Visualize the Triangle

Although horses are quite muscular, there are limits to the locations where we can safely give intramuscular injections. These injections should be administered deep into a large muscle to ensure that the entire contents of the syringe are adequately absorbed and metabolized.

In horses, one of the most common and preferred sites for IM injections is the side of the neck. Chances are you’ve probably seen your veterinarian use this site. But the neck of a horse is a wide, flat structure—how do you know exactly where to stick the needle?

An easy way to know for sure is to find the “triangle” formed by three structures in the neck. The nuchal ligament forms the first border; this is the thick ligament that runs from the poll to the withers and holds up the mane. The injection should be below the nuchal ligament.

The second border is made up of the cervical vertebrae (neck bones). This is a little trickier; many people actually mistake the nuchal ligament for the horse’s spine. However, the spinal column in the neck drops almost straight down from the poll and curves at the bottom to meet the thoracic vertebrae at the point of the shoulder.

Finally, the injection should be in front of the shoulder blade, which you can feel if not see. Within these three borders you’ll have a space roughly the size of your open hand. This is where you should give the injection.

The neck is the most frequently used site for IM injections due to its accessibility, but there are other locations you can consider. The pectoral muscles in the chest are another convenient location. If used, make sure to stand to the side of the horse, not directly in front, and aim for the center of one of the pecs.

The hamstrings are also an option, but serious consideration to your safety must be made: As you might imagine, injections near the hindquarters put you in danger of being kicked. Rarely are the gluteal muscles used. Although the tops of the haunches are a nice large muscle mass, if infection occurs and an abscess needs to be lanced, this area provides poor drainage.

The Technique for an Intramuscular Injection

When giving any medication to your horse, first start by confirming the following three things:

◆ Is it the correct drug?
◆ Is it the correct dose?
◆ Is it the correct delivery method?

Once you’ve confirmed all three, pick your injection location. Make sure the horse’s skin is dry and free of dirt and grime. Next, with your horse wearing a halter, have a handler hold the lead rope and stand on the same side as you.

Always use a new needle for every injection. Never share needles between horses to prevent the spread of disease and dulling of the needle.

Deliberately insert the needle perpendicular to the skin and all the way to the hub. Do this in a firm and quick movement. Some people like to desensitize the horse first with a pinch of the skin or a few taps of your hand prior to the stick. Using these tricks will depend on the horse and the location you choose.

Once the needle is fully inserted, pull back on the plunger slightly; this is a good habit to ensure you’re not in a small blood vessel. If there is blood in the hub, pull out the needle and slightly redirect. Once you confirm there is no blood, depress the plunger steadily until empty, then pull the syringe out. There should be minimal if any blood on the skin.

Once you’ve given the injection, be sure to safely dispose of the used needle. Although you can purchase a specific container for sharps disposal at a pharmacy (like those red tubs you see at hospitals), any hard plastic tub with a secure lid will do. Laundry detergent bottles or coffee canisters with fitted lids work very well. Mark the container with a label, like “Sharps,” so that everyone is aware of its contents.

Possible Complications

Troubleshooting injection site reactions and infections are the two biggest risks when giving an IM injection. Reactions tend to occur despite good aseptic technique; this is the immune system’s reaction to the drug and can range from a small lump and temporary muscle soreness to hives or anaphylactic shock.

If your horse is known to be sensitive to certain types of medications, talk with your veterinarian before giving him an IM injection on your own.

Some medications are known to be more irritating to muscle than others; for this reason, always contact your veterinarian before giving a drug IM that you don’t have experience giving.

NOTE: Not all drugs can be given in the muscle; phenylbutazone (bute) is a prime example. Injectable bute should only be given intravenously (IV) by a person experienced in giving IV injections. Bute should never be given IM, as it causes severe tissue damage.

An infection, usually evidenced by an abscess at the injection site, can be avoided by using clean, sterile needles and syringes and injecting with the correct technique through clean, dry skin.

If an infection does occur, the site will swell and become hot and painful to the touch. The horse may have a fever and go off feed. Abscess formation requires draining for complete healing and a veterinarian should be called to do this. Antibiotics and pain medications are typically prescribed.

One rare but serious complication from IM injections is the risk of Clostridial myositis. This is a deadly bacterial infection from Clostridium bacteria. These bacteria and their spores are ubiquitous in the environment and are also in the horse’s intestinal tract.

Sometimes a deep intramuscular injection can create the perfect anaerobic environment that triggers these spores to activate, resulting in a severe systemic infection in the horse that can quickly progress to septic shock. Being knowledgeable of the drug you are administering is helpful in preventing these cases. When in doubt or unsure, always check with your veterinarian first.

When To Administer an Intramuscular Injection

Although some of the risks involved with giving a horse an intramuscular injection are serious, be assured that some common medications can be safely administered in the muscle of horses. These include certain antibiotics, such as penicillin and gentamicin, as well as sedatives and tranquilizers like xylazine and acepromazine, and vaccines.

Although the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flunixin meglumine, also known as Banamine, is approved for IM injection in horses, it has been associated with Clostridial myositis. For this reason, Banamine is safer when given IV or orally.

For any medication you have never given IM or are unsure of, always call your veterinarian prior to administration.

IM injections are a useful basic medical skill to have as a horse owner. With knowledge, practice, and someone to help hold your horse, you can confidently add this to your horsemanship toolkit.

This article about giving a horse an intramuscular injection appeared in the March 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Charlotte Kin, DVM, is the primary veterinarian for the Equine Transition and Adoption Center, an Oklahoma-based program with the goal of finding homes for at-risk horses. She said that a good physical exam is at the top of her list for all horses coming into the program.

Kin said that while adoption center staff does their best to catch problems, there are some things that are necessary to diagnose. Her intake exams are similar to a pre-purchase exam. This gives the rescue a solid baseline on the horse and also provides potential adopters with a thorough report.

Kin likes to perform basic blood work to help catch issues early. To catch and treat cases of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) — often referred to as Cushing’s Disease — early, horses over 12 typically have a Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) test. Depending on the results of the ACTH test and time of year, Kin might perform a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test to better confirm a diagnosis. 

During intake, Kin makes a neurological exam a priority. While a hands-on approach is ideal, she keeps neurological concerns in mind when evaluating horses in the field, too. In Oklahoma, her saying is, “Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) until proven otherwise.”

Most of the horses she sees have been exposed to EPM, but catching symptomatic horses and providing treatment early is critical to ensuring their quality of life and adoptability. She begins with a blood test and if the results are positive and the horse is displaying signs, she starts treatment. If the blood test results come back inconclusive or negative but the horse is showing typical signs of EPM, she performs a spinal tap to either confirm or debunk the potential diagnosis. 

Kin also said that staying ahead of and on top of possible gastric ulcers can make horses more comfortable in their transition.

Kaycie McCarthy, the Equine and Farm Animal Rescue and Outreach Manager for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)-Angell in Boston, said that her rescue has started streamlining their intake process. They used to wait until horses were at a good weight and health to perform a soundness exam, but they started running into situations where they would have a horse for an extensive amount of time, spend time and resources to get them heathy, and then find out that they had major soundness concerns when they began working more with them. By making soundness exams a priority early on, they are able to create better programs with better outcomes.

Last year, McCarthy had 18 horses come into the rescue in one group. They did not have proper paperwork and the entire facility had to be quarantined. They had the 18 horses housed in their indoor arena in round pens. While the situation was far from ideal, they used their quarantine to perform thorough evaluations of all of the horses. The local media got involved and when the horses were ready to be adopted, the coverage they had gained through the local media and their own social media outreach helped find homes for 17 of the horses quickly. She said that the situation “forced us to be creative” and while it resulted in some atypical procedures, it aided in getting the MSPCA in the public eye.

She added that when euthanasia is on the table, a full staff meeting is called (with the vet present when possible). She said that the open communication and discussion about what might be best for the horse (or cat, dog, and guinea pig) can make everyone more comfortable with the hard decisions.

Bonnie McRae, founder and director of After the Races — a racehorse rehoming program in Elkton, Md. — said that a thorough intake exam can help save costs long term. Additionally, knowing more about the possible rehabilitation a horse might need helps them find homes more quickly. When they began doing more thorough intake exams, their horses began staying less than half of the time than they did before, cutting the average time from 170 days down to 42 days.

To help with organization, a veterinarian fills out an intake form for After the Races. Having thorough documentation that can be sent out to potential adopters keeps everyone on the same page and keeps the horses’ wellbeing a priority.

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Thoroughbred Director Anna Ford agreed that more diagnostics means more adoptions. She added that radiographs and ultrasounds becoming digital was a big change. It became easier to store and share records and the began making a dropbox for each horse to increase organization.

Ford reminded attendees that they can do your own basic physicals, flexion tests, and baseline exams even before a vet is able to see the horse. Doing your own basic exam can save time (and resources) when the vet is present to pinpoint more specific concerns.

Investing in a thorough intake evaluation sets horses and their potential adopters up for success. The more the rescues know about the health and history of the horses, and the more they are therefore able to inform their adopters, the better the outcome.

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

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Horse owners often find it challenging to keep up with the latest vaccination recommendations, and some may not grasp their importance in keeping horses healthy and strong. Your horse needs certain “core” vaccines, and may also need non-core vaccines based on his usual activities, geographic location, and other considerations.

Although you might be hesitant to get your horse poked, it’s for his protection, and vaccines are generally safe. They have been well-tested, and many have been used for decades. Vaccination should be routine, so read on for current recommendations, potential side effects, and the overall importance of having your horse vaccinated.

Core Vaccines

One of the best measures to protect your horse’s health is a vaccination program. Core vaccines are often administered in an initial series of two to three shots, and then once or twice a year after that. Skipping core vaccinations could mean sickness or even death among your equine family.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has established vaccination guidelines for horses. Core vaccinations are those recommended for all horses, regardless of age, sex or region where they live. These include any vaccines required by law and those that protect animals from diseases that are highly infectious, pose a risk of severe illness, are of potential public health significance, or are endemic to a region.

Kris Hiney, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and equine extension specialist for the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences. She says the five core vaccines are Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, tetanus and rabies.

“We consider these ‘core’ due to the risk of fatality associated with these diseases,” she says. “And the human health risk with rabies, of course.”

5 Core Vaccines

The following are recommendations for core vaccines based on the guidelines provided by the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Always work with your veterinarian to develop the ideal vaccination schedule for your horse.

◆ Eastern & Western Equine Encephalomyelitis: EEE and WEE are primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, but they’re also infrequently transmitted by ticks, other insects, or nasal secretions. While EEE has been reported throughout North and South America, WEE is more common in the western United States. Both have a high mortality rate, and vaccinations are recommended for all horses in North America.

◆ Rabies: Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, typically wildlife, and is endemic in every state but Hawaii. Although the incidence of rabies in horses is low, it presents a considerable public health risk, and it’s almost always fatal among horses, making it a core annual vaccination to all equines.

◆ Tetanus: Tetanus presents a risk to all horses and is often fatal. Although it isn’t contagious, horses can develop tetanus through a Clostridium tetani infection resulting from its entrance into a wound or from environmental exposure to the toxin—which resides in the soil—if a horse eats contaminated soil or droppings. The vaccines currently available are recommended for all horses.

◆ West Nile Virus: WNV is nearly always transmitted by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. It’s been identified throughout the continental United States, Mexico, and most of Canada, and is the leading cause of arbovirus encephalitis in horses. However, it’s not directly contagious from horse to horse or equine to human.

Non-Core Vaccines

One or more non-core vaccines also may be recommended following a risk-benefit analysis. Recommendations of non-core vaccines vary based on region and specific horse populations
within an area.

The risks of horses contracting non-standard diseases aren’t always easy to identify, which is one of the many reasons it’s important to consult a veterinarian. Equine vets understand what’s endemic in an area and which horses may be at higher risk for certain diseases, so they can recommend the appropriate non-core vaccines to add.

“Non-core—flu/rhino, strangles, Potomac—are considered risk-based more on the lifestyle of the horse and if they are endemic,” Hiney explains.

Some non-core vaccinations that may be recommended due to risk-based assessments include:
◆ Anthrax
◆ Botulism
◆ Equine herpesvirus (also called equine rhinopneumonitis, or “rhino”)
◆ Equine influenza (aka “flu”)
◆ Equine viral arteritis
◆ Leptospirosis
◆ Potomac Horse Fever
◆ Rotavirus
◆ Snake bite
◆ Strangles
◆ Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis

Don’t Forget Boosters

Once your horse receives the initial series of a core vaccine, he’ll still require boosters. Many vaccines require an annual booster to maintain immunity, but some diseases may require more frequent action.

“Booster frequency depends on how endemic the disease is and your horse’s level of exposure,” Hiney explains. She says there isn’t a lot of research on how long vaccines last in horses, which is why they recommend annual boosters for all, and even more frequent ones in certain circumstances. She says they have a better idea of the duration of immunity in companion animals.

“To some degree, we’re probably over-vaccinating horses for tetanus,” says Garrett Metcalf, DVM, an equine veterinarian at Pine Ridge Equine Hospital in Glenpool, Okla. “However, horses are rather sensitive to the neurotoxin produced from Clostridium tetani that leads to the clinical signs of tetanus. Infected horses can be treated and saved, but up to 75 percent of them still die. It’s better to just over-vaccinate them, which won’t hurt them.”

Boosters help maintain a good protective level of antibodies, so if you forgo boosters, your horse may no longer be protected when exposed to a disease. If you allow his annual vaccinations to lapse longer than a couple of years, your vet may recommend that the primary series be administered again before recommencing annual boosters.

Injection Site

The best injection site for vaccinations is another area where a veterinarian’s extensive knowledge plays a key role. You must consider the possibility of adverse reactions when choosing injection sites.

For example, it’s not recommended to inject vaccines into the gluteal muscles or hip region of a horse because considerable tissue damage can occur should an abscess develop. If lesions erupt, they could require a long healing time.

“The neck is the usual site, in the ‘triangle,’” says Hiney. “But if a horse has an adverse reaction and his neck is stiff and sore, he may be more reluctant to move.”

Metcalf says that some people still vaccinate their own horses, and some vaccines can be purchased at feed stores. He emphasizes that it’s always better to let your vet administer vaccines, but if he has a client who insists on doing it themselves, he always shows them at least once where to give the shot.

“The ideal spot is [the triangle-shaped area] about the size of your hand right in front of the shoulder blade, in the middle of the neck,” says Metcalf. “Too low and it’s too near the cervical spine. Too high and it’s in the fat within the nuchal ligament instead of the muscle.

“When it’s in the fat, the horse won’t have an immune response,” he continues. “Horses can also get really sore when vaccinated in this spot. They can’t lower their head to eat and can’t move their neck well. Be educated.”

While administering your horse’s vaccines yourself isn’t advisable, working with your vet also has the benefit of ensuring serious side effects can be quickly identified and handled properly. If you insist on administering vaccines yourself, realize that some manufacturers will not reimburse for adverse outcomes.

“The vaccine makers want a vet to administer vaccinations,” Hiney says. “Usually, they only guarantee vaccines administered by a vet and not purchased online or through a feed store.”

Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions are an inherent risk of vaccination. Horses commonly experience local muscle swelling and soreness at the vaccination site. Transient, self-limiting clinical signs, which last only a short time and resolve without treatment, may include fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite.

Severe reactions at injection sites may require prolonged treatment and convalescence. Allergic-type reactions, such as hives, purpura hemorrhagica colic, or anaphylaxis can also occur and are particularly dangerous. Although unlikely to occur if proper procedure is followed, the potential for severe adverse reactions is one major reason why vaccines should be administered by a veterinarian.

“Some horses will react to the adjuvant, which is the ‘extra’ part that stimulates the horses’ general immune system,” Hiney says. “If that is the case, you may want to switch brands; it can make a difference.”

Metcalf advises horse owners who are concerned about adverse reactions to research the vaccine manufacturer, because the reactions can vary. However, he says usually less than 1% of horses have a severe reaction.

Administering multiple vaccines of both multiple antigens and adjuvants simultaneously may increase a horse’s risk of a reaction. When multiple products are needed, ask if your vet recommends staggering administration by three to four weeks between shots.

“If your horse has reactions, I would not give multiple [vaccines] at once,” Hiney says. “But many manufacturers now bundle vaccines together, sort of a ‘one and done.’”

If your horse has had a reaction in the past, you may need to avoid combo vaccines and stagger his shots.

“But then you have to worry about them developing a fever and other bad responses from having too many injections,” warns Metcalf. “Most companies mix vaccines with five, six or seven types all together to keep injection sites from getting sore. There are actually fewer problems with the mix of vaccines, which we use.”

Best Vaccination Practices

It’s important to develop a comprehensive vaccination program, but a one-size-fits-all version for all horses doesn’t exist.

“Talk to your vet,” Hiney stresses. “Remember biosecurity! Even if you take a vaccinated horse to a show and have others at home, you may be dragging pathogens back with you, so always think about good biosecurity protocols—don’t just rely on vaccines alone.”

This article about horse vaccinations appeared in the March 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Two potential dangers for your horse are strangles and equine herpes virus (EHV), both of which are highly contagious and can easily infect a horse at any barn, arena, or other facility. As cases increase during show and rodeo seasons, Kelli Beavers, DVM, clinical assistant professor of equine veterinary education at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach (VERO) program, housed at West Texas A&M University, gives advice on how to prevent illnesses like strangles and EHV.

Preventing Exposure

Preventing exposure to strangles or EHV starts by taking simple precautions when you travel with your horse to new facilities around other horses.

“Both of these illnesses can be transmitted by horses and by people. Most disease transmission occurs from horses that do not yet show signs of illness.” Beavers says. “Be very careful about traveling with your horse. Make sure to clean the stall you will be using before you unload everything, including your horse. Washing with soapy water is good and using a hand-held disinfectant sprayer on the walls of the stall as well. One example of a disinfectant is Virkon-S. As far as avoiding exposure, just make sure that you don’t comingle your horses with others that you are unfamiliar with.”

It is also important to ensure your horse is healthy prior to any travel. It is best to avoid any travel if your horse has signs of illness.

Beavers explains that having a quarantine barn is important for coming back home from an event.

“It’s a really great practice to protect your home farm by having a quarantine barn,” Beavers says. “If you come back from a show and realize that your horse has been at risk or exposed, you can make sure to keep other horses safe, whether it be your own horses or others sharing a boarding facility.”

Using Public Utilities

Wash racks and other areas at public facilities can be helpful but should also be approached with caution. Beavers explains how to use these amenities properly to keep your horse from becoming ill.

“When using public utilities at shows or rodeos, be sure to give yourself enough time to get done what you need done without being crowded by other horses,” Beavers says. “You can certainly wash down or disinfect any walls or railings. Make sure to keep your distance from unfamiliar horses if you can and use your common sense in those situations. You can’t completely avoid all risks, especially in common use areas. Using your own grooming equipment, and not comingling your equipment with unfamiliar people or horses can reduce the risk of these illnesses.”

Veterinarian Help

Working with your veterinarian when you suspect your horse might have contracted an illness is crucial, especially if it could be strangles or EHV. Beavers explains how veterinarian help is important to give your horse the best chance of recovery.

“When working with your veterinarian, you can make sure to stay up to date on medication and vaccinations for your horses that do travel and your horses that stay at home. With your veterinarian you can also create an individualized plan for you and your horse,” Beavers says.

Some horse shows and facilities require that a horse be vaccinated with EHV and equine influenza vaccines within a certain timeframe before the event. Be sure to check state and local regulations before traveling.

Next Steps After Horse Illness Exposure

Exposure to strangles or EHV can be shocking and even scary, so focus on the steps to a solution if this occurs.

“If your horse has been exposed, make sure that you have a plan for quarantine set up where you keep your horse. Make sure to monitor your horse for any signs of fever and take their temperature daily,” Beavers says. “If you’re taking care of sick or exposed horses, be sure and take care of them last. That way you can change clothes and get yourself clean without going back to tend to healthy horses.”

Isolate Horses with These Symptoms

It’s essential to know the early symptoms of illnesses like EHV and strangles. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, symptoms to watch for include:

1. Body temperature greater than 101.5°F (38.9°C)
2. Ataxia or recumbency
3. Aggressive behavior or stupor
4. Profuse diarrhea
5. Oral or coronary band vesicular or ulcerative lesions
6. Nasal discharge, coughing, and/or lymphadenopathy

Tell your veterinarian, farrier, trainer, and any other individuals who might come into contact with your horse becomes symptomatic. These professionals work with multiple horses every day, so it is important to notify them of exposure to keep other horses safe.

“It’s important to stay informed, Equine Disease Communication Center is really great because it tracks incidents and when horse illnesses occur so that you know if [strangles or EHV] is in your area,” Beavers says.

Travel with horses can bring excitement and new opportunities for equestrians of all kinds. Keep the excitement going this summer and integrate these tips into your travel routine to keep your horses safe from illness.

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Rabies doesn’t always come in the form of a drooling, snarling, biting dog. Sometimes, especially in horses, this deadly disease presents itself quietly and mimics other conditions. Although equine rabies is relatively rare, it’s a silent killer. Not only can it fatally harm your horse, it infect you and others around the barn. Thankfully, rabies is easy to prevent.

Where and How Equine Rabies Starts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bats were the most frequently reported wildlife with rabies nationwide in 2018. Rabid bats are found in every state except Hawaii. Skunks, raccoons, and foxes also commonly carry the disease.

Anytime there’s an uptick in wildlife around your livestock, there’s an increased risk of your horse encountering an infected animal. This is especially true if an animal is displaying erratic behavior such as a nocturnal animal skulking about during the daytime. As we all know, horses are naturally curious, but that curiosity can be deadly.

According to Kris Hiney, PhD, assistant professor and equine extension specialist at Oklahoma State University, horses most commonly contract rabies simply due to their curious nature.

“We’ve all seen horses that investigate animals, especially those acting abnormally,” she said. “Thankfully, it’s not extremely common, but rabies is endemic in the U.S. The closer your horse is to wildlife (essentially horses in pastures!) it has the potential to be exposed.”

Rabid animals transmit the viral disease through their saliva, most commonly through a bite. However, transmission can also occur when an infected animal’s saliva enters an open wound on your horse’s skin or through any mucous membrane, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Signs of Equine Rabies

There are two classic types of rabies your horse can contract—encephalitic and paralytic. These are more commonly referred to as furious or dumb rabies.

“Furious is just as it sounds, aggressive, and the dumb form results in lethargy, depression, etc.,” Hiney explained.

Clinical signs of equine rabies greatly vary, and the disease may progress rapidly or have a long incubation time with symptoms not appearing for two to six weeks, or even longer. Hiney said that commonly reported symptoms include going off feed, depression, and neurological changes. Other symptoms can include sudden behavioral changes, lameness, muscle tremors, head pressing, difficulty urinating, incoordination, teeth grinding, drooling, and facial paralysis among others.

After the onset of symptoms, your horse is highly contagious and usually only has a few days to a week to live. Unfortunately, the clinical signs of rabies in horses are easily confused with other diseases, which can result in exposure of other animals and human caregivers to the rabies virus.

“Rabies symptoms may be mistaken for colic, EEE, WNV, toxicities, etc.,” Hiney said. “Anytime you see neurologic signs in a horse, you need to take it extremely seriously.”

There isn’t a definitive test to diagnose rabies in horses prior to death. Diagnosis can only be made postmortem through an evaluation of the horse’s brain. If rabies is suspected, it’s critical to limit exposure to the infected horse.

Preventing The Silent Killer

Rabies exposure in horses is less common than in other domestic animals. There were only 13 rabid horses/donkeys reported to the CDC in 2018, but a report from the University of Kentucky indicates about 30 to 60 equine rabies cases are confirmed annually.

With those numbers, why take a chance? An annual shot given with other essential vaccinations protects your horse and prevents him from becoming fatally ill.

“Vaccinate! This disease is preventable and more important it’s a human health risk,” Hiney stressed. “It should be considered part of the core vaccines–Tetanus, Rabies, West Nile, and Eastern and Western encephalitis.”

The alternative to a low-cost vaccination is grim. There aren’t any successful treatments for equine rabies, so there’s no cure.

“Death is always the outcome,” Hiney warned. “The horse may become depressed, ataxic, or more aggressive, depending on how the disease presents, but it always results in death.”

Routine contact with an infected horse may be all it takes for rabies to spread to the horse’s owner or caretaker, too.

“Rabies is kind of a cool virus strategically,” Hiney explained. “It causes salivation and painful swallowing. A large amount of virus is shed in the saliva so essentially it causes the body to do what will optimize its spread. So, any handling of the horse’s mouth could result in transmission. That’s why I recommend using extreme caution and optimal biosecurity protocols with a horse with neurologic conditions. And notify your vet of what they’re walking into!”

The post Equine Rabies: Preventing the Silent Killer appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

We’ve all been there. It’s a spring day of good weather, perfect for a ride. As you amble to the barn to saddle up, you hear coughing. Turning the corner, you see the coughing culprit is your horse.

In another barn, a rider grabs the grooming kit to brush her horse in preparation for the saddle. As she runs her hand over his neck, she feels, and then sees, numerous bumps, some of which have merged to form large bumps.

What is going on with these horses? Allergies.

A Teeming World of Horse Allergies

Unseen by the naked eye, the world is abundant in proteins and substances that can incite an allergic response. These allergens may be inhaled, ingested, or may affect a horse through topical contact. You’ll be tipped off to signs of trouble when you notice your horse has itching, hives, or breathing problems.

Allergies are common throughout the human and animal world, and horses are no exception. Usually, horses manage in their environment just fine without developing obvious signs that microscopic compounds are affecting them. Horse allergies happen when a horse’s immune system overreacts to a foreign protein, goes on the offense and becomes over-sensitized.

Sometimes it takes months or years of accumulated exposure for a horse to become hypersensitive; sometimes the response is more immediate and acute. Whatever specific protein causes the reaction, it sets up a cascade of inflammatory events that release prostaglandins and histamines to create obvious skin or respiratory allergic signs.

Skin Allergies in Horses

Horse allergies that manifest in the skin may result from topical contact, but also may develop from oral ingestion or inhaled particles. Aerosolized dust, mold, pollen, bedding, and insect bites are just a few of the sources that can cause itching and/or hives.

A major cause of itching starts with the bite of insects called Culicoides, also known as midges or no-see-ums. While the midges tend to feed on the abdomen, a horse displays an allergic response to the midge saliva by aggressively rubbing his tail, hindquarters, neck and mane due to intense itching. Those areas become raw, crusty, and inflamed, with substantial hair loss.

Some breeds and lines of horses tend to be particularly allergic to midges, such as Morgans, Icelandics and Arabians. The solution relies on moving the horse away from areas favorable to midge breeding, like ponds, wetlands and slow-moving streams.

Fly sheets are important, but they should have belly bands of netting material. Bringing a horse inside at dusk and dawn also helps to reduce midge exposure, as that is their preferred feeding time.

In contrast to an itching reaction (pruritus), hives aren’t typically itchy but herald a definite sign of exposure to some kind of allergen. Hives tend to be soft swellings that indent when you push in with your finger, called pitting edema.

They may be variable in size, sometimes coalescing into one big welt when several are close together. Inhaled allergens also can cause hives, referred to as atopic dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis is also not unusual. One example that occurs fairly commonly is hives from contact with pine bedding. If there is a suspicion that bedding is a problem, substitute paper bedding or a different source of pine bedding to see if the hives resolve.

Some shampoos or fly sprays can cause skin irritation and hives, as can laundry detergent residue or dirt on a saddle pad. On rare occasions, a horse with a fungal infection called ringworm may develop hive-like reactions around a fungal lesion.

Hives can develop acutely and disappear just as quickly. Sometimes they persist long after the allergen is removed from the environment. In difficult cases, it may be necessary to medicate the horse with a short course of a corticosteroid like dexamethasone or prednisolone, which are effective anti-inflammatory medications.

Certain feedstuffs can set off a skin reaction, although food allergies are not that common. If it is a food allergy, however, it’s often a challenge to determine the exact food or oral substance that is the culprit.

This may need to be done through a process of elimination: eliminate all food and supplements and start by feeding only grass hay, although diet changes may need to be done slowly. Check with your vet. After a couple of weeks with no signs of hive lesions, add in one more food element and wait a week or two before adding in another. This may help pinpoint the cause.

Supplements tend to be the likeliest culprit, far more than hay or feed materials, although alfalfa has been known to cause allergic reactions.

Respiratory Allergies in Horses

Respiratory allergies can affect horse performance by impacting breathing and comfort, especially during exercise. A horse with a respiratory allergy often has a dry cough or wheezing that amplifies when he is eating or exercising. There may be a chronic or intermittent nasal discharge, as well.

Respiratory health is at risk when horses are placed inside barns, especially those with poor ventilation, and/or are exercised in indoor arenas. Many toxic compounds are aerosolized to circulate in the air in those environments: endotoxin (part of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria) in manure, ammonia vapor from urine-soaked bedding, mold spores from hay, or hay dust filtering down when stored in lofts above the stalls or arena. Arena footing can also contribute to respiratory irritation.

The best solution is to minimize a horse’s time indoors and instead turn him out as much as possible. Better yet, arrange full-time outdoor living with run-in sheds to protect against inclement weather. Soaking or steaming hay before feeding helps tamp down dust and mold.

If barn living is all you have available, then implementing good ventilation is very important. Use appropriately placed fans, open windows, and open barn doors to keep fresh air circulating. Store hay in a building separate from horse housing.

Another important strategy for respiratory health is to keep your horse on a regular immunization schedule, especially against respiratory viruses. Equine influenza virus is known for causing long-term respiratory damage, including development of equine asthma. Discuss an appropriate vaccine schedule with your veterinarian.

Once a horse develops equine asthma, a variety of medications, including inhaled and/or oral bronchodilators, can help improve his comfort and ease of breathing. It is much easier and more effective to apply an ounce of preventive strategies for respiratory health than a pound of cure to treat after the fact.

Equine Anaphylaxis

In an instance where a horse’s immune system develops a profound and severe reaction, a horse can experience life-threatening anaphylaxis. With that in mind, it’s important to contact your vet immediately when seeing signs of an allergic response, particularly if your horse is having difficulty breathing and/or there is swelling of his face and muzzle or limbs and belly.

If your horse has a known allergy to a medication, such as penicillin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like phenylbutazone or flunixin meglumine, it’s critical to place caution signs on the horse’s stall door and paddock to prevent accidental administration of potentially deadly drugs.

People with allergies wear neck tags or bracelets to convey this critical information, but for horses, it’s necessary to post signs in obvious places. Advise your barn manager and staff, friends and veterinarians who may deal with your horse.

Allergies can be troublesome to resolve, so observe and monitor every facet of your horse’s environment. With knowledge about potential problems, you can deter allergic problems before they begin.

The post Horse Allergies: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Marvin the pony was a rare find, and his owners knew it. When young Lucas went for a ride, Marvin always brought him home safely. You’d never catch Marvin ducking and weaving around an arena as his rider held on for dear life. Marvin would never drop his head and come to a screeching halt, launching the unsuspecting child headfirst into a small cross-rail jump. He would never buck furiously as though demons were pursuing him, and then prick his ears innocently at his unhappy rider sprawled on the ground. In a world full of children terrorized by devil-minded ponies, Marvin was pretty much a saint. Or so he seemed. But this pony held one very bad habit.

A Very Good Boy

One day when I was working on the farm, I saw Lucas climbing Marvin like a tree, his coattails flapping as he struggled sideways into the saddle. The gray pony never moved a muscle, but the saddle did, rotating 180 degrees and dumping the child into the dirt under Marvin’s legs. I gasped as the boy struggled to his feet, and his helmeted head thudded into Marvin’s belly, but all Marvin did was nose Lucas’ side and stand patiently while his saddle was fixed.

Another time, Marvin and Lucas were jogging around the arena during a lesson, and an out-of-control horse charged past them, kicking out viciously. Marvin dodged the kick, unseating Lucas, who ended up straddling the back of the pony’s neck.

Marvin came to a stop immediately, and Lucas, who was apparently part monkey, was able to scramble back into his saddle without ever hitting the ground. He straightened his tweed coat, and they trotted off with dignity.

Needle-Shy

The only time Marvin was less than perfect was when I had to give him his shots. Lucas’ mother, Daphne, would take a firm grip on Marvin’s halter, walk him off, and I’d follow, syringes uncapped and ready.

When I first started doing Marvin’s shots, I’d give the pony a chance to behave and would try giving the shots in the usual manner. I’d take hold of the skin on his neck and ease the needle in, but when Marvin felt the first poke, all hell broke loose.

While he usually bolted forward, sometimes he’d rear, and sometimes he’d spin into me. He was powerful and fast and was instantly enraged by the pokes. We had found the bad habit of this pony.

By then, I’d either dropped the syringe into the dirt or bent the needle, and Daphne would be panting, hauling on the halter and scolding the pony. Lucas would hide behind a nearby stall door, chanting, “Come on now, Marvin. Marvin stop that! Marvin, you behave yourself! Marvin, you bad boy!”

Successful Tactics

On one memorable visit, the full syringe was left dangling from Marvin’s neck after he exploded, driving him into a frenzy of charging and rearing until he’d managed to shake it loose and trample it into the ground.

I retrieved the broken pieces of the syringe but never did find the needle. Daphne found it the next day, wedged in the sole of her muck boot. Clearly different tactics were needed to get the shots into this pony, and after some dramatic mishaps with a rope twitch, which I quickly abandoned, I’d discovered an approach that sort of worked.

Daphne would walk Marvin briskly along the gravel path, rattling a feed bucket and distracting him. I’d sidle up to him with my heart pounding and syringes uncapped and tucked between my fingers. I’d rapidly shoot them into the gray neck without any warning, and—if I was lucky—I was in and out before Marvin had a chance to react.

Daphne would swiftly distract him with the grain, and all was well. If I messed up, it was war, so I made a point to get it right.

New On the Black

One spring, there was a new vet sniffing around the barn, and while I normally
welcomed new colleagues, it was clear that this woman had no interest in any sort of a professional relationship with me.

She wanted my clients and was doing everything in her power to lure them, launching direct email campaigns, hanging posters, and offering discounted vaccine and Coggins clinics to all new clients. It was a free country, and horse owners had a right to use whichever vet they wanted, but it still stung a little when I didn’t hear from Daphne and Lucas that season.

I was very busy with my regular barns, so I put Marvin out of my mind and focused on my work. But one day in late spring my phone rang, and Daphne’s number popped up on the screen.

“Dr. Diehl, I’m embarrassed. We decided to use another vet this spring to save money, but things didn’t go so well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “What happened?”

“Well, as you know, Marvin’s a little tricky with shots. He kind of outdid himself this time.”

I hid a grin at the pony’s probable display of his only bad habit..

“Oh?”

“Yes,” Daphne said. “The vet wouldn’t listen when I told her how you do it. They tried giving the shots the usual way, and he knocked the tech down and ran away. Then they tried to twitch him when I said not to, and he struck the twitch off, and it hit the vet in the face and broke her nose. I feel absolutely awful. We’ve arranged for a trainer to work with him, but can you please come vaccinate him?”

Back to Business

I said that I would, and we got Marvin vaccinated, barely. After his experience at the vaccine clinic, he was worse than usual, but my old trick eventually worked, and soon he was munching his handful of grain, and I was shakily capping my empty syringes. Lucas emerged from his hiding place, wideeyed, and marched up to Marvin, shaking a small finger.

“Marvin, you’re naughty, and I’m very, very mad at you.”

Then he produced a carrot from his coat pocket. Marvin crunched the carrot adoringly, and Lucas stroked the lowered gray head. “But you sure showed that other vet, didn’t you!”

This Vet Adventure column about a pony’s very bad habit appeared in the July 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Vaccines for horses are a cornerstone of good health and horse owner responsibility. A robust vaccination program can reliably prevent numerous deadly and highly contagious diseases, offering convenient and safe protection for your horse, and in some cases, you as well.

However, deciding what vaccines to give your horse can feel daunting at times, given the numerous options and their relative dependence on your horse’s age, location, and activities. Fortunately, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) publishes authoritative guidelines covering what they’ve determined to be the four “core” vaccines for all horses in the U.S. Let’s take a closer look at these guidelines and what they mean for your horse.

First, it helps to understand what is meant by the term “core.” The AAEP refers to the American Veterinary Medical Association for a working definition, which is that core vaccines are those that “protect from diseases that are endemic to a region, those with potential public health significance, required by law, virulent/highly infectious, and/or those posing a risk of severe disease. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrated efficacy and safety, and thus exhibit a high enough level of patient benefit and low enough level of risk to justify their use in the majority of patients.”

Based on this definition, AAEP classifies four horse vaccines to be core in the U.S. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. EEE and WEE

Transmitted primarily by mosquitoes, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) are considered endemic to the United States, although WEE tends to occur more commonly, typically west of the Mississippi River as its name suggests.

These viruses are neurotropic, meaning they prefer to localize specifically in brain tissue. In fact, an older layman’s term for these diseases used to be “brain fever.” Sometimes even now they are colloquially referred to as “sleeping sickness.”

Signs of infection include fever and lethargy in addition to neurological signs, such as a wobbly gait, head-pressing, circling, and recumbency. EEE is the more deadly, with a mortality rate of 90 percent. WEE causes death in up to 40 percent of cases.

Both diseases are also zoonotic, meaning they can be passed to humans. Although human cases are very rare, when they occur, they are severe to fatal.

Because mosquitoes spread these viruses, there’s little chance of eradication. Additionally, given there is no cure and the possibility of permanent neurological damage or death, vaccines for horses against these two viruses are a simple way to remain worry-free.

While there is a third virus in this family, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE), this is considered a risk-based vaccine (see “RiskBased Vaccines,” pg. 44) due to its geographical limitations within Central and South America, with occasional cases in southern states. Discuss with your veterinarian whether your horse is at risk for VEE.

2. West Nile Virus

It seems over the past 20 years that horse owners are more familiar with West Nile virus (WNV) than EEE and WEE, given WNV’s rapid and dramatic expansion across the U.S. and its greater impact on human health.

West Nile Virus, like EEE and WEE, is spread by mosquitoes and targets the brain, resulting in neurologic signs, such as gait and behavioral changes. With an equine mortality rate of about 35 percent, it’s not as deadly as EEE, but data have shown horses that survive the acute infection can have a roughly 40 percent chance of residual neurological damage.

Because this virus has been identified in all 48 contiguous states, infection remains a seasonal threat to U.S. horses. Mosquito control is only that—control, and not eradication. Vaccination against WNV is the best way to prevent this disease.

3. Rabies

Rabies is perhaps the quintessential vaccine for numerous domestic species for many reasons, from cultural (Old Yeller, anyone?) to epidemiological, making it the one most people are familiar with, and rightly so.

Rabies is fatal. Period. Additionally, the course of the disease is highly unpleasant and extremely dangerous to others, as, unlike with the viral encephalitis diseases, it is spread through contact with an infected animal.

For these reasons alone, it is the only vaccine for horses that is technically required by law and must be administered by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited veterinarian.

4. Tetanus

Like rabies, tetanus also has a presence in our everyday vernacular, likely due to the fact that humans have been contracting (and dying from) tetanus for millennia. Images of rusty nails or the term “lockjaw” come to most minds when discussing this disease.

Caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, which is ubiquitous in soil, this fatal disease causes skeletal muscle paralysis; death occurs due to the eventual paralysis of the muscle in the diaphragm, which is required for breathing.

Any open wound, from a puncture or laceration to a surgical incision or traumatic foaling can be sources of C. tetani infection in horses. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure—yearly boosters with a tetanus toxoid will help bolster immunity in your horse.

Make a Plan

Horse owners should be aware that different vaccine companies typically market combination horse vaccines. It’s common to find various “three-way” or more combinations, depending on the manufacturer.

For this reason, if you’re not sure what the right vaccines for horses, be sure to talk with your vet. This helps ensure your horse receives the most efficient protection for his health and your pocketbook.

This article about vaccines for horses appeared in the March 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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I loaded up my tote with a stethoscope, thermometer and a flashlight. To be safe, I put on a pair of heavy-duty exam gloves. I didn’t yet know what was going on with Hans, but horses with chewing and swallowing issues make me nervous. There are a few possible infectious causes, some of which could be dangerous to humans, and I wasn’t taking any chances. I made Cathy glove up, too.

The Mystery Disease Exam

Hans’s vitals were worrying: an elevated heart rate and low body temperature. His mucus membranes were muddy with a very slow capillary refill time, which told me that he was dehydrated and in shock.

The rectal exam revealed rock-hard, mucus-covered manure balls in a flaccid rectum. There was no muscle tone in any of the intestine that I could palpate, and nothing seemed to be moving.

The tail and anal tone were very poor, and Hans’ triceps, chest and hamstring muscles twitched and jumped randomly. Another strange sign, he was also walking as though he were drunk.

We offered Hans some water. The big gelding shoved his muzzle deep into the bucket in frustration, then flipped his head back and forth, sloshing water everywhere. It was clear that he was unable to swallow.

I opened his mouth and gently drew his tongue forward, and Hans made no attempt to withdraw it or even move it. His tongue was limp in my hand and hung from the side of his mouth when I let it go. His jaw tone was also very poor, and drool spilled from his lower lip.

Cathy watched me expectantly, but my mind was racing, trying to come up with a list of diseases that would explain all of Hans’s clinical signs. I’ve learned the hard way to not talk too much until I’ve had a chance to formulate some ideas, otherwise I tend to contradict myself and confuse the owner.

Thinking Through the Mystery

Could this be trauma? He was walking very strangely. Maybe he’d collided with another horse on the ranch, except he showed no signs of a concussion, and I’d seen plenty of those when I was a rodeo vet.

EPM? We didn’t really have many cases high in the Colorado Rockies, and there was no significant travel history. A virus that affected the brain? Supposedly he was fully vaccinated.

While I was thinking through possible differential diagnoses, I clipped Hans’s jugular vein to place an IV catheter, and connect two large bags of fluids. I didn’t know what was going on with this mystery disease, but I could at least treat his dehydration.

I also passed a stomach tube and cautiously delivered a small amount of electrolyte water after I was certain that he wasn’t refluxing. Once he was hydrated, I blasted a high dose of steroids through his catheter.

Then a horrible idea hit me. Could this possibly be rabies? There had been a recent case in a mule in an adjoining county, but he’d been vaccinated, hadn’t he?

“Cathy, he had the rabies vaccine this year, right?”

She frowned. “You know, I don’t think he did. The vet said it wasn’t necessary, because we don’t see rabies up here.”

Hans’ vitals were worrying: an elevated heart rate and low body temperature. His mucus membranes were muddy with a very slow capillary refill time, which told me that he was dehydrated and in shock.

Considering More Causes of a Mystery Disease

My heart pounded. Now I had to put rabies on the list, and the more I thought about it, the more frightened I felt. I pictured the thin trickle of saliva, the inability to drink, the muscle tremors. So many of Hans’ signs of his mystery disease matched.

My hands shook as I added calcium gluconate and dextrose to the fluids, while Hans nuzzled my arm gently. Could a rabies patient be this bright and alert?

Cathy stroked Hans’s neck. “Moldy grain? Something in the water?”

I shook my head.

“No, surely not. And there aren’t any toxic weeds in his paddock. He’s getting grass hay, right?”

She nodded.

“In fact, they put a huge round bale in the feeder last week.”

I frowned. A huge round bale, a horse not walking well, muscle tremors, poor tongue and tail tone. Something was trying to formulate in my brain, and I walked towards my car in frustration, trying to put it all together. What was the connection creating this mystery disease?

Lightbulb Moment Reveals the Mystery Disease

Then it hit me. And it was not an option that I wanted on my list.

Botulism—probably from an animal carcass baled up in the hay. Large round or square bales are the perfect anaerobic environment for Clostridium bacteria to generate botulism spores and their deadly toxin; then the poor, unsuspecting horse eats the contaminated hay.

An icy hand gripped my chest, and I frantically started scrolling through the vet manuals on my phone. Hans had every single sign. I looked back at Hans and Cathy standing together, and my heart sank.

A quick call to the veterinary university confirmed my suspicions, although rabies was also still possible. Soon Cathy and I were ushering Hans onto her trailer, and they headed to the referral hospital.

The news was grim. Botulism was indeed the top suspect of the mystery illness, and the antitoxin was several thousand dollars. Without it, Hans had virtually no chance of recovery, and even with it, his odds of survival were only about 20 percent.

Cathy didn’t hesitate, and soon Hans was receiving the potentially lifesaving treatment. But would it be enough to save him?

Read the conclusion of this story here.

This Vet Adventures column about identifying a mystery disease appeared in the May 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Each season change brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. Here are the most important checkpoints to carefully consider this fall for care of your horse before the snow and ice arrive to make life harder.

Hoof Care

Fall is the best time of year for the hoof,” says Brandon Hickman of Hickman Farrier Services in Signal Mountain, Tenn. “Depending on the weather, the nutrients taken in during the spring and summer months are now reaching the hoof. I often see that, for most horses, the hoof wall is better in the fall. Nature seems to be preparing the hoof to be as strong as possible for the approaching colder weather.”

Hickman offers the following hoof care advice for fall.

Inspect Pastures: Closely monitor pastures that include or are near wooded areas. Some species of trees produce acorns, nuts and fruits such as apples and pears at this time of year. While many horse owners already know that laminitis and founder caused by grass are of particular concern, they don’t realize that a horse can also founder, or at the very least colic, from overeating these foods.

Trimming & Shoeing: The hoof tends to grow a little more in the fall. In order to avoid problems down the road, it’s important for owners to be diligent about scheduling trims, resets, and/or new shoes.

Correct issues early. Just as important as routine hoof care, now is the time to make sure there are no problems, and if you find any, to correct them. It’s critical to monitor your horse’s hooves for issues such as cracks, white line disease, and thrush.

A wet fall can increase the frequency of thrush. Then, as the weather gets colder, horses are being ridden less and are sometimes even turned out for the winter, resulting in less movement for the horse. By its nature, exercise generates movement, and movement grows hoof. It can be more difficult to correct issues when the hoof isn’t growing as much.

Fall is a great time to examine your horse’s vaccination protocol, especially if buying a new horse with unknown disease history, introducing a new horse into your herd, or after an extended mosquito season.

Don’t necessarily pull shoes. Abruptly pulling shoes with the change of the seasons can create temporary soreness for your horse. If you decide to do so, using hoof boots while riding can help alleviate the problem. Still, as the ground begins to freeze in late fall or early winter and your horse lacks the protection offered by shoes, there will be a period of time while he becomes accustomed to the change when he could be uncomfortable.

However, if your horse is already barefoot, it’s OK to leave him that way. Some horses need shoes year-round, but for others, keeping them on can be a matter of personal preference, according to Hickman.

Preventive Fall Horse Care

Nathan Voris, DVM, is associate director of equine technical services for Zoetis. He echoes Hickman’s sentiments that fall is one of the best seasons for horse health. He recommends the following preventative care strategies.

Vaccines: Every horse should receive an annual equine influenza and rhinopneumonitis vaccination, but vaccinating above and beyond this for the fall booster season has special considerations.

For example, horses who are traveling or live with horses who are traveling should receive semi-annual vaccinations. Horses living in areas where flooding is prevalent should be vaccinated against leptospirosis. If there is risk of exposure, horses should be vaccinated against strangles.

When thinking about horse care, fall is also a great time to examine your horse’s vaccination protocol, especially if buying a new horse with unknown disease history, introducing a new horse into your herd, or after an extended mosquito season.

Vaccinations can be administered year-round. Even late in the year, it’s not too late to administer booster vaccines or vaccines that may have been missed during the spring, such as West Nile virus and Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis.

Deworming: Every horse that has access to pasture should be treated against tapeworms, but don’t simply follow the calendar and deworm on the first day of fall. While this is a good general recommendation, the best defense against tapeworms is to deworm at the end of the grazing season, whenever that happens to be for your area of the country.

Tapeworms are transmitted by a horse passing eggs in his manure that are eaten by a type of mite. The eggs develop into larvae within the mites, which are picked up off the grass and eaten by the horse, allowing the larvae to develop into adult tapeworms.

During cold weather, the mites burrow into the ground and are less likely to be picked up by the horse, creating the right conditions to deworm against them. In more temperate climates, deworming against tapeworms could also be considered as part of an end of winter or early spring health routine.

In addition, most adult horses will require one to two treatments per year for small strongyles, and the fall is a good time to do this.

Dental: Because hay will be your horse’s primary food source and large-intestine fiber fermentation provides an important source of warmth, now is the time to schedule a dental exam, particularly if one was missed in the spring, to make sure teeth are functioning well.

It can also be a good time for a general checkup, especially for horses of an advanced age. During the veterinarian’s visit, be sure to discuss any dietary or other concerns you may have so you can prevent problems before they start.

The fall, however, is not the best season to run certain types of diagnostic tests. For example, if you have concerns that your horse may have developed Cushing’s disease, also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), false positive results are frequently observed when testing is done during the fall. This type of test is best performed during the spring or summer when daylight cycles allow for more accurate results, says Voris.

Nutrition

Rhonda Hoffman, Ph.D., professor and director of horse science with Middle Tennessee State University, recommends a monthly rather than a seasonal assessment of dietary needs for most horses. She offers the following guidance.

Assess Weight: Rather than simply visually assessing your horse’s weight, body condition scoring using the Henneke scale of 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) offers a quantitative method of doing so.

A score of 5—ribs are easy to feel but can’t be seen—is optimal at anytime of year. If your horse is a 4, you will be able to see a hint of ribs. Some older horses fall into this category and may not have enough fat cover going into the winter months to stay warm. In this case, it will be helpful to look at ways to begin putting weight back on.

On the other hand, a horse that is a 6 or 7 and slightly overweight is not a huge concern just before winter sets in. However, one that scores an 8 or a 9 will need to have the unhealthy excess pounds addressed with diet and exercise, regardless of season.

Underweight horses should be fed the best quality hay possible, and good pasture if available. Hay cubes or alfalfa can help to supplement issues with hay quality.

High-calorie grain mixes can also be added to or increased in the diet. Your local agriculture extension agent or feed sales representative can offer advice on what and how much to feed for weight gain. Fat supplements are another option if you prefer not to feed grain.

Weight tapes can aid you in monitoring your horse’s weight, and they work well for stock-type horses and small Thoroughbreds. However, there is a greater margin of error when using them for Minis, draft-type, or warmblood horses.

Hoffman also recommends the Healthy Horse smartphone app. Using a fabric measuring tape and the app, you can get a fairly accurate weight assessment, regardless of type.

Evaluate Hay Supply: It’s essential to assess how much hay your horse will need to get through the season. To roughly calculate how much you’ll need, keep in mind the average horse consumes approximately 600 pounds of hay per month during the winter.

According to Hoffman, you should start feeding hay as soon as pasture quality declines or becomes insufficient to meet nutritional demands.

Further Reading

• Fall Riding and Horse Care
• Fall Forage for Horses
• What Fall Cleanup Means on a Horse Farm
• Why Senior Horses Need Fall Dental Check-Ups
• Preventing Fall Founder

This article about fall horse care originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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