Table of contents for June 2018 in Equus

From the beginning I have so enjoyed reading the letters and comments from other charter subscribers. I may be taking some liberties assuming that I am a member of this elite group since my “official” subscription copy started with EQUUS 3. I was in college at the time and on a very tight budget when the invitation hit my mailbox. There wasn’t much money for extras like a magazine, but I was so intrigued with the type of content EQUUS promised that I couldn’t resist. And here I am all these years later, still receiving my favorite magazine. It was everything as promised and then some. Laural McPhillips Hastings, Michigan I just want to add my name to all who have written in to share their long relationship with EQUUS.…

How a horse behaves during transport can help predict whether he’s likely to develop respiratory illness after the journey, according to a new study from Australia. University of Sydney researchers monitored 12 horses during an eight-hour trailer ride, taking particular note of behaviors associated with anxiety, such as head tossing, biting nearby horses or looking out the window. After the trip, the researchers examined the horses for physiological signs of respiratory and immune stress, drawing blood to test for cortisol concentrations and swabbing airways to determine the bacterial levels. When the researchers compared each horse’s behavior patterns with signs of respiratory and immune stress, they found that those who exhibited anxiety more frequently during transport tended to have higher blood cortisol levels, greater mucus accumulations and increased bacteria in the…

“The soul of the horses goes into our marrow; My saddle’s a kingdom, and I am its lord.”—R. St. John Tyrwhitt, “The Glory of Motion” To stand up to “rug wreckers,” the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Ripshield Plus (suggested retail, $139.99), from Weatherbeeta, is made of 1200 denier polyester in a cross-hatch weave to help prevent tears. The sheet features a stretch panel insert over the withers, nylon lining to protect the shoulders and mane, side gussets to allow natural movement, a tail flap split in two to wrap around the hindquarters, and removable neck and belly wraps for versatility. In gray-and-purple or white-and-blue, in sizes 66 to 84 inches. Visit www.weatherbeeta.com. The Sweet-Itch Combo (suggested retail, $129.99), from Shires Equestrian Inc., is made with a highly breathable, lightweight 600-denier ripstop fabric…

When discussing vaccination options with horse owners, I am often asked, “Why can’t we just pull a titer?” When talking about immunization, “titer” refers to the amount of antibodies to a particular disease that can be found in the blood. In theory, a body with a high titer against a disease is properly prepared to fight it and an annual booster isn’t necessary. In people this may be true, but in horses it is not. In other words, even a horse with a “high titer” against the pathogens that cause a particular disease may not actually be equipped to fight them off. We can pull blood from a horse and get antibody numbers for nearly any disease but, with one exception, we don’t know what the numbers actually mean. Streptococcus…

Carry these items on your person so you can get your hands on them quickly, even if you are separated from your horse: • cell phone and/or smart watch. Consider downloading a “panic button/personal defense” app. Specific features vary, but most will trigger a loud alarm to attract attention and possibly scare off a potential attacker. Some will also note your GPS coordinates, notify your emergency contacts that you are in trouble and/or summon the police, fire or rescue services. • pepper spray, tasers or other defensive gear. Don’t carry specific items until you are familiar with how to use them and comfortable with the possibility. Also, take some time to acclimate your horse to any potential sounds or other startling sensations before taking a new item on the trail.…

Our pioneer ancestors had no time for difficult horses. They valued good-mindedness as much as soundness. All sectors of the horse industry would do well to remember that today, comparatively few people have the knowledge or experience to work successfully with horses who are flighty or aggressive. Any breed that consistently markets good-minded horses who are easy to break in and train is at an advantage now even more than in our great-grandfathers’ time.…

DENTAL CARE Why teeth wear at different rates Q: I recently took in a rescue horse who had been seized from his former owner for starvation and neglect. This horse had once competed in reining and then was used as a stud. He was gelded at 21. After a careful refeeding program at the rescue facility, he has returned to good health—except for his teeth. All of his upper teeth—molars and incisors—are worn down to the gum line, all the way from front to back. His lower teeth are a normal length for a horse of his age. He is on a senior feed, fed as a mash twice a day, as well as free-choice timothy and alfalfa hay. Still, any ideas what might have caused this? Barbara Gordon Bellevue, Washington…

Jesse was a legend. He was a halter champion, a winner in dressage, a bombproof foxhunter and an undefeated trail challenge champion. More important, he was the sweetest soul. He loved people, he loved to train, he loved to travel, he loved me. I bought him as a yearling, and I held his head in my arms as he died at 32. Jackson, on the other hand, has had to follow in Jesse’s footsteps. I wanted my next horse to be a bit smaller with similar coloring, so when this cute, 4-year-old, 14.3 hand red dun popped up in my Facebook feed, I thought I’d go take a look. It was not love at first sight. But I thought the little gelding had potential. Plus he wasn’t too expensive, so…

An international research effort has yielded a new method for predicting whether a racehorse will be able to return to the track after a tendon injury or would be better off directed toward a new career. Researchers at the Hong Kong Jockey Club and University of Nottingham and Oakham Veterinary Hospital in England reviewed the records of 469 horses diagnosed with injuries of the superficial digital flexor tendon. In addition to ultrasound0 images and medical records, the researchers collected competition information for the horses to determine if they raced after rehabilitation. For the purposes of the study, a successful return to racing was defined as completing five or more races after the injury. The ultrasound images were analyzed based on a number of factors, including the size of lesions and…

Q: Equine breathing patterns are closely linked to locomotion. With that in mind, which of the following statements are true? a. Horses take one breath per each stride while cantering or galloping. b. Horses hold their breath while walking backward. c. Higher-stepping horses take deeper breaths. For the answer, turn to page 25. POP QUIZ ANSWER a. Horses take one breath per each stride of a canter or gallop—the horse’s internal organs act as a “piston” of sorts, pushing air into and out of the lungs as they move backward and forward with each stride. This results in extremely efficient respiration, with a galloping horse taking as many as 150 breaths per minute.…

Cobwebs can be a fire hazard in the barn, but removing them can be a difficult, messy job. I’ve found that a length of PVC pipe attached to a shop vacuum can make it easy to reach and remove cobwebs even in the farthest corners of the barn. Send your suggestions for inexpensive horse-care substitutes as well as hints for saving effort and time to Hands On, EQUUS, P.O. Box 7510, Falls Church, Virginia 22040; email: EQLetters@aimmedia.com. Senders of published items will receive selected EQUUS merchandise.…

Vaccines are the best way to protect your horse from disease. Devastating conditions, such as tetanus and rabies, are entirely preventable with proper immunization, and even when a particular vaccine isn’t 100 percent protective, it can reduce the severity of illness, leading to a quicker recovery with fewer complications. What’s more, vaccines are safe and relatively inexpensive—when it comes to keeping your horse healthy, you can’t do much better than implementing a proper vaccination plan. That said, there are things you can do to ensure your horse is getting the maximum benefit from his vaccines. With some forethought and planning, you can make sure his immunization schedule provides the highest level of protection for the longest time possible. Here are four simple guidelines for making the most of vaccinations. 1.…

The conformation and pedigree of these individuals demonstrate many linkages between Mountain Horses, Quarter Horses and Saddlebreds. They are of different registries and their foaling dates span more than a century. They represent a great American tradition in horse breeding, one that I am pleased to see continuing and expanding today. Cabell’s Lexington (1863) is a descendant of Justin Morgan and is considered an American Saddlebred, but his pedigree shows so much Mountain Horse ancestry that, in my opinion, he should be considered a Mountain Horse. Bred in Missouri by General Sterling Price, MD, and later sold to his friend and fellow Confederate Army officer General William Lewis Cabell, this is the earliest Mountain Horse-bred individual whose name we know. Cabell in a civilian suit is the “rider up.” The…

A new study adds to the growing body of evidence of the healing power of horses. University of Missouri researchers set out to quantify the effects of a therapeutic riding program accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) on veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A condition that occurs as a result of injury or severe psychological shock, PTSD can cause a variety of symptoms including anxiety, flashbacks and an inability to feel positive emotions. The study focused on 29 veterans diagnosed with PTSD: Fifteen were enrolled in a riding program at a PATH-certified facility and the remaining 14 were on a wait list so they served as controls until they began the program six weeks later. The program’s participants followed a curriculum that incorporated grooming and…

A fly mask can provide important protection for your horse against summer’s insect onslaught, but you’ll want to take some steps to prevent it from doing more harm to your horse than good. 1. Make sure it fits. A properly fit and adjusted fly mask will not rub a horse behind the ears or under the jaw. It will also provide plenty of clearance for the horse’s eyelashes, which may have as much to do with contour and style than fit of the mask. If a mask doesn’t have ample room over the eyes, lid function could be impaired and the eyelashes may sweep dirt and dust into the eye with each blink. Horses have differently shaped heads, so a style that works well for one of your horses may…

Summer is the season of easy grooming. Without a thick coat of winter hair, it’s a relative breeze to keep your horse clean. Even so, it’s possible to make your summer grooming routine even more effective. Here are three seasonal grooming tips: Don’t overuse shampoos. Even gentle bathing products will strip some natural oils from your horse’s coat, reducing his shine. After sweaty rides, just rinse your horse with clear water, saving soapy baths for when he’s particularly dirty or needs to be clean for a special occasion. Provide protection from the sun. Beyond the painful damage of photosensitivity and sunburn, ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to grooming challenges by fading darker coats, giving them a distinctly orange tinge. You can protect your horse’s coat by providing him with deep…

Theories about the ideal vaccination schedules for older horses are evolving. We used to think that older horses needed fewer vaccines, based on the belief that because that they had been exposed to so much in their lives, their immune systems are well prepared for challenges. But so far research doesn’t support that idea. In fact, immunosenescence—the immune system “forgetting” particular things—happens in horses even more than in humans. And if the horse has concurrent disease, such as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), the immunosenescence could be even worse. Research into this phenomenon is ongoing and I think we are going to be hearing about this in more detail soon. Vaccination schedule recommendations for older horses have recently changed and are likely to do so again as more is learned,…

If you were attacked on the trail, would you know how to protect yourself? Here are three ways to keep yourself and your horse safe. Angela Villa was riding in the Table Top Wilderness, south of Phoenix, Arizona, when she encountered a man crouched in the bushes with his rifle aimed squarely at her riding partner. She couldn’t see him clearly in the evening light, but the distinct red dot—from a weapon’s laser sight—on her friend’s shirt made it clear that he had seen them. Villa gathered her reins and asked her mare to take a step forward. Then, assured that she had her horse’s full attention, she called out to the gunman, saying she and her friend wanted no trouble. For a few seconds, the red dot bounced back…

While the Colonial Quarter Running Horse (CQRH) is primarily a product of the South, that region has also consistently produced a more slender and flexible equine type which we may call the “Southern saddler.” In her history of the Rocky Mountain Horse, Bonnie Hodge presents Civil War-era photos of this type, which outcrops when the horse takes more after its ambling Thoroughbred ancestors than its Virginia Hobby or CQRH ones.…

I was boxing up books, getting ready to move, when I dropped one of my photograph albums, and it fell open. There on the page in front of me was a pigtailed girl riding a pinto pony in a local parade. That was me, back in the 1980s, with my beloved Munchkin. I hadn’t thought of her in years. I took a break from packing to continue leafing through photos that brought back old memories. I have always had an inexplicable attraction to horses. After years of reading everything I could about horses, taking advantage of every opportunity to ride, and begging, I finally was able to convince my parents that my equestrian interest was more than just a passing fancy. I promised, over and over, that I alone would…

CLEAN AND SHINY ► Product: Mane ‘n Tail Ultimate Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner ► Description: Bring out your horse’s shine with these new formulations from Straight Arrow Products. Providing gentle but deep cleansing, the pH balanced shampoo replenishes the coat without leaving a residue. The conditioner contains natural oils and proteins that leave the hair silky and glossy. ► Price: suggested retail, $14.99 for each 32-ounce bottle ► Source: Straight Arrow Products, Inc.; 800-827-9815; www.manentailequine.com VERSATILE SADDLE PAD ► Product: Roma Line Quilt All-Purpose Saddle Pad ► Description: Designed for everyday riding as well as competition, the Roma Line Quilt All-Purpose Saddle Pad offers a close contact feel. Detailed quilting with girth loops keeps it secure. The pad has plaited rope edging and eye-catching line details in contrast colors. Available in…

antibody—disease-fighting substance produced by the body in response to the presence of an antigen. axial—pertaining to an axis or to motion around an axis. body condition score (BCS)—a designation, based on a nine-point numeric scale, indicating the amount of fat on a horse’s body. A BCS is assigned after a visual and hands-on appraisal. deep digital flexor tendon—tendon connecting the deep muscles at the back of the forearm and gaskin to the coffin bone in the foot. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)—large organic molecule that consists of two chains of nucleotides wound around each other; the material of which genes are made. Genes are responsible for the individual inherited characteristics of living organisms. equine herpesvirus (EHV)—a family of viruses that primarily cause chronic respiratory infections in horses (EHV-1, EHV-4). EHV-1 can also…