CONTENTS August/September/October 2020
Departments 6 Editorial 8 Neighborhood news 13 From the NASC 23 Acupressure-at-a-glance 27 Product picks 33 Hoof health 49 Herb blurb 53 Business Profile — Rover's Pet
57 Heads up 59 To the rescue 63 Classifieds 64 Events 65 Marketplace
Feature 34
U nderstanding
your horse’s eyes and ears
This in-depth guide will help you gain a better understanding of how your horse’s eyes and ears work, and what you can do to keep them healthy.
34 Columns
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ATURAL HORSEMANSHIP N Working with horses that spook Does your equine companion seem to spook more than the average horse? Follow these steps to help him overcome fear.
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HEALTHY HOOVES An easy and effective solution for managing thin hoof soles
How to identify thin hoof soles on a horse, and why pour-in pads are a solution worth trying.
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Equine Wellness
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N EED TO KNOW Contagious diseases — how to protect your horse A look at the most common contagious diseases that can affect horses, and what you can do to reduce your equine companion’s risk.
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R ECIPE Carrot Cranberry Crunch
Bake a batch of these healthy, crunchy treats to share with your equine companions!
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IDER WELLNESS R Overcoming fear after a riding accident
Coping with and moving past your fear after a riding accident isn’t easy. Get back on the horse by taking these important steps and safety precautions.
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N ATURAL SUPPLEMENTS Why amino acids are important to your horse’s diet
Gaining a better understanding of the different amino acids and how they work will help you better plan your horse’s diet, and ultimately help him thrive!
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Looking for some new grooming tools to add to your tack box? Check out this A–Z list of must-haves!
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EALING MODALITIES H Assessing and working with your horse’s lumbar spine
Learn how gently palpating certain areas along your horse’s back can help promote mobility and reduce restriction in her lumbar spine.
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Tips, contests and more! /EquineWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ EquineWellness Tips, horse photos, and more! EquineWellness
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B ARN AND FARM Tips for finding the perfect horse farm First time buying a horse farm? Here are expert tips to help you discover your dream property.
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EARNING CURVE L 6 tips for teaching kids about horses
L IFESTYLE Creative ways to earn a living with your horses
Want to earn a living with your horses, but aren’t sure how? This article outlines a few creative ways that equestrians can turn their passion into a profit.
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A LTERNATIVE APPROACHES Treadmill exercise and your horse Equine treadmills are increasingly found in therapy centers, research centers, and even some training facilities. Learn how the rehabilitating or conditioning horse could succeed with treadmill exercise.
Social Media
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W ELL GROOMED The ultimate A–Z of horse grooming tools
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S POTLIGHT Adding solar energy to your farm
Solar energy can be a fantastic financial investment. The key is to seek the right information so you can get the most bang for your buck.
Horses make wonderful companions for kids — and vice versa! The key is to set them up for success by imparting some basic safety precautions and handling techniques.
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N ON-TOXIC LIVING 10 uses for essential oils on your farm
When carefully selected, essential oils can offer numerous benefits to us and our horses. Use these DIY recipes to integrate these healing substances into your daily routine on the farm!
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EWSWORTHY N New stem cell research may help repair cartilage in horses
Using an innovative stage of stem cell research called cryopreservation, a team of scientists is working to develop a new treatment for localized cartilage defects.
Equine Wellness
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NEED TO KNOW
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HORSE By Angelique Barbara, MS, DC
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Equine Wellness
A look at the most common contagious diseases that can affect horses, and what you can do to reduce your equine companion’s risk. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, contagious diseases are on people’s minds more than ever before. With social distancing, frequent handwashing and disinfecting becoming the new norm, you may be wondering about the likelihood of your horse contracting a contagious disease, and how to prevent spread if there’s an outbreak at your barn. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CONTAGIOUS DISEASES SEEN IN HORSES? The most common horse-tohorse outbreaks seen in barns are coronavirus, influenza, and strangles (caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi). Coronavirus Coronaviruses are RNA viruses that belong to the Coronavirdea family. Corona means “crown” in Latin, and describes the crown-like appearance of the club-shaped viral spike peplomers (proteins) that surround the virion when viewed with an electron microscope. There are a number of different coronaviruses that can cause GI and respiratory disease in horses. At the time of this writing, there is no evidence that COVID-19 (the strain causing the current pandemic in humans) can be passed to horses. The most common signs of coronavirus
infection in horses are lack of appetite, fever and lethargy, with loose stool and colic being less common symptoms. To prevent your horse from coming down with coronavirus if there’s an outbreak at your barn, it is important to isolate infected horses. These types of viruses can be killed using disinfectants such as rubbing alcohol, povidone iodine and hydrogen peroxide. Sterilizing the stall, tack and equipment that was exposed to an infected horse can aid in stopping the spread. Workers can also decrease the spread of the virus by disinfecting their hands and clothing after handling an infected horse. Influenza This is the most common cause of respiratory disease in horses around the world. The equine influenza virus has a short incubation period of 48 hours. The majority of horses who are infected (60% to 90%) will show symptoms such as nasal discharge, coughing, fever, and sometimes weight loss. The mortality rate is normally low, at less than 1%. Infected horses will most often self-resolve in one to two weeks. Similar to coronavirus prevention, you should isolate infected horses and sterilize the area and equipment. Unlike coronavirus, there is a vaccine for equine influenza. Strangles This disease is caused by a grampositive bacteria called Streptococcus equi, and is easily recognized by purulent nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes (which may rupture). Strangles is highly contagious and spread by horse-to-horse contact, or by contact with feeders, stalls and objects exposed to the discharge. Infected and exposed horses should be isolated for three weeks, and strict sanitization protocols employed for any equipment used on infected horses. Caretakers Equine Wellness
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