HAT Chat Articles – September 2006
A word from our President
There’s something about the sound of rain falling on the
roof of a barn that’s very relaxing to me.
The rains we’ve had at the end of August reminded me just how much I had
missed those times during this very busy summer.
Speaking of busy, HAT’s putting things into high gear now
that the weather’s starting to cool off.
This month we have two events coming up – a Foal Handling Clinic on the
23rd and our Autumn Open Show on the 30th. If you’re the proud “parent” of a foal this
year and want to learn more about how to work with one after their mother’s done
her part, you won’t want to miss this.
You might even be able to put some of that new-found knowledge to use by
bringing that weanling out to our Autumn Show the next weekend.
Looking ahead, I’m very excited about the upcoming
Weanling/Yearling Futurity in November. We
recently made some changes that I hope will help make it a very special event. I’ll be talking more about that next month.
Looking even further ahead, HAT has planned out its event
schedule for 2007. You’ll find the
events and dates listed in Activities Calendar section of this issue, and hear
more about them soon as well.
Like I said, things are gettin’
into high gear around here! Be sure to
come out and join us if you can!
Roger Dougan
HAT President
HAT Foal Handling Clinic September 23rd
HAT will be offering a Foal Handling Clinic from
The fee for this clinic will be $10 for HAT members or $20
for non-members (the non-member fee includes an individual one-year HAT
membership). Due to insurance requirements,
auditors will not be allowed. To pre-register and get directions, or if you would like to bring
your foals to the clinic, contact Kathy Bagnell at (580) 434-4014 or e-mail
kbagnell@cherokeetel.com.
HAT Autumn Show September 30th
Here’s another reminder about HAT’s third show of the season
on September 30th at Loy Lake Arena in
Those riders who are participating in our Year End High
Point award are again reminded that they must show in three of our four open
shows in order to qualify. If you missed
either the April or the June shows (but not both), you can still qualify for
Year End by competing in this show and at our final show on November 12th. Even if you do not qualify for Year End, you
can still come out and compete for the Daily High Point awards, which are
offered at each show.
Futurity Changes
At
the August HAT Executive Meeting, a new format for the annual Open
Weanling/Yearling Futurity was approved.
This format includes three major changes:
·
There are now only two
levels of competition – Class and Group.
The third level (Grand and Reserve Champion of the Futurity) has been
eliminated.
·
All jackpot money is
paid out at the Class level. Previously,
jackpot money had been split between the Class and Group levels.
·
Added money is now
divided and paid out at the Class level.
Previously, added money had been paid to the Grand and Reserve Champions
of the Futurity.
These changes are designed to encourage
participation and focus more attention on the individual classes, which are the
heart and purpose of the Futurity. Look
for more details in our next issue.
Country Care Update
HAT received two donations in August through Country
Supply’s “Country Care” program. In this
program, anyone who orders products from Country Supply and provides our
Country Care code (HAT-TEXOMA)
during checkout will have up to 5% of the value of their purchase (with some
exceptions) donated to HAT. That way,
they can get the items they need and help HAT at the same time.
For more information, see the Country Care box on page 5 or
visit Country Supply at www.countrysupply.com.
State/Local
News
COLLEGE
STATION – Estimated drought losses for
Crop
losses are estimated at $2.5 billion and livestock $1.6 billion, according to
the report. The current drought equals
the multi-year dry period of the 1950s and could go down as the worst ever
without substantial rainfall by the end of the year, according to Extension
officials.
“The
financial impact will be a major setback because of rising input costs,
especially energy prices (to agricultural producers),” said Dr. Carl Anderson,
professor emeritus and Extension economist. “Irrigation costs have soared and will cut
cash flow from irrigated crop production substantially.”
“Most
of
Rural
areas are being hardest hit,
The
driest regions of the state are the Panhandle, Southern High and Rolling
Plains,
“If
it rained now, it would be too late for the main crops,”
Statewide, cotton, corn sorghum and soybeans
have been rated 48 to 58 percent in poor to very poor condition for several
months.
“That’s
very indicative of production levels around half a crop,”
More
than $1 billion of the current losses come from cotton,
“Because
of dry soil, much of the cottonseed planted failed to germinate,” he said. “The 2006 winter wheat crop fell to 35 million
bushels, the lowest level since 1971 and two-thirds below 2005 production.”
Only
1.4 million acres of wheat were harvested, the smallest acreage since 1925,
Miller said.
Cattle
producers are facing some of the toughest times ever,
“Three-fourths
of the land in range and pasture is too dry to produce much grazing or hay that
is harvestable,” he said. “Without rain
soon, livestock herds will face further liquidation.”
At
biggest risk are the state’s cow herds, Anderson said.
Rising hay and supplemental feed costs
are forcing many ranchers to liquidate herds and lack of water has forced some
to sell out completely.
“Cattle
sales are up sharply from a year ago,”
However,
land values continue to increase mainly due to purchases for recreational and
hunting purposes,
“Wildlife
management programs are critical to maintaining the recreational value of land
used for outdoor recreation during drought years,”
Agricultural
lenders are reporting fewer loan repayments and greater demand for loan
renewals and extensions from a year ago, according to the Second Quarter 2006
Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions by the Federal Reserve Bank. Producers are collecting insurance based on
individual coverage on dryland crops and many cow-calf
operators have taken out larger loans because of higher feed costs.
“Others
have sold their herds due to limited water and forage,”
National
News
Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed in
On
VS is a viral disease which
primarily affects horses, cattle, and swine.
The viruses that cause VS have a wide host range. VS also occasionally
affects sheep and goats. In
affected livestock, VS causes blister-like lesions to form in the mouth and on
the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, and teats. These blisters swell and break, leaving raw
tissue that is so painful that infected animals generally refuse to eat and
drink, and show signs of lameness.
Weight loss usually follows, and in dairy cows, a drop in milk
production commonly occurs. Affected
livestock may appear to be clinically normal and continue to eat, but may
consume only about half of their normal quantity of feed.
The clinically ill horse was positive for antibodies to
vesicular stomatitis
The affected horse was initially examined as part of a
routine physical exam by a private veterinary practitioner on
The affected premises is currently
under State quarantine. Additional
control measures include isolating the horse from the rest of the animals to
ensure that water troughs and feed buckets are not being shared with other
susceptible animals, and increasing insect control measures.
The Wyoming Department of Agriculture is beginning a public
and veterinary practitioner information and education campaign regarding VS.
APHIS Veterinary Services and the Wyoming Department of
Agriculture will continue to monitor the situation and conduct response activities
in an effort to minimize trade restrictions.
- - - - - - -
In a very close competition, the
Hendricks, McQuay, and U.S. Chef d’Equipe (equipment/team
manager) Jeff Petska are all from the
In individual competition, McQuay tied with Duane Latimer of
Reining is the seventh and newest discipline recognized by
the FEI, with the first medals being awarded in competition at the World
Championships in
Equine Science News
Underlying Causes of Laminitis
Recent work has shed light on some of the underlying causes
of pasture-associated laminitis.
Workers at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
Kibby Treiber
and her colleagues found that ponies that went on to develop laminitis had
different metabolic characteristics from those that did not. Animals at risk for laminitis had insulin
resistance, raised blood insulin levels, and alterations in glucose and fat
metabolism. [Editor’s Observation: these characteristics, and other factors
described further in this article, appear to be similar to the characteristics associated
with diabetes in humans.]
A herd of 160 ponies was used for the study. Overall, 34% of the ponies had signs of
laminitis. Only 6% of mature stallions
were affected compared with 52% of mature mares.
Ponies in the PL group had significantly higher condition
scores that did the NL group. They
tended to have well-developed fatty tissue pads along the crest and at the
shoulder and tail head.
The researchers defined PLMS (see box below) by assessing
body scores and looking at insulin resistance.
Rather than use one of the more specific tests for insulin resistance
they used a “proxy” or simplified measure, which although not as precise as the
more complex tests was sufficiently accurate to identify abnormalities. From a single blood sample, they measured
blood glucose, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations. Using these results, they calculated proxies
for insulin sensitivity (expressed as the reciprocal of the square root of
insulin, RIQSI) and insulin secretory response (expressed
as modified insulin to glucose ratio, MIRG).
RISQI = [insulin] -0.5
MIRG = (800 - 0.3 x [insulin]2 ) / ([glucose] - 30)
Where [insulin] is the basal insulin concentration in mU/L and [glucose]
is the basal glucose concentration in mg/dL
Prelaminitic metabolic syndrome (PLMS) in healthy ponies is present when
three or more of the following conditions are met:
RISQI < 0.32
MIRG > 5.6
Blood triglyceride
concentration > 57.0mg/dL
Obesity (body condition
score > 6.0)
They identified 62 ponies with PLMS and 98 that did not have PLMS. Two months later, the carbohydrate levels in the pasture where the ponies were kept had risen, and 13 ponies developed laminitis. Eleven of the affected ponies were in the PLMS group, and only two were in the non-PLMS group. This indicated the ponies in the PLMS group were ten times more likely to develop laminitis than were the non-PLMS ponies.
The researchers also found evidence that the predisposition to laminitis was inherited. Nearly all ponies with signs of laminitis had been born to mares in the PL group. Analysis of breeding records going back 5-10 generations revealed evidence of a possible genetic predisposition for laminitis. The prevalence of laminitis was consistent with that expected from a dominant gene or genes, with reduced penetrance, associated with age, sex, and other factors.
Ms. Treiber suggests that identifying ponies with PLMS allows them to be managed with special care. This may reduce the risk of them developing laminitis. For example, ponies with PLMS should not be fed on high starch diets to reduce the risk of obesity and insulin resistance.
In addition, PLMS might influence the market value of
ponies. Paradoxically, ponies with PLMS
have qualities that show judges and breeders prefer.
© 2006 Equine Science
Update
Reprinted with
permission
www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk
Legislative Update
American Horse Council Press Release
Contact: NLamoureux@horsecouncil.org
REMINDER: AHC to Hold Meeting in
Identification System, EVA and other National Issues
The American Horse Council will be holding an Issues Forum
in
“The AHC believes it is critical for horse owners to know
about the national issues that are impacting our industry at this time. This meeting will allow for the sharing of
information on issues that have been making the news,” said Jay Hickey, AHC
President. “We feel that this is an
excellent opportunity for horse owners to hear experts in each field and ask
questions on the topics that are unique and significant to our industry.”
This informative meeting will be held on
Be sure to make hotel reservation for this important
industry meeting. Rooms at the Marriott
Austin Airport South will be held for the nights of Sunday September 24-Monday
September 25th at a rate of $129 per night. Please indicate that you are calling to
reserve a room within the American Horse Council’s room block.
Meeting information and registration can be found at www.horsecouncil.org,
or by calling the American Horse Council at 202-296-4031.
Agenda
·
Piroplasmosis
·
Equine Viral Arteritis
·
African Horse Sickness
What
Does the NAIS Mean to Me?
As the national trade association representing the horse
industry in
The AHC is member supported by individuals and
organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from
owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's
associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and
state horse councils.
Extension
Service News
by Eddie Baggs, CEA-Agriculture
Identify Blister
Beetles in Alfalfa Hay
Understanding that we are in the middle of a two year
drought and local hay is in short supply, many horse owners are purchasing and
feeding alfalfa. Since this area is not
generally known for alfalfa production, most will be trucked in from other
states. As in past years, horse owners
are forewarned to inspect alfalfa for deadly blister beetles before feeding. Also, make sure that you ask a few questions
before buying, such as where was it grown and what cutting is it out of.
Blister beetles sometimes enter alfalfa fields and can end
up in the harvested product. These
beetles contain a toxin called cantharidin. Although the beetles are dead, the cantharidin in their bodies is very stable and when
consumed presents a hazard to horses. This
toxin severely irritates the horse’s digestive tract and often causes death,
and if contact with skin occurs it can also form blisters. Although the exact number of beetles required
to produce toxic reactions in horses is variable, ingestion of just 15-20
beetles can cause illness in horses.
The larvae of blister
beetles feed on grasshopper eggs; therefore, the populations of blister beetles
tend to correlate with the populations of grasshoppers. We do not grow much alfalfa in this part of
the state and even if the hay was produced here, careful handling by the
producer can ensure a safe supply. However, most alfalfa has been trucked in and
the consumer would be advised to ask where it was produced and if grasshoppers
and/or blister beetles have been detected there. A quick call to the County Extension Office in
the county in which it was produced or call to the state’s Department of
Agriculture may give you a perspective on whether there is a great cause of
concern. It is generally thought that 1st
and 2nd cutting hay are reasonably safe, depending on the climatic
conditions of that production year. Information
from
Horse owners feeding alfalfa should be able to recognize
this insect. The most common species in
the
Alfalfa is a high quality forage and seems to have the
highest availability at this time, so don’t overlook its feeding value, just be
aware of the beetle. For more detailed
information, a Fact Sheet is available on Blister Beetles at http://citybugs.tamu.edu
and type in “blister beetles” in the search window.
Educational programs conducted by the
A Bit of Humor
Defining Riders and Their Horses
This Month: Endurance Addict
The Rider:
The Endurance Addict
is wearing lycra tights in
some neon color. Has not read the rule
that lycra is a privilege,
not a right. The
shinier, the better, so that they can find her body when her mount dumps her
down (another) ravine. Wearing hiking sneakers of some sort and a smear of trail dirt on
her cheek. Sporting one of the
zillions of t-shirts she got for paying $75 to complete in some other torturous
ride. Socks may or may not match each
other.
Al Kamar Raka Shazaam was often called “you bastard” until he found another as hyper as he, an endurance addict. Can spook at a blowing leaf, spin a 360 and not lose his big trot rhythm or give up an inch to the horse behind him. Has learned to eat, drink, pee and drop to his resting pulse rate on command. Has compiled 3,450 AERC miles, with his rider compiling 3,445 - those extra five miles being the ones he was chased down the trail after performing his trademark 360 turn, without said aforementioned rider.
Frequently Overheard in Conversation:
“Anyone have Advil?”
“Anyone have food? I think last year’s Twinkies finally went bad.”
“For this pain, I spend money?”
“Oh, I never bring hay or water to the vet checks – there’s always plenty around.”
“Quick, quick, did you look, was his pee okay?”
“Shazaam, you bastard – it’s just a leaf [thud]!”
Next Month:
Backyard Rider
Ask The Vet
by Dr. Katie Hayes, DVM
New
Sometime this fall when the FDA approves it, we will have a
new
The vaccine was made from the successful yellow fever virus
vaccine where the
In the research studies live
The
Merial’s Recombitek West Nile vaccine is a modified live
virus vaccine which has a canary pox virus carrier. It also requires 2 doses, but has protection
26 days after the first dose. The canary
pox virus multiplies, carrying West Nile DNA to give cellular immunity which is
longer lasting.
The PreveNile studies show the vaccine to be 99% reaction
free and safe when used on 2 week to 4 month old foals and pregnant mares. The recommendations are 1 dose in horses 5
months or older and a booster once a year.
I am excited about this new
Reminder: If
you have not vaccinated your horse for
The
Research from the ’96 Summer Olympic Games in
Recipe of the Month
Quick Roll-Up
2
slices thinly-sliced smoked
ham
2
slices American cheese
2 leaf lettuce leaves
1/4 medium red pepper, quartered
lengthwise
1
tbsp mayonnaise
1 flour tortilla
·
Place ham slices on a
work surface, with their long edges slightly overlapping. Repeat for the cheese and lettuce, making
separate stacks for each ingredient.
·
Stack pepper strips
near one of the long ends of the ham slices, and roll up. Place roll on top of the stack of cheese and
roll up again, creating a second layer.
Repeat with lettuce leaves to make a third layer.
·
Spread mayonnaise on
tortilla. Place roll on the edge of the
tortilla and roll up again. Cut in half
and serve.
Variations: use different meats such as
turkey or roast beef, different cheeses such as Swiss or provolone, add thin-sliced
tomatoes or onions, use cream cheese or dressings
instead of mayonnaise, etc.