June 2022 Equine Times

June 2022

Serving the Michigan, Indiana & Ohio Tri-State Horse Community

Long shot Rich Strike stuns all in winning 148th Kentucky Derby Dan Wolken Long shot Rich Strike won the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby on a cool and cloudy Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The victory is one of the most stunning in the history of the Kentucky Derby as little was expected of a horse that went off at 80-1 odds. According to NBC, Rich Strike is the second-biggest long shot to ever win the Kentucky Derby.

Only Donerail in 1913 won the Kentucky Derby with longer odds at 91-1.

Crossing the wire behind Rich Strike was Epicenter, who was the favorite by post time, followed by Zandon, Simplification and Mo Donegal.

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike surveys the crowd gathered around his barn at Churchill Downs, the morning after the race. Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger

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June 2022

Jockey Sonny Leon guided Rich Strike from well back in the 20-horse field to run by favorite Epicenter and Zandon. Rich Strike charged down the stretch to pass the leaders and run the 1¼ mile in 2:02.61.

Rich Strike wasn’t even in the Derby field until Friday when Ethereal Road was scratched, making room for the colt trained by Eric Reed. Both Leon and Reed were in their first Derby.

Outside of the stunning winner, for the Kentucky Derby, this was a return to normal after the COVID19 pandemic. In 2020, the race was delayed to September while it was held in 2021 in front of a limited crowd.

There were no such restrictions this year as fans returned to Churchill Downs in droves despite overcast 58 degree weather.

But it wasn’t a completely normal Derby Day. Bob Baffert, the trainer who has won this race six times, was not allowed to participate after Medina Spirit — who would’ve been his record seventh winner — tested positive for the anti-inflammatory betamethasone eight days after last year’s race.

A long, protracted legal battle over several months has, for now, upheld the two-year suspension Churchill levied against Baffert in addition to the disqualification of Medina Spirit. Two horses who began their careers with Baffert, Taiba and Messier, were transferred to the barn of former Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen, who never started a horse in the Derby before Saturday.

But both Taiba and Messier, who finished 1-2 in the Santa Anita Derby, were supported by bettors and made the second and third choices in the race at odds of 5-1 and 6-1, respectively.

Taiba is owned by Amr Zedan, who also campaigned Medina Spirit.

Contributing: Associated Press

Trail etiquette and safety are closely related since poor trail etiquette typically leads to an unsafe riding experience. Cargill, Inc.

Trail Riding Etiquette Everything you need to know before you hit the trails Krishona Martinson

In a recent survey, horseback trail riders identified seven major reasons for trail riding, including to view the scenery, be close to nature, get away from the usual demands of life, experience nature, explore and discover new things, relax physically and be physically active.

Trail etiquette and safety are closely related since poor trail etiquette typically leads to an unsafe riding experience. Basic trail riding etiquette includes: • Ensuring your horse is properly conditioned for the trail ride and hoof care is appropriate for the terrain • Checking tack regularly for proper fit • Ensuring at least one rider carries a working cell phone • Packing basic horse and human first aid kits and a trail map • Suggesting all riders, especially youth, wear helmets

• Encouraging all rider to wear appropriate clothing and foot wear (boots) • Riding at the level and speed of the least experienced rider • Maintaining at least one horse’s body length between horses • Announcing trail hazards including low branches, holes, dogs, other trail users, and rocks • Checking with other riders before changing gaits • When passing other horseback riders or trail users, ride single file • Ensuring horses depart and return to the trailer at a walk • Allowing horses the opportunity to drink at water crossing and waiting nearby until all horses have drank • Waiting for other riders in your group who have dismounted, for any reason, to remount • Placing a red ribbon on tails of horses known to kick • Avoiding drinking alcohol while riding June 2022

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Changing the narrative: How this Churchill Downs vet is making horse racing safer for all Jason Gonzalez LOUISVILLE, KY. — On a chilly morning on the backside at Churchill Downs, Dr. William Farmer looks over thoroughbred Curlin Lane.

A downpour the night before has turned the famed track into a muddy slog, but the cold doesn't bother Farmer as he looks over the horse, his fingers caked with mud.

It's a normal morning for Farmer, the equine medical director at the historic racetrack.

And if anyone is accustomed to taking on a mess, it’s him.

Farmer, who is known simply as Will around the track, was hired in 2019 by Churchill Downs to develop, direct and enforce new equine health and safety of training and racing horses at Churchill Downs, Inc. in an attempt to decrease the number of horse injuries and fatalities.

In 2018, 16 horses died at Churchill Downs' properties, according to the Equine Injury Database, an average of 2.73 horses out of every 1,000 starts. The national average that same year was 1.68 horses per every 1,000 starts.

Increased scrutiny around the health and safety of the jockeys and thoroughbreds who partake in the sport keeps mounting, especially in light of the recent death of former Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, who was stripped of his crown after a doping scandal involving trainer Bob Baffert.

However, safety has been an ongoing issue in the sport, even before Baffert and Medina Spirit.

During a five-year period at Santa Anita Park in California, 232 racing and training horses died during 44,475 starts, an overage of 5.2 deaths per every 1,000 starts, according to the Equine Injury Database.

Last year, six horses died at Churchill Downs, an average of 1.08 for every 1,000 starts. The national average in 2021 was 1.39 — the lowest it's been since the EID began compiling statistics in 2009.

Horse racing's answer to safety might just be someone like Farmer. At its core, his job is to make everything safer. And he's already making an impact. Farmer and his team of veterinarians do this by completing a series of additional health and safety tests and exams on each horse prior to racing.

"Churchill has always been very proactive in equine safety here and at all of their properties,"

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Farmer, a native of Indiana, told the Courier Journal. "When I came into this role ... we were creating something new. It's been a very fun challenge to kind of make it my own."

But how Farmer and his team are making those changes on the backside at tracks owned by Churchill Downs isn't an overnight solution.

A day in the life at Churchill Downs' Backside Farmer was introduced to veterinary medicine in 2008, the same time that his wife was completing dental school at the University of Louisville. He previously worked as a state veterinarian with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from 2008 to 2016 and was the official veterinarian for the California Horse Racing Board, as well as a consulting veterinarian for the Breeders' Cup. "There are many similarities between my previous roles as a state veterinarian with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and my current role," Farmer said. "Ultimately the two positions have the same goal — to protect the welfare and safety of those horses at our tracks."

Farmer works closely with the KHRC veterinarians to monitor and enforce various safety protocols put in place both by state regulation and as 'house rules,' at various Churchill Downs' properties, including Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans, Louisiana, Ocean Downs in Ocean City, Maryland, Oak Grove Racing in Oak Grove, Kentucky, Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky and others.

Regardless of location, each physical exam is the same, consisting of bending, extending and flexing each of the horse's limbs at the barn and checking for any stiffness or pain. Manipulations of the chest, neck, face and mouth are a part of the routine, too. Farmer also looks for any irregularities that might result in a horse being scratched from racing.

"All Oaks and Derby horses will have multiple physical exams performed in the week leading up to the race," Farmer said, "Which consists of general observation of the horse’s appearance and attitude along with palpation of the horses' legs to feel for

Ulah Tyson nudged vet Dr. William Farmer as he made his rounds to check horses including this horse before they raced at Churchill. Michael Hayman

June 2022

any changes from the normal anatomy."

New safety protocols at Churchill Downs also include pre-entry examinations by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians three days before racing; pre-workout examinations completed by a veterinarian within five days preceding a timed workout; and required examinations for horses that haven't raced for an extended period of time.

"If, during the course of the pre-race examination any issue is identified that could put the horse at risk of injury during the race, the horse is scratched from the race," Farmer told The Courier Journal. "Approximately two out of every 100 horses entered to race is scratched due to pre-race veterinary concerns."

Any horse removed due to veterinary concerns must undergo a thorough veterinary work-up to ensure it is healthy prior to be able to return to racing, he added.

A good portion of Farmer's health and safety role also includes drug testing each horse and screening 1,500 samples of different medications and banned substances, including the diuretic Lasix, which is banned for 2-year-olds and during stakes races but is otherwise allowed.

Lasix, also known as furosemide, an anti-bleeding medication, is used by veterinarians in horse racing to prevent respiratory bleeding in horses that are running at high speed. Blood entering the lungs during high physical activity can cause a pulmonary hemorrhage and result in death.

"Racehorse safety and welfare is the driving force in my career," Farmer said. "In a world where we have sensors in nearly every device we touch, the ability to adapt sensors to be able to collect objective data to improve horse safety is an open

door."

Farmer said the changes in place now are just the beginning.

"Looking forward, I am very excited to see the potential this type of data may have in developing additional protocols to keep our horses even safer," he said.

Ensuring safety in horse racing, Kentucky Derby South Louisville native and thoroughbred horse trainer Dale Romans, just the second trainer in Churchill Downs history to record 700 career victories at the iconic track, said Farmer has already made a huge impact on the sport since 2019.

"We've got to do everything we can to keep the animals safe and the riders safe," Romans said.

"And I think it's been very, very successful. Dr. Farmer uses other things besides just exam statistics on which horses are most likely to have a physical issue, and ... which ones haven't trained the right ways or haven't run in a long time."

Another new policy at Churchill Downs — each trainer, like Romans, is also required to sign a contract, known as the CDI Rules of Racing and Training agreement, that outlines the rules of the equine safety and welfare program, including specific veterinary exam requirements for horses participating in either a high-speed exercise or entering a race.

Having full-time veterinarians on-site, providing full-time dental care for the horses and having a full-time blacksmith readily accessible, along with these new safety procedures, can prevent a bad situation from becoming worse, Romans said.

What people don't realize, he added, is that

PROTECT YOUR LARGE BALE HAY INVE$TMENT!

"horses breakdown on the racetrack almost at the same rate that they break legs and stuff out in fields or running wild.

"We can always go to [Farmer] and ask for advice, or have him look at a horse or help us," Romans said. "Nobody wants to see a horse get hurt."

Those "extra" examinations are there to ensure the health and safety of the thoroughbreds and also potentially prevent horses from being scratched from a race.

"I have had to make that call of scratching a horse out of the Kentucky Derby. It is not something that is fun to do," Farmer said. "At the end of the day, the safety and the welfare of the racehorse is paramount. If there is anything that we feel ... would potentially compromise a horse and make it unsafe on the racetrack, we recommend ... a horse be scratched from the race."

It all goes back to safety and changing the narrative around the sport.

"Many times, stories about our sport are negative in nature," Farmer said. "While this is an important driving force in my career to continue being a better advocate for the horse, there are many more amazing stories of the people’s lives touched and empowered by these amazing athletes both during their racing careers and a second career away from the racetrack."

With around 500 horses competing in races at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week, Farmer has his work cut out for him. But he's hoping it's an "average" week.

"Hopefully [I'm] not busy at all," he said. "If I'm bored, that means it was a great day."

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Trainer Eric Reed nearly 'lost everything' in a barn fire. Now he's a Kentucky Derby winner Jon Hale and Brooks Holton Heading into his first Kentucky Derby, Rich Striketrainer Eric Reed said, "We are entering and hoping and praying."

Consider those prayers answered.

At 80-1 odds, Rich Strike passed favorite Epicenterand Zandon down the stretch to win the 148th Run for the Roses — the second-biggest upset in the history of the storied first leg of the Triple Crown.

"I don't know how (to put the win into words). I fell down in the paddock when he hit the wire. I about passed out. I'm so happy," Reed told NBC after the race, flanked by his father and owner Richard Dawson of RED TR-Racing.

In the final stretch of the race, it looked like Steve Asmussen, the all-time wins leader for North American trainers, was about to end his much-talked about Derby drought with a win from Epicenter. Instead, it was Rich Strike who grabbed the win with a late charge.

The win came in Reed’s first Kentucky Derby.

"We don’t go out and buy the big horses," Reed said. "We just try to have a good, quality stable. We always perform well, our percentages are always good. We take care of the horse first, and the rest falls into place."

A Lexington-based trainer, Reed entered the Derby with just

Trainer Eric Reed plants a kiss on the nose of Rich Strike on Sunday, the morning after the 80-1 longshot won the 2022 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger

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one graded stakes win in his career.

The win came six years after a devastating fire caused by lightning killed 23 horses at his Mercury Equine Center in Lexington. Shortly after learning Rich Strike would make the 20-horse Derby field after a Friday scratch from Ethereal Road, Reed told reporters he was uncertain if he would ever train again after the fire.

Only 13 animals made it out of the fire alive.

"When we drove up on that that night, I told my wife, I said, 'We’ve probably lost everything,'" Reed said. "By the grace of God, the wind was blowing in a direction that kept it from getting to the other two barns. The next morning when we saw the devastation, because this happened in the middle of the night, I just thought of all the years and all the stuff we had done to get this beautiful farm and have this happen, that something might be telling me it’s the end of the line."

Instead, Reed was touched by the large number of people who came out to help in the aftermath of the fire. Many were friends.

Others were strangers who had seen the story.

Several high-profile trainers, who Reed did not name, reached out with promises to help him find clients and horses in the aftermath of the fire.

"I think that kept me going," Reed said. "Then I just decided I wasn’t going to let it take me out. Thank God, we’re here today."

As Reed struggled to make sense of the improbable win, he stood alongside his father, Herbert Reed, a former trainer who never reached the heights his son just had. Herbert was a former assistant trainer under Mack Miller, who won the 1993 Kentucky Derby with Sea Hero.

"If you find something you love to do, you never work," Herbert Reed said. "He found something he loved to do, and he’s good at it. I’m as proud as I can be of him.”

The chances of Reed even having a horse in the field were astronomical.

The trainer of Ethereal Road, D. Wayne Lukas, had won the race four times with 49 career starts, second-most of any trainer.

Reed, meanwhile, does not even have a Wikipedia page.

Reed’s training career began in 1983. He scored his first stakes win with Native Drummer in 1986 in the Forego Stakes at Latonia.

The Mercury Equine Center website lists Reed’s career highlights as a win with Satan’s Quick Chick in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland in 2009 and a near-miss of beating star filly Zenyatta in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes with Rinterval in 2010.

Now there is one more.

"I never thought I would have a Derby horse," Reed said. "I never tried to go to the yearling sale and buy a Derby horse. I just wanted to buy my clients a horse that would keep them happy, have some fun and make a little money. If we got a good one, terrific. This was never in my thoughts."

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CLUB NEWS

Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association Michigan Fox Association Michigan Fox Trotter Trotter Association

Clinic with bronzeand medalist JoAnnefor Coy be WeUSDF haveexpectation resources people available you will to learn is nothing like the of a well-bred foal! held Don't at Pineforget Lake Stables at12300 W .

Pine Lake Road in from and breeders to refer you to if you want to to transfer your newly-bought horse's buy There a youngis one to train or iflimit. you want tobreeds further Plainwell, Michigan. a ten rider All registration papers into your name with the MFTHBA,too. the training with your present horse. and auditors are welcome.

Bring your We are growing!

New member welcomes go outown to Theand MFTHBA needs registered members lunch a chair.

You will learn Naomi Haas, equinetodentist Kris Modreske and Harry fill their committees for 2021. I just agreed groundwork techniques in the Struble all of MI. Naomi rides sorrel sabino gelding to help out on athe Trail Committee again. morning, have a question and (Dexter) and a blackSurely mareyou (Hank's Liberty need Bell can,too!Serenity Various committees answer lunch (bring your members(younger ones too) for their input B). Kris rides a black and white gelding (Radar's Spotted own with Joanne and advice togo increase numbers,think Prior). And congratulations outlunch) toaffiliate Harry Struble on then semiprivate lesson of waysGolden to makeChip, the shows better,to improve and his purchase of Joe's aahandsome buckskin okay National Trail Ride applications,give on gaitingAllinthese theideas aftergelding, from Chuck on Fanslow. memclinics (let's get more closer noon. to our state),getting more verThe cost is one bers are riding quality Fox Trotters!!! satility riders interested,give ideas on training andand picking judges, plus hundred seventy-five New members are welmore. Many positions can be supported remotely. Also,always this is a great dollars for the public and come!

Go to www.michiganfoxway to meet those from other areas of the USA who raise,train and one hundred trotters.com printfifty off dolthe ride MFTs. I have made new friends this way whotoI and would not have lars for MFHA members. otherwise. Contact the MO Fox Trotting Horse Breeding Association membership form. We meet to michiganfoxtrottingvia www.mfthba.com to become aGo member and forsomore virtually all information members horse.com and visit thewithout activion helping out. are able to meet Also, PLEASE send in your and your MFTHBA ties MFTA page dues to print off the registrahaving to drive long dues disasap! tion form andtances. get more information.

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas!

The next and daysafe (July 24) is Committee the Susan Our Event Respectfully submitted, Williams taught natural trail and obstacle clinic atnext the is busy planning Marilynthe Mannino Holland Western Horse Park at 3856 61st Street in has a QH. Sheryl Mox has three and both are interested clinic. It will be a Gaited included a competition for the Holland, Michigan.

Twelve riders will be allowed.

Lunch in our clinics.

Vicky Whitmore of Waterford, Michigan Western Dressage Clinic at most ambitious member who PROTECT YOUR LARGE BALE INVE$TMENT! additional fee. recently purchased registered MFTHAY mare from Indiana. is provided. Camping is available the endfor of an May. More details demonstrates their ahorsemanship There is a one hundred and forty-five dollar cost to particShe plans to trail ride with her.

Aubrey Hart joined and is will be available skills in a wide variety of categories. ipate (one hundred and thirty-five dollarsThe for MFHA and interested in the breed too.

Welcome all! next month. clinician is Quarterly and year-end awards will be HWSP members).

Audit for twenty dollars.

Susan will The Susan Williams trail and obstacle clinic held last top-notch! given. Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com guide youOR through all of thebreed: trail obstacles. month at Morning informs Ionia,toMichigan SWINGING DOORS A little history on our The presto read the rules andView printFarm off the join in onwas a explain andSLIDING Clinician Levi Beechy of West Branch, Michigan (you very important one to get our horses used to different ent-day Missouri Fox Trotter evolved from Morgans in the friendly competition and fun. saw him present at the 2022 Michigan Horse Expo) will stimuli we may experience when out riding.

Susan is an More Fox Trotters are slowly becoming available to New England being crossed with Arabians, Plantation two-day horsemanship at Morning View awesome but instructor taught so many good techHorses, aAmerican Saddlebreds,clinic TWHs and pacing purchase they areand selling fast. us There is a good video on conduct Farm at 3075 Turkey Trail in Ionia, Michigan on August niques on handling our horses.

The intro to cows clinic the correct Fox Trot gait posted on our Face Book site to Standardbreds. The genetic mix of square-trotting horses August (astride). Reserve with to Greg andyou Lisa will be you 27 and(groundwork) pacing horsesand created the 28 comfortable fox trot your gait! refer when areFlower considering anover MFTbytothe buy.time Be sure spot now by sending in your check and registration form read this.

Their Nashville, Michigan farm provided lots of in to bring a knowledgeable person with you,too, when you Missouri Fox Trotting horses have been used by farmers theand activities page states on michiganfoxtrottinghorse. exposuredown to cows expert guidance for everyone who from Missouri surrounding to ride long distances to narrow yourand search.

Breeders, Chuck Fanslow (rivwant misscows, this! pull Ten buggies, riders allowed. attended. check You theirdon't fencing andtowork

by US erflatranch.com) and Gale Gunders (989-534-1207), have com.

Auditors encouraged to attend for twenty-five All The judged trail ride at Ionia, Michigan was held in now people well-gaited young stock available. They also have quality Forest Service workers, by mounted police and dollars. breeds welcome.

Cost is three hundred and fifty dollars May at the equestrian campground at the Ionia Recreation studs to breed to if you have a mare you want bred. Chuck across the United States and Europe use them for recre(three trail hundred andDressage,reining, twenty-five dollars a Area. ationrider (showing, riding, 4H ifand has a Buckskin stallion and a palomino stallion(both sons per MFHA member.

The MFHA versatility challenge (with All are invited to participate in the Great Lakes of Cotton Eyed Joe). Gale has a spotted stallion who will Equestrian Team, Hippotherapy,etc.). They are truly divisions) is can slowly participants. national trail through 10 at Waterloo three versatile and also be gaining found inmore all colors and sizes!Read Try throw color toride yourJuly foal.8 Both are July located in the Gladwin,MI. the on our and get involved!

It's fun Recreation Area in Chelsea, will be sharing 72” x 78” x There 76” one rules out and findwebsite out why everyone loves them so!doing so Contact them if you wantDimensions: toMichigan. have yourWe mare bred. many different things with your MFT! There are nice hosting privileges with the Indiana Fox230Trotter Weight: lbs.

• Removable Grills Association. We will start the ride each day at the quarterly prizes too.

• Panels Our mission is to promote MFTs and to encourage the Horseman's camp. is no fee except for your camping “Hay Huts save andThere preserve Lazy their Susanowners Feeders learn to costs.

Reserve through the Michigan DNR website. There breeding of them as well as to• help the hay.

They keep the hay • Water Bucket Doors weather protected and are will be a potluck Saturday night. MFTHBA member fee enjoy their horses more. horsedollars friendly.”and -CHRIS E N T Emostly R P R I on S E Zoom S • Multiple Door OptionsGo We meet but sometimes in person. is ten willCOX earn a point toward an annual award. Become a member of the MFTHBA now. Go to to our website and Facebook page for updates and to see our list ofSt. sponsors.

We are always welcoming youth and mfthba.com to Weldy sign up and learn about their programs.

Enterprises • 911 E. Waterford Wakarusa, IN 46573 adults interested in this versatile breed.

Send in your 574-862-4491 registration now for the July 23 gaited • 800-628-4728 • FAX 574-862-2122 • email: info@weldyenterprises.com western dressage.

December 2020 Equine Times Page 11 Equine Times June 2022 Page 10 2 April 2021 Marilyn Mannino Hello December! Time is sure flying!!

Marilyn Mannino At our November meeting we elected some newIt's officers forand 2021. go out June it'sCongratulations warmer!

Yay!!

Hello April!

Spring is upon us! People are out Fox to Bob Howell elected asisthe new MFTA PresThis association growing!

It isMany all due Trotting and enjoying theMarilyn weather. aretoaccumulatident,wonderful Kathy Kruch is now VP, is still the members who have stayed ing points in the Char Versatility that we are offerSecretary/Treasurer, Ostrom isChallenges the new or joined and have helped make all of ing.

2-year Director and Miranda Mannino is now these clinics possible!

Thank you!!

Registration is still open for all three Versatility the 1-year Director.

Tell your friends about us!

We We are accepting renewals Not Under Saddle Challenges (Under membership Saddle Challenge, offer funmemberships and clinand new for 2021 now. Youth Challenge). are Challenge andeducational Ultimate Horseman This proics and promote our versatile encouraged to join too!

Go to www.michiganfoxgram is designed to show how versatile the Missouri Fox trotters.com to print the form. You will learn alot breed!

We are theoffMichigan Trotter is. Registered and grade MFTs are allowed. from our members about the history of Fox Trotters,their affiliate of the MFTHBA All handicapped and regular through uses and availability and be able toyouth network with those of us who based in Ava, Missouri. adults are welcome.

Every imaginable camp,train and show them. Our association is blessed to have skilled Our new members include activity and category included trainers,breeders and a farrieristo learn from. We love promoting this Phyllis DeHaan of Holland, from in they hand work Dressage, so versatile and come in breed as have greatto personalities,are Michigan whodifferent has a registered many sizes and coat colors.toA benefit to joining is that we short distance trail riding MFT mare who she trail rides can offer clinics at a reduced price to our members. Due to Covid we endurance competitions and on.

Jan Enyart of East Leroy, are meeting remotely each month.

Michigan is a big state and this is a everything in-between (cow good way toand easilyher seeboarder and talk with each other within and outside of Michigan as well as work, driving, extreme trail, MI. Come join the fun!

Lyn Cossairt of Burr Oak, Michigan 4H and open showing, Sign up now for the MFT popularmares Versatility for 2021. Print both have beautiful andChallenge trail ride parades, reining, form trailfrom mainteoff the enrollment our website. There are may areas in often. Trail rider, Lise We Mitchell Ledge, Michigan, nance and also of Grand which you can more!). accumulate points-even in the non-rideable months.

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Kinesiology Taping in Equine Athletes Krishona Martinson Kinesiology taping has been used on humans for many years, both in competitive sports and in injury rehabilitation. More recently, kinesiology taping has been used with sport horses; however, the physiological mechanisms involved remain unclear and its benefits are controversial. Therefore, researchers in France set out to determine the effects of kinesiology taping to abdominal muscles in horses.

Eleven healthy, sound, adult sport horses were used. Kinesiology taping was applied to the abdominal muscles at 25% tension on therectus abdominis and 100% tension on the obliquus externus muscles. As a control, the same horses then wore the tape but without tension. Exercise including hand walking and trotting before and after a 16-minute walk/ trot/canter longe session. When in hand, the horses wore a 3D accelerometer with a data logger on the chest in a girth strap.

Application of kinesiology taping on the abdominal muscles positively impacted the locomotion of horses, especially longitudinal activity. Enhanced longitudinal activity is a sought-after quality, therefore, application of kinesiology taping may represent a method to improve training. While no clear conclusion could be drawn about the physiological mechanism of kinesiology taping, the results could be interpreted as an increase in abdominal muscle strength and/or possible stimulation of the cutaneous trunci muscles which “twitch” from stimuli like flies or a rider’s leg.

Kinesiology taping did not appear to cause discomfort to the horses. However, researchers encourage it be removed gently in the direction of the hair growth and emphasize it should only be applied by an experienced professional or owner.

For more information on this research, view the paper published in the Equine Veterinary Journal at https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.13533.

Application of kinesiology taping on the abdominal muscles positively impacted the locomotion of horses, especially longitudinal activity. Research authors and Equine Veterinary Journal

June 2022

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Ask the Expert: Questions to Ask When Buying Hay Krishona Martinson, PhD

For the first time in my adult life, I have my horses at home (versus boarding). I have so much to learn, but first is buying hay. I'm equally excited and terrified to buy my own hay. Can you recommend questions to ask when purchasing hay, how to find a hay supplier, and how best to build a relationship with them?

Building a relationship with a hay supplier takes time. There is no "magic bullet" and most of the time, it comes down to ensuring the locations, product (e.g., hay and bale type), offerings (e.g., deliver and storage options), and personalities mesh. At a minimum, both the hay supplier and horse owner should respect each others time, be clear on forms of payment required or preferred, and be open and willing to communicate.

As for questions to ask, we've compiled a list of 10 commonly asked questions when buying hay, including: Have you sold to horse owners before or do you specialize in horse hay? Horses have different requirements compared to other livestock.

What is the average weight of the bales? This is important if buying hay by the bale.

How mature is the hay? What species are present in the hay? Maturity is the main driver of forage quality. Legumes and grasses have different nutrient values.

Where was the hay harvested? Rules out ditch hay.

Was the hay rained on? Rained on hay can be a good choice for horses with metabolic problems as it tends to be lower in nonstructural carbohydrates.

Was the hay stored inside or under cover after baling? Hay stored inside or under cover has less storage loss.

Was the hay field fertilized and/or sprayed for weeds? Shows good management and likely a better quality product.

What are the payment options? What is the price? Is there a price break for volume or cash?

Is delivery available and if so, what is the cost? Is assistance available with handling and stacking of hay, and if so, at what cost?

How much hay do you have/bale each year? Helps ensure a consistent supply of hay.

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June 2022

Equine Times

Page 15

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Equine Times

June 2022