Dr. Kyla specializes in Equine Bodywork and Chiropractic Care and she is certified in Animal Chiropr
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At Animal Connections Integrative Care our mission is to provide the highest level of care and attention to our animal patients. We specialize in providing equine bodywork and chiropractic services.
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...
$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!!
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
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...
Hoping for some rain!
Check out our latest infographic on managing horse pastures during drought. This infographic was developed by Hannah Lochner, BS, UMN.
Good workout for everyone 😆
Happy Funny Friday!🐴
Look at those little legs go!
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.
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.
🤣 Happy Friday!
Friday funny! Hats off to a great weekend.
Need some help shedding pounds off your equine partner? Take a look 👀 here!
Learn how to help your horse shed his excess pounds safely.
Ha! Happy Friday!
Friday Funny! Hats off to a great weekend.
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.
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.
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.
Happy Friday! Hope you get a good roll in this weekend! 😆
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
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
And that’s why you need a good chiropractor on your health team! 😆
Can I get an amen 🤠🤠
ARE DENTAL EXAMINATIONS CONSIDERED PREVENTATIVE EQUINE HEALTHCARE?
The answer is YES. Routine dental examinations qualify as preventative equine healthcare just as much as foot care, nutrition, parasite control, and vaccinations. Like in humans, dental care and early recognition of dental disease in your horse could prevent major treatments and surgery. That is why dental healthcare is the most cost effective when the patient is examined by an experienced healthcare professional, such as a veterinarian.
Equine dentistry should not be confused with just tooth "floating." Dentistry is a veterinary discipline concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mouth, teeth, and associated head structures. The goal of equine dentistry is to:
• improve mastication (the chewing process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth);
• provide comfort and pain relief;
• promote general health, productivity and longevity.
Horses over 5 years of age should be examined at least once a year to maintain correct dental alignment and to diagnose dental problems as early as possible. Senior horses (17+) are a greater risk for developing periodontal disease, and horses 20+ years old should receive dental evaluation and nutrition counseling at least annually in order to maintain their conditioning and quality of life.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been causing the delay of non-essential appointments such as dental procedures, be sure to not skip your horse's dental examination this year. Just because your horse is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean all is well with your animal's mouth health. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is severe.
Even though it’s pretty chilly today, spring grazing is just around the corner!
Spring grazing should be introduced slowly and delayed until grasses reach 6 to 8” to optimize both the health of the horse and pasture. Calendar date is not important as weather conditions and grass growth can vary greatly from year to year. When pastures reach 6 to 8”, begin grazing for 15 minutes, increasing the grazing time each day by 15 minutes until 5 hours of consecutive grazing is reached. After that, unrestricted or continuous grazing can resume.
We also recommend feeding horses their normal hay diet before turning them out to pasture during the first several grazing events of the year. This strategy should help avoid rapid intake of pasture grasses. Even though hay and pasture are both forms of forages, there are significant differences. A gradual change from one feedstuff to another provides enough time for the microbial populations to adjust, reducing the chance of colic and laminitis.
Vitamin E the miracle supplement! Have your horse’s levels checked and then supplement with a high quality product to see some great results.
Vitamin E serves as one of the body’s most potent antioxidants, protecting various cells—including those of the immune system—from the harmful effects of free radicals.
It’s that time of year! Have you had a f***l egg count done yet on your equine partner?
Deworming horses may be something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember. However, you should know that this old-school approach is quickly becoming outdated. Commonly used strategies for parasite control in adult horses are based largely on knowledge and concepts that are more than 50 years old; they are not only a waste of time and money, they especially build drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines.
Working with your horse doctor to create a targeted deworming plan for each horse/farm is actually less work, less expensive and more effective than the rotational deworming program of the old days. It’s very important to have your veterinarian perform f***l egg counts to determine the amount of eggs your horse is shedding and check the efficacy of the dewormer used last.
Finally, don't rely on dewormers alone when it comes to parasite control. As parasites are primarily transferred via manure, good pasture maintenance is also necessary.
For more information, the AAEP Parasite Control Guidelines can be found on our website athttps://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/InternalParasiteGuidelinesFinal5.23.19.pdf
As always, consult your equine veterinarian for questions specific to your horse and to set up an effective deworming program.
Do you think your horse would have the genetic trait to be “easier” to handle? Or the opposite?? 🤣
❤️
Dreaming of summer over here! Have a great weekend!
Great article on the importance of proper rehab for spinal stability and function. Chiropractic is essential in this process as well! Call today to set up an appointment for your equine partner 🐴
Researchers confirmed using resistance band systems, balance pads, and dynamic mobilization can help improve spinal muscle characteristics and postural stability.
Good study on the use of half pads!
Half pads are used in many English riding disciplines to correct saddle fit, help distribute rider weight, and to absorb impact. The objective of a recent study, conducted in the United Kingdom, was to determine how half pad type affected the distribution of pressure under a well-fitting saddle.
Twelve high-level dressage horses tacked with properly fitting dressage saddles were ridden in a seated trot and canter on both the left and right rein. Horses were ridden with four half pad treatments which included a control, gel half pad, wool half pad, and foam half pad. All half pads were placed on top of a cotton saddle cloth and were “tented” into the saddle gullet to provide wither clearance.
Researchers concluded that wool and foam half pads could help reduce pressure towards the back of well-fitting saddles at the canter, however, riders should consult with a professional saddle fitter to discuss if different half pads are suitable on an individual horse and rider basis. For more information on this research, visit the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080620303981
Mindful Mondays! Stay warm out there!
MN
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