Equimaze Equine Thermography

06/11/2022

If some riders were hung for being horseman, they would die innocent people.

Buck Brannaman made this comment in his book Faraway Horses when he was talking about his experience playing and training polo.

I don't normally get so controversial but those words of Bucks have got stuck in my head and I created this artwork from an image I saw on social media.

I just see this image as representative of the human trait that we can only see what we know to see. Our brains create a reality from what it knows....and my reality finds this uncomfortable to look at.

Horse's may not have words but they talk. They talk in the way they respond, react, in their muscles, hooves, their posture, gestures, the way they move...and in the gear used to control them.

The more you learn about the way they talk, the more you hear them speak.

And what you hear can start becoming uncomfortable to listen to.

Can you hear this horse?

What story is he telling you about the people that ride him and how he feels about it?

This horse tells me a story of struggle. Riders that struggle to control him doing things he struggles to cope with.

My point of this post is that struggle can be helped.

Struggle means something and you can do something about struggle besides adding leverage. You can investigate why there is struggle and start there. You can teach, train, practice and develop strength and confidence. Then if the struggle is still there doesn't that raise the question of - is this right to do this to THIS horse?!

We can't just be riders, we must also be horsewoman and horseman. The people that are the guardians and experts at helping the animal that means so much to us.
The animal we climb on the back of and form a unique partnership with.

I look at this photo and I just think - we can do better.

We all have to be able to see more than nice forward ears and a fluffy sheepskin noseband.

We have to see this and know we MUST do better. This is not good enough.

My fellow horsewoman and horseman out there teaching people to see how horses talk and how we can help struggle....keep going, don't stop, this is our job and we have work to do❤

25/05/2022

Buttercups are very common at this time of year and can often look like it’s a deliberate crop!!
They are poisonous to horses and contain a toxin called ranunculin which, when the plant is damaged, is converted to protoanemonin.
This then irritates the mouth, nose, gums as well as lower legs if they walk through large patches of them often causing sores or ulcers around the mouth and legs.
Obviously this isn’t as serious a toxin as something like ragwort but can be quite literally an irritation.
Occasionally some horses may not eat very well or even salivate excessively in response to the toxin contacting lips and gums. This is obviously a little more concerning but is generally not a problem and resolved very quickly with treatment.
Wet weather, like today in the North West, can may it worse as they become more easily traumatised and so generates more of the toxin.
On the whole, however, horses do not like the taste of buttercups because they are very bitter and will preferentially eat grass around the flowers.
Also reassuringly, the toxin in buttercups is inactivated by the process of hay or haylage making so it is safe to eat at that point.
Pasture can be sprayed against buttercups in Spring or even Autumn although horses cannot normally be grazed there for two weeks after spraying.
Contact the office if you have any questions.

08/05/2022

Love to receive feedback like this, it means that not only have we helped to find the source of an ongoing problem, but helped client and horse to carry on competing pain free and without expensive extensive and intrusive investigations ….

Hi, just thought I'd let you know. Had ******** hocks injected and this weekend we did 2 days at wentwood forest. Stuck to 32k both days but it was hard and hilly and he was sound both days with hrs lower than normal so I think we found it thank you.

23/04/2022

Scanning In Hanbury today 🏇

29/01/2022

Saturday evening CPD, courtesy of Vet -IR

23/05/2020

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/the-unacceptable-norms-of-equine-management-and-the-inevitable-paradigm-shifts

Social norms are a collective representation of acceptable group conduct and an individual’s perception of their particular groups conduct. They are unwritten rules, expectations, behaviours, thoughts and beliefs of a certain group, underpinned by tradition, anecdotal influence, identity and peer ...

04/04/2020

Ever wished your horse could talk?
What if you could understand your horse and other equines physiology
What if you could monitor their training progression
What if you could prevent the consequences of injurious occurrences
What if you could monitor their recovery after injury
What if you could check saddle fit
What if you could have a career with equines

All of the above are possible. I am offering an online training course in Equine Thermography for those who just want to boost their equine knowledge , study to become a Technician in Equine Thermography or for professionals wishing to incorporate thermography within their practice.

Introductory online course. No camera required.

Level 1 – Follow on from introductory course. This comprehensive course will demonstrate how to use thermal imaging and follow a professional protocol in order to undertake a thorough equine scan and produce professional reports.

NOW IS THE TIME TO LEARN
If interested drop me a DM for a registration form and I can arrange a Bespoke online training programme to fit around your time and requirements.

06/02/2020

Wow love what I do especially when I get such positive feedback👌👌
Hi Jackie, I was looking through G..... records and came across your images, I thought you might like an update, since G.....has had extensive dianostics , bone scans and MRI results and is now retired.( she was never ridden again since your visit )
The front feet you mentioned, RESULT....mild navicular to right fore, mild osteoarthritis of both coffin joints diagnosed on bone scan and MRI !!
The left forearm you mentioned, turned out to be a rare leision that filled the whole bone cavity, they thought it was a tumor, but turned out to be another rare thing, which should reduce in time. no one had ever seen it, and it was shared in high places !!
The spine ended up being 3 vertebrae impinging.
The Right stifle despite extensive xray and ultra sound nothing has been found. The bone scan showed an uptake on both, but more the right stifle.
I wanted to share the information with you, as you were BANG ON in your findings, despite no answer for the stifle, there is a problem that no one can answer as yet !!
G.....did have another scan with *********some time later, and before the bone scan etc.... and it was " sh*te " so they poo poo every one elses work / cameras, but you and your camera were BANG ON !!
G....... remains my much loved horse and despite a PTS diagnosis last April after the results were in, I manage her within an inch of her life, and she is doing well and is happy ....touches wood !!
I hope you dont mind the update, but I thought it would be nice to share the diagnostic results against your findings. I hope to get you to rescan her in the future just to see the difference, if any ! I hope all is well with you, and once again Thank you so much.

25/01/2020

05/01/2020

WARNING – ROADWORK AHEAD - Dr David Marlin

*** Time to re-evaluate the cost-benefit of roadwork in getting horses fit early-season ***

Many of you will be starting to get your horses fit with long-slow work. A good basis for increasing bone strength, muscular and cardiovascular fitness. Many of you will be using roads. Given the high prevalence of lameness and arthritic joint injury/disease in horses, here are some key points to consider with respect to roadwork...

(1) Roadwork results in forces on the hoof around 20x higher than working on good grass or artificial surfaces.

(2) Although it's always unpopular to say it, BAREFOOT horses are at similar risk from roadwork as shod horses with respect to forces transmitted up the leg (the difference between shod and unshod is in how the force travels through the foot).

(3) Roadwork DOES NOT "harden" or strengthen tendons.

(4) Roadwork DOES increase bone strength - but you only need a few minutes of trot each day to achieve this.

(5) Roadwork DOES contribute to joint/cartilage deterioration.

(6) Horses will adapt to roadwork 3-4 times a week in 3-4 weeks. Beyond that, the fitness benefit will be negligible.

(7) Roadwork - No limit to walking! Trotting should be LIMITED to no more than 5 minutes per day, in my opinion.

(8) Road nails and road studs are designed to prevent horses slipping and or falling. BUT they also increase jarring/concussion to joints.

(9) There is very little in the way of controlled scientific studies on HOOFBOOTS. Manufacturers claim they reduce concussion. If they also increase grip they will increase jarring.

(10) Walking and limited trotting on roads may be prescribed as an important part of rehabilitation of tendons following injury. It’s a consistent surface and allows the horse to be worked in a straight line minimising accidental overload of recovering tendons.

(11) There is evidence that increased amounts (above normal) of controlled exercise can enhance tendon strength in young, musculoskeletally immature horses (horses less than approximately 2 years of age) BUT this was NOT done on roads.

I realise many people have limited options. This is simply highlighting the risks of excessive roadwork. You can wait until later in the season and or limit the amount of trotting you do on the roads. Most horses will not become lame or be unfit because they have done TOO LITTLE roadwork!

BOTTOM LINE - If you have a horse with a history of joint problems then you would be wise to avoid trotting on roads. If you feel you have to trot on roads, then limit the amount of trotting to a few minutes per day to stimulate bone development but limit concussive damage to joints.

More detail on this topic and references can be found here: https://davidmarlin.co.uk/portfolio/warning-roadworks-ahead-time-to-review-trotting-on-roads-to-get-horses-fit/

30/12/2019

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/clipping-legs-shows-no-longer-allowed-fei-rules-681029

Horses competing under FEI rules are no longer allowed to have their legs clipped while on site at a competition. The change is an update to the FEI’s policy to help combat “hypersensitive” or “hyposensitive” areas of the body of equine athletes. The rule change came into effect on 1 Janua...

20/12/2019

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thermography-locates-heat-associated-suspensory-sandie-chambers

The suspensory ligament (SL) functions with the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). This function helps to prevent the fetlock from extending to the ground during the stance phase.

18/12/2019

The cause of gastric ulceration in horses is multifactorial and the term equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) describes a group of diseases in foals and horses. These include erosions and ulcerations in the distal oesophagus, non-glandular and glandular stomachs and proximal duodenum of horses.

23/11/2019

http://thehorseaholic.com/this-horse-was-euthanized-for-aggressive-behavior-then-his-necropsy-photo-showed-why/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

Very few horses are so aggressive that people decide to take the drastic route of euthanasia. Many times, something is causing the aggression and over time it can be fixed. In this horses case, his owners decided to euthanize him...

16/11/2019

https://horses-world.com/2018/09/01/passion-for-horses-is-not-a-learned-behavior-we-are-born-with-it/

People who don't know much about horses can't understand why horse lovers are obsessed with riding and horses.

21/09/2019

X-ray backing up the thermographic image. Note the pedal bone has dropped towards the toe where the hot spot is located.

17/09/2019

Thermography image pinpointing area of inflammation towards the toe. Laminitis confirmed by x rays showing a slight degree of pedal bone rotation. Hopefully caught in time for corrective action.

02/08/2019

https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/07/31/us-house-anti-soring-bill-oerwhelming-majority/?fbclid=IwAR2XhHPkB_LpIUBIkbO7uhFpvJThSsB5Usp7YcRsFwmDkINh2YNVcedzjB0

"We’re going straight ahead to press for Senate passage of the PAST Act. These animals have suffered long enough."

31/07/2019

My little helper!! 🐎

16/07/2019

Dr. David Marlin explains why horses suffer from filled legs and how this can be treated

10/06/2019

01/06/2019

Recheck for this Super Star today. Plan for success with checks before and after competition. Prevention is better than cure.

07/05/2019

https://thehorse.com/17720/sacroiliac-joint-pain-in-horses/

Sacroiliac disease can affect any horse, potentially limiting performance abilities.

25/04/2019

In Preston Lancashire Friday 26th April

10/04/2019

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care/vet-advice/suspensory-ligament-injuries-horses-48189

Suspensory ligament injuries can limit the future athletic ability of sport horses, so we explain all you need to know about how to identify and treat them

30/03/2019

🐎🐎🐎APRIL OFFER 🐎🐎🐎
Yard bookings for equine thermography scans for 3 horses or more at discounted rates. PM for details

13/03/2019

Beneath the layers 🐎🐎🐎

02/03/2019

This could easily have been mistaken for bad behaviour ...unwilling to go forward, running backwards, playing up to be tacked up. Good job this little Arab mare has an owner who could tell something was not right ❤️

23/02/2019

17/02/2019

In Bromsgrove area on Saturday 23rd February next. Appointments available 🐎

14/02/2019

13/02/2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1VKlypV2Do&t=9s

Dr. Joanna Robson of Napa CA explains the very "Star Tecky" thermographic camera. Thermography can be a great tool when trying to diagnose a horse who isn't ...

06/02/2019

On National Throw a Sickie Day we thought it would be an opportune time to remind you to monitor your horses vital signs and ensure you are aware of what is normal for your particular horse and that they are appropriately vaccinated.

With recent equine flu outbreaks confirmed across the UK and Northern Europe, with cases confirmed in Essex, Cheshire, Derbyshire and most recently Lincolnshire, it pays to be aware of what to look out for.

Horses affected by equine influenza, especially young un-vaccinated horses, can show significant signs of illness including a fever, cough, nasal discharge and reduced appetite*.

Please check your horse’s passport and make sure your horse, pony, donkey or mule's vaccinations are up to date. Yard owners and managers are also encouraged to check that all horses on their property are protected.

You may also want to consider an additional flu booster for added protection if your horse has not received a booster in the last six months, as is currently being recommended for all racehorses by the British Horseracing Authority.

*Paillot, R. (2014) ‘A Systematic Review in Recent Advances in Equine Influenza Vaccination’, Vaccines, 2, pp. 797-831

Further guidance on equine flu, is available on the BEF websitehttps://www.bef.co.uk/repository/EquineDevelopment/Equine_Influenza_Factsheet_V1.pdf

31/01/2019

In LE14 area of Melton Mowbray on Saturday 2nd February next. Appointments available 🐎

17/01/2019

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/formulating-a-fitness-plan-47803

Knowing how to get your horse fit is key if you want to enjoy the forthcoming season as you'll then be confident your horse is fit for competition

15/01/2019

So true ❤️🐎

13/01/2019

Absolutely ❤️

31/12/2018

To all my clients and wonderful horses, all the very best for the New Year. Hope all your dreams come true xx