Table of contents for Autumn 2022 in Equus

Some people make extravagant plans on Valentine’s Day. Some people get surprises. On February 14, 2019, I headed to pick up what would ultimately be the best Valentine’s Day gift I have ever received. I answered a call from local law enforcement about an emaciated horse that needed help. They weren’t sure he was going to make it. Those eyes. I remember the second I saw him. The only white in a sea of mud. Sweet little sparkling eyes that hadn’t given up even though the rest of his body was trying to. I was honestly worried that the stress of the trailer trip might do him in, so I drove half speed all the way home. When I opened the trailer door he was shaking and feeble, but he…

WHAT A HORSE’S STANCE SUGGESTS ABOUT HIS HEALTH When it comes to evaluating horses, their movement has always been a primary focus. Now research suggests that more consideration should be given to how they stand. “Standing is the horse’s most prevalent activity,” says Karen Gellman, DVM, PhD. “Horses stand nearly all day, but we usually only assess their locomotion.” Gellman, a veterinarian with a doctorate in animal locomotion biomechanics, became interested in equine posture while doing an acupuncture internship with Judith M. Shoemaker, DVM, more than 20 years ago. “Dr. Shoemaker had observed that certain common problems were closely associated with horses using an abnormal compensatory posture,” explains Gellman. Specifically, horses who stand with their legs canted-in under their body are more likely to have chronic or recurrent lameness issues,…

This, our last installment in a series on the American Standardbred, is a celebration—a testimonial told in manyvoices. The Standardbred is an old breed, a blend of many bloodlines: Norfolk trotter, Thoroughbred, Arabian, Canadian and Morgan, and it was the world’s first sporthorse—developed more than a half-century earlier than the European verbands, who took their ideas for performance testing directly from American trotting associations and American military endurance tests. Usually thought of as a harness racer, and often ignored because of its propensity to pace and amble, in reality the Standardbred has repeatedly proven itself not only to be extraordinarily good-minded and trainable, but also outstandingly athletic. The breed can succeed in a wide array of performance contexts—as this article abundantly demonstrates. A unique genetic mutation alters the development of…

It’s fun to expand your horizons by taking your horse to shows and trail rides, but travel can increase his risk for digestive upset. Trailer rides, changes in routine and the stress of just being in a new environment can lead to the develop of ulcers, episodes of colic or other gastrointestinal woes. Here’s howyou can help keep your horse’s digestive system functioning well when you’re on the road. • Take along your horse’s usual feed. Any change in diet can upsetyour horse’s gut flora. This goes for hay as well as grain, so pack enough of your horse’s usual ration to last for the duration of your trip. • Keep his stomach full. Empty equine stomachs are prone to ulcers. Keep a full hay net in front of your horse…

A tenet of good horseman-ship has long held that if a horse chronically misbehaves, your first step must be to determine whether physical pain is the cause. A study from Colorado State University not onlyvalidates this approach but identifies a specific type of neuropathic pain that can lead to behaviors so dangerous that euthanasia may be the kindest option. The Colorado researchers reviewed the cases of 14 horses referred to the University veterinary clinic for “severe performance limitations resulting in euthanasia.”The horses were generally well-behaved and easy to handle around the barn, but became extremely dangerous under saddle—bucking, rearing and refusing to go forward, and engaging in other intractable behaviors. After repeated and extensive diagnostic workups failed to identify an underlying cause, and multiple therapies did not change the behavior,…

The big gray canters easily in a circle, the cadence of his movement and rhythm of his breath functioning like a metronome for the riders performing elaborate gymnastic maneuvers on his back. Held aloft between two seated riders, a young girl does aerial splits before rolling onto her shoulders, executing a headstand over the horse’s withers. She maintains the position, her body fluidly rocking with the horse’s gait. Her poise and athleticism are captivating. It’s only after she summersaults off the horse’s back that the casual observer might notice the acrobatic young rider is missing an arm. “You’re going to put my child with disabilities on the back of a horse and have them do WHAT?!” Rick Hawthorne—the founder and head coach of Valley View Vaulters, an inclusive vaulting program…

While environmental dust is the most common trigger of severe equine asthma (SEA, also known as heaves), a study from Canada shows that hormonal fluctuations can influence the severity of the disease’s signs. Researchers at the University of Montreal examined the effects of the estrous cycle on respiratory function in five mares with severe SEA, building on studies in humans showing that reproductive hormones can exacerbate asthma. “Research on the effects of the reproductive cycle on asthma symptoms in women was published mainly in the 1980s,” says Sophie Main-guy-Seers, DVM. “There is still controversy on this topic, but most studies reported a deterioration of symptoms, with an increase in emergency admission rate just before or during menses.” To trigger exacerbation of SEA, the mares were kept in a barn on…

Ticks are relentless, blood-feeding ectoparasites that infest almost every type of animal, including horses. With a resume like thatyou’d think we’d all be on high alert, all the time, to ensure ticks are identified and disposed of before they have the opportunity to attach to our horses. However, equine tick infestations can go undetected, even by conscientious owners, due to the horse’s thick hair coat and the tick’s small size. Couple that with a widespread misconception that ticks only feed in warmer months of the year or in certain habitats, and ticks persist as a particularly icky equine parasite. But ticks are more than gross. They can cause skin irritation, secondary infections at bite wounds and even anemia. Most concerning, ticks can pass along pathogens, such as those that cause…