Discover what issues can affect your horse's back, sacroiliac joint, and pelvis and how to work with your veterinarian to address them. Read more in this article from the Fall 2024 issue of The Horse. The post Horse Topline Troubles appeared first on The Horse.

Lizs team has shared a new update on her progress as she continues to recover from a head injury sustained in a fall on cross country at the AECs Thursday.Thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and support for Liz as she starts the long road to recovery. You all know that she is incredibly strong and determined, so it should come as no surprise that she is making steady progress. When asked to wiggle her fingers and toes, she is going above and beyond by lifting her arms and legs too. We are seeing improvements every day. She is constantly showing us that she is going to recover faster than expected.If there is one thing the eventing community excels at, it is rallying support when it is needed the most. Now more than ever, Liz needs your support. Messages have been pouring in from around the world. When we started reading them to her yesterday, she responded by squeezing our hands to let us know how grateful she is to everyone who is sending their well wishes. The biggest hand squeeze of all came when we told her Shanroe Cooley is happy and at home in his field without a scratch on him.We have read her every word of every message that has been sent. Please keep sending her messages. Share a story, a memory, a quote we will continue to read every word. We will also play voice messages for her. If you post a message for her on social media, use the hashtag #KeepFightingLiz.Her mantra throughout her career has always been to Keep Fighting. She is the strongest, toughest, most resilient person we know. She is going to Keep Fighting now just like she always has. You are all on this journey with us together. It will be a marathon, not a sprint. Liz will always start what she finishes, and she is going to finish this marathon.With love and thanks,Lizs Family & FriendsLiz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker in Paris. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Lizs family and friends are encouraging supporters to share their well-wishes and words of encouragement as Liz fights for her recovery. Well continue to provide additional updates from the team as they are made available.

Sarcoids are a very common type of benign skin tumour that affect horses and there are several treatment options for owners to consider, including a cream created by Professor Derek Knottenbelt.Sarcoids can affect the health of male and female horses, ponies and donkeys, but geldings are more likely to be affected. They affect all ages apart from young animals under about two years old and some animals appear to be genetically susceptible to developing sarcoids.Treatment options for a sarcoidSarcoids can be treated in a number of different ways, sometimes using a variety of treatment options, depending on the type, location and size of the sarcoid.Vets also have to take into consideration the temperament of the horse, the owners financial budget and the particular experience and preferences of the treating vet.Treatment options include a variety of topical chemical creams and drugs which can be injected directly into the sarcoid (chemotherapy), as well as various surgical methods, including surgical removal and cryo-surgery.Often multiple treatment approaches may be required for a single horse to reduce to risk of recurrence.Treatment cream for a horse with a sarcoidIn my experience, the treatment which gives the highest success rate is a chemotherapy cream provided by Professor Derek Knottenbelt.This was the treatment I chose for a patient of mine called Albie, who had a number of various sarcoid types over his belly, groin and sheath.The cream required application for a total of five days spread over a course of 10 days. Then we waited.Some of the sarcoids responded very well and were gone with the first round of treatment. But some required a second round of treatment and then a third round.Albies owner was very patient as the whole process took over a year to complete and to complicate matters some treatment sites developed infection. They did all go, though, and so far he has had no recurrence.Types of sarcoid in horsesA nodular sarcoidSarcoids are very variable in size and appearance, behaviour and in how they respond to treatment.This variability makes the treatment of a sarcoid a challenge to both horse owners and vets.While sarcoids may be locally aggressive, they do not metastasize to other parts of the body.There are six different types of sarcoid which vary in appearance and growth patterns, from flat flaky patches to large, ulcerated pedunculated growths:Verrucose sarcoid: usually irregular patches of slightly raised, crusty or flaky skin.Fibroblastic sarcoid:consist of red/yellow ulcerated, proliferating masses, that bleed readily and may be covered in a crusty discharge, attracting flies in the summer. They may become quite large and hang down from the body.Nodular sarcoid:usually smooth, firm, fibrous lumps within or under the skin. They can be found individually or in groups.Occult sarcoid:a smooth, flat area of hair loss often with well-defined margins with relatively normal looking skin.Malignant sarcoid:widespread infiltration of different types of sarcoid covering a considerable area, with little evidence of normal skin, usually seen in genetically susceptible individuals.Mixed sarcoid:these contain any combination of the different types of sarcoid, occurring at the same location at the same time.Where do sarcoids appear?A Verrucose sarcoidSarcoids can occur at almost any site on a horses skin, although there are some regions that are more liable to their development, such as the skin of the head and neck, between the front legs and in the groin area.While they can spread within the skin, they do not spread to the internal body organs.Sarcoids are likely to multiply on an individual horse and individual lesions may enlarge rapidly or slowly, especially when the sarcoid is traumatised or otherwise interfered with. Individual lesions frequently enlarge over time although they may remain static for many months or years.Nothing is known about potential triggers for exacerbation apart from the fact that trauma (either accidental or intentional) can trigger the development of the most aggressive forms from even the earliest mildest and smallest lesions.How do they affect horses?Sarcoids can affect a horse in a variety of ways:The sarcoid can become ulcerated and/or infected.Sarcoids that develop at sites such as the eyelids and over joints and coronary bands can cause severe functional problems.Cosmetic difficulties may reduce the owners enjoyment of the horse and may impair the relationship between the horse and the owner.Location of the sarcoid can make it impossible to wear tack/rugs. They may rub against the girth when sited on the belly, for example.Sarcoids are attractive to flies in the summer months and this can be highly distressing for the horse.A horse with sarcoid(s) may be unsellable and is certainly worth less in a sale than it would be if it had no sarcoids; sarcoid is a common cause of loss of commercial value even in high performance horses.Sarcoids may limit the working life of horses both in the short and longer term.Sarcoids are thought to be hereditary and so render an affected mare or stallion useless as breeding stock.How to diagnose a sarcoidSarcoids vary greatly in appearance, in some cases resembling warts, areas of proud flesh or even a patch of ringworm.To confirm a diagnosis of sarcoid, a tissue sample or biopsy can be taken and examined at the laboratory.However, sampling a sarcoid can stimulate it to grow, so they are often treated without taking a biopsy first. Treatment by cream or whichever method is chosen should always be prompt when a biopsy result confirms the presence of a sarcoid on the body of a horse.Treatment of a sarcoid with a cream at the earliest opportunity increases the success rate and reduces the chance of further sarcoids developing on the horse.Sarcoidtreatment: laser surgeryBy far the most common use of laser surgery in the horse is for treatment of a sarcoid.During surgery, the sarcoid is removed, leaving a wide skin border to minimise the risk of regrowth.Often with laser surgery, wounds are not sutured closed; this is in part due to the large size of some tumours, where closing the skin would pull the wound edges too tight.Heat damage to the wound edges also means surgical closure doesnt always result in quicker healing time.LASER is the acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser generates an intense beam of light that can be used to cut, seal or vaporise tissue.The benefits of laser surgery over traditional sharp surgical techniques include:Minimised risk of spreading tumour cells during tumour removalReduction in bleeding during surgery, as the laser will seal many small vessels while cuttingLess pain, as the laser seals nerve endings as it cuts themReduction in inflammation, swelling and postoperative infection at wound site (promotes fast and efficient wound healing)Faster recovery, resulting from the combination of reduced bleeding, pain, inflammation and infection risk.Although these wounds can at first sight seem intimidating, due to their size and number following sarcoid removal, they usually heal rapidly with few complications.Laser removal is associated with minimal pain, swelling and inflammation and reduction in postoperative infection.As such, we expect the majority of patients to make a fast and uneventful recovery, enabling a swift return to work.Are sarcoids contagious?It is thought that sarcoids are spread by flies, but immunity is an issue. Horses in a herd with high immunity to sarcoids wont develop them and the cause is most certainly spread by the bovine or papilloma virus.There are different levels of immunity in horses. Some will have full immunity against sarcoids, others may develop one or two sarcoids, and some are unlucky to have a low immunity to them and develop clusters. Images by ShutterstockRelated content5 things your horses vet really wishes you wouldnt doHorse antibiotics: its time for everyone to take responsibility for the fight against resistanceDiagnosing skin problems with your horseThe post Treatment options for a sarcoid: cream or surgery? appeared first on Your Horse.

Draw reins for horses might be found in some tack rooms and detested in others they often trigger heated debates amongst the equestrian community and with good reason.Made of leather or a webbing material, draw reins are designed to go through the bit and to attach either to the girth between the horses front legs or to the girth straps on both sides of the saddle.When draw reins attach to the girth straps they are sometimes known as running reins.How do draw reins work?The basic principle of draw reins for horses is that they feel pressure on the bit ring and this changes the contact and/or the position of the horses head and neck.It takes a lot of skill and correct timing of the riders aids to show the horse that they can lower their head and draw their neck forward to meet the contact of the riders reins, whichare attached to the bit rings as normal.Its important that the use of draw reins does not become routine.In this article I will explain when you might use them, the problems with their incorrect use and the responsibility we as riders have to consider carefully whether to use them.How should draw reins be used? When attached to the girth straps, draw reins may be referred to as running reinsI always caution riders to use draw reins with extreme care. I would tell an inexperienced rider not to use them and I will explain why later on.Draw reins must always be used with a second pair of reins, so you need to be skilled at riding with a pair of reins and able to soften the contact on the draw reins immediately, as needed.You also need to be able to ride with an independent seat and to be able to ride effectively, using your leg aids and receiving the contact as a two-way communication with your horse.Draw reins are a training aid. They are a guiding rein that must only be used with a snaffle bit.When the rein comes into use, it acts on the bars and the corners of the mouth, applying pressure to the horses poll. The rider must keep the reins equal and not allow the reins to become twisted.Remember that a horse must never be asked to carry their head behind the vertical. This false and dangerous practice is known as hyperflexion/Rolkur and causes pain, tension and incorrect movement.Draw reins for horses: no pressureDraw reins should mostly be inactive, with the horse feeling no pressure from the reins when working correctly forwards and into a contact.A horse who understands the action of the draw reins will notice the feel and extra weight of the second rein through the bit ring and not do anything that causes the draw rein to come into effect.There are two important things to remember:Working in any unfamiliar posture is incredibly tiring and your horse will need to be allowed to regularly stretch and relax, having the freedom to ease their muscles.A horse might respond to the draw reins by tucking their chin in and dropping behind the contact, withdrawing from any kind of communication with the rider and working in a false outline. We want to avoid this damaging posture and I will go into more detail about it shortly.How to fit draw reinsDouble reins: correct positionTo correctly fit draw reins for your horse, first place the reins over their neck with the central buckle placed over the wither.Remember that your snaffle rein takes the place of the Bradoon rein of a double bridle.This means it is the top rein and the one that you predominantly use when riding. The draw reins will pass through the bit below the snaffle rein.Check the lengthWhen you have each of the draw reins through the bit, check that they are equal length before you clip them to the attachments.You will need to select a girth with a ring at the front or use an attachment with a ring that loops over the girth and gives you a central attachment.If you are using the draw reins on the girth straps, you can place a ring attachment loop over each strap.Sometimes you will see riders clip the rein to the buckle part of the girth, but this is a risk because of the tension.It might be better to choose running reins that have a buckle attachment rather than a clip so that they can be fitted as you would side reins.Correct attachmentThread each rein under all of the girth straps. Next you return the strap over the top of the end girth strap and under the first strap before adjusting the buckles. Remember that these must remain equal in length.Dont forget that draw reins are long perhaps 15-17ft long and so when fitting them, make sure they do not drag on the floor. If they do, you risk the horse getting a leg caught or the reins twisting.Practice cautionDraw reins attach to the bit in the horses sensitive mouth, so dont leave your horse tied up or in a stable wearing draw reins for fear that they might get caught.This would scare the horse and can cause pain. Its a good idea to put a gentle knot in the rein so that they can lie against the horses neck while you make your checks and final adjustments.Using draw reins for horses for the first timeThe first time you use draw reins, your horse might be confused by the unfamiliar feel.Potentially they might panic or at the very least feel uncertain about what you are asking of them. Before letting the draw rein act on the bit, warm up your horse in their natural frame using only the snaffle rein. Your focus should be on establishing a regular rhythm and making sure that your horse understands and reacts to your leg aids.When your horse is relaxed, you can carefully take up a gentle feel of the draw reins to guide the horse to lower their head and neck.The horse will be looking to you for guidance. Use your leg aid to ask them to go forwards and seek the contact in the snaffle rein.Subtle use of draw reinsAs your horse lowers their neck, you subtly ask them to stay in the snaffle rein contact by applying your legs quietly and relaxing the draw rein at the same time.Think forwards! Its not about pulling your horse backwards into a better outline.Of course you can talk to your horse, praising them for relaxing and accepting the suggestion of the reins.If your horse does panic, release the draw reins and encourage them to go forwards into a familiar rhythm again.As I have already said, be mindful in every moment that you are not pulling on or leaning on your reins.You need to be confident that what you are asking your horse to do is okay. If you are tense and unhappy your horse will pick up on this uncertainty and they are likely to become uncertain too.If things are not working and you feel worried, stop and discuss the challenge.Riding with draw reinsRiding in draw reins is a task for a skilful rider. In fact, its often been suggested that the few riders who are skilled enough to use them probably dont need them.Draw reins for horses are not to be used as a short cut in training. There are times when they are helpful and its worth exploring with your coach if you are ready to use them or if there might be a more appropriate choice.I think it is helpful for me to share some of the occasions when I have used them.I will also share with you some of the instances where a horse schooled in draw reins has arrived with me and was not in a good physical or psychological place, and what I did next.Fragility through the reinsThe first time I rode a horse in running reins, I was trying a horse to buy, I felt a sense of fragility through the reins and I didnt like the lack of conversation I had with the horse.I was still in Pony Club and terrified of the running reins. I barely touched them but fell in love with the horse. We bought him and he stayed with us his whole life.At 15 I thought Id go straight back to basics and put a snaffle bit on with a plain noseband. There followed a terrifying few months of being unable to stop or steer.This horse formed a strong bond with my mum and, as we didnt have an arena, I had to hack.The only way to hack him safely was for him to follow my mum! In open spaces he would brace and then spin.My younger self had no idea what to do about this apart from ride circles and transitions. I had a few lessons with a local trainer, who introduced me to the basic principles of leg yielding and I started spiralling in and leg yielding out on a circle.Back to basicsEventually, we achieved a connection where I was able to influence the position of the horses head and neck.Lowering his neck, moving in a regular rhythm and listening to my leg aids as well as my voice took us to a new level of understanding. I know we could not have achieved this if I had not stripped his tack back to basics and removed the draw reins.If I could go back in time to talk to younger me and spend some time with my horse, I would explain that he was not rejecting me with his scary behaviour and I would reassure the horse that we were heading in the right direction.Fear on both sides in this partnership was based on lack of understanding. I remember being determined that I could find a way to rehabilitate this horse and eventually we got there.Im sharing this with you to say that I empathise with feeling out of my depth and trying to communicate with a horse.Positive effects of draw reinsThis experience led to me blaming the previous use of draw reins for every problem and challenge my horse had.So it took a lot to convince me later on that I could use draw reins in a positive way for horses. I did not ever want to be the rider that did my horse any harm.I was honoured to be asked one day to cool down a dressage horse who was rather bigger than I was used to riding.He was powerful, happy and that day he was wearing draw reins. I did not know what to do!My instructor helped me through the feel of trotting around in the snaffle rein with a correct contact and gently holding but not using the draw reins. It was an honour and a joy to ride that horse and I was elated to know we had good communication.Fears of breaking him disappeared and I was thankful for the lesson in feel he gave me.Fast forward several years, I was given a standardbred trotter to school and promptly presented with draw reins.Conformationally, this horse had a rather short neck and it was not possible for him to work in the frame the owner was seeking.My solution? I took the draw reins off and showed them how to focus on helping the horse to relax in the jaw and at the poll.I used a simple walking on a circle exercise as well as leg yielding, with regular breaks, and the horse learned to relax into the posture that worked best for him.He soon chose to stretch over his back and, as his balance improved, so did his confidence and relaxation. I know this way of going was not going to be achieved with draw reins.Draw reins for horses: more controlA decade later, having ridden many more horses, I got the ride on a lovely former event horse who knew way more than I did.He was the ideal schoolmaster, but after a spell of box rest it was time to bring him back into work with no turnout or lunging allowed.Well, suddenly I was an apprehensive rider tasked with getting on a fire-breathing dragon who was on full alert. I didnt dare breathe let alone put my leg on. He was locking onto anything that moved and I was at a loss as to what to do.My coach suggested that it would be safer to ride in running reins and I reluctantly agreed.Now I think the horse knew exactly what those draw reins were asking; he snorted in disgust before seeking the contact and lowering his head.He felt more like my horse in that moment and I prayed as I applied my leg. Nothing untoward happened! He simply stretched his neck forwards, the wrinkles of tension at the base of his neck disappeared, and I released the touch of the draw rein.His ears returned to work mode, flickering back at me asking for praise.I heaped words of gratitude on him and promised endless mints if only he would keep his feet on the ground and order was restored to our world. A fortnight later he was allowed turnout and the draw reins stayed on the fence.Tell-tale signs of misusing draw reinsThe horse I want to tell you about now arrived with the tell-tale signs that he had been ridden in draw reins.There was a dip in the musculature at the base of his neck; he tucked his chin into his chest and he had the appearance of a short and scrawny neck.When riding him, he was rock solid against the hand and had little muscle development behind the saddle or on his quarters.This horse moved in a flashy yet tight way. His trot was all about his front legs and his canter was not really going anywhere.I experimented with different snaffle mouthpieces to find the one he liked. He enjoyed going sideways and he understood counter canter, so I used these exercises to help him develop suppleness.Lateral suppleness encouraged him to breathe and to let go of tension. Equally, longitudinal suppleness helped him understand the link between balance and communicating with his rider.(Half halts became more nuanced, with a gentle massage of my fingers on the reins and subtle changes in my seat.)Low and behold, this horse began to enjoy moving his body. He was proud of himself and liked to show off, especially in the dressage arena.However, he was a nightmare to hack and far more dangerous than my other horse, as he had zero self preservation. Alas, my mum returned to walking duty.Once again I felt angry and sad that draw reins had robbed this horse of his early understanding of the world.Draw reins for horses: yes or no?You wont be surprised to hear thatIm still mostly on the side of leaving draw reins in the tack room when it comes to choosing whether to use them or not.However, I am thankful for having the knowledge and understanding of how to use them correctly and when they might have a role to play in helping a horse and rider develop.I would like every rider to have the opportunity to learn how to work a horse correctly.There is a place for draw reins for horses, but they are easily misused and its our responsibility as riders to question why we use them.We must make sure that when they are used its in a tactful way to guide a horse towards having a more relaxed posture and focus. That is the end goal.Main image: copyright Shutterstock. Inset: copyright Your Horse Library/Kelsey Media LtdRelated contentDouble bridles explainedA-Z guide to horse bits and mouth conformationWhy there is so much more to lunging a horse than going round in circlesBridle fit and horse head anatomy *VIDEO*The post Draw reins for horses: do they have a place in training? appeared first on Your Horse.

Colin Gaffney on Baymax, Michelle Koppin, Grace Dilger, Joanie Morris, and Alex Baugh gather at Richard Pickens memorial in the Kentucky Horse Park.A special moment out of AECs, which were held this year at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. This is also the memorial place of Richard Picken, a beloved coach, mentor, husband, and friend who bravely battled cancer until his passing in August of 2022. His friends and family gathered at his memorial, which bears a plaque reading: His happiest moments were spent preparing horses and riders to jump clear rounds on big occasions, including many at the Kentucky Horse Park.US Weekend LinksUSEA American Eventing Championships: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring] [Volunteer] [Official Photographer] [XC Courses]Equestrians Institute H.T.: [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Volunteer]Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T.: [Website] [Timing & Scoring] [Volunteer]Bucks County Horse Park H.T.: [Website] [Entries/Timing/ScoringLinks & ReadingLots more stories out of #AEC2024, including the winners crowned on SaturdayBrynna Gang Is Making Memories With Her Nokota At AEC The Chronicle of the Horse Dozens Of Rodeo Horses Die After Possible Monensin Feed ContaminationConquer the cross-country start box with Emily Kings adviceVideo Break:#KeepFightingLiz View this post on InstagramA post shared by Impulsion Media | Haley Boothe (@impulsionmedia_)