Vitamin K - By Dr. Kris Hiney This month we will wrap up our discussion of the fat soluble vitamins with a vitamin that is not discussed all that often in regards to horses, vitamin K. Vitamin K is actually a family of fat soluble vitamins from both plant and animal origins. Vitamin K in the diet occurs in the form of phylloquinone, which is found in plants. Phylloquinone can be converted to menaquinone via intestinal bacteria, or by other tissues within the animal. Menaquinone is the active form of the vitamin for animals. Most people recognize vitamin K’s role in blood clotting, but it is also a part of bone metabolism, vascular health, and even brain metabolism. Read More

Vitamins in Horses - Vitamin A by Dr. Kris Hiney This month we will begin a series examining the function of vitamins in the health and well-being of horses. We will also discuss natural sources of vitamins which occur in the horse’s normal feed, as well as different forms which are offered in supplements. Finally, we will look at the latest research on vitamins in equine nutrition. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information regarding vitamin requirements in the equine. While recommended intakes have been established for vitamins A, D, E, thiamin and riboflavin, all others essentially fall into the category of educated guesses. Often equine nutritionists must rely on published information in other species, and extrapolate that to the equine. These suppositions may or may not be valid, but often allow the only approach available. Read More

by Dr. Kris Hiney – Last month we introduced you to the major internal parasites which can plague your horse. This month we will discuss management strategies that you can use to decrease the parasite load on your horse, in part through an understanding of their life cycle. We can actually use the horse’s environment to help decrease our reliance on de-wormers and do our part to aid in the battle of anthelmintic resistance. Read More

A news release from Chris Brune, American Horse Publications

 August 12, 2012 - Horse Journal Veterinary Editor Dr. Deb Eldredge is asking everyone to think about the horses in droughtstricken areas and their fate. As you may have seen on the news, cattle are being sent to slaughterhouses in
record numbers because farmers can't afford to feed them. Concern is high that the same end may face many
horses in these areas. Is there anything you can do to help? Yes.

The drought has now officially taken over more than half the United States. Where I am in the Northeast, most
farmers got a nice first cutting of hay in late May or early June. If, big if, we get at least a moderate amount of
rain in the next 6 to 8 weeks, most farmers should be able to swing a second cutting.

Parts of the Midwest, Southwest and West have seen so little rain that the horses out there have had little
grazing and hay production is way down. Grain costs will rise dramatically this fall. Throw in the massive fires
out West and it is clear that there will be a hay and grain shortage.

Farmers and ranchers are already planning major sell offs of cattle as they face shortages of food for the winter
months ahead. A group of horse owners in New Mexico support the opening of a slaughterhouse. Not because
they want to eat horsemeat, but because rescue groups are already overwhelmed. There will be more voices for
humane horse slaughter plants as horses face starvation across much of the US.

Humane slaughter certainly isn’t the fate you want for your beloved horse, but neither is starvation and
abandonment. The reality is that many horses will face starvation this winter unless we all act now.

My proposal: Equine Food Pantries on a nationwide scale. Many of our communities have human food pantries.
Most of them carry some pet foods or communities have also started up separate pet food pantries. But right
now, animal control agencies, shelters and families with crises relating to feeding their horses have nowhere to
turn.

Step One: Get horse 4-H groups, Pony Clubs and FFA groups from non-drought areas or mildly affected
drought areas to partner up with similar groups in drought areas. Youth groups need to do community service
and this is the perfect way for horse loving kids to help.

Step Two: The same could be done with horse breed associations – for example, a Northeast Arab club could
partner with an Arab club in Colorado.

Step Three: Contact animal control agencies and rescue groups in the drought areas that will need help.

Step Four: Get the word out to collect donations of hay, grain and money. Most horse owners could donate at
least a bale or two. It would all add up! Horse lovers who don’t have horses could buy a bag of grain or send in
cash to help pay for the rental of a truck to deliver the feed.

Step Five: Do fundraising to help buy more feed and pay for transport costs. A 4-H group could sponsor a mini
horse show. Instead of ribbons, get a local orchard to donate a bushel or two of apples for prizes. All entry fees
go to the food pantry. Be creative –schedule a “horse wash” or a tack cleaning.

Step Six: Talk to horse businesses for donations – look at vaccine companies, worm medication companies,
local equine veterinarians, local feed mills, local tack shops.

Step Seven: Organize transport. Talk to local rent a truck companies and horse haulers. Maybe they could take a
load of hay out while planning to bring other cargo back. Look for retirees who might be willing to drive the
truck for you.

It will be impossible for us to feed all the horses from drought and fire areas but if we work together we can
save at least some of those horses.

I will offer $20 donations to the first five groups to team up here via Horse Journal to help feed the horses. Just
send in your connection and where to send my check! We’ve set up a dedicated email address for this event: haydrive@yahoo.com.

If you prefer a phone, please call us at Horse Journal at 315-468-0627. Leave a message, if necessary (like you,
we pretty much live in the barn). We’ll call you back.

Now, let’s save some horses!

By Dr. Kris Hiney -- Just like in people, many horses suffer from obesity related health issues. Overweight horses can have more trouble with joint issues, suffer from exercise intolerance and can even develop metabolic problems. While many horse owners know the risks of having an overweight horse, it may be difficult to reduce weight in these horses – certainly the horse is usually an unwilling participant! In this article we will address management techniques and dietary strategies designed to reduce weight, but still keep the horse physically and mentally healthy. Read More

By Barbara O'Brien -- My most recent horse rescues are two lovely Morgan mares that came from a Pennsylvania horse auction widely known to be attended by large-scale slaughter brokers. Fortunately, a sales broker who works with the group Forever Morgans, purchased them. Forever Morgans' mission is to find good homes for horses that would have most likely ended up on a slaughter truck. Read More

I ride. That seems like such a simple statement. However as many women who ride know it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things one might have considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer on the side of the freeway or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride. Read More

When some horses are exposed to dusts and molds, they develop allergies. Why some horses do and others do not develop allergies is unknown. There is some evidence that this disease may be genetic. Horses born to affected parents are three times more likely to develop RAO than horses born to non-affected parents. Therefore, if you know your horse is predisposed to RAO, it is even more important to identify the symptoms and to properly manage its environment. Read More

The digestive tract of our equine companions is typically the system which most often goes awry. Colic and other digestive related upsets are the leading cause of death in the equine, but luckily can largely be avoided with careful management. If we understand the normal digestive physiology of the horse, we can avoid errors in our feeding program. Read More