Beth Coney, DVM

13/06/2024

What measures have you taken to reduce fire risks in your barn? 🧯

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, in 2024 there have been 16,940 reported wildfires in the U.S. to date. As we head into the hottest time of the year, make sure your farm has a fire prevention plan and an evacuation strategy in place to keep both horses and people safe.

Check out the graphic for ten fire prevention measures to get you started on the right track to a safer facility. This list is not meant to be exhaustive and we invite you to contact your local fire department and your veterinarian for guidance on designing a prevention and response plan tailored to your specific situation.

Barn fires are the number one local emergency affecting agricultural facilities. They can cause horrific injuries and kill more horses than any other type of disaster, so being prepared is only in your best interest!

24/02/2024

23/02/2024

A great article about the common topline strength and flexibility exercises I use every day with client horses 👍

A strong topline is one of the most important indicators of a well-conditioned horse. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and supporting performance, a good topline can protect your working horse from strain and injury.

12/01/2024

As a storm threat of freezing rain and snow marches across the U.S. and Canada ❄️🌨🫧🌬, below are some tips for keeping your horses safe during extreme winter weather events:

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source—just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being locked up in a stall now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure your animals have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well fitting blankets are great but be sure horses do not get sweaty under them or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold, and covered is worse that dry, cold, and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!) to double check.

7. “Trick” your horses into consuming extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. Tips of ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting a jumper-style ear bonnet or other ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

Stay safe, friends!

13/10/2023

29/07/2023

Two vets give you the inside scoop on tendon injuries, from causes and prevention, to treatment, rehab and prognosis.

21/07/2023

This is a wonderful story, about the benefits of physical therapy!

When Kathryn Jenkins and First Commander stepped into the ring as finalists for the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover Show Hunter division in October 2021, it wasn't just the culmination of many hours of hard work – it was a comeback story. Jenkins had found First Commander, fondly known as Mattis, in ea...

13/07/2023

COOL SCIENCE (pun intended)!

An old myth wants us to believe that horses should be walked until they cool completely after exercise, even in the summer. However, a study from 2020 looked at five different ways to cool a horse after exercise: walking, walking with fans, walking with intermittent cold water application, walking with intermittent cold water application and scraping, and stationary with continuous tap water application. As it turns out, the method that resulted in the quickest return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application (2 minutes), while walking alone took the longest time for recovery (25 minutes).

Bottom line: enjoy your rides in the sun this summer but remain vigilant for signs of heat stress in your horse. If they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cool bath, and a break in the shade.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

13/07/2023

Horses travel every day for a number of reasons—to be bought and sold, for competition, for breeding purposes, etc. Whatever the reason, horse owners should be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic, and even laminitis (in the case of overweight horses).

Following are a few tips to help your equine friend maintain good health and welfare during transport. This list is by no means complete and we encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian for additional advice when it comes to traveling with your horse!

• Be aware that inadequate management of feed and water intake during travel could cause colic, gastric ulceration and heat stress. Food and water should be provided prior to transport, during regular rest breaks and upon arrival at destination.

• Ensure your horse’s immunizations are up to date against respiratory pathogens to protect your animal from these diseases.

• The horse should be rested before the journey, given rest stops during travel, and have time to recover on arrival at the destination.

• The vehicle should be well-ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems or overheating.

• Drive slowly and carefully (NO TEXTING, avoid driving when fatigued or eating while driving, etc.) to provide a comfortable journey for the animal and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Happy trails!

22/06/2023

Horses Stand Up to Sleep but Lie Down Perchance to Dream

How do horses snooze where they stand without falling over?

22/06/2023

08/06/2023

Why Heart Rate Monitors are an essential piece of kit for getting horses fit!

I know I might go on a bit about heart rate monitors but the image below is a perfect example of why!

Three different event horses, all at a similar stage of training, aiming for or already competing at BE100, ridden by the same rider on the same day over the same training track and at a very similar speed. But look at the difference in heart rate response. The Warmblood is getting a reasonable workout but the 3/4 TB finds the work very easy and won't get any fitness benefit from this session. The 50% TB works harder than the 3/4 TB but again, really no fitness benefit.

The rider of these horses asked me "What do you suggest to get the two part-TB horses fitter?" It's a tough question. With the ground hard in many areas, working faster may not be advisable. Working on an artificial surface or watered gallop is a great option but not an option for many due to location or cost.

Swimming is an option provided the horses are pushed moderately hard in the pool and of course the stress on the bones and joint and tendons is very low but again location and cost are issues. It's a real problem. But taking a horses that's not fit to compete is also a significant risk!

Lunging on a 10m circle will increase heart rate but will also load the musculoskeletal system in a way that may exacerbate issues in horses with pre-existing conditions.

Do you use a HRM in your training?

How do you cope with training when the ground is hard?

Heart rate recordings were made with an Enduro Equine girth sleeve HRM. https://www.enduroequine.com/

19/05/2023

Four horses in San Diego County, California, are positive for vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus; these are the first cases in the US in 2023.

08/05/2023

Do NOT feed horses grass clippings! 😥

Many people think that horses can safely eat grass clippings (grass is grass, right?) but that is a pretty common misconception and grass clippings actually pose a number of dangers to our equine friends.

While grass is meant to be slowly picked, ripped and chewed by the horse, grass clippings can quickly clump and cause choke if the animal ingests too many too fast. Grass clippings are also prone to fermentation which can cause colics, stomach and intestinal impactions, founder and laminitis.

Take-home message: Keep your horse away from grass clippings and in general never feed horses any food without the owner’s permission.

Source: Dr. Jenna Moline, a member of the AAEP Horse Owner Education member. In memory of Chula, a much-loved horse who recently passed away after eating grass clippings thrown into her pasture by a neighbor; shared with the blessing of Chula’s family with hopes to prevent this tragedy from happening to any other horse owners.

13/04/2023

A Thoroughbred in Palm Beach County, Florida, is positive for strangles, and 19 additional horses are exposed.

13/04/2023

https://runsignup.com/triplecrowntrot

13/04/2023

Will you be in Lexington for ? Make sure you get your tickets to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program's annual Open Barn & BBQ -- we'll be presenting an RRP Master Class with Sara Kozumplik at 6:30! International 5* eventer Sara Kozumplik will guide New Vocations horses and riders through exercises designed to introduce jumping to green OTTBs.

Doors open for the Open Barn & BBQ at 3 PM. Tickets are required for event access: click through to the ticket page from www.newvocations.org/events.

See all of our activities at https://www.therrp.org/the-thoroughbred-lovers-guide-to-lrk3de/

22/03/2023

Nice! Watch this, horse owners 👍

Join Dr. Amy Polkes of Equine Internal Medicine and Advanced Diagnostic Services (EQUINE IMED) for a review of gastric ulcer disease including anatomy, cause...

22/02/2023

: Being a retraining competition rather than a traditional horse show, many disciplines at the Thoroughbred Makeover include tests designed to assess the horse's foundation of training for a second discipline, in addition to elements of that specific discipline.

That's why competitors in Barrel Racing first perform a basic horsemanship test, with horses assessed for qualities including evenness of pace, responsiveness to aids and general demeanor -- all qualities reflecting a solid foundation of retraining, which is the ultimate goal of the Thoroughbred Makeover!

Pictured is Papa Ralph J (Prospective - Caughtinthemoment, by Graeme Hall), a 2016 FL-bred who made 25 starts with one win for total earnings of $23,908. Trained for the Makeover by Jessica VanDenBogaert, they achieved the best horsemanship score in Barrel Racing and ultimately finished 10th in the discipline.

16/02/2023

My Near had his dental exam, floating yesterday 👍

February is Veterinary Dental Health Month - here is your reminder about the importance of having a veterinarian check your horse’s teeth at least once a year!

Contrary to what you may think, equine dentistry is not just about “floating” teeth and dental diseases can have an impact on your horse's body that go beyond the mouth alone. Remember: just because your equine friend is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean that all is well. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is a serious source of pain and infection that can affect the animal’s overall health.

If you don’t already have a plan in place, be sure to contact your veterinarian today to discuss your equine friend’s dental health and prevent more painful and costly problems later!

14/02/2023

There's no single "right" way to approach retraining a new off-track Thoroughbred prospect -- but many trainers agree on a few key steps to get your process started off on the right foot. Read "Re-Educating the OTTB" now for free in the RRP Educational Library at the link below!

https://www.therrp.org/re-educating-the-ottb/

11/02/2023