The following article discusses basics of mare reproduction, which as day length continues to increase so will the mare begin to show signs of estrus.
Check out the following article to get more information: https://horses.extension.org/mare-seasonality/
Arthritis is a common problem in horses, especially older ones. It is inflammation of a joint and associated with symptoms from stiffness to severe and painful. It is caused by wear and tear of the joints over time or from injury or trauma. It can’t be cured and is difficult to treat, but it can be managed. Some signs of arthritis include swelling of the joints, limited range of motion, stiff gait, lameness, and pain severe enough that horses don’t want to move. Always consult your veterinary to make sure that it is arthritis and not another condition or disease affecting your horse. Your vet can also work with you on a plan to manage the pain that works best for your situation. Treatment can include joint protectants, pain relief medicines and injections. Also talk to your vet about other therapies such as monitoring weight, exercise levels and stretching to help alleviate the pain.
University of Minnesota Extension has an article on Caring for your senior horse which has a section about Managing Arthritis.
The College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a series of articles around this topic which goes into more detail about joint function and treatment options available and some recent research developments to help with treatment.
· MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE EQUINE ATHLETE
Hopefully these articles will give you more in-sight into ways to help manage arthritis in your horse.
Ask these 10 questions when buying horse hay
This article originally written by C.J. Weddle, for Hay and Forage Grower e-newsletter
When purchasing horse hay, one must be mindful of a number of considerations before any money exchanges hands. Krishona Martinson, extension equine specialist at the University of Minnesota, provides 10 questions to ask when securing hay for your horses in her Horse Newsletter.
1. Have you sold to horse owners before, or do you specialize in hay for horses? How much hay do you have or bale each year?
Horses are prone to health issues related to hay consumption. Weather events, how the hay is grown, and the way it is harvested and stored can all impact a horse’s health. Farmers that regularly produce hay for horses know what can cause health issues and try to prevent them. Asking how much hay a farmer grows can help you ensure that they can be a consistent supplier.
2. What kind of bales are available (small or large square bales and/or round bales)? What is the average weight of the bales?
Not all hay farmers have each type of bale available for sale. Similarly, not all horse owners are properly equipped to feed all bale types. With your preference in mind, make sure to ask hay suppliers how much of each bale type is available.
Knowing the average weight of bales will help you calculate the best bang for your buck. As Martinson explains, buying 50-pound bales at $6 each ($240 per ton) is a better buy than 35-pound bales at $5 each ($286 per ton).
3. What species are present in the hay?
Legume and grass species have very different nutrient values, which are both important in a balanced diet.
“Legumes, like alfalfa, tend to be higher in crude protein, energy, and calcium, and lower in nonstructural carbohydrates and fiber values compared to cool-season grasses,” says Martinson.
4. How mature is the hay?
Maturity is the main driver in forage quality. More mature forages have larger stems and flowers (legume species) and seedheads (grass species), which are by no means “bad forages.” However, they are better suited for idle horses, while less mature forages tend to be better for horses with higher activity levels and caloric requirements.
5. Where was the hay harvested?
This question helps you confirm that the hay was not harvested from road ditches, which can contain roadkill carcasses, garbage, and weeds.
6. Was the hay rained on?
Martinson states that rained on hay can actually be a good choice for horses with metabolic problems, as it tends to be lower in nonstructural carbohydrates. Although, hay that receives excessive rainfall is usually not a good option for horses in general.
7. Was the hay stored inside or under cover after baling?
Proper storage helps to preserve the quality of the hay and prevent a loss in volume. Hay that is uncovered is more susceptible to mold and bale deterioration.
8. Was the hayfield fertilized and/or sprayed for weeds?
“Fields that have been fertilized show good management and likely produce a better quality hay,” notes Martinson.
Weed control is very important, too, considering that hay for horses should have less than 10% nontoxic weeds; there is zero tolerance for poisonous plants in horse hay. Being able to identify desirable forage species can help hay growers and horse owners identify weeds in the hay.
9. What is the price?
Knowing the price of the hay you intend to buy is important for many reasons. As stated earlier, comparing prices can save you a significant amount of money when buying in bulk. Inquiries about bulk and cash discounts are other ways to save a few dollars. Additional payment options may include monthly installments or other plans to be discussed between you and the hay supplier.
10. Is delivery available?
If so, at what cost? Find out if onsite assistance will be available for unloading and stacking. These questions are often overlooked but are very important and can help you manage hay transportation.
While some of these questions may not be first on your list to ask hay suppliers, none of these issues should be overlooked. Most importantly, find a hay supplier who you can develop a good working relationship with from year-to-year.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus.
“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent. But, both diseases are preventable by vaccination.”
Last year, North Carolina saw its first case of EEE in late July. There were nine recorded cases of EEE in 2020.
State Veterinarian Dr. Doug Meckes recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.
“Nine cases of EEE is a relatively high average for the year. Horse owners need to act now to vaccinate their animals,” Troxler said.
Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.
“If your horses or other equine animals exhibit any symptoms of EEE or WNV, contact your veterinarian immediately,” Meckes said.
People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.
“It’s also a great time to make sure your animal is current on its rabies vaccination,” Troxler said. “In North Carolina, we see about five cases of rabies in livestock each year. Horses are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line.”
As we move into warmer weather, protecting your horses from vector borne diseases should be at the front of your mind. A vector borne disease is a disease that is transmitted by biting or blood sucking insects such as mosquitos, flies and ticks.
Making sure your horse is up to date on their core vaccines is a great place to start. The core vaccines for horses are Rabies, Tetanus, Eastern/Western/Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis(EEE/WEE/VEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). Of these vaccines, EEE/WEE/VEE and WNV are vector borne. Your veterinarian may also recommend additional risk-based vaccines for your area. To learn more about the core equine vaccines click here --> https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines or about the other risk-based vaccines click here -->https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines. You should always work with your vet to develop a vaccine schedule that suits your farm and horses’ specific needs.
Another way to protect your horse is to make sure every horse on your farm, or at the facility where you board your horse, has an up-to-date negative Coggins test. A Coggins test is a blood test done by your veterinarian to test for Equine Infectious Anemia(EIA) and is typically a requirement to enter a horse show or to travel across state lines. EIA can be transmitted by insects as well as contaminated needles or instruments. To learn more about Equine Infectious Anemia and how to prevent it click here-->https://cvm.ncsu.edu/equine-infectious-anemia-facts/.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Coggins test was developed by a veterinarian at NC State University? To read more about Dr Coggins click here-->https://cvm.ncsu.edu/remembering-dr-coggins-pioneer-in-equine-health-creator-of-coggins-test/.
Have a wonderful Spring and stay safe!
