The equine genome map is as important to the future of horses as the development of antibiotics was 45 years ago.

A genome map has been developed into a diagnostic tool that identifies genes and the diseases to which they are linked.

By Denise Steffanus in The American Quarter Horse Journal

More than 45 years ago, the introduction of antibiotics for use in animals greatly improved animal health and productivity. Today, genetic testing, gene therapy and the identification of genetic markers for certain diseases offer an even bigger opportunity for advancement in the equine industry.

The completion of the equine genome map is “a $20 to $30 million contribution to the horse, the likes of which have never occurred before,” says Ernest Bailey, Ph.D., coordinator of the equine genome project, a collaborative effort based at the University of Kentucky that began in 1995 with 70 scientists from 20 countries. “It’s amazing. Its applications are comparable to the development of antibiotics. Antibiotics benefited the health of everything; this is going to benefit the health of horses to the same extent in the next 50 years because of the things we can find out.”

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In 2007, after 12 years of diligent work, researchers and other interested in equine genetics were given free access to the horse genome map and database. The resulting findings included the development of a diagnostic tool that identifies genes and the diseases to which they are linked; genetic tests for diseases and heritable traits like coat color; and deeper digging into the causes of certain diseases.

Breeders especially can benefit from the development of the equine genome map because they now are able to select matings or reject breeding stock based on genetic traits in the horses’ DNA.

Gene Expression

Dr. Alicia Bertone, professor of surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University, collaborated with Affymetrix Inc., based in Santa Clara, California, to develop the first equine gene chip, a diagnostic tool that looks at gene expression, which occurs when certain genes react to a specific disease by expressing proteins. Identifying those active genes and how they interact, then linking them to the specific disease that causes them is called a diagnostic signature.

The computer chip contains an array of most known horse genes. By comparing the genetic material in an individual horse’s sample to the baseline array for a normal horse of that age and gender, it is possible to determine a pattern of genetic activity that would indicate early stages of disease.

Dr. Bertone gave the example of comparing blood or synovial fluid of an arthritic horse to that of a normal horse, using the gene chip.

“You may find genes that are always abnormal in the arthritic horse or horse with osteochondrosis, a developmental joint disease, and are not abnormal in the normal horse,” she says. “Not only could you use those signatures then to identify horses with impending disease problems – meaning early in the process, when you might be able to intervene with medication – but also, you can monitor the progression of the disease.”

Using the gene chip, Dr. Bertone was able to develop a diagnostic signature for osteoarthritis by studying the gene expression of cartilage in horses with the disease, and she was able to differentiate between he early and end stages of osteroarthritis.

“That hasn’t been done in any species,” Dr. Bertone says. “We were able to show that the gene chip could essentially define a profile that represented these different states of the cartilage. It allowed us to understand that the end-stage cells are undergoing a death pathway. In the earlier process they are not; they are potentially recoverable. It also helps you determines what kind of drugs you would need to get these cells to kick back in. So it does help to determine therapeutics.”

Stay tuned next week for the second part of this story.

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Hope for this painful disease is due to research and education made possible by the American Quarter Horse Foundation.

Pam Melville with An Invious Decision, aka “Jackson”

By Former AQHA Intern Julie Preble in the American Quarter Horse Foundation Quarterly

After 10 years away from the show pen, Pam Melville of Bridgton, Maine, decided it was time to get back in the saddle.

Because Pam was unable to afford a new horse of the quality she wanted, she decided to breed her mother’s 12-year-old mare, Decided To Rap, to Green With Invy. The stallion is a son of Invitation Only, whose bloodlines appealed to Pam. That is how she got An Invious Decision, aka “Jackson.” When Jackson was 2, Pam noticed something different about the gelding during his training sessions.

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“I’d start working him, and after about 10 or 15 minutes, he’d start pawing the ground, refusing to go forward, being totally obstinate,” Pam says. “At the time, I thought he was just being a naughty 2-year-old. It got to the point that I was going to give up on him.”

Amidst her frustrations Pam stumbled upon an American Quarter Horse Foundation article about Samantha Gonzalez. Samantha and her horse were directly affected by the Foundation’s programs. Samantha had received a scholarship from the Foundation, and her horse is challenged with polysaccharide storage myopathy, a glycogen storage disorder that causes the affected horse to store too much glycogen in the muscle. This causes the muscle to “tie up,” and the horse has stiff, painful muscles.

Despite the PSSM, Samantha has been able to show her horse successfully at the Youth World level, taking 10th in performance halter geldings, thanks to research and education made possible by the Foundation.

Samantha’s description of her horse’s symptoms and subsequent diagnosis lead Pam to believe that Jackson was dealing with the same issues.

The staff at the Foundation connected Pam with Samantha’s mother, Suzanne Gonzalez, and they talked through the similarities in their horses and shared advice. Pam researched PSSM and spoke with Dr. Beth Valentine at Oregon State University. Though she couldn’t afford to have him tested for PSSM, Pam’s vet recommended that Jackson be treated for PSSM. She has now found a way to manage Jackson’s problem. With an extremely regulated diet and lots of turnout, Jackson is doing much better.

Thanks to Sherrye Tafton, an AQHA Professional Horseman from Brunswick, Maine, Pam has even been able to show Jackson. They work Jackson very slowly with plenty of breaks.

“When I first started working with Jackson, he would not canter at all without behaving as if he was tying up. His muscles seemed to break down if pushed too hard for too long, and he would become resistant and unwilling,” Sherrye says. “Our approach with Jackson has been to avoid too much repetition and quit as soon as he performs an exercise correctly.”

Pam has learned many lessons from her experience with Jackson, especially that you can show a horse with PSSM. Pam also encourages horse owners to investigate if a horse is acting obstinate. Make sure there’s nothing wrong with him first, she says.

“There is still hope,” Pam says. “It is something that’s manageable. You just have to spend a little bit of extra time and upkeep and maintenance.”

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Know what to do if your foal doesn’t breathe after birth.

Foals that survive after emergency birth resuscitation procedures are at risk of medical problems early in life.

By Patrick M. McCue in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Most newborn foals start breathing immediately after passage through the birth canal of the mare. However, some foals do not, and emergency resuscitation procedures might be needed.

Everyone involved in pregnant mare care and foaling should get annual training in normal foaling, obstetrical intervention, routine care of the newborn foal and birth resuscitation procedures. A foaling kit, resuscitation equipment, emergency procedure codes and phone numbers should be available.

What Happens

In most cases, a foal will be delivered 10 to 20 minutes after the mare breaks her water. Foals usually begin spontaneous breathing immediately after delivery. The heart of a newborn foal should be beating regularly at a rate of about 70 to 80 beats per minute. To check for the heartbeat, place your hand (or a stethoscope) on the foal’s chest just behind the left elbow. Foals should have sensory awareness at birth and exhibit a righting reflex within five minutes after birth.

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If there is no respiratory movement after delivery, or no heartbeat or if there is respiratory distress, you will need to intervene. Call for assistance and then follow the guidelines below.

• First, make sure the airway is open. Remove the amnion from the nose (if needed) and remove any mucus, meconium or debris from mouth or nose.
• Second, attempt to stimulate the foal to breath. Vigorously dry the foal with towels for 20 to 30 seconds. If breathing doesn’t begin, tickle the inside of the nostrils with a clean piece of straw or stick your fingers in the ears.
• If the foal is still not breathing, provide emergency ventilation support.

Mechanical Aid

A resuscitation bag or tube attached to a mask can be an effective way to ventilate a newborn foal on a breeding farm. The foal should be positioned on the ground, preferably on its right side. The mask goes over the nose of the foal until the rubber gasket is firmly seated. If available, an assistant should extend the neck of the foal and apply firm pressure on the esophagus (along the left side of the neck) to prevent air from entering the gastrointestinal tract during resuscitation. The attendant should squeeze the resuscitation bag with two hands to force air from the bag into the lungs of the foal. Movement of the chest wall should be evident when the bag is compressed. The bag should be released, allowing air to be expelled from the foal. The squeeze-and-release resuscitation cycle should be performed at a rate of 10 to 20 breaths per minute.

Pause briefly every 30 seconds to see if the foal has started breathing on his own. If an oxygen tank is available, an oxygen line can connect the tank to the resuscitation bag.

Later Problems

Foals that survive after emergency birth resuscitation procedures are at risk of medical problems early in life. They often do not have a strong suckle instinct and are consequently prone to failure of passive transfer. It is common to provide these foals with supplemental colostrum and/or plasma.

In summary, breeding farm personnel should be educated, trained and prepared for the possible need for emergency birth resuscitation. Contact your equine veterinarian to discuss:

1. When to call for veterinary assistance.
2. What procedures can be performed on the farm.
3. Training for emergency intervention.
4. What equipment and supplies to have on hand.

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Esophageal obstruction is a risk for some horses.

Improper chewing in older horses with poor teeth or in young horses with erupting teeth increases the risk of choke.

By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Most horses’ grain or feed intake increases as weather temperatures decrease. Along with the increased feed intake, their risk of developing esophageal obstruction also increases. Esophageal obstruction, commonly called “choke,” occurs when anything a horse eats becomes lodged in his esophagus rather than moving freely into the stomach.

Nature designed horses to spend 14-18 hours a day grazing. Their digestive systems are designed to gradually take in small amounts of high-fiber grass, which is usually high in water. The problem with domestic horses is that they are usually fed concentrated feeds once or twice a day.While any feed can cause choke, it most commonly involves small-particle feeds, such as grain, bran or pellets, rather than long-fiber feeds such as hay or forage.

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Improper chewing in older horses with poor teeth or in young horses with erupting teeth increases the risk of choke. If chewing becomes painful from sharp points on his teeth, a horse will try to swallow a mouthful of feed at once, rather than chewing it into smaller amounts. Decreased chewing time also decreases saliva production, which results in less lubrication for the feed as it is swallowed.

How Does Choke Happen?

A horse chokes after he has swallowed food, and therefore the obstruction doesn’t block the airways. The result is that although he cannot complete the swallowing process, he can still breathe normally until help arrives. In people, the obstruction occurs in the back of the throat where the esophagus and trachea are very close together. A choking person can’t swallow and can’t breathe.

The Six Signs

The early clinical signs of a choked horse often aren’t very dramatic. Once feed becomes impacted in the esophagus, the horse:

• Stops eating and might stretch his neck in an attempt to swallow.
• Some horses open and close their mouths frequently or act uncomfortable.
• Some tolerate the condition and continue eating, which increases the size of the obstruction.

Because none of the blocked feed or saliva can pass down into the horse’s stomach, saliva and food particles will eventually completely fill the esophagus and begin to drip from the horse’s mouth and nostrils. Probably the most consistent sign of choke is green fluid (saliva mixed with pelleted feed or hay particles) dripping from the horse’s nostrils. Some choked horses become anxious and nervous at not being able to swallow their feed and might colic in response to the choke.

Response

Because the obstruction applies constant pressure to the esophageal wall and can cause tissue death as well as rupture the esophagus, choke is a true emergency. While an occasional case might resolve itself, most require veterinary intervention and respond well if treated promptly.

While waiting for your veterinarian to arrive, remove all feed and water. Try to relax the horse, and place him in a stall to prevent grazing. Treatment consists of tranquilizing the horse and using a nasogastric (stomach) tube to either push the obstruction down into the stomach or to repeatedly flush the obstruction with warm water to break it down. Small chokes can usually be easily relieved, while harder, larger obstructions can take several hours to break down.

Surgery is indicated in cases where the obstruction cannot be relieved with a stomach tube. If the obstruction persists for several hours, anti-inflammatory drugs might be used to control the pain and decrease swelling within the esophagus. A choked horse can also become dehydrated and require intravenous fluids. Aspiration of saliva and feed occurs in some choked horses and could lead to aspiration pneumonia.

Check the horse’s temperature for several days following the choke to ensure that he isn’t developing pneumonia.

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Get the details on how you can help return your injured horse back to his original level with this procedure.

According to Dr. Travis Meredith, using stem cells gives you the maximum opportunity to return the horse to its original level.

By Carolyn Heinze in The American Quarter Horse Journal

This is the last of a two part series. Need to review Part 1?

Vet-Stem Inc., based in Poway, California, extracts stem cells from the fatty tissue under the horse’s tail. The tissue is processed at the company’s lab and then sent back to the veterinarian who injects the stem cells directly into the site of the injury. Currently, Vet-Stem treats tendon and ligament injuries.

Dr. Travis Meredith at Vet-Stem touts this treatment because it calls upon the animal’s own healing capacities.“Stem cells are regenerative,” he says. “Where the body’s normal response is to try to heal and stabilize by initiating scar tissue or fibrosis; stem cells actually stimulate and provide regeneration of the damaged tissue. If you put stem cells into an injured tendon, they are going to form into tendon cells. If you put them into a fracture, they will differentiate into bone cells.”

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Dr. Meredith says that for treatment of tendons, this procedure should take place within 30 days after the injury.

“That changes a little bit when we talk about other injuries,” he says. “Suspensory ligaments have a different structure, and there is a significant portion that is attached to the back of the cannon bone. We have seen beneficial effects on cases of suspensory injuries to a year after they occurred.”

Stem cells have different functions for a different disease, he added.

About 80 percent of the nontrack horses treated under Vet-Stem return to work after six months, Dr. Meredith says.

“Using stem cells gives you the maximum opportunity to return the horse to its original level,” he said. “You are not going to exceed the horse’s original level, but it is the only therapy that will give you the maximum opportunity to return that horse to where it was.”

Success is contingent upon a solid rehabilitation program.

“The first thing that I recommend is to work hand-in-hand with your veterinarian to develop a patient-specific rehabilitation program,” Dr. Meredith says. “Tendons heal best when they heal under load, or tension. We start hand-walking the horses for very brief periods the day after the procedure is done; we don’t typically recommend that they be stalled for 30- or 60-day intervals.”

While nonsteroidal drugs can be used during the acute phase of the injury, steroids are not suggested, as they work against the stem cells. Dr. Meredith notes that, depending on the veterinarian, Vet-Stem’s treatment adds about $2,000 to the cost of traditional tendon rehabilitation.

Because stem cells are “undifferentiated” – which means that they have yet to develop into tissue – they are ideal for the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries, which are generally difficult to fully overcome, Dr. Meredith argues.

“They reside there in storage until the body calls them when it’s injured. Naturally what those cells would do is migrate to that site of injury and then differentiate into the type of tissue that is needed at the time,” he says. “In a tendon injury, they would migrate to the site of the tendon and then differentiate into tendon cells. The problem is, certain organs and certain structures have a decreased ability to heal. What our process does is allow us to utilize the body’s own cells and allow your veterinarian to deliver your horse’s own healing capacity right to the site of the injury.”

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New treatment increases chances of success following tendon injuries.

In a standing sedation, they will remove bone marrow from the horse’s sternum and then withdraw bone marrow from the horse.

By Carolyn Heinze in The American Quarter Horse Journal

It’ a common-enough occurrence: A horse bows a tendon, is put out to pasture for six to 12 months and returns to work, only to injure himself. As is the case with so many other leg-related problems, with bowed tendons, a lot of it has to do with luck: If you’re lucky, your horse never sustains such an injury; or if he does, it only happens once.

“Most bowed tendons are due to repetitive stress injury and not a one-time traumative episode,” says Dr. Lisa Fortier, an assistant professor of equine surgery at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary medicine in Ithaca, New York. “Tendon and suspensory ligaments are difficult to heal, and even if they heal, a very large majority of them re-bow, either in the injured leg or in the other leg as a result of the stress that has been placed on the injured leg.”

There are two reasons that tendon injuries are so difficult to heal: Tendons have a limited blood supply, and there are a few cells residing in tendon tissue.

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“The cells are important because they can remake the matrix – the tissue around the cells – and complete tendon healing requires proper assembly of the matrix,” Dr. Fortier explains.

Most of the time, when the tendon does not repair itself, the resulting scar tissue isn’t as flexible as the original matrix.

“It can’t function to stretch up and down like a rubber band because it heals in a big knot of scar tissue that is not as elastic as the original tendon,” she says. “That is why they either re-bow in the same area or the knot is so tough that they bow below or above it.”

Not a Matter of Luck

Stem cell researchers are working to remove luck from the equation. By injecting stem cells into the site of the injury, they argue, tendons and ligaments reconstruct themselves, and the horse is able to resume training.

“Stem cells reside everywhere in your body, from your intestines to your skin and in your muscles,” says Dr. Fortier, whose research is focused on cell development. “There is a very small population of stem cells in all tissues of your body that are naturally there. You continually lose cells, and (the replacements) need to come from somewhere.”

There are two different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and post-natal stem cells.

“A stem cell is a cell that can turn into a number of different things: cartilage, tendon tissue, bone, fat and some types of neural tissues,” says Hugo Le Messurier, general manager at Vet Biotechnology Ltd. in Kent Town, Australia. “The body uses these stem cells to create these tissues as the individual is growing, and also to continue to repair those tissues as the individual lives and gets older. They are the body’s natural repair cells.”

Vet Biotechnology treats tendons and ligament injuries featuring core lesions.

“When a tendon or ligament is injured, the hole in the tendon will be cleaned out, and the body will remove all of the injured tissue,” Hugo says. “The tendon will get hot, and it will expand, and that is because the body is cleaning all of the old tissue out. After about a month, that core injury – or that hole in the tendon – is ready for new cells to come in and for new tissue to grow.”

Because stem cells re-form the original tissue, the site of the injury remains flexible.

“Instead of allowing the body to heal naturally with scar tissue, we will inject stem cells into that lesion,” Hugo says. “Those stem cells will then create an elastic tissue in the tendon.”

Once the stem cells are injected, the responsibility is on the horse owners and their veterinarians to rehabilitate the animal accordingly. Vet Biotechnology suggests a special 12-month program that was developed by the Royal Veterinary College in England.

“That rehabilitation program will allow the tendon or ligament to recover with elastic tissue so that the horse can get back to work,” Hugo says.

Only veterinarians who have been trained by Vet Biotechnology can use the company’s service, according to Hugo.

“In a standing sedation, they will remove bone marrow from the horse’s sternum and then withdraw bone marrow from the horse. It leaves a couple of little puncture wounds in the horse. They receive a slight sedation, so they are a bit groggy, but when they walk out, they are fine,” he says.

The sample then goes to Vet Biotechnology’s lab, where the stem cells are isolated from the bone marrow. During the course of a couple of weeks, the stem cell supply is expanded and sent back for injection into the horse.

“Then the lab will send the cells back to the vet; the vet will directly inject then into the tendon of the horse under a standing sedation. Once those cells are in there, they bandage the horse up, and the horse walks out,” Hugo says.

Vet Biotechnology also collects stem cells from the umbilical cord of a foal to store in case of future injury.

“When a foal is born, the vet will collect the umbilical cord, send it into the laboratory, and our laboratory will isolate the cells and cryo-store them,” Hugo says. “If the animal injuries itself and it’s a tendon or ligament injury, we can supply the cells very quickly.”

Because the stem cells that are re-injected into the animal are from the actual horse itself, there is no chance of rejection, Hugo says. In Australia, the cost of the procedure is between AU $3,000 and AU $6,000, depending on the veterinarian.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2.

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Learn more about this disease and the methods of prevention.

Due to the seasonal incidence of disease, vaccination should be timed to precede the anticipated peak challenge during the summer months or fall.

By The American Association of Equine Practitioners

Equine monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by Neorickettsia risticii (formerly Ehrlichia risticii). Originally described in 1979 as a sporadic disease affecting horses residing in the eastern United States near the Potomac River, the disease has since been identified in other geographic locations in the United States and Canada. The disease is seasonal, occurring between late spring and early fall in temperate areas, with most cases in July, August and September at the onset of hot weather.

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Clinical signs vary but can include: fever, mild to severe diarrhea, laminitis, mild colic and decreased abdominal sounds. Uncommonly, pregnant mares infected with N. risticii (usually in the middle trimester between 90 and 120 days) can abort due to fetal infection at seven months of gestation.

If Potomac horse fever has been confirmed on a farm or in a particular geographic area, it is likely that additional cases will occur in future years. Foals appear to have a low risk of contracting the disease. The currently available commercial vaccines are killed, adjuvanted products. Two of these are also available combined with a rabies vaccine. None of the current vaccines carry a label claim for the prevention of abortion.

Vaccination Schedules

Due to the seasonal incidence of disease, vaccination should be timed to precede the anticipated peak challenge during the summer months or fall.

Adult horses, previously vaccinated: Manufacturers recommend revaccination at six- to 12-month intervals. However, veterinarians may consider an interval of three to four months for horses in endemic areas because protection following vaccination can be incomplete and short-lived.

Adult horses, previously unvaccinated or with unknown history: Administer a primary series of two doses at a three- to four-week interval. Peak protection occurs three to four weeks after the second dose.

Pregnant mares previously vaccinated against PHF: Vaccinate semiannually to annually. Schedule one dose to be administered four to six weeks before foaling. To date, no studies have been published that examine the efficacy of PHF vaccines to prevent N. risticii-induced abortion.

Pregnant mares unvaccinated or with unknown history: Administer a primary series of two doses, at a three- to four-week interval. Schedule the second dose four to six weeks before foaling.

Foals: Due to the low risk of clinical disease in young foals and the possible maternal antibody interference, primary immunization for most foals can begin after 5 months of age. The manufacturer’s recommendation is for a two-dose series administered at a three- to four-week interval. However, as with other killed products, a third dose at 12 months of age is recommended. If the primary series is initiated when foals are less than 5 months of age, additional doses should be administered at monthly intervals up to 6 months of age to ensure that an immunologic response is achieved.

Horses having been naturally infected and recovered: Administer a primary series (as described above) or booster vaccine (if previously vaccinated) 12 months following recovery from natural infection.

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Could feeding alfalfa hay help cure high-performance horses of stomach ulcers?

It’s commonly thought that horses turned out on pasture are better off than those that are confined, but if grass hay is the only hay they are fed, horses can still get gastric ulcers.

From Dr. Pete Gibbs, AgriLife Research

A change in diet can be good for what ails you – even if you are a horse.

Research from Texas A&M University shows that feeding alfalfa to horses that have the potential to be high performers either prevented or was therapeutic in treating stomach ulcers.

“Something in alfalfa hay tends to buffer acid production,” says Dr. Pete Gibbs, Texas A&M Extension horse specialist.

Thirty percent of the 1 million horses in Texas are used in racing, showing and competitive performance, Pete says.

As many as 90 percent of racehorses and more than 50 percent of arena performance horses have ulcers of varying severity, he says.

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When they have ulcers, horses “don’t eat as well, work as well and don’t feel as good,” Pete says.

Feeding grain, confinement, exercise and overall environmental stress factors are thought to cause ulcers, he says. Studies have shown that horses will heal if provided less acidic diets.

In the research, 24 stock horses 12 to 16 months of age were separated into two treatment groups. One group was fed Bermuda grass hay and the other fed alfalfa hay to meet their daily roughage needs. The yearlings received forced exercise during the study.

The horses were examined internally with an endoscope at the beginning and end of two 28-day trials.

It’s commonly thought that horses turned out on pasture are better off than those that are confined. However, if grass hay is the only hay they are fed, horses can still get gastric ulcers, Gibbs says.

In this study, ulcer scores increased when alfalfa was removed from the horses’ diets and they were turned out on pasture. Under the ulcer-scoring system, zero signified no ulcers, with severity increasing to 4.

Horse owners – especially those with performance horses – have two options, Pete says.

They can give their horses a pharmaceutical product that will decrease acid production, he says, or they can manage their horses’ diets.

The second option does not stop acid production but offers buffering capabilities, Pete says. More work is needed to look at horses with varying degrees of ulceration to better determine the full extent to which alfalfa or alfalfa-based products might help from a feeding management standpoint.

“Based on what we know right now – for horses that are kept in confinement, eating feed and getting forced exercise – it makes sense to consider some alfalfa as part of their diet,” he says.

Until further research is done, he recommends that horses weighing 1,000-1,300 pounds should be fed about one pound of alfalfa after a grain meal.

This isn’t the first research conducted on gastric ulcers in horses, but it lays the groundwork for further research at Texas A&M. The next study will investigate what it is about alfalfa and alfalfa products that lessens the occurrence and severity of horses’ ulcers.

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Each time a horse is stalled to give him time to recover from an illness or injury, the stress stemming from constant stall confinement can easily lead to equine stomach ulcers -- an added complication for any injured horse.

One equine injury may lead to another, so discover how you can prevent your horse from getting ulcers.

For riders, stress levels rise each time their horse is injured or hospitalized. However, the stress of equine injuries can take their toll on the patient, too.

Cara Barry-Brewer understands the stresses of competition. She’s a cutting horse trainer, competitor and winner of the National Cutting Horse Association 2004 Open Super Stakes and $599,490 to date, and is listed as one of the top overall riders in 2008. However, after more than 20 years in the saddle and show ring, she also understands the stresses of equine injuries.

“I’ve had horses stalled with suspensory problems,” Cara says. “When that happens, they have to be in a stall for the entire time, and that’s definitely stressful for them. They don’t get to move around — they don’t get to just be a horse.”

Cara adds that even a common cold can throw a horse out of his normal routine and raise his stress level. Each time a horse is stalled to give him time to recover from an illness or injury, the stress stemming from constant stall confinement can easily lead to equine stomach ulcers — an added complication for any injured horse.

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“When we’re working through a horse’s illness, I put him on Ulcergard (omeprazole) to help prevent stomach ulcers,” Cara says. “The key is to not stress him or rush him back into training before he’s well: that will only set you back.”

Even when horses are healthy, routine events — such as traveling, training and competition — can be stressful enough to lead to stomach ulcers. Injuries can add to the stress level, according to Dr. April Knudson at Merial Veterinary Services.

“Whether injured or healthy, horses are extremely sensitive to stress,” Dr. Knudson says. “But, when a horse is hurt, being confined to a stall, hauled to the vet for a checkup or being taken away from herd mates, the stress can be enough to develop stomach ulcers, sometimes in as little as five days. And, when a horse is already laid up with one injury, you certainly don’t want to add another illness to the list.”

Dr. Knudson adds that changes in diet also can contribute to stomach ulcers.

“A horse’s stomach can produce up to 16 gallons of acid each day,” Dr. Knudson says. “When horses are constantly grazing, forage in the stomach helps create a buffer for the stomach acid. But, when dealing with certain equine injuries that require stall confinement — especially for long periods of time — horses may not have unlimited access to hay. Limited amounts of forage in the horse’s stomach can allow acid to build up and lead to stomach ulcers.”

However, Dr. Knudson says, horse owners can help keep all of their horses feeling their best just by using Ulcergard, the only product that works to help prevent stomach ulcers before they become a problem.

For Cara, Ulcergard is more than a helpful product when her horses are temporarily out of commission.

“I always use Ulcergard when we’re on the road,” Cara says. “When you’re traveling to Fort Worth three times a year or on the road for two and a half weeks, that’s stressful for the horse. Plus, it’s important to me that Ulcergard is FDA approved. It shows that the product has been tested — you know it will work.”

From AQHA Official Animal Health Care Partner Merial.

Download Stomach Ulcers in Horses, a FREE report, to learn the causes, signs and treatments of stomach ulcers, a common problem in horses.

EPM is one of the most devastating diseases a horse can acquire.

In a neurological test, a normal horse can resist a pull on the tail. A horse affected by EPM might have trouble and be pulled off balance.

By Andrea Caudill in The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal

It is the most common neurological disease in horses today. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis attacks the horse’s central nervous system, which left untreated can cause seizures and death.

The disease’s symptoms were first reported about 40 years ago, but it wasn’t until the past decade that the cause was found and treatments created.

EPM is caused by the protozoa Sarcocystis neurona, a single-celled parasitic organism. The protozoa is not transferred from horse to horse, but rather spread by a definitive host, the opossum. Intermediate hosts such as cats, raccoons, skunks and armadillos carry the protozoa, and the opossum picks it up by feeding on carcasses. The organism is passed through the host’s body or waste products as a sporocyst, and horses pick it up through eating contaminated feed, grazing or drinking contaminated water.

Once ingested, the sporocyst goes through another maturation stage and becomes a merozoite. Where this maturation happens is uncertain, but is thought to be in endothelial cells. The merozoite then gains access to the central nervous system by crossing the blood/brain barrier to the brain.

To learn even more about EPM, check out our FREE EPM report. You’ll learn more about treatment, prevention, symptoms of and maturation of EPM.

“We don’t know for sure, but we think that perhaps the parasite catches a ride inside certain white blood cells that cross over into the central nervous system,” says Dr. Kenton Morgan with Fort Dodge Animal Health.

Once inside the nervous tissue, the merozoite begins to replicate itself, forming a structure called a schizont. A small sack or pouch of multiple merozoites, the schizont eventually ruptures. This destroys the host cell, damages nearby nerve tissue and releases more merozoites to infect other cells. The tissue death eventually causes the neural distress seen in symptoms.

The disease can be contracted all over North and South America, but is less common in the western United States where opossum populations are smaller. Dr. Morgan estimates that more than 50 percent of all horses in the United States have been exposed to the organism, but only a small percentage (approximately 0.14 percent) develop the disease.

“Every presentation is a little different,” Dr. Morgan says. (It can vary from a horse that’s just not doing right, so to speak, to one that’s got profound neurological disease that is stumbling all around and can hardly right itself.”

Signs of EPM

Signs of EPM vary from horse to horse, depending on where the protozoa attack the nervous system. Onset of the disease is most common in summer and fall months, and symptoms can develop slowly or present themselves within several days. They can range from mild to severe. Often the first indications are stiffness, asymmetrical gaits and cranial nerve deficits. Symptoms include ataxia (incoordination), spasticity (stiffness, abnormal gaits or lameness, muscle atrophy, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, head tilt, seizures and collapse, abnormal sweating, loss of sensation and poor balance). Incoordination and weakness are often exacerbated by going up or down slopes or movement when the head is elevated. Cranial nerves control function of the head, so if affected, the horse might have paralysis of the face, problems coordinating actions (chewing, dropping feed, etc.), swallowing or vocalizing.

“I’ve had people report that they noticed when the horse whinnied, it sounded different,” Dr. Morgan says.

A horse suspected of having the disease should be inspected by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The first step is a general examination, followed by a neurological exam. The neurological exam includes assessing the cranial nerve function and working down the body to make sure the sensations are normal. Neurological deficiencies are scored from 0 (none) to 4 (obvious abnormalities). Cranial nerve checks include making sure the nerves that control eye dilation, blinking and the gag reflex work properly. Problems the vet might watch for in the neck include lack of flexibility or abnormal muscling. The vet will perform a panniculus reflex test, using a blunt object (such as a ballpoint pen) to press on the skin all the way down the backbone. A normal horse will twitch the skin, as if trying to rid himself of a fly. There are also gait assessments (known as proprioceptive tests) that include watching the horse back, circle and move on an incline. The examiner might also test the horse’s balance by pulling his tail while walking. If the horse loses its balance or is unable to resist the pull, this shows neurological damage. At a halt, the vet will also move the horse’s leg across its other leg to check its awareness of where its feet are (the horse should return the moved leg to it normal position within 30 seconds).

EPM is a devastating disease. Learn all you can about it and be prepared in case it happens to your horse. Let AQHA help with our FREE EPM report.

If there are signs of EPM, an owner might choose to start treatment without knowing for sure what it is. However, to confirm a diagnosis, a blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis can be done on the horse. The blood test will only tell if the horse has been exposed to the protozoa, not if he has the disease. A spinal tap, however, will reveal if the protozoa has accessed the nervous system.

Studies estimate that only 40 percent of horses affected by the disease are able to recover fully, although according to Dr. Morgan, up to 60 percent are able to improve to some degree following treatment.

Prevention

The best way to treat EPM is to prevent it. Because the disease is transferred via the definitive host, the opossum, prevention must be centered on keeping these critters as far from horses as possible. Discouraging the proximity of the hosts can be done by good horsekeeping practices. Keep feed rooms and containers closed, and make sure they are rodent-proof.

“Opossums are just nasty,” Dr. Morgan says. “They’re kind of like big rats, so if they can get into the feed source, they poop in it and everything else. So keeping your feed contained and keeping animals out is very beneficial.”

Clean up dropped feed immediately to discourage scavenging. Keep water tanks clean and cover stored hay to prevent the opossums nesting. Do not feed horses on the ground, instead place feed in a rack or buckets. Also clean up roadkill or dead intermediate host animals, as this is what opossums feed on.

Are you and your horse prepared for the cold months ahead?

It's important to make sure your horses get plenty of roughage throughout the winter. (Photo by Christine Hamilton)

From AQHA corporate partner Tractor Supply Co.

The nutritional needs of most horses will change during the winter months due to the changes in the weather and environment. There are a few key categories that you should take into consideration for your horses’ nutritional needs this winter.

Water – horses will decrease their water intake as the temperature falls

• To help increase their intake during the winter, maintain the water temperature between 45 degrees and 65 degrees F.

Your horse’s health is important to you. To stay on top of it and keep up-to-date on health information, check out our Common Horse Health Issues report. You’ll find information about strangles, West Nile virus, colic, laminitis, EPM and more!

• Make sure there is a fresh supply daily because their average consumption of water is 10 to 15 gallons per day.
• Do not allow their water supply to freeze.

Roughage/Forage – the selection of high-quality roughage or forage is crucial

• It accounts for 60 to 90 percent of your horse’s nutrient intake. Remember, during the winter months, pasture sources decrease.
• When selecting a quality roughage or forage, make sure it is clean, dust- and mold-free, of necessary nutritional value and free from contaminants.
• Be sure to test the protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins and energy (TDN) to assist you in properly balancing your horse’s diet.
• Feed as often as possible and no less than two or three times per day, since horses require roughage continually and regularly.

Quality Feed and Feed Supplements – assist in providing an adequate balance of nutrients this winter

• Supplement your horse’s daily roughage or forage intake with a quality feed that will sufficiently balance out the protein, fiber, mineral, vitamins and energy.
• Some horses also require additional feed supplements during the winter such as: mineral supplements, vitamin supplements or a micro-nutrient supplement.

Your horses’ nutritional needs may vary according to size, age, temperament, activity level, environmental conditions, health and stress level. Utilize your own experience as well as guidance from your vet to adjust your horse’s diet for optimal health this winter.

Tractor Supply Co. carries the quality feed and feed products you need this winter. Now available at your local TSC store is Nutrena (LOGO) SafeChoice and Life Design feed. Locate your nearest Tractor Supply Co. store or shop online for your horse.

It’s always important to be prepared for any kind of medical emergency. Let AQHA help with our Common Horse Health Issues report. It will help you learn more about common health issues horse owners face.

It’s important to keep your horse’s AQHA record as current as possible.

Mr San Olen is a 20-year-old son of Peppy San Badger who showed at the 2009 Bayer Select World Show. He is pictured above with owner Carol Williamson. (Photo by Christine Hamilton)

By Julie Preble, AQHA publications intern

On January 1, all horses turning 25 will be listed as deceased in AQHA’s database unless AQHA is notified that the horse is still alive. It is important to keep your records up to date and to notify AQHA of your elderly horse’s status.

Because the average life span of a horse is 25 years, horses over the age of 25 are listed as deceased to help AQHA keep a current and accurate count of the population of horses.

Because the inventory of horses in each state determines the number of AQHA directors allotted for that state, it is important for the Association to have the most accurate total population of horses, says Tammy Canida, director of registration operations.

Whether your horse is a youngster or a senior, their health is important to you. Learn more about stem-cell therapy for tendon and ligament injuries with our FREE Stem-Cell Therapy report.

To make sure that your senior horse’s status stays active, send in a note and current picture of the horse. You can do this at any time.

Here are a few strategies to keep your senior citizen healthy and happy:

• Provide a safe, comfortable environment, free of hazards and with adequate shelter from wind, rain, snow, sun and biting insects.
• Arrange for routine dental care at least once a year to keep his teeth and mouth in good working order.
• Watch your horse for changes in body condition, behavior and attitude. Address problems, even seemingly minor ones, right away.
• Feed a high-quality diet. Avoid dusty and moldy feeds.
• Feed your older horse away from younger, more aggressive horses so he won’t have to compete for feed.
• For troubled chewers, wet the feed to soften it or add water to make a thick, soup-like ration that he can drink.
• Feed at more frequent intervals so as not to upset the digestive system. Two or three times a day is best.
• Provide plenty of fresh, clean, tepid water. Excessively cold water reduces consumption, which can lead to colic and other problems.
• Adjust rations to maintain proper body condition. A good rule of thumb is to be able to feel the ribs, but not see them.
• Provide adequate, appropriate exercise to maintain muscle tone, flexibility and mobility.
• Be vigilant in controlling pests and parasites. Deworm at regular intervals. Consult your veterinarian to establish a schedule.
• Manage pastures and facilities to reduce pest infestations.
• Provide regular hoof care. Your farrier should trim or shoe the horse, whether or not you ride, to maintain proper hoof shape and movement. This will help prevent lameness and injury.
• Groom your horse frequently to promote circulation and skin health.
• Older horses are prone to tumors. Look for any unusual lumps or growths from head to tail, as well as beneath the tail, especially on gray horses.

Do you need information on how to help a horse with tendon and/or ligament injuries? Find out about research on stem-cell therapy as a possible treatment for your horse with our FREE Stem-Cell Therapy report.

• Provide adequate ventilation in barns. Keep pastures mowed and weed-free to reduce allergens. Reduce dust in paddocks as much as possible to prevent respiratory disease.
• Schedule routine checkups with your vet. Call immediately if you suspect a problem.

Tips courtesy of AQHA corporate partner Bayer Animal Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

America’s Horse Cares

Now is the perfect time to make your gift to the American Quarter Horse Foundation. You’ll not only help the people and horses served by the American Quarter Horse Foundation, but if your gift is completed by December 31, 2009, you will receive income tax relief. Visit the Foundation’s Web site and click “Donate Today.” You can also call (806) 378-5029 to make a donation. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Donations can also be made in honor or in memory of a special person or horse