Illustration by Scott Peck

“Well, Doc, he’s just a little needle shy,” or “he doesn’t like vets much.” Translated? “He’s going to try to kill you if you even think about showing him a needle. I don’t know how you’re ever going to get near him, much less get him vaccinated/sedated/medicated.”

We vets have all seen ’em—those horses that just won’t tolerate a needle. They rear, strike, and bite. Some run away, others run us over. Some even twist their bodies into a pretzel trying to kick us out of the way. If you’ve ever owned a needle-phobic horse, you’re probably well aware of how anxiety-producing even yearly vaccination appointments can be—never mind what you’d do if your horse ever had a serious injury or illness. How could your vet ever provide treatment?

For your horse’s own good, these needle nightmares need solving—fast. I’m going to help you understand why your horse behaves this way, and explain what you can do about it. Then, I’ll give you some suggestions for short-term fixes that you can use to get the job done in a pinch. Most important, I’ll help you plan the steps you’ll need to take for a long-term fix, so you can turn your horse’s needle “whoas” into needle “goes.”

Why Does He Behave This Way?
Your horse’s no-way needle behavior usually has one of two possible underlying causes: He’s truly afraid, or he’s just downright defiant.

If your horse is really afraid, he’ll usually resist the needle with maneuvers that are all about leaving the scene. He’ll run backward across the stall, may rear, or spin away and fling his head. If the stall door is open, he’ll try to run through it, dragging his handler along for the ride.

The fearful horse may have become this way because of a lack of handling or bad experience in his past. Sometimes, he’s just timid, and listening to what his prey-animal instincts are telling him when he perceives a threat: Get out of there, and fast.

The defiant horse has a completely different story, and typically avoids the needle with an alternative set of tricks. He’ll come at you when you approach, often striking or even biting at the person with the needle. He’s much more likely to smash you into the stall wall than he is to drag you out the door, and he’s a specialist at the pretzel maneuver, curling his body around to kick you if he can. (Give me a frightened horse any day of the week.)

Why is he defiant? Many owners of defiant horses tell me, “I just don’t understand. He’s always good for everything else.” But here’s the catch. When I ask that same owner if he or she has ever done anything the horse doesn’t like, the owner can’t come up with an example. Well, guess what? Just like a child who always gets what he or she wants, a defiant horse will always be pleasant—until you dare to say no. That’s when temper tantrums strike.

The Short-Term Fix
Suppose your no-way-needle horse has a severe colic episode, or ugly wound that requires immediate treatment. What are you going to do?

At minimum, your vet will have to administer sedation, usually with a needle. And we vets usually have a pretty good set of tricks up our sleeves to make that happen, no matter what your horse says. You may not always like how these tricks look. We don’t always like them either, but bear in mind: Our goal is to help your horse, and keep all of the humans safe at the same time. The following is a list of “get it done” techniques we may need to employ.

Shoulder Roll
What it is: We grasp a large handful of skin at the base of your horse’s neck at the level of his shoulder, and roll it strongly around our hand against the underlying muscle. This is sometimes called a skin twitch.

Works best for: This restraint technique is best for times when a quick needle stick is all that’s needed—ideal for a vaccination. Because your horse will usually lean away from the skin-twitched side, it works well if he’s a horse that wants to strike, rear, or push over the top of the person with the needle. A skin twitch is especially handy when working without an assistant, because it leaves one hand free to manipulate the needle. It’s my preferred technique for rowdy youngsters getting first shots.

Lip Twitch
What it is: We grasp and twist your horse’s upper lip, either holding it in our hand or putting it into the rope loop at the end of a handle (a device known as a “twitch”). Not only does a lip twitch act as a distractor, some believe it also stimulates release of endorphins (the body’s natural tranquilizer) in your horse’s system.

Works best for: Response to a twitch is highly variable. Some horses respond by standing still, some don’t, and how your horse will respond is hard to predict. If your horse is head shy, difficult for oral medications, or just very opinionated about being handled around his face, a twitch will be difficult to apply. If he rears when he resists, a twitch can be dangerous. If the twitch can be applied with minimal drama, however, it can be a very effective restraint tool for almost any situation.

Lip Chain
What it is: A chain at the end of your lead rope that runs through the halter rings and is applied under your horse’s upper lip, along his gums. When pressure is applied to the rope, pressure also is exerted on the sensitive gum tissues, acting as a restraint.

Works best for: A lip chain is a powerful tool. Although it may seem “mean,” it’s sometimes the only thing that works when it’s really necessary to restrain a dangerously insistent horse. To ensure that the chain is effective, not cruel, it’s especially important that the person handling the rope is both skilled and sensitive about when to apply and release pressure. In untrained hands, a lip chain can do major damage.

An additional horse (Wellington area and no identified direct or indirect connection to the Ocala show grounds) has been tested and found to be EHV-1 (wild strain) positive. There

have been no neurologic symptoms associated with this animal.

All horses on the HITS Showgrounds, Ocala are under quarantine. Additionally, horses believed to have

had increased opportunity of exposure or other risk have been traced to 11 different farms/training facilities. Quarantines have been put in place and the animals are being monitored for evidence of illness.

The Florida Department of Agriculture has posted a detailed report regarding this situation and is updating the report regularly. These updates include links to additional resources and are available at: www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/pdf/EHVWebsiteUpdate.pdf

Please check this source regularly for the most current and reliable information regarding the status of the disease.

The equestrian community is being advised of the importance of horsemen implementing good biosecurity protocols that should be routine when attending competitions or visiting other venues where horses of different origin and disease status are congregating. If planning to travel to such venues, make certain you contact the venue prior to travel to understand what biosecurity measures have been imposed. Additionally, it is advised that you consult with your veterinarian in evaluating your horse's current vaccination and immunity status and to review or develop an individual biosecurity plan. The California Department of Food & Agriculture has published a bio-security tool kit at this link: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_biosecurity.html. Dr. Stephen Schumacher, Chief Administrator for the USEF Drugs & Medication Program describes this as a "good comprehensive resource compiled from a number of sources."

Some horses are perfectly content living alone in a backyard paddock. Others, however, can become nervous wrecks without the security of a herd. Anxious horses may pace and fret, and even if they remain outwardly calm, the tension may increase their risk of gastric ulcers and other stress-related health disorders. If your horse would be happier with a companion, you have several options, including:

• Retirees. Rescue organizations have plenty of older and/or injured horses who cannot be ridden but would be ideal pasture companions. Make sure you’re prepared to take on the responsibility for any special veterinary or farriery care your retiree might need. If you don’t want to spread your feed budget that far, a smaller pony or Miniature Horse might be a more economical choice that

would still fulfill your horse’s need for a herdmate.

• Donkeys. These close cousins in the equine family are relatively easy keepers, and they usually get along well with horses. Most thrive on pasture and grass hay and need little more than basic care such as deworming, hoof trimming, dental care and vaccinations. Donkeys also come in all sizes, from Mammoths to Miniatures.

• Goats. Not all horses bond well with goats, and vice versa, but sometimes these two species form fast friendships. Care for a goat is generally similar to how you keep a horse--with access to fresh water, pasture and a run-in shelter, as well as fly control, vaccination and hoof trimming. But before you commit to getting a goat, make sure you research specifics of feed supplements he may need and the types of illnesses he is vulnerable to. Also, make sure you will have access to a veterinarian experienced with ruminants. If your horse’s regular veterinarian does not handle goats, she may be able to refer you to someone who does.

Whatever choice you make, consider bringing the new companion home on a trial basis and make the introduction slowly, to make sure everyone will get along. If all goes well, the company will help to keep your once-lonely horse happier and healthier for years to come.

This article first appeared in EQUUS issue #425.

In most horses, light exercise can help alleviate muscle soreness after vaccinations. Photo © Celia Strain/EQUUS

Q: What is the proper protocol for exercising your horse after he receives shots? Is it OK to work him or should he have the day off? When I had to have vaccinations because I was traveling out of the country, my arm was sore. Does this happen to horses, too?

A: Just as with people, horses may have a wide range of reactions after receiving vaccinations. The majority of equine vaccines are administered by intramuscular injections, or “shots into the muscle,” on the side of the neck.

For most horses, the

only reaction, if any, is a little local inflammation and soreness at the injection site, which lasts just a few days. Usually, light exercise the day of the vaccinations and the next will actually help make the sore muscles feel better. During these workouts you might notice a little stiffness, but most riders report that they cannot feel any difference. After the first day or two your horse can return to his normal exercise routine and level.

There are some exceptions to this rule: If your horse has significant swelling, a fever or severe stiffness after his vaccinations, talk to your veterinarian before resuming exercise.

Some equine vaccines are administered intranasally---via a fluid or mist shot up the nose. These don’t cause muscle soreness, but they can make a horse run a fever or feel a little depressed, so a day or two of rest might still be a good idea.

Your best bet is to ask your veterinarian whether there is any reason for concern at the time she administers the vaccinations. She will have selected vaccines for their effectiveness and safety and will want to hear about any reactions your horse has had in the past.

Of course, you’ll want to use common sense: Don’t start anything new at the same time as the vaccinations, don’t increase your horse’s workload, don’t exercise him if the weather is excessively hot or cold, and schedule a break in his schedule if he has run a fever or had other significant reactions in the past.

Melinda Freckleton, DVM
Haymarket Veterinary Service
Haymarket, Virginia

It's normal for a horse to lay down from time to time, but if he suddenly spends more time than usual down, it's cause for investigation.

Spice was spending nearly all her time lying down. The 16-year-old Paint mare didn’t appear to be weak or in pain---she could readily scramble to her feet when she wanted to. But she simply wouldn’t stay on her feet. For almost a month, she’d get up just two or three times a day to eat, drink, defecate and urinate, then she’d lie down again.

Several veterinarians came out to see Spice that April in 2008, but they found no obvious reasons for her peculiar behavior. She was current on her vaccinations, she wasn’t lame and her vital signs were normal.

Spice’s veterinarian was baffled and recommended a consultation with nearby Colorado State University. But the mare’s owner was afraid that the ride would be too difficult for her or that she would go down in the trailer. So Lutz Goehring, DVM, PhD, a faculty member with the veterinary teaching hospital, made a farm call.

Goehring found Spice lying calmly in sternal recumbency, propped up on her chest and looking as if she just decided to take a brief afternoon nap. “I was thinking I’d find a horse who looked ill or in distress, but she was happy, and it was obvious she had been really well cared for in the time she was down,” he says. “Her owner had bedded her on deep sand in a large roofed area. She looked like a mare who just happened to be lying down and resting.”

Spice also seemed normal as she got up, which she did with just a bit of encouragement. “She had no problem at all standing up. She was very coordinated and strong, with normal reflexes,” Goehring says. But, he adds, once the mare was on her feet, “we did notice something very unusual.”

As she stood Spice’s muscles became stiff and tense. “You could actually see the muscles contracting under the skin,” says Goehring. When she was asked to walk she moved in short, rigid steps. When she stood still, her hind and forelimbs were drawn closer together than normal, giving her the appearance she was standing on a large circus ball. These were all important, but somewhat contradictory, clues.

Process of elimination
Goehring worked through a number of potential diagnoses:
• Tying up (recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis) causes severe, painful cramping of the large muscles, usually after exercise. When you see muscles contracting as Spice’s were, “you naturally think of tying up,” Goehring says, “but all of her muscles were affected, not just the hindquarters as you’d expect.” Also, horses who are tying up are usually in obvious pain, with profuse sweating and rapid breathing; Spice was not. “To be certain, we also tested her urine and blood and did not see any of the proteins you’d find associated with the muscle damage of tying up,” he adds.
• Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is an inherited muscle disorder of Quarter Horses and related breeds that causes muscle tremors, weakness and recumbency. But Spice’s pedigree did not include any horses known to carry HYPP, nor did she display the characteristic weakness and collapse.
• Tetanus is a rigid paralytic disease caused when the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani, which normally lives in soil and feces, enters a puncture wound. Tetanus can cause stiffness throughout the body, but Spice was current in her vaccinations against this disease, and she was not displaying any other classic signs of the condition, including the protrusion of the nictitating membrane across the eye.
• Botulism is a paralytic condition that occurs when a horse ingests food or water contaminated with toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Horses with early stages of botulism often lie down for long periods as the associated paralysis develops. But botulism usually affects the muscles of the head and mouth first. Spice was eating and drinking normally.
• Laminitis, the inflammation of the sensitive soft tissues that connect the coffin bone to the interior of the hoof wall in the foot, can cause horses to stand with an unusual “base-narrow” stance like Spice was showing. But laminitis is extremely painful, yet the mare did not react at all to sole pressure from hoof testers, and radiographs of all four hooves showed no coffin bone rotation.
• Fractures to the pelvis or lower spine can leave a horse reluctant to walk, even if he doesn’t appear to be obviously lame. Goehring ruled out an injury like that in Spice with a rectal exam.
• Neurological diseases, such as equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) or West Nile encephalitis, can cause a variety of signs, including stiffness, recumbency, weakness and incoordination. To investigate this possibility Goehring performed a full neurological workup on Spice, checking the muscle tone in her tail and asking her to walk forward, backward and in small circles. “In neurological disease, you see some incoordination or asymmetry,” he says. “But we didn’t see any of that. She was moving stiffly but was not weak or clumsy.”

Having exhausted the possibilities for physical exams, Goehring gathered blood samples to follow up with laboratory tests, and he suggested transporting the mare to the University clinic so he could take spinal fluid samples and a muscle biopsy. But Spice’s owner was still concerned about the toll the trip might take on her mare and opted to pursue only tests that could be done on the farm---especially since Goehring didn’t yet have a particular diagnosis in mind.

Working on the assumption that some type of muscle pain was keeping the mare off her feet, Goehring prescribed a course of phenylbutazone and the muscle relaxant methocarbamol, and he asked Spice’s owner to provide him with frequent updates on the mare’s condition up until his next scheduled visit, in two weeks. By then, he hoped, the results of the blood tests would have shed more light on the cause of Spice’s trouble.

One last shot
Spice was getting worse when Goehring returned. Instead of lying on her chest, the mare was now spending most of her time stretched out flat on her side, and she was eating and drinking while down. She was also getting up less often, as little as only once a day to defecate and urinate before stretching out again on her opposite side.

The standard blood work had revealed nothing abnormal, and the tests were also negative for antibodies to the West Nile virus as well as Sarcocystis neurona, the organism responsible for EPM. Spice’s protein and enzyme levels were normal, indicating there was no muscle damage or malfunction, nor did her blood show any sign of inflammation or infection.

Goehring encouraged Spice to rise then spent a few minutes just watching her. He noticed the same pattern he’d seen on his first visit: “She’d walk around for a few minutes, and then you’d notice muscle contractions and a tightening of all her muscles. Then she would lie down in a very coordinated way. She didn’t seem upset or uncomfortable; it was almost as if she got tired, and lying down was her way to cope with the increased muscle contractions and what I assume was associated fatigue and soreness from it.”

The problem had to originate in either her muscles or her nerves---but given that the phenylbutazone and muscle relaxant had had no effect, a neurological explanation now seemed more likely. “If the problem wasn’t with the muscles, it had to be the nerves that control them,” says Goehring.

Yet Spice’s signs didn’t fit into any known neurological pathology. “A traumatic neurological event or a disease process generally affects neurons at one specific location in the nervous system, so you’ll see a horse lose control of his hindquarters or one side of his body. But every muscle on this mare seemed to be involved equally,” says Goehring. “Toxins can also affect a horse’s nervous system, but they tend to target a particular type of neuron and are progressive; eventually you’ll see seizures and other more serious problems.”

That left one area of possibility: an immune-related disease affecting only a specific portion of the central nervous system. “In immune-mediated diseases, the horse’s own body will attack a very specific target group of cells or structures,” says Goehring. “It was possible, we thought, that such a scenario could give us the strange presentation we were seeing. At the time, we had no idea what that specific process might be, but it was really our last shot.”

A one-in-a-million diagnosis
To test that hypothesis, Goehring recommended a course of injectable corticosteroids. “Steroids will suppress the body’s immune system, which can be a bad thing unless it’s the immune system itself that is harming the body,” he explains. If Spice’s condition was an immune-mediated neuropathy, the steroids would lead to improvement.

Goehring was headed to a conference, so a colleague oversaw the treatment, starting with a relatively high dose followed by smaller subsequent doses that tapered off over the course of a week. “At the conference, I discussed this case with several prominent equine neurologists and told them what I was going to try,” he says. “They were interested but maybe a little skeptical. So it was nice when I was able to share the text I got two days later that the treatment was working---the mare was up and moving more.”

Indeed, Spice showed a dramatic improvement: By the end of the week she was standing about 75 percent of the time. That success led Goehring to search the literature for a possible explanation.

He found one disease in human medicine that seemed to fit Spice’s case: Moersch-Woltmann syndrome, also called “stiff person syndrome” (SPS). People with SPS experience fluctuating muscle rigidity, particularly in their trunk and limbs. The first symptom is usually stiffness in the back that can come and go, often triggered by loud noises or stressful events.

Over weeks or months, the disease progresses until the painful spasms become increasingly frequent and involve the entire body, to the point of immobilizing the person for hours. Patients typically have a halting, stiff gait because the muscles never fully relax between spasms. They also report being exhausted by the episodes. SPS is extremely rare---the exact frequency is unknown but it may affect as few as one in a million people. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, although babies may be born with it.

SPS was first named in 1956, and in the 1980s, researchers linked the disease with an autoimmune dysfunction after they discovered that the majority of affected individuals were producing high levels of antibodies to an enzyme called glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)---that is, their bodies were attacking and destroying this critical enzyme in large numbers. GAD is essential for the production of an amino acid called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it slows down the activity of nerve cells.

“When a horse or person moves, certain muscles have to relax in order for others to contract,” explains Goehring. “For instance, when the biceps [on the front of the upper arm] contracts, the triceps [on the back of the upper arm] must relax [in order to raise the arm]. GABA helps make this happen by blocking nerve impulses.”

In people with SPS, the destruction of GAD, and the subsequent reduction in GABA, causes nerve cells to fire too often and too easily. And so, for example, the biceps and triceps muscles might struggle to contract simultaneously---a situation that produces the characteristic limb stiffness and muscle spasms.

Could horses experience an equine version of SPS? Goehring found one paper published in 2000 that described a Belgian Warmblood who had shown periodic stiffness similar to Spice’s and who had elevated antibodies to GAD, just as in SPS. The authors of the paper dubbed their observations “stiff horse syndrome.”

To see whether Spice might have stiff horse syndrome, Goehring had her blood tested for antibodies to GAD, along with a sample from a normal, healthy mare for comparison. Spice’s blood had a significantly higher amount of the antibodies. This result wasn’t a definitive diagnosis, but it did strongly suggest that the mare might have this rare condition.

Exploring unknown ground
Even though there was little precedent for treating Spice, her owner decided she wanted to try. The mare was kept on the corticosteroids for another month, during which time she gradually improved to her normal self. She was then weaned from the medication, after which she continued to remain on her feet as much as any normal horse. Continuing blood tests showed the mare’s GAD antibodies decreasing over the course of treatment.

“This made me more certain that she had some form of stiff horse syndrome,” says Goehring. “It seemed that we had interrupted the immune system enough for the assault on GAD to end, allowing GABA to be produced and regulate muscle activity.”

Goehring hypothesized that the muscle contractions Spice had been experiencing were simply exhausting the mare, which caused her to lie down more than normal. “What we were seeing wasn’t an inability to stand,” he says, “but an all-over soreness and tiredness that made her not want to.”

Months passed with no further developments, until the following spring, when the mare began lying down more than normal again. “I wasn’t surprised,” says Goehring, “because once the immune system returns to full function, it’s going to start attacking antibodies again. The question is just how quickly and to what extent.”

At that time, Goehring adds, “we looked into officially testing for GAD to quantify just how badly she might be affected, but new testing methods for human samples appeared to not work in horses.” Instead, he started Spice on another course of corticosteroids and, as before, the mare improved dramatically within a few days.

This pattern continued for four years: Every eight to 12 months Spice would begin to spend more time lying down, and a course of corticosteroids would get her back on her feet. To reduce the risk of adverse side effects, Goehring gave Spice the lowest amount necessary to see an improvement. But the mare never showed any other signs of illness or trouble until she died after an unrelated colic earlier this year.

Although stiff horse syndrome is undoubtedly quite rare, Goehring says he suspects it may occasionally go undiagnosed: “I’m certain there are horses out there with this right now, but no one knows. Personally, I see maybe one or two cases a year that come in as an orthopedic problem. The horses aren’t lame; they just have a generalized stiffness that gets worse with work. They have normal muscle enzyme activity, and when you put them through diagnostics like scintigraphy and radiographs you can’t find a problem, and they don’t have any other obvious illness. In these cases I add stiff horse syndrome to the list of considerations and suggest corticosteroid treatments.”

Unfortunately, he says, many owners are doubtful and reluctant to pursue that suggestion: “It’s as if they don’t believe me. But if they try it and the horse improves, we’re that much closer to an answer. And if we can do it before the horse goes down, even better.”

Goehring adds that Spice’s case shows that this condition, although chronic, can potentially be managed long-term with corticosteroids and attentive care: “This mare was watched closely by her owner, who learned what the signs of trouble were and then knew how to care for her. She’s really the reason this mare did so well.”

Need help finding your favorite H&R article from 2012? This complete list of 2012 articles should help.

Al Dunning’s How’s My Riding?
"Sitting Pretty,” Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 32
“Hard-Working Pair,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 32
“Trail-Course Prep,” Practice Pen, March, pg. 32
“Al Says, ‘Relax’” Practice Pen, May, pg. 46
“Small-Fry Horsemanship,” Practice Pen, June, pg. 28
“Rail Work,” Practice Pen, July, pg. 38
“Fence Work,” Practice Pen, Sept., pg. 40
“Reining Prep,” Practice Pen, Oct., pg. 40
“Schooling Session,” Practice Pen, Nov., pg. 34
"Sit Up in the Saddle," Practice Pen, Dec., pg. 34

Barns, Property Maintenance
“Melt Ice Safely,” Your Horse, Your Life, Jan., pg. 18
Stable Gear: “Stall Fronts,” Jan., pg. 64
“Savvy Storage,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 20
“Spring-Clean Your Barn,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 20
“Messy Job Made Easy,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 20
Special Advertising Section: “Barn & Ranch Makeover,” March, pg. 57
Stable Gear: “Barn Carts and Caddies,” April, pg. 78
“Nip It in the Mud,” May, pg. 80
“How to Handle a Hay Shortage,” June, pg. 56
“Three-Pronged Fly Control,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 30
“Small Size, Big Benefits,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 28
“Tack Theft—Now What?” July, pg. 68
Stable Gear: “Barn Fly Control,” July, pg. 78
“Winter-Prep Steps to Take Now,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 26
“Easier Hay Soaking,” Your Horse, Your Life, Oct., pg. 24
Stable Gear: “Winter Water Options,” Oct., pg. 70
“While You Wait,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 20

Behavior
“Sore Back; Foal Eats Manure,” Whole Horse Q&A, March, pg. 14
“Hematoma; Saddling Woes,” Whole Horse Q&A, April, pg. 14
“Rearing to Go—In A Bad Way,” Problem Solvers, June, pg. 88
“Club Foot; Sometimes Spooky,” Whole Horse Q&A, July, pg. 20
“Trailering Fears; Bowed Tendon,” Whole Horse Q&A, Aug., pg. 12
“Pasture Predator?” Your Horse, Your Life, Aug., pg. 19
“Clinician On Call,” Aug., pg. 43
“Keeping Kelly,” Aug., pg. 62
“Trailering Fears; Bowed Tendon,” Whole Horse Q&A, Aug., pg. 12
“Popped Splint; Trail Fears,” Whole Horse Q&A, Sept., pg. 14
“Barn Sour; Shoe Boil,” Whole Horse Q&A, Oct., pg. 15
“Eye Discharge; Pulling Back,” Whole Horse Q&A, Nov., pg. 12

Bob Avila’s Winning Insights
“Breeding Time Machine,” Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 30
“How Not to Lose,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 30
“Don’t Skip the Basics,” Practice Pen, March, pg. 30
“Tire Kickers,” Practice Pen, April, pg. 33
“Industry Update,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 38
“Horse Divorce,” Practice Pen, June, pg. 45
“What You Need to Succeed,” Practice Pen, July, pg. 36
“Know When to Quit,” Practice Pen, Aug., pg. 32
“Neck-Reining: Part 1: Introduce the Concept,” Practice Pen, Sept., pg. 34
“Neck-Reining: Part 2: Introduce the Curb Bit,” Practice Pen, Oct., pg. 32
“Neck-Reining: Part 3: The Romal Advantage,” Practice Pen, Nov., pg. 28
"Rules of Engagement," Practice Pen, Dec. pg. 26

Breed, Show Associations
“Did You Know? Surprising Facts About 10 Breeds,” Jan., pg. 50
“Once More, for the Memories,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“New National AQHA Championship for YOU!” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“Important USEF Drug-Rule Changes,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
Gallop Poll: “If Wishes Were Reiners,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
Have You Tried: “Entry-Level Reining,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 38
“New Show Options for All Breeds,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 18
“Happy Birthday, APHA!” Your Horse, Your Life, April, pg. 18
“PtHA, AQHA Innovations,” Your Horse, Your Life, May, pg. 20
“Inudstry Update,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 38
Have You Tried: “Saddle-Log Programs,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 48
“Save Big at AQHA Novice Championships,” Your Horse, Your Life, pg. 24
“Painted ‘n Pretty,” Your Horse, Your Life, pg. 24
“Genetic Test for Appaloosas Now Available,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 26
“Arabians Slide to Paychecks,” Your Horse, Your Life, July, pg. 24
“AQHA Video Delux,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 20
“Find a Trainer, Help a Youth,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 20
“Philanthropy at Pinto World,” Your Horse, Your Life, Oct., pg. 22
“Numbers Up at Quarter Horse Shows,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 18
“ACTHA Rides Benefit Service Members,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 18
"Not Too Common: Grullas," Your Horse, Your Life, Dec., pg. 16

Answer: This year has been record-breaking in terms of both West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE). As of the end of August, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) was reporting 157 equine cases of WNV in 31 states¹ and 110 equine cases of EEE.² Nationwide, the number of WNV cases reported in all species (mosquitoes, sentinels, humans and horses) is the highest it has been since 2004.3 These life-threatening diseases are out there, and the best way to help protect your horse is to vaccinate.

Even if you haven’t stayed current with your vaccination schedule, it isn’t too late. But be sure to talk to your veterinarian about using a vaccine that is fast-acting.

In the case of WNV in particular, recombinant vaccines such as Merial’s RECOMBITEK® rWNV-EWT, have been proven to be very effective in providing protection, even after a single dose.⁴ In a study, onset of immunity occurred in just 26 days after the initial dose.⁴ This quick immune response is important if your horse hasn’t already been vaccinated.

Since the best way to help protect your horse is to vaccinate, do it as quickly as possible. Both WNV and EEE can be life-threatening, with 33 percent of the horses that show clinical of WNV ultimately dying or being euthanized⁵ and 90 percent of those that show clinical signs of EEE dying.⁶

Horse owners should also remain aware of potential threats to equine health present in their communities. Merial’s free Outbreak Alert program tracks reported cases of WNV, EEE, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Equine Herpesvirus, rabies, equine influenza and Potomac horse fever around the country. Those who have signed up for the service receive texts and/or email messages notifying them of confirmed disease threats in their areas. Owners who travel with their horses can enter multiple ZIP codes in the site’s search field to help them stay abreast of disease threats throughout the country. There are also veterinarian-exclusive features available, including printable materials veterinarians can share with their clients.

Now through the end of 2012, in the Exclusive Offers section of outbreak-alert.com, horse owners can download a coupon for up to $8 off when they have their veterinarians vaccinate their horses.

To learn more about WNV, EEE and other equine diseases and vaccination guidelines, or to sign up for Outbreak Alert, visit outbreak-alert.com.

About Recombitek rWNV-EWT
Recombitek rWNV-EWT vaccine is a combination vaccine labeled to aid in the prevention of disease and viremia due to West Nile virus and encephalitis caused by Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus (EEEV) and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus (WEEV) and tetanus caused by the Clostridium tetani toxin.⁷

®RECOMBITEK is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. ©2012 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIBGN1236 (09/12)

¹Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_us_veterinary.html. Accessed August 29, 2012.
²Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasempas.usgs.gov/eee_us_veterinary.html. Accessed August 29, 2012.
³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Press release. West Nile virus disease cases up this year. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/media. Accessed August 14, 2012.
⁴Siger L, et al. Assessment of the efficacy of a single dose of a recombinant vaccine against West Nile virus in a response to natural challenge with West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in horses. Amer Journ Vet Res. 2004;65(11):1459-1462.
⁵Guidelines for the vaccination of horses: West Nile virus. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Available at: http://www.aaep.org/wnv.htm. Accessed August 7, 2012.
⁶Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Available at: http://www.aaep.org/eee_wee.htm. Accessed August 7, 2012.
⁷RECOMBITEK rWNV-EWT product label.

West Nile encephalomyelitis is an inflammation of the central nervous system that is caused by an infection with WNV. It is transmitted by mosquitoes--which feed on infected birds or other animals--to horses, humans and other mammals. So far in 2012, 31 states have reported 157 cases of WNV in horses, with Louisiana and Texas having the most confirmed cases--26 and 16, respectively.

The number of reported WNV cases fell from 1,069 in 2006 to 146 in 2010, and the decline is said by health experts to reflect both vaccination and naturally acquired immunity.

“It is a good sign that the number of cases has declined over the last decade, however there has been an increasing number of both human and equine cases, especially over the last couple months,” said Tom Lenz, DVM, MS, senior director, equine technical services, Pfizer Animal Health.

Vaccination remains the most effective way to help protect horses against West Nile and other encephalic or mosquito-borne diseases, such as Eastern equine encephalomyelitis and Western equine encephalomyelitis.

A trusted vaccine is available to help offer demonstrated protection against WNV and, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis and tetanus — WEST NILE-INNOVATOR® + EWT — all in a single vaccine.

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners guidelines, WNV is considered a core vaccination, along with Eastern equine encephalomyelitis, Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus and rabies.

In conjunction with vaccination, use good techniques for managing mosquitoes. This includes:

• Destroying any mosquito breeding habitats by removing all potential sources of stagnant water.
• Cleaning and emptying any water-holding container, such as water buckets, water troughs and plastic containers, on a weekly basis.

Remember that WNV does not always lead to signs of illness. Horses that do become clinically ill, the virus infects the central nervous system and may cause symptoms such as loss of appetite and d

Retirement for most horses is a fairly informal process. No papers are filed or legal statuses changed; rather, an equine retiree simply does less of what he used to do or perhaps stops entirely. And, ideally, the end of a horse’s working career is determined less by his age than by his physical capacity and other less tangible factors.

“I hear people say all the time, ‘My horse is 18. It’s time to retire him,’” says David Trachtenberg, DVM, owner of Trachtenberg Veterinary Associates in Penfield, New York. “But the age in and of itself is meaningless; what matters is his health status. If he’s in good shape and is handling his workload with ease, there’s no reason to retire him. And, frankly, it can be detrimental, physically and mentally, for a horse to suddenly go from being active to not doing much at all.”

The best way to “retire” a horse is to gradually decrease his activity level, based on his changing physical abilities. But it’s not always easy to decide when to make those adjustments and to what extent. Of course, you never want to ask a horse to do work that his aging body can no longer handle, but---let’s face it---most of us have horses so we can enjoy riding them, and we’d like to do that as long as possible.

Balancing these objectives requires a clear-eyed assessment of your riding goals and your older horse’s ability to carry you to them. It also means judging whether an off day is a minor bump in the road or part of a larger decline in your horse’s health, and continually making adjustments in his management and lifestyle that can help him stay healthy and happy.

This process is full of uncertainty and is sometimes fraught with emotion. But it’s something that every older horse deserves.

When to say when
An acute injury usually leaves little room for doubt when it comes to planning a horse’s future workload. A horse with a torn tendon obviously can no longer do his job---at least until he heals---no matter his age. On the other hand, when an older horse’s decline is subtle, progressing without significant injury or loss of vigor, it can be difficult to see.

“If you see an animal every day it can be hard to recognize the gradual changes,” says Ruth Sobeck, DVM, of Palos Verdes, California. “That’s when your veterinarian can be extremely helpful. I may see an older horse only two or three times a year, so I’m going to notice that he’s stiffer or losing muscle mass. I’ll point that out to the owner and ask what the horse is doing work-wise and how he seems to be handling it. These discussions can be an eye opener for an owner who hasn’t seen, or hasn’t wanted to admit, that the horse is slowing down.”

Sometimes, however, signs that a horse can no longer handle his workload are apparent. “You’ll notice they tire a bit faster and take longer to recover,” says James Bleak, DVM, of Central Arizona Equine in Camp Verde, Arizona. “They may trip more or be sore the day after a big ride. These can all be signs of him slowing down.”

Too much work can also make an older horse behave differently. “Watch him carefully and see if he is still enjoying himself,” says Trachtenberg. “Are his ears forward? Is he moving out willingly? Does he seem happy about the work? Even if you don’t notice anything obviously physically wrong, a horse who starts to show behavior changes and acts like a ‘brat’ may
be telling you he needs his workload cut back.”

That said, any horse will have good and bad days, so you won’t want to read too much into a single episode. Instead, look for patterns. “It can be helpful to keep a calendar or diary to record just how your horse feels each day,” says Sobeck. “At the end of the month go back and take a look to see where you are.”

Solvable or inexorable?
Your veterinarian can help you distinguish age-related issues from problems that can be solved or at least made less severe. Simply ascribing your horse’s physical infirmitiesto “old age” can allow illness or injury to go undiagnosed. “Ninety percent of the time, arthritis is what I’m confronting in an older horse who is slowing down,” says Trachtenberg.“But chronic, low-grade laminitis can look very, very similar. Chances are it’s just arthritis, but if you make that assumption without a veterinarian’s input, you could overlook something significant.”

Sobeck says that in addition to arthritis, repeated soft-tissue stress can put a horse on a retirement track. “Many times an older horse injures the same ligament or tendon again and again. You rehabilitate them, but when you reach a certain level of work, they just come up lame again.”

Listening to your horse is paramount in making decisions for his future, but keep in mind that some horses won’t let you know when they hurt. “From my own personal experience I can tell you that some horses will lie, particularly Arabians,” says Sobeck. “They’ll tell you ‘I’m great, I’m fine, I can run on these tendons,’ when really they can’t. If the x-rays and ultrasounds are telling you one story, but the horse is giving you another, you have to overrule the horse for his own good.”

Nonmusculoskeletal conditions, such as heaves and Cushing’s disease, aren’t likely to drive a horse into retirement by themselves, unless severe, because medications can usually control them. “Untreated conditions can certainly lead to complications that can make it difficult for a horse to perform his job,” says Trachtenberg, “but most of these medical conditions can be managed so effectively that they aren’t a factor.”

Cutting back
Once you determine that your horse can no longer manage his current workload, you’ll be faced with even more decisions. The challenge will be to reduce his activity level enough to relieve the stress on his body but not so much that his relative inactivity precipitates new problems or exacerbates existing ones. There are no rules---or even rules of thumb---for determining how much a horse of a particular age and with particular conditions can do. That is done on a case-by-case and even day-by-day basis.

Consider the arthritic horse, says Trachtenberg: “You want to keep these guys moving and active---mild to moderate work is actually beneficial for the joints. But knowing how much to work a horse who is stiff is a judgment call. You’ve just got to take it day by day and make decisions based on what you see in the moment. If he is initially stiff and improves in the warm-up to his ‘base line’ but is not outright lame, go ahead and ride. If he’s feeling particularly good, maybe have a short canter. But if he’s acting more sore than usual, more lame than usual, it’s time to head back to the barn, maybe give him a bute, and see where you’re at tomorrow.”

Trachtenberg adds that riding an older horse sparingly won’t preserve his soundness. “I think the adage that ‘Horses only have so many miles in them’ applies more to the extreme sports, horses showing at the higher levels, or horses on demanding show schedules. You aren’t going to take five years off a mild or even moderately arthritic horse’s life just because you continued to trail ride him. Go ahead and enjoy him.”

An incremental approach to retirement, in which you follow the horse’s lead to slowly reduce his workload, is logical. “If your horse isn’t handling the rocky, mountainous trails well anymore, stick to the hills,” says Bleak. “And then when the hills are too much, ride the flat trails. Eventually, if he’s got the personality, he may just be led around with kids on his back, but that’s an important job, too.” The same years that took a physical toll on your horse may have made him a calm, experienced schoolmaster, perfect for younger or inexperienced riders.

Scaling back your horse’s work means a change in your own riding as well, which may raise another set of questions and challenges. “One particularly tough scenario I see a lot is when people buy a mature horse to learn on,” says Bleak. “These experienced horses teach them the ins and outs of an event, but then when the people are ready to advance to higher levels, the horses can no longer physically compete at that level. The owners love those horses but have to get a younger one if they want to continue in the sport.”

One way to handle this, says Bleak, is for riders to purchase a second horse when their older one begins to show early signs of aging. “The people school and train on the younger horse and save the older one for the main events, when it counts. By the time the older horse has to stop roping or running barrels, the younger one is ready to step up.”

But not everyone can afford this solution. “That’s a harsh reality,” says Trachtenberg. “You can’t always just go get another horse, so you’ve got to decide if you’re willing to adjust your riding habits and goals. Oftentimes I’m very surprised: I’ll have an owner who’s been doing high-level hunter/jumper competition for 10 years, and I’ll tentatively ask them if they are OK with just a trail horse. And they’ll say ‘yes.’ But sometimes the answer is ‘no.’ There’s nothing wrong with that; it just means we will have to have a frank discussion about whether or not it’s possible to keep this horse at that level of competition, for how long and at what expense.

“Horses have a unique dual role in our lives, beyond companion animals,” Trachtenberg continues. “In one role, they are a pet and we get a great amount out of the animal/human interaction. But in their other role, they have a utility in our lives. Most of us have horses because we want to ride them. When they get older and those roles don’t work together, owners are faced with a tough dilemma: Do I keep this animal I love and give up on my riding goals? Or do I pursue my passion without this particular horse? That is something I’m often counseling owners of older horses on.”

Retirement TLC
Even if your older horse is working less, or not at all, the task of caring for him won’t necessarily become easier. His needs will be different, but still important.

“The biggest mistake I see people make is just throwing a retired horse out in a field and assuming he’ll be fine,” says Bleak. “He still needs regular dental and hoof care, good nutrition, vaccinations and deworming. He can’t be expected to fend for himself.” Keep all regular farrier and veterinary appointments for your retired horse, and expect to even increase their frequency as he ages. What goes on at the appointments will change, but he still needs that level of professional attention.

Simply looking at an older horse daily will go a long way toward keeping him healthy. “You should visit him and groom him every day,” says Sobeck. “The grooming isn’t so much for looks, but it makes you take a closer look at his weight, skin and overall health. If you’re just casually throwing hay and water at him each day and not taking the time to run your hands over his body, you could miss something.”

Consistency is important, too. If your horse received an oral joint supplement while he was working, continue to give it in retirement, says Trachtenberg: “A few times I’ve gone to an emergency call for a horse unable to get up. After an investigation, I find out the horse was on a certain joint supplement for years, and the owner either stopped giving it or had just run out and figured it would be no big deal if the horse didn’t get it for a few days. But then the horse ends up not being able to get up. The only thing that changed was the supplement, so I have to figure that was making a difference.”

Sobeck discontinued joint injections when her horse retired but kept using an intramuscular PSGAG0 injection. “It’s a judgment call,” she says. “But I think it makes them feel better, and even if they aren’t competing, they deserve to be comfortable.”

As you tend to your horse’s physical needs, don’t overlook his mental health. Sometimes our notion of what lifestyle will make an older horse happy misses the mark. “I retired my show horse when he was 22 after a series of injuries,” says Sobeck. “It turned out he wasn’t particularly happy being out in a field all the time. He didn’t do poorly physically, but he lost his spark and seemed very disinterested in life.” Sobeck moved him back into the barn and he perked up almost immediately: “He was just a very social guy who liked the activity of the barn.”

Companionship is important to older horses, even if they don’t seem to appreciate it. “Older horses can seem really grumpy and almost antisocial,” says Bleak. “They’ll pin their ears and kick at youngsters, but they still need the company of another horse and will get upset if you take that away.” For instance, an older horse may not feel comfortable lying down unless a herdmate is nearby, and then he becomes sleep deprived. “Unless the grumpiness escalates to fighting and one of the horses is going to get hurt,” says Bleak, “try to give an older horse
a companion.”

Finally, don’t discount how much a horse might miss his old routine: “There is a 33-year-old mare at a large stable that I take care of,” says Trachtenberg. “We had progressively retired her from the lesson program due to neck arthritis. She had gone from jumping to walk-trot lessons and then no riding at all. About four weeks after full retirement, she managed to get out of her stall, walked straight to the riding ring and stood next to the instructor as the lesson was going on. That’s a horse who obviously missed the interaction that came with her job.” Even if an older horse can no longer be ridden, if you can find a way to include him in his previous activities---hand-walking him during a lesson, for instance, or shipping him to a show simply as a traveling companion for a younger horse---he’ll be happier.

Besides the equine cases and human cases, WNV has been reported in more than 10,000 mosquito pools4 and in hundreds of birds.5 In the case of EEE, at least two human cases have been reported,6 and the disease has been detected in more than 100 mosquito pools in three states.7 With warm weather still in the forecast for the coming months, the chances of additional cases being reported are high.

What does this mean for horse owners?

A threat to horses, both WNV and EEE are mosquito-borne – meaning a horse could be just one bite away from becoming infected. “It’s important for horse owners to look at the whole picture when they are discussing vaccination protocols with their veterinarians,” says April Knudson, DVM, equine specialist, Merial’s Large Animal Veterinary Services. “There are literally tens of thousands of mosquitoes carrying these diseases, and an unvaccinated horse is an unprotected horse.”

The effects of both WNV and EEE are devastating. In the case of WNV:

One out of three horses that gets sick from WNV dies or must be euthanized.8

The expense of treating a horse for WNV, which can be 45 times that of the vaccine,9 may prove cost-prohibitive for some horse owners.

40 percent of horses that survive the acute illness caused by WNV still exhibit gait and behavioral abnormalities six months after diagnosis.8

In the case of EEE, infected horses have a 90 percent mortality rate.10

How can horse owners provide protection?

Vaccinate with a Proven, Safe, Effective Product

“Vaccinating against WNV, EEE and other equine diseases is the most important thing horse owners can do to protect their horses,” says Dr. Knudson. “Even though the season is already upon us, it isn’t too late. The vaccines available are highly effective, fast-acting and affordable, especially when compared with the cost of care once the horse is suffering from the disease.”

Merial’s fast-acting11 RECOMBITEK® rWNV-EWT combination vaccine offers protection against not only EEE and WNV, but also WEE and tetanus. Following initial vaccination, horses need to be revaccinated annually to help safeguard against disease.12

Stay Informed with Outbreak Alert
An additional tool horse owners have at their fingertips is Merial’s free Outbreak Alert program. The program tracks reported cases of WNV, EEE, WEE, Equine Herpsevirus, rabies, equine influenza and Potomac horse fever as they are confirmed around the country. Those who have signed up for the service receive texts and/or e-mail messages notifying them of confirmed disease threats in their areas. Owners who travel with their horses can enter multiple ZIP codes in the site’s search field to help them stay abreast of disease threats throughout the country. There are also veterinarian-exclusive features available, including printable materials veterinarians can share with their clients.

“The Outbreak Alert website features maps showing instances of diseases horse owners should be concerned about,” says Dr. Knudson. “When they are able to see all the locations of confirmed reports in horses and other species, it helps bring home how much of a threat these diseases can present.”

To sign up for the program or learn more about equine diseases, visit outbreak-alert.com.

Manage the Environment
While the best way to defend against equine diseases like WNV and EEE is to vaccinate, horse owners can help minimize the mosquito population in their immediate surroundings by following these practices:

Eliminate standing water.13

Empty or change the water in bird baths, fountains and plant trays regularly.13

Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.13

Keep lights off in the barn, or switch to yellow “bug” lights which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes.13

Use mosquito-repellent spraying systems in the barn.

To learn more about WNV, EEE, other equine diseases and vaccination guidelines, or to sign up for Outbreak Alert, visit outbreak-alert.com.

About Recombitek rWNV-EWT
Recombitek rWNV-EWT vaccine is a combination vaccine labeled to aid in the prevention of disease and viremia due to West Nile virus and encephalitis caused by Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus (EEEV) and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus (WEEV) and tetanus caused by the Clostridium tetani toxin.12

®RECOMBITEK is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. ©2012 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIBGN1234 (08/12)

1Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_us_veterinary.html. Accessed August 15, 2012.
2Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/eee_us_veterinary.html. Accessed August 7, 2012.
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Press release. West Nile virus disease cases up this year. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/media. Accessed August 7, 2012.
4Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_us/mosquito.html. Accessed August 15, 2012.
5Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_us_bird.html. Accessed August 15, 2012.
6Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/eee/us_human.html. Accessed August 15, 2012.
7Disease maps page. United States Geological Survey Web site. Available at: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/eee_us_mosquito.html. Accessed August 15, 2012.
8Guidelines for the vaccination of horses: West Nile virus. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Available at: http://www.aaep.org/wnv.htm. Accessed August 7, 2012.
9Gardner I, et al. Incidence and effects of West Nile virus infection in vaccinated and unvaccinated horses in California. Vet Res. 2007;38(1):109-116.
10Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Available at: http://www.aaep.org/eee_wee.htm. Accessed August 7, 2012.
11Minke JM, et al. Recombinant canarypoxvirus vaccine carrying the prM/E genes of West Nile virus protects horses against a West Nile virus-mosquito challenge. Arch Virol. 2004(Suppl.);18:221-230.
12RECOMBITEK rWNV-EWT product label.
13United States Environmental Protection Agency. Methods of mosquito control. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/mosquito.htm. Accessed August 7, 2012.