HAT Chat Articles – November 2006
A word from
our President
I can already tell it’s going to be a cold winter
season…I’ve already started using my wood stove some mornings this past month
to take the chill out of the air. I guess it’s a good thing I have a pretty
decent start on my winter woodpile.
We have a couple of events coming up where I hope you can
come out and join us. First is our annual Futurity and Open Show on November 12th.
From all the calls I’ve been getting, it sounds like we’re going to have our
best turnout ever. I’m planning to bring one or two of my weanlings too; how
about you?
In December, we will have a Christmas potluck dinner instead
of our regular monthly meeting. We also plan to present the Year-End High Point
awards during the dinner. I hope you can come out and share some good food and
good fellowship.
Another happening in December is the publication of our
Stallion Showcase. We usually get this out in January or February, but this time
we’re moving it back for two reasons. First, it will give you an earlier
opportunity to look at some of the available stallions in the area and start
making your plans for the upcoming breeding season. Second, we plan to hold a
Stallion Service silent auction during our Mare & Foal Clinic in January,
giving you a month ahead of time to look things over before the bidding begins.
You’ll hear more about that next month.
I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Roger Dougan
HAT President
It’s Futurity Time!
It’s that time again – our annual Open Weanling &
Yearling Futurity and Open Show is coming up on Sunday, November 12th. Registration opens at
Because this is a longer event than our usual shows, we are
asking that all competitors please come by the registration desk and sign in as
early as possible. This will give us the extra time we need to get all the
entry forms processed so we can start the classes on schedule. Also, if you
have participated with the same horse in one of our shows earlier this year,
you do not need to fill out a new
registration form; we will have a form pre-printed for you with your rider
number on it – all you will need to do is choose your classes and pay your
fees.
Remember, we have made several changes in the format for this
year’s Futurity. Details are on page 4 of this issue.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the show!
Stallion Showcase Coming in December; Stallion
Auction Coming in January
Another reminder: we will be running our annual Stallion
Showcase in our December issue. If you are standing a stallion in 2007 and
would like to be included in the Showcase, you must get your information to us
by November 17th (this applies to both the Stud List and the
Showcase Ads). The Stud List and Showcase Ads will also be listed on our
website throughout the breeding season.
In addition, HAT will again hold a Stallion Service Auction
featuring several local stallions whose owners have generously donated
breedings to our Association. This silent auction will be held during our Mare
& Foal Clinic on January 4th, and any breedings
not claimed during that event will be offered on a first-come, first-serve
basis throughout the breeding season. Look for more details in the December issue.
As our way of saying thank you, we will be offering free
Showcase Ads to stallion owners who donate a breeding for our Auction. Please
contact the HAT office for details (contact information is on page 2 of this
issue).
Better hurry – November 17th will be here before
you know it!
State/Local
News
Composting May Be Alternative In Wake of Horse Slaughter Bill
Composting
may be an environmentally friendly option that fits in the “circle of life”
frame of mind and may be less emotional, two area researchers said.
Approximately
90,000 horses, or 1 percent of the
“If
they don’t go to slaughter, they will have to go somewhere else,” Baker said.
The
options for dealing with a carcass are burial, rendering, landfill disposal,
incineration, composting or bio-digesting, he said. Many of these are costly,
and a horse owner often has to pay to put the horse down and for its disposal,
instead of getting money for the animal.
Large-carcass
composting is a growing and accepted practice among feedyards
and dairies, said Dr. Brent Auvermann, a Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station agricultural engineer who has researched the
process for about five years.
“Since
we had already done some work with dairy cattle, which weigh about 1,400
pounds, a quarter horse at 1,000 pounds wasn’t much
different,” Auvermann said. “The main thing is: the
larger the carcass, the higher the stakes. It is critical that whoever does it,
does it right.”
Auvermann, Baker and West Texas A&M
graduate student Laurie Brown began conducting a composting trial on horses
last winter, using dead horses that would otherwise have gone to the landfill.
The horses were provided by area veterinarians.
The
trial tested three different “recipes” of composting material designed by Auvermann: 100 percent stall cleanout (horse manure and
bedding); 50 percent cattle manure and 50 percent waste hay; and 50 percent
stall cleanout and 50 percent cattle manure. He said he prefers the two mixes
to the 100 percent stall cleanout.
Large
animal composting works best if pre-composting of the material has already been
started before the carcass is added, Auvermann said.
The carcass is laid on a bed of chopped hay and then covered completely with
the composting material. From that point, moisture is the key, Auvermann and Baker said. Auvermann
said it would be better to err on the side of too dry than too wet.
“Add
water until a handful of the mixture squeezed hard doesn’t result in droplets
of water, but does leave a sheen of water on the
glove,” he said.
A
good indication the composting process is working correctly is temperature, Auvermann said. The temperature should start rising within
12 to 24 hours and reach a level between 131 degrees Fahrenheit and 155 degrees
Fahrenheit and stay in that range for several weeks to a month. The temperature
should be taken with at least a 48-inch temperature probe and taken in several
locations throughout the pile, he said.
In
the studies, the pile was turned at three months, at
which time Baker said only a few large bones were identifiable. By six months,
nothing was identifiable.
The
optimum time to wait before making the first turn with larger animals is five
to six months, Auvermann said. A large carcass will
take from seven to nine months to compost completely, at which point it can be
used as a fertilizer on agricultural ground.
The
phosphorous level will be about 20 to 25 pounds per dry ton. It will have some
nitrogen, but might contain less than 20 pounds per dry ton or, if the recipe
is right, up to 35 pounds per dry ton, he said.
“This
is well suited to cotton in terms of the nitrogen-phosphorous ratio,” Auvermann said, adding cotton gin trash would be an
excellent ingredient to put into the composting mix.
The
compost must go through three phases before it is a valuable product, he said.
The final phase, curing, is important because it lets the last intermediate
compounds be converted to non-phytotoxic compounds.
“Maturity
testing is a good idea,” Auvermann said. “When you
put compost on plants, if it is not mature, it may compete with the plants for
nitrogen. It also can kill the plant if it is too hot with phytotoxic
compounds.”
He
suggested trying a small amount with potting soil in a seeding tray to see if
the seed would germinate and grow, or using a maturity test kit.
Auvermann said several other options for the composted
material would be to use it as a Class A biosolid for
roadways and to help establish turf grass, or it could be used in the bioenergy arena. The material could be gasified and burned
after it is composted.
Both Auvermann and Baker said the small individual horse owner
might not see composting as an option, but a large, centrally located
commercial composting operation would offer a service to area horse owners and
veterinarians.
“Without renderers to go to, this
could become a big market,” Baker said. “If you look at it environmentally and
politically, it works. It’s the whole circle of life thing. You grow the grass
to feed the animals and then turn around and use them to do the same thing for
the next generation.”
Dr. Brent Auvermann, 806-677-5600, bauverma@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Lance Baker,
806-651-2561, lbaker@wtamu.edu
Writer: Kay Ledbetter,
806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
National
News
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association announced on October 16th that the Tennessee Walking Horse Invitational scheduled for November 24 and 25 has been cancelled.
“Our goal for this show was to showcase our outstanding breed,” said Jerrold Pedigo, TWHBEA president. “However, at our most recent Executive Committee meeting some of the executives shared opinions and information gained from horse trainers and owners that indicated a lack of support for the show, and eight of the thirteen committee members voted to cancel the show. The Walking Horse industry is at a crossroads, and we believe it is critical that we unite to address the issues. We challenge all industry leaders to work together to ensure a healthy future for this industry. We regret any inconvenience to the owners and trainers who planned to participate in the Walking Horse Invitational.”
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ AssociationSM (TWHBEASM),
headquartered in
For more information, call TWHBEA at (931) 359-1574 or visit their website
at www.twhbea.com.
- - - - - - -
Welfare
and Safety
A cross-section of prominent participants from the Thoroughbred breeding
and racing industry who attended the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit
in
The six areas are Education & Licensing; Racing Conditions/Racing Office;
Research; Health & Medical Records; Racing Surfaces/Shoeing/Hoof Care; and
Breeding Practices.
The summit was coordinated and underwritten by Grayson-Jockey Club Research
Foundation and The Jockey Club, and hosted by Keeneland Association in
Among the recommendations coming out of the two-day summit were:
·
Research, develop and publish additional statistics
that will provide insight into the durability and longevity of progeny of
breeding stock.
·
Make efforts to have scientific research more widely
distributed among industry stakeholders.
·
Examine the use or ban of certain horseshoes, such as
toe-grabs, in the wake of presentations and research by Dr. Sue Stover and
other participants.
·
Develop a uniform on-track injury reporting system for
horses and humans.
·
Provide continuing education for all horsemen,
exercise riders, farriers and make initiatives like the Groom Elite Program
more available throughout the country.
“I think the turnout and the interest in this summit proves that there is
widespread concern among industry stakeholders about the welfare and safety of
the racehorse,” said Ed Bowen, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research
Foundation. “The summit was certainly successful in identifying issues and
devising action plans and we’re grateful to all the participants who were
here.”
Nick Nicholson, the president and chief executive officer of Keeneland,
echoed those thoughts. “This summit was a great step forward,” he said. “I
commend Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and The Jockey Club for putting
this together. Now that we have identified issues and possible solutions, we
need to roll up our sleeves and do the work.”
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation (www.grayson-jockeyclub.org) has
allocated $957,260 to underwrite 20 research projects at 12 universities in
2006, including 12 new projects and the continuation of 8 two-year projects
approved in 2005. Foundation-funded research helps not only Thoroughbreds and
racing, but all breeds and uses of horses. Since 1983 the Foundation has
underwritten 210 projects at 32 universities for more than $13 million.
Legislative
News
American Horse Council Press Release
Contact: NLamoureux@horsecouncil.org
Congress Passes
Internet Gambling Prohibition Bill
“The bill protects racing by maintaining the status-quo with
respect to racing’s interstate wagering activities under the Interstate
Horseracing Act,” said Jay Hickey, President of the American Horse Council.
The Internet bill had been declared dead on several
occasions in the last few weeks, as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
tried to add it to several must-pass bills in the final, hectic days of
Congress. They were finally successful in adding it to the Port Security bill,
which was passed just before Congress adjourned. A lame-duck session is
expected in November.
“Many members of Congress, including Senators Mitch
McConnell (R-KY), Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Jon Kyl
(R-AZ), and Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim
Leach (R-IA) and Mike Oxley (R-OH), have fought hard to protect the industry
and our right to offer wagering pursuant to the Interstate Horseracing Act of
1978,” said Hickey.
The Internet bill does not amend the federal Wire statute;
rather it prohibits the use of credit in connection with unlawful Internet
wagering. The language excludes from the definition of “unlawful Internet
wagering” “any activity that is allowed under the Interstate Horseracing Act of
1978, as amended.” The bill also includes a “Sense of the Congress” provision
that states that the new law is not intended to change the relationship between
the Interstate Horseracing Act and other federal statutes presently in effect,
thus maintaining the status quo.
Importantly, the bill outlaws wagering with off-shore
entities, including those that have been accepting bets on horse racing but
providing no revenue to the industry.
One provision was added to the bill in the last month to
clarify that regulations to be published by the Secretary of Treasury, in
consultation with the Department of Justice, under the new law to restrict
unlawful transactions cannot be used to simply redefine “unlawful interstate
wagering” to prohibit racing’s activities. This ensures that the status quo
shall be maintained in any regulatory process that might be undertaken under
the legislation.
“The racing industry has been working on this legislation
for ten years,” said Hickey. “Unlike other forms of gaming, racing has been
offering interstate betting, like simulcasting and account wagering, for many
years under state and federal law. Thoroughbred interests, like the National
Thoroughbred Racing Association, and Standardbred and Quarter Horse interests
have all worked hard to ensure that racing’s existing wagering activities were
not prohibited by this legislation.”
“We are pleased that the final legislation continues to
recognize racing’s unique status under the Interstate Horseracing Act,” said
Hickey.
Equine Science News
Advances in the Assessment of Upper Airway Problems
As the horse’s
workload increases, so does the requirement for oxygen. The “weakest link” in
the respiratory system is often the upper airway. A number of abnormalities can
occur that interfere with airflow and limit the horse’s performance.
A major problem
in dealing with these problems is that they are often present only when the
horse is working. By the time the horse can be examined after exercise the
abnormality has disappeared.
About thirty
years ago, the study of exercise physiology was revolutionised by the
introduction of the treadmill. For the first time it was possible to examine
the horse’s upper airway during exercise.
Experience has
shown that endoscopy of the larynx immediately after exercise is a poor
substitute for examination during exercise. Treadmill examination frequently
reveals abnormalities that were not visible at rest, even if the examination is
carried out immediately after exercise has finished.
Valuable as the
treadmill has been, its use is limited to research institutions and a few
referral centres. Horses have had to travel to a specialist centre for
assessment, often requiring a few days training to use the treadmill before an
examination can take place. In addition, treadmill exercise is not the same as
normal work, so horses may respond differently. It would be much better if it
were possible to examine the horse performing its normal work over ground.
With
technological developments, equipment is becoming smaller and smaller all the
time. Now the race is on to develop systems that are small enough to be carried
by the exercising horse.
Workers at the
Bristol Vet School in England have been analysing the respiratory sounds made
by exercising horses to see if there are specific characteristics that could
identify diseases such as laryngeal paralysis. If that proves to be the case,
recording the respiratory sounds of the exercising horse could become a useful
diagnostic tool.
They have
developed a prototype lightweight plastic mask with a miniature microphone and
airflow monitor. This is attached to the horse’s head with straps. The horse
can then work normally while they record the respiratory sounds.
Even more
exciting is the possibility of developing portable video-endoscopic equipment
so that an examination of laryngeal function can be carried out while the horse
is performing its usual work.
“There are
fundamental problems measuring dynamic events at exercise. By definition,
locomotion exercise means that the experimental subject is going to be moving” says
Dr Jeremy Burn of the department of Anatomy at Bristol University.
“Video-endoscopy
on a treadmill is the only way to diagnose with certainty the cause of dynamic
collapse of the horse’s upper airway.”(e.g. dorsal displacement of the soft
palate, laryngeal paralysis)
Dr Burn explains
how their studies have shown that it is technically possible to produce a
video-endoscopy system that could be carried by the horse. The first prototype
had a diameter of 18mm and contained a small camera encased in a waterproof
tube. The camera was adjusted so that objects 5 - 8 cm away were in focus.
Wires to and from the camera and light source passed through a waterproof tube.
The next
requirement is for remote operation using wireless control. “We need to control
the scope’s position, wash the end of the scope to remove mucus and to view and
record images - all at a range of up to half a kilometre.”
“We went to a
black and white camera, because at the moment they are smaller” he explains.
“There is a trade off between “off-the-shelf” convenience and performance for
technical components”. Some components have had to be custom-designed.
The project has
some way to go before the design is finalised. The aim is to reduce the size of
the scope further to give an outside diameter of 9 or 11 mm. They are also
looking for improvements in the camera system and a better performance for the
wireless link.
However, this
exciting development could revolutionise the study of the equine upper airway
as much as did the introduction of endoscopy of the exercising horse on a
treadmill.
© 2006 Equine Science Update
Reprinted with permission
Extension
Service News
by Eddie Baggs, CEA-Agriculture
The Pros and Cons of Feeding Fescue to Horses
With the shortage of hay and grazing pastures, some horse owners will consider fescue grass, a cool-season perennial, to meet their horses’ roughage requirements this winter. Depending on whom you talk to, fescue could be considered safe, inexpensive hay or pasture for horses, or the cause of devastating foal losses. In actuality, it has the potential for both. Therefore, it is important to be informed about the possible problems and benefits, and how to manage them.
Specific problems associated with fescue would include: abortions (mares grazing fescue in late gestation), prolonged gestation (mares grazing fescue could carry a foal 370 days or more), dystocia (excessive size of foals born after prolonged gestation), thick placenta, foal deaths (problems associated with dystocia), retained placenta (associated problems causing difficulty in rebreeding), agalactia (mares may produce little or no milk), mare mortality and difficulty in anticipating birth.
Several studies have shown that a fungus or endophyte (fescue toxicity) is associated with these reproductive problems. It might be noted that fescue would not be the reason for all reproductive problems. Mares grazing on infected fescue might also demonstrate other responses such as loose feces and a higher body temperature, resulting in earlier and more profuse sweating.
The fungus in question, endophyte,
grows inside plants rather than outside and does not affect plant growth. A
sample of the grass or hay must be examined in a lab for the infection. It is
transmitted only by seed and not in the soil or from plant to plant. The Texas
Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in
Horse owners who question whether or not to use fescue hay need only to have it tested to determine if the fungus is present and at what level. If a producer’s pasture is found to be infested, it would be recommended to eliminate the fescue with a labeled herbicide or with tillage.
Once the infested plants are removed, the field can be replanted without fear. If establishing fescue again or for the first time, the producer should make sure the seed source is free of fungus. Certified seed will contain a statement on the tag to this effect. Horse owners could safely buy fescue hay that had been re-established in this way. Fescue hay that is guaranteed or tested to be free of fungus is an excellent, high-quality forage source for equine.
Educational programs conducted by the
A Bit of Humor
Horses vs. Spouses
This Month: Husbands vs. Horses
Good Things About Husbands:
1. Husbands are less expensive to shoe.
2. Feeding a husband doesn’t require anything that even mildly compares with the hassle of putting up hay.
3. A lame husband can still work.
4. A husband with a belly-ache doesn’t have to be walked.
5. Husbands don’t try to scratch their heads on your back.
6. They’re better able to understand puns.
7. If they’re playing hard to catch you *may* be able to run them down on foot.
8. They know their name.
9. They pay their own bills.
10. They apologize when they step on your toes.
11. No saddle fitting problems.
12. They seldom refuse to get in the vehicle.
13. They don’t panic, yelling and running all through the house when you leave them alone (unless you left the kids too).
14. For a nominal fee you can hire someone else to clip them.
15. They don’t like the lady next door just as well as you just because she fed him 3 days straight.
The Horse’s Advantage:
1. If they don’t work out you can sell them.
2. They don’t come with in-laws.
3. You don’t have to worry about your children looking like them.
4. You never have to iron their saddle pads.
5. If you get too fat for one you can shop for a bigger one.
6. They smell good when they sweat.
7. You can repair their “clothes” with duct tape.
8. It’s possible to keep them from “jumping the fence”.
9. You can force them to stay in good physical condition... with a whip if necessary.
10. They don’t want their turn at the computer.
11. They can turn white with age, but not bald.
12. They’ve never *heard* of PMS.
13. They learn to accept restraint.
14. They love to go trail riding.
15. They don’t care what you look like, as long as you have a carrot.
Next Month:
Wives vs. Horses
Ask The Vet
by Dr. Katie Hayes, DVM
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)
I recently attended a meeting on EVA in
Signs
Signs of EVA are like those of other respiratory viruses
including fever, depression, nasal discharge, and runny eyes. Because the virus
multiplies in the blood vessels (arteries) it causes edema or swelling in the
legs, belly, and genitals. It also causes abortion in pregnant mares
Transmission
EVA is transmitted via aerosol (sneezing) and nose to nose
contact. It can also be transmitted through contact with an aborted fetus or
placenta.
It can also be a sexually transmitted disease (STD) when a
stallion becomes a carrier. The stallions or stud colts get EVA via the
respiratory route, and then the virus settles in the accessory sex glands. This
causes them to shed the virus in their semen, which can infect mares regardless
of breeding live cover or AI. Unfortunately, cooling or freezing the semen does
not kill the virus, so it can be transmitted by shipping semen.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of EVA is by clinical signs with virus isolation
and identification from nasal discharge, semen or aborted fetus and placenta.
Diagnosis can also be made from blood tests checking antibody titers.
Treatment
Treatment for the respiratory form of EVA focuses on
managing the swelling through supportive care with anti-inflammatory drugs and
antibiotics. There is no treatment for carrier stallions or semen; once a
stallion becomes a carrier, he is a carrier for life.
Prevention
There is a vaccine for EVA, Arvac®,
a live virus vaccine produced by
This can make matters confusing because it is difficult to
tell whether the positive results was from the vaccine, the disease, or the
carrier state. Also, some countries will not allow horses to be imported if
they test positive.
Horses can shed the virus for a few days after being
vaccinated, so they must be isolated post-vaccination.
It is strongly recommended that an EVA test be done before a
horse is vaccinated to prove that the horse was negative prior to vaccination.
Then, following vaccination it is important to keep up with the receipt and
proof of vaccination. Dr. Bigsby recommends keeping
the EVA negative blood test from the lab and the proof of EVA vaccination with
the vaccination date with other important papers like your birth certificate or
will, and not in the glove box of your truck with your Coggins papers. Unlike
other tests, EVA papers do not expire and cannot be redone.
Vaccinations are recommended for stallions and colts, and
open mares on a farm where an outbreak has occurred. Dr. Peter Timoney, a noted EVA expert, has recommended that all
stallions be vaccinated.
There was a meeting of Quarter Horse breeders, owners,
trainers, and vets in
Recipe of the Month
Pork and Vegetable Stew Servings:
6
|
3 tbsp |
all-purpose flour, divided |
1 cup |
carrots, cut in 1/2-inch slices |
|
1 tsp |
salt, divided |
1/2 cup |
celery, sliced |
|
1 lb |
pork steak, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces |
1/2 cup |
onion, chopped |
|
2 tbsp |
butter or margarine |
1 tsp |
dried oregano leaves |
|
2 1/4 cups |
water, divided |
1 |
bay leaf |
|
1 can |
(14 1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes with garlic, herbs, and onions, undrained and chopped |
|
chopped parsley, if desired |
|
2 cups |
red potatoes, peeled and cubed |
|
|
·
Put 2 tablespoons
flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and pork in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal
bag and shake until pork is evenly coated.
·
In a 4-quart saucepan,
melt butter until sizzling. Add pork and cook over medium heat, stirring
occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until pork is lightly browned. Add remaining
1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups
water and all remaining ingredients except
parsley. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Reduce heat to low and continue
cooking until vegetables are fork tender (30 to 40 minutes). Remove bay leaf.
·
Combine remaining 1
tablespoon flour and remaining 1/4 cup water in small bowl. Stir into stew.
Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Garnish each
serving with parsley if desired.