Worms, worms, worms!

Okay, so this is a bit ewwwwww, but anything with potential to save lives (of any species) piques my interest. Don't look if you can't bear the sight of worms! Read story here.

Anyway, this got me thinking about worms. Let's look at the subject of that article, the roundworm. Roundworms in horses, also known as ascarids, are relatively common, and are transmitted by swallowing eggs from contaminated hay or water. The eggs develop into larvae in the stomach of the horse, which then migrate to the liver, heart and lungs. They are then coughed up and swallowed - then develop into egg-laying adults, again in the stomach. This process takes about 3 months. They can cause coughing, pneumonia, liver damage, colic and diarrhoea. A heavy burden can cause intestinal blockage or rupture. Signs of worminess, from any species of parasite, include pot belly, rough coat, slow growth and general unthriftiness (among others).

To avoid these problems, we spend hundreds each year on de-worming our precious friends. We rotate wormers to avoid resistance, as we've been taught, and we worm every 6-8 weeks. (Well, actually, I don't, as my horses do not run with anyone else's, I worm 3 monthly, have done for years with no ill effects.)


I read just recently that these practices may actually contribute to resistance.  We already have resistance to some of the current compounds by large roundworms, pin worms, small strongyles and small redworms. Without any new worming compounds expected on the market over the next few years, that is a problem that can't be ignored. And besides, why put chemicals into your horse if he/she doesn't need them anyway? You wouldn't do that to yourself, would you? Horse wormers also have side effects: putting extra strain on the liver, killing of good gut bacteria, can cause impaction colic if the horse has a heavy worm burden that suddenly dies, can have an adverse effect on earthworms and beetles etc, PLUS of course worms developing resistance.The "standard" worming practices we have known for decades really need to be challenged to keep resistance at bay.

 How do we do this? Okay, it's gross, but Faecal Egg Counts. Yes, you guessed it, somebody looks at your horses' poo and tells you how many worm eggs are in it. Your vet should be able to do this, you can also get DIY kits if you don't mind playing with poop (You only need about a spoon full or something, it's not much). Some horses have a natural resistance, and will have a lower egg count than other horses on the same pasture with high counts, even if they were wormed on the same day. Adult horses with no heavy worm burden (and no health issues) should be wormed at longer intervals. Aged and very young horses still need to be targeted for intensive treatment but again, should be monitored for their actual worm burden. You can also monitor the effectiveness of your wormer - do a count before and shortly after worming. You'll soon see if your wormer is effective. Do another count at 6 or 8 weeks post worming and see if you need to worm again. I bet you probably don't. Continually de-worming just kills off the non-resistane worms, leaving ONLY the resistant ones to breed on, thus contributing to resistance.

Naturally, pasture management remains important - controlled stocking rates, regular harrowing, encouraging dung beetles, removing manure piles regularly, rotating pastures and grazing with cattle and/or sheep can all help reduce the reliance on chemical wormers. Frost and hot sun will kill worm eggs - so if your paddock needs a rest, the best time to do it is in the middle of summer, or the middle of winter if you're in a frost area. And don't forget to isolate and worm any new horses you introduce - preferably keep them separate for several days before putting out on your pasture. Oh, and get rid of those yucky botfly eggs you see on legs or belly. (see picture below)

There are also some natural wormers - garlic and fennel seed are two that are not highly toxic. Copper can also be added to the horse's diet to boost the immune system. Diatomaceous earth and crushed pumpkin seeds are two more examples, although less commonly used. I haven't had experience with these, but I do know people who swear by them.

Ultimately, it's up to individual horse owners to choose the worming program that suits them. But seriously, if we DON'T need to do it so often, why do we bother? Let's face it, it becomes a waste of time and money - and how many of us have horses who are easy to worm? (*puts hand up and grins*)

Remember Grace?

My apologies for the lack of posts......I have my own little equine issue going on right now, so please forgive me (again)!

I've blogged about Amazing Grace before (original blog and Grace's facebook page)......thought you'd all like to see her now!

Hard to believe it's the same horse! The trial date for her abuser is May 6th. Let's see what happens, shall we? The punishment will probably not fit the crime, it rarely does in animal cruelty cases, but we can only hope that 1 - she is found guilty and 2 - the sentence is the harshest possible under the law.

And another amazing rescue story!

  Whisper......

Whisper soon after rescue

Whisper is another of those horses who very nearly didn't make it. Another horse on the property from where she was rescued had already died, and as you can see from the photo, Whisper was close to death herself. She had gone down and could not get up, and despite calling a vet when it all went pear shaped, the owner did not provide adequate care to Whisper, or the other horses on the property.

The next problem was that nobody could take Whisper once she was seized. Rescues are full to the brim, and most animal control departments do not have horse facilities, especially for one as critically ill as Whisper. Anyway, as fate would have it she ended up at SAFE (Save A Forgotten Equine) - read the article for the full story of Whisper's care and amazing recovery.

Whisper during her rehab, which was full of setbacks

It was a long and bumpy road, but she made it. Somehow. She was adopted into a new home and is doing brilliantly. Her former owner was prosecuted, and received a sentence of 12 months community supervision, 90 days electronic home monitoring, and could not own or keep any animal, plus being fined for court costs and rehabilitation of the horses who survived.

Whisper now......what an amazing change!

I want one of these!!!!!

I'm sure most horse owners who've ever stabled their horses agree that cleaning up after them is not a pleasant task. Necessary, yes, but not your favourite chore for the day! Or if you've worked in a stable, cleaning box after box, you would definitely appreciate this invention!

No, it's not an automatic poo-picker, although if someone invented that I'd also be pleased. It's a "house breaking" system to teach your horse to poop in the one spot! Long overdue I say!

It's based on a reward for behaviour - they poop or urinate in the right spot, and they get a food reward. Simple theory, and according to the people who made it, they've got 5 horses using it succesfully. There is a heat sensor that detects when a horse has done its business in the correct spot (they use a grille-covered pit), then an automatic feeder releases the reward. Simple!

There are a few limitations - the system needs to remain there as horses go back to their old "habits" if its removed, and because of the way male horses urinate it isn't as successful for them, although they still learn to poop in the right spot - but it has huge potential!

You can imagine the benefits - less bedding, better hygeine, reduced odour, no more cleaning green spots off your white horse the morning of a show........

The ultimate endurance ride!

Check this out! A woman, her best mate and her little Arab.......riding from Los Angeles to New Hampshire. (That's pretty much one side of the US to the other, for those who, like me, don't know a lot about US geography!)

http://linnykenney.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

When I first came across this I couldn't help but think of Forrest Gump.......sorry guys.......you'll have to scroll through the archives to get the whole story, but it's just amazing. If you read right through you will learn that Sojourner, the horse, went through four homes without making a real bond with anyone before coming to Linny. Few people could ride him, and Linny was advised to look for a horse older and more experienced - but to her, the connection meant everything, and she connected with this one! Their story has been featured in Arabian Horse World 5 times, including this one.

This explains it best, from the blog:

On March 1^st, 2010, my friend, Walter, and I set off on an adventure with our Arabian horse, Sojourner. Together the three of us covered 3,700 miles traveling from Los Angles, CA to my childhood home in Bath, NH. I rode Soj and Walter drove our little Toyota Tacoma. 

I say “our” because what was once mine or once his is now ours since the ride poured its magical powers over us and made two platonic friends of 11 years fall in love. This blog tells the entire tale of our nearly 9 month horseback ride and brings us to the now where Sojourner, Walter, our cat, Porter, and I have landed in NH…a new little family with one big focus: LEATHER CREATIONS (and maybe a few others)....like planning a wedding!!!!

They never cease to amaze me!

Horses are such tough creatures. They can survive situations that just leave us shaking our heads sometimes, wondering how on earth they could possibly have made it through!

Take Eddie the Arab for example........read his full story here.....who survived a harrowing trip through an irrigation tunnel - over 5km in length! His 16 year old rider was riding along the riverbank when Eddie slipped and fell in. The poor rider just had to let go, and watch poor Eddie sucked under the water and swept away. I can only imagine how terrified both of them were feeling at that moment.

The tunnel is a horseshoe-shaped concrete waterway, which carries 740 cubic feet per second. That's a LOT of water, moving in a big hurry. Eddie would have been in about 2.5m of water, with only about 60cm of head room to breathe. Whta's even scarier, is that to actually get into the tunnel, he would have had to go through a water control gate, which meant he would have been about 1.5m underwater, facing backwards - and remained submerged for about 30m or so!

He remained there for 2 days until he was found by a worker in water to his belly. Amazingly, he only had grazes and cuts to show for his ordeal. He did spike a fever and was given fluids and antibiotics, and has now recovered well.

Read on in the article to the last couple of paragraphs - Eddie sure is one good rescuer!

Just a quick one.....

I promise I'll be back writing proper posts soon.....moving away to a new town, starting a new job and sending my eldest off to "big school" has kinda taken up all my time lately!

Just thought I'd mention this: Equine Emergency Rescue, particularly in light of my recent flood post, and with all the terrible, terrible things going on around Australia at the moment. Floods, fires, cyclone - and it's only just February!

It's important for horse owners to have some idea of how to rescue their beloved animals if things do go wrong. Having been in a float accident, let me tell you it is a horrifying, frightening experience. We all know horses are flight animals, and will panic if things go wrong. Even the calmest of horses can lose control in a tough situation - and let's face it, most of the time anyone coming to your rescue is probably not going to understand an awful lot about handling horses, let alone panicked, stressed ones!

The book is written in such a way that it's easy to show someone how to help your horse out of danger. Definitely worth the money - and if you get an electronic copy (like I did), you can print it and keep a copy in the car, stbales, float, truck, everywhere! Well worth the small cost in my opinion.

The true gentle giant!

I'm sure everyone will agree that horses who are accepted to Riding for the Disabled are truly special souls. They come in all shapes and sizes, but share that wonderful attribute we call "temperament" - and "good temperament" at that! Today's post is the story of one such horse - Rocket, arguably one of the most famous Australian vaulting horses ever! I don't think there's a vaulter in NSW (perhaps Australia) who didn't know Rocket. While Rocket was quiet and gentle enough for RDA, what endeared him to people, I think anyway, was his cheeky, playful streak.

Rocket - pic: Sydney Vaulting Group

I first met Rocket in 1993, when I was a teenager competing at the very first Australian National Vaulting Championships, and I was in awe of the sheer size of him! Some of my team-mates (from memory) actually vaulted on him. A decade down the track, and some of the vaulters I coached borrowed him to compete, as I didn't have horse transport for our horse at that time, and I remember one small child in particular looking up at this HUGE horse with a terrified look on her face. I think some of my favourite memories of him are of his mad minute (see the story below) where everyone always got out of his way!

So without further ado, here is Rocket's story. A big thank you to Lyn Lynch from Sydney Vaulting Group for sharing the story of this very special horse. 

Flying V Vaulters competing on Rocket

 Rocket, Percheron Gelding 1980-2006.             

                                       

Rocket began his vaulting career in 1986, with the members of West Pennant Hills Pony Club, after disgracing himself in his previous vocation as a carriage horse at The Rocks.  It its alleged that a rat ran up his leg, I never did get a blow by blow description of the damage, but he never got to travel under the Sydney Harbour Bridge again.

The pony club began operating from Tall Timbers Kellyville when the development in WPH Valley took over their grounds.  Some of the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) horses, such as Peter Pan, joined in the pony club activities.  Rocket was used in RDA classes for the riders from McCall Gardens and for various other riders where a larger horse was suitable.  It was a very innovative time within RDA where riders and horses were able to have some serious fun.

Vaulters from other pony clubs, such as Hills District, Glenorie, and McDonald Valley joined in the vaulting training sessions, and since one of the pony club coaches was also an RDA coach, riders from RDA also came to the Tuesday evening classes.  Rocket was the backbone of a truly integrated sport where kids of all abilities got to train and compete together.

Rocket warming up - his "mad minute" Pic: Sydney Vaulting Group

 Rocket’s first TV appearance was on “Wombat” where he showcased vaulting and the WPH Pony Club team.   Many invitations were received to give displays at Agricultural Shows, Field Days and the Royal Easter Show, on behalf of Pony Club and RDA. It was around this time that the team became  known as Sydney Vaulting Group.  RDA Open Day’s in August was a must on his calendar, and His Royal Performance at the opening of the Box Hill centre, in front of Princess Anne, was the pinnacle of his career.
His competitive career began in 1993 with the first National Vaulting Championships held at Tall Timbers, Kellyville.  Vaulters from Queensland, SA and WA attended the competition which also included a two day clinic.  Rocket was used for all levels of vaulters and competed at trot in some of the events.  

Since that time Rocket attended all State Championships up to 2002, and most National Championships, including a trip to South Australia.  Rocket created an impact wherever he went, in a fashion that only Rocket could achieve.  One such incident was in Canberra, when happily in his yard he decided to put his head thru the gate and scratch his neck.  He discovered that the gates were just slipped on to their hinges from above, and Rocket was able to wander off around the property wearing his stable gate like a picture frame.  Fortunately he had escaped with his halter attached to his gate, making a very easy return to the yard.  Much tying up of gates was done in future.   

On another occasion Rocket managed to take his handler “skiing” thru a Lucerne patch whilst en route to the National Championships in Wagga Wagga.  He was overcome with the smell and just ran into the middle of the crop, before putting his head down and scoffing the feed.  It took two to drag him back when we realized that it wasn’t the best idea to try to load him onto the float next to such a tempting fodder.

In his later years, he attended all competitions at RDA up and including April 2005, after which he retired from competition.  Rocket was well known for his mad minute, whereby his warm up routine would religiously include two or three good bucks.  This was often quite off-putting for new vaulters, but once the side reins went on and a vaulter on his back, he was always a gentle giant, unless provoked by the occasional sharp knee of a vaulter!  

It was during the last winter that he was retired from training and Rocket was fortunate enough to enjoy his short retirement, from his paddock with the best view at RDA.

Rocket competing at RDA Pic: Flying V Vaulting Team

Floods floods floods!

With the horrendous flooding going on in eastern Australia, particularly Queensland, at the moment, it makes you wonder what is happening to all the horses (and other animals) that are stuck in the middle of it. The good news is, at least some of them are making it out of there. I don't know how many were lost, we may not ever know, but there are people out there working hard to rescue the ones they can.

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/01/013.shtml

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17483&src=VW

If you can help foster animals, RSPCA have set up a call centre to register your details. Give them a call on 07 3426 9999 if you can help. Anyone on higher ground can volunteer.

If you can't foster an animal, but would like to help with a donation, visit here. This is the preference that RSPCA have stated instead of giving supplies, as it is easier logistically to redirect money where its needed, rather than carting supplies from everywhere.

Pic: freefoto.com

It also begs the question - do you have an evacuation plan if the worst happens? Fire, flood, earthquake, any natural disaster really - or if you lose your job, get sick, whatever. What will happen to your beloved horse/s and pets? Not to mention if you have other livestock as well! So many people do not think about this until it happens, creating unnecessary stress, confusion, and heaven forbid, loss of their beloved horse! Flooding is one of the more common disasters - most people do not realise that living in a 100-year flood plain means that the chance of flooding is calculated as a 1% chance of flooding per year or a 30% chance in the lifetime of many mortgages. It is not necessarily one flood in 100 years!

Pic: Infohorse

This is a big question for me personally, as I am about to move to a flood prone area, so one of the first things on my list will be to figure out what to do with my girls if we get one. First step is to look at the floodways and see just where the water will go in a flood - and find the higher ground and the route to it, have a map and directions handy so everyone knows where to go in an emergency. Try to have two or three alternate routes in case roads are closed or too dangerous. Also make sure your driveway is constructed so you aren't stranded. This might seem llike a no-brainer, but too many folks have just a dirt track for a driveway and end up with a boggy mess that can't take any traffic, let alone a loaded horse float and tow vehicle!

 Does your horse load and float well? I can assure you that if it's a difficult loader it will be even worse if the need to evacuate arises - the stress of the situation for both yourself and your horse will compound any issues you might have. So practise loading! If you aren't sure of how to fix your problem, get some experienced help, and make sure it's fixed BEFORE something happens. If you don't have your own float, make sure you know where the local transporters are, and ask them about emergencies! You will probably find they will have their own problems in an emergency and do not have time to come and pick up every horse around the place! You could also canvass the local area and get together a list of people who may have a spare float spot. During the 2003 Canberra fire, the major agistment properties were full of generous people evacuating any horse they could. When one float was full, the next lined up. If you have a list prepared, you can organise this in advance. If you have a spare spot, let people know.

Another question - will your horse allow a stranger to handle and load him? A major disaster is not the time to find this out! Have someone he doesn't know at Pony Club or at a competition load him for the trip home (under your supervision) and see how he reacts. You may need to work on this, as its not uncommon for horses to dislike handling by strangers. I have one who will not be caught by anyone but me, even after 11 years!

Is your towing vehicle available and in good repair? If floods are coming, don't let your partner take the tow vehicle to work! You may need it. If you need a hand hitching up, have this done prior to actually needing it, so it is ready to go at the drop of a hat. No point wasting time with endless attempts to back onto the float! (I've done this before!) Keep it serviced and registered - you can guarantee that when you need it the most is when it will break down. (Feel free to let your other half's car or your work car go to the dogs - but always keep your horse vehicle running beautifully at all times!) Check your insurance policy too - some will cover your float if you're towing and others won't, so keep this in mind too. Make sure all towing equipment is suitable for the job and legal, and keep your float serviced too. Oh, and PUT FUEL IN! My other half has a habit of driving one car until it's empty, then swapping over and emptying the other - drives me insane, but also a safety problem if I ever had to get out of there in a hurry! Keep local maps in the car too.

Is your horse easy to catch? Again, in an emergency you will find a difficult horse will be worse, so make sure he is catchable. Have some yards or a small area handy - generally I don't recommend catching with a bucket of food (for safety reasons) but it may be necessary in this situation if he can be hard to catch. Don't be tempted to leave a halter on him in the paddock though, this is very dangerous! The last resort is to let him loose to fend for himself. Do not waste time on your horse if you really can't catch him. It is a terrible decision to have to make, but you can never risk your own safety, or that of others, for a horse who is determined he isn't coming anywhere near you! If you have to leave him behind, do not confine him. Let him free into as large an area as possible. Horses can swim, and can handle water up to their bellies - they can usually manage having their limbs submerged for 48-72 hours.

Pic: HSUS

Do you have a first aid kit and the skills to use it? Brush up on your horse first aid if necessary, and make sure your kit is well stocked and easily accessible. I keep one at home, one in the ute and one in the float, so I always have something on hand. Keep a list of what's in it and expiry dates, so you can replace stock as necessary. CHECK IT regularly. Keep your vet's phone number and emergency contact in it.


Does your emergency destination have adequate food and water? You may need to take these with you. Make sure you know before you leave - many people have been in such a hurry to leave that they have forgotten, and were left with a hungry and thirsty horse, and no way to return to get what they needed. Put some hay and water in your float when there is even the slightest possibility you may have to evacuate. Hay should be in nylon sacks, feed in  plastic bags or containers with tight-fitting lids. Also keep some portable water containers on hand at all times. If you have buckets - use metal ones! (Plastic melts in a fire.) It is a good idea to haev at least 20 litres of water in there too. Many horse owners underestimate just how much their horse will drink. Keep chemicals and fuels away from your supplies, so if you do end up flooding, your feed and water containers won't be contaminated.

Do you go away from your horses, on holiday or for work? Do the people who look after them know your plan? Keep a written copy of everything in an easily accessible place, and make sure anyone who looks after your horses knows where it is. It may sound obvious, but have any relevant emergency numbers in there - vet, farrier, your own details. Keep a secondary kit somewhere too, in case the first is damaged or lost. Do you know where your local rescues/welfare groups or horse owner groups are, and what services and resources they have available. If you agist, do you know (and have you practiced) the plan for the property where your horse lives? Are you in contact with other agisters who may be able to help you, or can you help other owners in times of need?

Drills! Practice, practice, practice! It might seem silly, but load your horses up for a practice run to your designated safe area. Unload them, show them around. Find where the water is. Look where fences are. Show these all to your horses. They will feel much more comfortable and settled when they are familiar with a place.

If you end up needing to let your horse go free, remove all rugs and halters from the horse. If you can, paint your contact details on him, so you can be quickly located once the emergency is over.

If your horse has a medical problem, always make sure you have enough supplies on hand. It irritates me no end when people turn up at Emergency (for people) looking for a script because they've just moved/gone on holidays/can't get an appointment or whatever reason - if people do that for themselves, they sure would do it for their animals as well! Always keep enough, preferably extra supplies or medicines! Always! For yourself and your animals. Same for feed - don't let it run out before you think about getting some more.

What do you need to keep on hand for your horses?

1. Lead rope and halter (preferably one for each horse - they are not expensive!)
2. Towels
3. Torch & spare batteries
4. Wire cutters & perhaps a knife
5. Equine first aid kit
6. Water buckets (metal)
7. Battery operated radio
8. Written descriptions of your horses including brands, microchips, markings and identifiable scars etc, plus photos and proof of ownership and vet details in a plastic bag.

Above all, keep yourself and your horses safe. Do not panic. Never ride or drive through floodwaters. Obey instructions of any emergency personnel, and do not risk your own safety for any horse. They are good survivors - most horses can go without food fer a few days, and most floodwaters recede enough by then.

Pic: AP Pool

After the disaster passes - always check your fencing and water supply before returning horses to their paddocks. Mud is a serious problem if they become trapped, so try to wait until it is dry again. Horses can be prone to rainscald, greasy heel, pneumonia, leg wounds and waterborne diseases (from contaminated supply). Remove any dangerous debris. Keep feeding - the pasture may look ok, but will most likely be water damaged, also called a "green drought." Keep an eye out for mozzies and other insects too.

Thanks to NSW and Vic DPI for the information here.

Can you believe this one?

All I can say is wow!


Eli the Quadriplegic Donkey.



Ok, so you're thinking the same as me - what the? How can a donkey have a spinal cord injury that makes him a quadriplegic and actually survive? It just blows me away. And it's better than that - he recovered!

Eli the donkey in his sling.

The injury Eli suffered was similar to a human diving into shallow water. There was weakness and paralysis. He could not stand, lift his head, urinate or defecate. Equines of all types decline rapidly when they cannot stand, and Eli was on death's door. His owner was given 2 choices - euthanasia, or experimental stem cell therapy. She took the longshot of stem cells. The stem cells came from a thoroughbred donor, and now Eli the donkey brays, walks and runs as he used to. It took months, but this little equine gives hope to anyone with a spinal cord injury. His treatment has given important information to the research into stem cell use.

Amazing stuff!