Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The UK's leading equine health
Citation preview
The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine April/May 11 £2.95
By Louise Cordell
NEW research, funded by The Horse Trust,has revealed the link between bacteria andequine periodontal disease. The study, carried out by Alistair Cox atEdinburgh University, is also the first todescribe the microscopic anatomy of thecommon disease. The painful condition affects around 60 percent of horses aged over 15 and can have abig impact on their quality of life, ability toeat and performance. Although bacteria are known to be a causeof periodontal disease in humans, cats anddogs, its significance in relation to thedisease in horses is less clear. Until now, mechanical factors, such as foodbeing packed between the horse’s teeth dueto abnormal growth was considered to bethe primary cause. For the research, Cox examined the skulls of22 horses that had been submitted for postmortem examination.Although none of the horses had receivedtreatment for periodontal disease, 16 hadsome form of the illness. Alistair said: “This research highlights howcommon periodontal disease is in horses.Yet many horses don’t receive treatment so
are likely to be suffering in silence. I wouldadvise all horse owners to get their vet orequine dentist to regularly check their horseto see if it is developing the condition.” He identified bacteria, includingspirochaetes, that were associated with thepresence of periodontal disease.Spirochaetes are known to be important inhuman and canine periodontal disease, butthis is the first study to identiry spirochaetesassociated with equine periodontal disease. Alistair added: “This study shows thatbacteria may be more important than waspreviously thought in the development ofequine periodontal disease.“More research is needed to understandwhether bacteria or mechanical factors arethe main cause of the disease.“Once we have a better understanding ofwhy and how the disease develops, we cando more to prevent horses from developingthis painful condition.” The study also found a significantassociation between the age of the horseand periodontal disease. Skulls wereexamined from horses ranging from four toover 20 years of age and the older horseswere found to be more likely to haveperiodontal disease and a more advancedform of the condition.
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is hailedas the greatest three-day event in the world and thecompetition most event riders would like to win.This year the Trials are set to run over the Easterweekend, from April 21-25. They have also beenextended for a day for the first time to allow for theMitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships foramateur/weekend riders and to give spectators thechance to walk the cross country course. Paul Tapner(pictured at last year’s Trials) is the currentBadminton CCI**** Champion and will be competingthis year with his horse Kilfinnie II.
Bacteria linkedwith disease innew research
01 30/3/11 15:29 Page 1
02 LPD 30/3/11 15:29 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3
EDITORIAL
GROUP EDITOR:
Andrew HarrodTel: 01226 734639email: [email protected]
EDITOR:
Christine KeateTel: 07825 097 464email: [email protected]
REPORTER:
Louise Cordell Tel: 01226 734694email: [email protected]
PRODUCTION
STUDIO MANAGER:Stewart Holtemail: [email protected]
DEPUTY GROUP EDITOR:Judith Halkerstonemail: [email protected]
ADVERTISING
SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR:
Tony BarryASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER:
Andrew LoadesTel: 01226 734482Fax: 01226 734478email: [email protected]
NATIONAL FIELD SALES EXECUTIVE:
Ellie RobinsonTel: 01226 734483 email: [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.
Study bringstherapy for‘mud fever’By Louise Cordell
THE results of a research project atLincoln University have led to thedevelopment of an effective therapyfor ‘mud fever’. The study looked at treating thesymptoms associated with thedisease, which affects hundreds ofhorses each year and is caused by amicrobe found in mud during thewinter months. The animal will often develop lesionsand sores on the limbs, which canbecome infected and cause lamenessand extreme and prolonged casescan even lead to the animal havingto be put down. The results of thetests carried out in the study havenow been used to develop a newproduct – Muddy Buddy Mud Kure –to ease and treat the symptoms. Frank Ruedisueli, programme leaderand senior lecturer in bio-veterinaryscience, said: “We are very excitedthat our research has led to thisproduct being made available whichcould ease the suffering of manyhorses. Winter in the UK can be anightmare for horses and theirowners due to the microbeDermatophilus congolensis, whichinfects the animal through the skinof its lower limbs, predominantly thefetlock area.“Over the past five years staff andstudents at the University of Lincolnhave been investigating potentialtopical anti-microbial treatments forthis disease. “In-vitro testing of a specific activeingredient under laboratory condit-
A HORSE that has spent nearly 19years working for the army hasretired to the Horse Trust inBuckinghamshire.
Denzil, a 17.2hh gelding, started hisarmy career with The King's TroopRoyal Horse Artillery, before movingonto the Royal Army VeterinaryCorps and then the Royal EngineersSaddle Club.
He has spent the last six yearsworking for the Light CavalryHonourable Artillery Company inWindsor, taking part in ceremonialduties and teaching people to ride.
The Irish Cross Thoroughbred isretiring as he has an arthriticcondition, which has worsened overrecent months so he can no longerbe ridden.
Caroline Quested, Denzil’s stablemanager, said: “The Horse Trust'sHome of Rest for Horses is such a fantastic place for him toretire to.
“I'm so glad that the charity was able to take him in as he's given so many years of his life to thearmy and deserves a good retirement– we will all miss him madlythough.”
Army horse Denzilretires to Horse Trust
THE British Equestrian Federationhas announced a new set ofNational Equine Anti Doping andControlled Medication rules. The new rules, which closelymirror the FEI guidelines, willaffect all BEF member bodies inFEI disciplines, which must be fullycompliant by 1 January 2012. The BEF member bodiesconcerned have welcomed thenew standardised system, whichaims to create a clear policy, withall adhering to the sameprohibited substances list,sanctions and procedures. British Showjumping will be firstOlympic discipline to join thesystem on 1 April 2011. The new system will see anincreasing number of anti-dopingtests across the disciplines and allaffiliated members should expecttheir horse to be tested, whetherthey are competing at grass rootslevel or at a nationalchampionship.It is hoped that the creation ofstandardised national guidelineswill make things clearer for riders,particularly those that compete inmore than one discipline. Once all of the FEI disciplinesintroduce the new rules, theprohibited substances, proceduresand sanctions will be the same,whatever discipline someone iscompeting in. The new system adopts thecomplete FEI’s prohibitedsubstances list, including a ban onNon-Steroidal Anti InflammatoryDrugs. These will be classed ascontrolled medications which, iffound in a horse’s sample duringcompetition, will result in aviolation.
Anti dopingrule changewelcomed
ions resulted in a new formulation.This was then tested on horses withsevere or stubborn cases of the con-dition in a nationwide field study.”The anti-microbial and woundhealing powder can be puffed ontothe wounds, which is of great benefitwhen the horse is too sore to touch. The anti-microbial cream can then beapplied once the horse has bec-omeless sensitive – and results were soencouraging that this product wasdeveloped further with a manufact-urer of animal health products and isnow commercially available.Mr Ruedisueli added: “After all theeffort put in by staff and students, itis great to see research resulting in apractical application. This showsstudents that undergraduate researchdoes contribute to animal health inthe long term. New research projectswith potential practical applicationare constantly being developed, prov-iding opportunities for students andfurthering knowledge in this area.”
MASSAGE to pulsed electromagnetictherapy, equine treadmills to lasertherapy – it’s got to be FMBs TherapySystems.FMBs Therapy Systems might be bestassociated with magnetic therapy, butthere’s a lot more to this innovativerange. FMBs Static Magnetic therapycomes in various rugs, beds and wrapsto cover most parts of the body.This is a good form for therapy, butsomething like the Activo-Med CombiPro rug has Pulsed ElectromagneticField and massage therapy combined inone product. This particular item isused and endorsed by many top ridersto support body systems, loosen andrelax muscles and aid the recoveryprocess.There is a range of rug types and
additions available to suit the needs ofyour yard.For rehabilitation and exercise, tread-mills are ideal. The company supply adry and water treadmill, providing agreat form of exercise, and a superbalternative to horse walkers for thosewho don’t have the space. TheMassage Mounty Roller is one of thecompany’s latest product and combinescompression massage and pulsatingmassage to help loosen, relax andwarm up the horse’s back. It usescompressed air technology to do thisand is currently on an introductoryoffer.
For more information, see:www.fmbs.co.uk, call: 01628
472440/07885 539312 or e-mail: [email protected]
Innovative range on offer
03 30/3/11 15:31 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I NEWS4
WHIPPING racehorses is pointlessand makes no difference to theoutcome of the race, according tonew research.
A study carried out by two vets fromthe University of Syndney found thatinstead, how a horse ran in the firstpart of the race – when it wasn’tbeing whipped, was the most criticalfactor for success.
The report, which has beenpublished in the Public Library ofScience, investigated the impact ofwhipping on performance inThoroughbred races.
Dr David Evans, co-author andhonorary associate professor at theFaculty of Veterinary Science, said:“We looked at running times in aseries of races, how whips were usedand whether that whip useinfluenced the outcome of a race.
“What we found was that whippingdid not affect the probability ofwhether or not a horse finished arace in the first three placings.
“How a horse ran in the first part of
a race, when it wasn't beingwhipped, was the most critical factorin racing success.
“So horses are being whipped in thefinal stages of a race, in the face ofmuscle fatigue, for no benefit.”
Animal behaviour expert and co-author Professor Paul McGreevy saidhe hoped this research wouldhighlight the futility of whipping.
He said: “The reason for whip usehas traditionally been the need to beseen to ride the horse out and thesuggestion that you can steer ahorse with the whip.
“Many horse riders, and certainlythese findings, refute that.
“Top performance horses have beenbred and prepared to give their best– add to that excellent horsemanshipand you’ve got a winningcombination.
“We have evidence here that greathorsemanship does not involveflogging tired horses.”
The research was funded by RSPCA
Australia and carried out with theassistance of Racing New SouthWales.
Dr Bidda Jones, RSPCA chiefscientist, said the results will helpend the debate over whether there isa place for whipping in the future ofAustralian Thoroughbred racing.
She said: “This study has found thatjockeys use whips just as people
would expect – to try to make theirslowing horse recover speed in theclosing stages of a race.
“What is surprising is the findingthat whipping doesn't make anydifference. Jockeys may as well savetheir energy, keep their hands on thereins, and head straight for home –their horses will be so much betteroff for it.”
Study reveals futility ofwhipping racehorses
ANOTHER first for Virbac – EquineSQP CPD webinars.
Ten years after their entry into theequine market place with leadingwormer brands Equimax andEraquell, Virbac Animal Healthcontinues to innovate within theindustry.
Virbac will be hosting the firstEquine SQP CPD webinars in Mayahead of the 30 June AMTRA CPDpoints deadline.
These two seminars have beenapproved by AMTRA and will beworth seven CPD points each or atotal of 20 points if both areattended.
Callum Blair MRCVS, seniorveterinary adviser for Virbac, said:“We are aware that a number ofSQPs are still in need of CPD seminarpoints ahead of the 30 Junedeadline.
“Opportunities to earn these pointsare running out and the costincurred in attending seminars canbe significant, particularly to SQPs inremote communities.
“Webinars provide the ideal platformfor SQPs to attend a seminar withouthaving to leave home or close theshop for a day.”
The seminars will take place in theevening and will cost £15 (+VAT)each.
Further details of technicalrequirements will be available at thetime of registration.
Anyone wishing to attend thesewebinars should e-mail:
[email protected] toregister their interest includingtheir name and contact details.
Continuing to innovatewithin the industry
04 30/3/11 15:31 Page 1
05 GastroGuard 30/3/11 15:32 Page 1
06 Vetoquinol fp 30/3/11 15:32 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 7
By Louise Cordell
THE world’s first study of rider’seye movements has revealed thekey to show jumping success.
Equine scientists have collectedevidence to prove how theminiscule eye movements of eliteriders can determine their successin show jumping.
The team at Nottingham TrentUniversity have used state of theart technology to compare the‘visual strategies’ of riders withdifferent levels of experience,providing an insight into their gazebehaviour.
Using a hi-tech mobile eyetracking device, they were able torecord exactly what a rider lookedat, and how long for, whenapproaching a jump.
A show-jumper, an event rider, apoint to point rider and a non-competitive rider were all asked tomake five rounds of an identicalthree jump course.
Then, by playing back the footage,the researchers were able to
monitor the rider’s point of gaze ateach stage of the course anddetermine how long they spentlooking at specific areas or
features.
Preliminary analysis revealed thatwhen approaching a jump, ridersrapidly alter their gaze from the
ground before a jump, to the jumpitself and then to the groundbeyond.
However, the more experiencedshow jump rider was found to fixtheir gaze on the jump muchsooner than each of the otherriders – up to 3.05 seconds earlierbefore take off than the leastexperienced rider – as well asspending significantly longerfixated on each point.
Carol Hall, from the University’sequine science research team, said:“The findings from this study havethe potential to be applied in eliteequestrian training and tosignificantly improve performancein equestrian sports.
“By understanding the visualbehaviour of successful showjumpers, we wil be able to assist inthe training of up and comingriders, as well as providing safertraining programmes for noviceriders. I’m confident that our workwill help to improve human safetyand equine welfare throughoutthe sport.”
It’s all in the eyes ...
07 30/3/11 15:33 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I NEWS8
Genetic testis haileda successBy Louise Cordell
A GENETIC test for carriers of FellPony Foal Syndrome has been amassive success, with nearly 1,000breeders submitting samples fortesting in just one year.
The condition, which is now knownas Foal Immunodeficiency Syndromeas it also affects other breeds ofponies, is untreatable and fatal.
Affected foals have severeprogressive anaemia and a deficientimmune system, which leads them tosuccumb to infection and they willusually die by the age of threemonths.
A three year research project, fundedby The Horse Trust and led by DrJune Swinburne at the Animal HealthTrust and Professor Stuart Carter ofLiverpool University, identified themutation that causes the disease anddeveloped a genetic test to identifycarriers.
As the disease only occurs in foalswhen two carriers are bred together,breeders can use the test to prevent the disease by ensuring that known carriers are not bredtogether.
Since the genetic test was launchedin February 2010, Swinburne's teamhas tested 970 samples from Fell andDales ponies, of which three quarterswere from Fell ponies.
As there are around 8,000 Fellponies worldwide and around 1,100Dales ponies in the UK, this meansthat already nearly ten per cent of
Fell ponies and over 20 per cent ofDales ponies have been tested forFIS.
Dr Swinburne said: “This test hasbeen a massive success among theFell and Dales pony breedingcommunities.
“We hope the test will preventunnecessary suffering among foals asbreeders can now easily prevent theconception of those with FIS.
“As so many breeders tested theirbreeding stock last year, we hopethere will be very few foals affectedby this horrendous disease in thefuture.”
Among those tested, Dr Swinburnefound that 47 per cent of Fell poniesand ten per cent of Dales poniescarry the mutation for FIS.
The test also allows breeders todiagnose FIS in newborn foals, whichcan be difficult for the first couple ofweeks, allowing the foal to beeuthanased before it suffers.
Over the last year, Dr Swinburne'steam diagnosed 13 foals (12 Fellponies and one Dales pony) usingthe test.
Jeanette Allen, The Horse Trust chiefexecutive officer, said: “We are reallyexcited that the research we'vefunded has had such a big impact onthe welfare of Fell and Dales ponies.
“We hope that breeders willcontinue to make use of this test toensure that no more ponies have tosuffer needlessly from this distressingdisease.”
ACTOR and horse lover MartinClunes has been named as thenext president of the British HorseSociety.
He will take up the post whencurrent president, Desi Dillingham,steps down at the end of herextended term of office in June.
As well as being well known forhis screen appearances including‘Men Behaving Badly’ and ‘DocMartin’, his 2010 ITV documentaryseries ‘Horsepower’ revealedMartin’s passion for horses.
He said: “It is an enormous honourto be asked to serve the BHS as itsnext president.
“I have so much to learn and withthe Society changing so much inrecent years I hope that we cangrow together, capitalising on thevitality, enthusiasm and passion ofits membership.
“Every time we learn of anotherhorse which has suffered at man’shands we realise how essential –and urgent – is the welfare workof the BHS.
“If, when I become president, Ican help the Society alleviate thesuffering of a single horse whosetrust has been betrayed byhumans, then I will have donesome good. If tens of thousands ofpeople join me, that good will bemagnified.
“Above all, I hope I can helpspread something of the joy whichcomes from associating withhorses to those, especially theyoung, who otherwise wouldnever make their acquaintance.
“We all delight in our horses andwe all should spread a little of thatdelight to as many people aspossible.”
New role for Martin
Boost for transportation campaignA LONG-running charity campaign toend the long distance transportationof horses to slaughter has received aboost thanks to new expertrecommendations.
World Horse Welfare has welcomeda new report from the EuropeanFood Safety Authority whichsuggests a cap on journey times andimproved welfare conditions forhorses.
The charity’s own research and fieldinvestigations was taken intoaccount for the report and many ofits priorities, including spaceallowance, water provision and
partition design, are explored.
EFSA’s recommendations forimprovements to current EU welfarelegislation will now inform a reportbeing produced by the EuropeanCommission on the currentRegulation, which is due out in theautumn.
Jo White, WHW director ofcampaigns, said: “Therecommendation for a 12-hourjourney limit for horses destined forslaughter is extremely welcome.
“To have this introduced and thenrobustly enforced could bring an endto the stress, exhaustion and
suffering the charity sees duringinvestigations along Europe’sslaughter routes.
“We are delighted that our evidencewas referred to in the final reportand we now call on the EUCommission to work quickly towardsthe introduction of short, finitejourney limits, which could end thesingle biggest abuse of horses inEurope.”
Other recommendations made bythe report include: providing waterbefore and after the journey andcontinual access to an unrestrictedsupply of clean drinking water during
the whole of any rest period, ensuring all horses aretransported in individual partitions(with some exceptions) andundertaking research to improve thedesign of partitions.
Roly Owers, WHW chief executive,said: “We are very pleased EFSA has taken note of our evidence and developed recommendationsthat will improve the currentsituation.
“This not only shows the currentRegulation does not go far enough,but that improvements are essentialto horse welfare.”
08 30/3/11 15:33 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 9feeding and nutrition
By Kirsty Dougal
AN essential feature of the horse’sintestinal tract is the presence oflarge numbers of bacteria that assistin the breakdown of food to yieldenergy.
In the large intestine the presence ofa symbiotic microbial populationallows for utilisation of dietarycomponents (such as cellulose andhemi-cellulose) that would otherwisebe indigestible.
The microbiota ferment thesestructural plant carbohydrates toyield volatile fatty acids, which canthen be absorbed and metabolisedto provide energy.
It has been demonstrated in severalstudies that varying the relativeproportion of fibre and starch fed tohorses can result in significantalterations in the microbialpopulation of the hindgut.
This is part of the reason whychanges in diet may result indisorders such as colic and laminitis.
Currently, however, our knowledgeof the types, numbers and role ofdifferent bacteria within the equinegut is very limited, restricting us frombeing able to determine how best toutilise nutrition and managementpractices to help prevent certainclinical problems - for examplelaminitis.
The causes of laminitis are many andvaried; however, one of main areasof interest is carbohydrate overload,either due to a high starch grainintake or an ‘excessive’ intake offructan (plus starch and simplesugars) from pasture.
There are a number of differenttheories which try to explain the gapbetween the events in the largeintestine and the apparently remoteprocesses that occur in the foot.
What does appear to be a unifyingfactor is disruption to the balance ofthe microbial population of the largeintestine.
In response to large quantities ofstarch or fructan bypassing digestionin the small intestine (the normal sitefor starch digestion) and beingrapidly fermented in the hind gut,proliferation of gram positive lacticacid producing bacteria occurs.
This results in excess lactateproduction, and therefore anincrease in the acidity within the hindgut resulting in the death of certaingram negative bacteria.
Resultant endotoxins as well asvasocative amines and other activebiological factors are thought to beabsorbed across the gut mucosa intothe circulation, beginning the chainevents that can result in lamellarseparation.
Traditionally bacterial identificationhas been carried out by cultivationon specific microbiological plates.
However, this method has manylimitations especially whenconsidering bacteria from the gut, asthey normally live in conditions thatare very difficult to replicate in alaboratory setting.
The development of new highthroughput DNA sequencingtechnology allows us to identifybacteria by their genetic codewithout being reliant on being ableto grow them in culture.
This enables us to more accuratelyand rapidly identify what bacteria arein the gut and how the relativeproportions may change underdifferent conditions.
Using these modern techniques theaim is to identify which bacterialspecies exist within the largeintestine of the healthy horse, andwhether there is a core group ofbacteria which exist in all horses.
Identifying the normal, ‘healthy’bacterial population will allow furtherresearch to investigate what happenswhen we change managementpractices and why this might lead toclinical problems.
� Kirsty Dougal is a WalthamCentre for Pet Nutrition Phdstudent
Is there a stablecore microbiotain the horse?
Kirsty Dougal
09 30/3/11 15:34 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 10 feeding and nutrition
By Jane Buchan, Baileys Horse Feeds
FERTILITY and pregnancy requirenutritional support, just like thephysical demands of performance,and any deficiency could lead to‘under performance’, such ascompromised fertility rates for thestallion or an inability to conceive inthe mare.
Whilst a fully balanced diet shouldprovide all a mare or stallion needs,there are specific nutrients whichplay a role in fertility and thedevelopment of the foetus.
Protein:This is the major constituent of allbody tissues, from muscle, bone andskin to reproductive organs, and notjust of the parent mare and stallionbut of the resultant growing foal.
Most stud feeds will thereforeprovide elevated levels of protein tomeet these increased demands butthe quality of the protein is just asimportant because this determinesthe types and amounts of theindividual component amino acidsavailable in the feed.
Omega 3 fatty acids:Specific omega 3 fatty acids aredirectly incorporated into cell walls
and, since an egg and a sperm aresingle cells, the quality and integrityof their cell walls can have a directaffect on their viability.
Indeed, research has shown that adeficiency of these fatty acids canlead to infertility and, as the horse’sbody is incapable of manufacturingthese ‘essential’ fatty acids, theymust be supplied by the diet.
Vitamins and minerals:Antioxidant vitamins, like C and E,are known to support fertility whilstthe mineral selenium is vital forsperm formation and a deficiencyhas been shown to result in spermabnormalities and reduced fertility.Other minerals, such as zinc, areessential for hormonal regulation inboth sexes, whilst beta-carotene (theprecursor to vitamin A) increasesfertility and libido and is particularlybeneficial to mares as it stimulatesovarian activity and can reduce theincidence of cycling problems.
Synergy:Just as biotin is not the only nutrientinvolved in the production of healthyhooves so no one of these nutrientsworks in isolation and they all havedifferent modes of action andinteract with other nutrients in thebody.
For this reason, a fully balanced dietsupplying a range of nutrients willhave more and wider reachingbenefits than attempting tosupplement the diet with one or twoselected nutrients.
Indeed, keeping breeding stock on abalanced diet all year round, and notallowing extreme fluctuations ofbody condition, will help themmaintain internal reserves and be in a better position to breedsuccessfully.
Keep feeding:A mare in good condition, not fat orthin, and on a fully balanced dietprior to covering, will be more likelyto conceive first time.
It is then vital that the marecontinues to receive this balanceddiet from conception onwards asdevelopment of the foetuscommences immediately, andrequires nutritional supportthroughout gestation. Research has
shown that the growing foetus laysdown stores of minerals in the liveron which to draw when it is bornand growing rapidly, so a deficiencyin the mare’s diet during pregnancycan have a ‘knock-on’ effect on thegrowth of the foal.
This is when products like a nutrientdense, low calorie stud balancerbecome invaluable in order tomaintain nutrient intake withoutsupplying potentially unwantedcalories.
Extra help:Where a mare or stallion still hasfertility issues despite a good qualitybalanced diet, it’s possible thatfurther supplementation may bebeneficial, although breeders shouldconsult their vets first to determineany possible underlying cause.
Certainly there’s a case for busystallions to receive additional omega3 fatty acids in the diet because thedirect incorporation of these into thecells helps create strongermembranes which should improvesperm viability.
There is also potential benefit to themare since they are metabolised toanti-inflammatory compounds in thebody and this is thought to reducethe inflammatory response in thereproductive tract directly aftercovering, thus increasing the chancesof conception.
Supplementation:Fish oil, like cod liver oil, is therichest source of the necessaryessential omega 3 fatty acids but,since the increased inclusion of oilsin the diet requires a correspondingincrease in the inclusion ofsupporting antioxidants, it is best tochoose a specially formulatedsupplement designed to provide arange of nutrients that worktogether to support fertility.
Feeding for breeding and fertility
10 30/3/11 15:34 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 11feeding and nutrition
By Lizzie Drury
GRASS is magic – it is rich in energyand protein, high in omega 3 fattyacids and rich in antioxidants,particularly vitamin E.
It is also very appetising and it wouldbe hard to find a horse that won’tdig in when offered fresh grass, eventhe most picky of eaters.
However, as much as it would bewonderful to rely on pasture alone,this natural forage can be dangerousfor some horses and ponies.
Fructans are specially adapted sugarsthat are found in grass and areunique in that the strong bonds thathold the fructose sugars togethercannot be broken down by thenormal enzyme action that breaksdown sugars in the stomach andsmall intestine.
These sugars can then passundigested through into the hindgutwhere they are rapidly fermented bythe hindgut microbes, producinglactic acid and volatile fatty acids.Volatile fatty acids are the normalproducts of digestion of celluloseand other cell wall constituents offorages, so horses can handle themwell.
Lactic acid, however, is neitherefficiently used by other bacteria norreadily absorbed from the hindgut,resulting in an accumulation of lacticacid in the hindgut.
The accumulation of lactic acid in thehindgut significantly lowers the pHlevel and can upset the delicatemicrobial balance.
Hindgut acidosis is one of the mostdirect causes of problems such ascolic and laminitis in horses andponies on pasture.
All horses are at risk to digestiveupsets associated with fresh springpasture if they have not beenproperly introduced to the pasture and the gut allowed toadjust properly to the dietarychange.
Ponies that have the ‘good doer’gene or those that are alreadyoverweight seem to survive on littleelse other than fresh air and becauseof the risk of insulin resistance andassociated high levels of circulatingpro inflammatory agents areparticularly at risk to problems suchas laminitis when grazed on pastureswith high fructan levels.
Fructans are produced byphotosynthesis, which occurs duringthe daylight hours – the sunnier theday the more photosynthesis and themore fructans are produced.
Overnight the plant uses the sugarsto grow more leaves and stems andextra sugars that are not used forgrowth are stored within the planttissues.
Night temperatures are important
because if the temperature is too cold then the plant will not grow and the sugars will remain in the leaves in high concentrations.
A common question asked byworried horse owners is ‘when is the safest time to graze my horse?’ and the answer is it dependsupon weather and temperaturecycles.
However as a guide; during warmdays and cool nights sensitive horses should not be allowed tograze at all.
During sunny days and warm nights,horses should be grazed early in themorning when the grass has used upthe sugars for growth during thenight hours and then removed fromthe pasture when the process startsagain and fructan levels begin to riseagain.
Another factor that needs to betaken into account is the plant’sgrowing cycle.
When grasses grow in the spring, thefirst three to six inches of growthhave low levels of fructans.
However, while the fructan levelsmay be low, so are the amounts of indigestible cellulose and ligninand horses tend to eat largeamounts of this highly palatable newgrass.
In mature forages (plants above eight to ten inches) levels offructans, cellulose and lignin are higher, and the high celluloseand lignin levels tend to decreaseintakes.
Whether horses eat smaller amountsof mature pasture or larger amountsof immature pasture the fructanintake may total about the same forboth scenarios.
Pastures should be managed so thathorses do not overgraze.
In pastures that have been heavilygrazed, horses may have no choicebut to graze the lower two inches ofpasture plants where fructans arestored.
However, horses tend to be selectivewhen grazing and often choose to
eat pasture plants with the highestfructan levels even when a variety offorage is available.
Environmental stress can also causefructan levels to increase – in plants reacting to frost or drought,fructan levels can rise by up to 30per cent.
As a general rule, horses that have ahigh energy requirement can handlefructans providing that they havehad time to adapt to them graduallyand these include growing horses,lactating mares, hard working horsesand thin or metabolically active
horses (providing that they are notcompromised by disease orparasites).
Those that generally should avoidfructans are good doers andoverweight horses and ponies.
However, we must also rememberthat all horses and ponies aredifferent, regardless of breed but it iswise to keep a close eye on allpastured horses and check for signsof colic and laminitis. � Lizzie Drury MSc RegisteredNutritionist, works at SaracenHorse Feeds
Managing horses on pastures
Lizzie Drury Pasture should be managed so horses do not overgraze
CHARCOAL has been used forthousands of years as an aid to gooddigestion and to boost immunity.
A proprietary brand of charcoalcalled Happy Tummy, from Fine FettleFeeds, is widely used by discerninghorse owners to help keep theirhorses healthy.
It works by carrying oxygen into thehorse’s system, and adsorbing toxinsthat have accumulated throughstress, and a diet lacking in essentialnutrients.
Happy Tummy helps maintain gooddigestive health and avoid a widerange of infections.
Our charcoal has no medicinalproperties, since it is completely inertand indigestible; it simply acts tobind toxins to itself, and pass themout of the animal’s system.
Happy Tummy is riddled with anetwork of crevasses, cracks andpores, so much so that the combinedsurface area of a 1cm cube wouldunfold to an area of 1000 squaremetres.
This tremendous surface areaabsorbs a huge range of badbacteria and toxins, making charcoalthe undisputed champion of
detoxifiers.
All our products are VeterinaryMedicines Directorate compliant.
Our customers report that HappyTummy boosts the health of horses suffering from conditions such as colic, gastric ulcers, tying up and the side effects of windsucking. For more information call: 01600
712496 or visit:www.finefettlefeed.com/
Aiding good digestionand boosting immunity
11 30/3/11 15:35 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 12 worming
Mode of action:The mode of action is the way inwhich an anthelmintic treatmentattacks the parasites. Anthelmintics must selectively attackthe parasite and not the horse host. This is usually achieved by inhibitinga metabolic process, which is vital tothe parasite but not the host, or byexposing the parasite to higherconcentrations of the compoundthan the host.The majority of anthelmintics workby interfering with the parasites’ cellstructure or metabolism,neuromuscular co-ordination orprotective mechanisms against thehosts’ immunity. In turn this leads to starvation,paralysis and death, and removal ofthe parasite.Process:Once an anthelmintic has beenadministered, it is usually absorbedinto the blood stream where it istransported around the body.
It is eventually metabolised by theliver and excreted in urine andfaeces. Since equine anthelmintics arenormally administered by mouth andmany of the parasites affectinghorses live in the lumen of theintestiane or close to the intestinalmucosa, there may be direct actionof the ingested anthelmintic on theparasite. However, some parasites travelthrough the liver or the lungs orother parts of the body duringmigratory phases of their life cycle. Whatever the location, for a parasiteto be effectively removed, it isessential that it comes into contactwith the drug at a sufficiently highconcentration, either through the GItract directly or the blood supplyingthe parasite’s location.Anthelmintics are split into classes(chemical families), based on theiractive ingredients. There are four major classes of
There are a limited number of effective active ingredients available to tackle equine parasites andit is vital that these are used carefully to preserve their efficacy. Dr Emma Batson from MerialEquine Health explains the mode of action of anthelmintics and presents ‘refugia’ as an importantconcept in the fight against resistance.
Anthelmintic actionanthelmintics licensed for use againstequine parasites; the macrocycliclactones, the benzimidazoles, thetetrahydropyrimidines and thepyrazino-isoquinolines.� Macrocyclic Lactones treat a widerange of mature and immaturenematodes and arthropods and actby binding to receptors in theparasite’s nerve cells. This causes an influx of chloride ionsparalysing the pharynx, the bodywall and the uterine muscles.Macrocyclic lactones are highlylipophilic (have an affinity to lipids)from where they are released,metabolised by the liver andexcreted.� Benzimidazoles treat a range ofadult and some immaturenematodes by inhibiting tubulinformation. Tubulins are globularproteins which make up structuralcomponents within cells.Benzimidazoles deplete energyreserves and parasites are starved todeath by the inhibition of glucoseuptake. They also inhibit theexcretion of waste products andprotective factors from parasite cells� Tetrahydropyrimidines treat adultascarids, large and small strongyles,pinworms and tapeworms (doubledose).� Pyrantel causes rapid, spasticparalysis, which is reversible. Whenthe parasites are paralysed, they areexpelled from the gut duringperistalsis.Praziquantel modulates cell
membrane permeability intapeworms, causing spastic paralysisof muscle cells within the parasite.Both of these work on tapeworms. Resistance:Regardless of the brand ofanthelmintic administered, the activeingredients are limited to one (or acombination) of the four groupsdescribed above. This small number of effective activeingredient groups means that it isvital that these are preserved.Worming unnecessarily, over andunder dosing is increasing resistanceamongst equine parasites and one ofthe best ways to help prevent furtherresistance is to advise horse ownerson a targeted approach to worming. Worm egg counts and ELISA bloodtests for tapeworm detection willhelp owners make informeddecisions about their horse’sworming routine, and a plannermakes keeping track of each horse’sworming routine easy.
What is refugia?Within a total worm population,some worms will be resistant totreatment, and some worms willnot. Although drugs from differentchemical classes remove worms indifferent ways, as shown above,they all share one common goal:remove the ‘treatment-sensitive’worms. Following anthelminticadministration, only resistant wormsare left in the horse. However, at any one time there isalso a population of worms notexposed to treatment, eitherbecause that treatment does nottarget the specific stage in their lifecycle, or because worming istargeted to horses with WEC resultsof over 200epg. This population of non-resistantworms is termed ‘refugia’. Refugia consists of:� Eggs and larvae on pasture.� Some species and stages of
worms in the horse that are notsusceptible to particular wormingtreatments (for example, not allwormers are effective againstimmature stages of worms so thesewill ‘escape’ the effects oftreatment).The key to reducing the rate ofdevelopment of resistance is tomaintain a population of wormsthat are not exposed to a treatment(in refugia). In this way, there isalways a population of worms thatremain sensitive to treatment.Maintaining a population in refugiaensures a gene pool of treatment-sensitive worms and dilutes theresistant worm population. In order to maintain a population ofworms in refugia, horses should betreated according to their actualneeds, as determined by WECs(treatment of horses with WECs ofmore than 200 epg) and ELISAtests. Treatments should be targetedto the actual threat present.
Redworms
12 30/3/11 15:36 Page 1
13 Pfizer 30/3/11 15:37 Page 1
14 Merial 30/3/11 15:37 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 15skin
By Ed Whittle
SPRING through to autumn can be afairly miserable time for horsessuffering from summer skin allergies,such as sweet itch.
In many cases vets may only beconsulted once other resources havebeen exhausted, by which time thecondition of the horse’s skin mayhave deteriorated to such an extentthat it poses a welfare concern.
Causes:The clinical signs of summer skinallergies in horses and ponies areusually a result of both type I andtype IV hypersensitivity reactions.
Allergens that induce thesehypersensitivity reactions includebites and stings.
Sweet itch, otherwise known assummer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD), is caused by anallergy to the saliva in the bite ofCulicoides midges and affects up to five per cent of all horses inthe UK.
It is notoriously difficult to manageand once a horse develops thecondition it can recur every summer,proving a management nightmarefor owners.
This seasonality can also prove to bea major issue for both owners andvets, as sweet itch sufferers soldduring the winter months are hard tospot during a vetting.
Often the first an owner knowsabout the condition is when itappears in their new horse duringthe spring.
The clinical signs:Particularly prevalent during thesummer months when midges aremost active, the dorsal surface –including the mane, withers, rumpand dock – are often areas that areaffected.
The main clinical sign of summer skinallergies is pruritis (intense itching),manifested as rubbing.
This can lead to an actively inflamedand sometimes excoriated skinsurface, with the skin becomingdamaged and parts of the coat, and underlying skin being rubbedaway.
As the condition progresses the skincan thicken, become wrinkled andthe hair becomes sparse and coarsewith flaky dandruff.
Exudative dermatitis (weeping sores,sometimes with a yellow crust ofdried serum) may also developwhich, if left untreated, can lead to secondary bacterial infection.
The itching can become so severethat horses scratch themselves on
anything in reach including posts,stable doors and trees.
Excessive mutual grooming from fieldcompanions is common and horseshave been known to roll and try andscratch themselves with their hindhooves.
They may also become restless,irritable and suffer from weight loss.
The clinical signs of summer skinallergies are a result of allergensbinding IgE molecules attached tothe surface of mast cells, leading totheir degranulation and subsequentrelease of histamine and otherinflammatory mediators.
This results in the pruritus andinflammatory response seen in horseswith summer skin allergies.
Management:Management, in the case of sweetitch, should consist of a three-pronged approach:
� Decreasing the horse’s exposure to the midges can consist ofrelocating horses away from boggyfields to more exposed, windylocations; stabling horses at dawn and dusk when midges aremost prevalent and protecting horsesout at grass with light rugs andhoods.
When stabled, a fine mesh screen placed across stable doors and windows, and the use ofoverhead fans, can reduce midgeentry.
� Insect repellents and insecticidescan control midges and prevent themfrom biting the horse.
They should be applied well beforesigns develop and should not beapplied to inflamed or broken skin.
� Stopping the itching withcorticosteroids which temporarilyoffer relief by depressing theinflammatory response, howeverthere may be serious side effects,such as laminitis.
Antihistamines can be effective, butthey may cause drowsiness.
Veterinary intervention should besought before the condition has achance to set in, and the veterinarysurgeon will be able to advise on themost suitable products available tohelp maintain and support a healthyskin in prone horses.
All preventative measures, such asutilising the insect repellents andadministering topical gels and food supplements, should beinstigated in March and April beforethe midge season starts, to preventthe midges from biting andstimulating the inflammatoryreaction.� Ed Whittle MA VetMB MRCVSis veterinary advisor at JanssenAnimal Health
Above: Degranulating mast cell and, below:Mast cell
Summer skin allergiesSweet ItchAwarenessMonth takesplace throughoutApril to highlightthe condition andthe preventativemeasures thatshould be carriedout to helpalleviate it.A joint initiativebetween JanssenAnimal Healththe British HorseSociety,Redwings HorseSanctuary andWorld HorseWelfare, pleasevisitwww.fidavet.comor phone 01494567555 forfurtherinformation.
15 30/3/11 15:33 Page 1
Bloodstock matters
16
Exercise or training? A humanversus racehorse comparisonBy David Chapman Jones
WHEN does exercise become trainingor, is raising a distinction betweenthe two merely semantics?
Preparation for competition is nowconcentrated in the detail,meticulous planning and theaggregation of marginal gains.
Training is about seeking an edge,the detail that separates onecompetitor from the rest.
A well rounded training schedule willidentify specific areas, how they areaddressed, assessed and monitored.
Looking at National Hunthorseracing I will highlight someexample areas and provide somesuggestions how they can betargeted.
Periodisation:Periodisation is the organisedapproach to training that involvesprogressive cycles of various aspectsof a training program, over a specific
period of time.
It is a way of alternating trainingmethods to arrive at a peak, ideallyduring the competition season.
A training plan is commonly dividedinto a number of different cycles thathave clear objectives towards thegreater aim.
A macro cycle refers to the long-term plan that works towardspeaking for a specific competition ofthe year.
There are three phases in the macrocycle: preparation, generally 60 to 75per cent, competition and transition.
Example activities to target duringthe preparation phase for a NationalHunt horse training could be:
� Develop skills in jumping ability: Ahorse that must clear a series ofobstacles whilst traveling at 40km/hour should not only jump wellbut also in a manner that leastdisrupts their running speed andcadence. The skills required to do
this are good balance, goodproprioception, flexibility, muscularstrength and agility.
Training skills that require co-ordination, speed, quick reflexes andstrength will have beneficial affectsin others areas of the trainingprocess. The question is can theseskills be learnt and developed and ifso how?
� Proprioception: This is a distinctsensory modality that providesfeedback solely on the status of thebody internally. It is the sense thatindicates whether the body ismoving with the required effort, aswell as where the various parts ofthe body are located in relation toeach other.
Developing this skill is essential forall racehorses but for those involvedin jumping it is absolutely crucial.Proprioceptive skills can be greatlyenhanced by pole and grid work,undertaken under saddle and longreined.
Effective long reining can teach thehorse proper rein contact, lateralmovements and balance, however,tight circles should be avoided.
Loose-work will encouragestretching. Long reining outside theconfines of the school will introducea variety of surfaces and maintainthe horse’s attention in the presenceof distractions.
Long reining over lines of poles andgrids will encourage joint flexion andstride extension, help establishbalance, co-ordination and aidconcentration.
Fitness and conditioningwork:� Speed endurance: The horseshould, from a cardio-vascularperspective, be well conditioned inorder for it to operate at nearmaximal speed for a given period oftime. Continued on Page 17
16 30/3/11 15:50 Page 1
17
Bloodstock matters
Continued from Page 16
Being able to physiologically copewith being close to the ‘red line’whilst running efficiently is anessential quality for any time basedperformance athlete.
Although the term, speed enduranceis often aimed at the long sprinters(five to eight furlongs in horses or200 to 800m in humans), it alsobenefits the longer distancecompetitors.
In order to match the specificdistance and intensity of the sessionto the athlete it is helpful to knowthe physiological profile of thatathlete.
It can be painful to watch horsesrunning distances they are clearly notdesigned to compete at, given theirphysiological profile and trainingstatus.
� Muscular strength: Musclestrength in terms of power outputcan be measured accurately in wattsand is the ability of the muscle toproduce work.
Sprinting requires power to generateforces off the ground and a goodexample of understanding this withina single sport is cycling.
The cyclists that are good atsprinting have a very different bodytype to those that efficiently climbvery steep hills.
The sprinters have huge muscle bulkin their legs which generate massivepower outputs of up to 700 wattswhilst the climbers are much leanerand lighter and often have greaterpower to weight ratios than theirsprinter colleagues, but cannotgenerate the big numbers in termsof power output.
To develop muscular power for horseand human athletes hill running hasa great strengthening effect as wellas boosting the athlete's poweroutput, and is ideal for those whodepend on high running speeds.
Hill running is beneficial because theathlete uses their body weight as aresistance to push against, so thedriving muscles, from which their legpower is derived, have to workharder.
For horses, the exercise is a goodway to encourage the horse toengage the muscles of the back andhind limbs to push it along, asopposed to pulling itself up the hillusing its forelimbs.
Hill training forms a strong base forhuman athletes and now dominatesrace horse training.
Whilst hill running offers the benefitsof developing muscle power, muscleelasticity, and improvement in stridefrequency and length, it also helps todevelop co-ordination, encouragingcontrol and stabilisation as well asimproving speed.
Different types of hill in terms oflength, gradient, surface etc can beused to target different traininggoals.
The benefits of short, medium andlong hills are quite different, and canbe used at different times of thetraining and competition year.
This can apply equally to human andhorse training.
� Downhill running: Repeated fastdownhill run sessions are not idealbecause of the high potential forinjury.
However, if undertaken in a relaxedway it is beneficial.
Running downhill is a good exercisefor improving coordination, balanceand leg speed, and should beincorporated into a trainingprogramme as some racecourses, forexample Cheltenham, have downhillsections to them.
With racehorses it requires anexperienced rider that can sit quietlyand let the horse dictate the mannerof descent without letting it runaway with you.
The majority of athletes willexperience muscle soreness afterstrenuous workouts and races.Research has shown that muscle painand loss of strength can be reducedif athletes undertake eccentric(lengthening) training.
Downhill running will achieve thisbecause it involves movement downa gradient that places the muscles inthe front of the leg under eccentricstress.
It is estimated that a single downhillsession of six to ten downhill runsover 300m with a gradient of 10
degrees will help to alleviate postexercise muscle pain and loss ofstrength for at least six weeks.
� Different surfaces: There areadvantages of combining hills withresistive surfaces. However, this typeof work should have a warning signbecause it has the potential for injurybecause it changes the gait of theathlete.
At the same time, there is a reducedrisk of soft/hard tissue damagingthrough impact injuries so a balanceshould be struck; the tougher thesession the more carefully it must beintegrated into the overall trainingplan.
Conclusion:To return to the original question,training or exercise, we should lookat marathon runners.
The London Marathon for example,is an unusual sporting event becauseworld class elite and recreationalrunners run in the same race.
Clearly for all the competitorsrunning 26.2 miles requires some
degree of preparation and planning.However, running the marathon forthe elite runners who cover thecourse in a little over two hours,running at nearly 20k/h does requirea multifaceted approach to reachthat level and be ready forcompetition on a specific day.
I suspect that the recreation runnerwill generally have ‘gone out for arun’ in preparation on a reasonablyregular basis.
In comparison the elite runners’training programme will bemeticulously planned down to thelast detail and will contain manydifferent elements not just running.
For racehorses the same degree ofattention to detail is required inorder for them to reach their peak offitness for a particular competitivephase.
An incremental, stepwise progressionof different aspects of exercise andactivities should be outlined monthsin advance to ensure that this peakcan be successfully reached at thecorrect time.
Jump horses have to be well balanced with good proprioception and co-ordination skills, which need to beworked on extensively in training
Pole work can help develop proprioception and co-ordination skills
17 30/3/11 15:32 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 18 The National Equine Forum
By Christine Keate
OVER 200 of the most influentialmembers of the equine industry,including NEF President HRH ThePrincess Royal, recently attended the19th National Equine Forum.Ever at the forefront of key industrydecisions and initiatives, the NEF sawMinister of State for Agriculture andFood James Paice MP, announce thegovernment’s next steps for theequine industry.
He discussed the threat of exoticdisease and the importance ofworking together on disease controlwith the help of the new EquineCore Group, established last year toadvise Defra on disease controlmeasures.
He also discussed new rules withregard to Contagious EquineMetritis, which have opened theexport market to India, an importantchannel for the horse breedingindustry.
Tullis Matson, director of Stallion AIServices considered another aspect tothe threat of equine disease, with anenlightening presentation on
securing rare and valuable bloodlinesfor the future.
He cited not only the devastation tobe felt by the horse owner whoseanimal contracts, for example,African Horse Sickness, and theautomatic slaughter thereof, but alsothe effects of the geographicalrestrictions which will instantly beenforced.
The potential effects of a 50kmstandstill for a minimum of twomonths, quite possibly much longer,would be a crippling blow not onlyto events within the area, but also tobreeding mares and stallions, shouldit occur during the stud season.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust hastaken the initiative to store semenfrom 12 breeds, and Sport HorseBreeding has led to the commercialfreezing of stallion semen, howeverthe long term survival of rare breedsand bloodlines would be in jeopardywithout further planning.
Two very conflicting opinions on theperennial pros and cons ofhomeopathy in the treatment ofhorses were presented.
Nick Thompson provided muchanecdotal evidence from his longexperience to support its use,however, it manifests as such anunquantifiable science that SimonBaker was able to refute all apparentbenefits.
He called for it to be made unethicalfor vets to use as a treatment option,a decision taken by the SwedishVeterinary Association some timeago.
On a lighter, more harmonious note,all the delegates were inspired by thework of the Emile Faurie Foundation,
bringing together schools and ridingestablishments with the aim ofintroducing as many children aspossible to the experience andbenefits of horsemanship.
The video presentation of children,many from inner cities who mightotherwise have had very littledirection in life, served to remind all,yet again, what a great levellerhorses can be.
The full proceedings of the 2011 NEFare available at:www.bef.co.uk/National_Equine_Forum.
THE results of the UK's first everNational Equine Health Survey wereannounced at the National EquineForum – pinpointing the currenthealthcare issues affecting horses inthe UK. The survey, which was pioneered byThe Blue Cross and supported byBEVA, was carried out last Novemberfollowing two years of pilot schemes. The intention was to find out moreabout endemic non-notifiablediseases that have never before beenrecorded, such as coughs, skindiseases and lameness. The resultswere announced by Professor JoshSlater, Professor of Equine ClinicalStudies at The Royal VeterinaryCollege, who has been working withThe Blue Cross on the survey. A total of 306 sets of records weresubmitted from 3,120 horses, with abalance of representation fromcompetition yards, riding schools,welfare charities and studs. A broad range of syndromes anddiseases were assessed includingcolic, sarcoids, laminitis, wounds,dental issues, eye disease, lamenessand weight issues. The results showed that lamenesswas the most common problemaffecting horses (11 per cent ofhorses surveyed) but that the footwas not the most common cause oflameness and that laminitis (threeper cent) was less common than the
seven to eight per cent total thatprevious surveys had suggested. Weight management was the nextmost common issue for horseowners, with nine per cent of horsesrecorded as overweight and eightper cent as underweight.These figures are lower than previoussurveys which may be because theyare based on the owner's assessmentof their horse's weight which issubjective and may vary according totheir perception of 'the right weight'. Skin disease and wounds (five percent and four per cent respectively)posed a significant problem and colic(two per cent) was also a commonoccurrence, with a 6:1 ratio betweenmedical and surgical cases. Professor Slater said: “The regularcollection of such data holdsnumerous benefits to the UK equineindustry. Not only does the surveyprovide a benchmarking facility forequine disease, welfare, standards ofcare and codes of practice but it willalso underpin standards for yardinspection schemes.”The National Equine Health Survey iscurrently funded by The Blue Crossbut sponsorship is being sought. It is to be conducted twice-yearlywith the next census week plannedfor 9 to 15 May 2011. To register online visitwww.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS or [email protected].
First survey results revealed
New survey reveals UK's currentequine healthcare problems
Emile Faurie Nick Thompson
THE British Association Of EquineDental Technicians (BAEDT) wasfounded in 2001 and is anorganisation for qualifiedprofessional Equine DentalTechnicians (EDT’s), promoting theprofessional training of techniciansand to provide greater understandingof the need for equine dentistry tothe general public.Veterinarians and practicing EDT’shad come to realise that there was agreat need in the horse industry forhaving a recognised examination andcode of conduct for those whowished to look at horses teeth. Thepurpose of the association was togive both the horse owning publicand vets a list of people who havebeen rigorously examined by TheBritish Equine Veterinary Associationand the British Veterinary Dental
Association, and who have alsoagreed to abide by performanceguidelines, a code of conduct andwho are all fully insured.Main objectives of the BAEDT are:� To improve the welfare of thehorse.� To provide an organisation ofqualified Equine Dental Technicians.� To promote good practiceamongst persons practicing EquineDentistry.� To promote professional trainingof Equine Dental Technicians.� To promote greater understandingof equine dentistry to the generalpublic.
For more information on theBAEDT as well as a list of fullyqualified BAEDT Equine Dental
Technicians visit:www.baedt.com
Promoting professionalism
18 30/3/11 15:31 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 19forge
By Andrew Poynton FWCF ofthe Poynton Farriery Clinic
SPRING is here and so is the greengrass - and the heightened risk ofthe perennial problem of laminitis.By looking at the obvious and themaybe not so obvious signs thatcreep up, prior to a full-blown acutelaminitic attack, it should be possibleto identify problems and minimisethe risk.
It is worth saying at the outsetthat a horse or pony does notneed to be fat to suffer fromlaminitis.
Apart from toxicity either through ametabolic disorder or a drug-inducedattack, a sudden change in diet suchas the feed store being raided or firstturn-out on fresh grazing can triggeran acute attack, but there are otherfactors which heighten the chancesof this happening.
If the equine looks ‘well’ – i.e. a littleoverweight and is not working veryhard or is being exercised a little less,then both the feed intake (calories)and the reduced activity swing thebalance towards higher risk oflaminitis.
Whether or not EMS, insulin-resistantlaminitis or Cushing’s disease havebeen diagnosed, the principle ofkeeping horses on the lean side – fitand active – usually works across theboard.
Remember, we are talking here ofpre-laminitis management.
Early signs – what to look out for:Even before lameness is evident,subtle signs show up but gounnoticed as laminitic symptoms.
The horse may seem dull or lethargicand generally lacking sparkle whenridden, backing off with a reluctanceto jump.
Following a stumble or tripping, abruised sole may be suspected andpoulticing advised.
These symptoms may come and goover a prolonged period with nothought of laminitis.
Often associated with suchsymptoms are either higher qualityfeed value – such as a change fromolder hay to haylage – or new cloverhay, or even more subtle, grassquality improving – lush, sweetshoots as opposed to stalky oldergrass.
The paddock may look bare becauseit is constantly being grazed off bythe horse.
Spring and autumn flushes ofgrowth are expected but can happenany time throughout the summer;following a wet spell, sunshinebrings on fast sweet grass.
Strip grazing can also catch manyout.
As it is repeatedly grazed off and anew strip added, the result is anincreasingly larger paddock to graze.The effect often is a subtleaccumulation of fat – over-feedingwithout any increase in work.
This is all calorie intake. On theother side is output, energyexpended.
Often part of the equation is areduction in ridden or othermanaged exercise.
I used the word subtle a number oftimes because it is subtle.
That is one reason that so many
horse-owners are caught out; if itwas so blatantly obvious, I wouldhope that it would be seen comingand all the trauma and heartachewould be avoided.
Take action:If recognized at this early stage,remedial action can be taken.
Continued on Page 20
How to reduce thechances of laminitis
CARRIED by the militaryin Iraq to manage eventhe worst battlefieldinjuries, Celox, anexceptional bloodclotting agent, is nowavailable to the UKveterinary industry andhorse owners.
Whether used to stopserious accidental bleedswhilst waiting forveterinary assistance, orduring veterinaryprocedures, Celox stopsbleeding fast.
Easy to use andinexpensive to purchase, no horse owner should be without it; keep it to handin the yard, on the lorry or, in theclinic.
Celox veterinary is rapidly becomingthe haemostat of choice forveterinary surgeons and equineprofessionals worldwide, and issuitable for accidental injury, dentalbleeds, arterial or venous bleeding,mass removal, haemostasis followingdebridement and severe highpressure bleeding.
Greg Quinn of Chine HouseVeterinary Hospital said: “A sinussurgery to remove an ethmoidalhaematoma bled after removal ofthe packing.
“The opening was now too small torepeat packing so I syringed theCelox veterinary granules into thesinus via the opening, and it workedbrilliantly.
“After the excision of exuberantgranulation tissue in preparation ofgranulation bed for grafting I usedthe Celox veterinary gauze to stopthe inevitable bleeding - much betterthan using swabs and direct pressurealone.”
For more information contact:Equine Marketing and Sales on:
01323 843276 or07884102147, visit:
www.equinemarkets.co.uk or e-mail: [email protected]
Celox stops bleeding fast
19 30/3/11 15:31 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 20 forge
By Claire Brown of Farriers’ Pages
IN May last year the WorshipfulCompany of Farriers registered themark ‘Master Farrier’.
The title may only be used byqualified persons as detailed in the regulations for that registeredmark.
The WCF decided to apply for thetrademark to give greater definitionto the term and to ensure that it wasa regulated title recognised by theequine public.
Farriers wishing to apply to use thetitle of Master Farrier must currentlyhold the Fellowship and/or theAssociateship of the WorshipfulCompany of Farriers.
In addition the farrier must apply tothe Company with the signature oftwo supporters, one of which mustbe a Liveryman.
One supporter must hold the FWCFby examination, and the other mustbe a practising equine veterinarysurgeon.
The Freedom of the Company,Certificate and Silver Medal will beawarded at the end of each court
meeting.
Master Farriers may use the companycoat of arms on letterheads and ontheir vehicle.
There are currently 29 registeredWCF Fellows and 187 Associates inthe UK.
Applications to become a MasterFarrier have been received and somealready approved – lists showing allMaster Farriers, those farriers holdingthe FWCF, and those holding theAWCF will be made available on theWCF website.
The three military Master Farriers –from the Army School of Farriery, theHousehold Cavalry and the King'sTroop – will continue to be known asMaster Farriers.
For a further explanation of farrieryqualifications visit:www.farrierspages.com or theWorshipful Company of Farrierswebsite at: www.wcf.org.uk.
The Master FarrierQualification
‘Many horses just consume too much’Continued from Page 19Firstly identify the excess calorificintake, look out for that cresty neck, increasing girth and lumpybackside – they don’t all have this,though.
Reduce the feed intake either by lessarea or less time grazing.
Do not be lulled into a false sense ofsecurity by feeding a variety ofproducts with labels inferring thatthey guard against laminitis as asubstitute; it is not just quality,quantity is also relevant.
Many horses just consume too much,full stop.
Learn to look at your horse with akeen eye, even take photographs if ithelps.
You should be looking at a muscularathlete, whether a sprinter orweight-lifter, in humans muscledefinition is clear; in the equinerealm, a fit racehorse, polo pony ordraught horse has good muscledefinition.
Do not look in the feed bin and tryto justify what a small amount offeed he is getting, if your horse isinflating before you.
Some ‘recommended’ daily dietaryintake guidelines appear to be lessthan reliable.
Manage exercise:Horses left to their own devicesoften will just stand around and onlyoccasionally do anythingapproaching athletic, whereas aregular routine of either ridden, inhand or loose schooling for a specific
duration, that will increase the heartrate and begin to get a sweat on,will guarantee calorie use and goodcirculation for the horse’s wholesystem.
Exercise is understood to be helpfulin countering insulin resistance.
So, here’s a quick check-listof what to do:� Look out for subtle ‘sub-clinical’ laminitic signs – andact.� Regularly review feedquantity and volume – if need be with vet andnutritionist.� Revise feed, possiblyreduce grazing – or in somecases eliminate it.� Review exercise regime,likely increase work, althoughnot in the acute case.� Assess the outcome.If an acute laminitic attack issuspected, stable the horseand call the vet and farrier:� Reduce feed intake.� Rest only in supportivebedding� Farrier or vet will apply frogsupports if horse is shod.There is no need for nailing.� It is far better to haveremedial support shoeingcarried out before there isany pedal bone rotation, as it is wise to shut thestable door before the horsebolts.
20 30/3/11 15:31 Page 1
21 Poynton 30/3/11 15:30 Page 1
HORSE HEALTH I 22 forge
By Val Ellis, WCF AwardAdministrator
THE Worshipful Company ofFarriers introduced the EquineVeterinary Studies Award in 2010.
By encouraging veterinary studentsto become involved with the workof farriers, the company aims tofoster a closer relationship betweenthe farriery and veterinaryprofessions.
The new award was offered to theseven UK veterinary schools whereEquine Studies is taught and thecompany received a veryenthusiastic response from all ofthem.
Each veterinary school, using itsown selection method, informedthe company of the studentnominated for the award.
Each selected student was placedwith a senior farrier for one weekand the company underwrote theirboard and lodgings, as well as theirtravel expenses.
Each student was also offered theFreedom of the company as part oftheir award.
Following their placements theseven students supplied the
company with reports of theirexperiences as well as day to daydiaries.
They all confirmed how helpful theaward had been to them with theirstudies and, in a personalstatement, one of the studentsillustrated exactly the vision andpurpose of the award: “I wouldreally love the opportunity to learnfrom a farrier, to improve my ownknowledge on feet and also tounderstand how farriers and vets can work together to improvethe health of the horses in theircare.”
At the end of the 2010 the courtof the company considered theresults from the first year of theaward and agreed that it shouldcontinue into the future.
The court also expressed thecompany’s gratitude to the seniorfarriers who had offered theirservices to the company as hostfarriers for the students.
At the end of last year the awardwas again offered to the veterinaryschools and all wish to participatein 2011.
To date two of the universities have
advised the company of theirnominated student for this yearand placement enquiries havecommenced.
This City of London LiveryCompany which, through itsexamination board and craft
committee already has excellentrelationships with equine veterinarysurgeons, looks forward to closerties with the veterinary professionthrough the young students whohave a particular interest in thewelfare of the horse.
Vet student Emily Sabin on her placement
Studies award to continue
22 30/3/11 15:30 Page 1
23 Spillers 30/3/11 15:29 Page 1
24 Verbac 30/3/11 15:28 Page 1
