Table of contents for Winter 2020 in Equus

Good behavior and rewards After reading your article “Good Behavior” (EQUUS 501), I have to tell you what happened to me. I take lessons on and show in dressage on my coach’s horse, Foxxy. She is your typical crabby mare. Yesterday I worked an extra day at my coach’s boarding and training barn. After feeding Foxxy in a stock pen I let her out to join the rest of the herd in our big pasture. But she just stood at the door looking at me. I gave her a few scratches but I think she was waiting for me to put her halter on. After I shooed her out the gate, she decided she would go up to the barn instead of going out with the herd. After dodging other…

Well, it was bound to happen. After many years of rescuing horses and finding them homes, I’ve finally fallen in love with and adopted one of my own rescues. My name is Teri Allen, founder of Terolyn Horse Rescue in Elizabeth, Colorado. Before starting Terolyn, I was a horse trainer for more than three decades. During that time, I occasionally retrained at-risk horses and helped find them homes. It felt good to help the animals that have added so much joy to my life. In 2015, I was asked by Morgan Safenet—a non-profit dedicated to protecting the Morgan breed—to rescue a horse scheduled to go through a slaughter auction. The experience was eye-opening. It was the first time I’d been to such an auction and the horses’ fear and stress…

Definition: rare but usually fatal disease of horses caused by toxins produced by the Clostridium tetani bacterium. C. tetani spores, found in soil and manure, germinate beneath the skin of a closed wound, releasing neurotoxins that attack the nervous system, causing muscle spasms and contraction. Progressive paralysis associated with tetanus often leads to death. Causes: wounds contaminated with C. tetani, particularly punctures that close over quickly. A foal may contract tetanus through its umbilical cord and a mare may develop the disease after a difficult delivery. Surgery—particularly procedures involving the abdomen or castrations—can lead to postoperative tetanus in unvaccinated horses. Signs: gait stiffness, muscle spasms, rigidity, protrusion of the third eyelid and hypersensitivity to sound. Stiffness typically begins three days after infection and peaks around Day 10. Treatment: Tetanus antitoxin…

Barbara ran a boarding barn serving riders of all disciplines, although most boarders rode an English discipline of some kind. She decided when she opened her barn to establish a rule requiring all riders, no matter the discipline, to wear helmets. This requirement was written into the barn rules that every boarder signed along with the boarding contract. Marie was interested in boarding her horse at Barbara’s barn. As they walked around the facility together, Marie commented to Barbara that she was surprised everyone was wearing a helmet, even the Western riders. Barbara explained that this was required. She asked Marie if that would be a problem, but Marie said it wasn’t a big deal. Marie began boarding at the barn and right away problems arose. She would ride bareheaded…

In a 2016 installment of the Conformation Insights series (“The Registered Morgan,” EQUUS 471, by Deb Bennett, PhD), inaccurate pedigree information was presented for the horse Statesman’s Eclipse. The caption with his picture should have read: “The Morgan and the American Saddlebred are the American equivalents of the European sporthorse, and in this writer’s opinion, far too little appreciated for this kind of use. This is Statesman’s Eclipse (1995), by Caduceus Montour who is of Flyhawk, Senator Knox and government breeding, out of Statesman’s Manzanita, who descends from Lippitt Mandate and government breeding. The rider is Ange Bean of Straight Forward Dressage.”…

Of all the things your horse could injure himself with, his blanket seems an unlikely candidate. But don’t rule it out. Blanket mishaps do happen and they can be serious. Here are three things you can do to avoid them: 1. Check the fit: Most blanket injuries are a consequence of poor fit. A too-large blanket can shift out of position and slip down around legs, entangling them in the hind-leg straps. If the material does not rip quickly, tendons can become dangerously constricted. Blankets that are too small may cause pressure sores or rubbing injuries. 2. Adjust the straps properly: Even a blanket that fits well can pose an injury risk if it’s not adjusted correctly. Belly straps are meant to fit flush with the skin, allowing just enough…

• Pick up debris and minimize sharp edges in your horse’s environment. It seems inevitable that if there’s a single nail on the ground, sooner or later it will end up in a horse’s foot. Try to pick up all stray nails and other debris after farrier visits as well as after construction or repair work around the farm. Also inspect fences, stalls and other structures to find and repair loose nails, splinters or other sharp projections that may cause injury. “Continually scrutinize the safety of the horses’ environment because if there is anything unsafe, they will find it sooner or later and get hurt,” says Nat Messer, DVM, DABVP, professor emeritus of the University of Missouri. • Clean all wounds, no matter how small. Even very tiny wounds can…

If an injury or circumstances put a horse at risk for tetanus and his vaccination status is unknown, his treatment regimen may include tetanus antitoxin. Derived from the blood of horses immunized against tetanus, the antitoxin can halt or slow the progression of disease by binding to toxins circulating in the horse’s body, which prevents them from damaging additional neurons. Administering the antitoxin can help to slow the progress of tetanus in a horse who is not yet, or is only just, starting to show signs. “This is still done by a number of veterinarians if you don’t know the history or you know that the animal has not been vaccinated, and the horse needs to have surgery or suffers a wound,” says Amy Johnson, DVM, DACVIM, of the University…

Amanda was a beginning rider who had watched several DVDs featuring one particular trainer and had gone to many of his clinics around the country. She bought a green filly and found a small facility to board her. Unfortunately, Amanda felt that she knew more than the other people at the barn. It wasn’t long before Amanda was telling everyone how she thought they should ride and train their horses. She even criticized the conformation of boarded horses and the tack other riders used. The barn owner, Jessica, saw the other boarders becoming more uncomfortable and decided to intervene. She scheduled a time to talk to Amanda in private. She listened to Amanda’s concerns about the way other people were training their horses. She then asked Amanda to listen to…

One of the best ways to identify and mitigate potential health problems in your older horse this winter is with a full physical exam. Many veterinarians offer an autumn exam as part of a comprehensive wellness package, but if yours doesn’t, call and ask to set up an appointment. Here’s just a partial list of the topics likely be addressed in the exam and why: • Dental health, to ensure the horse can effectively and comfortably chew hay and grain. The exam will also detect any loosening teeth or other dental problems that might be easier to address early, before the colder weather sets in. • Vaccinations, especially if the horse will be traveling or stabled with horses who travel. • Joint health, to check the mobility and comfort level…

After the veterinarian’s truck rumbled down the gravel drive, I stood in the barn’s parking lot, holding the lead rope of my very first horse. Reality did not match my childhood dreams. Sirocco, a 6-year-old Arabian, fleabitten gray with bloodmarks splashed on his ribs and hip, didn’t look like the horse I wanted when I was 12. To be fair, I was no longer the girl who pined for the Black Stallion, either. I was middle-aged and—unmoored by my mother’s sudden death—I had just done what all the books tell you not to do while in the throes of grief: made a big, potentially consequential decision. I’d fallen in love with Sirocco based on an online ad. Under his trainer’s watchful eye, I’d worked with him for a few weeks…

Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF, has a doctorate in veterinary anatomy and equine nutrition and more than 57 years of experience as a practicing farrier. He is a Certified Journeyman Farrier and a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Founder and operator of the Butler Professional Farrier and Horseshoeing School, Butler is the author of several books on farriery, including The Principles of Horseshoeing. Linda A. Frank, MS, DVM, DACVD, is a professor of dermatology at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University, she received her Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut and her veterinary degree from Tufts University. David E. Freeman, MVB, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, is a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at…

anthelmintic—any of various classes of drugs used to destroy internal roundworm parasites. chondroitin sulfate—a sulfated glycosaminoglycan, a large protein molecule that is a constituent of connective tissues and cartilage; a common ingredient in many joint supplements. developmental orthopedic disease—a general term used to describe all skeletal conditions associated with growth and development in foals, including osteochondrosis, acquired angular limb deformities, subchondral bone cysts, physitis, flexural deformities, vertebral deformities and deformities of the small bones of the hock and knees. endoscope—small, flexible tube equipped with light and a viewing device; used to examine or operate on body passages or internal organs. heaves—common term for recurrent airway obstruction, a respiratory disease, usually of older horses, induced by exposure to dusts typically found in stables and resulting in narrowing of the small airways…

Shortly after graduating from college, I went rogue. Instead of accepting a “normal” job, I turned to the horse business. My parents were not thrilled, but accepted the inevitable. I had grown up in a “non-horsey” family, resolutely collecting horse figurines, reading equestrian books and asking for a pony. The pony never came. My parents hoped I would out-grow the notion. I didn’t. At college, I would sneak away to ride at a local stable. Summers were spent giving riding lessons at summer camps. When I had my degree I headed to New York, where I began learning from the best instructors in the business. Before long I was coaching young riders, showing hunters and jumpers, and buying, training and selling horses off the track. My lifelong passion for racing…

EQUUS welcomes freelance submissions for practically any section of the magazine. We prefer to receive manuscripts via email, sent to EQLetters@aimmedia.com. We will also consider typed hard-copy manuscripts, but please note: If you would like your materials returned, a self-addressed, stamped envelope needs to be included with your submission. We do not review or accept simultaneous submissions. Here are a few guidelines for prospective contributors: • Features generally run from 1,600 to 3,000 words. • Medical Front (200- to 400- word items)—Brief articles about the latest research, technological advances, treatments and other veterinary topics pertinent to horse owners. • Hands On (100- to 400-word items)—Short items offering practical advice and useful reminders on everyday horse care issues, ranging from feeding and hoof care to training and breeding. • True Tales…

You’ve been probably been hearing more lately about cannabidiol (CBD) supplements for horses. Here are the basics about this new and growing segment of the equine supplement marketplace: • CBD is extracted from the flowers and buds of cannabis plants. The compound is promoted as providing the health benefits of the herb without the “high” associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in marijuana. • The primary catalyst for the explosive growth in the CBD industry was passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp (and derivatives with low levels of THC) from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. That, combined with increasing acceptance—both legally and socially—of cannabis products, opened the door to many new products for people and animals—including horses. • CBD products for horses…

• Consult with your physician about keeping your own vaccinations up to date. Around 30 human cases of tetanus are reported each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—mainly among people who either were not vaccinated as children or did not keep up with boosters as an adult. (That number has declined dramatically from around 600 cases per year in the 1940s, after tetanus vaccines were introduced.) The standard vaccine for adults combines protection for both tetanus and diphtheria and a booster is recommended every 10 years. • Manage even minor wounds carefully. Wash cuts or scrapes with soap and water, and cover them with a bandage before working around the barn. Over-the-counter wound ointments may also be helpful. Talk to your doctor…

Susan had ridden for many years but after a bad fall, she had become fearful. She kept her horse, Angus, at a barn that had many different levels of riders, different ages of riders, and different disciplines. Recently, the barn had become so busy that Susan had decided to ride in the evenings because the indoor arena was just too crowded at any other time. Riding with others, many of whom were younger and apt to spend more time cantering and jumping, made Susan more and more anxious. There were some days she simply went to the barn and just groomed and handgrazed her horse because she was too scared to ride in the busy arena. Angus also changed once the barn became more successful. The gelding pasture had more…

MANAGEMENT A disease of old age Q: I have a friend who lost her older gelding to a strangulated gut. The veterinarian said her horse had developed an internal fatty tumor that wrapped around the horse’s intestines. This came out of the blue: This gelding had been perfectly healthy until two days before, with no signs of illness. He was not overweight. Since that happened, I’ve been terrified my 24-year-old gelding will develop a similar unseen tumor. Is there any way to keep these from developing? Or detect them before they wrap around a gut? My horse is generally doing well, aside from a little arthritis. I just want to make sure that I am doing everything I can for him. What can I do to prevent this problem? Name withheld…

“When snow falls, nature listens.”—Antoinette van Kleef The Highlander Plus 300G Combo (suggested retail, $174.99) from Shires Equestrian is designed with a ShireTex® 1200 denier ripstop outer that is both waterproof and breathable. In addition, it features an integrated neck blanket, taped seams, deep shoulder gussets, a breathable liner, twin chest clips, adjustable cross surcingles, a tail cord, integrated leg strap loops for optional leg straps and a large tail flap. In navy, in sizes 60 to 87. Visit shop.shiresequestrian.com. Available in three new colors (navy, olive and pewter), the 10K Cross Trainer™ Winter Blanket (suggested retail, $229.99 with a hood and $189.99 without) from Classic Equine contains 300 grams of fiberfill for colder climates. Its 1,200-denier breathable ripstop outer shell is waterproof and durable, and its new shape hugs…