The Horse

SEP 2017

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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10 TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2017 NEWSFRONT Inquiries to: 859/276-6726 E-Mail: News@TheHorse.com ERICA LARSON, News Editor @TH_EricaLarson Shoe Type Likely Doesn't Change Horse Movement If you're looking to enhance your horse's gait, you might consider trying a different type of shoe. But recent study results suggest that shoe type won't impact your horse's gen- eral biomechanics much. "The weight of the shoe seems to be what's causing an effect on horses' biomechanics above the fetlock, more than the design of the shoe," said Joëlle Stutz, a PhD candidate working under Antonio Cruz, PhD, of the Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, at the Univer- sity of Bern Veterinary School. Stutz, along with Cruz's research group, tested four treatments (barefoot or shod with an egg bar shoe, a rock- ered toe shoe, or a traditional shoe) on 10 healthy Franches- Montagne stallions. They found no remarkable differences in biomechanical movement or hoof structure and function from one shoe to another, Stutz said. However, they did notice a significantly greater front-to-back swing of the limbs with any of the shoes than with no shoes. "This appears to be an effect of the additional weight on the feet, exaggerating move- ment of the entire limb, as has been documented before," Stutz said. Learn more at TheHorse. com/39382. —Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA You've heard about the obvious signs of laminitis: the "classic" rocked-back stance, throbbing arterial pulses, and feet that are hot to the touch. But would you be able to recognize more subtle signs of this devastating foot disease in your horse? Researchers revealed that nearly half the owners in a recent study, including those indicating they'd had previous experience with laminitis, did not perceive laminitis signs in horses veterinarians later diagnosed as having the condition. Researchers evaluated 93 active laminitis cases diagnosed at 25 veterinary practices in Great Britain. Study horses' owners and veterinarians independently completed laminitis reporting forms. Owners suspected laminitis in 51 horses, all of which were confirmed as having the disease by a veterinarian. Owners did not recognize laminitis signs in the remaining 42 confirmed cases; rather, they cited lameness/stiffness, hoof abscess, or colic. Common but subtle clinicals signs study veterinarians reported included difficulty turning, weight shifting, and high body condition scores (considered a risk factor). Study owners owners were more likely to report increased hoof temperature, however. "I would urge all horse owners to educate themselves … espe- cially about the more subtle but commonly reported clinical signs associated with laminitis," said study author Danica Pollard, BSc, MSc, a PhD candidate at the Animal Health Trust in the U.K. Read more at TheHorse.com/39428.—Natalie DeFee Mendik, MA Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) and Cornell University say both play a role in development of EMS, which is characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, and hyper- insulinemia. But they recently linked a spot on a specific gene to EMS—the first genetic locus for EMS to be identified and validated in the horse. "Our preliminary work seemed to confirm horsemen's lore that some breeds of horse were clearly more susceptible to EMS," said UF researcher Samantha Brooks, PhD. Arabians, for example, have a reputation for being prone to developing EMS. So, in their study, Brooks and colleagues tested samples from 64 Arabi- ans with histories of laminitis secondary to EMS. They identi- fied markers on Equus caballus chromosome 3 near a gene— FAM174A—that appeared to be linked with EMS. The team also found that these markers cor- related with elevated circulat- ing insulin levels, triglycerides (fats), body condition score, and laminitis—traits associated with EMS diagnosis. Brooks said this type of genotyping is fairly simple and could be commercially avail- able soon. "Horses carrying the risk- associated genotype could be monitored more closely from birth and put on preventive diets," she said. Find more study results at TheHorse.com/39353. —Casie Bazay, NBCAAM Genetic Study Identifies EMS Risk in Arabians N ature vs. nurture. It's a topic at the center of debate not only in the field of psychology but also when it comes to conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Do horses devel- op it due to genetics or management practices? The team identified specific genetic markers that correlated with elevated circulating insulin levels, fats, body condition score, and laminitis. ISTOCK.COM PHOTOS Veterinarians noted more subtle signs of laminitis, such as weight shifting, than did horse owners. How Well Do Horse Owners Recognize Laminitis?

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