While all of us understand the importance of providing a proper diet for our horse, there is more to maintaining their good overall health and well-being than simply providing an adequate feeding program. Many times, basic husbandry and health care is overlooked or put off, which directly affects the daily wellness and longevity of our horses. 

PARASITE CONTROL PROGRAM

Considered to be one of the greatest threats to the health of the horse, parasites deprive the horse of many essential nutrients and can cause weight loss, anemia, diarrhea, and impaction. Parasites cause damage to lungs, liver, arteries and intestines, and generally affect the horse’s overall performance.  They can cause respiratory disease in foals and colic in adult horses. In fact, the percentage of colic surgeries due to parasites is reported to be quite high.

Parasites are always present in the horse’s daily environment so we cannot totally eradicate them, however we can offer some measure of control. So where to start?  

Re-examine farm management practices. Are stalls and paddock areas being cleaned daily? Is the manure being composted or disposed of properly? Are pastures being picked or harrowed?  Pastures should only be harrowed in the hot, dry summer months, not during those times when spreading manure will also spread the parasite population and increase infestation. Are pastures overcrowded? Should “sacrifice areas” be designated in order to improve pasture conditions? Your local county conservation district can provide assistance. 

Discuss your current deworming program with your veterinarian. There has been significant advancement in research over the past several years with regard to the effectiveness of various chemical groups of dewormers. What we may have thought to be a suitable deworming program previously, may now require a second look in light of new research, available products and veterinary recommendations.

DENTAL CARE

Regular dental care for your horse ranks right up there in importance with a good feeding, deworming, and immunization program. Yet, it is often neglected causing many problems.

From a nutrition standpoint, good dental care is essential in order for the horse to properly begin the digestion process of feedstuffs. As horses masticates (grinds) their feed, the jaws move in such a manner that, after a period of time, “points” develop on the inside edges of the lower teeth, and on the outside edges of the upper teeth.

These points cause discomfort, and sometimes even ulcers, so that the horse may be reluctant to chew the feed for an adequate amount of time prior to swallowing. This is important in that as a horse chews, saliva is released from salivary glands on either side of the lower jaw. Saliva contains enzymes which are important for the initial phase of the breakdown of feeds. Production of saliva also lubricates the esophagus for swallowing.

A horse in need of dental work may toss or hold the head off to one side while chewing. You may notice them drop grain or chunks of partially chewed forage while eating, dunk their hay in their water bucket or bolt their feed.

Behavioral or performance problems can also be an indicator of the need for dental care. Head tossing, reluctance to being bridled and not working on the bit can all result from poor dental condition. Horses that are in pain may also exhibit signs of general irritability as well.

By including a dental exam as part of your horse’s regular annual veterinary check-up, you provide the opportunity to detect and correct any existing condition, hopefully heading off more serious concerns.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Probably one of the easiest and least costly things that we can do to protect the overall wellness of our horse is to vaccinate on a regular basis.

Common vaccinations include Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, and Tetanus. Depending upon your horse’s lifestyle, your veterinarian may also recommend additional immunizations, such as for Strangles or Potomac Horse Fever.  Additionally, there are always new diseases lurking on the horizon that we must be aware of and that we may need to consider immunizing against.

One new development in the field of immunology is the influenza intra-nasal vaccine that was recently introduced into the marketplace. Influenza is extremely contagious and has shown to be responsible for upwards of 66% of viral respiratory disease in horses. Your veterinarian would be happy to discuss with you the benefits of this and other vaccines as a part of your overall immunization program. 

NUTRITION

Research in equine nutrition has made great strides over the past several years. New findings related to the nutritional needs of the horse, as well as to the actual utilization of nutrients, now present the challenge, and the opportunity, for us to provide our horses with a much improved feeding program.

Research discoveries, combined with advancements in manufacturing capabilities, offer the horse owner a vast selection of higher quality feedstuffs specifically formulated to meet the lifestyle requirements of each individual horse. We no longer refer to “a balanced ration” as consisting merely of hay and oats.

Ongoing studies in aerobic and anaerobic activity, and how the horse metabolizes available energy sources, provides us with the information necessary to determine the most beneficial ration for that specific individual in order to maintain good body condition while achieving maximum performance.