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Month: February 2017

Gas Colic – Common, but Preventable!

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By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.

 Gas colic is the least serious form of colic. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s very common. So common, in fact, that it is often overlooked as “just gas,” like you might get when you eat too much pizza. However, never be complacent about gas colic because it can lead to complications such as displacement or twisting of the large colon.[i] Truth is, if you’re feeding correctly, gas colic should not happen. And if it does, then you’re more than likely doing something wrong.

Where does the gas come from?

The fibrous portion of plants doesn’t get digested until it reaches the hindgut (cecum and large colon) where it is broken down by the resident microbial population. This process, known as fermentation, produces volatile fatty acids (to be used for energy) as well as gas. Gas production is normal. In fact, a horse who has sufficient forage will often develop a “hay belly.” This is not fat, but rather, evidence of healthy gas production.

Horses produce tremendous amounts of gas, which is why they flatulate a lot! But, if the gas doesn’t adequately pass through the large colon, with all its twists and turns, it can build up.  And there you have it – gas colic.

Here’s what we know so far

The exact reason for gas colic is difficult to assess, especially since most forms of colic involve some gas accumulation. But in general, gas colic can be caused by:

  • Inadequate forage consumption
  • Stall confinement
  • Stress
  • Ulcers
  • Intestinal inflammation
  • Inadequate exercise
  • Dehydration
  • Changing forage sources too quickly
  • Introducing new feeds too quickly

 

Gas colic is common because of two widespread practices

1) Limiting forage disrupts proper digestion. Horses require forage to be available 24 hours a day, all day and all night. Not that they actually eat during the entire 24 hours, but rather to simulate a natural environment where they can graze on forages as they wish. When they know that forage is always available, they slow down their eating, take time for a nap or socializing, and come back for more when they are ready. If this basic, foundational instinct is not met, the horse releases hormones which can create muscular spasms and interfere with the normal functioning of the digestive tract.

On top of that, hormones become out of balance, leading to inflammation of the hypothalamus, insulin resistance, and obesity. This is not the focus of this article, but I encourage you to read more about it.[ii]

When there is insufficient forage, the stomach accumulates acid, creating pain and mental discomfort. When the hay finally arrives, the horse will gorge himself, eating quickly and every bit in sight. He won’t chew as well, resulting in large amounts of undigested feed reaching the microbial population, resulting in excessive gas production.

Forage restriction also leads to ulcers anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, gas production increases because ulcers can interfere with digestion, allowing more undigested feed to reach the hindgut. Since ulcers can also bleed, blood flow to the large colon is diminished, inhibiting normal hindgut motility.

2) Confining your horse to a stall or small run/paddock reduces hindgut motility. When motility slows, gas cannot be expelled. The large colon is made of muscles which contract and relax in a peristaltic motion, moving digested material and waste products (including gas) along its length. When these muscles become “flabby,” movement becomes sluggish, leading to intestinal distress (colic). Gas accumulates, the intestine distends and pain-sensitive receptors in the large colon are stimulated, causing your horse to experience intense pain.

Blood circulation to the digestive tract is improved by moving around – simply grazing in the pasture, looking for the next tasty morsel, will add up of over the course of the day to more exercise than giving a horse an hour working in the arena. Standing for hours in a small space is very damaging to your horse’s digestive health.

And then there’s stress

There are literally thousands of studies showing the negative impact of stress on people’s health. Everything from irritable bowel syndrome, to heart disease, to autoimmune diseases, to obesity is impacted by constantly barraging our tissues with stress hormones, leading to a cascade of events that results in poor health. At the cellular level, the exact same thing is true for horses.

Stress exacerbates inflammation, which can damage any part of the body, but when the digestive tract is affected, the risk of colic goes up. Inflammation leads to ulcers, malabsorption, water imbalance, visceral fat accumulation surrounding the intestines, and microbial flora changes, all creating a scenario for colic.

Pasture turnout is the best way to reduce stress. Even a few hours each day will have a positive impact. If there isn’t pasture available, turn-out in an outdoor exercise area such as an arena (making sure there’s hay and water available) will reduce gas colic risk.

 Feed changes need to be slow, with a little help

The hindgut microbial population must have time to adjust to any new food, so make sure give your horse’s digestive tract time to make the transition.

If you have to change hay every few weeks, an abrupt change of feed will put your horse at risk. Instead, do a little advanced planning and set aside a few bales of old hay, while slowly switching over to the new hay. You may find yourself regularly blending old and new hays since it is best to take approximately one week to make the adjustment. While doing this, offer your horse a prebiotic containing bacterial fermentation products to help adjust to a new forage source.[iii]

If you’re adding a commercially fortified feed to your horse’s diet to meet additional energy demands, make sure he already has some hay in his belly before feeding a concentrated meal. If you need to introduce a new product, take 2 to 3 weeks to safely change to a new feed.

Beware of weekly bran mashes. A bran mash, or any new feed for that matter, if unfamiliar to the hindgut microbial population, can trigger a dangerous colic attack. If you want to feed a warm bran mash, consistency is key – it must be fed every day, not once a week. Be sure to introduce it gradually and since bran is very high in phosphorus, choose a commercially fortified version that has added calcium.

Helpful supplements

In addition to a forage foundation, there are several supplements worth considering:

  • B vitamins offer support for the digestive tract lining, as well as reducing stress. I recommend adding them to your horse’s diet prior to traveling or performing.[iv]
  • Yeast – both live yeast and yeast culture, protect the immune system by keeping the hindgut bacteria in good health.[v]
  • Colostrum has the ability to heal ulcers, protect against the damaging impact of NSAIDs, and increase healthy cell proliferation. It also heals leaky gut, caused by cecal acidosis and excess fermentation of carbohydrates.[vi]

Consider clean feeding

You are likely familiar with the movement to change your diet to “clean eating.” This simply means reducing the amount of “junk food” in your life and replacing it with whole, natural foods, clear of pesticides, preservatives, and inflammatory ingredients. In the horse world, there are two ingredients that we typically feed that are highly inflammatory: sugar and soy products. Most commercially fortified feeds contain both of these. Since these feeds often contain preservatives as well, fed over time, they can have a major impact on your horse’s overall health.

 Slow feeders may be the answer

Slow feeder nets and containers are designed to simulate grazing.[vii] They must be kept full, or you’ll defeat your purpose. But when your horse knows that he will always have access to forage, he becomes calm and relaxed, rests more often, and walks away from the hay, knowing that it will still be there when he returns. In other words, slow feeders help your horse to “self-regulate” and eat only what he needs to maintain a healthy body condition. [viii]

Change what you can – every little improvement has an impact

Colic is rare among horses who graze on large pastures, simply because of their easy lifestyle and consumption of fresh, nutritious grasses. My goal in writing this article is to set a high standard, for all of us to strive toward. Still, I am vividly aware that many, if not most of you rely on boarding facilities and are not able to offer your horse acres of pasture. But once we know where we want to go, we are better able to get there.

Look into possible ways to increase outdoor grazing time. You may need to consider changing barns. Or perhaps your facility offers limited pasture turnout. Also consider using slow feeder systems in a stall at night so there is hay left over in the morning. In other words, the most significant change you should strive toward is how to make hay available 24 hours a day.[ix]

Every little improvement makes a difference, for your horse and for other horse owners boarding at the same location. You might just become a trailblazer!

Bottom line

Take control of your horse’s environment and feeding, by focusing on Nature’s rulesto avoid gas colic. Remember, your horse is a grazing animal, requiring a steady flow of forage at all times. Feed him, simply, like a horse!

 

Permission to reprint this article is granted, provided attribution is given to Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. No editorial changes may be made without her permission. Dr. Getty appreciates being notified of any publication.

Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach optimizes equine health by aligning physiology and instincts with correct feeding and nutrition practices. Dr. Getty’s goal is to empower the horseperson with the confidence and knowledge to provide the best nutrition for his or her horse’s needs.

Dr. Getty’s fundamental resource book, Feed Your Horse Like a Horse, is now in paperback, as well as in hardcover, searchable CD and Kindle versions. All except the Kindle version are available at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com — buy the book there and have it inscribed by the author. Print and Kindle versions are also available at Amazon (www.Amazon.com) and find print versions at other online retail bookstores. The seven individual volumes in Dr. Getty’s topic-centered “Spotlight on Equine Nutrition” series are available with special package pricing at her website, and also at Amazon in print and Kindle versions. Dr. Getty’s books make ideal gifts for equestrians!

Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Getty’s informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum archives; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Find top-quality supplements, feeders, and other equine-related items, at her online Free Shipping Supplement Store[x]. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.

[i] For more detailed information about colic, its forms, prevention, and what to do, please read the section on colic in Chapter 14 – Digestive Problems, of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse, http://feedyourhorselikeahorse.com

[ii] For information regarding the need for free choice forage feeding and its impact on obesity, laminitis, and leptin resistance, please see articles in Dr. Juliet Getty’s Library, at www.gettyequinenutrition.com

[iii] Ration Plus is an excellent prebiotic to use when changing forage (and other feed) sources. http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/ration_plus/ration_plus.htm

[iv] BPlex offers all 8 B vitamins, without added iron: http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/bplex.htm

[v] Yeast Plus offers both live Saccharomyces cerevisiae and yeast culture: http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/yeastplus.htm

[vi] Colostrum from Forefront equine is of high quality: http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/forecolostrum.htm

[vii] Getty, J.M. 2014. The correct way to use slow feeders. http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/Library/Thecorrectwaytouseslowfeeders.htm

[viii] Dr. Getty recommends several slow feeders, available at Dr. Getty’s Free Shipping Supplement Store. http://horsesupplements.gettyequinenutrition.biz/slowfeeders.html

[ix] Many horse owners fear weight gain with free-choice forage. Ironically, restricting forage keeps horses overweight. Read my in Dr. Getty’s Library under “Overweight Horses” at www.gettyequinenutrition.com

[x] http://horsesupplements.gettyequinenutrition.biz

 

Warm Winter Could Affect Tall Fescue Toxicosis in Broodmares

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By Krista Lea

 

LEXINGTON, Ky., (Feb. 8, 2017) — Mild weather this winter is likely the cause of higher than average concentrations of a toxic substance in tall fescue called ergovaline that has been observed in Fayette and Bourbon pastures in Central Kentucky, according to University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment experts. Tall fescue toxicosis in broodmares, which is caused by ingesting ergovaline, is rare in the early months of the year due to typically cold winter temperatures.

Naturally occurring tall fescue is often infected with an endophytic fungus that can produce ergovaline, a known vasoconstrictor – something that causes the narrowing of blood vessels. This has been blamed for prolonged gestation and low milk production in late term pregnant mares. The UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program sampled three farms in Fayette and Bourbon counties this year and found a handful pastures with higher than average ergovaline concentrations for the time of year.

“These levels would not be alarmingly high in May, because pastures would have other forages such as bluegrass and orchardgrass actively growing, providing sufficient dilution in the total diet. However, other grasses are not active in February, therefore horses are likely to consume more tall fescue, especially in pastures that were overgrazed last fall,” said Krista Lea, UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program coordinator.

According to Ray Smith, UK forage extension specialist, dilution is the key to minimizing the effects of ergovaline.

“Farms should move mares to pastures where more desirable forages are available and tall fescue is less prevalent,” he said. “Keeping good quality hay in front of mares on pasture will also dilute any ergovaline the horses may consume.”

He urged farm managers whose mares experience foaling complications to work closely with their veterinarian to evaluate all possible causes.

“There are so many ways and reasons foaling can go wrong,” said Cynthia Gaskill, veterinary toxicologist at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “Any time foaling complications are observed, all appropriate tissues and samples should be sent to us to evaluate possible causes immediately.”

According to Gaskill, no direct test is available for ergovaline levels in animal tissues, so diagnosing suspected cases of tall fescue toxicosis includes ruling out other possible causes and determining ergovaline concentrations in forages or bedding. In certain situations, domperidone can be administered to alleviate the symptoms of tall fescue toxicosis, but this can have other side effects and is costly, making prevention the ideal treatment.

Pasture, hay and bedding can all be evaluated for ergovaline concentrations at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for $52 per sample. Pasture samples of tall fescue should be frozen and transported on ice to the lab immediately. Hay and bedding samples should come from several bales and can be transported at ambient temperature out of direct sunlight. Detailed instructions on sampling can be found at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/Tall%20fescue%20sampling.doc

Local county extension agents can assist farms in sampling pastures, hay or bedding. More information can be found on the UK Forage Extension website, http://www.uky.edu/ag/forage, or by emailing UK’s forage group at UKForageExtension@uky.edu

Two Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Premier Night

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VINTON, La. – Louisiana Premier Night will take place on Saturday, February 11, at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel in Vinton, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award a total of two (2) scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
·      Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Spring 2017.
·      Must be in good standing with the college or university.
·      Must be present to win.
 
Registration: 4:40 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. at the designated booth 
Races begin: 5:40 p.m.
Drawing time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race
 
The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
 
For more information, please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.

Recent Juvenile Sale Cycle Points to Up Year for 2017

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Recent Juvenile Sale Cycle Points to Up Year for 2017
Photo: Keeneland Photos

In 2015-16, pinhookers were more selective in their yearling purchases, buying fewer for higher prices

Successful pinhookers are like long-term stock investors. They set their spending limits, buy as much quality as they can afford, and stick to the basic principles that identify performance potential in young Thoroughbreds.

Also like stock investors, they are savvy to market cycles and recognize when to stretch on their yearling purchases and when to be conservative.

The overall return on investments for yearling to juvenile pinhooks since 2012 shows a steady rise and fall that seems to mirror a collectively inescapable part of human nature. When the market is up, optimism drives more spending. Collectively pinhookers with fatter wallets invested more in their yearlings—either buying more expensive yearlings and/or buying more horses—only to later face a juvenile market that didn’t share their optimism, according to recent history.

In 2012, the 2-year-old market enjoyed its second consecutive rise in ROI, albeit a modest 4% increase (25% ROI compared with 21% in 2011), as the Thoroughbred market recovered from the aftermath of the Great Recession. Buoyed by two consecutive years of growth, pinhookers stretched more on their yearling purchases, spending 14.2% more on average. They were rewarded in 2013 by a robust juvenile market in which the average price rose 15.4%, the percentage of profitable yearlings rose to 49% from 41%, and pinhooks generated a 33% ROI as a whole.

The pinhook market reacted by taking another big swing with its yearling purchases. The $44,421 average pinhook yearling price heading into the 2014 market was 14.6% higher than the previous year. One metric did indicate the 2014 juvenile market would not be as solid as what 2013 delivered: a slowing in the rate growth for the average 2-year-old price. The juvenile average price between 2011 and 2012 rose 23.6%. Between 2012 and 2013, the increase was 15.4%.

More yearlings bought at a higher average price were offered in 2014 and the juvenile market reacted by generating a 17% ROI, nearly half of what it was in 2013. The percentage of profitable horses dropped to 40% from 49% and the overall average 2-year-old price dipped 3.2%.

In 2015, pinhookers bought fewer horses but spent 8.5% more on average, reacting to the greater attention being paid on the top of the market. The ROI rose to 28%. For 2016, pinookers took a similar strategy, buying fewer yearlings but spending another 2.6% more on average. The supply and demand balance tipped back, however, the ROI fell to 21% and profitable purchases were down to 41% from 46%.

If pinhookers followed their instincts after the 2-year-old sales and were more conservative with their yearling purchases, then the juvenile market of 2017 should be another up year with a return to around 45% profitability and an ROI of around 30%.

Foaling Horses: 101 to 911

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    Foaling Horses: 101 to 911

    Keep a close eye on your newborn foal, his vitals, and his environment, and always get veterinary assistance if something goes wrong. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian, and never take “wait and see” approach. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

    During and after foaling are two of the most critical times in a neonate and his mother’s lives. One little thing gone wrong could set off a potentially life-threatening cascade of events for either horse. Rissa Parker, BVSc Pret, from Glen Austin Equine Clinic, in Gauteng, South Africa, has had a special interest in mare and foal care for the past 24 years and shared her first-hand knowledge of how to identify normal vs. emergency situations with attendees at the 2014 Cape Breeders Club Seminar, held Jan. 27-28, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

    Parker first described the three stages of foaling:

    Stage 1 begins when the foal starts to position itself for birth within the mare’s womb. Parker said signs of this first stage of impending parturition in the mare include restlessness, kicking at the abdomen, lifting the tail, sweating, urinating, and rolling as if colicking. While these signs might be distressing to an owner, Parker said there’s nothing to fear unless they carry on for more than an hour. At this point, consider it an emergency and call your veterinarian immediately.

    Stage 2 is the presentation of the foal. At this time the mare’s water breaks, and she delivers the foal. This stage occurs rapidly, said Parker—within about 10 to 30 minutes. Consider anything longer to be an emergency requiring veterinary attention, Parker said. After 30 minutes, “for every 10 minutes that go by, there’s 10% less chance of the foal surviving,” she noted.

    If everything progresses smoothly, however, Parker advised owners to clear the foal’s nasal passages and then sit back and watch. The foal’s umbilical cord should break spontaneously as he becomes active. “Do not cut it,” Parker urged. “This can cause bleeding and infection.” Any bleeding from the umbilical cord is an emergency, she said.

    If the cord breaks properly on its own, treat it with a chlorhexidine-alcohol spray three times a day for two days, then two times a day for two more days, Parker said. Any hemorrhaging, patent urachus (urine dripping through the umbilicus), or edema (fluid swelling) in the umbilical region warrants a quick call to your veterinarian.

    If you observe discoloration of the placental surface (seen here) or holes in the placenta, call your veterinarian right away.Photo: Courtesy Dr. Rissa Parker

     

    Stage 3 includes the passing of the placenta from the mare. This typically lasts one to three hours, but if it continues any longer, consider it an emergency. With a slow-to-pass placenta, Parker suggested administering oxytocin to help it “let go.” But do not, however, try to pull the placenta out yourself. “This can leave minute amounts of villi (the small, vascular projections that attach the placenta to the endometrium) still in the uterus,” Parker warned. If the placenta does not pass or a piece of it remains in the mare, she can develop endometritis (uterine infection).

    If the placenta passes without problem, examine its horns and body thoroughly to ensure the horn tips are intact and that its weight, color, and integrity are normal. If you observe discoloration of the placental surface or holes in the placenta, call your veterinarian right away.

    “The placenta reflects the uterine environment the foal was in,” Parker said. It should weigh less than 11% of the foal’s body weight—any more than that might indicate edema or other problems; these high-risk foals require blood tests and monitoring to ensure they are not septic or compromised and to tackle the problem early.

    Examine the amnion for signs of inflammation before discarding it. Photo: Courtesy Dr. Rissa Parker

    Parker added that some owners throw away the amnion (placental membrane) without checking it first, but said it’s important to examine this part for amnionitis (inflammation of the amnion which occurs in certain disease syndromes resulting in fetal losses).

    Post-Partum

    After parturition, Parker said it’s very important to allow the mare and foal to bond. But first, wash the mare’s udder and legs as soon as possible. Foals have a tendency to suckle on anything they can while learning to nurse, and they can easily pick up any bacteria on the mare. After this, just sit back and observe, Parker said. Watch that the foal is breathing, that he attempts to stand within one hour, and that he nurses within about three hours (any longer than this is a cause for concern).

    “The foal must drink within four to six hours,” she explained. “Suckling aids gut motility as well as colostrum (the mare’s antibody-rich first milk) absorption.”

    Although it might seem like an obvious task, she emphasized the importance of watching the foal nurse. Horses have a natural fight or flight instinct; for a foal this often manifests as cowering with his head under the mare’s belly. Parker said at first glance, it might appear as if the foal is nursing, when in reality he’s not. To determine whether he is truly getting milk, check the fullness of the mare’s udder (if it’s very full, he’s probably not drinking), and seek veterinary assistance if needed.

    Foals that don’t consume enough good-quality colostrum (seen here) are at risk of failure of passive transfer. Photo: Courtesy Dr. Rissa Parker

    Why is it so important the foal suckles? Because if he doesn’t consume enough colostrum from his mother’s first milk, he is at risk of failure of passive transfer (FPT), said Parker. To determine whether your foal has achieved passive transfer, have your veterinarian measure his IgG antibody levels within the first 24 hours of life. More than 800mg/dl is adequate; 400-800 mg/dl is partial FPT; and less than 200 mg/dl is complete FPT. Parker said she typically treats foals with FPT with a plasma transfusion and antimicrobial administration if the foal shows signs of sepsis.

    Signs of Trouble

    Parker also described signs to look for in the foal that might indicate a problem needing veterinary attention. First, know how to recognize normal foal vital signs, including:

    • Temperature between 38-38.9°C (100.4-102.02°F);
    • Heart rate 40-80 beats per minute (bpm) initially, increasing to 130/150 bpm in the first week and then decreasing to 60-80 bpm after that; and
    • Respiratory rate greater than 60 breaths per minute during the first hour, decreasing to 20-40 breaths per minute after the first one to two hours.

    Once you have these core measurements down, look for signs of the following common neonate issues:

    • Meconium impaction Clinical signs of an impaction of these first feces include straining, bloating, colic signs, and an absence of suckling. “If the foal is bloating, take him off the mare so you are not filling up a dysfunctional gut,” Parker said. She said her typical treatment includes a noncommercial enema using an acetylcysteine base (which breaks down the disulfide bonds that make the meconium so hard and sticky) and warm water for 20 minutes under sedation.
    • Ruptured bladder Because this condition can be life-threatening, make sure your newborn foal urinates a full stream, keeping in mind that the bladder might not even become full for two to three days. “Foals with ruptured bladders show signs of abdominal distension and anuria (the absence of urination),” Parker said. Transport affected foals to a surgical facility for correction.
    • Diarrhea Although common in foals, veterinarians don’t always know what causes diarrhea, Parker said. This is yet another reason why it’s so important for owners and breeders to stand back and observe the neonate, taking into account his age, vitals, habitus (when the foal is quiet, such as eating or sleeping), and drinking/hydration. Diarrhea causes can be infectious (e.g., from viruses such as corona or bacteria such as Escherichia coli or Rhodococcus equi), noninfectious (e.g., due to overfeeding, lactose intolerance, pica [consuming nonfood items]); or parasite-related (Strongyloides westerii).

      Parker cautioned that, when it comes to infectious diarrhea-causing agents, “we underestimate how much we can transmit disease ourselves. It’s good practice to have a box of disposable gloves at your farm for handling newborns.”

      Diarrhea treatment includes resting the foal’s gut by withholding milk, but not water, for 24 hours. Your veterinarian might then recommend feeding 50 ml of milk every 4 hours to feed the enterocyte cells that line the horse’s gut, administering Bio-Sponge (Di-tri-octahedral smectite) to line the gut, and feeding the foal salt (1 tsp twice daily) to replace lost sodium.

      “If the foal isn’t suckling or has a high temperature, it’s an emergency that requires veterinary attention which may then include antimicrobial administration and intravenous fluids,” Parker said. “Sequelae to diarrhea include lactose intolerance, patent urachus, and joint ill (infection), so you’re not completely out of the woods (after diarrhea subsides).”

    • Musculoskeletal issues Foals can be born or acquire conditions such as congenital limb deformities and lameness due to infected joints or limb injuries, all of which require veterinary attention. So pay close attention to your newborn’s lower limbs as well.

    Take-Home Message

    Keep a close eye on your newborn foal, his vitals, and his environment, and always get veterinary assistance if something goes wrong. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian, and never take “wait and see” approach—it could be the difference between life and death for your foal.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor

    Alexandra Beckstett, Managing Editor of The Horse and a native of Houston, Texas, is a lifelong horse owner who has shown successfully on the national hunter/jumper circuit and dabbled in hunter breeding. After graduating from Duke University, she joined Blood-Horse Publications as Assistant Editor of its book division, Eclipse Press, before joining The Horse.

    DELTA DOWNS PREPARING FOR LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT ON SATURDAY

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    –  $150,000 LAPN CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS RICH CARD FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS –

     

    VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs is gearing up for another rich race program on Saturday as the track hosts the 14th edition of Louisiana Premier Night. The 11-race program will feature 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses worth $850,000 in total purse money. First post time for the lucrative program is set for 5:40 pm Central Time.

    Saturday’s featured race will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the 10th race on the program. This year’s Championship has attracted a full field of 10 including 2015 winner The Pickett Factor as well as Mageez, who took the B-Connected Stakes at Delta Downs on December 31. Graded stakes winner Mobile Bay is also part of the Championship field and a win would put him over the $1 million mark in career earnings.

    The $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff field will include last year’s winner Forest Lake. The Jerry Delhomme trainee most recently finished a close second to Big World in the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds. Big World, a Tom Amoss trainee, will also try the Distaff after winning the Magnolia Stakes at Delta Downs last October.

    This year’s $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince has attracted two horses that have already won stakes races this season. Magic Vow was victorious in the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy on Jackpot Day, November 19, and Freakonthelead pulled a 70-1 upset in the Pelican Stakes on January 21.

    Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Night stakes races for 2017 in program order.

    Race #             Purse              Stakes Race                                             Distance                      Age

    2                      $50,000           LAPN Bon Temps Starter                   5 furlongs               4yo &up FM

    3                      $50,000           LAPN Gentlemen Starter                    1-1/16 miles          4yo & up

    4                      $50,000           LAPN Ladies Starter                             1 mile                      4yo & up FM

    5                      $100,000         LAPN Prince                                             1 mile                     3yo

    6                      $100,000         LAPN Starlet                                            1 mile                     3yo Fillies

    7                      $100,000         LAPN Matron                                          5 furlongs              4yo & up FM

    8                      $100,000         LAPN Distaff                                            1 miles                  4yo & up FM

    9                      $100,000         LAPN Sprint                                            5 furlongs                    4yo & up

    10                    $150,000         LAPN Championship                            1-1/16 miles                 4yo & up

    11                    $50,000           LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter                    5 furlongs                    4yo & up

     

     

    In other activities on Louisiana Premier Night the track will give away 250 free t-shirts to commemorate the event. In order to receive the shirt fans just need to purchase a live racing program at the program stand in the OTB while supplies last.

    There will also be a free handicapping contest offered with a first place prize of $750. Patrons who wish to participate will need to have a Prime Rewards card and be at least 21 years of age. The contest will take place in the OTB and the deadline to enter is post time for race 5, at approximately 7:30 pm.

    For more information about Louisiana Premier Night and the remainder of Delta Downs’ current season, which runs through March 11, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

    Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

     

     

     

    OBS March Catalog Released

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    The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2017 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 14 and Wednesday, Mar. 15, will feature a catalog of 674 head. The catalog is now available to view online and on the Equineline app. Under Tack sessions for OBS March will be held Mar. 9 through Mar. 11 beginning each day at 8:00 a.m. Sales sessions will kick off at 10:30 a.m.

    Gabriel Saez Reaches 1,000th Win

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    Gabriel Saez Reaches 1,000th Win

    Gabriel Saez Reaches 1,000th Win
    Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

    Gabriel Saez

    Jockey Gabriel Saez achieved a milestone Feb. 4 when the newly turned 29-year-old native of Panama City, Panama earned his 1,000th career victory on I Hope in the eighth race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

    A graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jockey Training Academy in his native country, Saez began riding professionally on Dec. 8, 2006 in Panama, and won his first race there on Jan. 8, 2007. He came to the United States that year, joining the jockey colony at Delaware Park and going on to ride regularly for major supporter and multiple grade 1-winning trainer Larry Jones.

    Saez’s top mounts include champions Proud Spell, Havre de Grace, and Kodiak Kowboy, as well as grade 1 winners Summer Soiree and Believe You Can, and multiple graded stakes winners Friesan Fire   and Just Jenda. He considers his most talented partner thus far to have been Fox Hill Farm’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up, the great filly Eight Belles. So far he has won 22 graded stakes, three grade 1s, and more than $34.2 million in purses.

    “It feels great. I’m glad I got it done down here at Fair Grounds, basically where everything started for my career,” Saez said. “I’m glad to be back at Fair Grounds and back in New Orleans, and there can’t be a better place to have a 1,000th winner than here.”

    Fair Grounds Racing Club Notches First Winner With Excitations; Club Donates Earnings To Charity

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    Excitations provided the Fair Grounds Racing Club with its first winner at the meet
    Excitations provided the Fair Grounds Racing Club with its first winner at the meet

    The Fair Grounds Racing Club presented a check in the amount of $32,800 to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Cancer Center Thursday after Excitations won the third race of the day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The donation is the first from the club, and all purse earnings are directed to the charity.

    The Fair Grounds Racing Club’s two horses, Excitations and Efforting, have each started at the 145th Thoroughbred Racing Season’s current meet. Excitations crossed the wire a game second in his first lifetime start before his victory Thursday, and Efforting finished second in her career debut last week.

    The Fair Grounds Racing Club offers 200 people a chance to experience the thrills of Thoroughbred racing as an owner. Memberships in the Fair Grounds Racing Club are available for $500 and incur no further expense throughout the club. The one-time annual membership dues are used to purchase the horses and pay for training fees and other associated expenses. The club gives members an opportunity to learn about the exciting opportunities as a Thoroughbred racing owner with complete transparency regarding all facets of ownership.

     

    Perks of being a club member include regular updates on the program via email and a dedicated Facebook page, special club events for viewing certain morning workouts, privileged access to the paddock before the club’s horses race, special accommodations on race day and exclusive members-only events.

    The Fair Grounds Racing Club has been organized as a 501(c)(7) Not for Profit Social Club and is structured as an educational association meaning members should not join with any profit motive or expectation of profit. All decisions on the club’s horses will be made by trainer Al Stall, Jr. Gary Palmisano, Jr. is the club’s director.

    Memberships are available at http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/fair-grounds-racing-club.

    Use Your Stethoscope Before You Need It!

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    Use Your Stethoscope Before You Need It!

    By Dr. Juliet M. Getty

     

    Your emergency kit likely includes a stethoscope – a highly valuable piece of equipment during any urgent health situation. Knowing your horse’s normal heart rate and gut sounds beforehand will allow you to better assess the seriousness of the situation — so use your stethoscope now.

    A resting pulse is typically between 32 and 40 beats per minute (ponies’ are slightly higher). Place the stethoscope in front of the girth area, just behind the elbow. Using the sweep second hand on your watch or a stop watch (usually a feature on your cell phone), count the number of beats for 30 seconds and double it to get beats per minute. Measure at various times of day, before and after eating, and at any change in circumstances or activity level; this will give you a clear idea of how your horse generally responds to his environment. Marked deviation from normal (without obvious explanation such as exercise) can indicate the presence of infection, pain, or illness.

    Your stethoscope is especially useful for listening to gut sounds. It is normal and healthy for sounds to come from the digestive tract due to the movement of feed, gas, and fluid. Intestines are made of muscles; processing forage continuously provides the necessary exercise to keep these muscles in good condition. Normally, the sounds will be low in pitch with some growling. Colic occurs when there is a change within the intestines, ordinarily due to obstruction, gas[i], or torsion, and sounds change or stop altogether. If you don’t hear any noise, or if the sounds have become higher pitched, significantly slowed, or sound hollow, it likely indicates colic and you should contact your vet immediately.

    Practice listening to four areas of the gut: along the upper barrel and the lower flank area on both sides. Generally speaking, sounds from the upper left come from the small colon and tend to be high pitched and of short duration. The lower left has sounds from the large colon. On the upper right, the sounds come from the large colon and cecum whereas the lower right has the large colon. However, the point of origin for gut sounds is not completely predictable; the important thing is to identify a variation from your horse’s normal sounds.

    Deviations from normal in pulse or gut sounds may have many possible explanations, so unless you have extensive experience, you should never put yourself in the position of diagnosing colic or other disorders. But you can be a valuable resource to your veterinarian if you know what is normal for your horse and can identify a change, before illness happens.

     

     

    Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach optimizes equine health by aligning physiology and instincts with correct feeding and nutrition practices. Dr. Getty’s goal is to empower the horseperson with the confidence and knowledge to provide the best nutrition for his or her horse’s needs.

    Dr. Getty’s fundamental resource book, Feed Your Horse Like a Horse, is now in paperback, as well as in hardcover, searchable CD and Kindle versions. All except the Kindle version are available at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com — buy the book there and have it inscribed by the author. Print and Kindle versions are also available at Amazon (www.Amazon.com) and find print versions at other online retail bookstores. The seven individual volumes in Dr. Getty’s topic-centered “Spotlight on Equine Nutrition” series are available with special package pricing at her website, and also at Amazon in print and Kindle versions. Dr. Getty’s books make ideal gifts for equestrians!

    Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Getty’s informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum archives; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Find top-quality supplements, feeders, and other equine-related items, at her online Free Shipping Supplement Store[ii]. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.

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