Equine grass sickness, also known as equine dysautonomia, is a debilitating and often fatal disease that causes a marked reduction of the gastrointestinal motility due to damage to the autonomic nervous system.

This condition was first recognized in 1909 in Scotland and it is seen throughout northern Europe and also South America. Great Britain has the highest incidence of grass sickness in the world and it affects horses, ponies and donkeys.

Grass sickness can occur at any age and at any time of the year but it has a seasonal pattern, with most cases being seen during spring time.

The cause of this disease is unknown but apart from grazing, different risk factors such as certain types of wormers have been identified. However, not worming a horse can have very serious consequences as well, which means that owners should not decrease their use of wormers. Many potential causes have been examined over the years and the type of damage to the nervous system suggests that a toxic substance is likely to be involved.

Grass sickness occurs in three main forms: acute, subacute and chronic form. The clinical signs depend on the level of gastrointestinal dysfunction and severity of neuronal damage.

In acute grass sickness the symptoms appear suddenly and horses show severe colic, difficulty in swallowing, salivation, muscle tremors, droopy eyelids and sweating. Subacute cases show these same symptoms but they are less severe.

Both forms are fatal and affected horses are often put down once the diagnosis is made, in order to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.

In the chronic form of grass sickness the symptoms develop more slowly. Horses lose weight and there are changes in their abdominal silhouette. In subacute and chronic cases their faeces may become dry, firm and present a black coat and mucus on them.

The prognosis of the chronic form is poor and approximately 45% of the horses will survive with treatment. Treatment is usually considered in mild chronic cases and if the horse is eating and not in too much in pain.

Since the cause of the disease is still unknown it is very difficult to take preventive measures. Stabling the animals during spring and early summer can reduce the likelihood of disease.

There is still a lot of research being done to find the cause of this condition, which would allow preventing it and treating it in a more effective way. The most recent theory being researched is the possible involvement of a soil-associated bacterium, Clostridium botulinum.

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Most owners like to offer their horse a tasty treat and horses are more than happy to nibble on yummy snacks. However, it is wise to be careful with what you offer, how you offer and when you offer in order to avoid digestive problems and creating bad habits.

The best treats for a healthy horse are fruits, some vegetables and nowadays there is also a wide variety of commercial horse treats available (hay cubes, flavoured pellets, etc.). Our list of safe and healthy treats for horses includes apples, carrots, bananas, grapes, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe or other melons, raisins and sunflower seeds. You can make healthy cookies for your horse and pony using oatmeal and shredded carrot for example. You can also offer the traditional sugar cubes and mints, just make sure these are offered in small amounts.

You should avoid feeding them with onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale and any other foods that tends to produce intestinal gas, grass clippings and dough products as these can cause a blockage in their digestive tract.

Many horses will quickly gulp large pieces of treat without properly chewing it first. Please remember to cut treats into smaller pieces before feeding them to your horse to minimise the risk of choking and avoid feeding them unpitted fruits.

Treats should be offered in small amounts and as a general rule, one or two pieces of treat is enough. This is very important to keep in mind if you are tempted to overindulge your horse with tasty treats. Horses have delicate digestive systems that depend on a balance of bacteria and other microbes in order to function properly. Feeding them with foods that are not part of their normal diet can upset this balance and lead to serious health problems such as colic. Your horse will always want another treat and it is up to you to say no for your horse’s sake.

The safest way to feed a treat to your horse is to use a bucket. If you want to feed it by hand please make sure to place the treat in the middle of your flat hand and push it slightly toward the horse’s mouth, rather than withdrawing your hand as he reaches towards it. This can inadvertently cause the horse to lunge for the treat and develop a bad habit over time.

Avoid giving your horse treats on a regular basis. Horses that expect a treat at a certain time and don’t get it may start exhibiting less desirable behaviours.

Most treats if feed with moderation will not negatively affect your horse. When we are discussing treats, moderation is definitely the key.

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An appropriate diet and balanced nutrition is essential for a horse’s healthy development, overall well-being and long term health. In general, the equine diet must include carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water.

A horse’s dietary requirements will depend on its age, size, physiologic state and amount of work performed. Exercising, working or growing horses as well as lactating mares will have higher demands for energy so their feed intake should be adjusted according to their needs. Horses that are overweight, ill or ageing will need specific diet adjustments as well.

The most important part of all feeding programs for horses is good quality grasses, hay or forage. This is an invaluable source of energy, nutrients and fibre that also plays an essential part in teeth wear and good intestinal motility. Hay must be stored properly to avoid mould, dust and rodents. It is also very important to remember that high quality hay encourages a horse’s appetite.

In general, forages are classified as grasses (such as timothy, orchard and brome) and legumes (such as clover or alfalfa). Legumes usually contain more protein, calcium, and energy than grass hay.

In order to achieve a balanced diet, you may need to add concentrates (compound mix) to provide any nutrients that might be missing from the forage. Concentrates include all grains (such as oats, corn or barley) and are high in protein and energy. Grain should be fed in small amounts as it can upset a horse’s digestive system.

A horse’s diet must also include mineral supplementation for adequate bone development and good general health. Horses need adequate amounts of calcium and phosphorus as well as trace minerals such as iodine, copper, iron, manganese and selenium.

Commercial feeds usually have the appropriate amount of minerals and vitamins added to meet a horse’s requirements and horses that consume fresh green pasture will also receive proper amounts of minerals in their diet, except for salt. Horses should have access to free choice salt and clean water to drink at all times.

Horses regularly subjected to moderate to intense work lose electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride) in their sweat. In these particular cases it may necessary to supplement both salt (sodium and chloride) and potassium.

Another relevant topic is the calcium : phosphorus ratio. The body’s response to high levels of phosphorus in the blood stream is to withdraw calcium from the bonesto balance the calcium : phosphorus ratio, so it’s important to keep the phosphorus within normal levels. When buying commercial feeds or premixes it is very important to check if the calcium : phosphorus ratio is between 1:1 and 2:1.

Grazing animals do not have to deal with this issue since phosphorus is fairly low in grasses but grains, on the other hand, are very high in phosphorus.

Horses need to have Vitamin A, D and E in their diet. Good quality hay, fresh green forages and/or premixed rations often contain all the necessary vitamins for a horse.

Body condition scoring is an important tool to monitor your horse’s weight. The ideal body condition score for a horse is between 4 and 5 (on the 9-point scale, with 1 being extremely thin and 9 being extremely fat). As a general rule your horse’s ribs should not be visually distinguished but should be easily felt.

Your horse’s feed intake and amount of exercise should be managed according to your horse’s body condition score and weight. Please remember that overweight horses are more susceptible to conditions such as laminitis, exercise intolerance, inefficient thermoregulation (over-heating) and metabolic disorders.

It is also very important to keep in mind that the equine gastrointestinal tract is not prepared to go without food for any period of time. If it is not possible for a horse to have free access to grass or hay (forage) or to be offered frequent, small meals throughout the day, then it should be fed at regular intervals in order to reduce the amount of time its digestive tract is empty.

If you need to make any changes in horse’s diet please make sure those are introduced gradually over a 7 to 10 day period, so the horse’s digestive system has time to adjust.

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The best way for owners to understand their horse’s dietary needs is for them to know how the equine digestive system works.

In the wild, horses will spend most of their time grazing freely across the countryside and keeping themselves safe from predators. They will eat small amounts of grass throughout the day, choosing immature forages that are easy to digest. This means that the equine digestive tract has evolved to process frequent, small amounts of food naturally rich in nutrients and fibre. Under these conditions, digestive problems are unlikely.

Nowadays, a domesticated horse’s lifestyle has very little to do with its wild counterparts. Horses are confined to pastures or paddocks which limits their movement and their feed choices. Horses will eat what is available or what is provided by their caretakers, who usually don’t have the time to offer several small amounts of food every day. As a result, horses are often fed a large quantity of food, sometimes in a single daily meal. Horses’ nutritional requirements have also changed due to the increase in their workload.

As you can imagine, all these changes to a horse’s natural feeding habits can have serious consequences on its digestive system.

The equine digestive tract is not prepared to be empty for any length of time, as this can cause damage in their stomach lining and lead to gastric ulcers. If it is not possible for a horse to have free access to grass or hay (forage) or to be offered frequent, small meals throughout the day, then it should be fed at regular intervals in order to reduce the amount of time its digestive tract is empty.

Horses are able to get nutritional content from grasses and hay because their digestive system contains microorganisms (in the cecum and colon) that are capable of breaking down structural carbohydrates. These will then be turned into molecules that can be absorbed by the horse and transformed into energy. This particular characteristic of the horse’s digestive system is also the reason why there shouldn’t be any sudden changes in their diet. If any change is needed, the diet should be gradually altered over a 7 to 10 day period, so the resident bacterial population in their hindgut has time to adapt to the change.

A horse’s nutritional requirements will depend on age, size, physiologic state and amount of work performed. In general, a mature, healthy horse will only require good quality hay, mineral supplementation, free-choice salt and water at all times. Exercising, working or growing horses as well as lactating mares will have higher demands for energy so their feed intake should be adjusted according to their needs.

It is also very important to keep an eye on your horse’s body condition and weight so you can adjust its feed intake and amount of exercise accordingly. Please remember that obese horses are more prone to suffer from conditions such as laminitis, exercise intolerance, inefficient thermoregulation (over-heating) and metabolic disorders.

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Owning and keeping a horse is a huge responsibility and a life-long commitment. You will be entirely responsible for a living, breathing, large animal which is time consuming and carries considerable costs (accommodation stabling, bedding, feeding, shoeing, equipment and health care). Make sure you have enough time to dedicate to your horse and do some research on how much it will cost to keep it.

If you are considering getting a horse or a pony it is extremely important that you choose the one that better suits your needs. Here are a few factors that you should keep in mind:

The type of horse you are looking for

You have to take into consideration what you will be using the horse for so you can choose the right type of horse. An animal expected to compete regularly will have to be more disciplined and suited to that activity than a horse that is used for riding for example. It’s also very important to find a horse with an adequate temperament.  Horses have different personalities and you should choose a horse you get along with.

The size of the horse

In order for riding to be comfortable you must consider the size of the horse as it should be adequate to your height and weight. You should be able to mount from the ground without any help and, once mounted, your feet should rest no lower than the horse’s elbows.

Its age

Younger or less experienced horses need a lot of work and training. If you’re looking to improve your riding skills or if you don’t have the time to do a lot of training it might be better to go for an older and more experienced horse. The rider should always consider his or hers own ability, experience and riding level when choosing a horse.

Viewing and trying a horse

When you find a horse that interests you, go and see it so you can be sure this horse really meets your requirements. Prepare a list of relevant questions to ask the seller regarding the horse’s history, experience, health issues and any possible bad habits it may have. Observe its temperament and attitude carefully. It’s always a good idea to have someone experienced with you to help with this assessment and to spot any issues you may have overlooked.

Observe the handling of the horse by the owner and then handle the horse yourself. Carry out routine tasks such as grooming, tacking up and feeding. Make sure you watch someone else ride the horse first and then ride the horse yourself.

Pre purchase vet examination

Vetting a horse before purchasing it is always recommended. This is a veterinary examination carried out on the horse to identify any health problems which may interfere with what you’re hoping to use the horse for. It can be made on either a two-stage or a five-stage pre purchase vet examination.

It might be tempting to choose the two-stage vetting as it is cheaper. However, you will be missing out on important information which could lead to unforeseen vet fees and it could cost you more in the long run. Another good reason to choose the five-stage vetting is that most companies will require this examination before they consider insuring a horse.

Make the most of this examination! Ask the vet to estimate the horse’s age and compare it to what the seller has told you. If you’re still unsure about buying the horse or not ask for the vet’s professional opinion.

Finding the right horse takes time and in many cases you’ll see several horses before making a final decision. If you carefully consider all these topics you will most likely find the horse that is truly right for you!

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Horses, just like other domesticated animals and like us humans, are living longer. Not only their lifespan is increasing but also it is not uncommon for senior horses to enjoy productive lives well into their 20s.

Caring for a horse is a daily responsibility and all horses require basic routine care. As they age their needs change and additional care may be required to keep them as healthy as possible.

The most important areas to consider when caring for an older horse are:

• Adequate shelter – Always make sure you provide adequate shelter and warm stabling in the winter. This is particularly important for arthritic horses.
• Routine worming and vaccination – older horses often have lowered immunity, which means they will be less able to fight disease. They should be kept fully protected against equine influenza, against tetanus and regular worm counts should be performed to make sure your worming program is effective.
• Regular and adequate exercise – exercise is essential to a horse’s gut health, it will help maintain muscle tone, flexibility, mobility and it is very important for horses suffering from arthritis.
• Care for your horse’s feet – have your horse’s feet checked, trimmed and cleaned regularly. This will ensure that the foot remains balanced and healthy.
• Diet – as horses get older their digestive system becomes less efficient, which is why it is essential to adapt a horse’s diet. In general it should be high in energy, with easily digestible protein, high quality fibre, essential vitamins and minerals, palatable, easy to chew and easy to digest.

An adequate diet must also take in consideration other factors such as your horse’s physical condition, teeth problems and any possible occurring diseases such asliver or kidney disease, or Equine Cushings Syndrome. It may be necessary to feed them a specialist diet.

Being underweight is common in older horses and many horse owners accept this as being normal. However, being underweight is not normal and it is often due to a combination of problems (inadequate diet, dental issues, parasites, metabolic changes, etc.).

Please remember that sudden changes in your horse’s feeding habits can disrupt its digestive system. All changes should be introduced gradually.

• Health checks – elderly horses should visit the vet and have their teeth checked twice a year. Frequent health checks are the best way to catch and act on any developing problems early.

Proper care and good management will allow your senior horse to live a long, healthy, productive and very happy life!

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Nowadays domesticated animals are living longer due to improved diet, management and veterinary care. Horses and ponies are just another great example of this as they can now live up to 30 years! The average horse lifespan is about 24 years and a horse is considered to be old or ‘geriatric’ when it has reached 20 years of age.

Senior horses will often show grey hairs around the eyes, ears, forehead, muzzle, and throughout their coats, as well as a certain loss of muscle tone and body condition. The older horse may also show deep depressions above the eyes, a characteristic drooping lower lip and a lowback, an excessive curvature of the spine also known as lordosis.

Older horses are more likely to suffer from:

• Lameness – one of the most common problems seen in aging horses is arthritis or degenerative joint disease. The cartilage that protects the bones of their joints gradually breaks down as the horse ages and it can affect any joint, causing stiffness and lameness. Unfortunately it cannot be cured, but it can be managed so your horse can live a comfortable life. Other potential cause of lameness is related to the lack of proper care or inadequate hoof horn growth.
• Difficulties eating, messy eating habits and weight loss – an older horse often presents a reduced digestive ability and teeth problems. These include abnormal wear patterns, loose or missing teeth andtooth decay. Horse’s teeth grow continuously throughout their life. However, as horses get older, the rate of wear is often faster than the rate of growth.All these problems may cause pain while chewing and consequently, a reduced food intake.
• Equine Cushing’s disease – this chronic illness is caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland (located in the brain), which produces and regulates hormones. Clinical signs include depression, weight loss, sweating, increased drinking and urination, growing a thick coat that does not shed in the summer and it can cause laminitis.
• Liver and kidney problems– these organ can degenerate as time goes by and their ability to function properly can decrease. Weight loss and loss of appetite are possible signs of liver and kidney issues.
• Tumours – the most common tumours in horses are sarcoids and melanomas (skin tumours). Sarcoids are non-malignat tumours that can vary greatly in size, nature and appearance. They tend to grow quickly and are very susceptible to trauma, often ulcerating and becoming infected. Melanomas, unlike sarcoids, tend to grow slowly and are usually less aggressive. It is expected that eighty percent of gray-coloured horses will develop melanoma.
• Cataracts – an opacity or clouding of the eye which can appear progressively and may cause loss of sight. This occurs in the lens, a transparent structure of the eye located between the cornea and the retina.

If your horse is showing signs of illness or deteriorating health do not hesitate and contact your veterinary surgeon. With proper care and management senior horses can enjoy much longer, happier and productive lives.

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Gastric ulcers in horses also known as the equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is described as the erosion of the horse’s stomach lining due to prolonged exposure to acid produced by the stomach. Gastric ulcers can affect horses of any breed, age or size.

When suffering damage from excessive exposure to acid, a horse’s stomach lining starts by being mildly inflamed. If it keeps suffering damage, eventually there will be bleeding into the stomach and in extreme circumstances, perforation of the stomach can occur.

Clinical signs of EGUS include subtle behavioural changes, poor appetite, loss in condition (e.g. poor coat), weight loss, poor performance and mild recurrent colic. Gastric ulcers can be difficult to recognise because adult horses will often show very subtle signs. In foals, clinical signs are usually more obvious: teeth grinding, excess salivation and excessive lying down as well as infrequent nursing and diarrhoea.

If you notice your horse is acting a little bit out of character, call the vet, as ulcers can be the cause for this change in behaviour. The treatment for gastric ulcers is usually simple and very effective.

Although all the risk factors for equine gastric ulcers have yet to be determined, there are a few circumstances that seem to contribute to this disease:

• Diet – when horses are denied free access to feed or fail to eat; the excessive use of high carbohydrate diets is also a relevant risk factor;
• Excessive and intense exercise;
• Illness – gastric ulcers can occur in response to physiological stress;
• Stress – such as the one caused by stable confinement and equine transportation.

In the wild horses are constantly feeding. For this reason acid is continually secreted into the stomach, which means that prolonged periods without food to neutralise that acid can lead to ulceration. Dividing your horse’s feed into smaller portions in order to feed it more frequently or allowing it to have free-choice access to grass or hay, may help to buffer the acid level in the stomach. Making sure your horse has access to fresh water at all times and cutting down on the use of concentrated feeds may also be very helpful.

Allowing access in the stable or visibility to horses that they normally socialise with may also help reduce the risk for gastric ulcers. Owners can resort to a mirror in order to achieve this.

Consult your veterinary surgeon about the use of adequate medication to help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers before a known period of stress and to help prevent the recurrence of ulcers following treatment.

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Respiratory diseases are very common in horses and ponies.  These can limit a horse’s performance and if left untreated can be life-threatening. Respiratory problems in horses can be caused by viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, by allergies and they can also be associated with anatomical problems of the respiratory tract.

Bacterial respiratory infections are usually secondary to viral disease, mainly because viruses will debilitate and even destroy respiratory defence mechanisms. Equine influenza (viral) and Strangles (bacterial) are the two of the most serious and common infectious diseases that can affect horses. These diseases are highly contagious which means they can quickly spread between horses.

Lungworms spend part of their lifecycle in the lungs and respiratory tract of horses and ponies causing chronic coughing. Horses become infected by ingesting the worm larvae from the pasture. These larvae will then migrate to the lungs where they will become adults. It is estimated that about 70% of donkeys in the UK are infected with lungworm. For this reason horses and ponies that graze with donkeys are at particular risk of catching this parasite.

Respiratory allergies develop when a horse’s immune system overreacts to certain particles that may be inhaled: pollens, moulds, mites or dust. Affected animals often have a genetic predisposition to allergic airway disease.

Anatomical problems in the structures of the respiratory tract can lead to partial obstruction of the animal’s airways which can result in breathing difficulties.

Signs of respiratory problems in horses include: abnormal respiratory noises, nasal discharge, coughing, reduced exercise tolerance and an increased respiratory rate. In more severe and advanced cases horses can show flaring nostrils, an increased heart rate, sweating, a high temperature and a noticeable abdominal effort when breathing (‘heaves’).

The best way to prevent these diseases is to keep your horse in the best possible condition. Please make sure all vaccinations and worming programs are up to date and if you notice any of the signs mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact your vet.

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