VanderVines Ranch

VanderVines Ranch We offer Vermont Blend Balancers, Omega E & Emcelle for your Equines. Vermont Blend is recommended for those with ECIR and Navicular issues.
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We also offer riding western riding lessons, and offer limited training, specializing in barrel/pattern work.

This helps explain and show why hoof angles are so crucial. Great post
12/12/2023

This helps explain and show why hoof angles are so crucial. Great post

12/12/2023
03/17/2023

The more I work with hooves, the more I realize that one of the main issues that plagues feet is lack of movement.

Not genetics, not necessarily "the right trim," not a too wet environment, not a too dry environment, but lack of movement.

So how can we get our horses moving more - as they are designed to do - for their hoof health, as well as their mental, physical, and even social health too?

Amy Dell-Anthony of Abbotts View Livery: Barefoot and Back to Nature sat down with me and chatted about horse track systems, and the benefits she sees having run a track system boarding facility/livery. We talk about hoof benefits, but also overall benefits to this kind of set up.

You can hear the whole conversation on your favorite podcast app under "The Humble Hoof" or directly at this link: https://thehumblehoof.com/2023/03/10/horse-track-systems/amp/

Also check out Amy's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Horse-Track-Systems-Guide-Healthier/dp/0993504833

Thank you to our sponsors:
Equithrive offers supplements for everything from metabolic health to joint support - get 20% off your first order at equithrive.com with code HUMBLEHOOF

Cavallo Hoof Boots is offering 20% off a pair of Trek hoof boots at cavallo-inc.com with code HRN

This is how I got started down this path in equine nutrition and hoof care, I had a horse that kept me up at night…and t...
02/06/2023

This is how I got started down this path in equine nutrition and hoof care, I had a horse that kept me up at night…and then another

I am a member of a lot of farrier groups, and I love the discussions. Depending on the group, I often see a lot more encouragement and camaraderie. I honestly find this profession to be really supportive most of the time, despite disagreements!

A few days ago, in one of these groups, I saw a comment by Gary Gullo Jr. that stuck out to me and I wanted to share it, as it's been milling in my mind for the last few days.

"The horses that keep us up at night teach us the most."

I think most of us can pinpoint a horse that tests our knowledge and skill at every turn. Who hates everything we try or loves something one day and hates it the next. A horse that seems to have no rhyme or reason for what makes them comfortable. Or a horse that despite our best efforts, seems to be a "non-responder."

Those are the horses that we seek advice on, the ones that push us to go to clinics, attend webinars, read books, seek out a mentor, etc. Those are the horses who maybe we never quit "fix," but make us better for the next tough case that comes along. Those horses that try us every turn are the ones that refine our skills.

We may not thank them now, but hopefully we will be able to look back later and thank them for what they've taught us.

I know it's tough now, but keep going. You'll never regret looking for more ways to learn.

Have you been wondering too? 6 years ago I had a horse that I worked hard to fix his underrun hooves, and have a few we ...
01/11/2023

Have you been wondering too? 6 years ago I had a horse that I worked hard to fix his underrun hooves, and have a few we have battled since. I have learned so much since then and this struck home for me and I wanted to share with you all!

Have you all noticed that kissing spine is being diagnosed more and more frequently in the past several years?

There are many many reasons for kissing spine to happen but in this post we are just going to talk about one very obvious one that for some reason fails to get considered in the diagnosis.

If we go back to the analogy we posted a couple weeks ago about the pillars on a bridge, and how important getting the foundation right is to the integrity of the deck of the bridge,

Your horse's hoof angles are the foundational pillars of the integrity of the spine (the deck of the bridge).

Negative palmar angle and long toes are becoming an epidemic in the current horse world. This changes how the horse is comfortable holding his legs.

How he holds them changes the support and the alignment of the spine.

Tie a string to two long sticks. Have one person hold one stick and another person hold the other stick. Stretch your sticks out so the sticks are perpendicular to the ground And the string is basically level. Now, start angling your sticks towards each other and away from each other and watch the changes in your string.

This is a simplistic representation but it should give you the point.

Your horse's feet and the angles they are maintained at are Vital to the integrity of your horse's body and function.

If your horse is newly diagnosed with kissing spine, and there is not an obvious, glaring reason why, Get x-rays of all four feet and find someone who actually knows how to plot out the angles of them.

There is a pretty decent chance that if these are found to be off, the kissing spine can be made to go away in time, with help from a competent farrier and likely some chiropractic work.

Sharing for awareness
12/13/2022

Sharing for awareness

INFECTIOUS DISEASE ALERT

Dr. Nathan Slovis our infectious disease chairman has been consulting with several of his colleagues in Texas and Louisiana about a PRESUMPTIVE botulism outbreak associated with Hay Cubes manufactured in Colorado.

Both Farms used the same source for the hay cubes.

We have heard that other states that MAY have farms affected as well.

The hay cubes appear to have been contaminated with dead animal carcasses (Images Attached from one of the farms affected that used the hay cubes)

Botulism

Definition/Overview

Botulism is a neuromuscular disease characterized by flaccid paralysis that is caused by neurotoxins produced by strains of Clostridium botulinum. Horses are one of the most susceptible species, with both individual and group outbreaks reported.

Etiology

Clostridium botulinum is a Gram positive, spore forming anaerobic bacterium. Spores are found in the soil throughout most of the world with the distribution of strains dependent on temperature and soil pH. Eight serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin exist and are labeled A, B, C1, C 2 , D, E, F and G, all of which have similar toxicity. There is geographic variation in the predominant serotypes. In North America, botulism in horses is most often caused by type B toxin and less often by toxin types A and C1.

Pathophysiology

There are two main forms of botulism. Toxicoinfectious botulism, also known as ‘shaker-foal syndrome’ occurs almost exclusively foals as a result of overgrowth of C. botulinum in the intestinal tract, followed by production of neurotoxins. The disease most often affects fast growing foals from 1-2 months of age, although cases outside this age range have been seen. The mature, protective gastrointestinal microflora of adult horses typically prevents overgrowth of C. botulinum following ingestion.

In adult horses, botulism occurs following ingestion of pre-formed toxins in feed. Spoiled hay or silage are most commonly implicated in botulism caused by types A and B. Silage with a pH greater than 4.5 is favorable for sporulation and toxin production. This is known as “forage poisoning”. It has also been suggested that birds may be able to carry preformed toxin from carrion to the feed of horses. Type C botulism is associated with ingestion of feed or water contaminated by the carcass of a rodent or other small animal. Less commonly, botulism can occur when neurotoxins are produced in wounds infected with C. botulinum. Proliferation of C. botulinum type B organisms in gastric ulcers, foci of hepatic necrosis, abscesses in the navel or lungs and wounds in skin and muscle have been associated with toxicoinfectious botulism.

The third less common form of botulism is associated with the infection of wounds with C. botulinum

Botulinum neurotoxins bind to presynaptic membranes at neuromuscular junctions, irreversibly blocking the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine resulting in flaccid paralysis. Botulinum neurotoxin has also been linked to equine grass sickness.

Clinical presentation

The clinical picture of symmetrical flaccid paralysis is consistent, with the onset and rate of progression dependent on the amount of toxin that is absorbed. The initial clinical signs include dysphagia with apparent excess salivation, weak eyelid tone, weak tail tone and exercise intolerance. Affected animals also spend increased amounts of time resting due to generalized muscle weakness, which is also associated with tremors, carpal buckling and ataxia. Pharyngeal and lingual paralysis causes marked dysphagia and predisposes to aspiration pneumonia. The affected animals tend to quid their food. Paralysis of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles results in an increased respiratory rate and decreased chest wall expansion. Severely affected animals die from respiratory paralysis and cardiac failure.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential diagnoses for botulism include viral causes of encephalitis, protozoal causes of encephalomyelitis, and toxic causes of sudden death or neurologic dysfunction.

Diagnosis

Botulism should be suspected in animals with flaccid paralysis displaying the above clinical signs. Botulinum toxin does not affect the central nervous system but does affect the cranial nerves; thus symmetrical cranial nerve deficits in an animal with normal mentation can help differentiate botulism from other disorders. Botulism is often a clinical diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis can be achieved by the mouse inoculation test using serum or gastrointestinal contents. However, horses are extremely sensitive to the toxin and this test is often negative. The traditional mouse bioassay identifies Clostridium botulinum in only about 30% of f***s collected from adult horses with clinical disease. If the toxin is demonstrated with mouse inoculation, the serotype can be determined through inoculation of mice passively protected with different serotypes of antitoxin. Detection of antibody titers in a recovering unvaccinated horse is also evidence for the diagnosis of botulism. Demonstration of spores in the intestine is not diagnostic, as they can be ingested and observed as contaminants.

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) test for the detection of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins in equine diagnostic samples (F***s or Food Samples) are available. . This assay tends to be more economical, time efficient and sensitive than the traditional mouse bioassay

Management

Immediate treatment with a polyvalent antitoxin prevents binding of the toxin to presynaptic membranes. However, antitoxin cannot reactivate neuromuscular junctions that have already been affected. Thus, antitoxin administration may have little effect in animals that are severely affected. Generally, only one dose (200ml of antiserum to foals (30,000 IU) or 500ml (70,000 IU) to adults of antitoxin is needed and provides passive protection for up to two months.

Antibiotics should be administered if toxicoinfectious botulism is suspected or if here is secondary lesions such as aspiration pneumonia or decubital ulcers. Antibiotics that can cause neuromuscular blockade and possibly exacerbate clinical signs such as aminoglycosides should be avoided and neurostimulants such as neostigmine should not be used. Good nursing care including the provision of a deep bed and a quiet environment are essential. Frequent turning of recumbent animals, nasogastric feeding and fluid support for animals with pharyngeal and lingual paralysis, frequent catheterization of the urinary bladder, application of ophthalmic ointments and ventilatory support may all be required.

If botulism is suspected to have been caused by ingestion of preformed toxin in feed, an alternate feed source should be provided while the origin is investigated. Potentially contaminated feeds.

Prognosis

A survival rate of 88% has been reported in foals with toxicoinfectious botulism that were provided with intensive nursing care (including mechanical ventilation and botulism antitoxin). However, this type of treatment is not available in all areas and is quite expensive. Without aggressive supportive care, the mortality rate is high, with death usually occurring 1-3 days after the onset of clinical signs.

The prognosis is variable in adult horses that have ingested pre-formed toxin, depending on the amount of toxin absorbed and the severity of clinical signs. Mildly affected animals may recover with minimal treatment while severely affected animals that become recumbent have a poor prognosis. The mortality rate has been reported to be as high as 90% in recumbent adult horses, with death occurring within hours of the appearance of signs. In animals that survive, complete recovery is most common. Development of full muscular strength takes weeks to months. Persistent tongue weakness not affecting the ability to eat has been reported.

Prevention

Type B toxoid is available and should be used in areas in which type B botulism is Vaccination is particularly important in areas where neonatal botulism occurs. Widespread vaccination of mares in certain high-risk areas has dramatically decreased the incidence of neonatal botulism. An initial series of three vaccinations a month apart followed by annual boosters has been recommended. Pregnant mares should receive a booster four weeks prior to foaling to ensure adequate antibody levels in colostrum. Type B vaccine only provides protection against type B toxin. There is no cross protection against type C toxin and type C toxoid is not licensed for use in North America.

Silage, haylage and other fermented feeds should not be fed to horses because of the risk of botulism.

REFERENCES

1) Wilkins PA, Palmer JE. Botulism in foals less than 6 months of age: 30 cases (1989‑2002).J Vet Intern Med;(2003);17;5:702‑707



2) Wilkins PA, Palmer JE. Mechanical ventilation in foals with botulism: 9 cases (1989‑2002). J Vet Intern Med;(2003);17;5:708‑712



3) Junaine M. Hunter, DVM, Barton W. Rohrback, VMD, MPH et at. Round Bale Grass Hay: A Risk Factor for Botulism in Horses Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet;(2002);24;2:166‑166



4) Schoenbaum MA, Hall SM, G***k RD, Grant K, Jenny AL, Schiefer TJ, Sciglibaglio P, Whitlock RH. An outbreak of type C botulism in 12 horses and a mule. J Am Vet Med Assoc;(2000);217;3:365‑8



5) S. H. GUDMUNDSSON. Type B botulinum intoxication in horses: case report and literature review. Equine Vet Educ;(1997);9;3:156‑159





6) H. Kinde et al. Clostridium botulinum type‑C intoxication associated with consumption of processed alfalfa hay cubes in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc;(Sept 15, 1991);199;6:742‑746

11/25/2022

We hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving and have many blessings to be thankful for!!

We are so thankful for our customers this past year at VanderVines Ranch!!

Great farrier/trimmer view
04/26/2022

Great farrier/trimmer view

Hoof Growth

Every so often, I'll see or hear comments to the effect of "My horses' feet are so healthy, they are growing so fast!".. except upon looking at photos or seeing the horse in person, the hoof wall quality is really poor or shelly, the laminae connection is compromised, and the sole depth and frog health leave a lot to be desired.

The speed the foot produces hoof horn is a can of worms in and of itself, as growth rate can be affected by age, perfusion, inflammation, movement, etc. When I'm looking at a foot, most often I care less about how FAST it's growing, and more about the QUALITY of the foot that is being produced. I want to see a tight white line and solid wall with as little flaring as possible. I want to see consistent growth without event lines. I also want to see good sole depth and healthy frogs. Some hooves will grow incredibly quickly, but that wall cracks and breaks off the second it hits the ground. I wouldn't be happy with that growth at all.

On another side of the same coin, a laminitic mini or pony might produce an incredible amount of foot even within a 2 week time frame - enough for another full trim - seemingly as a response to inflammation, but it is certainly not healthy. The laminae connection growing in in those cases is not tight, and therefore the faster growth isn't serving the horse at all, it is not healing, and often can lead to incredible soreness as the foot gets further out of balance.

So what produces HEALTHY growth?
Proper diet (I focus on a forage based, mineral balanced diet), healthy microbiomes, and proper movement are three factors that I see leading to the healthiest growth possible. And I don't mean just adding biotin - biotin is synthesized in the gut in a horse, and while some can have a positive effect, more isn't always better. I usually see the best growth with good levels of copper and zinc to meet frank deficiencies in hay and relative deficiencies from excesses of other minerals, coupled with good amounts of limiting amino acids to allow the horse to utilize protein in their diet.

I care less about the speed of growth and more about the quality of growth. Poor hoof quality requires further investigation into diet, metabolic issues, gut health, and overall health.

Thanks again to Custom Equine Nutrition, LLC for their sponsorship and their amazing supplements that address the most common deficiencies from forage in many areas across the country 🙌 I have seen awesome changes on their products in my area especially!

For those that wonder if they should analyze their hay…here is a great reason why it could benefit your equines!
04/26/2022

For those that wonder if they should analyze their hay…here is a great reason why it could benefit your equines!

Hay analysis are worth their weight in gold.

This can be a literal statement when all your horses start to lose weight. This was the situation one of my customers reached out to me about, and I thought it would make a very good subject for a post!

The hay analysis provided two reasons for the weight loss; Digestible Energy (DE) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF).

Think of the digestible energy like calories. This hay was very low-calorie hay. When you have low calorie hay, more needs to be fed. The opposite can be said for high calorie hay, less might need to be fed. The average 1,000lb horse needs approximately 2% of their body weight in forage which equals 20lb of hay per day. Yet when you have low calorie hay, your horse will need more than 20lb per day to maintain an ideal weight.

Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF). High levels, typically above 60% will make the hay less palatable. Horses may leave hay behind instead of consuming it, typically the more stemmy pieces.

Let’s say your horse; Phoenix, weighs 1,000lb. You feed an extra 3lb per day because your hay is low calorie, providing Phoenix with a total of 23lb per day. However, Phoenix is leaving behind a couple pounds on the ground because of the high NDF. The key is to put out enough hay that Phoenix consumes the full 23lb+ per day. In the end, you may be putting out close to 25lb or more.

What if Phoenix is fed this hay free choice? In this situation providing an additional fiber source is the answer. You can feed a few pounds of another hay that has higher DE and lower NDF, or you can add one of the following to his diet: beet pulp, hay Chaff, soaked hay cubes, or hay pellets.

The only way to know the Digestible Energy and Neutral Detergent Fiber of your hay is to have it tested. When you cannot figure out why your horse is losing weight, testing hay may give you the answer!

Heading to the MN Horse Expo today!! Always love getting excited for the season when we attend this event.I can bring sa...
04/15/2022

Heading to the MN Horse Expo today!! Always love getting excited for the season when we attend this event.

I can bring samples or products along if anyone is interested in Custom Equine Nutrition products or reach out anytime to learn more about them!

Vermont Blend
Vermont Blend Pro
Omega E (flax w/ Vitamin E)
Emcelle (Vitamin E)

04/07/2022

If you've followed this page for any amount of time, you've seen me discuss nutrition and the hoof.

I see improvement time and again - a tighter laminae connection and healthier wall growing down the hoof capsule - after a change to a forage-based, mineral-balanced diet.

Occasionally, I have owners that worry about the foot that's hitting the ground. Sometimes we see the weaker hoof at ground level chipping or breaking off if we go just a few days past the horse's ideal cycle length (which sometimes takes time to parse out for the individual horse!). I have to remind owners that the wall hitting the ground is around 9 months old - so whatever the horse was eating/dealing with 9 months ago caused a weaker hoof wall. Once we see the tighter event line grow out, the wall often stops breaking and chipping - even if we go a bit too long in their cycle.

Instead of tracking the "old hoof" at ground level, pay attention to the better well-connected growth as it progresses down the wall. That is your marker for when you have a brand new, healthier hoof!

Thanks again to Custom Equine Nutrition, LLC for their sponsorship, and for making supplements that allow for the kind of positive change in growth seen in this picture 💪 about 5ish months on a new diet!

A story showing the importance of mineral balancing and how it can heal.
03/30/2022

A story showing the importance of mineral balancing and how it can heal.

CANKER

I've wanted to share this post for a while but have been hesitant for a few reasons. First - I am certainly not an expert on canker in any way, and second - the most recent photo was taken before the trim was finished from the top and still looks quite messy. It's always scary to show difficult rehab cases, as criticism online runs wild. But I feel like it is interesting either way, even just looking at one case study.

For those who haven't heard of canker, it is an infectious process, and there is some uncertainty as to what exactly causes it. Even with knowing the causative microbes, they have not been able to consistently replicate the infection process in studies. Canker causes excessive proliferation of tissue, so you might see cauliflower-like frogs, some have what look like tentacles growing out from them. It can also have pieces of hoof horn growing in abnormal areas. The frog is usually incredibly sensitive and bleeds easily, and if trimmed, the tissue is typically white or grey, soft, and squishy underneath, similar to cottage cheese type texture. And, IT SMELLS when trimmed. It will be a smell you never forget if you encounter it!!

When I first met the horse pictured, I immediately knew he likely had canker. I noticed what seemed to be excessive frog flaps/growth but the second I trimmed it the first time, he bled excessively. The owner got the vet involved, and canker was officially diagnosed. The owner started with moving the horse to a dry environment and treating with topicals, but to no avail. When we realized there was no improvement, the vet and I got together to debride the canker tissue - which only started the rehab. The owner then was responsible for daily treatment with canker paste made with metronidazole and benzyl peroxide solution, and daily cleaning and wrapping.

A year after the debridement, the horse's frogs were still quite weak and still dealing with central sulcus splits in all 4 feet which were very sensitive. I brought up copper and zinc supplementation again as a suggestion for overall hoof health, especially given the hay changes we have had this last year, and the owner immediately incorporated the diet change.

Within a few cycles after the increased minerals, the heel quarter that had been compromised with canker tissue and had suffered from separation grew in much tighter, and the frog grew out and opened up. Nothing else changed in this horse's environment or management - hay source was the same, barn and turn out was the same, etc. The last photo on the bottom right shows the frog after a few months on minerals.

Of course, canker is a very difficult diagnosis and the bulk of the rehab was done with debridement with the vet and proper treatment. But when dealing with lingering issues, time and again I see improvements when addressing potential mineral deficiencies.

Again, I want to give a shout out to Custom Equine Nutrition, LLC for their copper and zinc blend 🙌 and a special thank you to them for sponsoring our Podiatry Clinic in 2 weeks!

The recommended Diet for ECIR and Navicular horses.
03/18/2022

The recommended Diet for ECIR and Navicular horses.

For anyone interested in learning more about these products and their differences this may help explain!
03/18/2022

For anyone interested in learning more about these products and their differences this may help explain!

Both Vermont Blend and Vermont Blend Pro provide the same level of minerals and amino acids. The main differences between the two is the addition or Probiotics in Vermont Blend Pro and the serving size.

We are excited to announce the launch of VanderVines Ranch!We offer Custom Equine Nutrition Balancers and Supplements, r...
03/18/2022

We are excited to announce the launch of VanderVines Ranch!

We offer Custom Equine Nutrition Balancers and Supplements, riding lessons and training, specializing in barrels and rodeo events.

Vermont Blend Balancers are approved for the ECIR and Navicular diets.

Ashley will begin with her focus on beginner lessons and helping us finish horses.

Alix will work with those looking for more advanced skill sets and finishing horses.

Kelly is the Nutrition specialist and hoof geek, who loves to help horses improve overall health & has a strong focus on hoof health. No Hoof, No Horse!

Check out our website for our products available!

www.vandervinesranch.com

VanderVines RanchHelping horses and riders perform their bestRiding LessonsWe offer lessons specializing in western events from beginner to experienced. Contact us to learn more.Horse TrainingWe work with novice to experienced horses to bring out the best abilities of that horse. Contact us to learn...

03/15/2022
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03/13/2022

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26110 Zachary Avenue
Elko New Market, MN
55020

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