No Horse is Physically (Skeletally) Mature Before 5.5 to 6 Years Old

Our Mouse, coming up on physical maturity.
Almost ready to start at 7 years old. - See more at: http://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/no-horse-is-physically-skeletally-mature-before-5-5-to-6-years-old/#sthash.mVz9Vu4s.dpuf

Our Mouse, coming up on physical maturity.
Almost ready to start at 7 years old. - See more at: http://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/no-horse-is-physically-skeletally-mature-before-5-5-to-6-years-old/#sthash.mVz9Vu4s.dpuf

Mouse, coming up on physical maturity.
Almost ready to start at 7 years old. 

Our Mouse, coming up on physical maturity.
Almost ready to start at 7 years old. - See more at: http://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/no-horse-is-physically-skeletally-mature-before-5-5-to-6-years-old/#sthash.mVz9Vu4s.dpuf

Below are a few key quotes from the article (but I encourage you to take the time to read the entire paper). It teaches that no horse, of any breed, in any country, at any time in history either now or in the past, has ever been physically (skeletally) mature before it is six years old (plus or minus a few months), including every healthy, domestically-raised male and most female horses on the planet. Gaited horses (Tennessee Walkers, American Saddlebreds, etc) can require up to 8 years to fully mature skeletally.

The Link to the article:
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

This article is written by Dr. Deb Bennett Ph.D. Dr. Bennett is a 1984 graduate of the University of Kansas, and until 1992 was with the Smithsonian Institution. She is considered by many to be an authority on the classification, evolution, anatomy, and biomechanics of fossil and living horses.

“Believe it or not many vets are totally unaware, as many members of the general public are also unaware, that horses have more than one “growth plate”, that there are multiple ossification centers pertaining to every bone of the body outside of the skull, and that the schedule of growth-plate closure (which begins around the time of birth and extends until the sixth year, and is coordinated with the eruption schedule of the teeth) has been well known to veterinarians, paleontologists, zooarchaeologists, and mammalogists since the early 19th century.”

“There is no such thing [as a] slow-maturing breed. The Quarter Horse is not an ‘early maturing’ breed – and neither is the Arabian a ‘slow maturing’ breed. As far as their skeletons go, they are the same. This information comes, I know, as a shock to many people who think starting their colt or filly under saddle at age two is what they ought to be doing. “

It’s about more than just growth plates:

“While growth in cannon bone length stops with the fusion of both growth plates at around 1 ½ years of age, increase in cannon bone girth does not taper off until close to 5 years of age, and essentially the same can be said for the girth of any other limb element, with those bones located higher up in the body maturing later.”

It is the spine, not the limbs, that the horse primarily uses to govern overall coordination of the limbs

“Most of the growth plates above the distal radius in a three year old horse are unfused, including, most importantly, those of the animal’s spine. It is the spine of the horse that governs the overall coordination of the limbs and the animal’s running “style”. It is the spine, not the limbs, that the animal primarily uses to compensate for potholes, slick spots, and other irregularities in the race track [or any track]. The higher the speed and the greater the physical effort, the more important it is that the animal have all of its joints mature and in good working order. While catastrophic failures are uncommon, more subtle distal limb disease and chronic pain and dysfunction in two and three year old racehorses are commonly diagnosed and are major causes for the “wastage” of young Thoroughbreds.”

“The demand for all-out speed from any animal that is not skeletally mature is a recipe for disaster.”

“What people often don’t realize is that there is a “growth plate” on either end of every bone behind the skull, and in the case of some bones (like the pelvis or vertebrae, which have many “corners”) there are multiple growth plates.”

“The lateness of vertebral “closure” is most significant for two reasons. One: in no limb are there 32 growth plates! Two: the growth plates in the limbs are (more or less) oriented perpendicular to the stress of the load passing through them, while those of the vertebral chain are oriented parallel to weight placed upon the horse’s back. Bottom line: you can sprain a horse’s back (i.e. displace the vertebral physes – see Figs. 5 and 8) a lot more easily than you can displace those located in the limbs.”

“So do you then have to wait [to start your horse] until all these growth plates convert to bone? No. But the longer you wait, the safer you’ll be. Owners and trainers need to realize there’s an easy-to-remember general schedule of fusion – and then make their decision as to when to ride the horse based on that rather than on the external appearance of the horse. For there are some breeds of horse – the Quarter Horse is the premier among these – which have been bred in such a manner as to look mature long before they actually are mature. This puts these horses in jeopardy from people who are either ignorant of the closure schedule, or more interested in their own schedule (for futurities or other competition) than they are in the welfare of the animal.”

“Bottom line: if you are one of those who equates “starting” with “riding”, then I guess you better not start your horse until he’s four. That would be the old, traditional, worldwide view: introduce the horse to equipment (all kinds of equipment and situations, with the handler on the ground) when he’s two, add crawling on and off of him at three, saddle him to begin riding him and teaching him to guide at four, start teaching him maneuvers or the basics of whatever job he’s going to do – cavalletti or stops or racing or something beyond trailing cattle – at five, and he’s on the payroll at six. The old Spanish way of bitting reflected this also, because the horse’s teeth aren’t mature (the tushes haven’t fully come in, nor all of the permanent cheek teeth either) until he’s six. This is what I’d do if it were my own horse.”

http://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/no-horse-is-physically-skeletally-mature-before-5-5-to-6-years-old/ 

Below is the link to the best article I’ve ever read on this subject. It teaches that no horse, of any breed, in any country, at any time in history either now or in the past, has ever been physically (skeletally) mature before it is six years old (plus or minus a few months), including every healthy, domestically-raised male and most female horses on the planet. Gaited horses (Tennessee Walkers, American Saddlebreds, etc) can require up to 8 years to fully mature skeletally. Our Mouse (above) is a rescued Saddlebred.

The Link to the article:
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

This article is written by Dr. Deb Bennett Ph.D. Dr. Bennett is a 1984 graduate of the University of Kansas, and until 1992 was with the Smithsonian Institution. She is considered by many to be an authority on the classification, evolution, anatomy, and biomechanics of fossil and living horses.

Below are a few key quotes from the article (but I encourage you to take the time to read the entire paper).

“Believe it or not many vets are totally unaware, as many members of the general public are also unaware, that horses have more than one “growth plate”, that there are multiple ossification centers pertaining to every bone of the body outside of the skull, and that the schedule of growth-plate closure (which begins around the time of birth and extends until the sixth year, and is coordinated with the eruption schedule of the teeth) has been well known to veterinarians, paleontologists, zooarchaeologists, and mammalogists since the early 19th century.”

“There is no such thing [as a] slow-maturing breed. The Quarter Horse is not an ‘early maturing’ breed – and neither is the Arabian a ‘slow maturing’ breed. As far as their skeletons go, they are the same. This information comes, I know, as a shock to many people who think starting their colt or filly under saddle at age two is what they ought to be doing. “

It’s about more than just growth plates:

“While growth in cannon bone length stops with the fusion of both growth plates at around 1 ½ years of age, increase in cannon bone girth does not taper off until close to 5 years of age, and essentially the same can be said for the girth of any other limb element, with those bones located higher up in the body maturing later.”

It is the spine, not the limbs, that the horse primarily uses to govern overall coordination of the limbs

“Most of the growth plates above the distal radius in a three year old horse are unfused, including, most importantly, those of the animal’s spine. It is the spine of the horse that governs the overall coordination of the limbs and the animal’s running “style”. It is the spine, not the limbs, that the animal primarily uses to compensate for potholes, slick spots, and other irregularities in the race track [or any track]. The higher the speed and the greater the physical effort, the more important it is that the animal have all of its joints mature and in good working order. While catastrophic failures are uncommon, more subtle distal limb disease and chronic pain and dysfunction in two and three year old racehorses are commonly diagnosed and are major causes for the “wastage” of young Thoroughbreds.”

“The demand for all-out speed from any animal that is not skeletally mature is a recipe for disaster.”

“What people often don’t realize is that there is a “growth plate” on either end of every bone behind the skull, and in the case of some bones (like the pelvis or vertebrae, which have many “corners”) there are multiple growth plates.”

“The lateness of vertebral “closure” is most significant for two reasons. One: in no limb are there 32 growth plates! Two: the growth plates in the limbs are (more or less) oriented perpendicular to the stress of the load passing through them, while those of the vertebral chain are oriented parallel to weight placed upon the horse’s back. Bottom line: you can sprain a horse’s back (i.e. displace the vertebral physes – see Figs. 5 and 8) a lot more easily than you can displace those located in the limbs.”

“So do you then have to wait [to start your horse] until all these growth plates convert to bone? No. But the longer you wait, the safer you’ll be. Owners and trainers need to realize there’s an easy-to-remember general schedule of fusion – and then make their decision as to when to ride the horse based on that rather than on the external appearance of the horse. For there are some breeds of horse – the Quarter Horse is the premier among these – which have been bred in such a manner as to look mature long before they actually are mature. This puts these horses in jeopardy from people who are either ignorant of the closure schedule, or more interested in their own schedule (for futurities or other competition) than they are in the welfare of the animal.”

“Bottom line: if you are one of those who equates “starting” with “riding”, then I guess you better not start your horse until he’s four. That would be the old, traditional, worldwide view: introduce the horse to equipment (all kinds of equipment and situations, with the handler on the ground) when he’s two, add crawling on and off of him at three, saddle him to begin riding him and teaching him to guide at four, start teaching him maneuvers or the basics of whatever job he’s going to do – cavalletti or stops or racing or something beyond trailing cattle – at five, and he’s on the payroll at six. The old Spanish way of bitting reflected this also, because the horse’s teeth aren’t mature (the tushes haven’t fully come in, nor all of the permanent cheek teeth either) until he’s six. This is what I’d do if it were my own horse.”
- See more at: http://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/no-horse-is-physically-skeletally-mature-before-5-5-to-6-years-old/#sthash.mVz9Vu4s.dpuf

Chiriqui Saddle Club December Round Up

Good news !  We will definitely have Dr. Tony come to the next Round Up on  Tuesday, Dec. 17, 12:00 noon,  at the Oasis in Boquete.  He will talk all about Tick Fever and answer any questions we may have.  So, think of what you want to ask him !  If he had an idea of what we are interested in, he could prepare ahead of time ...........

The Oasis is going to give us a special price for lunch for this occasion.  Details to follow.

An RSVP will be important, to let the kitchen know ahead of time how many to expect.

The lecture from Dr. Tony is for MEMBERS ONLY ...... followed by social lunch/drinks etc,  with anyone interested in getting to know us or mingle with like minded folks. Please RSVP to panamama2@gmail.com or for more information.

Founder and Laminitis--the Barefoot Trim Saves Mare

The barefoot world is able to rehab what was once thought to be lost causes. Lack of understanding and egos are often more of a challenge than the rehab! I have a Caudal Hoof Pain ("navicular") case in mind...No doubt horse will be put down before the summer. I asked the Universe for help and am now waiting. Any angels out there?

Extreme Founder Rehab - What You See Is Not Necessarily What You Get

Many suggested to put this mare down, but no-one really knows what's possible unless you give it a thorough try using unconventional methods when traditional methods failed.

This mare suffered from years of chronic laminitis and founder. Various traditional shoeing solution were tried without much success because the underlying causes were not correctly addressed (diet and bad trimming)

When I first saw pictures of this mare I really wanted to rehab her, but did not have the funds to do so. Twist of fate intervened - the mare was taken by a client of mine who was fully committed on getting her well. 10 months into the barefoot rehab the mare was sound.

Never give up because of what traditional thinking is telling you (even if it comes from a vet) as it may be outdated and no longer valid! (From Dawn our Barefoot Expert)

  https://www.facebook.com/dawn.willoughby.505

Sudden Death of Show Pony Clouds Image of Elite Pursuit

Early on the morning of May 26, Kristen Williams and her daughter, Katie, arrived at a barn on the grounds of the Devon Horse Show, where elite competitors in full dress have entertained spectators for the last century on Philadelphia’s Main Line.

 http://nyti.ms/U4ERBa

Link to video on Drug Abuse in the Equestrian World

By WALT BOGDANICH    The NY Times • Published: December 27, 2012

Ms. Williams had paid thousands of dollars to lease a pony for Katie to ride in a hunter competition, a 12th birthday present. Soon after arriving, their trainer left to administer an injection to a nearby pony, Humble, that Katie’s friend, also celebrating her 12th birthday, was scheduled to ride shortly. 

Moments later, with Ms. Williams and her daughter watching, Humble collapsed and died. The death of a supposedly fit pony about to carry a young rider over hurdles was worrisome by itself, but circumstances surrounding the death made it even more so. 

In the three days before Humble died, he had been scheduled to receive 15 separate drug treatments, including anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids and muscle relaxants, according to his medication chart.

“The average horse that walks in my clinic here doesn’t get anything like that,” said Dr. Kent Allen, chairman of both the veterinary and the drugs and medications committees of the United States Equestrian Federation, the sport’s nonprofit governing body. “It gets a diagnosis and then gets a very specific, appropriate treatment.” 

The horse-racing industry has openly debated the influence of drugs on the safety and integrity of the sport, and has taken significant steps this year to minimize it. But in the cloistered equestrian world, medicating horses has attracted much less public attention. 

Since 2010, random drug tests at various equestrian events, including the Olympic trials, have uncovered dozens of violations for substances like cocaine, antipsychotics, tranquilizers and pain medication — even ginger placed in a horse’s anus to make its tail stick out. 

While show-horse trainers have abused some of the same drugs that have caused problems in racing, the Equestrian Federation has lagged behind in regulating how they are administered. Now, the circumstances surrounding Humble’s death have become a rallying point for those who believe that the federation should more aggressively investigate drug use. 

The federation says it responds promptly to drug concerns, citing its decision in February to ban a popular but potentially lethal drug that sedates horses, making them more manageable during competition. The group has also limited the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in competition. It randomly tests 10,000 to 12,000 horses annually. “We constantly look at issues in our sport and try to be proactive,” Dr. Allen said.

Still, a review by The New York Times of federation records, police reports and interviews with veterinarians and others in the sport shows that despite its best intentions, the federation is ill prepared to deal with episodes like Humble’s death. 

At racetracks, only veterinarians are allowed to administer intravenous drugs, but on show grounds anyone can stick a needle into a horse before it performs. A year ago, the sport’s top veterinary group recommended that no horse receive drugs within 12 hours of competition. The Equestrian Federation has yet to adopt that rule. Humble was injected roughly two hours before competition, records show.

The federation also has no detailed protocol on how to respond when a horse dies on show grounds. In Humble’s case, there was no requirement that the vial and syringe be retained so its contents could be tested. And the federation relied on the mother of a competitor who saw Humble fall to collect evidence, hire a lawyer, and file a formal protest. 

The federation, often referred to by the acronym USEF, convened a hearing panel, but it had no subpoena power and could not compel Humble’s trainer, Elizabeth Mandarino, to fully answer questions about the pony’s medical care, records show. The panel ultimately dismissed the protest, saying it did not have enough information to conclude whether Ms. Mandarino had violated federation rules.

Ms. Mandarino declined to be interviewed for this article, but her lawyer said in a statement that she had done nothing wrong, and that Humble had most likely died from an undiagnosed lung disease.

Federation officials point out that equestrian events run largely by volunteers cannot be compared to state-regulated horse racing, where access to the horses can be tightly controlled.

Even so, responding to questions from The Times, the federation’s chief executive, John Long, said in a statement, “It is clear that the Mandarino case has highlighted significant limitations in the USEF’s rules and procedures governing our investigative powers.” 

 To read the complete article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/us/ponys-death-draws-notice-to-drugs-in-show-ring.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20121228&_r=0

Advances in Equine Ophthalmology

I have an especially spooky horse. White bags blowing in the wind; a branch fallen from a tree that wasn't there on the last ride; a cow sitting under a tree; and of course the large rocks that are just lying in wait to eat up all horses who attempt to pass. I have often thought that he might need glasses; he is just not seeing the objects causing fright for what they actually are. The following two articles were sent to my by a friend; very interesting.

"A correspondent of the Manchester Sporting Chronicle, thinking that his horse was short-sighted, had his eyes examined by an oculist, who certified that the horse had a No. 7 eye and required concave glasses. These were obtained and fitted on to the horse's head. At first the horse was a little surprised, but rapidly showed signs of the keenest pleasure, and he now stands all the morning looking over the half-door of his stable with his spectacles on, gazing around him with an air of sedate enjoyment. When driven his manner is altogether changed from his former timidity; but if pastured without his spectacles on, he hangs about the gate whinnying in a plaintive minor key. If the spectacles are replaced he kicks up his heels and scampers up and down the pasture with delight.
-- British Veterinary Journal, March 1888"

Jennifer O. Bryant

The more researchers study equine physiology, the more evidence suggests that so-called bad behavior could be as much physical as training and behavioral. Back pain, for instance, might be the root cause of many under-saddle issues. Now, equine vision problems are emerging as the culprit behind some cases of spookiness and other undesirable behaviors.

In a lecture at the Dressage at Devon (Pa.) show in September, Chelsey Miller, DVM, a resident in veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, described some of the exciting advances in her field.
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, giving the eye a clouded, milky-white appearance. Most people are familiar with the term because almost all humans develop cataracts as they age.
Equines can also develop cataracts, which in horses aren't age-related, Miller said. Cataracts can cause anything from light sensitivity to nearly complete blindness. Some horses manage just fine with cataracts, even when one eye is virtually blind; a cataract is a greater liability in equestrian disciplines requiring keen depth perception, such as jumping and polo. (Oddly, though a one-eyed racehorse is "legal," the Hackney-pony and Paso Fino breeds mandate two "visual eyes" for competition eligibility, she said.)
Surgical removal of cataracts in humans is a relatively simple office procedure. The surgery is more complicated in equines because general anesthesia is required, Miller explained. In fact, cataract removal is the most complex procedure in veterinary ophthalmology, she said.

The process is called phacoemulsification. A probe vibrating at ultrasonic frequencies liquefies and breaks up the cataract, which is then vacuumed out of the eye, Miller said.
In the past, the required minimum two to three months of post-operative care and regular medicating of the eye was practically as challenging as the cataract surgery itself, Miller said. During this time, horses often get resentful of having the eye area handled, and the continual manipulating of the eyelid can damage the surgical site. Thankfully, today veterinarians can install a temporary catheter that delivers the eye meds via a tiny tube, no direct handling necessary. If the horse is quiet and not inclined to rub his head, he can even be hand-walked or turned out in a small paddock with a fly mask on during the rehab period, she said.
Miller cautioned that cataract surgery doesn't give the horse perfect vision. However, veterinary ophthalmology researchers at North Carolina State University are looking into the use of an artificial lens to improve near- or farsightedness, she said. Experts use a technique called retinoscopy, in which different lens refractions are used to estimate a horse's vision, to help determine the degree of near- or farsightedness. (Most horses are farsighted, she said.)

Equine cataract surgery isn't undertaken lightly. First, there's the cost, which can run into the thousands (Miller was reluctant to state price ranges for the record). Second, there are risks of complications. For the latter reason, Miller said, most veterinarians are reluctant to do surgery if the horse has some vision.
"It's possible you could start with an eye with some vision and end up with no vision," she said.
Equine Recurrent Uveitis
Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a chronic, immune-mediated eye disease that's not yet fully understood, according to Miller. ERU is essentially an immune response gone haywire. An antigen (a substance that provokes the production of antibodies) gets into the horse's eye and triggers a continuous, inappropriate autoimmune response. The result can be pain, glaucoma, and eventually blindness.
There might be no obvious signs of eye trauma prior to an ERU episode, Miller said. However, any bout of eye trouble--tearing, a scratch, swelling--should be followed up with twice-yearly checkups because such incidents can set the stage for ERU.

The Appaloosa breed is the most at risk for ERU, representing eight out of 10 cases, said Miller. Researchers speculate that Appys might produce a type of protein that makes them more susceptible to ERU, but the connection isn't fully understood and more research is needed, she said.
A bright spot in this otherwise puzzling and frustrating disease, said Miller, is the development of an optical implant impregnated with the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine. The implant can reduce ERU flare-ups to fewer than once a year. An implant lasts for four to five years, and many horses never need a second implant, she said.
The implant requires general anesthesia. Costs can vary greatly, depending on the specifics of the case--but the cost is "not much more for two eyes because the horse is already anesthetized," Miller said.
Of the implant, Miller said: "ERU is still a chronic disease: You still can have flare-ups; you still can wind up with a blind eye. But it's the best we have so far."
Not every horse is a good candidate for every procedure, of course. A thorough evaluation by a veterinary ophthalmologist is a necessary first step in treating any eye condition, Miller said.

Vision Problems and Spookiness
Veterinary ophthalmologists know that some spooky behavior can have physical causes. For instance, horses (and alpacas, cows, and goats) have in each eye a structure called a corpora nigra. It's a pendulous cyst on a stalk that hangs down over the top of the eye. Its function is unknown; researchers postulate that it may function as a sunshade of sorts. A corpora nigra can grow abnormally large and can even move around in the eye. It's reasonable to suspect that a growth that shades part of a horse's field of vision could well lead to spooking as objects appear and disappear suddenly.
Although diseases of the equine eye are well studied and documented, less is known about the effects of vision problems on horse behavior, Miller said. Richard J. McMullen, Jr., DrMedVet, CertEO, assistant professor of ophthalmology at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, is conducting vision studies on this topic, Miller said. This groundbreaking research could help us learn more about why our equine friends behave as they do.

Horses and Water

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink". This age old saying has been proven to me over and over again. In the middle of a long ride I will offer water to my horse only to have him snub his nose and refuse the offer. I have often wondered if it is the water or the receptacle holding the water. He will not drink from a stream, maybe a slight dip of his nose in the water, maybe. If I can bring his favorite, and familiar, bucket along I have a better chance of him quenching his thirst. Even at the barn he will not drink from the large round tub of water but prefers the smaller water buckets (less chance of a large predator hiding in the smaller bucket).

Abstract from Erica Larson,

If you've been around horses long enough, you're bound to have experienced the picky drinker. Horses that are selective in their water consumption can not only be frustrating for owners, but could also be a danger to themselves, as dehydration can be a serious problem. A team of Canadian researchers, however, recently revealed that horses tend to prefer water with neutral pH levels rather than low pH levels, meaning your picky drinker's problem could be due to acidic water's sour taste.

"Although work has been done on the palatability by horses of specific flavors, such as peppermint and banana, there is little research available on the basic tastes," explained Katrina Merkies, PhD, a researcher at the University of Guelph's Kemptville Campus in Ontario. Merkies' graduate student, Jaime Carson, presented the results of a recent related study at the 2011 Equine Science Society Symposium, held May 31-June 3 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Distilled or pure water has a pH of 7 out of 14 on the pH scale (which measures how acidic, neutral, or basic substances are). For comparison, acidic water has a pH lower than 7 and has a more sour taste. Lemon juice's pH, for example, is 2 out of 14.

To determine if horses showed a strong distaste for acidic water, Merkies used 12 horses (aged 2 to 18 years) in a "random block" study design. Each horse received each treatment (water at a pH of 5, a pH of 3.6, or a pH of 2.9, adjusted by adding citric acid to the water) for four days with a two-day washout period between each different pH. Horses were also provided with "control water" that had a pH of 7.5 during each test period. Water buckets were replenished as needed, and researchers measured the amount of each type of water the horse consumed daily.

The researchers' key findings included:
 ◦ There was a significant difference in the amount of water each horse consumed daily, ranging from 1.5 liters to 34.8 liters; this trend was consistent to each individual horse throughout the study;
◦ There were no effects of age, breed, or gender noted;
◦ All horses preferred the control water with a pH of 7.5 over the treated water;
◦ A strong aversion to the water with a pH of 2.9 and 3.6 was noted;
◦ A weak aversion to the water with a pH of 5 was noted; and
◦ Although the horses had an aversion to the more acidic water, no horse completely rejected the "treated" waters.

Merkies concluded that the test horses preferred water with a neutral pH to water with a low pH and acidic taste. To her knowledge, no such tests have been carried out with basic solutions and there are no plans to do so at present ("Basic solutions tasty 'soapy,' not something that most animals would consume," she noted).

For horse owners with picky drinkers, Merkies suggests using litmus paper or a hard water test to determine if a sour acidic taste could be deterring their animals from drinking: "If the water is below 5 (in a litmus test), then it may affect water intake," she explained. "You can also use a water hardness test. The harder the water, the more basic it may be; the softer the water the more acidic it will be."

Additionally, she noted that in some instances adding a sweetener to acidic water can make it more appealing. Sweeteners can include small amounts of apple juice, cranberry juice, or Gatorade; however, it's advisable to discuss particular sweeteners with a veterinarian before using them.

"Horses may well choose and select specific elements to ingest according to their needs," Merkies added. "Just because the water is acidic doesn't mean it is bad for the horse. This research is only the tip of an iceberg. We know so little about what and how horses taste and what leads to horses choosing the foods they ingest.

"We do know that horses can be selective about what foods and forages they will eat and that they do prefer a variety of foodstuffs," she continued. "A better understanding of what horses do prefer will impact the feed and drug industry by being able to add flavorings--to wormers, supplements, medications for example--to make these things more palatable."

The abstract, "Discrimination of Water Acidity by Mature Horses," was published in the May/June 2011 issue of the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

Barbie Gets Clean Bill of Health One Year Later

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

Osteopathy For Your Horse

What are the benefits of osteopathy 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 has lots of different types of techniques to offer, depending on type of injury and the age of your horse/dog. Techniques commonly used are stretches, gentle joint mobilisation and massage-like techniques to remove any imbalances in mobility. Another, very gentle, technique is cranial osteopathy. This is a subtle method of treating but it is still a powerful way to re-balance ligaments, and strains throughout the body.

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

By increasing the flexibility of the joints and the muscles there will be an increase in range of movement. A horse that is relaxed and flexible moves better and is more energy efficient. The joints, ligaments and tendons are under less stress and therefore will allow increased performance.

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

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

How do I know if my horse needs treatment?

It is a good indication that horses are in discomfort if they seem unusually sensitive when you touch particular areas. 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 have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call

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