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 How Good Riders Get Good  

Daily Choices that Lead to Success in Any Equestrian Sport

 DENNY EMERSON

Trafalgar Square Books is pleased to announce the publication of  

How Good Riders Get Good

by Denny Emerson. This book is exactly what you need to become a better rider. It’s a smart, honest, on-target kick-in-the-pants, guaranteed to rev your engines as you see how a few changes in your life, a few smart choices and strategic moves, can transform you from a run-of-the-mill rider into a GOOD one.

How does Denny Emerson know what makes a good rider? For one thing, he IS one—he is the only rider in the world to have won both a gold medal in international eventing and a Tevis Cup buckle in endurance. Plus, he’s been around great riders, and taught those on their way to becoming great, for over 40 years. How will what Denny knows help YOU become a good rider? It’s simple, really. He’s boiled the whole thing down into seven broad "Areas of Choice" that collectively determine whether you are a "gonnabe"—you’re going to get it done—or whether you’ll be stuck in the "wannabe" category for decades.

Plus you’ll read the stories of 23 of the world’s top riders from different disciplines and sports—including dressage, reining, driving, show jumping, endurance, hunter/jumper, and eventing—and how they "got good" despite the same kinds of challenges and setbacks you face in your own day-to-day riding. You’ll get an inside look at their path to success, as well as their very best tips for how to "make it" in the horse industry.

252 pp • 7 ¼ x 8 ¾ • 60 color and b/w photos • 978 1 57076 437 0 • $29.95 hardcover

            As our understanding of horse care improves and advances in veterinary medicine continue to be made, the population of geriatric equids is growing. We are often seeing twenty-something horses successfully competing in the show ring and many horses are living well into their twenties or even thirties. With age come some particular medical issues that owners of geriatric horses should be aware of.

            One common disorder more prevalent in older horses is pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as ”equine Cushings.” PPID is caused by a dysregulation of cortisol production secondary to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. Although horses as young as 7 years old can be affected, it is much more prevalent in horses in their late teens and older. Incidence of PPID has been reported to be as high as 14% in horses older than 15 years and appears to increase with age. Owner-reported coat changes consistent with PPID, including longer hair, incomplete shedding, and needing to body clip in warm weather, have been reported to be as high as 30% in horses older than 20 years. Other signs may include polydipsia (increased water consumption), polyuria (increased urination), and increased wound healing time. The condition is diagnosed by a veterinarian through blood tests and can be managed with oral medications.

            Although horse owners worry about colic in horses of any age, certain types of colic can be more prevalent in older horses. Strangulating lipomas, benign fatty tumors in the abdomen, can wrap around intestine (usually the small intestine) and cause a complete obstruction and compromised intestine. The risk of strangulating lipomas tends to increase with age. The condition often requires surgical intervention in order to remove the strangulating lipoma and resect severely affected bowel if necessary. Taking a horse to surgery always comes with risks, but generally older healthy horses do just as well under anesthesia as younger horses. We regularly see horses in their twenties go to colic surgery and do very well post-operatively, and the prognosis is much more dependent on the horse’s stability, clinical findings and the type of lesion than on age.

            Regular dental care in geriatric horses is a must. As horses get older and wear their teeth down near the end of the roots, they can develop dental issues that will lead to secondary health problems. It is generally recommended that horses in their late teens or older have a dental exam every six months to ensure that they are not developing serious dental conditions. When a horse cannot chew its food properly, he or she is more prone to getting esophageal obstructions (“choke”), large colon impactions, and weight loss if they are dropping food. If you and your veterinarian are aware of dental issues, they can be dealt with quickly and appropriate management and diet changes can be made to avoid serious health problems.

            The most common respiratory disease in older horses is recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), also known as “heaves”. RAO can be seen in younger horses and is caused by inflammation of the small airways in the lungs. The term “heaves” is related to the increased abdominal effort used by horses with this condition to breath. They may develop a “heave line” along the abdomen where the respiratory muscles are very prominent. The condition can be treated quite successfully in many cases with simple changes in management, including 24-hour turnout and limiting the amount of dust and allergens in the horse’s environment. Other medications including bronchodilators or steroids can also be used in more severe cases.

            Lameness in older horses is usually caused by degenerative processes, which can lead to joint disease or other conditions. Maintaining older horses in regular light exercise or at least on pasture turnout is important in keeping them as limber and pain-free as possible. Adding supportive joint supplements (glucosamine and chondroitin) to the diet can also be beneficial. When necessary, long-term NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) treatment is very effective.

 Just like in humans and other species, the risk of certain types of neoplasia (cancer) increases with age in horses. The most common cancer in older horses is squamous cell carcinoma, which is usually found in and around the eye and on the external genitalia. Areas of lightly pigmented skin are the most likely to be affected. The cancer can spread through lymph nodes and the sooner it is identified and treated the better the prognosis. Melanomas are also very common in older horses, particularly gray horses (the vast majority of older gray horses have melanomas somewhere on their bodies). Melanomas are usually benign, but can cause problems depending on their location, especially if they obstruct normal urination or defecation. Keeping track of where melanomas are developing and how fast they are growing is important so that medical or surgical intervention can be performed before they cause serious secondary effects.

            As our horses grow older they are more likely to develop certain health issues. However, with some knowledge about what to look for and regular veterinary care, we can keep them healthy and happy for years to come.  If you have any questions or comments regarding geriatric horse care speak with your veterinarian or any of the veterinarians at NEEMSC.

A. Rachel Roemer, DVM

Jacqueline Bartol, DVM, DACVIM

Resources

M.R. Paradis. The Geriatric Horse. In Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. 6^th Ed. Editors: N.E. Robinson and K.A. Sprayberry. Elsevier 2009.

Equine dentistry is a veterinary medical procedure that is part science, part art form.  Consisting of three parts: complete oral examination, individually tailored sedation, and balancing of the arcades, the goal of an equine dental visit is to balance a patient’s mouth to allow for optimal mastication (chewing), comfort and performance.

Why is balancing of the arcades (rows of teeth) necessary in horses?  The answer is that horses’ have a tooth development pattern called hypsodonty, which means their teeth are constantly erupting below the gumline.  Normal wear can cause uneven and often sharp edges that must be periodically balanced by a veterinarian.

A complete oral examination is the first step in an equine dental visit.  A speculum should be used to open the mouth fully so all structures within the mouth can be fully viewed.  Following the oral exam the treatment plan should be developed and the patient prepared for balancing.

All patients should be properly sedated prior to balancing of their arcades.  Sedation allows for a smoother and safer procedure for human and horse alike.  Many different medications are utilized and your horse’s veterinarian will often use them in various combinations tailored to the individual patient and the work to be performed.  It is important that a health exam is performed prior to sedation.

Once the patient is relaxed and settled, the balancing can begin.  Balancing refers to making all four arcades properly aligned.  My experience has lead me to recommend that the majority of balancing be performed with power assisted tools, and in my cases with the Powerfloat.  The Powerfloat’s grinding wheel removes sharp edges and can correct more severe abnormalities that may be present.  When done properly powerbalancing is safer, more efficient and effective than hand tools. Powerbalancing is always performed with a full view of the mouth and allows the veterinarian to work on each tooth individually as opposed to part of an arcade.

It is important to note that every patient is an individual and should be treated as such by a veterinarian.  Inherently some patients have severe abnormalities that will never be corrected 100%, but it is the goal of the equine dentist to balance each patient’s mouth as best as possible.

I recommend that young (1-5 years) and geriatric (over 25 years) patients be examined every six months.  From 5-25 years patients should be examined on average every nine months.  A veterinarian should be called out for an exam sooner if problems such as reluctance to eat, poor riding performance, or foul odors or discharges from the mouth or nose are noted as these may indicate more severe oral issues.

Proper and routine dental care performed by a licensed veterinarian is crucial to keeping every horse happy and healthy.

Michael Marshall, DVM

www.vetequinedentalcare.com

Trafalgar Square Books is pleased to announce it has been named the exclusive North American distributor for the highly respected equestrian filmmaker Pferdia TV. "TV" is an abbreviation for Thomas Vogel, the founder of the company. Based in Germany, Thomas Vogel began his equestrian-related career as an event rider before moving to the stable of Hans Joachim Köhler, the famous horseman and founder of the Verden riding horse auctions. There, Thomas completed his apprenticeship as a rider and assisted in department of auction management.

In 1989, Thomas and his wife Inge started Pferdia TV. Inge is from a family known the world over as breeders of fine horses. At Pferdia TV she manages new projects and the publishing side of the business, while Thomas is the man behind the camera and at the cutting table. Thomas is a horseman through-and-through, as his high-quality films clearly demonstrate. His eye for horses create films that leave a lasting impact and set themselves apart, deftly showcasing his inventiveness, experience, and excellent technical skills. He has created films with many internationally recognized horse people, including top riders and trainers Philippe Karl, Dr. Reiner and Ingrid Klimke, Linda Tellington-Jones, Anja Beran, Peggy Cummings, Richard Hinrichs, among many others.

All Pferdia TV films in English are now readily available from Trafalgar Square Books. For a complete list of titles, visit Pferdia DVD List , to see all the books and DVDs available visit Trafalgar Square’s Horse and Rider Books Web site at www.horseandriderbooks.com. For information on carrying these fine films for resale, contact Kim Cook at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

HEALTHY HORSE TIP

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may help mask lameness while reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation, but they can also be very harmful to the equine, whether pet or athlete.

This tip was brought to you by Dr. John Hanover and KAM Animal Services, home of KAM’s “Equine Learning Circle” FREE webinars, which take place every month. Go to www.kamanimalservices.com to sign up for their next webinar. If you attend when they are live they are free. If you want to be able to listen to them again or download them the annual fee is $89 and includes all the webinars. These webinars will conclude with a question and answer session, so be ready with your nutrition questions.