Horse Talk Panama

Horse Shopping Resource Guide • Chiriqui, Panama

2012-03-03T08:58:00.000-06:00

It is often difficult to navigate the streets of David; and as a newcomer, even more difficult to find the Rancho shops with all the horse goodies. The above map has only some of the Rancho shops. As I discover more shops and places of interest for horse owners I will update the map.

If you live in Boquete there is also one shop in Dolega that carries some basic essentials. Driving from Boquete toward David you veer left at the fork in Dolega. The Rancho is a couple of blocks down on the right. They carry a wide variety of medicines; grain; hay; ropes, etc....

If you would like a larger image of the map you can email me and I will send you a GIF file. carol@boquetesafari.com

New Orleans Arrives in Boquete with Mardi Gras Parade

2012-03-02T09:51:00.000-06:00

The Jazz and Blues Festival started in Boquete this week with a spectacular Mardi Gras parade. The festivities began at the BCP and ended at the Panamonte where the Smokin Time Jazz Club entertained a wildly wicked crowd of jazz enthusiasts. The garden at the Panamonte was perfect for this event--we all felt like we were in New Orleans. The band was fabulous!

Trail Riding in the Mountains of Boquete

2012-02-25T16:15:00.000-06:00

A small group of Club members decided to ride in Jaramillo Abajo and then enjoy a little cookout. We were all too busy riding to take pictures of the horses--and then we were too busy enjoying an ice cold Balboa and a couple of hot dogs from the open fire. What better way to grill the dogs then on a pitch fork.

Grand Cabalgata Celebrates Isaac Sitton

2012-02-23T12:32:00.000-06:00

In Panama if you are a 'horse person' the biggest celebration you could have is a horse parade (cabalgata). So when Isaac Sitton, the son of one of the premier families in Boquete, turned 14 he was given a new horse and a Grand Cabalgata. (We always seem to get more pictures of the horses butts.)

Notice the curve of Far Boy's head as Heather keeps the evil one under control.

Again, everyone is having a wonderful peaceful walk while poor Heather is keeping The Boy from charging the other horses. Kudos to Heather, she is one of our best riders.

Snake Bite Horse Receives Unusual Treatment

2012-02-21T08:55:00.000-06:00

A horse named Barbie who suffered multiple snake bites on her head and neck is recovering well in the USA after receiving a very unconventional treatment....... Maggots!
Barbie, a 16 month old filly was found in her paddock by her owners, barely alive and foaming at the mouth.
The filly was taken to Oklahoma State University's Centre for Veterinary Health Sciences where she spent five weeks where she underwent a number of treatments in her battle for life.
The snake bites believed to have come from a pigmy rattlesnake, a copperhead or a water moccasin. The attending veterinarians suspected a pigmy rattlesnake. Rattlesnake venom causes extensive tissue necrosis (dead) and sloughing.
Maggots were used to clean the dead and dying skin around the wounds. This technique, although unusual, is becoming an acceptable way of treating dead and dying tissue. The treatments has been used on humans in the UK.
The maggots used for medical treatments are not your 'normal' maggot. They are treated and sterilised before use. Medicinal maggots have three actions: 1) they clean wounds by dissolving the necrotic (dead), infected tissue; 2) they disinfect the wound by killing bacteria; and 3) they stimulate wound healing.
It is amazing that Barbie survived the snake bites. Credit goes to the veterinaries. And for treating the after effects of the bites, well credit goes to the maggots!
http://www.equitour.co.uk/news/Snake-Bite-Horse-Receives-Unusual-Treatment.html

Barbie Gets Clean Bill of Health One Year Later

2012-02-21T08:50:00.001-06:00

Red Bucks Muchacha, “Barbie,” is the daughter of a three-time world champion roping horse. Owners Bob and Janie Kaser of Morris, Okla., brought the 2 year old filly back to Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences for a follow up visit. Nearly one year ago, the horse was treated for a snake bite and medical complications that nearly cost the horse her life.

When Barbie first arrived at OSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, her head and neck were swollen twice the size they normally would be. The horse had been bitten on the head between her eye and ear. Based on the location of the Kaser’s home, the attending veterinarians suspected a pigmy rattlesnake was the culprit.

After three days at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, a very large swelling appeared on the left side of Barbie’s neck. According to Dr. Lyndi Gilliam, Equine Internal Medicine, rattlesnake venom causes extensive tissue necrosis and sloughing.

“We will probably never know what caused the massive tissue loss in her neck, but it’s all related to the snake bite,” explains Dr. Gilliam.

Veterinarians used maggot therapy on the massive wound to aid the healing process. After a five-week stay at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Barbie returned home with the Kasers. However, she wasn’t out of danger yet.

Drs. Gilliam and Todd Holbrook, Equine Internal Medicine, are following Barbie’s progress for possible heart complications. Dr. Gilliam is conducting research on snake bites in horses. Her project focuses on defining the cardiac toxicity of rattlesnake venom in horses. A month after her release, Barbie returned to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a check up.

Nearly a year later, the horse is being examined once again to determine if there are any lasting affects. Barbie now weighs 1,128 pounds and her heart rate is normal at 44 beats per minute. Dr. Holbrook uses a sonogram to examine the horse’s heart for any arrhythmias.

“There are specific toxins in the snake venom that could affect the heart,” says Dr. Holbrook. “However, not all horses are affected that particular way by snake bites. Today, the ultrasound exam and an ECG did not reveal any abnormalities with Barbie’s heart.”

According to Janie, they will begin training the 2-year-old filly now that Barbie has a clean bill of health.

“We hope to use her for reining or a working cow horse. Her father is a three-time world champion roping horse,” smiles Janie. “We took her to Shawnee for a show. She placed 6th out of 25 in her halter class. We were very pleased. I am amazed at her recovery every time I look at the pictures. We are forever grateful for the care Barbie continues to receive here at the Veterinary Center.”

Click the following link to watch the News Report.
Daughter of Champion Horse Survives Snake Bite and Medical Complications

Islands in the Stream Create Horse Haven

2012-02-21T08:39:00.000-06:00

During the Rainy season in Boquete, Panama the rivers run wild. The rush of water moves rock and dirt downstream. At the Wilson Bridge the dirt settles to create an island that a Mare and Foal have decided is a safe place to take a break and have a little fun.

El Capitan Finds New Home

2012-02-08T10:44:00.000-06:00

October 2011 I was forced to find new homes for my many tour horses. Boquete Mountain Safari--my former tour company--had been sold and the new owners did not want the care and expense of the horses. The horses were a significant part of the company, as well as, the loves of my life. So good homes for all but my Far Boy were a top priority. Thankfully it was not a difficult task as the horses were in good health, easy to ride, and trail ready. There were some disappointed Chiriqui Saddle Club members, however, as some of the horses were rented out to them for club rides. So last October the quest started to find Karen a new horse. It was a long and sometimes painful journey as Heather, another club member, and I fell in love with several of the horses we found for Karen. But alas, Karen did not. Because of a serious fall during a Boquete Cabalgata
Karen insisted on a gaited horse (a paso or paso mix).

Finally a few weeks ago Karen decided to buy El Capitan, from a dairy farmer in Poterillos. He is a beauty with a couple of issues: he is 13 and still a stallion; his feet are in need of a lot of trimming; he has lived by himself for 4 years (no other horses, only cows). How he will behave with other horses is still a mystery. Karen is getting him cut (gelded--no more stallion), so he CAN be with mares without impregnating them. The Question remains: will he still think he is a stallion and act like a 'proud cut' gelding. Only time will tell as he has not been cut yet; and he has not been on a trail ride with any other horses. We all wish Karen well as she absolutely loves this horse.

Chiriqui Saddle Club • First ride of the Season

2012-01-06T16:54:00.000-06:00

The Chiriqui Saddle Club set off from River Ranch Farms, in Caldera, for a glorious ride on January 4th. This was the first ride of the new year. The ride was through the back roads of Caldera to a little restaurant, La Amistad in Esperanza, where we all shared a few beers and lunch before heading back to River Ranch Farm.

The club was started a year ago by Lynne H. with the purpose of promoting safe trail rides for horse lovers in Boquete. The club was also organized to share information regarding horse care; medical alerts; horses for sale; tack for sale; horse issues, and more. The Club Rides are organized by various club and non club members. Special lunches and dinners are also part of the club protocol to get together and share knowledge and help one another with horse related issues.

It's a Guide Dog that is a Horse

2012-01-05T10:09:00.000-06:00

If you ever doubt that horses can be trained to deal with unusual situations, then remind yourself of the Guide Horse who is trained to face escalators and subways as part of everyday life.

Yes you read that right.
A Guide Dog that's a horse. A pygmy horse in fact (they have to standbetween 20 and 25 inches at the shoulder — smaller and they are too rare andexpensive; larger and they won’t fit under restaurant tables!).

As we horse owners all know, horses are highly aware of safety, constantlyon the lookout for danger. This trait is ideal for guiding work. And it turnsout that horses have a natural tendency to guide their handler along the safestand most efficient route, and that they demonstrate excellent judgment inobstacle avoidance training. Perfect.
So what can a Guide Horse offer that a Guide Dog cannot? The main winner islongevity. Horses live a lot longer than dogs. 30-40 years compared to 10-16.Many blind people cannot bear the idea of becoming attached to an animal andthen having to replace it.

And for those who swoon at cute - Guide Horses can be outfitted withtiny sneakers to give traction on slippery floors and protect their hooves toosmall for regular iron horse shoes.

youtube video of Panda's training

Rachael Ray video interview

http://horseproblems.horsetrainingsuccess.com/2009/08/its-guide-dog-thats-horse.html

Keeping Them Wild

2011-12-25T10:51:00.000-06:00

"What will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered? The wild horses tamed? What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted by talking wires? Where will the thicket be? Gone! Where will the eagle be? Gone! And what is it to say goodbye to the swift pony and the hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival."

--Chief Seattle, 1852

http://www.kbrhorse.net/whb/whb.html

Mustang-n

A mode of transportation equipped with 4 on the floor, positraction anddual rear hoofed drive. All models come with custom leather seats and are produced so that no two are colored exactly the same. They are easy to operate, have programmable memories, are very fuel efficient and are environmentally friendly.

"Randle" McNally

Why Wear A Helmet When Horseback Riding? • What is your head worth?

2011-12-25T10:09:00.000-06:00

Breaking your helmet and walking away from it...

Those of you who are fans of the TV series "Rescue 9-1-1" mayrecognize the name, Lana Fox. She was the lady who rescued an accident victimfrom a burning car on a highway near Rodeo, CA., when everyone else ran theother way.
Lana used to be our neighbor. I say "used to be" since her luckran out one day when a green Arabian youngster she was mounting bolted andstuffed her head into a utility pole. The resulting injuries were fatal. Infact, as we discovered, around that time there had been at least a half dozenfatal equestrian accidents in the region centered by Contra Costa County, and several morewhich resulted in serious injuries. Many of these accidents included blunttrauma to the head from fixed objects and/or horse hooves.
In response to this gruesome trend, a number of us produced the"Equestrian Crash Course" and use of helmets in the area increaseddramatically. Interestingly enough, fatal equestrian accidents correspondinglydeclined. Around the barn we have had the usual "unscheduled flights"from such expected activities as horses and riders falling at a gallop orblowing a jump, however on June 8th, 1997, we discovered potentially seriousaccidents can happen almost anywhere.
I had just finished giving a fairly green 14hh gelding a half hour workoutand another rider hopped on to cool him out. They wandered over to the"tie area" where the rider was calmly sitting, chatting with anotherrider who she expected to join her. A rather boisterous filly was eating from amanger nearby, and although she was tied, she lunged at the little horse whichshe thought was getting too close. A timid sort around other horses, thegelding startled which in turn startled a third horse tied nearby. Although therider tried to regain control, the little horse gave a few big league spinningbucks and the rider came off, landing on her head and shoulders hard enough tobreak the helmet.
Fortunately the helmet did its job and absorbed the impact. Although bruisedand temporarily stunned, the rider checked out OK and resumed her activitiesaround the stable.

This closeup shows the point of impact. The shell of this lightweight TroxelEQ is designed primarily to protect the styrofoam liner, with the linerproviding the major element of head protection. The ground was hard enough tocrack the shell under high impact.
This closeup shows the helmet lining. The impact to the head dissipatedthrough the lining, manifesting itself in this large crack. It is our opinionthat this damage is not suggestive of any failure of the helmet. We believe thehelmet absorbed and dissipated the impact as it should have, as evidenced by atotal lack of any blunt trauma injury to the rider's head. At minimum, thishelmet saved a trip to the emergency room.
The point of this report is not to express concern about the apparent damageto the helmet. It did its job. We'll mail it back to Troxel who will replace itfor a $15.00 service charge. The interesting aspect here is that when one leastexpects it, sitting quietly on a tired horse, the unexpected can happen withviolent results. Therefore the wearing of helmets is always appropriate, notjust when working at speed or over jumps.

For those of you who have linked over here from the KBR World of Wild Horses andBurros, unseasoned horses, whether feral or domestic, can behaveunpredictably when one least expects it. While this may not be cause for alarm,it is reason enough to be properly prepared and properly equipped; with aproperly fitting saddle, good headstall and reins with an appropriate size bitfor the horse's mouth, boots with heels which won't get hung up in the stirrupsand, of course, head protection. In addition to having the right equipment, itshould be regularly inspected and maintained. In this manner you can meet thechallenge and have an exciting and rewarding time with your equine subject.
http://www.whmentors.org/saf/head.html

Horse: Coming Soon to a Meat Case Near You

2011-12-18T14:17:00.000-06:00

When President Barack Obama signed the spending bill into law on November 18, another piece of the legislation trotted in under the radar.
The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012, better known as the spending bill or H.R. 2112, allocated funding for several federal departments and agencies - including the U.S. Department of Agriculture - until September 2012.
And part of that bill lifted a 5-year-old ban on the slaughter of horses for meat.
In 2006, Congress "prohibited the use of federal funds to inspect horses destined for food, effectively prohibiting domestic slaughter" according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Currently, there are no horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. If that were to change, the USDA assured it would conduct the appropriate inspections to ensure humane methods of handling the animals and humane slaughter in a statement.

While horses could soon be legally butchered, no money was actually allocated for horse meat inspections in the bill; ultimately, it'd be up to the USDA to find funding in its present shoestring budget.
The Humane Society has already published a Horse Slaughter Petition Act on its Web site, writing: "Horses in America are not raised as food animals; they are companions and the very symbols of our freedom. When horse slaughter did exist in the United States, USDA documentation confirms that it was a bloody and terrifying process."
And in a unexpected twist, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is in favor of the USDA's decision, supporting domestic horse slaughtering instead of shipping horses to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.
“It's quite an unpopular position we've taken,” PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk told the Christian Science Monitor. “There was a rush to pass a bill that said you can't slaughter them anymore in the United States. But the reason we didn't support it, which sets us almost alone, is the amount of suffering that it created exceeded the amount of suffering it was designed to stop.”
We have asked before if our readers would be willing to eat horse meat and were slightly surprised by the outcome:

I have and I enjoy it. 9.65%
I haven't, but I would. 28.38%
Only under dire circumstances 19.74%
I could never do that. 42.23%

And an Eatocracy poll from earlier this year shows a shift in perception toward horse meat consumption in the United States.

Do you think Americans will ever accept horse meat as part of their diet?
- No way. Never. 34.82%
- Only if there is no other option and we run out of other food sources 13.71%
- People don't really care that much what they put in their mouths, so yes 5.55%
- Possibly, but only after its health benefits are really proven 3.47%
- It'll take time, but why not? 14.3%
- It would be a huge success now if it were legal 4.11%
- People might try it as a novelty, but not as a staple – it'll always have a bit of a taboo 13.73%
- Maybe some food freaks will consider it a delicacy, but most people won't touch it 9.28%
- Other (please share below) 1.05%

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/11/30/horse-coming-soon-to-a-meat-case-near-you/

Horses Never Forget Human Friends

2011-12-08T12:44:00.001-06:00

Horses not only remember people who have treatedthem well, they also understand words better than expected, research shows.

THE GIST:

Horses remain loyal to humans with which they have had past, positive encounters.
The animals remember people even after long separation.
Horses understand vocal commands better than expected.

ByJenniferViegas
Wed Mar 17, 2010 04:58 AM ET

Human friends may come and go, but a horse could be one of your most loyal,long-term buddies if you treat it right, suggests a new study.

Horsesalso understand words better than expected, according to the research, andpossess "excellent memories," allowing horses to not only recalltheir human friends after periods of separation, but also to remember complex,problem-solving strategies for ten years or more.

The bond with humans likely is an extension of horsebehavior in the wild, since horses value their own horse relatives andfriends, and are also open to new, non-threatening acquaintances.
"Horses maintain long-term bonds with several members of theirfamily group, but they also interact temporarily with members of othergroups when forming herds," explained Carol Sankey, who led the research,and her team.

"Equid social relationships are long-lasting and, in some cases,lifelong," added the scientists, whose paper has been accepted forpublication in the journal Animal Behavior.
Ethologist Sankey of the Universityof Rennes and her colleagues studied 20Anglo-Arabian and three French Saddlebred horses stabled in Chamberet, France.The scientists tested how well the horses remembered a female trainer and herinstructions after she and the horses hadbeen separated up to eight months.

The training program for the horsesconsisted of 41 steps associated with basic grooming and medical care. Forexample, the horses had to remain immobile in response to the verbal command"reste!" which is French for "stay." The horses alsohad to lift their feet, tolerate a thermometer inserted into the rectum andmore. When a horse did as it was instructed, the trainer rewarded it with foodpellets.

With tasty rewards, the horses"displayed more 'positive' behaviors toward the experimenter, such assniffing and licking," the researchers wrote. Horses do this as a sign ofaffiliation with each other, so they weren't necessarily just seeking morefood.

The scientists added, "Horsestrained without reinforcement expressed four to six times more 'negative'behaviors, such as biting, kicking and 'falling down' on theexperimenter."

Nevertheless, after the eight months ofseparation, the horses trained with food rewards gravitated towards the sameexperimenter. The horses also seemed to accept new people more readily,indicating they had developed a "positive memory of humans" ingeneral.

"From our results, it appears thathorses are no different than humans (in terms of positive reinforcementteachings)," according to the researchers. "They behave, learn andmemorize better when learning is associated with a positive situation."

While people often train dogs in thisway, also using verbal commands, Sankey and her team point out that "themajority of horse-riding training is based on tactile sensations -- pressurefrom bits, movements of riders' legs, weight change in the saddle."

Since "horses are able to learn andmemorize human words" and can hear the human voice better than even dogscan, due to their particular range of hearing, the scientists predict trainerscould have success if they incorporate more vocal commands into their horsetraining programs.

Jill Starr is president and founder of Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, anon-profit that provides refuge, training and adoption placement for otherwiseslaughter-bound wild mustangs and domestic horses.

Starr told Discovery News that she'sobserved horses responding well to verbal commands, such as "trot,"but she still feels "horses and people get along better if the persondoesn't chatter, since this causes the individual to have greater awareness ofbody language that is more familiar to horses."

She, however, agrees that horses areloyal, intelligent and have very long-lasting memories -- of both good and badexperiences.

Starr said, "Horses can be veryforgiving, but they never forget."

http://news.discovery.com/animals/horse-friends-memory-trainers.html

Treeless vs. Conventional Saddles: Back Pressure Evaluated

2011-12-02T15:39:00.001-06:00

by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre
November 23 2011, Article # 19191

Treeless saddles are often said to be more "natural," more comfortable for riders and/or horses, or more universally fitting for all equine back shapes and rider seats. But according to a leading equitation scientist, the tree still seems to serve a very important purpose: regulating pressure distribution.
"What you can see with the treeless saddle is a very definite concentration of pressure right underneath the rider's seat bones," said Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, MRCVS, Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University, during the presentation of her study at the 2011 International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) Conference, held Oct. 26-29 in Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands. However, that's not the case with a well-fitted conventional saddle, which pressure mats reveal applies much more even pressure with lower peak forces across the horse's back, she said.
"That suggests that the tree is indeed doing what it's supposed to do, in terms of spreading the force over a larger area of the horse's back," she said.
In her study Clayton fitted eight purebred Arabian horses with pressure mats under their saddles and had them ridden at a slow, sitting trot in a straight line by the same, experienced rider. The rider rode each horse once with a treeless saddle and once with a conventional English saddle custom-fitted to an Arabian horse. The saddles weighed exactly the same, and the rider rode without stirrups.
What Clayton and her colleagues found was that the conventional saddle was much more effective in spreading out the pressure on the horse's back caused by the rider's weight, Clayton said. Generally the treeless saddles resulted in higher peak pressures, and more sensors detected significant pressure levels (higher than 11 kilopascals--a number that's significant in the appearance of clinical signs of back pain and injury, according to Clayton)--meaning a larger number of high individual pressure points.
"For the conventional saddle the loading was approximately equal across all thirds (of the saddle from front to back), whereas for the treeless saddle we had a very definite concentration of loading in the middle third (where the rider sits)," Clayton said.
Pressure would be even higher with a heavier rider (the study rider weighed 125 pounds) and at faster gaits, she said.

Learn the science behind "natural horsemanship" in Smart Horse, which helps the owner and rider apply fundamental principles of learning and training to their daily lessons and interactions with their equine partners.

Even so, conventional saddles are not necessarily ideal, according to Clayton. "The tree is a somewhat rigid structure, and the fact that it is rigid means there is need for the tree to fit correctly both to the horse and to the rider," she said. "A lot of riders have become very frustrated because it has become difficult to find a tree that does fit comfortably on both the horse and the rider."
Thus it's important to ensure your saddle fits your horse and isn't causing him back pain, and a saddle fitter or experienced horseman can assist in this task.
It would be interesting to see in further studies if a treeless saddle might still be an improvement over a poorly fitted conventional saddle, Clayton said. Additional studies should also test different kinds of treeless saddles.

Zebra Photo: http://www.blackforestsaddles.com/
Article: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19191

Osteopathy For Your Horse

2011-11-30T12:40:00.001-06:00

What are the benefits ofosteopathy for your horse?

Preventing injury or speed up recovery
Improving your /horse’s performance
Relieving muscle and joint stiffness
Maintaining mobility and eases arthritis
Overcoming some behavioural problems

Treatment

Osteopathy haslots of different types of techniques to offer, depending on type of injury andthe age of your horse/dog. Techniques commonly used are stretches, gentle jointmobilisation and massage-like techniques to remove any imbalances inmobility. Another, very gentle, technique is cranial osteopathy. This is asubtle method of treating but it is still a powerful way to re-balanceligaments, and strains throughout the body.

Osteopathyhelps maintaining a good condition of the joints and muscles by improving thecirculation and increasing lymphatic drainage. This helps to speed up recoveryof an injury also preventing injury and possible arthritis. Catching thoseproblems early can slow or help the progression of joint problems.

By increasingthe flexibility of the joints and the muscles there will be an increase inrange of movement. A horse that is relaxed and flexible moves better and ismore energy efficient. The joints, ligaments and tendons are under less stress andtherefore will allow increased performance.

Some horsesthat develop bad behaviour may be doing so as a result of discomfort. Agood example is head shyness in horses. This can be caused by pain over thepoll and may also be accompanied with resistance to the bridle.

The paincan be relieved by joint mobilization of the poll. Reduction of pain anddiscomfort will allow the horse to learn that it does not hurt each time someone puts on a head collar or a bridle, so it reduce the head shyness.

How do I know if myhorse needs treatment?

It is a good indication that horsesare in discomfort if they seem unusually sensitive when you touch particularareas. Other indications that treatment may be beneficial include:-

       Unusual behaviour patterns
       Unexplained lameness
       Reluctance to jump
       Reduced performance
       Problems after surgery
       Injuries caused by misjudging an obstacle, knocking poles or landing awkwardly

If you haveany questions or would like to make an appointment, please call

GabriellaCarlsson 6056 3453, 730 9345 or email carlsson.gabriella@gmail.com

Trail Riding

2011-11-29T16:41:00.001-06:00

Ruinas Hosts Preview to the Knights Horse Event

2011-11-29T16:06:00.001-06:00

Rain or shine * Sleet or Hale, the Knights of the Equestrian Center still charged forward.

When the Boquete Cabalgata was canceled, Jessica asked Craig, owner of Ruinas, if he would host a mini horse parade at his restaurant. The rest is history.

The Cabalgata That Wasn't

2011-11-29T11:35:00.001-06:00

November 28th, 2011 was the 100 Anniversary of Panama's independence from Spain. This heralded a grand celebration in Boquete. The Cabalgata (horse parade) scheduled for the 27th was expected to be the biggest ever in Boquete.The morning of the 27th as horses were being washed and made ready, the Mayor decided to cancel the Horse Parade. Rumors spread like wildfire, telephones were ringing; WHY? Apparently the Mayor decided that he did not want to have to pay the municipal workers extra money to clean up the horse poops after the parade. He wanted pristine streets for the Bands playing on the 28th, the next morning. And without the horses, and drinkers, littering the streets of Boquete, they are always pristine. Right?

Maybe with a little fore-thought a plan could have been devised to clean the streets, if that was really the major concern. Rumor has it that the Mayor does not like horses in "this here town". Hmmmm....Could that have played in to his decision to cancel at the last minute ,so no one could storm the Municipal Palace with possible solutions?

In spite of the rumors and calls to cancel a few brave souls stepped out anyway. I for one thought he was going to have guards posted at strategic locations to turn away anyone on a horse who tried to enter. Alas, 30 or so riders stormed the town with their horses ready, and Rum in hand. "This is our Tradition", they cried, "This is our Panama". Well, all except Sugar and Beatrice who decided that a peace offering of flowers in pink was more suitable.

Once-Over Grooming

2011-11-28T11:53:00.000-06:00

by: Nancy S. Loving, DVM • July 01 2011

As your horse leans into the satisfying feel of the brush and curry, you have an opportunity to do more than clean away dirt, grime, and loose hairs. Grooming also gives you visual and tactile information about your horse's health, and if done on a daily basis it can help you catch potential health problems early. Familiarize yourself with your horse's normal vital signs, sensory reactions, and physical characteristics so you can detect when something isn't quite right.
"Ideally, the grooming area should be well-lit to provide the best view," says Julie Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Turner Wilson Equine Consulting LLC, in Stillwater, Minn. "The parts (of the horse) most likely overlooked are the ones you may not groom every time due to time constraints, the horse's behavior, or an 'inconvenient' location." Thus, it helps to formulate a standard pattern that you follow with every grooming, whether you work front to back or bottom to top. If you stick to a routine you're less likely to overlook an important area.
Feet
If you groom from the bottom up, you might start by picking out the hooves. This important step should be done daily to remove accumulated manure, debris, or stones from feet. But also pay attention to your horse's body language: "Reluctance to pick up a foot often signifies pain in the opposite hoof--the horse may not wish to put full weight on the standing limb," says Wilson.
Wilson recommends careful scrutiny of the sole and frog structures in particular. "The sulci of the foot (the grooves on either side of the frog) should be checked for abnormal moisture or smell that may indicate thrush."
Eleanor Lenher, DVM, of Deer Creek Equine Clinic in Powhatan, Va., concurs: "A thrush infection can be painful to the point of making a horse lame. Any foul odor or black discharge should be monitored and is worth a call to your veterinarian just to be sure it's not too serious.
"Another area to keep an eye on is the white line (where the hoof wall meets the sole), which can be prone to bruising or separation, particularly if your horse's feet are late on a trimming cycle," she continues. "Irregularities of the white line can lead to white line disease or may indicate a bout of laminitis." In addition to making your daily observations, maintain an ongoing discussion with your farrier at every trim and shoeing so you'll be familiar with potential issues and be able to recognize a problem quickly.
As you examine the shod horse's hooves, check that horseshoes are aligned properly and aren't twisted or sprung, and check that all horseshoe nails are present and taut. Tighten any that are loose by steadying the nail on the bottom of the shoe and then hammering the clinch where it protrudes on the outside of the hoof wall. Or, call your farrier to replace them. If you find that your horse has stepped on a nail or has a foreign body lodged in the foot, call your veterinarian immediately to evaluate and possibly take radiographs (X rays) before removing the object, says Lehner. "Even if your horse doesn't yet appear lame or sore on the foot, this helps determine which structures have been penetrated so the best course of action is taken to achieve recovery," she explains.
Legs
Picking your horse's feet also provides a good opportunity for checking the animal's delicate legs. "Any resistance to routine hoof picking should prompt more careful palpation for swelling of the joint areas and tendons and ligaments along the lower leg," says Wilson.
Lenher notes that picking up the feet also allows you to check the leg joints' range of motion. "Gently flex all your horse's lower joints to feel the normal range of motion," she advises. "Knowing in advance what is normal for your horse lets you detect early problems." For joints higher on the leg, Lenher points out, "The carpal (knee) joints should flex to almost touch the cannon bone to the forearm." Pain along with unusual resistance to flexion might indicate an issue that needs to be addressed.
"However," she continues, "some horses have limited range of motion, particularly in the fetlocks--this may or may not affect their athletic ability or work." Hind limb joints such as the hocks are harder to assess, but Lenher comments, "If your horse that normally doesn't mind having his legs manipulated begins to resist, contact your veterinarian to check for a problem."
Tactile evaluation of the limbs as you groom also is important. "Run hands and fingers along your horse's legs to assess for lumps, wounds, scabs, sensitivity, and anything that you might feel rather than see," says Lenher. "Look also for visible swelling or bumps. Early detection of wounds, injuries, strains, or sprains can make the difference between a short layup and a career-ending injury." If you discover a wound, clean it well (e.g., flush with saline) and try to determine its depth. Then apply antibiotic ointment and bandage when appropriate. If you have any questions about its seriousness, call your veterinarian.
After a rigorous workout, "Pay attention to your horse's reaction to post-¬workout bathing and scraping," Wilson urges. "Look for new swellings or muscle tremors." Also try to identify muscle soreness as you groom--palpate the large muscle groups of the shoulders, chest, back, and hindquarters.
"Anytime a horse is ridden harder or longer than normal or after a horse show or event, check for excess sensitivity in any one area," Lenher says. "While I don't recommend that an owner massage or knead sore muscles (without training in massage therapy), I do stress the importance of identifying any swellings or hypersensitivity." Monitor sensitive areas to check for improvement, and call your veterinarian if soreness is slow to resolve.
The Saddle and Girth Areas
When grooming around the saddle and girth areas, look for signs of saddle pressure or pinching. "Three major signs of new problems are local pain, hair loss, and/or swelling," says Wilson. "Chronic problems may lead to thickened skin, or subcutaneous or fibrous nodules." Chronic pressure on points of the body injures skin cells; white hairs growing on a dark-haired horse or dark hairs on a light-haired horse are evidence of this.
"Use gentle finger pressure along the back and loins to check for sensitivity," Lenher suggests. "Also, note any swelling, abraded, or raw spots beneath the saddle area or girth." If your horse shows abnormal sensitivity or swelling, make an appointment with someone to check your saddle fit and, in the meantime, minimize swelling by cold-hosing the injured area. Apply antibiotic salve to tack abrasions.
Some horses display behavioral signs while being groomed that might indicate a problem is brewing. "Odd behavior (e.g., the horse moves away, pins its ears, tries to kick or bite, or flinches when an area is touched) may signal pain," says Wilson. "More subtle problems in the saddle and girth area may elicit a behavioral change only when the owner goes to put the saddle on or tightens the girth or cinch." She also suggests owners track their mares' heat cycles to determine if changed behavior might be related to estrus.
"Sensitivity around the girth area has been correlated with gastric ulcers," Lenher adds. Therefore, know your horse's normal responses to grooming so you are aware of new behaviors that might signify physical issues such as ulcers. On the other hand, if you're well-aware your horse is ticklish in the flank area, his reaction to being groomed there shouldn't prompt a call to your veterinarian. You should, however, groom slowly and carefully around his known sensitive spots, says Lenher.
As you groom your horse through the seasons, take note of how well he sheds his hair coat, particularly in springtime. A horse that isn't shedding well or whose shedding is delayed might be a cause for concern. "If the horse is middle-aged or older, metabolic disease like Cushing's syndrome is important to rule out," notes Wilson. "Internal parasites are more often the issue in neglected or young horses. However, other illnesses affect hair shedding by impacting nutrition." Consult your veterinarian about hair coat abnormalities.
Less Visible Areas
In areas that aren't readily visible, it pays to perform a diligent tactile examination. "Use your hands to check under the girth, belly, and groin for small wounds, insect bites or hypersensitivity reactions, ticks, swelling, or other problems," Lenher urges. "Afterward, smell your hands to check for bad odors (that might be associated with a dirty sheath or udder, or with an infected wound)." Also carefully--and safely--feel between the hindquarters and inner groin, as these are common places to find ticks.
Visible Signs of Problems
As you groom, look carefully for other telltale signs of health issues. Diarrhea stains on the rump, for instance, might be associated with internal parasite infection or gastrointestinal tract problems such as intestinal irritation from sand ingestion or malabsorption. Excess dietary fat or some forms of malnutrition can elicit loose stools. And, Wilson points out that nerves or stress also can lead to transient bouts of diarrhea.
Dark, creamy material spattered on your gelding's rear legs should indicate it's time to clean his sheath to remove smegma (secretions and debris) deposits. A swollen sheath also might indicate a need for cleaning, as do broken hairs at the top of the tail--tail rubbing is a common response to sheath irritation, but it can also be a sign of pinworms or a tick lodged near the tail/groin area.
Regarding mares, Lenher says owners should remove dirt accumulation around mares' teats, check for swollen teats or udders that might indicate mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands), and watch for redness, scaling, or hair loss that indicates dermatitis (inflammatory skin disease). Excess vaginal drainage in a mare might simply be a sign that she is in heat (estrus), or it could be related to uterine infection, urine pooling, or urinary tract problems. "A veterinary work-up is a good place to start to track down the sources of these problems," Lenher says.
"Gray horses need to be monitored everywhere for melanomas, including around the anus and under the tailhead," reports Wilson. "Likewise, when a male horse extends his penis to urinate, inspect him carefully. Look to see if nonpigmented areas of the penis or sheath appear reddened and inflamed, possibly indicating cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma."
Face, Eyes, and Ears
As you clean your horse's face, pay careful attention to the eyes. "Eyes should be checked for discharge, cloudiness, squinting, or discomfort," says Wilson.
"Any tearing from the eyes should be noted and monitored," Lenher adds. "A small amount of drainage might be due to a passing irritation or wind, but excessive tearing, squinting, pain, or sensitivity to light are red flags that require an immediate call to your veterinarian. Eye problems are best attended promptly--a delay can cost more money and possibly your horse's vision." While waiting for veterinary attention, garb your horse in a fly mask to lessen the sun's glare and to protect from insects and wind.
"If you notice any abnormal eye position or nystagmus (rapid involuntary eye oscillations), this could be early signs of neurologic disease," comments Wilson. "Also, localized sweating around the eye could indicate localized nerve irritation called Horner's syndrome." She also recommends checking for abnormal redness or growths in nonpigmented skin around the eyes and on the third eyelid that could foretell early squamous cell carcinoma.
Ears are less commonly a problem, but Wilson recommends checking ears regularly for discharge, ticks, gnats, warts, sarcoids, or aural plaques (skin warts caused by a papillomavirus). "If your horse normally has no issues with you bridling, touching, rubbing, or brushing around the ears and suddenly becomes 'ear shy,' it's appropriate to have him examined," notes Lenher.
"An area of the face that may harbor a problem is found around the throatlatch and beneath the jaw bones," Wilson explains. There are multiple lymph nodes in these areas, as well as salivary and thyroid glands. On occasion a lump might appear from an erupting or draining tooth. If you see any abnormal enlargement in the face, contact your veterinarian. Wilson also reminds owners to check for ticks under the jaw, as well as at the roots of the forelock and mane.