Sommaire pour September 2017 de Equus

A backward bit While browsing “Conformation Insights: Horses of the Civil War” (EQUUS 477) the picture of Gen. Alfred Pleasonton on page 66 caught my eye. Unless I am mistaken, his horse is outfitted in a fairly standard “cavalryshank” bit---which appears to be set backward in the horse’s mouth. I did a brief online search of my own and found the “off-side” photo to which author Deb Bennett, PhD, refers in the caption; this appears to confirm the tack faux pas. I am aware of some French military bit designs that have a forward-broken curve in the shank, but I have never seen such a thing among the U.S. arsenal. I would love to hear some commentary on whether this is a very unusual bit or else a rather embarrassing…

University of California– Davis researchers have identified two genetic mutations responsible for “tiger eye” in Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses. As the name suggests, tiger eye refers to a distinct yellow, amber or bright orange iris color. “Tiger eye is especially valued by breeders for its striking appearance,” explains Rebecca Renee Bellone, PhD. The trait is autosomal recessive, meaning one copy of the mutated gene must be inherited from each parent for it to be expressed. The Davis researchers found that most tiger-eyed horses inherit two copies of the Tiger-eye 1 allele, and a smaller number of horses have one copy of each mutation (Tiger-eye 1/Tigereye 2). So far, these two mutations have been detected only in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino horse breed and were not found in any…

HOW TO SUPPORT HEALTHY HOOF GROWTH If you’ve been anxiously waiting for a crack in your horse’s hoof to grow out, you may need to be a little more patient in the months ahead. Hoof wall is typically produced at a much slower rate in the fall and winter months than in summer. That doesn’t mean you can’t support healthy hoof growth during this period, though. In fact, it may be more important than ever. Here are four ways to improve the quality of your horse’s hooves in the months ahead. 1. Provide as much exercise as possible. Movement increases blood flow, encouraging growth and providing “feedback” for the horn that does grow to come in strong. If you ride less often in the winter, remember that turnout is just…

You may have been told that testing for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, also known as Cushing’s) wasn’t reliable in the fall months. That’s no longer true. A horse with PPID has a malfunctioning pituitary gland, which secretes excess levels of the hormone adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). This, in turn, triggers the adrenal gland to increase the production of cortisol0. The resulting hormonal imbalances lead to the hallmarks of Cushing’s: a long, shaggy hair coat, loss of muscle mass, laminitis and susceptibility to infection. Seasonal fluctuations in hormone levels once made testing for PPID difficult in the late summer and early fall, but research has led to a better understanding of normal reference values. Veterinarians can now interpret results from blood tests done in any season. The medication pergolide successfully controls PPID…

Austrian researchers have confirmed that a blood test can be used to monitor the healing of infections resulting from penetrating joint wounds. A penetrating wound that breaches a joint’s synovial structure---the capsule that contains lubricating fluids---can be particularly devastating because the resulting inflammation and infection can lead to destruction of critical structures. The level of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the bloodstream has been successfully used to track inflammation in the body caused by other types of wounds and illnesses, so researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna set out to determine if it could provide similar information on penetrating joint injuries. “SAA is an acute phase protein, which means that it is produced in the early phases of inflammation or infection and acts as an inflammatory mediator…

Walking a colicky horse into the wee hours of the night seems like an equestrian rite of passage, but is it necessary? The idea that any horse with gut pain must be walked is a persistent horsekeeping myth. But the truth is that walking a colicky horse may be helpful in specific situations. And at other times, it could make the situation worse. When deciding whether to walk a colicky horse, consider the following: • Many minor colics resolve themselves over a short period of time, no matter what. If the horse will stand or lie quietly in a stall or round pen, remove all hay and water and allow him to rest quietly as you consult with a veterinarian. • Sometimes the movement of walking can help “jostle” the…

Purchase: Halters • Considerations: When shopping for a halter, your primary consideration is when and how you’ll be using it. Different featuredetermine whether a halter is a suitable choice for turnout, shipping, showing, training or grooming. And, for many horsemen, having multiple halters on hand makes sense. • Options: A simple nylon halter is durable enough to stand up to daily use and turnout without regular cleaning. Just be certain it has a leather crownpiece or some other “breakaway” feature that will release if the horse becomes hung up on a fence or pulls back hard against ties. For shows, clinics and other “fancier” occasions, you might also want to have a heavier, all-leather halter. grooming halters do not have the strap that crosses under the jaw, making them less…

DOT stands for Department of Transportation; these letters are followed by a string of letters and/or numbers, which are the manufacturer’s codes. The last four digits of this string indicate the week and year a tire was made. So, for example, the digits 1116 indicate that the tire was manufactured in the 11th week, or March, of 2016. ST means “special trailer,” which is specifically designed for use on trailers. (LT tires are designed for use on light trucks; P indicates the tire was designed for use on passenger vehicles.) These letters will be large and followed by other numbers, which indicate the size of the tire. For example, 225/75R15 means that the tire is 225 millimeters wide, with a sidewall height that is 75 percent of the width. The…

ORTHOPEDICS A late-in-life change in gaits? Q: I have observed an odd behavior in my older horse, and I hope you can provide some insights. I am providing a retirement home for Roy, an ex-police horse. He is now 26 years old and, although we can’t be certain of his breeding, his papers describe him as a Thoroughbred/ Clydesdale cross. Within the last year, Roy has progressively developed a gaited style of moving at slower speeds, and he cannot be urged to accelerate, except of course, on the way home from a trail ride! The last two times he’s been ridden, by myself then by my trainer, he refused to perform even a standard trot and loped instead. I am curious about his change in gait. I know that gaiting…

allele---one of the alternative forms of any gene on a chromosome. Each allele represents a different variation of a physical trait and each has one corresponding allele on the chromosome’s paired counterpart. For example, one blue-eye allele will have one corresponding allele that carries either a blue, green or browneye trait. axon---long, thin extension of a nerve cell that transmits impulses away from the cell body to be picked up by the “receivers” of the next nerve cell. chromosome---the self-replicating genetic structure of cells containing the cellular DNA that bears in its nucleotide sequence the linear array of genes. Each species has a constant number of chromosomes set in pairs in the nucleus of each body cell; the horse has 64, or 32 pairs. colostrum---thick, extra-rich milk secreted by the…

A new study from Denmark underscores the dangers of biofilm formation in equine lower leg wounds. Biofilms are groups of microorganisms that stick to each other to form colonies in a slimy layer covering living or non-living surfaces. “Everyone knows biofilms,” says Elin Jørgensen, DVM, of the University of Copenhagen. “They are a part of the plaque forming on our teeth every day.” A primary characteristic of biofilms is their resilience: Neither the host’s immune system nor antimicrobial medications are effective against them. The best way to eradicate a biofilm is to physically remove it. In the case of dental plaque, brushing accomplishes this, but it’s not always that simple. “The first ‘medical’ biofilm was described in 1982 in a pacemaker patient, where biofilm was detected on the pacemaker and…

A alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be as effective as surgical scrub solution in reducing the number of bacteria present on your hands. Researchers at Massey University in New Zealand recently compared the efficacy of Avagard handsanitizing gel with the antiseptic chlorhexidine, which is commonly used in presurgical disinfection. On four separate days, 12 human study participants followed standard sanitation protocols to clean their hands with either the alcohol-based gel or chlorhexidine. For the first cleaning with each solution, the hands showed no signs of contamination. Next the hands were cleaned after they had obviously been contaminated with equine fecal matter to simulate what might happen when a veterinarian examines a horse for colic or a foaling problem and then has to go to surgery. (Prior to the use of each product,…

ANNUAL PURGE I use the end of summer as an occasion to organize and purge my tack and supplies. I clean and inspect everything. If I haven’t used an item in more than a year, and it’s still in good repair, I might donate it to a local rescue organization or take it to the community tack swap. It’s also a time to ensure that my horse’s winter gear is still in good shape and fits him.—Kelly Wilson, Yakima, Washington Send your suggestions for inexpensive horsecare 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.…

In the spring of 2013, one of our favorite mares gave birth to her first foal, a strapping bay colt we named Winston. At first, Winston was strong and athletic. We taught him to lead, longe and respond to other handling while his watchful mother stood nearby. On all counts, he seemed a healthy and promising baby. After just a few weeks, however, we could see that something was wrong with Winston--- he was becoming weak and uncoordinated. We called our veterinarian out for an examination. The diagnosis was cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM), commonly called wobbler disease. A catchall term for compression of the spinal cord, “wobbles” in older horses is often related to arthritic changes or trauma, but in foals as young as Winston the condition is typically…

The following estimates are relevant for our remote location—over 80 miles from the nearest town—to procure materials and concrete. Your experience may vary. It’s good to shop around as we found great swings in costs in our research. Home–$150 per square foot and up for “stick built”; $50,000 to $150,000 for new or used manufactured homes. Prices typically include delivery and setup, which can take up to one week on site. Metal or steel hay storage building–$50 per square foot; another builder quoted us $23,000 for a 30- by 30- by 12-foot structure, not including slab. Concrete slabs–about $6 to $7 per square foot, depending on location. Portable buildings, including barns, sheds, utility–about $8,000 for a 12- by 32-foot structure, delivery within 50 miles. Grundfos solar-powered well pump–$1,800 to $2,800.…

EASY WAY TO FEED FAT Easy way to feed fat ▸ Description: An alternative to oils, 99% Fat by Smartpak offers a palatable, no-mess way to provide concentrated calories for energy or weight gain. The vanilla-flavored powder, which is composed of vegetable fats, can be added to a horse’s regular feed ration as a top dressing. ▸ Price: suggested retail, $16.95 for a 28-day supply of SmartPaks; $35.95 for a seven-pound bag; $64.95 for a 14-pound bag ▸ Source: SmartPak Equine; 800-461- 8898; www.SmartPak.com TOTE YOUR TOPPER ▸ Product: Helmet Hat Bag ▸ Description: Designed to keep your helmet and other small items safe and clean when you travel, this hat bag is made of a 600-denier polyester canvas lined with taffeta. The walls are semi-structured and padded on the…

M ittens was a gray tiger striped cat with white paws. Like most barn cats, she spent her days hunting mice, rubbing against visitors and napping on hay bales. But she also harbored a secret ambition, one that became evident when I moved my Icelandic Horse, Blessi, to her boarding stable: She wanted to learn how to ride. Blessi has a special affinity for cats. His first favorite was Sam, a large black cat whom I often found napping on his broad, furry back. Sometimes while out on the trails, Blessi and I would encounter Sam perched on a fence, surveying the fields. As soon as Blessi saw his special cat, he grabbed the bit in his teeth and marched us over to the fence. We proceeded to follow Sam…