Horse Health (August/September 09)

The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine August/September 09 £2.95

By Louise Cordell

NEW surgery has become available to helptreat the most common cause of blindnessin horses. The Animal Health Trust is using pioneeringnew equipment, which has previously onlybeen used by specialists in Germany, thatwill allow its ophthalmolo-gists to carry outvitrectomies for the first time in the UK. Thissurgical procedure is used to treat horsessuffering from Equine Recurrent Uveitis – apainful inflammation of one or both eyesthat reoccurs without any apparent trigger. A horse will usually first be affectedbetween age four and eight andsubsequent flare ups can happen weeks ormonths later – eventually leading to acomplete loss of sight.A vitrectomy is a highly specialisedprocedure where the eye’s core of vitreousgel is removed and replaced with saline.Claudia Hartley, AHT ophthalmologist, said:“This surgical technique was pioneered inGermany, where they found out that if theabnormal gel was cut out and replaced withfluid, horses suffering from ERU had amassively reduced number of attacks.Before we received the equipment horseswere flown out to Germany to receivetreatment, but we have now been visited byan experienced consultant who provided

training on how to carry out the procedure.Studies have found that about 15 per centof horses may suffer from some form ofERU during their lives, so this treatmentbeing available in the UK will make a bigdifference to a lot of horses.” The life-changing surgery has been madepossible thanks to a brand new tech-nologycalled a phaco-emulsification kit, which islighter and more portable allowing thetreatment to be carried out easily on largeranimals. AHT specialists have already carriedout the procedure on several horses sincereceiving the equipment and so far they areall progressing well. Claudia added: “We find that the soonerthe condition is treated the better – sohaving the facilities on hand will meanmuch higher chances of a full recovery for alot of horses. However, we also have acomplementary piece of equipment whichallows us to carry out the treatment endo-scopically. This means that even if the casehas progressed further, or if the horse issuffering from cataracts as well, we can stillget rid of the painful inflammation andprevent the sight loss from getting anyworse. It is an intensive treatment, so it isimportant that it is done in a place with theright support – but we are very pleased withhow procedures have gone so far.”

Eventing stars includingmulti gold medallist MaryKing will be taking part inthe Eventing Grand Prixat the Alltech FEIEuropean Jumping andDressage Championships2009. Mary will bejoined by reigningeventing world championZara Phillips, Olympicbronze medallist TinaCook, world number 11Lucy Wiegersma andother top riders.The competitors will bethe first riders in historyto take part in an

eventing competition atthe Windsor Showgroundin the private grounds ofWindsor Castle. In this issue Mary Kingspeaks out againstrecent claims thateventing is one of theworld’s most dangeroussports. � For the full interviewsee Page 6.Pictured: Mary King andApache Sauce at the2009 Badminton HorseTrials Picture courtesy ofBarry Batchelor/PA Wire

New op helpstreat commonblindness cause

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3

EDITORIAL

GROUP EDITOR:

Andrew HarrodTel: 01226 734639email: [email protected]

CONTRIBUTIONS 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

PRODUCT MANAGER:

Claire McLEANSALES 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.

Equine influenzatops threat pollBy Louise Cordell

EQUINE influenza has topped a pollof diseases that most concern theequine sector.

A survey of over 100 leadingacademics, equine vets and othermembers of the industry has foundthat EI and equine herpesvirus areconsidered the biggest threats to theglobal equine community.

The vote was taken at theinternational forum ‘Protectingagainst Equine Diseases in aChanging InternationalEnvironment’, held in Padova, Italy.

During the seminar, delegates wereasked to vote on which of seven keyequine diseases they felt representedthe most significant challenge totheir industry, based on the diseaseoutcome, potential economic impact,requirement for veterinary care andpotential for travel restrictions.

Equine influenza came top withequine herpesvirus rated the second

most important, followed by Africanhorse sickness, equine viral arteritisand West Nile virus.

Keynote speaker Professor AnnCullinane said: “We mustn’tunderrate the importance of equineinfluenza.

“Recent outbreaks have only servedto highlight the potential this diseasehas to cause financial devastation inthe industry.

“While it doesn’t usually kill horses,it certainly kills equestrian events aswas so vividly demonstrated inAustralia in 2007.

“Given the on-going emergence ofevolving equine influenza strains, it’simportant that greater value isplaced on rapid laboratory diagnosisand strain surveillance.

“This is vital to ensure that vaccinescan be updated with the mostappropriate strains”.

In terms of emerging disease threat,delegates believed that the mostlikely route of the introduction of

African horse sickness into Europewould be through expansion fromareas where it is already endemic, aswas seen recently with Bluetongue,or through the illegal importation ofan infectious animal.

The delegates also discussed stepsthat could be taken to protect theequine industry and called forincreased global collaboration,including the harmonisation ofdiagnostic tests, better planning fordisease outbreaks and the creationof an International Equine DiseasePrevention Guidelines Group.

Speaker Professor Horzinek said:“We must both harmonise existingguidelines for the management ofinfectious diseases and develop newones.

“Organisations such as the OIE andWHO must come together todevelop a compact and coherentbody of evidence basedrecommendations for disease controland horse movement.”

SUPPORTERS of World HorseWelfare’s campaign to end the longdistance transportation of horses toslaughter are being urged to sign itspetition.

The ‘Make a Noise’ campaignershave already handed over a dossierof evidence to the EuropeanCommission and are now focussingon gaining as much public support as possible for therecommended changes to currentlegislation.

Over 114,000 people have signed upso far to protest against theexhaustion, dehydration and injuryhorses suffer when travelling theslaughter route from sourcecountries like Poland and Spain toItaly.

Jo White, director of campaigns andcommunications, said: “We urgentlyneed the public’s help to stop thiscruelty and so are urging them tosign the petition.

“We have a fantastic opportunity toreally make a difference and takesteps to end the biggest single abuseof horses in Europe, but it can’t bedone without their help.”

The Make A Noise petition can besigned online atwww.makeanoise.co.uk

Call for support fortransport petition

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HORSE HEALTH I NEWS4

Riding style‘makes horsemove faster’By Louise Cordell

A JOCKEY’S riding style may lookuncomfortable but actually helps thehorse move faster according to newresearch from the Royal VeterinaryCollege.

A study has shown that the moderncrouched posture results in anenhanced race-time performancebecause the horse does not have tosupport accelerating the jockeythrough each of its stridemovements.

Instead, it has to support only thebody weight of the rider.

The research team from the College’sStructure and Motion Laboratorysuggest that the posture hasbenefited racing performance sinceits introduction in around 1900,when a general improvement in racetimes was recorded - and has neverbeen bettered.

At that time, the crouched, ratherthan seated, position led toimprovements of five to seven percent in major horserace times andrecords.

Analysis of the winning times for theEpsom Derby Stakes from 1846(when the recording of race timesbegan) to the present day, forexample, shows a substantialdecrease in the ten-year period fromabout 1900.

Researcher Dr Thilo Pfau said: “Ourresearch shows that it would bedifficult or impossible for jockeys toisolate themselves from themovement of the mount were theyseated or adopting an upright,straight legged posture.

“In contrast, the posture used today

means that the horse supports thejockey’s body weight, but does nothave to move the jockey througheach cyclical stride path.

“It is also important to note that thisposture puts additional strain on thejockey’s body - they have been showto have near maximum heart ratesduring racing.”

A jockey represents about 13 percent of a horse’s body mass of about450kg.

The research showed that usingconventionally-seated riders andsandbags led to an increase inmechanical and metabolic cost in theanimal that was proportionate to theload.

However, the cost of load-carryingwas reduced when the jockey andthe horse were coupled ‘elastically’ -as they are when the crouchedposture is adopted.

Dr Pfau added: “We surmise that ajockey in the crouched positionuncouples himself from the horse bymoving relative to his mount.

“Interestingly, we also found that, inadjusting his position, the jockeyslightly overcompensates for thehorse’s motion.

“So the fluctuations in thedisplacement and velocity of thecombined horse and jockey may beslightly smaller than those of thehorse alone.

“It could be said that the jockey is‘driving’ the horse.”

For the research, 17 routine trainingsessions of five high qualityracehorses with three jockeys wereanalysed using inertial sensors, GPSspeed loggers and data loggers.

The British Horse Society is looking for ridersto take part in a fundraising trek in theShekhawati region of India on Marwarihorses. The 150-mile, 11-day ride will take place inand around Rajasthan in November on animalsdescended from the war horses that servedthe ruling families and warriors of feudalIndia. Lee Hackett, BHS welfare seniorexecutive, said: “The British Horse Society isbusier than ever with its welfare work. Thereare countless horses out there that need thehelp of the BHS and our Ride with KingsChallenge offers participants the experienceof a lifetime, while also raising essentialfunds we need for an excellent cause.”Anyone wanting to take part must pay aregistration fee of £250 to BHS Welfare andraise, through sponsorship, a minimum of£2,600 which includes all tour costs and adonation to fund the charity’s work.

A DRUG used to treat bleeding intothe airways in thoroughbredracehorses can also decrease thechance of haemorrhage according toa new study. Research into furosemide, which iscurrently used as a treatment in theUS and Canada, has been carried outby Colorado State University, theUniversity of Melbourne and theUniversity of Pretoria. It is hoped that the findings willprovide a foundation for racingauthorities to make decisionsregarding the use of the medication,which has been the subject ofheated debate for many years. The study involved 167 horsesrandomly allocated to race fields ofnine to 16 horses each. Each horse took part in two races,one week apart, in the same fieldand in races of the same distance.In the blinded study, each horsereceived furosemide before one raceand saline solution before the other.Endoscopy was then performedwithin 30-90 minutes after racing toidentify the presence of blood inairways. The research showed that givingfurosemide before a racedramatically decreased the incidenceand severity of exercise-inducedpulmonary hemorrhage, or EIPH. Horses were three to four times

more likely to have evidence ofbleeding without furosemide, andwere seven to 11 times more likelyto have severe bleeding without it.Researcher Dr Paul Morley said: “Theresults of this study do not eliminatedebate about the use of thismedication in racehorses, but it doesprovide evidence needed to aidmaking sound policy decisions.“Decisions are always easier whenyou have data.” Furosemide is widely used in thehorse racing industry in NorthAmerica but is banned on race daysin all other countries. More than 90 percent of racingthoroughbreds in the United Statesand Canada are given furosemide afew hours before racing to treatbleeding. However, despite this commonpractice, before this study there wasno conclusive evidence thatfurosemide was effective inpreventing or limiting lung bleedingin racehorses.Use of the medication is controversialbecause earlier research has foundthat it enhanced the performance ofthoroughbred horses. The treatment has also come underfire because some critics say that itsuse confirms animal welfareproblems associated with horseracing.

Research looks atbleeding into airways

Pictured, from left: Dr Hinchcliff, Dr Morley and Dr Guthrie

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FMBs offer a range of pulsedelectromagnetic field (PEMF),massage, laser, magnetic and hot/cold+ compression therapy productssuitable for horses, riders and theirdogs.Safe and practical, these therapies canbe used for conditions including muscletension, soft tissue damage, slowhealing bones, sport injuries andarthritis plus pre warm up and postexercise.The new Activo-Med Combi Pro (pulsedelectromagnetic and cyclonic massagerug) treats from the top of the neck tothe tip of the tail and now also theshoulders and stifle.It’s newly launched little sister, theCombi Sport, is a traditional rug shapeand also offers both pulsedelectromagnetic and cyclonic massagetherapies.It is available with either massage onlyor pulsed electromagnetic onlycomponents and starts at £1200including VAT.Activo-Med Magnetic/Massage frontand hind leg wraps are available withboth systems or separately as well asthe combined pulsed electromagneticand laser handheld unit.Ideal for knocks, strains, tweaks,stiffnesses and prevention before andafter exercise.

William Fox-Pitt said: “Having used theActivo-Med Combi System for over twoyears now I can honestly say it’s worththe investment ten times over.“Whilst excellent for rehabilitation, Iuse the rug on all the horses bothbefore they are worked to loosen andrelax their muscles and after to aid therecovery process. The systems are easyto use, breathable, lightweight andhorse-friendly.”

Call 01628 472440 or visitwww.fmbs.co.uk for more

information

Therapies are safe and practical

A GROUP of riders are travelling toMongolia to take part in the world’slongest horse race.The Mongol Derby, organised by UKcompany The Adventurists is the firstof its kind and will see riders take on1,000 km of wild steppe.Out of over 100 applications 26people have been selected tobecome involved includingcompetitors from Australia, NewZealand, South Africa, Denmark,America and Spain.They are all experienced riders withpolo players, endurance riders,eventers, point to point jockeys andeven dressage specialists takingpart. The route is based on GenghisKhan’s ancient postal system whereriders crossed Mongolia to EasternEurope in 14 days, changing horsesat horse stations or ‘urtuus’ alongthe way. The race starts on 22August at the ancient capital of theMongol empire Kharkhorin – riderswill swap horses every 40 km aturtuus and more than 700traditional Mongolian horses will be

used.Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent of TheAdventurists said: “We have beenworking in Mongolia for six yearsand wanted to organise this eventbecause horses and racing are sucha strong part of their culture.“We had a vetting programme forcompetitors to make sure they weresuitable for the whole experience, aswell as just the riding side of things.“It is going to be quite tough asthey will be going through areasonly inhabited by nomadiccommunities – it will be a mind-blowing experience.”The organisers have also puttogether a detailed horse welfareand veterinary programme to makesure the animals’ health is top of the

agenda.Local horse experts and professionalequine vets will be assisting with theinitial selection of horses, then aninspection and care program willcontinue throughout the race.GPS satellite tracking will also allowexpedition medics and on-call vetsto respond to riders in an emergencyalong the route.Antonia added: “We are workingwith UK and Mongolian experts toprovide elite level veterinary supportand will have six mobile teams oftop endurance vets as well as mobileequine hospitals and horseambulances. Horses will also bechecked to make sure they are still ingood condition after each section ofthe course before the rider gets anew horse - to make sure that theyhaven’t been riding too hard.“We are confident that thanks toour vetting and planning theemergency response team won’t beneeded, but the safety of the horsesand riders is our top priority, sopreparation is key.”

Authority unveilsnew Rules ofRacing websiteTHE British Horseracing Authority hasunveiled its new Rules of Racingwebsite which includes the fullrewritten Rule Book which will comeinto effect in September 2009.The aim of the rewrite, available athttp://newrules.britishhorseracing.com, was to remove duplication, usemore plain English and avoid jargonwherever possible.It is hope that this, as well as dividingthe rules into six separate manuals,will make them more user friendly.The six manuals are General, Race,Trainer, Rider, Horse and Owner andRacing Administration. Nic Coward, BHA chief executive,said: “It has been no easy task toproduce a version of the Rules ofRacing fit for the twenty first centuryand written and formatted in a waythat gives clarity and is easilyunderstood by all those who need torefer to them. However, I believe ourteam has achieved this and alsoproduced a dedicated Rules websitethat is very user friendly.”The new Rules are now available toview online in order to give thosewho work in and follow Britishhorseracing the opportunity tofamiliarise themselves with the newformat before they come into effect.

Riders head for Mongolia forworld’s longest horse race

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Eventer hitsback atdanger claimsEVENTER Mary King has slammedrecent claims that the sport is one ofthe most dangerous in the world.

Mary is one of the most successfulwomen in three day eventing – aworld class gold medallist who iscurrently ranked third by theInternational Federation of Eventingand won team silver at the BeijingOlympics.

She said: “Everyone goes on and onabout how dangerous eventing is,but it is really not the case.

“There have been deaths, riders andhorses, which is awful, but it is alsoone of the most exciting sports inthe world and although there arerisks involved people should focus onthe positive side of it.

“If it was that dangerous then Iwouldn’t be letting my daughtertake part, and she is very muchhoping to follow in my footsteps.

“I think that there have been a fewhigh profile injuries and deaths and ithas given the sport an undeservedreputation.

“When you think about the amountof people taking part in coursesworldwide, there really is anincredibly small percentage offatalities overall.”

Mary first competed at Badminton in1985, had her first win there on KingWilliam in 1992 and her second onStar Appeal in 2000.

She has been to five Olympics,

winning medals at two, and withMark Todd and William Fox-Pitt,Mary holds the record for winningfour British open championships andis the only person to have won fiveBritish national titles at Gatcombe.

Mary has now published anautobiography charting her biggestchallenges from breaking her neck in2001 to the death of her mostsuccessful horse, Call Again Cavalier,last year.

She added: “In eventing you aretesting a horse’s all round ability.

“It has to excel in a lot of diverseskills to be good in all three sections,whereas other sports will just focuson one of these skills.

“I think the horses that make thebest eventers are those who may notbe able to specialise enough to makeit to the top in one particulardiscipline, but who are adaptableand can achieve in several differentareas.

“Overall fitness plays a huge part insuccess, especially for the endurancesection of the competition, but it isalso a crucial factor in helping toavoid injury. The rider also needs tohave a good eye and to be able towork as a team with the horse – ifthis is the case then they will be ableto sense if anything is not right withthe horse and get them the rightattention. It is all about horse andrider working as a team.”

THE first National Hunt racecourseto be completed in Britain for over80 years has been opened inWales.

Ffos Las is one of only threeracecourses in the country and the600 acres complex, nearTrimsaran, has been created inwhat used to be the largest opencast mining site in Europe.

The all-weather, oval track is onemile and four furlongs in length,in line with Jockey Clubspecifications, and will host bothNational Hunt and Flat racingmeetings.

The track is overlooked by a singleenclosure which can hold up to15,000 people and there is also a1,000 seater covered grandstand.

In addition to this the complex willoffer stabling along withadministrative buildings, technicalbuildings, accommodation, barand catering facilities. It is hopedthat the racecourse’s closeproximity to Ireland will attractsome of the support that exists forhorse racing in that country andoverall the course is expected tobring up to £600m into the localeconomy.

EUROPE’S biggest annualThoroughbred conference, theThoroughbred Racing and BreedingSeminar, is set to take place in theCentaur Centre at Cheltenhamracecourse on 12 November thisyear.

The programme will include thelatest issues of concern not just tothose with an interest inThoroughbreds, but to allprofessional horse owners.

Dr Peter Webbon will chair aplatform of globally renownedspeakers, whose presentations willinclude ‘Do Your Wormers Work?’ aninsight into how to counteranthelmintic resistance by Dr Jacqui

Matthews of Edinburgh University,Chris Rhea discussing the update inthe HBLB Codes of Practice in thelight of the recent outbreak of CEMin the USA and a representative fromDefra reviewing the latest ‘ExoticDisease Control Strategy’.

‘Diagnostic Diagnosis’ will addressthe ever increasing array of highlytechnical imaging techniques,determining which, when and whythey should be used and RichardPiercy of the RVC will present onmuscle damage, covering practicaland revolutionary approaches todiagnosis, prevention and therapy ofsetfast and other muscle problems.

For further information visitwww.thoroughbred-seminar.com

Annual conferenceheading for Cheltenham

NEW research has found that theprevalence of equine stress-relatedillnesses such as overtrainingsyndrome is increasing.Until now no diagnostic test hasbeen available to determine thesyndrome, but researchers at UtrechtUniversity in the Netherlands havediscovered a new method usingmeasurements of nocturnal growthhormone secretions. It is hoped that the results of thestudy will lead to improvedtreatment methods for similar stressrelated syndromes in humans, such

as burnout. A horse suffering from overtrainingsyndrome will suffer from reducedperformance, despite the same or anincreased level of training. The researchers found that thesecretion of the nocturnal growthhormone, which plays a role in bothgrowth and stress, is an indicator forthe syndrome. They were able todiagnose the illness by measuringthe amount of hormone present inhorse’s blood and are now hoping tofocus on finding effective preventionand treatment methods.

Overtraining syndrome research

Racecourse opens in Wales

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Database callto ownersHORSE owners are being urged tosign up to the National EquineDatabase in a bid to cut down onhorse theft and fraud.

The database contains details ofevery passport issued by a UKPassport Issuing Organisation andholds the details of over a millionhorses, ponies and donkeys.

Owners are being encouraged to getinvolved in order to register stolenhorses or horses missing on loan inan attempt to prevent thieves fromapplying for new passports andselling the animals on.

Jan Rogers, BEF head of developmentand NED marketing manager, said:“Sadly, the NED team has had callsfrom distraught owners after theiranimals have been stolen or gonemissing on loan. And in some casesthey have discovered the animal hashad a new passport issued so it couldthen be sold on. Since NED is theonly central place to find all UK horsepassport information – it is thelogical place to allow people to logmissing horses and to check equinepassports before they buy.

“The more people start to use andreport stolen horses through NED theharder it will become for thethieves.”

Leaflet response over welfare concernsBy Louise Cordell

THE National Equine Welfare Councilhas responded to growing concernsfor equine welfare by producing twonew leaflets.

The organisation has received a highnumber of requests for help fromhorse owners who are strugglingfinancially and so has released newinformation on ‘Responsible Re-homing’ and ‘Cutting Cost without

Compromising on Welfare’.

The leaflets aim to help them look atways to keep their horse by cuttingback on unnecessary costs and,where this is not possible, advice isgiven on how to secure the bestfuture for the horse.

Nicolas De Brauwere, NEWCchairman and senior welfareveterinary surgeon at RedwingsHorse Sanctuary, said: “The horse’s

long-term welfare should be theparamount concern when it comesto re-homing and these leaflets willbe a valuable information source foranyone who is struggling.”

The leaflets were produced as aresult of collaboration betweenNEWC members and will be madeavailable free of charge in anattempt to help raise standards inequine welfare through educationand support.

New director namedJENNY Hall has been named as the new British EquestrianFederation director for equinedevelopment.She has taken over fromGraham Suggett, who is nowthe chairman of the NationalEquine Database and currentlyruns a thoroughbred breedingand sales enterprise as well asbeing a founder partner in aveterinary practice in Berkshire.Jenny has also worked as teamvet to the senior three day eventteam and with the BEF’s WordClass development programme.She said: “I am thrilled to havebeen appointed and think I am

well placed to understand thecommercial and practicalrealities of the equestrianindustry.“I have always had an interestin the characteristics of the elitehorse and have had the benefitof the experience of workingfirst hand with the systems thathave produced them.”The BEF director of sportsdevelopment, Dennis Bell, hasalso been reappointed by theBET Council for a further term,to continue his work in thesports development area.

Heat forces abandonmentRACING had to be abandoned at Worcestorat a recent meeting after on-course tempera-tures reached an unprecedented 36C in thestable yard.Third place Highland Laddie collapsed afterthe first race and staff had to pour over 700gallons of water over the horse to revive him. He later made a full recovery and BritishHorseracing Authority spokesman PaulStruthers said: “There was a stewards’ enquiryand because of the extreme heat it was decid-ed to call off racing, it would have been un-fair to the horses to have continued. It was sohot that the horses were already sufferingfrom heat stress before they started racing.” BHA director of equine science and welfareProfessor Tim Morris added: “The abandon-ment of racing on the grounds of horsewelfare was undoubtedly the right course ofaction and was supported by trainers andjockeys.”

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Editor’s insight...IT seems hard to believe that BEVACongress has come around again, itdoesn’t feel as if a year has passedsince we were last there. It is a great opportunity to catch upwith friends, clients, contributors andmany of our readers, so please, docome and visit us on stand B20, wewill look forward to seeing you all.The Congress is always a greatopportunity to find out what is newand, what is happening in the worldof equine health and research, thisyear will be no exception I am sure. In Horse Health this issue, we bringyou a report from Miriam Casey

about her research into the etiology,diagnostic features and treatment ofapical pulpitis (tooth root infections)in equine cheek teeth. Her research was supported by theHorse Trust, which is responsible forfunding some of the major equineresearch projects over the last 40years, including investigatingstrangles, navicular disease, sweetitch, colic and ragwort poisoning toname but a few. It is a great blow, therefore, that theyare for the foreseeable future, unableto take on any new projects. This isyet another sad reminder that every

facet of the equine world is beingaffected by the problems within theeconomy, and more reason for horseowners to act responsibly whenconsidering breeding from, or re-homing a horse. Again, on a welfare note, the WorldHorse Welfare’s Make A Noisepetition to end the long-distancetransportation of horses to slaughterin Europe, will be closing in themiddle of September. If you haven’t signed, you can do soonline at www.makeanoise.co.ukand I would urge everyone to take afew moments to do so.Christine Keate

Head shakingtechniqueA NEW technique has been designed tominimise the effects of head shaking inhorses. The condition, which is believed tooriginate in the trigeminal nerve whichsupplies the face, has been known totrouble horses despite all recognisedcauses being ruled out. However, surgeons from the PhilipLeverhulme Equine Hospital at theUniversity of Liverpool have conducted aseries of tests using platinumembolisation coils. These coils, often used to blockdamaged blood vessels in humans, areplaced into the infraorbital canal whichtransports the appropriate branch of thenerve through the maxilla. By placing between two and five coilsjust in front of the horse’s last cheektooth, the scientists found that theywere capable of preventing the painwhich contributes to head shaking. Overall the tests, which were carried outby Veronica Roberts and her colleagues,showed that 84 per cent of 24 horsesresponded positively to the treatment. However, Dr Roberts pointed out that,while the results were encouraging,more work is needed as 46 per cent ofthe horses suffered a side effect ofnose-rubbing, thus leading to damageof the muzzle and face.

Confederation voices levy objectionsTHE British Horse IndustryConfederation has voiced itsobjections to Defra’s proposed£10.50 levy on horse owners. BHIC chair Professor Tim Morris,Mark Weston of the BHS and JanRogers of the BEF have beenworking together to produce aunited response from the horsesection and are refusing to supportthe government’s plans torestructure animal health control,which would result in the charge.

Professor Morris said: “Theproposals for responsibility and costsharing are based on inaccuratedata and flawed assumptions andrepresent an increase in costs for theequine sector where a significantproportion already fund their leisureactivities out of taxed income. I haveseen no information on objectivemeasurement of efficiency andaccountability and I can see no clearbenefits for the equine sector. Ibelieve these proposals are unwork-

able and of no benefit and must notproceed in their present form.” Mark Weston, the BHS director ofaccess, safety and welfare, said:“The equine sector cannot becompared to the livestock sector; itis primarily a leisure activity. Twothirds of owners have just onehorse, most do not keep horses tomake money and the horse sectordoes not receive the subsidy, which we estimate at £1bn annually,that the livestock sector receives.”

Study in stem cells findingsAN EXPERIMENTAL study has foundthat stem cells may support thehealing of meniscal tissue in thestifle as well as in tendons andligaments of horses. The initial research, which is beingcarried out by Professor Roger Smithfrom London’s Royal VeterinaryCollege, is encouraging UK vets toexplore the option of using stemcells to treat equine intra-synovialsoft tissue injuries.Healing of intra-synovial soft tissueinjuries is notoriously poor in thehorse with a six per cent prognosisfor Grade III meniscal tears and 18per cent prognosis for long tears ofthe deep digital flexor tendon withinthe digital flexor tendon sheath.

At present, the gold standard isarthroscopic debridement of thedamaged areas but vets have notpreviously been able to augment thesubsequent phases of tissue repair. It is hoped that stem cells wouldhave the capacity to assist with thisaspect. The most appropriate intra-synovial cases for stem celltreatment would be synovial cavitiescontaining soft tissue pathology.These would include grade III/IVmeniscal tears with a stable stifle ortendon tears within a tendon sheathor bursa such as deep digital flexortendon tears in the digital sheath ornavicular bursa.Professor Smith said: “Whilst thereis currently no definitive evidence to

support the use of stem cells totreat these injuries, there is a logicalrationale behind the technique andit may improve these horses’chances of a full recovery.”Stem cell therapy currently offers agood prognosis for the repair ofcertain types of equine tendon andligament injuries. The technique involves implantingmillions of the patient’s own stemcells and autologous growth factorsdirectly into the injured tendon orligament. Levels of success havegenerated considerable interest fromthe human sector and trials inhuman medicine for the treatmentof Achilles tendinopathies should becommencing later this year.

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HORSE HEALTH I 9feeding and nutrition

By Kate Jones BSc (Hons), seniornutritionist, NAF

FEW professionals in the equineworld can fail to have noticed theimpact of supplements for jointhealth. Joint supplements are widelyfed for all types of horses, fromageing, arthritic animals where theyhelp to maintain comfortable joints,to young, fit athletic animals wherethey are fed as a protective insurancemeasure.

But are owners justified in doing this,and should we be recommendingtheir use?

Historically research intonutraceuticals for horses has beenlimited, partly due to the expenseinvolved of trials on such large,expensive animals; and partly due tothe practical aspects of being able todesign and run a suitable trial.

Of particular concern has been a lackof relevant equine in vivo (liveanimal) trials which can trulydemonstrate how the nutrient reactsin the horse.

However, recently new research isemerging that endorses thewidespread use of joint supplements.

Are supplementseffective?One long running debate in jointsupplements is the bio-availabilityand, therefore, effectiveness of someof the larger molecule nutrients suchas glucosamine.

Researchers at Montreal Universitycompared the levels of glucosaminepresent within the joint after feedinga glucosamine supplement.

Samples were taken from bothhealthy and inflamed joints up totwelve hours after supplementation.

The interesting result was that notonly was the glucosamine HCl clearlygetting to the joint, but also that itwas present in higher levels wherethe joint was stressed.

The result suggests that inflamedjoints have a higher requirement forglucosamine than healthy joints.

Therefore, you could ask, as healthyjoints use less glucosamine, are wewasting our time supplementing forprevention? The answer is no.

Researchers in Illinois have foundthat while certain procedures, suchas corticosteroid injections, canspeed up the breakdown ofcartilage, supplementing withglucosamine can protect against thateffect.

The conclusion being that we shouldbe considering glucosamine asprotective for maintenance, andshould certainly be supplementingalongside any joint injectionprogramme.

Can they repair damage?So, we know that the nutrients getto the joint and protect againstdamage, but are they actually of anyuse to a horse with compromisedjoint function?

Laboratory trials have shown thatglucosamine has a significant activityagainst inflamed articular cells, andclinical doses may be of use in jointdisease.

But it’s not just about glucosamine.Researchers in Spain have shownthat while athletic exertion results injoint damage in horses,supplementing with MSM andantioxidants reduces the damageseen almost to resting levels.

Chondroitin sulphate too has its roleto play, when fed with glucosamine.

A UK trial assessing stride length inveteran horses showed that both thestride length and swing duration ofthe stride were significantly increasedwithin a couple of months of feedinga joint supplement containing acombination of glucosamine andchondroitin sulphate.

Conclusion:We can see that as the scientificknowledge catches up with what isalready common practice in theequine community, we asprofessionals within the industry arefully justified in recommending oraljoint supplements for a wide rangeof horses.

Joint supplements should berecommended both as a long termsupport product for sound, athletichorses and where signs of joint stressare evident.

For optimum effect look for aproduct that combines the key jointnutrients of Glucosamine HCl, MSM,Chondroitin sulphate, antioxidantsand HA.

Joint supplementresearch – what’s new?

‘Laboratory trials haveshown that glucosaminehas a significant activityagainst inflamed articularcells, and clinical doses maybe of use in joint disease’

09 6/8/09 15:29 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 10 feeding and nutrition

By Lizzie Drury MSc RNutr,Saracen Horse Feeds

THERE is plenty of informationavailable regarding feeding tomaintain healthy joints.

Feeding specifically for eyes is a littlemore difficult and yet both are anessential part of the locomotive andsensory system that the horse canleast afford to lose, particularly if heis in the wild.

Obviously the starting point to keepany horse healthy is to ensure a wellbalanced diet that is suited to thatindividual horse, with forage formingthe basis of the diet.

The rest of the diet needs to ensuresuitable energy, quality protein,vitamins and mineral levels to keep

the horse fit and healthy.

As research into nutrition continuallymoves forward there are nowadvances in feed and supplementtechnology that have been proven tohelp support joint health.

There has been much talk about thebenefits of essential fatty acids, inparticular the omega three and sixfatty acids.

The omega three family stems fromalpha linolenic acid (ALA) while theomega six family originates fromlinolenic acid (LA).

These essential fatty acids must bebalanced within the body in orderfor both to be effective and althoughresearchers have not yet pinpointedthe optimal ratio of omega three to

omega six fatty acids for horses,continuing research is revealing moreinformation about the benefits ofsupplementation.

Humans supplemented with omegathree fatty acids have shown areduction in inflammation fromarthritis.

Researchers at Michigan StateUniversity theorised that, if the sameeffect was found in supplementedhorses, minimised discomfort mightmanifest itself as increased stridelength amongst horses sufferingfrom joint stiffness.

To test this theory, they measuredstride length at the walk and trot for18 Arabian horses.

The horses were paired and all thehorses were fed a concentrate feedand Timothy hay.

One horse in each group wassupplemented with fish oil while theother was supplemented with cornoil for a period of 75 days.

The horses were exercised five days aweek under saddle or on a lungeline.

At the end of the trial the horsessupplemented with the fish oil hadhigher plasma levels of omega threefatty acids.

There was no change in stride length

at the walk but horses supplementedwith the fish oil tended to have anincreased stride length at the trot.

The increased stride length in thetrot suggests a decrease ininflammation, stiffness and joint painassociated with movement.

Researchers at Texas A and MUniversity have reported thatsupplementation with omega threefatty acids reduced jointinflammation in both yearlings andarthritic horses.

Horses fed the omega threesupplement had lower synovial fluidwhite blood cell counts than those inthe control group.

Raised white blood cell counts areindicative of local inflammation andarthritic horses will typically have amuch higher number of white bloodcells than non arthritic horses.

In this study increased mobility in thesupplemented arthritic horses wasnot reported.

Other joint supplements containingbalanced concentrations ofGlucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM,and Hyaluronic Acid have also beenshown to support joint health andmobility and the use of cider vinegaris reported to ease joint pain andreduce calcification of the joints.Continued on Page 11

Feeding for healthy eyes and joints

‘These essential fatty acids must bebalanced within the body in order forboth to be effective – althoughresearchers have not yet pinpointedthe optimal ratio of omega three toomega six fatty acids for horses’

10 6/8/09 15:30 Page 1


Some supplements have been found to increase joint mobility

Continued from Page 10In humans essential fatty acids arecritical for proper visual developmentin infants so one may presume thatthis would also be the case for thefoal.

In adults deficiencies of omega threefatty acids can lead to impairedvision and studies also suggest thatprolonged deficiencies may increasethe risk of damage to the retina.

Essential fatty acids also play a role inhelping eye fluids drain, which helpsto regulate intraocular pressure.

In 2007, a large multi site studyfound that people who ate at leasttwo servings of fish weekly are lesslikely to develop age related maculardegeneration, and in 2005researchers found that the amount,type and ratio of omega three in thediet may play a key role in theprevention of dry eye syndrome inwomen. Now while these problemsare not reported in the horse,

supplementation with omega threefatty acid may help to support andmaintain normal eye health.

We all will have heard the sayingthat eating carrots help you see inthe dark – but a deficiency inVitamin A leads to night blindness inhorses, although extremely lowvitamin A intake is necessary for thecondition to occur.

The vitamin A requirements forhorses of different physiologicalstates are not well defined andlimited information exists regardingvitamin A nutrition as it pertains tomaintenance, reproduction,gestation, lactation, growth andwork.

The requirement for horses with maintenance only requirementsis based on the intake of Vitamin A necessary to prevent night blindness, plus an allowancedeemed sufficient to maximise tissuestorage.

‘We all will have heard the saying thateating carrots help you see in the dark– but a deficiency in Vitamin A leads tonight blindness in horses, althoughextremely low vitamin A intake isnecessary for the condition to occur’

11 6/8/09 15:31 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I12 feeding and nutrition

By Katie Williams M.Sc. (Dist)R Nutr, Dengie

THERE are lots of reasons whyhorses have poor feet rangingfrom conformation to poor farrieryand so it is important to considerall of these areas as targeting onein isolation may not be effective inmaking improvements.

Diet is fundamentally linked togood health and research hasshown that certain nutrients canbe of particular benefit toimproving hoof growth.

Biotin:Biotin is a water soluble B vitaminthat is commonly recognised asbeing beneficial for horses withpoor hooves.

Like other B vitamins, biotin isproduced by the micro-organismsthat live in the horse’s hind gut asthey break down fibre.

When plenty of fibre is fed, ahealthy population of microorganisms can usually providesufficient biotin to meet the basicrequirements of horses and ponies.

Poor quality hooves can thereforebe indicative of an unhealthydigestive system which may occuras a result of stress and/orrestricted fibre intake, which ismost common in performancehorses and sometimes good doers.

In these situations, trying toaddress the cause of the problemby feeding more fibre or using adigestive enhancing supplementsuch as probiotics or prebiotics,can be particularly effective.

If the problem persists thensupplementing with biotinbecomes essential.

How muchbiotin?Several research studies have beenconducted to identify the level ofbiotin that can help address poorhoof horn quality.

One study found that 15mg ofbiotin per day achieved increasedhoof hardness and greater growthrates than 7.5mg of biotin per day(Buffa et al, 1992) whereasanother study found thatcontinuous supplementation withbiotin at a daily dose of 20mgimproved and maintained hoofhorn quality in horses with lessthan optimum hoof quality(Josseck et al, 1995).

This information suggests that

between 15 and 20mg per dayshould help to generate healthyhooves. Biotin is found incommonly used feedstuffs butvaries quite considerably in theamount and how available it is tothe horse.

Oats contain around 0.1mg/kg ofbiotin whereas alfalfa containstwice as much at 0.2mg/kg.

The biotin in feedstuffs is bound toprotein and so the ease withwhich the horse can access thebiotin largely depends on howdigestible the protein is.

Zinc:Zinc is involved in the health andintegrity of hair, skin and hoof.

Hooves require zinc for theprevention of defective keratin, thetough material found in the outerlayers of hoof and skin.

If keratin is not properly formedthe hoof will be soft and brittle.

Research carried out by Coenen(1997) found that horses withinsufficient hoof horn strength hadless zinc in the hoof horn andplasma than horses with no hoofhorn damage.

The form in which zinc is added tofeeds and supplements couldimpact on the quality of a horse’shooves.

Zinc is a trace mineral which isvulnerable to interactions withother minerals in the digestivesystem when in an inorganic form.

Chelated zinc is an organic form ofthe mineral which is achieved byattaching it to a peptide or aminoacid.

This process improves theabsorption of the zinc and sotends to result in better health andcondition of tissues such ashooves.

Calcium:Calcium is a mineral essential forproper bone development but alsorequired for cell-to-cell attachmentin the hoof horn.

Calcium is linked very closely withphosphorous and the ratio ofthese two minerals in the diet iscrucial; ideally a 2:1 calcium tophosphorous ratio should exist.

In a study conducted at the RoyalDick Vet School by Dr SueKempson, two different problemswith hoof horn were identified.

The first was described as a lack ofhorn in the outer layers andshowed improvement when biotinwas added to the horse’s diet.

The second, described as lack ofgood keratin attachment,improved only when calcium

intake was increased alongside thebiotin.

In this study the calcium wasincreased by adding alfalfa whichis a naturally abundant source ofhighly available calcium.

The most common reason for dietsbeing low in calcium is when highlevels of straight cereals are fedwhich are high in phosphorous.

Adding alfalfa when feedingstraights is an easy way to helpcreate a better calcium tophosphorous ratio.

Methionine:Methionine is probably the other nutrient most commonlyrecommended for improving hoof quality. Methionine is asulphur containing, essentialamino acid and is a majorstructural component of proteins and enzymes in the body.

It is found in greatestconcentrations in hoof and hair.

Sulphur itself is available fromother sources although inorganicsources are often not wellabsorbed by the horse.

Do supplementsmake adifference?As research has shown thatproblems in different areas of thehoof respond to different nutrientsit suggests that a supplementcontaining a range of key nutrientsfor hooves is most likely to bebeneficial.

A study carried out at BishopBurton College using a supplementthat contained biotin, chelatedzinc, highly bio-available calciumand fish oils fed alongside existingdiets showed that the averagedaily growth rate was increased by0.1mm per day.

In the usual time betweenshoeings (six to eight weeks) thisincreased growth rate wouldproduce an extra 0.5cm of horn.

Although better quality horn takessix to nine months to grow down,a quicker rate of growth meansthat cracks and old nail holes willbe grown out quicker so thatbetter quality horn will be availablefor the farrier to nail into so thatbenefits are seen almostimmediately.

Feeding for better feet

Supplements containing a range of key nutrients are likely to bethe most beneficial.

12 6/8/09 15:31 Page 1

13 Saracen 6/8/09 15:32 Page 1


New studies question safety ofsoaked hay for laminitis prone horsesBy Clare Barfoot, RNutr, SpillersResearch and Development

WORRYINGLY nearly 50 per cent ofthe equine population are nowoverweight which is putting them atincreased risk of conditions such asmetabolic syndrome, laminitis andCushing’s disease to name but a few.

Management practices for all theseconditions is based on restricting theamount of sugar, starch and fructanor more correctly the non-structuralcarbohydrate (NSC) content in thediet whilst controlling the overallcalorie intake.

This approach has led to the soakingof hay becoming common practicefor laminitic horses and ponies inorder to reduce its water-solublecarbohydrate (WSC) content.

However, new research, conductedby the Waltham-initiated LaminitisConsortium, has raised questionsover the assumption that soakinghay will make it safe to feed tolaminitis-prone or overweight horsesand ponies.

The Laminitis Consortium comprisesof world-leading equine veterinary,

nutrition and research expertsinterested in collaborating on theimportant topic of laminitis. It alsoincludes the authors of this work: DrPat Harris of the Waltham EquineStudies Group and Dr AnnetteLongland of Equine Livestock andNutrition Services.

The over-consumption of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) haslong been associated with the onsetof laminitis therefore it has beenrecommended that hay with a non-structural carbohydrate (WSC andstarch) content of less than ten percent should be fed to overweight orobese animals as well as those at riskof laminitis.

The study, which was completedearlier this year, examined the loss ofwater-soluble carbohydrates fromnine different hays submerged inwater for up to 16 hours and wasrecently presented to the biannualEquine Science Symposium inAmerica.

Previous studies have shown that theprolonged soaking of chopped hay inlarge volumes of water can result inthe leaching of nutrients, including

soluble carbohydrates.

However, because common practicein the UK tends to involve long-stemmed hay, soaked in relativelysmall volumes of water usually in aconventional dust bin over varyingtimescales, the LaminitisConsortium’s study aimed toreplicate this practice.

The study took nine different haysamples that were analysed for WSCand then soaked in cold water. Thesoaked samples were subsequentlyanalysed at four intervals of 20minutes, 40 minutes, three hoursand 16 hours.

The results showed a highly variableleaching of WSC and substantiallyless leaching than reported previouslyfor chopped hay soaked for 30minutes and more worryingly veryfew samples reached below ten percent WSC, despite prolongedsoaking.

The concern is that this stronglysuggests that soaking may not besufficient to render some hays safeto feed to horses and ponies prone

to laminitis.

Therefore currently the best advice isthat ideally you should analyse yourhay before feeding it to an animal athigh risk of laminitis and choose haywith the lowest WSC content youcan find.

Soaking hay provides an additionalsafeguard but should not be reliedupon.

The study also highlighted that if hayis soaked for extended periods, itmay not meet the nutritionalrequirements of the animal becausesubstantial amounts of othernutrients, protein, vitamins andminerals will also be lost.

In such cases it is even moreimportant that the horse or ponyshould receive a balancedsupplementary feed.

The Laminitis Consortium iscontinuing its work in this area and now hopes to be able to identify practices that will be ofgreater benefit to the horse ownerfaced with hay of unknown WSCcontent.

Current advice is to analyse hay before feeding it to an animal at riskof laminitis.

‘The study also highlighted that if hayis soaked for extended periods, it maynot meet the nutritional requirementsof the animal because substantialamounts of other nutrients, protein,vitamins and minerals will also be lost’

14 6/8/09 15:33 Page 1

15 Dengie 6/8/09 15:33 Page 1


By Neil Hammill of Maxavita

ARTHRITIS is a common problem forhorses of all ages and breeds andalthough there is no actual cure forthe often painful and restrictivecondition, there are many ways inwhich we can manage and helpthem live with the disease withouthaving to condemn them to a lifebehind a stable door.

A common misconception witharthritis is that it only occurs in olderhorses; this is not strictly true andunfortunately all horses aresusceptible to developing theailment.

Factors such as the horse’s activitybackground and general workloadcan play a role in when and wherethe condition develops.

A horse’s joints are used every day

and are often subjected to an arrayof stressful movements and activity.

With horses who are jumping,racing, or in an environment whereadditional pressure is being applied

to the joints, the chances are thatthe delicate tissues and cartilage willbe worn down faster and moretraumatically than in lesser workedanimals.

Arthritis in all animals begins whenthe lubricating synovial fluid beginsto thin, thus leaving the joint lesslubricated. This in turn causes thecartilage cushion to break down andonce the cartilage has worn awaythe bones will painfully grind againsteach other.

No matter how the disordermanifests itself within the horse’sjoint to begin with, unless quicklydiagnosed and managed, the resultsof arthritis can be extremely painfuland cause lameness and/or severeloss of movement.

There are generally two types ofcommon arthritis in horses so it isimportant to identify which one is

affecting your animal.

The first type is fairly obvious to seeand develops from an infected ortraumatised joint, resulting inlameness and clear discomfort forthe horse.

The second variety is not so blatantand does not make the horse sore orlame at first, but will noticeablymanifest itself as puffiness orswelling around the joint.

In both cases, it’s imperative to takeaction immediately and a vet shouldbe contacted to get a full medicalopinion.

Treatments:The most common recommendationsfor alleviation and ‘treatment’ forarthritic joints is the introduction of aglucosamine based supplement,reduced riding of the horse or eveninjections directly into the affectedarea (for horses in a lot of pain).

Treatments for the condition will varydepending on the severity of theproblem, the worst case scenariobeing surgery on the area itself.

Unfortunately once a degenerativedisease such as arthritis hasdeveloped in a joint, there are nocures for the condition. Continued on Page 17

Helping manage arthritis

Neil Hammill

‘No matter how the disorder manifests itself within thehorse’s joint to begin with, unless quickly diagnosed andmanaged, the results of arthritis can be extremely painfuland cause lameness and/or severe loss of movement’

16 6/8/09 15:34 Page 1


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Horses used for jumping or racing will suffer from faster and more serious joint damage than lesser workedanimals.

Continued from Page 16

Supplementation:However there are recognisedproducts and treatments on themarket that can help give a horsebetter quality of life and still allow itto be ridden and turned out.

Adding a supplement to your horse’sdiet will aid the management andmaintenance of affected joints.Virtually all the supplements on themarket will be glucosamine basedand available in a variety of formsfrom powders to feeds.

Glucosamine is a good long termsupplement for horses suffering fromarthritis and can help in therebuilding and strengthening of thejoint structure and mechanics.

Glucosamine itself is a compoundfound naturally in the body and isprimarily made up of glucose andthe amino acid glutamine; it’s alsoessential in the production ofglycosaminoglycan, a molecule usedin the formation and repair of

cartilage and other body tissues.

However, it is important to be aware that when a joint becomesarthritic, cartilage can not beregenerated.

Another important component ofhealthy joints which can be gained inselected supplements are ETA ‘fattyacids’ and Hyaluronic Acid (HA)which in the short term can helpsignificantly in the soothing andcirculation process, which in turn canalleviate the swelling and trappedfluid on the joint.

These highly beneficial componentswhen combined with glucosamine

can often help the horse regainflexibility and mobility within amatter of days.

Realistically we need to accept thefacts associated with arthritis anddeal with the condition in the bestpossible way for the horse.

Every case will be different, so it’simportant to seek a professionalopinion before you look for anymethods of treatment; but usingboth a short and long termsupplement can help maintain andstabilise affected joints whilstreducing painful and restrictiveswelling.

‘Realistically we need to accept thefacts associated with arthritis and dealwith the condition in the best possibleway for the horse’

17 6/8/09 15:34 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 18 boots and bandages

BOOTS and exercise bandages aremost commonly used on horses toprovide protection againstconcussion and penetration resultingfrom trauma during exercise andcompetition. They are also appliedfor support.

However, as well as reducing injury,boots and bandages can themselvescause problems associated with heatand moisture retention; restriction ofmovement or blood supply; orexcessive weight on the leg.

Although one needs to be aware ofand minimise these issues, there areclearly many occasions when the useof boots is strongly indicated.

In a study investigating polo poniesduring one season, wounds andinjuries accounted for 68 per cent ofall veterinary problems.

Similarly for event horses incompetition, the most frequentinjury was superficial trauma whichaccounted for nearly 60 per cent ofinjuries.

The most frequent cause of injurywas reported as hitting a fence,which was nearly twice as likely as

being caused by a fall.

In contrast, in a survey of dressagehorses, wounds and external traumawas not considered the most likelyproblem to occur in training orcompetition.

The type of wound or injury whichone might reasonably expect bootsto protect against can be dividedinto two categories.

They may be blunt, resulting insuperficial bruising to either the skinsurface or deeper internal damage,or a penetration with cutting of theskin and other soft tissue.

Boots generally need to protectagainst both types of injury.

The first, described as concussion, isreduced by a boot that effectivelydissipates shock.

The second, a penetration injury, willbe caused by a sharp edge or apointed object, and preventiontypically requires the boot to have alayer of highly resistant material suchas polycarbonate in the vulnerableareas.

Given the potential problems that

are associated with boots, the firstquestion must be does the horseneed to wear boots?

Horse owners must assess the risk ofinjury before deciding if there is aneed to use boots or bandages, andif so what level of protection is

needed.

If the owner, rider or trainer decidesto use boots then the boots mustdeliver on the protection levelrequired while minimising thedownsides associated with bootusage.

Lucy and Sam Griffiths:

Myself and my husband, Australianevent rider, Sam Griffiths, attendedthe seminar on leg protection, thatyou reviewed in a recent article. We read your report with interestas we had found the seminar to bea thoroughly educational day,bringing home not only theimportance of protecting ourhorse's legs but also how crucial itis to really investigate how muchprotection the boots we use

provide. The seminar highlighted thecritical balance to be struckbetween sufficient protection andkeeping the vital tendons andligaments as cool as possible. In our sport, where the boots canbe on the horse for long periods oftime, it is key to us that the bootswill protect the legs from theinevitable knocks and at the sametime keep the leg temperature to aminimum. We and the other event riders who

attended the seminar were quiteshocked to find out that there isno real industry standard for legprotection and strongly believesomething should be put in placeto ensure that, as with otherequipment such as riding helmets,the boots on the market do offer asuitable degree of protection andare constructed out of suitablematerials that are not going toshatter on impact or heat the legto an unacceptable degree duringwear.

However, we do understand thatthis is not always easy to set upand will certainly not be somethingthat can be implemented overnight but perhaps, in time, asystem can be put in place toregulate the competitive legprotection market. It was a brave decision ofEquilibrium Products to run thisseminar and we believe the issuesit raised could change the marketfor good.

Last issue Horse Health reported on new research revealing the varying levels of protection available fromequine boots. A seminar looking into the discrepancies between products led to calls for furtherinvestigation and minimum industry standards. Readers Lucy and Sam Griffiths respond:

‘Seminar could change the market for good’

Owners must assess risk of injury

Wounds and injuries account for 68 per cent of polo ponies’ veterinaryproblems

18 6/8/09 15:35 Page 1

19 Bidwells 6/8/09 15:35 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 20 dentistry

PULPITIS, an inflammation of thepulp that results in tooth rootabscesses is a common reason forhorses to be referred to equinehospitals for dental treatment.

Frequently, it’s not identified until thedisease process has reached anadvanced stage and the horse issuffering from bony swellings,discharging tracts or sinusitissecondary to the tooth root disease.

At that stage in the disease, themost successful treatment is toextract the tooth, which can be a

major procedure and alsonecessitates lifelong management ofthe teeth opposing the extractionsite to prevent them from over-growing.

Earlier diagnosis of pulpitis couldfacilitate less-invasive and moreeffective treatment of this diseasewith direct benefit to the patient.

Diagnosis of the tooth that is causingthe problem can be a challenge.

Traditionally, radiography and anexamination of the mouth for majorproblems with the teeth, were reliedupon to identify the offending tooth.

However radiography has beenshown to lack sensitivity andspecificity for the diagnosis of thisdisease and often the diseased teethwill have no changes identifiable bya cursory dental examination.

The advent of more detailedexamination of the occlusal(chewing) surfaces of the teeth withdental mirrors and endoscopy means that we are now able to pick up more subtle lesions on theteeth.

This is where recent researchfunded by the Horse Trust comesinto play.

The clinical relevance of subtlechanges in the occlusal surface wasassessed.

Two different changes were lookedat; firstly defects in the secondarydentine of cheek teeth and secondlycaries of the infundibula of theupper cheek teeth.

A significant link was found betweendefects in the secondary dentine and

tooth root disease.

Also, severe caries, involving theinfundibular enamel was shown tobe associated with disease.

Hence detailed examination of theocclusal surfaces of the teeth using adental mirror or endoscope is avaluable addition to the diagnosticarmoury.

An awareness of the significance ofthese lesions will facilitate earlierrecognition and more efficienttreatment of the pulpitis as well asenabling more precise identificationof the diseased tooth.

� A full list of references isavailable on the Horse Healthwebsite.

Miriam Casey reports on her recent research, funded by the Horse Trust, into the etiology, diagnostic features andtreatment of apical pulpitis (tooth root infections) in equine cheek teeth.

Advances in the diagnosisof equine pulpitis

It is recommended to have shorse’s teeth checked at six to 12monthly intervals, horses canhave significant lesions in theirmouths and not show obviousoutward signs.

Early identification and treatmentof more serious lesions and otherproblems, will lead to moreefficient and economicaltreatment and, most importantly,less discomfort for the horse.

With improved general care, andthe perception of many horses inthe UK as lifelong pets ratherthan working animals, there areincreasing numbers of geriatric

horses.

Aged horses can run out offunctional dental tissue to chewwith and can develop largedental overgrowths oppositethese missing teeth.

Often, having a functional set ofteeth can be the deciding factoras to whether an aged horsemanages to get through a winteror not.

Careful dental examination andmanagement throughout thehorse’s life will prolong thelifespan of his teeth and make hislatter years healthier and easier.

Routine equine dental maintenance:

Extracted maxillary cheek tooth

Extracted maxillary cheek tooth

Dental exam in a sedated horse

Normal equine dental anatomy

20 6/8/09 15:36 Page 1

21 maple Arenas 6/8/09 15:37 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 22 BEVA preview

Congress aims toappeal to rangeof interestsTHIS year’s BEVA Congress is set totake place from 9 to 12 Septemberat the International ConventionCentre in Birmingham.

The event will include presentationson the latest scientific research and aveterinary products trade show aswell as networking opportunities.

The programme has been designedto appeal to a range of differentlevels of interest with six parallel tiersincluding lectures andphysiotherapists as well as for nursesand practice managers.

The plenary lecturer, Professor PaulLunn from Colorado State University,will exploring the idea that ‘Alldisease and misery has its roots inimmunology, and all solutions are tobe found in the same place’ andthere will be an increased emphasison panel discussions which willinclude the ever-popular lamenessand imaging panels, but alsodermatology and opthalmology.

Clinical research sessions will also berunning parallel to the main

programme over the three days ofthe congress, discussing the latestdevelopments in clinical sciences,including much research which willnot be appearing in scientificjournals for over a year.

Session subjects will include theprevalence and pattern of tongue tieuse in UK Thoroughbred racehorses,a comparison of intestinal motility instabled horses and horses at pasture,post-operative complications ingeriatric horses, high riskpregnancies, hoof confirmation,infections after colic surgery andmanaging weight in the grazinghorse.

This year’s event is also hosting anumber of workshops, including aninternational pre-purchasesymposium, business developmentand practice management,reproduction and critical care.

Other major themes will includingthe foot and laminitis, the geriatrichorse, the 2012 Olympics and theworking horse and donkey.

THE first commercially available non-jockey based remote upper airwayvideo endoscope will be launched atthis year’s BEVA Congress by equineequipment specialist EV VeterinaryProducts. The new XiScope enables remoteviewing of the upper respiratorytract, including the pharynx andlarynx, whilst the horse is exercisingon the gallops. Its commercial launchfollows extensive consultation withspecialist soft tissue surgeon JustinPerkins of the Royal Vet College.The XiScope comprises of a 65cmsemi-flexible endoscope with a

lockingsystem toensure thescope staysin placeoncepositionedand a quick release mechanism toensure the practitioner can quicklyand easily remove it. The unit can becontrolled by the user remotely,allowing for four-way deflection andflush. High quality video footage orstills can be captured to enablediagnosis and management of theupper respiratory tract.

THE time and money invested in theselection of bloodlines that will makeup the genes of future winners isonly the first step to success.Adapted training, healthcare andnutrition have an equally importantrole to play.However in the current economicclimate you also want to be sure thatany supplement you buy for yourhorse is going to reach the area youwant it to, be cost effective andwork, so choosing the right productis very important. The bio-efficientapproach, adopted by the Equistrorange when developing its nutritionalsupplements, meets these challengeshead on.Bio-efficient means premium quality

ingredients with a high biologicalvalue and a real understanding ofthe specialised nutritionalrequirements of the horse.The products are manufactured aspowder, pellets or liquid with greatattention to palatability and areproduced by a veterinary only phar-maceutical company with over 75years of experience and expertise inunderstanding the needs of horses.

Meeting challenges head on ...

Endoscope breakthough launched at BEVA

22 6/8/09 15:37 Page 1

23 Vetoquinol 6/8/09 15:38 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 24 eyes

By Oliver Davis MRCVS, FortDodge Animal Health

WITHOUT sight, we are unable toperceive and react to oursurroundings. Horses in the wild, forexample, would quickly succumb topredators.

By necessity, this complicated organcannot be completely protected,although a series of ingeniousmechanisms ensure that the surfaceis kept in the pristine conditionnecessary for it to function properly.

The eyes are set into the sockets ofthe skull which provide a bonyprotection to its back half and theshort optic nerve which carries theneural stimuli from the back of theeye (retina) to the brain.

The area within the sockets ispadded out with fat andsubconjunctival tissue to provide asoft cushioning effect.

In predators, the eyes are set fairlyclose together deep within thesockets. This not only protects themmore, but allows these animals thebenefit of depth perception.

In horses, the eyes are set widerapart on the sides of the headprotruding slightly further out.

This allows the horse a much widerfield of vision to observe movementand potential danger.

In some breeds, exposed eyes havebeen selectively bred into the animalsfor appearance purposes and theseanimals will be at greater risk to eyeirritations and injuries.

Besides providing a protectivecushion around the eye, theconjunctiva lines the inside of theeyelids, helping to lubricate the eye

by producing mucous and tears.

This function is further enhanced bythe lacrimal glands which are locatedon the upper outer portion of eacheye.

This tear secretion is not onlyimportant for lubrication, but also forproviding a protective barrier againstinvading micro-organisms whichcould block the field of vision oreventually even destroy the clearouter surface (cornea) of the eye.

Conjunctivitis:An inflammation of the conjunctiva(conjunctivitis) is often the firstindicator that something hasdisturbed the sensitive equilibriumwithin or around the eye.

It is however, a very non-specific signand may indicate a wide range ofproblems ranging from bacterial orviral infections to the presence offoreign bodies or even actual traumato the surface of the eye.

Often the eyelids are swollen andpainful to touch, and an excess oftear fluid can be seen streamingdown, usually from the lower insideportion of the eye.

This is where the tear duct is locatedwhich would normally transport theexcess fluid away from the eye to theouter nostrils.

However, swelling of the conjunctivacan often block the patency of theduct temporarily.

It is important never tounderestimate the symptoms ofconjunctivitis as it could be anindication of something moreserious.

If the problem persists or there areany doubts regarding the condition,

A brief look into the basic anatomical structures surrounding the equine eye and how to minimise the problemsassociated with, and arising from conjunctivitis.

the eye should be examined by aveterinary surgeon as soon aspossible.

It may make the difference betweenwhether the horse’s eyesight can besaved or not.

Never, ever put medical creams intoan eye without veterinary consent assome actually harm the eye or makeit more vulnerable to outsideinfection.

Causes:Some simple causes of conjunctivitiscan be attributed to over-exposure towindy conditions. This is particularlytrue on blustery autumn and winterdays.

Breeds with more prominent eyeswill be more prone to this problemas the exposed corneal surface ofthe eye begins to dry as normal tearproduction cannot keep pace withthe drying effect of the wind.

This in turn reduces the eye’simmune defences to protect the eyeand opportunistic bacteria begin tocolonize the area.

On warmer, sunnier days,conjunctivitis is often caused by largehordes of flies which are attracted toland near the eye to scavenge thetear fluid. This again, can often seta bacterial infection into motion.

In both cases, the key is to lessen the

exposure of the eye to these adverseenvironments.

Solutions:If flies are the suspected problem, itmay be easier to stable the horseduring the hot summer days and letit graze at night.

If this is not possible, then a full eyemask, not simply a fringe, canphysically keep the flies away fromthe eyes.

For added protection, or if theanimal doesn’t tolerate the mask, flyrepellents should be used.

This is particularly important forolder horses with blocked tear ductswhich will be prone to conjunctivitiscaused by swarming flies.

Besides the obvious solution of notexposing horses to windy conditions,another solution is again to use a flymask to lesson their direct exposureto the wind.

If one eye is particularly badlyaffected, the mask can be coveredup on that side using tape tocompletely block off direct exposureto the wind.

In summary, by using effective flycontrol and regulating the amountof exposure to adverse windyconditions, it is possible to protectthe eyes and prevent the mostfrequent causes of conjunctivitis.

Protecting the eyesfrom conjunctivitis ...

A healthy equine eye

24 6/8/09 15:38 Page 1

25 Merial 6/8/09 15:39 Page 1

The challenge ofmaintaining the TB Foot ...By Andrew Poynton FWCF

THROUGHOUT the developmentfrom foal to racehorse, mediocrity inthe farriery department will not do ifthe horse’s potential is to berealised.By the time a horse goes into trainingas a two year old for the flat, it islikely to have already been plated forthe yearling sales, however, the feetare far from maturity and allstructures still developing andgrowing.At this stage maintaining balancethat is central beneath the bonecolumn landing and loading evenly,and well trimmed hooves, continue tobe essential if the horse is to havethe best chance of staying sound inwork as a mature horse.

Common weaknesses inplating racehorses:As soon as a colt or filly is plated it isonly too easy to fit the heels of theplate tight, to prevent shoe loss; butvery quickly as the hoof grows theheels run under and flatten.The heel of the shoe overloads theseat of corn area and the horse getscorns or ‘heel pain’.The inside heels usually crush moredue to being closer to the centralbody mass.Wet conditions under foot contributeto softening of the horn structuresand bacterial degradation; thisproblem is less likely in aridenvironments such as Dubai orAustralia where the TB hoof can betighter deeper and stronger.That said, not all race horses in theUK have poor hooves, far from it, butwe do have our fair share.Once the proportions of the hoofbecome distorted, the balance isthrown out.A common sight is a flat foot with alow hoof angle and the hoof pasternalignment broken back, which hassuccumbed to the effects of theenvironment, work and shoeingregime, and hoof type.The shallow hoof can only withstandso much before collapsing, whereasthe dry stronger more upright hoofwill hold out for longer.In an attempt to prevent the toesspreading some well meaning farriersmay over trim the front wall hardback to the white line, thinning thehoof wall which initially may appearaesthetically improved, but in effectweakens the strongest part of an

already weak hoof.This combined with fitting heels shortand tight, is a recipe for, if notdisaster, a lame horse.

Nailing damage:Add six or eight closely driven nailsinto an already frequently nailedhoof and you do have a disaster.A horse with flat feet, most likelybruised soles, sore heels and splithoof walls is unable to take a nail.The lightweight plates, particularly ifpartially worn out and not clipped,can twist – pulling at the nails in thehorn.It is a hard job to enable a hoof inthis state to recover and timeconsuming, if at all possible – theseare high maintenance feet, needingmore frequent attention.When shoeing and plating racehorsesit is important to preserve andnurture a healthy hoof, but it can be,and is, done, by some excellentcraftsmen.The margins for error are fine,shoeing by feel rather than sight.Depending on the particular yardregime some racehorses are shodwith light steel for work and trainingand plated for the track whenrunning; this obviously creates moreshoeing thus more nail holes in thehooves, but shrewd farriers will becareful to re-use good old nail holesand keep nails to a minimum tosecurely hold the shoe.

Interference injuries:Injuries such as overreaching,brushing and scalping are mostlyresolved by paying attention to thebasic principles of shoeing – takingtime to watch the horse moving toidentify any peculiarities of gait.To summarise, the feet should betrimmed regularly to maintain correctlength balanced hooves, with acorrect hoof pastern axis.Shoes should follow the outline ofthe hoof and fit right to the bulbs ofthe heels with no sharp protrusions.I prefer the hind shoes to be setunder the toe and the toe rounded atthe base to prevent injury orinterference from overreaching;though many trainers and farriersplate with a toe clip on the hinds tohelp prevent the shoe from spreadingand being kicked back.

Hoof cracks:Hoof cracks encountered in broodmares and young stock arepredominantly due to overgrowthwith a few exceptions, injury or

conformational peculiarity.In horses in training this could alsobe the case, but neglect or poorfarriery aside, due to the extremepounding the feet take quarter cracksare not uncommon.It is seen more in two and three yearolds with immature hooves.At the point of maximum expansionthe shod hoof cannot expand quicklyenough and bursts out splitting fromthe coronary border.It will bleed and shear completely ifnot dealt with immediately and thereare a number of farriery remedies forthis.

Repair procedures:Current procedures include acrylicpatching and re-enforcing with fibreglass, self tapping screws and wire;also there are a variety of crackplates available to glue on.These combinations are used firstlyfor the adhesive grab, and secondlyfor tensile strength of thereinforcement material.Yet another method is a plastic andadhesive mix - the plastic which hassimilar strength to the horn ismoulded and keyed into the hoofwith the adhesive.A carbon fibre quarter patch has alsobeen developed at the RoyalVeterinary College to re-enforce the

hoof quarters as a precaution but notas a repair product.

Hoof defect repairs:When hooves have been damaged bynailing, degraded from bacteria orother reason, there are a selection ofhoof care products available that inthe right hands can rebuild andrestore hooves, however, aprophylactic approach is moredesirable.

Hoof management:Horses’ hooves appear to thrive bestin dry and clean bedding, where theair can circulate around the feet, andpreferably on rubber matting; finewood shavings pack in the soleharbouring bacteria.In a yard where the horses arewalked in sea water the hooves areclean and strong and I am sure this isa great benefit.The areas that influence hoofquality most are farriery andenvironment; if the horse has abalanced diet and good coat thenusually the horn quality is alsogood.Hoof supplements and dressings areno substitute for the former.The quality and health of the feethave a major effect on the horses’performance, and so worth giving thebest possible care.

Bloodstock matters

3026

26 10/8/09 15:18 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 27breeding matters

By Dr Mark Kennedy, chiefexecutive of Anglia EquineConsultancy

INCREASING speculation on the impactof the global recession on the horseindustry suggests it is timely toconsider the ethics of horse breeding,and the wider issues of what happensto horses leaving our care.When discussing the ethics of our useof horses, there are two main issues.Firstly, the way we treat the horsewhen it is in our care, for howeverlong, whether in training, at stud, orevery day riding, should be quitestraightforward.We must act in a way that satisfies ourduty of care, whether we are owner, ormerely in charge.If we do not satisfy our duty of care, orbehave in a way which inflicts sufferingon the horse, we ultimately faceprosecution under the Animal WelfareAct (2006), which all responsiblepeople would agree is right and proper.

Horses leaving care:The second issue is perhaps more rarelyaddressed - to what extent are weresponsible for the fate of horses whichleave our care? Our attitude to horses in this respect issomewhat different when comparedwith that to other companion animals,principally dogs and cats.When we own or care for horses, weusually form a close relationship withthem, as we do with our smalleranimal companions.This relationship is the reason whymany people own horses despite thevery considerable expense and why somany people work in an industry whichis potentially dangerous and involvesvery hard work, sometimes inunpleasant conditions.Yet unlike dogs and cats, usually ourcompanions for their comparativelyshort lifetimes, we are prepared to sellour horses on - for example becausewe have outgrown their ability orheight.Selling an animal of reasonable value,which suggests we can be sure that itis going to a good home, should notpresent an ethical problem.In some cases, however, horses areliterally given away, e.g. on loan, or byasking rescue shelters to take them on(along with the financial burden thisimposes).As is the case with selling horses,providing we can be sure the loaner iscompetent and will look after the horsewell, or if there are genuine reasons forpassing the horse on to a rescueshelter, there may be no ethicalproblem.

Decision to destroy:Some people, however, want to divestthemselves of responsibility for theirhorses because they can no longer beworked due to age, lameness, or someother problem, but still want to rideand cannot afford the expense ofkeeping two.An owner may, therefore, elect to havethe ‘useless’ horse destroyed.While this is probably slightly moreethically acceptable than abandoningthe animal to neglect by passing it onto auction sales or unsuitable loaners,it is hardly the way we would treat oursmall animal companions.Destroying a perfectly healthy horse orabandoning it to neglect simplybecause it is no longer of use to us is,in my opinion, an unethical way totreat an animal which has given yearsof service.The increasing proportion of leisure(and ‘professional’) horses enjoyingretirement rather than a bullet or lethalinjection bears witness that I am notalone.Of course, this retirement must bepain-free and the horse must enjoy agood quality of life.It is equally ethically unacceptable tokeep a horse alive to endure pain anddiscomfort because we are reluctant totake the decision to give it a pain-freeand dignified end.

Breeding:Regarding breeding, the ‘hobby’breeder, tempted to produce a foalfrom a much-loved mare, as well asprofessional Thoroughbred and SportsHorse breeders, must consider thedestination of the horses they produce.Are they producing horses of qualitywhich will sell for prices that, throughtheir value, increase their chances ofbeing well-cared for and treated withrespect?

Are we producing horses free fromgenetic defects, meaning they will beable to perform well in any disciplinewithout being subject to the discomfortof musculoskeletal and other disease? The British Horse Society’s ResponsibleBreeding campaign is to be applaudedfor raising the profile of such questions.In breeding horses, all breeders mustacknowledge their ethical responsibility

for the horses they produce. If we donot do so, we truly are treating horsesas commodities.I have yet to meet anyone involvedwith horses who thinks of them in thisway, so let us also make sure we donot treat them as such.

Conclusion:I hope the above makes it very clearthat it is not only the Thoroughbredbreeding industry that has to beprepared to ask itself difficult questionsover the fate of horses when they leavethe industry.The fate of our horses when they leaveour care should be considered by everyhorse owner and user. Suchintrospection may be personallyuncomfortable, and challenge ourbeliefs and pre-conceptions, but thereward will be an ability to counter theemotional opinions of the animal rightsmovement (from which all areas ofhorse use, not just Thoroughbred racingand breeding, are going to be subjectto increasing pressure) with rational,well-reasoned and objectivearguments.

Ethical considerations in horsebreeding, selling, loaning and retirement

An increasing proportion of leisure and professional horses areenjoying retirement

27 6/8/09 15:43 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 28 forge

THE Kevin Bacon’s range of equineproducts have gained a loyal clientbase as they consistently achieveexcellent results.

The products are individually createdto suit specific needs based on thelatest developments in horse healthcare whilst being entirely natural.

The hoofcare range promotes ahealthy foot with consistent moisturecontent and quality horn growth andHoof Dressing is formulated to applymoisture in dry conditions andprotect the hooves from becomingsaturated in wet conditions.

Maintaining consistent hoof moisturecontent will help to keep feet suppleand elastic and added laurel helpskeep the hoof free from bacteria.

Kevin Bacon’s Hoof Solutionprovides an intense antibacterial andfungicidal formula with antisepticproperties which is excellent fordrying out and cleaning infectedkeratinized tissues.

Hoof Formula is the ultimatenutritional supplement for qualityhorn growth containing high levelsof biotin and calcium, optimumlevels of magnesium, potassium andphosphorous and the trace elementscopper, zinc, cobalt and iodine.

One of the most concentratedsupplements on the market HoofFormula also promotes a healthycoat and skin.

To provide additional support in thecare of equine limbs, Kevin Bacon’sClay may help to cool and tightentendons and tissues after exercise orcompetition and will help to reduceminor swellings.

Completely natural it is particularlygood for sensitive skin and safe touse over minor cuts and grazes theClay is effective used withoutbandaging making it time efficientand hassle free.

For more information please call01296 662473 or visit

www.kevinbacons.co.uk to viewthe entire range of products.

Range gains loyal client base

Farriery competitions – theorigins and modern benefitsBy Claire Brown of Farriers’ Pages

SHOEING competitions date back asfar as the mid 19th century.

Following the Crimean War the armyhad lost many horses to lameness,partly as a result of inappropriatefarriery, so standards needed to beraised and educational classes withprizes for those taking part, weredevised.

Competitions today are eithershoemaking or shoeing based. In ashoemaking class the competitor isusually required to make two ormore shoes to the judge’sspecification from bar stock.

Marks are allocated depending onthe accuracy of the shoe(s) producedwhen compared with thespecimen(s) made by the judge.

The shoes are assessed on a numberof elements including overall sizeand shape, strength and size of the‘clip’ if present, and the position andsize of the nail holes.

A shoeing competition involves theforging of a specimen shoe(s) as inthe shoemaking class but thecompetitor is also required to make,fit and nail on one or more shoes toa horse’s foot.

The shoeing element is judged onthe initial trim, the forging of theshoe, its fit and suitability for thefoot, the nailing-on of the shoe andthe finish.

Both shoemaking and shoeingclasses are run within strict timelimits and often represent aparticular style of shoeing orshoemaking for a specific purpose.

For example, a ‘hunter’ class willcomprise of a hunter shoe, designedto last and ensure good grip but willbe fitted to the horse’s foot withlittle or no exposed steel so that it isvery hard for the horse to pull theshoe off.

In a ‘driving horse’ class a plainstamped shoe (with no fullering or‘groove’) will be forged, designed for

maximum wear.

These shoes may also feature ‘heels’to promote grip and/or to assist withthe horse’s action.

A therapeutic or remedial class may

involve two or more types of shoefor specific problems such assidebone or navicular, or for one thatstrikes into itself.Continued on Page 29

Steven Beane

28 6/8/09 15:44 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 29forge

Continued from Page 28Preparation for competitions involveshours of practise and manycompetitors choose to work withdifferent farriers, in order to learnfrom each other’s strengths.

The constant scrutiny of their workand practise for improvement helpsto ensure that standards areconstantly being raised.

The educational value of suchcompetitions is acknowledged by theworking party for ContinuingProfessional Development and pointsare awarded to each farrierparticipating in competitions.

Farriery competitions take placeacross the world, some featuringclasses for pairs or teams, with manyoccurring in the UK at the countyshows and qualified and apprentice

farriers are encouraged toparticipate.

The Royal Show Championship andthe National Championship are bothrun by the National Association forFarriers, Blacksmiths and AgriculturalEngineers and are held at the RoyalShow.

The ‘Internationals’ held on August

bank holiday weekend last yearinvolved teams from 12 differentcountries, with Wales managing toclinch the title from England by just2.4 marks.

The most prestigious event is theWorld Champion Blacksmiths’Competition, held each year at theCalgary Stampede in Canada.

Considered to be the ‘Olympics’ offarriery competitions, 76 competitorsrepresenting 13 different countriestook part.

This year was the 30th Anniversary,involving six tonnes of coke, 1,300linear feet of steel bar stock and$35,000 in prize money.

After four gruelling days ofcompetition UK farrier Steven Beanetook home the coveted title of WorldChampion Blacksmith, with fellow

Englishman Darren Bazin clinchingReserve.

Going into the top ten on the finalday were no less than six UK basedfarriers.

In an age when machine-made shoesare readily available it may beconsidered that the art and skillinvolved in crafting horseshoes fromsteel bar stock is no longer necessary.

However, what happens when thehorse has a particularly unusualshaped foot or an ailment whichrequires individual care?

The practise of the traditionalforging skills not only helps to ensurethat standards in farriery areconstantly being improved, but alsohelps to provide a farrier with abilityto meet the needs and requirementsof every horse, as an individual.

Educational value is acknowledged

‘In an age when machine-made shoesare readily available it may beconsidered that the art and skillinvolved in crafting horseshoes fromsteel bar stock is no longer necessary’

29 6/8/09 15:44 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 30 product news

New feed supplement launchedA NEW feed supplement created from organic, natural mushroom productshas been launched in the UK.Mushroom Matrix follows studies into the benefits of mushrooms and theirability to help reduce chronic inflammatory disease as well as provide healthbenefits in other areas. The range is made up of nine products, each featuring a different blend ofbiocultured mushroom species and enzymes to tackle issues from stress,respiratory problems and poor hoof quality to joint and oral care.Each supplement has been through testing and blood studies, showing anincrease in antioxidants and red blood cell count, enabling the horse’s immunesystem to cope better when under stress. They also contain chitin, a natural source of glucosamine and triterpenecompounds, which provides additional support towards tissue healing andreduction of oxidative stress of the joint tissue.

A NEW atmospheric sanitiser hasbeen launched in the UK to helpfight cross contamination ofequine diseases.

Equi-Shield produces a ‘fog’ in anyconfined space like a horsebox orstable and within half an hour allsurfaces have been sanitised andare protected from furthermicrobial infections for up to 30days.

Penny Cruttwell, director of theproduct’s creator Brandwell, said:“Both the horses and those of usthat work with them are underconstant threat from infection dueto cross contamination.

“We spend a lot of time in closecontact with each other andtransportation is, by necessity, inconfined conditions.”

The Equi-Shield’s ‘fog’ is attractedto any surface where it dries and

forms a microscopic layer thatdestroys any viruses, germs orbacteria.

Christine Brander, director ofBrandwell Ltd describes the Equi-Shield process in straight forwardterms.

She said: “It destroys microbes inthe same way that soap bubbles‘pop’ when they land on the lawn.

“It simply creates a surfaceenvironment that microbes can’tsurvive on, and it stays there,actively destroying dangerousmicrobes and protecting ouranimlas for up to 30 days.”

It has received approval from theEnvironmental Protection Agencyand is effective against equine flu,ringworm, swine flu, bird flu andthe MRSA virus whilst being safefor animals and humans.

� Full Product Review next issue

New atmospheric sanitiser

HAYGAIN is the only hay steamerthat enables you to feed dust-freepalatable hay, helping maintain ahealthy respiratory system toenhance performance.Created by the experts at PropressLtd, who have more than 60 yearsof specialist experience in thesteam industry, providing steamersto leading designers and highstreet brands worldwide.New Haygain is a fully insulatedunit with a unique functionenabling steam to penetrate thecentre of the bale, releasing steamwhich defuses outwards, ensuringthe entire bale is steamed at thecritically necessary temperatures –in excess of 100°C throughout.Haygain is the only scientificallyproven hay steamer that ensuresthe hay is clean by killing allspores.It is robust and easy to maintain. The unit is designed to take anentire strung hay bale, but ifrequired can also be used with haynets or wedges of hay. The steamed hay is ready to feedin approximately 50 minutes andretains its complete nutritionalvalue and goodness.

Haygainsteamed hayis warm, sweetsmelling and palatable. Researchindicates it is effective atencouraging fussy eaters.The revolutionary concept hasbeen researched, developed andtested at the Royal AgriculturalCollege, Cirencester. Led by Dr Moore-Colyer, theresearch found that hay treatedwith the Haygain steamer destroysall mould and spores present, ineffect sterilizing the hay.Findings prove that one gram ofuntreated good quality hay willcontain around 7,750,000 sporecolonies: Haygain reduces thatnumber to virtually zero.

CROSSGATES Bioenergetics provideremedies and bio-resonance analysisfor health and emotional conditions.

Its PC-based analysis system tests forover 285,000 different imbalances,physical and psychological disordersand destructive substances includingpoisons, toxins, bacteria andallergens.

The system analyses any imbalances

and then runs through a list ofhomeopathic remedies, herbs, floweressences and nutritional factors inorder to produce a specificcombination remedy for the subject.

The aim of the bio-resonancetherapy is to restore healthy energypatterns to the body, resulting in animproved sense of mental clarity,vitality and optimum wellness.

System tests for imbalances

‘The only hay steamer that enablesyou to feed dust-free palatable hay’

THE Ridden Hunter classes at TheRoyal Show were sponsored byIntelligent Worming.

The John Dunlop owned Lightweightwinner, Finn McCool III, went on totake Supreme Title under GuyLandau.

Other Intelligent Wormer Ridden

Hunter class winners wereHeavyweights Darragh Classic Princeridden by Jack Cochrane, the LadiesHunter, Time Lord IV for PhillipaMoon, Major Moylaw for LorraineHomer in the Four Year Old class,and the Small Hunter winner, FirstEdition who provided a double forJayne Webber.

Time Lord IV and Graham Williams, Intelligent Worming MD

Worming firm sponsors classes

Bedding

DNA

Breeding

30 6/8/09 15:45 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 31

By Colin Herapath AMIMechE,engineering design manager, Equi-Trek

MANY horse owners will use eitherhorseboxes or trailers to move theiranimals.

Converted vehicles such as these areregistered as the base vehicle andthis means that the vehicle convertercan effectively make anymodifications they want withoutfurther checks for the VehicleInspectorate.

However, on the 29 April theEuropean Community adopted newlegislation covering the way in whichvehicles can be registered.

Following the lead of passengercarrying vehicles, all other types,including trailers, will now requireapproval before they can be used.

This is being phased in over the nextthree years depending on the vehicleclass.

In the UK there are three options formanufacturers to allow for this.

If their product is in continuousproduction then they can apply forType Approval which involvessubmitting a sample vehicle fortesting and having their productionprocedures audited.

Using this method the manufacturermay either chose European Wideapproval or a National Small Seriesapproval which limits the number ofvehicles they can produce.

The third option is Individual VehicleApproval (IVA). This allowsmanufacturers who don’t producecontinuous models to gainregistration for their product.

Using this method each vehicleproduced must undergo testingbefore it can be registered and usedon the road.

With these new regulations in mindit is a case of ‘buyer beware’.

As it stands vehicles can still beregistered as before but in the futurethis won’t be the case.

It will become worth checking themanufacturers plans for approval andtheir record with IVA’s if they don’thave a Type Approval.

DEFRA Animal Welfare inTransportThe EU has introduced newregulations concerning the transportof animals.

These apply to all journeys deemedto be ‘in connection with economicactivity’.

As with tachographs the definition of

economic activity is not clearlydefined but DEFRA have releasedguidance on what they wouldconsider to be covered and whatshould be excluded.

In general any journey which formspart of the transporters business iscovered. This includes commercialhaulers, farmers and breedersamongst others.

Journeys not connected witheconomic activity are not covered bythis regulation and neither arejourneys made to a veterinarypractice or to seek veterinary advice.

There are three levels of approvalneeded depending on the distanceto be travelled and the length ofjourney.

Journeys of less than 65km fromplace of departure to destinationrequire the transporter to hold avalid Animal Transport Certificate.

This must contain the origin of theanimals, departure point, destinationand journey times.

This must be made available to aninspector if required and held for 6months after the journey iscompleted.

Journeys over 65km but notexceeding eight hours require thetransporter to hold a validTransporter Authorisation and thedriver and attendants to hold validCertificates of Competence.

This is Type One TransporterAuthorisation and must be appliedfor from DEFRA.

The Certificate of Competence forjourneys of this length is normallyacquired through the completion ofa theory test.

It is designed to ensure that thehumans responsible for the animalsin transit are capable of ensuringtheir welfare.

Journeys over eight hours orinvolving transport by sea and airrequire Type Two TransporterAuthorisation, a valid vehicleapproval certificate and complete ajourney log.

The Transporter Authorisation ismuch the same but includes furtherinformation about the procedures inplace to ensure the animals welfare.

The vehicle or container used intransport must have been inspectedand approved to ensure that it meetsthe requirements of the regulation.

The journey log must be filled inbefore, during and after the journeyto ensure that the journey is properlyplanned and that facilities for anynecessary rest stops are available.

Effects of new registrationlegislation for horse owners

All information must be madeavailable to an inspector if required.

All information supplied as guidancewith the aim to highlight issues

regarding horse transport not as astatement of law.

All readers must check their ownpersonal entitlement and situation.

31 6/8/09 15:45 Page 1

32 VES 6/8/09 15:46 Page 1

Documents

Horse Health (August/September 09)