Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2025 i Equus

REASSURING FINDINGS ABOUT POPULAR PPID TREATMENT A groundbreaking 15-year study from Michigan State University provides insights into how the drug pergolide aids in the long-term management of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), a common endocrine disorder affecting aging horses. Pergolide, (brand name Prascend), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 to treat horses with PPID, also known as Cushing’s disease. Caused by hormonal imbalances stemming from an overactive pituitary gland, PPID can produce a variety of signs, including a slow-to-shed hair coat, muscle-wasting and lowered immune function. After FDA approval was granted, 30 PPID horses from the original efficacy study were enrolled in MSU’s long-term clinical trial. “We were primarily looking for any adverse effects of the medication,” says Hal Schott, DVM, PhD, who has headed the…

Efforts to better understand, prevent and treat laminitis will soon be boosted by a state-ofthe-art research facility at Mississippi State University. Construction on the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center is slated to begin in November, with completion expected by 2027. “This will be the only research center in the world dedicated entirely to equine laminitis,” says François-René Bertin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), who will serve as the research chair and director of the center. “We are building a unique combination of resources: a research barn designed specifically for laminitis studies, a laboratory equipped for advanced testing and a team of experts who work together every day. By concentrating all our efforts on this one devastating disease, we aim to make real progress.” Noting that the new facilities will be…

Researchers in Scotland have come up with an ingenious way to monitor how much pasture grass a horse is eating—they listen. Typically, monitoring equine grass intake involves visual observation—spending hours watching horses graze either directly or by reviewing video footage. Looking for a better method, researchers at the University of Edinburgh fitted field-safe halters with tiny recording devices that could capture the distinctive noises horses make when grazing: the sharp “rip” of incisors tearing grass and the rhythmic grinding of molars chewing. Next, using audio editing software, the researchers correlated grazing noises with distinct sound wave patterns that enabled them to quantify chews per minute, bites per minute and grass intake durations. In two subsequent pilot studies, the researchers determined that the recording devices measured grazing behavior with accuracy comparable…

You’ve just heard that a horse in your barn has been diagnosed with equine herpesvirus, which can spread like wildfire. Or perhaps there’s an outbreak of strangles, and you’re anxious to keep other horses from contracting this highly contagious infection. Stopping the spread of disease at a horse barn is a challenge in any season, and during winter it can be especially daunting. But, says Katie Flynn, BVMS, disinfecting stalls and shared spaces at an equine facility can help thwart disease transmission. Flynn, who serves as senior veterinarian of Equine Health and Biosecurity for the United States Equestrian Federation/US Equestrian, advises horse owners to follow these four basic rules: • Clean before disinfecting. A critical first step in the process of sanitizing a stall or any equine space is clearing,…

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures chillier, many horse owners face the annual question: to clip or not to clip? Anyone with experience cooling down horses on cold winter evenings—when a thick winter hair coat won’t let go of heat and moisture despite endless walking and toweling—will appreciate the value of a good clip. It can work wonders for equine comfort and health, not to mention a horsekeeper’s morale! Ultimately, of course, whether to clip comes down to your horse’s workload, living situation and individual needs. Here are some key factors to consider. REASONS FOR WINTER CLIPPING Not all horses benefit from having their winter coats clipped, but those in regular work throughout the season often do. If your horse is competing, training consistently or working at moderate-to-heavy…

I don’t believe in bucket lists. The notion of articulating an inventory of things I’d like to experience or achieve before I die holds zero appeal to me. I think bucket lists add unnecessary pressure to our already stressful lives. My position on this extends to equestrian bucket lists as well. Horses are a huge part of my life—and I can’t remember a time when they weren’t—but I haven’t set a riding goal for almost 40 years. In fact, I may be the most unambitious rider you’ll ever meet. I have no interest in collecting ribbons or points, achieving levels within a sport or qualifying for anything. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy learning, problem-solving and finding success in the saddle. But I define these goals in very specific terms:…

Winter can be a tough time to take care of horses. Between the shorter days, colder temperatures and extra gear, everything seems more difficult at this time of year. The learning curve is steep, but after one or two winters on the job most equine caretakers develop systems and habits that help them meet the typical seasonal challenges. Still, the demands of winter horse keeping are notoriously unpredictable. One day you’re coping just fine, and the next you’re faced with an unanticipated and daunting problem. Whether it’s extreme weather, equine illness or a supply shortage, winter curveballs can stress even the most experienced caretaker. In addition to preparing for what you know winter will bring this year, it’s wise to take some time to contemplate the unex-pected—and what you might…

I wasn’t looking for a life partner when I saw the first photos of him—“Magic”—while following his neglect case from the kitchen Itable of my friend Deb Noem, owner of Sunrise Ranch in Morning View, Kentucky, where I’d been riding horses for several years. She helps horses out of bad situations and finds them new homes by volunteering her talent and horse trailer to rescue groups like Speak Up for Horses with the goal of saving just one more animal. I was blown away by Magic’s stance and beauty. I asked Deb if she was bringing him to the ranch. “Probably not,” she replied. “He isn’t even gelded yet, and I don’t need that kind of nonsense at a barn with kids. I’m going to focus on the babies, and…