Saddle Selection and Proper Fitting

Remember the last time you had a pair of pants, boots or other item of clothing that just didn’t fit right?  Remember how it felt?  Now, imagine having to wear said item of ill-fitted clothing while you carry around extra weight.  This analogy is meant to leave you thinking what it might feel like to be a horse with a saddle that doesn’t fit well.

No one wants their horse to be uncomfortable if they can help it.  Check out the following articles from Cooperative Extension then head out to the barn and saddle up to make sure your horse’s saddle fits properly.

Saddle Fit for Horse and Rider 

Selecting a Saddle 

Fitting the Western or English Saddle to the Horse 

American Quarter Horse Foundation Offering College Scholarships

Please see this link to check if you qualify for an American Quarter Horse Foundation college scholarship.  Applications due December 1st.  http://aqha.com/Foundation/Content-Pages/Scholarships/Application.aspx

Motile=Motile…right?

When talking about the stallion in a breeding situation, the sperm count and motility are often mentioned. The sperm is the male gamete and is responsible for fertilization of the ovum. In order for the sperm to penetrate and fertilize, they must be motile.

 

Motility refers to the movement of sperm. They must be actively moving, or “swimming,” to even have a chance of fertilizing. When talking about motility in semen evaluations, the critical part is the progressively motile sperm. These are the cells moving in a straight line (more or less). Total motility is just the percentage of sperm that are moving in any direction. A stallion’s fertility is often based on the progressive motility of his sperm (in addition to the concentration, morphology, and other factors).

For equine semen to be termed “progressively motile,” the sperm must demonstrate ≥75% straightness. The formula for this definition is: Percentage straightness = ^VSL/_VAP x 100 where VSL is “velocity straight line” and VAP is “velocity average path.” These can be evaluated and calculated using the software termed CASA (Computer Assisted Semen Analysis). When examining a collection for motility, diluting the sample to 25 million sperm/ml or lower is ideal. A short video is taken by the computer and evaluates the differences in sperm movement--providing details about the sample, including total and progressive motility. Typically 50-60% progressive motility is considered “good” for stallions. Remember this is a percentage, the velocity and total sperm numbers must be taken into account in determining fertility.

Semen evaluation is done in several species, including equine, when the fertility of the male is called into question or when performing AI. Other than the Thoroughbred industry, it is not uncommon to obtain “superior” genetics through AI systems.

I’ve added the links for several videos of CASA evaluations…note the differences between the good, poor and average motilities.

Good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URrE7nVS2A4&feature=player_embedded

Poor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig4eC7uQTVI&feature=player_embedded

Average: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXI9YPqWWhE&feature=player_embedded

http://www.equine-reproduction.com/articles/Sperm-Motility.shtml

 By Stefani Garbacik

Horses and Hernias

Summer is here, and with it comes an increase in grazing.  A horses’ overzealous appetite can lead to colic which is​ an upset stomach that can turn deadly for your horse.  When colic makes its presence known, emergency surgery is sometimes the only fix that can save your horses’ life.  After the surgery, you think the whole threat of the situation has passed, but when it comes to hernias, the trouble may have just begun.

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Hernias occur because of a tear in the body wall that allows for the tightly compressed intestines to push themselves out.  Hernias can happen anywhere on a horse no matter what their age.  Mares can experience hernias in the later parts of pregnancy because of the increase stretching of the stomach. Their babies can also develop hernias shortly after birth;​ these are called umbilical hernias.  While the foal is developing in the womb, the umbilical cord brings all the nutrients it needs to grow.​  D​uring the developmental process, the body wall is one of the last parts to close.  ​I​f there is a problem with this process,​ a hernia can occur at birth or within the first few weeks after birth.  Make sure that the hernia and the umbilical cord do not become infected to avoid other problems in the future.

Another type of hernia is a diaphragmatic hernia.  This type of hernia occurs most often following an accident where the chest of the horse was struck.  This can cause a tear in the diaphragm, allowing​

intestines to push their way into the chest cavity which then causes​ colic and difficulty breathing for younger animals.  Horses can also be born with this type of hernia,​ normally occurring behind the sternum which is between the two front legs.​

After surgery, hernias become a problem because the body cavity has been opened and the surrounding skin has been weakened by the incision.  These are called abdominal hernias.  Smaller hernias can correct themselves, but if this does not happen,​ there are two ways to correct a hernia: ​ massaging the intestines back into the body cavity or another surgery.  Massaging the hernia back into the body cavity is the first step, but if the hernia cannot be pushed back,​ then it is time for surgery to become an option. If surgery must be done,​ there are two types to consider: ​ the open and closed surgical methods.  The closed technique is simpler and avoids further possible infections, but this method is not as accurate as the open technique.  The closed technique does not allow for the surgeon to see what the hernia consists of before they begin repairing the tear.  The open technique is precise and allows the veterinarian to see what is occurring inside the hernia, as well other possible problems that could be causing pain to the horse.

Keep an eye out for all types of hernias especially in newborns, older breeding mares, and horses that have just undergone surgery.  If hernias occur, try to massage the sac back into the body daily, ​but ​if this does not correct the problem,​ seek veterinary help.

Written by:  Kelsey Stutts, Richmond County Cooperative Extension Intern

Resources:

Ball , Michael . "Umbilical Hernia." TheHorse.com. The Horse , 1 May 1998. Web. 10 July 2014. <http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10453/umbilical-hernia>.