Equine Herpes Virus – Worth Worrying About?

Just the mention of EHV-1, the Equine Herpes Virus, is enough to strike fear in the heart of any horse owner.  But what IS it, really? And how do we keep our horses safe?

The fact is that many horses are infected with the virus as a foal, others in adult life.  Like herpes infections in humans, the virus often goes dormant but can resurface when the horse is stressed by training, transport, competition, herd dynamics, or other health conditions.  The EHV-1 strain can affect your horse in 3 different ways:

 

1) respiratory

2) foal abortion

3) neurologic, specifically herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM)

The incubation period is 1-10 days, with shedding of the virus through nasal secretions typically taking place for another 10 days after the host is infected.  Some cases have been reported to shed the virus for as long as 28 days.  

Direct horse-to-horse contact facilitates exposure, and it’s possible for airborne particles expelled by coughing or sneezing to transfer to horses some distance away, although no one knows exactly how far.  But the virus can also be transmitted on physical objects, including our own hands, clothing and shoes, as well as grooming equipment, tack, buckets, rakes, hoses and water tanks, just to name a few. The virus can survive for 7 days on these objects under normal circumstances, and as long as 28 days under perfect conditions. 

Can you protect your horse with a vaccine?  Yes and no.  The vaccine won't STOP your horse from contracting the virus, but it may lessen the amount of virus shedding in secretions.  This may reduce the likelihood of infecting other horses, in turn preventing foal abortions, while also reducing the respiratory symptoms in the infected horse.

But NO vaccine can protect your horse from the neurologic form of the disease.  In addition, it has been suggested that frequent vaccination with killed virus vaccine may actually INCREASE the risk of EHV-1.  So now we ponder....to vaccinate or not to vaccinate.  

That decision is, ultimately, up to you.  Regardless, here are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of infection:

1)      Stay informed of an outbreak in your area.  All outbreaks for any equine-related disease in the U.S. are reported on this web site:  http://equinediseasecc.org/outbreaks.aspx.  

2)      If there is an outbreak in an area you’re planning to trailer to, your best defense is to just stay home.  

3)      If you've already paid your entry fees and are determined to go, heavily disinfect your stall, put tarps on shared walls of stalls, avoid 'hanging out' on your horse in the warm up pen, and don't let your horse sniff noses with anyone.  Avoid touching other horses, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly disinfect all of your tools and equipment frequently.

And, finally, do everything possible to lessen the possibility of stressing your horse and to strengthen his immune system.  Give him good nutrition, avoid changing feeds abruptly, keep him hydrated, give him plenty of rest, and condition him properly before taking him to the event.

Forage Cubes - Just Add Water

Recently, we've had several horses arrive for rehab that are fed alfalfa cubes as their sole diet.  There’s a lot of controversy over the "perfect way to feed" our horses - and we certainly aren’t claiming to know what “perfect” is!  After all, each horse has his own special and unique needs. 

But, if you are going to feed alfalfa cubes, we HIGHLY recommend they be soaked in water before feeding for three main reasons: 1) choke, 2) tooth wear, and 3) dehydration.

Choke is a common enemy to all horses that bolt down their grain.  But alfalfa and Timothy cubes are the perfect size to cause an obstruction.  So, it’s critical these cubes break up quickly and easily for your horse. 

Quickly and easily is not how anyone who’s tried it would describe breaking these cubes up!  They’re hard as bricks!  Think about how hard (and long) your horse will have to chew to break them up in small enough pieces to safely swallow!  Now think of all the wear and tear on your horse’s teeth - teeth that were designed to bite off tender grass shoots, not chew threw the equivalent of plaster chunks.

And these cubes aren’t just difficult to chew – they are very dry.  Look at the pictures and you’ll see that close to 3/4 of a whole bucket of water was added to the cubes. 

After just 4 hours they crumble nicely in your hand.  But, if you don't ADD water to the cubes, the cubes will TAKE IT from the stomach and intestines for digestion.  This increases the risk of colic and dehydration.

In a nutshell, if you're going to feed cubed alfalfa, Timothy or any other forage, please remember to soak first!  Whenever possible, start with smaller sized cubes - alfalfa comes in both regular cattle size as well as minis.  This ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!

April Showers Bring May...

Flowers Rain Rot!

Yes, that “fungus among us” can happen faster than you think!  In the early stages, you may be able to feel the scabs under his coat as small bumps, or see small matted tufts of hair.  Underneath the scabs, which can be easily scraped off, the skin is often pink and raw, and then becomes gray and dry as it heals. 

If your horse doesn't have a shelter from the rain or, like 90% of his equine kinfolk, he refuses to use that $1500 shelter you built him for that very reason, he's prone to developing a skin fungus.  But just being exposed to rain alone isn't the cause.  Being immunocompromised, poor health, poor coat condition (for lack of grooming) and stress can all be contributors.  

Here are a few tips to help stop it from happening:

1) keep your horse dry

2) allow several hours of sunshine each day

3) if wet, get them dry as soon as possible 

4) minimal bathing in cool weather as it takes so long to dry

5) use an antifungal shampoo if you do bathe him

If your horse already has a fungus, here are a few ways to treat it:

1) antifungal shampoo and over the counter sprays

2) rotate a spray of 50/50 iodine and water, another with 50/50 Listerine and water

3) sunshine full time

4) body clip the area to help treat it and keep it medicated

5) if the fungus is real bad, ask your Veterinarian for a prescription of Griseofulvin, an oral paste 

We wish you and your horse a fungus-free spring!

Being a Fit Rider FOR Your Horse

Many times our horses seem off, a tick lame, or you 'just can't put your finger on it' but he not himself.  It may be hard to believe, but some of what your horse is feeling could actually be caused by YOU, his rider!  

When you step into the saddle, you change the way your horse moves.  Your balance, the pressure you exert on his body and his mouth through the bit, the way your body reacts when he accelerates or stops – all of these require his body to react and adjust as well.

How can we minimize the affect on our horse?

1. Ride with your core.  All of our instructors have made this point more than once, I’m sure.  But, it’s true and very important.  It’s your core that helps you to stay balanced, secure and vertical in the saddle, allowing your horse to move freely underneath you with little interference.     
   
2. Strengthen your weak side.  It's been documented in studies that our dominant side (right or left handed) will reflect a strong shoulder but weak opposing hip.  This imbalance can result in lower back fatigue and strains for you, but it can also affect your horse.  Your dominant hand can be exerting close to 40% more pressure on his mouth, making him travel uneven, which can make him sore as well.  
3. Square up your spine.  You have to ride centered on your horse.  Listing to one side, riding with a heavy leg on the right or left, or having a crooked neck can all effect his way of travel.  
4. Improve your cardiovascular health.  Riding balanced and centered also requires you to be relaxed, so you need to be able to recover quickly from  physical exertion or psychological stress. 
5. Keep your body fit.  Staying balanced in the saddle while maximizing your ability to execute planned movements, as well as to react to any surprises, requires a good muscle to fat ratio and loose, limber limbs.  Eat a balanced diet and stretch often.

You and your horse are a team.  You’re both athletes.  And you both need to be fit, healthy and relaxed to have the best chance of achieving your goals.  So before you swing your leg over the saddle, stretch out those muscles, tighten up that core and exhale all your inhibitions!  Let's ride!

Wild Winter Weather – Cause for Colic?

Yep, it's winter in Texas!  It can be 70º today, then drop 40º tomorrow!  How do horses handle this shock?

Typically, healthy horses can adjust rather quickly.  And, most of the time, it's not the temperatures that effect them…it’s the barometric pressure changes.  In humans, these changes can cause headaches, dizziness, and arthritis flare ups.  In horses, they can cause colic.

We can't control Mother Nature and her winter wonders, but we can stay one step ahead of her.  Keeping a close eye on the10 to 15 day forecast, as well as monitoring the current temperature and barometric pressure readings, are important to avoiding weather-related incidents of colic. 

When you see changes coming, here are a few things you can do to help your equine buddies…

• Add electrolytes and probiotics to their feed several days ahead of the storm
• Set them free!  If horses are able to move about, they can stay warmer, lay down and roll to help their own GI tract adjust
• Don't worm, vaccinate, travel, change their diet, or exercise them heavily
• Don't dramatically change their housing; if they are accustomed to being stalled or in a pasture, just leave them be
• Watch closely for signs of colic in the first 24 hours after barometric pressure changes; while there are no confirmed study cases of barometric pressure changes and colic, most veterinary clinics will report an increase in colic calls

At Cold River, we believe that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  That includes doing everything possible to help our equine companions withstand the roller-coaster conditions of our Texas winters.

Bring Back Basic Boarding

I have a friend who is an experienced rider with a finished horse, and she simply cannot find a suitable place to board her horse.  Her “wish list” isn’t that long or difficult…24/7 pasture turnout with a stall for bad weather, an arena with good footing, and a knowledgeable staff that can take care of her horse if he gets sick or injured.  It’s basic horse boarding, and it’s not as easy to find as you might think!

Finding a barn with 24/7 turnout isn’t easy, and turnout on pasture narrows the field (no pun intended!) even further.  But, often times when you do find it, you also find requirements to take riding lessons or to have your horse in training.  Not only is it expensive, it may be totally unnecessary and even seems a little presumptuous of your barn to decide what lessons and training you and your horse need!

We believe horses should be allowed to be horses, with 24/7 turnout and stalls only when bad weather threatens.  We will do everything we can to ensure your horse is happy and healthy.  And, we do offer lessons, training and exercise, but we’ll leave it up to you to decide what you want and when.  Basic boarding is alive and well here at Cold River!

Rider Error

I was talking to a friend recently and she pointed out how professional riders/trainers....even Olympians.... almost always take responsibility for problems they have during a show.  A horse refuses a jump, doesn't pick up a lead change or dodges a cow and the rider will say it was their fault for not setting them up properly.  For those who don’t ride horses, it seems strange to hear a competitor refrain from blaming the horse.

And, it really should be that way, regardless of whether we’re talking about high level competitors with their horse athletes, or the weekend trail rider.  I wish I could say that’s the case.  Too often, I hear a rider complain that their horse didn’t negotiate an obstacle willingly, didn't stop on their hindquarters or behaved badly. 

If we all took the approach with our horses the Olympic competitors do, how much more might we achieve?  Willingness is the result of your horse’s physical ability and confidence to perform the task you’re asking.  Getting the correct lead also requires physical ability and accuracy in your cues for it.  It’s rare that a horse’s behavior is psychologically-influenced bad behavior, and much more often fear or pain, or a combination of both.

Our approach here at Cold River is to ensure the horse is healthy and happy, recognizing that horses get sore, fatigued and even bored with their repetitive jobs.  Cross-training in the AquaTred underwater treadmill or EquiCizer tie-free hot walker freshen your horse’s mind while working a wide range of muscle groups and warding off fatigue and pain from carrying a rider.

So, the next time your horse performs less than perfectly, consider your role in both his care and training.  And, if you need help giving your horse the knowledge or physical ability to do better, keep us in mind.

Olympic Thoughts – Human vs Equine Athletes

We all watched in awe as so many amazing athletes competed for gold with the best of the best, from all over the world.  It takes more than just determination to be a top performer in a competitive sport.  It takes practice, fitness, nutrition and training, and this holds true for equine as well as human athletes.

For an equine athlete, the responsibility for all of these key ingredients falls on the owner.  The sports our horses compete in, from competitive trail to racing and jumping, all require that we make sure they are properly prepared.  Doing so not only gives them the best opportunity for success, both short- and long-term, it also reduces the chance they will be injured or in pain. 

Sometimes our best intentions aren’t enough, and life gets in the way of providing consistent exercise and fitness training for your horse.  That’s where Cold River can help!

Keep your horse fit with high-resistance, low-impact whole-body workouts in the AquaTred to build and strengthen muscles.  Riderless sessions in the EquiCizer also build fitness without human interference, allowing your horse to work his topline without the added weight, and in a much safer environment than traditional hot walkers. 

Trailer in and out the same day, or leave your horse with us for multiple daily sessions.  We will help you build a fitness program that works for you and your horse at Cold River Equine!

Stormy Dilemma - To Stall or Not to Stall?

Horses love being outside, so those of us who have that option are happy to let them enjoy the pasture or paddock as much as possible.  But, when the weather turns nasty, we’re faced with the choice of leaving them out to weather the storm, or bring them into the barn.

The biggest objection I hear to the “bring them in” option is, “but they’ll surely be killed or seriously hurt if a tornado blows down the barn.”  That’s true, but they can also be impaled by flying debris if that tornado hits when they’re outside. 

If there isn’t a tornado bearing down directly on your barn, here are some other reasons to consider bringing your horse inside…

• rain can make for slick footing, and a slip can damage tendons & ligaments
• lightning strikes aren’t that uncommon, and they will kill a horse
• hail is very painful anywhere it hits a horse, and it can cause serious eye injuries
• in a violent storm, horses can panic and run into or through fencing, resulting in serious and even life-threatening injuries
• repeated drenching over several days is an opportunity for the “rain rot” fungus to infect your horse, causing hair loss and discomfort

At Cold River, we have permanent boarders as well as temporary equine residents for training and rehabilitation, and for owners traveling on vacation or business. We use a “bring them in” policy if we think any of these conditions might threaten their well-being.  Just one more reason you can trust Cold River with your horse!