Horse Health

The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine December 08/January 09 £2.95

By Louise Cordell

HORSE charities struggling to cope with anunprecedented number of homingrequests are being forced to recommendeuthanasia as a last resort.The Horse Trust has confirmed that thecredit crunch is taking its toll on thecountry’s horses after being inundatedwith calls for help from cash strappedowners. Susan Lewis, The Horse Trust’s marketingmanager, said: “It is a massive issue forthe equine industry. We have gone from20 to 30 enquiries a week to well over500 in just the last three weeks, and thenumbers are increasing all the time. Weare being approached by a newgeneration of horse owners who neverthought they would find themselves in thisposition. But now the credit crunch isseverely impacting on their lifestyle andthey don’t know what to do.”Rising feed, bedding and livery costs,together with a decline in demand forleisure riding, is affecting yards andindividual owners and with, waiting lists ofover 18 months, few charities are in aposition to help. The Horse Trust will look at each individualcase and make any recommendations they

can to help keep horse and ownertogether, but this is not always possible. Susan added: “If people are having troublefeeding themselves, let alone their horse,and this means the welfare of the horsewill suffer, then we do suggest euthanasiaas an option. I think it would beirresponsible not to, especially if thealternative is compromising care, becausewe have to put the horse’s interests first.”Re-homing charities are also finding thatthere are fewer people taking on horseownership, and there has also been a risein people taking on horses and thenbringing them back a few months later –either because their financialcircumstances have changed or becausethe costs are higher than they expected. Susan added: “Unfortunately we can’ttake in every needy horse – if only wecould – but we are doing everything wecan under increasingly difficultcircumstances.“The worry is that people will start tryingto cut costs, leading to compromised care,for example thinking twice before callingout the vet. The situation is a big concernfor horse charities across the country andit has the potential to escalate. “We are extremely concerned and wedon’t know where it is going to end.”

A study of foot balanceand lameness in ridingschool horses has won theRoyal Agricultural Societyof England’s ‘Eqvalan DuoEquine Thesis of the YearAward’.Laura Corbin fromWarwickshire Collegereported her research onriding school horses anddeveloped an objectivesystem to evaluate footbalance.She found that horses with

chronic foot conditionsoften had poor scores forfoot balance and somaintaining good footbalance could reducelameness and provide longterm economic benefits.Her winning thesis wasselected by judgesProfessor Graham Suggett,Dr Emma Batson of MerialAnimal Health, Dr PatHarris of Mars HorsecareLtd, and Alison Bridge ofHorse and Rider.

Horse charitiesstrugglingwith requests

01 2/12/08 12:44 Page 1

02 -Imprint 2/12/08 12:31 Page 1

By Louise Cordell

THERE is an urgent need forrecognised training standards to beset for equine paraprofessionals,according to new research fromLantra.

Results from the first ever UK widesurvey of equine barefoot trimmersand equine dental technicians haverevealed a gap in standards oftraining and the industry’s currentand future skills requirements.

Lisa Jarvis, Lantra’s industrypartnership manger, said: “Thereport highlights how thedevelopment of different trainingoptions and qualifications may leadto confusion within the veterinaryprofession and the wider equineworld as to the experience and

competency of those undertakingthe work.”

Lantra is now aiming to work withvarious professional organisations toidentify how, where, what and whentraining is currently accessed andundertaken.

There will then be a review todiscover if this meets the currentrequirements of the equine industryand if any changes will need to bemade in the future.

Lisa added: “This report is key indeveloping industry-wide nationaloccupational standards for thetraining, skill development andqualifications required byparaprofessionals.

“This will ensure that peopleundertaking the work are suitably

experienced and competent to dotheir job, which is key if demand forthese jobs continues to rise.”

As a result of the report, Lantra isalso hoping to open up a debate onthe title of barefoot trimmer and islooking for feedback on howappropriate the term is and what isinvolved in the role.

Lisa added: “Significant variation isvisible in the range of job titles usedby the people undertaking this workto describe themselves.

“So we have now started to workwith these professionals to reach anagreement on one job title that reallyreflects their work – providing a clearoutline of the role for future industryentrants.”

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3

EDITORIAL

GROUP EDITOR:

Andrew HarrodTel: 01226 734639email: [email protected]

EDITOR:Christine [email protected]: 07825 097 464

Reporter Louise CordellTel: 01226 734694 [email protected]

PRODUCTION

STUDIO MANAGER:Stewart Holt [email protected]

DEPUTY GROUP EDITOR:Judith [email protected]

ADVERTISING

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR:

Tony Barry

SALES EXECUTIVE:

Beverley ParkinTel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 [email protected]

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of allcontent, the publishers do not accept liability for error,

printed or otherwise, that may occur.

Horse Health is registered withthe Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Urgent need fortraining standards

THE Queen’s Award forEquestrianism has been presented toYogi Briesner during a reception atBuckingham Palace. The formereventer and trainer has received theaward for his outstanding services toequestrianism after being selectedfrom nine nominees by the BHSboard of trustees. Patrick Print, BHS chairman, said:“Yogi is unquestionably one of thegreat trainers of our time.

“His addition to the list of recipientsof the Queen’s Award forEquestrianism ensures that itsreputation as the foremost accoladefor outstanding service will remain.”The other eight nominees in line forthe award were Mr Douglas Bunn,Mr Richard Carey, Mr LeslieCrawford, Mrs Jill Gibson, MrHamish John Lochore, Mr JohnMcEwen, Mr Hugh Thomas andMajor Richard Waygood.

The PrincessRoyal andLars Goran(Yogi)BreisnerPicture:Matt Fowler

Equestrian award for Yogi

Hunt for riderTHE HUNT is on to find a rider whoworks as hard for their sponsors as TimStockdale, Matt Ryan and EllenWhitaker.All three are previous winners of theBritish Equestrian Trade Association’sTSM Rider Award and now BETA isrequesting nominations for the 2009prize.The TSM Rider Award is open to ridersin all disciplines, from international tolocal level and the winner will be therider who has forged a particularlyproductive relationship with his or hersponsors.The closing date for nominations is 1January 2009 after which a short listwill be drawn up with the finaldecision being reached by anindependent panel. Rider nominationsand an explanation of why he or shedeserves to win should be emailed [email protected].

Cancer hopeHORSES that are diagnosed withcancer will now have a better chanceof recovery thanks to the extension ofa new therapy unit at CambridgeUniversity.The Queen’s Veterinary Hospital is theonly facility in Europe offeringradiotherapy for horses and nowhouses a new linear accelerator whichis identical to those used in humancancer treatment centres. This equip-ment has replaced the original machinewhich was donated second hand fromthe NHS in 1991 when the veterinaryschool opened the first cancertreatment unit for animals in Europe.

03 2/12/08 15:25 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS4

ESSEX vet, Andrew Dobson, hasbeen named Petplan Equine Vet ofthe Year at the 20th annual AnimalHealth Trust Equestrian Awards.

The prize had been introduced tocelebrate the huge contributionvets make to equine health andwelfare and owners and riders fromall over the UK had been invited tosend in nominations.

A short list of three finalists wasdrawn up before Andrew, of TheBarn Equine and Large AnimalPractice in Great Wakering, wasselected by a panel of industryexperts.

Andrew Dobson qualified in 1999and has run his own practice forthe last four and a half years.

He was nominated by a number ofhis grateful clients and theirglowing testimonials impressed the

judges.

Jo Whitaker of Petplan Equine said:“We received some very strongnominations and all three finalistsare clearly exceptional vets.

“Andrew Dobson was nominatedby a number of his clients and theyall stressed his professionalism anddevotion to the horses in his careand how he regularly goes beyondthe call of duty in making sure thatboth horses and owners are giventhe very best treatment.”

Andrew added: “I have alwaysenjoyed working with horsesbecause I like the way they aredealt with as individuals, which isnot always the case with a lot oflarge animal work.

“I think my clients view their horsesin the same way others see theircats and dogs – they are a huge

part of their life - and they felt thatthey were missing out on theattention a local vet and a smallfriendly practice can provide that.

“They didn’t like their clinic beingmiles away and having to see a

different vet every time, and I try toprovide something different.

“They don’t necessarily want thelatest flash equipment, butsomeone who they feel they cantalk to and who understands theirhorse’s history.”

Andrew takes Vet of the Year titlePictured,from left,MarkLingard,AlisonBridge,AndrewDobsonand MarkMurrell

Supplier launches websiteINDEPENDENT farriery supplier, TotalFoot Protection, has launched a newwebsite offering equipment andeducation.

The site,www.totalfootprotection.com,features an archive of published

education articles and details ofupcoming CPD educational events.

Visitors can also purchase productsfrom leading manufacturers as wellas unique and specialist remedialitems.

HOWIE the Rescue Horse has beenunveiled by the Equine Rescue Fundas its latest training tool.

The lifesize mannequin will be usedto help train vets and rescue servicesin helping horses in emergencysituations.

It will provide the practical elementsof the rescue and emergencymedicine training for equine vetscourses run by BEVA in partnershipwith Hampshire Fire and RescueService’s animal rescue specialists.

Howie will also be taken on the roadto veterinary schools and go out onloan to other fire and rescue serviceswishing to train their firefighters inmanual emergency equine handlingtechniques.

The first of its kind to bemanufactured in the UK, Howie wasdesigned to the animal rescue

specialist’s specifications by Wales-based company Big Beasts, whichmore usually creates bespokemodels, creatures, and props for thefilm and television industry, as wellas for museums and theme parks.

Howie has been named afterGenitrix’ managing director, HowardWilder after the company stepped into cover the significant productioncosts of the mannequin.

Howard said: “Horse rescue is acomplex and hazardous operation,both for the animal and those tryingto rescue it and treat any injuries.

“As a company actively involved inequine care, we felt it was importantto make a contribution to the EquineRescue Fund.

“It’s great that Howie has safelyarrived and we hope he will prove animportant asset to the ERF.”

Pictured, from left, Howard Wilder, Genitrix MD; Buster Brown and JimGreen, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Animal Rescue Specialists

Rescue horse unveiled

04 2/12/08 15:26 Page 1


Owners invitedto take part inconsultationBy Louise Cordell

HORSE owners are being invited totake part in a consultation on thenewly-released animal welfare codesof practice.

The codes, which will be publishedon the Defra website and in leaflets,will aim to help horse, dog and catowners understand theirresponsibilities under the AnimalWelfare Act 2006.

Since its introduction the act hashelped organisations bring successfulprosecutions to people mistreatinganimals and, under its rules, anyoneconvicted of cruelty to an animalcould face a prison sentence or afine up to £20,000.

If a person fails to comply with acode of practice they will not beliable to proceedings, however,failure to comply with severalprovisions may be used as evidenceto support a prosecution for animalcruelty.

Environment secretary Hilary Bennsaid: “The Animal Welfare Act 2006

has been the most important pieceof animal legislation for nearly acentury.

“These three new codes of practicewill outline the responsibilities ofowners under the act and givepractical advice on how to fulfillthem.

“This means no one will be able toclaim ignorance as an excuse formistreating any animal.”

The codes consist of practical adviceon how to create a suitableenvironment for the animal to live in,provide a healthy diet, spot signs ofstress and protect the animal frompain, suffering, injury and disease.

Specific advice for horses includesthe cost of keeping a horse, feeding,shelter and stabling, body conditionscoring, equine behaviour andsocialisation, transportation andsaddlery.

Consultation on the new codes willlast until the end of December anddocumentation can be found atwww.defra.gov.uk.

JENNY Ellis, winner of the 2007British Groom Award, has now beennamed FEI International Groom ofthe Year.

The newly-introduced award wasjudged by the Athletes committee,chaired by Paralympian Lee Pearsonand Jenny will now be travelling toBuenos Aires to pick up her prize atthe FEI’s General Assembly.

She said: “I am extremely honouredand proud to win this award. I hopeit will help to give inspiration andincentive to all grooms, and to realisethat the vocational job that we do isnow becoming recognisedworldwide.

“When I started out, there were afew turnout classes we could win,but I never dreamt that anything likethis could ever happen.

“Now with the help and recognitionof the BGA and the FEI, I feel we arecredited as a much more vital part ofthe team.”

Jenny was put forward for the awardby John Whitaker, Richard Davisonand Simon Laurens through theirnomination for the 2007 Kuster BEFGroom Award.

Lucy Katan from the BGA said: “Iwas approached by the FEI asking ifwe could nominate a British groomfor this new award and it was anobvious choice to put forward ourmost recent winner of the Britishgroom award.

“I am delighted that the FEI havecreated this award and proud that aBritish groom and BGA member haswon it.”

Jenny Ellis with Richard Davison and her 2007 Kuster BEF GroomAward

New award forgroom Jenny

Scholarships for young ridersA GROUP of talented young ridershave been awarded scholarships tohelp them compete while continuingtheir education.The British Equestrian Federation hassecured 32 talented athletescholarship awards (TASS) for riderscompeting in both Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines.These include five drivers, twoequestrian vaulters, six dressageriders, five show jumpers, fiveeventers and nine para-equestriandressage riders.Will Connell, World ClassPerformance director, said: “This yearthe standard of applications wasextremely high. We have beensuccessful in securing an impressivenumber and I am particularly pleasedthat we have managed to secure

more funding for the non-Olympicequestrian sports. These awardsreally do make a difference to theseyoung athletes and allow them topursue their equestrian ambitionsalongside their education.”The TASS programme aims to providea seamless transition for riders intohigher class competition, while stillencouraging them to continue anacademic career.It also provides links with regionaland national developmentprogrammes such as the Pony, Juniorand Young Rider squads. The riderswho received last year’s scholarshipswere extremely successful in nationaland international competition withthree eventers winning Europeanmedals and dressage ridersrepresenting Britain.

MASTER of Hickstead, DouglasBunn, has been awarded the LizDudden Trophy by the BritishEquestrian Writers Association.The trophy is given each year to aperson, other than a competitor,who has made a majorcontribution to equestrian sport.Douglas, a former international

rider and chef d'equipe of theBritish team, built and opened theAll England Jumping Course atHickstead, Sussex, in 1960.Since then he has built areputation for his Sussexshowground as one of the bestpermanent outdoor equestrianvenues in the world.

Award for Master of Hickstead

05 2/12/08 12:45 Page 1


Editor’s insight...AS 2008 draws to a close, it’salways interesting to look backover the year, and we havecertainly had some greathighlights.

Our Going for Gold feature withRyan Prater was a great success,and very popular across thereadership.

Although this series has now cometo an end, we look forward tovisiting Ryan from time to timeduring 2009 to follow his progressand, of course, we congratulatehim on his forthcoming marriageto Anika, early in the New Year.

We are continually grateful to allwho contribute to the pages ofHorse Health, we endeavour tocover both the conventional, andsometimes less conventional

approaches to equine care, and tokeep abreast of new technologiesand veterinary achievements.

Certainly one of the mostcomprehensive seminars I attendedthis year, was that on emergingexotic diseases at Tattersalls inJune.

Experts from across the worldgathered to give detailed accountsas to what might occur and how,the control procedures in place,and the potential, of a vaccine forAfrican Horse Sickness.

Disease control remained an issuefor much of the year, with horsesflying to Hong Kong for theOlympic Games.

The extraordinary measures, andattention to detail, taken for their

welfare, ensured the cream of thesport horse population were ableto compete to the best of theirabilities.

We are pleased to continue ourassociation with the ThoroughbredBreeders’ Association, and lookforward to working more closelywith them in the coming year.

Dr Mark Kennedy writes in theBloodstock Matters feature in thisissue, and will continue throughoutthe year, to examine problems andissues concerning equinebehaviour.

Indications are that 2009 will provea challenging year on many levels,however, all at Horse Health wishyou well for the festive season andeverything the new year mightbring.

Christine Keate

THE British Grooms Association isasking employers to consider treatingtheir staff to a gift that will last allyear long – a membership to theirprofessional association.

Lucy Katan, BGA executive director,said: “We are aware of howemployers are suffering from severe

recruitment and retention problemsand we desperately want to help theemployers by promoting the job of agroom and encouraging more youngpeople to consider the career route.

“It is also crucial for us to offersupport and help to the employer inthe areas of staff motivation and

retention. We need our employersto continue to support the associa-tion in order for us to continue toprovide this much needed help andjoining their staff up for Christmas isa great way to do it.”

As well as becoming part of theassociation supporting grooms within

the equine industry, members alsoreceive exclusive discounts on anumber of things including personalaccident insurance with SEIB, a £10Derby House discount voucher andthe quarterly magazine, BritishGrooms, featuring useful tips, adviceand stories.

Call for employers to give membership gift

MAKE way for the next generationCyclo-ssage Pro Equine MassageSystem

Having launched the original ProEquine Massage System in 2007,Cyclo-ssage have worked with theirmanufacturers in Germany toproduce a brand new, improved,Next Generation Pro Equine MassageSystem.

The lightweight, rug-based systemnow features extended massageareas which encompass the shoulderand hind quarter areas – ensuringthe massage is applied directly to thehorse’s main muscle groups via achoice of various intensities andprograms. The inclusion of adetachable neck piece option bringsthe total massage motor number tofourteen and leads to a softer, morerelaxed horse from poll to tail.

Cyclo-ssage have fine-tuned thesystem to include a soft breathablemesh along the spine and crest,elasticated cross surcingles, lithiumion battery and twin, removable andwashable fleece linings in both theneck piece and rug.

The system has already proved toassist in the easing of muscle painand tension, as well as improvingspinal and joint mobility, reducinglactic acid build up, stimulating thelymph system and helping the bodyevacuate metabolic products.

On top of this the system increasesthe circulation and transportation ofoxygen, helps to accelerate recoveryafter injury and reduces the chanceof muscle wastage in horses on boxrest.

Prices start at £2,000 + VAT. Formore information, or to organise afree demonstration, tel: 0800 1692808 or visit www.cyclo-ssage.com

Make way for the nextgeneration Cyclo-ssage ProEquine Massage System

Advertiser’s annnouncement

THE British Horseracing Authority haslaunched a new online training andwelfare website. The system gives racehorse trainers anew way to manage their daily tasks,vaccination records, training worklists and injury and medical records.It is a confidential database that canbe customised and expanded to suitindividual yards and can provide upto date reports on each horse’sstatus.The site has been developed by theBHA, Weatherbys and the HorseraceBetting Levy Board and, although allpersonal information on the systemwill remain confidential, anonymiseddata will be able to be used by theBHA for the improvement of equinewelfare. Resources available through

the system include a daily taskmodule, providing an up to date listof all critical welfare tasks and avaccination module which lists allvaccinations that are due andcalculates the next due date,prompting the user with a reminder.There is also a training section whichincludes details of daily work,recording speed, distance, surface,incline and intervals, plus walker,schooling and box rest. Finally thereare the medical and injury sections,which record the date and type ofincident, the description andoutcome of the examination andtreatment details including type ofmedication, who authorised andadministered it and dosage andduration of treatment.

New online training andwelfare website launched

SOPHIE Christiansen has become thefirst ever para-equestrian dressagerider to be awarded the RaymondBrooks-Ward Memorial Trophy.The prize is given to the mostpromising rider under 25 years oldcompeting in any of the eventing,dressage or show jumping disciplinesand will be presented to Sophie atOlympia in December.

Sophie was a member of GreatBritain’s gold medal winning team atthe 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games,and also won individual silver in theindividual test and gold in thefreestyle. She said: “I feel totallyhonoured to be recognised with sucha prestigious award. It really makes itall worthwhile when other peoplenotice your achievements.”

Trophy first for Sophie

06 2/12/08 16:01 Page 1


By Louise Cordell

A NEW concept in saddle design,aimed at bringing together thelatest technology and the horse’scomfort, has been launched. Ten years and £1m has beenspent on the development of theQuantum AMS Saddle includingindependent scientific testing andtrials.The new design has been triedout on all kinds of horses, fromremedial cases to competitionhorses and a number ofinternational riders have tried outand approved the equipment.The development team includeRichard Seymour and DickPowell, ARRK – an engineeringand science company andCambridge vet Andy Bathe.The Quantum team came upwith the concept after realisingthat the traditional saddle designhad not changed significantly inover 200 years, while equipmentfor other sports disciplines hadembraced technologicaladvances. The Quantum saddle aims to

change this by using advanceddesign to eliminate pressurepoints and the most advancedmaterials for the best strength,performance and weight. The traditional tree is replacedwith a ‘chassis’ made up of twostructural carbon fibre fins whichare contoured to fit the horse’sback and distribute pressureevenly, regardless of riderposition. The seat is separatedfrom the ‘chassis’ so that it canbe fitted to the rider, withoutaffecting the fit for the horse andthe stirrup bar is attached furtherback than usual to improvepressure distribution and free upshoulder movement. Finally, the girth is mounted on tothe fins using a ‘W’ three point,‘self-righting’ system that holdsthe saddle in place and eliminatesthe need for breastplates, whichcan impair the horse’s flexibility.The first saddle available to thepublic, the Quantum AMS-J jumpwill be released in February and adressage saddle will go on salethe following month.

New concept insaddle designis launched

Plans for second eventTHE first equine educational eveningorganised by Catherine Mace-Nelsonat Fritton Lake Stables has been a bigsuccess.

Speakers including Dr Colin Robertsand Duncan Hannant gavepresentations for horse owners onWest Nile Fever and African HorseSickness, zoonoses and othernotifiable diseases.

Also attending were Victor Franco

and Mike Bardsley from The ThreeRivers Veterinary Group and DianeGilby from EPL Animal Care whopresented an overview of the'Intelligent Worming' programme.

Plans are now being made to hold asecond event in the spring coveringlaminitis, grass sickness, cushingsand care of the veteran horse.

For more information contactCatherine on 07711 931888.

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HORSE HEALTH I8 Feeding and nutrition

By Kate Coles BSc (Hons) Equine America (UK) Ltd

AS the weather turns colder and thenights start to draw in many of uswill be suffering the effects of thecommon ‘cold’. But what about ourhorses?

The respiratory system has a directeffect on health and performanceand this delicate system must beunderstood and cared for, especiallyin the winter months.

Respiratory obstructions or infectionswill reduce efficiency of air intake,resulting in reduced performance.The main causes of respiratorydistress are viral or bacterialinfections or allergic reactions tonon-infectious agents such as dustand spores.

Long term conditions are often as aresult of poorly ventilated, uncleanstables or mouldy hay and feed.

An allergic reaction to theseelements or pathogens in theenvironment can vary greatly inseverity.

In milder cases it may only be theupper respiratory system that isaffected with slight congestion ornasal discharge.

In more severe cases the lowerrespiratory system and the lungs areaffected.

This condition is known as RecurrentAirway Obstruction or ChronicObstructive Pulmonary Disease and isa similar condition to asthma.

In its more progressed stages it canbe referred to as heaves, due to thelines visible down the sides of theanimal created from the strain ofconstant coughing.

In these cases, your vet will prescribetreatment and may include the useof a nebuliser.

These conditions or symptoms canbecome more apparent during thewinter as the amount of time that ahorse spends in the stable ingenerally increased.

If you are concerned about yourhorse’s respiratory health, especiallyif the horse is particularly lethargic,off food or losing weight, hastemperature, severe cough, enlarged glands or smelly ordiscoloured mucus discharge thencontact your veterinary surgeon foradvice.

The best solution for a horse withany kind of respiratory problem is to

remove the elements that trigger theproblem.

Turnout is important but is notalways possible or practical all winter.However, with careful managementrespiratory health can be greatlyimproved.ManagementEnsure stables or barns are wellventilated with fresh air and choosea bedding that is low in dust contentsuch as shavings.

Keeping the stable clean is essentialas dirty ammonia filled stables arevery bad for the respiratory system.

Hay can also contribute to respiratoryproblems, as the horse eats or pullshay from a net, dust is released rightinto the nose.

This can be solved by feedinghaylage and dust free forage but,some horses, especially good doers,will find haylage too rich. In thesesituations feed good quality hay butsoak it first.

Over soaking hay can destroy itsnutritional content but it must besoaked long enough for the dustparticles to swell. SupplementsThe main aim of respiratory

supplements is to open and soothethe airways, boost the immunesystem and reduce congestion.

Menthol, peppermint and eucalyptusall provide refreshing vapours thathelp to break down nasal congestionand open the airways and honey,glycerine and aloe vera will soothe and coat the throat reducingthe tickle that can aggravate acough.

It is also important to support theimmune system of horses withrespiratory weaknesses, as areduction will leave the horse moresusceptible to infections and viruses– garlic, echinacea and astragalus areall known for their benefits to theimmune system.

Managing horses is all about creatingan environment and providingcorrect nutrition that encouragesboth optimal mental and physicalhealth.

The respiratory system is so vital tohealth and performance it must bemaintained to the highest degreethrough good management andexercise.

THERE is a growing amount ofhorses and ponies that suffer fromrespiratory problems and chronicobstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and there are products onthe market that help alleviate thesymptoms by suppressing the cough,but about a week after they arestopped the cough and symptomscan recur.

The respiratory herbs from EllenCollinson Herbal Products however,treat the cause and not thesymptom, this will on occasionsmake the symptoms, i.e. cough,worse before it gets better, but oncethe coughing stops it will not re-occur when the herbal course isfinished.

The herbs in this combination areknown to aid to the body tonaturally relieve irritation and to help discharge mucus secretionsfrom the bronchopulmonarypassages.

This product contains herbs whichare well documented as the finestherbs for the respiratory tract, andhave been used as both a tonic and

a vulnerary from ancient times to thepresent.

Respiratory herbs are part of the bestselling range of Ellen Collinsonherbal products which can beordered on their websitewww.EllenCollinson.co.uk wheremore information can also be foundon all of their products. Alternativelycall their office on 0845 260 3602.

Advertiser’s announcement

Treating the causeand not the symptom

System must be cared for

08 2/12/08 12:47 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 9Feeding and nutrition

RESPIRATION is the process ofdrawing air and oxygen, needed forenergy conversion, into the bodyand the expulsion of air and carbondioxide, the waste product of thisconversion, from the body.The first part of the respiratorysystem is the head or moreaccurately the nostrils.Horses, unlike humans, cannotbreathe through their mouths. Toaccommodate the large amount ofair required for speed the nostrilshave adapted to expand,maximising air flow.The air then passes into the nasalpassages and each passagecontains three delicate bones calledturbinates.The third and furthest turbinate isresponsible for smell, butcollectively these bones along withthe hair that covers the nasalpassages, warm and filter the airbefore it passes onto the next partof the respiratory system.The nasal passages also connect tothe sinuses, large chambers of airwithin the horse’s head whichreduce the weight of the skull.

Although not directly involved inrespiration, the sinuses can often beaffected by respiratory viruses as asecondary infection.The air then passes into thepharynx, a muscular area at theback of the throat involved in bothbreathing and swallowing.The air will pass through thepharynx into the larynx, whichprovides support for the epiglottis,contains the vocal cords andconnects the pharynx to thetrachea.The epiglottis is a piece of tissue,activated when the horse swallows,flipping over the larynx preventingfood entering the trachea.The wind pipe is a tube supportedand held open by ridged rings ofcartilage, which lead from the headto the chest cavity.Once in the chest cavity the windpipe separates into two branchescalled bronchi, connecting to eachlung.The bronchi then divide into manybranches called bronchioles, untilending in alveoli where theexchange of gases takes place.

The respiratory system

Well-ventilated stables and soaked hay can help improve respiratoryhealth

09 2/12/08 15:45 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 10 Feeding and nutrition

Blue Chip Feed explore thebenefits ...

OPTIMISING the health and efficiencyof the equine digestive system is thegoal of every stable manager, sounderstanding the basic physiologyunderpinning the function ordysfunction of the gastrointestinaltract, is fundamental to avoidingundesirable digestive upsets that maypossibly manifest as a simple loss ofperformance, or a fatal colic.

Amongst the ‘tools’ increasinglyavailable are the natural digestiveaids known as prebiotics andprobiotics, but knowledge of theirpotential to support a healthy andefficient equine digestive system isoften superficial and they canfrequently be misunderstood.

In modern equine nutrition, attentionto widely available researchinformation reveals that the mosteffective prebiotics currently availableare mannanoligosaccharides (MOS).

Mannanoligosaccharide prebioticsare complex sugars that are not usedas a substrate (food) by either thehost animal (the horse), or thebacteria (flora) resident in the normalgastro intestinal (GI) tract.

MOS has the uniquely effectiveaction of efficiently removing gramnegative (pathogenic) bacteria fromthe GI tract, including salmonella andE-coli, by binding them tightly toitself, and so effectively ‘blocking’the binding sites they would other-wise use to attach to the gut wall asan essential precursor to causingdigestive upsets and/or disease.

Acting in this way, MOS functions asa ‘raft’ to which only the pathogenicbacteria can bind, carrying them outof the gut to finally ‘starve’ in thedroppings. Bio Mos is probably themost respected trade name for thisform of prebiotic that directlyremoves pathogenic bacteria, leavingthe natural gut flora to do their

intended job of supporting thehealthy, effective functioning of theequine digestive system.

Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) prebioticproducts have a completely differentmode of action. FOS acts as asubstrate (food) for the naturallyoccurring (gram positive) bacteriathat produce lactic acid to reduce thepH in the gut lumen, so inhibitingthe pathogenic bacteria and hencehelping to maintain a healthy gutflora by competitive exclusion.

Turning to the consideration ofprobiotics the situation is furthercomplicated as unlike the prebiotic‘sugars’, probiotics are regulated bythe EU and only two, both yeasts,are licensed by the EU as probioticsfor inclusion into equine feedstuffs.

To clarify the situation further,contrary to surprisingly commonbelief, there are no live ‘bacteria’currently licensed by the EU asequine probiotics.

The potential benefits of feedingYea-Sacc 1026 are derived from itseffects on the digestive process thatcan be described as ‘improvingdigestive performance’.

It acts to stimulate the naturallyresident bacteria in the caecum,which are broadly classified as eitherfibre digestors or lactic acid utilisers,so keeping the pH balanced foroptimum digestion.

As a result, the horse benefits froman increased nutrient availability anda more stable, healthy gut function.

This is not the same physiologicaleffect as adding a bacterial probiotic,such as a live natural yoghurt, to thediet, which in humans act to ‘top up’the numbers of naturally occurringbacteria, such as lactobacilli in the GItract, resulting in the much-adver-tised benefits we are all exposed todaily. These products are unproven inthe horse and none are licensed bythe EU for use in equine feedstuffs.

Prebiotics andProbiotics ...

‘Amongst the ‘tools’ increasinglyavailable are the natural digestive aidsknown as prebiotics and probiotics, butknowledge of their potential to supporta healthy and efficient equine digestivesystem is often superficial and they canfrequently, be misunderstood’

10 2/12/08 12:48 Page 1

11- Saracen 2/12/08 12:33 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 12 Feeding and nutrition

By Lizzie Drury MSc registered nutritionist, Saracen Horse Feeds

IN simple terms equine colic can bedefined as abdominal pain.

The causes are numerous, and thesigns of discomfort typically includerolling, kicking at the abdomen,pawing the ground and sweating.

Colic is one of the most commonhealth emergencies, one of theleading reasons for surgery and afrequent cause of death in horses.

However, years of research havebeen devoted to sorting outmanagement practices that areassociated with the causes of colicand this research still continuestoday.

There have been some generalconclusions made about factors thatmay put horses at increased risk andthis article will look at a summary oftrends that have been identified byseveral independent studies.

Breed:Some studies identifiedThoroughbreds, Arabs andwarmbloods as having more frequentcolics than other breeds, while otherstudies have found that the oppositewas true. To date there are noproven trends.

Age:There is some evidence that colicsoccur more frequently in horsesbetween the ages of two and tenand there after in elderly horses withpoor dentition. Horses between theages of two and ten are more likelyto be in heavier and more frequenttraining and therefore subjected toincreased stress levels from increasedtravelling, competitions and changesin routine.

Old horses with poor dentition areless able to chew their feed properly,in particular long forages.

Use:One study has indicated a higherprevalence in breeding stockcompared with leisure horses.Colonic twists are common inbroodmares and heavy lactation mayinduce dehydration or electrolyteimbalance.

Pasture versus stable:Horses that are kept out to grass for24 hours a day have low rates ofcolic and the risk increases as stabletime increases. Horses kept atpasture are allowed to trickle feedand exhibit normal feeding patterns.Stabled horses may get less exercise,restricted forage intake and can be

under increased stress throughboredom and lack of companionship.

Concentrate portion of the diet:Any inclusion of hard feed increasedthe risk of colic over forage onlydiets. The risk increased further asthe amount of hard feed intakeincreased, even if the feed was splitbetween two or three feeds per day.Horses that were given more or lessof their normal hard feed ration, adifferent type of hard feed or anytype of mouldy feed also hadincreased risk of colic.

Horses that are in hard work or aredifficult to maintain body conditionare likely to require higher hard feedintakes.

The risk of colic can be reduced bybasing every horse’s diet on the useof good quality forage and replacingsome of the hard feed with fatsupplements such as rice bran anddigestible fibre sources. Replacingcereals with fat and fibre can helpreduce hindgut acidosis.

Forage portion of the diet:Horses getting 100 per cent of theirforage intake from grazing have thelowest incidence of colic. Plenty ofturnout allows the horse to exhibitnatural grazing and browsingbehaviour and free movement tomaintain normal gastrointestinalcontraction patterns. Feed the horseas he evolved to be fed and the riskof colic is proven to be significantlyreduced.

Water:Water deprivation increases the riskof colic. Horses that were kept instables and had automatic wateringdevices also showed a higherincidence of colic when compared tohorses that drank out of waterbuckets. It is difficult to keep track ofwater consumption using automaticwatering systems. Horses shouldalways have access to plenty of freshand clean water, as diet, exercise,health, physiological state andenvironmental temperature can allsignificantly change a horse’s dailywater requirement.

History of previous colic:Horses that had been treated forcolic were more likely to haveanother episode than horses thathad never suffered from colic. If ahorse has been previously treated forcolic consider possible managementor feeding strategies that may haveled to the colic in the first instanceand modify accordingly. If the colic

was surgical, adhesions or othercomplications could lead to anotherattack.

Other factors:The risk of colic was somewhathigher for horses that had stablevices; were non aggressive and at thebottom of the herd pecking order;grazed sandy soils; were given twoor more different supplements; hadhad antibiotic treatment; had beendewormed or had health problemsother than colic.

What does this information mean interms of feeding and managinghorses?

Colic can occur in even the mostcarefully managed and fed horses,

Any changes in the horse’s routinemay be linked to colic, mostsignificantly feeding changes, such askind, timing or sequence.

This is possibly due to how the horseevolved and is designed to tricklefeed on an almost continual basis.The microflora are also sensitive tochange and rapid fluctuations in pH,lactic acid concentration or volatile

acid production should be avoided.

Try to avoid change and stick to aroutine and make any feedingchanges gradually over a period often to 14 days.

It is important to realise that somefactors are associated with anincreased risk of colic but that thesefactors do not necessarily cause thecolic.

For example; although using anautomatic water system increasedthe risk of colic, this practice doesnot cause a horse to colic, andwatering from a water bucket willnot prevent colic.

Horses are individuals and ownersneed to evaluate feeding andmanagement practices according towork levels, temperament, age andmetabolic rate.

There are limitations to any studythat considers all types of colic as thesame illness.

Conclusions that apply to one typeof colic may have nothing to do withanother type of colic.

Equine colic causesare numerous

The risk of colic can be reduced by basing the diet on good quality forage.

12 2/12/08 12:49 Page 1

13 - Equine America 2/12/08 12:34 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 14 Newmarket Equine Hospital

THE Newmarket Equine Hospital,Europe’s most advanced medicalfacility, finally opened its doors topatients last month.

The multi-million pound, state of theart facilities have been indevelopment for over ten years andare now home to specialist vetsGreenwood Ellis and Partners.

Over 70 staff, including 30 vets,work at the facility and seniorpartner, David Ellis, said: “We areimmensely proud of the newdevelopment and are lookingforward to offering an even betterservice for our existing clients andhopefully welcoming many newones.”

The site has been designed to be

completely horse friendly, with alayout that means visitors’ vehicles,horse boxes and delivery lorries arekept away from the patients at alltimes.

The design of the main hospitalbuilding is an asymmetric cross withfour wings – reception and offices,laboratory, diagnostics and theatres.

In addition there is a separateintensive care unit and an expandeddiagnostic unit for the advancedimaging services.

The intensive care unit has six boxes,all equipped with individualventilation, heating systems, CCTVand observation panels, so that theanimals can be monitored 24 hoursa day by the vets and their owners.

The theatres have been up andrunning smoothly since the move,with over 100 surgeries performedalready, and the unit includesdedicated orthopaedic and softtissue suites with high spec facilitiesand networked digital imaging.

It is surrounded by four padded andCCTV monitored anestheticinduction and recovery stalls whichwill help the staff to cope easily withthe 1000 surgeries performedannually.

The hospital has also expanded itsdiagnostic capabilities and now hastwo high powered x-ray suites,ultrasonography, nuclear scintigraphy(bone scanning) and magneticresonance imaging (MRI).

There is on site stabling for 83horses including two American stylebarns and two outdoor stable blockswhich provide individual air space foreach horse to minimise the risk ofcross infection.

Next door to these, to allow the vetsto check horses for lameness, thereis an examination area with a floodlit20x40m ménage, hard and softlunging areas and two trot-uprunways.

Finally, a separate pathology blockand isolation unit have beenincluded so that there is no chanceof an infectious animal coming intocontact with any other patients.

The hospital has now announced theintroduction of its latest piece oftechnology – a dynamic respiratoryendoscope, which will allow the vetsto scope the airways of a horse as itexercises.

This will allow them to investigatepoor performance related torespiratory disorders in all types ofhorses whilst exercising undernormal conditions, then work outthe best course of management ortreatment.

Partners Simon Waterhouse and Mark Hillyer outside one of the twoAmerican style barns

Routine surgery

Europe’s mostadvanced equinefacility welcomesfirst patients ...

14 2/12/08 12:49 Page 1

15 - VES 2/12/08 12:35 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 16 Bloodstock matters

By Dr Mark Kennedy, chiefexecutive of Anglia EquineConsultancy

WE know an amazing amount aboutthe physiology of equinereproduction, yet in comparisonthere has been little study ofreproductive behaviour.

Possibly this is due to the belief thatif we bring a stallion and mare inreproductive condition together atthe right time of year, they willalways mate as a matter of course.

Undeniably, in appropriatereproductive condition, stallions arehighly motivated to mate whenpresented with oestrus mares(McDonnell, 1992).

Unlike mares, they can beencouraged to breed all year, butfactors influencing efficiency ofreproduction such as semen volume,sperm concentration, number ofsperm per ejaculate and the timetaken to react to oestrus mares areall poorer in the non-breedingseason (Davies Morel, 2008).

Mares are also highly motivated tomate when in oestrus.

In studies of pasture breeding andferal horses nearly all early oestrussexual interactions start with themare approaching the stallion.

Although the stallion may approachthe mare as she progresses towardsthe peak of oestrus, 88 per cent ofencounters that led to actualcopulation were initiated by themare (McDonnell, 2000).

She takes a much more active role inmating than many realise, not onlyseeking out and approaching thestallion, but stimulating him byswinging her hips towards him ormoving ahead of him to present herhindquarters, and adjusting herposture to help him enter and tosupport his weight during mating(McDonnell, 2000).

It is probable that it is ourmanagement of the mare duringbreeding which has led to themistaken belief that she is not aparticularly active partner inreproduction.

We take her to the stallion ratherthan letting her approach voluntarilyand we apply significant restraint to

her, often including the twitch.

This very significantly curtails herreproductive behaviour and masksher true nature as an activeparticipant in mating.

Therefore, in nature both mare andstallion are clearly highly motivatedto mate when in the rightreproductive condition.

If, when given the opportunity in themanaged situation, they won’t mateor mating only occurs with difficulty,there must be a significant problemwhich needs to be addressed.

Stallions may exhibit a reduction in,or even loss of, libido.

They may mount and enter mares,begin thrusting, but stop and appearto ‘give up’, dismounting withoutejaculating and losing their erection.

They then require further exposure tothe mare before becoming arousedenough to mount again, sometimesrequiring several such cycles beforefinally ejaculating.

This is not normal behaviour. In free-running horses, stallions frequentlymount repeatedly without erection,perhaps to test the mare’sacceptance of mating.

However, when they mount witherection and enter the mare theynearly always ejaculate (McDonnell,1992).

Some stallions may fail to ejaculateat all. If no physiological damage isrevealed upon veterinaryinvestigation, the problem may bepsychological, and warrantinvestigation along behavioural lines.

Managed breeding:Having learned the cues whichindicate mating is imminent, such asa mare arriving at the covering shed,stallions can learn to anticipatebreeding, and become difficult ordangerous to handle.

Such stallions may tow their handlersinto the breeding shed, bucking,rearing and screaming, and launchthemselves upon mares from adistance, terrifying them in theprocess.

This is far from normal behaviour. Innature, the stallion and mare spendsignificant periods in pre-copulatoryinteraction before he is allowed tomount (McDonnell, 2000).

Stallions learn to be very cautious ofthe mare’s potential reaction; flyinghindlegs can inflict very painful anddamaging injury.

Any stallion suddenly leaping uponmares in the violent mannerdescribed above would very soonsustain serious injury and learn theerror of his ways, no matter howwell in oestrus the mare was.

With the restraint imposed uponmares in managed horse breeding,specifically aimed at stopping themkicking out, many domestic stallionsdo not learn these lessons, hence thedevelopment of antisocial, dangerousbehaviour.

This is a difficult, but not unsolvableproblem. Of course, we mustminimise the risk to stallions,however, they must learn the correctway to behave around mares for thesafety of all concerned.

It is notable that experienced teaserstallions, frequently used to ‘bounce’(mount) maiden mares or thoseconsidered to be unpredictable, areoften the best behaved in thecovering shed.

They learn the correct way to behavearound mares; with care, experienceand the appropriate knowledge wecan teach this to our breedingstallions.

Behavioural problems:Mares can also becomeproblematical breeders, oftenshowing oestrus well at the teasingboard, but on presentation to thestallion becoming violent andintolerant of mounting.

This is possibly a consequence ofunruly stallion behaviour as describedabove.

Horses remember an unpleasantexperience for a long time, andwhen exposed to similar stimuli, mayreact violently.

Thus a mare used to teasing at homewith a familiar stallion may shownormal signs of oestrus, yet in theless-familiar covering shed, especiallyif the stimuli there rekindle badexperiences, she may become violentin an attempt to avoid the stallion.

This illustrates an important conceptin equine behaviour. If the trauma ofa single experience is of sufficient

magnitude, ‘one trial conditioning’can occur; triggering the originalbehavioural response on anyreminder of the original experience(Kelly, 1980).

This explains why behaviourproblems can suddenly appear ‘outof the blue’ in both stallions andmares. In such an eventuality it maybe rewarding to examine theanimal’s recent history in an attemptto identify any trauma that may haveresulted in ‘one trial conditioning’ asdescribed above.

Another problem particularlycommon in young, inexperiencedmares, is of physiological oestrus onveterinary examination, but a lack ofoestrus behaviour when teased.

In nature, mares live within a haremgroup of mature mares, theirimmature offspring, and usually onebreeding stallion which remains withthem all year round (McDonnell andMurray, 1995).

In domestication, however, maresoften have very little contact withstallions apart from teasing andmating.

The fact that some oestrus maresmay not show oestrus behaviour tothe teaser stallion, or react to himwith fear, may be due toinexperience of stallions.

Housing such a mare close to astallion may be beneficial, althoughcare must be taken not to simplyreinforce her fear of him.

Conclusion:The physiology of reproduction mustbe right in order to achieve a healthyfoal.

Behaviour must also occurappropriately to facilitate thedeposition of sperm in the mare’sreproductive tract in order to permitconception.

The assumption that this behaviourwill always occur faultlessly when weintroduce stallions and mares is anoversimplification which does not fitour experience.

In such cases, careful examination ofthe problem and thoroughunderstanding of the psychology ofreproduction is required.

For full references visitwww.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk.

Mare takes active role in mating

16 2/12/08 12:50 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 17Bloodstock matters

By Christine Keate

DELEGATES from across the equineindustry gathered on 13 Novemberfor the Thoroughbred Racing andBreeding Seminar, held in associationwith the HBLB, Intervet, and Dodsonand Horrell and hosted byCheltenham Racecourse.

Enhanced question and answersessions, together with a ‘NewsBulletin’ slot, aimed to make theevent more up to the minute andpacey.

Immune systems:Professor Derek Knottenbelt openedwith a fascinating trip around theequine immune system, and anexcellent analogy based upon thedefence of a medieval castle.

The idea that an immune responsemight not be mounted because thesentries could be either dead, asleepor, heaven forbid, drunk, brought lifeto what could have been anextremely dry subject.

He explained, that although vital tosurvival, the immune system is a‘double edged sword’, whenhyperactive it may cause fatal diseasewith an overwhelming allergicreaction, but that a lack of response,immunodeficiency, opens the animalto infection and possibly tumours.

The failure of the immune system torecognise self, from non-self,autoimmune disease, can result in areaction against the animal’s owntissues.

He suggested that the idea thatmultiple vaccinations and repeatedchallenges with many infectiveorganisms ‘over-taxes’ the immunesystem, grossly overlooks its basicability.

Managing the immune system of thenewborn foal continued the themeand Nick Wingfield Digby looked atthe importance of good qualitycolostrum in the health of newbornfoals.

He discussed the immunologicalcondition and haemolytic disease,together with the inherited

conditions of CombinedImmunodeficiency of Arab foals, andFell pony immune syndrome.

Professor Christine Nicol introducedsome interesting concepts whenexamining the relationship betweenfeed and behaviour in the foal, andopened the door for further research.

She also discussed a study ofdeveloping foals which showed thatfeeding practices had a significanteffect on the relative rate ofdevelopment of abnormal oralbehaviour.

Feeding grain-based feedsimmediately after weaning, resultedin a four-fold increase in risk.

With regard to crib-biting and itsassociation with feeding, sheexplored the suggestion that thebehaviour might arise due to thehorse’s attempt to stimulateadditional saliva production in aneffort to reduce excessive acidity.

The stomachs of crib-biting foalsshowed significantly greater evidenceof inflammation and early ulcerationthan those of non crib-biting foals.

She suggested the incidence of crib-biting in the adult horse is increasedwhen the diet comprises a lowforage high grain content with aninedible bed – such a diet affordslittle opportunity to chew, andtherefore less saliva is produced.

Breeding:Selective breeding, the underpinningof the thoroughbred breedingindustry, is currently based on thephenotype (observable physical orbiological characteristics) of the sireand dam, and their parentage –speed and stamina being key traitsbreeders aspire to.

There is little support for geneticmanipulation for performance in thethoroughbred industry, and it is notlikely to be that effective.

This is reflected in the money thehorse wins having relatively lowheritability; just 10 per cent of ahorse's lifetime winnings can beattributed to their bloodline.

Continued on Page 18

Thoroughbred Racing andBreeding Seminar ...

‘He explained, that although vital to survival,the immune system is a ‘double edgedsword’, when hyperactive it may cause fataldisease with an overwhelming allergicreaction, but that a lack of response,immunodeficiency, opens the animal toinfection and possibly tumours’

Derek Knottenbelt

17 2/12/08 15:29 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 18 Bloodstock matters

Continued from Page 17Professor Tim Morris examined howtraits are passed betweengenerations, and examined thepossibility that certain genes appeargood markers of diseases that dohave higher heritability.

This information is part of the horse’sgenotype, its complete genetic makeup and could potentially be used forscreening for susceptibility to,understanding of, and possibly eventreating specific diseases. Because ofconcerns from breeders it was clearlystressed, that these approaches arebeing made with great caution, andthat no single gene for performanceexists, nor is it being sought – this isnot the focus of the research, whichis focused on the potential tomaximise the chance of producinghealthy competitive horses, byincreased scientific knowledge of thegenotype also having an input intopossible pairings.

Equine welfare:In a separate presentation, AnthonyStirk and Professor Morris went onto discuss the Equine Welfare, andthe Training and Welfare Systemdatabases.

The extensive information they, inconjunction with Weatherbys,contain enables records to bemaintained of every fatal and non-fatal injury, on every racecourse and,it is hoped, increasingly records fromtraining. The effects of surface,going, distance, course type,incidence of injury, race type, andsize of field are amongst the statisticswhich can be presently analysedusing simple measures.

It was suggested that fuller scientificanalysis of the dataset would revealpreviously unseen relationshipsbetween two or more of thesefactors, and demonstrate what is themost important, and therefore,provide enhanced potential to reduceinjuries. Funding for this largeproject is currently being sought.

New technology:There was not a face in theauditorium that did not wince duringProfessor Alan Wilson’s presentationon computerised gait analysis.

A slow motion video of a horselanding and taking off over a bouncecombination in a cross countrycourse clearly demonstrated theconcussion and jarring through the

Potential to cut injuries

limb, when there is no ‘slip’ as thehoof hits the ground.

The horse’s natural shock absorbingmechanism allows the hoof to slideforward on impact, (the hoof lands,slides and comes to a halt in lessthan 1/25th of a second) and theimplications of preventing this wereshocking for all to see.

It is the use of high speed video(filmed at 1,000 frames per second)that allows this detailed visualanalysis to be made.

This, and other advances incomputerised gait analysistechniques provide key research toolsinto understanding the biomechanicsof injury and performance, in horses.

Technological development alsoformed the basis for the presentationby Dr Samantha Franklin andGeoffrey Lane.

Their investigation into the benefits

of highspeed treadmill endoscopy ledinto the next generation – theoverground endoscopy.

It is hoped this system will enable agreater number of underachievinghorses to be examined in the fieldand will potentially revolutionise thediagnosis of dynamic airway collapsein athletic horses.

Finally, Professor Knottenbeltreturned to reveal the latest inwound care protocols, and just whywounds might fail to heal.

He reminded all of the basic principlebehind wound management ‘to dono harm’.

All too frequently complications inhealing are caused by whollyinappropriate treatment or neglectby the owner and he urgedveterinary practices to advise theirclients in the stocking of their firstaid boxes.

The overground endoscope

‘Litigation on increase’A RECENT equine law seminar hasrevealed that litigation in the industryis on the increase. Equine barristers Graeme McPhersonQC and Richard Liddell spoke at lawfirm Martineau’s seminar on howbest to avoid costly legal disputesinvolving horse ownership,contractual relationships, veterinarytreatment and issues of informedconsent. Richard Liddell said: “The equineindustry has unsurprisingly becomeyet another victim of today’scompensation culture. This hasresulted in a substantial increase inthe quantity and cost of disputes andthe equine industry has been hit byescalating insurance costs. “We are seeing an increasingnumber of claims litigation relatingto the buying and selling of horses,which are frequently based aroundissues of inaccurate pre-purchaseinformation. “Veterinarians are also facing an

increased risk of being sued.“Pre-purchase veterinaryexaminations frequently give rise tosuch claims if abnormalities aremissed and they come to light afterpurchase. In order to reduce legaldisputes it is important thatpurchasers provide clear instructionsto their veterinarians and that theveterinarians keep good records ofthose instructions together with theirfindings on examination.”Graeme McPherson QC added: “Atthe root of many equine disputes is alack of written agreements orrecords. It is advisable to put asmuch as possible in writing – liveryor training agreements, pre-salediscussions, the terms of sale andpurchase agreements, veterinaryinstructions and advice and so forth. “Without written evidence, claimscan become a battle of memoriesand will be time consuming, costlyand uncertain.”

18 4/12/08 11:23 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 19Arena

THERE are many factors toconsider when planning the buildof an arena, which will be thecentre of your commercialactivities and training.

You will already have an idea ofwhere you would like it situated,the type of surface you prefer,whether dressage boarding orpost and rail fencing is required,and aesthetically, how it will lookwithin your grounds.

Planning is a major factor, thesize of the arena, location, accessand visibility of the arena will allbe taken into consideration,particularly if you require outdoor lighting, which alsorequires separate planningpermission.

An initial meeting with the localplanning authority isrecommended, together with asite visit to outline yourrequirements and obtain their

guidelines, particularly withregard to local issues.

Once you have ironed out anyunusual matters, you are nowready to meet your prospectivecontractors and obtain variousquotes for the build works.

It is a very good idea to viewsome completed arenas and talkto previous customers, bothrecent and from a few years ago,to see how the work and surfacelast.

You will also want to check thata high specification of drainagewould be used and where thewater would be directed, toavoid the risk of creatingproblems elsewhere on yourproperty.

Your contractor will check accessto the site as there are potentiallyhundreds of tonnes of stone andother materials to be delivered, it

will depend on the time of yearand access as to whether theycan continue if the weather/landbecomes very wet, or if there islorry access at all.

It is good practice for contractorsto use a laser level when theyinitially visit the site to check thearea where the arena is to besited – a parcel of land that lookslevel can often be deceptive andthe larger the arena, the lesslikely you are to notice with thenaked eye if there is a fall on theland.

Ask the representative contractorif they too will be on site if workswere to commence or if they subcontract the work out, you wouldbe very disappointed if you hadbuilt up a good relationship withthe representative of thecompany only to find out that hewill not be involved once you goahead.

IF you are thinking of applying forplanning permission, whether for aspecific development or a change of use,approaching it in the right way can saveyou time and money.

To help people through the planningprocedure, Business Link are running aseries of free workshops across the SouthEast.

Nick Ide, head of planning anddevelopment at Batcheller Thacker, said:“Planning doesn’t do businesses anyfavours at all when it appears dauntingand remote.

“However, there are ways of navigatingthrough the process. Remember, if you area business, planning is only a means ofachieving your objectives.”

The council has a target time ofcompleting 80 per cent of smallerapplications within eight weeks, and themajority of major planning applicationsneed to be decided within 16 weeks.

However, making an application doesn’tjust mean filling in the form, preparationis everything and can mean the differencebetween an application being accepted orrejected.

Dos and Don’ts:Do prepare a business plan to provide anall important context for your proposal;this should be proportionate to thedevelopment envisaged. The bigger thedevelopment, the greater the care neededwith your business plan.

Do meet a council planner to establish atan early stage that the principle of whatyou propose may be accepted. You maybe charged for this but it is money worthspending.

Do consider calling in specialists, forexample, a planning consultant orsurveyor to help you prepare yourapplication.

Do be prepared to change or modify youroriginal idea if it will make yourapplication more likely to succeed.

Do not rush. There is more to making anapplication than simply completing theforms - it is all in the preparation.

The rightapproach

Tony Martin, director of McArdle Equestrian Surfaces, highlights some of theissues to take into account before building an arena.

Planning is majorfactor in arena build

19 2/12/08 12:51 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 20 Tack shop

MEASOM Freer has extended its tube bottle range toinclude a new 50ml size. The tube bottles are available in clear PVC and naturalHDPE with a wide selection of caps and dispensers to fit. With tubes being increasingly used throughout the petindustry this is a useful addition to its already extensiverange.The tube bottles now range from 2.5ml to 50ml and aredesigned to be user friendly and easy to print on with awide variety of colours available to order. They are suitablefor creams, liquids and gels and have a number ofapplications including treatments, liquid feeds,supplements, additives and ingredients.

Bottle range extended

Equine Products UK is givingHorse Health readers the chanceto win a supply of daily probioticand prebiotic feed supplement. Five winners will receive a twokilogramme tub of TransviteMaintenance – a supplementcontaining EU approvedprobiotics, which helps tomaintain digestive efficiency,helping horses and ponies getthe most out of their feed. For the chance to win send yourname, telephone number andaddress to Equine Products UKGiveaway, Horse HealthMagazine, 47 Church Street,Barnsley, South Yorkshire S702AS. The last date for entries is16 January 2009 and winners’details will be available atwww.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk.

LISTER Shearing Equipment haslaunched a limited edition‘Golden Star’ clipper to mark its100th Anniversary.

It has been designed tocommemorate the Britishcompany’s achievements over thepast century as well as itsongoing commitment toproviding world class clippers,trimmers and shears.

The golden ‘Star’ clipper will beavailable while stocks last fromselected stockists across the UKand is the first permanent

magnet motor clipper of its typeon the market.

As another part of Lister’scentenary celebrations, thecompany has launched a searchto find the two oldest Listerclippers.

The oldest entries will each winone of the limited edition goldenclippers and entries can be madeby sending a picture of theclippers, together with its modelname and age [email protected] by28 February 2009.

Golden Star marks100th anniversary

20 2/12/08 12:52 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 21Tack Shop

PAT and Linda Parelli have releasedthe new Parelli Patterns programme,bringing together the Four Levels inone set to help horse owners learnnew skills.

It covers Playing On Line, At Liberty,Riding FreeStyle and Riding withFinesse and teaches the rider to usethe horse’s natural routines for better

communication.

The programme focuses onconsistency and repetition to helpthe horse learn more quickly and then start following the patterns with no active guidance.

Each set includes a DVD of the

patterns, a pocket book, a coffee table book of photographsand tips from Pat and Linda, plus a wall map to keep track ofprogress.

In this issue Horse Health is givingaway a Parelli Patterns Programmeset – for your chance to win send your name and

address on a postcard to HorseHealth Magazine, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S702AS.

The last date for entries is 16 January2009 and winners’ details will beavailable atwww.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk.

SIMPLEFIT Ltd manufacture theCentaur range of mobile heated horserug driers which are specially designedto save time and money.

During mild wet winters horse rugs are

almost continually damp fromineffective drying from being hung overdoors in stables, tack rooms and barns.

They succumb to mildew and rot and,aside from being uncomfortable for

your horse, need replacing more oftenthan necessary.

However, all Centaur rug driers are fullymobile on wheels or wall mountableand are available direct from Simplefit,

ready to use, to dry two, three, four, orsix full sized rugs.

A shorter version with four rails is alsoavailable and is ideal for dryingnumnahs and clothing.

Specially designed to save time and money

Help owners tune in to new skills

21 4/12/08 11:27 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I22 Breeding matters

IN the face of an economicdownturn, British breeders aremaking use of the BEF’s Futurityevaluations to sell young horses,reports Jan Rogers.

This year, with the increase in costsassociated with horse keeping, and aview that buyers won’t have as muchmoney to invest in young horses asthey had when the economy wasmore robust, breeders have lookedto overwinter as few young horses aspossible by deploying newly availablesales mechanisms.

The BEF’s Futurity evaluations werelaunched in 2005, when 100 younghorses aged from foals to threeyears, destined for careers asshowjumpers, dressage horses,eventers or sports ponies were

evaluated.

Four years on, the Futurity hasrecorded 550 entries, not onlybecause breeders are seeking tounderstand whether the horses theyhave bred are as good as they thinkthey are, but also to add value to theyoungstock they intend to sell.

Previously, the opportunity for younghorses to gain experience and notchup results were in-hand sport horseshowing classes which nonethelessmake a valuable contribution to theindustry, but increasingly, breedersare looking to have their horsesevaluated specifically for the purposefor which they were bred.

A Futurity evaluation premiummeans that a young horse has been

assessed by a sport horse vet and apanel of three specialist evaluators,for its performance potential withinany specific discipline.

So horses are evaluated against a setof criteria for performance potentialas dressage horses, eventers,showjumpers or sports ponies, andare awarded a premium whichsignifies the level of potential theFuturity team believe they exhibit.

More and more, breeders can beseen making use of the award theirhorses have gained by advertisingthem for sale with a ‘BEF premium’ –adding value to youngstock, andrubber-stamping their potential in away which has not been possibleuntil now.

Breeder Paul Marshall said: “I have alovely colt and being a coloured foalby a popular and successful stallionout of a top mare I felt it would sell,but since the downturn in themarket I feel that buyers are lookingfor something other than a nicehorse to validate a purchase, they arelooking for some concrete evidencethat a foal is a good one before theyinvest, and the Futurity helps.”

Because the Futurity scoring systemincludes assessment of veterinaryfitness for purpose, conformation,correctness of paces, type,temperament and athleticism, itgives buyers a clearer idea of whatthey are buying and an indicator ofits likely future performance success.

Woodcroft Gonzales Don Dante

Breeders using BEF evaluations

CROSSGATES Bioenergetics Ltd,popular suppliers of Energetic HairAnalysis & Natural remedies arecelebrating their 10th anniversaryyear.Based in Settle, North Yorkshire theyprovide products mail order to over11,000 customers throughout Britain,Ireland and Europe.Bioenergetics is a popular holisticenergy medicine, which has evolvedfrom homeopathy.It is effective, safe, can be usedalongside conventional medicinesand by competition horses. Remedies are available to aid manyconditions from simple injuries andmuscle strains to breeding andlaminitis.Many people contact Crossgatesregarding complex, recurring or un-diagnosable health problems such asskin and physiological conditions. Crossgates work with one of themost advanced and effective bio-resonance balancing and remedyselection systems in energeticmedicine. This revolutionary, fully automatic PC-based analysis, detects energeticimbalances in the body, which maybecausing the symptoms you see. Analysis is carried out using a witness

of the subject such as a hair sample. The test not only scans the entirebody for imbalances but also gives acomprehensive energy balancingsession tailored to the patient andproduces all the necessary remediesfor the client in a complexhomeopathic form in one bottlealong with a print out of theimbalances. This service allows all the guess workto be taken out of remedy selectionto achieve the best results. As well as being used for healthproblems the analysis is also used bycompetition horses on a regular basisas a general health check.The company now specialises inEnergetic Hair testing. This works byanalysing and picking up theimbalances within the body coveringthe complete physiology of the bodyand also psychological, emotionaland subtle energy systems. There are 222 categories coveredduring the test and a body statusreport is produced with a remedy,therefore allowing the body tonaturally start to heal.The human side of the business isalso getting very busy as they nowprovide health schemes forcompanies, hotels and health clubs.

CROSSGATESBioenergetics Ltd

Advertiser’s announcement

22 2/12/08 15:30 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 23Breeding matters

By Louise Jones MSc, BSc (Hons)Nutritionist

COMPARED to other livestock, horsesappear to have a relatively poorreproductive efficiency.

A wide range of factors influencefertility and birth rates in the horseincluding:

The age of the mare – those agednine to 13 years have a 10 to 20 percent likelihood of losing theirpregnancy.

The stallion – some can have a cycleconception rate as low as 30 percent but still achieve excellentpregnancy rates due to repeatedcoverings.

Breeding status (barren, maiden orlactating) – barren and maiden maresare more likely to have twinpregnancies.

Nutrition also plays an important rolein helping to maximise mare andstallion fertility.

Body Fat:The stallion – In men and otherspecies prolonged high levels of bodyfat have been shown to result inreduced levels of the sex hormonetestosterone, which may contributeto poor libido.

Obesity will also place additionalstress on the stallion’s heart, lungsand hind quarters particularly duringcovering and there have been severalcases of stallions suffering from heartproblems and laminitis.

To help maximise fertility, breedingstallions should be maintained at abody fat score of 3-3.5 out of 5.

The mare - Pregnancy rates havebeen shown to be better in maresentering the breeding season with agood body fat score (3-3.5).

Mares with poor body fat scores (<3)at mating have been shown to sufferfrom delayed conception, reduced

pregnancy rates and increasedembryonic loss.

Similarly, mares with high body fatscores (>3.5) have been reported tohave reduced conception rates,abnormal oestrus cycles andhormonal changes.

To maximise reproductive efficiencythe mare should be placed on arising plane of nutrition three to fourweeks prior to covering and shouldhave a body fat score of 3 to 3.5 atconception, which should bemaintained throughout pregnancy.

Omega Fatty Acids:The stallion – Docosahexaenoic acid(DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid) anddocosapentaenoic acid (DPA, anomega-6 fatty acid) are majorpolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) insemen.

A lack of these omega vital fattyacids has been shown to reducesperm mobility and total spermcounts, decreasing the chances of asuccessful covering.

Studies in the USA have shown anincrease in total number of motilesperm when stallions were fed aDHA supplement.

Similarly, increasing the ratio of DHAto DPA in the semen of severalspecies has been shown to improvefertility and sperm quality.

In addition, feeding omega 3 fattyacids to stallions whose semen iscooled or frozen may also bebeneficial.

Cooling and freezing can result inloss of motility, viability, and thusreduced fertility, however, researchershave shown that by feeding DHAand its precursor total sperm motilityis improved 48 hours after cooling.

One of the most natural sources ofomega 3 fatty acids for stallions islinseed, which contains alpha-linolenic acid, a precursor of DHA.

The mare – Certain omega 3 fatty acids (i.e. DHA andeicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) mayhelp improve the mare’s reproductiveefficiency.

There is evidence to show thatomega 3 fatty acids influence theproduction of a hormone calledprostaglandin F 2-alpha (PGF 2-alpha) in a number of mammals and

this may have a major bearing onfertility.

Reducing PGF 2-alpha synthesis isthought to aid the maintenance ofthe corpus luteum, which preparesthe uterus for pregnancy and helpsmaintain the pregnancy by producingthe hormone progesterone. Continued: Page 24

The best possibleoutcome – FoalGrace Kelly by

Garuda K out ofWestpoint Freya by

Fulton bred andowned by Carrie

Adams and HelenHulse. Picture:

Greenlees Equine

Many factors influence fertility

23 2/12/08 12:54 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 24 Breeding matters

Continued from Page 23Therefore, omega 3 fatty acids maybe particularly useful for mares thathave a history of poor conceptionrates or early abortions.

In addition, omega fatty acids havealso been shown to be veryimportant for foetal development.

Antioxidants:The stallion – Sperm cells areparticularly vulnerable to oxidativedamage, caused by free radicals,because their plasma membrane isrich in PUFAs.

Free radical damage has been shownto decrease sperm mobility, increasethe risk of infertility and reduceconception rates.

Dietary antioxidants help scavengefree radicals preventing them fromcausing oxidative damage and mayhelp enhance the seminal plasma,which protects and nourishes thesperm.

The Mare – There is increasingevidence to suggest that oxidativedamage can have detrimental effecton fertility causing reducedconception rates and increase therisk of abortion.

However, dietary antioxidants helpreduce free radicals that causeoxidative damage, thereby helping tomaximise fertility. In studies byDodson and Horrell feeding a blendof dietary antioxidants has beenshown to be more effective at

improving the horses totalantioxidant status compared withfeeding a single antioxidant inisolation.

Therefore, ensuring the mare receivea blend of antioxidants may helpreduce oxidative damage and thushave a beneficial effect on fertility.

Trace Minerals:The stallion – Certain trace minerals(e.g. zinc) are vital for healthy sperm.

In men, a deficiency in zinc is knownto decrease sperm quality andmotility and is associated with lowtestosterone levels.

Therefore, it is essential that stallionsreceive all the essential trace mineralsneeded to help support sperm

production and health. This can beachieved by feeding a suitableconcentrate ration.

The Mare – All mares must receive afully balanced diet as severalessential trace minerals mayinfluence reproduction.

Research by Dodson and Horrell hasshown that even the best pasturewill not provide the mare withoptimal levels of essential mineralsand this could be detrimental tohealth and fertility.

Feeding a well balanced diet willensure the mare receives all essentialtrace minerals she requires to keepher reproductive system healthy.

A full list of references is available atwww.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk.

Feeding omega threefatty acids can improvestallions’ sperm quality

Fatty acids useful for mares

THE National Equine DatabaseOnline has finally gone live afterfour years of work.

The system holds essential data forevery horse in the UK, includingbasic identification details likepassport, microchip and unique lifenumbers, as well as voluntarypedigree and competition records.

It is hoped the launch will mark anew era in the UK horse world,where buyers and sellers will beable to make use of a trustedsource of information about eachhorse or pony as well as improvingthe country’s position within the

global breeding community.

More than 100 passport issuingorganisations have provided thebasic data and others have suppliedbreeding and competition recordsfor certain horses.

Each equine record features everypassport issued including, ifprovided, the name of the horse, itsage, gender, height, colour, sire anddam.

Data has also been provided byover 80 organisations, from BreedSocieties to Olympic competitiondisciplines.

Nick Wallbridge, NED CEO, said:

“Collecting this data from thevarious different sources on overone million horses has been noeasy task, but we’re very proud ofwhat we’ve achieved so far.

“With the help of horse and ponyowners, the database is going to bea rich mine of information andwe’ll soon wonder how we evermanaged without it.”

Access to the data on NED is freefor a limited launch period and allinformation is currently available fora donation of £1 to a selection ofUK equine charities.

The site allows you to search for

horses and ponies using a variety ofsearch criteria, check informationcontained in passports, obtainpedigree information for somehorses and ponies, obtain lifetimecompetition results for some horsesand ponies and trace and track‘favourites’.

Yogi Breisner, BEF world classperformance manager for eventing,said: “In order to be able tocompete with the best in the worldit is important that Great Britaincontinues to develop its equinepolicies and NED is a great tool tosupport this”.

Four years’ work pays off on equine database

24 2/12/08 15:33 Page 1


Consultancy focuson reproductivebehaviourA NEW equine consultancy focusing onreproductive behaviour has been launched byAnglia Ruskin University. The Anglia Equine Consultancy aims to help thoseinvolved in horse breeding apply the latestresearch to reproductive behaviour managementand has been opened following over 16 years ofresearch by Dr Mark Kennedy.He has specialised in looking into the effect ofaccepted and novel breeding managementpractices on the behaviour, welfare andreproductive efficiency of the horse. There has been a lot of research conducted intothe physiology of reproduction and its veterinarymanagement, but little consideration of the effectof manipulation of behaviour on reproductiveefficiency and welfare; resulting in the focus of hisresearch. The services offered by the consultancy include aproblem-solving service to investigate specifiedproblems, and a breeding managementassessment service which aims to help breedersavoid problems arising in the future. As part of the establishment of the consultancy,Dr Kennedy was seconded to two of the mostnotable studs in the Thoroughbred sector, gainingdirect experience of the management of horsesduring the breeding season. This has enabled him to underpin his scientificknowledge with practical experience, helpinghorse breeders to get the best out of their horsesand their breeding businesses.

A ONE-EYED horse rehabilitated by World HorseWelfare has been immortalised in print by award-winning photographer Tim Flach.The image of ‘Laddy’, a ten year old Welsh cob, is oneof a series of portraits featuring in Tim’s newcollection ‘Equus’.Tim had visited World Horse Welfare in Snetterton,Norfolk, in May 2007 after contacting the charity toask about suitable horses he could photograph tosymbolise welfare.He said: “The series of shots in which Laddy appearsshows how man can affect the horse and the

responsibility we have towards their welfare.“The image is very emotive and raises the question ofwhat happened to Laddy, as well as the importantwork World Horse Welfare does to look after horseslike him.”Laddy, who lost his right eye as a result of an injury,arrived at World Horse Welfare after a call for helpfrom his seriously ill owner who was finding itincreasingly difficult to cope. After a period ofrehabilitation he spent a term with a local college asan all round riding horse and is now living withborrower Maxine Debenham from Thetford.

LaddyPicture: TimFlachPhotography

Injured horse immortalised

25 2/12/08 12:55 Page 1


A CONSULTATION has been launchedon changes to England’s horseidentification rules.

The main requirement for the newlegislation is the compulsorymicrochipping of foals born after July1 2009.

Under the current legislation, allequines are required to haveidentification, however the newregulation aims to improve thismethod by linking each ID issued toan electronic microchip implantedinto the animal.

A Defra spokesman said: “Linkingthe microchip and ID, which are bothrecorded as unique life numbers onthe National Equine Database, willreduce risks to human health bystopping certain animals entering thefood chain, help disease surveillanceand aid recovery of lost or stolenhorses.”

Passports issued before 1 July 2009

under the existing rules will remainvalid so a new passport andmicrochipping will be not berequired when the new rules areintroduced.

However, once the new rules are inplace, failure to correctly identifyanimals could lead to a fine of up to£5,000. Foals born after 30 June2009 will have to have a passportand microchip by 31 December inthe year in which they are born or 6months after birth, whichever is thelatest.

Animals born before 1 July 2009which, at that date, do not have apassport under the existing rules willhave to have a passport andmicrochip by 31 December 2009.

Everyone involved in the equineindustry now has until 10 Februaryto comment on any of the proposals,which are available atwww.defra.gov.uk.

Consultation launchedon ID rule changes

Farriery student Simonsubmits best portfolioBy Louise Cordell

A FARRIERY student fromWarwickshire College has won a topaward for submitting the best NVQportfolio in the country.

Simon Hadingham received hisaward at the Worshipful Company ofFarriers Diploma ceremony inLondon, along with all the otherstudents who achieved theirdiplomas.

The students’ portfolios wereinspected and judged by FarrieryTraining Association external verifierswho decided which candidate shouldreceive the award.

Warwickshire College equinedepartment lecturer Richard Baconsaid: “It is recognition of the tutorsand apprentice farriers.

“I think the shield is a source ofpride for the tutors and their awardfor overseeing the high level of workand this continues the farriers’tradition of excellence at thecollege.”

Simon, who is now combiningworking for himself with working forJohn Blake DWCF, came to farriery asa second career and said: “Theaward was a surprise because I didn’tdo it to go in for the prize, I wantedto have something that I could referto and look things up in.

“I was in agriculture before, but Iwanted to keep working withanimals – my new career is brilliantand I am pleased I made the decisionto get away.”

Simon Hadingham and Howard Cooper

THE UK’s first ever Holistic HorseShow received an enthusiasticresponse from the industry withthree busy days of events atTowerlands in Essex.

Dani Paizis, event director, said:“We have been bowled over bythe reaction we received.

“Although we are very aware ofthe ever-growing hunger of theUK’s horse lovers to discover moreabout holistic care andmanagement, the eagerness andexcitement of our visitors everyday was even greater than we hadanticipated.”

The show aimed to showcase avariety of physical and spiritualtherapies, behaviour training andholistic products.

Visitors were able to watchpresentations on subjects rangingfrom saddle fitting to equine

dentistry and demonstrations fromexperts including internationaldressage rider Lucinda McAlpine,champion western rider DavidDeptford and equine biomechanistGillian Higgins.

Tim Warren, director of showsponsor, Simple System, said: “Theshow’s visitors were receptive andfocussed people who were keento learn more about the manyrewards that an holistic approachto horses can bring.

“In its first year the show hasalready done so much for theequestrian holistic industry –giving us the opportunity to workstrongly as a collective body forthe good of the horse.”

Plans for next year’s show arealready underway and it will againbe held on 23, 24 and 25 Octoberat Unex Towerlands in Essex.

A visitorbeingassessedon themechanicalhorse

Enthusiastic response to show

26 2/12/08 12:55 Page 1


West Nile Virusvaccine setto be licensedBy Louise Cordell

THE first West Nile Virus vaccine isset to be licensed through theEuropean Medicines Agency by theend of the year.

The inactivated whole virus vaccine,from Fort Dodge Animal Health, isthe first developed to protect horsesagainst this potentially deadlydisease.

This news also comes as the ItalianNational Reference Centre for ExoticDiseases, has confirmed an outbreakof WNV among horses in stables inthe northern province of Ferrara,with about 20 horses believed tohave been affected.

The vaccine was used in the UnitedStates at the height of the 2002WNV outbreak which affected15,000 horses and has been creditedwith contributing to the 70 per centdecline since then.

Helen Barnes, Fort Dodge EMEAequine business manager, said:“Until now, horse owners in Europehave perhaps believed WNV is not adisease they should be concernedwith but the outbreak in Ferraracame out of the blue, and at a timewhen a human case of WNV was also reported in the sameprovince.

“This situation is identical to thatseen in the outbreaks in the UnitedStates and is a stark reminder of thechallenge this disease poses,particularly as environmental factors,such as global warming and heavyrains threaten to create massbreeding grounds for mosquitoes.”

Fort Dodge will now be working inpartnership with the Europeangovernments, the EU Commissionand the veterinary community acrossEurope to help build knowledge andunderstanding of the emergingthreat.

A NEW Forest pony has been savedthanks to the partnership betweenHampshire Fire and Rescue Service, theRSPCA and local vets.HFRS control room operators received areport of a pony trapped in wiring atKeyhaven Marshes and rescuers arrivedto find the yearling pony trapped by itshind legs in stock fencing and barbedwire.The incident occurred in brambles,down a slope and the pony may havebeen there some time before beingspotted by a passing dog walker.Watch manager Jim Green said: “Webelieve the pony had been trapped forsome time and it was important torelease it as quickly as possible but thelocation prevented crews from working

safely around the animal. Afundamental control measure in thesecases is chemical restraint in the formof sedation or sometimes fullanaesthesia.”Peter Tunney, an equine vet fromSeadown Vets, was quickly on sceneand after being equipped with safetyline and helmet, gave the ponysufficient sedative to enable a saferescue with no further trauma to thepony.Jim added: “Once released from thefence and assessed by the vet,firefighters made the pony comfortableallowing it to come round from thesedative. The pony’s owner arrived andtook it back to the farm where it isexpected to make a full recovery.”

Trapped pony is saved

ACROSS the full range of Balancesaddles you will find trees that aresympathetic to the contours of thehealthy, well muscled bodies ofhorses when in movement. Panel construction and gullet widthsare designed to provide good supportand protection and a choice of treetype, tree widths, seat length andstyles cater to all breeds of horse andall levels of rider. Balance saddles are sold with a simple

layered padding system toaccommodate changes in posture,weight and development and alsomake it possible for one saddle towork on a variety of horses. Horses all around the world have beenbenefiting from the Balance approachto saddling for nearly 20 years and theBalance office is well used to receivingletters from grateful owners who haveseen their horses recover theirsoundness, good movement andenthusiasm for work once they have

moved into a Balance saddle. Traditionally, ponies have had a toughtime when it comes to having acomfortable saddle. Understandably,the saddle industry have beenreluctant to invest much time andeffort into small saddles becausealthough they take as much time andalmost as many materials as an adultsized saddle to make, parents areoften reluctant to spend the sameamount of money on a 13 hand ponythat their child is likely to outgrow. The synthetic saddle manufacturerscreated the potential forimprovements, but the plastic treesthat have been available for thesynthetic market have also tended tofall well short of what ponies actuallyneed in terms of their shape andwidth. The good news is that at last, theBalance organisation is now able toprovide ponies with the same level ofcomfort and support for balanced andbio-mechanically correct movement,as it has been doing for many years forhorses. The new Balance Pony Saddle is ahybrid leather/synthetic mix and builton an injection moulded tree, whichhas been modified to provide ponyfriendly widths whilst maintaining acomfortable width and balancedsitting position for the child rider.

Trials of this saddle have alreadyshown the same kinds ofimprovements to movement,soundness and performance as arecommonly reported by horse ownerswho have made the choice to switchfrom conventionally fitted saddles intothe Balance Saddling System. This month is the 10th anniversaryyear for Balance in the USA where itformed Equi-Librium Inc and 2009looks like being another very busyyear, with the creation of a growingnetwork of test ride facilitators aroundthe world; the launch of new productslike the Pony Saddle, the HorizonSaddle for extremely wide horses andthe new lambskin saddle pads; thelaunch of a new website with anonline shop and the presentation ofmore saddling seminars forprofessionals in the horse industry(including vets and therapists) who areinterested in looking beyond thelimitations and flaws found in mostconventional saddle fitting practices inorder to offer better preventativehealth support through making use ofthe Balance approach to saddle designand ‘fit’. For more information about this andall other Balance products, please visitour websitewww.BALANCEinternational.com

New BALANCE products for happier, healthier horses (and ponies too!)

Advertiser’s Announcement

27 4/12/08 11:30 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 28 Forge

By Dr Scott Gravlee, DVM, MS,CNS, Equine NutritionConsultant, Life Data Lab

FOR thousands of years wild horsesflourished on their home ranges.

The only items needed for survivalwere water, minerals, salt and grass.

The ability of the digestive system toefficiently convert cellulose and fibreto energy provided the calories theyneeded to forage and to escapefrom predators.

The lifestyle and demand on modernhorses is much different than thedemands placed on wild horses;therefore supplementation of hayand pasture is necessary in order tomeet the daily nutrient requirementsof the modern horse.

A myriad of feed stuffs andsupplements have been developedand marketed in reaction to thesechanging needs.

Studies show that most horses withhoof problems respond to thesupplementation of a balance ofnutrients important for strongconnective tissue growth, such asphospholipids, omega fatty acids,and amino acid ‘protein buildingblocks’.

A ‘biotin only’ supplement is usually

ineffective.

While proper supplementation canprovide numerous benefits, excessivesupplementation of any nutrient,even if the nutrient is non toxic,requires metabolic and organfunctions in order to eliminate thenutrient from the body.

This is a waste of valuable resourceswhether it is in the form of enzymeactivity, energy, or organ usage suchas the kidneys. Just as the calcium tophosphorus ratio is important, so arenumerous other ratios.

Over supplementation in addition toimproper ratios of nutrients arecommon problems facing our equinecompanions.

For example, most hoof supplementscontain organic sulfur in the form ofthe essential amino acids methionineand cystine.

These hoof supplements can begiven with joint supplements such asglucosamine, hyaluronic acid,chondroitin sulfate and avocadoextracts.

However, if the joint supplement alsocontains MSM it could interfere withthe effectiveness of the hoofsupplement.

MSM contains sulfur, and when

given in addition to supplements orfeeds containing methionine, sulfurcan reach tissue levels that interferewith the strength of connectivetissue.

Over supplementation of sulfur canalso interfere with other nutrientssuch as copper.

Similar problems with numerousother nutrients can occur whenmultiple supplements are giventogether.

A balanced diet should providebuilding blocks for tissue, organhealth, and optimal performance.Supplementing with the goal ofproviding a balanced diet usuallyleads to healthier bones and joints,

improved hoof quality, and a glossyhair coat.

Internal benefits are harder to see,but just as dramatic. As an addedbenefit, with good nutrition thehorse is often calmer and moremanageable.

The key is providing nutrients in thecorrect ratio and amounts withoutunknowingly placing a burden onthe horse with oversupplementation.

Giving a balanced supplementbacked by research and years ofproven effectiveness and avoidingother supplements with duplicatenutrients can lead to a healthier andhappier horse.

The goal of supplementation is improved hoof quality

Don’t place a burden on the horse

28 2/12/08 15:31 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 29Forge

THE Performance Leverage ReductionShoe, was developed as a means ofreducing the force of leverage on thehoof wall. Information gained fromMRI studies revealed strain or lesionson the DDFT and the collateralligaments of the coffin joint.Thought to be the result of thedemands of increased schooling, andturning in tight circles, theconnective tissues and joints of theequine lower limb, particularly thecoffin joint, become stressed.

Reducing leverage to the joint bybringing the breakover point of ashoe closer to the tip of P3 (thepedal bone), has proved extremelybeneficial.

Extending this approach around thesides of the shoe enables the horseto turn more easily, significantlyreducing collateral ligament damage.

Manufactured from heat treatedforged, aluminium alloy, the shoesare lightweight and durable, bringingrelief as a remedial shoe, not onlyfrom lameness issues, but alsolaminitis, where less force on theconnection between P3 (the pedalbone) and the hoof wall wouldbenefit internal healing.

The more traditionally forged steel,Centre Fit shoe has been designed toassist in the correct alignment of thedistal limb/hoof pastern axis, andplace the shoe evenly around theDIP/coffin joint.

Following the trimming protocol andplacement of the shoe with respectto the widest part of the foot, inturn place breakover in the optimalposition for performance, and longterm soundness.

These shoes also have a similarground profile as the LeverageReduction shoes allowing for easierturning and sideways movement.

Another popular laminitis option isthe EDSS / Dr Steward Clog.Developed by American veterinarysurgeon Dr John Steward, theseevolved from his experience intreating a sports horse that hadfoundered, and the distal phalanxhad prolapsed through the sole.

The owner had limited resources sohe stabilised the foot as he would afracture.

He filled the bottom of the foot withImpression Material and cut a pieceof plywood, a little larger than thefoot, which he then attached, using

David Nicholls of Total Foot Protection Ltd, reviews some of the products available to farriers, and looks at theissues which led to their development.

EDSS/Dr Steward clog

The Performance LeverageReduction Shoe

Shoe developedto reduce forceof leverage ...

wood screws. The horse wasdischarged with pain killers, anddespite a poor prognosis, recovered.Dr. Steward refined the wood plate,adding a rocker around the wholeground surface, allowing for leveragereduction across the whole plate.

Dr Steward increased the thicknessof the wood blocks and cut adepression into the foot surfacedirectly beneath the tip of P3. Thusthe shape and form changed and theclog was born.

The EDSS/Dr Steward clog today ismade from a light, durable urethanethat can be nailed, screwed or gluedonto the equine foot.

29 4/12/08 11:44 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 30 Forge

The effects of a wet-drycycle on the equine hoof

By John Irving of Keratex Hoofcare

THE old adage ‘no foot, no horse’really does apply in our unpredictableclimate, which can trap hooves in awet-dry-wet-dry cycle of rapidsaturation and drying.

This can weaken hoof horn over timeand make horses prone to cracked orsoft hooves, thrown shoes,unsoundness and/or discomfortduring work.

Horse hooves become compromisedwhen the moisture content does notremain reasonably constant.

In any consistent climate, a horse canadapt well over time.

However, frequent changes in theweather will adversely affect theinternal structure of the hooves,which never have the chance tobecome ‘acclimatised’.

In wet conditions such as awaterlogged field or rainy spell, theinternal hoof structure swells andsoftens as it absorbs excess watermolecules.

This is because the essentialmolecular links which hold thekeratin of the horn together haveweakened. In subsequent dryconditions such as stabling or a spellof hot/dry weather, the internal hoofstructure contracts and shrinks as thewater evaporates.

The faster the hooves have to reactin this way, the worse the damage,meaning that a changeable climatesuch as the UK plays havoc withhorses’ hooves.

As hoof horn expands and contractsin varying conditions, the molecularstructure weakens and cracks willappear.

As the process continues, the hoofwill become more porous over time,becoming saturated extremelyquickly and drying out rapidly.

This leaves empty spaces – ‘vacuoles’– inside the hoof horn, which canact as nuclei for cracks and splits toform.

It will make a horse prone to losingshoes as the nails cannot be held intightly and the soles may becomesoft and susceptible to punctures,abscesses and sensitivity.

Clearly the affects of a wet-dry cyclecan be very damaging but it ispossible to prevent the hooves frombecoming affected with the rightprotective measures.

In preventing the effects of a wet-drycycle remember that the hoof horn isalready classed as ‘dead tissue’ andtherefore some complex chemical

engineering is required to waterproofit and strengthen it internally bycross-linking the keratin of the hoofwall – rather like adding rungs to aladder.

The best way to protect the hornagainst a wet-dry cycle is a two-pronged affair.

Firstly, excess water must beprevented from entering the hornstructure and secondly, weak hornmust be strengthened withoutbecoming brittle.

Applying a strongly water-repellentbut porous topical treatment on theouter surface of the hoof wall andsole is a good way of achieving this.

Using a hoof hardener will add cross-linking bonds to the keratin,reinforcing the natural sulphur linksthat hold the hoof together,therefore strengthening andhardening the horn.

Unlike hoof oils, which can preventthe horn from breathing – that is,maintaining the correct moisturelevel by allowing water vapour topass through the hoof wall – aneffective hoof hardener will combinethe addition of intermolecular bondswith a plasticiser, thereforeengineering flexibility as well asstrength.

Formaldehyde or keratin is wellknown to have a simpleintermolecular cross-linking action.

However, formaldehyde alone wouldsimply case-harden the hoof,preventing the entry offormaldehyde to deeper layers andcreating surface brittleness.

Therefore, an effective hoof hardenershould contain modifiedformaldehyde, which slows thereaction of the CHO group, givingthe aldehyde time to penetrate theouter layers of horn, and a plasticiserto prevent brittleness and retainflexibility.

In wet conditions the inner hoof structure swells and softens.

If the nails cannot be held tightlythe horse will lose shoes.

30 2/12/08 12:57 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 31Classified

New bootprovidescold therapyA NEW boot that providescompression and cold therapytreatment is now being distributedby FMBs and Magnet Medics.

The Cool+Press boots use cold andintermittent compression to reduceheat swelling and pain.

They are made of neoprene and havetwin air bags on both the lower andupper parts of the boot.

Firstly air is pumped into the lowerpads and then into the upper pads,through hoses linked to thesurcingle.

This helps to draw off and disperseupwards any excess fluid that hasgathered in the leg and the amountof pressure can be regulated in threedifferent intensities.

Clinical studies have shown thatpost-traumatic and post-operativecooling therapies can be highlybeneficial, particularly in thetreatment of musculoskeletal strain,muscle pain and inflammation oftendon injuries and joints.

Authorities report glanders caseBRAZILIAN veterinary authoritieshave reported the country’s firstcase of glanders in over 40 years –sparking a UK-wide search forimported horses.

The disease has been detected inthe Sao Paulo region of Brazil andrecords show that since April fivehorses have been imported into theUK from this area.

As a result of the low, but notnegligible, risk to UK horses, DEFRA

are now in the process of locating,isolating and re-testing theseanimals, as a precautionarymeasure.

The department is also workingwith the European Commission toensure that any future importationsof horses from Brazil continue tofully comply with EU standards.

Glanders is a serious bacterialdisease of the respiratory tract andskin, which mainly affects equids.

While widespread in the UK in thenineteenth century, it wascompletely eradicated here in1928, however it still exists in partsof Europe, Asia and North Africa.

Equine veterinary surgeons andhorse owners are now being urgedto familiarise themselves with theclinical signs of the disease, andreport any suspected cases to theirlocal animal health office, especiallyin horses which may have comefrom South America.

Call to end ‘discrimination’THE British Horse Society has calledfor an end to ‘equine discrimination’in the New Forest.

The organisation has released itsresponse to proposals which wouldresult in controversial developmentcontrol restrictions on equestrianactivity in the area.

The proposals, from the New ForestPark’s Draft Recreation ManagementStrategy and the New Forest ParkPlan Consultation Draft, would meanhorse owners having to obtainplanning permission for certain typesof horse keeping.

The New Forest authorities haveclaimed that the move is necessarydue to ongoing erosion of thelandscape and the natural habitat oflocal wildlife.

However the BHS does not acceptthat horse riding causes any morelocalised erosion or damage thancycling or walking – activities that arenot restricted under the proposal.

Mark Weston, BHS director of accesssafety and welfare, said: “The equineindustry is a £4bn industry and anydevelopment control policies need tobalance the needs of this industry

against the need to preserve andenhance the landscape character ofthe New Forest.

“Five per cent of households withinthe New Forest identify horse ridingas their main activity, providing themwith a healthy form of exercise ontheir doorstep and reducing the needto go further afield to find analternative exercise opportunity.”

The organisation is now calling forless restrictive policies that would notdiscriminate against equestrians,while still supporting the preservationof the forest.

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