b'TRENDINGNOW @Enrichments Arentenrichment had little effect on signs of poor welfare.Enough to Make BoxTheres this idea that adding toys and brushes and windows and different bedding Stalls Better can make stalled horses life dramatically In a recent study horses stalled withbetter, but thats clearly a myth, said study ISTOCK.COM PHOTOSenrichments such as forage, windows, and toyslead La Lansade, PhD, of the French Horse and Riding Institute and the National Institute still exhibited signs of stress and depressionfor Agricultural Researchs behavior science associated with confinement.department, in Tours.The French researchers observed stalled This kind of enrichment cant replace whats horses, looking for four behavioral signs of poorThe team compared the presence of theseessential, which is to give horses the possibility welfare: stereotypies (crib-biting, wind-sucking,signs with enrichment efforts such as providingto express the basic behaviors of their species: and weaving), aggression toward humans (bitingstraw bedding instead of shavings (allowing themove freely, have social contacts, and access and threats), a depressed state posture (neckhorses to munch on bedding that also servedforage throughout the day, she explained. and back at about the same level, with low earsas forage), having a window to the outside,Once theyve got that, then we can add the and poor response to stimulus), andstress- having access to another horse through barsextrastoys and so forth. But its important to related behaviorssuch asacting nervous withbetween the stalls, and having various kindsremember: These have to beaddedto the rest, a high neck and excessive alertness or frequentof commercial equine toys available in thenot substituted for it. Read more at TheHorse.defecation.stall. The team found that, for the most part,com/179770.Christa Lest-Lasserre, MASpecial Report:EPORT SPONSORED BY What We Know About Bisphosphonates for HorsesSPECIALR STACEY OKE, DVM, MSCWHAT WE KNOW ABOUT BISPHOSPHONATES FOR HORSESor years, equine veterinarians relied on drugs, corrective shoeing, and surgery F to help horses suffering from navicular syndrome to minimize discomfort and diseaseNavicular syndrome management changed significantly in 2014 when the U.S. Food Also known as podotrochlosis, navicular syndrome is the progression.t, along with its asociated structures. degeneration of the navicular bone nestled near the coffin boneBisphosphonates used Management of this disease changed significantly in 2014 when theapproved guidelines near the rear of the horses fo roved bisphosphonates foraccording to FDA-treatment. Despite the availability of this newer treatment option,for adult horses with U.S. Fo es h C d and Drug Administration ap e co o a h a l d b e th eo a o g B n lth l eem s e t efi o pt ic y e u nd m c T d o ia h w e ici n in te e l d a it - y tar n r a v efu ru I ul in itr nd sio nt ya os a a g p n a u o n er P nh n s, s ryr e s g ga ke h t ry s es en a yois ib M e in h let o s tin J ob f it io o e sp als ed . Sn usb h lo g a la is o ic l on oy g st ph in f , yxam ebd s.e r t re e ilu o f n a T th i ea s nd s b n p p w e s at d n in tly ho ho roPthe cur ol emt ha d n s na ph hth at io n n r a te m e su bon m g n o ese n a ra e pp e e e at c d c s ffe n x s e ,o i o e at ine c th o n st r ctal ugradehoveredto n ts ta to : t at d rS lyw os Tt n in m he fh h t ob o t o in s e e v w se o p sera ist n oth d r r a o a tio entydo appear beneficialkingrt kera a t ns ed e w t er ly,o s t o s f e h -b u us f bonb w r b o ms e o o e rs a a tub n s s r r e e d in iochemical markers of bone turn- d ai s e f ig ly d g. fou n .ltsA ifi rsiv Ti n c im ati ar ck an t rk o ed e ios tly s n e o oa cr ni ) a r r rer f b s o e e as nd ne d f h in eb u c ss d e e C ast ce i ois y b , -to n m d n o e e st .n o en rtu eo t tm p e t rn f ro a s e or r en s d so va thd e hnto l c u . t r w ue ri n r l g o op o ob r. d ti is rs t l na ch ion uT sisp cr in a e g, research- i g d s a t ebw e,en hot n as o o g ,ith s - e n e sp es. I d e n ef v h : ie a on nn r.,nti- v - a icu tesla otorck als BIANCA MCCARTY PHOTOGRAPHYsuc ratesin terms of improvement in lamenes ent body ofnavicular syndrome.around the 67% mark, leaving many horses in continued pain. Instead of lo ne density, researchers on most equineand Drug Administration approved bisphosphonates for treatment.Texas A&M Recently, Texas A&M researchers reviewed the curknowledge sur ok e f V hon ete ounding bisphosphonates and their use in horses.r over or, more impo ker o esu , in orm clu g h ). Tgrade as the endpoint.a rno theadapt ent understanding of the strengths and weakneses of BPs [bisphosphonates] in equinestudies have used improvement in lamenes one trea mindeveterinary nes.d highlight the future utility of these potential One research group did examine serum markers of bone turnover in Their goal, they wrote, was to discus ding two proteins fohighly ben h L uva, PhD, profesor and departmentbisphosphonate-treat resorp sesedticed ovehis was We sp f V one resorption aid rt o d B ay d ajo ow ology in the universitysosteocalcin (a mar uld be expect n in on one le ddingBISPHOSPHONATE BASICS ciences, who definedtelopeptide (a mar class of phosphorus- ing chemicalin either marker, asse in serum ma fter administeringe re tilud researchers reviewed the current body of knowledge surrounding bisphosphonates er to maintain aturnover yet lamenbispho at i esorption.horses cur However, in anothmpounds th ormaltypes of cells are involved iners found an increa f bisphos-rnover: ostbone resorption isvestigators saw a significant reduction in markers of bone tu n prove ects. em usc al system thatntialy remove bone.expected because di est alternative mechanisms of action o enzymesThursday, Dec. 12, 2019 tionale for wantingThis later report is one of the only studies demonstrating ae and osteoclaststo decreased weighresorptive efect of bisphosphonates in horses, Suva said, aA clas of phosphorus-increase navicular bonephonates to explain the improvement in lamenes h for elines in animThese data also sugcontaining chemical compoundsTh creases with decreasedExamples of such mechanisms that have not yet be and their use in horses, and heres what they found. Sponsored by Dechra. BISPHOSPHONATES:strength. in e idea may be that boneinclude anti-inflammatory properties, decreased activity ofo t rdin v g eta o ll tF h D e A apnathat inhibit bone resorption. mass esorption, hence thethat contribute to bone turnover, and altered growth factor a wuldtro bone rbis t do and those thatEven though we do no ha pear benefida cial nate or clodronateitrogen. In hors r, Suva said.phosphonates, bothbisphosphonates used acc he concern rela of the lower h4 years of age or oler do ap ious othr conditions in hornav do not co T ic w u o l a ty r bone sb nd clodronateare FDA-aproved.syndrome, Suva sbaan dmster tiludro to other causes. nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates;being used of-labe TheHorse.com/180773 at 8 p.m. ESThowever, both forms inhibit bone resorption, leading to increasedVeterinarians sometOF-LABEL USE and strength because osteoblasts continue to form bone. joint (bone spavin),bone mas ction dif spite i tiluan n in horses, few studieshorses with chronic d chronic lacreased bone massd strength being the nate or clodronate on ob have actually ethose parameters, said Suva. Winters Coming:What Is a Maintenance Diet for Horses? Is Your Horse Ready?Equine nutritionist Clair Thunes, PhD, explains what the term maintenanceHow cold is too cold to ride? Does your diet means and how it applies to your horse. TheHorse.com/180673 horse need a blanket? What should your horse eat when its cold? Find out how to get ready for Medical-Grade Honey Helps Horse Wounds Heal winter during our The secret to better equine wound healing might have been with us all along, thanks to bees. Honeyshourlong Q&A.natural bacteria-fighting properties might help ward off infections without threatening antimicrobial resistance the way synthetic pharmaceutical compounds do. TheHorse.com/180655E-NEWSLETTERSGet Horse Health News Delivered To You!CA.UKY.EDU/EQUINE \x1f THEHORSE.COM \x1f JANUARY 2018 BROUGHT TO YOU BYSurface Testing: Keeping Horse wealtle fro artic ing r arecmetraaincsk tshuer fsacme ete. sHtienrge;, adresand Rider Safety in Mind a lThe goal (of surface testing) is to surfacec tues tolen wilarenas. create a consistent surface and to meet the needs of the event, Peterson said.Ensuring racetrack surfaces meet the established criteria is fairly ANNE M. EBERHARDT/THE HORSE to determine if the surface is doing its straightforward, he said. One param-reter the surface testing team can use Entgoi nae rearcse i nmsepetc ot rt rbaecfkosr ep raiojob well is race times for a particular onc haohw y leoanrg, toh e nvseunrue it is fulyday. However, it is critical on those p reapcared for a safe competition. occasions when a horse is injured and/nge in season, dep oepnedrinatge s or safety questions arise that complete data is available to ensure the safest PART ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE TESTING improvement, whether it be the foot-possible surface is provided for racing.Testing track surfaces involves examining its composition, as well as o mat how the footing performs during use. N This is therst in a series of articles looking at the testing and maintenance ofOnce investigators perform these tests, equine competition surfaces worldwide.they can make recommendations for requirement they ned to take place: aphave one singularingSurface testing isn HORSE HEALTHSPECIALTY er the disciplinebe it a horse race, show jumpingtrack maintenance. Part of their goal equine events that take place every yearal s contents or how itt a one-time s maintained. competition, dresage test, reining patern, or any otherting.event; rather, its a regular part of ing arena and racetrack footing isWayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc,is to ensure proper long-term surface important not only for equine injury FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, a professor atmaintenance. The Maintenance Qual-Creating and properly maintain- ropriate and safe fo methodical approach of assessing and prevention but also for rider safety Colorado State Universitys College ofity System (MQS), which Peterson research focus for scientists aroundand the RSTL developed, involves a In recent years its been a growing .protocols already in place. the world. One of those researchers,Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicalmaintaining the surface prior to every Mick Peterson, PhD, is the director ofSciences, has a more than 10-year his- event; it also assists track maintenance within UKs Biosystems and Agricul- tory of examining surfaces at race- workers in enhancing the maintenance the University of Kentucky (UK) Ag Equine Programs, a faculty membertracks and equestrian sports venuesFeeding Healthy Senior Testing Laboratory (RSTL).o worldwide, developing protocols andHorses05 02The RSTL, founded by Peterson andtions. Peterson is considered one ofIn \x1f is Isuetural Engineering Department, and ex-the worlds premiere experts in testingCold Spells Stress standards, and offering recommenda-ecutive director of the Racing Surfaces of high-level competition surfaces.Livestock Regardles of whether the RSTLRecognizedThis award-winning e-newsletter offers news on diseases, veterinaryWEEKLY E-NEWSLETTERSMONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERStera smyn itsh wetoirck) ionrg a ornen a ,t riatsc ko b(djeicrt,i vtue rof,1 Dr. Uneeda Bryant 10 07Mineral of the Month: Zinc research, and health events, along with in-depth articles on common Nutrition Behavior Bluegrass Equine Digest equine health conditions. Supported by Zoetis.Soundness & Lameness Breedingis published monthly inHORSE WELFARE AND INDUSTRYReader Farm & Barn partnership with UK Ag Get the latest news on equine welfare, industry happenings, andFavorites Equine and the Gluck Equine horse-related business.Older Horse Care Research Center and isSports Medicinesupported by Zoetis.Sign up at TheHorse.com/NewslettersTheHorse.com|The HorseDecember 20195OnlineContents_Dec.indd 5 11/4/19 2:36 PM'