Horse Health (October/November)

The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine October/November 09 £2.95

By Louise Cordell

THE overuse of antibiotics by equine vets isleading to the widespread development ofdrug resistant bacteria, according to newfindings. A new study has found that hospitalisedhorses are now at significantly increased riskof developing antibiotic resistance.Researchers working at Liverpool Universityhave discovered that E. coli bacteria in ahorse’s intestine appear to acquire multipledrug resistance while the animal is inhospital. The study was led by AdeleWilliams, with funding from equine charityThe Horse Trust, as part of a clinical trainingprogramme in equine internal medicine. She said: “We found a much higher degreeof antibiotic resistance after the horses hadbeen in hospital for a week – we don’tknow exactly where this resistance comesfrom, but it shows that there are moreresistance genes available to bacteria in ahospital environment.”Adele confirmed that the findings areparticularly important in terms of treatingbacterial diseases as there are only limitednumbers of antibiotics licensed for use inhorses.This means that vets need to be very carefulthat they are only used when absolutelynecessary.

She added: “Currently many are being usedfor treating fairly minor injuries and thisoveruse could speed up resistance. Insteadwe should be trying to cut down ontreatment – we need to protect the smallnumber that are available to us and slowthings down.” Randomly selected horses were studied atPhilip Leverhulme Equine Hospital over an18 month period between 2006 and 2008. The researchers found a significant increasein resistance during the week'shospitalisation for 7 of the 8 antibioticstested. The resistance also increased even inhorses not treated with antibiotics and toantibiotics that were not used in thehospital.Adele added: “We need to be aware thathigh antibiotic use will accelerate theprevalence of resistant bacteria - sotreatment needs to be targeted andappropriate. I think we can slow downprogression, but we will never be able tostop this resistance from occurring. “We need to remember that, as a vet, it willbecome very difficult to treat an animal ifevery antibiotic we try is failing to work. “New antibiotics are being produced, butthe rate of development has slowedconsiderably and there is no guarantee thatthere will be a new treatment around thecorner to help us out when we need it.”

A group of 12 brave vetsand vet nurses fromLancashire have takenpart in a ‘Calendar Girls’photoshoot to raisemoney for Animals AsiaFoundation – the BVNA’schosen charity for 2010. The animal welfarecharity works in Chinaand is well known for itscampaign to rescue moonbears from bile farming. The women from theRufford Veterinary Groupposed with their favouritehorses, dogs, rabbits andcats to produce the

calendar, which isavailable now atwww.calendarvets.co.uk. The project is thebrainchild of GillianWilliams who hopes toraise over £100,000 forthe cause. She said:“Every penny raised willhelp those beautiful moonbears and help AAF to puta stop to bile farming inChina. I hope the wholevet community and itssuppliers will get behindus.”Pictured: Sara and Rosie

New fears overvets’ overuseof antibiotics

01 29/9/09 15:32

02 spillers 29/9/09 15:34 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS 3

EDITORIAL

GROUP EDITOR:

Andrew HarrodTel: 01226 734639email: [email protected]

EDITOR:

Christine KeateTel: 07825 097 464email: [email protected]

REPORTER:

Louise Cordell Tel: 01226 734694email: [email protected]

PRODUCTION

STUDIO MANAGER:Stewart Holtemail: [email protected]

DEPUTY GROUP EDITOR:Judith Halkerstonemail: [email protected]

ADVERTISING

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR:

Tony Barry

PRODUCT MANAGER:

Claire McLeanTel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 734478Email: [email protected]

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of allcontent, the publishers do not accept liability for error,

printed or otherwise, that may occur.

Equestrian awardsshortlist is announcedBy Louise Cordell

THE shortlist for the 2009 EqvalanDuo Equine Thesis of the Year Awardhas been announced.

Now in its eleventh year, the award, sponsored by Merial Animal Health, is made by the Royal Agricultural Society of England to recognise outstandingacademic achievement in theequestrian field.

Brian Warren, RASE chief executivesaid: "The horse is taking an ever-more important role in rural Britain,as a leisure pursuit, in sport and forlandowners who are diversifyingtheir businesses by moving into horserelated activities.

“This award is a great way of givingrecognition to the future thought-leaders in the sector and wehope it also encourages otheracademic institutions and theirstudents to continue in their valuablework."

The five shortlisted candidates are:

� Holly Claridge, Royal

Veterinary College:

The 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joint in the horse

� Ann Clausen, Writtle College:Analysis of the trait scoring data inFuturity Evaluations (2005-2008) foryoung sport horses

� Sarah Craighill, HadlowCollege:

An investigation to establish if thereis a relationship between theorientation of the distal and middlephalanx and injury to the structuresof the distal limb in the horse

� James Daly, University ofLimerick:

Analysis of Career Length andPerformance in Irish National HuntHorses

� Sarah J Mitchell, SparsholtCollege:

A study into the behavioural andphysiological effects of equineassisted therapy, as indicated bychanges in Cortisol in saliva andheart rate.

The shortlisted students will have to present and defend theirthesis to a panel of judges before thewinner is announced on 13November.

They will receive a cash prize, trophy and RAS membership as well as being given the opportunity to present their work to the National Equine Forumin March.

Judge Dr Emma Batson from MerialAnimal Health said: “Research anddevelopment is key to our businessso it's very satisfying to see that theinnovative spirit remains strongwithin the UK's academicinstitutions.

“The quality of entrants this year hasbeen excellent and there is somevery valuable work taking place thatdeserves a great deal of respect andrecognition.

“We’re looking forward to meetingthe finalists, but I’m sure it’s going tobe a challenge to select an overallwinner.”

THE breeder of Oliver Townend’swinning Burghley ride CarouselQuest is to be presented with a£1,000 prize.

Joan Hood from Hampshire bred the14-year-old gelding and will receive acheque in recognition of hercontribution to British breeding.

Carousel Quest’s sire Carousel is aHolsteiner stallion standing atBroadoak Stud in Hampshirewho has produced sport horseswithin all the disciplines and isrenowned for his jumping ability andtemperament.

Carousel Quest’s dam, ThoroughbredVickidora is by Cava Doro who inturn is by the stallion Sir Ivor,meaning that Carousel Questis a modern event horse – theresult of successfully crossingwarmblood bloodlines with theThoroughbred.

Joan said: “It was obvious that hehad tremendous talent from a youngage and he has had great riders inCressy Clague Reading and OliverTownend.

“The secret is to have a plan –combining great bloodlines withgood early production and then the

topping this off with a good rider. Icouldn’t be more thrilled.”

Oliver Townend and CarouselQuest Picture: Land RoverBurghley Horse Trials

Breeder Joan wins£1,000 prize

03 1/10/09 15:16 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I NEWS4

By Louise Cordell

VETS could soon be able to confirma case of Strangles in just 30 minutesthanks to new funding grants.

Scientists believe that eradication ofthe disease is now a step closer afterreceiving financial support to developa rapid diagnostic test.

They have claimed that within threeyears vets around the world will beable to confirm cases of theinfectious disease in under half andhour.

The development follows aTranslation Award of more than£580,000 from the Wellcome Trustas well as money raised during a twoyear fundraising campaign by theHorse Trust, the Animal Health Trustand the British Horse Society.

The AHT has already launched adiagnostic blood test to screen forexposure to the infection and sinceFebruary 2008 more than 6,700samples have been tested.

Professor Andrew Waller, AHT headof bacteriology, said: “The mainproblem with strangles is the timetaken to diagnose it.

“The current blood test is a big stepforward, but the culture and DNAtests which are often used in theinitial stages of an outbreak can takea couple of days to get results.”

The Translation Award means theAHT can reduce the time taken toperform the DNA diagnostic test and

ultimately produce a point-of-caretest that vets can use on site to get adiagnosis in 30 minutes.

Earlier diagnosis will allow owners toisolate horses sooner and minimisethe spread of infection as well asreducing welfare problems for horsesand the cost to their owners.

This test will be designed anddeveloped over the next two yearsand it is hoped it could be massproduced and widely available by2012.

The ‘Breaking the Strangles Hold’campaign recently reached itsfundraising target of £250,000 injust two years, demonstrating theimportance of the issue to horseowners.

Campaign supporter, the PrincessRoyal, said: “As an owner who hasseen my own horse’s affected by thisterrible disease, it is wonderful to seesuch progress being made in arelatively short time.

“The screening test enables ownersto know within 24 hours if any oftheir horses have been exposed tothis bacterium.

“Previously available tests wouldhave taken three to four days.

“The test is making a real differencein welfare and economic terms for allthose involved in the equine industry– it truly is groundbreaking.”

New grants couldlead to Stranglesquick diagnosis

Pictured, from left, BEVA president Chris House, Josh Slater, Kerstin AlfordPicture: Patrick Walker

Professor is recognised for Safer Horse Rescues rolePROFESSOR Josh Slater has beenpresented with the British EquineVeterinary Association WelfareAward 2009.

The award, which was introduced byBEVA in conjunction with The BlueCross nine years ago, is a formalrecognition of significantcontributions made by veterinarysurgeons to equine welfare.

Professor Slater was given the awardby Kerstin Alford, director of equinewelfare at The Blue Cross, for hisrole in developing the EmergencyServices Protocol – now known asSafer Horse Rescues.

This is a nationwide initiativeinvolving vets, the highways agencyand emergency services.

It was set up in 2007 following anumber of incidents of horses dyingslow, painful deaths followingaccidents or after becoming trapped.

In addition to introducing theProtocol Professor Slater has helpedto develop training courses for vetsand fire fighters involved with horserescue.

Kerstin said: “Professor Slater hasbeen the driving force behind thisproject, which sets a nationalstandard for all those involved inlarge animal rescue.

“It will have a valuable impact onthe rescue and rehabilitation ofhorses and ponies throughout theUK by helping to minimise sufferingand maximise chances of a positiveoutcome.”

Scholarship won byKings TemptressTHIS year’s Twemlows Hall BurghleyScholarship has been won by KingsTemptress, who was ridden by Mary Kingand finished in 18th place.The scholarship has been introduced toencourage the owners of marescompeting at the highest levels to breedfrom them during their competitivecareer.Derek Baden, the owner of KingsTemptress, now plans to send the mareto Twemlows Hall after Badminton nextyear to undergo two embryo transfers.The Burghley Scholarship is awarded tothe highest placed British bred ordomiciled mare at Burghley each yearprovided that they finish in the top 20.Previous winners include Little Tiger,who has two recipient mares carryingher foals and Headley Britannia whonow has two yearlings, both born whileshe was in the run up to her Silvermedal in Hong Kong Olympics.

By Mary Ferguson

A NEW survey has revealed that sixin ten horse owners have changedtheir spending habits as a result ofthe recession.

The results of a new studyconducted by BETA show that theequestrian sector has been hit hardby the economic instability, withnearly two thirds of horse ownersclaiming they have been cuttingcosts to cope with financial

difficulties.

The survey was the first to be conducted by the Equestrian Research Panel – a joint venture between BETA and Sportswise, an independent researchconsultancy.

Jon Downer, Sportswise MD, said:“This first survey from the newEquestrian Research Panel clearlyshows that the sector has been

affected by the current economicclimate.

“It shows that horse owners arecutting back and not spending inareas that they may otherwise havedone.

“For example, one in five arechoosing to repair equipment ratherthan replace it and a further one infive have not renewed equestrianmemberships.”

PETPLAN is calling for nominationsfor its Equine Vet of the Year 2009competition.

The company’s aim is to highlightthe huge contribution equine vets make to their localcommunity and is looking for

candidates who combine clinicalexcellence with fantastic customercare.

An independent panel will drawup a short list from thenominations and the winner willbe announced and receive the

award at the Animal Health TrustEquestrian Awards in London on 5November 2009.

Last year's winner was 37-year-oldAndrew Dobson of The BarnEquine and Large Animal Practicein Great Wavering, Essex.

Nomination appeal for equine vet competition

Recession changing spending habits

04 29/9/09 15:39 Page 1


New directorsappointedTHE British Equestrian Federation hasappointed Lynne Crowden and JaneHolderness Roddam as new board directorsof the National Equine Database. Lynne is a breeder and producer of sporthorses at the Woodlander Stud, chairmanof the Lead Body for British Sport Horsesand Ponies, secretary of Warm BloodBreeders Studbook and a BEF Futurityevaluator. She said: “NED is going from strength tostrength but we have a lot of work to doto improve the pedigree data and I hope tobe able to explain clearly and simply toBritish studbooks what this means andhow, by supplying as much data as we can,we can help breeders make better choices. “NED is pivotal to the development of theBritish horse industry.”Jane Holderness-Roddam is chairman of theRDA, president of British Eventing and wasalso part of the 1968 Olympics goldwinning three day event team. Her aim is to help consolidate the linksbetween NED and many of its importantdata suppliers. She said: “NED is the new improved BritishHorse Database with more capacity to helpbreeders and producers, buyers and sellersand moreover the one horse owner, byproviding verified information to informand protect members of the equinecommunity.”

THE Dublin Society for theProtection of Cruelty to Animalshas voiced its concerns followingthe sale of an injured horse for €8at a recent market.The animal was rescued by an 11year old boy after he saw thebadly-injured pony for sale at themonthly Smithfield Horse Sales. He approached the owner, whosold him the pony for €8, andthen handed the animal over tothe DSPCA. Liam Kinsella, inspector with theDublin SPCA, said: “What kind ofsociety is it where an 11 year oldchild can purchase a sufferinganimal for €8 in a public marketcontrary to Control of Horses Act –which forbids the sale of horses toanyone under the age of 16.“It is appalling to think thatsomeone allowed her to get intothat condition and then offloadedher for less than the price of apacket of cigarettes. “There are no words left to

describe my anger and frustrationat the current situation regardingequines in this country.“Thank god there was a childwilling to do something about it –but it is up to elected adults totake responsibility now for thisawful situation.”The animal welfare grouptransported the pony back to thecentre by horse ambulance as itsfront legs and hooves were sodamaged that it could barely walk. On examination the pony, aged

about 15 years, was found to bein severe pain. Veterinary treatment wasadministered but furtherinvestigation is now needed todetermine if the animal can besaved.Jimmy Cahill, general manager atthe Dublin SPCA said: “Typicallythe Dublin SPCA rescuesapproximately 40 horses a year,but by the end of August 2009 wewere approaching 90 equines andthe numbers grow each week. “Our resources are being pushedto the limit and we are fearful ofevery market that is allowed totake place and the anguish thiscauses to mistreated horses. “Legislation is clear, every equineneeds to have a passport andmicrochip which forcesaccountability and traceability, butwithout sufficient resources put inplace to enforce the legislation, itsnot worth the paper its writtenon.”

Anger as sick horseis sold for less thanpacket of cigarettes

FMBs offer a range of pulsedelectromagnetic field (PEMF),massage, laser, magnetic and hot/cold+ compression therapy productssuitable for horses, riders and theirdogs.Safe and practical, these therapies canbe used for conditions including muscletension, soft tissue damage, slowhealing bones, sport injuries andarthritis plus pre warm up and postexercise.The new Activo-Med Combi Pro (pulsedelectromagnetic and cyclonic massagerug) treats from the top of the neck tothe tip of the tail and now also theshoulders and stifle.It’s newly launched little sister, theCombi Sport, is a traditional rug shapeand also offers both pulsedelectromagnetic and cyclonic massagetherapies.It is available with either massage onlyor pulsed electromagnetic onlycomponents and starts at £1200including VAT.Activo-Med Magnetic/Massage frontand hind leg wraps are available withboth systems or separately as well asthe combined pulsed electromagneticand laser handheld unit.Ideal for knocks, strains, tweaks,stiffnesses and prevention before andafter exercise.

William Fox-Pitt said: “Having used theActivo-Med Combi System for over twoyears now I can honestly say it’s worththe investment ten times over.“Whilst excellent for rehabilitation, Iuse the rug on all the horses bothbefore they are worked to loosen andrelax their muscles and after to aid therecovery process. The systems are easyto use, breathable, lightweight andhorse-friendly.”

Call 01628 472440 or visitwww.fmbs.co.uk for more

information

Therapies are safe and practical

Picture: Inside Out

05 29/9/09 15:40 Page 1


Study looks atcalming equinepheromoneBy Louise Cordell

HORSE owners could soon be offereda new treatment for themanagement of equine stereotypies.

The pharmaceutical manufacturer,CEVA Animal Health, is working inpartnership with the University ofNottingham’s Veterinary School tocarry out an initial study into acalming equine pheromone.

Owners of horses that display anytype of stereotypical behaviour suchas crib biting, weaving or boxwalking are being asked to completean online survey about their horse,management regimes and theirperception of pheromonetreatments.

Researcher Louise Needham said:“These stereotypical behaviours are avery emotive issue for horse owners.

“At the moment, the best treatmentis changing management – creatinga different routine for the horse orturning them out more – but oftenthat is not possible or practical, andis not always successful.

“There are also more active methodsavailable from crib collars to electricshock therapy and even surgery onthe muscles in the neck to preventwindsucking.

“However, these more extremeinterventions present their ownwelfare issues.”

Despite this she points out that, ifleft untreated, these behaviours canlead to serious secondary clinical

problems.

Cribbing can lead to damaged teeth,box walking can wear out shoes andput pressure on tendons andwindsucking can result in colic.

On top of this there is the primary problem that the horse isstressed within its environment andfeels the need to resort to thesebehaviours.

Louise added: “It gets to the pointwhere the condition is so distressing,probably even more for the ownerthan for the horse, people will tryanything. Pheromones have neverbeen widely used in the horse wordbefore, but they would be asynthetic version of those producedby a mother horse which have acalming effect.

“Obviously it is not known yet if theywould be completely effective instopping the stereotypical behaviour,but the overwhelming majority ofthe vets we have spoken to havebeen positive about the idea andwould give it a try.”

The online survey is also asking for owner opinions and ideas on the best and most practical ways to administer the pheromonesto horses, with options ranging from inhalers if they are tolerated by the animal, to a halter fixeddiffuser.

If you would like to participate in thesurvey please visit:www.nottingham.ac.uk/vet/Horseownersurvey.

CONGRATULATIONS to JonathanTaylor, Cheltenham and Tewkesburyarea rep for the British Horse Society,

who won last issue’s competitionprize – a brand new Hay SteamerProfessional.

Jonathan is a Horse Health winner

Accuracy of scoring systemsquestioned in new researchNEW research presented at thisyear’s BEVA Congress hasquestioned the accuracy ofexisting body condition scoringsystems.

Researchers at the department ofclinical science at the University ofLiverpool have conducted a study,supported by World HorseWelfare, that throws doubt on theeffectiveness of conventionalweight loss management systems.

The investigation, ‘Managedweight loss in obese ponies:Evaluating weight change, health and welfare’, involved fivemature, overweight or obeseponies.

The aim was to restrict their feedintake, on a dry matter basis, toone per cent of body weight of achaff-based complete diet for 12weeks.

During this time their weightchange, health parameters andbehaviour were monitored.

All ponies remained healthythroughout the whole trial and anappropriate and safe rate ofweight loss was achieved.

Clare Barfoot, Spillers nutritionist,

said: “Body weight decreased at asteady rate.

“However, despite significantweight loss, the body conditionscores of the ponies didn’tchange. This highlights theconcern that body conditionscoring may not be the mosteffective way to monitor earlyweight loss in ponies.”

The study also showed that, evenin this well managed group, thefeeding activity of the dietingponies was decreased by 74 percent, compared to ad libitumintake, highlighting the need for apractical feeding system that isboth effective at managingweight loss but is also sensitive tobehavioural needs.

The researchers are now in theprocess of developing a newcondition scoring system designedspecifically for ponies.

Alex Dugdale, lead researcher,said: “This will involve validatingthe relationship between actualmeasurements of body fatnessand the external appearance ofthe pony.”

THE new Equi-Shield atmosphericsanitizer is the most effective way toensure your grooms, rider, staff,stable facilities and animaltransportation vehicles are free fromcross contamination of bacteria andfungal and viral infections.

In the present economic climate,sanitizing with the existing productsavailable in the market can be costlyand time consuming if it has to bediluted, re-applied over 48 hours orapplied in a special applicator.

Equi-Shield is activated and appliedfrom an eight ounce aerosol canister,the product is premixed, non toxicand your staff will be able to use theproduct safely following simpleinstructions.

Applying this revolutionary residualbarrier technology creates a longlasting, durable bonded layer on thesurface which is positively charged-attracting the harmful (negativelycharged) microbes.

Because Equi-Shield is mechanical, itdoes not create ‘superbugs’ - whichare created from their ability to buildup a resistance.

The surface shield remains intact inmost areas 24 hours a day, for up to30 days, actively attacking microbesto inhibit growth which prevents ongoing colonies from forming.

But alongside the product there is agreat need for on going hygienedisciplines to be put in place.

Penny Cruttwell runs the day to daybusiness at the Brandwell Academyof Equestrian Excellence, where staff,clients and visitors are guided to thehand sanitizing stations situatedthrough out the yard, gloves areworn when dealing with openwounds and grooming equipment isregularly cleaned and sanitised.

For more information contactChristine Brander on

07791651332 or [email protected]

The newEqui-Shieldsanitizer‘mosteffective’

06 29/9/09 15:41 Page 1


THE first Mongol Derby, a 1,000-km horse race, has been hailed asa massive success.

Billed as the planet’s toughestequine adventure, 26 riders and700 horses set off acrossMongolia last month to recreatethe network of horse stationsonce used by Genghis Khaan.

Riders swapped horses regularlyand the animals underwentveterinary inspections at checkpoints positioned every 20 to 40km along the route.

The joint race winners were SouthAfrican architect Charles van Wykand Mongolian rider ShiravsamboGalbadrakh, who reached thefinish line just over seven daysafter setting off.

The two riders beat a field of 26highly experienced equestriansfrom ten different countries roundthe world including Argentina,Spain, USA and the UK.

Jenny Weston, an FEI accredited4* endurance vet was one of theteam of vets flown into Mongolia

to oversee the horse welfare andveterinary provisions for the race.

She said:“From a veterinaryperspective there was not muchto do for the horses involved inthe Mongol Derby apart fromassess their suitability before theriders arrived, then checking thatthe horses that had been riddenin were recovering well – mainlybased on heart rate recovery andgut sounds.

“A couple of horses were involvedin freak accidents, that’s just whathorses do, but ultimately less thantwo per cent of the horsesrequired any treatment and thatwas all minor first aid.

“Horse riding is essentially adangerous sport and throwingsemi-wild mounts and anexceedingly remote location intothe mix meant that the dangersto the riders were real.

“Along with horse welfare,sensible behaviour by theparticipants was paramount toensure that no major problemswere encountered.”

Mongol Derby riders

‘Toughest equineadventure onplanet’ succeeds

Horsewatch scheme relaunchedSTAFFORDSHIRE Police is re-launching its Horsewatch scheme inan attempt to tackle equine-relatedcrime.

The initiative, which will operate in asimilar way to NeighbourhoodWatch, is being set up after severalthefts of equipment in the south ofthe county.

PC Hardt said: "Horsewatch, which issimilar to Neighbourhood Watch, is agreat way of connecting horse lovers

and preventing crime.

“Participants will be offered, amongother things, security advice andtack marking. Saddles and otherstolen equipment can be veryexpensive to replace.

“An initiative like Horsewatch, whichhas proved successful across thecountry, is a fantastic opportunity towork together to stop criminals intheir tracks.”

07 29/9/09 15:42 Page 1


Editor’s insight...AS always, BEVA Congress heralded aplethora of scientific research andtechnological advances. However, onething in particular had a verysignificant impact on me. Yellow in colour, about the length of aman’s forearm and six to eight inchesin diameter; a lump of rubbersimulating five pounds of fat.To lift as a dead weight it felt muchheavier and it is a sobering thoughtthat whilst many of us might belugging one or two of these aroundourselves, many horses and ponies arecarrying several. The problem ofequine obesity is a growing issue. World Horse Welfare, in their excellentdvd on the subject suggest manyreasons why, such as grass growing

more during the often warmer wintermonths and better quality rugsreducing the energy needed to keepwarm, thus bringing horses andponies into the spring already slightlyoverweight, instead of morehistorically, in a lean condition readyfor the spring grass. Whilst we all know that horses areevolved to forage for many hours perday, they are not designed to copewith the high quality grazing manyare now enjoying. There are how-ever,less fattening forage alternat-ivesaround, such as good quality barleystraw as a partial hay replacer. It is worth seeking advice fromnutritionists and experts on suchfeeding issues.

Fat-related diseases, many aggravatedby us as ‘horse keepers’, arebecoming more prolific, and theoverweight horse, is being regarded asthe norm. The idea of ‘looking well’whilst clearly there is not a rib to befelt anywhere, is a mindset that surelyneeds to change. Not long ago I recei-ved an image of a winning cob. Itlooked a very well covered and chun-ky mature horse, I was shocked toread it was a young four year old. Is itreally not about time obesity ceasedto be rewarded in the show ring? I’ve always believed that example isset from the top, and that if those wewish to impress cease to reward‘condition’ in this form, then perhapsthings will change.Christine Keate

Welfare compendiumlaunched at BEVAA NEW equine welfare compendium has beenlaunched at this year’s British Equine VeterinaryAssociation Congress.

The National Equine Welfare Council has releasedthe third edition of its welfare guidelines, whichinclude the recent significant changes inlegislation as well as improved scientificknowledge of welfare issues.

Previous editions have been used extensively tosupport welfare investigations and legalproceedings, however the new publication hasalso been designed to help anyone responsiblefor equine welfare to meet their legal obligations.

Nicolas de Brauwere, NEWC chairman andRedwings head of welfare, said: “TheCompendium is designed to underpin the Codesof Practice for the Welfare of Equines byproviding a greater level of detail and informationto enable people to understand how they canbest meet the needs of the equines under theircare.”

The Compendium was funded, written andproduced by the industry, with the full support ofDefra and uptake so far has been very strong, inparticular by equine educational institutions suchas the vet schools.

However, the industry is now keen to also passon the guidelines to horse owners and othersresponsible for the day to day care of equines.

NEW recommendations to combat doping withinequestrian sport have been announced by the LordStevens Commission.

The publication has been described by theFédération Equestre Internationale as a roadmap toensure the future of equestrian sport around theworld.

The Commission was chaired by former chief of theMetropolitan Police, Lord Stevens and has madeindependent recommendations addressing anumber of key issues.

The key points include:

� The setting up of an independent Integrity Unitto maintain the status of a corruption freeenvironment in the FEI and its sports.

� A greater number of roles should becomeprofessionalised by having paid officials.

� There should be an urgent review of protocolsfor all anti-doping testing, including an assessmentof conflicts of interest.

� There should be more sophisticated and effectivestable security at FEI Championships and CSIOs.

The Stevens Commission was set up in May 2009as an independent commission to assess andinvestigate practices among members of theGerman equestrian team, and its officials, at theBeijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Its remit was then broadened to include a wideroverview of equestrian sport to provide the FEI witha complete range of changes to be implemented inits fight against doping.

Lord Stevens said: “The Commission wasestablished in order to focus on the sport’s integrity.

“We have endorsed a number of strongrecommendations that we believe will provideclarity and improve governance and complianceissues.

“The recommendations, along with other ongoingefforts within the equestrian family, aim to reduceimproper practices in the sport and lead it into anew era.”

The recommendations will be put forward forapproval by the National Federations at the FEIGeneral Assembly in Copenhagen in November andare set to be implemented by 1 January 2010.

New recommendationsissued to combat dopingin equestrian sport

08 29/9/09 15:43 Page 1


Call for equestrian responseTHE British Horse Society is urgingequestrians to respond to theForestry Commission’s newconsultation on the future role ofthe public forest estate.

The society has expressed itsconcerns at increasing numbers ofriders being charged a fee to usepublic forests and is encouragingpeople to use the consultation toobject to any discriminatorybehaviour towards equestrians.

Mark Weston, director of access,safety and welfare, said: “Therehas been an increase in thenumber of forests where riders arerequired to purchase a permit toaccess them.

“These are public forests whereaccess for walkers and cyclists isfree of charge and access forequestrians should be free aswell.”

Janice Bridger, regional access andbridleways officer, added: “TheForestry Commission’sdiscriminatory policy towardsequestrians is frequently broughtto my attention for a variety ofreasons. Those on low incomescannot pay to access safe off-roadriding; some riders refuse to payon principle to ride on what ispublic land; riders are expected toraise funds to surface tracks thatother user groups can then use.”

World Horse Welfare has issued areminder to land and horseowners to be on their guardagainst ragwort.The weed can be deadly if eatenby horses with symptomsincluding blindness,disorientation and liver failure,and once these signs appear theanimal rarely makes a recovery.

The charity is now urgingcommunities to work together toremove the weed from fields androads around the UK.However, as it is also poisonousto humans, anyone removingplants is advised to wear glovesand dust masks, and followofficial advice on disposing of theplants available from Defra.

THE Open College of Equine Studies’new Equine Veterinary Nursing trainingprogrammes have taken on its firststudents.The specialist programme, validated bythe Royal College of VeterinarySurgeons, is delivered through distanceand on line learning materials andresidential study weeks.The programme is designed forstudents who wish to gain an RCVSawarded qualification and have theright to carry out procedures under thedirection of a veterinary surgeon.The BTEC Equine Nursing Technicianprogramme is suitable for studentswho may currently be ineligible to traintowards the RCVS NVQ in EquineVeterinary Nursing.Study weeks involvea mixture of classroom based andpractical teaching sessions covering a

range of topics including anatomy,physiology, nutrition, healthassessment, first aid, reproduction,nursing techniques, health and safetyand veterinary clinical skills. Some ofthe training days are held at RossdalesEquine Hospital near Newmarket.Professor Tim Greet, senior partner ofRossdales Equine Hospital, said:"Rossdales Equine Hospital is delightedthat TOCES has set up an equineveterinary nursing course and recentlyadded a technician course too.“This affords us a local centre toensure that our nursing staff continueto be trained to a high level withoutthe need for our trainees to travel awayfrom the area. We are also glad thatour staff are able to play a part incontributing to the teaching on thesecourses."

First students ontraining programmes

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HORSE HEALTH I 10 feeding and nutrition

Winter fibre feedingBy Katie Williams M.Sc (Dist)RNutr, Senior Nutritionist,Dengie Horse Feeds

INEVITABLY, the onset of winterresults in changes to a horse’s dieteven if they are spending the winterout at grass.

The drop in temperature and daylength affects grass growth andtherefore its nutritional value, and soconserved forages are usuallyrequired.

As these differ considerably innutritional value and moisturecontent to fresh pasture they have asignificant impact on the horse’s diet.

Grass:Although relative to other parts ofthe world, the UK experiencesrelatively narrow ranges in annualtemperatures, it does get coldenough in the winter to reduce grassgrowth as a minimum of 5°C isrequired for grass to grow.

Increasing rates of growth areevident as temperature increases upto an optimum temperature ofbetween 20 and 25°C.

Once the autumn flush of grass hasbeen consumed, there is often little

growth occurring and so the amountof grass dwindles.

Growth however, is not the same asphotosynthesising as grass plants canstill photosynthesise in the cold iflight is available.

Photosynthesis produces sugarwhich, if it isn’t used for growthbecause it is too cold, will be stored.

This is thought to be a possibleexplanation why laminitis can occurin the winter months, particularly incold, bright mornings as eventhough the amount of grass is low,the sugar levels in it can be high.

As well as limited availability of grassin the winter months, the nutritionalvalue alters too.

Young plants have a high proportionof leaf and so tend to be higher inprotein and minerals but low in fibreand lignin.

As the season progresses the amountof leaf declines and the cell contentto cell wall ratio decreases. The plantcell wall contains what are known asstructural carbohydrates includingcellulose and hemi-cellulose pluslignin which is not strictly acarbohydrate but is linked todigestibility whereas the cell contents

include monsaccharides (simplesugars).

More stalk and less leaf means thatthe horse consumes more fibre andindigestible materials than in young,spring grass and so energy intakesare reduced.

Individuals with compromised or lessefficient fibre digestion such asyoung or older horses, are therefore

more at risk of losing weight as thecomposition of the forage theyconsume changes.

Water content:Leaves contain more water than stalkand so a reduction in the amount ofleaf in the grass plants will reducemoisture intake. Continued on Page 11

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HORSE HEALTH I 11feeding and nutrition

Continued from Page 10Conserved forages by their verynature contain much less moisturethan fresh grass as reducing themoisture is necessary for theconservation process. Research has also shown that incolder weather horses tend to drinkbetween six to 14 per cent less waterwhich, if hay is making a greatercontribution than grass, could resultin a considerable decrease in waterintake.

Obviously there are many otherfactors to consider when decidingwhether to use haylage or hay butfor maintaining water intake, haylagewould be preferable.

In addition, using soaked fibre feedssuch as those containing sugar beethelps to increase moisture intake aswell as providing additional highlydigestible fibre.

Older horses:Winter can be a real challenge forowners of older horses with poordentition as the longer length ofconserved forages can be difficult forthem to chew.

Ensuring that sufficient fibre issupplied is vital for overall gut healthand for its energy contribution –fibre probably makes up 75 per centof the older horse’s diet so it is nosurprise that if they can’t eat three-quarters of their diet very easily, theywill lose weight.

In a study at Writtle College,different sources of fibre were fed toolder horses with compromiseddentition to see which they couldmanage most easily.

A sample of 12 horses wascompared for their ability toconsume three different types of

fibre; hay, a blend of hightemperature-dried, short choppedgrass and alfalfa and a soakedalfalfa/sugar beet combination.

When offered to the older horses,hay was refused on 44 per cent ofoccasions compared with just six percent for the grass and alfalfa blend,while the soaked alfalfa and sugarbeet combination was not refused atall.

Hay presented the greatest problemfor the older horse where a 66 percent lower rate of consumption wasobserved in the timed trialscompared to those with normaldentition.

A 30 per cent reduction wasobserved in the time taken toconsume the alfalfa and grass blendby horses with poor dentition whichsuggests that short chopped fibre isa better alternative than hay.

Unsurprisingly, the older horsesfound the soaked product easiest toconsume with little difference inintake compared to horses withnormal dentition.

This is a more finely ground feedmaking it easier to chew but likely topass through the digestive systemmore quickly so, if possible, it shouldbe fed alongside some shortchopped fibre to maintain normalgut function.

This feeding strategy has been usedsuccessfully for horses and ponieswith very poor dentition, keepingthem in acceptable condition forseveral years.

To summarise, the range of differenttypes of forage now available meanthat it is easily possible to supply allhorses and ponies with plenty offibre during the winter, regardless oftheir age or condition.

Cut alfalfa: An alfalfa blend can be beneficial for older horses

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By Claire Lawrence BSc (Hons)Nutritionist, Allen and Page

THE skin is the largest organ in thebody and is responsible for providinga protective barrier to potentialthreats from the outside world. A sleek, shiny coat indicates that thehorse is in good health and conditionbut skin problems can often be asign that all is not well and dry, dull,scurfy skin or urticaria type reactionscan all indicate underlying issues.

Nutrition:Correct nutrition and skin and coatcondition are intrinsically linked. Fatty acids can be divided into non-essential fatty acids and essentialfatty acids (EFA) and the latter mustbe provided in the diet as the horseis unable to synthesise its own. Fatty acids have many roles withinthe body including the production ofcell membranes and hormones. Twoof these essential fatty acids areOmega 3 and Omega 6 which arebuzz words in human nutrition at themoment. Omega 3 oils have anti-inflammatory properties that help toreduce pain and swelling. Omega 6oils conversely have pro-inflammatory properties which helpto maintain the immune system and

are beneficial during illness andinfection.The horse’s natural diet of grasscontains good levels of essentialOmega 3 oils, however, as manyhorses are stabled for considerableperiods of time and are fed dietsbased around conserved foragessuch as hay and concentrate feedswith a high cereal content this canlead to the diet becomingunbalanced in its ratio of Omega 3to Omega 6 oils. A diet rich in pro inflammatoryOmega 6 oils can lead toinappropriate inflammatory reactions. In terms of skin condition Omega 3oils have been shown to havebenefits in reducing dermatologicalconditions in domestic animals(Bauer, 1994). As essential fatty acids play animportant role in the cell membraneit is not suprising that a dietbalanced in Omega 3 and 6 oils canhelp to improve overall skin health.

Sweet itch:Recurrent Seasonal Pruritis or SweetItch as it is commonly known is adistressing condition characterised bysevere pruritis and exudativedermatitis.

Anecdotal evidence suggests thatsupplementing the horse’s diet withlinseed oil, a good source of Omega3 oil can be beneficial. Scientific research is conflicting withone study reporting no significantchange in pruritis (Friberg and Logas,1999) while O’Neill et al, (2002)found a reduced concentration ofthe long chain saturated fatty acidsin the skin secretions, suggestingpossible altered microbial metabolismcausing a reduced immune response.

Allergies:Perhaps the least understood feed-related problems affecting horses arethose which involve allergies andintolerances. Feed allergies are rare inhorses while intolerance of a specificfeed ingredient appears to be muchmore commonplace. With regard to allergies, to describeit simply, the allergen (whatever itmay be) alerts the antibody in thesystem that is responsible forrecognising invading bacteria andviruses in the body. It then attaches itself to theseinvaders and arouses the body’sdefences (the immune system) toattack and destroy them. In cases of food allergy, theantibodies appear to get their wirescrossed and instead of attachingthemselves to invading bacteria orviruses they attach themselves toperfectly harmless foods. This causes the immune system toreact, producing symptoms such asurticaria amongst others. The immune system usually respondsvery quickly and often quitedramatically, which is why trueallergies cause very swift and oftenviolent reactions. In humans, the awareness that foodor specific food ingredients cancause health problems has risendramatically over the last few years. However, it is now recognised inhumans that there are several acuteand chronic conditions that areaffected, if not totally caused, byfood (in that the patient’s bodyreacts in some negative way tofood), but which are not caused byIgE antibodies sparking off animmune reaction. This does not mean to say that theimmune system may not be involvedin the process, but if so, it is throughsome mechanism other than an IgEantibody. The same appears to be true for

horses. The difficulty with this is that if IgEantibodies are not involved in thereaction, then diagnoses that dependon measuring the number of IgEantibodies produced by a certainfood or feed are of no use.Many horses live quite happily withlow-level sensitivities to foods thatthe owner may never even havebeen aware of, and which onlybecome a problem when their healthis compromised in some other way,such as through infection, stress,trauma or injury, or being generallyrun down. The actual mechanism of how thishappens is not clear. In humans there appears to be agenetic predisposition to suchsensitivities and for example theymay run in families.If a horse has a feed intolerance, theculprit is commonly molasses, barleyor sometimes alfalfa, but othercereals can be implicated. Feeds that contain cereal by productscan also cause a reaction. A horse that has a feed intolerancemay remain susceptible for manymonths or even its entire lifetime,although allergic bumps maydisappear suddenly with the removalof the problem feed. Signs of an intolerance are oftenskin-related, for example, itchy orscurfy skin or urticaria type reactions.Food intolerances may produce theseproblems and many more – they canaffect the health of the horse innumerous ways. Most of what is commonly fed tohorses probably contains significantquantities of molasses and syrups –whether the feed itself, chaff orsugar beet. Molasses and barley can often be aproblem but because they arenormally nutritionally soundingredients they do appear in themajority of horse feeds available. When intolerances build up it canthen be difficult to eliminate themfrom the diet. If you think a horse may have foodintolerance - remember that any ofthe above signs could have othernon-feed-related causes. The only guaranteed way ofdiscovering whether a horse’s healthproblems are caused by anintolerance to specific feedingredients is by undertaking,preferably under veterinarysupervision, an elimination diet.

Skin nutritionIf a horsehas a feedintolerancethe culprit iscommonlybarley.

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By Isabel Stewart, SpillersNutritionist

AS well as the challenges of mudand rain, winter can bring newfeeding challenges for horse owners.Many horses spend more timestabled during the winter and somemay lose condition.

This, combined with changes in theweather and grass quality meansthat most horses will require adifferent feeding regime comparedto the summer months.

In many cases this means an increasein the amount of prepared feed inthe diet, this increase combined withless turnout time may cause concernfor owners if their horse is prone tofizzy or excitable behaviour. However,there are many feeding options thatcan help keep your horse healthythroughout the winter.

Sources of energy:If your horse or pony requiresadditional prepared feed in thewinter, it may be important toconsider the sources of energy withinthe feed.

Feeds that have the same level ofenergy can have different effects ontemperament due to the way inwhich the energy is provided.

Feeds that are high in starch, such asmixes will provide a more rapid influxof energy and can exacerbate anexcitable temperament and causefizzy behaviour.

Fibre on the other hand will provideenergy that is slowly released overtime and helps to encourage calmtemperaments; remember thoughnot all fibre is the same so choosewisely.

Hay and haylage varies considerablyin quality but also in itsenergy/calorie content, it is also

deficient in essential vitamins andminerals.

Choose a fibre which provides youwith a consistent analysis and highquality that also provides you withsome control over your horse’s diet.

Oil is another ‘non-heating’ energysource which is high in calories butwill not cause excitable behaviour inmost horses.

There are several prepared feedsavailable that are based on fibre andoil with relatively low starch levels.These feeds can provide energydependent on requirementthroughout the winter monthswithout effecting behaviour.

Condition without fizz:Many owners dread winter as theyknow that the drop in grass qualityand change in weather causes theirhorse or pony to loose weight.

Poor doing or older horses mayrequire extra help to maintaincondition throughout the winter.

This can be achieved withoutsacrificing a calm temperament.

The key to adding condition withoutincreasing excitability is to feed a dietbased on oil and fibre.

Oil is excellent way of adding caloriesand also helps to improve coat shine,particularly in the winter when yourhorse is rarely without a rug.

What if my horse is agood doer?For horse’s or ponies that are a gooddoers it is important not to overcompensate for the cold weatherand lack of grass by feeding toomuch high energy prepared feed.

However even the good doing horseswill require a full spectrum of

vitamins and minerals, to ensureskin, coat and hooves remain in tiptop condition.

In these cases a concentrated feedwhich provides a daily supply ofvitamins and minerals withoutadditional calories would be ideal.

The older horse:The winter can be a tricky time forthe older horse; the decrease intemperature can result in the olderhorse losing weight and struggling tomaintain condition.

A feed designed specifically for theolder horse should provide themwith additional calories to maintainbodyweight and quality protein tosupport muscle tone.

Even if the older horse does notrequire extra calories they maybenefit from additional joint,digestive and immune support,which can be found in specialistsenior feeds.

The horse that winters out:As long as adequate shelter isprovided and dietary changes areaddressed, then most horses canwinter out, and remain in goodcondition.

It is important that a horse living outover winter receives a full spectrumof vitamins and minerals to help himremain healthy.

This can be accomplished by giving asuitable prepared feed fed at therecommended amount.

If your horse requires extra conditionconsider adding in somesupplementary feed, increasing orchanging it to provide the extracalories needed.

Feedingduringwinter

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15 Dengie 29/9/09 16:20 Page 1


MAINTAINING muscular condition inperformance and sports horses can bechallenging. This is especially true when the work load isincreased or during periods of convalescenceas feeding high levels of concentrates canoften lead to horses becoming ‘fizzy’ andbulking up on fats and oils. With this inmind, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica haslaunched a unique and 100 per cent naturalmuscle building supplement for horses,Equitop Myoplast Power Pearls, whichcontains 18 key amino acids.Designed to support lean muscle growth, notbulk, the supplement optimises performancein horses in intensive training andcompetition, as well as bringing on young,breeding and injured animals, and helpsolder horses which lose condition easily.

Supporting growth

New productlaunchedin rangeBADMINTON Horse Feeds havelaunched Care ‘n’ Condition, thelatest product in their Fibre RichRange.

It combines long natural fibre and anoat-free mix and is designed for allhorses and ponies in medium work orin need of conditioning.

The feed is 16 per cent fibre, whichaids digestion and containsmicronized soya and soya oil toprovide a high oil content for bloomand condition.

It is also high in quality protein formuscle development and recovery,making it suitable for veterans andconvalescents.

Other products in the range includeEasy Rider, containing long fibre, noadded sugar with a feed pelletcontaining vitamins and minerals for horses with allergies orunder a laminitic managementprogramme and High FibreComplete,containing nuggets of fibrewhich is a low energy feed for allhorses and ponies with weightproblems.

SIMPLE System is now providinga new service for forage analysis.

Hay, haylage or fresh grasspackages are available to analysenutrient content, includingsugars and in depth mineralanalysis.

The aim is to help ownersunderstand the variables withintheir feed and grazingmanagement.

Jane van Lennep, companydirector, said: “Grazing is so

important and beneficial tohorses, but it is all too easy toend up with a malnourishedhorse, an obese horse or aserious case of laminitis.

“With this quick and simple test,owners will be able to get anaccurate evaluation of theirpasture, which will beenormously helpful in managingall grazing horses and assessingtheir requirements, if any, foradditional feeding.”

Forage analysis service

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HORSE HEALTH I 17feeding and nutrition

NOSTRILVET is a natural equineallergy blocker which can help in theprevention of equine hay fever, headshaking, heaves and coughing.

Environmental irritants including dustand mould spores can challenge thehorse’s respiratory system to variousdegrees of severity, causing coughingand mucus and in some cases moresevere symptoms.

However, Nostrilvet is simple andeasy to administer by the horseowner, and will help to maintaingood respiratory health and thehorse’s ability to work.

It is a fine powder which is sentgently up into the nasal tract in afine plume when the bottle issqueezed. It reacts with the moisturewithin the airway, forming a mucuslike fine gel lining that acts as a filterfor allergens, pollutants and dust,and can be administered daily as

required.

For a chance to win one of five packscontaining a 30-day supply, sendyour name, address and contactnumber to NostrilVet Competition,Horse Health Magazine, 47 ChurchStreet, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S702AS.

Deadline is Friday 13 November 2009and the winner’s name will beposted on the Horse Health websiteat www.horsehealthmagazine.co.uk

West Nile Virusclaims humanvictims in ItalyBy Louise Cordell

NINE cases of West Nile Virus inhumans in Italy have been reportedsince early September and thedisease has now claimed the life oftwo victims, both men aged 71 and82, according to the Italian PublicHealth Authorities.

15 cases of WNV have also beenconfirmed in horses in an outbreakof the disease which began inLombardy in late July and which hascaused the death of six of theaffected horses so far.

Dr Sylvie Lecollinet from AFSSA, anEU Commission-appointed laboratoryin France, said: “We’ve beenmonitoring the outbreaks of WNVboth in humans and horses in Italywith great concern and liaising fully

with the Italian authorities.

“Extending mosquito distribution is aserious issue and should be takeninto account when assessing the riskof disease emergence.

“The epidemiological role that thesemosquitoes could have in WNVtransmission should be furtherexplored.

“With cases reported in Hungary andItaly already this year, we’reremaining vigilant as the peak seasonfor mosquitoes has not yet passed.”

WNV is only transmitted directly bymosquitoes and both horses andhumans are dead end hosts.

While the disease is potentially fatal,horses can survive with aggressivenursing therapy though some sufferpermanent neurological defects.

CEVA Animal Health haveproduced a leaflet to helphorse owners understand thediagnosis and treatment ofnavicular disease, which canbe a complex conditionbecause of its multiple causes.Navicular disease can bedifficult to diagnose andmanagement of the conditioncan be a challenge for bothvets and horse owners. The new leaflet aims to help

owners understand all aspectsof the disease from theclinical signs to theprocedures used to obtain aformal diagnosis. It alsocovers the various treatmentoptions available includingcorrective farriery, analgesia,bisphosphonates and surgery. Copies of the leaflet are nowavailable free of charge fromequine vet practices.

Navicular disease leaflet produced

Win month’s supply ofequine allergy blocker

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HORSE HEALTH I18 special report

By Dr Helen Birch, Institute of Orthopaedic andMusculoskeletal Science, UCL

THE aim of the research was tounderstand why the superficialdigital flexor tendon (SDFT) sufferssuch a high incidence of injury.

We wanted to confirm the findingsof our previous pilot data whichsuggested that the ability of theSDFT to renew the tendon tissue waspoor, by using more complicated butrobust techniques.

The age of the matrix gives anindication of how capable thetendon is of repairing any micro-damage that may occur followingexercise, thus a younger matriximplies a greater ability to maintain ahealthy tendon.

Tendon, unlike muscle, is a passivetissue and relies on the mechanicalproperties of a large amount ofmatrix surrounding the cells totransmit force generated by themuscle to a distant bone.

However the tendon tissue willundergo fatigue damage and, ratherlike a fraying piece of rope, needs tobe replaced if strength is to bepreserved.

In living tissues this necessitates anongoing process so that function canbe maintained while small areas ofmatrix are repaired.

The study:Our early work presented us with apuzzle; although the SDFT issubjected to forces close to its failurelimit, and is very susceptible tomicro-damage, the matrix appearedto be ‘older’ than that in thecommon digital extensor tendon(CDET), which has a much lessdemanding role working with largesafety margins and is rarely injured.

The results of our most recentresearch suggest an intriguingpossibility.

The first objective of the researchwas to confirm the difference in ageof the matrix between the SDFT andCDET.

We measured the extent ofracemisation of the amino acidaspartic acid.

Amino acids, which form thebuilding blocks for all proteins, canbe present in two forms (D and Lracemers) which are mirror images ofeach other.

All living tissues contain the L formwhich is spontaneously converted tothe D form (racemisation) with time,and therefore, the ratio of these twoforms can be used as a ‘clock’ to agethe tissue.

The technique is more oftenassociated with forensic sciencewhere it is used to age bodies fromtooth samples, but is equallyapplicable to the collagen found intendons.

Findings:To our surprise, although the ratio ofthe D form to the L form increasedwith horse age for both tendontypes, we were unable to find adifference between the SDFT andCDET suggesting a matrix of equalage.

Another biochemical marker widelyaccepted to predict the age of thecollagenous matrix is the compoundpentosidine.

Again measurements showed nodifference between tendon typessuggesting a matrix of equal age.

Our previous assessment of thematrix age was based on a simplemeasurement of the total level ofauto-fluorescence which increases inageing tissue.

However, the main collagen crosslinkin tendon collagen, whose levels donot relate to the age of the horse,also shows auto-fluorescence and wehave found that levels of thiscrosslink are much lower in the CDETthan the SDFT, which could explainour misleading initial data.

However previous data also showedhigher levels of collagen breakdownproducts and matrix synthesis in theCDET, which did not fit with our newfindings.

Could it be that the tendon matrix isbecoming degraded but rather thanbeing removed remains within thetendon and continues to accumulateage related changes?

The main part of the rod-likecollagen molecule has a triple helical

structure which can only be cleavedby specific collagenase enzymes.

These collagenase enzymes cleavethe collagen molecule at a particularsite, giving rise to a newly exposedsequence of amino acids at the cutends (epitope).

This is a useful research tool as thelevels of these neo-epitopes in thetissue can be measured indicatingthe extent of collagen degradation.

Our results have shown that thelevels are higher in the CDET thanthe SDFT and that they increase inthe CDET with increasing horse age.

So,it seems that we were both rightand wrong.

Conclusion:The cells in the CDET do indeedbreak the matrix down more rapidlybut the CDET also accumulatesdegraded matrix, which hasimplications for the mechanicalproperties of the tendon.

What at first seemed like atadvantage for the CDET may in factbe a disadvantage.

This also suggests that the highstrain SDFT has mechanisms to limitthe degree of matrix degradation, afeature that may allow exploitationby the racehorse trainer.

The story of tendon health isunravelling in a direction notpreviously considered.

We believe that the key to healthytendon is the ability to maintainproperties rather than to increase insize and strength.

Thus simple measurements oftendon cross sectional area, the

amount and type of collagen andeven gene expression are notsufficient to assess tendon integrity.

Our research indicates that thedegree of collagen ‘snipping’ bycollagenase enzymes and the rate ofremoval of collagen fragments fromthe matrix, may be critical.

Furthermore, the factors thatinfluence these processes representpossible targets for therapeuticintervention.

These findings pave the way for realprogress in understanding howexercise and training of competitionand race horses can be used tomaximise tendon health, and reducethe risk of injury.

Research funded by equine charity The Horse Trust has been looking at the differences in tendon renewal betweenlow and high strain equine tendons, and the possibility of future intervention to prevent injuries.

Discovering thekey to healthytendons

The findings could help maximise tendon health for competition andrace horses

Dr Helen Birch

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HORSE HEALTH I 20 worming

A head-to-tail exploration ofthe effects of equine wormsBy Helen Barnes BSc, DMM,MCIM of Fort Dodge Animal Health

NO horse is ever completely worm-free and, in fact, low worm burdensare well tolerated and cause nodetectable harm.

But, it’s important to remindourselves of the damage that wormscan cause if left untreated,particularly at a time when newresearch conducted by the BritishEquestrian Trade Association hasreported that five per cent of horseowners have cut back on wormingtheir horses because of the currenteconomic climate.

Worm control is an important part ofmaintaining a horse’s health andoverall welfare and damage causedby worms can have serious and evenfatal consequences.

Damage to mouth:Bots, the larvae of the botfly,burrowing into the mouth lining,tongue and gums can cause thedevelopment of pus pockets andulceration of the tongue. Ulcerationof the stomach is also associatedwith bots and is caused when theyattach in large numbers to the gutlining.

Damage to the stomach:Stomach ulcers can also occur inheavy infestations of hairworm.Roundworm species located in thestomach, specifically the hairwormand stomach worm, more commonlycause a mild gastritis.

Damage to the small intestine:

Parasites of particular concern tofoals and young horses, threadwormand large roundworm are associatedwith affecting the stomach. Largenumbers of adult threadworm may

cause inflammation and erosion ofthe gut wall causing impairment ofdigestion and absorption. Largenumbers of adult large roundwormhave been reported to cause fatalblockages or ruptures.

Damage to the lungs:The larval stages of both thethreadworm and large roundwormare migratory and, as they migratethrough the lungs, their movementcan cause bleeding and respiratorydistress.

Naturally the parasite mostcommonly associated with the lungsis the lungworm. Primarily found indonkeys, this parasite can causepersistent coughing, nasal dischargeand an increased respiratory rate.

Junction of the small and largeintestine:

Located at the ileocaecal junction,tapeworms in most cases don’tactually cause clinical signs.However, in horses with high wormburdens, the mucosa at the site ofattachment may become inflamed,thickened and ulcerated and this canlead to fatal intestinal rupturesalthough it’s more commonly a causeof colic.

Damage to the largeintestine:The most common andpathogenically significant parasiteaffecting horses today is the smallredworm and it’s the larvae that arepathogenic. They burrow into andaccumulate in the gut wall in cysts ata density of anything up to 60 larvaeper cm2.

Their entry into the gut wallprovokes an inflammatory response;and their accumulation may impairabsorption leading to loss of

nutrients and life-threatening illness.The larvae may emerge from the gutwall and develop into adults within afew weeks but, in some cases, themajority may become dormant tocontinue development and thensuddenly emerge ‘en masse’.

This mass emergence is potentiallyfatal with a 50 per cent mortalityrate among horses affected.

The most dangerous parasiteaffecting horses remains the largeredworm. No longer as prevalent asit was thanks to modern wormers,the adults eat the lining of the gutwall, causing considerablehaemorrhage and ulceration.

Damage to the tail end:Moving down the large intestine, it’sthe pinworm which causes mostdamage. While the presence of thepinworm in the intestine rarelycauses clinical signs, the eggs laid bythe female adults around the horses

anus cause intense itching resultingin visible bare patches, inflammationand scaling of the skin over the rumpand tail.

Dermatitis can also be caused byneck threadworm migrating aroundthe superficial layers of the skin.

Conclusion:While a wide range of parasitesaffect horses, the severity of theclinical signs they induce variesMany cause only mild discomfort yetsome will have a significant impacton the health of your horse and, ifleft untreated, may even prove fatal.

The only solution remains asystematic and well plannedworming regime based on the use ofeffective wormers with no confirmedresistance in horses.

It must be administered at theappropriate time of year alongsidethe use of faecal worm egg countsand pasture management.

Large roundworms

Worm damage to gut lining

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HORSE HEALTH I 21worming

By Dr Emma Batson of MerialAnimal Health

REPONSIBLE worming is vital inminimising the risk of equineanthelmintic resistance.

There are only three main groups of wormers available for use inhorses:

Benzimidazoles (fenbendazole isthe drug most commonly used inhorses), tetrahydropyrimidines(pyrantel) and macrocyclic lactones(ivermectin and moxidectin).

There are only a few reports ofresistance to macrocyclic lactones inthe UK, however we know thatresistance to benzimdazoles iswidespread and pyrantel also hasreduced efficacy.

Do not forget that it is the wormsthat become resistant to treatment,not the horse.

Over-worming can be as detrimentalas under-dosing, so underestimatingthe horse’s weight, or spilling someof the drug could be inadvertentlyaccelerating the development of

resistance.

The key to reducing the likelihood ofresistance developing or increasing isto identify the horses that needtreating, and treat them with thecorrect wormer at the right dose.

It is well documented that horseskept on the same yard will show

considerable variation in wormburden – it is estimated that 80 percent of the equine worm populationin the UK is carried by 20 per cent ofhorses.

A WEC (worm egg count) measuredin eggs per gram of dung (epg), willidentify and count all species of

worms withthe exceptionof tape-worms, andimmature andencystedworms, andtherefore,help identifywhich horsesneedworming andwith whattreatment.

In most cases,if the count isgreater than200 epgworming

should be considered. There is as yetno test for the immature or encystedstages.

A blood test is required to determinea tapeworm infestation so it isrecommended that in addition toregular WECs that all horses aretreated in the spring and autumnwith a tapeworm treatment such aspraziquantel.

Minimising the risk of equineanthelmintic resistance

A worm egg count will help identify horses requiring treatment

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HORSE HEALTH I 22 worming

Managing the wormburden in a large yardBy Diane Gilby of Intelligent Worming

OVER the last few years therehave been some dramatic changes in livery yard wormingpractices, both through legislation and also veterinaryrecommendations.

Wormers have been reclassified andare now a prescription drug thatcannot just be ‘sold’.

The person responsible forpurchasing wormers has a legalliability to make sure they understandenough about all the horses forwhom they are purchasing, and theway in which they are kept, to ensurethat the correct product is beingprescribed.

New horses should be isolated and afaecae sample taken unless, atreatment record can be provided byan independent source such as theclient’s vet.

The selection of wormer should bemade carefully as some wormers may

contribute to colic.

Worming best practice:The development of worm resistanceto chemicals is increasing.

Many livery yards base their wormingprogramme on a standard calendarthat is based on a three monthlyregime.

It is suggested that the longevity ofthe chemicals included in these isproven, as there may be evidence tosuggest that some might not last forthe required period.

An assessment needs to be madeof the risk of larvae contaminationfrom the pasture and theworming strategy designedappropriately.

This will incorporate faecal eggcounts as appropriate and chemicalwormers when needed.

Each horse may need a differentprogram as their natural immunesystem will cope with infection inmany different ways.

Recommendations for aworming programme tostop resistancedeveloping:� Assess the risk of larvae in thepasture.

� Complete a faecal egg count at anappropriate time – worm egg counts

can be misleading if they are nottimed correctly or the resultsinterpreted in conjunction with a fullrisk assessment.

A clear count does not always meanwormers can be eliminated.

Seek help to design a wormingstrategy – this could be a vet orprofessional service catering for liveryyards.

By Gillian Booth of WestgateLaboratories

MANY larger yards are discoveringthe benefits of using a worm countbased programme.

This can be efficient and costeffective.

All that is needed is for one personto take control and make sure thateveryone joins in.

Firstly choose a day to collectsamples when worming is due for allor most of the horses.

When the results are returned youwill see which horses, if any, havecounts of 200 epg or more.

They will need worming with suitableproducts and it is important to getexpert advice if unclear whichproducts to use.

Do not worm clear or low counthorses.

After three months, test again. Asbefore, target your wormers wherethey are needed.

Then test every three months exceptfor mid winter when you shoulddose to treat encysted redworm.

In late autumn, and possibly springtoo, give all horses a routinetapeworm treatment.

It is also very important for newhorses to be tested and wormed asnecessary before joining the herd.

Finally, keep pasture as clear ofdroppings as possible and keeprecords of each horse’s counts andworming over the year.

You should soon see patternsemerging and improve your wormcontrol.

Benefits of a wormcount basedprogramme

New horses should be tested and wormed as necessary before joiningthe herd

22 29/9/09 16:26 Page 1

23 intravet 29/9/09 16:29 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 24 wound care

By Robinson Animal Healthcare

A PUNCTURE wound is caused by anobject piercing the skin surface andcreating a hole that will vary in depthdepending on the causative objectand on the area of the body which itis located.

Puncture wounds can have seriousconsequences on horse health asthey may be virtually impossible todetect, yet they are capable ofharbouring infection deep below thewound surface.

It is likely that the object responsiblefor the puncture wound will carry

Puncture woundsPuncture wound Swelling

bacteria into the skin andsurrounding tissue, and if leftuntreated an infection could result.

Aside from the risk of infection,puncture wounds can causepermanent damage to underlyingstructures such as tendon and boneand also prove fatal if vital organssuch as the abdomen, chest or brainare affected. Equally if the wound isnear a joint it can be just as seriousand infection can spread towards it.

Punctures near joints or tendonsneed urgent veterinary attentionbecause the by-products of infectioncan irreversibly damage cartilage andtendon sheaths which will have longterm effects.

Puncture wounds may only presentthemselves as minor surface wounds but the extent of thetrauma below the skin surface canbe significant.

The first sign of a puncture wound isoften a swollen and inflamed areawhich can be easily overlooked,particularly on areas of the bodywhere hair is not clipped.

Many puncture wounds are tiny andhard to spot but there is usually atiny trickle of blood or a highlysensitive area around the puncture.

Little blood comes from a puncturewound, unless it has punctured amajor blood vessel in which case itmay be fatal.

Once a puncture wound has beenidentified it is crucial to assess howdeep it might be by finding out whatcaused it, how clean or dirty it maybe and whether any vital structuresare affected. Depending on theobject that caused the puncturewound it is possible that all of partof the foreign body may haveremained within the wound.

Treatment:If in any doubt about treating apuncture wound or if the horse’sstate deteriorates consult yourveterinary surgeon immediately.

It is also important to make sureyour horse is vaccinated againsttetanus as these wounds are idealfor tetanus to flourish undetected.

To treat the puncture wound it maybe necessary to clip the coat andclean around the area.

Avoid spraying water or anythingdirectly onto the wound as this canforce any contamination furtherinside.

It is also important to think aboutwhat may have caused the wound,so you can assess if there may beany foreign bodies stuck inside.

Do not poke about in the wound asthis will cause infection and flushwith a saline solution beforecovering the affected area.

Apply a clean bandage and a woundcream or gel, and the horse will thenneed to be kept in a clean, dryenvironment.

If the area is infected, use a hotpoultice to draw out the pus andchange it every 12 hours.

If the pus is not drained away, thewound will heal around it causingpressure and infection to build upcausing extreme pain.

When the infection has disappearedthe wound should be covered with adry dressing until it starts to healover – it is vital to keep it clean anddry.

A punctured foot should beattended by a vet and treated ifnecessary in conjunction with afarrier; in some cases the shoe maybe removed.

24 29/9/09 16:28 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 25wound care

By Georgie Hollis of Intelligent Wound Care

THE search for a greater pool ofdressings that have valuable, costeffective properties and minimize therisk of bacterial resistance for woundmanagement is a vital focus forhuman healthcare, leading to anexploration of historical treatments,many of which, transfer readily tothe equine patient.

Honey:Effective against over 150 differentstrains of bacteria includingPseudomonas species, E-coli andMRSA, its potent anti-microbial anddebridement properties lend honeyperfectly to contaminated woundsneeding ongoing debridement.

Used successfully for thousands ofyears the evidence attributed to itssuccess actually surpasses many man-made products.

Documented in the Egyptian EdwinSmith Papyrus of nearly 2000 yearsBC, honey was recommended for thetreatment of open wounds,combined with lint and grease.

Thorough testing of medical gradeManuka honey ensures that it is apotent antimicrobial and a UMF(Unique Manuka Factor) guarantees

this. A UMF rating of ten or above isenough to be effective againstcommon wound pathogens andequates in efficacy to ten per centphenol. Using honey for woundmanagement can be a messy job butinvestment in its presentation as awound dressing has made it morepractical to use.

Companies producing honeyproducts for use in woundmanagement prepare themspecifically to medical standards andthis is important to ensure that highlevel filtering and removal of debrisand beeswax is achieved.

Sterilization through gammaradiation (rather than the standardpasteurization process for food gradehoney) also prevents degradation ofmany complex peptides andbeneficial components including theimportant oxygen releasing enzymeglucose oxidase.

Silver:Silver has some of its first notation inRoman writings where soldier’sarmory included silver vessels to storeand carry water. The water keptrelatively pure and the health of themen was thought to be maintainedas a result. Continued on Page 26

An over-granulating wound treated with a Manuka honey dressing

The latestdevelopment inwound dressings

25 29/9/09 16:30 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 26 wound care

Continued from Page 25

Through the middle ages Argyriabecame a visible symptom of wealthand a side effect of ingestion ofquantities of particulate silver. Thosewho routinely drank from silver cupsand goblets accumulated enough ofthe heavy metal to give skin a bluishhue.

The phrase blue blooded was appliedto the gentry as a result.

Silver dressings have made asignificant impact on woundmanagement since the emergence ofMRSA in the human hospital setting.

They give a similar spectrum ofaction to that of Manuka Honey butdo not offer the additional anti-inflammatory and debridementproperties that is useful incontaminated or infected wounds.

Silver works by releasing ionic silverin solution which denature bacteriaand some fungi.

Needing to be in water or woundexudate means that it is important tokeep silver dressings moist wherethey are required to work.

Heavy commercial interest andpromotion of the anti-microbialeffects of silver have seen a boom inkits for home production of colloidalsilver solution.

Sold readily on the internet thesolution is claimed to preventinfections and a myriad of otherailments.

I have personally been witness toclients insisting that an animal’swound is cleansed with preparationsof colloidal silver in an effort to selfmanage and prevent MRSA,however, evidence is lacking for itseffectiveness and the solution isunlikely to have been tested toensure safety, anti-microbial activity,or actual silver content.

Only products with a CE mark will bemedically tested for use in openwounds and it is questionable ifthese home made efforts are viable.

Before being tempted to considerconsuming or using these solutions

yourself look up ‘Smurf Syndrome’on the web.

You will be faced with some strangelooking beings who haveinadvertently acquired the conditionof Argyria.

Irreversibly blue or grey, they haveconsumed large quantities ofparticulate silver despite the benefitsof consumption remaining unproven.

Silver dressings are intended fortopical use only, but remember thatthe product should be combinedwith a material that is conducive tomaintaining a moist wound healingenvironment to get the best effects.Many new silver foams, alginatedressings and gels are available inthe human wound care market anda little research should find you adressing which achieves the idealwound environment while deliveringthe antimicrobial benefits of silver.

Maggots:The benefit of maggots in woundshas been known for centuries andwas first noted in cases of warwounds where colonization withmaggots was sometimesunavoidable.

Notes from the time clearly indicatethat these wounds resolved withminimal consequence with fasterhealing to those that were notaffected.

Maggot ‘therapy’ is realized today inthe form of ‘medical’ maggots orLarvE®. Prepared specifically byZoobiotic more than 70,000 batchesare used successfully each year forNHS patients in the UK. Demand isgrowing.

Used for the purpose of wounddebridement, particularly inchallenging wounds, ‘the world’ssmallest surgeons’ are an importantpart of NHS care.

Maggots are truly incredible in theirefforts to consume necrotic anddead tissue.

They release or ‘expel’ similarenzymes to those of the white bloodcells to break down necrotic andproteinaceous material in thewound.

As they ingest this liquid materialthey effectively clean the woundbed.

In the process they excrete what isleft, which includes Allantoin, asubstance widely researched for its potential to promote healthy granulation in problemwounds.

The mechanism of debridement andthe positive effect on wound tissuehas justified significant investmentinto the ‘mechanism of maggots’and many companies are nowinterested in a synthetic version ofmaggot juice as an everydaydebridement agent.

An alternative to surgicaldebridement, maggot therapy hasbeen used successfully in severalveterinary cases including horses anddonkeys.

It must be said that not all woundsare suitable for maggot therapy.

It is therefore advisable if you areconsidering using them to discussyour intentions with the suppliersbefore ordering.

The future:Modern research gives us sometantalizing evidence of why theseproducts have been successful forhundreds and in some casesthousands of years.

More research into the past practice of wound management islikely to reveal even more inspiration for challenging wounds inthe future.

The wound at four weeks aftersix dressing changes

Maggot therapy applied to remove necrotic tissue – the larvae need to be applied with specific surroundingdressings to ensure they do not migrate out of the wound

26 29/9/09 16:31 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 27winter months

By Karen Ruggles of Stop It All

SKIN problems can strike a horsewhatever the season but withwinter upon us, bringing moredamp and wet weather, mud-related issues can be one of themost common problems affectingour horses and ponies.

Mud fever is caused by the bacteriadermatophilis congolensis, which isalso found in rain scald and can beeasily recognised by the crustyscabs that form in matted areas ofhair.

The mud provides a home for thebacteria but when horses’ legs arepersistently very damp or wetand/or are damaged by mites, theskin is more susceptible to injuryand so even just a small scratch canallow the bacteria to enter the skinand breed there.

Of course prevention is alwaysbetter than a cure, as onceestablished mud-related issues cantake some time to get rid of, but ifa horse is affected, it is importantto get the affected area dry andclean and apply preparations to getrid of the bacteria.

If possible, try not to clip the hair in

the affected areas, especially withheavily feathered horses.

You may need to work harder byretaining them but in the long runit will be better for the horse.

The affected area should then bebathed in a gentle, low lather,hypoallergenic shampoo, preferablyone that does not contain anyharsh chemicals such as parabens,

lauryl sulphate, or even tea tree, asthese can cause further irritation.

This will clean the area gently andwill also help to soothe, soften andlift the scabs.

It is important never to pick off thescabs as this will delay healing andleave the skin much morevulnerable to additional attack.

The area should then be rinsed welland dried carefully, not rubbed,with a clean towel.

A hair drier can even be used on avery low setting to dry the area butonly with extreme caution asanimal skin is much more sensitivethan human skin so heat damagecan easily be caused.

The healing preparation shouldthen be applied and ideally shouldbe antibacterial and antifungal.

Depending on the product chosenit may be necessary to keep thearea dry for it to work, so allinstructions should be followedcarefully.

However, with careful managementand a suitable product plus lots ofpatience, your horse or ponyshould soon be back to health.

Winter skin problems

RUGGLE-IT a lowlather, hypoallergenicshampoo andnatural vegetable oilblend really is a‘product for allseasons’.Developed by ex-international rider,Karen Ruggles, the two gentleproducts can be used on no lessthan 18 different skin and itchingissues affecting horses as well aspets, farm animals and even childrenwith head lice.

From repelling mites, flies and otherbugs to skin irritations caused byitching, mud and dry, sore crustypatches, Ruggle-it is now becomingrecognised by many vets as anextremely useful product to have onhand in the stable yard for year-round use.

Karen said: “Our whole ethos is topioneer products for animals andhumans that never include harshchemicals such as parabens andsodium lauryl sulfate and tea tree.

“Research indicates all these canseriously irritate sensitive skin”.

With over 70 testimonials from

grateful horse and pet owners, studfarms and international competitorson the website, the powers of thistotally natural and chemical-freeproduct speak for themselves.

Lincolnshire-based horse owner,Barbara Hotchin, said: “I have usedRuggle-it on my Irish Draught horsefor summer itching and flies as wellas for winter mud-related problemson a friend’s pony, and it reallyworks. It is a great product and soversatile – I even use it on my owndry skin!”

Mention this magazine to receive adiscount on your first order!For more information visit:www.karenruggles.co.uk or call01823 259952.

27 29/9/09 16:32 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I28 winter months

Make surehunt horseis ‘fit forthe job’ ...By Claire Brown ofthe British GroomsAssociation

AN all too commonsight is the hunt horseat his first meet of the season, neverto return for the rest of the year dueto a strained tendon, suspensory orcheck ligament.

So at the start of the season it is vitalto make sure that the horse is ‘fit forthe job’.

This requires many hours of fitnesswork in walk, building up over aperiod of weeks to faster canterwork. As well as preparing thecardiovascular fitness in the horsethis also helps to prepare the softtissue structures.

It is generally accepted that themajority of injuries to flexor tendonsoccur as a consequence of multipleepisodes of strain to the tendon,which leads to the mechanical failureduring athletic performance.

It is also thought that heat can play afactor in these injuries.

Tests have shown that substantial

temperature increases occur in vivoin the central core of equinesuperficial digital flexor tendonsduring high-speed locomotion.

Temperatures as high as 45°C havebeen recorded in the core of atendon during gallop exercise.

Consequently whilst the hunt horsemay benefit superficially from legprotection, it is debateable that thismay also have the adverse effect ofcontributing to heating the softtissue structures.

It is accepted that boots, when wornfor long periods of time, inunfavourable conditions, can alsolead to rubs and sores leaving thelegs exposed to possible conditionssuch as mud fever and secondaryinfections.

Immediate post care of the hunthorses’ legs is also important to helpensure they last the season.

For many years cold therapy hasbeen recognised for its benefits, andlegs should be cooled efficiently andthen kept cool. There is somecontroversy surrounding the bestway to do this. Many people usecold hosing and clay with supportingstable bandages.

Ice wraps are becoming anincreasingly popular choice, althoughmost designs shouldn’t be left on formore than 20 minutes.

Cold water hydrotherapy is alsopopular for use the next day andresearch in this area is favourable butongoing.

If heat and/or swelling is noted itshould be taken seriously. Whendiagnosing soft tissue injuries it isessential to have them scanned asthe degree of lameness andinflammation present does notalways have a true reflection on theseverity of the injury.

Veterinary diagnosis should alwaysbe sought, which may suggest ascan in five to seven days when thefull extent of the injury can be seen.

‘It is generallyaccepted that themajority of injuries toflexor tendons occuras a consequence ofmultiple episodes ofstrain to the tendon,which leads to themechanical failureduring athleticperformance’

28 29/9/09 16:33 Page 1

29 virbac 29/9/09 16:33 Page 1

Early diagnosis of limb deformities

Bloodstock matters

3030

By Andrew Poynton FWCF

WHILST the seasons won’t be rushedand the mare’s gestation takes itsallotted time, there seems to beconstant pressure on the studmanager to deliver more each year.

The annual Bloodstock sales dictatewhat stage of development each foalshould be at, although they are notall born on the same day and growthvaries form foal to foal.

It is rare to see poor stock at athoroughbred stud, rather glowingexamples of fine physique and healthnurtured by just ‘the right feed’ andprofessional management.

Despite all this attention beinglavished, it is a fine balancing act toavoid over doing it; you’ll seldom seea poor doer with ‘ballerinasyndrome’.

The foal could be compared to aglasshouse plant, rapidly growingbut vulnerable to subtleenvironmental changes.

Flexural and angular limb:Many perfectly normal foals willarrive and experienced hands willgive them a few days to find theirfeet, which they will do without anyexternal intervention.

It is when limb deviation orabnormal flexural posture isprolonged without improvement,that the veterinary surgeon andfarrier are required to intervene.

Flaccid flexor tendons:A foal born with flaccid flexors, toesin the air and pasterns low to theground, which does not improvewithin a week, can be treated with aheel extension cast to the hoof tofacilitate more correct posture, whilstthe physique of the limb gainsstrength.

There are a variety of materials andmethods available to achieve this;some may use a shoe glued on withthe appropriate extension, othersmay prefer adhesive, plastic castingor aluminium.

Whatever method is used, factors toconsider are ease of use andapplication, and effectiveness withminimal negative influence on therapidly developing foot.

If not resolved in one treatment overtwo to three weeks, two will restorethe majority.

Dependent upon age; the youngerfoal will require more frequentattention due to the need to allowthe foot to grow expansively withoutundue constraint and distortion.

Acquired FlexuralDeformity:A foal may present a tendon/musclecontracture which untreated wouldlead to a club foot or worseknuckling over at the toe rendering

the limb crippled.

Physiotherapy and a muscle relaxant drug administered by the vetsuch as Oxytetracycline may beeffective prior to farrieryintervention, particularly in the veryyoung foal.

As the foal is rapidly developing thefirst sign of AFD may be that itappears ‘footsore’ and the hoof isbroken at the toe.

For an effective result the feedmanagement of the mare and foalare crucial for recovery along withhoof trimming and a protective toeextension.

Experience has shown that treatingthis as a purely mechanical problemis both naive and ineffective. Eachcase will vary in severity but a typicalcase will benefit from the following:

� Reduced grazing and hard feedfor mare and foal.

� Hoof protective toe extension toreinstate correct hoof pasternalignment on the effected limb.

� Foal to spend the majority of timeon a hard surface to ensuremechanical benefit from theextension.

� Muscle relaxant drugs asprescribed by the veterinary surgeon.Continued on Page 31

Flaccid flexors before treatment Flaccid flexors treatment, with caudel extension shoe fitted, hoof andpastern in alignment

‘A foal may present a tendon/muscle contracture which untreatedwould lead to a club foot or worse knuckling over at the toerendering the limb crippled’

30 29/9/09 16:34 Page 1

31

Bloodstock matters

Continued from Page 30� Regular farriery treatment –trimming of the heels and extensionadjustment/replacement at two tothree weeks.

Provided the condition in the foal isrecognised early enough and theseguidelines are implemented, theneed for surgical intervention isavoided as is the potential of acompromised limb.

The prognosis is usually good withsuch cases, unlike the overlooked ormismanaged ones which are likely tosuffer lasting conformationaldeformity, typically a club foot andoften back at the knee.

Angular Limb Deformity:This large subject only touched onhere encompasses deviations at oneor more joints of the limb and theassociated growth plates.

As with flexural deformities, newborn foals often take days or weeksto strengthen up, so with ALDinitially a conservative approach totreatment is wise, but when aconsistent deviation at any of thejoints is noticed, hoof trimming maybe all that is required to regaincorrect alignment; ‘little and often’ isthe preferred way.

If the deviation, be it medially orlaterally orientated (inward oroutwards) is not reducing then thefarrier can model a prostheticextension to the side of the hoofusing the same range of materials asmentioned earlier to manipulate thelimb, so that it is brought back intoalignment above the foot.

If the hoof appears pleasing to theeye, fairly symmetrical, the limbabove is likely also to be in goodalignment; conversely a distortedhoof is subject to uneven forces andloading from above.

This is where the stud farriers’ skilland much of his/her valuable time isemployed.

The pertinent point is to producehorses with straight limbs that canperform to their best.

When correcting ALD particularlywhen more than one joint iseffected, e.g. fetlock and knee thenthe lower joint is concentrated onfirst, as the cartilaginous epiphysealgrowth plates that enable the longbones to grow in length ossifybefore those higher in the limb.

Un-correctableconformation:There are conformational scenariosthat the farrier cannot correct.

It’s worth mentioning rotationaldeviation of the whole or part of thelimb may be evident.

For example a foal may haveparticularly outward rotation of thefront limb; this will become lesspronounced as it develops due tothe chest development andmusculature.

Attempting to rotate the limb by‘corrective farriery’ and a medialextension would be likely to onlycreate ALD, a mature horse still withlateral rotation but appearing‘pigeon toed’.

Similarly an offset knee conformationis not correctable but ongoingdiscerning farriery may limit itsnegative effect.

Yearling Sales:The month leading up to the sales islikely to be the first time the yearlingis plated. Why do we plate?Sometimes it is just the preference ofthe stud or logical reasons are toavoid the yearling from becomingfootsore whilst getting fit prior toand at the sales, and being able toshow it off at its best.

Light plates are fitted with six slimplate nails. Whether plating for thesales or the track, plates should notbe fitted short or tight but flow tothe outline of the foot.

The farrier can excel here at the artof both balancing and creating anaesthetically pleasing set of feet,which can significantly influence thesale price.

Flat Racing:Two year olds that go into trainingobviously are put to the test muchsooner; their limbs, feet and wholephysique are still very muchdeveloping and so more vulnerablethan the mature equine.

This is not to say that it isdetrimental for the colt or filly butcertainly can be if close attention isnot paid to any strain or injury notleast in the limbs and feet.

Quarter cracks are not uncommon;these burst from the coronet whengalloping and will bleed.

The hoof cannot expand rapidlyenough in relation to the force it issubject to particularly where there ishoof imbalance or conformationwhich concentrates the force into aspecific area; e.g. a pigeon toed (toein) conformation usually predisposesthe lateral heel quarter to greaterimpact.

This is not exclusive to youngstersbut being immature will have lowertolerance.

This highlights the importance ofnurturing good limb conformation.

National Hunt Steeple Chasers havemore time before going into trainingso are not subject to currentdevelopmental weaknesses but

rather, are the product of hopefullycareful breeding and nurture.

Whether racing on the flat or over

the sticks it’s like formula one, costly,finely tuned and takes some gettingthere.

Contracted flexor beforetreatment

Contracted flexor with toeextension, first treatment

31 29/9/09 16:37 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 32 forge

Farriery and Continuing By Claire Brown of Farriers’ Pages

FARRIERY, alongside medical andveterinary science, is constantlymoving forward in knowledge,technique and skill.

To reflect this, many farriers havefurthered their education to keep upto date with these developmentsthrough organising and attendingclinics and conferences.

In turn this has provided them withthe advanced skill to deal withconditions of the hoof effectively,and employ therapeutic methods asnecessary.

Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment (CPD), recognises theindividual who seeks to improve andkeep their knowledge up to date,and ensures that the standardsrequired to have gained theirprofessional qualification are, at thevery least, maintained.

Introduced into the veterinaryprofession in 1997, formallyrecognised CPD was introduced tothe farriery industry in 2008.

‘Pursuing Excellence in Farriery’ is thephrase coined by the farriery CPD

Steering Group (CPDSG) whichconsists of representatives from theWorshipful Company of Farriers, theNational Association of FarriersBlacksmiths and AgriculturalEngineers, the Farriers RegistrationCouncil and the Farriery TrainingAgency.

The CPDSG has been established toensure that CPD is provided to suitthe needs of the farrier and thefarriery profession and reports fromthe CPD office suggest that theresponse has so far has beenextremely positive.

CPD is being taken up by manyprofessions, particularly those thatare regulated by law such asDentists, Doctors and Teachers, forwhich it is mandatory.

Vets have a professional obligation toparticipate in 105 hours of CPD overthree years, with an average of 35hours per year.

BAEDT (British Association of EquineDental Technicians) members arerequired to undertake 3 full days ofCPD every year.

CPD for farriers is not compulsoryunder the Farriers Registration Act

1975 and to make it so wouldrequire a change in the law.

It is however recommended thatfarriers obtain ten CPD points a yearaveraged over a three year period.(During the introductory years it wasrecommended that five points weregained in 2008, eight points in 2009and from 2010 onwards ten pointsper year).

Farriers are provided with acertificate annually showing the CPDcompleted in the past year, and thepoints awarded over the past threeyears.

CPD Points are awarded for anumber of endeavours to encouragefarriers to participate in a wide rangeof activities ensuring an individual is‘well-rounded’ in all aspects of theirprofessional life.

Examples of such events includeshoemaking courses andcompetitions, conferences, clinics,health and safety, first aid andcomputer competence in addition toreading books and subscriptions toperiodicals, attending businesscourses and giving presentations toPony Clubs and Riding Clubs. Continued on Page 33

32 29/9/09 16:43 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 33forge

Professional DevelopmentContinued from Page 32

Perhaps the ultimate CPD is thestudy for and acquisition of higher farrier qualifications such as the Associate and Fellowship of the Worshipful Company ofFarriers.

Organisers of CPD events can apply to the CPDSG to have theirevent accredited and the bookingand recording of CPD activity can be done online through the CPD website atwww.farrierycpd.org.

Although rapidly increasing innumber the current provision of CPD events is such that it does not allow for every farrier inthe UK to acquire ten points ayear.

Many organised CPD events arecentrally located for nationalattendance and there is currently apush to introduce more events at a‘local’ level to lift geographicalrestrictions.

This has already begun withbranches of the NationalAssociation and other local groupssuch as the Yorkshire Farriers

Education and DemonstrationAssociation becoming moreproactive.

Factors such as time taken offwork and the cost of attendingsuch events are also issues to beexamined.

The introduction of any newconcept is not without its teethingproblems however activeparticipation in CPD will ultimatelyresult in better looked afterclients; both human andequine.

Carers of horses have a right to expect that a farrier’s knowledge is kept up to date andthat the standards gained atgraduation have at least beenmaintained.

Whilst not exclusive, the accrual ofCPD points goes some way toformally recognise this.

Farriers actively advancing theirexpertise will ultimately be better equipped to deal with amore diverse range of ailments,and business scenarios, andperhaps even gain a competitiveedge.

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33 29/9/09 16:38 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 34 product reviews

Biology andtechnologycombinedEQUILEAR ProtectiveSolutions combine biologywith the latest technologyto create a ‘bionic’ finish,providing an ecological andeffective solution for anti-bacterial, waterproof andcleansing treatments fortextiles.

Equisilver is an anti-microbial treatment forrugs, fly sheets, leather andclothing that can besprayed on before wearingor storage.

It can also be sprayed ontodressing and bandages toreduce the risk of infection.

Equiprotect Rug is awaterproof protectiontreatment for rugsconsisting of a bio-degradable formula whichcontains no fluoro-carbon,paraffin or other hazardouschemicals.

Equiclean is a rug cleaningsolution that does not affectexisting water repellantlayers but removes soil anddirt.

FOLLOWING the introduction of EquimaxTabs, Virbac have now introduced theEraquell formula in a new tabs form.With the active ingredient Ivermectin,Eraquell Tabs are effective againstroundworms and bots and fit into ayearly worming plan.Just a small amount of wormer lostbecause of animals spitting out part orall of their worming dose can leaveowners unsure if the correct amount ofwormer has been administered.

Under dosing can notonly lead to increasedworm burden but canalso accelerateproblems withresistance.Eraquell Tabs can begiven either as a treatfrom the hand orsimply added to feed,allowing horse ownersto create a yearly worming programme that is easily and accurately

administered.

How Vetrofen helped Miss TuckHORSE owner Miss Tuck describes howVetrofen, a Bute alternative with nobanned substances, worked with her17-year-old horse.She said: “My horse went lame in July2008, and after x-rays he wasdiagnosed with DJD, had steroids andTildren twice but still no success. “After six months box rest and specialshoes he was still as lame as he was sixmonths’ previously. “So I went to our vets and had an MRIscan – but the damage was so bad theytold me to take him home, let him outin the field and let him be a horse, thenput him to sleep. He had very badcollateral ligament damage with DJD soI took him home and did just that. I didput him on Bute but after three weeks

of this he got ulcers so I had to stop. “I then arranged for him to be put tosleep but on the day I begged my vet todo something. He then went underIRAP and he went sound, but was stillstiff. I have used joint supplementsbefore but never found any that didwhat they say on the tin. So I triedVetrofen on a normal maintenance leveland it didn’t really do much.“I rang Animalife and explained myhorse’s condition, turned out I got it wrong, he needed to start with aloading dose due to his poor condition. “He needed to start with a loadingserve due to his poor condition and hissymptoms then reduced and after threedays my horse came out trotting fromhis stable. I rode him that night and he

was amazing.“He was going so fast I had to do smallcircles just to slow him down – he hasnot been able to do this for over a year. “I have now reduced him to amaintenance plus level and am stillgetting good results and am hoping toget him to normal maintenance levelsoon. He really was a different horse amonth ago, I am so impressed and myvet is very pleased with him. “I can even start cantering now, he wasonly ever meant to be field sound – Iam very happy indeed.”Order Vetrofen and Equine Oxyshot

online from Animalife now with free delivery and ten per cent off

using voucher code “mosteffective”,valid from 05/10/09 to 07/12/09.

New tabs solve dosage problems

34 29/9/09 16:39 Page 1

HORSE HEALTH I 35classfied and news

A MARRIED couple from West Sussexhave been banned from keepinghorses for three years after thediscovery of an emaciated andinjured horse at their Billingshurstfarm.

Colin and Barbara Robinson (60) ofRavensbury Farm on WestChiltington Lane, were found guiltyof failing to provide adequateveterinary care and assistance totheir 19-year-old horse ‘Ghandi’ atHaywarrds Heath Magistrates Court.

They were ordered to pay £3,000each in compensation and £1,000each in costs, however, theyimmediately indicated their intentionto appeal.

Ghandi, a grey 17.2hh brandedHanoverian gelding, had beendiscovered by World Horse Welfarefollowing a call from a concerned

member of the public.

He was found at the farm in anemaciated condition and with alarge, untreated wound on hiswithers. Once removed, Ghandi puton 126 kilos in just under fourmonths and the wound on hiswithers healed, however, otherhealth issues he had proved unresp-onsive to treatment and the decisionwas made to put him to sleep.

Ted Barnes, WHW field officer, said:“In his time Ghandi must have beena very impressive horse and I find itvery upsetting that Mr and MrsRobinson did not offer him thedignity in his later years that hedeserved. I hope their sentence sendsa clear warning message to othersand that they are afforded a morecomfortable retirement than theyprovided for their horse.”

IndustrystandardsupdatedEQUINE paraprofessionals fromacross the UK are being called on todefine the skills needed in theirindustry to insure its future success.

Lantra is working with the industryto develop and update NationalOccupational Standards and isencouraging paraprofessionals, andspecifically equine hoof trimmers, totake part in an online consultationon working standards.

Liz Pridgeon, development managerfor standards and qualifications, said:“These standards have many usesincluding forming the building blocksof vocational qualifications, so theyneed to be completely up-to-date tobest reflect how each industrycurrently operates, and to ensurethey can be easily understood byeveryone.”

Anyone working in the industry whowould like to take part can do soonline at www.lantra.co.uk/nos.

Ghandi

Three-year horseban for couple

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Call uson01226734482

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Horse Health (October/November)

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