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equus THE HORSE
OWNER’S
RESOURCE
ISSUE 487
A PR I L 2 018

29 34

DEP A RT M E N T S FEATURES RESEARCH & MORE

10 LETTERS 29 C O N V E R S A T I O N S 12 MEDICAL FRONT
18 HANDS ON A foal’s first lessons ™ “Silent” form of EIA discovered
฀ ฀ Even the earliest training sessions ™ New extracts show promise
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ can set a youngster on the path to as dewormers
฀ ฀ ฀ ™ Surgical solution for PPID?
becoming the sensitive, willing horse
22 TACK & GEAR you want him to be one day. ™ Source of stem cells for tendon
฀ treatment identified
34 New thinking about cribbing ™ Buckwheat may be linked to
66 EQUUS ADVANTAGE
฀ ฀ As researchers gain insights into this allergic reactions

80 EQUUS CONSULTANTS mysterious behavior, new approaches 25 Laminitis prevention toolkit

฀ ฀ are emerging for handling horses Have these four things on hand to
who crib. protect your horse from this devas-
84 STOCK & TRADE
44 S T A R T I N G F R O M S C R A T C H tating hoof condition this spring.
87 ADVERTISERS’
PRODUCT GUIDE Taking stock 77 TRUE TALE
87 GLOSSARY As we enter the homestretch of A change of heart: I had become
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ our ranch-building adventure, we so enamored with my flashy new
฀0฀ ฀ ฀ recommit to our original goals. mare that I spent less and less time
88 BACK PAGE with my old mare, Polly. Then a
฀ ฀฀ 50 Riding with Theodore Roosevelt crisis forced me to recognize what
The century-old writings of one of really matters.
our most colorful Presidents offer
perspectives on horsemanship that
are surprisingly modern.

58 8 Ways to make a dry lot

your horse will love
With planning and some ongoing
effort, you can create a grass-free
enclosure that will keep your horse
50
58 safe, healthy and happy.
COVER PHOTO BY LISA DIJK/ARND BRONKHORST PHOTOGRAPHY
 equus
EDITOR AND ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

If it’s Laminitis, Laurie Prinz

equuseditor@aimmedia.com

it’s time to
SENIOR EDITORS
Christine Barakat; Laurie Bonner
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

kick the bucket Deb Bennett, PhD; Laura Hillenbrand

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Eliza R.L. McGraw; Tom Moates

New scientiic study proves IceHorse’s ART DIRECTOR

Celia Strain
Laminitis boot is better by miles. MEDICAL EDITOR
Joe Bertone, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Something as serious as Laminitis needs the
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
best treatment there is. New scientiic Cathy Laws

veterinary research conirms IceHorse’s dry EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

cryotherapy is a much more efective cold
therapy treatment than ice water buckets,
gels or compression-based cold therapies.
Why risk using anything less?
Bradford Bentz, VMD; Jerry Black, DVM;
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MRCVS; Harold Hintz, PhD; Dan Marks, VMD;
Ed Robinson, PhD, MRCVS; Stephen Soule, VMD;
Peter Timoney, MVB, PhD, FRCVS;
Tracy Turner, DVM; Julia H. Wilson, DVM

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Common-sense solutions to 7 riding and training problems
From the Editors of EQUUS
Is your horse a little spooky? Barn sour? Resistant? CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PRESIDENT
Andrew W. Clurman
Take heart! The editors of EQUUS magazine have
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assembled insights from the world’s leading trainers, Michael Henry
riders and equine behaviorists to help solve these and CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER
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6 E q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 OSPHOS® (clodronate injection)
Bisphosphonate
For use in horses only.
Brief Summary (For Full Prescribing Information, see package
insert)
CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on
the order of a licensed veterinarian.
DESCRIPTION: Clodronate disodium is a non-amino, chloro-
containing bisphosphonate. Chemically, clodronate disodium is
(dichloromethylene) diphosphonic acid disodium salt and is
manufactured from the tetrahydrate form.
INDICATION: For the control of clinical signs associated with
navicular syndrome in horses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to clodro-
nate disodium should not receive OSPHOS.
WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consump-
tion.
HUMAN WARNINGS: Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs
out of the reach of children. Consult a physician in case of
accidental human exposure.
PRECAUTIONS: As a class, bisphosphonates may be as-
sociated with gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. Sensitivity
to drug associated adverse reactions varies with the indi-
vidual patient. Renal and gastrointestinal adverse reactions
may be associated with plasma concentrations of the
drug. Bisphosphonates are excreted by the kidney; there-
fore, conditions causing renal impairment may increase
plasma bisphosphonate concentrations resulting in an
increased risk for adverse reactions. Concurrent admin-
istration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be
approached with caution and renal function should be mon-
itored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or
diseases affecting renal function is not recommended.
Administration of bisphosphonates has been associated
with abdominal pain (colic), discomfort, and agitation in hors-
es. Clinical signs usually occur shortly after drug administra-
tion and may be associated with alterations in intestinal motil-
ity. In horses treated with OSPHOS these clinical signs usually
began within 2 hours of treatment. Horses should be moni-
tored for at least 2 hours following administration of OSPHOS.
Bisphosphonates affect plasma concentrations of some
minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium and

OSPHOS®
potassium, immediately post-treatment, with effects lasting
up to several hours. Caution should be used when admin-
istering bisphosphonates to horses with conditions affecting
mineral or electrolyte homeostasis (e.g. hyperkalemic periodic
paralysis, hypocalcemia, etc.).

controls the The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses
less than 4 years of age. The effect of bisphosphonates on the
skeleton of growing horses has not been studied; however, bi-
Easily Administered sphosphonates inhibit osteoclast activity which impacts bone

clinical signs via intramuscular injection

turnover and may affect bone growth.
Bisphosphonates should not be used in pregnant or lactating
mares, or mares intended for breeding. The safe use of OS-

associated
PHOS has not been evaluated in breeding horses or pregnant
Well Tolerated* or lactating mares. Bisphosphonates are incorporated into the
bone matrix, from where they are gradually released over pe-
riods of months to years. The extent of bisphosphonate incor-
in clinical trials poration into adult bone, and hence, the amount available for

with Proven Efficacy*

release back into the systemic circulation, is directly related
to the total dose and duration of bisphosphonate use. Bis-
phosphonates have been shown to cause fetal developmental
abnormalities in laboratory animals. The uptake of bisphos-

Navicular at 6 months post treatment

phonates into fetal bone may be greater than into maternal
bone creating a possible risk for skeletal or other abnormali-
ties in the fetus. Many drugs, including bisphosphonates, may
be excreted in milk and may be absorbed by nursing animals.
No Reconstitution
Syndrome Required
Increased bone fragility has been observed in animals treated
with bisphosphonates at high doses or for long periods of time.
Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and decrease bone
turnover which may lead to an inability to repair micro dam-
age within the bone. In humans, atypical femur fractures have
been reported in patients on long term bisphosphonate ther-
apy; however, a causal relationship has not been established.
Learn more online ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions
reported in the field study were clinical signs of discomfort or
www.dechra-us.com nervousness, colic and/or pawing. Other signs reported were
lip licking, yawning, head shaking, injection site swelling, and
www.osphos.com hives/pruritus.

As with all drugs, side effects may occur. In field studies, the most common side effects reported were signs of discomfort or
nervousness, colic, and/or pawing. OSPHOS should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding.
Use of OSPHOS in patients with conditions affecting renal function or mineral or electrolyte homeostasis is not recommended. Distributed by: Dechra Veterinary Products
7015 College Boulevard, Suite 525
Refer to the prescribing information for complete details or visit www.dechra-us.com or call 866.933.2472.
Overland Park, KS 66211 866-933-2472
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of licensed veterinarian.
© 2017 Dechra Ltd. OSPHOS is a registered
* Freedom of Information Summary, Original New Animal Drug Application, NADA 141-427, for OSPHOS. April 28, 2014.
trademark of Dechra Ltd. All rights reserved.
Dechra Veterinary Products US and the Dechra D logo are registered trademarks of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC. © 2017 Dechra Ltd. NADA 141-427, Approved by FDA
 equus
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safe use of Tildren ® has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 EDITORIAL OFFICES
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8 E q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
D O N ’ T J U S T S H O W U P.

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The in-gate. How many hours did you put in the saddle to make it here?
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Merial. ©2018 Merial, Inc., Duluth, GA.
can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds.
All rights reserved. EQU-0440-EGUS0218 Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.
 TM EQ LETTERS
Dealing with ice balls for many horses gain a strong empiri-
I really liked “Winter Hoof Hazards” cal education about veterinary care. We
(EQUUS 484), especially the section on may lack the university degree, but our
ice balls. I do have to say, though, that knowledge should not be discounted.

Anti-Bacterial a horse does not have to wear shoes to

have this problem. I have two 21-year-
Anti-Fungal old mares who are barefoot, and I have
always had problems with ice balls. We
recently had only one inch of snow, and the three important questions Ramey
ice balls appeared. But the mares do
have access to a stream, so it could be
that the snow is freezing on their feet
after their hooves get wet.
Helen Sanders
Cumberland, Maryland
True original
I am joining the list of people whose line is that there might be different
letters I’ve read in response to “Page
After Page” (True Tale, EQUUS 482) to
say that through the years EQUUS has
farm
™IddbVcnkZiZg^cVg^VchVgg^kZdcbn
with preconceived ideas about the
care
These
an individual horse will receive.
veterinarians tend to trample over
suggests owners ask: Why? What if I
don’t? and Then what?
™6cdlcZgb^\]ieg^dg^i^oZi]ZXVgZ
of individual horses in different ways.
For an elderly horse, the decision might
be “treat at all costs” or “euthanize be-
fore drastic steps are taken.” The same
might go for injured horses. The bottom
treatment goals for individual horses on
the same farm, which only the owner
can decide.

Scratches been a part of my and my horses’ lives ™:kZclZVai]^Zg]dghZdlcZgh]VkZ

limits to how much of a financial hit they
in many important ways. I remember
Fungus getting EQUUS 1 in the mail. I still have can take for the care of a single horse.
that first issue and have kept all of them The owner might also be paying a huge
Rain Rot from the early years. sum for emergency roof repairs, for ex-
I won a pony at our county fair when ample, or be facing a health crisis that
I was 8, and I graduated as a veterinary could affect future earnings. All clients
technician from a certified program in need to be presented with a range of
western Washington State in 1976 when financially balanced care options.
I was 22, so EQUUS magazine was suit- ™KZiZg^cVg^VchcZZYidVh`VWdjii]Z
ed to my way of thinking. EQUUS has background and experience of their cli-
helped me take the best of care of my ents. A person with one or two backyard
horses through their years and mine. horses might be a novice. Or that person
Thank you for such a magazine. could have previously groomed Olympic
Cynthia Quisenberry champions, worked for years at a stud
Carlton, Washington farm or competed on the A-level show
circuit. Do not assume either extreme.

Tough decisions Lynn Howland

Medicated Shampoo
Enriched with
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Maple Valley, Washington
I have some additional comments
to add to the two Veterinarian’s
Viewpoint articles (“Bottom Line Horse TELL Write to Letters,
Care,” EQUUS 483, and “Needs Versus US WHAT EQUUS, P.O. Box
7510, Falls Church,
Resources,” EQUUS 485), by David YOU Virginia 22040; email:
Ramey, DVM. I agree that owners need THINK EQLetters@aimmedia.
to be actively involved in the decision-
com. Please include your address
making process when considering the
and telephone number. If you have
care and treatment their horses. Here
questions about your subscription,
are some observations I would add:
call 800-829-5910.
™Adc\"iZgbdlcZghl]d]VkZXVgZY

10 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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Marketed by The Carolina Real Estate Company, Aiken, SC. Plans and prices subject to change without notice. This does not constitute an offer in any state where prohibited by law. No time requirement to begin construction.
 EQ MEDICAL FRONT
“SILENT” FORM OF EIA DISCOVERED
Argentinian and North
American researchers have
discovered that horses can
be infected with the equine
infectious anemia virus
(EIAV) for years without
showing signs of illness or
developing antibodies.
The virus that causes
EIA most commonly spreads
from horse to horse via bit-
ing insects, such as horse-
flies. Acute EIA occurs one
to two weeks after initial
infection, producing high fe-
ver, weight loss, edema and
weakness. Horses that sur-
vive acute EIA may develop a
chronic form of the disease,
experiencing periodic flare-
ups of illness. Many horses
with chronic EIA eventually
become inapparent carriers
---no longer showing clinical
signs of disease but still able
to pass the virus on to other
horses. In addition, horses
can become inapparent EIA
BOB LANGRISH
carriers without ever devel-
oping signs of illness.
There is no vaccine
12 E q U U S 4 8 7
By Christine Barakat and
Mick McCluskey, BVSc, MACVSc
testing methods. Why this
occurs in some horses
isn’t clear. “There could be
many reasons to explain
this,” she says. “You can
consider different
mechanisms of trans-
mission and/or the
viral load the horse
was inoculated with
and/or the exposure to
different antigenically
variant virus strains.” She
against EIA, so management but positive when tested with adds that the specific horse’s
to prevent its spread is criti- PCR, a gene amplification immune profile may also
cal. Many countries require technique that can be used to be a factor, with some being
periodic screening of horses detect the presence of actual better able to manage the
---blood tests to look for anti- organisms in samples. virus within their body at
bodies to the EIA virus---to “We suspected these a level that doesn’t trigger
0
identify inapparent carriers. horses would seroconvert antibody production.
In the United States, the so- to positive over time, so we Soutullo stresses that it’s
called “Coggins” test is com- waited two years, continu- still unknown if these “si-
monly used, and most states ing to test them regularly,” lent” carriers can infect other
require horses found to carry says Adriana Soutullo, PhD. horses, so making quaran-
antibodies to the EIA virus be However, all but one of the tine or euthanasia decisions
quarantined for life or euthan- horses remained seronega- based purely on PCR results
atized, even if they have never tive in that time, despite con- would be unwise.
shown signs of illness. tinuing to carry the virus in “Serological assays [for
EIA is endemic in their blood. The Argentinian antibodies] are still so use-
Argentina so when prepar- team did not consider a horse ful and their results, associ-
ing to do epidemiological positive unless two different ated with epidemiological
research there, scientists PCR tests showed evidence situations and clinical status,
at the Laboratory of Agri- of the virus, and they asked could be the best form of ar-
cultural Diagnostics and Frank Cook, PhD, at the Gluck riving at a good diagnosis,”
Research of the Ministry Equine Research Center in she says. “Then, if that is not
of Production and Litoral Lexington, Kentucky, to re- sufficient, perhaps the use of
National University tested a test the samples to confirm different PCRs could provide
large group of horses, hoping their results. more details.”
to identify enough uninfected These findings, says
horses to serve as a control Soutullo, mean that horses Reference: “Serologically
group. They were surprised to may be able to carry the EIA silent, occult equine infectious
find 18 horses who were se- virus for at least two years anemia virus (EIAV) infections
ronegative (testing negative without producing antibod- in horses,” Veterinary
for circulating antibodies), ies detectable by conventional Microbiology, May 2016
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 P U B L I C H E A LT H I N F O R M A T I O N L I B R A R Y
NEW
EXTRACTS
SHOW
PROMISE AS
DEWORMERS
Two new plant extracts
show promise for controlling
internal parasites in horses,
according to researchers
in Mexico.
Working at the Autono-
mous University of Yucatan,
the team gathered ex-
tracts from the leaves and
bark of Diospyros anisan-
dra, a small tree native to
the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize
and northern Guatemala,
PETIVERIA ALLIACEA
Reference: “Anthelminthic activity of methanol
extracts of Diospyros anisandra and Petiveria alliacea on
cyathostomin (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) larval development
WIKIPEDIA
and egg hatching,” Veterinary Parasitology, December 2017
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
SURGICAL SOLUTION FOR PPID?
A Canadian researcher is
working to develop a surgi-
the pituitary gland. Although
this is a novel concept in
cal technique that could, one equine medicine, similar sur-
day, provide a long-lasting fix geries have long been used to
for pituitary pars intermedia control Cushing’s disease in
dysfunction (PPID) in horses. people and dogs.
and stems and leaves
PPID, also historically So far, says Carmalt, the
from Petiveria alliacea, a
known as Cushing’s disease, technique showing the great-
shrub found in Florida, part of
occurs when a part of the pi- est promise for PPID horses
Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean
tuitary gland called the pars involves threading a catheter
and tropical South America.
intermedia becomes enlarged through the blood vessels
The researchers derived
and secretes excessive levels of the face to reach the pitu-
extracts from each plant dur-
of adrenocorticotrophic hor- itary gland. “The pituitary
ing both the rainy and dry
mone. The body reacts to this gland sits, like an island, in
seasons and tested the effects
excess by exhibiting a vari- this blood-filled sinus which
of different concentrations on
DUSTY PERIN
ety of clinical signs, includ- can be thought of as a lake,”
larval development and egg
ing a long, persistent hair says Carmalt. “If we pass
hatching in cyathostomins
coat, increased sweating and a needle up an emissary
(small strongyles). Both of
muscle wasting. Although
these plants have long been
considered a disease of
used medicinally in humans.
older horses, PPID can de-
The data showed that
velop in
bark extracts from D. an-
those as young as 15.
isandra gathered during the
A medication,
rainy season strongly inhib-
pergolide, is effective at
ited larval development, while
controlling PPID, but
stem extracts from P. allia-
must be given daily for
cea, also gathered during the
the duration of the horse’s
rainy season, prevented egg
life. “The cost of this daily
hatching. The
pill adds up, and the time,
research-
effort and stress of medi-
ers con-
cating this horse, when
clude that
objectively viewed, is also
these plants show promise for
not insubstantial,” says
equine parasite control and
James Carmalt, VetMB,
call for further study.
PhD, of the University of
Saskatchewan, Canada.
Looking for an alternative,
Carmalt has been experi-
menting with surgical tech-
niques that remove or disable
the diseased tissue in
E q U U S 4 8 7 13
 EQUINE
BRAIN
CELIA STRAIN

vein into the lake, can develop into many differ-

we can approach them see the
SOURCE OF ent types of cells, stem cells
the island and direct
P I T U I TA R Y
GLAND
benefits. “It is STEM CELLS are used in regenerative ther-
a needle into it.” scary, but to be hon- FOR TENDON apies, which seek to promote
With access to the
gland, Carmalt says, a sur-
est, if it is explained---like
passing a catheter into a vein
TREATMENT the body’s own ability to heal.
For these therapies, stem cells
geon can inject a substance (which horse owners see all IDENTIFIED are injected into a damaged
to shrink it, reducing the the time), only this vein leads A ligament within the area in the hopes the body
amount of tissue available to the brain---then it seems horse’s mouth could be a will utilize them for repairs.
to secrete hormones. This, less invasive. There is a tiny good source of stem cells So far, stem cells derived
he adds, would be safer incision in the side of the that can support healing from bone marrow or adipose
than excision because of face and the rest of the stuff in tendons throughout his (fat) tissue have been used.
the difficulty in accessing is done using advanced guid- body, according to a study To find a cell source similar
the pituitary gland as well ance systems.” from Germany. to tendon tissue, researchers
as its delicate nature. Carmalt adds that the Undifferentiated cells that have been considering alter-
“Given that we do not have costs and labor savings natives, including the peri-
the tools to guide the needle may also be significant. odontal ligament (PDL),
into only the abnormal tis- “We consider that we can which anchors a horse’s teeth
sue of the pars intermedia, it make this a one-time inter- to his jaws. Like tendon tis-
seems safer to deliver some- vention that will be the same sues, the PDL must have
thing into the entire gland, cost as a year of daily medica- the strength to withstand
which in PPID will primarily tion,” he says. “There is en-
be the enlarged pars inter- visaged to be no further cost, periodontal
media, rather than try to cut no stress associated with ligament
a portion out,” he says. “It is daily medication and no ad-
important to remember that ditional effort required for The periodontal gingiva
the other portions of the pi- horse owners to enjoy their ligament (PDL) (gums)
tuitary gland contain cells senior equine companions. anchors a horse’s
teeth to his jaws. cementum
that are producing hormones Ultimately, of course, the re-
critical to the long-term well- maining abnormal cells left enamel
being of the horse.” within the pars intermedia
Carmalt says much work will result in a recrudescence dentin
still needs to be done, but of clinical signs; however,
he’s confident a reliable tech- by this time the horse may
nique can be developed. “I have succumbed to old age
think that within 10 years, rather than the complica-
we’ll have something that is tions of having PPID such
working,” he says. as laminitis.”
Horse owners might be
reluctant to opt for brain sur- Reference: “Development
gery as a treatment for PPID, of two surgical approaches bone
CELIA STRAIN

acknowledges Carmalt, but to the pituitary gland in the

a thorough explanation of horse,” Veterinary Quarterly,
the procedure could help December 2017

14 E q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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shearing forces but it must
also continually adapt as
the horse’s teeth erupt over
his lifetime.
To determine whether
this adaptive quality would
make the PDL a good source
of stem cells for regenera-
tive tendon therapies, re-
searchers at Justus Liebig
University in Giessen col-
lected PDL cell samples from
seven mature horses. They
also collected tendon cell
samples from four mature
horses and five foals.
They then analyzed the
gene expressions in all the
samples, looking for quali-
ties indicative of utility for
regenerative therapies. They
discovered the mature PDL
cells produced significantly
more collagen and had high-
er turnover rates---the speed
with which cells die and are
replaced---than did mature
tendon cells. In addition, the
PDLs were found to contain
similar levels of scleraxis,
which frequently occur in
tendon tissues.
Based on these findings,
the researchers call for
further experiments
focusing on the possible
use of equine PDL cells
for stem cell-based regenera-
tive therapies.
Reference: “Molecular
characteristics of the
equine periodontal ligament,”
Frontiers in Veterinary
Science, January 2018
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
BUCKWHEAT
MAY BE
LINKED TO
ALLERGIC
REACTIONS
Buckwheat has long
been known to cause photo-
sensitization in horses, but
new research suggests that
the plant may be linked to a
predisposition to allergic
reactions ranging from
chronic coughing to hives.
Often used to fight erosion
in fields between plantings of
harvested crops, buckwheat
is not related to wheat or oth-
er grasses. It is considered a
“pseudocereal,” a nongrass
species with seeds that can
be ground into flour or used
as cereals. Buckwheat is not
commonly fed to horses be-
cause it contains photody-
namic compounds that enter
the bloodstream when ingest-
ed; when the sun’s ultraviolet
rays penetrate the skin and
reach these compounds, the
resulting photosensitivity re-
actions “burn” the pink skin
under white markings.
Now, a joint research proj-
ect conducted by multiple
academic groups in Austria,
Sweden and Japan has yield-
ed evidence that buckwheat
may contribute to other types
of hypersensitivity in horses
as well. The researchers test-
ed blood from 51 horses from
Iceland, central Europe and
Japan for immune reactions
to 131 potential aller-
gens. Forty-one of
the horses were
selected because
they had a history
of chronic cough-
ing, recurrent0
airway obstruc-
tion (RAO), hives0
or eczema0 related to insect
bite hypersensitivity,
while the remaining 10
had no clinical history of
immune reactions.
In the analysis, the sub-
stance that elicited the
most frequent reactions---
with 37 horses (72 percent)
showing sensitivity---was
Fag e 2, a protein found in
buckwheat. Among horses
who had previously had al-
lergic reactions, sensitiv-
ity to Fag e 2 was varied but
consistently high: 62 per-
cent of horses with a his-
tory of eczema reacted to
the protein, as did 81 per-
cent of horses with a history
of hives and 100 percent of
horses with RAO.
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
B U C K W H E AT
While buckwheat
is not com-
monly fed to
horses as
hay, the re-
searchers
note that it is included in
some grain mixes and treats.
In addition, they explain, a
horse need not ingest a plant
to become sensitized to a pro-
tein in it; allergic reactions
can be triggered by respira-
tory exposure alone.
The researchers did not
definitively link buckwheat
to allergic reactions in
horses but call for further
investigation into the pos-
sibility. The good news, they
say, is that allergen micro-
array testing has arrived in
equine allergy diagnosis and
will give more clues on dis-
ease risk and exposition.
Reference: “Molecular aller-
gen profiling in horses by mi-
croarray reveals Fag e 2 from
buckwheat as a frequent sen-
sitizer,” Allergy, January 2018
E q U U S 4 8 7 17
 EQ HANDSON
By Christine Barakat
with Melinda Freckleton, DVM
CONDITIONING LITE
A return to easy trail riding after an
idle winter probably doesn’t require put-
ting your horse in a formal conditioning
program, but be careful to avoid over-
taxing him, especially on your first few
outings. If you notice any of the follow-
ing signs, ease up a bit on your riding
schedule for a few weeks:
™Ndjg]dghZhZZbhZm]VjhiZYl]Zc
ndj[^c^h]Vg^YZ#At the end of even a
fairly vigorous ride, a horse will normal-
ly seem able and eager to continue. If
you feel as if your horse couldn’t go on,
you may have pushed him too far.
™6[iZg[Vhildg`]^hWgZVi]^c\YdZhc¼i
gZijgcidcdgbVal^i]^c&%b^cjiZh#
PO P QUI Z
Q:
When your horse is colicking, waiting for the veterinarian to arrive can be
nerve-racking. But it’s important to keep your cool and make good decisions.
Below are actions you might take
while you wait. Which of the following might
make the situation worse?
a. Take your horse’s temperature.
b. Allow him to lie down.
c. Give him medication to ease his pain.
DUSTY PERIN
d. Turn him out with another horse.
For the answer, turn to page 21.
18 E q U U S 4 8 7
Huffing and puffing after a good gallop
is to be expected, but if a horse’s respi-
ratory rate doesn’t drop in a few min-
utes, chances are you’ve overtaxed him.
™=ZhZZbhha^\]ian¹djX]nºi]ZYVn
V[iZgndjg^YZ#Your horse may not be
lame, but he may flinch when you curry
him or rub his muscles. Or he may just
seem grouchy when being handled.
Any of these reactions is a sign you may
need to slow down.
In general, just try to be patient at
this time of year. It may take a month
or so of regular riding to get your horse
to the point where go he can handle a
moderately paced, hours-long trail over
TO DO NO HARM
FREDERICK VAN DIJK/ARND BRONKHORST PHOTOGRAPHY
varied terrain. Older horses will need
longer, as will those recovering from an
injury. By taking your time, you’ll help
preserve your horse’s soundness so you
can enjoy the rest of the riding season.
“MARISH” OR
SOMETHING MORE?
When behavior problems crop up
in mares during spring months, the
tendency to attribute them to her being
“in season” is understandable. But
before jumping to any conclusions, do
a bit of research.
When you first notice a change in
your mare’s behavior, start a diary. Make
an entry each time you notice unusual,
difficult or aggressive behaviors, both
on the ground and in the saddle. Note
the day, details of the behavior and the
environment/circumstances in which it
occurred. If the behavior is truly linked
to cyclical hormone fluctuations you will
notice a pattern in your accumulated
notes: The behavior will persist for a day
or two, then disappear for three to four
weeks before reappearing.
Medications are available that can
regulate a mare’s cycles, potentially
minimizing related behaviors. Using
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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 your notes as a starting point, you can
฀ confer with your veterinarian to deter-
ON
Tip
mine whether one of these products
฀ would be suitable for your mare. If you
SALE compete, keep in mind that some sport
organizations have strict guidelines re-
Spring is the perfect time to sell tack garding these medications---they may
and other equipment you no longer need. be prohibited or you may need to file
When I’m going to be attending a local specific paperwork to be allowed to
show or event, I’ll ask the managers compete while using them.
whether they mind if I set up a “yard If your notes suggest the behavior is
sale” at my trailer, with a small sign an- not related to normal cyclical hormones,
nouncing it. Clean items that are in good you’ll know you need to look for another
repair and reasonably priced usually sell underlying cause. One possibility is a
quickly, giving me a bit of cash to go buy granulosa cell tumor on an ovary; this
something new.—Suzanne Mitchum, type of tumor secretes testosterone,
Greensboro, North Carolina which can have a powerful effect on be-
havior. A mare with a granulosa cell tu-
Send your suggestions for inexpensive horse- mor may behave like a stallion, herding
care substitutes as well as hints for saving effort and mounting other mares and lashing
and time to Hands On, EQUUS, P.O. Box 7510, out with her front hooves if challenged.
Falls Church, Virginia 22040; email: EQLetters@ An ultrasound0 can detect this type of
aimmedia.com. Senders of published items will tumor, and surgical removal will usu-
receive selected EQUUS merchandise. ally eliminate related behavior.
If your mare is persistently unruly
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20 E q U U S 4 8 7
and there’s no indication of an ovarian
tumor, your veterinarian can investigate
other possible causes, such as chronic
pain. If no physical problems are found,
consider seeking the assistance of a
professional trainer who can help work
through your mare’s issues.
SKIN LUMP ALERT
One of the joys of spring is watching
your horse’s sleek, shiny summer coat
emerge as he sheds his winter coat.
But shedding can also reveal new skin
growths and tumors. In particular, be
on the lookout for three “bumps” that
may require some action.
฀ ฀Found almost exclu-
sively on gray horses, these lumps oc-
cur on black skin, particularly around
the anus, genitals and face. The tumors
themselves are dark and have a “cluster
of grapes” appearance. Unlike melano-
mas in people, these growths in horses
usually aren’t aggressive but, depend-
ing on their location, they can interfere
Now Available
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a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 ฀ or those that interfere with
with tack or eating. Your veterinarian
can remove small tumors or “debulk”
larger masses. In addition, chemo-
therapy drugs can be used to shrink
melanoma tumors in horses.
฀ ฀Growths caused by the
bovine papillomavirus, sarcoids are the
most common skin tumor of horses.
They can take on many forms, from flat,
gray and hairless (occult) to scabby and
“warty” in appearance (verrucose) to
fleshy lumps that are prone to bleeding
(fibroblastic). Sarcoids can also be a mix
of types. Single, localized sarcoids rarely
DUSTY PERIN
a horse’s use or ability to eat
may need to be addressed,
however. Sarcoids may be sur-
gically removed, or liquid
nitrogen can be used to kill
the tumor cells. Also chemo-
therapy and immunomodulat-
ing drugs can be injected into
the affected area. Larger tumors may
require a combination of therapies.
฀ ฀ These small,
firm, painless bumps tend to show up
in the saddle and girth areas. They are
typically covered in hair and range in
size from a grain of rice to a pea. They
are caused by minor inflammatory pro-
cesses, triggered by an insect bite or
pressure from (even well-fitting) tack.
Veterinarians have a variety of terms
for these benign lumps, including
“nodular skin disease” and “equine eo-
sinophilic collagenolytic granuloma.”
typically self-limiting and will not
bother the horse. If they become large,
however, your veterinarian may suggest
surgical removal or the injection of a
tiny amount of corticosteroid0.
POP QUIZ฀ANSWER
One of the biggest mistakes you can
make when your horse colicks is to
medicate him without specific instruc-
tions from your veterinarian. A painkiller
can mask a potentially serious colic,
making an accurate diagnosis very diffi-
cult. But there are things you can safely
do while you wait—turnout with a calm,
friendly herdmate can be reassuring to
a colicky horse, and if he wants to lie
down quietly, there’s no reason to stop
him. Monitor his vital signs including his
temperature, if you can do so safely, and
pass the information you gather along to

cause problems for horses and may not Whatever you call them, most of these your veterinarian once he arrives.
require treatment. Extensive growths bumps require no treatment---they are

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a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E q U U S 4 8 7 21
 EQ TACK&GEAR
“A man goes helmet on head, sword in hand,
and gilt spurs on heel.”
“Good,” said Gringoire, “the horse makes the
man.”---Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

An ultralight, low-profile helmet

HEAD
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helmets that look good while sizes S (6 5/8 to 7) to new XL (7 3/8 to
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The Trauma Void EQ3 helmet (suggested

retail, $249), from Trauma Void and
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Leather Look (suggested retail, $500), IR4G (suggested retail, $209.95), from
from Charles Owen, offers a flattering look International Riding Helmets, features
while shading the face and upper neck. cooling front and top ventilation with a
The low-profile helmet features front and quick-release, adjustable Velcro closure.
rear ventilation slots for airflow, a GRpx The removable, moisture-wicking liner is
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panels. Available in black, black and silver, liner allows for a customized fit. Available
or navy, in sizes 6 5/8 to 7 1/2 (54 to 61 in black suede or navy suede, in sizes S
centimeters). Call 800-793-4181 or (6 5/8 to 6 3/4) to XL (7 3/8). To locate a
visit www.charlesowen.com. retailer, visit www.IRHhelmets.com.

22 E q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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 L A M I N I T I S P R E V E N T I O N TO O L K I T
Have these four
things on hand
to protect your
horse from this
devastating
hoof condition
this spring.
By Christine Barakat
Y
ou don’t need to be
told that spring is
laminitis season.
No doubt you’re
well aware of the fact that
new grass at this time of year
can trigger the devastating
hoof condition, particularly
in horses with insulin0 re-
sistance, pituitary0 pars in-
termedia dysfunction (PPID,
also called Cushing’s syn-
drome) and other hormonal
disorders or with a prior his-
tory of laminitis.
The question is, what
can you do about this risk?
There are no guarantees, of
course, but a few simple mea-
sures can go a long way to-
฀
ward protecting horses from
laminitis. So going into this
high-risk season, take stock
฀
of your horse’s situation and
consider adding the follow-
฀
ing laminitis prevention tools
฀
to your regimen.
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
Most horses who are sus-
ceptible to laminitis are
easy keepers, meaning they
come out of winter in good
flesh or overweight. And any
additional pounds a horse
carries can increase his lam-
initis risk.
A tape may not tell you
your horse’s exact weight,
but repeated use will enable
you to detect any gains that
increase laminitis risk before
you may notice them through
simple observation. Check
your horse’s weight when it’s
time for spring vaccinations,
and ask your veterinarian to
estimate his body0 condition
score (BCS)---for most horses,
a BCS of 7 or higher is cause
for concern. Continue to use
your weight tape periodically
throughout the year.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
One quandary many of us
face in spring is balancing
the physical and mental ben-
efits of turnout with the need
to control a horse’s intake of
lush grass. A grazing muzzle
offers a good solution.
Many styles of muzzles
are available, and it may take
some trial-and-error to de-
termine which model fits
a horse best, so start your
search well before spring,
if possible. Once you select
a muzzle that suits your
horse’s needs, consider pur-
chasing a second one so
you’ll have a spare on hand
in case the first is lost or bro-
ken. Turning a horse out for
even a single day without a
muzzle can be dangerous.
Finally, make sure your
horse’s muzzle is adjusted
correctly---snug enough to
stay in place, but not so tight
that it irritates his skin---and
then be vigilant about using
it. Yes, a horse in a muzzle
may look pitiful, but you’re
฀
protecting him from some-
thing far worse. If a muzzle
isn’t feasible or reliable for
an at-risk horse, consider
establishing a dry lot---a
paddock or pasture that has
no grass---on your property.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
It’s not just grass that can
trigger a laminitic episode
in at-risk horses. Feeds
high in
nonstruc-
tural car-
bohydrates
(NSCs), like
sugar and
starch, can
do the same.
Fortunately, an
array of feeds formulated for
horses who are sensitive to ฀
NSCs are now on the market.
Options range from low-
energy mixes for easy keep-
ers to a high-calorie feeds
that can safely fuel the activi-
ties of at-risk athletes. Almost
every major feed company
offers at least one such feed.
Talk to your veterinar-
ian or an equine nutritionist
about the best option for your
horse, then make the switch
gradually over the course of
E q U U S 4 8 7 25

a week or two. You may be
eager to move your horse to a
low-carb feed, but don’t hurry
the process. Even though the
new feed may be safer, too
hasty a transition can disrupt
the balance of bacteria in his
hindgut, leading to colic0 or
systemic inflammation that
triggers laminitis.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀
Grass hays can contain
enough sugar to bring on
laminitis in a sensitive
horse. The only way to be cer-
tain of the sugar content of
hay is to send off a sample
for testing, and you’ll need to
repeat the testing with each
new batch or cutting you plan
on feeding. There’s another
option, though. Research has
shown that soaking hay in
water can leech out the sug-
ars. The current soaking time
recommendations are 30
minutes when using warm
26 E q U U S 4 8 7
฀ ฀฀฀
䊳 Definition: inflammation
of the laminae, the soft tis-
sues that connect the coffin
bone to the interior of the hoof
capsule. In severe cases, the
two structures may separate
entirely, allowing the coffin
bone to rotate or sink down-
ward, away from the hoof
wall. The result is the defor-
mity called founder.
䊳 Causes: metabolic disor-
ders, such as equine metabol-
฀ ic syndrome and pituitary pars
intermedia dysfunction (PPID);
systemic inflammatory events,
such as those caused by a
grain overload or an illness
water and 60 minutes for cool
or cold water.
One easy way to soak hay
entails placing flakes in a
hay net, which is then sub-
merged in a large bucket full
of water. Placing a brick or
cinder block on top of the net
can help keep the hay below
the water line. At the end of
the soaking period, lifting
the hay net out of the water
can be difficult and messy,
so you may want to rig up a
simple pulley system to keep
yourself dry.
An alternative technique
is to place loose hay in a plas-
tic laundry basket, which is
then submerged in another,
larger container filled with
water. Just remember that if
you soak hay for longer pe-
riods than recommended it
may lose nutrients, so keep
an eye on the clock. Also,
don’t let horses drink the
leftover soaking water. If you
don’t want to waste it, use it
to water plants instead.
such as Potomac0 horse fever;
mechanical stress or injury
䊳 Signs: extreme pain in
the affected feet, shifting
weight from one forefoot to
the other, “sitting” back on the
hindquarters to reduce weight
on the forefeet, strong digital
pulses, elevated respiratory
rate, slight fever and generally
uncomfortable look
䊳 Treatment: Once signs
of laminitis appear, damage
to the hoof is already under-
way. Research suggests that
standing a horse in ice water
when the first signs appear
may help reduce the sever-
฀ ฀
The earliest signs of
laminitis are subtle—general
discomfort, a strong pulse in
the arteries (on the fetlock and
pastern) supplying the hooves,
rapid breathing and/or slight
fever—but noticing them can
make the difference between
dealing with an episode of
laminitis or averting it.
If you suspect your horse
is developing laminitis, do two
things immediately: Call the
veterinarian and get some
ice. Research has shown that
icing hooves in the earliest
stages of laminitis can help
stop the process. However, it’s
not a simple matter of plac-
ing a pack of frozen peas on
a horse’s hooves. You’ll need
to stand the horse in a water/
ice slurry maintained between
40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit
(painfully cold to a bare hand)
for 24 hours or longer.
If you have an at-risk
ity of an episode. A variety
of medications can help re-
duce pain and inflammation.
Various trimming and shoeing
strategies may be used to
help support the hoof and
limit or prevent rotation of the
coffin bone.
䊳 Prognosis: Many horses
can recover from a mild bout
of laminitis, particularly if it
did not progress to founder.
When the coffin bone drops
or rotates, however, recovery
may be long and uncertain.
Many horses are euthanatized
because of the pain associ-
ated with laminitis.
horse, you may want to have
some items on hand so you
can commence icing in a
hurry if need be. Or, at least
have a plan for quickly getting
those items.
The easiest way to keep a
horse’s hooves cold enough
is to apply boots specially
designed for this purpose.
But any sturdy bucket can be
used to ice hooves, if you can
get your horse to stand in it
long enough. A large, rubber
ground-feeding pan or trough
may be a better alternative
because it will allow the horse
to move a bit without knocking
it over. You could also use a
large, heavy-duty plastic stor-
age bin or, in a pinch, a child’s
plastic wading pool.
You’ll need to replenish the
ice in the slurry continually,
which will likely require regu-
lar, round-the-clock runs to an
ice supplier.
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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EQ CONVERSATIONS

Even the earliest

training sessions
can set a youngster
A foal’s first lessons
I
love handling foals. Each time When my students handle foals and
on the path to I do, I feel like I’m touching weanlings, I always remind them that
becoming the the future. I think about what a horses are a precocial species, which
sensitive, willing youngster will be like to ride one means that they are relatively mature
day and how he’ll relate to people. and autonomous at birth. Within a
horse you want him And I put a lot of thought into every few hours of coming into the world,
to be one day. interaction because I know that how a foals are up and moving, sorting out
foal or weanling is handled early can quickly where to nurse and how to in-
By Jonathan Field have a lasting effect on what kind of teract with the herd. Why is that impor-
Photos by Angie Field horse he becomes. tant? Because it means that they are

A P R I L 2 0 1 8 E q U U S 4 8 7 29
 1. Meet my new guy! He is a registered Quarter Horse and is just over 5 months old. After he was weaned, he made
the long trip from Alberta to my ranch. I started with him in a small pen, simply hanging out and rubbing him with a
halter until I could get it on. Then I taught him to lead in that small area. Now, I am continuing his lessons in the open.
To start, I ask the colt to respond to my cue to take a few steps toward me. Of course, I’m strong enough to simply
pull him in my direction, but that will not help him become a soft, willing horse when he grows up. So I stand at a slight
angle and wait for him to get the idea.

neurologically capable of learning.

Which explains one of the two big
mistakes that I often see people make
when working with young horses. They
assume foals are similar to human
babies and treat them accordingly,

Even when a foal is

little and cute, I encourage
people to interact with
him in a way that would
be appropriate when he
is grown and weighs
1,100 pounds.
which underestimates a young horse’s
capacity. Unlike human babies, who
can’t do much for themselves, equine
babies are ready to absorb information.
The second common foal-handling
mistake is allowing youngsters to act
pushy or encroach on space because
they are so small it doesn’t seem to
2. After a moment or two, the colt yields. When he takes a step toward me, the
rope becomes slack, removing pressure. Now I can take him for a short walk
and ask him for a little more: going from a step or two up to a half turn and maybe
matter. Remember, that baby will soon five steps. I try to build incrementally and stop asking before he quits trying.
be much bigger and more powerful.

30 E q U U S 4 8 7 A P R I L 2 0 1 8
 The colt has taken a half turn, so I
3. pause to give him a rub and a short
break. I want to reward him before I ask
for another quarter or a half turn, going
to one side or the other.

During the pauses

4. between leading
exercises, I get the colt used
to handling. I rub his body
all over with my hands and
eventually get to the point
where I pick up his feet. He
has never had his hooves
trimmed so I want to prepare
him for the time when I come
out with the nippers and rasp.
Notice how I have his head
toward me and the lead over
my lap. If he were to struggle
and try to kick (which he did
a few times) I would let the
foot go and bring his nose to
me, which would swing his
hindquarters away. Then I’d try
again. Instead of toughing it
out and fighting to hold up the
leg, I would change his focus,
ask him something else. When
he was pondering that, I would
go back and pick up the foot.

A P R I L 2 0 1 8 E q U U S 4 8 7 31
 Allowing one kind of behavior when a
horse is young and prohibiting it later
when he matures creates confusion
and conflict---and may lead to serious
training issues. A horse will under-
standably think, “All this time this
behavior was OK and now it’s not?” It’s
I stand at a
5. slight angle
holding the lead
far better to set boundaries from the
start. So even when a foal is little and
cute, I encourage people to interact
without pulling. with him in a way that would be appro-
The colt is stepping priate when he is grown and weighs
toward me on his own 1,100 pounds.
while keeping slack This doesn’t mean, however, using
in the rope. Gradually, techniques that take advantage of a
he takes more steps foal’s small size. Relying on physical
in my direction. force with a youngster instead of pa-
tiently teaching him what is required
sets some dangerous precedents. For
starters, these tactics soon become in-
effective as the youngster grows larger
and stronger. Worse, using too much
force can take away a young horse’s
natural curiosity and sensitivity, mak-
ing him dull and hard to motivate
when interacting with people.
If you keep all of this in mind when
you start a youngster, you can avoid
inadvertently creating problems that
will have to be dealt with later on.
Education and feel are the key. And,
above all, as you handle a foal or wean-
ling, try to imagine the dream horse
you’d like him to become one day.

About the author: Jonathan Field is

a trainer and clinician from Abbotsford,
British Columbia. His program, Jonathan
Field Horsemanship: Inspired by Horses,
teaches the skills necessary to build a
relationship with horses. Field grew up
Here I am asking the colt to back away a few steps. I’ve been teaching him to
6. lead by having him come toward me, so I want to counter that by asking him
to take a few steps backward—showing him he can also move away. I don’t push
riding both English and Western and
worked as a cowboy on one of the
largest cattle ranches in Canada. Field
or shove him but instead put steady pressure on his nose, chest or lead rope and
regularly does presentations at events
wait for him to figure out how to arrange himself to step back. I release pressure
like the Western States Horse Expo in
as soon as he complies, then ask again once or twice.
Sacramento, California.

32 E q U U S 4 8 7 A P R I L 2 0 1 8
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get to call in sick. They can’t live up to their potential when they’re fighting
even a low-grade fever. Vetera® vaccines contain the influenza strains
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 As researchers gain
insights into this
mysterious behavior,
new approaches
are emerging for
handling horses
who crib.

34 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
NEW THINKING ABOUT

Cribbing
C
omplaints about purpose---and it
horses who crib date poses some health
back centuries. In risks. Horses who crib may be at a
one 1889 legal case, higher risk for some types of colic, and
a promising colt prolonged cribbing can wear down a
was returned from horse’s upper incisors, lead to overde-
Belgium to Scotland velopment of particular neck muscles
on the basis of “unsoundness.” Chief and cause other physical problems.
among the complaints: The colt was a The pressures of cribbing can lead to
“crib-biter.” osteoarthritis of the hyoid, a small bone
This attitude wasn’t unusual: “I have in the throat. Some cribbers lose weight
no hesitation in saying that a crib-biter because they’d rather crib than eat.
By Heather is bona fide an un- Undoubtedly,
Smith Thomas sound horse…. I most owners would
with Laurie verily believe that like to stop their
Bonner a crib-biter, sold horses from crib-
with a warranty of bing. But that is
soundness, is, to easier said than
all intents and pur- done. “With stereo-
poses, returnable,” typies in general,
wrote T. B. Johnson and cribbing in
in The Sportsman’s particular, no mat-
Cyclopedia in 1831. ter what people
There is no de- have tried, this is
T H E C R I B - B I T E R
nying that cribbing a difficult behavior
can be annoying. The horse places his Mayhew’s to effectively stop
S TA C E Y W I G M O R E / A R N D B R O N K H O R S T P H O T O G R A P H Y

upper teeth firmly on a hard object---
be it a fence, stall door, water trough,
or anything he can reach---pulls back,
arches his neck, and gulps air into the
upper part of his esophagus with a
distinct grunting sound. What’s more,
a cribber can damage walls, fences and
other structures around a farm.
Also called wind sucking, cribbing
is a stereotypy---a repetitive, compul-
sive activity that seems to serve no
Illustrated Horse once a horse becomes
Management, habituated to it,” says
by Edward Carissa Wickens, PhD,
Mayhew, 1860 extension specialist
at the University of
Florida. There is no sure-fire cure for
cribbing, and the chances of stopping
the behavior diminish as the habit be-
comes more entrenched.
But attitudes toward cribbing have
changed since the 19th century, and

a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 35
H O R S E : A L A M Y. C O M

even just in the past decades, as re-

search has dispelled several misconcep-
tions about the behavior. For one thing,
the behavior is no longer called a “vice.”
And the focus of managing a cribber is
shifting, from “stop it at all costs” to “re-
duce the behavior, if possible, or maybe
in some cases/in certain situations just
let the horse crib.”
Cribbing is no longer an automatic
deal breaker when horses are sold, and
an increasing number of people are
willing to simply tolerate the behavior.
“Cribbing can be very challenging to
manage, but many of these horses are
wonderful animals,” Wickens says.
“While we continue to shed light on rea-
sons why horses crib through additional
research, we are also striving to encour-
age horse owners and the wider equine
community to realize that the horse is
not at fault for stereotypic behavior.”

WHY HORSES CRIB The current thinking is that an individual horse

Researchers still aren’t sure why
some horses crib while others managed
the same way do not. But most agree
that it’s not “contagious”---horses do
not adopt this behavior by mimicking
others. “There are many non-cribbing
horses kept in stalls next to cribbing
horses who don’t learn this behavior,”
says Amelia S. Munsterman, DVM, PhD,
DACVS, DACVECC, of the University of
Wisconsin–Madison.
Several surveys have suggested that
the tendency to crib may be inherited.
In one Japanese survey, for example, the
overall rate of cribbing was 1 percent
among 1,500 Thoroughbreds but 7
or 8 percent within certain families. In
a 2009 survey from Cornell University
that included more than 3,500 horses,
162 (4.4 percent) were identified as
cribbers with Thoroughbreds found
to be at higher risk compared to
other breeds---13 percent among
might have a genetic predisposition to crib, but the
behavior isn’t triggered until he is subjected to
stressors related to his lifestyle.
Thoroughbreds and 5 percent in warm- to perform stereotypic behavior, we see
bloods and Quarter Horses. a reduction in the stress hormone corti-
It’s possible, though, that the higher sol and/or heart rate.”
cribbing rates seen in certain breeds In a 2016 Swiss study, researchers
have more to do with how they tend to subjected 19 cribbers and 18 non-
be managed than genetics. The current cribbing control horses to a series
thinking is that an individual horse of tests that required them to find a
might have a genetic predisposition to bucket of food in an arena. The cribbing
crib, but the behavior isn’t triggered horses were divided into two further
until he is subjected to stressors related groups: 10 were permitted to crib dur-
to his lifestyle. ing the tests, and nine were prevented
“Some things that might lead to from engaging in the activity. Analysis
cribbing in certain horses include a of each horse’s saliva before and after
high-concentrate diet, lack of turnout each test showed that cortisol levels
and lack of socialization with other were highest among cribbing horses
horses,” says Wickens. “We think who were not permitted to crib. “Our
horses start cribbing as a coping results suggest that crib-biting horses
mechanism. Recent studies have that did not crib-bite during the learn-
shown that when horses are allowed ing tests were more stressed than all

36 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8

other horses,” the researchers wrote.
“This study suggested that cribbing
as a coping mechanism might be a
valid theory: When the horses were al-
lowed to crib they were less stressed,”
Wickens says. However, she adds, not
every study has produced the same re-
sults: “Other researchers have found no
difference at all, and sometimes even a
reverse relationship.”
One possible explanation for the
discrepancies is the method of sample
collection for measurement of cortisol.
“In the past we had to do this through
blood collection to analyze plasma
cortisol. Even if the horse is fairly ac-
customed to handling and veterinary
care, when you draw blood you are still
introducing some stress just to get the
sample,” Wickens says. “But now that
we have less invasive methods of
measuring stress hormones [such as
in saliva or feces] potential stress in-
duced during sampling is minimized,
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
and the results are often more robust.”
One older theory held that horses
crib to release endorphins, which
produce euphoria often described as
a “high,” but more recent research
suggests that the equation is not that
simple. “Now, we don’t necessarily
think they are cribbing to get the high,
but perhaps to relieve stress. The
brain chemistry and physiology of
cribbing horses is already a little
different or becomes altered, and
they tend to be more sensitive. So
when they are fed a highly palat-
able meal, it tends to stimulate
pleasure receptors in the brain to a
degree that is heightened compared
to a normal horse,” she explains. “They
crib not so much to get the high---they
are getting the endorphin release from
something else that’s occurring, like
the grain meal, and then that
influences the behavior or
reinforces it. Cribbing is
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
definitely linked to endorphins and
opioid stimulation, but it may be that
the receptors in their brain are already
more sensitive. Different stimuli
that elicit that ‘feel good’ response are
reinforcing the cribbing, but I don’t
think it’s necessarily the cribbing itself
that is giving the horse the fix.”
CRIBBING
AND COLIC RISK
Researchers are also still working
to understand how cribbing might
affect a horse’s health. Horses who
crib do seem to be more prone to cer-
tain types of colic, although the connec-
tion is unclear.
“So far the data we have is limited
and does not necessarily point to a true
cause and effect,” says Wickens. “We
don’t really know if cribbing makes
horses more prone to colic or if these
There is still much we do
not understand about the
relationship between colic
and other gastrointestinal
DUSTY PERIN
problems and cribbing
in horses.
E Q U U S 4 8 7 37
 horses already have some underlying
digestive system dysfunction and are
prone to colic, and this made them
more likely to crib. It’s like the question
about which came first, the chicken or
the egg. We don’t really know.”
A horse does lift his rib cage and
tighten his diaphragm and abdominal
musculature when he cribs. “In one
study we looked at pressure in the abdo-
men, and cribbers have higher pressure
when they crib, which is not good,” says
Munsterman. But the effects of this are
not well understood, she adds: “We were
unable to actually link this with specific
diseases it might cause, but there might
be a correlation. We are still trying
to figure out if this is something we
should pursue in further studies.”
In 2004, researchers confirmed that
horses who crib may be more Horses who have been cribbing about cribbing because it may be better
likely to develop epiploic for the horse to be able to continue this
foramen entrapment (EFE)
for many years are unlikely to stop, stress-relieving activity, and just figure
a type of colic that occurs but it is possible that reducing out a way for him to do it safely.”
when a section of small the stress in a horse’s lifestyle Horses who have been cribbing for
intestine becomes trapped may diminish the behavior. many years are unlikely to stop, but it
between the liver and the is possible that managing a horse to
pancreas. Of 419 horses who were treat- colic and cribbing, but there are many reduce the stress in his lifestyle may
ed for EFE, 47 percent were cribbers--- other causes of colic,” says Wickens. diminish the behavior. Here are some
but it is also important to note that the “Anecdotally, I have known many crib- things to try:
majority of the horses in the study, 53 bing horses who have never had prob- s Address any underlying discomfort.
percent, developed the condition with lems with colic and many non-cribbers Some horses may begin cribbing to re-
no history of cribbing. who have had frequent bouts of colic. lieve gastric discomfort. “Abnormal oral
“There is a natural hole in the abdo- There is still much we do not under- behaviors are often associated with gut
men, called the epiploic foramen, that stand about the relationship between discomfort, which may stem from feed-
every species has, including humans,” colic and other gastrointestinal prob- ing management. This might be some-
says Munsterman. “The thinking is that lems and cribbing in horses, and this thing to try with the horse that’s just
this hole widens in cribbers because warrants further investigation.” begun to crib and might be successful
of the pressure changes, and at some in halting it,” says Wickens.
point a loop of small intestine may slip MANAGING TO “If it’s a younger horse or one that
through, which strangulates that piece. DISCOURAGE CRIBBING has just started cribbing, you might
But to actually see it happen, you’d have The thinking that cribbing relieves want to evaluate the diet,” she adds.
to open the abdomen.” stress is worth considering when decid- “If you catch this behavior early, before
Understanding the connections, if ing how best to manage a horse who it has become well established, you
any, between colic and cribbing will engages in this behavior. “My advice is might work with your veterinarian to
DUSTY PERIN

require further research. “A few stud- to not try to stop them, because thwart- make sure there’s no gastrointestinal
ies in the veterinary literature have ing this behavior may be cruel,” says issue. It might be easier to redirect a
demonstrated an association between Munsterman. “We need to learn more beginning cribber than a horse that’s

38 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8

been doing it for several years.”
Many horses who crib have ulcers---
although this is not a definitive cause,
since many other horses who have ul-
cers do not crib. While working toward
her PhD, says Wickens, “We tested the
hypothesis that cribbers have a greater
number and/or severity of gastric ulcers
[than did horses who do not crib]. When
we video-endoscoped those horses, we
did not find a significant difference
between the non-cribbers and the crib-
bers in the condition of their stomachs.”
Still, it may be worthwhile to take
steps to relieve any potential gastric dis-
comfort. “Keeping [horses who crib] on
feeds that help reduce or prevent ulcers
is recommended,” says Munsterman.
One choice would be to offer alfalfa hay
because it is high in calcium and has a
buffering effect on stomach acid.
฀ ฀ ฀Whatever other
measures you might take, keeping
hay in front of a horse is a good way to
keep his mouth occupied. “This is an-
other way for the horse to express his
oral fixation, by continually nibbling
hay,” Wickens says. “It may not stop
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀
the cribbing but might reduce the
frequency of it.”
If a horse needs to have his calories
restricted, then a slow feeder---which
limits the amount of hay a horse can
get in one bite---can help to make his
ration last longer. Wickens suggests
that taking a more creative approach
may also help keep the horse occupied:
“Rather than just putting some hay out,
you might make some effort to enrich
the horse’s foraging experience. You
might place a few flakes in different
areas around the paddock so the horse
has to move around and mimic foraging
behavior,” she says.
She also suggests offering different
types of hay around the turnout. “Some
of it could be a little more nutritious if
it’s a performance horse or any horse
that needs more calories,” she says.
“Some legume hay along with the grass
hay flakes placed here and there around
the paddock or pasture can make a little
more work and activity for the horse.”
This gives the horse more to do than
simply standing at a feeder, eating.
When a horse needs more calories
than he can get from forage alone,
Wickens recommends choosing feeds
with more fat and fiber and less starch
and sugar. “In general, this also tends
to have a calming effect,” she says.
“There are many commercial feeds that
contain highly digestible fiber sources
like beet pulp and alfalfa meal. These
can provide more calories and help
maintain body condition while promot-
ing positive behavior and reducing
unwanted behaviors.”
Another tactic might be to feed hay
฀ first, then offer grain. “A strategy that
has met with some success is to make
sure they’ve already had some forage
before being fed a grain meal,” says
Wickens. “If you leave some hay in the
stall at the same time you are giving the
grain, it may also help. It won’t stop the
cribbing but may be a management tool
that could help.”
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀Horses who begin
cribbing are often the ones who, at one
point in their lives, were confined to
stalls and trained for performance ca-
reers. Once the habit is ingrained, many
horses will continue to crib even when
turned out to pasture with a herd.
“Some owners just don’t have
access to pasture for their horses,”
Munsterman says. Still, maximizing
whatever turnout is available, with ame-
nable companions, may help to reduce
the behavior. “If they are out at pasture
and doing jobs and a moderate amount
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of work, there is less time for them to
crib,” Munsterman adds. “We are pretty
sure the cribber isn’t going to teach
the others to crib, so putting him with
E Q U U S 4 8 7 39
 DEVICES AND BARRIERS
Nowadays cribbing
may increasingly be
seen as a fairly benign
activity, but sometimes
it’s necessary to stop it.
In extreme cases—when
cribbing leads to repeated
colics, for example, or
prevents a horse from
eating enough to maintain
his weight—the behavior
endangers health.
The only way to
guarantee that a horse will
not crib is to physically
prevent him from doing
it. “For horse owners who
want to stop this behavior,
it requires physical
prevention,” says Carissa
Wickens, PhD, PAS, of the
University of Florida.
A popular method for
stopping the behavior is
the cribbing collar—straps
that extend around the
neck behind the poll with
a piece of metal or stiff
leather just under the
throatlatch—which
put pressure on a
DUSTY PERIN
horse’s throat
when he
40 E Q U U S 4 8 7
attempts to crib. Cribbing
muzzles cover a horse’s
nose and mouth, often with
some sort of a metal grate;
these allow the horse to
eat and drink but prevent
him from grasping hard
surfaces with his teeth.
These devices can be
effective while in place,
but a horse will resume
cribbing when they are
removed. In fact, he may
crib more aggressively
for a time, a phenomenon
called the rebound effect.
“These tactics may not
be completely successful
because they fail to
address the underlying
causes of the behavior,”
Wickens says. Although
the causes of cribbing
are not fully understood,
the activity seems to
fulfill some psychological
need in the horse, and
physically preventing the
behavior may increase the
horse’s stress.
Other tactics for
discouraging cribbing
include sprays and
other concoctions
formulated to smell
or taste bad enough
to stop a horse from
putting his mouth
on a surface, or
the installation of
rounded wood or metal
pole fencing, which is
harder for a horse to grip
with his teeth. Running an
electrified wire along the
top of existing fences will
also discourage a cribber.
Devices and barriers
are often imperfect
solutions, however. “With
some horses, if you put
a collar on they will stop
cribbing momentarily
because they can’t expand
the larynx and stretch their
neck to try to perform
the behavior, but they
almost always redirect
the behavior into some
other form of stereotypic
activity. They may start to
head toss, weave or walk
the stall,” says Wickens.
“Even when you implement
these kinds of physical
prevention strategies,
we still recommend
management changes. It
is extremely important to
address the underlying
reasons that the horse is
cribbing in the first place.”
other horses can be very helpful.”
Providing turnout, a companion
and ample forage are the best things
you can do, says Wickens: “This helps
reduce cribbing behavior but doesn’t
always stop it.”
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
Toys may help keep a horse’s mouth
busy and distract him from cribbing.
Those that encourage oral activity, such
as licking or chewing, may be especially
helpful. “If you watch cribbers, right be-
fore they actually set their teeth on the
fence board or side of the stall, many of
them exhibit a lot of oral behavior. They
tend to lick and chew just before they
actually set their teeth,” says Wickens.
A 2011 study from Cornell University
showed providing toys that stimulate
these licking and chewing behaviors
slightly reduced the rate of cribbing.
“These devices are hung in the stall
and have some kind of apparatus on
them that encourages the horse to ma-
nipulate them with tongue and lips,”
says Wickens. “The study showed that
this specific type of toy that stimulates
chewing, licking and oral behavior is
somewhat helpful for the cribber.”
Some horses may be more moti-
vated to play with toys that dispense
treats. “There are some gigantic plastic
treat balls they can kick around,” says
Munsterman. “These look like giant
spools and you can put horse treats in-
side. The horse rolls it around with his
nose and every now and then it drops
out a treat if he rolls it the right way.”
A forage-based treat, rather than one
composed of highly palat-
able grain, may be best
for cribbers.
Toys may be
a good idea
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oral behavior
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A SURGICAL SOLUTION
A more drastic means
of stopping a horse from
cribbing is surgery to sever
nerves and muscles on the
underside of the neck with
the goal of preventing the
horse from retracting his
larynx to suck air.
The procedure doesn’t
always work as expected,
however. “Some horses
still find a way to crib even
after the surgery, without
arching the neck. They are
very innovative in finding
ways to crib,” says Amelia
the development of cribbing in young
horses who must be kept on stall rest.
“You might try putting some toys in the
stall for the young horse to play with
and manipulate,” Wickens says.
Toys may also provide more
42 E Q U U S 4 8 7
S. Munsterman, DVM, PhD, cases of horses who had
DACVS, DACVECC, of the undergone a newer, laser-
University of Wisconsin– assisted method of this
Madison, adding that surgery to stop cribbing.
the body’s ability to heal Of the 90 horses available
may also affect long-term for follow-up, 76 had
results “The scar tissue
that forms after the surgery
stopped cribbing for a year
or more—a success rate
can sometimes allow of 84.4 percent. Still, says
the muscle to reconnect Carissa Wickens, PhD,
and the horse can start PAS, of the University of
cribbing again four or five Florida, “From a welfare
months later.” standpoint, most of my
That said, a 2015 colleagues and I do not
study from Louisiana recommend surgery except
State University reviewed as a last resort.”
enrichment for horses wearing collars
to prevent cribbing. “Even if you have
to put a cribbing collar on for part of
the day, you may want to also improve
the horse’s welfare and overall men-
tal state through different types of
enrichment, particularly if he is spend-
ing any amount of time in a stall,” says
Munsterman. “Even if you are physically
preventing the cribbing it might be
good to give the horse something else
to do orally---like playing with a sturdy
ball or one of the lick-it type toys.”
THE CASE FOR
ACCEPTANCE
Sometimes even the most conscien-
tious management regimen can’t keep
a horse from cribbing. “Many own-
ers are already trying to do the right
things. They already have the horses out
at pasture. The horses have forage in
front of them most of the day and
are socializing with pasturemates,
but they still crib,” says Wickens.
“The owners are wondering what
else they can do.”
The answer may be to find a way
for the horse to crib more safely---in
fact, many behaviorists are starting to
believe that stopping the behavior may
have negative consequences for the
A p r i l 2 0 1 8
horse. The stresses of not being able to A hybrid approach– cribbing. Also, if the horse can’t crib
crib may affect his health. allowing the horse to crib during meals, he might digest the food
“As concerning as the behavior better, so there is less risk for colic and
for part of the day while
can be to owners---with the noise, the digestive problems.”
also using a collar or
destruction of facilities, etc.---if it does
muzzle at times–may

serve some function and has some
purpose for the horse, we may need to
be careful about the way we approach
it in terms of managing these horses,”
says Wickens. “We’re thinking that if
you allow horses to crib, at least for a
period of time during the day, maybe
you are helping them reduce their
stress levels. Horse owners who are
trying to manage these behaviors might
want to consider this before they try
to physically prevent the horse from
doing the cribbing behavior.”
One option might be to provide the
horse with a board with a rubber sur-
face he can grip with less damage to
his teeth. It may take some training, but
the horse can be encouraged to use the
board rather than the fences or other
structures. “There is no way to really
stop the cribbing but a person might
be helpful if the cribbing
is causing colic or
otherwise endangering
the horse’s health.
redirect it---to be better for the horse
and the facilities,” Munsterman says.
A hybrid approach---allowing the
horse to crib for part of the day while
also using a collar or muzzle at times---
may be helpful if the cribbing is caus-
ing colic or otherwise endangering the
horse’s health, for example, “if the crib-
ber is a really hard keeper and spends
too much time during meals cribbing
instead of eating,” Wickens says. “If the
horse is not consuming enough calories
to maintain body condition, he might
need to wear a collar during mealtime
so he can focus on eating instead of
O
ne potential positive of own-
ing a horse who cribs is that it
can prompt you to pay closer
attention to his lifestyle, identifying
how boredom, lack of activity, social
isolation and other factors may not only
contribute to the behavior but have neg-
ative effects on his overall health. And
management remedies for horses who
crib are generally fairly simple and fa-
miliar: “Try to let them be horses---more
turnout time and more social contact
may help relieve some of the environ-
mental stress,” says Wickens. “Keeping
forage in front of them for more of the
day should be part of the management
change.” But if these or other measures
fail to eliminate cribbing, horsekeepers
today benefit from the knowledge that if
they can’t eliminate the behavior, all is
not lost. Sometimes cribbing is OK.

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A p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 43
Taking
By Bobbie Jo
Lieberman
L
ast fall, our return to the
familiar comforts of our
current ranch in Hondo,
Texas, led Kenny and me
to reevaluate our reloca-
tion plans. Perhaps, we
thought, it would be better to keep our
Texas ranch and spend summers at our
new place in Pie Town, New Mexico. We
could leave some of our horses in Texas
year-round, we reasoned, and move the
others back and forth.
When considering the advantages
and drawbacks of this lifestyle, we
spoke with many “snowbird” horse
folks who moved their operations each
fall and spring to take advantage of
riding-worthy weather north or south
(for more, see “A Change of Seasons,”
EQUUS 485).
Longtime migrator Lynn Kelley, who
travels between Arizona and Colorado,
told us that a key consideration was
whether the climate and other factors
are sufficiently distinctive to war-
rant the time, trouble and expense of
moving twice a year. To establish that
benchmark, I’ve been tracking both Pie
Town and Hondo weather patterns for
several months. Much to our surprise,
there has not been much of a difference
between the two so far this winter. In
fact, the weather in Pie Town has often
been much more conducive to riding
and chores than here in Hondo. Rain
44 E Q U U S 4 8 7
As we
in New Mexico drains quickly in the
sandy soil, and the horses can work
around a bale of hay without creating
enter the
a boot-sucking mire as they do on our homestretch of
Texas property. our ranch-building
Granted, this winter has been un-
usually warm and dry in New Mexico,
adventure, we
and all of that could change in the blink recommit to our
of an eye. At the same time, we’ve had original goals.
snow, sleet and subfreezing conditions
in southern Texas on more than one
occasion, in between long stretches
of mud. Horses in Pie Town also grow
thicker winter coats than their Texas
counterparts, so they are well equipped
for frostier conditions.
So far, Pie Town has had more sunny
days than our Texas ranch. Here in
Hondo we’ve had long stretches of
dreary, damp and cloudy days. It’s
typically colder at night in Pie Town,
but the daytime highs are remarkably
consistent. In addition, the low humid-
ity makes New Mexico seem warmer,
especially on sunny days, although it
can be windy.
And, of course, our main motivation
for relocating is escaping the long, mis-
erably hot and humid summers here
in Texas. We figured we’d have much
more opportunity to ride during most
of the year in New Mexico. We’d rather
layer on more clothing to cope with the
winters in Pie Town than sweat out the
summer heat in Texas.
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 THE MATTER
OF LOGISTICS
On the other hand, our remote loca-

P E R R Y- C A S TA Ñ E D A L I B R A R Y M A P C O L L E C T I O N / U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S
tion in New Mexico---80 miles to the
nearest shopping, 35 miles to our veteri-
narian, nearly 180 miles to a major city
(Albuquerque)---is a little daunting. We
will have to do a little more planning
and coordination and become quite a
bit more self-sufficient than we had to
be in our Texas home.
To counter these challenges, we’ll
carpool as much as possible with our
neighbor Karl Phaler (who loves open-
road driving), use Amazon Prime for
delivery and, most significantly, have
a greenhouse and garden to ensure a
steady supply of fresh vegetables, the
mainstay of our plant-based diet. We
have already purchased a large refriger-
ator designed to keep produce fresh and
crisp, and we hope to have our garden
up and running within the next year so
we can say goodbye to weekly trips to
the market.
Another consideration is the dis-
tance between our Texas and New
Mexico properties: It’s every bit of a
two-day drive from our Hondo ranch to
Pie Town. That means that a biannual
migration would require lots of prepa-
ration, and the trip itself could become
KARL PHALER

physically and mentally exhausting as

the years pass.

a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 45
 Finally, the two-ranch scenario
BOBBIE JO LEIBERMAN
would have significant financial ram-
ifications. Though Kenny has continued
to work from home full-time, he had
been planning to retire when we
moved to New Mexico. To maintain
two ranches, however, he would have
to continue working.
Retirement, for us, is being able
to live the life we want. It’s about
enjoying the ranch and the horses
without sitting in front of a compu-
ter screen all day. Maintaining
KARL PHALER
46 E Q U U S 4 8 7
two ranches, we have concluded, may
work beautifully in many cases, but it’s
simply not ideal for us.
We’ve decided that our best bet
for quality of life for both horses and
people is to sell the Texas ranch and
embrace year-round living in New
Mexico. Our goal remains to clean up
and close out our Texas ranch and put
it on the market this year, while com-
pleting the transition of animals and
belongings to New Mexico.
WHAT’S LEFT
TO BE DONE
We’ve been back in Texas since
October and are itching to make a run
to Pie Town with a load of materials. We
are looking at purchasing a 20- to 24-
foot cargo trailer to serve as a portable
workshop and a means of getting tools
and hardware ready to move from one
ranch to the other.
Since last fall, the house, fencing,
well and outbuildings have been in
place, but there are several things we
still need before we can move in:
฀ ฀After much discussion,
we’ve decided to stick with land power
rather than solar. We hope to go with
underground conduit, which will
require a four-foot-deep trench.
Originally Kenny had planned to do
the necessary digging himself, but
we are now considering contracting
out the job to move the process along.
While there have been plenty of nights
below freezing in Pie Town, the soil
is not frozen thanks to the ongoing
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 BOBBIE JO LEIBERMAN
The start of a trend?
This winter we learned that we’re is critical during construction, whether it’s
going to be joined in New Mexico by at building a home, digging a well or putting
least four fellow trail riders! A colleague in fencing. We were exceptionally fortunate
and her husband from Texas have already to be able to stay in our friend Karl’s
purchased 17 acres in Pie Town, and guesthouse next door all last summer
another couple is looking for land in the while we worked on the ranch. Kenny and
area. Another endurance-riding friend, I spent many days at the ranch working
who recently purchased 140 acres out of our living quarters, taking breaks to
PREPARATIONS: Electrician Daryl Ross in southern Colorado, recently asked visit the horses and clear cedar and brush
(above) checks the proposed layout of me what points and pitfalls were most so we could better see the surrounding
the electrical lines. Using a laser level critical in building a ranch from scratch. mountains. We identified the general
(left), Kenny sights a straight contour Here’s what I shared with her from our building area on a long, fairly flat ridge
line across the slope of a hill for the experience to date: almost immediately, but it took time and
septic drain field. ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ many walks at different times of the day
almost everything costs more than you over several weeks to pinpoint the location
drought, so it’s possible to begin dig-
think it will, especially if you are paying of the house, outbuildings, horse sheds
ging any time. Should bringing in a
a contractor for all or part of the work. and paddocks.
backhoe prove cost-prohibitive, we are
DIY can save money but often not time ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀฀ ฀
prepared to revisit the idea of above-
(see “Doing It Ourselves When We Can,” and most pivotal concern throughout
ground power, which involves construc-
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
tion of two additional power poles.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ resources to research before digging—
฀ Again, Kenny had planned
and research options and costs, i.e., hydrology reports, existing wells in the
to do this himself, and he still intends
stick-built vs. modular/manufactured area and their depth. Have any wells
to. We have staked out the area where
home? Pole barn vs. structure with gone dry in the vicinity? We used a
the septic field will be located and
poured concrete slab? Barn with stalls or dowser to pinpoint the optimal location
confirmed the area to be relatively
freestanding run-in sheds? Wood or steel? for our well, and his prediction was spot-on
rock-free, but to receive the required
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
permits, we need to submit a detailed
site plan to New Mexico state environ-
mental officials.
฀ ฀Our central heating, dryer
and kitchen stove will be powered with
propane, which will be relatively simple
to have hooked up; there are many pro-
viders throughout the area.
฀ ฀We have a large metal stock
tank next to a solar-powered well. We’ve
also purchased a 3,000-gallon holding
tank and a 500-gallon transfer tank for
transporting water. This spring Kenny
will install a pressure tank and run
ANNIE GEORGE

water lines from the holding tank to the

house and stable area. With a generator,
this will give us pressurized water in

a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 47

KARL PHALER
Neighborly advice
Recently, friends who plan to move to
New Mexico asked Kenny and me what
we thought of a 40-acre tract north of
Pie Town that was for sale. I sent the plat
map to our Pie Town neighbor, Karl Phaler,
who took a tour of the area the next day.
I thought his report was helpful for those
looking from a distance (see “Reality
Check,” EQUUS 481).
Land topography and other
48 E Q U U S 4 8 7
HAZARD: This deep he quipped.
arroyo would be Water: On this
vulnerable to flash particular tract, Karl
flooding after a noticed that there
thunderstorm. were no windmills
in the vicinity of the
neighboring cattle ranches—not a good
sign. “Water is likely [only to be found] deep,
if and where you can find it,” Karl noted.
Views: While the spectacular
Sawtooth Mountains greet visitors soon after
the turnoff from the highway, after about
four miles the elevation tails off into barren
cattle ranches. “If you’re going to live in New
features: Has the land been overgrazed? Is Mexico, why not have a great mountain view
the land fenced, or can it be easily fenced? in all directions?” asked Karl.
Is existing fencing horse-safe? “The bottom line for me,” said Karl,
Does the land have formations that “is that life anywhere near the Continental
would affect how it might be used? When Divide is (apart from being Horse Heaven)
Karl walked the tract our friends asked much superior to living in the flatlands;
about, he discovered a 50-foot deep arroyo there are no really bad choices here. The
that would be vulnerable to flash flooding. goal is to optimize your choice to meet
“It would be a really bad idea to be on the your needs to balance both aesthetics and
wrong side of this creek in a rainstorm,” practical considerations.”
Perfect
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a p r i l 2 0 1 8
the house until the electric service is
completed. (For more about wells, see
“Digging Deeper,” EQUUS 478.)
We also need to put up interior
fencing for paddocks on our main
tract of 53 acres as well as construct
new perimeter fencing on our nearby
properties (a 22-acre and a 15-acre
tract) so we can rotate pastures and
turn horses out in small groups to
save wear and tear on the delicate
native grama grass. Kenny has been
collecting materials and welding t-
posts to prepare for this next phase.
We still have to decide what kind
of horse facilities to build, as well as
By spending time on
the land this summer,
we should have a better
sense of what will work
best for our herd before
winter sets in.
number of things before we can settle
into our New Mexico property for good.
Until then, we will likely continue ac-
cepting our neighbor Karl’s hospitality
and “commuting” the half-mile from his
place to ours every day.
our property for so long, Karl quelled
them with this on-site update: “[My
poodle] Joy and I took another tour of
the main Weber estate this morning.
No one has even driven up to the gate,
and the elk have been merciful---all
of your interior tape fencing is still up.
The house interior was surprisingly
temperate (good insulation at work),
although the old refrigerator looks kind
of forlorn sitting on the floor in front
of the glorious Samsung. All the out-
buildings are secure, and the well-
pump installation is simply waiting for
activation. Your heartstead is behaving
like a child lonesome for her parents,

how we will store hay. By spending time
on the land this summer, we should
have a better sense of what will work
best for our herd before winter sets in.
The ongoing challenge of locating a
reliable source of round bales is also
underway. Most folks in New Mexico
feed straight alfalfa, and grass hay can
be hard to come by.
Clearly, we must accomplish a fair
S
o here we are . . . rounding the
far turn and heading into the
homestretch of our building
adventure with a renewed sense of re-
solve. There is much work yet to be done
both in Hondo and Pie Town, but our
hope to is get our horses, cats and cattle
dog moved and settled before another
Texas summer sets in.
If we had any concerns about leaving
calling, ‘Come home.’”
Editor’s note: In the “Starting From
Scratch” series, longtime EQUUS
writer and editor Bobbie Lieberman
shares the excitement, uncertainties,
challenges and joys of building a new
ranch for her horses.

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a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 49
 The century-old writings
of one of our most
colorful Presidents
offer perspectives on
horsemanship that are
surprisingly modern.

PASTEL STUDY OF PRESIDENT

THEODORE ROOSEVELT BY
V. FLOYD CAMPBELL (1903)

WIKIPEDIA

THE BADLANDS,
NORTH DAKOTA
(1884)
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

50 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 Riding with
Theodore Roosevelt
M
By Pamela S. Nolf y first encounter with
the pony named
Algonquin was
in the National Museum
of American History
during a family visit
to Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian craftsmen
had re-created the front
corridor of the White
House as it appeared
in 1902 during Theodore
Roosevelt’s presidency as
a space to display presidential
memorabilia. Then, a par- THEODORE
ticular detail of the exhibit
caught my attention:
“Why is there a pony in the eleva-
YELLOWSTONE PARK, tor?” I asked. In a dimly lit elevator
WYOMING (1902) cage at the back of the display, barely
visible in the shadows, stood roughly
shaped, unpainted, life-size plaster
MONTAUK, statues of a boy and a pony.
NEW YORK Then I saw the explanatory plaque
(1898) and read the story of how Algonquin,
companion to Theodore Roosevelt’s
youngest sons Archie and Quentin,
was once smuggled up the White
House elevator to console 8-year-old
Archie, who was quarantined in his
bedroom with measles.
Fifteen years later, at the age of
50, I finally got my own “first pony,”
a chestnut Icelandic Horse whose
registered name is resplendent and
unpronounceable. Fortunately, he
responds to his barn name, Blessi.
While reading about Blessi’s heritage, I
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
came across another reference
to Algonquin, who probably
was a Shetland pony
but might have been
part Icelandic.
Suddenly, I
remembered those
shadowy figures
in the elevator
at the museum.
Intrigued, I began
more research into
the Roosevelt family, and
WIKIPEDIA
in the course of my readings
ROOSEVELT those white plaster figures
were transformed into a
summer-blond-haired, blue-eyed boy
and his 33-inch pony. In my mind, I
can almost see Algonquin’s nostrils
flare as Archie raises his hand to stroke
his pony’s neck.
Roosevelt became president in 1901
after the assassination of William
McKinley. At age 43, he was the young-
est man ever to assume the presidency,
and his children---six in all, including
Ethel, Kermit and Ted Jr., plus his adult
daughter Alice from Theodore’s first
marriage---brought exuberance and
playfulness to the White House. Stories
abound of the youngsters exploring
crawlspaces, rollerskating on the
marble floors, putting spitballs on the
portrait of Andrew Jackson, and using
stilts in the formal gardens. They also
filled the White House with a zooful of
WIKIPEDIA
pets, with assorted dogs and cats as well
as Jonathan Edwards the bear, Peter the
E Q U U S 4 8 7 51
 rabbit, Bill the lizard, COWBOY: Roosevelt,
Maude the pig, Josiah aboard Manitou,
the badger, multiple takes a break from
guinea pigs … and working cattle in
the list goes on. North Dakota.
Reading about
their antics, I spent considerable time
with the works of Theodore Roosevelt.
He was a prolific writer who left behind
volumes of letters, speeches and mem-
oirs. He was
a fierce advocate of “the strenuous
life,” and---as it turns out---he was a
dedicated horseman in his own right.
Horses were an integral part of his
life, from the time when he learned
to ride his childhood pony, General
Grant, to moving cattle with his single
footer, Manitou, during his ranching
years in the Badlands of North Dakota,
to riding Little Texas at the head of
the Rough Riders during the Spanish- An advocate for better for vigorous men than tennis or
golf or anything of that kind. There is
American War. In fact, Roosevelt “the strenuous life” all the fun of football with the horse
can be considered the last true horse- Theodore Roosevelt had been a
thrown in.”
man to inhabit the White House. sickly, asthmatic child. To build his
After Roosevelt’s second term, his strength, he took up sports like boxing,
successor, William Howard Taft, pur- rowing and bodybuilding in addition to The long road
chased the first presidential cars riding. And he continued to value physi- to mastery
and had the White House stables con- cal exercise well into adulthood. Roosevelt never claimed to be an
verted into a garage. In the early 1880s, Roosevelt spent expert horseman, and he acknowledged
Many of Roosevelt’s writings are two years as a rancher in the Dakota that it takes a lifetime of work to achieve
sprinkled with insights into his ap- Badlands, putting in long days herding true mastery in the saddle:
proach to training horses and his cattle, hunting and, as a frontier sheriff, “I was fond of horseback-riding, but
observations about the value of riding, chasing outlaws. After he returned to I took to it slowly and with difficulty,
and I was struck by how “modern” the East and pursued his political ca- exactly as with boxing. It was a long
his methods seemed to be, even by reer, he struggled with his weight. He time before I became even a respectable
current standards. The term “natural noted: “A man whose business is sed- rider, and I never got much higher. I
horsemanship” may not have become entary should get some kind of exercise mean by this that I never became a
prominent until the 1980s, but some of if he wishes to keep himself in as good first-flight man in the hunting field,
H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y O F N O R T H D A K O TA

the roots of the methodology extend all
the way back to Xenophon in the fourth
century B.C., and probably beyond.
Here’s a selection of Roosevelt’s
observations and insights---drawn, un-
less otherwise noted, from Theodore
Roosevelt: An Autobiography---that still
have some resonance in modern times.
physical trim as his brethren who do
manual labor.”
To keep fit, Roosevelt recommended
physical activities such as walking, ten-
nis and riding. Roosevelt also suggested
playing a modified form of polo suitable
for middle-aged men owning ordinary
horses: “Polo is a good game, infinitely
and never even approached the bronco-
busting class in the West. Any man,
if he chooses, can gradually school
himself to the requisite nerve, and
gradually learn the requisite seat and
hands, that will enable him to do re-
spectably across country, or to perform
the average work on a ranch.”

52 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8

Roosevelt was, perhaps, overly mod-
est about his riding abilities, at least
by modern standards, given that he
was known to ride 10 to 12 hours at a
stretch when hunting big game in the
West. And some of his anecdotes il-
lustrate a rider who was quite skilled.
Once, he completed a hunt unaware
that he’d broken his arm: “On the hunt
in question I got along very well until
the pace winded my ex-buggy horse,
and it turned a somersault over a fence.
When I got on it after the fall I found I
could not use my left arm. I supposed
it was merely a strain. The buggy horse
was a sedate animal which I rode with a
snaffle. So we pounded along at the tail
FAMILY MAN: Roosevelt leads his wife
and children on an equestrian outing in
the early 1900s.
ROUGH RIDER: of the hunt, and I did
WIKIPEDIA
Roosevelt rode not appreciate that
Little Texas on the my arm was broken
charge up San Juan for three or four fenc-
Hill, a pivotal battle es. Then we came to
of the Spanish- a big drop, and the
American War. jar made the bones
slip past one another
so as to throw the hand out of position.
It did not hurt me at all, and as the horse
was as easy to sit as a rocking-chair, I got
in at the death.”
A forerunner
of natural
horsemanship
Roosevelt’s accounts of his time in
the Badlands read like a dime novel of
the Wild West. Although he claims he
never became “more than an average
rider, by ranch standards,” he did show
a modern sensibility that we would now
call natural horsemanship: “When I had
the opportunity, I broke my own horses,
doing it gently and gradually and spend-
ing much time over it, and choosing
the horses that seemed gentle to begin
A L A M Y. C O M
with. With these horses, I never had
any difficulty. But frequently there was
 Leading
the
Rough
Riders
Roosevelt had one
experience that will likely
never be duplicated: In a
short period of time, he
helped organize and train
a mounted cavalry, then
lead it into battle. In
1898, Roosevelt was
serving as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy
under President William
McKinley when the
Spanish-American War
broke out. Congress
authorized the formation
of three cavalry regiments
for the purpose of invading
Cuba to take Santiago, and
Roosevelt took a position
as second in command
of one of them. The First
United States Volunteer
Cavalry was christened the
“Rough Riders.”
Thousands of men
volunteered. “The difficulty
in organizing was not in
selecting, but in rejecting
men. Within a day or two
after it was announced
that we were to raise the
regiment, we were literally
deluged with applications
from every quarter of the
Union,” he wrote in The
Rough Riders.
Raising horses and
provisions would prove
more difficult: “Of [the
horses] purchased
certainly a half were nearly
unbroken. It was no easy
WIKIPEDIA
matter to handle them on
54 E Q U U S 4 8 7
the picket-lines, and to
provide for feeding and
watering; and the efforts to
shoe and ride them were
at first productive of much
vigorous excitement….
Half the horses of the
regiment bucked, or
possessed some other of
the amiable weaknesses
incident to horse life on
the great ranches; but we
had abundance of men
who were utterly unmoved
by any antic a horse might
commit. Every animal was
speedily mastered, though
a large number remained
to the end mounts upon
which an ordinary rider
would have felt very
uncomfortable.”
He added, “My own
horses were purchased for
me by a Texas friend….
The animals were not
showy;
but they
were tough and
hardy, and answered my
purpose well.”
Despite the speed
with which the volunteer
regiments were organized,
they performed admirably,
wrote Roosevelt, “In
less than sixty days the
regiment had been
raised, organized,
armed, equipped, drilled,
mounted, dismounted,
kept for a fortnight on
transports, and put
through two victorious
aggressive fights in very
difficult country, the loss
in killed and wounded
amounting to a quarter of
those engaged. This is a
record which it is not easy
to match in the history of
volunteer organizations.”
neither time nor opportunity to handle
our mounts so elaborately.” He added,
“Of course a man on a ranch has to ride
a good many bad horses, and is bound to
encounter a certain number of accidents,
and of these I had my share, at one time
cracking a rib, and on another occasion
the point of my shoulder.”
But he recounts good times, too:
“When we reached country that the
driver thoroughly knew, we
thought it safe to leave him,
and we loped in one night
across a distance which it
took the wagon the three
following days to cover.
It was a beautiful moon-
light night, and the ride
was delightful. All day
long we had plodded at a
walk, weary and hot. At sup-
per time we had rested two
or three hours, and the tough
little riding horses seemed as fresh
as ever. It was in September. As we rode
out of the circle of the firelight, the air
was cool in our faces. Under the bright
moonlight, and then under the starlight,
we loped and cantered mile after mile
over the high prairie. We passed bands
of antelope and herds of long-horn
Texas cattle, and at last, just as the first
red beams of the sun flamed over the
bluffs in front of us, we rode down into
the valley of the Little Missouri, where
our ranch house stood.”
The power
of positive
reinforcement
Renown, one of Roosevelt’s personal
saddle horses, was highly reactive, and
after he arrived in Washington, he was
extremely frightened of the automo-
bile traffic. From Theodore Roosevelt’s
Letters to His Children (1919): “I
am working hard to get Renown
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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accustomed to automobiles. He is such
a handful now when he meets them that
I seriously mind encountering them
when Mother is along.”
In another letter, Roosevelt shared
details of his training approach, which
relied on positive reinforcement. One
day, when Renown performed better
than expected, Roosevelt wrote, “he
behaved so well that I leaned over and
“I do not want a horse with
which I have an interesting
circus experience
whenever we meet an
automobile, or one which
I cannot get to go in any
particular direction
without devoting an hour
or two to the job.”
T HEODORE R OOSEVELT
About
the author:
Pamela Nolf is
currently writing
a book about the
adventures of the
pony Algonquin and
Teddy Roosevelt’s
children during the
White House years
1901 to 1909.
gave him a lump of
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
OUTDOORSMAN:
Roosevelt returns sugar when he had
from a bear hunt passed the object
in Glenwood of terror---the old
Springs, Colorado. boy eagerly turning
his head around to
get it.”
A few weeks later, he reported in a
letter that “Renown is behaving better
about automobiles and the like. I think
the difference is largely in the way I
handle him. He is a very good-natured
and gentle horse, but timid and not
over-wise, and when in a panic his
great strength makes him well-nigh
uncontrollable. Accordingly, he is a
bad horse to try to force by anything. If
possible, it is much better to give him a
little time, and bring him up as gently
as may be to the object of terror. When
he behaves well I lean forward and give
him a lump of sugar, and now the old
boy eagerly puts around his head when
I stretch out my hand.”
D
uring his White House ten-
ure, Roosevelt was frequently
seen riding his favorite mount,
a gelding named Bleistein, in the
Washington, D.C., area. In Theodore
Roosevelt’s Letters to His Children, he
wrote, “Yesterday I tried Bleistein over
the hurdles at Chevy Chase [Maryland].
The first one was new, high and stiff,
and the old rascal never rose six inches,
going slap through it. I took him at it
again and he went over all right.” He
also once famously jumped Bleistein
for a group of photographers.
In a later letter, though, Roosevelt
expressed a preference that many
riders past a certain age would likely
share: “I do not want a horse with which
I have an interesting circus experience
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
whenever we meet an automobile, or
one which I cannot get to go in any
particular direction without devoting
an hour or two to the job.”
A p r i l 2 0 1 8
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 8
to make aDRY
ways

A
sk most people
what an idyllic With planning and some ongoing effort, you
farm looks like,
and you’ll hear
can create a grass-free enclosure that will
about vast green keep your horse safe, healthy and happy.
expanses, maybe
with rolling hills,
shade trees and horses spending their
days enjoying lush grass.
Pretty as it is, this image is not a
reality for many horse owners---like
me, for example. About a decade ago,
my mare developed a severe laminitis
caused by pasture grass. Thankfully,
she recovered fully. But several man-
agement changes were instrumental to
her recovery, and the most important
was the dry lot we created for her on
our farm.
Before that, we had tried a grazing
muzzle, which for many horses is an ef-
fective way to curb grass intake. But not
for my mare. She was adept at getting
her muzzle off, and even when it stayed
in place she managed to figure out ways
to defeat it. I experimented with several
types of muzzles, but none worked.
So, for us, the answer was a dry lot, a
turnout area with little or no vegetation.
Even when it’s not a necessity, as it was
for our mare, a dry lot offers a fairly con-
venient way of managing horses whose
grazing or social interactions need to
be restricted to address other issues.
A dry lot can serve other purposes,
too. Maybe your farm isn’t large enough
to support full-time grazing for all of

58 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
LOT your horse
will love
your horses, or you live in a region
where pasture grass is sparse. A dry lot
can even be a cost-effective tool for your
farm’s pasture conservation program
---giving you a place to keep your horses
periodically while giving your fields
time to recover from grazing or to dry
out after a rainy spell.
Creating a dry lot requires some
time and resources, and helping a
horse adjust to living in a grass-free
enclosure after full pasture turnout will
have an impact on your daily manage-
ment routine, at least for a while. But
the effort and expense will be well
worth it in the long run---if you add up
the savings from potential veterinary
bills for laminitis or related troubles
as well as the ecological and financial
costs of maintaining large pastures for
full-time turnout.
I started out with a rather makeshift
dry lot, created quickly out of necessity
to protect my mare’s health. Over time,
I continued to improve on it; I consider
it a work in progress, because there are
still some projects I want to do. If you
decide that having a dry lot is a good
idea, you can do it my way---spreading
the costs out over a few years---or you
can put in all of the money up front
and get it all done right from the get-
go. However you go about it, there are
some things you’ll want to do to ensure
that your dry lot is a safe, healthy and
congenial place for your horse to spend
his days.
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
1. CHOOSE THE
RIGHT LOCATION
By Hope Ellis-
Ashburn
In addition to affecting the aesthet-
ics and ecology of your farm, the site of
a dry lot has an impact on your horse’s
health and comfort, as well as how bur-
densome your chores might be. You’ll
also want to select a location where
you won’t mind sacrificing all of the
vegetation---ideally, it would be an area
that already fails to support good pas-
ture grass due to poor soil quality, for
example. While you can work with
practically any size lot, a minimum of
400 to 600 square feet per horse is a
good rule of thumb.
Placing the dry lot somewhere close
to the barn will make it more conve-
nient for feeding and other chores,
as well as for keeping an eye on your
horse. Also consider the distances in-
volved if you want to run a water line
and electricity to an automatic waterer
or to power an electric fence, fans or
other amenities.
A dry lot that shares a fence and
gate with your existing pasture makes
it easier to move horses back and forth
between the two spaces as needed. If
your horse is to be alone in the dry lot,
choosing a location where he will still
be able to at least see his herdmates can
help reduce stress from isolation.
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Drainage is also an important con-
sideration. To limit erosion and runoff
pollution, the United States Department
E Q U U S 4 8 7 59
A L A M Y. C O M

Placing the dry lot somewhere close to the barn will Even if your
make it more convenient for feeding and other chores, horse is well
as well as for keeping an eye on your horse. acclimated to
of Agriculture (USDA) Natural horses from trying to reach over, and your regular
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) the addition of woven wire can prevent fencing, you
recommends placing dry lots as far as them from reaching through rails. may need to
possible from natural streams. Check Because your horse is likely to put “beef up”
with your local extension agent about more pressure on dry lot fencing,
your dry lot
the distance to allow between your lot it’s especially important to keep up
and water sources. It also helps to have with maintenance and repairs. In fact,
enclosure.
a buffer area of grass or other deep- this is something to consider when
rooted native vegetation to catch and choosing your fencing---ideally, you’d
filter runoff before it reaches nearby have something you can repair on
surface waters. your own in a pinch. In addition,
periodically clear out nearby weeds,
2. INSTALL shrubs and other vegetation that might
STURDY FENCING tempt horses to reach above or below
Any fencing that is safe for horses the fence.
in a conventional pasture can also be Also, plan to locate your gate or
used for a dry lot, but there’s one addi- gates carefully, considering ease of
tional consideration to keep in mind: A access for chores and moving horses
horse in a dry lot will have much greater in and out of the turnout. Think about
motivation to reach over or through the vehicle access, too. Especially if you
fence after nearby vegetation. Even if have multiple horses, you may want to
your horse is well acclimated to your be able to bring hay and other supplies
ARND BRONKHORST

regular fencing, you may need to “beef into the dry lot with a utility vehicle,
up” your dry lot enclosure. Running a and being able to back a trailer into the
strand of electrical wire along the top space might one day be helpful during
of the fence is a good way to discourage an emergency.

60 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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3. PUT IN
SENSIBLE FOOTING
If you have sandy soil or an area with
unusually sparse vegetation, you may
need to do nothing more than simply
rake the area and scrape away the few
remaining plants. But for a more consis-
tent surface that will hold up for years,
consider installing footing, as you would
in an arena.
You’ll most likely need to hire a con-
tractor, who can evaluate the texture,
stability and permeability of the soil
at your preferred site and recommend
materials for a dry lot that will allow
good drainage as well as erosion con-
trol. In most cases, the topsoil will be
scraped off and the site will be graded
before a base layer of gravel or crushed
stone will be laid down. For the surface
layer, you might choose from a variety
of materials including stone dust, slag,
sand, pea gravel, wood chips or shred-
ded rubber.
Your veterinarian and farrier may
have some recommendations for sur-
face footing choices if your horse is
recovering from laminitis or has other
hoof-related issues.
Also talk to your contractor about
aesthetics---a dry lot doesn’t need to be
an eyesore. Good design choices can
create a space that blends in with the
landscape of your farm.
Once you have mapped out your dry
lot but before beginning construction,
check with your local USDA/NRCS of-
fice to make certain that any planned
work complies with local, state and
federal regulations. An inspector may
also have recommendations for materi-
als and construction methods that will
manage runoff more effectively. There
is no cost for these inspections, and
you may even qualify for financial in-
centives. For more information, go to
www.nrcs.usda.gov.
82 E Q U U S 4 8 7
4. PROVIDE DECENT SHELTER
As with any other type of turnout,
DUSTY PERIN
a dry lot needs to provide some type of
shelter from the elements right from
the start. One option to save costs is to
place your dry lot against your existing
barn, so your horse has direct access
to his stall. You’ll also find a variety of
options for inexpensive temporary cano-
pies or shelters that will protect your
horse until you can build a more per-
manent structure. If you will keep more
than one horse at a time in your dry lot,
the shelter will need to be large enough
to accommodate all of them.
5. CONTROL FLIES AND OTHER INSECTS
Flies and other winged pests are
just as likely to visit your dry lot as oth-
er parts of your farm so keeping them
at bay will also be an ongoing chore. If
your horse is on the dry lot full-time,
you will need to pick up manure just
as often as you would from his stall.
CHARLES MANN/ARND BRONKHORST PHOTOGRAPHY
Even in an area that is cleaned regu-
larly, fly control may still be an issue,
as it can be for pastured horses. You’ll
need to keep a close eye on your horse
and apply fly sprays and use fly sheets
or masks as appropriate.
Hanging strips of sturdy fabric,
such as carpet remnants, burlap or
vinyl mesh, over the entrance to the
run-in can help keep flies out of the
space---be sure to
If your horse is on the dry lot full-time, teach your horses
you will need to pick up manure just how to push past the
as often as you would from his stall. barriers, which will
brush off any flies as
they pass. Spraying
the fabric with fly spray adds
some extra protection. It may even be
worthwhile to run an electrical line
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out to the shed so you can install
gable fans to keep the
area inside breezy
and well-ventilated.
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 If your horse is convalescing from

6. INSTALL A
SLOW FEEDER
Feeding is one of the more sig-
nificant changes when moving a horse
from a pasture to a dry lot. If you are
moving your horse for purposes of
weight control or managing insulin
resistance, your veterinarian will help
you to devise an appropriate feeding
regimen. (This may include testing
your hay to determine the sugar con-
tent, and possibly soaking to leach out
any excesses.)
To help mimic grazing and keep
your horse busy longer with the hay
he is allowed, consider purchasing or
building a slow feeder that limits the
amount he can pick up at once. It’s also
a good idea to break up his ration into
as many small meals as you can man-
age, spread throughout the day.
If your horse’s ration isn’t lasting
around the clock, and he is standing
with an empty stomach for a portion
of each day, he may be at a greater risk
for gastric ulcers. Most horses show
no signs of gastric ulcers, but you may
see subtle indications, such as a lack
A Weeds are more
word of an issue in
about dry lots than in
pasture. Why?
Weeds
Because a
horse on a dry
lot is more likely to nibble on plants that
he would otherwise ignore in a grassy
pasture. And weeds are more likely to
gain a foothold in areas where they do not
have to compete with grass. Keep an eye
out for weeds, and mow, pull or otherwise
take measures to remove them regularly.
You’ll also need to be vigilant about
removing tree leaves and other plant
debris that may fall or blow into the
dry lot. Some leaves, such as from the
red maple tree (Acer rubrum), are toxic
enough to cause fatal illness, but even
nontoxic “extra” vegetation may add to
the calories your horse gets while you’re
DREAMSTIME.COM
illness or injury, or has other issues
such as arthritis, your veterinarian will
advise you on an appropriate exercise
routine. For some horses it may be
enough to simply spread hay rations out
in multiple nets or feeders around a dry
lot to encourage more walking.
8. OFFER
ENTERTAINMENT
Boredom can be an issue for horses
kept in smaller turnout areas. If you
can manage it, an amenable companion
can help ease the stresses for a horse
living on a dry lot. If keeping two
horses isn’t a good option for you,
consider a smaller pony or Miniature
Horse or even a goat or donkey.
Toys can also help to keep an iso-
lated horse busy. Not all horses will play
with toys, but you might experiment
with different types to see if you can
find something that appeals to your
horse. Another idea is to spend as
much of your own time with your horse
as you can.

K
trying to control his weight. Also, make eeping a horse on a dry lot can
of appetite, a poor hair coat, decreased
sure your neighbors know better than to be challenging. Management
performance and attitude changes. If
“feel sorry” for the hungry horse and feed factors aside, there are emo-
you’re worried ulcers may be an issue
him treats or toss their yard waste over tional issues as well. I know from
for your horse, talk to your veterinarian
the fence. experience that you can’t help but feel
about supplements or other products to
guilty sometimes because you think you
help protect his stomach.
week, for 45 minutes to an hour per are depriving your horse of a pasture-
Of course, you will also need to
session. If you have trouble keeping up roaming lifestyle that might make him
supply a free-choice salt block as well
with that schedule, enlist a friend to much happier. In the end, however, with
as fresh water.
ride him a few times a week, or consider careful planning and diligence, a dry

7. PROVIDE
PLENTY OF EXERCISE
A horse kept on a small dry lot
will not move around nearly as much
as a horse grazing in a larger pasture
so it’s especially important to have oth-
er exercise opportunities. Assuming
your horse is healthy and sound,
try riding him at least a few times a
offering a partial lease on your horse to lot can help your horse to live a long,
a compatible rider. happy, healthy life.
About the author: Hope Ellis-Ashburn received a master’s degree in Agriculture
Education from The University of Tennessee–Knoxville and a bachelor’s degree in
Animal Science–Horse Science from Middle Tennessee State University, and she is
professionally licensed in agricultural education. Formerly an extension agent at the
University of Tennessee, she is now a high school teacher and author. She currently
owns a Half-Arabian mare who has been kept on a dry lot for more than a decade with
no recurrences of laminitis.

64 E Q U U S 4 8 7 A p r i l 2 0 1 8
 Introducing

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• New training videos added every week.
• Top dressage professionals teaching basics through Grand Prix.
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 EQUUS
A D V A N T A G E SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Fly
control
tips
Here’s
I
t’s springtime again, and with it comes warm
weather, sunshine, flowers—and flies. We’ve
a quick all been fighting these winged pests for years
rundown of and know what to do. But climate conditions
the ways vary every season, and different fly species
can move into new areas with the changing
you can weather. Sometimes reaching for the same old
curb the fly spray just isn’t good enough.
Reviewing your fly control strategies every
insects that year is a good idea. Here’s a brief overview of
pester your the species that might be out there and what
you can do to protect your horses from them.
horse.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
The first step in stopping flies is to identify
the offenders—many look very similar, but often
the different pest species can be identified by
their unique behaviors and habitats. And they
are best controlled by strategies that target
their lifestyles. Here are the flies most likely to
be bothering your horses:
equus
฀ ฀฀ look like
houseflies, but they inflict
painful bites, most often on a
horse’s legs but also on the
belly, face and neck. They can
be found around livestock
practically anywhere in the
country, but they will reach
their peak in warmer climates,
especially in hotter, wetter
weather. Stable flies prefer
bright, sunny areas and tend
not to enter dark enclosures.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀inflict painful bites that
bleed. Deer flies tend to at-
tack the head and neck.
Smaller horseflies bite on
the legs, and the larger ones
feed on the horse’s back.
These types of flies lay their
eggs in moist soil or vegeta-
tion near ponds, marshes and
other bodies of water and are
most commonly found in or
within a few miles of forests
or wetlands. However, some
may travel as far as 30 miles
in search of blood meals.
Horsefly and deer fly species prefer bright sun-
light on hot, still days.
฀ ฀ do not bite, but they congregate
near open wounds and secretions, such as tears
or mucus. They breed in moist, decaying veg-
etable matter, including garbage, hay and grass
clippings as well as manure. Houseflies prefer
dark, interior spaces.
฀ ฀฀ inflict painful bites, usually on
sparsely haired areas, such as the ears and geni-
tals. Although they can be found as far south as
Florida, black flies are notorious pests up north.
They are most abundant in forested areas with
slow-moving waterways, such as streams, lakes
or canals, in which they lay their eggs. They feed
primarily on bright, sunny days and prefer not to
fly into dark enclosures.
฀ ฀฀ ฀tend to congregate on the
BOB LANGRISH
horse’s belly, where single flies may bite multiple
times before flying off. On cooler days, they may
also feed on the neck, shoulders and back. Horn
 KE Proud
NT Fly
UC Spr
KY ay S
HO pons
RS or o
EP f
AR
K
the end of your
fly f rust r at i on.
From stomping feet and swishing tails P ROT E CT I O N R U N S I N T H E FAM I LY

to running, kicking out, and losing Beyond UltraShield® EX, eco-safe

focus under saddle, nothing ruins UltraShield® Green repels and
your ride or your horse’s ability to controls biting flies, mosquitoes,
relax like the incessant torment of gnats, and ticks, using seven
insects—with even worse potential essential oils known for their
consequences should those pests repellent qualities. UltraShield®
carry disease. Fortunately, Red contains a combination of five
UltraShield® gives you proven active ingredients for effective 24/7
protection that’s powerful fly and mosquito protection. And
ammunition in the battle against UltraShield® Sport is a great choice
ticks, flies, and other insects. for sweat-resistant protection in hot,
humid conditions.
FO R M U L AS FO R A LL
C O N D I TI O N S
R A I S I N G T H E B A R AGAI N
The UltraShield® line of products We also offer UltraShield® Fly Masks,
has you covered with options including a new horse-size option with a
for fighting fly frustration removable nose for extended coverage and
depending on weather, insect full-face protection. Plus, all our fly masks
intensity, and your horse’s activity level. offer high-tech performance fabrics to keep your
Horse owners have trusted the consistent horse protected as well as cool, dry, and comfortable.
®
performance of UltraShield fly control for decades. That Of course, UltraShield® is just one of the Absorbine®
®
includes UltraShield EX in the famous black bottle, proven brands that horse owners have come to
to kill and repel biting and nuisance flies, mosquitoes, ticks, trust. So when you’re looking for the best
and gnats—all in a weatherproof formula versatile enough to in horse care, look for the yellow ribbon.
be used on horses, dogs, and as a premise spray.
 EQUUS
A D V A N T A G E SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Housefly Deer fly Horsefly
flies are normally found near cattle, and they lay
their eggs only in fresh cow manure, but they will
affect horses in shared or adjoining pastures.
฀ ฀฀ ฀do not bite, but they congregate
on the face to feed on saliva, tears and mucus.
Face flies prefer cattle and breed only in cow
manure, but they will also land on horses pas-
tured within a quarter mile. They are most
active in the spring and summer but not in
hot, dry weather.
฀ ฀(biting midges, biting gnats,
no-see-ums) attack different parts of the horse,
depending on the species, but the more com-
mon ones tend to bite at the tailhead, ears,
mane, withers and rump; others go for the belly.
Although the individual flies are tiny, they form
dense swarms that inflict many bites at once.
These flies breed in wet places, such as slow, still
Insecticides streams, marshes and rotting vegetation, and are
most active just after sunset.
and repellents ฀ ฀will bite anywhere on the body.
are available Most abundant in warm, wet weather, mosquitoes
in lotions, breed in stagnant water, and their populations
gels, roll- spike near marshes, ponds and any chronically
wet ground, especially after flooding. Smaller
ons and wet puddles, such as occur in abandoned tires or
wipes as well blocked rain gutters, can also serve as breeding
as sprays. reservoirs. Mosquitoes are most active in low-
light conditions, such as in shady woods or at
dawn or dusk.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
Chemical controls include insecticides and
Fly
Repellent
Fly Sheet
Stable fly Black fly
repellents, applied directly to the horse. Fly
H O U S E F LY, S T A B L E F LY, B L A C K F LY : W I K I P E D I A ; D E E R F LY, H O R S E F LY : D U S T Y P E R I N
sprays are common, and many brands are avail-
able, but most contain active ingredients that fall
into two categories.
฀ ฀ ฀usually
contain pyrethrin, a natural compound derived
from a type of chrysanthemum, or a pyrethroid,
usually permethrin, a similar synthetic compound.
These formulations deter flies from landing and
kill the ones that do bite. These work against
many smaller biting flies, including mosquitoes,
houseflies, stable flies, deer flies and gnats.
Repellents, which are often marketed as “all
natural” alternatives to the insecticides, contain
strong-smelling oils, such as citronella, cedar
or tea tree. They do not kill flies but instead
discourage them from landing by masking
the odor of the horse. Both insecticides and
repellents are available in lotions, gels, roll-
ons and wet wipes as well as sprays; these
are useful for applications around the face
as well as touchups along the trail, but they
are best used as complements to the sprays,
rather than replacements.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀are
an alternative to sprays. Like flea-control prod-
ucts for cats and dogs, these are applied via
drops at key points on a horse’s body.
฀ can also be found in products
like fly collars and leg bands—which, not unlike
flea collars for dogs, are worn on the horse’s
body and deter flies from landing nearby.
Horse clothing can also physically block flies
from landing on the horse.
FA R L E F T: C L I X P H O T O G R A P H Y ; L E F T: A R N D B R O N K H O R S T
฀ ฀ are lightweight coverings for
the horse’s torso, and many come with extra
appendages, to extend coverage over the tail,
belly and neck, where culicoides tend to attack.
Light-colored fly sheets provide an extra deter-
rent to horse- and deer flies, which track victims
by sight and are attracted to large, dark objects.
Also available are quarter sheets, which cover a
horse’s rump and flanks while under saddle.
฀ ฀ mesh coverings for the lower
legs, can guard against stable flies and other
insects that alight there.
 Stop lies
before they start.

ed by gene
. Trust rati
trol on
on so

Fly control from the inside out. Fl

yC
FA fh

or
ru
NORNA
-Th

se
ow
ed
, Fe

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s. Sp
rse Fly Masks

Ready for a better fly control plan? Break the life cycle of stable

rays, Concentr
and house flies by adding Farnam® SimpliFly® to your horse’s feed.
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their manure and won’t mature into adults.
Sp

ot
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an
s

ica n
lO -O
pti oll
ons s, R
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en

How it works:
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 EQUUS
A D V A N T A G E SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

฀ ฀ are see-through mesh shields large black ball is sometimes used to lure them
that cover the eyes to ward off face flies and into a chamber they can’t escape. Fly sticks and
houseflies attracted to tears; some come with tapes lure house- and stable flies onto sticky sur-
ear nets, coverings for the ears, which are useful faces that entrap them.
if black flies are a nuisance. Others come with ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ -

DUSTY PERIN
fringed extensions that fall down over the nos- trocute flies drawn into an electric grid; two draw-
trils to deter flies from landing there. In addition, backs are that they must be placed where they
some fly masks are designed for use with bridles cannot be knocked down by animals, and they
to protect the face while riding. can also attract and kill beneficial insects.
฀ ฀ designed for use with a bridle,
are crocheted cotton coverings that keep flies ฀ ฀ ฀
off of the ears and poll; many of these have a ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
tasseled front edge that lies above the eyes for daily. Stable and housefly eggs, which are laid in
further deterrence. manure, hatch after 10 to 21 days, so an ideal
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ control practice would be to get the manure off
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀they the property each week.
can escape into to dodge flies that like sunlight. ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
For extra protection, hang long panels of burlap wasps or nematodes can be purchased from farm
or netting over the doorway, impregnated with fly and garden suppliers. When sprinkled on manure
spray. These will brush off and repel any flies al- or other breeding areas, they hatch and parasitize
Fly Mask immature flies to reduce the number that reach
ready on the horse as he pushes his way through
the doorway—just make sure you train the horse adulthood. Feed-through fly control products,
that he can get through what might look like an added to each horse’s feed, pass harmlessly
impenetrable barrier. In addition, stabling horses through his system but then kill any insect larvae
during flies’ peak periods of activity may also hatched in the manure.
help—turn them out at night if daylight fliers, like ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
black flies, are prevalent. Horses sensitive to culi- enough heat to kill any eggs.
Compost ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
coides do better if stabled at night.
manure. the layer is thin enough that it dries quickly in
This process ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
generates ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ where horses are actively grazing, and keep it
release fine sprays at regular intervals from away from muddy, high-traffic areas that tend to
enough heat nozzles in the ceiling. remain wet.
to kill any ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
eggs. moving in the aisles and stalls can also deter you do the manure. Stable flies are highly
flies: Smaller insects like attracted to the smell of horse urine. It also
houseflies and gnats prefer helps to spread hydrated lime, also called
to fly in still air, and the “slack lime” or agricultural lime, on wet spots
breeze also disperses the on stall floors.
carbon dioxide a horse ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
exhales, which can attract Fill in potholes, clean clogged gutters, repair
some flies. leaking plumbing and pick up unused items,
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ such as flowerpots, old tires and toys, that can
screens in the windows ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
will keep out mosquitoes day, and remove fallen leaves and other debris
and gnats. from troughs.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
available, baited with food, ontrolling flies around the farm may seem
pheromones or other at- like a Sisyphean task—no matter how much
tractants designed to ap- ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
peal to different types of with the basic chores will go a long way toward
flies. House- and stable reducing their numbers. Your horses will thank
CLIX PHOTOGRAPHY

flies are attracted to scent you for it.

lures, such as sugar or
manure. Horseflies are at- The article was originally published in EQUUS
tracted to dark colors, so a 393, June 2010.
 WORKS ON
REPELS KILLS MORE THAN
JUST FLIES

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 FLIES ARE COMING
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E Q U U S A D V A N TA G E SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
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Farnam® Grand Champion™
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UltraShield® Fly Masks are the new
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Whether you’re in the
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The mesh blocks up to 80% of harmful
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 E Q U U S A D V A N T A G E
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
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 raising the bar
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A R E M OVAB L E N O SE A ND MORE
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S AME A DVA NC ED FA B RI C S
We made sure to keep what was working,
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Ears are crafted from a sport knit that’s
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 Fly Predators ®

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“I love using Fly Predators,
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Fly Predators are tiny

beneficial insects you
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areas once a month during
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kill flies before they emerge, saving
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They’re the safe, easy-to-use Quick and Easy-To-Use

natural alternative to spraying During warm months we will send you a
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endless traps, Simply sprinkle them where flies
Horses Fly Predators Cost
only to have flies reproduce, such as manure areas that
5,000 Fly Predators per Month Delivered
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EQ TRUETALE
A change
B
efore you judge my cold-
heartedness too harshly, I
want you to know that I share
this story only in the hope
that it will prevent you, too, from
committing the equestrian equivalent
of the unforgivable sin.
I have owned Pollyanna, my 25-year-
old Percheron/Thoroughbred mare,
since just before she turned 2. She was
my first horse, and she taught me more
about horses and riding than all of the
books, magazines, DVDs and seminars
combined ever could have. She saved
me from serious injury at least twice
and carried me over any cross-country
course I was brave enough to attempt.
She always did well in the dressage por-
tion of combined training events, yet I
must confess that I got somewhat tired
of the judges’ comments that described
my horse as “cute.” I’m sure these were
well-intended, but they did feel some-
what condescending.
So as Pollyanna began to age, I de-
cided that this time around I would look
for a horse who would engender more
respect. One day, I found just what I
was seeking: 17 hands of long-legged
beauty, wrapped in a blood bay coat
with four white stockings and a sym-
metrical blaze---like one of the horse
figurines from my childhood come to
life. Watching this powerful, perfectly
balanced athlete float across the field
in a herd of 20 other Thoroughbreds,
I thought I might just have found the
horse of my dreams.
I was told Devon had been brought
home from the track for breeding,
so the owner was reluctant to sell.
But we did finally manage to strike a
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
I had become so
enamored with my flashy
new mare that I spent
less and less time with
my old mare, Polly.
Then a crisis forced
me to recognize what
really matters.
By Cheryl Rivers
deal that included me adopting a
second older Thoroughbred mare,
named Julep, who needed a home. I
could hardly believe that Devon was
about to become mine.
I admit I did feel somewhat guilty
about getting another horse to ride.
Polly had been more faithful to me
than many of my human friends. The
longest we’d ever been separated was
one six-month stretch when I was away
at school. For months I’d worried she
might forget me, but then when I re-
turned to the farm in my old pickup, I
was shocked to see her head come up
at the familiar sound of my engine. Her
of heart
rapid trot to the gate to greet me re-
duced me to tears.
I would never sell Polly, but she had
let me know that she was ready to re-
tire. So my plan was
TRUE BEAUTY: to keep Polly happy
Cheryl Rivers and safe, give a
ultimately realized home to Julep,
that her “dream and enjoy train-
horse” was Polly, ing my new dream
“my faithful friend horse, Devon.
of more than What I hadn’t
20 years.” taken into ac-
count was the new
herd dynamic. The two Thoroughbreds
quickly bonded with each other, push-
ing Polly to the bottom of their pecking
order. When I walked out to the pasture
to pet Polly, the other two quickly drove
her away. I started pulling her out of the
large pasture to spend time with her up
close to the house, but this only seemed
to exacerbate the problem.
It was getting harder, too, to see
Polly’s beauty next to the statuesque
Thoroughbreds. Her larger head and
stockier legs seemed almost ridiculous
by comparison; her gait looked cumber-
some as she ambled through the pas-
ture in their wake. And sometimes, as
the brush was gliding effortlessly over
the satiny sheen of Julep or Devon’s
slick coat, I found myself feeling grate-
ful I wasn’t struggling to work a brush
through Polly’s long, dense hair.
It was never a conscious choice, but
before I realized what was happening,
Polly started to slip away. I was spend-
ing less time with her, and caring for
her was beginning to feel less reward-
ing. She became despondent and with-
drawn, and when I came out into the
E q U U S 4 8 7 77
 pasture with treats, she often didn’t of Devon and threw my hands in the
even try to approach. air hoping to slow her rapid trot. She
I’m embarrassed to say, this situa- paused just long enough for me to
tion might have gone on indefinitely. swing a rope around her neck. I was
But then a student living at my farm just slipping the halter over her ears
made a serious mistake. Coming home when Julep sank her long teeth into the
late one night, she drove up the drive- younger mare’s hindquarters. Devon ex-
way and forgot to stop and close the ploded. Although I managed to avoid be-
gate. Reaching the house, she looked ing trampled, I found myself sprawled
up into the rearview mirror just in time on the pavement gasping for air as I
to see the three horses jogging out to- watched all three horses rushing down
ward the road. the road past my house---headed right
She came to tell me apologetically toward a busy intersection.
what she had done, and I sprang out the I could see the impending catas-
door and sprinted toward the gate, paus- trophe unfolding as if I had fallen into
ing only to grab three halters. When we a nightmare: I envisioned my horses
reached the road, the horses were no- crushed by a car or a truck or slipping
where in sight. Standing by the dark, down on the pavement in front of on-
unlit road and knowing the disastrous coming traffic.
consequences of a car rounding the cor- In sheer desperation, not having
ner too fast on such a moonless night, any real hope that it would work, I
I felt a chill run down my spine and a scrambled to my feet, took a deep
churning in the pit of my stomach. breath, and yelled as loudly as I could,
As I stood by the road peering into “Polly! Whoa!”
the darkness, halters in hand, a car Despite the aggressive Julep driving
pulled up. The driver told me that had her from behind, and the natural panic
just passed three horses about a quar- of any prey animal running into the
ter of a mile down the road. With a unknown, Polly stopped.
nod of thanks, I took off running, look- Scarcely believing what I was seeing,
ing for the familiar glow of Polly’s gray I watched as Polly hunched down in fear
coat in the dark. The
quarter mile quickly I could see the impending catastrophe
stretched to a half unfolding as if I had fallen into a
before I heard the nightmare: I envisioned my horses
sound of hooves on crushed by a car or a truck or slipping
pavement. In the inky
down on the pavement in front of
night, I could barely
see Polly almost ob-
oncoming traffic.
scured by the shadow of the two darker of the mare nipping at her hindquar-
Thoroughbreds. Knowing that if I could ters, then managed to swerve around
catch just one horse, the other two and turn to face me. Breathlessly I
might follow, I decided to choose. began calling her with the “kissy”
I’m ashamed to admit Polly wasn’t sound we had shared for more than
my choice. I’d like to say this was be- 20 years and stood in disbelief and
cause I felt certain that Polly would gratitude as she took several tentative
obediently follow the other two. But steps toward me.
to be honest with you, as well as with “Good girl!” I reassured her and
myself, I must admit that my flashy began walking to meet her. The
Thoroughbred had become more impor- Thoroughbreds had paused to consider
tant to me. whether to drive Polly along with them
The three were all coming back my or continue their flight on their own.
way now, and I stepped out in front Polly met me more than halfway, and

78 E q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
when I pointed to the open gate, she
quickly trotted inside before Julep, who
was coming back, could attempt to drive
her in the other direction.
The two Thoroughbreds paused in
the road, throwing their heads in the
air and snorting as they sized up the
situation. As I watched their ears swivel
to follow the sound of Polly’s hooves
receding up the driveway, I suddenly
realized that the mares were rapidly
becoming silhouettes in the headlights
of an approaching car. We were only
heartbeats away from disaster.
As Julep and Devon tensed to bolt
from the alien monster roaring up the
road behind them, I caught a blur of
white out of the corner of my eye.
Polly had returned and now stood just
inside the fence, calling for them. Her
whinny generated just enough indeci-
sion in the mares that I exploited by
waving my arms and clucking as I
dove in behind them.
My elegant “dream horse” and her
royally bred friend floated through the
gate and up the driveway without giving
me a second glance. I ran in, shut the
gate, and went to wrap my arms around
Polly’s thick neck. She stood motionless
as the other two mares continued their
flight toward the barn. I hugged her as
we stood together in the dark while the
tears ran down my face.

H
ow could I have been so blind?
I already had my dream horse,
my faithful friend of more than
20 years. Others may look at her and
see only her platter-size feet, thick legs
and large head, but what I see is a heart
that is faithful and true beyond any Modern Gymnastics: Systematic Training for Jumping Horses
by James Wofford
measure of reason or training. And that Olympic eventing medalist and five-time US National Champion Jim
makes her more beautiful than the pret- Wofford's proven system for teaching horses to jump will improve any
tiest horse on the planet. horse's performance over fences—while it's clearly explained, progressive
gymnastics strengthen your position and refine your aids. When you make
So if you are lucky enough to have this book part of your horse's training, you'll be using the same program
an old friend who is still in your life, go with which Jim has produced top international riders, including members
wrap your arms around his neck, and of several Olympic eventing teams. Paperback, #ZP20, $24.95

thank him for all the joy he has given

you. Know that his faithfulness is worth
THE EQUINE NETWORK STORE
Official store for EQUUS Magazine S T O R E
more than anything you may hope to
achieve with any other horse. www.EquineNetworkStore.com
a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E q U U S 4 8 7 79
 EQ CONSULTANTS I
Have a question about your horse’s health, care or training? Our experts offer solutions for
a range of equine-management problems. Write to EQUUS Consultants, P.O. Box 7510, Falls
Church, Virginia 22040; email: EQLetters@aimmedia.com. Send photos when helpful.
CHECK US
OUT AT: TRAINING
Dealing with drones

Q:
I was at a 4-H clinic with
my kid, and toward the
end some campers on the
fairgrounds were buzzing a large drone
within 20 feet of the horses and following
some around. I went and talked to the
guys, who had no clue as to how their
actions might affect the kids and horses
----they had no idea their fun might have
serious consequences if a horse spooked.
While I’m not anti-drone, I’d like some
advice on how horse owners should re-

spond to the use of drones in our parks
and along our trails. Also, the technology
is new enough that many people don’t
own a drone they could use to drone-
proof their horses. Most of us make sure
our horses are used to dogs and vehicles,
but what can we do to help them get
used to a large, noisy object flying near
their heads?
My post about this topic to a horse
group on Facebook elicited a range of
responses, ranging from “deal with it”---
all burdens are on the rider and drone
operators have a right to do whatever
they please---to “knock the drone out of
the sky.” Some people said every horse
Facebook.com/ participating in public activities better
EQUUSMagazine be “experienced and bombproof,” which
leaves me wondering how they expect to
get novice horses the experiences they
need to become bombproof. I’d love some
Twitter.com/EQUUSMagazine more suggestions.
Christine Dale
Coggon, Iowa
1 2 3 R F. C O M
Fortunately, horses can
be taught to tolerate
drones. After all, history
shows that horses have
been trained to cope
with far more.
ual needs. I often hear complaints from
bicyclists that every rider tells them to
do something different to avoid spook-
ing horses. So even people who try to
educate themselves are frustrated.
You have to consider which is more
practical: teaching every person who
comes to the park or showgrounds
how to avoid spooking every horse they
might encounter or teaching your own
horse how to cope with whatever scary
things he might face. Clearly, teaching
your horse makes more sense. Fortu-
nately, horses can be taught to tolerate
drones. After all, history shows that

Pinterest.com/EQUUSMagazine
EQUUSmagazine.com
A:
It’s a basic fact of life today
that equestrians share
our public spaces with many
people who know very little about
horses. Compounding the problem
is that every horse has his own individ-
horses can been trained to cope with far
more: Cannons have been in use since
the 13th century, and for hundreds of
years thereafter, cavalry troops had to
desensitize their horses to cannon balls
flying over their heads.

80 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 For the short term, you can simply
habituate your horse to drones.
You say you have already trained your
horse to accept vehicles and dogs,
so I won’t go through the specific
training procedures step by step---
I assume you already know how to
habituate him to scary things. The
basic goal, of course, is to desensitize
a horse to a scary object with gradual
exposure---letting him see the new
object from a comfortable distance,
then slowly bringing it closer over a
number of training sessions until he
accepts it flying quite close.
Because drones are likely to become
more common in our public spaces, I
would suggest buying or borrowing one
and treating it as just another thing to
teach your horse to accept. I checked
online, and you can buy a simple drone
for as little as $30. Since you only want
it for training your horse, you don’t need
a big, expensive model. An additional
advantage to doing this is that you will
have trained your horse to accept other
things flying close to it, like a startled
bird that flies up as you pass.
Habituation does have limitations,
however. You can’t prepare your horse
for every possible scary thing he might
encounter on public trails. For a long-
term solution, it’s much better to build
up your horse’s confidence, which will
help him deal with whatever he encoun-
ters in his environment.
Horses can have two types of con-
fidence. Those that are self-confident
are also known as “bombproof.” These
horses have learned to stay calm no
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Not all horses achieve that level
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of self-confidence. Those that can’t, full potential–whether you're a weekend trail rider or serious competitor.
however, can be taught the second #ZF915, 360 pp, $32.95
kind of confidence: trust in the rider.
A horse with this kind of confidence THE EQUINE NETWORK STORE
will look to his rider for leadership Official store for EQUUS Magazine S T O R E
when faced with a scary thing. I teach
all my horses, “You don’t have to worry www.EquineNetworkStore.com
a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 81
 about that; you’re with me.” Even so,
horses like this need to be matched
with riders who have the skills and
experience to remain calm during
flare-ups of bad behavior.
So how do we help novice horses
S T O R E build confidence? The short answer
is, “one step at a time.” To teach any of
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Within these pages, you’ll find: aluable guidelines for evaluating himself and in you---as he masters any
the suitability of horses for various activities, hundreds of photos,
skills you teach him, as you work with
charts, and drawings explaining various body parts and the way
they work together, and much more. Paperback him on your own or with a trainer.
The specific training exercises you’re
engaging in can be just about anything
---basic groundwork as well as work
building skills under saddle. It can
also be helpful to attend clinics or
engage in exercises on your own
that are designed to teach “sensory
training” or “mounted police training”
to bombproof a horse. As your horse
Equine Anatomy Charts learns new skills and is rewarded
Highly detailed wall charts are full-color, 20w x 26h, and laminated. Hang it in barns
appropriately at each step along the
for education and to improve communication between veterinarians, blacksmiths
and horse owners. way, he will gain trust in you and in
A must have for horse lover equine student’s library! himself. Confidence is built on many
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FORELIMB ANATOMY CHART............................. ZESC5L STALLION ANATOMY CHART ............................ ZESC11L training must be self-confident; you
NAVICULAR ANATOMY CHART ........................... ZESC6L FOALING WALL CHART .................................... ZESC12L cannot teach a horse not to be afraid
if you are afraid yourself. This is why
groundwork exercises can be helpful;
working a horse on the ground in a
fenced area can reduce your own fears,
thus reducing your horse’s fears. If you
have difficulty controlling your own
nervousness, your best option is to seek
help from a professional trainer.
It is also important not to ask a horse
for too much at a time. Confronting him
with something he is not prepared to
face can make him more fearful.
One last point, regarding the belief
Official store EQUUS Magazine someone expressed on Facebook about
drone operators having “the right to
www.EquineNetworkStore.com do whatever they please”---no, they do
not. The operation of drones, which

82 E Q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 As your horse learns new
skills and is rewarded
appropriately, he will
gain trust in you and in
himself. Confidence is built
on small successes.
are technically known as unmanned
aircraft systems, is governed by the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration (FAA), and
many local jurisdictions have their own
restrictions. One FAA rule states, “Do
not fly directly over people.” The opera-
tors who flew their drone within 20 feet
of your horses were violating this rule---
although they may have been unaware
of it. However, the fact that they were
doing something wrong doesn’t change
the fact that we will all be safer if we
have prepared our horses for the possi-
bility that we may encounter people who
don’t know any better.
If incidents like the one you describe
become more frequent, I’d recommend
taking the issue to the managers of the
park or showgrounds and encouraging
them to set and enforce rules for drone
operators. Just hoping that a person
who knows very little about horses
never shows up with a drone while you
are riding is not a successful strategy.
Kat Swigart
Bar H Ranch
Ontario, California

THIS MONTH’S EXPERT

Kat Swigart is a
horse trainer in
Southern California
who specializes in
teaching horses new
things—and teaching owners how to Expert Guide to Horse Trailers & Safe Trailering
do these new things with their horses.
Top experts share their savvy advice on trailer buying, trailer
In addition to saddle breaking horses
training, on-the-road safety, and equine travel. Is your trailer
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as diverse as long distance trail riding to willingly load into your trailer? Which equine traveling
at different speeds over varied terrain; papers do you need — and why? Hitch Up & Go provides
jumping, dressage and eventing; team expert answers to these questions and much more.
penning and cattle work; and carriage , 80pp.
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that do all of these things. S T O R E

a p r i l 2 0 1 8 E Q U U S 4 8 7 83
EQ STOCK&TRADE
AGAINST LUMPS AND BUMPS
䊳 Product: Roma Air Flow Shock Absorber
Splint Boots
䊳 Description: Designed to provide hard-
working horses with comfort and protection,
the Roma Air Flow Splint Boot has a breath-
able, shock-absorbent outer shell and a
durable PVC strike pad. Lined with soft
neoprene, the boots have touch-tape
closures that allow for an adjustable fit.
Available in black, blue, pink or white,
in sizes pony, cob or full.
䊳 Price: suggested retail, $32.99
䊳 Source: Available through local and
online Roma dealers
A TOUCH OF LUXURY
䊳 Product: The Renwick & Sons Grooming Kit
䊳 Description: Combining traditional craftsmanship with new technology, the
Renwick & Sons Grooming Kit is composed of nine tools: a body brush, finishing
brush, dandy brush, flick brush, face brush, currycomb, tail brush, hoof pick and
comb. The brushes have ethically sourced European hardwood handles and bristles
made of polymers bonded with the mineral tourmaline to give them antibacterial and
static-reducing properties. The full-grain leather straps are available in four colors
and sizes. The kit comes with a metal case.
䊳 Price: suggested retail, £400 (currently $552.28)
䊳 Source: Renwick & Sons; www.renwickandsons.co.uk
84 E q U U S 4 8 7
FOR STRONGER BONES
䊳 Product: SmartOsteo Pellets
䊳 Description: For performance
horses and those recovering from injury,
SmartOsteo Pellets are formulated to
help keep bones strong and resilient.
The supplement contains Cinq-B, which is
a proprietary blend of boron compounds,
a mineral used to encourage healthy bone
growth. Additional ingredients include hy-
drolyzed collagen, silica, calcium, zinc,
copper and other vitamins and minerals
that support bone health and healing. For
a horse weighing 1,000 to 1,500 pounds,
the manufacturer recommends feeding 50
grams daily.
䊳 Price: suggested retail, $38.91 for a
28-day supply of SmartPaks, $77.86
for a 6.2-pound bag, $139.72 for a
12.4-pound bucket
䊳 Source: SmartPak Equine; 800-461-
8898; www.SmartPak.com
The information presented in Stock & Trade
is provided by the manufacturers. Inclusion
in this column does not constitute an en-
dorsement by the magazine.
a p r i l 2 0 1 8
 THE 6-WEEK RIDER FITNESS PROGRAM
WITH KELLY ALTSCHWAGER

ARE YOU READY TO BE

SADDLE STRONG?

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EQ GLOSSARY
allergen---substance that induces an allergic
reaction.
ASTM/SEI---U.S.-based certification which
indicates that protective riding helmets and
vests meet the safety standards specified by
the American Society for Testing and Materials
(now called ASTM International) as tested in
independent laboratories conditions by the
Safety Equipment Institute.
body condition score (BCS)---a designation,
based on a nine-point numeric scale, indicating
the amount of fat on a horse’s body. A BCS is
assigned after a visual and hands-on appraisal.
colic---pain in the abdomen.
collagen---fibrous network that forms the basic
framework of body tissue.
corticosteroids---analogs of the hormone
cortisol produced primarily by the adrenal
glands; they may be natural or synthetically
produced for injection.
eczema---noncontagious inflammation of
the skin.
equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)---
endocrine disorder characterized by increased
fat deposits in specific locations of the
body or overall obesity; insulin resistance,
which leads to abnormally high levels of the
hormone circulating in the bloodstream; and a
predisposition toward laminitis in the absence
of other recognized causes.
ASSOCIATIONS
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BARNS, STALLS & FOOTING
ClearSpan Fabric Structures
www.clearspan.com.....................................................51
EVENTS
Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
www.kentuckythreedayevent.com...............................63
FARM & RANCH EQUIPMENT
DR Power Grader........www.drpowergrader.com ........86
Haygain .......................www.haygain.com ..................78
Kubota .........................www.kubotausa.com ................3
GROOMING
Cowboy Magic ............www.cowboymagic.com .........79
Mane ‘n Tail................www.manentail.com ...............81
HEALTH CARE
AAdequan (Luitpold)...www.adequan.com ..................23
Banixx..........................www.banixx.com.....................10
Buggzo (HorseTech)...www.horsetech.com .................74
ClariFly (Central Life Sciences)
www.centralflycontrol.com ..........................................19
Cool Calories (MannaPro)
www.coolcalories100.com/eq .....................................28
EquiOtic (Bluegrass Animal Health)
www.equiotic.com .......................................................49
Fly Predators (Spalding)
www.spalding-labs.com/2veg2 ...................................76
A p r i l 2 0 1 8
hives (urticaria)---soft, raised bumps, one-third
to more than an inch in diameter, which break
out simultaneously in groups in response to an
allergic reaction.
inapparent carrier---individual testing
positive to a disease but not showing any of
its signs.
insulin resistance---metabolic disorder,
similar to type 2 diabetes, that occurs when
certain cells in the body become less sensitive
to the action of insulin, and normal amounts
of the hormone can no longer keep adequate
amounts of glucose moving into the cells for
use as fuel.
laminitis---inflammation of the sensitive plates
of soft tissue (laminae) within the horse’s foot
caused by physical or physiologic injury. Severe
cases of laminitis may result in founder, an
internal deformity of the foot. Acute laminitis
sets in rapidly and usually responds to
appropriate, intensive treatment, while chronic
laminitis is a persistent, long-term condition
that may be unresponsive to treatment.
photodynamic---having the property of
producing a toxic or otherwise damaging
reaction when stimulated by light; a horse
who ingests photodynamic chemicals in
toxic plants may experience severe burns in
areas where sunlight penetrates unprotected
pink skin.
pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID,
Cushing’s syndrome)---disease caused when
the adrenal gland produces excessive amounts
of hormones, including cortisol; signs include
persistent long hair, thin skin, fragile bones,
stupor, weakness and sweating.
ADVERTISERS’ PRODUCT GUIDE
Foxden Equine.............www.foxdenequine.com .........86
Grand Champion (Farnam)......www.farnam.com ........15
HEAVE HO........www.horsehealthusa.com..................27
HEIRO ..............www.horsehealthusa.com ..................27
IceHorse (Mackinnon).......www.icehorse.net ...............6
Life Data Labs .............www.lifedatalabs.com ............20
NutrientWise (Kentucky Performance Products)
www.kppvet.com..........................................................21
Nutrigood (MannaPro)
www.nutrigoodtreats.com/EQ .................................. CV2
Osphos (Dechra)..........www.osphos.com......................7
Platinum Performance GI
www.platinumperformance.com .............................. CV4
Prestige (Merck)
www.merck-animal-health-equine.com ........................2
PuriShield (Farnam)........www.farnam.com .................24
Senior Supplements (Farnam)......www.farnam.com CV3
SimpliFly (Farnam)..........www.farnam.com .................69
Soft-Ride Ice Spa ........www.softrideboots.com............4
SmartPak
www.smartpak.com/horsehealthchallenge...................1
SmartPak......www.smartpak.com/noflyzone...............72
Theracyn (MannaPro)
www.theracyn.com/EQ ................................................55
Tildren (Bimeda Equine)
www.bimedaequine.com ...............................................8
Ulcergard (Boehringer Ingelheim)
www.thestomachtowin.com ..........................................9
UltraShield Fly Mask (W.F. Young)
www.absorbine.com ....................................................67
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)---a
technique which is used to amplify the number
of copies of a specific region of DNA, in order to
produce enough DNA to be adequately tested.
This technique can be used to identify, with a
very high probability, disease-causing viruses
and/or bacteria.
Potomac horse fever (monocytic ehrlichiosis)
---disease caused by a rickettsial organism,
Neorickettsia risticii. Named after the Potomac
River Valley where it was first recognized in
1979, the disease is characterized by fever,
diarrhea and laminitis.
recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)---
respiratory disease, usually of older horses,
induced by exposure to dusts typically found in
stables. The disease is recurrent, depending on
environmental exposure. The term “heaves” can
also be used to describe RAO.
seroconversion---the development of detectable
levels of antibodies in the bloodstream as a
result of infection or immunization.
thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation
test---screening test that measures levels
of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
in a horse’s blood before and after the
administration of synthetic thyrotropin-
releasing hormone (TRH); used to diagnose
pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, also
known as Cushing’s syndrome.
ultrasound---high-frequency sound waves,
above the range of human hearing. Ultrasound
is used diagnostically, to image body structures,
and therapeutically, to break down unwanted
tissue and promote healing by stimulating
circulation.
UltraShield Fly Spray (W.F. Young)
www.absorbine.com ....................................................75
Uniprim (Neogen).........www.neogen.com...................41
Vetera (Boehringer Ingelheim)
www.vetera-vaccines.com ...........................................33
PUBLICATIONS, VIDEO, AUDIO & WEBSITES
Dressage Training Online
www.dressagetrainingonline.com ...............................69
Equine.com........www.equine.com ..............................50
Equine Network Store
www.equinenetworkstore.com................................8, 53
Equisearch.......www.equisearch.com............................6
A Home for Every Horse
www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com ...................................38
REAL ESTATE
Three Runs Plantation
www.threerunsplantation.com ......................................9
TACK & EQUIPMENT
Nikwax ........................www.nikwax.com......................4
TRANSPORTATION
USRider ..................... www.usrider.org ....................57
Equus Issue 487 (ISSN 0149-0672/USPS 501-430) Copyright 2018, Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All
rights reserved. Published monthly by Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company.
The known office of publication is at 5720 Flatiron Parkway Boulder, CO 80301. Periodicals postage
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Reprints: Contact Wright’s Reprints to purchase quality custom reprints or e-prints of articles ap-
pearing in this publication at (877)652-5295 (281-419-5725 outside the U.S. and Canada).
E q U U S 4 8 7 87
 EQ BACKPAGE I

Heavy metal
M
any years ago, the
place now known as
Stagecoach, Nevada,
was wild and empty,
home mainly to sagebrush and mus-
tangs. The first sign of Western civili-
zation was a stagecoach stop along the
Pony Express route for those heading
toward the newly discovered gold fields
in western Nevada and beyond. In the
years since, the town has grown and,
more recently, it has become popular
for people who want to live among the
wide-open spaces while commuting to
Reno and other nearby cities.
When my wife and I decided to move
to Nevada, we gravitated
to Stagecoach. Soon
we bought horses.
We also built cor-
rals and barns.
And we began
to discover that
the dirt under
our feet was
thick with nails,
bits of wire and
HIDDEN: In just one day,
a rolling magnet pulled a
surprising amount of debris (above)
from the ground at the Nevada property
owned by Harold and Diana Miller.
With a powerful magnet, leaving behind little potholes, so one
Christmas my wife gave me a rolling
I unearthed fascinating
magnet. It’s an 18-inch-wide magnet-
artifacts and debris ic bar on wheels, and it’s so strong it
that hint at the history draws metal out of the ground and onto
of my property. What’s the bar---no excavation necessary.
underneath the land Recently, I was getting ready to
you ride on? clean stalls when I spied my magnet
on wheels and decided a stroll around
By Harold Roy Miller the yard sounded like a better option
just then. I’d been over the area recent-
other metal debris, even in areas where ly with a metal detector, so I didn’t
we hadn’t done any construction. A few expect to find much, but of course,
times, we had a horse step on a nail, it’s always a good idea to see if there
and I don’t need to tell you about the might be something more.
worry and pain that resulted. Boy was there. I made a few passes
So for our horses’ sake as well along the riding paths, and before long
as our own, we try to keep I had a small pile of metal fragments,
our barnyard and riding including a collection of nails, screws,
areas free of hidden metal washers, wire, a safety pin and
debris. Easier said other bits of Stagecoach history. I
than done. I have couldn’t believe it. All of this was lying
gone over our small right under where we ride our horses---
spread with a metal in ground I had covered with the metal
detector many times detector many times before and not too
over the years, and I long ago at that.
am still amazed at the I just shook my head in disbelief.
nails, wire and various It was a real blessing that none of our
pieces of hard- horses had ever picked up one of those
ware I always wicked nails in a hoof.
find. You might How did all this metal trash get
think I would here? I don’t know. It seems like more
have gotten all than just careless builders from when
of the metal our house was built. Perhaps it’s just
off of the place a reminder that the land we ride on
after so many has a history, and artifacts and debris
tries, but not from centuries past still lie underfoot.
so far. Weather and other forces can bring
When I this stuff to the surface at any time,
dug out the so we need to be vigilant about protect-
debris that my ing our horses.
metal detec- And, if you ever find mysterious
tor found, how- metal debris on your farm, I highly
ever, it was dif- recommend this little magnet on
ficult to avoid wheels. It’s a right handy tool.

88 E q U U S 4 8 7 a p r i l 2 0 1 8
INTRODUCING

Senior Supplements from Farnam

He’s taken care of you for years. Now it’s your turn.
Some things get better as your horse ages — he’s wiser, confident and more experienced. For everything else, Farnam introduces
two new supplements designed specifically for healthy, active senior horses. Choose one, or use both together. He’ll love you for it!

Farnam® Senior Health & Wellness — Farnam® Senior Active Performance

for senior horses that are in light ASU* — for senior horses that are
or no work working or in competition
Beneficial nutrients: Contains Performance: Helps maintain normal
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants healthy cartilage and joint function
Digestive health: Provides nutrients Joint support: Eases joint stiffness due
that support a healthy digestive to normal daily exercise and activity
system in senior horses
Recovery: Supports normal recovery
Targeted formula: Amino acids time after strenuous activity
support intestinal health and
digestive function

Your Partner in Horse Care™

*Avocado Soybean Unsaponifiables. ©2018 Farnam Companies, Inc. Farnam with design, Farnam and Your Partner in Horse Care are trademarks of Farnam Companies, Inc. #17-11370
 Introducing
Platinum Performance GI ®

Equine Wellness & Performance Formula + Digestive Care

THE HEALTH OF THE EQUINE GUT is correlated to gastrointestinal (GI) function, metabolism,
immunity and more. This is why we have been hard at work researching, formulating, testing and
conducting trials with Platinum Performance® GI. This gastrointestinal-focused approach to total
horse health supports wellness and is recommended for horses in training or competition as well as
senior horses. Platinum Performance® GI can help maintain health while traveling, during antibiotic or
NSAID therapy and for horses that have digestive health concerns or difficulty maintaining weight.

OVERALL WELLNESS DIGESTION IMMUNITY

This veterinary-developed formula Prebiotics nourish the “good” An estimated 70-80% of
provides omega-3 fatty acids, bacteria in the gut and support the immune system resides in
antioxidants, vitamins and trace minerals, the digestion of fiber, while the gut. Nourishing the beneficial
along with Bio-Sponge®, prebiotics, probiotics are important for bacteria can help support a healthy gut
probiotics and glutamine for GI support. absorption of nutrients. barrier and microflora balance.

To find the right Platinum Performance® solution, and to learn about the science behind the supplements, call or visit our website, or speak with your equine veterinarian.

PlatinumPerformance.com | 800-553-2400
© 2018 PLATINUM PERFORMANCE, INC.