Church Equine - Vicky Church

07/02/2024

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17/01/2024

Here is information for my Pampered Chef party. It’s not to late to order or join the FB 🎉 party. 😉

❇️Shopping link: https://www.pamperedchef.com/party/vickychurch0105?redirect=shop-landing-page

❇️WELCOME! JOIN US right here on Facebook 24/7 for the ONLINE FUN! Friends are welcome, too!

Click on the link above any time to shop and order!

➡ ✅NEW FLAT RATE SHIPPING!! - We are SO excited to offer flat rate shipping! ALL orders up to $149.99 will be $7.95 to ship and orders of $150 are.... please.... FREE SHIPPING!!! WOOHOO!!!
If you would like to keep your order open to be able to ADD TO IT throughout the party, you need to message/text me as soon as you place your order so I can ‘unlock’ your cart! Otherwise orders will be submitted on an individual basis at midnight each day with our NEW DIRECTSHIP NOW PROGRAM!

Check back daily to learn about products, recipes, & play games for the chance to WIN PRIZES!

IMPORTANT: At the top of your screen, click NOTIFICATIONS, then make sure ALL POSTS is checked to ensure FB allows you to see ALL the fun posts!

✅YOUR Consultant: Holly Linton
Call/text me (618)741-5451 anytime with questions

You’re invited to a Pampered Chef party! Mark your calendar and invite a friend or two! Get ready to learn recipes and tips to make meals that fuel your lifestyle with some of Pampered Chef’s best products. Don’t miss out on the fun!

14/01/2024

Got this today. They want pictures of my “official” identity (ID). Nope, not doing that!

07/08/2022

05/08/2022

02/08/2022

28/07/2022

If you own horses, you quickly become familiar with a number of skin conditions including summer sores, scratches, hives, and more. Case in point—did you know that, among domestic animals, horses are the most likely species to be affected by hives?

Spring and summer are prime time for skin problem thanks to the increased amount of pollen, rain and insects, so being able to identify problems quickly is key to both appropriate treatment (pro tip: Always consult your vet when in doubt) and successful outcomes.

Our friends at the UC Davis Center for Equine Health "skinned" the subject of equine dermatology in the latest Horse Report; you can read more athttps://cehhorsereport.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk9021/files/inline-files/Horse_Report_Spring_22_web.pdf

18/07/2022

With many equine activities temporarily suspended due to the extreme heat index this week 🥵, we thought it would be a great time to review our recommendations for equine first aid kits and what to have inside them!

- Stethoscope and thermometer to check vital signs. It’s important you to be familiar with what is normal for YOUR horse. Ask your vet to show you how to check these important vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature safely if you are needing assistance.
- Epsom salts
- Roll cotton for bandaging
- Headlamp
- Cohesive wrap
- Duct tape
- Aluspray, triple antibiotic ointment, or vetricyn spray for wounds
- Medications dispensed by your veterinarian specifically for your horse (not pictured as these anti-inflammatories or antibiotics should always be reviewed and given as directed by your veterinarian)
- Wound cleaning supplies (things like betadine solution, alcohol wipes, gauze pads, non-stick pads)
- Bandage scissors
- Fly mask for eye injuries
- Brown gauze
- Elastikon tape
- Non-stick pads
- Gloves
- Diapers
- A clean bowl or bucket for wound cleaning (if directed by your veterinarian)
- A tote to keep supplies clean
- Towels

➡️ Here are a couple links for more information:

🩺 American Association of Equine Practitioners discussing horse emergencies and first aid kits: https://aaep.org/issue/guidelines-equine-emergencies

🩺 Zoetis Equine https://www.zoetisus.com/news-and-media/must-haves-for-your-equine-first-aid-kit.aspx

🩹 For the well being of your horse, it is very important to have your veterinarian guide you on what to use on wounds and when they may need a veterinarian’s attention. When in doubt, talk to your vet!

As always, if you have any questions on what to put inside your first aid kit, be sure to ask your veterinarian. The most important thing is knowing how to use what is in your first aid kit. Proper application for first aid is crucial to the safety of your horse and YOU!🐴 🩹

10/06/2022

19/04/2022

Riding lesson update.

Lessons remain suspended until late summer.

Blessings to all my student families!

If you need to find another instructor I understand!

😃🐎🐴🏇

14/04/2022

Boots and bandages - are we harming our horses as we try to protect them?

Bandaging and booting our horses is becoming more and more popular, especially with the popularity of matchy matchy sets. But are we doing more harm than good? Most people will have come across the articles in magazines and comments from vets saying they are, and yet still they become more and more popular. Why is that? Why do riders still cover their horses in thick fleece bandages or fluffy boots despite the dangers? Tradition I suppose. Wanting to fit in. Or just habit, some will feel like they haven’t finished tacking up if they haven’t put the boots on.

I know this isn’t about dentistry (for which I apologise) but I am a vet first and foremost, and as a dressage rider I am asked why I don’t use bandages all the time. I’ve written about this several times now and no one pays attention, so rather than stating facts and quoting research, I’d like to take you through my journey of discovery, please bear with me. Facts and papers are at the end.

Rewind 12 years and I was in my final year at vet school. Prior to and during vet school I had a horse and we did dressage. I had planned to ODE but this horse pulled every tendon and ligament known to vet kind. He spent more time out of work than in. Each time I would up my game with the latest boots/bandages on the market. From fluffy boots to wraps to sports fetlock boots, fleece bandages to gamgee and cotton to the half fleece/half elastic bandages. I learnt new techniques for better support, figure of 8 bandaging to cradle the fetlock etc etc. I’d been there and done it. My collection was extensive.

Right at the end of vet school I had my rotations. I chose Equine lameness as one of my options. During in this I very vividly remember a wet lab with Dr Renate Weller where she had a skinned horses leg (showing all of the tendons and ligaments) in a machine that mimicked the pressures a horse applies to their limbs. She took us through walk, trot, canter and gallop, loading this leg so we could see the inside workings of the horses leg without the skin. It was fascinating I can tell you, and I very clearly remember thinking about my horse and wondering how on earth we are suppose to support this limb when it undergoes these incredible forces! Half a ton of animal pushing down a tiny spindle of a leg held by tendons barely thicker than my thumb. Craziness!

Fast forward just a few short months and I was a fully qualified vet in the big wide world. I attended my first BEVA Congress and during the break I wandered around the stalls looking at the latest inventions and technologies companies bring to these gatherings. Here I came across a company with the Equestride Boot which caught my eye. Now if you haven’t seen this boot, it’s wonderful and I’ve since used it a few times in rehabbing very severe tendon and ligament injuries with great success. The boot is a carbon fibre boot that stops the fetlock dropping, which stops the tendons and ligaments being fully loaded while they heal. This boot is super strong. You couldn’t ride a horse in it as it is limiting the range of motion so much, but they can move about easily enough at the lower settings to rehab etc. The guy on the stand (I’m afraid I can’t remember his name) showed me their research and in the straight talking Irish way explained the stupidity of expecting a thin piece of material to support a horse. And of course it can’t! Literally no bandage or boot (short of this very expensive carbon fibre rehab boot) is capable of reducing the amount the fetlock drops. Thinking back to Dr Weller’s demonstration, I could very clearly see how ridiculous I had been to ever believe a scrap of material could do anything to reduce or support that pressure.

But the boots/bandages don’t actually cause any harm do they? Surely it’s ok to use them on the off chance they might help and if we look good in the meantime, great! Well, not long after this, research started appearing that got me very worried about my bandage collection. Heat. Anyone that uses bandages and boots will not be surprised to see sweat marks under their bandages/boots after they’ve been removed. They trap a lot of heat. The horses body and legs generate a lot of heat when working. The tendons/ligaments in the leg, along with an increased blood flow generate ALOT of heat. Fleece bandages/boots in particular, hold this heat in the horses leg. Very few boots and virtually no bandages (especially if you use a pad under) allow the legs to breath adequately. This heat is easily enough to kill tendon/ligament cells. Each tendon/ligament is made of thousands and thousands of cells all lined up end on end and side by side in long thin spindles. They stretch and return to their original shape and size like an elastic band, absorbing and redistributing the pressures applied from further up the leg and from the ground impact below. All of these cells must work together as one to do this effectively.

Just a little side step here to explain how tendons/ligaments heal. A tendon/ligament cell can not be replaced like for like. They always heal with scar tissue. This is why reinjury is so much more likely if a tendon/ligament is blown. The fibrous scar tissue doesn’t stretch, it isn’t capable of stretching or absorbing the impact of a horses movement. It will always be a weak spot. In a full blown sprain/strain the whole (or most) of the tendon has been damaged. But this heat injury might just kill a few cells at a time. Those few cells are replaced by fibrous scar tissue, then next time a few more etc etc. Like a rubber band degrading over time the tendon/ligament loses its elasticity and eventually goes snap. Then you’ve fully blown a tendon/ligament. The injury didn’t start to happen at that moment, but that was the final straw. The damage adds up over time, each time thermal necrosis (vet word for cell death) occurs.

So if using boots/bandages can not offer any sort of support, and using them generates heat that slowly damages the tendons/ligaments until they give way. Why use them? Protection. This is the only reason to use boots. To stop the horse brushing, injuring themselves catching a pole or over cross country. But for goodness sake make sure your boots are breathable! If the horse is sweaty under the boot but not above or below, the boot is not breathable enough. And don’t use fleece bandages just because you like the colour. These fleece bandages are the worst at holding heat in the leg, way above the threshold for thermal necrosis to the cells of the tendons and ligaments. If your horse doesn’t need protection, don’t use boots. I haven’t for the last 12 years and *touch wood* I haven’t had a single tendon/ligament injury in any of my horses. I will never go back to boots or especially bandages now. I don’t use them for schooling, lunging, jumping, travelling, turnout, stable, in fact I don’t use them at all. Ever. But I don’t hunt or XC.

I hope you have found my story useful and can make informed decisions on boots and bandaging going forward.

For more information on the Equestride boot and their research into support offered by boots and bandages, visit http://www.equestride.com/ and https://www.equinetendon.com/services/equestride/

The horses leg under the compression machine at the Irish Equine rehabilitation and fitness centre https://fb.watch/cmVMt6-iOJ/ (I highly recommend you watch this incredible video. It clearly shows the amount of force the leg goes through and demonstrates the real purpose of boots)

Other relevant papers-
https://equimanagement.com/.amp/articles/horse-skin-temperature-under-boots-after-exercise
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8f15/0ea480edca142260d01f419f80d2e7e7fb29.pdf
http://www.asbweb.org/conferences/1990s/1998/59/index.html

Edit 1 - I am getting asked about stable wraps very frequently. This post is about riding, the tendons and blood flow create heat which is trapped by bandages/boots during exercise. This doesn’t occur in the stable stood still. If the horse has a strain/sprain resulting in inflammation, then there is an increase in blood flow and there is heat being created. In this situation you should not be bandaging. But if it’s cold and an old horse needs stable wraps to keep the joints warm and improve sluggish blood flow (filled legs) you can use the heat trapping to your advantage. But you need to be careful in summer.

Edit 2 - the other thing I’m being asked about is compression. Compression DOES NOT control inflammation. The inflammation still occurs, but the swelling can not escape the bandages and the increase in internal pressure reduces blood flow, causing ischemic damage. Like laminitis within the hoof. The hoof capsule prevents swelling so the inflammation expands inwards and cuts off the blood supply. This is why laminitis is so painful and difficult to treat. Compression is only useful in the case of leaky vessels, for example reduced blood pressure, reduced movement so the blood isn’t being pumped backup the legs, or osmotic imbalances eg low protein with diarrhoea. In these situations, compression of the legs can encourage blood to return to the vessels and continue circulating.

14/04/2022

28/03/2022

First Show date will be changing, it will NOT be Easter weekend.

23/03/2022

This morning I put on a bra that I knew I would regret. But I am that person who puts laundry off until the last minute because I don’t have time, then waste more time frantically searching for clean clothes in the hamper. So, the ill-fitting sports bra over the dirty good fitting bra made the cut this morning. Hey, at least I am wearing clean clothes, right?
This bra digs into my upper trapezius muscle, which is putting pressure on my neck, shoulders & causing minor muscles contractions that I am not in control of. I am 3 hours into my day & it already hurts to reach for my computer mouse!! I feel myself hollowing my back to relieve the pressure on my trapezius, which is causing my lower back to spasm. My scapula passes under this muscle, so I imagine, by the end of the day it will hurt even more to raise my arm.
This was a “light bulb” moment for me. I know to be mindful of the trapezius of the horse when we are saddle fitting, I do this by default. But I have never taken the time to notice the “feel” when it happens to me. I am very uncomfortable & really wishing I would quit letting the laundry rule my life, this bra sucks.
I have the option to never wear this bra again, I can even throw it away. But, horses, if they are forced to wear a saddle or even a tight saddle pad……they can’t choose. They can only react by compensating, choose to be stoic, express themselves by not moving forward, throw their heads, “act bad” & hollow their spine.
This is another reminder, to be mindful. Check your saddle, check your pad. Your horse has muscles, tendons, fascia, nerves the same as you! It is so easy to blame the horse for bad behavior. It is more time consuming to consider your horse. It is your decision on how you choose to speak for your horse.

04/03/2022

30/01/2022

At this time and until further notice, I will not be taking on new students and may not resume lessons until summer. Thank you for all your support and help.

11/01/2022

IS YOUR HORSE 15 OR OLDER? Read on!

With each passing year, horses are living longer lives and many survive easily to 25 years of age or older. While this is good news, it also means that horse owners need to be aware of changes occurring with age, so they can preserve the health and quality of life of their equine friends throughout middle age and the geriatric years.

For example, Equine Cushing’s disease is one of the most common diseases of horses greater than 15 years of age. This syndrome is better defined as Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) because it reflects the location within the brain that is abnormal, and the clinical signs are associated with abnormally elevated hormone concentrations in the blood.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is another endocrine disorder that can affect mature horses and shares some of the same clinical signs as PPID. Although the two disorders feature some striking clinical similarities — most notably a predisposition to development of chronic laminitis — the underlying disease biology is quite different in each case and successful management requires proper diagnosis by a competent veterinarian first.

Our understanding of both conditions, especially EMS, is incomplete and subject to continuous evolution, but sufficient information is currently available to highlight some important similarities and differences for the interested horse owner. Consult your veterinarian for more information and work with them to develop the best wellness practices to ensure a healthy life for your mature horse.

Additional information regarding the older horse’s care and nutrition is available on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/older-horse-special-care-nutrition

03/01/2022

👣 Small steps for big changes 👣⁣
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🌟 Number 1 - Effective Breathing⁣
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🤷‍♀️ Sounds simple, yes? But 90% of riders that I assess for the first time aren’t breathing properly.⁣
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🌬 Ideally what should happen is that as we take a breath in, our diaphragm contracts to allow the lungs to fill with air and our belly pushes outward. As we breath out, our diaphragm relaxes and the air leaves our lungs and our stomach flattens. We are born using our diaphragm easily to breathe, just watch a baby and how their tummy moves as they breathe.⁣
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❌ But stress, posture, pain, constantly pulling our tummies in, etc, all get in the way and our breathing patterns can change. A lot of “core” exercise programmes teach an accessory breathing pattern and can block the action of the diaphragm. We become reliant on accessory breathing muscles in the chest, neck and shoulders and these end up as our primary breathing muscle patterns. This can lead to neck and shoulder tension, headaches, or thoracic pain and restriction as these muscles are not designed to work constantly.⁣
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🤷‍♀️ Why learn to breathe properly?⁣
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💨 60-70% of our lung blood supply is in the lower half of the lungs so if we are not getting air in deep enough we have less oxygen travelling through our blood supply to our brain, organs and muscles, therefore we can fatigue more quickly. Not great if we’re trying to get fit!!⁣
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💨 Diaphragmatic (belly) breathing can make a massive impact to our movement and fitness. Imagine how much easier a 5 minute dressage test or course of jumps would be if we were able to breathe more effectively.⁣
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💨 Slow, controlled diaphragmatic breathing stimulates our vagus nerve and activates the parasympathetic nervous system reducing the fight or flight response, lowering cortisol levels and improving heart rate variability. A useful technique if you’re nervous before a dressage test or course of jumps!!⁣
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🙋‍♀️ Try my diaphragm reset video from last week (scroll back) and then do 20 full diaphragmatic breaths every night before you sleep.⁣
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👣This small step will make a big change to your posture, your mood, your fitness capabilities and your ability to control your nerves👣⁣
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💙 Maeve ⁣

01/01/2022

Learn more about the history, breed characteristics, and the jobs of the Missouri Fox Trotter of today, along with fast facts about this gaited breed.

17/11/2021

Espophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency but can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

06/11/2021

Laminitis (or, “founder”, as it is often called) is, justifiably, one of the most feared medical and lameness conditions of the horse. I’ve been thinking about it a lot mostly because I just started taking care of two horses with chronic laminitis, and I’m hoping that I can bring them some c...

05/11/2021

Moving along with the hoof prep on this front foot, Bobby Menker, CJF works through the hoof wall finish and final leveling and flattening of the bottom of t...

30/10/2021

The Tellington TTouch offers some simple, yet effective, techniques to help your horse relieve tension in times of distress.