Insurance protection for stable owners, trainers, instructors and people working in the horse business is vital. Whether your business includes boarding horses, private lessons, clinics, horse sales and shows or operating a riding academy, liability coverage for bodily injury to others and property damage is imperative. Commercial Equine Liability Coverage will protect you by paying the cost of defending you when a lawsuit is brought against you by a third party who is injured or whose property is damaged, as a result of your horse business activities. It will also pay for damages for liability imposed upon you or your business by a liability claim or court judgment. As any damage that exceeds your policy limits will come out of your personal assets. Again, the more personal assets you have, the more coverage you need.

These activities and their varied functions pose unique liability exposures, which need specially designed products tailored to the exposures that may not be adequately covered under normal personal liability policies such as a homeowner policy.

The equine Activity Laws may help you provide a defense in the event of an equine incident, but they will not prevent you from being sued. Without adequate liability coverage you will have to pay damages and defense costs yourself. The Equine Liability Laws only cover “inherent risks” in equine activities. Some plaintiffs are able to successfully argue that their situation did not involve an “inherent risk”. In other words, you could lose the case.

Coverage Highlights

• Liability limits up to $1,000,000 are available for bodily injury and personal property damage
• Liability for personal and advertising injury
• Basic and comprehensive liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage to others
• Fire legal liability
• Medical Payments
• Product Liability
• This liability policy will pay all legal costs associated with a claim or lawsuit in addition to the limit of liability shown on the policy

The basic Commercial Equine Liability Policy does not cover claims or damage to property in your Care, Custody or Control. If someone claims, for example, that you injured their horse in the course of training, you would need a Care, Custody or Control Policy to cover that damage claim.

Care, Custody or Control

The Equine Care, Custody or Control Insurance is an essential coverage for all horse operations which involve non-owned horses, including boarding, breeding and training. A Standard General Liability Insurance Policy excludes for personal property (horses are an example) in your care, custody or control. This coverage fills this void by promising to pay all sums you are legally obligated to pay for damage to non-owned horses in your care, custody or control. This coverage does not apply to horses that you own or lease.

Your policy will cover up to the chosen policy limits for the injury, theft or death of the horses in you care, custody or control. Policy limits are available up to $500,000 per horse and $1,000,000 maximum loss per policy year.

With Care, Custody or Control, you are protected against: legal liability resulting form the injury to or death of non-owned horses in your care, custody or control and the cost to defend any suit alleging injury to or death of non-owned horses in your care, custody or control.

You are eligible for this program if you own or lease a farm that boards horses belonging to others and your farm employs a normal standard of care (normal standard of care includes but is not limited to 24-hour supervision, proper maintenance, adequate and safe construction, proper fencing). You may also be eligible for this program if you operate horse boarding or training facility as an independent contractor.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

A SPECIAL THANKS TO STUART VESTY FOR THE USE OF HIS PHOTOPRAPHY

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.VESTYPHOTO.COM

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information sources include the following: American Bankers Insurance Company, Travelers Insurance, Liability Equine Law, Allison Rowe.

A hoof abscess is probably one of the most common causes of acute lameness in horses encountered by veterinarians and farriers. A horse’s hoof is hard at the surface, both at the top and on the underside. The horn is made up of a hard substance called keratin, which generally protects the inner tissue of the horse’s foot against bacteria and other outside agents. If bacteria are allowed to enter the inner tissues of the foot, they will begin to multiply and the horse’s immune system will begin to fight bacteria, forming purulent fluid, or pus, in the process. As pus forms, what has now become an abscess enlarges and begins to put pressure on the internal tissues of the foot. Since these tissues are surrounded by the hard hoof, there is no way for the abscess to expand and travel but upwards.

An abscess can occur when an infection develops in the hoof due to the following:

• The sole being pierced by a sharp object, such as a nail.
• The hoof wall cracks (generally due to improper trimming or hoof neglect, allowing a piece of gravel to enter and become logged in the sensitive tissue above the sole.
• Damage to the corium due to decreased blood circulation from shoes, poor horse shoeing and/or trimming.
• A full thickness hoof wall crack or multiple old nail holes.

At first a hoof abscess may cause little if any pain to the horse. When the horse develops an abscess, pus collects as the body fights off the source of infection. Since the hoof cannot expand to accommodate the increasing collection of pus, the increased pressure within the hoof causes a great deal of pain. The symptoms can come on quite suddenly once swelling occurs. The horse can start the morning out walking and trotting normally, but a few hours later it may show signs of a limp, which can get worse with time. The horse will try to avoid putting weight on the affected foot, and when walking may attempt to put the weight on the toe of the hoof rather than on the sole. You may notice that the horse is laying down more than normal, to get relief from the pressure on the abscessed hoof.

If there is swelling, this will most likely be around the pastern area, just above the coronary wall that defines the top of the hoof. Pus may or may not break through the coronary wall. If the horse remains lame for more than a day, it would be wise to call the veterinarian for treatment. Even if the abscess is not serious, it is causing pain to the horse and should be treated. Without the intervention from the veterinarian, the healing process will take significantly longer.

The most important way to treat an abscess is to establish drainage. The opening should be of sufficient size to allow drainage, but not so extensive as to create further damage. Another method of treatment to encourage drainage is to apply a soak bandage. Layers of cotton are used to form a heavy bandage that encompasses the hoof. Epson Salt is placed in the inner foot surface of the bandage that is attached to the hoof. The bandage is saturated with hot water periodically over the next 24-48 hours. Make sure you determine the status of the tetanus immunization.

The horse should show improvement within 24 hours. Following the poultice or foot soak bandage, the hoof should be kept bandaged with an appropriate antiseptic such as Betidine solution or 2% iodine, until all the drainage is stopped and the wound is dry. At this point the hoof is filled with Keratex Hoof Putty that keeps the area clean and prevents the accumulation of debris within the wound. The shoe may be replace when the horse is sound.

Prevention can be accomplished through proper hoof care and promoting a strong, solid solewall junction (white line) that resists penetration by debris. Hoof abscesses are less likely to occur when a sold sole-wall junction is maintained. It is important to have your horses hoofs trimmed in a way that accentuates a strong healthy foot and strengthens the white line. Excessive wetness or dryness may also contribute to weakness in the white line. Take steps for the prevention of each.

Although an abscess may be painful for a horse, as long as you act promptly than chances are the healing process can be expedited and resolved relatively quickly.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

This newsletter is for informational use only. You should contact your local veterinarian for questions and concerns about all equine health and care issues.

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information sources include the following: Hoof Abscess – Health and Nutrition Tips, www.healthandnutritiontips.net/hoof; www.equipodiatry.com – American Farrier Journal ; www.alphahorse.com

Equine Cushing’s Syndrome, also known as PPID – Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction, is a disorder of the endocrine system ( organs that are involved in the release of hormones). Cushing’s Syndrome most commonly affects pony breeds, but larger breeds can also be affected. It is often thought that only older horses are afflicted by Cushing’s Syndrome, but it has been known to occur in horses as young as 7 years old.

Cushing’s Syndrome is caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, which is the small gland at the base of the brain and is an important endocrine organ that produces a variety of different hormones. The abnormal hair coat can vary from delayed shedding of the winter coat to the development of a long, thick and wavy overgrown coat. This coat characteristic is known as “hirsutism” and is due to the enlarged tumor as it grows and puts pressure on the nearby hypothalamus, a section of the brain located next to the pituitary gland that regulates body temperature, appetite and seasonal shedding of hair.

Symptoms of Cushing’s Syndrome:

• Horses with Cushing’s Syndrome can easily be recognized by their coarse, wavy coat that often fails to shed in the summer. This may be accompanied by sweating and seborrhea (a flaky, scaly disease of the skin).
• An affected horse may drink as much as 80 liters of water a day ( as opposed to an average of 20-30 liters). This condition is usually accompanied by polyuria, excessive urination.
• Development of a swayback stance and a pot belly.
• Filling above the eyes caused by the deposition of fat.
• A general condition of general bodily weakness or discomfort, with dull eyes and a drab coat.
• Increased appetite, usually with no sign of weight gain.
• Chronic laminitis.
• Loss of muscle over the topline.
• Compromised immune system which gives rise to a host of conditions/diseases which are often passed off as old age

In order to confirm a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease, specific hormone tests are normally done. Blood and urine tests are done and repeat testing may be necessary, as preliminary tests do not always produce conclusive results. Some cases can be so obvious, that treatment is prescribed in advance of testing. When symptoms are caught early, treatment can be extremely successful, returning the horse to normal health for many more years.

Helping the horse with Cushing’s Syndrome:

• Avoid stressing the horse. The hormonal profile of many horses with Cushing’s Syndrome already indicates high stress levels, so reducing stress is critical.
• Providing a safe comfortable stall for the horse.
• Sticking to a strict routine, which will help minimize stress.
• Keeping water and feed conveniently located and in the same place.
• Clipping the horse in warm weather and using blankets when it is cold.
• Keeping up grooming to minimize skin disease.
• Keep hooves in good shape.
• Having teeth checked by a professional twice a year.
• Avoid turning the horse out with aggressive horses.
• Deworming regularly.

Feeding A Horse With Cushing’s Syndrome – By Gayle M. Reveron, PAS

As the number of horses known to have Cushing’s Syndrome increases, questions on how to feed horses with this condition also increase. As a starting management practice, your veterinarian may recommend pergolide as an added medication for your horse. This is available from a number of pharmaceutical sources by prescription.

When it comes to feeding them, though, here are a few tips that may help make life a little easier:

• If your Cushing’s horse has some joint problems, you may want to also consider using one of the chondroitin sulfate + glucosamine products that are available in supplement form.
• Cushing’s syndrome horses require a hay or pasture source that is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), so you might want to have your forage tested.
• They do well on senior feeds that are fortified with lysine, methionine, biotin, vitamin E and organic trace minerals (copper, zinc, manganese and selenium) to help maintain muscle mass, support hoof growth and support immune response.
• Feeding directions need to be followed to make certain enough senior feed is being fed as these older horses may not be able to utilize forage very efficiently.
• If your horse is not maintaining weight, you may need to increase the feeding rate of the senior feed or add a low starch, rice bran based high fat supplement.

Most senior horses with Cushing’s Syndrome do very well on a senior feed and appropriate medication. Cost of pergolide can vary greatly and your veterinarian may be able to direct you to the best source.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTION BY – GAYLE M. REVERON, PAS

EQUINE SPECALIST – CARGILL ANIMAL NUTRITION

For more information and equine related articles written by Gayle M. Reveron, PAS,
go to www.horsefeedblog.com

This newsletter is for informational use only. You should contact your local veterinarian for questions and concerns about all equine health and care issues.

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information sources include the following: Cushing’s Disease in Horses by Janye D. Wilson, Cushing’s Syndrome – Technical Information for Veterinarians- www.recoveryeq.com. Feeding a Horse with Cushing’s Syndrome, by Galye M. Reveron, PAS.

Tendon and ligament strains and sprains are very common injuries in the lower leg of performance horses. What are tendons and ligaments? A tendon is a fibrous cord by which muscle is attached to bone. A ligament is a band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints. The most common of these injuries affects the weight bearing digital flexor at the back of the canon bone and fetlock. Many horses suffer tendon and ligament injuries that can possibly end their competitive life if not handled quickly and effectively.

The most common damage is to the superficial digital flexor tendon. This is closet to the skin at the back of the canon bone, and can be palpated from the back of the knee down to the fetlock. The deep digital flexor tendon lies just under it, and under that is the suspensory ligament. The digital flexor tendons are at the back of the leg and are there to support the fetlock joint, and to act as a spring, storing elastic energy when the horse is moving. When the tendons are mature and are exposed to rigorous training and pushed to their limit of resilience, this is when a progressive degeneration of the tendon structure can eventually result in tearing and failure of the tendon. Horses in intense training, especially those that are not properly conditioned, are at the most risk.

Your reaction after a tendon injury can play a major role in determining how your horse responds in the long term. When a tendon is injured, it first will begin to swell. If the injury is gradual over time, the swelling is first called tendonitis. It is important to be an observant horse owner and/or trainer enabling you to pick up any early signs of swelling in tendons.

Causes:

• Direct trauma
• Poor conformation
• Poor foot trimming and balance
• Rough ground
• Excessive fast work on young horses before the horse is conditioned
• Inadequate Conditioning
• Overworking a tired horse

Signs To Look For:

• Lameness
• Swelling
• Thickening or enlargement
• Heat
• Pain or palpitation
• Excess fluid in tendon sheath
• The typical “bow” profile in tendon area

Diagnosis Can Be Based On The Following:

• Clinical signs
• Lameness examination
• Thermography
• Ultrasound Examination

Initial therapy includes icing, bandaging and sweating the limb to decrease inflammation, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy. Thankfully, treatment of tendon damage has progressed significantly over the years. It is important to have a veterinarian that you can count on. You will need their advice when dealing with tendon injuries in horses.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

This newsletter is for informational use only. You should contact your local veterinarian for questions and concerns about all equine health and care issues.

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information sources include the following: Tendon Injuries by Laura Werner, DVM, ACVS, MS, Athletic Animals – Tendon Injuries . Tendon Injuries in Horses, Dr. Patricia J. Provost.

Enteroliths or bezoars are stones that form in the intestinal tract of horses. They are made primarily of minerals such as, magnesium, ammonium and phosphate. The minerals form or build up around a foreign object that the horse has accidentally ingested. This can be from the smallest piece of wood, metal or plastic. Over time, minerals from the hay slowly build up around the stone, slowly increasing in size. Left untreated, these mineral stones will continue to grow in the intestinal tract, causing colic and intestinal obstruction, which may be a potentially fatal condition.

There are a variety of situations and conditions that can cause colic in horses. Feed impaction’s, gas build up, intestinal displacement and parasites are among the most common factors that can cause abdominal problems. Enteroliths are a less common cause of colic, but because the presence of a stone formation (enterolith) can be fatal and in most cases requires surgery, it is important for the horse owner to become familiar with the causes and signs of enteroliths in horses.

Colic is the first sign that your horse might have an enterolith formation. The symptoms may accelerate as the large intestine becomes filled with gas. Here is a list of colic symptoms to be aware of:

• Refused to eat hay or grain
• Noticeable change in attitude
• Attempting to roll
• Repeated laying down
• Pawing or stomping
• Standing in a stretched position
• Temperature, pulse or respiration rate can be slightly elevated
• Kicking at the stomach or glancing back at the barrel

If your horse is already passing smaller enteroliths, then you should suspect that there might be larger ones. There are other behavior signs that may be observed, but are less common:

• Lethargy or depression
• Cranky behavior
• Weight loss
• Occasional loose stool
• Poor performance or reluctant to jump or go down hills

The only treatment that has proved to be successful for horses with colic due to enteroliths is surgical removal. There are some key elements of prevention to consider:

• Cut down on alfalfa. Nearly all the horses experiencing enteroliths had a diet consisting of 50% alfalfa or more. Grass or oat hay is preferred.
• Bran is high in phosphorus which is linked to enterolith formation. Reduce or eliminate bran from horse’s diet.
• Increase grain ratio to decrease the pH level in the colon. (Consult your veterinarian when adjusting grain ratio).
• In order to increase the movement of bulk material through the colon, provide grazing or increased feeding schedule to three or four times a day.
• Use straw for bedding instead of shavings. Some horses will nibble on straw which will provide constant low fiber.
• Provide occasional doses of psyllium mucciloid to improve bulk movement. This will help move both small enteroliths and the foreign objects around which they form.
• Keep the digestive system moving by providing consistent and frequent exercise.

It is important to note that for those that live in areas known for having a higher incidence of stones (as in the Mid-west and California), and owners of high-risk breeds (such as Arabians and female horses), you should work with your veterinarian to plan a care program to help minimize the risk of eneroliths.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information sources include the following: Your Horse, by Eleanor Richards, KBR Horse Health Information, Enteroliths, The Horse Chit Chat – The C. Jarvis Insurance newsletter is for informational use only and does not reflect the opinions or views of C. Jarvis Insurance Agency. As with all equine concerns and health issues, contact your local veterinarian.

Many of us have heard the term shockwave therapy, some of us have used shockwave therapy to treat injuries in our horses, but how much do we really know about the principles behind this innovative treatment?

First, what exactly is a shockwave? A shockwave is a pressure wave, a high frequency sound wave. Any action that displaces its surrounding medium is a shockwave. The ripple in the water created when a rock is thrown into a pond is a shockwave. An earthquake is a shockwave in the earth.

The shockwaves used in veterinary medicine can be generated in three different ways: electrohydraulically, piezoelectrically or through an electromagnetic field. Shockwaves are focused, and can be directed to the precise area of the injury. They are transmitted readily from the transducer head, through ultrasound coupling gel, and through soft tissue where the energy of the wave is released at a specific depth, depending on the transducer head that is used.

With that knowledge, what do shockwaves do that is therapeutic? Shockwave therapy is involved in the healing process on many levels and has a role in a myriad of different metabolic processes important in healing. Shockwave therapy has been shown to stimulate new bone growth in fractures, stimulate the in-growth of new blood vessels (neovascularization), increase cell permeability and possibly stimulate fibroblast formation (the cells important in repairing tendons and ligaments).

In addition, shockwave therapy stimulates stem cells that occur naturally in the animal’s body to migrate to the area that is treated. It has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and has also been found to have anti-bacterial capabilities. Shockwave therapy has a transient analgesic effect as well.

Used extensively in Europe, Asia, and South America to treat a wide variety of soft tissue and orthopedic injuries in people, it is the treatment of choice in many areas of the world for non-union fractures. It is also very effective at treating chronic, infected wounds that have not responded to traditional therapies. It has been approved in the U.S. by the FDA for selected conditions.

Shockwave therapy has been used in the U.S. in veterinary medicine for approximately 10 years. It has been successfully used to treat both soft tissue and bony problems, both acute and chronic, including suspensory ligament injuries, with or without avulsion fractures, tendon injuries, arthritis, collateral ligament injuries, navicular syndrome, impar ligament injuries, ringbone, joint inflammation and pain, back pain, neck pain, and muscle tears and strains.

The treatment protocol depends on the diagnosis of each individual patient. Treatment varies in the number of shockwaves and the energy of those shockwaves. For example, in the case of an acute tendon injury, the energy would be decreased and the number of impulses would be reduced as compared to the treatment of an injury that was a month old. Most conditions are treated a total of 3 times, spaced at two to three week intervals. The optimum treatment regime for each animal is determined after a careful review of the history and diagnostic work-up information by the veterinarians working on the case. Usually, the treatment can be performed at the horse’s home barn, eliminating the need for the animal to be shipped to a distant facility for treatment.

After treatment, there may be a reduction in pain and/or swelling within hours. This may last for 2-4 days and then the animal will return to close to the original status. Over the next 2-3 weeks, actual healing will take place. It is important to note that shockwave therapy does not necessarily speed up the healing process, but will generally lead to a higher success rate and a better end result. In competition horses, shockwave therapy can be an important non-invasive adjunct to help keep a horse comfortable. For example, it can be very useful in helping a horse with a sore back to achieve comfort and freedom through his back.

One very important aspect of shockwave therapy is to recognize that not all shockwave machines are created equal. There are some machines that have been marketed as shockwave machines that do not generate a true shockwave, but instead generate what is call a ballistic or radial wave. Treatment with this type of machine is generally considerably less expensive than with a true focused shockwave, but it is not comparable in terms of technology or results and can possibly have detrimental effects.

For the future, shockwave therapy holds potential in many different areas. The 10th International Congress of the International Society for Musculoskeletal Shockwave, an international organization consisting largely of human orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physiologists and basic researchers that are involved in using shockwave therapy in the human medical field, showcased over 100 different research projects that are currently being conducted into shockwave therapy. One of the most exciting new areas of research is in the treatment of wounds and burns with shockwave therapy. Currently, the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy are collaborating on a prospective study using shockwave therapy to treat burns and wounds in soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Jenny Johnson, Calabasas, CA, has treated a horse with extensive burns sustained in a trailer fire with remarkable results: “Within 24 hours of treatment, there were new blood vessels visible at the burn edge, the smell was gone, and the pus that was oozing through the scabs was markedly reduced. In addition, the horse was significantly more comfortable.”

In short, shockwave therapy is useful for much more than just suspensory injuries. It is a non-invasive therapy that can significantly aid the healing of many types of injuries. “It helps the body heal itself” says Dr. Johnson.

Dr Jenny Johnson is a 1986 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where she also completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery. She had a solo practice in Wellington, FL specializing in high performance hunter, jumper and dressage horses for approximately 10 years. Since coming to California, she has continued to be active with lameness consultations, has served as the official show veterinarian at shows in Colorado, and is currently working toward her FEI Veterinary Delegate certification. Dr. Johnson started Oakhill Shockwave in 2005 to bring this innovative technology to the horses of Southern California.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

Reprinted with permission from Dr. Jenny Johnson, Schockwave Therapy. This newsletter is for informational use only and does not express the opinions or views of C. Jarvis Insurance Agency. Consult your veterinarian for all your equine health related issues.

To understand navicular syndrome you should know the function of the navicular bone. The first function is to protect the joint and tendons from pressure and concussion and the second is to act as a valve for blood flow to the coffin bone and corium inside the hoof. Dr. David Ramey states, If the hooves are not properly cared for, the navicular bone becomes immobile, resulting in poor blood within the hoof. Damage and/or breakdown to the navicular bone and related connective tissue structures results in pain and a visible stumbling gait. Navicular syndrome often begins as an inflammation of the bursa between the deep digital flexor tendon and the navicular bone of the foot.

Navicular syndrome is caused by a gradual deterioration of the navicular bone at the back of the horses foot, near the heel. Breeds that have small feet compared to or related to their body size are more likely to develop navicular disease. The reason is the smaller the hoof in relation to the horses size, the greater the shock to the navicular bone. A horse with more upright pasterns may be predisposed to navicular syndrome. Overweight horses with smaller feet (proportionate to the size of their bodies) will have a higher probability of suffering from navicular syndrome.

Activity level can play a role in the development of navicular syndrome. Horses that are participating in stressful activities that they are not suited for, and experience a fair amount of percussion on the forefeet, are inclined to experience navicular syndrome. Improper shoeing can cause many joint and muscle problems and is a major factor in the progression of degenerative disease. An experienced farrier can use corrective shoeing to help manage the problem.

Signs of Navicular Syndrome:

• When walking the horse places his weight on his toe to avoid placing pressure on the heel area, which is the inflamed navicular bone.
• While standing, the horse will tend to swift its weight constantly, trying to relieve pressure and pain from the heel area.
• While traveling the horse will place his weight on his toes thus producing a rough gait and giving the appearance of being lame in the shoulder.
• The horse will often be lame after work, but look fine after a period of rest.
• The heels and adjacent hoof may become smaller and contracted as a result of poor circulation in the foot.

Contact your veterinarian when signs of lameness appear. Your veterinarian will probably use hoof testers to help diagnose the condition. By applying pressure over the frog area the hoof testers will produce pain if the presence of navicular syndrome is there. The hoof testers should be used on the hind feet as well, to compare the reaction with the forefeet.

An anesthetic injection can be given locally to block the nerve supply to the affected area, which should relieve the pain for a short period of time. If the horse was lame before the injection, and then walks normally after the injection, it may be assumed that the lameness is located in the navicular area.

Treatment for Navicular Syndrome varies and is dependent upon the demands put upon the horse and the severity of the condition. There are many ways to relieve the pain of navicular disease:

• As a preventive measure each horse should be trimmed according to the particular conformation that needs correction. The most effective treatment for Navicular syndrome seems to be good foot care. Corrective shoeing is helpful in relieving the pressure on the heels. Consult your veterinarian and farrier together when shoeing your horse.
• Medications can be prescribed for horses with navicular syndrome. Oral and injectable drugs are available to temporarily manage the pain.
• Neurectomy is a drastic treatment, usually used only for long-term cases after all other options are exhausted. A small piece of the nerve that penetrates the navicular area in the pastern is cut, numbing the entire foot. There are problems that are associated with this type of procedure that should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Better diagnostic tools for imaging the horses hoof are available and are important to the proper diagnosis of navicular disease. No other lameness in the horse arouses such a variety of opinions about definition, diagnosis, and treatment than does navicular disease. Dr. David W Ramey writes, “Most likely no condition of the horse’s limbs is as feared by horse owners as is navicular syndrome. Probably no condition is as frequently suspected as a cause of lameness in the horse as disease of the horse’s navicular bone. Certainly, few conditions that cause lameness in the horse are as frequently diagnosed as is navicular syndrome.”

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

A SPECIAL THANKS TO MARY R. VOGT FOR THE USE OF HER PHOTOGRAPHY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.MORGUEFILE.COM

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information and material was obtained through the following: www.mirrorkbranch.com, Hitting the Hay; www.thehorse.com; www.ezinearticles.com How Horses Sleep and How it Affects Their Behavior;www.smartpakequine.com – Sleep Deprivation & Narcolepsy.

Sleep is an important part of our health and is equally as important to our horses’ health. Lack of sleep or a sleep disorder may impact a horse’s physical activity, attitude and quality of health and life. Horses actually require very little sleep compared to people. The average horse spends as much as 3 or 4 hours per day actually sleeping, with another 2-3 hours per day in a drowsiness state. Even though horses can sleep standing, they need to be able to lie down and rest at least some of the time. Only about 30 minutes per day is spent in the REM sleep. The domestic horse that is confined to a stall and is on a feeding and exercise schedule is forced to time his sleep cycle at night, adapting his periods of rest to the human schedule.

There are four stages that make up the sleeping and waking cycle of the horse, that are observable:

• Wakefulness Stage is when the horse is fully conscious and aware of what is going on around him. During this “wakefulness” horses can be consuming food, running or playing in pastures with other horses or being ridden or enjoyed by man.
• Drowsiness stage (DR) is probably the stage in which most domestic horses spend most of their time. Horses in confinement, unable to freely find their own food, have to wait for the scheduled feedings and exercise that humans provide for them. In this situation a horse may drowse away the day. During this drowsiness stage the horse is relaxed with head and neck slightly drooping below wither height, eyes closed, ears gently back, and standing with supporting weight on three legs with one hind leg cocked. While in this stage, the horse relies on the stay apparatus in their legs. The ability to lock his knees and stifles allows the horse to remain standing during this stage of rest.
• The Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) is identified by the reduced electroencephalograph (EEG) patterns in the brain which has been used to aid in distinguishing true sleep from waking. During the slow wave sleep, the EEG monitored brain waves are slow and regular, indicating that the brain is not functioning at its most active level and is said to be the stage the mind sleeps. It is believed that SWS is the first stage of sleep that a horse goes through before reaching the rapid eye movement sleep (REM). Horses that are in SWS are able to use the stay apparatus in their legs to remain standing, but they will have to lie down before going into REM sleep.
• Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM) has been called the paradoxical sleep showing similarities in brain waves to that of waking. EEG patterns indicate that the mind is almost as active as waking, even though REM is a deeper sleep than SWS. REM is the most important stage in sleep, but not fully understood. The heartbeat rises slightly while respiration rates declines during REM sleep. REM is partly responsible for both the mental and physical well being in all animals.

Sleep disorders occur in horses and can cause serious problems. The most common disorder is sleep deprivation. Many things can cause sleep deprivation, such as environmental stresses, issues with herd dynamics, pain related problems, late-stage pregnancy that hinders ease of lying down, traveling and competition, and hospitalization.The horse may show signs of excessive sleepiness with sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions.

Narcolepsy is different than sleep deprivation. According to equine neurologist Steven Reed, DVM, ACVIM, “narcolepsy can be defined as a rare and incurable sleep disorder of the central nervous system characterized by uncontrolled episodes of loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) and sleep. Any horse that appears drowsy, weak or collapses should be examined by a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis since this type of medical condition can be dangerous to both the horse and his handler.”

Readers are cautioned to seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy. This newsletter is intended for informational use only and does not express the views or opinions of C. Jarvis Insurance Agency.

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com

A SPECIAL THANKS TO MARY R. VOGT FOR THE USE OF HER PHOTOGRAPHY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.MORGUEFILE.COM

Newsletter is written by Margie Turner. Information and material was obtained through the following: www.mirrorkbranch.com, Hitting the Hay; www.thehorse.com; www.ezinearticles.com How Horses Sleep and How it Affects Their Behavior;www.smartpakequine.com – Sleep Deprivation & Narcolepsy.

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

YOUR SOURCE FOR EQUINE PROTECTION AND FARM AND RANCH INSURANCE

For More Information Call:

C. Jarvis Insurance Agency
33755 Station Street
Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: (440) 248-5330Fax: (440) 248-8737
info@jarvisinsurance.com or visit us at http://www.jarvisinsurance.com