This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
Locked on 06/01/2005 7:40:05 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
Thread Six: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1414401/posts |
Posted on 03/21/2005 7:18:04 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in . There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news . Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
A horse who has an unusual change in attitude or becomes touchy around their abdomen may have an ulcer.
Youve read the ads, seen the endoscope studies results and heard the talk: Gastric ulcers are incredibly common in domesticated horses. The incidence is higher in heavily stressed horses, like racehorses and endurance horses, but ulcers are being found in quiet horses that seem to have a plain, ordinary, easy life, too.
If your horse doesnt quite seem like himself at times, not colicky, but definitely somehow uncomfortable, he may be battling an ulcer. Or maybe he doesnt eat with the enthusiasm he used to have, or just lacks the spirit he used to have. Youve ruled out other possibilities and are left to face the fact that you may well be seeing the symptoms of a chronic gastro-intestinal (GI)-related problem, such as an ulcer.
Risk factors for developing ulcers include:
Stall confinement.
Sporadic feeding rather than constant access to grass.
Exercise faster than a walk. (This causes enough rise in abdominal pressure to cause some acid movement into the unprotected areas of the stomach. The faster the horse moves, the more pressure and back wash of acid.)
Feeding processed feeds rather than whole grains.
Prolonged fasting (e.g. long trips, long period of time between last feed of the day and the morning feed).
Any problem elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract.
Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids.
The only way to definitively diagnose gastric ulcers is to examine the stomach directly with an endoscope at a veterinary clinic or do a sucrose-absorption test (see sidebar). However, most horses are diagnosed by symptoms only.
Signs most suggestive of gastric ulcer include:
Grinding of the teeth. Belching noises. Slow eating, often walking away without finishing meals all at once. Picky appetite that includes the horse refusing foods or supplements that were consumed readily before.
These symptoms arent diagnostic of ulcers, but they do suggest discomfort associated with the upper GI tract/stomach. Less-specific signs frequently attributed to ulcers are:
Sour, sulky attitude. Poor coat. Weight loss. Poor performance. Irritability. Sensitivity to touch around the horse's lower belly/sternum area.
Since the signs and symptoms are nonspecificand overlap quite a bit with other causes of low-grade intestinal-tract discomfort and with pain from any causeulcers may be blamed when another problem is actually the cause. Its important to involve your veterinarian in the diagnosis and treatment.
Plenty of turnouttime for a horse to be a horseis important to your horses health.
While horses can develop some degree of gastric ulceration easily and under a wide variety of conditions, ulcers can and do heal spontaneously. On a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being only obvious reddening of the stomach lining and 3 is a deep ulcer, a horse with a grade 3 ulcer is more likely to actually have symptoms as a result and definitely requires treatment, while a grade 1 stomach irritation could be symptom-free and resolve on its own.
Exercise As A Risk Factor Studies performed at the University of Florida have shown that horses moving at a rate faster than a walk experience increased abdominal pressure that essentially back flushes highly acidic stomach contents from the lower, acid-producing (glandular) portion of the stomach back to the nonglandular portion. The Florida researchers found that when a horse is standing or walking, the pH of the stomach just inside the junction with the esophagus is in the range of 5 to 6, but as soon as the pace is picked up the acid back flow can drop it to as low as 1.
The more time the horse spends moving around faster than a walk, the greater the exposure of these portions of the stomach to highly acidic conditions. Its a small wonder that a preliminary study looking for gastric ulceration in endurance horses found lesions in 67%. Most lesions were located in the nonglandular portion, same location as in other performance horses, but 27% also had ulceration in the glandular portion, a condition that is usually only seen in horses following a critical illness of some type.
Given the prolonged, strenuous exercise it was surprising that more horses did not show ulcers, but common practices on rides may be why. Many endurance riders feed alfalfa, which has an excellent buffering effect in the stomach. Beet pulp is another favorite and remains in the stomach longer than other types of feed. Allowing the horse to stop for water at every opportunity will also at least temporarily dilute the acidity.
Oh, BTW, thanks for looking for the article, I'd be interested in reading it. Anything that might give me a clue:)
Becky
In humans, garlic has been shown to help heal ulcers. Would it work in a horse?
Have you tried giving him Pro-Biotics?
Probiotics, meaning "for life" are live bacteria cultures, believed to restore or enhance the natural flora in the gut. In other words, probiotics increase the number of food-processing bugs present in the gut and improve efficiency. When prescribing antibiotics -- which can upset digestion by killing off beneficial intestinal bacteria along with pathogens elsewhere in the body -- some veterinarians suggest giving probiotics.
Very interesting article.
I remember the last time he did this it was right after I had rode him several days in a row. And this time he got rode last week several times, and altho I didn't feel I was overworking him, his workouts were mostly arena work on barrels. Alot of loping.
He has been turned out nearly everyday. There isn't alot of grass growing, but he has had the turn out time.
Becky
LOL.
You should see these dogs over here! They're adorable, if not a little pushy. They love being loved on.
Did you talk to Kelsi?
Today seems like it's going to be a good one!
Hi....are you going to the sale in Middlefield this Saturday?
I don't know anything at all about ulcers but I have heard of people giving their horses garlic. I use ProBotics on my babies.
Off to get ready for work, everyone have a good day.
JimBob and Blake came over last night. JimBob to talk to Dad about working for Dave. And Blake was asking ALL KINDS of questions about you, where you were, what you're doing, when will you come back. He seemed really upset cuz you're gone.
(woowoo...wink...wink)
Blake was asking all those questions? That surprises me.
I started using probiotics for the rescued horse. I noticed that it makes her poop darker with hardly ANY grain showing in it. (man, that would make our chickens mad)
(heeheehee)
lol
wink...wink
She's getting a good experience with how wacky my dog is... Gidget's major nemisis; the garbage man, just came.
Time to go take blankets off and let the horses out. It's going to be nice and sunny today for riding.
How's the weather there? Here, it's dreary and chilly and damp, rain expected later.
I think I'm gonna nap. Maybe it'll help me feel better.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.