The Equestrian Blog

New Research on Cause of Horse Sarcoids

A UK vet may have linked common face flies to the spread of sarcoids, one of the most commonly encountered equine problems.

Jeremy Kemp-Symonds, MRCVS, a PhD student at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket presented study results during the clinical research sessions at the 46th Congress of the British Equine Veterinary Association, held in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 12-15, 2007

According to Kemp-Symonds, Musca autumnalis face flies feed on lachrymal (tearduct), oral, and nasal discharges, and wound secretions. "M. autumnalis is closely associated with predilection sites for sarcoids, and it's an important vector of veterinary diseases," he added.

The researchers collected and froze more than 500 M. autumnalis flies infesting six sarcoid-affected Thoroughbred or Thoroughbred-cross horses from the Wye Valley area (the border of England and Wales). They ran a type of DNA assay called a polymerase chain reaction test on the flies and on tissue from sarcoid-infected horses.

"Ninety-eight percent were coming back positive for BPV-1 and BPV-2 (bovine papillomaviruses)"  These papillomaviruses are commonly accepted as the causative agent of the equine sarcoid.

It seems summer fly control may be even more important than horse owners thought. Will we be seeing even more horse fly masks this year ?

Read the full story on horse or equine sarcoids here......

A Good Start to 2008 ??

A woman was injured and two horses killed as a result of a road traffic accident in Wales on Monday morning (7 January).

On Sunday (6 January) two horses were stuck by cars and killed after straying onto the A20 in Kent

A man was seriously injured and a pony killed when they were involved in a collision with a 4x4 vehicle at 10.45am on 29 December in Newland Common Road, Droitwich

A massive rescue operation is underway in Buckinghamshire, to remove 84 horses, ponies and donkeys from a location where 32 equines have already died. While 31 horses were found dead in a field, three were destroyed as they were considered too ill to be moved or rehabilitated. They are described as being emaciated, deprived of food and water, with overgrown feet and possibly suffering from infectious diseases.

A grisly discovery inside a Cattaraugus County house and barn Saturday led to the arrest of a Randolph man and his girlfriend on animal cruelty charges, state police said. Authorities found a dead draft horse chained to a pole inside a barn at 3199 Route 394 in the Town of Coldspring.

Rochester USA - A woman died of injuries suffered when she fell while trying to stroke a police officer's horse outside a shopping mall. The woman reached out to touch the horse but it pulled away and she lost her balance and fell underneath the animal, her sister said. "It stepped on her several times".

And it's only the 10th of January ??

Swiss Dressage Team Pull Out of The Olympic Games

The Swiss dressage team will not take part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics claiming the humidity, travel and Stress will have adverse affects.

The move follows the withdrawal of the team's top rider, Silvia Ikle, who doesn't want to expose her horse to the travel related stress and the humid conditions in Hong Kong during the summer.

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Ikle's decision has consequences for the entire national dressage team, as Switzerland has said it only qualified for the event due to the performance of Ikle and her horse, Salieri.

The Swiss dressage selection committee has therefore decided not to send any individuals or teams to take part in the dressage competition in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, which has a well-established racing circuit, was picked to host the equestrian events at the games due to concern over an outbreak of equine diseases and substandard quarantine procedures in mainland China.

There now appears to be growing concern over the summer heat and humidy and the effects on the riders very expensive horses. We may just see more and more withdrawals before the Olympic games begin.

How horse riders change a light bulb ?

WESTERN SHOW RIDER :

Oh, my God, someone fix that bulb, I have to have light so that my silver and spangles all glow to their best and so that all the highlighter on Old Peanuts Head makes his nose look so smooth and sparkly and oh, my diamond studs have to flash in the light, you know, so oh, someone has to fix it.

Oh, maybe you with no silver on your saddle, obviously you can't ride, you do it.

ENDURANCE RIDER :

Light bulb?

Do you mind, I'm trying to get my horse's pulse/respiration/hydration levels down to respectable levels. When that's done, I have another 50 miles to go before I can even think about changing a light bulb.

DRESSAGE QUEEN :

Change a light bulb? Are you joking?

I couldn't possibly be expected to subject myself to such a menial task. Change it yourself. Oh, and wash your hands when you're finished....... The very thought!

CLASSICAL DRESSAGE QUEEN :

These things cannot be rushed, but must be approached slowly, with great patience, and adherence to the principles laid down by the classical masters, otherwise the light bulb will not attain its true potential, but will forever just be a shadow of its true self. Never, ever, use any type of gadget when changing the light bulb. That is an offense to the principles of classical light bulb changing.

EVENT RIDER :

Wuss! As soon as my broken arm is out of this sling after falling off at that large stone wall while riding Hell Bent for Leather cross country, I'll change it.

Until then, deal with the dark. It'll put hair on your chest. Only dressage riders need lights, anyway.

NATURAL HORSEMAN :

You must instill respect in the light bulb, so that it sees you as the Alpha light bulb, using "light bulb dynamics" (video set available at $179.00 on my Website).

Once you have done this, you will find that there is really no need to change the light bulb at all, but that the light bulb will, with very little coaxing from you (using patented "light bulb coaxer") designed by me - $99.00 each, for extra $49.99 you get a introductory video thrown in) will behave as all good light bulbs should.

GYMKHANA RIDER :

GO GO GO GET IT CHANGED HURRY!

NOW BRING IT BACK SO I CAN DO IT TOO! C'MON, C'MON, C'MON

aaaaaagh SHE'S DROPPED IT.......

HORSE RESCUE CENTRE VOLUNTEER :

Oh, so WE have to change ANOTHER lightbulb that some idiot neglected?

They should make this a capital crime. God, I can't understand these people. Now where'd I put the  Vet's number?

MALE RODEO RIDER : I'm a man, I don't need light!

FEMALE RODEO RIDER : If he doesn't need light, neither do I !

HUNTER RIDER :

Well, I'm waiting for my trainer to tell me exactly how but he's changing light bulbs somewhere else right now.

GROOM :

Do I have to do everything ?  Oh yeah, I do, don't I?

I'll get to it as soon as I'm done mucking out, cleaning and filling the troughs, cleaning and filling the water buckets, stacking the hay, setting up the night feeds, cleaning the tack, pooh picking the paddock, brushing and exercising the horses, and whatever else needs to be done.

New Equine Extravaganza !!

Definitely one for the diary..........

RIDING CLUBS IN SCOTLAND are hosting a weekend Extravaganza at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre, Oatridge College, West Lothian on 15th/16th March 2008.

British Riding Clubs (BRC) in Scotland are organising the two-day Equine Extravaganza. Although BRC hold an annual conference in England it was thought a good idea to organise something in Scotland for all the Scottish members. However, since its conception, plans have snowballed and the event is now covering a two-day extravaganza aimed at all levels of riders, who neither have to be a member of a riding club nor own a horse.

There will be something for everyone and the free admission means significant numbers are expected to the new Scottish National Equestrian Centre at Oatridge. Free demonstrations already confirmed include Show Jumping (with international rider Andrew Hamilton), Dressage to Music (with national champion Jo Barry), Vaulting, Arena Eventing (with Les Smith) and the exciting new sport of Horse Ball. There will be an opportunity to learn about horse dentistry, saddle fitting, farriery as well as alternative therapies such as Reiki. There will also be plenty of opportunity for retail therapy with a wide variety of trade stands.

In addition to the free demonstrations, there will be a number of chargeable workshops running over the two days. An excellent opportunity to gain qualifications in first aid and safeguarding and protecting children certificates, many of which are legal equestrian requirements these days.

For further information visit: www.brcarea22.co.uk