Happy April Foal’s Day!

Happy April Foal’s Day!

Happy April Foal’s Day!

While we discourage you from pranking your horse, as horses don’t understand pranks, we thought it would be great to share some horse related humor on this fine, spring day! There are many horse jokes and puns, but these ones are our favorites.

What did the mare say to her foal?
“It’s pasture bedtime.”

 

Why did the horse run away in the middle of its wedding?
It got colt feet!

 

What do you call your neighbors horse?
“Neigh-bor.”

goofy foal laying down in pasture with its tongue sticking out

A horse walks into a bar, and the bartender says, “Hey!” and the horse replies “you read my mind!”

 

Why did the pony want to skip the opening act of the show?
He was there to see the mane event.

 

What did the mare say to her baby when he was causing a ruckus?
“Quit foaling around!”

 

What do you call a nocturnal horse?
“A true night-mare!”

 

Did you hear about Steve’s horse? He had to go to the emergency vet. But good news! He is stable.

 

A couple of horses decided to form a band called “The Foals.” It turns out they have quite the colt following.

 

What do you call a well-travelled stallion?
“A globetrotter.”

overheated horse getting sprayed with water - Equine Pharmacy - BRD Vet Rx

Did you hear that Old Man Nelson loved to stand behind his horse? He just got a kick out of it.

 

What do you give to your horse when he has a sore throat? Cough stirrup!

*Not medically accurate advice

 

My friend was possessed by an equestrian demon, so we had to call an ex-horse-ist!

 

We hope you enjoyed this brief change of topic to something a little light more hearted and fun. As always, we encourage you to stay tuned for horse medical advice and news. So quit foaling around and join our Newsletter, so you receive all the important updates that we have to share so you don’t have to worry about missing out.

Preparing for Foaling

Preparing for Foaling

While many of us still wade in the effects of winter, we know Spring will be here before we know it! At BRD, we know that Spring Time means Foaling Time, and in this blog post we want to help you be prepared for foaling in any way that you can.

 

The foaling Process

A horse is pregnant for approximately 340 days (or 11 months); however, foaling can normally occur up to three weeks earlier than expected. If possible, it is best to be present during the foaling process, especially if this is the mare’s first foaling, just in case.

The most noticeable sign that the birth will occur soon is change in the size of the mare’s udders, which will occur about two-three weeks before foaling. If changes to your horse’s mammary area begins more than three weeks before the expected birthing, it may signify gestational problems. Within the last couple days of pregnancy, there will be visible accumulations of wax-like beads around the horse’s teats. This is a process called waxing, and those beads that are forming are made of colostrum: milk that is rich in antibodies.

While there are other subtle signs, such as changes to the pelvic ligaments, and sometimes a change in the shape of her abdomen, the most noticeable changes come from her behavior. A mare that is in the early phases of foaling may get up and lie down more frequently than normal, she may lift her tail to look at her flanks, and pace and sweat.

After this point, the mare will begin to deliver, which can occur in a variety of positions, but she will most likely lie on her side. The first thing that you may see her push will be a white, shiny membrane, call the amniotic sac. Then, the foal will begin to emerge, front hooves first, and then the head, and so on. After than amniotic sac is passed, the delivery should take 15-45 minutes, and then she will pass the placenta.

Pro Tip: Tie the placenta up with twine to prevent the mare from stepping on it, because it is still attached to her uterus. Once the placenta is passed, put it in a covered container, because your vet may want to examine it.

Sometimes, the foal may need your help removing the membrane from its nose and mouth before it can breathe. Should you need to do this, be quiet and subtle, as the mare will likely still be occupied with passing the placenta. The foal should be standing, and bonding with its mother within an hour.

 

Signs to call Your Vet:

  • Premature mammary changes (more than three weeks prior to delivery):
    • this indicates that the placenta is inflamed, which is often associated with fetal sepsis, hypoxia, and neonatal maladjustment syndrome.
  • Dystocia (the foal is being birthed in the wrong position): while this is life threatening to the foal and mare, a vet can usually reposition the foal.
    • Signified by extended period of labor time with little progress, or no progress for fifteen minutes after the water broke.
    • This is the most common delivery complication.
  • Premature Placental Separation- if the placenta appears when the mare is pushing before the foal appears.
    • This indicates the foal does not have oxygen.
    • If this occurs, time is of the essence: you will need to assist with your fingertips or a pair of scissors.
  • Retained Placenta:
    • If the placenta is still attached to the mare for more than three hours.
    • If the placenta is not removed entirely, it may cause problems in future pregnancies, such as dystocia, placentitis, stillbirth, or other problems, such as laminitis.
  • Hemorrhage:
    • Sometimes, the uterine artery can rupture or tear during birth.
    • Indicated by weakness, pale gums and shaking after birth
    • Commonly mistaken as normal, post-birth exhaustion- so if you are not sure, just call!
  • Uterine Rupture:
    • Tearing of the Uterine Wall, usually caused by the hooves of the foal.

 

There are plenty of other, less severe complications, such as tearing, which may require stitches or surgery. These are usually not life threatening, like those listed above. Foaling can be a violent process, but luckily it is usually a quick one, and in healthy cases, they are often uneventful.

We hope this helped you prepare! Follow the BRD Blog for more fascinating information about horse health.

 

Optimum Equine Performance (n.d.) Foaling Your Mare. Chiltern Equine Clinic. http://www.chilternequine.co.uk/foaling-your-mare

Kane, E. (2010, April 30). How to Handle Common Foaling Complications and Injuries. DVM 360. https://www.dvm360.com/view/how-handle-common-foaling-complications-and-injuries

Equine Medical Service (n.d.) Foaling Problems. EMS Vet. https://emsvet.com/newsletters/foaling-problems/

Smith Thomas, H. (2020, May 12). How to Predict Foaling. The Horse. https://thehorse.com/148247/how-to-predict-foaling/

Horse Buying: Other Resources

Horse Buying: Other Resources

This is the final post in BRD’s three-part series, which covers different options for buying a horse and things to consider when selecting where to buy your next horse. Our previous topics covered online resources and a review of horse auctions. In this post, we will discuss other methods of finding a horse that we have not previously addressed.

 

We understand why some buyers would have qualms with auctions, and why they may not want to buy a horse online. Luckily, there are other places you can go!

  1. Tack Store Bulletin Boards

This is probably one of more old-fashioned, traditional methods of advertising, but it is still popular and effective. Many people will post flyers about horses they are trying to sell with general information on the horse in question, which brings up another point to consider: try to find a tack and feed supply store before you buy a horse, and do a bit of research on owning a horse before you commit to buying one.

  1. Horse Shows

Horse shows are an excellent option if you want to buy a show horse, or are considering competing in horse shows in the future. This being said, please note that show horses are purebred, and highly trained, and are therefore going to be on the higher end of the budget spectrum.

  1. Right from the Horse Breeder

Buying a horse from a breeder is going to also be on the higher end of the budget spectrum, but they should also be able to help you get the exact kind of horse that you want. We would mostly recommend this option if you have a specific breed, age, and color that you are looking for with the papers to back it up. Horse breeders typically have a lot of experience in their craft, and are therefore also a great resource of information.

  1. Sales barns

Sales barns (not to be confused with horse auctions) are another great resource! Unlike auctions, where animals are corralled and moved around on a single, eventful day, sales barns act as a one stop shop to simplify the horse buying experience. Sales barns regularly receive new inventory of horses, and the employees work with the horses first-hand to obtain a clear understanding of the animal they are expected to sell. Because the staff are knowledgeable of the animals they’re working with, they are a great resource for helping you select which horse will best fit your expectations and meet your needs. Sales barns also sell plenty of other horse related products and supplies.

  1. Word of Mouth

One of the funny things about horse people is that they tend to spend time with other horse people. One convenient way to find a horse is simply to spend time around other people who work with horses.

Do you have a relative who owns a farm or a ranch? They might use horses in their ranching process, and therefore might also know other people who use horses in their ranching processes. Even if they don’t know someone directly, they might know someone who knows someone who is trying to sell a horse.

If they don’t know anyone who is selling a horse, consider asking the owners of the place where you plan to by tack and feed. Ask your friends, and the handlers and the boarding stables.

Of course, this might be a less reliable method that is slower to produce the desired outcome of finding a horse, and may lead you into a situation where you may not know much about the horse, like we discussed in our previous post. However, all the missing information on any horse in question can be resolved by simply asking. When buying a horse anywhere, make sure to ask a lot of questions and do your research.

This was the final post in our three-part-series, we hope you enjoyed it! If you enjoy what you’ve read, please make sure to sign up for our news letter for future posts about horses and horse health.

iHeart Horses (2020, June 6). Where To Buy A Horse: 6 Places to Look. https://ihearthorses.com/6-places-to-look-for-horses-for-sale/

Shaffer, C. (2021, September 222) Sale Barn 101. Horse and Rider. https://horseandrider.com/how-to/sale-barn-101

 

 

Horse Buying: Online Resources

Horse Buying: Online Resources

This is the second part of a three-part series which covers the different options for buying a horse, and things to consider when selecting where to buy your next horse. Today’s topic covers online shopping for horses, but if you would like to read more about other options for where you can buy a horse, check out our recent post on Auctions.

 

There are many places where you can buy a horse online, and with those options come important things to consider.

  1. Online Classifieds

The term “online classifieds” covers both your local news paper’s online classifieds, but online classified sources that are specifically for buying and selling horses, such as Equine.com, Ehorses, or Horsefinders. Online classifieds are great because they will often list important information about the horse, as well as a detailed biography from the current owners.

 

  1. Facebook Groups

While Facebook classifieds are worth checking out, it may also be helpful to look into Facebook groups! These online communities can be full of like-minded equine enthusiasts, who not only share your interests, but might be connected to breeders, ranchers and trainers. It can be a great place to find a horse, but also discuss care and find opportunities for training, and gear.

 

  1. Publications about Breeds or Sports Disciplines

Many times, online magazines about specific breeds, or specific disciplines will include a classified section. This can be a great option if you are looking for a specific breed, or a horse that is trained in a specific way.

 

Buying a Horse Online Comes with Risks, just like any other method. However, dishonest sellers may be more likely to try and take advantage of the fact that you’re not present, or any lack of horse experience that they may interpret from you. This can come in many forms, such as drugging a horse to make it appear more compliant than it naturally is, or they may take a simpler approach, like exaggerating the temperament of the horse or lying about health records of the horse. Here are some tips to help mitigate potential fraud:

  • Ask lots of questions over the phone, email, or text message before agreeing to see the horse and be wary of vague, incomplete, or inconsistent answers.
    • What was the training like?
    • Does the horse have any bad habits?
    • Why are you selling the horse?
    • What kind of environment do you think this horse would excel in?
    • Does it have experience with children?
    • How long have you had this horse?
  • Do not begin negotiations until you have seen and/or ridden the horse.
  • Ask to see veterinary records or registration papers before you agree to buy the horse.
  • Bring an expert with you to view the horse.
    • You can often pay a horse instructor, your local horse trainer, and sometimes even veterinarians, to come look at a horse with you before you agree to buy it. This is usually not free, but can save you thousands of dollars. Make sure to ask the expert about their rates.
  • Check the seller’s references
    • If the seller is still in contact with the trainer, you may be able to contact them directly for specific information about the training process.

 

Buying a horse can be a very daunting experience, but we hope these posts help you make an educated decision. Follow along for the next post to hear more buying horses and important things to consider.

 

Abel, C. (n.d.). How to Tell If a Horse Is Drugged (Read Before Buying a Horse). Equine Helper. https://equinehelper.com/how-to-tell-if-a-horse-is-drugged/

iHeart Horses (2020, June 6). Where To Buy A Horse: 6 Places to Look. https://ihearthorses.com/6-places-to-look-for-horses-for-sale/

Kosmal McCart, R. (20020, May 21). Read This Before You Buy Your First Horse. The Horse. https://thehorse.com/135881/read-this-before-you-buy-your-first-horse/

McVicker, D. (2021, November 11). 8 Rules for Buying a Horse. Equus Magazine. https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/horse-buying-rules/

Horse Buying: Auctions Overview

Horse Buying: Auctions Overview

This is the first of a three-part series where we will discuss and analyze the different methods of buying a horse. In this post, we will discuss horse auctions.

Almost every state in the US has Horse Auctions, usually hosted once a week, or once a month. These usually occur at livestock markets, where horses for sale are paraded in a corral, then a bidder will auction the horse off for the highest offer. There are benefits and drawbacks to buying at an auction though. Auctions can be fun to attend, even if you are not planning on buying, but just in case, it is a good idea to come prepared with a horse trailer and a payment method.

Benefits:

  • You can see a horse and thoroughly examine it before you buy it.
    • As part of the auction, the horse will likely run around, proving its abilities.
    • Buyers are strongly encouraged to examine the horse’s hooves, teeth and eyes.
    • Some sellers may even let you ride the horse before you agree to finalize the sale.
  • This is usually one of the less expensive options for purchasing a horse.
  • Some auctions encourage sellers to present medical records, such as x-rays, of the horse to prove good health.
    • Sellers are strongly encouraged to disclose information regarding the horse’s overall health
  • Many opportunities for buying breeding horses.
  • Some auctions offer specialty horses- such as retired race or ranch horses, who are ready to be pets, or horses that are specially trained for rodeo events, or specific breeds and colors.
  • There are plenty of opportunities to ask questions about any horses you are interested in with the handlers, before the bidding starts.

Drawbacks:

  • Horses sold at auctions may behave differently than usual- they’re in an unusual environment and therefore may be nervous.
    • Many states do not have laws regarding the treatment of horses while at auctions.
    • A day at the auction barn can mean an entire day without access to water, food, or the outside.
  • Bacterial and Viral infections spread quickly between horses at auctions, since they are in close quarters.
  • If you come in not confident on how much you want to spend, it can be easy to overspend in a bidding war.
  • Dishonest sellers may drug the horses they are selling to create the illusion that the horse is calmer and friendlier than they actually are.
    • Before heading to the auction, checkout this article to learn about determining if a horse has been drugged.
  • The conditions of the horses sold at auctions varies greatly.
  • Many horses at the auction will be sold to slaughter buyers
    • Slaughter buyers often transport horses outside of the US, usually to Canada and Mexico, or other countries where eating horse meat is not considered taboo.
    • Some find an ethical qualm with this practice and therefore do not want to support the practice of auctioning horses.
  • When many horses are quartered together, they will quickly establish a social hierarchy among themselves, which can lead to fights breaking out amongst the horses.
    • Sometimes, the injuries caused by these fights are minor cuts and scratches, but they can sometimes cause severe injuries to each other and the people who handle them.
    • Some auctions will mitigate this be separating the horses into different categories, such as not allowing multiple stallions dwell in the same corral, or not allowing a recently foaled mare near stallions.

 

Horse auctions can be a powerful resource for finding horses, meeting like-minded horse owners, and an excellent opportunity to see a horse before committing to purchasing it, but that does not come without the aforementioned controversy.

Of course, not all auctions are created equal: some auctions take proactive steps to mitigate concerns regarding controversies, such as private auctions, or auctions in state with laws that are designed to protect horses.

We hope this helped you be prepared for the possibility of a horse auction! Stayed tuned in with our blog to learn more about horse health and future discussions about different ways of buying horses.

 

Abel, C.  (n.d.). Buying a Horse At Auction (Helpful Tips & How It Works). Equine Helper.https://equinehelper.com/buying-a-horse-at-auction/

Abel, C. (n.d.). How to Tell If a Horse Is Drugged (Read Before Buying a Horse). Equine Helper. https://equinehelper.com/how-to-tell-if-a-horse-is-drugged/

Sellnow, L. (2002, Sep 1). Horse Auctions: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. The Horse. https://thehorse.com/130622/horse-auctions-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/

Humane Society (2022). The Facts About Horse Auctions. The Humane Society of The United States. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/facts-about-horse-auctions#:~:text=Auctions%20provide%20the%20only%20public,place%20to%20sell%20their%20horses.

 

Horse Talk: Oral Exams

Horse Talk: Oral Exams

When is the best time to take your horse to the dentist? Before tooth-hurty.

Does my horse really need to see a dentist?

In short, yes.

There have been many changes to horses’ lives that effect their teeth throughout the process of domestication, such as changes in diet, and selective breeding without dental considerations. This means there is a lot of room for things to go wrong. Animals of prey, such as horses, tend to not show signs of injury until it becomes so severe that they cannot help it. Even if your horse does not have a history of dental problems, they should have their teeth examined annually by an Equine Dentist, which is a veterinarian who specializes in dentistry.

 

What is involved in a dentist appointment for a Horse?

The Equine Dentist will want to perform an external examination of your horse. In this portion, your horse may or may not be sedated, since this mostly involves examining your horse while they eat, searching for any lumps in your horse’s jaw, smelling for odors coming from the nose and mouth, and looking for any signs of pain, such as palpitating muscles around the jaw or mouth.

An Equine Dentist will likely need to sedate your horse for internal examinations, where the dentist will use special tools to examine the back of the horse’s mouth. As you can probably imagine, horses do not like this, and may throw their head, which can make this process dangerous for the Veterinarian. This part of the examination involves evaluating where the teeth make contact with other parts of the mouth and other teeth, rinsing the mouth for feed particles, looking at the cheeks and tongue for signs of injury, examining the gumline, any spaces between teeth, looking for loose teeth, and for signs of disease, cavities, abnormalities or damage.

 

What does the sedation process look like for a dental examination?

The sedation process can vary a little depending on the cooperation of the animal, but in any case, the horse will still be fully conscious, and will receive just enough medicine to make them calm. It is important to note that this means the horse could still be startled and become excited, so if possible, it is best to keep the horse in a controlled environment where they are not around other animals, such as a stall.

The drugs often used for sedation are called alpha-2 agonists, such as detomodine, xylazine, and romifidine. Sedation can be a dangerous process and therefore requires Veterinary Administration, or the direct supervision of a Veterinarian.

If your horse is naturally calm, the Veterinarian will likely be able to inject your horse directly into its jugular vein, which will cause the horse to be calm and compliant for about thirty minutes. If your horse is wild, and naturally excited, the Veterinarian will likely not be able to safely inject the vein, and will therefore need to sedate the horse through muscle tissue that they can reach. In order for this type of sedation to be successful, it require a much higher dosage, which will cause the horse to be drowsy for much longer.

 

What might the dentist find?

The following problems are fairly common and should be addressed by a Dentist:

  • Sharp enamel, which can cut the horses cheeks when they chew
  • Hooks forming among the teeth
  • Baby teeth that do not entirely shed
  • Lost teeth, or broken teeth
  • Abnormally long teeth (this is more common in horses that eat feed on a schedule, instead of grazing grass continuously and freely)
  • Periodontal (gum) disease
  • And more

 

Remember, your horse might not give any signs that they’re experiencing dental discomfort until it becomes severe, so it is best to include dentist appointments as part of your horse’s regular, preventative care.

 

Leste-Lasserre, Christa. (2020, February 19). Open Up and Say Zzz: Why Horse Dental Exams Require Sedation. The Horse. https://thehorse.com/184971/open-up-and-say-zzz-why-horse-dental-exams-require-sedation/

The Importance of Maintaining the Health of Your Horse’s Mouth. (n.d.). American Association of Equine Practitioners. Retrieved December 27, 2021 from https://aaep.org/horsehealth/importance-maintaining-health-your-horses-mouth

Oral Exams. (2020, February 25). Starwood Equine Veterinary Services. Retrieved December 27, 2021 from https://www.starwoodequine.com/blog/oral-exams

UT Institute of Agriculture, Veterinary Medical Center (n.d.). Equine Oral Exam. Vetmed.tennessee.edu  https://vetmed.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/UTCVM_EquineOralExam.pdf