately sized for the types of truck deliveries you expect (such as gravel, hogfuel, hay, etc.)
- Even though your horses can move around in their winter paddocks, they still need regular exercises. Plan for and maintain a regular exercise program for your horses.
By utilizing a winter paddock, you will be creating a healthier pasture. Healthier pastures mean greater pasture productivity and less money spent on supplemental feed. Healthy pastures have the added benefit of making happier, healthier horses, a prettier picture for you and your neighbors–and a cleaner environment for all.
smarthorsekeeping blog, Alayne, September 27, 2011
‘Whether you regard the horse with awe or love, it is impossible to escape the power of his presence.’- Mary Wanless
The Diamond Sparkles of Fall- Kathy Pike
There are certain things in the world that fill me with peace and restore me on a cellular level, the deepest part of my being. The first, of course, is horses. The ocean, in any state of expression awes me. And last but not least, aspen trees, yellow from the cool autumn nights, elevate me to a new vibration. You can imagine the joy and deep gratitude I feel when I get to experience two of my favorite things at the same time!
Last weekend I was gifted with that. For two days I rode horses through the golden sparkling aspens in the high mountains of Colorado. The afternoon sun soaked through the leaves, filtering golden light onto the flowers and shrubs in the mountain meadows. Lavender asters scattered around the blazing red scrub oak and faded flaxen grasses. The river, at its lowest of the season, turned the air with fresh ions. Trout swam slowly in the transparent pools along the banks, soaking in the last warm waters of early fall days. Before long, crisper winds will begin to flow from the mountains down into the valley.
To read the complete article, visit Kathy Pike on HorseConscious.
Pros and Cons of the Round Pen – Anna Twinney
Empathy can be gained through communicating with horses- Carolyn Resnick
Working a horse at liberty with my method, the horse has an ability to avoid you if he chooses. This causes a person to stop chasing or pushing a horse when a horse is resistant. Not being able to control a horse’s resistance with tack puts the emphasis on developing a bond with the horse first. Having to develop a bond in a free environment develops empathy. You can´t help but become the student of your horse when the horse is free to leave you when he chooses. The focus becomes creating a communication that would draw a horse to you. Training a horse in this manner, the approach must be done differently than with tack. It becomes a co-created process were development of leadership, morality and communication are enhanced. From the horses ability to accept or decline your leadership and from your ability to allow or not allow a horse to be in your present and when you would choose to share food with him you can train a horse naturally.
When horses are free and feel safe they enjoy companionship with humans. A great adventure takes place from developing a relationship with a horse in a harmonious environment that is totally natural to a horse. In the beginning, tack is not the answer.
To read the complete article, visit Carolyn Resnick on HorseConscious.
‘A horse is like a best friend. They’re always there to nuzzle you and make your life a better place.’ – Anonymous
COLIC PREVENTION TIPS
Routine: Keeping a consistent daily routine is important for horses. Any change in a horse’s routine can lead to digestive upset. Feed at the same time each day and turn out for the same number of hours daily.
Institute Feed Changes Gradually: If you are going to switch from one feed brand to another, for instance from timothy to alfalfa, do it slowly. Mix the two feeds together for a week or so while gradually removing the old feed and increasing the new.
Monitor Your Horse’s Environment: Keep an eye on the field! If the apple tree is loaded, you might think about limiting Trigger’s time out in that field. If it is the first bloom of lush green grass in the spring, introduce your horses to it gradually. If a storm brings a lot of tree limbs and other debris into the pasture, clean it up.
Deworm Your Horses On a Regular Schedule: A gut full of parasites can cause bellyaches. Having to kill off too many parasites at once can also cause a bellyache. It’s best to not let it get out of hand in the first place. With the ease of administering today’s paste dewormers, there is no reason not to deworm on a regular basis. Speak with your veterinarian about a good deworming schedule for a horse residing in your part of the country.
Float Those Teeth: Veterinarians and equine dentists are available options to float your horse’s teeth. When the teeth are left unattended, they develop sharp points that can cause ulcers in your horse’s mouth. Also, you want your horse to have the greatest grinding surface available so that he can get that food in the best digestible condition possible before sending it south to his stomach.
Keep The Feed Room Door Locked: Have your feed in containers the horses can’t break into should the door be left open. Gorging on any sort of feedstuff will give horses colic. A serious grain-overload colic will be followed by a terrible case of laminitis (founder), all of which is avoidable if the feed room door is kept locked.
Water, Water Everywhere: Horses need clean, fresh potable water available at all times. Don’t forget to keep the water tub in the field clean and filled. Also, the stall should have at least one large automatic waterer or large bucket available. Remember, horses are not evolutionarily adapted to drinking solid water. For that matter, our equine friends aren’t all that fond of very cold water. In order to avoid a fecal impaction, provide water above 50 degrees at all times.
horsechannel.com, Laura Riley, DVM
CREATING A HORSE QUARANTINE
Steps to take when introducing a new horse to your farm, and to reduce disease spread within your resident herd.
There are several instances in which a horse owner might need to isolate a horse from the rest of the herd. One is when you bring a new horse onto a farm; the second is if an animal is sick with a possibly contagious agent. A responsible horse owner should also quarantine a horse that is returning from a hospital stay, a sales barn, or any other environment where the horse might have been exposed to disease agents.
While most facilities do not have a separate barn for quarantine, there are still ways to care for a horse while limiting his exposure to other horses. Plan ahead for this type of scenario because the more prepared you are, the better. As the American Association of Equine Practitioners states in its biosecurity guidelines, “Anything that touches an infected horse or carries secretions or manure from sick horses has the potential to transfer pathogens to other horses.” That means anything from your hand to a water hose to a wheelbarrow.
Prior Planning
While you can’t completely prevent germs from spreading and horses from getting sick, simple management steps can minimize these risks. As part of everyday practices, work with your veterinarian to keep horses current on necessary vaccines (see www.aaep.org/vaccination_guidelines.htm for core vaccination guidelines). Keep your facility clean and try to minimize rodent and insect populations, because they (as well as dogs, cats, and other critters) can all move a disease agent. Also keep your equine herd as closed as possible. If you do have some horses that go on and off the farm, such as competition horses, keep them separate from the ones that do not leave the property. Take show horses’ temperatures daily for a week after returning home from competition as a good management practice and to catch any potential illness early. Avoid turning older horses out with younger ones, because young horses are more susceptible to illness.
Caring for a Quarantined Horse
When animals are kept in the same barn, it’s much harder to keep people and equipment from coming in contact with a sick horse. If you don’t have a separate barn as an isolation facility, a paddock with a shelter and a dedicated water source works well. If you don’t have a separate paddock, set up a portable pen and provide the horse with some type of shelter or windbreak. Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of equine medicine and epidemiology at Colorado State University, remarks that it’s easier for people to change their routines as well as keep track of possibly contaminated equipment if the horse is in a different area of the farm. She even had a client who used a roomy, well-bedded stock trailer (where the horse could move around and lie down) as a temporary isolation area until arrangements could be made for a more suitable location. The horse was accustomed to and comfortable in the trailer, and after he was moved the trailer was easy to clean and disinfect.
If you simply do not have a way to isolate the sick horse on your property, consider taking him to a veterinary clinic with an isolation facility. This is especially recommended if you are dealing with a horse that has both diarrhea and a fever, because it is difficult to contain the large volume of diarrhea passed by an adult horse.
Once you isolate a sick horse, Traub-Dargatz recommends maintaining good communication with all the people involved in horse care on the farm. “If people understand what you are trying to accomplish in isolating the sick horse, they’re more likely to do the right thing,” she states.
If possible, assign one person to care for the sick horse(s), and do not allow that person to handle healthy horses. If this is not feasible, care for the healthy, unexposed animals first, exposed animals next, and sick horses last. Protect yourself via physical barriers such as disposable gloves, plastic booties over your shoes, and barrier clothing (e.g., gowns, plastic aprons, or coveralls). Every time you finish tending to the sick horse, place barrier clothing in a covered container immediately. Wash and dry cloth items between each use, and wash your hands regularly. You can provide footbaths and hand sanitizers at access points, but these must be refreshed and maintained to be effective in preventing disease spread; someone should be assigned this job as well.
Ensure that a sick horse does not cross-contaminate unexposed areas. For instance, this means no communal water. If you use one hose to fill water buckets, make sure it does not touch the side of any bucket and is not submerged in the water. Manure on wheelbarrow or tractor tires can easily be spread throughout the facility. Waste material (e.g., used bedding and leftover feed) from the sick horse should not be spread in the pasture or added to an open-air pile. Designate equipment only for the sick horse, and identify it as such.
Disinfectants can be helpful, but always follow the label directions. Their usefulness also depends on the current climate, as some are ineffective in colder weather. Select one that is safe for use around horses and is effective in the presence of 10% organic matter. For example, organic matter readily inactivates bleach and it should be used only after a thorough cleaning. Strip stalls completely, and remove cobwebs before washing. (Videos on how to properly disinfect an average horse stall: Part 1 (cleaning) and Part 2 (disinfection))
Adding to the Herd
Bringing a new horse into an existing herd is a common way infectious diseases come onto a farm. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs cites three important factors to minimize risk when introducing a new horse:
- The protection you have given the resident horses with proper vaccination;
- The source of purchased horses, including how they are transported to the farm; and
- The method you will use to introduce the new horses to the rest of the herd.
If someone expresses interest in moving a horse to your barn, Nathan Slovis, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, CHT, internal medicine specialist at Hagyard Equine Medicine Institute in Lexington, Ky., recommends you first send that person a list of your stable rules and protocols. He also emphasizes sending a disease questionnaire that asks the horse owner 10-15 questions, such as, “Where is the horse coming from? Has there been any instance of disease on that farm? Has the horse been ill recently? Does the horse travel a lot to shows? Is the horse coming from a hospital setting?” If you are new to the boarding scene, share the answers with your veterinarian to help determine if this is a higher-risk animal. The answers do not necessarily mean you won’t take the horse; rather, they mean you might wait before allowing the horse to come on the farm or you might accept the horse, but put quarantine protocol into place.
If your farm is strangles-free, you want to keep it that way. Slovis suggests having a strangles polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) or culture performed on a nasopharyngeal wash (a sample of material from the back of the horse’s throat and nasal passages) prior to accepting the horse.
Examine vaccination records closely to find out what the horse has been vaccinated for and when. Slovis stresses that the most important way to protect horses from certain diseases is through proper vaccination, but which vaccines to use are specific to your area and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Before the horse steps foot on your property, consider vaccinating any horses over 6 months of age that haven’t already received their shots. Make sure you also closely review the new horse’s current health certificate and Coggins (which shows the horse tested negative for equine infectious anemia).
Traub-Dargatz advises keeping new horses isolated for three weeks, if possible. Similar to dealing with a sick horse, work with the isolated horse last each day, and use separate pitchforks, wheelbarrows, buckets, etc. To make isolation equipment easier to distinguish from the rest of the facility’s equipment, Slovis suggests picking bright colors for the quarantined horse, such as a pink lead rope or water bucket. Check the newly arrived horse’s temperature daily–optimally twice a day. Keep an eye out for a cough, eye or nasal discharge, swelling of lymph nodes around the head or neck, skin disease, abnormal scratching, or diarrhea. Call your veterinarian at the first sign of a fever or other problems. While the horse is isolated, give him any vaccinations that your other horses have received. For example, a horse moving from Colorado to Maryland might need to be vaccinated for Potomac horse fever.
If a three-week isolation is simply too long to manage for your facility, Slovis says one week to 10 days is typically long enough to reveal if a horse is going to get sick. The exception is when you add a new broodmare to a group of other mares in foal. In that case he says you should be more conservative and follow the three-week isolation period because the last thing you want is an abortion outbreak.
If you don’t have a separate area to keep the new horse, designate a stall at the end of the barn as your isolation stall. It should be located by an entry so that there is good ventilation and the horse doesn’t have to pass every other animal in the barn on exit and entry. Keep it such that the horse can’t hang his head out and come into contact with other animals and equipment. If possible, leave the stall next to the isolation stall empty. Slovis admits this isn’t the ideal isolation (since disease agents that spread through the air, such as those that cause influenza, can travel up to 150 feet), but typically it is the best scenario when you only have one barn.
Perform a fecal egg count before a new horse is turned out with your herd. That way you can get an idea of parasite load before potentially contaminating your pasture. If the horse has a high egg count, turn him out alone in a small pasture or paddock until treated.
Back to Normal
Once you have navigated the tricky waters of quarantine, how long does it take for bacteria and viruses to die? Again, it depends on the agent. Viruses don’t live well outside the body, but they can survive for several days depending on the temperature and humidity level. Sun is very good at destroying some disease-causing agents. Streptococcus equi, the bacterium that causes strangles, for instance, usually does not live for more than seven to 14 days if exposed to the sun, but it can live longer if it has not. S. equi can survive up to 30 days in water, which is why it is important to keep your waterers clean. Then, unfortunately, some types of Salmonella have been known to live in manure for years.
Take-Home Message
Traub-Dargatz reminds us that it is important to focus not just on the horse but all the people and items that could spread a disease agent around a farm. “The devil is in the details on those kinds of things,” she says. She suggests having an objective pair of eyes, such as those of your veterinarian, take a look at the movement of people and objects around your farm.
A horse with a fever is a red flag that should prompt a call to your veterinarian. Some owners might dismiss a horse with nasal discharge as no big deal, but two to three days into the problem other horses might then be exposed. Better to err on the side of caution, have an isolation plan in place, and move into action at the first sign of trouble. Work with your veterinarian to determine the cause of the disease so you can take a targeted approach to control the problem and care for the sick horse.
Learn more about horse husbandry and discover thousands of tips for keeping your horse happy and healthy in Understanding Basic Horse Care
thehorse.com, Stephanie J. Corum, MS, September 12 2011, Article # 18815
‘A four-legged friend, a four-legged friend, He’ll never let you down.’ – Jack Brooks
EQUINE THERAPY: ARE SOME BREEDS BETTER THAN OTHERS?
When equine therapy first became popular as a therapeutic modality, it found it’s way into many addiction treatment centers. At the same point in time, the theory of dual diagnosis — where addicts are understood to have a secondary diagnosis in addition to an addiction — was also gaining ground.
As more and more sufferers of addiction were found to have experienced trauma that might be at the root of their proclivity for addictive substances, the thought was that introducing horses that have also been abused in some way, would help these patients relate to the horses, and consequentially, their own traumas.
However, during this time, the thought of particular breeds being more adept as therapy horses was not considered. Yet for the horse experts who were often employed to work alongside the therapists in the equine therapy sessions, this was clearly a question worth pondering. And to those who have spent years showing, riding and training horses, the idea that breed does not influence personality, behavioral characteristics, and certainly ability to work in the therapeutic capacity, would be absurd.
Yet even given the breed differences that are clear to people familiar with horses, the calling of a therapy horse is somewhat unique. Not asked to “perform” in typical horse events, the therapy horse is asked to do something that most people, themselves, struggle with.
He is expected to be ability to interpret the underlying thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of the person. While the outward responses a person can have to many situations are frequently obvious to those around him, what the therapist is most concerned with is what is not said, expressed, or otherwise made obvious. For this, she turn to the horse. Through the horse’s responses to the person, the hope is that often unconscious motives will be revealed. Then once this shadowed self is out in the open for not only the therapist, but also the patient to see, internal conflicts can be resolved.
So is it possible then, that some breeds of horses are better interpreters of hidden human emotion? Certainly it is well accepted that some cultures of people are more emotionally receptive and expressive than others, and the argument could be made that this also makes them more perceptive to hidden emotion. Emotional categorization — or the testing of the ability to read, and categorize emotion — has also revealed significant individual differences in people.
While with horses, we don’t test these things, perhaps in more subtle ways we do. Breeders and trainers of horses have historically attempted to breed horses that exhibited specific performance capabilities, such as jumping large fences, dominating races, or performing dramatic airs above the ground. As each of these performance demands have required extreme athletic ability, the case remains that athletic ability and receptiveness to training are not mutually exclusive, for in order to meet these performance expectations, the horse had to be willing to listen to the aids, cues, and commands of the handler.
This, of course, required some ability to interpret emotional states of the human. As the trainer becomes more calm, the horse slows and quiets down, yet when the handler asks the horse to perform a more dramatic feat, such as leaping above the ground — as with the famous Lipizzan stallions — his emotional intensity would rise to cue the horse effectively. The horse who then did not interpret this correctly, would be much more difficult to train, and also much less likely to have his traits passed on, as reproduction would be halted with poor performance capacity.
Does this mean then that horse breeds who perform very well, and prove to be very trainable. would also be uniquely receptive to human emotion and the dissemination thereof? This is certainly quite possible, and some therapeutic practitioners have already considered this. However, as equine therapy is still in it’s infancy, much remains to be seen not only about the best suited breeds, but also the more effective theoretical orientations. Perhaps with the growth of this new field these questions will be answered, for now, it is safe to say that equine therapy is a promising new field.
Photo by Roger 4336, available under a Creative Commons attribution license.
blogs. psychcentral.com, Claire Dorotik,LMFT
‘Bread may feed my body, but my horse feeds my soul.’ – Anonymous
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