Equissance Equine Therapy

17/08/2024

An insight into my Job and Passion .. very interesting and a few need to understand the Horses anatomy. Caution if you’re squeamish at certain parts.

13/08/2024

Something that has been questioned quite a bit lately! Hopefully this will help !!

Hay soaking – top tips for weight loss (not respiratory issues)

The water-soluble carbohydrate content of UK hays is highly variable and if the content is unknown and you are dieting your horse then the hay should be soaked.
The effect of soaking can also be very variable these pointers may help you maximise the impact of soaking your hay.

• Water temperature can have a marked effect and soaking in water of 16°C for 1 hour has a similar effect on sugar content as soaking at 8°C for 16 hours; in colder weather the use of warm water should be encouraged (Longland et al, 2014).

• The quantity of water is also important as the sugar is lost by a concentration gradient. The more water used, the more sugar can be lost

• Be sure to use fresh water each time you soak your hay – re-using the same water over and over again will have the opposite effect, you are then soaking the hay in a sugar solution! Changing the water midway through soaking will lead to more sugar being soaked out.

• You will need:
- A big water bucket, or maybe even a small wheelbarrow/bath.
- A hose
- And most importantly, a drain (be sure to fill your container near the drain, so there is no lugging of heavy hay and water concoctions across the yard.)

• Remember to weigh your nets before they are soaked not after!

• Another important consideration is mould. Feed soaked hay immediately after soaking and don’t allow it to sit uneaten for long periods, because it can start to ferment, especially in hot weather (allow it to drip before feeding so as not to flood your stable!)

• To make draining and clean up easier, make sure your drain is covered with some sort of mesh catching device.

• While soaking is recommended, it is impossible to determine the exact effect it will have (without testing it) Therefore, the response in the individual horse should be monitored closely.

• Beware, soaking hay will also reduce the vitamin and mineral content, therefore you may need a vitamin and mineral balancer.

• Wet hay on the ground tends to get slimy, mouldy, and smelly pretty quickly. You may want to use a mat under your soaking area, and be sure to keep yours stable clean.

• In freezing conditions, it can be difficult to soak hay, water pipes will freeze solid and the hay will also freeze, in this weather do not worry if you have to feed unsoaked for a couple of days. Luckily in the UK we rarely get weather that is so cold, so it should not continue for very many days continuous.

Steaming hay
It is worth also noting that steaming hay DOES NOT effectively reduce the water-soluble carbohydrate content of hay and therefore soaking in water is the most effective method for weight loss. If we were discussing allergy and breathing difficulty rather than weight loss, steaming would be a different story and maybe the topic of my next post!

05/08/2024

Totally agree! Bin it

04/07/2024

A lovely lady to work for

**Groom Required on 5* Eventing Yard**
Owing to university degree, the wonderful Tegan Wood sadly has to greatly reduce her hours so we are looking for someone to take over most of the yard duties from mid/end September. Must be experienced with handling fit competition horses, incredibly reliable and happy to be in sole charge when required. Possibility to bring own horse. Please PM or 07770 377951.

01/07/2024

Worth a read

A higher percentage of obese horses have equine metabolic syndrome but this is because EMS makes them eat more and gain weight easily, not because obesity is causing EMS. Read more in the proceedings from Dr. Kellon's presentation COMPARATIVE HUMAN AND EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME from the 2021 NO Laminitis! Conference: https://www.e-junkie.com/i/11jjb. Downloads are free.

26/06/2024

Who doesn’t have tight hamstrings.. I know I do 😫

Touched your toes recently? Does it feel impossible?

Our hip flexors are often discussed when it comes to riding, and most riders know that they need to address their hips to create suppleness. But what does that mean?

Well, the truth is that when you stretch your hips, you aren’t looking for just one stretch that will undo all that tightness.

There are 21 different muscles involved in your hip movement, and opening them up and creating freedom in the saddle requires addressing them all and creating balance through them.

So, let’s talk about our hamstrings.

The hamstrings are muscles that extend the hip and flex the knee.

In the saddle, the hamstrings will affect your thigh and seat bone positions. If you tend to sit back into a chair position in the saddle, chances are those hamstrings and your deep six are tight as a result of this.

Or maybe the cause.

You may never know who started the issues, but chances are they are both tight.

The hamstrings play an important role when we walk through kinetic energy absorption.

They help protect the knee and hip joints. They also do this in the saddle.

Tight hamstrings impact posture, walking, and riding, contributing to lower back problems.

They directly affect how your pelvis is positioned, in and out of the saddle and how well you move with the horse.

If ignored, progressive tightening of these tissues happens over time. Especially if you have spent time at a desk over the past decade or two.

And if you are nodding your head right now, the truth is it’s the norm for dressage riders to have tight hamstrings. But it doesn’t have to be.

I have put together a new article on the website now discussing more about your hamstrings and the role they have on your position in the saddle.

Just comment 'hamstrings' below and I will send you the link direct to your inbox so you have it to read later.

Or here is the link - https://dressageridertraining.com/article/dressage-riders-have-tight-hamstrings/

20/06/2024

….flipping love this!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

20/06/2024

Pesky little critters 😡

Sarcoids and Flies: Did you know that the two can be related?

Equine sarcoids are one of the most common skin tumours in horses, characterized by their appearance as non-painful, non-itchy lumps, varying in shape and size including flat, warty, nodular or mixed types. These tumours account for about 40% of all equine cancers and can be problematic due to their potential to cause discomfort, interfere with tack and equipment, and ulcerate or become infected.

Understanding Sarcoids

There is evidence to suggest a link between Sarcoids and the bovine papillomavirus (BPV). Sarcoids can appear anywhere on a horse's body but are often found in areas prone to injury or irritation, such as the head, chest, groin, and legs.

The Role of Flies

Flies, particularly the biting varieties like stable flies and horseflies, are more than just a nuisance—they play a significant role in the spread and exacerbation of equine sarcoids. Here's how:

• Transmission of BPV: Flies can carry the bovine papillomavirus from one horse to another. When they bite an infected horse, they pick up the virus and can transmit it to another horse through subsequent bites.

• Irritation and Injury: Flies cause irritation and can create small wounds or exacerbate existing ones. These injuries provide an entry point for BPV, increasing the risk of sarcoid development in susceptible horses.

• Secondary Infections: Flies are notorious for spreading bacteria. When they feed on or lay eggs in sarcoid lesions, they can introduce bacteria, leading to secondary infections that complicate sarcoid treatment.

Preventive Measures

To protect your horse from sarcoids and minimize the impact of flies, consider the following strategies:

• Fly Control: Implement a comprehensive fly control program. Use fly sprays, fly masks, and fly sheets to protect your horse. Additionally, maintain a clean stable environment by promptly removing manure and using fly traps or insecticides.

• Early Detection and Management: Regularly check your horse for any skin abnormalities. Early detection of sarcoids allows for more effective treatment. If you notice any unusual growths, consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

• Strengthen the Immune System: Ensure your horse is on a balanced diet with adequate vitamins and minerals to support a robust immune system. A healthy immune system can help in resisting infections, including those that might lead to sarcoid development.

• Minimize Injury Risk: Keep your horse in a safe environment to reduce the chances of cuts and abrasions that can serve as entry points for BPV.

Preventative measures focus on reducing fly exposure to minimize the chances of sarcoids developing.

Please call the office on 0808 168 5580 or 01254 888 600 if you would like us to come and asses anything that you suspect on your horse or pony.

17/06/2024

Take a look at our humorous list of things you should never say to your riding instructor if you want to stay one of their favourite clients…

10/06/2024

Where has all the grass gone?...

“But there isn’t any grass on the field…” We hear these words a lot at this time of year, from the exasperated owners of fat horses fighting what sometimes seems like a losing battle with their horses’ weight.

Have you ever wondered why horses on a seemingly bare paddock can still gain weight?
It is worth keeping in mind, the picture of the un-grazed side of the field below. Of course, it can be very difficult for owners to monitor what a horse is taking in, but one thing is certain: when that side of the field is full of horses, it won’t look like this! That grass would be nipped off as soon as it poked up high enough to be nibbled!

Sarah Stoneham BVSc Cert ESM MRCVS gives this very good explanation of the problem which helps us to understand and monitor the amount of grass that the horse is consuming.
“UK grass growth figures (grass check GB) indicate that over the last week, average grass growth in the north west has been high. At the moment a small well-managed paddock, the size of a 40x20m dressage arena will be producing an average of 22.5kg of grass per day. The dry matter content of grass is currently only 20% which means it is 80% water, so a 40x20m area produces 4.5 kg of grass on a dry matter basis each day.
This has a calorie content similar to 4.5 kg of a conditioning hard feed. The grass is also high in sugar, 17.1% on average. So, the 4.5 kg of grass on a dry matter basis will contain approximately 770g of sugar! #

If your paddock is still looking as bare as it did earlier this year it is because your horse has eaten all the new grass each day.”

So, where has all the grass gone?... its inside the horse!

30/04/2024

The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), have brought to our attention some misinformation that has been seen on social media regarding Rapeseed. The posts suggest that Rapeseed is extremely toxic dogs, this is untrue. The majority of dogs exposed to Rapeseed have no symptoms at all. If a....

28/04/2024

*** WORMING PART 3 - REDWORM ***

I first posted this in 2019, but after reading a LOT of worrying comments recently about how people don’t worm their horses at all, as they do worm egg counts, I thought it was time to do a little encysted redworm refresher!

1. Redworm can kill your horse.

2. Encysted small redworm are NOT DETECTABLE in worm egg counts.

3. The larvae of small redworm, “encyst” or burrow into the gut wall. These can cause fatal consequences when they re-emerge.

4. Redworm appear as tiny pieces of thread in your horse’s droppings. They are very short and thin, and can be hard to see. They are white if they haven’t yet fed, and red if they have fed.

5. A horse can appear completely normal and healthy whilst carrying a large redworm burden. However, weight loss and diarrhoea may be early indicators; don’t ignore these signs.

6. Most wormers DO NOT target encysted redworm. Only TWO do: Fenbendazole and Moxidectin.

7. Lots of combination wormers contain IVERMectin. This WILL NOT have any effect on encysted redworm. The only wormer that contains MOXIDectin, is EQUEST. The Pramox (blue) version will treat tapeworm at the same time. Don’t use Pramox if you have treated separately for tapeworm, or used a saliva or blood test for tapeworm. Use the normal Equest (green) if this is the case.

8. Redworm are eaten by the horse during grazing. The larvae start to burrow into the gut wall as temperatures drop. Treating for encysted redworm whilst temperatures are warm, is not the optimal time, as the larvae may well not have started to encyst. Treating after a few hard frosts, also reduces the level of reinfection from larvae already on the fields.

9. The larvae stay in the gut wall during the winter, and are then triggered to emerge from the gut wall as the temperatures warm up in the Spring. If the horse has not been treated for redworm during this redworm “hibernation” stage, he/she is at risk of developing CYATHOSTOMINOSIS.

10. Cyathostominosis has a mortality (death) rate of up to 50%. It presents as colitis; profuse diarrhoea and colic. Contact your vet immediately if you see these symptoms in your horse at any time of year, but it is more likely to be due to redworm if this occurs in the Spring.

11. Ensure you have treated for encysted redworm before temperatures start to increase as Spring arrives, incase of a large encysted redworm burden that may suddenly emerge.

12. There is a very new blood test for all stages of redworm, including encysted. I have not yet used this, but worth discussing with your vet. I would not be recommending this route for high risk redworm horses ie horses in herds with no poo picking, or rescue cases.

13. 5 day Panacur Guard (Fenbendazole) is the only other wormer that can treat the encysted stage of redworm. There was widespread resistance to this wormer, and a huge move towards everyone using Moxidectin for encysted redworm. It is my wormer of choice for very sick or poor horses, due to its milder action over 5 days. However, there is some evidence that it may cause more damage to the gut than Moxidectin, so more research is definitely required!

14. Poo picking daily is perfect pasture management, but does not mean that your horse is worm free! You still need to egg count/blood test for all worms and/or worm.

15. Herbal wormers do not work.

16. Worm egg counts do not detect encysted redworms (or tapeworm/bots/pinworm). I realise I am repeating myself, but this is something that lots of people still do not realise.

17. Do not UNDERDOSE when worming, as this will aid resistance. If in doubt, add 50kg to the weigh tape weight of your horse. Wormers are very safe with regards to toxic doses.

This is not an exhaustive review of redworm, and I may add to the list if I think of anything else, but I hope this is of some use! Worming regimes and what worm egg counts detect, seems to cause lots of confusion amongst horse owners, and even yard owners.

Blood tests currently used for tapeworm, and just being introduced for redworm, measure antibody levels to the worm. The saliva test also measures antibodies. The concern here would be false positives. This means the test coming back as positive when your horse has been clear of the worm in question for months. Antibody levels remain high for months following successful treatment for the worm being tested for. However, a negative obviously means the horse has been clear for a good few months. Still a lot of research to go I think!

EDIT: obviously the blood test for encysted redworm is not new now, but I still haven’t used it, as we know how inaccurate ELISAs can be, and redworm can, and will, kill.

Happy reading!

Feel free to share, as this is really something that all horse owners should know!

And it’s a good time to worm for encysted redworm, around about NOW!

21/04/2024

Absolutely

"The worst horses sense our fear and take advantage of us, the best horses sense our dreams and take us there." - Jimmy Wofford

17/04/2024

One of my favourite Event Riders

10/04/2024

Mud Fever nightmare right now 🥲

Mud fever

It will come as no surprise that we are seeing a large number of horses with mud fever at the moment.

This is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis. During wet conditions the skin is softened, allowing the bacteria to take hold, causing inflammation and scab formation. The bacteria live under the scabs so it is vital that you remove these, usually through a combination of clipping the legs and soaking them with an antibacterial wash such as Hibiscrub or Malaseb. If there are widespread scabs or they are difficult to remove, don’t be tempted to pull them off or you may damage the underlying skin. Apply cream to the legs, then a layer of clingfilm and a stable bandage. Leave overnight and this will soften the scabs allowing them to be more easily removed. Once the legs are clean and dry apply an antibacterial cream twice daily until healed.

There are a number of measures you can take to try and prevent mud fever getting a hold. Use protective or barrier creams on the legs when turning out and clean the legs thoroughly when bringing the horse in. Try to avoid excessive washing or over vigorous scrubbing as this can exacerbate the problem. In horses with thick feathers mite control is also very important as this can predispose them to mud fever and other associated conditions.

If you are struggling with mud fever in your horse, please call the practice on 0808 168 5580 or 01254 888 600

09/04/2024

Watched this from a very early age

06/04/2024

Not sure if I've shared this before but it's a very interesting read and open to some debate

PLANT OMEGA 3 IS NOT THE SAME AS MARINE OMEGA 3!

Why do some companies try to present plant omega 3 as being equivalent to marine sources of omega 3? Because plant omega 3 (usually from linseed) is a fraction of the cost of marine omega 3.

The anti-inflammatory action of plant omega 3 is also a fraction of that of marine omega 3 high in DHA/EPA!

Time to call them out!

Postscript.
The main marine sources of Omega 3 HIGH IN DHA/EPA are fish oil (salmon, sardine, mackerel, herring, etc) and algae. Algae are strictly neither plants or animals just to make things confusing :)

04/04/2024

Sycamore seedlings — what’s the risk to my horse and how do I get rid of them?

Read more via link below

31/03/2024

Don't feed any animal that isn't yours

22/02/2024

Well said !

09/02/2024

Please share, this is a friends trailer.. stolen from Leeds area

Ifor Williams 511 black horsebox 22/23 model stolen from the Horsforth area on the 6th February. No wheel trims serial number 3031817.
Described as being immaculate

Crime number 13240069801 any info call 101

04/02/2024

What I’ve been saying for years! Shame people don’t listen

A veterinary physio who says she has had enough of seeing horses started too early, pushed too quickly and breaking down injured too young has spoken out in hopes of educating owners. Zoe King of Performance Veterinary Physiotherapy posted on social media with the phrase “for crying out loud”, a...

02/02/2024

Do you struggle to tension your machine?😫
Incorrect tensioning is the most common error when clipping. Incorrect tension can cause blades to heat up, blunt far more quickly as well as potentially damaging the motor in your machine. A frequent mistake is applying the same tensioning procedure to every make of clipper. Each brand has its own way of tensioning and manufacturers' instructions should be adhered to.
We created a page explaining how to tension a large variety of machines, you can read it here - https://buff.ly/3vINTjk

01/02/2024

29/06/2023

Do you love clean feed bins?🚿

A friend of mine sent me this photo, knowing it would make me happy 😂

Now, I'm not obsessed with cleaning, but the thing is, feed and supplements are nutrient rich and their debris and dust are bacteria's idea of a heavenly feast.

Grubby feed bins create a mould and bacterial broth 🤢🤮

Horses are particularly susceptible to moulds and bacteria, with their sensitive digestive tract, so it is worthwhile keeping your feed bins, bowls & utensils clean.

Share your feed bin & bowl photos below (the good, the bad and the ugly...!!)

We won't judge you if you promise to clean the bad /ugly ones straight away 😄🚿🧴🚿🧴

🐴🍏