Horse articles. Tips on horse health and nutrition, grooming and hoof care, horse diseases and more.
Though not an emergency, melanomas or tumors, do need to be checked and monitored for any changes.
More common on grey horses, they are especially common around the anus, perineal area, vulva, sheath and penis. They are most often black and may or may not be increasing in size.
The decision to remove a melanoma may be based on its location and how rapidly it is growing. Your vet should examine the melanoma and advise you on what changes to look for.
Everyone should have Rescue Remedy on hand to treat shock resulting from minor and major physical or emotional trauma. Treating a horse for shock minimises the recovery time from the accident or injury and prevents that experience having repercussions on future health or nervous system problems.
Take some yourself at the same time.!
Rescue Remedy is also excellent for horses that tend to panic, even if it is a long standing pattern, for example floating, going to shows and so on. It can be useful when combined with Chamomile Tea. It contains five Bach Flower Essences, which work homeopathically. It is available from health food stores and specialty shops.
The Cavesson Headcollar
What is a Cavesson?
The cavesson headcollar or headstall is a simple but strongly made bitless bridle with a low fitting, padded noseband, throatlatch and, in some cases, a browband. Some have a strap fitted from the centre of the noseband to the headpiece for added security and to prevent the noseband dropping lower than it has been fitted. It should not be confused with the ordinary noseband on a bridle, which is also often referred to as a cavesson.
The noseband of the cavesson headcollar is reinforced with a hinged steel band, to which three D rings are attached. The centre ring, which projects up to 4cm from the noseband, is usually swivel mounted while the side rings are generally fixed.
Why is it used?
Used by itself or in conjunction with a bitted bridle, the cavesson headcollar allows the effect of lunge rein to be completely separate from the action of the bit (and any aids that may be attached to it). As it elminates the possibility of the mouth being pulled or damaged should the horse try to break away from the handler, some trainers may also choose to lead a young horse with a cavesson headcollar fitted over a bitted bridle, attaching the rein to one of the D rings.
How should it be used?
The cavesson headcollar should be fitted closely to the head to prevent if from being pulled sideways when pressure is applied to the lunge rein but not so tightly it would cause discomfort. The noseband will be fairly low to give the handler greater leverage in an emergency, and the throatlatch done up tightly enough so the cheekpieces cannot slip forward over the horse’s eye. If the cavesson is being used in conjunction with a fitted bridle, it can be fitted either underneath or over the top. It is probably more effective and comfortable if used underneath the bridle, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the action of any aids (such as side reins) attached to the bit. If fitted over the top, consideration should be given to removing the noseband from the bitted bridle, to reduce bulk and allow the noseband of the cavesson to be done up as firmly as possible.
The lunge rein can be attached to the centre ring, which allows the horse to be lunged both ways without further adjustment, or to one of the side rings. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, so determine which is more effective for a particular horse.
Can anything go wrong?
When the lunge rein is buckled to the front D, it has a significant leverage effect, which can cause the hindquarters to fly outwards if the rein is used to strongly. If the cavesson headcollar is not fitted firmly enough, the noseband will tend to revolve towards the handler, drawing the cheekpiece on the opposite side forward onto the horse’s eye. Using side reins on the other D’s when the lunge rein is attached to the centre one will help to prevent this revolving effect.
A cavesson headcollar is not an essential aid for lungeing, but is stronger, more versatile and able to be fitted more securely than a normal halter, traits that make it a useful piece of equipment to have, especially when training the young horse.
The Big Squeeze
Are you guilty of doing up your horse’s girth as tight as you can in the belief it gives your saddle and you the best security?
Well Australian researchers have found that a girth done up too tightly can have a negative effect on your horse’s performance. The usual tension applied to a girth to keep a saddle on a TB racehorse was around 13kg yet they found anything over 10kg could alter performance.
They’re not quite sure why yet but it’s thought that it may force the horse to adopt different breathing patterns involving a greater use of the diaphragm which in turn affects performance. Alternatively, the soft tissue and fluid in the thoracic wall (the part between the neck and abdomen, enclosed by the ribs) could be displaced during exercise. But no-one knows for sure. Some horses didn’t seem as affected as others and saddle placement also played a part, so more research is needed.
Having said this, don’t leave your girth too loose, your security and safety is at stake !
Interesting Horse Stories
How’s this for equine love?
Coughing
This is rarely an emergency situation as a symptom or condition on its own. A distinction needs to be made between coughs emanating from the upper and lower respiratory tract, and whether it is from an infection, inflammation or irritation, or if there is an abnormality of the airway such as a growth.
If your horse coughs a little at feed time or at the start of work, especially if dry, dusty conditions prevail, this doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. If the cough is persistant or severe, then it should be checked by a vet. If there is any material, such as mucous, pus, blood or saliva expelled from the mouth or nostrils, then naturally a vet should be called.
Give consideration to environmental conditions, such as stable mangement or feed preparation. It may be possible for you to remedy the situation fairly easily by removing the horse from a stable to a grassed paddock or wetting the horse’s feed. Urine in the bedding can cause significant irritation to the horse’s airway, so naturally stables should be kept as clean as possible and all urine soaked bedding removed at least daily.
Tying-Up
This is a reasonably common problem, seen more often amongst filles than colts and geldings. Tying-up is a work and feed related problem, which has given rise to one of this condition’s names. Monday morning sickness, where horses that are fed high grain diets over the weekend without being worked, will be worked hard on the Monday, causing a build-up of lactic acid in the muscles. There is a cramping of the muscles, especially the gluteal muscles high up in the hind legs, giving short, stilted action with the hind legs. At the same time there is a release of damaging enzymes from the muscles.
The horse may present with laminitis like conditions, be reluctant to walk and want to lie down. Its respiration may be elevated.
Walking the horse can compound damage. In mild cases, place the horse in a small yard, allow him to walk around a little if he wishes.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are useful and fluids should be given to rehydrate the horse and flush the kidneys. In severe cases the horse can be quite distressed. If you suspect tying-up, call a vet to establish the seriousness and advise treatment.
