Horse Health (July/Aug 2010)

The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine July/August 10 £2.95

By Louise Cordell

A CAMPAIGN to improve welfare standardsat horse sales across the UK has beenlaunched by charity Equine Market Watch.

The charity uses a team of volunteers tomonitor equine welfare at auctions andmarkets around the country and isconcerned that legislation put in place in1990 is not adequately protecting theanimals involved.

Elaine Tasker, EMW sanctuary manager,said: “Week on week we see horses andponies that are put through auctions evenwhen they are clearly unwell or injured.

“The legislation that exists does not dealwith a lot of important issues, and thosethat it does cover are pretty much beingignored. There are some good, purposebuilt venues, but many others, especially theolder buildings, leave a lot to be desired.The problem is that there is no continuity, itis a postcode lottery and there is a lot thatneeds to be done.”

The charity has now launched a petitionwith the aim of getting the National EquineWelfare Council Codes of Practice used tobring the 1990 legislation up to a betterstandard.

Some of the issues targeted include the fact

that current rules do not give clearguidelines on the minimum age of foals forsale.

Due to this, the charity has witnessed manyvulnerable horses, some as young as threemonths, penned with older animals andsubject to injury and bullying.

Elaine added: “We are also calling formature entire males to be penned awayfrom all other horses, as we have seenmany penned next to mares, resulting inthem climbing the railings in an attempt toget through and attacking nearby geldingsand colts in a show of dominance.”

The charity would like to see theintroduction of on the spot fines and followup investigations into the home conditionsof animals in poor condition or showingsigns of neglect.

The charity’s aim is to reach a target of5,000 petition supporters by the end of2010 and EMW-UK then hopes to have ameeting with animal welfare ministers toput forward the case for legislative changes.

For more information and to support thepetition visit:www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/support-of-campaign-to-tighten-the-1990-statutory-order-no2627/109/.

French horse whispererJean-Marc Imbert, whotrains his horsesbareback using only hisvoice, will perform at theRoyal Horse Galaalongside five of theworld's outstandingclassical riding schools,including Friesians fromthe Royal Stud of theNetherlands, thisSeptember at the O2Arena in London.

Promoter StuartGalbraith, who originallybrought the show toBritain in 1996 said: “Thefirst time we brought theshow here it was a sellout and received ravereviews. “It's taken 16 years tobring it back and I knowaudiences will feel it'sbeen worth the wait.”Picture: Jean-Louis Perrier

Bid to improvestandardsat horse sales

01 17/6/10 12:34 Page 1

02 Litovet 17/6/10 12:34 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3

EDITORIAL

GROUP EDITOR:

Andrew HarrodTel: 01226 734639email: [email protected]

EDITOR:

Christine KeateTel: 07825 097 464email: [email protected]

REPORTER:

Louise Cordell Tel: 01226 734694email: [email protected]

PRODUCTION

STUDIO MANAGER:Stewart Holtemail: [email protected]

DEPUTY GROUP EDITOR:Judith Halkerstonemail: [email protected]

ADVERTISING

ASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER:

Andrew LoadesTel: 01226 734482Fax: 01226 734478email: [email protected]

NATIONAL FIELD SALES EXECUTIVE:

Ellie RobinsonTel: 01226 734483email: [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.NEW homes are being sought forabused horses, ponies and donkeysrescued from a horse trader inBuckinghamshire who was jailed forcruel treatment.More than 100 animals were foundwere found dehydrated, starved andseriously ill at Spindle Farm inAmersham in January 2008.The RSPCA has spent £2.3m in legalfees, veterinary bills and caring forthe animals and 17 of the 36 horsesthey have rehabilitated are now fitand healthy enough to be re-homed.Sally Learoyd, RSPCA equinerehoming officer, said: “Some ofthese animals were young, someancient, some were sound and somewrecked. They were all sick and sorryand in desperate need of our help.

“Their rehabilitation has been afascinating journey to witness and atestament to the bravery of horses.“We are looking for patient,experienced owners who have thefacilities, time, knowledge andmoney needed to care for the horsesfor the rest of their lives.“These horses are mostly youngsters,so potential adopters will need to beable to offer a long-termcommitment.”James Gray of Amersham, wassentenced to a 26-week jail termwhen he was found guilty of animalwelfare offences alongside his wifeand three children. He abscondedduring a court hearing and when hewas caught two weeks later wasjailed for a further eight weeks.

WORLD experts are to speak at aglobal FEI Congress on the in-competition use of non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).Leading authorities on NSAIDresearch in equestrian sports willaddress the congress on Medicationin the Equine Athlete in Swizerlandthis summer. Dr Wayne McIIwraith from the USA,Professor Pierre-Louis Toutain fromFrance and Professor Ken Hinchcliffefrom Australia will be part of a highlevel panel of speakers at the eventon 16 and 17 August. Dr McIlwraith will speak on theeffectiveness of NSAIDs in paincontrol, Professor Toutain ondetermining effective levels andProfessor Hinchcliffe on the effectsNSAIDs may have on equineperformance.In order to bring together the variousaspects of the debate, speakers onthe non-scientific perspective will

also be involved in panel discussions. This will mean that important non-scientific aspects can be presented,including the legal status in certaincountries, and the media andsponsors’ perspective, resulting in afull overview of the subject.Registration for the Congress is nowopen to representatives from allstakeholder groups, includingNational Federations, vets, officials,FEI laboratories, racing and breedingauthorities, sponsors, the IOC andthe media. Further speakers will be announcedat a later date and a finalisedtimetable is due to be publishedsoon. All interested parties are advised toregister for the Congress to ensurethat their voices are heard in thisdebate, and the vote on the use ofNSAIDs in competition will be takenat the FEI General Assembly inChinese Taipei in November.

Congress to look at NSAID research

Ammonia link revealedNEW research has confirmed a linkbetween ammonia and respiratoryproblems in horses. The Horse Trust funded project hasfound that stabling horses results inincreased exposure to environmentalammonia, and that this is associatedwith respiratory problems. The presence of ammonia in stables,which is caused by thedecomposition of a horse's urine andfaeces, has long been a concern ofhorse owners and yard managers,but until now there has been littlescientific research to back up thelink.The study, led by Professor SandyLove at the University of Glasgow,looked at eight yearling WelshMountain ponies, who werealternately housed then grazed forperiods of three weeks. Dust, endotoxins and ammonia wasmonitored and the forage andbedding within the stables were also

varied to test whether this had anyimpact. Love found that the stabling ofhorses resulted in increased exposureto environmental ammonia and thatthis was associated with an increasein the pH of the horse's exhaledbreath. Under the study conditions,no significant differences were foundin ammonia levels under thedifferent grazing and stablingconditions. Professor Love said: “Horse ownershave long worried about theammonia smell in stables, but therehas been little scientific evidence toback this up. “These findings comfirm thatammonia is linked to poorrespiratory health, although furtherresearch is needed to confirmwhether and how ammonia causesrespiratory problems.”Researchers added that although it isunclear at present how the ammonia

impacts respiratory disorders inhorses, in other animals exposurehas been found to result in increasedmucin production and reducedpulmonary clearance.In the next phase of the researchproject, Love's team are carrying outa large-scale field study to quantifythe environmental risk factors - suchas bedding, feeding and ventilation -that predispose horses to respiratoryinflammation. Paul Jepson, chief executive andveterinary director of the Horse Trust,said: “We are pleased that theresearch we have funded hasimproved understanding around thecauses of respiratory problems inhorses. “We look forward to receiving theresults from the final stage ofProfessor Love's research, which wehope will give horse owners practicaladvice about how to reduce the riskof this distressing condition.”

Homes sought for animals

Groom Clare with Lulu now readyto be re-homed

03 17/6/10 12:35 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS4

OLDER horses are at an increased riskof tendon injury due to a reductionin protein renewal.

A research project funded by TheHorse Trust has found that theproteins in a commonly-injuredtendon are renewed less frequentlyin older horses, leading to anincreased risk of injury.

This type of damage is one of themost common causes of wastage inthe performance horse and sometendons are much more prone toinjury than others.

Up to 99 per cent occur to theforelimb tendons, with the superficialdigital flexor tendon, which islocated at the back of the horse’sleg, being injured in 75 to 93 percent of cases.

The research, which is being led byDr Helen Birch at University CollegeLondon, has found that SDF tendonsrenew themselves less frequently inolder horses - the tissue half-life ismore than double in a 15-year-oldhorse than in a five-year-old.

As the renewal rate drops, this islikely to reduce the integrity of theolder horses’ tendons and could leadto an increased rate of SDFT injury,relative to younger horses.

Dr Birch said: “Most horse ownersare well aware of the risk of tendoninjury, yet little is known abouttendon health management.

“Our research shows that tendon

renewal rate reduces as the horseages.

“We are now working towardsunderstanding why this is, as it mayhelp us reduce the chances oftendon injury.”

In an earlier stage of the research,Birch's team found that the SDFT isrenewed much less frequently thanthe common digital extensor tendon(CDET), which is located at the frontof the horse's leg.

This finding was unexpected as theyhad hypothesised that high-straintendons, such as SDFT, would needto be renewed more frequently thanlow-strain tendons, such as CDET.

When the researchers measuredprotein age in the different tendonsthey found that SDFT collagen had ahalf-life of 198 years, compared to34 years for CDET collagen. Thismeans that every year, only 0.25 percent of the collagen gets replaced inthe injury-prone SDFT tissue.

Birch hypothesises that too muchrenewal would compromise thestrength and stiffness of the SDFT, sothe horse's body tries to preservetheir structural integrity at theexpense of increased injury risk laterin life In the final stage of theresearch, she will be looking atwhether tendon cells can be re-programmed using mechanicalsignals to behave more like cells fromtendons which turnover more rapidly.

ANIMAL charity The Blue Cross iswarning of the dangers of laminitisafter a pony handed over to thecharity with a particularly severe caseof the condition had to beeuthanased on arrival.

Tango, a Shetland gelding, wasrecently signed over to the charity’sequine welfare centre at Burford inOxfordshire when his elderly ownercould no longer provide him with thecare he needed.

However, when the pony arrived itwas clear that he was in agony andvirtually unable to walk.

A veterinary examination diagnosedsevere laminitis and X-rays confirmedthat Tango’s feet were in the worstpossible state, causing himexcruciating pain with no likelihoodof recovery.

Natasha Seely, the Burford centre vetwho treated Tango, said: “This is oneof the worst cases of laminitis I haveever seen.

“The pony was in a chronic state,and had clearly been in considerablepain for some time.

“His condition and level of sufferingwas such that we had no option buteuthanasia.”

Vicki Alford, equine centre managerat The Blue Cross, Burford, added:“Laminitis is a painful anddebilitating condition that should betreated immediately by a vet andprevented from reoccurring throughlong-term management.

“This is a shocking example of howdangerous it can be if left untreated,and should be a warning to all horseowners.”

Older horses atmore risk oftendon injury

Charity issues laminitiswarning after pony tragedy

04 17/6/10 12:35 Page 1


Advertiser’s announcement

FMBs Activo-Med Therapy Systemsare supporting Gillian Higgins andher famous painted horse in theHorses Inside Out lecture tour.

There is a great deal of synergybetween the two organisations as anunderstanding of equine anatomyand biomechanics allows riders tofully appreciate how the Activo-Medtherapy system works to support thehorse’s physiology.

Practical and effective forrehabilitation or everyday use, theActivo-Med Combi Pro rug works inharmony with the horse’s circulatorysystem, providing sequenced pulsedelectromagnetic field and cyclonicmassage therapy from poll to tail andto the shoulders and stifle area.

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options to change therapy time,frequency and intensity to createindividual therapy programmes tosuit specific horses or conditions.

Sports and remedial physiotherapist,Gillian Higgins, focuses on thetraining and management of horsesfrom an anatomical perspective inher Horses Inside Outdemonstrations.

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SupportforGillian’slecturetour

FOLLOWING an incident in Cornwall,the British Horse Society is urgingEngland football supporters to beaware of the dangers that flying flagson their cars could create for horsesand riders.A rider was taken to hospital after anaccident when noise of flapping flagscaused her horse to bolt and fall,narrowly missing a second car.Sheila Hardy, BHS senior executive ofthe safety department, said: “The BHSunderstands fan wishing to show theirsupport for the England team by flyingSt George’s flags on their vehicles.

“However, we would ask everyone tobe aware that horses are likely to bestartled by the loud flutter that carwindow flags generate and to pass anyhorses they encounter on the road withdue care and attention.”The Society is advising drivers with car-mounted flags to slow down evenmore and give horses a wider berthwhen overtaking.They are also asking supporters toconsider flying flags only on the offsideof their vehicle to allow more roombetween the horse and the flag.

Football fans are urged togive horses wide berth

New stranglesvaccine setfor OctoberBy Louise Cordell

A NEW strangles vaccine is to go onsale in October, four years afterbeing withdrawn.

Equilis StrepE is a new version of the vaccine that was voluntarilyrecalled in 2007 after somevaccinated horses were found not tobe immune to the contagiousrespiratory disease.

However, Intervet/Schering-PloughAnimal Health have now confirmedthat three years of additionalresearch and development haveresulted in several improvements,including a better manufacturingprocess to ensure the product iseffective throughout its shelf-life and a new applicator which makes it easier to administer thevaccine.

Equilis StrepE is administeredthrough a submucosal injection inthe upper lip of the horse andprovides immunity for three monthsfollowing two initial injections, fourweeks apart.

The vaccine significantly reducesclinical signs of strangles andoccurrence of lymph node abscesses

in horses that are at risk of infection.

Dr Roberto Ragni-Alunni, globaltechnical manager equine atIntervet/Schering Plough AnimalHealth, said: “The re-launch ofEquilis StrepE in Europe is animportant milestone in our efforts to fully meet the needs ofour customers in the equine

industry.

“We continue to work in a veryintense and comprehensive way toensure adequate supply of ourequine vaccine range.”

Strangles is a highly contagiousinfectious disease in horsesworldwide and it is caused by thebacterium Streptococcus equi subsp.equi.

It is one of the most commonbacterial equine respiratory infectionsand may cause major economiclosses to the equine industry due toits prolonged course, recovery periodand associated complications.

Mortality is rare, but up to tenpercent of recovered animals becomechronic carriers of the bacteria andsubsequently can spread the disease.

A NEW report has highlighted theneed for improved horse welfare inIreland.

The comprehensive study was carriedout at the University College ofDublin and funded by internationalhorse charity World Horse Welfare.

The three-year research project,‘Challenges and solutions to supportgood equine welfare practice inIreland’, was led by a team ofresearchers at the university’sVeterinary Science Centre, withcollaboration from groups ingovernment, industry and animalwelfare sectors.

The report focussed on four keyrecommendations for Ireland’s€1.5bn horse industry, these were:

� The regulation of horse fairs andmarkets.

� Enforcement of horseidentification.

� Control of indiscriminate horseproduction.

� The humane disposal of unwantedhorses.

The report found that horseproduction had oustripped demandin all sectors, leading to theescalation of the country’s equinewelfare problems.

All the involved groups were presentat the recent announcement of thestudy’s findings, and all were inagreement that the industry shouldtake the lead in addressing theproblems, with suitable support fromthe government and guidance froma range of welfare charities.

Roly Owers, chief executive at WorldHorse Welfare, said: “We aredelighted with this report and how ithas been received in Ireland.

“In fact we have been soencouraged by the project and thebenefits it should bring to the futurewelfare of horses in Ireland, that wehave now commissioned theUniversity of Bristol to carry outsimilar work in England and Wales.”

Improved horse welfareneeded in Ireland – report

05 17/6/10 12:37 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 6


MEASOM Freer have added a brandnew 75ml bottle size to their popularGriffin bottle range. This attractive oval bottle with necksize 18mm (R4) stands out from thecrowd with its arching shoulders andtall slim styling. These prestige bottles are availablefrom stock now in 25, 50, 75, 100,150 and 250ml sizes and aremanufactured in house from clearPVC with other materials and coloursto order.With a wide variety of caps, sprayand gel pumps and closures alsomanufactured in house all you willneed to achieve your desired look isa printing service. Well Measom Freer offer that too,screen printing in one or severalcolours is available for all theirbottles and packaging products. Their in house design team can help

you with your design and productionplanning. They really are a one stop packagingservice. Their attention to detailtogether with a reputation built upover 74 years gives their customerspeace of mind when placing theirorders with Measom Freer.As well as a full custom mouldingand bespoke design service they arealso happy to look at smallalterations to their stock ranges tohelp customers achieve their desiredlook (subject to productionparameters). Measom Freer also manufacture anextensive plastic packaging ranges,from jars and boxes to measuringscoops and fasteners with all theirproducts designed and manufacturedin-house.

For more information call: 01162881588, fax: 0116 2813000, e-

mail: [email protected] visit: www.measomfreer.co.uk.

New bottle size added to range

Survey is launched tocoincide with RagwortAwareness WeekBy Louise Cordell

THE British Horse Society is takingRagwort Awareness Week one stepfurther this year, with theintroduction of a new survey. Every year horses suffer painful andunnecessary deaths as a result ofdamage to their livers from ragwortconsumption. Despite this, levels of the weed areon the increase and the BHS hasseen a marked increase in thenumber of reported cases over thelast few years. The Society has suggested that thismeans that the laws governingragwort are not being enforced andthat many horse owners are nottaking the threat that ragwortrepresents seriously. However, there is currently no harddata that can be used to supportthese suppositions and paint apicture of the extent of the problem. To address this, the BHS isconducting a ‘snapshot survey’during Ragwort Awareness Weekand is asking for reports of thelocation of ragwort spotted between

12 and 18 July. Mapping software will be used toshow the areas where the weed ismost prevalent and the number ofanimals grazing in ragwort infestedfields will be calculated. The survey is looking for reports ofragwort when it is in or near fieldsbeing grazed by horses, sheep orcattle – but if it is a long way fromlivestock, for example in the middleof woodland, then it does not needto be reported. Conducting thesurvey during just one week meansthat the results can be compared tothe same week in forthcoming years,enabling trends to be identified. It is hoped that once this data hasbeen collected it can be used toencourage better enforcement ofragwort control and potentially lobbyfor changes in legislation. � If you spot any ragwort duringAwareness week, fill in the onlinesurvey at www.bhs.org.uk or requesta hard copy of the survey from BHSWelfare on 01926 707807. Whenfilling in the survey be as precise aspossible with location information inorder to allow accurate mapping.

New development taskforce set up by FEIA NEW Development Task Forcehas been set up by the FEI and willbe chaired by organisationpresident HRH Princess Haya.

It has been asked to recommend acommonly agreed missionstatement for the FEI DevelopmentProgramme for approval by theBureau and General Assembly,alongside its other responsibilitieswhich include:

� To evaluate the mandate for andcomposition of a futuredevelopment committee.

� To evaluated the operation ofthe development committee andsupporting structures within theFEI.

� To examine possible financialmodels to create a sustainabledevelopment programme in orderto identify solutions which willbest serve the NationalFederations.

� To identify immediateoperational priorities fordevelopment, including thecreation of a five year

development plan.

The Development Task Forcemembers are: Dmitry Titov,president of the Russian EquestrianFederation; Ho Nai Yue, presidentof the Asian Equestrian Federation;Betty Wates, vice president of theJamaican Equestrian Federation;Pablo Mayorga, FEI ExecutiveBoard member; Kim Gueho,secretary general of the MauritiusEquestrian Federation; ManojJalan, member of the IndianNational Sports Development Fundand Ludger Beerbaum, sportrepresentative.

Princess Haya said: “As chair of thisnew development task force, I amhonoured to be working with suchan inspirational and motivatedgroup of people.

“They have the ability to make ahuge difference to thedevelopment of equestrian sportand we all recognise that it is nowtime to move to the next levelwith our development plans.”

06 17/6/10 12:37 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 7

Doping insport hotlinelaunchedBy Louise Cordell

EQUESTRIANS are being asked to dotheir bit for fair competition byreporting doping in sport.

UK Anti-Doping is urging sportspeople to ‘make the call’ as itlaunches a new confidential hotline.

The initiative comes on the back ofthe organisation’s first six months ofoperation which has already seen theformation of an Athlete Committee,celebration of five years of anti-doping education and providededucation and support to all of theGB team at the Vancouver WinterOlympics and Paralympics.

The Report Doping in Sport line is anew service for athletes, supportpersonnel or concerned family andfriends to pass on information aboutthe use, supply or trafficking ofdoping substances.

By dialling 0800 032 2332, callerswill be able to speak to someone 24hours a day, seven days a week.

It is hoped that the line will give thesporting community a simple way oflodging any suspicions or evidencethey may have in an anonymous

way.

The phone line is manned byCrimestoppers and all calls will beanswered by professional callhandlers trained in anti-doping.

All the information gathered willthen be passed onto the UK Anti-Doping Intelligence Unit to beprocessed, researched andinvestigated.

Hugh Robertson, minister for sportand Olympics, said: “UK Anti-Dopinghas made a strong start since itsformation as an independentorganisation.

“It is forging ahead in the fightagainst drugs in sport and this isanother good initiative to protect theintegrity of sport.

“There is no greater threat to thesporting integrity of London'sOlympics than doping and it isincumbent upon us as the host cityto have the strongest possible anti-doping measures in place.

“The 'Report Doping In Sport'hotline sends out a strong messageto anyone coming to the UK that wedo not tolerate cheats.”

Group set up to compile guidelinesAN international group of veterinaryexperts has been set up to advise onpreventing infectious diseases inhorses.

The Prevention of Equine InfectiousDisease Guidelines Group (PrEquID) isan independent panel of specialists,with expertise in immunology,vaccinology and/or equine medicine.

The group was set up to compile

guidelines for the prevention andmanagement of major equineinfectious diseases based on currentscientific knowledge and availablevaccines. At a recent meeting theydiscussed Equine Influenza andEquine Herpes virus infections.Practical, evidence-basedrecommendations are currently beingfinalised and will be made availableshortly.

Equine influenza alert lineVETS can now sign up to bealerted to all recorded equineinfluenza cases in the UK, thanksto a new services from the AnimalHealth Trust.

The Trust has teamed up withMerial Animal Health to create ‘TellTail’, the first EI text alert serviceexclusively for equine vets.

The scheme aims to providepractices and their clients withwhat could be invaluableinformation in the face of apotential outbreak.

Dr Emma Batson, of Merial Animal

Health, said: “Vets will be notifiedof an EI outbreak within 48 hoursof confirmed diagnosis.

“Not only will this allow them toalert their clients, but it may alsohelp to encourage horse owners tobecome more compliant withvaccination schedules.”

Tell Tail is a free service. To registeryour interest, all you need to do istext your name, practice andpostcode to 07797 801863 or visitwww.merial.co.uk and click on theTell Tail link.

07 17/6/10 12:39 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS8

Editor’s insight...IT is always good to hear of successstories, and there can be little moregratifying than the ability to restoresight. Horse Health is very pleased, therefore,to bring you a step-by-step account ofan amazing operation on a two-weekold shire filly born completely blind,carried out by veterinaryophthalmologist, Tim Knott. This condition is extremely rare, andpreviously, the surgery has only beenperformed a very few times.

Still on the subject of equine eyes,David Donaldson, head of theComparative Ophthalmology Unit atthe Animal Health Trust, continues hisinsight into the diagnosis andmanagement of equine recurrentuveitis, and the treatment optionsavailable.Recognising and managing the stressesfaced by those competing at the topof their game is always a topic onwhich there is plenty to say. In this issue, David Chapman Jones

brings an in-depth look at theproblems arising during recovery fromtendon injuries in racehorses, andequine physiotherapist, Cath Fowdreydiscusses the importance ofmaintaining peak physical condition tooptimise performance. She identifies many of the subtle problems that can be attributedto altered muscle function, andsuggests that timely hands-ontherapies should not be just for theelite performer.

Christine Keate


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OVER 40 local authority inspectorsfrom across Wales have received‘horse whisperer’ training in how tohandle equines and assess theirwelfare. It is hoped that this will allow themto better investigate complaints fromthe public about alleged cases ofcurelty and neglect involving horses,ponies and donkeys. The trading standards andenvironmental health inspectors weregiven hands-on training in how tosafely approach a horse, fit a headcollar and lead the animal and howto assess health and welfare todecide whether there are anyconcerns. The one-day courses wereorganised and run by equinecharities The Horse Trust andRedwings and took place at theSociety for Welfare of Horse and

Ponies in Monmouth and theBransby Home of Rest for Horses inHerefordshire.Paul Jepson, chief executive andveterinary director of The HorseTrust, praised the Welsh Assemblyfor its approach on animal welfare.He said: “Wales is leading the way inanimal welfare by giving its localauthority inspectors the resources toenforce the Animal Welfare Act. “Their proactive approach willimprove the welfare of horses acrossWales, ensuring that welfare casesare dealt with effectively andminimising the suffering caused tohorses.”The training was carried out byNicolas De Brauwere, head ofwelfare at Redwings, and LianeCrowther, welfare and educationofficer at The Horse Trust.

Liane Crowther, Horse Trust welfare and education officer and NicolasDe Brauwere, Redwings head of welfare, demonstrating the use of ahead collar at the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies inMonmouth

Local authorityhorse whisperers

STRONGER measures to prevent thespread of Equine Infectious Anaemiafrom Romania are being introducedby the EU. EIA is a viral disease affectingequidae which is endemic toRomania, and certain rules arealready in place to prevent its spreadvia animal movements. However, there have been recentcases of EIA infected horses beingmoved from Romania to othermember states and it has now beendecided that efforts by Romanianauthorities to control the diseasewould benefit from further EUmeasures. Equidae from Romania will now betransported to other member statesonly from holdings that are certifiedfree of EIA through a comprehensiveregime, which includes double

testing before dispatch. The new rules also reinforcetraceability and post-arrival controlmeasures once the animals reachtheir destination. On top of this, they allow for apossible future ‘regionalisation’ ofmeasures within Romania, in thoseareas where it can be demonstratedthat the diseease has beensuccessfully eradicated. The decision was based on aCommission proposal that wasendorsed by the member statesduring a two-day meeting of theStanding Committee on the FoodChain and Animal Health(SCoFCAH), which also agreed on aseries of other measures aiming toprotect animal and public health inthe EU.

Stronger EIA measuresintroduced by EU

Amazing tale of how Tim gave the gift of sight

08 17/6/10 13:06 Page 1



2010 is proving to be a busy year forthe BAEDT with one of the mainaims being to raise awareness withinthe general horse owning public ofthe importance of equine dentistryand using qualified Equine DentalTechnicians.

Articles and information publishedrecently in the equine press hashelped to raise this awareness andalong with a full list of BAEDTmembers it enables a horse owner toeasily locate an EDT in their area.

At the Badminton Horse Trials inApril the BAEDT trade stand provedto be a great success, handing outleaflets about equine dentistry aswell as having several EDT’s on handto talk to and a guest appearance byeventer Ruth Edge.

The stand will be seen next at

Burghley Horse Trials from 2 to 5September so make sure you stop byif you are visiting the event.

Training continues to be an integralpart of the BAEDT; following thetraining weekend at Cirencester PoloClub in November 2009, sevencandidates passed their exams inFebruary this year.

Continued professional developmentcontinues even after an EDT hasqualified and attend courses duringthe year to further their knowledge.

For more information on theequine dentistry and a full list ofmembers visit www.baedt.com.

BAEDT bids to raise awareness

INTELLIGENT Worming has steppedforward to support the BEF Futurity,the country’s top young horseperformance potential assessmentprogramme.

This means that this year eachFuturity participant will receive a freesix month Intelligent Wormingprogramme where they will be ableto learn the most effective way tomanage worm burdens in theiryoung horses.

The Futurity has been designed to

identify talent early in British bredhorses and to provide feedback ontheir conformation, movement,athleticism and likely long termsoundness.

A panel of evaluators, a vet andnutritionist provide feedback to allFuturity participants and whether ahorse is bred for dressage,showjumping, eventing orendurance, there is a Futurity sectionto assess their potential at one of 15venues up and down the country inJuly and August 2010.

Support for programme

EXPERTS from all over the worldhave teamed up in Stockholmto learn about recent progresson tackling strangles.

The International StranglesConference saw scientists andveterinary surgeons congregateat Ulfsunda Castle to furthertheir knowledge on the equinedisease.

Strangles is the most commonlydiagnosed infectious disease ofhorses worldwide and is ofmajor welfare and economicimportance.

The conference discussed recentscientific advances madepossible throught thecompletion of theStreptococcus equi andStreptococcus zooepidemicusgenome sequencing projects and their implicationsfor the prevention of thedisease.

Carl Robinson, senior scientistat the Animal Health Trust, said:“Access to the genetic makeupof these closely related bacteriahas revolutionised our ability todesign better diagnostic testsand vaccines.

“This meeting has been afantastic opportunity to bringtogether the world experts and really make a differencetowards the eradication ofstrangles.”

The event was organised by theAnimal Health Trust andsponsored by Intervacc, Pfizerand Intervet.

Carl added: “In recent yearshuge advances have been made in what we know about strangles and a wealth ofnew information to updatescientists and veterinarysurgeons on.”

Progresson tacklingstrangles

THE effects of the recession are beingfelt by everybody and horse owners arenot exempt.Vet practices have been hit by fallingrevenues as clients shop around andcut back on procedures they perceiveas non-essential.It is perhaps not surprising that theeffects of belt tightening are being feltamong equine vets.After all, in 2009, the Horse Trustreported a five fold increase in thedemand for rehoming aimals fromowners who were struggling financially.But tough times present opportunitiesto examine your business and to set inplace strategies which will enable youto operate more successfully and pullahead of the competition when bettertimes return.

Client relationships: Clients are the lifeblood of yourpractice and if they are happy with theservice you provide, they will remainloyal, increase their spend and bringnew clients.However, if you disappoint, they will bequick to move on and make theirdissatisfaction known.So, how can you bond your clients sotightly that moving is the last thing ontheir minds?� Ask what they want: Carry out asurvey asking for feedback on waysyour practice can improve its serviceoffering and understand theirsatisfaction level with your currentperformance. Send out the survey byletter or by e-mail with a link so that itcan be filled in quickly, easily andanonymously if preferred. You mightwant to consider an incentive –perhaps a free vaccination or prize ofyour choice – for one named responderwhose survey is pulled out of a hateach month.Aside from the survey, always use yourtime treating their animals as a furtheropportunity to talk to your clientsabout the service the practice isproviding and to hear their feedback atfirst hand. Time spent listening toclients' views is time well spent.

� Communicate: Invest time ingetting to know clients and inexplaining the various treatmentoptions you propose so theyunderstand what you're suggestingand the importance of compliance inthe case of preventive health. Be openand honest – and don't shy away fromissues such as cost which you may beless comfortable talking about. Don'tbe shy about calling them proactivelyto remind them about appointments orthat a vaccination is due and alwaysfind out why lapsed clients have leftyou.� Explore ways to sustain therelationship between appointments:Hold information evenings; updatethem about relevant issues (eg newlegislation, emerging diseases) andkeep in touch via a newsletter – e-mail

is a more cost-effective format. Launcha preventive health plan or flexiblepayment scheme.� Keep your local profile high: Makesure it's your practice they're readingabout even when they don't need you.Get involved with community or charityinitiatives and take a good 'actionphoto' and send a press release to thelocal paper. If you treat any unusual orfunny cases, let the paper know.Offer yourselves to the local radiostation as experts on horse relatedissues or offer talks to local equestriangroups.A few simple measures such as thesewill help keep your clients loyal - and astrong, committed client base gives youthe ideal foundation stone on which tobuild the future success of yourpractice.

Keep your clients close

09 17/6/10 12:40 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 10 feeding and nutrition

By Claire Lawrence BSc(Hons),Company Nutritionist, Allenand Page

A FIT horse that is suddenly injuredand requiring box rest is one of everyowners worst nightmares. Overnightthe horse’s routine and feedingrequirements are changeddramatically, which places greatstress on the horse, not to mentionthe owner.

When feeding any horse it isimportant to bear in mind the dietthat their digestive system isdesigned for. Ideally the horse onbox rest should have access to ad lib forage, which will help to keep the digestive system healthy by providing the beneficialbacteria in the gut with a source offood.

Additionally, as fibre travels through

the gut it helps to expel gas thatcould otherwise build up.

Forage:In the confined environment of astable, keeping it as dust free aspossible is imperative to avoidallergic respiratory problems such asrecurrent airway disorder (RAO).

Haylage is an obvious choicegenerally being a much ‘cleaner’forage.

Haylage does tend to have a higherenergy content than hay and due toits higher moisture content, it willneed to be fed in greater quantitiesthan hay which may lead tounwanted weight gain in good doerson box rest or those on limitedexercise.

Hay can be of variable quality andmay contain considerable levels of

Feeding the horseon box rest

fungal spores which can initiate anallergic reaction.

Soaking hay to reduce the number ofinhaled respirable particles iscommonplace and soaking hay forjust ten minutes can reduce thenumber of these particles by up to93 per cent (Blackman and Moore-Colyer, 1998).

Steaming hay is becoming anincreasingly popular method ofreducing respirable particle numbers and Blackman and Moore-Colyer (1998) also found thatsteaming hay reduced its number ofrespirable particles by up to 95 percent.

Research has shown that offeringseveral different forage typesincreases the frequency and lengthof time spent foraging (Thorne et al.,2005).

Meeting the horse’s psychologicalneed to spend the majority of theirtime eating can help to preventstereotypic behaviours developingtoo.

Energy requirements:Fit, hardworking horses will havebeen fed a high energy concentratefeed to meet their workload,however, with exercise curtailed or atleast seriously limited, the horse’senergy requirements will beconsiderably lower.

A low energy and low starch feedwill help to avoid unwanted excitablebehaviour while the horse is confinedto barracks.

Opting for a high fibre feed helps toprovide a steady supply of energy asthe beneficial microflora fermentfibre to produce volatile fatty acidsthat are made available to the horsemuch more slowly.

Using a feed containing probiotics oran additional probiotic supplementcan be particularly beneficial to helpthe horse’s digestive system adapt toits new higher fibre diet.

Adding additional chaff toconcentrate feed, not onlyencourages chewing and makes mealtimes last longer, but it also provides additional fibretoo.

For the recuperating horse it isimportant to ensure that the dietcontains quality protein sources toaid in the repair of muscle and othertissues.

Essential amino acids that the horsecannot manufacture itself must besupplied by the diet.

Lysine is the first limiting amino acid,and if it is not present in sufficientquantities it will affect the synthesisof other amino acids.

Good quality protein sources that arecommonly used in horse feed includesoya and alfalfa.

Stress:Horses under stress, i.e. those thatare working hard or are unwell canbenefit from the addition of anti-oxidants.

During oxidation nutrients arebroken down and are converted intoenergy, during times of stress therate of oxidation is increased to keepup with the energy demands of thebody.

Concurrently the rate of reactiveoxygen species (ROS) also referred toas ‘free radicals’ increases too,leading to oxidative stress.

ROS are missing an electron whichmakes them unstable and in orderfor them to become stable they needto ‘steal’ an electron from elsewhere,therefore creating a chain reactionsituation which can lead to tissuedamage.

Counteracting the damage causedby ROS are antioxidants, notablyvitamins E and C as well as selenium.

Antioxidants scavenge for ROS andhave the ability to convert them toharmless substances or to inactivatethem.

Antioxidants can also aid in therepair of damaged tissue and arecommonly found in pasture grasses,so for the horse on box rest whomay have no or limited access topasture increasing the antioxidantintake may be particularly beneficial.

Care does need to be taken withselenium as it can be toxic atrelatively low doses.

Checking the levels of selenium thatthe horse is already consuming viaconcentrate feed and foragetherefore is important beforesupplementing the diet withadditional selenium.

With a little thought to the routineand feeding of the horse on box rest, the situation can be managedas effectively as possible to keep the horse happy and aid a rapidrecovery.

10 17/6/10 12:41 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 11feeding and nutrition

By Emma Case, BSc(Hons) ofBaileys Horse Feeds

ENERGY intake is often the focus ofthe competition horse’s diet butother nutrients are just as importantto ensure optimum performance. The provision of sufficient qualityprotein, for example, is critical sincethe essential amino acids it provides,such as lysine and methionine, areimportant for muscle developmentand function. Where the diet is deficient, the horsewill struggle to maintain a roundedtop line and may lack power andstrength – a fit horse should not bethin and angular.Amino acids are also majorcomponents of the hoof (and mostbody tissues) and hoof quality andintegrity are reliant on a combinationof these plus calcium, zinc sulphur,copper, selenium, vitamin A and oils,and not on the vitamin, biotin,alone, as we are often led to believe. This illustrates the importance of afully balanced diet to supply all thesenutrients rather thansupplementation with a singlenutrient alone.Indeed, the importance of vitaminsand minerals in the competitionhorse’s diet cannot be overemphasised. It is often forgotten, for example,that copper is important for theformation of haemoglobin (whichcarries oxygen in the blood) andplays a major role in the mobilisationand utilisation of iron. Horses who become fatigued or‘below par’ at the end of the seasonmay be diagnosed as slightlyanaemic, for which the long-term-fixis a fully balanced diet supplyingsufficient copper rather than a quick-fix dose of an iron-based blood tonic.All minerals have many functionswithin the body but zinc andmanganese are also vital componentsof enzymes and play an importantrole in the utilisation and metabolismof carbohydrates and fats so, eventhough a diet many supply morethan enough carbohydrates to fuelperformance, if the micronutrientsare in short supply, the energysources cannot be utilized to the full.Since they are so important,reputable manufacturers now includecertain minerals in a morebioavailable form in those feedsdesigned to support performance. Bioplex minerals, for example, arechelated by attaching the minerals,copper, zinc and manganese, tocarbohydrate or protein molecules sothat they are more easily absorbedand utilised by the horse’s body.Likewise, selenium included in theform of an organic seleno-yeast also

ensures the improved bioavailabilityof this essential mineral to the horseat peak fitness and during times ofstress.Selenium, along with vitamins, suchas vitamins C and E, are veryimportant as antioxidants, since thegreater the physical demands on thehorse, from performance and theassociated stress, the more freeradicals are produced. They are also involved in the immuneresponse, helping protect against thepotentially increased challenge ofdisease experienced by the busycompetition horse.Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids suppliedby vegetable oils are not simply asource of slow release energy butalso maintain healthy skin and coatcondition. Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and abalance should be maintained withOmega 6 fatty acids, which have apro-inflammatory role in the immuneresponse.Competition horses also benefit fromthe inclusion of digestive enhancersor prebiotics, to maintain gut healthand function and to optimise fibreutilisation, especially when receivinga lower forage, higher cereal diet.So, with increased requirements forso many key nutrients, it’s clear whythe competition horse should receivean appropriately formulated feedhowever this can only provide a fullybalanced diet to meet theserequirements when fed at therecommended level. Any horse receiving less than thisshould have the diet topped up witha nutrient-dense balancer to providethe essential nutrients withoutassociated calories. Horses whose temperaments orwaistlines meant they are expectedto compete on high fibre, lowenergy, lower nutrient feedsformulated for leisure horses shouldalso have the nutritional status oftheir diets improved with a balancer.

Picture: Sue Carden

Nutrients importantto ensure optimumperformance

11 17/6/10 12:42 Page 1


By Kate Startin and Lisa Megginson of LincolnOmega Gold

THE benefits of feeding oil is welldocumented and over the lastdecade there has been a massiveinflux of high oil content feeds ontothe equestrian market.

The buzz words such as ‘high omega3’, ‘balanced omega levels’ and‘energy without the fizz’ are seeneveryday – but what does this allmean?

In the past a horse’s natural diet hasnot been particularly high in oil,grass hay and cereals having a totaloil content of 1.5-3.0 per cent.

There are now many feedsmanufactured with higher oilcontent through the addition of‘free’ vegetable based oils.

Adding oil to the feed can increasethe energy density per kilogramtherefore reducing the need toincrease the volume of feed fed toyour horse.

This can be advantageous for fussyfeeders where poor appetite preventsadequate energy intake which canresult in loss of condition.

Diets that are low in starch and sugarand high in fibre and supplementedwith oil can also be beneficial forhorses prone to azoturia andlaminitis.

Cold pressing:Recently more research has beendone into the feeding of oils tohorses.

This research has highlighted thebenefits of using cold pressed oils inplace of heat extracted oils.

In the past many vegetable oils havebeen produced using a heatextraction technique.

The problem with this is that all thegoodness in the oil is destroyed,therefore the oil that you are feedingyour horse does nothing more thanadd calories to its diet, you get noneof the health benefits which comefrom feeding a high quality coldpressed oil.

Essential fatty acids:Essential fatty acids are required bythe body for good health, howeverthe horse cannot manufacture themitself and they must, therefore, bepresent in the horse's diet.

Fatty acids make up cell membranesand are therefore involved in allprocesses in the body to somedegree.

This means that changing thebalance of fatty acids in the diet canimpact on a lot of systems in thebody. The body needs bothessential fatty acids omega-3 andomega-6 as both have differentfunctions but are needed foroptimum health and performance.

Omega 6 is a precursor of theinflammatory response, Omega 3 isnecessary for reducing inflammation.

For the body to function correctly thetwo must be in balance, it is possibleto have too little or too much ofeither group in a diet, but it is theratio of the two together that isimportant.

The majority of horse's diets arelikely to have too many omega-6sand not enough omega-3s.

The horses’ natural diet is grass andalthough grass is not high in oil,what is present is rich in omega-3smeaning that horses on a grass onlydiet will be receiving a balancedomega-3 and 6 ratio.

Hay and cereals have a high level of

omega-6 meaning horses on thistype of diet will have a ratio skewedtoward omega-6.

When the diet is high in omega-6without the balancing effect ofomega-3 it can lead to inappropriateinflammatory responses such asarthritis, allergic reactions, laminitisand exercised induced pulmonaryhaemorrhage in high performancehorses.

The omega 6:3 ratio is unlikely to bethe primary cause for any of thesediseases, but in a horse predisposedto these conditions it could be aconsideration.

Supplementation with omega-3 tohorses on a high omega-6 diet elicitsa reduction in inflammatory responsein cells, showing that it could helpmodify the inflammatory responseseen in these diseases.

A diet high in omega-3 couldtherefore prevent or reduce theseverity of symptoms.

Rapeseed oil:Oilseed Rape has been selectivelybred to contain the essential fattyacids omega-3 and omega-6 in abalanced ratio of 1:2 respectively,along with a source of vitamin E.

The vitamin E is an antioxidant whichprevents the oxidising of the omega-3, if oxidisation occurs the oil maybecome rancid and unpalatable tothe horse.

Supermarket-bought, human gradeoils, which have been through a heatextraction, are processed to improvetheir shelf life and most do notcontain the essential fatty acidswhich would be beneficial to yourhorse.

They will still work as an energy orcalorie source, but will not supplyany omega-3 or 6 fatty acids.Rapeseed oil has been fed extensivelyto horses in Canada and America ascanola oil however cold pressedrapeseed oil has only recentlybecome popular in the UK.

Conclusion:Oil in most forms can be fed tohorses and is a useful source ofcalories providing slow releaseenergy without the ‘fizz’ associatedwith traditional cereal feeds.

As omega-3 and 6 cannot be madeby the horse’s body it must be fed aspart of the diet provided in abalanced form.

Cold pressed rapeseed oil is an idealoil to feed to your horse as itachieves this balance.

Benefits of supplementinga horse’s diet with oil

‘Diets that are low in starch and sugar and high in fibre andsupplemented with oil can also be beneficial for horses prone toazoturia and laminitis’

12 17/6/10 12:42 Page 1

13 Sarcen 17/6/10 12:43 Page 1


NEW Litovet is a specialised rosehipsupplement for equine joint healththat has a unique standardisedGOPO content, achieved through apatented manufacturing process.

Unlike many other feed supplementsfor horses, the beneficial effect ofLitovet is supported by extensiveresearch studies in humans and byan equine specific study carried outin performance horses.

In a double blind placebo controlledtrial involving 74 horses, Litovet

helped to maintain the horses'natural anti-inflammatory processesand significantly boosted antioxidantdefences which resulted in horseswith better suppleness and a greaterwillingness to work in thesupplemented group.

Litovet is suitable for all types ofhorses and ponies, available in 1.5kgtubs lasting approximately twomonths and 3kg tubs lastingapproximately four months atmaintenance level.

Specialisedrosehipsupplement

SINCE the launch of Vetrofen Equineand Pet, Animalife has beenreceiving unprecedented levels ofcustomer feedback via e-mail, fax,post and vets.

The reason? People’s horses andpets are now mobile, happy andcomfortable.

In most cases Vetrofen Equine andPet is used long term to support

mobility and joint stiffness or thearthritis associated with old age butit is also very good for short termmanagement of assisting theirflexion whilst managing bumps andbruising fast.

It is 100 per cent natural, safe for long term use with no sideeffects, and contains no bannedsubstances.

Positive feedback to product

TWO Horse Health readers are inwith a chance to win a month’ssupply of Alltech Lifeforce Formulaworth £49.99.

Alltech has developed its newLifeforce Formula to support thehorse through a range of challengesas it goes from growing foal andbeyond, into working or competitivelife and eventual old age.

Thirty years of research have goneinto this natural supplement, whichis designed to create the optimumdigestive environment to promotepeak condition and help maintainstrong hooves, a glossy coat andgeneral good health and well-being.

As well as helping the equine athletecope with the stress of training,

travelling and competing, Lifeforcewill support overall health at timeswhen the horse is vulnerable throughsickness or injury.

Broodmares and stallions can alsobenefit from Lifeforce, while theantioxidant-rich formulation is idealfor nursing foals as they faceimmunity challenges.

For your chance to win, send yourname, address and a contacttelephone number to: AlltechGiveaway, Horse Health Magazine,47 Church Street, Barnsley, SouthYorkshire S70 2AS.

Entries must be received by 6 August2010 and the winners’ names willappear on the Horse Health websiteat: www.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk.

LifeforceFormulato bewon byHorseHealthreaders

14 17/6/10 12:44 Page 1

15 Battle Health 17/6/10 12:45 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 16 eyes

SIGHT has been restored to MaryAnne, a 14-day-old Shire foal, whowas born blind.

This condition is extremely rare, butmodern technology and the skills ofsenior cataract surgeon, Tim Knott,BSc(Hons) BVsc MRCVS Cert VetOphth, assisted by veterinaryophthalmologist Brian Patterson,successfully performed the bilateralcataract surgery.

Tim trained alongside humancataract surgeons, and used thesame instruments and equipmentwhich would be used during humansurgery.

The procedure:The procedure was carried out usingone of the very few equine cataractmachines in the UK.

Both cataractous (white) lenses wereremoved using phacoemulisification -the same technique as used inhuman cataract surgery, andreplaced with artificial lenses.

These are engineered in Germany;they are acrylic and machined usingnatural diamonds in a processinvolving dozens of technicians.

The manufacturing process andmaterial is the same used for manyhuman artificial lenses.

Phacoemulsification is a techniquewhere the lens material is liquefiedand then aspirated (sucked out)through a needle.

The needle acts like a miniature jackhammer vibrating backwards andforwards some 40,000 times asecond.

This acts to liquefy the usually solidlens contents, allowing it to beaspirated through the needle whichcan be inserted in to the eye througha small (1mm) incision.

Until very recently the onlyequipment available for cataractsurgery relied on needles designedfor the much smaller human lens.

Results:The availability of cataract machinesand needles optimised for the muchlarger equine lens means the adventof a much safer and more successfulprocedure in the horse, and theprospect not only of returning vision,but restoring it to that close to thenormal horse.

This is not the same as saying MaryAnne will have ‘normal vision’ as the

ability to quantify vision in nonhuman patients is limited.

However, the lens is designed toreproduce the function of the normalequine lens and it is expected that aslong as Mary Anne’s eye growsnormally (which is not always thecase in foals who are born withcataracts), her visual ability should beindistinguishable from a ‘normalhorse’.

Veterinary ophthalmologists have theability to test for refractive errors(long or short sightedness) in horsesin the same way as an optician doesfor people.

This technique (refractometry) wasused in the development of theequine lenses and Mary Anne’srefraction will be checked when sheis fully grown.

The future:Several factors may result in suboptimal vision as she ages, for whichshe will be monitored.

Firstly, the artificial lens is held withina transparent membrane (the lenscapsule) which previously held theabnormal opaque (cataractous) lensmaterial.

This membrane can scar leading tosome fogging of the vision - thishappens commonly in humans andmay necessitate laser surgery to cut ahole in the membrane.

If scarring of the membrane occurs inMary Anne, the large size of the lensand design of the equine retina,which relies on a larger ‘picture’formed on the retina than in man,means that further surgery is veryunlikely to be required.

The second factor which may affectvision, is whether Mary Anne’s eyewill grow to the normal size.

The lens is supposed to focus lighton the retina which is some 18mmbehind the front of the eye (thecornea) in man.

If our eyes are too long then theimage is focused in front of theretina (this is commonly referred toas short sightedness), if our eyes aretoo short, then the image is focusedbehind our retina (long sightedness).

If Mary Anne’s eyes do not reach thefull adult size (a condition calledmicrophthalmia – literally ‘small eye’often associated with cataracts) thenshe would be expected becomerelatively long sighted.

In a human we would expect short-sightedness or long-sightedness tocause demonstrable problems,however, because of the design ofthe much larger equine eye it is likelythat such errors in vision would haveless effect on Mary Anne.

Interestingly there have been severalcases reported of horses withdemonstrated shortsightedness,which has been corrected withcontact lenses with reportedimprovement in behaviour andperformance. Finally, to put this inperspective, the removal of acataractous lens without replacing itwith an artificial lens, whilst restoringvision will not restore normal visionor anything near it.

Equine patients without lens

replacement are estimated to beeight to ten dioptres long sighted,which would render them legallyblind if human.

The technique used in this procedurehas only been used in a smallnumber of UK horses, and offers thevery real option of restoring normalor near normal vision to blind foals.

Veterinary nurses Jess Izzard (BushyEquine Practice) and Jo Franks(Equine Eye Clinic) assisted duringthe operation.

Mary Anne and mother Faith, whohas normal eyes with no cataractspresent, stayed at the Bushy EquineClinic for one week after the surgery.

She was cared for and medicated bythe Bushy team and checked daily byTim.

Veterinary opthalmologist Tim Knott has been carrying out pioneering work at the Rowe Veterinary Group’s EquineEye Clinic. Christine Keate found out more.

Tim Knott operating on Mary Anne Pictures: Sue Carden

Pioneering work givessight to Shire foal

16 17/6/10 12:46 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 17eyes

Mary Anne was anaesthetised, clipped and scrubbed prior to local anaesthetic injection behind the eye tofacilitate surgery. A similar local anaesthetic injection is used in humans, however, it is introduced from thefront of the eye rather than from above as in Mary Anne. She was draped and an operating microscopeused to visualise the eye.

Right eye pre-surgery. The central inverted Y visible inthe centre of the cataractous lens is caused bysplitting of the abnormal lens contents. Theroughened areas at 12 and six o'clock on the pupilmargin are normal – these ‘granula iridica’ are thehorse’s built in sun shades to stop them being dazzledby the sun when grazing.

The eye has been cleaned, draped and exposed prior to the start ofsurgery. Two small incisions are made into the eye at the edge ofthe cornea. A 1mm wide hole is made using a special knifedesigned for performing the same procedure in man. A second 3mmincision is later made to allow cataract removal via a speciallydesigned needle. The cataract is removed by microsurgical key-holesurgery using the special equine cataract (phacoemulsification)machine. Whilst the actual cataract removal took only 47 secondsfor both eyes, the entire procedure was in excess of three hourslong.

The cataractous lens has beenremoved and the artificialintraocular lens (IOL) placed; theconcentric rings of the lens are

visible. Tim is closing the corneal woundusing microsurgical suture material afraction of the thickness of human hair.The artificial lens is 24mm wide, but isuniquely designed to allow it to be foldedand inserted through a much smallerincision. The concentric rings (fresnelrings) allow the powerful lens to be flat(like a credit card magnifying lens).

The ‘fresnel rings’ are clearly seenin this view down the operatingmicroscope. Similar lenses areused in light houses, overhead

projectors and credit card magnifyinglenses.

Mary Anne ten days postsurgery. The artificial lens canbe clearly seen in the centre ofthe pupil. The ‘flecks of gold’

which can be seen through the lens isthe natural reflective pigment presentbeneath the retina of the horse (thetapetum lucidum), which causehorses’ eyes to glow at night. The eyetakes on a green glow which indicatesthat the operation is now allowinglight to enter the eyes, and reflectback out again from her tapetumlucidum.

1

2

3

4

5

MaryAnneseeing

mum (Faith) forthe first time.

6

17 17/6/10 12:46 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 18 eyes

Equine recurrent uveitis– the long runBy David Donaldson BVSc(Hons) DipECVO MRCVS,European Specialist inVeterinary Opthalmology forthe Animal Health Trust

IN the first part of this editorial thediagnosis and management of anattack of ‘acute’ uveitis wasdiscussed. By definition, a diagnosis of equinerecurrent uveitis (ERU) can only bemade when a recurrent attack ofuveitis occurs.

The interval between an initial andsubsequent episode of uveitis ishighly variable and may be monthsto years, although after two yearsthe chances of developing ERU isgreatly reduced.

Similarly, the risk of the diseaseaffecting both eyes (when the initialpresentation involved one eye) ismuch smaller if two or more yearspass without the fellow eye beingaffected.

Most cases of ERU follow a patternof recurrent episodes of uveitisseparated by quiescent periodsduring which the eye appears normalor near normal.

The changes visible in the eye duringa quiescent period will depend onthe damage that occurred during theactive episode(s) of ERU.

These changes include darkening(hyper-pigmentation) of the iris,adhesions between the iris marginand the lens (synechiae), pigmentdeposition on the surface of the lens,opacity in the lens (cataract) andshrinking (atrophy) of the granulairidica.

The granula iridica is the protuberantmass which is normally found at thetop of the horse’s pupil.

During the quiescent phases ofclassic ERU, treatment isn’t normallyprescribed.

During this time general changes inhusbandry may be implemented toreduce the incidence of attacks.

Triggers:The role of external triggers in thedevelopment of recurrent disease ispoorly understood; factors implicatedas having an effect on the pattern ofdisease recurrence include strongsunlight, wind, fly worry, allergies,worming, vaccinations, competitionand transport related stress, traumaand changes to pasture and feeding.

Keeping a record of such variablesmay help isolate factors importantfor triggering recurrence in aparticular individual and thereforeallow more specific managementchanges.

The horse’s general medical careshould be up to date and includeroutine worming, vaccination, footand dental care.

Although optimizing the horse’shealth should reduce the chances ofthe horse suffering diseases whichcould activate the immune system,there have been cases where ERUappears to have been triggered bythe process of worming orvaccination itself.

Prevention:If such an association is made, usinga short course of anti-inflammatoriesat such times would be indicated.

Vaccinations can also be given over

several weeks rather than incombination to spread out thestimulation of the horse’s immunesystem.

More common day to day measuresinclude the use of a protective flymask, fly repellants and reducingdust in stables.

The inside of stables should also beexamined carefully and any edges orprojections such as nails or hooks, onwhich a horse could catch or rub theeye.

These should be removed or covered.Avoidance of hay nets will alsoreduce the risk of ocular traumafrom a piece of hay.

Surgical intervention:In many horses with ERU the diseaseprogresses despite optimalmanagement of the horse’senvironment and appropriatemedical interventions.

In such cases partial or total loss ofvision from an eye is usuallyinevitable.

Until recently no treatment optionswere available for such horses.

However, two surgical procedureshave now become available whichaim to reduce the overall oculardamage in ERU cases.

The surgeries used to control ERU aresuprachoroidal ciclosporine CsAimplantation and vitrectomy.

Vitrectomy is a procedure where thecore of the vitreous gel is removedand replaced with saline.

The idea is to remove inflammatorycells that are sequestered in thevitreous.

Leptospiral organisms have also beenidentified within this material.

This surgical approach has been usedsuccessfully in Germany for anumber of years, where it hasdramatically reduced the number ofattacks compared with untreatedhorses.

Vitrectomy is a highly specializedprocedure which requires a generalanaesthetic and specialised surgicalknowledge and equipment.

The vitrectome is introduced into theposterior segment of the eye via anincision through the sclera.Visualisation of the cutting end ofthe vitrectome and its direction canbe through the pupil (transpupillary)or via an endoscopic probe placedthrough the sclera, depending onsurgeon preference/experience, aswell as the presence of cataractwhich would preclude transpupillaryvisibility.

The procedure is undertaken duringquiescence and only where there isevidence of ERU (two or moredocumented episodes of uveitis).

Possible complications include retinaldetachment, infection(endophthalmitis), notwithstandingthe general anaesthetic risks.

Suprachoroidal CsA implantationinvolves placement of a CsA implantunderneath the sclera of the eye andadjacent to the vascular bed of theeye (choroid). Continued on Page 19

‘Although optimizing the horse’s health should reduce thechances of the horse suffering diseases which could activatethe immune system, there have been cases where ERUappears to have been triggered by the process of wormingor vaccination itself’

Normal eye of a horse showing the typicaldegree of iris pigmentation and large protuber-ant granula iridica at the top margin of thepupil. The lens, which can be seen in the pupilis clear, the pupil margin is smooth and nopigment is evident on the surface of the lens

Horse eyes affected by varying degrees of ERU-relateddamage. Abnormalities include shrinking of granulairidica (open arrows), opacities in the normally clearlens (closed arrows) and irregularity of the iris margin(arrowheads) due to adhesions between the iris andlens. The damage in the picture above is mild with finewhite lines in the lens and minor pupil irregularity

18 17/6/10 12:47 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 19eyes

Continued from Page 18The implants are biodegradable andslowly release CsA over a period of3.2 years.

The CsA implant works bysuppressing the immune systemlocally within the eye withoutaffecting the function of the immunesystem in the rest of the body.

Outcomes:In one study about 75 per cent ofeyes that receive a CsA implant didnot have another episode of uveitis.Those that do relapse generally haveless severe episodes that are moreeasily controlled medically.

It is not fully clear why some horsesrespond better to CsA implants thanothers, although those with moreinflammation in the posterior part ofthe eye, particularly if related toLeptospiral bacteria, may notrespond as well as those with moreanterior signs.

At the AHT the recommendedsurgical procedure for an individualcase is dependant on the presentingophthalmic changes and whether thepatient is in ‘remission’ or clinicalsigns are considered maximallycontrolled by medical treatment.

In the absence of significantposterior segment changes, as withthe case described, suprachoroidalCsA implantation is usuallyrecommended.

In cases where severe vitreal changesare present, particularly if significantvitreal debris and membraneformation are evident thenvitrectomy is considered.

The surgical treatments available atpresent are intended to limit thefrequency, and reduce the severity ofthe recurrences of uveitis.

Greater control of the ERU isexpected to reduce the long term,potentially blinding, sequelae of ERUincluding cataract, glaucoma andretinal detachment.

A horse that undergoes surgicaltreatment will need to be monitoredlifelong as recurrences are stillanticipated, and with better controlthe recurrence may be less obviousto the owner.

Uncertainty overwhy some horsesrespond better thanothers to implants

Ciclosporine implant (blue arrow)being sutured in placeunderneath the sclera or a horse.

‘The surgical treatmentsavailable at present areintended to limit thefrequency, and reducethe severity of therecurrences of uveitis’

In contrast to the picture opposite this horse has complete whitenessof the lens and a grossly distorted pupil margin with pigment dispersaland clumps on the surface of the lens.

19 21/6/10 16:48 Page 1

Tendon pathologyDr David Chapman-Jones of theRacehorse Performance andTreatment Centre

THERE are two clear factors thatmust be considered when dealingwith tendon pathology.Firstly, the longitudinal arrangementof the collagen fibres that make up90 per cent of the structure of thetendon needs to be maintained.

When disrupted through injury andpathology, recovery can besignificantly aided by regular exerciseat a frequency, duration and intensityappropriate to the condition of thetendon.

Secondly, disorganised fibrous tissuewill be detrimental to the long-termviability of the functional capacity ofthe tendon, therefore, opportunityfor the accumulation of this shouldbe minimised.

Tendon injuries:Tendons are physiologically andstructurally complicated and ofteninjuries have long healing times andconvoluted aetiology.

In use they undergo constant loadingand un-loading, often to extremes,and are only capable of minimalelastic elongation, which makesthem prone to injury. Tendonscontain little vasculature and as aresult the blood supply is poor.

This is also true of ligaments and thispoor blood supply often results inlong healing times.

In the racehorse the superficialdigital flexor tendon (SDFT) is themost commonly affected tendon andthe suspensory ligament the mostfrequently affected ligament.

It is almost certain, as is the case inhuman subjects, that the injury isnearly always preceded by chronicdegeneration in the tendon, whenthere is a repair a type III collagen(scar type tissue) replaces the normaltype I collagen.

This scar tissue is less flexible thanthe original tissue which increasesthe risk of re-injury.

For many of these injuries time is notthe best healer; commonly left to itsown devices the tendon will repairwith a type III fibrous collagen socompromising the functional viabilityof the structure.

Treatments:This suggests an optimal treatmentwould be one that prevents thischronic degeneration and promotesa repair with a type 1 collagen.

A structured exercise programme cansignificantly improve the prognosis inthe case of a horse with a tendoninjury. The model for the arehabilitation programme, I feel,should be based upon principlesused extensively in human medicine,

where the general philosophy inmusculo-skeletal medicine is that‘mobilisation is preferential toimmobilisation’.

This is particularly important in there-modelling phase of tissuereplacement.

Methods of mobilisation used canbe: walking in hand and undersaddle – when appropriate over avariety of terrains and gradients,eccentric proprioceptiveneuromuscular facilitative stretchingand basic schooling work where thebody is treated as a whole entityrather than concentrating on theinjury in isolation.

Unless an injury is very severe Iwould not follow a regime ofsustained period of box rest.

Walking in hand is preferable to theuse of a circular horse walker, ideallyin a straight line or using a treadmill,which will reduce the torsional stresson the developing fibrillar matrix andcross-links, during the remodellingphase of tissue repair.

Continued on Page 21

Stretching the tendon can help the remodelling phase of the tendon tissue.

A badly-damaged tendon.

‘Methods of mobilisation used can be: walking in hand and under saddle – when appropriate over a variety of terrains and gradients,eccentric proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitativestretching and basic schooling work where the body is treated as a whole entity rather thanconcentrating on the injury in isolation’

Bloodstock matters

20

20 17/6/10 12:50 Page 1

21

Continued from Page 20Why the SDFT?Tendon tissue is biologically unusualin that it follows a pattern ofembryonic regeneration.

This means that the tissue isconstantly being broken down andreplaced with new tissue – there is aconstant cycle of degeneration andregeneration.

If this cycle maintains equilibrium,despite the fact that there maytransient changes in the balance, itwill remain within a functionaltolerance.

However, particularly in thesuperficial digital flexor tendon in thehorse this balance is not maintained(cellular activity is reduced after thehorses reaches the age ofthree/four).

The reasons for this are not yetclearly understood, however, theeffect of this reduced level of cellularactivity is, the reduced capacity ofthe tendon to adapt and respond torepeated levels to mechanical stressinduced micro-trauma.

This is why we see degenerativepathology prevalent in the olderhorse. The same is also true inhumans in the Achilles tendon.

It is interesting to note that in theimmature racehorse there is aconsiderable level of collagensynthesis in the SDFT, which tails offas the horse matures; this contrastswith the common digital extensortendon (CDET) that maintainscollagen turnover into maturity.

Injury to the SDFT is a very commonoccurrence, which prematurely endsthe careers of many competitionhorses whilst injury in the CDET israre.

How tendons are made:Tendons and ligaments have a highlystructured and ordered cellularorganisation within the tissue matrix.Tendon cells are arranged inlongitudinal rows between collagenbased fibre bundles.

Within the rows the cells arearranged in a manner so they are incontact end-to-end.

Between the rows they are in contactvia processes that extend around thecollagen fibrils so one cell will meetup with a process from another cell.

Where tendon cell membranes meetthey contain gap junctions.

These gap junctions are specializedareas of the cell membrane that areorganised collections of proteinchannels that allow ions and smallmolecules to negotiate their waybetween connected cells.

These channels facilitate cellularcommunication, which enable cellsto balance their key regulatory ionsand molecules.

It appears that the majorphysiological role of the gap junction

is to synchronize metabolic andelectronic signals between cellsenabling key functions such asproliferation and differentiation.

It is believed that different types ofgap junctions occur in lateral andlongitudinal planes, which havedifferent communicationcharacteristics, therefore, in theory,will have differing capacities to passmessages longitudinally and laterally.

This makes sense as the principal lineof strain is along the longitudinalplane.

It is suspected that the failure in thecorrect function of these gapjunctions is responsible for thesignificant down regulation ofcellular activity in tendon cells, whichpromotes the breakdown of thetissue architecture.

Conclusion:In the racehorse it is probable thatsome horses are carrying a geneticpredisposition to present with futuretendon problems.

Evidence suggests that this is causedby a down regulation of theregenerative phase of tendon tissuereplacement.

If this is the case, then horses with the potential to present withtendon problems, and we do notknow in advance which horses areaffected, should be managed morecarefully.

Ultimately, the aim should not be, what is the best method to treat a horse with a tendonproblem, rather, how can theincidence of tendon injury bereduced?

Stretchinghelps thecollagenfibres aligncorrectly.

Biomechanicalanalysis

‘It is interesting to note that in the immature racehorsethere is a considerable level of collagen synthesis in theSDFT, which tails off as the horse matures; this contrastswith the common digital extensor tendon (CDET) thatmaintains collagen turnover into maturity’

Bloodstock matters

21 21/6/10 16:47 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 22 transportation

By David Ashby, Bloodstockunderwriter for Amlin Plus,specialist insurer ofThoroughbred horses

TODAY’S elite sports horses andbloodstock travel long distances inthe course of their competitivecareers, so owners and trainers arenow mindful of the need forinsurance that covers the horseduring transit.

It is wise to choose an insurer whoseproducts match the value, bothpersonal and monetary, of the horse,as it is a a case of ‘you get what youpay for’ in the insurance field; a‘bargain’ policy may not provide therequired cover, whatever its type.

Most equine breeders, regularcompetitors and trainers that traveltheir horses extensively choose amortality policy that includes TransitInsurance – the cover is usuallyavailable as an ‘add-on’ to standardpolicies, and covers the horse duringinitial loading and transit.

Alternatively, one-off transit policiescan be purchased these cover deathduring the trip as well as for a setduration after arrival.

Policies vary, and it is important tocheck what time-scales, methods oftransport and internationaldestinations are covered. Forexample, those travelling toEuropean destinations may travel byroad, whereas other destinations aremore usually traversed by air, orsometimes sea.Taking precautions:Some All Risks Of Mortality policiescover the horse during transit, butmay restrict the cover to localjourneys; for example, local horseshows and veterinary trips. Checkthe policy wording to see whatcoverage is supplied.

It is important to note thatcommercial transporters will probablynot cover a horse during transit, andif they do, it may only be for arelatively small amount.

They may request proof of insurance

policy before transporting the horse.The transporter themselves must alsohave their own commercial hire andreward insurance.

Naturally, accidents can be preventedby sound loading and travellingtechniques, such as using protectivetravel wear and boots, and travellingthe horse in a comfortable, familiarposition in a ventilated vehicle.

Most horses prefer to travel rear-facing, as they maintain theirbalance more easily in this position.

It is also important to overcome anyloading problems in advance ofevents.

From the driver’s point of view,factoring in rest stops and choosingan experienced, careful driver willhelp to prevent accidents on theroad.

This is especially important when

travelling abroad on unfamiliarroads, and of course, satellitenavigation helps.The carer’s responsibility:Remember that insurance policiestend to have clauses that exclude‘failure by the insured or otherpersons who have care or control ofthe horse to provide proper care andattention’, so it is vital for the horse’scarers to reduce the risk factors foraccidents at all times, whetherduring transit or at the horses’ yard.

In addition, under The Welfare ofAnimals During Transport CouncilRegulation, anyone transportinganimals must ensure the animals arefit for the intended journey.

The International Air TransportAssociation (IATA) also has guidelines for The Global Standardfor the Transportation of LiveAnimals by Air.

Cover allbases ...

22 17/6/10 12:51 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 23transportation

By Anna Pyrah of The Pure Feed Company

TRAVELLING undoubtedly has animpact on the horse, and the way inwhich it is fed during this time cansometimes be overlooked ormisjudged.

The environmentally induced stressmay cause digestive transit time tobe increased, resulting in incompletedegradation of the feed.

It could even induce a change ingastrointestinal pH, causing thepopulation of beneficial and not sobeneficial microbes in the large

intestine to become temporarilyimbalanced.

Trickle feeding of fibre (preferablyhay and not haylage, due to theacidity of haylage caused by thepreservation process) not onlysatisfies the evolutionary need forgrazing, but also has other relatedbenefits.

The absorptive nature of hay meansthat it can help to retain water andnutrients in the gut, it is digestedslowly in comparison to high sugarand starch concentrates, and willalso help to reduce the occurrence ofstomach ulcers due to the delayed

gastric emptying and the increasedproduction of saliva throughincreased mastication.

The addition of succulent feeds suchas carrots and apples as a substitutefor grass is not advised, as theyinclude high amounts of sugarswhich may not only release a burstof readily utilizable energy, but theby-products of digesting high sugar(and starch) can alter the pH in thelarge intestine, creating anunappreciated acidic environment forthe beneficial bacteria responsible for the breakdown of the other-wise indigestible, structuralcarbohydrates.

This acidic environment can destroythe beneficial bacteria, leading to areduction in the ability to breakdown the fibrous components of thediet, releasing endotoxins into theblood - a contributory cause oflaminitis.

With large intestinal health in mind,a useful factor to include in thehorse’s diet can be a pre and probiotic.

This can help to keep the beneficialbacteria at the optimum functioningpopulation, and should be graduallyintroduced over a week or so, inorder to minimize the shock to thedigestive system.

Changing diet in the short term, inaccordance to a change in situationfor example, reducing concentratefeed intake before a show if a horseis a stressful traveller or competitor,or increasing intake to boost a lazyhorse is not beneficial.

Any abrupt change in amount ortype of feed will only not only causedigestive upset, but a suddenincrease in the volume of feed mayinduce a bout of colic.

The key when travelling horses is tokeep the feeding regime as similar aspossible to normal.

A high fibre diet, ad lib hay, andfeeding times consistent with theregular daily routine, with a goodsupply of fresh water, will give thehorse the best chance of being asdigestively sound as possible for thecompetition ahead.

On the road: feeding competitionhorses while travelling ...

‘Trickle feeding of fibre (preferably hay andnot haylage, due to the acidity of haylagecaused by the preservation process) not onlysatisfies the evolutionary need for grazing,but also has other related benefits’

23 17/6/10 12:51 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 24 transportation

DOES your horse kick out at thepartitions when travelling? Is he a problem loader that slips off the ramp? Or does he travel long distances, and becomefatigued?

The Old Mac G2 boot from EasycareInc. could be the answer.

Distributed by Trelawne Equine,wholesaler of natural hoofcareproducts, the Old Mac G2 is easilyfitted, and offers not only protectionwhen travelling (in addition topadded leg boots), but also helpslessen fatigue during long journeysby providing foot stability andcomfort.

The boot can be used duringtransport over metal shoes to helpprotect the foot from bulb andtendon damage, and preventbruising to the hoof wall and sole.The exceptional traction also helps

improve the horse’s confidence whenloading.

Trelawne Equine is the UK’sdedicated distributor of the Easycarerange of horse boots.

In addition to the Easycare range,Trelawne Equine also stocks othercarefully selected products, includingthe Rider’s Rasp.

Fatigue reductionand foot protection

Overloading canhave seriousconsequencesIT is becoming a more familiar siteon our roads – vehicles being pulledover for spot checks by the Vehicleand Operator Services Agency(VOSA) to check for road worthiness. If you are the type of owner whoknows something about maintainingvehicles then surely you should haveno concerns, but what do you doabout factors that are not so easy tosee, such as the weight of thevehicle? Once the weight of the horses isadded to the vehicle along with allthe tack and feed, how do you knowyou are not beyond the legal limit?Under The Road Traffic Act 1972 andThe Motor Vehicles (Constructionand Use) Regulations 1978, it is apunishable offence to use (or permitto use) on the Public Highway, avehicle whose weight exceeds itsplated gross weight or where themaximum plated axle weight isexceeded. The plated weights include theunladen vehicle and any payloadthen added on. You would be amazed at just howmany people believe that a 7.5tonne vehicle can carry 7.5 tonnes ofpayload.Over-loading makes a vehicle lessstable, can invalidate your insuranceand increases the wear and tear on

the tyres, on the suspension, on theroad itself and it will also affectbraking and steering. Imagine the horror if this caused theloss of a prize stallion when thedriver had no idea the vehicle wasunsafe.Punishment is a fine of up to £5,000per offence; this can mean that a7.5 tonne vehicle can potentiallygenerate fines of up to £15,000 in asingle case (one fine per axle, plusone for the gross). Repeat offenders may well see theirOperators License taken away andthe Road Traffic Act 1988 states thatdriving a dangerously over-loadedvehicle carries a maximum two yearsimprisonment.According to its Effectiveness Reportof 2005/6, VOSA stopped nearly75,000 vehicles for overloading inthat year, and over a quarter of thesewere issued with prohibitions. The figures show that LGV's areoften the worst offenders, with 38.7per cent of light vehicles prohibitedwhen stopped.Red Forge is a market leadingcompany in the field of Axle LoadIndication. With a Red Forge system, the vehiclecan be made to give a warningwhen the vehicle is overloaded onany axle or the gross weight.

24 17/6/10 12:52 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 25tough at the top

By Catherine Fowdrey AMCST,MCSP, BHSII, BSc(Hons) ofEquestrian Physiotherapy, Horseand Rider Treatment Centre

IN this current age of ‘world classperformance programmes’ andsports academies the importance ofmaintaining peak physical conditionis well recognised. Aspects of this include the provisionof timely, relevant hands-on therapy(whether it be massage,physiotherapy, osteopathy orchiropractic) and the use ofprogressive intelligent exerciseprogrammes to hone the skill andthe ability of the athlete.

These organisations also recognisethe need for medical care andrehabilitation when injuries aresustained to minimise damage andpromote optimal recovery.

How does this, or should this,translate to the equine world?

There are those fortunate enough tobe part of the World ClassPerformance Programme, receivingthe best advice, training andtreatment but what for the rest ofus?

Owners and riders are becomingaware of the many factors that affecta horse’s performance. Acknowledg-ing subtle changes is the first step inrealising something may be wrong.

This may just be a feeling the riderhas, or a change in the horse’sattitude to work or reaction to theaids. There may be more obvioussigns of reluctance to pick up aparticular canter lead, resistance tolateral work or always taking off orlanding on a particular leg over afence or, the most blatant signs ofdiscomfort such as rearing, buckingand refusing to jump.

The key is the change in behaviour.If the horse is new to you, anddemonstrates what you feel is anabnormal asymmetry or behaviour it

is best to have it checked outphysically to eliminate problems,before potentially exacerbating them,hindering your training programmeand also your relationship with thehorse.

Many of the subtle problemsidentified above can be attributed toaltered muscle function, for example:

� Blocked, tight or damagedparaspinal muscles (longissimus dorsi,iliocostalis dorsi and latissimus dorsi)prevent the horse working over hisback; he will therefore, hollow andbe unable to correctly engage thehind quarters, this will affectdressage scores and block thetransmission of power from the hindquarters limiting scope over a fence.

You may notice that the horsesounds heavier on his front feet, orthe front shoes are wearing quickerthan normal as he is unable to shiftthe weight to the hindquarters.

� A horse that has strained oraltered tone in the shoulder girdlemuscles may be more reluctant to godown hills, prefer to land from afence on the unaffected forelimb orindeed stop jumping altogether.

A more subtle sign may be lessextravagant medium or extendedpaces where the horse willcompensate for the tight side byreducing the overall length of step toappear level.

� Tight or damaged hamstrings mayresult in decreased tracking up,decreased hind limb power andresistance to lateral work.

Treatments: As with human athletes soft tissuescan be treated with hands-ontechniques such as massage, reflexinhibition, acupressure, trigger pointrelease, mobilisations, manipulations,adjustments and stretches.Electrotherapy modalities may be

used when indicated (H-wave, TENS,interferential, short wave diathermy,therapeutic ultrasound, electro-acupuncture).

All these should be complementedby appropriate remedial exercises.

To many who have been involvedwith training horses, these will besecond nature.

A basic working knowledge ofanatomy is required, sensibleachievable goals and a little lateralthinking.

A human athlete who has suffered ahamstring tear would (alongsidemanual and electro therapies) followa strict programme of strengthening,stretching and stabilisation, alongwith proprioception exercises and re-establishing muscle patterns andreactions.

To give horses the best chance of afull recovery and reduce theincidence of recurrence the sameprinciples should be applied.

The exercise or schooling programmeshould be progressive and covergeneral physical development as wellas targeting the problem areas.

This could include lungeing, long-reining, use of pessoa/side-reins, polework, raised poles, weighted boots,use of different surfaces (forproprioception) and all types ofridden work (flat/grids/jumping).

Muscular spasm and altered muscletone in horses can occur as a resultof compensation due to underlyingpathologies (joint, tendon orsystemic).

The horse’s age and level of trainingmust also be taken into account.

An assessment therefore must bemultifactoral, but it is worthwhileconsidering that a problem may justbe muscular.

So in order to ‘bend it’ like Beckhamor run like Paula Radcliffe maybe ourhorses should be treated likeprofessional athletes.

The importance of equinerehabilitation and remedial therapy

25 17/6/10 12:53 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 26 tough at the top


AT The Centre for Horse and RiderTreatment, Training andRehabilitation in East Sussex weprovide a unique holistic servicewhich includes:

� Physiotherapy and manual therapyfor horses and riders by qualifiedregistered staff.

� Treatment of acute/subacuteveterinary referrals (tendon/ligamentdamage).

� Hot/cold compression treatment.

� Post-operative treatment and care.

� Fantastic purpose built in-patientfacilities.

� Remedial Training to deal with anyparticular training issues whetherthese are due to behavioural,physical or psychological issues.

� Electrotherapy. (H-wave, TENS,Interferential, electro-acupuncture).

� Remedial saddle fitting service(WOW and Flair).

� Horse and rider training forgeneral improvement.

� Training liveries.

This is delivered by our Multi-Disciplinary Team comprising:

� British Horse Society intermediateinstructor and assistant instructorwith experience riding andproducing horses to international

level eventing and showjumping.

� List 3 and FEI dressage judge.

� Chartered physiotherapist.

� Equine McTimoney-Corleymanipulator and therapist.

� Equine behaviouralist/rebalancer.

� Remedial saddle fitter.

If you would like some help oradvice for you and your horse,whether for a clinical condition,behavioural problems, rehabilitationor training then please give us a calland see if we can help to ‘Makethings Better’.

Equestrian Physiotherapy,Woodside Farm, Caneheath,

Arlington, East Sussex BN26 6SLwww.equestrianphysiotherapy.co.

uk, Tel: 01323 484125.

Holistic service in East Sussex

By Celia Gadd, brand managerat Equivet Animal Care

ATHLETIC training and competitionsare hard on a horse, with increasedexercise, training and travel allcontributing to extra strain on theirbodies.

If the horse is lacking in vitalvitamins, minerals or simply does nothave enough energy to sustainperformance, then strains, muscleproblems and other ailments canbecome an issue.

Extra pressure is put on horses’muscles during training andcompetition so those who havesuffered muscle or joint damage willneed help getting back up to fullfitness.

Ginger’s anti-inflammatory benefitsare ideal to help speed up themuscle-healing progress and enabletraining to continue.

However, it must not be taken in the two-week run up to acompetition as ginger is a prohibitedsubstance.

The extensive travel a horse enduresduring the season and the restrictionof natural movement, can cause

stiffening of the muscles.

This, combined with the limitedopportunity to graze, means they donot get the required amounts ofvitamin E that is required to sustainthe muscles.

Vitamin E should be added to feedto keep muscles in good workingorder and to reduced the stress ofthe animal by preventing the buildup of lactic acid, which can lead totying up.

When competing, horses’ sweatlevels increases and so the lost fluid,sodium, chloride and potassium mustbe replaced in order to maintain ahealthy balance and preventdehydration – electrolytes cancompensate for the secretion ofsweat after exercise and help torehydrate horses quickly andeffectively.

Probiotics can also be useful to helpkeep the immune system workingefficiently as well as ensuring the gutis constantly flooded with healthymicr-flora which will help aiddigestion, and keep the horse calmand in good condition throughoutthe season.

How to help horsestake extra strain

26 17/6/10 12:54 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 27forge

By Claire Brown of Farriers’ Pages

IN the Farriers (Registration) Act1975, farriery is described as 'anywork in connection with thepreparation or treatment of the footof a horse for the immediatereception of a shoe thereon, thefitting by nailing or otherwise of ashoe to the foot, or the finishing offof such work to the foot’.

A farrier is a skilled craftsperson whohas a sound knowledge of both thetheory and practice of the craft,capable of shoeing all types of feet,whether normal or defective, makingshoes to suit all types of animal andworking conditions, and of devisingcorrective measures that will help tocompensate for faulty limb action.

The training therefore, aims toprovide a candidate with a soundtheoretical and practical knowledgeof all aspects of the equine limb, itsmovement and action in both goodand ill-health, and to enable thecandidate to prepare and make ashoe to protect and enhance thehorse’s foot and limb at rest andwork.

The training of farriery apprentices inGreat Britain is overseen by theNational Farrier Training Agency(NFT).

The Advanced Apprenticeship inFarriery includes a Level 3 NVQ inFarriery and a Technical Certificatewhich is the Diploma of theWorshipful Company of Farriers.

The period of the apprenticeship isfour years and two months.

Potential applicants cannot applydirectly to the NFTA but must beproposed by an Approved TrainingFarrier (ATF).

The minimum educational entryrequirements for the AdvancedApprenticeship in Farriery are fourGCSE’s or above which must includeEnglish language and mathematicsor an NVQ Level 2 and the Level 2key skills of communication andapplication of number, or a BTECFirst Diploma and the key skills.

The Forging Certificate is amandatory element of the entrycriteria and is a practical test whichconsists of making 15 forging piecesin your own time and a further twounder timed conditions.

An online test is also included.

Applicants may take the ForgingCertificate as part of a ‘pre-farrier’course at college or can be preparedfor the Certificate under theguidance of a competent person,e.g. an ATF, or as part of a shortcourse at an approved college.

A ‘pre-farrier’ or ‘Access to Farrier’course is provided by colleges in theUK for those wishing to gain furtherexperience prior to beginning anapprenticeship or for those that donot have the minimum academicrequirements.

Competition for apprenticeships isfierce and many ATFs have a numberof applicants to choose from.Following a successful two-monthprobationary course in which the ATFcan assess the individual, anApprenticeship Agreement is signed.

The Apprenticeship comprises full-time on the job training and 23weeks off the job training at one ofthe three approved colleges asarranged by the NFTA.

The 23 weeks are divided into ‘blockrelease’ sessions at college every sixmonths which can last between twoand four weeks a time.

During each attendance theoreticaland practical assessments areprovided along with additionaltraining and instruction. Successfulcompletion of each college block isrequired before progressing to thenext stage.

To be eligible for entry on the FarriersRegister (and work legally in the UK)a candidate must have completed anNVQ Level 3 in Farriery, the Key/CoreSkills of Communication andApplication of Number at Level 2, acollege based qualification in IT andBusiness Studies and the TechnicalCertificate (The Diploma of theWorshipful Company of Farriers).

The Diploma is the recognisedexamination for entry on to theFarriers Register.

The farriery training system in GreatBritain is highly recognised and assuch the NFTA receives applicationsfrom outside the UK wishing to takethe Diploma examination.

There are currently 454 apprenticesin the system and approximately 100new farriers qualify in the UK eachyear. This is a qualification recognisedacross Europe and the rest of theworld.

Farriery training

‘The training aims to provide a candidate with a soundtheoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects ofthe equine limb, its movement and action in both goodand ill-health, and to enable the candidate to prepareand make a shoe to protect and enhance the horse’sfoot and limb at rest and work’

27 17/6/10 12:56 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 28 forge

FARRIERY treatment of the severelaminitic entails trimming the hooftowards re-attaining correctorientation around P3, balance on allplanes, removing excess length toreduce leverage, immediate frogsupport and sole elevation.

The location of the apex of the frogplate or frog cast needs to beforward of the central widest pointof the foot, which is usuallyapproximately at the centre ofarticulation.

Taking reference from a lateralradiograph, a line dropped from thebase of the extensor process andperpendicular to the solar plane ofP3 gives the forward extent of the‘frog plate’.

The shoe fitted, needs to bridge thesole in the front half of the foot, andthe point of breakover shortened. Aheartbar plastic mould on Imprintshoe is the shoe of choice for thesesevere cases.

Hoof trimming: This can be carriedout accurately following x-ray. Thisoften entails trimming some heel dueto forward rotation of P3 andshortening the toe to reduceleverage.

Ongoing treatment needs to betailored to each case.

In severe cases when there is little orno new growth, if there is nodeterioration, the longer the shoescan stay on the better.

If the hoof grows rapidly at the heelbut little toe, and the dorsal wall isdeviating then in five to six weekstime the angle of P3 will be pitchingforward again, so the hoof will needtrimming back to alignment.

The same principles apply whetherit’s a relatively straightforward caseor when major melt down of the

Andrew Poynton FWCF of Poynton Ltd continues his discussion of the treatment of severe laminitics.

hoof capsule occurs, it will appearmore graphic and attention to detailand skilled art is more critical.

Hoof reconstruction: It appears thatbuilding prosthetic hoof replacementparts whilst the hoof is recovering isbeneficial, providing it is notdivergent from P3.

As many attachment points aspossible are desirable, certainly two ifnot three around the wall, if notcompletely from heel to heel.

The frog is vital for support, evenwith an infection above the frog,drainage can be provided; it can beflushed out.

Following frog support, the lateraland medial walls are important, asmuch contact on either side aspossible.

I have practised casting these wallsto prevent them from collapsingwhen the hoof is unstable,particularly where a large amount ofthe dorsal wall is missing.

Shoe attachment: Bridging gaps inthe hoof and keeping the shoeelevated from the sole can bedifficult, so in some instances anattachment has been made in areaswhere the dorsal wall has beenpartially resectioned, the surfacetissue keratonises.

This has been utilised to providethree point attachment, lateral,medial wall and centre of toe, alongwith the frog support to maintainelevation of, and provide centralsupport beneath P3 via the digitalcushion and frog. I have found thiseffective and helpful.

A hospital plate is applied in severecases to protect the area where thesole has prolapsed, dressings can beapplied so there is no direct contactand it can be kept clean, reducingthe likelihood of infection.

Monitoring progress: Each case isunique, even though provenmethods of treatment and regimesare followed, recovery is notautomatic.

If the patient’s condition deteriorates,there is always a reason.

Following acute laminitis, sub-solarabscessing and infections in the toeare more likely. These can be dealtwith but can swing the recovery intopossible failure if not managed.

Recognising when there is aninfection and when it is anotheracute laminitic episode of is worthbearing in mind.

Managing infection: If infection orpressure builds up within the foot,the horse will be in pain, but onceany pockets of pus or fluid build-upare located and drained there isusually significant pain relief.

I prefer to drain them at the whiteline if possible, so that it can drainout at the side, rather than makingholes in the sole, as this is easier tomanage and keep clean.

Veterinary intervention withantibiotics is advisable if theinfections are deep, but for moresuperficial infections, localiseddrainage and poulticing are usuallysufficient.

Stable floor covering: If the sole isacutely sore or open, particularly if ahospital plate is not used it is betterthat the horse stands on a rubbermat than a deep bed, so, in thestable, one third clear rubber mattingtwo thirds with a reasonable depthof clean dry bedding to recline andstale on is recommended. The horsewill invariably stand where it is mostcomfortable, where there is airbeneath the foot and no upwardpressure on the sole.

The sole can then dry and harden. Itcan make all the difference for thecomfort of the horse and aidrecoverySigns of recovery: Clinically - in patient behaviour:Immediately the support shoes are inplace it is encouraging to seeobvious signs of relief, the horse isusually more willing to stand andable to move around gently.

The horse’s demeanour changes,tautness in the abdomen and theclassic signs of laminitis reducing, areevidence of progress. Continued on Page 29

Farriery treatment of laminitis

A severe case of P3 rotation at the beginning of treatment. And above right, the same foot 12 months later,improved phalangeal alignment and P3 high in the hoof but some deterioration to P3 due to infection in the bone

28 17/6/10 12:57 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 29forge


KEVIN Bacon’s Equine Products are delighted to add Richard Davison to their elite group of‘endorsers’.Richard is currently enjoying anextremely successful season and joinsHenrietta Knight, Andrew Nicholson,John Whitaker, Anna Ross-Daviesand five times World ChampionFarrier Billy Crothers as a multi-discipline group of top equineprofessionals who regularly use theKevin Bacon’s Equine Products.Richard said: “We have used HoofDressing on all our horses now for

almost four years. “We think it’s the best and keeps thehorses feet supple and in goodshape. “It doesn’t matter how much timeand money you spend on trainingand other equipment, you knowwhat they say – no foot, no horse –and it’s right!”Kevin Bacon’s Hoof Dressing isformulated to apply moisture in dryconditions and protect the hoovesfrom becoming saturated in wetconditions with the added benefit ofbeing 100 per cent natural andhelping to protect the hooves frombacterial infections.

Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis

Richard joins ‘endorsers’If the patient does not respond, it islikely to be caused by pressure in aplace of pain, constriction ofcirculation or an infection sitewithout drainage.

Physically - in the hoof: External signsof recovery of the hoof begin in thewall from coronary border down andin the sole from the heels forwarduntil healing is focused in the toe,the final point of restoration. Once asupport shoe is fitted I’ve noticedthat the depression in the coronaryborder in many cases is reducedimmediately, it becomes firmer.

This is not due to everything beingpushed back into place, but because

the free play within the hoof isreduced by having central supportbeneath the frog; the foot structuresare held together.

This does not knit together thestructures that have been torn, butreinstates the position of the pedalbone more ideally, and then aroundthat centrally supported bone, newlamellar attachment can form.

Further signs of recovery, are the soleregaining its’ healthy concave shape;x-ray will show the pedal bone sittinghigher in the hoof and more depthbeneath the pedal bone through thesole. New horn growth is even, andin alignment with P3.

A foot with the greater part of the hoof sloughed, with a supportshoe/cast fitted

29 17/6/10 12:57 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 30 product news

India lifts traderestrictions on importationBy Louise Cordell

INDIA has lifted its trade restrictionson the importation of thoroughbredbreeding stock from Britain,following extensive lobbying by theThoroughbred Breeders’ Association. The regulation was set up in 1995 asa result of a CEM outbreak in theUnited Kingdom. However, the veterinary professionhas clarified the UK distinctionbetween Thoroughbred and non-TBtrade and the value of the HBLBCodes of Practice for CEM, whosecompliance is of the higheststandards within the BritishThoroughbred industry – persuadingthe Indian authorities to lift theimport restriction.Kirsten Rausin, TBA chairman, said:“We have been working to securethe movement of horses since therestriction was imposed in 1995. “This has been a long campaign, butone which stepped up a gear lastyear. “Whilst it was unfortunate that wewere unable to welcome Indianbuyers to the 2009 TattersallsDecember Sales, we now lookforward to their return to British

sales later this year.”The implications for British breedersare significant as in 2009 Indianpurchasers accounted for 79 maresat a value of €1.7m at GoffsNovember Sales in Ireland and atleast 150 Thoroughbred mares werepurchased for India last year. Louise Kemble, TBA chief executive,said: “In securing this fantastic resultthe TBA is able to demonstrate to itsmembers, and the wider bloodstockcommunity, the importance of a wellfunded and active Association, that isfocussed on securing benefits for theIndustry at every level.”The Indian Government has nowamended its import conditions toallow the import of breeding horsesfrom countries where CEM has beendetected within three years prior toexport. They now require at least three yearsabsence in the premises of originand testing pre-export by culture.DEFRA will amend their currentcorresponding certificate to includethe new clause for breeding horsesso it can be formally agreed withIndia and released for use in the nearfuture.

Action plan to helpequine industrymeet the challengesTHE British Horse Society andLantra have pledged to worktogether to develop a professionalequine workforce.

The formal agreement details anaction plan to help the equineindustry meet the challenges theymay face, today and in the future,by boosting workforcedevelopment to ensure it has theskills it needs.

Amy Cosgrove, Lantra’s industrypartnership manager, said: “Thisdemonstrates our dedication tosupport those working withhorses and to ensuring that theyare seen as professional andhighly skilled.

“Through our joint working, wecan encourage BHS members toensure they have the right skills to

face the demands placed onthem, including equine health andwelfare, responding to customerschanging needs and embracinglegislative requirements.”

The document also highlights thecommitment to shapequalifications and developNational Occupational Standardsso they are completely up-to-dateand relevant to employer needs.

Margaret Linington-Payne, BHSdirector of standards, added: “It’simportant for us to collaboratewith Lantra in supporting thetraining and skills development ofthose working within the equineindustry and to maintain theprofile of qualifications respectedby the equestrian industry.”

Sylvia honoured for herwork with fire officersA REGIONAL welfare officer with theBritish Horse Society has had herhorse rescue work recognised by theWiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Sylvia Sullivan-Tailyour has receivedan award in honour of the work thatthe Wiltshire branch of theequestrian charity has contributed totraining fire officers in large animalrescue.

Mrs Sullivan-Tailyour, said: “I am verypleased to receive this award onbehalf of the Wiltshire Branch of theBHS.

“Many of the firemen had little orno experience of approaching and

handling horse, but after the trainingtheir confidence improved to aremarkable degree.

“A further series of training days hasjust started, after which it is hopedthat all the teams in the force willhave received the basicfamiliarisation course.

“It is very impressive how far therescue teams have come over thepast two years and howprofessionally they now deal withoften very difficult and complicatedsituations.

“Horse owners owe a lot to theirdedication and skill."

Coaches competition launchedA NEW competition for aspiringcoaches working within theequestrian industry has beenlaunched by the British Horse Society. The aim of the ‘Coach of the Year’competition is to encourage andinspire coaches to continue theireducation, take pride in theirprofessional development and striveto improve standards.

Regional qualifying days will betaking place, where candidates willdemonstrate their coaching skills to aBHS Fellow. The people selected forthe final will be the ones that showthe most potential as a coach, aswell as having a good grasp of eachof the different areas covered on theday. They will be invited to the finalat Warwickshire College in October.

No ministerTHERE will be no new Minister of theHorse appointed under the newcoalition government.Instead, the responsibility will beshared by farming minister Jim Paiceand under-secretary Lord Henley.Lord Henley’s responsibiilities willinclude hunting and Mr Paice’s briefwill cover most of the equineportfolio including passports, animalhealth and alternatives to the horsetax.Mr Paice became a parliamentaryprivate secretary at the Ministry ofAgriculture, Fisheries and Food in1997 and was appointed ShadowMinister for Agriculture in September2004.

Warm-up facilities researchedBy Louise Cordell

CONCERN over equine fatalities andinjuries during racing has led toresearch into the availability of preand post-race warm up and coolingdown facilities at UK racecoursesbeing carried out by Dr DavidChapman-Jones, from Tendonology:Specialist Tendon Treatment forRacehorses.

The aim was to evaluate what rolethese regimes take in horse-racing,to determine whether they could berelated to the incidence of tendoninjury in race horses, and to ascertainthe provision of facilities, and theiruptake in use when available.

It is suggested that carrying outfunctional activities such assprinting/cantering in the later stagesof warm-up will activate neuralpathways, speeding up reactiontime.

Research has suggested that theoptimal duration of the warm upperiod, before flexibility or functionalactivities are undertaken should bebetween 15 and 20 minutes,consisting of a gradual increase inintensity until 75 to 80 per cent ofmaximal heart rate is achieved.

An adequate warm-up regimeproduces a two to three degree risein body temperature; the heating

effect leading to beneficial changesin body tissue allowing muscles andtendons to become more extensible,therefore making stretching easierand more effective.

Of the 59 racecourses surveyed, 21(36 per cent) responded withcompleted questionnaires.

Results demonstrated in the main, aninterest in the need for warm-up andcool-down facilities, and furthermorethat there should there be such arequirement; also what, if offered,the most appropriate amenities couldrealistically be.

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Documents

Horse Health (July/Aug 2010)