Guest Posts

Physio at Feed Time: Using Food to Mobilize Your Horse’s Body

October 18, 2024 by Jane @ THB 2 Comments

In this guest post, Tanja Kraus introduces variable feeding positions, which bring musculoskeletal benefits while also enriching your horse’s day.

As an equine educator from the East Coast of Australia, Tanja’s passion is using kind horsemanship philosophies and connection to develop a partnership horse with the rider.

This extract comes from her latest book, Lessons from Horses: Movement, whch provides insight into why and how our horses should be moving each day, with exercises to contribute to their physical health, mental wellbeing, and longevity.

She writes about variable feeding positions with the support of Dr Sharon May-Davis, who developed this combined feeding approach.

You can find Tanja’s books here.

All text is copyright of the author Tanja Kraus. No reproduction without permission.

The Day I Heard About Variable Feeding Positions and Horse Posture

I first heard about variable feeding positions when attending an Equine Symposium where Dr. Sharon May-Davis was presenting.

Sharon presented on variable feeding positions, and showed many examples of the benefits of variable feeding she had seen, both in wild horses and in domestic horses managed in this way.

This included reduced asymmetry in the body, improved teeth and hooves, a more complete and balanced recovery from injury, and improved performance across multiple disciplines.

Comparing wild herds to domestic horses, she discovered that domestic horses with restricted lifestyles suffer with issues not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also uneven teeth wear. Jaw alignment and foot growth due to the limited postures.

*Horses commonly ignore easy grass pickings to nibble from trees. (c) Hilary Graham*

Natural Feeding Behaviors in Horses

As Dr May-Davis was talking, I was imagining my own horses and what I had seen them doing naturally in their paddock, and she was, of course, right.

My own horses who run in a herd of around 10 (give or take) in a paddock of varying terrain of about 40 acres adopt ‘variable feeding positions’ regularly and quite naturally.

And when I say regularly, I mean daily, through all the seasons.

So, they are not driven by lack of resources, which many people will argue ‘horses only eat out of trees when they have no choice’ – this is 100% incorrect.

My horses will happily roam their paddock and graze and browse and everything in between every day.

*Images (c) Dengie: ‘Hedgerow Haynets for Horses’*

We’re fortunate that our paddock contains a wonderful variation of pasture, different types of grasses, trees, and weeds that our horses can pick and choose from.

They are regularly seen choosing to eat ‘above the knee’, which is the measurement used to define browsing.

This can involve something as simple as eating the top of long grass around knee height, to completely outstretching their head and neck until their teeth are facing the sky to pull leaves from trees.

When you observe horses doing this, and pay attention to their bodies as they do it, you can see just how significant the range of motion is.

*Horses extend their backs and stretch forward when eating from height. Indoor and outdoor spaces need to be large enough for them to do this. (c) thehorsesback.com*

Naysayers are often heard grumbling that horses ‘shouldn’t hollow their backs’ and that ‘high feeding is bad’ for this reason.

However, if you observe other animal species such as dogs and cats, they can all be seen stretching their spines by rounding and then hollowing.

And where would our own Yoga classes be without the classic ‘cat / cow’ pose? Range of motion is healthy, natural and necessary.

Our domestic horses are often denied any type of variable feeding as we feed hay and hard feeds on the ground, and many horses are kept in paddocks that have limited access to appealing trees, shrubs, and long grass to facilitate variable feeding.

So how can we help?

*Horses with good spinal mobility appear happy to eat from any angle on a hill. (c) Tanja Kraus*

Offer Your Horses Variable Feeding Positions

Provide opportunity for variable feeding, with the following examples:

High hay fixed
High hay swinging
High feeder on rail
High feeder with ramp

*One flake of hay per day in a swinging high net keeps this herd, which lives out, actively mobilizing their necks. (c) Sally Taylor*

If hay has to go on the ground, you can make use of the natural lie of the land.

Feed on slope uphill / downhill
Hay scattered around to encourage movement
Multiple haynets and feeders to encourage movement

This mare stands square while eating on a gentle slope and raising her cervicothoracic spine. Note that she could stand at the top and eat virtually on the level if she preferred to. (c) thehorsesback.com

The Benefits of Variable Feeding Positions

Basically, we can try any variation from the usual static grazing position.

Feeding in variable positions can also be a useful ‘passive physio’ technique. They may find it harder at first, but it gets easier as their bodies become more supple and mobile.

It follows that horses being rehabbed from injury or restriction can be fed to encourage beneficial postures that activate or stretch particular muscles or body areas.

Gypsy needed encouragement to load an injured forelimb. Unlike most horses, she had been loading her hindquarters rather than her forehand. The gate encourages her to come forward and raise the lower neck. (c) thehorsesback.com

It’s important to note here that I have had some equine dentists express concern as they have seen terrible damage to horses’ teeth (namely racehorses) who are fed only in high feeders.

But, those horses are stabled and fed only in up positions, and therefore the grazing position is not a part of their daily routine. A recent study suggests there is no negative dental effect in horses using haynets for a period of one year [1].

Below, these horses are fully mobilising their necks while eating from a shared large small-hole haynet – and from the ground. Note the near squared position of the grey mare, who suffered a fractured pelvis as a yearling.

We can also reverse engineer this – if your horse has an asymmetry, or difficulty working in one direction, is the way you position their feed having a negative effect?

Horses, when given the freedom to choose, graze approximately 80% of the time, and browse 20% of the time, and this balance should be sought when providing variable feeding positions for their benefit.

*Solid and safe ramps and pedestals can be created to replicate environmental factors. (c) Footloose Barefoot Hooves*

I have adopted variable feeding positions for my own horses, student horses, and for horses when they come in for training.

I’ve taken photos and filmed their start of variable feeding, and as they progress, and I have noticed a significant improvement in their posture while eating, along with their resting and grazing stances.

Depending on what you are trying to achieve there are many options, and the best part is the horse is doing their own physio in a gentle way.

Read more about enrichment in this blog post: *How Well Are We Doing? Why Some Horses Thrive While Others Just Get By*

Reference

[1] Johnson L, Martinson K, Keener L, DeBoer, M. A preliminary study: Effect of hay nets on horse hay usage, dental wear, and dental conditions in mature adult horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science; 2023;124;104366; doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104366.

The Very Big Problem of Dwarfism in Horses

February 22, 2019 by Jane @ THB 9 Comments

In this guest post, Dr. Sonja Dominik describes equine dwarfism and what the latest tests mean for horse breeders. Sonja is a Research Scientist in Quantitative Genetics at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

She is currently a Superstar of STEM, appointed by Science & Technology Australia to increase the public visibility of women in science. To top that off, she was also a competitor in the 2018 series of Australian Ninja Warrior.

Sonja writes :

There’s small and then there’s very small.

There’s cute – and then there’s dwarfism, which isn’t cute at all.

Equine dwarfism is a very complex genetic condition. However, a few facts apply to all dwarf types in horses.

First, dwarfism in horses is caused by a disruption of the structural processes in bone and / or ligament development. It can potentially occur in any horse breed, but is most prevalent in Miniature horses, Shetland ponies and Friesians, but has also been described in Mustangs and donkeys.

All characterized dwarf types in horses are disproportional, meaning that only some parts of their bodies – eg. their limbs – are reduced in size.

Dwarfs can suffer secondary conditions, usually due to their skeletal deformations, and multiple health problems, such as metabolic, digestive or respiratory disorders.

In genetic terms, dwarfism is a recessive condition (more on that below). Not all dwarf types are genetically characterized, but genetics tests are available for some.

*Bond Tiny Tim (b.1970) was an American dwarf miniature horse breeding stallion, whose name appears throughout miniature horse pedigrees. Image copyright unknown.*

Horses with dwarfism aren’t just tiny

Four types of equine dwarfism have been defined, based on their physical characteristics. However, there are a lot of overlaps and there are dwarf horses that are difficult to fit into any of the described types.

1. Short legs, long bodies.

Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism. Affected horses have short-limbs with a normal trunk, although often with an elongated back.

The term achondroplasia actually means ‘without cartilage formation’, although that is not quite correct…. these dwarfs have cartilage, but the problem is that cartilage is not turned into bone while they are gestating.

However, this type of dwarf can lead a relatively normal life.

*Foal with achondroplasia. These miniature horses can lead relatively normal lives. Image copyright unknown.*

2. Large heads, distorted features.

Brachycephalic dwarfs have a bulging forehead, with a short and flat nasal bridge, overly large eyes, and nostrils that are higher than what is considered normal.

They also have a short neck and limbs, and often have spine deformations. This type of dwarf often has a shortened life span.

*Thumbelina (b. 2001), a brachycephalic dwarf miniature, was celebrated as the smallest horse in the world at 43cm tall. Image: Brad Barket, Getty Images*

3. Multiple deformities.

Diastrophic dwarfs can have twisted limbs and / or multiple limb deformities and other characteristics such as a domed head and roached back and a pot belly.

Due to the severely deformed limbs, affected animals would require splints or surgery to move properly.

*Diastrophic dwarfs are prone to colic due to the small size of the abdominal cavity and pressure on the intestines. Image copyright unknown.*

4. No bone.

Hypochondrogenesis is the most severe condition of dwarfism where the bones are not ossified at all. Affected fetuses are normally aborted before birth.

Here’s what we know about dwarfism genetics

Recently, a genetic test for dwarfism in miniature horses was developed at the Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky.

This tests for achondroplasia-like dwarfism, which is caused by mutations in the so-called ACAN gene.

Skull of a dwarf miniature horse compared with a full size horse’s skull. Dwarfs experience more dental problems due to the large size of their teeth in relation to their skulls. Miniature skull courtesy of S. May-Davis. Image (c) J. Clothier

Every horse carries the ACAN gene, which encodes the protein Aggrecan, an integral part of the extracellular matrix in cartilaginous tissue. Four variants of the gene have been identified that cause the above types of dwarfism – there might be even more.

What does a genetic test tell us?

Every horse inherits two copies of the genetic code, one from each parent. This is really important in our understanding of dwarfism and genetic test results, because all known dwarfism types are recessive conditions.

What this means is that only horses carrying two copies of affected genes, ie. one from each parent, will actually be dwarfs. Horses with one affected and one unaffected gene will be a carriers.

*Thumbelina as a foal. Image: Youtube video via www.sunnyskyz.com blog.*

Carriers are normal in appearance, but there is a 50% chance that they will pass the affected copy of the gene on to their offspring. This means that if two carriers are bred, there is a 25% chance that the offspring is affected by dwarfism.

And there’s a second gene too

As well as ACAN, another gene has been identified that causes dwarfism if it is mutated. This gene is B4GALT7, which, if mutated, leads to disrupted bone and cartilage formation. (In humans is associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a group of connective tissue disorders.)

This mutation is prevalent in the Friesian breed – affected horses have also short limbs, deformation of the rib cage, and hyperextension of the fetlock joint⁵.

*Dwarf Friesian foal with hindlimb hyperextension. Image copyright unknown.*

Dwarfism in the Friesian horse is also recessive and again, only horses with two copies of affected genes are dwarfs.

Why is dwarfism only present in certain breeds?

There are a number of possibilities.

Selective breeding may have played its part: horses with favorable features have sometimes been carriers of a defective version of a gene.

A single copy of the defective gene might have had a favorable effect on small size, so animals with a single copy might have been preferentially selected.

However, as size in horses is influenced by a large number of genes, the defective version of the genes might be linked to versions of other genes that cause small size. It could have “hitchhiked” during the selection for small stature.

In this way, selection for smaller stature, obviously without genetic testing, has led to a higher frequency of the defect gene in the Miniature horse population.¹

It is less clear which favorable feature might have been selected for in the Friesian horse, although we do know that the stallions Paulus 121 (b.1913) and Us Heit 126 (b.1917) each sired 7 dwarf foals.

What is skeletal atavism?

Skeletal atavism has similar physical features to dwarfism, with horses being deformed and with shortened limbs. It also occurs in Miniature horse and Shetland ponies.

The characteristics include abnormal bone growth, which is evident in the upper limb bones, including the ulna in the forelimb and the fibula in the hindlimb.¹

In atavistic horses, the ulna extends from the humeroradial to the carpal joint (ie. elbow to knee) and the fibula from the femerotibial to the tarsal joint (ie. stifle to hock).⁶

This can cause splayed legs and create movement difficulties.⁶

*Atavistic ulna and radius from a miniature horse (L) and normal ulna and radius (R). Miniature bone sample courtesy of S. May-Davis, TB bone sample J. Clothier (Image (c) J. Clothier*

Atavistic characteristics have been observed in fossil records of earlier ancestors of a species, and have then reappeared quite recently.⁴The earliest report in recent times was in Shetland ponies in 1958.⁷

Genetically speaking, these are not new mutations, but are ones that became dormant, only recently being re-expressed.²

Like dwarfism, atavism is a recessive condition, which means that affected horses need to have inherited an affected copy of the gene defect from each parent.

How can we avoid dwarfism?

The occurrence of dwarf horses is a matter of chance, but the fewer horses in a population that carry the affected genes, the lower the chances that two carrier horses will be bred and produce a dwarf foal.

To avoid dwarfism and reduce the frequency of affected genes in a population, carriers of affected genes should not be bred.

*Koda, adopted permanent resident at Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital in Australia, has experienced “a barrage of health problems and major surgical procedures” Image (c) thevetsurgery.com.au*

How do we know that a horse is a carrier?

There are only two ways to know if a horse is a carrier:

1. If the horse ever had a dwarf foal, it is clearly a carrier.

2. Genetic testing.

In North America, you can test for dwarfism in Friesians here and for dwarfism in miniature horses here.

*“Cuteness overload”… or a health and welfare issue? Image (c) SWNS.com*

What tests are available?

Genetic tests to identify carriers of the variants that cause dwarf appearance are now available for dwarfism in Miniature horses and Friesian horses, and for skeletal atavism in Shetland ponies.

Genetic testing is straight forward. All that is required is a sample of hairs, including hair bulbs, that is sent to a testing laboratory and the test will establish if the sample originates from a carrier of defect genes that cause dwarfism.

*Hair follicles are all that is needed for a low cost, genetic test. Image (c) www.imagenesmi.com*

If a test is positive, it can be devastating. However, if your horse is a carrier and is only bred with horses that are also tested and shown to be unaffected non-carriers, all offspring will be unaffected.

However, the defect gene will still be passed on to the offspring, with a 50% chance to create a new carrier and dwarfism gene remains in the population.

That means you’re depending on future owners to do the right thing – and they very well may not do so.

Finally, here’s how different versions of the ACAN gene affect the horse (adapted from Eberth et al. 2018)

Examples of some mutations. Image (c) Genetic Testing at Gluck – https://gluck.ca.uky.edu/disease-mutation – click on image for link.

If you love horses and love your breed, then the truly responsible option is to test every horse you breed from. If you then breed and sell a mare or entire horse colt that’s a carrier, it remains that someone less responsible than yourself may then breed it to an untested stallion.

If you’ve enjoyed Sonja’s writing, do take a look at another of her public posts on The Conversation’s blog, about the giant cow Knickers – yes, THAT giant cow. Read her article: Yes, Knickers the steer is really, really big. But he’s far short of true genetic freak status

References:

I.J.M. Boegheim, P.A.J. Leegwater, H.A. van Lith, W.Back (2017) Current insights into the molecular genetic basis of dwarfism in livestock. The Veterinary Journal 224: 64.
J.M.Cantu, C. Ruiz (1985) On atavisms and atavistic genes. Ann Genet 28: 141.
J.E. Eberth, K.T. Graves, J.N. McLeod (2018) Multiple alleles of ACAN associated with chondrodysplastic dwarfism in Miniature horses. Animal Genetics 49: 413.
B.K. Hall (1995) Atavisms and atavistic mutations. Nature Genetics 10: 126.
P.A. Leegwater, M. Vos-Loohuis, B.J. Ducro, I.J. Boegheim, F.G. van Steenbeek, I.J. Nijman, G.R. Monroe, J.W.M. Bastiaansen, B.W. Dibbits, L.H. van de Goor, I. Hellinga, W. Back, A. Schurink (2016) Dwarfism with joint laxity in Friesian horses is associated with a splice site mutation in B4GALT7. BMC Genomics 17:839
Rafati, L.S. Andersson, S. Mikko, C. Feng, T. Raudsepp, J. Pettersson, J. Janecka, O. Wattle, A. Ameur, G. Thyreen, J. Eberth, J. Huddleston, M. Malig, E. Bailey, E.E. Eichler, G. Dalin, B. Chowdary, L. Andersson, G. Lindgren, C.-J. Rubin (2016) Large Deletions at the SHOX Locus in the Pseudoautosomal Region Are Associated with Skeletal Atavism in Shetland Ponies. G3 Genes Genomes Genetics 6: 2213.
Tyson, J.P. Graham, P.T. Colahan, C.R.Berry (2004) Skeletal Atavism in a Miniature Horse. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 45 (4): 315

Links:

https://thehorse.com/18222/12-miniature-horse-health-risks

https://www.ofhorse.com/view-post/Equine-Dwarfism-Not-a-Desireable-Trait,

https://www.facebook.com/aryathedwarfpony/photos/facts-about-equine-dwarfism-1-equine-dwarfism-is-most-prevalent-in-miniature-bre/800155847006325/

http://www.littlemagicshoes.com/page5.html

https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/horse/Friesian.php

https://gluck.ca.uky.edu/sites/gluck.ca.uky.edu/files/2022-01/dwarfism_miniatures_submission_form_april_2017.pdf

http://www.friesianhorses.com.au/healthdwarfism.htm

5 Ways Your Seat Can Screw Up Your Horse Without You Even Noticing

January 26, 2017 by Jane @ THB 2 Comments

In this Guest Post, the UK’s ‘Classical Seat’ trainer Heather Moffett looks at how the rider’s seat can make movement harder for the horse. It’s something that saddle fitters know about, but it’s often the last thing riders think of: the riding position as much as the saddle fit affects their horse’s back and movement.

Heather Moffett has over 40 years’ instruction experience. Chiefly following the French school of classical equitation, which focuses on dressage as an art form rather than competition, she is best known as an authority on the Classical Seat. Recently, she launched The Online Riding School, a library of videos suitable for everyone from complete beginners to advanced riders – visit now to benefit from the introductory offers.

We all keep hearing about ‘connection’. It’s a current buzzword and usually means connecting with your horse on the ground, either through loose or in-hand work.

Many riders assume this will enable them to achieve the same connection once mounted.

There is nothing wrong with that. However, they often then wonder why they lose that connection – sometimes literally, complete with the saddle(!) – once they start riding. The fact is that they are, in ignorant bliss, impeding the horse!

The Disconnected Seat

If the rider is out of sync with the horse’s movement, the flow and harmony will always be disrupted as the horse struggles to balance the rider as well as himself.

Or, he endures the discomfort of a rider sitting like a lump of lead, driving with the seat against his sensitive back, or bouncing stiffly in the saddle.

The horse has only one way to show his discomfort or pain, as he is mute, and that is by behaviour that is then construed as ‘misbehaviour’.

I often ask riders who kick and hit their horses if they would do the same to their dog. The dog is able to cry out in pain. The horse cannot, and it is his muteness, throughout history, that has led to his downfall and still does to this day.

What Gets My Goat is This

I’ve been a specialist trainer/teacher of the Classical seat for 46 years. In that time, there has been little interest in increasing knowledge of the seat and refinement of the aids.

So many teachers and trainers say that it is necessary to ignore imperfections in the seat until “the horse is going well”. Then they wonder why the horse never progresses, or why force must be resorted to, in order to make the horse submit!

Yes, there is that word submit (or submission) that’s a requirement in a dressage test.

My own teachers soon found that it worked far better to encourage my cooperation in school rather than forcing me into submission! And a horse is no different.

I would like to see the word submission in tests replaced with willing cooperation.

How different would the expression be on many a horse’s face, if he were trained as a partner, and not as an adversary?

So, are you screwing up your horse with your seat, without even noticing? Here are the 5 top points I’d like you to think about.

1. Saddle Fit Woes (Yes, Again)

*Poor saddle fit can cause the seat to tip back.*

No surprises for this one. Saddle fit is probably the most obvious thing that needs to be right, but many saddles are a long way from perfect. That’s true even in my home of the UK, where saddles are most often professionally fitted.

But, what amazes me is the number of saddles I see with clients coming to me for lessons that have faults that make it damn near impossible for the rider to sit either straight or in balance!

Here are the worst offenders.

The saddle is too narrow. This is still one of the most common faults – it pinches the horse and tips the rider’s pelvis backward, aiding a chair seat rather than the ear/shoulder/hip/heel line which is the only position of balance.

Try walking with your butt stuck out behind you and knees up, as though sitting on a chair! It’s hard enough to even remain upright! Your weight will be over the cantle region, making it difficult for the horse to lift and round his back, and causing him to go hollow.

Stirrup bars are, almost without exception, even on many dressage saddles, too far forwards. This is why the rider is constantly being nagged by instructors to “get that lower leg back”!

I do wonder why instructors and even top dressage trainers, never seem to notice that all of their students are not anatomically challenged and there might just be something wrong with the saddle design and balance!! (Don’t get me started!!)

2. An Insecure Seat Sucks (for Both Horse and Rider)

*7yo Oldenburg x Irish Sport Horse. 1st day to 2nd day of HM course.*

Here’s what I mean by insecure. Riders are not taught to absorb and sync with the horse’s movement.

We hear:

“Sit deeper!”

“Relax your back!”

“Go with the movement!”

“Follow the horse’s movement!”

Well, usually if you are following something you are behind it!

Is it any wonder beginners are confused and often never learn to move in sync with the horse?

If this describes you, fear not. I have had riders here on my horse movement simulator workshops who’ve been riding 10, 20 or more years, and still they have never learned to move in sync with the horse.

3. Saddle Seat Glue Hasn’t Been Invented Yet

If you’re bouncing around, or driving with both seat bones to achieve some adhesion to the saddle, or sitting on your back pockets and collapsing the rib cage, you will be making your horse’s life more difficult.

It is so NOT rocket science to learn this!

But until teachers are trained to teach it, the situation will not improve!!

And it is not just novice riders who block their horse through incorrect adhesion to the saddle.

Look at the nodding head, flailing legs (usually with spurs attached) riders to be seen even in the Grand Prix dressage arena…

4. Horses Have the Low Down on Our Weight Issues…

How many times do you hear it said that a horse can feel a fly land on his back? So how much more can he feel his rider, whether good or bad?

For me, my aim – both as a rider myself and also as a trainer – is to be as little burden on the back of my horse as possible.

*The horse copes with the crooked rider. Day 1 of HM course.*

I aim to do this by sitting lightly, but deeply, in sync with his movement.

If the rider is crooked, possibly due to a problem with the saddle, or is asymmetric due to their own physical problem, the horse suffers.

He has to cope with this and compensate, usually by going crookedly himself.

And there’s more. The use of the rider’s body as a primary aid, is so rarely taught. Yet when utilised, it is the most invisible aid of all. Combined with the seat bones moving in sync with the horse’s back, it is the secret to an elegant harmonious seat, that appears to be doing nothing.

That’s when the horse and rider glide through all the movements as though they are one being – like a Centaur.

5. ‘Feel’ Begins in your Backside (I Mean It!)

*Hanoverian X. 1st and 2nd day of HM course.*

‘Connection’ means being able to feel, and not just when working from the ground. We all have nerve endings in our backsides – if you are taught what to feel and how to feel, it is within the grasp of any rider, even beginners.

And ‘aid’ really means ‘help’. If you learn to use aids that make biomechanical sense to the horse, they do become truly invisible as the horse becomes more and more sensitive with correct training.

BUT, if the horse hasn’t been schooled to respond to specific aids, then is it any wonder he is confused and ‘misbehaves’? It’s a bit like us lazy Brits here, shouting at foreigners in the hope they will understand English then getting annoyed when they don’t!

Your seat can genuinely aid (help) your horse. This happens when you’re taught not only the hand and leg aids, but also:

the weight aids for turning,
the seat aid for collecting and for downward transitions,
the precise positioning of the torso in lateral work and circles/ bends, etc.

At this point, riding becomes a whole language, which almost all horses quickly understand. Why? Because it is working with, not against, their own body.

Moving in sync with the horse allows the rider to learn ‘feel’, that term that often seems to imply that only a favoured few have the ability to learn it.

Rubbish!

So, in closing, if you wish to have true connection with your horse, you need to:

a) Absolutely not screw up either his back or his brain,

b) Learn to ride to the best of your ability, and

c) Treat your horse as a partner and friend, and not as a tool merely to win the next rosette.

If winning happens as a by-product of good riding, even better, but if your horse is not progressing, look to your own riding and equipment before you blame your horse. Get these 5 points sorted and you’ll be well on your way to true connection with your horse!

Questions, thoughts or comments? Join us at The Horse’s Back Facebook Group.

Why It Matters To 112 Million Working Equines That You Read This Post

April 18, 2015 by Jane @ THB 2 Comments

Most of us have a good idea of what animal welfare means and why it’s important. But in developing nations, cultural and economic concerns can prevail when it comes to issues such as ending a working equine’s pain. It is not so long ago that horses, donkeys and mules across Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were primarily working animals. For many equines in other nations, that is still the case.

This thoughtful and sensitive post by Melissa Liszewski, Animal Welfare & Community Engagement Advisor of the Brooke, an international animal welfare organisation, gives an insight into a difficult subject, and describes a compelling legal solution developed in Ethiopia. It was first published on the Brooke’s blog in January 2015.

“I myself have seen animals in the countries we work in and I don’t even know how they have managed to remain standing, let alone pull heavy loads day in and day out …”

There are so many challenging aspects of the work we do here at the Brooke, but there is nothing like coming across an animal suffering from protracted or incurable disease, injury or debility to really put our animal-loving hearts and minds to the test.

Working Gharry horse abandoned when he became lame, with badly damaged right eye and very low body condition (c) the Brooke

We work hard to relieve hard working horses, donkeys and mules from their suffering. But what happens when despite our best efforts, and the best efforts of local stakeholders, an animal’s illness, injury or overall condition means they have a poor outlook for a fit and pain free working life?

I have often pictured a lush green oasis where all those hard working horses, donkeys and mules can retire and live out the rest of their days pain free with all the care they need, full bellies and lots of space to just do whatever they please all day as thanks for their many hard years of service.

“The hard reality is that such a beautiful retirement for both the animals we serve and the communities they serve is just a picture in our heads.”

The truth is that there are an estimated 112 million working equines in this world and although we work tirelessly to help as many of them as possible in a meaningful way, we are still only able to reach about 2 million of them.

Much like the owners of the animals we serve, we do not have endless resources so we have to do the best we can for the animals with what we have.

At the Brooke, we accept that euthanasia is an effective way to alleviate suffering and prevent future suffering. We have a Euthanasia Policy to ensure that when the practice is carried out by our staff or partners it is done with the utmost care and consideration of the animal’s experience.

(c) the Brooke. No reproduction of partial or entire text without permission of the Brooke. Sharing the link back to this page is fine. Please contact jane@thehorsesback.com for more information. Thank you!

When euthanasia is the only option

When suffering cannot be alleviated by any other means, euthanasia is the only humane solution. However, there are many complexities surrounding the practice of euthanasia that must be considered:

Can euthanasia be done humanely?

The answer is yes, but in some countries we work in certain methods of euthanasia are not available, cannot be imported and/or are not legal. Our teams then have the difficult task of weighing out potential suffering at the point of death with potential suffering if the animal was not euthanized, in order to always aim for the best welfare outcome for the individual animal.

Are there legal implications?

Abandoned for 3 months, this horse was blind and suffered from joint problems (c) the Brooke

In Halaba, Ethiopia our local team worked hard to get by-laws in place that would allow abandoned animals to be euthanized without the legal risk of someone coming forward after the fact and claiming their animal was taken without consent.

Nationwide in Pakistan, our team is working tirelessly to overcome the challenge of carcass disposal due not only to environmental and practical concerns, but also the fact that illegal donkey meat is a rising problem that could be wrongfully attributed back to our organisation if a euthanized animal weren’t disposed of properly, allowing someone to eat it and get sick.

These are considerations we must keep at the forefront of our euthanasia decisions as the effects could be catastrophic to local initiatives benefiting whole communities of animals if our reputation became damaged or trust lost.

Is it culturally acceptable?

There are places where we work that euthanasia is not seen as an acceptable practice due to religious or cultural reasons, or because owners feel they are killing an animal that provided them with a service, and prefer a natural death for the animal. Our staff work sensitively with individual owners in such cases, trying to balance respect for cultural practice or religious beliefs with the welfare needs of the animal concerned.

Is it ethical for us to intervene?

It is crucial that euthanasia is not carried out without the owner’s permission, meaning our teams must always obtain informed consent. Our teams in the field strive to ensure owners do not feel coerced into the practice, but come to the decision based on the facts they have been given by medical professionals, and their own desire to do what is best for their animal.

Sometimes, euthanasia is refused because an owner has no other source of income to provide for their family. In some communities we work, for example in India, the Brooke has helped set up group savings funds and equine insurance schemes, which can help owners make the best decision for their animal without economics being a barrier.

When euthanasia simply isn’t possible

Despite our best efforts, for all of these reasons and more, euthanasia is simply not always an option, and we must be prepared to do whatever we can in such cases to work with owners to ensure the animal is well cared for, relieved of their pain and rested until the very end. This is a painful reality at times for our staff in the field.

I myself have seen animals in the countries we work in and I don’t even know how they have managed to remain standing, let alone pull heavy loads day in and day out; deformed and damaged limbs, debilitating disease, old, weak and worn down animals at the end of their working life. I have also seen and talked to owners with their own heart-breaking stories of survival, not knowing what the future holds for their family and how they will get by.

Abandoned for over 3 years before euthanasia, this gelding was suffering from severe knee and pastern joint damage. (c) the Brooke

Most often, the owners of these animals are not intentionally cruel, and although it may be easy to judge from far away, we must put ourselves in their shoes, as they work hard every day to put food on the table for their family and provide a better life for their children than they had for themselves.

Making assumptions or judging others will not erase or improve the suffering of working horses, donkeys and mules but what may help is a good dose of compassion for both the animals and the humans who care for and depend on them.

Yes, I have seen debilitated working animals abandoned to fend for themselves against hungry hyenas in Ethiopia, but just a few kilometres away in the same country I have also seen poor owners steadfastly caring for animals that cannot work or contribute anything economically to their family, bringing them into their own homes at night to protect them from those very same hyenas.

There are many reasons and situations where euthanasia may be considered and it is always an emotional decision, both for our own staff and the local people we work with, but it is our duty to do what we can to provide comfort and relief to suffering animals who work so very hard for the people depending on them.

The success of the by-laws in Halaba, Ethiopia, along with training of local service providers to ensure humane euthanasia is possible for suffering animals, mixed with engaging local communities to improve preventive husbandry practices and ensure euthanasia is an acceptable option when required, is proof of what can be done to help hard working animals.

This is our mission and this is what we stand for at the Brooke – I hope that you will stand behind us.

The Brooke is an international animal welfare organisation dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the world’s poorest communities. The charity provides treatment, training and programmes around animal health and wellbeing, operating across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

You can follow the Brooke on Facebook, while more information on the organisation’s work is available on the website: www.thebrooke.org.

8 Golden Rules For Helping Your Thoroughbred Get Right Off The Track

August 2, 2014 by Jane @ THB 38 Comments

In this guest post, Kerry Warren Couch responds to the article on this site about ex-racehorses by stating, clearly and simply, how she has helped her OTTBs over many years, mainly by initially doing very little at all.

(c) All text copyright of the author at www.thehorsesback.com. No reproduction of partial or entire text without permission. Sharing the link back to this page is fine. Please contact jane@thehorsesback.com for more information. Thank you!

Kerry writes:

Sometimes, you can achieve more by doing very little. There’s a lot advice around about what you can do to help ex-racehorses, or OTTBs (Off the Track Thoroughbreds). Much of it focuses on what can be done through retraining, while some of it focuses on dealing with physical issues.

I have ridden many OTTBs over the decades of my riding career, professionally and for sheer pleasure. I just adore them – they have so much heart, and they give everything if the rider is willing to be extraordinarily patient, partnering with their horse and never forcing them.

I loved the Buying an Ex-Racehorse: Can You Spot the Major Physical Issues? article – it’s absolutely on target. I have a few suggestions for folks to consider when they bring their OTTBs home. These come from my personal experience – they may not apply to everyone and all cases, so do keep that in mind.

The author's new OTTB — The author’s new OTTB

Seven months ago, I purchased yet another OTTB. He came from a top trainer/track and we knew his entire medical history, including x-rays. This is NOT typical – I was very fortunate to have access and for my vet to be able to talk with the stable and their vets. Very lucky me.

Despite coming from a top trainer, my new OTTB does have some issues – he IS an ex-race horse, so this is to be expected.

He has benefited from my usual approach, which helps the horse long before we start work.

What follows is my approach to helping every OTTB that comes to live at my farm.

1. Allow the OTTB plenty of downtime

My OTTBs have always needed time to ‘defuse’ from the training barn life, so I turn them out, slowly to acclimatize.

But then as they come to understand turn out, I find them pasture mates and allow turn-out at will, so they can go in their stalls or walk out to the field as they wish.

2. Give the OTTB a full check-up

I have a complete chiro assessment done before ANY work is begun – and that includes groundwork.

We start working on the serious physical issues right away, but leave simple ones for a little later, so we don’t overwhelm the horse in his transition to a non-track life.

3. Use paddock time as self-help time

I am lucky that my farm has hills, so I can help my OTTBs work on symmetrical muscle building long before I begin groundwork.

I purposefully keep their water in their stalls so they must walk the hills every day, from pasture to barn and back.

Their attitudes really change with this time to ‘reprogram’.

I also have a designated ‘rolling area’ near the paddock, filled with super soft sand. I have been amazed at how smaller, simpler issues can be naturally worked out by allowing horses to relax and roll in lovely sand.

My region has hard clay soil, so I had the sand area made, because I know that rolling on hard clay can actually cause or exacerbate injuries. It’s not that expensive and I’ve found that horses LOVE it.

Do consider putting it in a well-drained area with a little bit of full sun, as warm sand is wonderful!

4. Use grooming as therapy time

I groom them every day – slowly and methodically. I fully believe this has wonderful therapeutic benefits.

It helps with circulation and muscle tone, and helps me partner with my horses without asking anything of them.

5. Work out an individual nutritional plan

Where feed’s concerned, I have full blood panels done and put a nutrition program together based on each horse’s needs. These vary from horse to horse.

I have been fortunate to acquire OTTBs from known training barns, so my horses typically have few deficiencies. This may NOT be the case for so many people who are purchasing OTTBs from a TB rescue operation or general sale.

By the way, I am NOT implying that rescue groups do not take care of the horses. It’s just that sometimes, the rescue folks aren’t told about the horse’s medical history, so they simply don’t know. It is not due to any lack of care or concern on their part.

Hills at the author's place — Hills at the author’s place

We some times see minor anemia, and imbalance in the micro-minerals. Many OTTBs do have some signs and symptoms of gastric discomfort. This may reflect fore or hind gut ulcers.

I don’t like to have an endoscopy performed, as the pre and post procedures often exacerbate the ulcers, if they do exist.

I actually prefer to treat this area empirically. So, if my vet and I both feel the horse is exhibiting signs consistent with ulcers, we treat them without the instrumental diagnostics.

That said, if there IS a serious issue, one certainly may wish to pursue the endoscopy.

Diet is really individualized to the horse. It is not advisable to suddenly change a horse’s diet. I like to implement a tapering program. I keep the horse on whatever he was being fed at the training barn for two weeks, with a very slow changeover to whatever program we have determined for the new horse.

I typically have acquired very young OTTBs, ie, 3-4 year olds. So I know my horses are still growing and will require nutrition appropriate to a growing horse. We do feed a LOW carbohydrate feed mix and will supplement as warranted.

If one feeds the proper amount as recommended by the feed company and one’s vet, the horse ought to receive the right blend of vitamins and minerals.

I do like to add flax seed meal, not the seeds. If a horse has really thin walls or poor feet, I add a hoof supplement with biotin and trace minerals. If a horse requires, we will add probiotics.

If a horse is a poor drinker, I may add some soaked, drained, no-molasses-added beet pulp.

I think the main thing here is that no two horses are exactly the same. There is NO cookie cutter approach to caring for horses. There are only general principles:

Fresh, clean water, daily (scrub out those water buckets).
Plenty of quality hay and forage at will, so the horse does not stand for hours without roughage (the average 1100 lbs horse requires approx 22 lbs of total quality forage a day, which can be a combination of pasture and hay, all hay or all pasture).
Get the horse out, moving at will in a pasture so the fore and hind gut can work effectively.
Make sure a dentist has assessed their teeth.
A fecal test is also a good idea, especially for OTTBs coming from a rescue or general sale. Good training barns have a worming routine. This may not be the case with a rescue operation or at a general sale when one doesn’t know much about the OTTB’s origin.
I also know the vaccination history of my newly acquired horses, but this may not always be the case for others. I’d advise anyone to discuss this with the veterinarian.

6. Improve poor hoof balance slowly

I get the farrier in from the beginning to slowly – NOT rapidly – change those hoof angles over several months of trims.

Most OTTBs have under run heels, long toes and flat soles.

A slow correction allows longer term adaptation of the hoof structures and avoids short term soreness. It also avoids dramatic changes that affect posture

One MUST take it very slowly. I believe this holds true for any horse, but particularly for the OTTBs.

Their muscles, tendons and ligaments are put at risk if angle changes are made too rapidly. It leads to transitory lameness, soreness and increased risk of injury, even in the pasture.

I offer the analogy of a person wearing barn boots, day-in, day-out.

Then, suddenly switching to three inch high heels and attempting to carry out the same daily chores. OUCH!

I think it is SO important to have all the professionals involved in the horse’s care/transition on the same page and are informed of each other’s interventions with the horse.

It’s really important to have the big players on the ‘team’ communicating with one another: the chiropractor, the farrier, the vet/nutritionist, hay and feed dealer.

7. Allow time for slow and steady progress

I have also found that my OTTBs have really needed to learn how to enjoy other horses and life before I start any type of training program.

We humans seem to be in such a hurry. It’s so helpful to let their bodies and minds defuse.

I have noted that less experienced horse owners would do well to remember that these horses are NOT, at this stage, pets. They have frequently not been cuddled or hand fed carrots, or hugged or loved.

These horses were working horses. They had a job to do.

I have observed some people new to horses being so enthralled with the idea of adopting an OTTB that they immediately want to love them, pet them, stand very close to them and even throw their arms around their necks.

This is a lovely sentiment but oh, so dangerous. Ex-track horses are often more accustomed to varied stall muckers coming in, varied groomers, different hot walkers, exercise riders, jockeys, etc.

So many OTTBs are simply NOT accustomed to being fussed. They may pin their ears and toss their heads to even bite or nip at the new owner, raise a hind foot, or wring the tail as a warning.

People new to horses who start with an OTTB really really need to be aware of this and put together a realistic plan to allow the horse to defuse, detox, rebuild and SLOWLY re-acclimatize to a life where his new people will show affection.

This happens over weeks or months – NOT days. Take it very slowly and give the horse his personal space and time to come to you – don’t force your eager affection on the horse too soon. It may likely backfire.

In time, with patience and understanding, you WILL have a lovely, affectionate horse. But not right away, as a general rule.

Talking to your horses daily, or singing, is good – I sing a lot to my horses so that they learn my voice and intonations. I do this over a long period, way before I ever attempt to be affectionate with my new OTTB. And even then, I wait for my horse to show me he is ready for me to rub his ears, etc.

Grooming helps this along, too. I often sing while I groom.

8. Enjoy starting work with your OTTB

With all this, they are so much easier to work with – even for their rehab therapies, and physical therapy is always part of the program.

They ARE off the track and there WILL be issues, almost always hips, pelvis, back and others…

I give my OTTBs six full months, and sometimes up to a year, as each horse is different.

I know that may not be reasonable for many people, but even so, at least three months would yield a big benefit.

I do hope others have suggestions to add in the Comments section, below. Horses are such magnificent and amazing creatures. I have spent my lifetime, to date, with them, and I feel I have merely scratched the surface of understanding. I learn something new every single day. They are wonderful teachers, if we simply have the heart and open mind to ‘listen’ to their voices.