The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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22 TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2017 shedding or a long hair coat) and chronic laminitis. Other horses suffer from equine asthma. Both are manageable with medi- cations but not curable. The horses Williams most commonly sees come through Bluebonnet are emaci- ated, suffering from laminitis or have in the past, or have an undiagnosed lame- ness. She has found true physical abuse and its related injuries to be rare. More often she finds horses that just haven't been handled much. "We get horses who are adults who still aren't halter-broke, or they've been mishandled or inconsistently handled where they've been allowed to crowd and walk over the top of people and be pushy," she says. "And not because they're bad horses or obnoxious, but because they haven't been taught any better." Because safety is paramount, she recommends novices steer clear of these horses; they belong with more experi- enced horsemen and women who train or can hire a trainer to help. As for getting to know the horse with an unknown history, it can take some time. Williams has seen some pretty dramatic behavior changes in rescue horses, for example. "As they start to gain weight and feel healthier, that really quiet, placid, what you thought was going to be a kid-safe horse when you first got him can start to become a whole lot more energetic," she says. Whatever the horse's background or current condition, be sure to talk to your veterinarian—and if you board, the farm owner—prior to bringing him on the property, so you can best prevent disease spread, begin rehab, and set the tone for a successful future partnership. Take-Home Message Despite the potential challenges involved, all three sources encourage potential owners to keep an open mind about free horses because the possibility is there to find a great mount. "I have found a lovely, trusting equine who needed a little TLC," says Eller. "I have found Third Level dressage horses, amazing off-the-track Thoroughbreds who wanted to be jumpers, and retirees who just wanted to do walkabouts with kids. Adopting a horse is an incredibly rewarding experience, and with a bit of planning and consideration to ensure you are finding the best horse for your life- style, you'll get to enjoy years of compan- ionship with your new horse." In the second part of this series, to be published next month, we'll take an in-depth look at your free horse's first veterinary exam and how to manage his diet, hoof care, deworming, vaccinations, and more. h CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. EQUIOXX® (firocoxib) is indicated for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in horses. Firocoxib belongs to the coxib class of non-narcotic, non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to firocoxib should not receive EQUIOXX. WARNINGS: EQUIOXX is for use in horses only. Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Do not use in humans. Store EQUIOXX Tablets out of the reach of dogs, children, and other pets in a secured location in order to prevent accidental ingestion or overdose. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure. Horses should undergo a thorough history and physical examination before initiation of NSAID therapy. Appropriate laboratory tests should be conducted to establish hematological and serum biochemical baseline data before and periodically during administration of any NSAID. NSAIDs may inhibit the prostaglandins that maintain normal homeostatic function. Such anti-prostaglandin effects may result in clinically significant disease in patients with underlying or pre-existing disease that has not been previously diagnosed. Treatment with EQUIOXX should be terminated if signs such as inappetance, colic, abnormal feces, or lethargy are observed. As a class, cyclooxygenase inhibitory NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, renal, and hepatic toxicity. Sensitivity to drug-associated adverse events varies with the individual patient. Horses that have experienced adverse reactions from one NSAID may experience adverse reactions from another NSAID. Patients at greatest risk for adverse events are those that are dehydrated, on diuretic therapy, or those with existing renal, cardiovascular, and/ or hepatic dysfunction. The majority of patients with drug-related adverse reactions recover when the signs are recognized, drug administration is stopped, and veterinary care is initiated. Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be carefully approached or avoided. Since many NSAIDs possess the potential to produce gastrointestinal ulcerations and/or gastrointestinal perforation, concomitant use of EQUIOXX with other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs or corticosteroids, should be avoided. The concomitant use of protein bound drugs with EQUIOXX has not been studied in horses. The influence of concomitant drugs that may inhibit the metabolism of EQUIOXX has not been evaluated. Drug compatibility should be monitored in patients requiring adjunctive therapy. The safe use of EQUIOXX in horses less than one year of age, horses used for breeding, or in pregnant or lactating mares has not been evaluated. Consider appropriate washout times when switching from one NSAID to another NSAID or corticosteroid. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contains more detailed occupational safety information. For technical assistance, to request an SDS, or to report suspected adverse events call 1-877-217-3543. For additional information about adverse event reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS, or http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary. Rev 10/2016 Have you ever gotten a horse for free (without the previous owner asking for compensation)? YES ■ 69% 348 VOTES NO ■ 31% 154 VOTES TheHorse.com/polls/822/free-horses POLL OF TheHorse.com Readers PAULA DA SILVA A common free-horse scenario is the mature horse that hasn't had consistent handling or has been mishandled. These belong with more experienced horse people. What Does a 'Free' Horse Cost? PART 1