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Despite good hoof hygiene and exercise, horses sometimes get this unpleasant condition; rapid recognition and  proactive management can prevent deeper damage. You’ve seen it many a time–a horse gallops across a field and dirt clods fly every which way. With normal activity, your horse’s hooves are subject to a natural cleansing process that scours the bottom of the hoof and removes debris collected there. Any reason for inactivity, such as lameness or constraints on exercise and turnout, can influence how successful the natural cleaning action is that comes with moving across dry ground. It doesn’t require a fast run to accomplish this; even just regular movement at a walk and trot will be beneficial.
Bill Moyer, DVM, department head of Veterinary Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, has had a special interest in equine foot health for decades. He stresses, “Most cases of thrush occur in inactive horses that live in stalls. Unfortunately, this describes a huge percentage of horses in the United States, since over the past few decades horses have become ‘apartment dwellers.’ As a result they may be standing in any number of different conditions, yet the foot isn’t flexing and so doesn’t get the opportunity to self clean.”
The nature of your horse’s environment impacts the health of his hooves to some degree. Certain conditions and environments predispose the frog to bacterial or fungal infections; horses live in the presence of manure and soil where potentially destructive organisms proliferate, particularly if dirt and debris remain trapped in the crevices or grooves (sulci) of the frog. Pads also tend to trap moisture in the bottom of the foot and facilitate such bacterial or fungal growth. While poor hygiene can set the stage for development of thrush, even with the best of care infection can develop in the frog or sulci of the frog if conditions are excessively moist. Horses in the western United States don’t tend to have nearly as many–or as severe–thrush infections as those living in damp parts of the United States. Moyer can’t overstate the importance of activity enough, saying, “I have seen thrush in some of the best-cared-for and -managed places, but the common denominator is that it develops in horses that live ‘in.
Moyer notes, “Susceptibility to develop thrush varies with the configuration of the foot. A foot with an upright heel and deep crevices is a foot that is a real setup for thrush.” When the heels are high, the frog becomes recessed below the heels of the hoof wall, debris accumulates, and disease results. Horses with a chronic lameness condition that causes heels to contract and/or limitations on exercise are also primed to develop thrush, as are horses with unproperly trimmed heels. Moyer has noticed that while some affected horses have deep crevices of the frog, in other cases there is no depth to the frog clefts at all. He says, “My impression is that the incidence may be higher in Draft breeds than in light horses, mainly due to the nature of their feet with a deeper cleft that is more likely to retain moisture, which becomes the media for bacterial growth.”
What Does Thrush Look Like?
The consistency of a normal frog is much like that of a rubber eraser: firm, but pliable. Normally, the central sulcus is fairly shallow. In a horse that has limited exercise, and/or other hoof health issues, this central sulcus can deepen. If the crevice deepens, the tissues within have limited access to air and–especially if debris becomes lodged there–infection can develop, evident as a black and pasty discharge and often having an offensive odor.
Video: Identifying and Treating Thrush
Watch an online video interview with Scott Morrison, DVM, a veterinarian who works as a farrier at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., who explains the clinical signs of thrush, prevention, and treatments.
A thrush infection usually is fairly superficial in its invasion of the tissues. Initially, it might be difficult to identify the presence of thrush, since in the early stages the horse is not lame and might show no other clinical signs. A more deep-seated infection can penetrate even further and, thus, move closer to sensitive tissue and potentially involve the digital cushion or other critical tissues. This can pose a real risk to the horse. In such cases, a horse can become lame and resent probing or squeezing of the tender heel and frog areas affected by thrush.
A severe form of thrush with substantial tissue damage might be confused with another condition called canker. Moyer describes canker as an explosive form of granulation tissue that tends to outgrow its blood supply, leading to a particularly noxious odor. The tissue that looks like spongy, rotten cauliflower is fragile and bleeds easily with finger pressure. Presently, no one knows what triggers canker.
Prevention
An ounce of prevention truly serves as a cure when it comes to hoof cleanliness and health; regular turnout or exercise is essential. Moyer states, “Thrush is a disease that could have a much-lessened incidence if people would allow horses to be horses and to be outside, moving. The horse is so dependent physiologically on motion to circulate blood through their limbs; confined living conditions set them up for problems like thrush.”
As you pick out your horse’s hooves daily, inspect carefully for abnormal changes. Moyer comments, “Owner and/or farrier recognition of a foot that may be susceptible to thrush can go a long way toward avoiding infection. The frogs should be trimmed in a way that while clefts may remain somewhat deep, the frog isn’t allowed to grow to a point where it is overlapping. This keeps the clefts open for self-cleaning as the horse walks and frolics in turnout.”
Moyer notes that in the vast majority of thrush cases, an owner isn’t even aware that a problem exists and it is the farrier who is the first to recognize a problem.
Moyer has noted another possible reason for development of thrush, saying, “Some cases are potentially created by people through overly aggressive use of a hoof pick. I have seen cleaning that is rough enough to reach to fairly sensitive tissue, even to the point of bleeding.” While daily use of a hoof pick is to be encouraged to keep the frog sulci open and clean, he urges common sense and judicious care when using a pick.
Another main strategy is to keep your horse’s environment clean–daily mucking of the stalls and paddocks is important. All living areas should have good drainage, including pastures used for turnout. Try to limit your horse’s access to areas that could become simmering soups of bacteria.
Treatment
The specific organisms that create such damage are not particularly easy to identify. As Moyer points out, “The problem with trying to culture these feet is that you end up culturing the barn.” A main objective is recognition; once the problem is identified, steps can be taken to eradicate the infection and to prevent recurrence.
The horse with thrush should be housed in a clean, dry area. Having the foot trimmed is essential. Daily inspection and cleaning of the hooves is critical to successful resolution of the infection. Effective treatment for thrush relies on generous removal of affected and infected frog structures with a hoof knife and nippers, along with thorough cleansing of all crevices. Vigorous use of a wire brush helps to scrub away all necrotic material.
Most thrush organisms are extremely susceptible to antibacterial solutions such as tamed iodine and bleach. Moyer believes that a dilute solution of iodine works as well as anything for disinfection of thrush-affected tissues. He recommends cutting regular iodine, such as Lugol’s, with water to a 2% solution. He says, “I like to administer it through a ketchup squeeze bottle that directs the iodine specifically into the frog crevices.”
Moyer cautions against applying a philosophy of “if a little bit helps then a lot more is that much better.” He remarks, “Many substances, including iodine, are caustic materials that can cause a chemically induced dermatitis if it drains onto skin above the hoof. What might have helped clear up the thrush problem with a couple of treatments might then turn into another problem due to a ‘too much’ or ‘too often’ approach.”
In some cases, it might be beneficial to treat the horse with poultice bandages and/or to implement daily foot soaks with antiseptic solutions. Moyer stresses, “While iodine is one of the world’s greatest disinfectants, it’ll only work for a short period of time if the foot remains continually exposed to the same thing that put the infection there. If the foot is very involved, as, for example, if the frog is so degraded that it peels away, then foot bandages should be used to protect the foot from the environment until the infection clears up.”
He has found diapers to be useful as part of a foot bandage since they “breathe.” Moyer also suggests that hoof boots can protect the affected areas, but he has concerns that these don’t breathe, while at the same time the foot continues to sweat, keeping the area damp–this is counterproductive to treatment.
Moyer also points out, “It is really worthwhile for the person managing a thrushy foot to wash their hands after treatment and/or to wear latex gloves. Take care to scrub under fingernails as well, as you don’t have any idea what has contaminated your hands. This is a good precaution in all cases, and even more important if the handler has an open wound.”
If a horse’s foot develops a bad smell, the frog feels “funky,” and/or if the horse exhibits lameness, you should call your vet. Moyer urges, “A veterinarian must be involved as soon as possible if there is any hint of complications. Even if the horse seems comfortable, there may be deeper tissue involvement that an owner may not be able to identify. Veterinary intervention is necessary to remove affected tissue to allow healing.”
You can check the degree of discomfort your horse is feeling by watching him on the longe line for lameness and by using your fingers to push on various structures on the bottom of his feet to check for soreness. Timely intervention is important so the infection does not invade deeper tissues, such as the frog and digital cushion between the heel bulbs. There is the potential for a persistent case to develop extensive degeneration of these structures, leading to instability of the heel bulbs or a sheared heel condition. If your hands are able to move each heel bulb independently of the other, this is typical of sheared heels. Such loss of support and stability in the rear portions of his foot can be quite painful for a horse, causing varying degrees of lameness. It takes time for the hoof to grow out, the supportive structure to be restored, and for soundness to return. It might be advantageous to apply a special bar shoe to hold the heels in stable position while the hoof grows and the infection is resolved.
Take-Home Message
Thrush is an infection of the frog and associated structures in the hoof. Regular exercise and good hoof hygiene are important to prevention and treatment. Owner observation, rapid recognition, and proactive management can avert the development of deeper tissue infection and the need for associated medical care.
Article Reprint from horse.com
Discovering a bone chip in a joint does not have to mark the end of a horse’s athletic career.
 Bone chips in a horse’s movable joints can compromise the animal’s ability to perform, and, in some cases, they can even end the animal’s career. However, not all bone chips are created equal. Some are so innocuous that they cause little or no hindrance to the horse’s well-being or ability to perform.
Unfortunately, the equine joint is fragile and complicated in design and construction. The knee joint, for example, operates with eight building-block-type bones that are subjected to severe concussion when the horse is running at speed. Sometimes the stress is more than the bones can tolerate, and a piece of bone–which can vary in size from a tiny speck to something as large as the tip of a man’s finger–will “chip” off.
Fortunately for horses and their owners, when the chip causes serious problems, a veterinarian can remove the chip through arthroscopic surgery and allow the joint to return to normal (if the damage is not too severe).
We’ll take a step-by-step look at what happens when there is a bone chip, and the manner in which the problem is solved. Sources include Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, a board-certified surgeon at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., and an on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP); Steve Adair, MS, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Tennessee; and we’ll include information from a white paper released by the Equine Research Coordination Group (ERCG), with C. Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, of Colorado State University, listed as the author. (The Equine Research Coordination Group is comprised of researchers and organizations that support equine research, including the AAEP Foundation, American Horse Council, American Quarter Horse Association Foundation, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Morris Animal Foundation, Havemeyer Foundation, United States Equestrian Federation Foundation, and a number of university researchers.)
Chipping Away at the Problem
Bramlage, who is an expert on the subject of bone chips, explains them this way: “Bone chips or chip fractures of horses’ joints are properly termed osteochondral fragments. Osteo (Latin for bone) and chondrol (Latin for cartilage) describe the makeup of the fragments that can cause irritation and lameness in a horse’s joints. In horses, the major component of the fragment is normally bone. In people, cartilage pieces are more common.”
While chip fractures can occur in any breed and discipline, they seem to be most prevalent in racing Thoroughbreds, perhaps because of the high-speed work they do or because of their owners’ financial ability to look for chips.
Bramlage points out there are two basic reasons for a bone to chip or fracture. One reason involves defective development of the bone (sometimes referred to as osteochondrosis), in which case the bone fragments under normal loads. The second reason involves repetitive cyclic trauma to normal bone. In this case, the bone fragments because the rate of damage due to repetitive loading exceeds the rate of repair (subchondral bone, which is the bone beneath articular cartilage, is constantly is a state of remodeling and repair).
The excessive loading, our experts say, can be the result of poor conformation, as with a horse that is back at the knee. The rate at which a young horse is developed on the training track or in the arena can also contribute to chips. Too rapid a progression with training when joint bones are not yet able to keep up with the damage can play a role in the development of bone chips.
Bramlage tells us if the chip fracture or fractures happen when a horse is still growing or during a period of rest, the joint will try to isolate the fragment. It does this by surrounding it with scar tissue in an effort to render it smooth and nonirritating, in the sort of way an oyster makes a pearl from a grain of sand.
He adds that the size of the chip is not of particular significance, but the amount of debris the chip sheds is highly significant. The debris serves to irritate the joint and, if the shedding continues, can cause ongoing inflammation, resulting in arthritis. On the other hand, if the debris shedding ceases, there is a strong possibility the joint will heal.
Bramlage adds this about the shedding of debris: “Acute bone chips in high- motion areas shed a lot of debris because the two raw bone surfaces rub together like two rocks, shedding little bits of sand into the joint. This debris causes pain, lameness, and poor performance. Because chip fractures seldom come totally free in the joint, but remain at their site of origin, this rubbing and debris shedding continues with the joint motion. The more strenuous the motion, the more lameness (usually occurs).”
Chip fractures can occur in all joints, but our experts agree they are most likely to be found in the fetlock and knee joints, particularly among racing Thoroughbreds. The reason for this appears obvious. When a horse is running at speed, the knee and fetlock joints absorb a great deal of concussion. At one point during each stride, all of the horse’s weight is suspended on one front limb.
Bramlage estimates the possibility for a horse to develop a chip fracture in at least one of his joints during his lifetime ranges between 20% and 50%. About 15% of horses, he says, have some type of bone abnormality and fragmentation that occurs during adolescent growth and spontaneous competition, even before they begin training.
Why the Chips Fly
To better understand why chips occur, we turn to Adair, who also has written and spoken extensively on the subject, for a description of what occurs in bone development: “Long bones develop from cartilage by a process of endochondral (with cartilage) ossification. The centers of ossification (bone formation) develop in the center of the future long bone (diaphysis) and at the ends of the long bones (epiphysis). As ossification proceeds, a bony epiphysis develops, as does a bony diaphysis. Between the two centers of ossification is the metaphyseal growth plate, and this is what enables the limb to lengthen after birth as the foal grows. There is a second growth plate, called the epiphyseal growth plate, that forms as the epiphyseal ossification center advances toward the ends of the bone and what is destined to be the articular surface of the joints.”
Along the way as the bones grow and develop, lesions and deformities sometimes develop within the bone. A great deal of research has been conducted, but no one has come up with any definite conclusions as to the specific cause of osteochondrosis and developmental orthopedic disease in general, other than the problem is multifactorial. Those factors can include everything from mineral imbalance to genetics, overfeeding, rapid growth, endocrine problems, nutrition, mechanical stress, and trauma.
In some cases, lesions within the developing bone can be the precursors of bone chips when the horse continues to grow and develop and moves into a training program with what might be a weakened spot or spots in the developing bone.
The good news is that veterinarians often detect bone development problems when a horse is young through X rays and, in many cases, these problems can be successfully treated. Veterinarians take radiographs of the joints of many yearlings that go through major Thoroughbred sales, and it is there veterinarians often notice problems with bone development. The wise horse owner will also be on the lookout for any signs of inflammation in the joints.
Once a horse develops a chip fracture, the clinician must decide which treatment protocol is best. Chips that might be causing some inflammation, but are not serious enough to cause lameness, might well be treated with an injection of joint fluid supplement, such hyaluronic acid or an anti-inflammatory agent.
Still another factor in determining the treatment of choice can involve age. For example, Adair explains, the bones of a 2-year-old horse are much more malleable and resilient than those of a 7-year-old. He says this means that a clinician might have a bit more latitude in deciding a course of action with a young horse, as compared to an older animal.
The chip’s location is also a key factor, Bramlage and Adair state. If it is in an area of strenuous joint motion, it is more apt to cause lameness, and the veterinarian might recommend arthroscopic surgery as the course of action.
Arthroscopic surgery has been instrumental in solving many bone chip problems since it came onto the equine scene in the 1970s.
Here is how the ERCG white paper describes the procedure, in part: “Arthroscopic surgery involves inserting a 4-millimeter in diameter instrument known as an arthroscope through small stab incisions to view and complete surgery within a joint, such as removing a cartilage fragment. Use of the arthroscope for diagnosis of equine joint disease commenced in the mid-1970s, while performing surgery under arthroscopic visualization began in the late 1970s. By 1984, both diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy were being performed clinically in the horse with arthroscopic techniques completed successfully in the carpus (knee), fetlock, hock, and stifle joints, with techniques for other joints following shortly thereafter. Currently, arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat diseased joints more successfully than with incisional techniques used earlier. More than 50 joints and conditions can now be operated on arthroscopically.”
A key element in successful arthroscopic surgery, Bramlage says, involves a period of rest in the wake of the surgery to promote healing. Required recuperation time varies horse to horse, depending on the severity of the injury.
Arthroscopy received a strong public relations boost in 1985 when Spend a Buck scored a wire-to-wire six-length victory in the Kentucky Derby only five months after McIlwraith performed arthroscopic surgery for removal of a small fracture fragment in one knee.
Still another success story is the Thoroughbred Grindstone, winner of the 1996 Kentucky Derby. The colt had bone chips in both front fetlocks and both knees at age 2. Bramlage removed them with arthroscopic surgery. The colt won the Derby, but he sustained a bone chip in the right knee in the process and was retired. At stud he sired Birdstone, who, in turn, sired 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. In the 2009 Preakness Mine That Bird finished second to Rachel Alexandra, a filly that had fetlock chip fractures removed as a 2-year-old.
Generally speaking, Bramlage says, veterinarians have found that horses with fetlock bone chips often have a positive prognosis for recovery and an ability to compete after surgery. The success ratio is not as high when the bone chip is in the knee, especially if it occurs in the lower knee joint. However, he adds, location and duration of injury figure prominently into the equation of how well the horse does athletically after surgery.
There also have been cases where horses have raced and won with bone chips present. The most notable case in point is War Emblem, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but a horse that lost the Belmont after he stumbled at the start. War Emblem raced with bone chips in both front ankles and a knee.
Take-Home Message
A common goal of today’s horse owners is to determine early on if a joint problem involving a bone chip exists, and to treat it in the early stages with nonsurgical methods if possible, and surgical methods if necessary.
Article Reprint from horse.com
 The most important nutrient in the horse’s diet is one that is rarely added to feeds: water. Although it is often overlooked in discussions involving equine nutrition, water could be considered the first limiting nutrient of all horses, as they cannot survive for as many days without water as they can without feed.
The amount of water required by the horse is determined by the magnitude of water losses from its body. These losses occur through feces, urine, respiratory gases, and sweat and, in the case of lactating mares, milk.
These losses are affected by the amount, type, and quality of the feed consumed, environmental conditions and the health, physiological state, and physical activity of the horse. Horses will generally consume as much water as they need if given access to a palatable water source.
Horses at rest in a moderate climate will generally consume between three and seven liters of water per 220 lb (100 kg) of bodyweight. This translates to around 4-9 gallons for an 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse.
Diet plays a major role in determining voluntary water intake and requirements. As a general rule, water intake is proportional to dry matter intake, but the composition and digestibility of the diet can alter this relationship substantially.
Horses consuming all-hay diets drink more than horses fed a large amount of concentrate coupled with hay or a complete pelleted diet. In a study conducted by Kentucky Equine Research, horses fed all-forage diets ate 19% more dry matter to provide a similar caloric intake to those fed a mixed diet, and they drank 26% more water.
In another study, horses fed about 13 lb (5.8 kg) of a hay-only diet drank 40 lb (17.8 kg) water compared to 22 lb (10.1 kg) water consumed by horses fed 4 lb (1.8 kg) grain plus 3 lb (1.3 kg) hay, which was partly because of lower dry matter intake, as well as different dietary composition.
Fiber intake affects water requirements for two reasons. First, when horses consume forage, water shifts from the interstitial space into the gut. This results in a decrease in plasma volume that triggers a thirst response. A meal of 5 lb (2.27 kg) of hay resulted in elevated total plasma protein (an indirect measure of decreased plasma volume) and greater water intake than when a similar-sized grain meal was fed.
Second, plant fiber has a greater water-holding capacity and is less digestible than other components of the diet, resulting in greater fecal water losses.
The physical form of forages also affects fecal water losses. In a digestibility study, horses fed alfalfa hay in a long-stem form had significantly wetter feces (81.5% versus 75.2%) than when an identical amount of the same forage was fed in a pelleted form.
Diet can also affect urinary water loss. High salt intake increases urine output and stimulates thirst. Also, protein intake above the horse’s requirement increases water intake and urinary output as the horse voids excess nitrogen via urine. Besides increasing water requirements, this creates an environmental hazard for stalled horses since the nitrogen in urine is broken down into ammonia in the horse’s bedding.
Body condition can affect water intake as well. Because fat is low in water content compared to lean body tissue, obese animals typically require less water than animals maintained at a more optimal body condition.
Ambient temperature influences water intake. Horses typically drink less water in cold weather. Water consumption of weanlings exposed to cold temperatures, -8°C and -17°C, was compared to that of weanlings housed in temperatures of 8°C and above. Water intake was up to 14% lower in weanlings maintained in cold temperatures.
Heat and humidity increase water requirements, especially in exercising horses. In one trial, daily water intake increased 79% when horses transitioned from a thermoneutral environment (20°C and 45-50% relative humidity) to a hot, humid one (33-35°C and 80-85% relative humidity).
In addition to temperature and humidity, other factors impact water intake of equine athletes, primarily duration and intensity of work as well as acclimation of the horse to the environment. Depending on the conditions in which a horse is exercised, total water intake by an 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse could reach over 90 liters per day.
Aside from equine athletes, lactating mares drink more water than other horses. Increased intake is likely due to a combination of factors, principally the fluid losses associated with milk secretion and the increased consumption of feed to support milk production. Though other factors, such as diet composition and ambient temperature, will play a role in volume of water consumed, 1,100-lb (500-kg) lactating mares may drink up to 75 liters per day.
Certain illnesses predispose a horse to increased water consumption. A horse with diarrhea but with normal appetite and thirst might have incredible fecal water losses. The horse compensates for fluid losses by boosting water intake and decreasing urine output. Without resolution of the diarrhea, however, dehydration is likely.
Polydipsia, or excessive drinking, especially when combined with other signs such as hirsutism, might be indicative of equine Cushing’s disease or renal insufficiency.
Although often neglected in nutrition discussions, water is vital for the health and well-being of all horses. As such, horses should have access to fresh water at all times.
Caring daily for your horse wellness allows you to quickly pick up on any abnormal behavior or symptoms. Your caring massage will even detect abnormalities much earlier than by sight allowing you to take immediate action. Regular stretching will also provide you direct feedback on your horse flexibility, or lack of.
In time these preventive measures will save you work and money but most importantly, they will definitely improve the quality of life of your loved animal.
In this article I want to present you 8 common signs of illness you should be able to recognize in your horse. Most of these signs are nonspecific and therefore can be associated with several different issues. In any case, each of these signs is significant and should prompt your concern. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian. The list presented here explains each of them so you know what potential problem signs to recognize:
1. Lack of Appetite – Loss of appetite is often one of the very first signs of illness in a horse. It is for this reason that it is recommended to feed your horse at a scheduled time every day so that you accurately assess his appetite.
2. Increased Water Consumption – If you notice your horse drinking more, you might want to consult your veterinarian right away. An increase in water consumption is an important sign as it often is associated with kidney problems as well as a few other diseases.
3. Weight Loss – If you feel your horse is losing weight, contact your veterinarian as it can relate to serious problem such as parasites, hormonal imbalance and others. Weight loss is a common sign of disease or illness. It can be difficult to notice weight loss in your horse as you see him every day. You might not notice subtle changes, but if he feels bonier, lighter, or you can easily feel the ribs, this could be an early sign. With horses that are not clipped regularly, the longer coat makes it more difficult to evaluate, so be attentive.
4. Less Active – Like humans, when not feeling well, horses are often less active. In young horse it can be related to a “growth cycle”. In a mature horse, being “less active” sign is often mistaken for “getting older” or possible arthritic pain. If you feel that your horse is less active, I recommend you consult your veterinarian.
5. Weakness – By weakness it is meant an overall decrease in power of propulsion at any gait, with overall balance and coordination issues. It can almost be seen as a lethargic appearance. These are serious signs and you should promptly consult your veterinarian as it can be an early sign of Lyme disease and can be treated efficiently if detected early.
6. Lethargy/Depression – A general lack of interest in the environment, in social activity and in comforting are characteristic of lethargy and/or depression. It is a very common symptom and can be an early or late sign of illness depending on the severity. These are also serious signs and you should promptly consult your veterinarian.
7. Dull Coat – When horse don’t feel well they often have a dull flat coat. This can be simply related to diet or possibly to a more serious problem such as parasites or other metabolic problem. If your horse’s coat changes, you should consult your veterinarian.
8. Bad breath – More often than not, bad breath is the result from dental disease. Also known as halitosis, bad breath can be also related to other metabolic disorders. If your horse has bad breath, consult your veterinarian to find out what is the origin.
by Melody Taylor-Scott
www.OffTrackThoroughbredHelp.com
Going Out on Trails
The fear of going out alone on the trails is not an uncommon problem with lots of horses, and OTTB’s especially, since they spent so much time in ‘dormitory style’ living at the track. A lot of it is the ‘herd’ mentality issue, too.
Training the OTTB to Trails
In order to help your new OTTB or, any new horse, with this you need to deal with two issues. First, control for your safety especially in the cold winter months, and second, desensitizing your horse, so you both can enjoy the outdoors.
If control is a problem, I suggest yoke style draw reins as they will give you an incredible amount of control of ‘front end antics’ like wheeling, rearing, bronching, and head flinging. My preference is for the Yoke style with snaps at each end that you attach to the center ‘D’ ring of a hunting breastplate.
The other type of draw rein, with loops at the ends that go to the girth, tend to get a horse too low and over bent with his head and neck, putting his head behind the verticle line. Plus there is a lot of loose leather, either from the chin to the girth or the excess draw reign from your hand lying down along your leg to be useful outdoors.
You can get into trouble with any draw reins if you get the horse too cranked down and claustrophobic by having the draw reins too tight from the mouth to the chest or girth. If you are not familiar with using draw reins, go to almost any professional trainers ring in the winter and you will see draw reins in use, especially during cold morning training sessions.
For an OTTB and the herd thing, repetition is the fastest way to de-sensitization. You do have to get your new horse out there more than once in awhile. Thoroughbreds love repetition, its why they handle track life so well.
It would be good if you could get just one other rider you know on a solid and quiet trail horseto go out with you as many days as you can in a several week period. Make your horse lead as well as follow.
If that’s not possible, try going out with your dog along if your horse likes him. Maybe hand walk him OUT to the trails,(tacked up, reins (both sets) tied behind the stirrups, and with a lead shank attached to the bit, ware gloves) a few times and if he seems to be getting calmer by the fourth or fifth time out, maybe mount up and ride out a little farther or ride back in.
It’s a challenge!
MTS
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