Animal Connections Integrative Care

27/06/2024

Save the dates!!

Hi! I hope that you are having a fantastic summer so far!! I wanted to let you know that I will tentatively be in town July 22nd-29th, August 9th-14th as well as August 22nd-28th for equine chiropractic and bodywork appointments. Please let me know if you would like to be added to any of these visit...

01/04/2024

$10 off coupon

Feel free to share this offer with you friends and mention SUMMER 2024 to receive the discount (not to be combined with any other offers). Be sure to check out the big news below!!

04/02/2022

The following letter is from Dr. Maya:

Dear ACIC Clients,
As many of you know my family recently expanded, and we welcomed a second baby (another boy!) in late March. With this addition, and after a long year+ of introspection while being home more due to COVID, I have decided to step away from practice to focus on my family. This is announced with mixed emotions as I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know all of you and your animals over the past 6+ years. This decision, however, will allow me to have more time with my boys during these precious developmental years.
I am so thankful for the wonderful clients I have met over the years and feel privileged to have been chosen to work on your equine and canine partners. I sincerely wish you and your animals all the best in your futures, and please know I will miss you!
Kindly,
Maya Meinhold, DC

27/07/2021

Yay Team USA ❤️🤍💙

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/u-s-earns-dressage-team-silver-to-germanys-gold-in-tokyo?fbclid=IwAR3SvdsmIAdp3SV8ca3WKxbUrqA1oOy0uwbIod5txaABn0j62po8mcacnWs

Tokyo—July 27 At the end of her test, instead of an ebullient fist pump or celebratory slap of Sanceo’s neck, Sabine Schut-Kery quietly patted her horse, then walked out of the ring wiping her eyes as her teammates cheered and hugged on the si...

20/07/2021

Hoping for some rain!

Check out our latest infographic on managing horse pastures during drought. This infographic was developed by Hannah Lochner, BS, UMN.

16/07/2021

Good workout for everyone 😆

Happy Funny Friday!🐴

07/07/2021

Look at those little legs go!

06/07/2021

Riding is good for your health! But we already knew that ❤️🐴

Despite the fact that horseback riding is a popular sport, there is little information available on horseback riding as a physical activity. Texas A&M University recently found that metabolic output and heart rate responses were greater for riders during the long trot portion of a walk-trot-canter ride and during cutting rides. When the walk-trot-canter ride was evaluated by gait, metabolic output increased as gait speed increased. Riders engaged in cutting and reining experienced more intense exercise in short durations, while walk-trot-canter riders has a greater overall total energy expenditure due to the duration of the activity. Interestingly, all three riding activities were similar in peak metabolic output compared to activities like jogging, and playing soccer and rugby. This study highlights the importance of horseback riding as a viable tool to support health through physical activity, particularly if riding at more intense gaits. For more information on this research, visit https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103463.

29/06/2021

Good tips for this weekend!

4th of July fireworks can cause panic in some horses, especially if displayed nearby. Here are 9 tips to keep your horse calm during 4th of July fireworks:
1. Keep your routine as consistent as possible. Sometimes moving the horses to a different location or separating them from the herd can cause just as much fear.
2. If you plan to move your horses to a different location (or inside the barn), give them about a week to acclimate to the new surroundings.
3. Check your paddock or stalls for possible issues, including uneven ground, sharp edges, and broken boards to try and limit potential injuries.
4. If your horse is housed inside, try playing smoothing music to drown out the noise from fireworks.
5. Try using a slow-feeder to divert the horse’s attention.
6. Some horses will tolerate ear plugs that can help reduce noise.
7. Do not try to comfort your horse during the fireworks. It will be safer for you and your horse if you are not inside the paddock or stall.
8. Start desensitizing your horse to loud noises. It might not help for this year, but may help in the future.
9. If necessary, talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of a sedative. Keep in mind some of these products may be prohibited at some shows.

25/06/2021

🤣 Happy Friday!

Friday funny! Hats off to a great weekend.

22/06/2021

Need some help shedding pounds off your equine partner? Take a look 👀 here!

Learn how to help your horse shed his excess pounds safely.

18/06/2021

Ha! Happy Friday!

Friday Funny! Hats off to a great weekend.

08/06/2021

Super interesting!

Veterinarians could soon determine which horses are at risk of certain neurologic diseases through a simple urine test that reveals how a horse breaks down vitamin E.

04/06/2021

Stay cool these next couple days!

We are expecting an early and intense heatwave starting today in Minnesota! We realize horses can acclimate to hot and humid weather conditions; however, the following recommendation can help reduce (or avoid) heat stress in horses. It is recommended to avoid (or use caution when) riding or exercising a horse when the combined air temperature (in Fahrenheit) and relative humidity (%) surpass 150. For example, if the temperature is predicted to be 90F with 76% relative humidity, the combination of the two is 166. When the air temperature + relative humidity is less than 130, horses are very effective at cooling themselves. Between 130 and 150, a horse’s ability to cool themselves is decreased. When the combination is greater than 150, a horse’s ability to cool themselves is greatly reduced, and if the combination is greater than 180, conditions could become fatal if the horse is stressed.

31/05/2021

Memorial Day 2021 - We thank all who gave the ultimate sacrifice ❤️🤍💙

This Memorial Day weekend, we remember not only the soldiers, but also their mounts who served and paid the ultimate price.

28/05/2021

Happy Friday! Hope you get a good roll in this weekend! 😆

19/05/2021

DID YOU KNOW?

Gastric ulcer disease is a common problem in equines and it affects over 60% of adult horses (depending on age, performance, and evaluated populations.) While Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is more prevalent in high performance horses, it's important to remember that any horse can be affected, as all equines suffer from stress (like traveling, stall confinement, changes in diet, etc.) which over time may result in gastric ulcers.

The signs of ulcers a horse might show are highly variable between individuals, but they usually include variations of "bad behavior" like general grumpiness, reluctance to perform, cribbing and teeth-grinding, tail-swishing and other behaviors suggesting restlessness and physical discomfort. Rough hair coat, weight loss and poor body condition are also common.

If your horse is exhibiting any of these signs, it may be time to consult your veterinarian rather than just chalk them off as behavioral or training issues. Proper diagnosis is crucial to get appropriate treatment started promptly, and your horse doctor will also be able to make recommendations for environmental and management changes that can you help prevent a relapse of ulcers in the future.

More information about EGUS is available on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcer-syndrome

12/05/2021

Pretty cool research! Horses need space 🐎

Group turnout provides important socializing opportunities for horses, particularly those that are primarily stalled. However, injuries can occur during group turnout, which could partly be due to the paddock size. To investigate appropriate paddock sizes for group turnouts, 12 horses from an established herd were divided into groups of 4, stalled for 24 hours, and then turned out for 1 hour into one of three differently sized paddocks: 3,681, 2,831, and 1,981 square feet per horse. Groups rotated through paddocks, being housed in one paddock per day. Blood was sampled for cortisol concentrations, a stress hormone, before, during, and after turnout. Counts of agonistic behaviors (chasing, contact biting, and kicking) and low-level threats (pinned ears, tail swishing, and bite and kick threats) were recorded.

When turned out in pens that provided 3,681 square feet per horse, horses exhibited reduced plasma cortisol concentrations during and after turnout. Horses in pens providing 1,981 square feet per horse exhibited greater agonistic and low-level threat behaviors than horses in larger pens.

These data provide insight into appropriate pen sizes for horses from established herds. Providing at least 3,681 square feet per horse may reduce stress and the chance of injury in horses during group turnout. For more information on this research, conducted by The Ohio State University, visit https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103366