Table of contents for October 2017 in Equus

I’ve started “double-bagging” hay that I feed in the trailer. I put the flakes in one hay net, then slip another over that. This keeps my horse from pulling out the huge mouthfuls that he seems to drop most of and waste while we are on the road.—Holly Phillips, Mansfield, Ohio 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.…

“When calm is the night, and the stars shine bright, The sleigh glides smooth and cheerily; And mirth and jest abound, While all is still around, Save the horses’ trampling sound, And the horse-bells tinkling merrily.”—John Shaw, “Sleighing Song” Designed to stand up to horses who are tough on blankets, the SmartPak Ultimate Turnout Blanket (suggested retail, $209.95 for 360-gram heavyweight), comes with a 10-year indestructible guarantee for full refund or replacement. The blanket is made with waterproof, breathable, heavyduty nylon that resists tears and rubs, with adjustable quick-clip front closures, two low-cross surcingles and nylon/elastic leg straps, and a tail flap. Also available in no-fill lite ($179.95) or 220-gram medium weight ($199.95). Now in burgundy with black trim and silver piping, as well as in black or midnight, in…

Some veterinarians recommend adding a cup of apple cider vinegar to a horse’s grain twice a day to increase the acidity in his gut. “We haven’t proven that the vinegar helps prevent stones, but it does have an impact on the pH,” says Diana M. Hassel, DVM, PhD, of Colorado State University. However, others question whether the practice is beneficial and warn that it may contribute to other problems. “Feeding apple cider vinegar is somewhat controversial, and we don’t recommend it,” says Tyler Elliott, DVM, of San Luis Ray Equine Hospital in Bonsall, California. “There is no guarantee it will acidify the gut to the degree that stones won’t form, and it might not be a good idea if the horse is prone to ulcers.”…

The dream of relocating to the mountains of the Southwest has resonated for many EQUUS readers. Here are some of the responses to Part I of my story in the June issue: “Great new series will keep us in the loop of what it takes to build from nothing to your dream ranch!”—Candy Giordano, Florida “I just loved your article about finding your dream ranch. My heart is overflowing with joy for you guys and your herd.” —MaryAshley McGibbon, Texas “Can’t wait to read the next segment!”—Cindy Lawbaugh, Illinois “You have me really intrigued with Pie Town,” wrote Audrey Scott, an endurance friend and longtime California resident. “I am looking for somewhere to retire with a horse and dog in the next six years. Looking forward to reading more about…

The Eco-Fetcher toy (suggested retail, $12.99), from Honest Pet Products, is made of durable hemp fabric stuffed with organic wool from humanely raised sheep and printed with nontoxic inks. Available in five-, seven- or nine-inch sizes. All the dog toys in the line are made in Wisconsin by adults with developmental disabilities. Call 800-790-3385 or visit www.HonestPetProducts.com. For every sale of a WeatherBeeta 1200D American Breast Cancer Foundation Parka (suggested retail, $44.99), Weatherbeeta will donate $2 to breast cancer research. The coat has a waterproof and breathable 1,200-denier, triple-weave outer shell, with 220 grams of polyfill and a polyester lining. Other features include adjustable closures and reflective tape to increase visibility. An opening in the back accommodates a harness leash. Available in charcoal with pink trim, in sizes from 12 to…

TO PROTECT THE STOMACH Product: Purina Outlast Gastric Support Supplement Description: A pelleted supplement formulated to help maintain a horse’s gastric health, Outlast contains a proprietary seaweed-derived mineral complex with a honeycomb structure that maximizes its ability to buffer stomach acid and maintain a proper pH. Ingredients include calcium and magnesium. The pellets can be fed as a top dressing and/or as a snack within one hour prior to a potentially stressful event. Price: suggested retail, $39.99 for a 40-pound bag Source: Purina Animal Nutrition; 800-227-8941; www.FeedOutlast.com A SOFTER TOUCH Product: Horse & Livestock Body Blade Description: Wipe water, sweat and dirt from your horse’s coat with this blade made of soft food-grade silicone. Designed to conform to the body’s contours, the Body Blade can be used safely on bony…

I was not one of those privileged young riders who competed at shows with a horse of my own that I could ride whenever I wanted. No, my time in the saddle was limited to a single lesson each week, and always on a school horse. I do understand now, and appreciate, how big a commitment it was for my parents to grant me even the one lesson per week. But any extra rides I wanted had to be earned. That might mean hours of cleaning tack and mucking stalls or spending my entire Sundays helping the younger children tack and untack their horses. I cherished every additional ride. The best part was getting to know the school horses. Every lesson barn, it seems, has a similar cast of characters:…

NERVE’S ROLE IN HEADSHAKING INVESTIGATED Researchers are a step closer to understanding the role played by the trigeminal nerve in equine headshaking. Characterized by spontaneous and repeated flipping of the nose, headshaking can have many causes including allergies or poorly fitting tack. But when other factors are ruled out, veterinarians focus on the trigeminal nerve, which runs along each side of the face. In people, a condition known as trigeminal neuralgia causes burning or stinging sensations on parts of the face. Often triggered by activities such as eating or drinking, trigeminal neuralgia has been linked to demyelination, which is damage to the protective covering surrounding nerve fibers. “Demyelination causes something called ephaptic conduction, so when the nerve impulse—which is an electrical signal—travels along the nerve and gets to the demyelinated…

WATCH OUT FOR WASPS Nothing can ruin a glorious trail ride more quickly than a swarm of angry wasps. And if it seems like runins with these stinging insects are more common at this time of year, it’s because they are. Earlier in the summer, wasps were busy collecting protein-rich food— mainly dead insects and animals—to take back to nests where larvae were maturing. They weren’t likely to bother with humans unless their nest was disturbed. By late summer and early fall, however, the larvae have matured, meaning there are many more wasps, all seeking food only for themselves. During late summer, wasps seek sugary foods and may become aggressive and persistent in their quest. As a result, wasp stings—to humans and horses— are more likely at this time of…

A horse standing on three legs is a chilling sight. Severe injury leaps to mind, of course, but the problem may be a relatively simple hoof abscess, which is painful but usually easy to resolve. To help distinguish an abscess from a serious injury, answer these questions: Is there any swelling on the limb? Acute tendon, bone or ligament injuries come with associated swelling. Look over the limb and feel for areas of soft or hard swelling that may or may not be tender or hot to the touch. Is there a wound? Wounds are typically associated with trauma. The exceptions are abscesses that rupture and send pus through a break in the surface. These may leave a small wound above the coronary band or at the heel. Does the…

One of the unexpected joys of living in rural America has been discovering how friendly everyone is—from our neighbors to the county clerk to service providers to people met on the street. We met a gal in the Socorro feed store who manages a large cattle ranch, and we soon discovered we had mutual friends. We met a fellow in the Socorro Walmart who grows most of the alfalfa for the region. A woman in the hardware store said she grew up just north of Pie Town. In our own neighborhood, there’s a sense of camaraderie, and everyone pitches in to help. There’s a real sense of community here!…

anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis)—acute, massive, often fatal allergic reaction triggered by the introduction of an antigen into a horse who already has become hypersensitized to that antigen. antibody—disease-fighting substance produced by the body in response to the presence of an antigen. arthroscopy—examination of the interior of a joint through a slender fiber-optic instrument; used primarily in joint surgery, arthroscopy has rendered many more invasive techniques obsolete. ataxia—incoordination of the muscles, which results in shaky, irregular movements; may also be accompanied by weakness and loss of proprioception. choke—in horses, obstruction of the esophagus; in people, obstruction of the windpipe (trachea). deep digital flexor tendon—tendon connecting the deep muscles at the back of the forearm and gaskin to the coffin bone in the foot. equine herpes myeloencephalopathy— neurological disorder caused when equine herpesvirus-1…

New research from California has identified a sign—accumulated gas— that may be particularly useful in predicting whether a case of sand colic will require surgery. Characterized by intermittent gut pain and diarrhea, sand colic occurs when large quantities of sand, ingested when grazing, settle in a horse’s large colon. Medical treatment includes administering fluid intravenously, along with laxatives to help move the sand through the digestive system. If those measures fail or if the pain becomes severe, surgery to manually remove the sand may be required. To better understand the factors that influence whether a case of sand colic will be resolved with medication alone or require surgery, researchers at the University of California—Davis reviewed the records of 153 horses admitted to the clinic for suspected sand colic between 2004…

Purchase: Grooming vacuum • Consideration: The convenience of a grooming vacuum is diminished if it regularly breaks, clogs or simply doesn’t do a good job. You’ll want to purchase a model made specifically for cleaning horses and one with a good reputation for lasting a long time. And while all horses will have to be acclimated to the noise of any vacuum, a quieter model will be more suitable for particularly sensitive horses. •Options: There are large, stationary vacuums, as well as small, portable models that can be taken to shows. Many models have a “blow” option that can be helpful for drying horses, and nearly all come with a variety of attachments. Bags that collect the dust may be disposable or a longer-lasting variety, depending on the brand and…

ORTHOPEDICS Coping with osteochondroma Q: I adopted a just-retired 5-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse gelding two months ago. Upon arrival, he was faintly lame in the left fore when trotted on pavement, and he had a soft swelling running down the inside of his left front suspensory ligament. After ultrasound and radiography, he was diagnosed with a solitary osteochondroma of the distal radius. The osteochondroma has the peaked shape of a shark’s tooth, and has damaged his superior check ligament and deep digital flexor tendon. Fluid was drained from the back of my horse’s knee, and he was given two platelet-rich0 plasma injections two weeks apart. He was confined to a stall, then to a small pen that does not give him space to run, and he was walked once a day for…