How often do you consider your horse may be in pain? Once a day, once a week, once a month, once a year? If you have answered yes to any of these, then you are obviously aware of some pain associated problems. How many problems can be related to pain? Horses are like humans when it comes to pain and pain thresholds, some cope with pain quite well, others simply can not cope at all. For advice on natural pain management and pain related conditions such as Arthritis please contact us on enq@hiform.com.au or phone 1300HIFORM for free advice
Pain can definitely create situations that can escalate and make the problem worse. When we consider that horses are creatures of flight, often the only escape route is forward, fast or upwards, fast. Horses are really not designed for the job we have intended for them, they have a rigid spine, not flexible like a dog, and they have a long neck and a heavy head. We then ad the saddle, bridle and rider and ask our horses to perform, what are in many cases unnatural tasks. It is generally the generous nature of the horse that allows us to do this. I don’t believe there are very many bad horses, I think that horses who display bad behaviour do this as a way of saying no, I can not do this because I am in pain.
We must think about the logical reasons why horses may react in a certain way, for example when you first mount your horse and he/she goes to move off, this is annoying granted, but why does a horse do this? Sometimes it may be that your horse is a little naughty, but have you considered your horse associates being mounted with pain. We often do not give credit to the intelligence of horses and certainly some may be smarter than others, horses often do remember associations and this is not surprising. Horses are creatures of habit so therefore whist we generally train by repeating exercises so the horse will learn, they can also learn bad habits which have been caused by the repetition of pain!
Feeling the changes in the way your horse responds to the go forward leg aid.
If a horse has been broken in correctly then the forward aid should always work. Some horses react to pain by balking, rearing or bucking, or in a milder case not going forward in the trot for example or the rider has the feeling of sucking back. When your body, mind and legs are asking for forward, the horse should automatically respond.
Pain can then cause, behavioural problems, loss of performance, nervousness, a tense horse creates further pain and this maybe disaster.
How many of you reading this article have NEVER experienced pain? I can guarantee no one has gone through life without pain of some description, whether minor or major. For us to think that horses somehow are immune to pain is down right ridiculous.
So what can we do to prevent problems from occurring that may cause pain?
Staying off the Pain Merry Go Round
We already know that un-diagnosed pain can cause problems, what do we do if we are in pain the day after a hard workout at the gym? Generally we may consider walking it out, or performing gentle exercises to keep the body moving, perhaps a massage, but the most important thing is to manage the pain.
We are likely to take something to ease the discomfort, preferably something natural like NRGY Sports Relief, but very often we reach for the quick fix, a pain relieving drug.
We must learn to read our horses far more efficiently if we are going to prevent pain issues. There are many ways to put preventive measures in place.
Horses aged between the age of 2 and 6, (still maturing) and horses aged over 12 are more likely to experience pain at a higher level. As horses age, there is a higher risk of injury and pain related conditions, these can include degenerative joint disease, hamstring injuries etc. For young horses, the conditions tend to vary somewhat, for example as the young horses training increases so does the risk of pain caused by the horse being asked to use different muscles. Tight hamstrings, sore backs and general soreness are very common in young horses. Managing these pain related issues is absolutely essential to avoid other problems. I believe every horse should be given assistance to prevent and manage pain. This can be achieved by regular massage, Bowen, acupuncture, equine tension relief, and natural products such as ProflamAid and EquiGesic.
When I am at an event I always watch the horses, there is so much you can learn from their body language which can be very strong or very subtle. Many horses at dressage competitions appear to have soreness issues ranging from mild to chronic and as mentioned earlier in the article, some horses can manage pain better than others. Just remind yourself that pain is common and it should be treated seriously, take the pain away no matter how mild and see for yourself how much improvement you have.
For free advice on managing pain, treating pain or locating and accessing pain please contact us on 1300443676 or email antoinette@hiform.com.au
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Although the Australian summer can provide a nice change from the chilly winter’s day, the prolonged dry heat can turn those muddy paddocks into arid pens.
This may be an aesthetic inconvenience or just a typical part of the Australian summer, but beneath the surface it can pose a serious health risk not only to us but for our horses as well.
While respiratory diseases are multi-factorial, exposure to dust is well known as an environmental factor in the occurrence of airway disease and complications. Many studies have shown the relevance of dust exposure in respiratory disease progression in horses. One study, published by the Research in Veterinary Science examined the variance of dust particles in stables throughout the seasons and found an increased level of mould and endotoxins in the summer months in the enclosed space.
Clinical signs of dust inhalation can vary from reduced performance to chronic coughs and nasal discharge, like those in humans.
In unavoidable dusty situations such as barren regions of Australia or even just taking your horse to and from events during the summer, we believe preventative measures are always beneficial in protecting the horse from potential damage.
Our Breathe formula contains a high concentration of therapeutic herbs which have anti-tussive, anti-inflammatory, mucilaginous and antibacterial properties; these constituents line the respiratory tract and prevent damage and irritation from particle inhalation as well as binding to these particles and clearing them out of their system. In addition, these herbs assist in binding to mould and endotoxins so they are able to be eliminated. If you find your horse in these situations we highly recommend the use of Hi Form Breathe to protect them.
As well as dusty paddocks, stable air and feed are other major contributors to chronic airway diseases in horses and humans, due to the levels of moulds and endotoxins in the dust. This is just exacerbated in summer as the moisture dries up and creates more airborne particles.
What about dusty feeds?
Lightly dampening the feed may reduce the level of dust particles, however moving to a dust free feed is advisable. One of the features of our Hi Form Complete Feeds (formally known as Harry’s Choice) is that they are all dust free. How is this possible? Well it is due to the high level of cold-compressed, organic oil in the feeds. Not only does it provide a high value nutritional component, but it also binds all the components of the feed. Therefore, when you feed your horse their muzzles aren’t engulfed in dust particles and they can eat and breathe comfortably.
What about the paddocks and stables?
Manure that has been left out in the sun and heat for extensive periods of time can form into small particles and be blown into dust. Studies have found these particles are more readily absorbed into the respiratory tract due to their small size and more likely to contribute to disease due to the bacteria content. We suggest picking up manure in common areas to prevent further dust formation.
Good ventilation in barns and stables is vital to reduce the build-up of dust in an enclosed area. Ensuring barns and stables are constructed with good ventilation allowing for airflow will reduce the growth of moulds and bacteria as well as allow airborne particles to leave the space.
What about the riders health?
As horse riders we often put our horses’ health before our own, although given our lungs are smaller and more porous than our equine companions we need to make sure we are looking after ourselves as well.
There are several ways in which we can look after our own lung health, clearly wearing masks and following the above suggestions to limit the dust in the surrounding environment is beneficial in reducing the impact. However, ensuring you’re well hydrated will reduce the impact dust exposure has on your respiratory system, drinking warm water is particularly helpful as it is more readily absorbed into the cells.
If you have suffered from dust inhalation and find yourself with a dry and scratchy throat, or an irritated nose there are a few things you can do; having a tablespoon of local, organic honey will assist in soothing your throat. However, if it is more severe we recommend using Hi Form Breathe as a tea; 1 tsp in a loose-leaf tea infuser with 1 tsp of honey and let steep in hot water for 1-2mins before drinking, this will help to reduce the inflammation and irritation caused by the dust.
For further information please contact us enq@hiform.com.au or phone 03 97756422 1300HIFORM or send us a message on FB
References:
Kwiatkowska-Stenzel, A., Witkowska, D., Sowińska, J., & Stopyra, A. (2017). The effect of stable bedding materials on dust levels, microbial air contamination and equine respiratory health. Research in veterinary science, 115, 523-529.
Saastamoinen, M., Särkijärvi, S., & Hyyppä, S. (2015). Reducing respiratory health risks to horses and workers: a comparison of two stall bedding materials. Animals, 5(4), 965-977.
Kirschvink, N., Sbaı̈, I., Vandenput, S., Art, T., Roberts, C., & Lekeux, P. (2002). The use of cardboard bedding material as part of an environmental control regime for heaves-affected horses: in vitro assessment of airborne dust and aeroallergen concentration and in vivo effects on lung function. The Veterinary Journal, 163(3), 319-325.
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Daily recommended feed
We recommend the JT Johnson Natural Formula Feed either the EveryHorse or Elite formula, if the horse is a good doer then we would suggest the EveryHorse, you only require a small amount per feed and not other types of feed or additives are required apart from what we have recommended. 300-500g should be sufficient for overweight horses. If your horse is underweight we recommend the EveryHorse WeighGain formula and you may need to feed 2.5kg per day. Always provide plenty of hay and make sure you hard feed is not wet, just damp bordering on dry.
Continue treatment for 14-28 days and then contact our office to provide us with a progress report. If the case is severe, relief will take quite some time, even up to 3 months, however 90% of all cases recover.
03 97756422 or email science@hiform.com.au
Please note the above advice has not been provided to replace veterinary advice, please contact your vet if the horse’s condition appears to be worsening.