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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6 TheHorse.com THE HORSE June 2017 This happened both when Lauren was taking contact and when she was giving her rein to stretch, but not during every ride. She manages every aspect of her horses' health very care- fully and, so, found it frustrating that she couldn't see a distinct pattern. The first thing Lauren suspected was a dental issue. It was time for Ada's annual dental exam and float, and the dentistry-focused vet said indeed, Ada needed her teeth done. However, nothing in her mouth looked to be a cause of the rooting. Next, Lauren had her veterinarian out for a spring wellness exam and a lameness exam, the chiropractor out for an adjustment, the saddle fitter out for assessment and reflocking, and another vet out to check Ada's acupuncture points for any clues of a problem. The acupuncturist suggested ulcers although Ada ap- peared to be the portrait of health. The veterinarian prescribed the ulcer medication omeprazole. About a week into Ada's treatment, Lauren remembered that about the same time the rooting started, she had replaced Ada's bit (it was wear- ing thin) with an almost-identical but less expensive one made by a different manufacturer. Could the bit be the cause? Lauren switched to the former bit, and Ada's rooting behavior stopped abruptly. She discontinued the ulcer treatment, and Ada seemed pleased to be back wearing what we jokingly began calling "Ada's Preferred Bit™." Concerned about the worn metal, Lauren decided to try the replace- ment again. The rooting didn't return … well, not for a few weeks. When it did, Ada's Preferred Bit™ saved the day. All signs seemed to suggest the mare simply has expensive taste. But eventually the rooting came back, no matter the mouthpiece. More head-scratching and a round of altrenogest (thinking it could be hormone-related) later, Lauren considered getting Ada scoped for ulcers, but opted to try omeprazole again. This time she administered the drug for longer than a week, and Ada's rooting completely stopped and has not returned after the vet's recommended protocol. This month we delve into several topics that could've been relevant to Ada: dental and dietary issues evi- dent as behavior, along with saddle fit. We all know that Lauren's experi- ence isn't unusual—some of our horses' problems can masquerade as others, and so we relentlessly seek answers until we arrive at them. Ada is gearing up for her next horse trial, and I'm happy to report she's neither rooting nor wearing a worn-down bit. h Decoding Ada's Discomfort VIEWPOINT STEPHANIE L. CHURCH Editor-in-Chief @TH_StephLChurch B ack in early spring one of my friends, Lauren, was managing a puzzling performance problem with her Warmblood mare, Ada, that she campaigns as an eventer. Ada was sound and will- ing to work, but something was amiss with her comfort in the bridle. One day I remember watching her jump around a course flawlessly before returning to her round, springy trot … but then rooting in the bridle as if she were experiencing discomfort. Keep in touch! @TheHorse facebook.com/TheHorse @TheHorseMag Publisher: Marla Bickel Editor-in-Chief: Stephanie L. Church Managing Editor: Alexandra Beckstett News Editor: Erica Larson Digital Managing Editor: Michelle Anderson Art Director: Brian Turner Web Producer: Jennifer Whittle Brand Manager: Shawna White EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT The Horse, Editorial, 3101 Beaumont Centre Circle, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40513 E-MAIL Editorial@TheHorse.com All letters must include the writer's name, address, and daytime phone number for verification. ■ Letters: Letters@TheHorse.com, or by mail. ■ Farm Call: FarmCall@TheHorse.com, or by mail. ■ Across the Fence and Behavior Columns: Editorial@TheHorse.com, or by mail. ■ New Products: Products@TheHorse.com, or by mail. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Scott Anderson, DVM Jerry Black, DVM Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS Tom Brokken, DVM Ann Dwyer, DVM Benjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT Jenifer R. Gold, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC Kyla Ortved, DVM, Dipl. ACVS Debra Taylor, DVM Educational Partnership Disclaimer: The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), one of The Horse's partners in equine health, has no involvement regarding editorial management or advertising content within this publication and thereby does not endorse any editorial or advertising content unless so acknowledged within the individual article or advertisement. ADVERTISING SALES AND SERVICES advertise@TheHorse.com West Coast Advertising Executive: Yvonne Long, 859/276-6701 ylong@TheHorse.com East Coast Advertising Executive: Leigh Walkup, 859/276-6710 lwalkup@TheHorse.com Sales Support: Kelly Stephens, 859/276-6740 kstephens@TheHorse.com PUBLISHED BY THE HORSE MEDIA GROUP LLC For up-to-date news, in-depth horse health articles, and more, go to TheHorse.com