Dynamic Wellness

08/31/2024

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵 🦷🦷

Your horse's teeth are designed to chew for 16 - 18 hours a day. They are open rooted, grow throughout life and are capable of dealing with much tougher forage than we feed them. The domesticated horse doesn't tend to use his teeth for as long at this resulting in dental overgrowth that can affect eating, comfort and performance.

Discover more about your horse's teeth in the FREE tutorial video HOW BIG ARE HORSES' TEETH?

This 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Tutorial video* is available in the HIO Academy.

*You need to be a member of the Academy to view the video. You can sign up for FREE at horsesinsideout.com/academy

08/01/2024

07/23/2024

11/18/2023

10/30/2023

Another layer to the “blanket or not-to-blanket” debate. This is an excellent explanation regarding weight management in metabolic horses from Affluent Malnutrition

“Please don't over rug this winter ......

Thirty years ago most ponies were roughed off, turned out at grass to grow a coat and come in ‘ribby’ in the spring before putting the weight back on in a natural yo-yo dieting fashion.

To achieve this, the endocrine system will relay a whole series of messages about

food consumption and storage,

energy transmission,

suppression or increase of appetite,

depression of energy expenditure,

coat growth,

hair thickness and time to shed the excess hair.

Part of this system is circadian in nature (around a 24hour period) and relies largely upon light, but part of the system relies on seasonal temperatures and nutrient availability.

The problem with modern horses/ponies affected by metabolic syndrome is that the nutrients they receive are in excess of the nutrients they require and this is compounded by the fact that horses are no longer expected to,

travel long distances in search of food,

cope with extreme or variable temperatures,

grow thick winter coats and shed them at least 4 times throughout the four seasons of the year.

Winter coat growth, hair loss and shedding use a metabolic energy (AKT) pathway which involves both insulin and glucose, this entails the lowering of circulating levels of plasma insulin and use of an excess store of energy. Over rugging horses and native ponies or long periods in the stables during the winter/autumn/early summer months will deprive them of the ability to use up this excess glucose and fat storage.

The increased problem of a horse with equine metabolic syndrome is that the fat deposits of adipose tissue contain an independent endocrine signaling system with at least 4 hormones governing weight loss, energy output and weight control.

Most importantly; homeostasis of weight maintenance and appetite is governed by a balanced set of signals given out both by the adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract. In obese horses with large adipose deposits particularly in the neck shoulders and tail area there will be an increased volume of adipose hormones released which easily out balance the hormones released from the gut, compromising the vital homeostasis of appetite and weight control, further weight gain is the result.

As well as hormones of weight control and appetite, adipose tissue also releases a whole series of inflammatory chemicals which cause a pro inflammatory state, disrupt the normal circulation of the foot and together with circulating insulin play a major part in the onset of many disease states including laminitis.

Therefore the most important goal is to control adipose tissue gain. Reducing the cresty necks and fat pads will limit the abnormal and high volumes of signaling hormones that disrupt appetite, influence weight gain, disrupt circulation and gastrointestinal function, raise circulating insulin levels and that eventually result in an episode of laminitis.

There are understandably many problems for owners in the UK wanting to leave their horses out for the winter especially those living in very wet areas or on livery yards that do not want to ruin their limited grazing, this can be challenging and below are a few practical points to manage the diet and weigh gain of your horse not only through the winter but throughout the whole year.

Try not to rug too early, allow your horse to grow a good winter coat and be ‘roughed off’ or ‘let down’ for at least 8 weeks through the autumn/winter, this is vital for his metabolism, getting cold and wet causes the release of energy from fat stores. For some horses being turned out until Christmas is sufficient to use up the fat stored as adipose tissue, this avoids the worse months of January and February which can be even more cold and wet.”

10/27/2023

👋 This is a very important memo! 👋 Please make sure you always buckle your blankets and tack into your horse. When they face out they have the risk of getting caught on fences, buckets, and anything else your horse might find.

08/14/2023

08/04/2023

We have been treating a number of ponies and miniature breeds recently, so thought we would share an interesting case each week in August
Did you know that because of the size of their heads and comparatively large size of their teeth, ponies and miniature breeds are prone to a number of dental conditions, such as overcrowding and tooth root infections?
Check out this skull from a young miniature pony with some of the outer bone removed, showing the size of the teeth compared to the size of the head.

05/16/2023

On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Does Strangles live on surfaces for months? It’s Mythbuster Monday, where Horse Nation dives into different equestrian myths and provides research-based evidence to either bust or confirm...

01/25/2023

01/23/2023

12/22/2022

How does your horse stay warm in the winter?

*Please read the whole post before jumping to conclusions - by no means am I telling you not to blanket - every horse is different!*

Thermoregulation is a process that allows mammals to maintain their core body temperature. Due to fluctuations in the ambient temperature, horses will use physiological and behavioral adaptations for heat production or heat dissipation in order to maintain their core body temperature within a narrow range. Focusing on the cold climates (as we are sitting at [feels like] -29°F right now), there are a few physiological adaptations the horse may use including shivering, vasoconstriction, and adaptations to the hair coat including piloerection and hair coat length. Commonly observed behavioral adaptations include facing away from the wind, using solar radiation, or increasing consumption of fiber, often fed in the form of hay, for fermentation.

However, most of these physiological processes come at a cost due to something known as the lower critical temperature (LCT). The LCT is the ambient temperature below which an animal will require additional metabolic heat production to maintain their core temperature. The further below the LCT the ambient temperature gets, the more energy the horse needs to expend to maintain their core body temperature. The LCT changes based on age, precipitation, season, and hair coat length among other variables, but the LCT for horses with a dry, winter coat has most commonly been reported between 5°F (in cold climates) and 41°F (in mild climates). We often use 18°F as a benchmark.

So what does all of this mean? Well most horses do a great job at thermoregulation when given the tools they need. Below 5°F, and especially when precipitation is observed, it is recommended that horses have access to a 3-sided shelter with a roof as well as additional hay to help heat their internal furnace via fermentation and provide additional calories in the process.

It is also important to note that some horses may do better with some assistance such as hard keepers, underweight horses, aged horses who might have trouble consuming adequate forage, horses with an improper hair coat, etc. So just because one horse is fat, happy, and unbothered by the cold, it doesn’t mean every horse is!

So as the temperatures fall, see what your horse is doing to respond! It is pretty neat to see all the things they are naturally designed to do to conserve heat and stay warm! And if you have any questions on whether your horse may need assistance, I recommend reaching out to your veterinarian for guidance!

12/20/2022

A very important reminder courtesy of the horse doctors at Miamitown Equine Veterinary Services:

"When securing blankets, make sure that the snaps/clips are facing inward, toward the horse! If they are facing out, they can easily become stuck on something, like the hay net in the picture."

12/12/2022

12/10/2022

Who has a metabolic horse? Who even knows what it means to have a metabolic horse? 🤔 Check out Feed Room Chemist podcast episode 111 for all the details!

12/07/2022

Could nerve damage be responsible for Lumbosacral region pain? Loss of distal limb sensation? Poor limb flexion?

Quiney et al. (2021) found that 26% of horses that presented with lumbosacral region pain had damage to the sciatic or obturator nerves, stating that neural pain may play an important role in some horses. The paper described that It is probable that lumbosacral region pain can be caused by osseous or soft tissue pathology, or both. Furthermore, it has been suggested that sacroiliac joint region pain in humans can be neuropathic in origin. Impingement or damage of the sciatic could of course be resultant of regional inflammation.

The study mentioned alteration of load transfer or torque through the sacroiliac joints, which may occur as a result of asymmetry, may contribute to the development of degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joints, however it could be reasonable to suggest altered static biomechanics (posture) due to hoof balance could create the same changes in load transfer and dysfunction in the region. And once again, vice versa.

Damage or impingement to the sciatic nerve can create loss of sensation in distal limb (below stifle), Motor loss and poor limb flexion and pain. Some features of lumbosacral region pain in horses, as suggested by Quiney et al., may be considered consistent with neuropathic pain, such as episodic shooting forwards (sudden increase in anxiety and rapid transient acceleration), as if experiencing paroxysmal pain, and bucking and kicking out and a lack of response to systemic analgesics.

Join myself and Celeste-Leilani Lazaris , an expert on equine nerve impingement and its treatment, for a joint webinar on nerve impingent and its connection to the hoof and posture.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/nerve-impingement-hoof-balance

I also delve into the findings of my recent research suggesting links between hind hoof balance and sacroiliac region pain and sciatic dysfunction. Which you can read here..

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/negative-plantar-angles-and-pathology-along-the-dorsal-myofascial-line

11/16/2022

Please do right by your horses! If you can't stay exactly on top of this you are much better off leaving the blankets off! Nothing pains me like seeing horses left with their blankets on when it gets too hot. It's the equivalent to us putting on a sweatshirt and sweatpants and then a sweat suit on top and standing out in the heat!

10/26/2022

Espophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency but can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

10/10/2022

Myth:
Hay cubes are the most natural way to feed a horse.

Fact:
Diets that consist of only cubed or pelleted hay can cause health concerns according to researchers. In their most natural environment, horses would spend 12-17 hours each day grazing pasture or eating long-stem forage (grass/hay). Horses can complete a typical 8-10 lb feeding of hay cubes within 3 hours, leaving several hours on an empty stomach before the next feeding. Researchers found that completely replacing long-stem hay increases the likelihood of abnormal behaviors such as cribbing, weaving, and eating things such as shavings, wood, and dirt. Researchers also have shown that extended periods of time on an empty stomach increases the chance a horse will develop ulcers and other digestive ailments.

★★★ In addition, very few hay cubes contain appropriate amounts of vitamins and critical trace minerals. This is especially true when feeding horses in categories such as performance, breeding, and growing.

This is not to say feeding straight cubes is bad. It isn’t a recommendation I would give in most cases, they can be a great option for different programs if paired with a diet balancer or fortified feed, and at adequate levels to reduce time between feedings. My personal opinion is to always incorporate some level of long stem forage if possible.

10/10/2022

10/01/2022

09/28/2022

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT RUGGING HORSES!

It's that time of year when WE notice that it's got a little colder and we dig out our fleeces and jumpers. And many of us are likely to do the same for our horses, unpacking the stable and turnout rugs we packed away in late Spring. BUT, horses don’t feel the cold in the same way we do.

Why? The answer is pretty straightforward - they are around 7 times heavier than us and covered in hair. Although they are 7 times heavier they don’t have 7 times more skin surface. In fact, it’s only around 2.5 times more. Skin surface is the key to retaining or losing heat as this is the main route horses lose heat in cooler weather. That’s why in nature if you live in a cold climate it’s generally an advantage to be large and if you live in a hot climate it’s an advantage to be small – and yes there are exceptions to this, such as elephants!

So the temptation is to start over-rugging horses at this time of year because we are feeling cold and putting on more layers. Over-rugging may make your horse or pony feel uncomfortable and unhappy. It’s also not good for coat and skin health and it may even contribute to obesity.

What rug should I use? There are a lot of things to consider and there is no one-size fits all but some general rules do apply.

To learn more about the science of rugging……https://drdavidmarlin.com/tag/rugging/ (MEMBER CONTENT - Subscription of £8 required for 30 days access).

QUICK UPDATE!
The wonderfully talented Erin at Chestnuts created this brilliant illustration, and we are very grateful that she has allowed us to use it. We chose the image as we think it perfectly depicts Dr Marlin's point in this post. Thank you Erin Chestnuts!

07/17/2022

07/02/2022

"Feed for Thought"

Horses produce up to 16 gallons of acidic gastric juice each day. 😳

That’s approximately equivalent to: -The gas tank of an average car
-Three five-gallon water buckets
-Half of an average bathtub.

Giving access to long stem forage at all times (or with no more than 4 hours without) is vital for utilizing stomach acid to help avoid excess in the stomach, which can eventually cause gastric ulcers.