Table of contents for February 2017 in Equus

One cure for a lonely horse Regarding “The Power of One” (EQUUS 469), we found that an acrylic mirror, even as small as 12 by 24 inches, works well to keep our single horse from being lonely. We hang it at eye level in the run-in shed, and our horse stands by it and is very content. On the road, we place the mirror in his stall, and it has helped with traveling significantly. Our friends with whom we shared this information also had amazing results. It works. Monica Cunningham Bridgeport, Nebraska “Old” is no excuse for skinny I read the “Neglected or Just Thin?” (EQUUS 467) with interest, and after reading some of the follow-up letters, I felt compelled to write. I am retired from law enforcement and have…

A recent Swiss study suggests that a “wait and see” approach may be justified for younger horses with small, stable sarcoids because a large percentage of the tumors spontaneously regress without treatment. Sarcoids, the most common skin tumors of horses, are caused by the bovine papillomavirus, but the mode of transmission is not fully understood. Treatments include surgical excision, freezing, chemotherapy and antiviral drugs, but none are consistently successful. Researchers from the University of Bern tracked 61 3-year-old Franches- Montagnes horses with “milder manifestations” of sarcoid tumors, along with a control group of 75 sarcoid-free horses of the same breed and age. Each horse was examined twice over a five- to seven-year period, and owners or caretakers were asked to fill out questionnaires. The researchers found that 38 (62 percent)…

Swollen joints are always cause for concern, but if both of your horse’s hind fetlocks become puffy in the dead of winter, chances are the cause is a relatively harmless condition known as “stocking up.” Rather than injury or infection, stocking up is a function of inactivity. The equine lymphatic system, which is responsible for “pumping” excess fluids from between cells back into the circulatory system, works best when aided by movement of surrounding tendons, muscles and ligaments. So when a horse stands still for long periods of time---as he may when confined to a stall during winter months---these fluids can accumulate, particularly in areas farthest from the heart. Most commonly, stocking up is seen in the hind fetlocks, with severity ranging from mild puffiness to an extreme swelling, giving…

A longing to return--- that’s what brought me to the barn that day. A longing to return to the time before college, career, finances, illness in the family and the eventual loss of my mother. I wanted to regain something of the old me, the me from before life got so … complicated. I’d had the privilege, the joy, of owning a horse when I was growing up, and I knew my mother would have been thrilled that I was returning to one of my first loves. I needed to. Among the many things the loss of my mom had taught me was: Life is short, too short to neglect a passion. So, filled with nervous excitement, I visited a stable in a nearby town. The place was, and is,…

avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU)--- vegetable extract made from avocado and soybean oils. Banamine---trade name of flunixin meglumine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to control inflammation and pain primarily associated with colic and muscle injuries. bastard strangles---type of strangles that progresses from the head to the chest and abdomen, where it can form large and potentially fatal abscesses. chondroitin sulfate---a sulfated glycosaminoglycan, a large protein molecule that is a constituent of connective tissues and cartilage; a common ingredient in many joint supplements. dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)---organic chemical that has a number of medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic; DMSO can pass readily through the skin. equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)---endocrine disorder characterized by increased fat deposits in specific locations of the body or overall obesity; insulin resistance, which leads to abnormally high levels…

As you go about your daily barn chores---opening gates and turning on lights---keep in mind that your horses may be watching, and possibly learning how to do these things for themselves. German researchers discovered that horses could learn to press a switch to open a box simply by watching humans do it. The work, done at the University of Regensburg, involved 24 horses of various breeds between the ages of 3 and 12, all of which had at least three months of ground training. For the study, the horses were led into a round pen that included a specially designed feed box that could be opened only if a switch, mounted on a post three feet away, was pressed. The box was already open when the horses were first led…

The prognosis is guarded for horses who undergo a second colic surgery within eight weeks of the first, according to a new study from England. Researchers at the University of Liverpool reviewed the records of 1,531 horses who had colic surgery at the university clinic over a 10-year period. Of those horses, 6.3 percent required another surgery within two months. The most common reason for the second procedure— accounting for 76 percent of the cases—was persistent colic. Other reasons included postoperative reflux (overfilling of the stomach caused by slow gut motility); hemoperitoneum (the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity); septic peritonitis (abdominal infection caused by leaks in the intestinal tract) and failure of the surgical incision. None of the horses who underwent a second surgery to address septic peritonitis survived,…

I f there’s a single protruding nail in a pasture fence, some member of the herd always seems to find it. It can be alarming when your horse shows up bleeding at the gate, but keep in mind that many of the largest wounds will heal without complications---if managed properly from the beginning. Call your veterinarian right away for any wound you’re not comfortable handling on your own. In addition to making a thorough assessment of the wound--- in particular determining whether critical structures are affected---a veterinarian will decide whether stitches are needed and may remove dead or damaged tissue to aid the healing process. WHAT TO DO As you wait for the veterinarian to arrive, take the following steps to staunch bleeding and keep your horse calm and comfortable.…

Have a question about your horse’s health, care or training? Our experts offer solutions for a range of equine-management problems. Write to EQUUS Consultants, 656 Quince Orchard Road, #600, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; email: EQLetters@aimmedia.com. Send photos when helpful. FARM MANAGEMENT Slag for dry lot rehab? Q: I’ve kept my horses in two dry lots for 15 years. Now it’s time to raise the area up anywhere from six to 10 inches. To save on costs, I’m considering using slag from a nearby metal/steel refinery as a base. I’m wondering whether it will be safe for the horses, the groundwater and the environment. Can you help? Have you heard of anyone using slag for any horse application? Barb Wielgos Manhattan, Illinois A: For those of you who did not grow up…

The search for new deworming agents in the face of growing chemical resistance has researchers looking to the supermarket produce aisle: A preliminary study from England suggests that fruits such as pineapple, papaya and figs may be useful in controlling internal parasites in horses. Building on the knowledge that enzymes in these fruits called cysteine proteinases can digest adult worms, researchers at the University of Liverpool exposed parasites at various stages of development to papaya extract. They discovered that—in a laboratory setting, at least—exposure to the extract inhibited the hatching of parasite eggs and the movement of infective larval stages in small red worms (cyathostomins). The researchers note that while the inhibited hatching appeared directly related to cysteine proteinases, the inhibition of larval stages may be the function of a secondary…

“In the morning, a Sunday morning, shadows of sea and adumbrants of rock in her eyes … horseback in leather boots and leather gauntlets by the sea.”---Carl Sandburg, “Chords,” Smoke and Steel For warm, dry feet in cold, wet conditions, the Glanmire country boot (suggested retail, $499), from Dubarry of Ireland, combines DryFast-DrySoft leathers with a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex lining. Elasticized lacing on the back of the boot allows for an adjustable fit for a range of calf sizes. Available in walnut or black-and-brown, in European sizes 35 to 43. To find a local dealer, call 866- 658-3569 or visit www.dubarry.com. Constructed using a new line of water-repellent, breathable, leather-like urethane, the Lake Ridge paddock boot (suggested retail, $69.95 for kids sizes, $79.95 for adults), from Devon-Aire, can be…

We know of no Arabian horses in America until after the Revolutionary War. Even Thoroughbreds were relatively rare, especially in the North. Nonetheless, we can detect some Arabian influence on the course of horse breeding in early 19th century America. The John Faed painting of George Washington receiving the salute at Trenton. His handsome homebred charger, named Blueskin, is a son of “Arabian” Ranger, an English Barb who originally stood in New England and was later moved south to Virginia. Whatever else Blueskin’s dam was, she was big and broad, because Washington here bestrides an animal of real substance. My guess is that Blueskin’s dam was Canadian or part- Canadian. The artist is at pains here, however, to emphasize Blueskin’s Oriental ancestry— note the leopard-skin shabraque and tasseled browband. Engraving…

BANISH HOOF BLUES Product: Thrush Stop Blue Description: Formulated to treat bacterial and fungal hoof infections such as thrush and white line disease, Thrush Stop Blue is a stained gel that contains no formaldehyde or other caustic agents. The flexible tip on the bottle reaches deep into cracks, nail holes and the clefts of the frog, and the gel stays in place where applied. Blue stain highlights the affected tissues so the gel can be reapplied as the color fades. Price: suggested retail, $10 for a two-ounce bottle; $18 for a fourounce bottle Source: SBS Equine; 239-354- 3361; www.sbsequine.com KEEP TABS ON TEMPS Product: ThermoPeanut Description: The ThermoPeanut is a remote sensor that monitors temperature and sends a signal to a smartphone when it gets hotter or colder than your designated…