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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19 September 2017 THE HORSE TheHorse.com the horse has any health issues; and if he has any training. Eller reminds owners not to dismiss an older horse. "Many people would mistak- enly consider a 15- to 20-year-old horse to be over the hill," she says. "At that age, many horses have settled down and gotten plenty of life experience, so they can be less flighty and reactive. As long as the horse remains physically sound, older horses are terrific for kids and seniors looking for a gentle ride." Riskier Accepting a horse from a stranger can be chancy, especially if you end up with an animal that was misrep- resented. "Now that we have long-acting tranquilizers, you hear stories of people that have adopted what seemed to be a placid horse, only to find that they turn into a maniac when they get home," says Wilson. Williams recommends owners have a veterinarian perform a prepurchase exam on a potential free horse so they can make an informed decision about acquiring him. "If someone offers you a free horse, you are under no obligation to take it," she says, adding that just because a horse is free doesn't necessarily mean it is unwanted or wouldn't make a good riding horse. She does caution novices and parents of small children against taking on a free horse with an unknown history because they could get in over their heads if the horse ends up having physical or behavioral problems. "Novices need a horse where they can learn, not where they're having to teach the horse," she says, adding that it's important to go into any free-horse situation with your eyes wide open. If an inexperienced owner ends up with a horse with behavior issues or that needs additional training, then he or she might need to invest in professional training. And if that horse winds up having injuries or illnesses, then the owner has additional veterinary expenses, lost time with the horse, possible euthanasia if he ends up too sick or dangerous, and then expenses for burial or other disposal, which Wilson says can run around $500. Riskiest Low-end auction and kill pen horses, while not completely free, are the riskiest horses to take on. "A horse that's been put in the kill pen has gone through a lot of stress," Wilson says. "First, they have been shipped there, they have been separated from their social group, and now they're commingling with a group of horses of totally unknown health history. Bringing Your Free Horse Home It can be exciting to ship your new horse home, but to maintain his health as well as that of his soon-to-be herdmates, you need to do some planning first. Coggins Test Nicole Eller, DVM, MA, a Minnesota-based field shelter veterinarian for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Field Investigations and Response Team, says owners should make sure the horse has a current negative Coggins test before he steps foot on the property. This ensures the horse does not have equine infectious anemia (EIA), a bloodborne disease with life-threatening complications. If a horse turns up with EIA, the owner must inform the state veterinarian and decide whether euthanasia or a lifetime of quarantine is the best option. Quarantine Separating any new horse upon arrival from resident horses is the best way to reduce the possible spread of viruses, bacte- ria, and other pathogens. "Infectious disease can run rampant through your herd, leading to lost training time, thousands of dollars in vet care and medication, and possibly even the loss of life," says Eller. Julie Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, executive director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine and the president of the Equitarian Ini- tiative, adds, "The other reason to quarantine them, as well, especially if you don't have a known history, is to make sure they get dewormed, because they may be shedding large amounts of parasite eggs that would contaminate the pasture if you just turn them out." The most common diseases and parasites to watch for include strangles (Streptococcus equi), equine influenza and other respiratory diseases (such as equine herpesvirus, which can also manifest as abortion and neurologic disease), salmonellosis, strongyles, pinworms, ringworm, ticks, and lice. Report clinical signs of disease to your veterinarian immediately. Eller recommends keeping the new horse in a separate barn, if possible, or at least 30 feet away from other horses in the same barn. She said the USDA recommends a 30-day quarantine period, but if that is not possible, quarantine should last at least 14 days. "Airflow should ideally be from the resident horses toward the new horse and then to the outside, and new horses should always be handled, fed, and cleaned last," says Eller. "Alternatively, keep a pair of boots and coveralls in a bucket near this horse to be used only for handling that horse. Wash your hands and blow your nose when finished (then wash your hands again). Yes, you can carry infectious agents to other horses in your nose! Be sure to use separate clean- ing, grooming, and feeding equipment for this horse during quaran- tine. It is helpful to mark those items with red tape." Wilson adds that it's important for these new additions to live in a safe environment with little social stress during the quarantine period, so they're unlikely to injure themselves and so owners can watch for signs of illness. Despite the challenges, quarantine can be less work and less expensive in the long run than having a barn full of sick horses. —Sarah Evers Conrad Quarantine your new horse from the resident herd to reduce the risk of disease spread. ALEXANDRA BECKSTETT/THE HORSE

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