Celeris Equine - Bodywork for Horses

11/11/2024

28/10/2024

15 years ago? Where does time go?

19/09/2024

16/09/2024

Long toes only affect the navicular right?

The leg has a series of joints. The metacarpo-phalangeal joint (fetlock), the proximal interphalangeal joint and distal interphalangeal joint (Pastern and coffin). Each one of these joints is a centre of rotation and because of how the digit is not underneath the limb, but in front off, each of these joints is profoundly affected by the distance from its centre of rotation to the point at which the ground acts through the hoof. In the form of the turning force (moment).
An increased turning force must be counteracted by whatever keeps those joints from descending under the load, the tendons AND ligaments.

Hence why long toes affect ALL of the soft tissue structures on the back of the leg. Both tendons and the suspensory!

If you would like this information clarified, explained in simpler terms and would like an introductory lesson in equine digit biomechanics then join myself and The study of the equine hoof on the 3rd Oct at 7pm BST where I will be doing just that.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/digit-biomechanics-101

29/08/2024

“Never buy horse feed from a mill that also makes cattle feed.” Trace amounts of some chemicals in cattle feed will kill your horse. Beutler & Son Rodeo Co. Has lost a huge amount of their stock. Famous horses and 5 generations of bloodlines all lost. It’s terribly sad.

>Updated 9-1-24 with a glimpse of happiness.<
The level of catastrophic loss that’s still unfolding at the Beutler Ranch in Elk City, Oklahoma right now is beyond comprehension. The horror of so many dead horses—the death toll is now approaching 70 and counting, I’m told—is devastating a family-dynasty breeding program that’s a 95-year-old cowboy empire. What Elra, Jake and Lynn Beutler started in 1929, and Elra’s grandson Bennie and his son Rhett built onto with Beutler & Son Rodeo Company today can’t be replicated or replaced.

I have intentionally sat quiet on this story, knowing the Beutlers can’t even breathe right now. They have no words, or tears left. They also have their hometown rodeo to produce this weekend, and with so much of their horse herd and generations-deep legacy wiped out without warning.

I’ve had many off-the-record conversations with cowboy people about this tragic turn of events in the last few days. I just had my first one on the record with the friend and veterinarian the Beutlers have entrusted with their four-legged family, Dr. Gregg VeneKlasen. Because of what may lie ahead legally, we will stick to only the facts that can be appropriately shared publicly at this time. More to come later, when the time is right for the Beutler family.

Early reporting that many of the Beutlers’ horses were accidentally fed cattle feed is false, according to VeneKlasen.

“What these horses got was actually a horse feed mix with a huge amount of the cattle drug monensin (brand name Rumensin) in it,” VeneKlasen said. “This was a tragic case of human error somewhere along the line, because tiny amounts of monensin is poison to horses. It kills them. Monensin is used in some cattle feed, but this amount in this horse feed delivered to the Beutlers would have killed cattle, too.

“Much is known about what has happened here that cannot yet be told. But the bottom line on this story is that it’s an important one to tell, so this never happens to anyone else. I will say this: Never buy horse feed from a mill that makes cattle feed. Period. Please quote me on that. Every horse that ate this feed is dead. The only bucking mare still alive is (NFR bucker) Black Kat, because she was at my place (Timber Creek Veterinary Hospital in Canyon, Texas; that’s her in this picture) when this feed was delivered. The only Killer Bee baby that is still alive refused to eat the feed.

“I cried. We all cried. These bloodlines were five generations in the making. Many of the stars of this breeding program are gone. To see what’s happened here to these horses will make you puke.”

I stopped using the word “tragedy” a long time ago for situations that did not warrant it. “It’s not a tragedy if nobody died” has become a famous line of mine when perspective is lost and drama is overblown. This, my friends, is a tragedy in our rodeo family.

The one silver lining I’ve seen so far is the heartwarming generosity of other stock contractors stepping up and offering their stock to the Beutlers. That’s how our rodeo family rolls in the toughest of times, and it’s something special to behold and be very proud of.

This story continues to unfold. More when we can. Until then, God Bless every horse who has died. And prayers for the Beutler family as they try to find a path forward with so many family members missing.

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8-31-24 Update 1:
To help prevent further public panic over feed safety, Dr. VeneKlasen today made the following statement on this subject:

“Many brands of feed—Purina, Nutrena and Bluebonnet, to name a few off the top of my head—are made in equine-only mills, and are safe. I suggest people stay with the big commercial companies with strict regulations in place. Because bucking-horse genetics are prone to metabolic syndrome, I feed Triple Crown Senior to everything here at Timber Creek (Veterinary Hospital), even the babies, because it’s beet-pulp based with low sugar and high fat content.

“If you’re going to get custom feed from a mill that makes feed for multiple species, including horses, cattle, goats, pigs and whatever else, make sure before it leaves the mill that it’s been tested for ionophores. It’s not an expensive test, but it’s a critically important one. You can’t have even trace amounts of ionophores, which can happen in unintentionally cross-contaminated feed, because the smallest dose impacts horses’ hearts. If they eat even a tiny amount of it and don’t die today, it might kill them in three weeks, three months or three years.”

More details will be released as is appropriate from Team Beutler. Thank you all for your patience, understanding and prayers.

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8-31-24 Update 2:
Livestock Nutrition Center, who delivered the load of feed to the Beutlers, issued a statement today. Team Beutler wanted it shared with you all.

~

From Ronnie Castlebury, Ph.D
President of Livestock Nutrition Center

“We are truly sorry for what the Beutler family is going through.

Our preliminary tests show a load of feed delivered to Beutler and Son Rodeo Company in Elk City contained monensin, which can be toxic to horses. This likely occurred due to a combination of a failed cleanout procedure and a sensor malfunction. We have confirmed this is an isolated incident to this single load of feed from a single facility and no other feed has been impacted and is safe for animal consumption.

We take this seriously and are working with the State Departments of Agriculture in Oklahoma and Kansas and the FDA to get to the root cause of the problem and will take any and all corrective actions needed.

Words are cheap but we are dedicated to assist and support the Beutler family and make this right because our customers and employees expect and deserve it.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Mr.’s Bennie and Rhett Beutler and family and everyone affected by the recent tragic event at their ranch. The loss of so many valued animals is devastating.”

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8-31-24 Update 3:
After speaking with Dr. Mottet, Dr. VeneKlasen asked that she write this statement, and that I include it as today’s third important update. “This is information everybody needs to know,” Dr. VeneKlasen said. “It’s a simple way for horse owners to check on the safety of their feed. There are so many feeds I’ve never even heard of. This is an easy way for people to check on the feed they’re using.”

~

From Rachel Mottet, MS, PhD, Equine Nutritionist:

Most U.S. feed companies are extremely safe and reliable, even those with multi-species mills. The greatest safety risk comes from mills that produce ionophore-containing feeds in the same mill and production lines as their equine feeds. This becomes fewer mills each year, yet there are still some that do this, often for logistical reasons. The most important thing you should find out is what your feed company’s policy is regarding ionophores (the toxic compound involved in this situation) in their equine feed manufacturing mills.

My team has been compiling a list of company statements to give owners assurance about the safety of their feed. You can find this list here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17IVu88GVlLU04C3uitCTPHQ5Q2cB-khka_-eMJaMSCY/edit?usp=drivesdk. There are some blanks as we are awaiting the response from a number of companies. A blank does not mean that your feed company is not safe, but for legal reasons, these statements can take time and we will populate them as they become available.

In our list, Ionophore Free refers to a mill where there are no ionophores present. Ionophore Safe refers to a company that has production policies to keep equine feed separate from feed with ionophores. If your company is ionophore safe vs. free, please connect with them directly to ensure they have completely separate equipment for equine feed production and ionophore free trucks to haul bulk feed. If they do not, please make a decision about how to best reduce your horse’s risk of exposure.

The major U.S. feed companies tend to be extremely safe and have many checks and balances in place due to the volume of feed they produce. If your feed is Ionophore Safe vs. Free, do no panic, yet I advise that you follow-up with your company to get clarification on their production practices.

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9-1-24 Update:
As fate, God and all those brand new Beutler bucking horses in Heaven would have it, the lone bucking-mare survivor of the recent Beutler-horse-herd tragedy, Black Kat, just won the Elk City Rodeo of Champions…held in Beutler and Son Rodeo Company’s hometown…in Beutler Bros. Arena, which was named after founding brothers Jake, Lynn and Elra…for the second-straight year. Roedy Farrell of Thermopolis, Wyoming went 88.5 on the big black beauty for the win. Bonus points for it be a Cowboy State cowboy with all the 400,000-plus wildfire hell going on in his home country right now. We all needed something to smile about. And we got it tonight.

24/06/2024

The idea of a barn fire terrifies me! Please please please make sure your barn has a fire/evacuation plan and what part you may play in it if you are a trailer owner. The moment the evacuation has been issued is not the time to learn your part in it, or that your boarding facility has no plan. If you are an owner or manager of a facility, be sure to distribute your barn’s plan and even consider an”practice run”. An offer of a boarder bbq/picnic can draw more participation.

It’s easy to think fires only happen to other people, but unfortunately, this kind of thinking can lead to tragic consequences. Being proactive is the safest firewise plan; evacuating late or waiting until emergency responders can get to you is often a deadly choice. Once fire is close, visibility may be poor and travel hazardous. Fallen trees, power lines, abandoned cars, and firefighting vehicles can easily block roads. Even quiet horses can panic in a trailer filled with smoke or surrounded by sirens.

Learn how plan for and mitigate emergencies on your horse property with the FREE firewise resources available at horsesforcleanwater.com.

12/05/2024

What can your horse see?

Like us, horses have the senses of vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch. A horse’s vision is adapted to their needs as both prey animals and grazers. From a scientific or veterinary perspective, vision has been studied more than any of the other senses. Horses have a nearly panoramic field of v...

06/11/2023

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays meme relates to the changes in back shape and saddle fit.

The horses back shape (posture) can alter with exercise (if ridden in a correctly fitted saddle), training, seasons etc. Important that the fit of the saddle is checked regularly to reduce the risk of back related dysfunction.

As an example - a saddle that is fitted on day 1, after 90 days of correct training and management (resulting in an improved top line) , will the saddle still be in balance and a optimal fit??

Or a saddle which was “made to measure” for a young horse, will it still fit the same as when the horse has matured??

The horses back is a dynamic platform where it’s movement and shape is influenced by multiple factors. The fit of the saddle must be checked regularly throughout the horses ridden career regardless of what it’s purpose is - hacking or sporting.

🤓

www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

25/10/2023

As this post explains, please don’t assume that kissing spines is the only source of back pain in a horse. It could be a pain source, but there may be much more pathology going on. Please read.

21/10/2023

🍁When farriers carve pumpkins 🍁
Photo and work of Schneider

・・・

20/04/2023

This.

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to circular locomotion. When on a circle, the inside limbs take a shorter stride than the outside limbs, coupled with the need for the horse to generate forces to turn the body, circular locomotion creates asymmetric forces on the limbs and asymmetric movement patterns.

Lunging is popular, however consideration should be given to circle induced asymmetries and the effect that lunge exercise and techniques (circle size, training aids, surface, time spent on each rein etc) may have on the horse🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

03/04/2023

Balance Alignment

When we consider how both the rider and horse must fit together, one key element is the Balance Alignment, which is the alignment of the equine & human sternum. It's important to remember that this is not the only thing we look at, and Balance Alignment is only one of MANY different factors we look at for overall fit.

We see a lot of posts talking about girths, rider position, and leg position, but the simple fact of the matter is that leg position is influenced by rider position, which is influenced by seat balance, which must be aligned with the horse. Girthing has zero to do with leg position, and everything to do with billet alignment to the balance point of the horse, which is located at the sternum. Leg position is the result of stirrup bar placement in relation to the balance point of the saddle, which is determined by rider s*x and more than a dozen other rider measurements.

Back to Balance Alignment, is achieved by ensuring the alignment of the rider's sternum is as close to the position of the horse's sternum (visualized by finding where the underside profile goes from flat, to curved, also known as the girth groove by some). Without balance alignment, the rider is effectively placed behind the movement of the horse and constantly feels the need to "catch up". Additionally, many saddles have incorrect stirrup bar placement, so in addition to sitting too far back, the leg gets pulled forward, putting a ton of additional strain on the rider and the horse. The added concussion from the rider directly impacts the gaits and prevents fluid movement through the back as the horse must consistently brace against the impact of the rider. Sitting in alignment with the horse allows the rider to be placed in the quietest part of the back, moving with the horse as opposed to against. When searching for a saddle, the lowest part of the seat should be about 5" from the balance point of the horse.

That said, as mentioned, Balance Alignment is not everything, but still an important piece to overall rider and horse fit.

Shown in photo:
Red Line - Rider sternum
Yellow Line - Balance point of the horse

29/03/2023

Figuring out when horses switched from being a food source to a riding partner for lifestyle resource for ancient European/Eurasian people has been hard for anthropologists to determine. Genetic information from horses suggests when domestication can be distinguished, but what about the in between time? Lack of horse skeletons in the areas had made the link difficult but scientists recently began re-examining the human skeletons for signs of stress from riding is giving some new info.

Wear and tear on human skeletons traces activity back 5000 years