The Gentle Equine

21/11/2024

I had this shed built, when I had my rescue Belgian Lola (who has passed). She LOVED that shed; she would stand in there with the fan that I had in there. 💗 It is very roomy and has a 4ft. door. Banjo is the new resident and wasn’t a huge fan, but I was told he didn’t seek shelter much even in a lean to. Well, I was “worried” about him, so I have been using R+ (positive reinforcement) to acclimate him to it. It worked! In this nasty windy/snowy day.

Bonus…this is a great precursor to self-trailer loading! 😊

21/11/2024

Time with our equines, should be collaborative, fluid, and open. This then allows your equine choices, to be inquisitive, and enjoy learning. A brain without tension and stress, is one that can receive input and be a participant. 💗

20/11/2024

Learning objectives, are critical. Keep your sessions brief and attainable at all times. Think about how you were taught about math. You didn’t go right to learning about equations, etc. You had to scaffold, and build on your PRIOR knowledge.

Equines are the very same way. Have a simple achievable objective/goal. Then meet it at the slightest try…reward and call it a success. Of course, this absolutely varies with the individual equine. However, be kind, curious, FUN, and adventurous. 😊

Banjo loves our sessions!

19/11/2024

Instead of getting mad, or frustrated, with the behavior; try understanding the function of the behavior and how to support it.

As a retired emotional behavioral teacher for 26 years, and with an undergraduate degree in psychology/sociology, there is always a function of a behavior. It is our responsibility to seriously reflect, and process, on what that might be. Then create an incremental plan to support them, so we don’t overwhelm them and go above their threshold.

Banjo and I ending on a positive, short session. 💗

06/11/2024

NSC, NFC, ESC, WSC – it all really comes down to hydrolyzable carbohydrates for metabolically challenged horses. High insulin is the cause, not the result, of excess weight The only carbohydr…

04/11/2024

This is critical! Just because they are on the medication doesn’t mean that they are going to be regulated on that dose. I have had 2 PPID horses that have crossed over, and I pony (with both PPID and EMS), that I monitor very carefully.

There are two ways to determine if your medication dose is correct with a PPID equine. One is by careful monitoring of the horse's physical symptoms. More accurate (but more costly) is by monitoring the level of the hormone ACTH with blood tests. Whichever manner or combination of the two used, you should closely monitor physical symptoms and whenever you see an increase in physical symptoms, consult with your veterinarian about dosage adjustments. For more information on treatment for PPID, see https://ecirhorse.org/pergolide.php for

26/10/2024

I really feel passionate about posting this here tonight. 🙂. I am by no means a writer! LOL. Long story short…I bought an amazing mule who I found as a pretty big hole in his education. While I don’t “lunge, lunge” equines I feel that it is a basic foundation that they should have safely. They should also be able to perform this at all three gaits willingly without coercion. Well, Banjo does NOT have that, and I won’t get into that. I tried, he took 3 big trot strides and BOLTED like no tomorrow…bam gone (we were in an enclosed area). Ok, get the picture? 🙂. So I called several “mule” trainers and heard similar things on how you need to (in all things said) not let them get away with that. Of course, I was not going to do any of that. SO, I have dabbled (in learning) over the years with R+ (positive reinforcement training), but always inherently implement it somehow. I was an emotional behavioral special education teacher for 26 years, and have a degree in psychology so this is right up my alley. I knew that the many of the traditional training methods were not going to work with him. Yes, including natural horsemanship. So, I have signed up for a course in R+ training (positive reinforcement), to learn this systematically.

I can’t tell you HOW much this is a game changer!! He has accomplished SO much AT LIBERTY in only 5-7 short sessions. I video tape them. On our 3rd lesson he took several wonderful trot and trot to canter departures WITHOUT bolting and staying at my side!

The reason this is so passionate is because I believe if you take the time to purchase and animal and become its guardian; it is also your responsibility to leave no stone unturned to help them out. Yes, I know that isn’t everyone’s THING, but it is mine.

So, I heard something today, while listening to videos,that reminded me of why I kept searching.

I am going to keep this just to equine’s, but of course it definitely applies to people as well.

I specifically believe this is what has happened to Banjo and many other equines that can’t handle traditional training methods. Sometimes those methods can’t activate areas of the brain that are responsible for fight, flight, freeze, etc. thus raising the cortisol in their body.

R+ (positive reinforcement training) tends to activate the pleasure seeking part of the brain, where there they like, want, and desire more thus producing endorphins and dopamines!!! YAY. WIN WIN

I am excited where this will take us, and I am sharing this as a life long horse guardian…that had to think outside the box on this guy.

Thanks for the listen!!

16/10/2024

Keep on eye on your equine’s hoof comfort. Winter laminitis is a real thing.

For help with protocols for Winter Laminitis, join our free outreach group on groups.io: https://ecir.groups.io/g/main

14/10/2024

This would be SO awesome to have!! 💗

A bittersweet moment.

I’d been attempting for some time to secure funding approval to buy these super cool 3D printed flexible moving anatomy/ mechanics models at work. I finally decided to invest in them myself weeks ago as I felt they would be so valuable in educating the students as well as explaining how the system works to clients and farriers we were working with. They have finally arrived after creation and long trip from Australia!

I will not get to use them as intended, but will definitely enjoy using them in other educational settings.

09/10/2024

Both you and your veterinarian are anxious to relieve your horse’s pain when there is laminitis. The first thing reached for is usually phenylbutazone or another NSAID drug like Banamine or E…

02/10/2024

Per the article apparently, apparently 1 in 5 owners have never heard of insulin resistance or equine metabolic syndrome.

Insulin resistance, insulin dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome are among a collection of rapidly increasing endocrine conditions affecting the horse population in the United States today.

27/09/2024

Congratulations!!!

A message from Dr. Kathleen Gustafson, Research Advisor to the ECIR Group Inc:

One of the primary goals of the ECIR Group Inc. has been to sponsor research. As such, we put out a call for proposals earlier this year. Each proposal received went through a process of peer review by qualified external and internal reviewers. We are very pleased to announce that the ECIR Group has awarded the first grant to Johan Bröjer, Professor of Equine Internal Medicine at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

I want to personally thank everyone one of you. The ECIR Board of Directors works to advance the group mission, but without the members that diligently care for their animals, contribute to the case history database, share their opinions, and donate to the non-profit, this work would not be possible.

ECIR Group Inc. 2024 Research Grant Funding Awarded

Laminitis is a heart-breaking metabolic condition for too many equines. The ECIR Group Inc. (ECIR) recognizes that quality scientific research is critical to the continuous advancement of knowledge. Our vision is to improve the quality of life of equines with metabolic conditions, to empower owners, hoof professionals, and veterinarians by advancing knowledge that will improve the health of equines with metabolic disorders, ease the burden of care for horse owners and, above all, prevent laminitis.

ECIR is proud to announce that Johan Bröjer, DVM, MSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (LAIM), Dipl. ECEIM, Professor of Equine Internal Medicine at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has been awarded the inaugural 2024 ECIR Group Inc. research grant.

“The ability to fund research has been a long-time goal of the ECIR group. This was our first outreach to the scientific community, and we received many competitive proposals,” says Dr. Kathleen Gustafson, ECIR Group Research Advisor. “Through the dedicated efforts of the Group volunteers and continued outreach, we have been able to advance our goals. With the addition of research, we can do even more to significantly benefit equine health, owner experience, and advise practicing veterinarians.”

The one-year project is designed to understand why some horses treated with a new class of drugs that lower insulin develop abnormally high triglycerides. The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are currently the most efficient drugs to control hyperinsulinemia in horses who remain refractory to control of insulin through diet and exercise, but there is limited knowledge of the risk factors associated. An increase in blood triglycerides with SGLT2i treatment appears to be an important side effect, one that warrants further investigations. The increase in triglycerides is highly variable in horses treated with SGLT2i and it is not clear why some horses experience marked increase in triglycerides while others do not.

Dr Bröjer’s research is a randomized clinical trial where horses are treated with the SGLT2i canagliflozin or placebo. “This project was designed to address these gaps in our knowledge,” he says.

This newly funded research builds on previous published work of the ECIR Group. Veterinary and research advisors, Eleanor Kellon, VMD, and Kathleen Gustafson, PhD, co-authored scientific reports based on data provided by members of the ECIR Group, first on the use of SGLT2i in refractory hyperinsulinemia, and a second report warning of high triglycerides as a side effect.

Dr. Kellon describes current ECIR thinking. “Identifying that hypertriglyceridemia was occurring, presumably as a result of the energy crisis caused by urinary glucose loss, has allowed us to develop protocols for maximizing fat utilization, supporting aerobic energy pathways in the face of loss of glucose and likely important intermediates, and provide higher energy from easily fermentable substrates. While this has been largely successful, we still don't know exactly what is going on with the hormone glucagon and whether or not these horses are actually utilizing the mobilized fat well. This is what Dr. Bröjer’s study is designed to investigate.”

“During the study we are investigating how canagliflozin affects the balance between the two important hormones, insulin and glucagon, and how the metabolism of fat is changed,” Dr .Bröjer explains. “By understanding which factors are responsible for the uncontrolled increase in triglycerides in some horses, veterinarians will be better prepared to prevent these side effects. The SGLT2i are a fantastic tool in the veterinarians’ treatment box, but we need better understanding of the mechanisms of the side effects and how we can prevent them before we can get the full potential of the SGLT2i ability to prevent laminitis in horses.”

“To be able to conduct this study has been a major goal for me as a research leader as well as a senior clinician treating horses with laminitis. Both the laminitis horses and the family owners of these horses are very close to my heart, and I very well understand the families’ frustration with this disease since I lost my first pony in hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis when I was thirteen years old.” says Dr Bröjer. He concludes, “I am very proud and honored to receive a research grant from the ECIR Group since the work by this organization has been a big inspiration for my research as well as for my clinical work with laminitis horses.”

About ECIR Group Inc.
Started in 1999, the ECIR Group is the largest field-trial database for PPID and EMS in the world and provides the latest research, diagnosis, and treatment information, in addition to dietary recommendations for horses with these conditions. Even universities do not and cannot compile and follow long term as many in-depth case histories of PPID/EMS horses as the ECIR Group. In 2013 the Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group Inc., an Arizona nonprofit corporation, was approved as a 501(c)3 public charity. Tax deductible contributions and grants support ongoing research, education, and awareness of Equine Cushing's Disease/PPID and EMS.

THE MISSION of the ECIR Group Inc. is to improve the welfare of equines with metabolic disorders via a unique interface between basic research and real-life clinical experience. Prevention of laminitis is the ultimate goal. The ECIR Group serves the scientific community, practicing clinicians, and owners by focusing on investigations most likely to quickly, immediately, and significantly benefit the welfare of the horse.

24/09/2024

Happy Fall (Northern Hemisphere) and Spring (Southern Hemisphere)! You can help prevent laminitis by staying on top of your equine's metabolic status. Watch this short film "Getting the Correct Diagnosis" to learn what to do: https://bit.ly/2BSdEhK. For individual help, please join our free outreach group on groups.io: https://ecir.groups.io/g/main. More information on our website: ecirhorse.org

19/09/2024

Amy McLean

Thank you for sharing!! 💗🫏💗

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787824000790?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1xry8Uv47Q1MC8xFifrJHiEodg06x4TmOJGefn-QzjZbvaf1Iy_cUX4sI_aem__imFNUzAe-I6N3XeLUXeyA

18/09/2024

This! Any questions please ask. Please look your horse(s) trims through this lens; if you need continuing confirmation regarding the extreme detriment of long toes.

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