Tips for diagnosing a navicular horse.

Question:

I believe my horse is becoming navicular. What is the best thing I can do to make sure he is comfortable and healthy? He is my only rope horse, and I don’t want anything to happen to him.

Answer:

Navicular disease refers to a group of symptoms associated with foot pain in horses. With the advances of equine imaging abilities — especially contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – the veterinary community has come to learn that there are many different causes for foot pain in Read the rest of this entry »

How to handle waste management and the sun during the dog days of summer.

From our friends at the Country Living Association

Manure Management

To manage stockpiled manure on small farms, good practices will keep nuisance and environmental issues to a minimum. Here are a few management tips:

• Keep the manure as dry as possible.
• Remove manure from the farm regularly during fly breeding season.
• Try not to use insecticides or larvacides; naturally occurring fly predators — tiny, nonstinging wasps and parasites — are actually beneficial to the pile. Read the rest of this entry »

Lisa Davis of Belcher, Louisiana, was a little bit nervous.

John Davis cleans out a hoof for his wife, Lisa Davis, during the 2009 Region Nine Experience in Jackson, Mississippi. (Journal photo)

Make that a lot nervous. In her first AQHA show, she planned to show Taint My Poncho in hunter under saddle classes after “borrowing” the horse from her husband, John.

“Poncho” was a roping horse for John, but when Lisa appropriated him, Poncho went into English tack. Lisa and Poncho both started taking lessons from Chele Murrell of Elm Grove, Louisiana, and decided to take the plunge into showing at the Region Nine Experience in Jackson, Mississippi.

John loped Poncho – no cantering for him – to warm the horse up, then Lisa climbed aboard to Read the rest of this entry »

A review of the vaccine used to prevent heat in mares.

By Dr. Patrick McCue for The American Quarter Horse Journal

A new vaccine may make it possible to suppress estrus in mares.

Mares come into heat or estrus due to rising estrogen levels, which are produced by developing ovarian follicles. Mares typically do not show heat during the winter when they have small inactive ovaries. Heat is also not exhibited after ovulation. Ultimately, expression of behavioral estrus occurs in the presence of estrogen and the absence of progesterone. Absence of estrus is a function of low estrogen levels and/or elevated progesterone levels.

The development of follicles and ovulation are initiated by hormonal signals from the brain. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted in pulses into the bloodstream. The anterior pituitary gland near the base of the brain receives the hormone signals. The pituitary secretes a follicle-stimulating hormone that stimulates follicular growth and luteinizing hormone that causes follicle maturation and induces ovulation. Read the rest of this entry »

With hot weather comes an increase in water consumption by our horses.

By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz for The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal

To keep hydrated, horses require large quantities of water.

When we discuss good horse nutrition, we often fail to recognize the most vital nutrient is water. Without it, horses die within a few days, whereas they may be able to go weeks without food.

A Horse’s Body

An adult horse’s body is composed of roughly 70 percent water, which equates to 770 pounds or 96 gallons of water for the average 1,100-pound horse. A horse’s nutritional water requirements are influenced by the horse’s body condition; the amount, type and quality of feed consumed; environmental conditions; Read the rest of this entry »

One member shares her story of how American Quarter Horses won her heart — in Norway.

Linnea enjoys showing her horse in western pleasure and trail.

Linnea Ohlen, a member of AQHA since 2001, lives in Norway, where she works for a company that manufactures stair lifts. Her story about her horse, Fox Eyed Spirit, demonstrates the growing popularity of American Quarter Horses abroad, and how these great horses have the ability to touch hearts all over the globe.

“Years ago, when I first got interested in riding western, a friend gave me a call. She asked if I would ride her stallion, Fox Eyed King, in a clinic, because she had been injured and was unable to ride, and the entrance fee was already paid. I was very nervous and exited about that — I had never ridden a western horse before! Read the rest of this entry »

Ulcers are a problem in many of today’s performance horses.

From our partners at Merial

In gastroscopy events at veterinary clinics and university campuses across the country, 76 percent of reining horses were identified with stomach ulcers.

“At these events, veterinarians evaluated the horses’ stomachs using gastroscopy, which is the only definitive way to determine if a horse has ulcers,” says Dr. April Knudson of Merial. “I traveled the country to attend many of these events myself, and one thing is for certain — stomach ulcers can occur in horses of all breeds and disciplines.”

Throughout the year, 658 horses in 25 states participated in events. Overall, 60 percent — 397 horses — had some ulceration, as identified by gastroscopy. Horses of varying breeds, ages and previous ulcer histories were found to have stomach ulcers, including: Read the rest of this entry »

Barometric pressure changes make both me and my horse uptight.

Holly Clanahan

As I type, the TV weatherman is talking about how it’s “raining buckets” outside. This is where forecasters have a 100 percent success rate: They can correctly look outside the window and tell me what’s happening. What isn’t quite so obvious, but what my senses tell me and Weather Underground confirms, is that the barometric pressure is on the rise. So is my guard.

“Junior” has historically been sensitive to barometric changes. Not every one, of course. I suppose if I kept better data, I’d know: If there’s a X percent change, be on the lookout for a gas colic. But when my horse is in the throes of a painful gas colic, I’m no longer worried about the weather. I just know there’s a correlation. And Junior, bless his heart, isn’t exactly stoic. When his stomach is gassy and crampy, he’s miserable and wants everyone to know it.

(News flash: Chad just came in from checking on the ponies; they’re all fine.)

So far as I know, there aren’t any studies showing that pressure changes cause colic. It’s one of those anecdotal things. Dr. Jennifer Schleining fielded a question about weather-related colics on the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ “Ask the Vet” online feature. Here’s what she had to say:

“I’m sure any equine veterinarian will tell you that when the weather does weird things, horses colic. I’ve practiced in three distinctly different geographical areas of the United States, and it doesn’t seem to matter where I’ve been, storms and weather changes result in more emergencies.

“It’s anyone’s best guess as to how a drastic change in barometric pressure causes horses to develop signs of colic. And since colic is not preventable, the best we can do is keep our management practices consistently up to snuff, make sure our horses have access to clean, fresh water and quality hay or pasture and have a veterinarian’s phone number handy for those times when, despite our best efforts, our horses colic.”

Water tank: recently cleaned. Check.

Pasture: still amazingly lush, thanks to similar rain showers lately. Check.

Vet’s phone numbers: posted in the barn and in my cell phone’s address book. Check.

Other precautions: routine dewormings, periodic doses of Farnam SandClear. Check.

And, because I do know that colic is neither preventable nor predictable, my paranoia … er, conscientious observations … will be on high alert for the next day. Check that.

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

The American Horse Council seeks to document equestrian access issues on public lands.

From The American Horse Council

The American Horse Council has launched a new effort to collect information on access issues equestrians are experiencing on federal lands. The centerpiece of this effort is an online form equestrians can use to report their personal experiences regarding trails and federal lands that have been closed to them, or any other access issues they’ve encountered.

Americans who use horses enjoy a unique experience when they ride on trails and public lands. It is an experience that cannot be enjoyed without a trail system, trailhead access and areas for camping.  It is an experience that Americans enjoyed even before there was a national park system and an experience they want to continue. Read the rest of this entry »

What do your horse’s stomach sounds mean?

Question:

Is it good for the horse’s belly to rumble and make noises while eating? Tracie

Answer:

It is completely normal for a horse’s intestinal tract to make rumbling noises while he eats and digests his feed. In fact, a complete absence of “gut” sounds is bad and one of the things we check for when examining a horse suffering from colic.

As food passes through the horse’s intestinal tract, it is mixed with fluids and churned around by the intestines to aid in digestion. Read the rest of this entry »

She’s already a mama.

SMSU This Chics Zipn carries Lexi Crow as Lexi's father, Michael, offers her a low-five in the lead-line class at the Region Nine Experience in Jackson, Mississippi. (Journal photo)

SMSU This Chics Zipn took care of three people at the Region Nine Experience in Jackson, Mississippi. The little mare is owned by Jeff and Jan Vick.

First, “Chic” carried Jeff Vick in amateur western pleasure. Then she carried Lexi Crow of Clanton, Alabama, in lead line. Then she carried Carlie Birge, Jan and Jeff’s niece, in walk-trot 9 and under and then in walk-trot all ages.

Throughout the commotion, Chic never lost her Read the rest of this entry »

Hola From Venezuela

Jessy Gutierrez, his wife, Nielisbeth Assante, and their two sons pose with the Venezuelan flag at the Region Nine Experience in Jackson, Mississippi. (Journal photo)

Jessy Gutierrez and his family were planning a 20-day vacation to the United States this month, so Jessy looked on www.aqha.com to see what shows were taking place during their travels.

He found the Region Nine Experience online and promptly traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, where he, his wife, Nielsbeth, and his two sons spent a day watching halter, showmanship, western pleasure and western riding.

Read the rest of this entry »