Topics & Tales of Endurance 

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INTERESTING ARTICLE ON BACK PAIN IN HORSES

Protect Your Horse from Back PainBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2012

Back pain in horses can be subtle or obvious; can manifest as shifting lameness or just a generallysour attitude; and is sometimes tricky to diagnose and hard to relieve. Savvy owners put their efforts into preventing back pain in their horses rather than trying to eliminate it once the discomfort sets in. Here are a few things to think about:

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HORSES PARTICIPATING IN ENDURANCE COMPETITIONS –

AERC (Number and Breed):

                                                 2652 Arabian 64.15%; 451 1/2 Arabian 10.91%; 110 Arabian Cross 2.66%; 89 Anglo Arab 2.15%;

                                                

                                                 74 Tennessee Walker 1.79%; 65 Morgan 1.57%; 60 Grade 1.45%; 50 Appaloosa 1.21%; 49 Mustang 1.19%;

                                                 

                                                  42 Quarter Horse 1.02%; 41 Missouri Foxtrotter 0.99%; 36 Thoroughbred 0.87%; 31 Mule 0.75%;

  

                                                   30 Morab 0.73%; 27 Paint 0.65%; 23 Paso Fino 0.56%; 18 National Show Horse 0.44%;

  

                                                   16 Standardbred 0.39%; 15 Rocky Mountain Horse 0.36%; 15 Spanish Mustang0.36%; 14 Shagya 0.34%;

  

                                                   13 Kentucky Mt. Horse 0.31%; 13 Other 0.31%; 13 Quarab 0.31%; 13 Quarter Cross 0.31%; 12 Appaloosa Cross 0.29%;

  

                                                   11 ½ Connemara 0.27%; 10 Akhal Teke 0.24%; 9 Pinto 0.22%; 8 Arab/Appy 0.19%; 8 Morgan Cross 0.19%;

    

                                                    7 Pony 0.17%; 7 TN Walker X 0.17%; 7 Thoroughbred Cross 0.17%; 6 Appendix Quarter 0.15%; 6 Saddlebred 0.15%;

   

                                                    5 Spotted Mountain Horse 0.12%; 4 Am Gaited Endurance Horse 0.10%; 4 Friesian Cross 0.10%; 4 Kiger Mustang 0.10%

 

                                                     4 Shagya Cross 0.10% 4 Standardbred Cross 0.10%; 3 Andalusian 0.07%; 3 Haflinger 0.07%;

  

                                                    3 McCurdy Plantation Horse 0.07%; 2 Arab Pinto 0.05%; 2 Akhalteke Cross 0.05% 2 Andalusian/Arab 0.05%;

  

                                                    2 Connemara 0.05%; 2 Curly 0.05%; 2 Grade Walker 0.05%; 2 1/2 Mustang 0.05%; 2 Mustang Cross 0.05%;

   

                                                    2 POA 0.05%; 2 Polish Arabian 0.05%; 2 Racking Horse 0.05%; 2 Saddlebred Cross 0.05%; 2 Welsh/Arab 0.05%;

   

                                                    1 Blazer 0.02% 1 Canadian Sport Horse 0.02%; 1 Connemara Cross 0.02% 1 Friesian 0.02% 1 Foxtrotter 0.02%;

   

                                                    1 Gypsy Vanner 0.02%; 1 Halfinger 0.02%; 1 Hungarian 0.02%; 1 Irish Sport Horse 0.02% 1 Icelandic 0.02%;

  

                                                     1 Lusitano 0.02%; 1 Mangalarga Machador 0.02%; 1 Mountain Pls 0.02%; 1 Nez Perce 0.02%; 1 Oldenburg 0.02%;

   

                                                     1 Pinto-Arabian 0.02%; 1 Shetland 0.02%; 1 Single-Foot 0.02%; 1 Spotted Saddle Horse 0.02%; 1 Welsh 0.02%;

        

                                                     1 Walkaloosa 0.02%; 1 Welsh/Shetland 0.02%; 1 Welsh Cross  0.02%  

    

                                                Total: 4134

 

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Localizing lameness: The Challenge:

Traditionally, veterinarians have had to rely on subjective visual assessment as the only method available for performing lameness diagnosis.

Solution:

The “Lameness Locator” objectively detects and quantifies body movement asymmetry in a horse using small, body-mounted inertial sensors and

a hand-held tablet PC. Instrumentation of the horse is quick, easy, and completely non-invasive. 

READ MORE

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            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn_Io0aUsQY

                       Anatomy of the foot--about 25 mins long. Dr. Pollitt is a world authority on laminitis and foot issues.

         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsvS6gEBJuE&sns=em <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsvS6gEBJuE&sns=em>

                      About 45 mins long. Includes a dissection!

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          Karen’s Musings & Endurance Ride Stuff

          miscellaneous musings about horses, health and life in general

                 [Consider This] Endurance Etiquette on the Trail

           Minimizing Wear and Tear on Your Horse

               This is a recent link to some additional resources that are not on the Dr. Susan Garlinghouse’s Shady Acres website:
                      http://allcreaturesanimalhealth.com/default.aspx 

                     The link to equine nutrition articles is on the left, as well as the link that includes some powerpoints from the equine exercise physiology     

           course and some other miscellaneous things.

            Dr. Susan Garlinghouse

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January 2 2011

Californian Julie Suhr has broken records in Endurance competitions and milestones in horseback adventures around the globe. With a recorded 30,282 miles in competition which represents 63 one hundred mile rides and almost 500 fifty mile rides, Julie last completed the Tevis Cup at the age of 76 although four years later she made her final attempt and came within two miles of another record finish.. Listen in…

Equestrian Legends Episode 13 – Show Notes and Links:

Show Host: Chris Stafford
Photo Credit: Julie Suhr
Guest: Californian Julie Suhr has broken records in Endurance competitions and milestones in horseback adventures around the globe. Since her first ride in the world renown 100 mile Tevis Cup, Julie has completed twenty-two times out of twenty-nine starts. She has collected three Haggin Cups for the Best Conditioned Horse to finish in the Top Ten and she famously garnered three in one year – the Turtle Award for being last to finish; the Hard Luck Award when her horse fell and she endured a full body mud bath and for being the Oldest rider. With a recorded 30,282 miles in competition which represents 63 one hundred mile rides and almost 500 fifty mile rides, Julie last completed the Tevis Cup at the age of 76 although four years later she made her final attempt and came within two miles of another record finish. Her adventure rides have taken her from the remote expanses of Outer Mongolia to the searing heights of the Himalayas. The author of Ten Feet Tall Still, Julie is working on a second book and still sitting tall in the saddle at 87. Julie and Bob Suhr (deceased) have three children, Barbara, Robert, Nancy (deceased) and John as well as six grandchildren. Julie lives in Scotts Valley, California.

AUDIO LINK (The Horse Radio Network)

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AERC Honours this ‘DecadeTeam’ (and so do we!)

 Brenda Miskimmin and MC Penny Too (Past President ERABC)

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Karen

Brenda and Penny at the Pink Flamingo Classic. Photo by Steve Bradley.

Riders Name: Brenda Miskimmin

Horses Name: MC Penny Too

Region: NW

Current Rider Lifetime Mileage?

Endurance: 2725 (2215 with Penny)

Limited Distance: 225 (all with Penny)

Tell us about your horse. When/how did you come to get him/her?

I raised Penny and owned her mom, Shae Alana. From the day she was born, Penny loved being around people so she was very easy to train and has a great attitude.

What is your horses breeding?

She is 15/16 Arab, with Russian/Polish on the top side and a bit of Egyptian on the dam’s side. She is a registered partbred in the Canadian AHR.

Sex: Mare

DOB: 8 July 1995

Horse height: 14.3 hh

Approx. Weight: 900 lbs

Color: chestnut

Shoe size: 1

Or, hoof boot size: 1

Why did you decide to purchase this horse (or if you didn’t purchase, why did you choose to use this horse in endurance)?

It’s what we bred her to do and she seemed to have the aptitude to do it.

Did you do endurance with any other horses before this horse? yes

How many different horses have you ridden in this sport? About a dozen, but none as long as Penny.

Do you participate in any other horse sports or activities? Anything trail related; a bit of CTR, lots of recreational trail riding.

How many years have you been involved with horses? 30 In endurance? 22 (some of the early records are in Alberta/not AERC).

What got you interested in endurance riding? Loved riding trails much more than around in circles in an arena. Endurance and CTR gave me something to work towards while trail riding.

What was it that kept you interested? The great people I’ve got to know over the years.

How old was your horse when first started? 4 yrs old. First ride? 5 yrs old (CTR & fun rides)

Check out her record on the AERC website!!!!

 

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IS THERE AN ENDURANCE PROSPECT IN YOUR PASTURE?

by Kathy Irvine

Short answer:  Probably.

  On the pages of glossy magazines an image of a lean Arabian horse pops up, along with a story about the small percentage of Endurance riders who compete at elite levels.  However, the grass roots of Endurance riding boasts a broad range of breeds and no end to the body styles.   There’s no secret to identifying whether your horse can enter a Limited Distance (LD), the 25 mile, introductory style ride. 

  First and last, the horse must be sound.  There’s no getting around this.  A veterinary judge will assess your horse’s gait at a trot several times during the competition and your horse must show a level gait.  There is no argument, “He always goes that way,” or “She just has scratches.”  If you are unsure, have your own veterinarian assess your horse. 

  Next, you need to determine if your horse will stay sound.  There are several ways to make a mark in this sport and some consider longevity of a horse’s competitive career a goal.  Go back to basics of conformation, to those books and articles with examples of conformation ideals.  They say there is no such thing as perfect conformation and the same is true for Endurance horses, but it’s good to know your horse’s weak points and see if the “imperfections” are ones that can be managed over the long haul.

  Your horse must be able to cope with the stresses of not being at home and feel comfortable in temporary accommodations by your camp overnight.  There are as many ways to contain your horse as there are campsites.  Panels, electric tape, high lines, even tied to trailer are suitable stabling methods.  It’s important that you feel comfortable your horse is safe overnight.  You need your sleep too! 

  He needs to tolerate a vet examination.  This can be practiced at home.  Teach him to accept a stethoscope for heart rate, thermometer for temperature, skin pinch on neck and shoulder for hydration, thumb pressed on gums for capillary refill, and to have back palpated for sore spots.  Your horse must willingly trot at a steady pace away from vet and trail buddies, and back again. Any hazing by vet and volunteers, or slapping with reins can detract from the horse’s true gait.  Trotting out can be practiced at home before and after your conditioning rides, or anytime during. He’ll learn it’s not such a bad deal to leave his buddies for a moment or two.

  Your horse needs to be reliable on the trail. It’s unlikely he’ll be prepared for every eventuality, but you need to be confident if an unplanned “event” (moose, bear, other horses etc) occurs, you have some control.  In the same vein, you need to be able to pace your horse.  If he blasts off the start line with mouth gaping, setting an uncontrollable pace, he runs the risk of injury to himself or to you.  Also, if he’s stressed and in a total body sweat he’ll run out of energy reserves before you reach the finish line.

  These are the main things.  Any breed of horse is welcome.  The clubs across Canada are graced with ponies, Fjord horses, Tennessee Walkers, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paints, Mustangs, Morgans, mules, donkeys.  In fact, by definition, if anyone had a Zebra, it would be welcome.

Of course body style becomes very important as the speed increases.  Heat dissipation becomes a major concern and Arabians with their lean muscle mass have a body style that works very well.

 

       

GAME CHANGER? 

 

PonyUp’s Vet Cheq™ is a unique device, worn by the horse that remotely and wirelessly monitors vital information. It is an advanced diagnostic tool that gathers, manages, stores and transmits information that includes: blood pressure, heart rate, pulse pressure, hydration, blood volume, blood loss, respiration, fetal heart rate, contractions and aneurisms. When combined with the PonyUp management system, the information being gathered is available to owners, trainers and veterinarians in real-time from any location where data is available on a cell phone or computer.

Vet Cheq is essential to serious conditioning programs allowing trainers to see and chart conditioning progress. By tracking vital information over time and charting results the trainer has the ability to custom-fit training programs to individual horses with verifiable results, thus eliminating any guesswork.

For owners and veterinarians Vet Cheq provides early illness detection, injury detection, monitors treatment effectiveness and pain during recovery, and allows more comprehensive veterinary examinations.

Breeders that use Vet Cheq can pin-point ovulation, monitor fetal heart rate and contractions.

For those competing in extreme sports, Vet Cheq monitors hydration, respiration, heart rate, blood pressure and blood loss.

http://revision3.com/geekbeattv/horse-health-tech

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