According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, five horses in Sedgwick County have tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). Seventy additional horses are exposed. The affected horses have been placed under official quarantine.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About EIAEquine infectious anemiais a viral disease that attacks horses immune systems. The virus is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from an infected to an uninfected animal, often by blood-feeding insects such as horseflies. It can also be transmitted through the use of blood-contaminated instruments or needles.ACoggins test screens horses blood for antibodiesthat are indicative of the presence of the EIA virus. Most U.S. states require horses to have proof of a negative Coggins test to travel across state lines.Once an animal is infected with EIA, it is infected for life and can be a reservoir for the spread of disease. Not all horses show signs of disease,but those that do can exhibit:Progressive body condition loss;Muscle weakness;Poor stamina;Fever;Depression; andAnemia.EIA has no vaccine and no cure. A horse diagnosed with the disease dies, is euthanized, or must be placed under extremely strict quarantine conditions (at least 200 yards away from unaffected equids) for the rest of his life.

Courtesy Dr. Rebecca HustedA comprehensive emergency plan should account for your regions most likely threatssuch as wildfires, floods, or hurricanesand outline specific evacuation or shelter-in-place procedures. Include maps, contact lists, and roles for each person on the property. Michael Fugaro, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, of Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services, in Hackettstown, New Jersey, describes how to tailor the plan to your facilitys layout and your horses individual needs and handling requirements in this Ask TheHorse Live excerpt.This podcast is an excerpt of ourAsk TheHorse Live Q&A, Planning for Equine Emergencies. Listen to thefull recording here.About the Experts: Michael Fugaro, VMD, Dipl. ACVSMichael Fugaro, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, is the owner and founder of Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services, in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Fugaro received his VMD at the University of Pennsylvanias School of Veterinary Medicine, in Kennett Square, where he graduated in 1997. He then completed a large animal internship at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, Canada, and a large animal surgical residency at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Previously, Fugaro was the resident veterinarian and a tenured full-professor at Centenary University, in Hackettstown. He has also taught as a visiting instructor at Rutgers University in the Animal Science Department, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Fugaro has held veterinary positions with the New Jersey Department of Agricultures Division of Animal Health and the New Jersey Racing Commission. He has also been the president of the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners, an advisory board member for the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement (RUBEA), and an admissions committee member for University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. When not performing surgeries, Fugaro enjoys golfing and going to the gym. He resides in Morris County, New Jersey, with his wife, Donna, and dog, Curtis.

Two horses in Ontario recently tested positive for strangles. The horses live in Middlesex County and Kawartha Lakes.In Middlesex County, a 7-year-old gelding at a boarding facility was examined by a veterinarian for choke and was noted to have copious mucopurulent nasal discharge that tested positive forS. equi. He is under quarantine, and 20 horses are exposed.In Kawartha Lakes, a 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare at a private facility tested positive for strangles after developing nasal discharge, a moist cough, and a submandibular lymph node. She is under quarantine.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

One horse at a private facility in Jefferson County, West Virginia, was recently confirmed positive for strangles by the attending veterinarian. The horse was euthanized. One additional case is suspected.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

Photo: iStockThinking about buying a horse? Whether youre a first-time buyer or returning to horse ownership after time away, making the right decisions from the start can help ensure a rewarding and financially sustainable experience. Learn what to expect during a prepurchase examination and why its important, how to plan and budget for purchase and ongoing expenses associated with horse ownership, and how to evaluate whether a horse is the right match for you.Register for this Ask TheHorse Live event, where a veterinarian will answer listener questions about what you need to know before buying a horse.Register NowAsk The Horse Live begins on Thursday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. EDT Days Hours MinutesAbout the Expert: Wendy Krebs, DVMWendy Krebs, DVM, is a partner at Bend Equine Medical Center in Oregon. She grew up in Western Oregon, where she participated first in 4-H and later in eventing. She graduated from Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Corvallis, in 2002 and performed a yearlong equine internship, followed by a four-year American College of Veterinary Surgeons equine surgery residency. Her practice interests include surgery and performance horse care, as well as comprehensive preventive care. She lives on a small working ranch in Tumalo with her husband, two young children, and a bevy of animals, including nine horses. She enjoys riding her Oldenburg mare, Aria, emergency-schedule permitting.

Horses with back pain might object to mounting or work under saddle. | Anne M. Eberhardt/The HorseYour horse has been diagnosed with back painnow what? Back pain in horses is more common than we might think, and although it can take a while to resolve, there are many ways you can support your animal during the recovery process. We have asked two leading experts about advice they would give horse owners on rehabilitating horses with back pain.Get to know what could be causing your horses back pain.To treat and manage back pain correctly, horse owners need to understand its causes. Trauma, falls, (genetic) muscle disease, muscular strain/fatigue, and compression, friction, or pinching from an ill-fitting saddle can result in back pain, says Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, FRCVS, president of Sport Horse Science, in Mason, Michigan. Vertebral lesions, such as overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines) and arthritis of the facet joints (between the vertebrae), are among the more serious causes of back pain, she adds.Back pain can also be a consequence of compensation due to lameness, says Gillian Tabor, DPhil, chartered physiotherapist, senior lecturer in veterinary physiotherapy, and researcher at Hartpury University, in Gloucester, U.K. Lameness leading to back pain is often subtle and sometimes not detectable by the eye, she adds, so it can be easily missed.Although back pain in horses can be challenging to manage, adjusting basic daily practices can help improve your horses likelihood of recovery.1. Allow Ample Turnout and Movement to Avoid Stiffness.All horses benefit from turnout, and grazing is not only good for the back, but also for the mind, Clayton says. Continuous, low-intensity movement (at the walk) on pasture also helps avoid arthritis in the vertebral joints or prevent the limbs from stiffening up, she adds.Even horses undergoing rehab from spinal surgery need to move, Tabor notes. Therefore, offering all horses daily turnout time is vital to back health.2.Adjust Feeding Practices for Improved Posture.Feeding roughage from the ground is the best option, but we have to be pragmatic if we need to reduce intake to manage weight, Tabor says. In cases of overweight horses, choosing slow feeding methods that will have the least negative impact on your horses back is crucial, particularly when he is still recovering from back pain.We should avoid high-hung haynets at all times, Clayton emphasizes. If haynets are hung too high for extended periods, the horse must constantly elevate his head and neck to reach his hay. This can cause muscular tension and back pain due to the hollowed back stance. But keep in mind horseshoes can get caught in haynets or slow feeders if hung too low. If your horse is not shod, you can tie the haynet lower to the ground, below chest height, she adds.3.Feed to Support Rehabilitation.Your horses nutritional needs change based on his age, the type of work he does, how much turnout he receives, and on what kind of pasture. Some horses have poor muscle development and soreness related to nutritional factors, such as vitamin E deficiency in horses that are not turned out on pasture, Clayton says. If you are unsure whether your horse is consuming a balanced diet, ask your veterinarian or a qualified equine nutritionist for advice.4.Promote Good-Quality Sleep for Improved Health.Good sleep correlates with good health. A person under chronic stress and not sleeping well experiences higher pain levels, and we have no reason to suspect its any different for horses, Tabor says. Ensure your horse has the space and an environment where he feels comfortable enough to lie down in lateral or sternal recumbency (flat on his side or on his chest/abdomen, respectively), because these sleeping positions are required to complete rapid eye movement sleep, which is linked to improved health. Research also suggests that painful musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, might prevent horses from lying down and entering and completing all sleep phases.5.Improve Hoof Balance to Decrease Back Pain.Hoof balance is also a key point worth considering when managing your horses back pain, since negative palmar/plantar angles are related to changes in posture of the whole horse, Tabor says.If the hooves are unbalanced, they will distribute forces incorrectly throughout the horses body, Clayton adds, which can cause back pain. Improving your horses posture during recovery from back pain is important for their posture and strength, which directly relate to back pain.6.Check Saddle Fit and Rider Weight.Ill-fitting saddles can cause pressure points, rubbing, pinching, and soreness, says Tabor. To be sure your saddle fits your horse properly, work with a qualified saddle fitter and remember to recheck fit at regular intervals (at least every six months) because your horses back shape will change with increasing fitness.The rider should be an appropriate size and weight for the horse, Clayton says. Not all horses have sufficient strength to carry a heavy or taller rider, she adds, which riders need to consider when selecting a horse.7. Train Good Posture to Prevent Back Pain in Horses.Ask yourself, Is my horses back prepared for carrying me before riding? Tabor says. She strongly advises equestrians to dedicate enough training time to groundwork to help horses develop better posture, which activates the muscles needed to carry riders weight. Without stimulating and maintaining those muscles through a lifted back in different gaits and directions, back pain can result.8. Practice Stretches to Improve Range of Motion and Strength.Clayton highlights that baited stretches are very effective in preventing and treating back problems because they maintain the horses range of motion and strengthen muscles stabilizing the spine. During these stretches, the horse can control the extent of his motion and is not forced to move joints beyond his pain threshold point.9.Allow Appropriate Recovery Time.Allowing your horse sufficient time to recover between training rides is also vital to maintaining a healthy back. Remember that it can take up to three days for your horses muscles to recover and perform pain-free after intense exercise. Be sympathetic to the fact that certain gaits or movements may be painful and should be avoided, rather than trying to force the horse to comply with your request, Clayton says.10.Remember These Conditioning Essentials.Clayton and Tabor suggest keeping the following training basics in mind when conditioning horses with back pain:Keep horses with chronic back pain in light work to maintain the muscles that support and stabilize the spine and, therefore, good posture.Always allow a long warmup at the walk (at least 10-15 minutes) before starting any trot or canter work.Work within the horses capabilities and fitness level and increase exercise intensity gradually.Walking the horse up and down hills is an excellent back-strengthening exerciseif the horse can tolerate it.Ask your veterinarian about specific exercises that can potentially irritate injured tissues and, thus, should be avoided.Work horses with a history of back pain on softer footing that causes less concussion that can negatively impact the back.Consider the horses occupation relative to the pathology (disease or damage) causing the back pain. Riders must adapt their training methods accordingly to aid recovery or prevent further damage to the back. For instance, work a horse with kissing spines in a round frame to reduce the risk of dorsal spinous process impingement.Take-Home MessageAdhering to specific management and training practices can help horses recover faster from back pain and prevent it from recurring. Our sources say all interventions that encourage better posture and activate muscle groups.

SmartPak, the No. 1 equine health brand, today officially becomes SmartEquine, a name that reflects our renewed dedication to delivering one-of-a-kind health and wellness solutions for every unique horse. This rebranding, along with the new tagline One of a Kind, is more than a new lookits our continued promise to put horse health first, with every formula reflecting the care, expertise, and passion that remain at the heart of what we do.With SmartEquine, we honor our heritage of science-backed innovation and real-world horsemanship, and our belief that no two horses are the same, said John Barry, CEO of SmartEquine. Our approach fuses rigorous veterinary research with practical equestrian experience, grounded in 25 years of listening to riders, trainers, and veterinarians. Were more than a supplement companywere partners in your equine health journey, offering tailored solutions that recognize each horses individual needs.Whether youre caring for a competitive athlete, lesson program hero, or beloved retiree, SmartEquine delivers unparalleled solutions designed to meet your horses specific health needs. You can be confident that every product works as hard as your horse does and meets the highest-quality standards.SmartEquine is trusted by veterinarians, elite riders, and industry experts because its built on evidence-based research, proven through clinical trials, and driven by an unwavering commitment to quality. The company is a leader in customized supplement programs, unmatched service, and genuine compassion for horses at every level of performance.SmartEquine delivers:One-of-a-Kind SolutionsEvery supplement and wellness product is formulated to address specific challengesfrom advanced joint support and precision hindgut protection to specialized fly protection and cutting-edge therapy productsso you can trust youre giving your horse exactly what it needs.

Section Key Points Autumn Horse Riding: Embracing Nature's Majesty Unique blend of beauty and challenges. Transformative landscape with vibrant hues. Offers joy and potential risks. The Aesthetic Allure of Autumn Rides Picturesque backdrop with changing leaves and tranquil ambiance enhancing visual and sensory experiences. Cooler Climes for Comfortable Rides Cool temperatures allow longer rides without overheating. Peaceful Riding Moments Quieter trails, softer sunlight, enhances bonds and experience. Safety Considerations During Autumn Rides Protective gear is critical due to risks in riding. Head injuries are significant; helmet use reduces fatality risk by 80%. The Importance of Helmets Certified helmets significantly reduce risk of fatal injuries, especially on slippery trails. Environmental Hazards Wet leaves and muddy paths increase slip risks. Appropriate footwear is essential. Adapting to Shorter Days Visibility is crucial. Use proper lighting or reflective gear for rides extending into dusk. Preparing for an Autumn Ride Preparation is key. Choose suitable trails, check equipment, use appropriate protective gear. Weather Considerations Check forecasts to avoid weather surprises. Consider temperature for horse comfort. Skill and Conditioning Align riding with skill level and horse conditioning, consider supplements to maintain horse's well-being. The Essence of Autumn Horse Riding The beauty of autumn coupled with preparation offers rewarding experiences. Balance joy with safety. Final Thoughts and Action Steps Autumn offers a unique riding experience. Prioritize safety. Visit Just Horse Riders for gear and tips. Autumn Horse Riding: Embracing Nature's Majesty Autumn horse riding offers a unique blend of beauty and challenges for equestrians. As the landscape transforms into vibrant hues and the air turns crisp, riders experience both the joys and potential risks inherent to this season. This blog explores the pleasures and considerations of autumn horse riding, offering insights and tips for a memorable, safe experience. The Aesthetic Allure of Autumn Rides The changing colors of leaves and tranquil ambiance make autumn a delightful season for horse riding. The vivid landscape serves as a picturesque backdrop for trail rides and outdoor adventures, enhancing the visual and sensory experience. Cooler Climes for Comfortable Rides Unlike summer's sweltering heat, autumn brings cooler temperatures. This change prolongs ride durations comfortably for both horses and riders, allowing them to enjoy longer journeys without the risk of overheating. Peaceful Riding Moments With the trails quieter and the sun casting a softer glow, autumn rides provide peaceful moments, strengthening bonds with the horse and the environment. The seasonal wildlife activity also adds an enriching dimension to the experience. Safety Considerations During Autumn Rides Despite the allure, autumn horse riding introduces specific safety challenges. Protective gear is crucial, as riding ranks among the top ten most dangerous sports in the U.S. [source]. Falls, bucks, and being thrown make up over 98% of incidents[source]. The Importance of Helmets Head injuries form a significant portion of equestrian injuries, and wearing a certified riding helmet can reduce fatality risk by 80% [source]. This is especially vital when trails might be slippery with fallen leaves or frost. Environmental Hazards Autumn trails often face unique obstacles, with wet leaves obscuring footing and muddier paths increasing slip risks. Ensure the appropriate footwear is worn to maximize grip and safety. Adapting to Shorter Days With daylight dwindling earlier, visibility becomes crucial. Riders should use proper lighting or reflective gear, especially for rides stretching into dusk. Preparing for an Autumn Ride Preparation enhances both safety and enjoyment of autumn riding. Selecting suitable trails and checking equipment are paramount. Wearing an appropriate protective gear, including helmets, body protectors, and boots, is imperative. Weather Considerations Anticipate weather changes by checking forecasts to avoid unexpected storms or temperature dips. Riders should account for temperature fluctuations that can affect horse comfort. Skill and Conditioning Maintaining alignment with your skill level and the horse's conditioning is key, especially after summer breaks or before winter sets in. Ensure horse supplements, like Everyday Horse Vitamins & Supplements, are part of the routine to keep equine partners feeling their best. The Essence of Autumn Horse Riding While autumn riding comes with its unique set of joys and challenges, the season's beauty coupled with thorough preparation offers rewarding experiences. By balancing these elements, riders can relish memorable moments, enriched by the vivid landscapes and serene rides of autumn. Final Thoughts and Action Steps In conclusion, autumn provides an exquisite opportunity for equestrians to experience riding under natures vibrant palette. However, safety must always come first to fully enjoy this experience. For further gear and safety recommendations, visit Just Horse Riders for high-quality riding apparel, gear, and tips for a safe ride.```html```