b'2019 AAEP CONVENTION WRAP-UPout errors, such as supporting the wrongnevertheless optimistic that equine frac- these supplements were also more side of the injury (the splint should be ap- ture management will continue to evolvelikely, when fertilized, to develop into plied to the injurys open side) or usingto a point where the concept portrayednormal blastocysts (an early stage of the elastic bandaging, too much padding, orin Gary Larsons horse hospital willdeveloping embryo) that could result in too short of a splint (its crucial to splintbe completely unfamiliar, a thing of theviable pregnancies.beyond the fracture above and below thepast.Michelle Anderson The team divided 20 light horse mares joint). He also noted that too heavy of ainto two groups. They fed one group a splint, such as those made of lumber, canREPRODUCTION typical modern horse diet, said Catandi, also cause more harm than good. Diet Might Improve Older Marecomprising grass/alfalfa along with 9. Ship Carefully Clients often makeFertility supplementary grain and corn oil. They serious errors when shipping an injuredSenior mares can be notoriously diffi- offered the second group grass/alfalfa and horse, Richardson said, adding thatcult to get and keep in foal. Yet simply re- several supplements, which included mi-the most serious errorgiving the horsecovering oocytes (eggs) and embryos andcronutrients, pre- and probiotics, antioxi-extra room in the traileris done withtransplanting them into young surrogatesdants, L-carnitine, and different sources the best of intentions. Make sure adultto carry to term has not been the panaceaof omega-3s, including flaxseed oil. She horses are shipped in as tight a conditionthat equine reproductive specialists hadsaid these were specially formulated by as possible to allow them to balanceonce hoped. However, Colorado StatePlatinum Performance to enhance well-against the wall or partition. University (CSU) researchers recentlyness, especially of the gastrointestinal Foals with fractured limbs, in contrast,confirmed that nutrition plays a key role(GI) tract, and to improve fertility. The should be shipped sedated, recumbentin improving oocyte quality, which can bemares consumed the diets for six weeks (lying downmake sure to protect thea boon to overcoming fertility problemsprior to sampling.foals eyes to avoid ocular injuries), andin older mares. The researchers then quantified with an attendant if possible. Indeed, a young uterus does notchanges in oocyte metabolism by measur-10. Angled Stable Fixation Plates Aidovercome all the problems with eggsing fluctuations in oxygen consumption Stability With a traditional bone plate,collected from older mares, said Giovanaand pH. Then they collected and fertilized screws tighten the plate against the boneD. Catandi, DVM, a PhD student andadditional oocytes using intracytoplasmic much like screws affix decking into joists.research assistant at CSUs College ofsperm injection (ICSI) and assessed cleav-In contrast, stable fixation plates haveVeterinary Medicine & Biomedicalage rates (division of cells in the early threaded screw holes, and the screwsSciences. Catandi reported that researchembryo). In comparing the two groups have threaded heads that lock into theshe and colleagues in CSUs Equinethey observed that more fertilized eggs plate. The result is more stability betweenReproduction Lab conducted in 20 maresdeveloped into blastocysts from the mares plate and bone and less leverage thatages 13-23 suggests that a diet rich inconsuming the omega-3 fatty acid supple-could otherwise pull the screws out of theomega-3 fatty acids and antioxidantsment (58%) than from the grain and corn bone. This technology has allowed usallows oocytes to mature and metabolizeoil supplement group (15%).to use more biologically friendly tech- energy more efficiently. Further,Catandi and her colleagues concluded niques, Richardson said. oocytes from older mares receivingthat dietary supplements consisting of 11. Even Small Fractures Can Createa complex of nutrients with omega-3 Long-Term Performance Problems Manyfatty acids might increase the overall small fractures are easy to repair, saidfertility of older mares by improving Richardson, and the horses will heal.oocyte metabolic function and embryo We are seeking perfection, he said, anddevelopment.Betsy Lynch most owners approve surgery with the expectation their horse will return to itsEditors note: The researchers disclosed previous performance level. However, itsthat they used an aqueous solution of des-important to note these horses are morelorelin acetate to induce follicular matura-likely to have osteoarthritis or lamenesstion to maintain consistency with previous without a perfect repair, he said. research. They noted that compounded 12. Practice for Surgeons Is Hard toproducts can vary significantly with respect Get and Progress Slow Progress in equineto potency of the active ingredient(s).surgery is slow due to the relatively low case numbers equine surgeons seeARTICLE SPONSORED BYbecause of clients financial resources and motivation. Only a small fraction of ISTOCK.COMhorses with repairable orthopedic injuries end up being treated, and then equine surgeons are understandably inexperi-Dietary supplements consisting of a complex enced and often inadequately equipped,of nutrients with omega-3 fatty acids might Richardson said. But, he concluded he isimprove older mares fertility.34March 2020The Horse|TheHorse.comAAEPWrapUp.indd 34 2/5/20 2:54 PM'