Cornerstone Equine Services

08/23/2024

To be fair..... I wouldn't be whispering.

07/08/2024

There are a whole lot of National ( *fill in the blank* ) Days/Weeks/Months, but this is one I can enthusiastically support.

06/30/2024

06/18/2024

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has updated their guidelines for internal parasite control.

We've been using the basics of these since Dr. Nielsen's concerns about the resistance of many worm populations to various deworming medications were published.

The only "new" dewormer on the market is moxidectin, with no others on the way, so it's recommended that we don't use Quest or unless we've tried everything else first.

20% of the horses in a herd can be responsible for 80% of the parasite egg contamination of the pasture.

To summarize the summary......

1) Run f***l egg counts (FEC) to find out where you stand (at least in general).

2) Use only ivermectin products (or ivermectin+praziquantel) unless FECs indicate otherwise.

3) The goal is to try to get to the point where we only deworm once or twice a year.

These Internal Parasite Control Guidelines were revised by the AAEP in May 2024. You can access the entire guidelines document by clicking the Download Resource button. Parasite groups discussed in these guidelines include: Cyathostomins (Small Strongyles), Large strongyles, Anoplocephala perfoliata...

04/17/2024

Update from Madison.

04/12/2024

You've heard me say that horses wake up in the morning with two thoughts on their minds..... "What can I eat?" and "How can I hurt myself?". And not necessarily in that order.

Case in point......

On the morning April 2, P.J. Altshuler got a call no horse owner could ever be quite prepared for. One of her horses was stuck in a tree.

04/03/2024

We've been getting more questions recently about cases of EHV-1/EHM reported in southern and western Wisconsin.
I'll try to summarize this briefly.

Equine Herpesviruses (Rhinopneumonitis) are found in most (all?) horses older than 2 years of age. As a herpesvirus, they're similar to the virus that causes cold sores in people. We all have the virus, and it doesn't cause problems until we get run down.
Because most horses already have the virus dormant in their bodies, vaccination won't keep them from getting it. Vaccination will, however significantly decrease how much virus a sick horse will spread to other horses and the environment. Most of the recent work done by manufacturers has been focused on preventing this viral shedding.

Most clinical disease related to this virus is respiratory and/or abortion. Horses typically recover with supportive care.

Occasionally, the virus mutates and causes inflammation in the small blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord (equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy-EHM). None of the vaccines labeled for respiratory or abortion protection are labeled for the neuropathogenic strains.

In communication with colleagues that have dealt with recent cases, there were 2 horses that developed neurologic symptoms at a closed barn with no movement of horses in or out of the facility. The state Department of Agriculture quarantines all facilities with the neurologic form of the disease.

As with all contagious diseases, prudent biosecurity can't hurt. This link is a pretty good source of information for different scenarios.

https://equinediseasecc.org/biosecurity

04/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/baDhBaLEvaYFWso3/?mibextid=oFDknk

Research update! 🔬🐴

We collaborated with UWRF researchers and veterinarians in a two-year study to evaluate the effect of hay nets on hay usage, bodyweight, body condition score, and dental health of adult horses.

The horses (n=13) were randomly assigned to feed from round bales with or without a net (1.75-inch openings) for one year. During the second year, horses then received the opposite treatment (net or no net).

Here are the highlights:

⭐️ Horses fed without hay nets tended to have higher hay usage, body weights, and body condition scores than horses fed with a hay net.
⭐️ Hay nets did not impact incisor length or cause bevels on the incisors.
⭐️ Horses had the same number of dental abnormalities regardless of hay net use.
⭐️ These data suggest that hay nets do not result in negative impacts on dental health.
⭐️The high prevalence of dental abnormalities and conditions found in the horses emphasizes the need for regular, preventative dental work.

To read the full paper, visit https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1isCM2dbxqmwv7

04/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/dt9oXWnCHYLN5Hrx/?mibextid=oFDknk

Don't miss the last webinar of our MSU Equine Health Series this WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, at 7 PM ET: “Getting the best veterinary care when equine veterinarians are in short supply” presented by Jamie Pribyl, DVM. Since 2020, Dr. Pribyl has been a Professional Services Veterinarian for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. She is passionate about professional wellness and leadership and is a past member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Wellness Committee. She also serves on the AAEP Ethics Committee and the Practice Culture Subcommittee. A prize drawing for registered live attendees will be held towards the end of the presentation. REGISTER NOW: https://tinyurl.com/4prtex2w

03/31/2024

https://www.facebook.com/reel/958004222501882

03/23/2024

From now on, we will no longer be authorizing online prescriptions for Chewy. If you need scripts from them, please ask for a written paper prescription form that you can mail to them. Other online scripts can still be authorized, though we prefer that you use our online pharmacy. The site may not carry everything you need, but they can usually find it.

02/16/2024

Here's a link to a Zoom event concerning the Japanese horse book I previously told you about.

Dr. David Ramey is an equine veterinarian dedicated to promoting horse sense in the horse world.

02/10/2024

Shared by a client. Fortunately, medication is rarely needed.

Any time a horse dies, other horses that might have been close to the deceased horse should be allowed to spend time near it.

01/24/2024

HAYGAIN LTD IN ADMINISTRATION

Very sad to see that Haygain Ltd have gone into administration.

The news was circulated by Equestrian Trade News at 11:00 this morning (Weds 24th January) and I have confirmed this is true in The London Gazette (date of administration 18th Jan 2024, publication of announcement 23rd Jan 2024).

The hay steamers for which they are best known are a great product backed by research and I know that many equestrians who own Haygain steamers will be concerned for the future in terms of product support.

Let’s hope a buyer can be found to save the company.

NewsETN WELL-KNOWN BRAND IN ADMINISTRATION 24/01/2024 1148 Share FacebookTwitterLinkedin Troubled company has been a household name across the equestrian world. Haygain Ltd went into administration last Thursday (18 January). The administrator is David Taylor of KRE Corporate Recovery.   There is c...

01/19/2024

Perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity in our area. I heard her talk at a convention several years ago. Fantastic.

***SAVE THE DATE*** May 23,2024
We are soooo excited to have Dr. Temple Grandin to speak here at SCIG.
Dr. Grandin has been named one of the most influential people in the world.
If you don’t know who she is, please Google her or rent the movie about her life called Temple Grandin. It’s about her personal journey with autism, her struggles & successes. She gives hope to parents for their children’s future. We all have sooo much to learn from her.
Parents, volunteers or anyone who is interested is invited & it’s FREE!
Please share the heck out of the post so the word gets out.

01/15/2024

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=798134742342231&id=100064371382335&mibextid=K8Wfd2

We’ve had a positive response and there’s a little over a week until the first seminar. If you wish to participate, please let us know!!!

PineRidge Equestrian Center is excited to offer some upcoming nutrition seminars with Theresa Kujawa, M.S.
These seminars will start at 6:00 PM with a presentation for approximately 45 minutes and question and answer to follow.

Friday, Feb 2 - Introduction to Nutrition: Bridging Biology and Feeding

Friday, Feb 23 - Body Condition Score (BCS): The how and why of knowing your horse’s BCS.

Friday, March 8 - Interpreting My Feed Tag: Do I really know what I’m feeding my horse?

The cost of the seminars will be $40 per evening or $100 if paid in advance for all three sessions.

30% of the profits will go to the Landover Saddle Club for improvements at the Conover riding trails. Hope to see you there! Please bring a chair and a clipboard and pen if you wish to take notes!!

Please message or comment if you are coming! We plan to provide handouts.

Theresa is available for private consultation. Contact her at [email protected]

01/07/2024

We all (hopefully) recognize that horses don't need any help finding ways to kill themselves.
A professor of Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania recently shared a case in which the product Avitrol caused the demise of a horse.
I'd never heard of the product, and I don't think anyone up here uses it, but I thought I'd add it to the list "That's Probably a Bad Idea".
By my calculations, 4 ounces is enough to be fatal to a 1000 pound horse. Dr. Nolen-Walston says that's about how much her patient ingested, possibly less.
Edited to add...
This product rapidly causes seizures in the first birds in a flock to eat it. They seize and flop around, which freaks out the rest of the flock, causing them to leave. The applicators are supposed to immediately remove the dead birds to prevent other animals from eating them.
Pleasant, eh?

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas to all!

12/13/2023

H/T to Char Belzer

12/03/2023

https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health/pre-purchase-exam-essentials/

Minimize the risk and help protect your investment in a new horse with this powerful buyer's aid.

11/28/2023

Another gem from Dr. Ramey.

“As healthy as a horse.” You’re heard this, of course. From all accounts, the term originated in the 19th century. Then (as now), horses were known for their vitality and endurance, as well as their strength. They were symbols of good health. Someone that was, “As healthy as a horse,” was ...

11/22/2023

https://vetmed.umn.edu/news/heart-matter-sian-durwar-akhurst-wants-solve-mystery-sudden-cardiac-death-racehorses

Her work may have significant potential for human cardiac health, too.

11/15/2023

https://news.wisc.edu/school-of-veterinary-medicine-expansion-celebrated/

The new space will expand the school’s ability to meet the growing demand for animal care and research that benefits not just animals, but humans as well.

11/10/2023

Previously, I have shared several commentaries from my friend and colleague Dr. David Ramey. This is a project that he started working on over two years ago.
These will be spectacular museum-quality books, so if you're interested in the history of horses in Eastern culture, sign up for updates on the project, and to get on the list. You will also be notified when pre-orders will be accepted.
And yes..... one of the 600 initial copies is mine!

Friday Creek Fine Arts is devoted to all forms of the creative visual arts, and the beautiful reproduction of same.

11/09/2023

Pretty cool piece.

MADISON, Wis. -- The expansion of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine is almost complete, and to mark the occasion, a new piece of public art celebrating a

10/31/2023

H/T to University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine.

To graze or not to graze? That is the question many horse owners are asking after widespread freezing over the weekend. This infographic can help you decide. 🐴❄🌾

09/13/2023

Very long piece, but fairly well written, without a lot of the usual whining. I read the James Harriot books when they came out (yes, I'm that old... I think his third book didn't come out until I was out of High School), but never even considered college back then, much less veterinary school. So I wasn't one of those 10 year olds that dreamed of being a veterinarian.
Practicing equine medicine isn't for everyone, but I can't imagine doing anything else as a career.
As the article points out, us old farts are retiring at more than twice the rate that schools are minting new ones. I talked to a member of a veterinary school admissions committee several weeks ago and he told me that of all the hundreds of applications he reviewed, not one showed interest in equine medicine.
It's going to get worse before it gets better, but they'll have to drag me into retirement kicking and screaming.

Equine vets have been leaving the field at staggering rates, and the horse industry is advocating for a more sustainable version of the job.

07/24/2023

Our Clinic will be reserving every Friday as a trailer in day, by appointment only of course. Also we will be closed on weekends for coming in unless it is an emergency. With so many horse clients in different directions, it is a great idea to make sure your horse loads and you have a working trailer or you know someone who can help. We appreciate all of you!

06/27/2023

https://thehorse.com/149183/smoke-from-wildfires-and-horses-respiratory-health/

Smoke from wildfires can cause serious health problems for horses, as it can in people. Here's how to protect your horses from smoke-related respiratory problems.

06/26/2023

Just another day........

https://fb.watch/lpSNlOLaU8/