Motion Equine Centre

07/01/2025

✨ The latest Motion Equine e-news is here!

In this edition:
🐴 Understanding Lameness in Horses
💊 Choosing the Right Joint Supplement for Your Horse

📩 Tap the link to read more!

https://mailchi.mp/31c90b5fc06d/motion-equine-september-2024-newsletter-8340675?e=d5e9eeb632

01/01/2025

We're back tomorrow after a short break and looking forward to catching up with all our wonderful clients and their horses.

Here are our dates for January. We’re pleased to share that Luke will be visiting Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital once a month starting on January 15th.

With not many appointments left this month (especially on our interstate visits) please get in touch ASAP if you need to book your horse in.

24/12/2024

🎄✨ That’s a Wrap for 2024!

Motion Equine Centre is officially on a holiday break after a whirlwind Christmas rush, managing an incredible 142 appointments in December by Christmas Eve! 🐴💨

A huge thank you to all of our amazing clients and their equine companions 🐎💕. We can’t wait to continue working with you in 2025!

A special shoutout to my wife, Sarah ❤️, for keeping the chaos under control – there’s no way I’d have made it through the last 24 days without you! 🗓️👏

🎅🎁 Merry Christmas and 🎉 Happy New Year from Luke and Sarah! 🥂 Cheers to an exciting year ahead!

19/12/2024

If you have a spare 2.5 hours (or even 20mins for the short version) check out this podcast on ultra processed foods and how it relates to human foods. 🍟

Now think about how we feed the modern horse? Complete feeds and supplements with industrial grade chemicals, making changes to the gut health and microbiome. Altering the horse’s metabolism and significantly impacting horse health all under the disguise of being ‘healthy’. We’ve always been an advocate for researching what you feed your horse, but this information brings to light a completely new set of ways to assess feeding regimes. 🐴

Ultra processed foods are everywhere - example this morning on my flight to Sydney is the ingredient list for a smoked ham with cheese sandwich 🥪… Thanks Qantas! ✈️

Want to know more about how we can feed our horses a healthy diet to avoid other health problems? Contact us today to discuss ☎️

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/feel-better-live-more-with-dr-rangan-chatterjee/id1333552422?i=1000640341125

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/feel-better-live-more-with-dr-rangan-chatterjee/id1333552422?i=1000670632583

11/12/2024

🐴💻 Working From Home Wednesday!

What do you get up to when you're working from home? 🤔 Share your WFH adventures with us!

Just make sure to double-check that your boss isn’t scrolling through your social media first... 😅👀

10/12/2024

Duct tape, equilox and Kevlar tape keeping my luggage going for another trip ✈️ 💼 🐴

10/12/2024

🐴 Remember This Case?

Four weeks ago, this horse had glue-on shoes applied to help grow out its chipped hoof wall. 🩹 The goal was to support the hoof while encouraging healthy growth.

✨ Today’s Update:

The glue-on shoes were removed.
The hoof received a light trim to tidy things up.
The horse is now ready to return to work with a brand-new pair of nail-on shoes! 🐎
Proper hoof care is crucial for keeping your horse sound and happy. Got a hoof health question? Let’s chat! 💬

08/12/2024

🐎 Why do some horses look like they have shoulder lameness when it's the foot? 🤔

It’s not uncommon for horse owners to think their horse has a shoulder lameness, when in reality, the pain is coming from the hoof! Let’s unpack why this happens:

🔍 The Gait of a Healthy Horse
A horse moving pain-free typically has a passive gait. The muscles that stabilise and control the upper limb remain relaxed as the horse moves symmetrically.

⚠️ What Happens During Pain in the Lower Limb?
When there’s pain in the lower limb, the horse compensates by:

Activating the muscles of the upper limb to keep the painful limb off the ground longer.
Reducing the weight-bearing phase of the stride to avoid discomfort.
This increased upper limb muscle activity draws the human eye to the shoulder area, leading us to believe the issue is in the shoulder when it’s actually in the hoof.

🩺 How Can We Tell Where the Pain Is?
Nerve blocks can temporarily numb the pain in the lower limb. Once the pain is eliminated, the exaggerated upper limb activation will disappear.
True shoulder lameness is rare and usually investigated only after lower limb issues are ruled out. If suspected, local anaesthetic in the shoulder joint can confirm the diagnosis, followed by x-rays or ultrasound to pinpoint the problem.

💡 Think It Might Be Shoulder (or Foot) Pain?
Have a horse with a lameness issue? Whether you suspect the shoulder or the hoof, we can help identify the root cause and get your horse moving comfortably again. 🐴💬

07/12/2024

🌟 3D Printing: The Future of Hoof Care! 🖨️🐴

We’re embracing the future with our carbon fiber 3D-printed pad, custom-designed for the Sigafoos Morrison Roller glue-on shoe from Soundhorse. 🦾✨

This cutting-edge technology allows us to create precise, lightweight, and durable solutions tailored to each horse’s unique hoof care needs.

💡 Ready to explore innovative hoof care options for your horse? Chat with us today!

06/12/2024

Great result yesterday - thanks to Future Farms Arabians and Jessica Dertell! The Victorian Dressage Festival 🙌 🥳 🍾 🐴

06/12/2024

🐴 How Does Mismatched Hoof Conformation Affect Gait Symmetry? 🤔

If you’re a horse owner, you’ve likely heard about mismatched hoof conformation. But what does it really mean for your horse's gait? Let’s break it down:

✅ What is Mismatched Hoof Conformation?
Every horse has two slightly different front feet—this is normal! However, in some horses, the difference is more pronounced. The two types of mismatched hoof conformation are;

Upright or Club Foot: The flexor tendon muscle unit is shorter, pulling the heels off the ground.

Long Toe-Low Heel Foot: The flexor tendon muscle unit is longer, causing the heels to sit closer to the ground.

✅ Impact on Gait
These differences affect how the horse moves:

In the upright hoof limb, the horse shows less limb extension due to more tension on the flexor tendons
In the long toe-low heel limb, the horse has greater limb extension due to less tension on the flexor tendons

✅ Pain and Soundness
Both conformations can cause discomfort and may lead to lameness. Performing a gait analysis with nerve blocks can help pinpoint the source of any pain. It's not uncommon to see lameness in the upright hoof. Two reasons this occurs;

1. Minimal depth under the tip of the pedal bone
2. Heels coming off the ground while on a tight circle, applying asymmetrical load across the coffin and pastern joints

✅ How Riders Can Help
As riders, adjusting our riding techniques can support the horse’s biomechanics and promote long-term soundness. Understanding that both limbs will have a different degree of extension allows the rider to control the extension on the long toe-low heel, while knowing the upright foot won't extend as far 🏇✨

🩺 Concerned about mismatched hooves or gait issues? Let’s work together to keep your horse moving comfortably—chat with us today! 💬

04/12/2024

🌟 Laminitis: A Challenging Condition with Hopeful Outcomes 🌟

Laminitis is one of the most complex and challenging conditions to treat. 🐴 It requires a whole-horse and team approach to achieve positive outcomes. Some cases respond well to conservative management, while others, like this one, require surgical intervention to support hoof recovery.

Understanding Laminitis 🧬
Laminitis involves the breakdown of the attachment between the pedal bone and the hoof wall.

In a healthy hoof:

The pedal bone, hoof wall, and deep digital flexor tendon work together to enable movement.
The deep digital flexor tendon’s role is to anchor the toe and store energy for locomotion.

When laminitis occurs:

The coordination between the hoof wall and deep digital flexor tendon breaks down.
In severe cases, the tip of the pedal bone rotates downward, potentially penetrating the sole. 😔

A Surgical Solution: Deep Digital Flexor Tenotomy ✂️
For this horse, conservative management wasn't enough, so we opted for a deep digital flexor tenotomy, performed under local anesthesia and standing sedation.

🔍 What is a tenotomy?

The procedure involves transecting the tendon to release tension on the tip of the pedal bone.
Over 2-3 months, the tendon heals back together but becomes slightly longer, alleviating tension.

Case Overview 🩺
📸 Image 1: Before surgery.
📸 Image 2: 3 months post-surgery.

Key steps in the recovery process:
1️⃣ A specialised extended eggbar shoe was applied parallel to the surface of the pedal bone.
2️⃣ The horse was confined to a stable for 6 weeks, with the limb bandaged.
3️⃣ After the initial recovery period, the horse was turned out to continue healing.

Takeaway 💡
Laminitis can be incredibly challenging, but surgical options like a tenotomy can create a pathway to recovery for severe cases. 🐎

🌱 Have a laminitic horse that isn’t responding to conservative management?
Chat with us today about long-term management options and how we can help your horse regain its health. 💙

04/12/2024

Lovely pictures of two of our dressage horses, Daminia LP and Regal Floris Dance, from the WPVDC Dressage Championships. 🏇✨

Daminia won the Medium Championship, winning both tests with scores up to 71.5%! 🥇💫

Regal Floris Dance took out the Preliminary Championship, winning both tests with scores up to 73.8%! 🏆🎉

Beautifully ridden, trained, and presented by .dertell from Future Farms Arabians. 👏🐴💖

We are really looking forward to watching these two exciting combinations at the The Victorian Dressage Festival this weekend! 📅🎶

Images by Equine Images Victoria 📸

02/12/2024

Happy Monday 😆 Always a good start to the week when you snap the head off your hammer 🔨

01/12/2024

⚠️ Warning About Feeds and Supplements for Horses with Insulin Dysregulation (ID) ⚠️

Not all products claiming to be "safe" for horses with Insulin Dysregulation (ID) are actually helpful. In fact, some may make ID worse! 😟

What Is ID?
ID in horses is somewhat similar to Type 2 Diabetes in humans. 🧬 Insulin helps transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells for energy. In horses with ID, their insulin response to glucose is exaggerated, leading to complications like laminitis.

Risk Factors for ID in Horses 🐴
📈 Chronic access to high-NSC feeds: This leads to obesity and, over time, laminitis.
🤰 Pregnancy: Broodmares in their third trimester can develop ID.
💉 Corticosteroids: These can also trigger insulin dysregulation.

The Problem with Some Feeds and Supplements
Many products claim to "treat" or "manage" ID but actually worsen the condition. 🚫 Feed and supplement companies often:

Fail to provide transparent nutritional information on packaging or websites. 🏷️
Use pseudoscience or extrapolate findings from weak scientific studies. 🔍
Include ingredients that may increase insulin secretion, which is the opposite of what an ID horse needs!

What to Look Out For When Purchasing Feeds For ID Horses 👀
1️⃣ Check NSC Content:

NSC (Non-Structural Carbohydrates) is made up of WSC (Water Soluble Carbohydrates) + Starch
If the NSC isn't listed, DON'T buy it.
Aim for a NSC less than 10-12%
Beware of alternative measures like ESC (Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrates) as they can still have a high NSC as they don't include starch and other simple sugars

2️⃣ Read the Ingredients:
Grain based feeds: Will contain high levels of starch, increasing the NSC so avoid these 🍝
Soybean meal: Feed companies that use soybean meal will tend to only report the carbohydrate content as ESC and not WSC, making many of these feeds unsuitable because the NSC content is too high 🫘
Synthetic amino acids: Feeds with high levels of synthetic amino acids can trigger insulin spikes.
💡 Check your feeds and supplements carefully to avoid overdosing on amino acids.

3️⃣ Scientific Backing:

Look for published studies supporting product claims.
🐎 Companies rarely test their products on horses, particularly in the ID space.
🐁 If the studies were done on mice (especially with Type 1 Diabetes), the results may not translate to horses.
🩸Ingredients tested on mice with Type 1 Diabetes (who don’t produce insulin) may actually increase insulin secretion—the opposite of what ID horses need!

What Can You Do?
At MEC, we frequently test blood insulin levels in horses with ID to evaluate how they respond to their diet. 📊 This data helps us:
✅ Identify which products work.
🚫 Avoid products that worsen the condition.

We can’t name specific products here, but we’re happy to help! 🙋‍♀️ Chat with us today to:

Get guidance on your horse's diet.
Develop a tailored management plan for ID and laminitis.
📞 Contact us now to book a consultation! Let’s work together to keep your horse happy and healthy. 🐎💚
https://www.motion-equine.com.au/contact-us

28/11/2024

🐴 Let's Talk About Side (or Quarter) Clips! 🔧

Clips are a small but mighty feature of horse shoes! 🩺 Their primary role is to reduce tension on the nails holding the shoe in place. Here’s a quick breakdown:

🔹 What Are Clips?
Clips are extruded areas of metal that sit against the hoof wall. They help secure the shoe while minimising stress on the nails.

📍 Common Clip Configurations:
1️⃣ Toe Clips: Positioned at the midline of the shoe.
2️⃣ Side Clips: Typically located between the first and second or second and third nail holes.

📉 The Controversy Around Side Clips
Side clips have gained a bit of a bad reputation over the years. Why? 🤔

Risk to the Wall: Improper placement (burnt in at the wrong angle) can damage the wall and cause the foot to narrow.
However, when properly applied, side clips are a game-changer! 🚀
💡 Case Study
The images below show the hind foot of a dressage horse:
1️⃣ Before: The old shoe had side clips burnt in at a lower angle, causing wall damage.
2️⃣ After: The new side clips were burnt in at a higher angle, matching the wall and protecting the hoof.

✅ Why Use Side Clips?

They reduce the risk of losing shoes 👞.
Fewer nails are needed, which protects the hoof wall 🛡️.
Improper placement can cause issues, but correct application offers excellent results.
🐾 At MEC, we use side clips on many horses and ensure they are applied correctly to protect the hoof wall.

💬 Concerned about your horse’s hoof health? Chat with us today to discuss! 🐎

27/11/2024

Yes this is very important! That being said, feed labels can also be deceptive and difficult to read. This makes it difficult, as an owner to make informed decisions. Unlike human food companies, the nutritional information provided is not standardised so it’s hard to compare apples to apples.

Reading your feed label 🔎

It extremely important for determining if a feed will meet recommended levels of intake.

Listed on websites, these can reveal more information about a feed. Some ‘grain-free’ feeds contain bran, pollard, millrun, millmix which are all grain by-products and are high in sugar and starch.

27/11/2024

📰 New Research Alert! 🐴

A fascinating study has investigated the effects of phenylbutazone (Bute) on insulin concentration in horses. Here’s what they found:

✅ Horses with insulin dysregulation (ID) and a control group were administered Bute once daily for 9 days.
✅ In horses with ID, Bute reduced blood insulin levels following an oral sugar test 🍬🩺.

This is a significant finding and highlights the importance of Bute in managing horses with ID and laminitis 🌟.

🔗 Read the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38363029/

💊 The Role of Bute in Laminitis Management

Bute is a powerful anti-inflammatory commonly used to manage laminitis, but it has gained some negative attention due to concerns about side effects. The good news? These side effects are rare.

Potential Side Effects of Bute
Right Dorsal Colitis 🛑: A rare condition causing colic after high doses or prolonged use. Out of thousands of prescriptions, we’ve only encountered this in three horses—all of which recovered after discontinuing Bute.
Chronic Kidney Disease 🩸: Rare but possible in affected horses. A simple blood test can help rule this out before starting treatment.
Gastric (Stomach) Ulcers ⚠️: Horses in chronic pain or those confined to stables are at greater risk of developing ulcers.

🛡️ How to Reduce the Risk of Gastric Ulcers
1️⃣ Ensure free access to roughage 🌾.
2️⃣ Use a gastroprotectant like Sucralox from KER 💊.
3️⃣ Add acid-reducing medications like Omeprazole to the treatment plan.

🏇 Safe & Effective
Overall, Bute remains a safe and vital tool in the management of horses with ID and laminitis when used appropriately.

📞 Have a horse with laminitis or ID? Want to discuss the best management strategies? Contact us today to book an appointment! 🩺✨