Category Archives: Diana de Rosa

Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Your Horse Has Been Diagnosed with Founder – Call 911 Now!

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If you have ever owned a horse diagnosed with laminitis, founder, navicular syndrome or any other type of hoof problem you know how devastating it can be.  Even with advances in modern technology some horses are still diagnosed incorrectly and inadequately leaving the owner helpless and the horse in pain.

Most diagnosed cases start out with strict regimens of prescription medications including steroids, pain killers and other anti-inflammatory medications.  This is then followed by costly farrier bills, stall rest, more vet bills and a horse still in pain.

Preventing hoof problems in a horse is a great stress on a horse owner and with all of the different variables to consider from footing, shoeing, conditioning, diet and nutrition, to genetics, even the best cared for equines on the planet could still be plagued.

So what do you do if your horse is having lameness issues or has been diagnosed with a hoof condition such as navicular?   Get your facts and know your options.  Prescription medications have long lists of side effects. Prescribing a medication like a steroid to “see how your horse looks” after a certain period may do more harm than good.  This is not a good way to try to diagnose a hoof condition and could even make the situation worse.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week: Fats – Yummy!

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Many horses crave fats, just as we do.  However, not all fats are created equally.  “Good” fats are called Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) because they are essential to live and function optimally.

An indication that your horse is extremely deficient in EFAs is dry and/or itchy skin and a dull hair coat.   The brain and nervous system is composed primarily of fats.

The membrane of every cell in the body is made of fats.  Fats are used to balance the immune system and inflammatory response. They are needed for hormone synthesis and vitamin absorption.

Fats help protect organs, including the liver, kidneys, and skin from damage.   Fats provide long term energy during exercise.

No wonder the source and quality of the fats in the diet affects health and performance.  Fats are fragile and are easily destroyed in processing (heat) or if exposed to air without being protected (stabilized or chelated) to prevent oxidation.  Some “bad” fats, such as corn oil and mixed vegetable oils, are pro-inflammatory and can contribute to making muscles and joints sore.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa, USEF

Healthy Horse Tip – As USEF NSAID Rules Change It’s Time to Go Organic

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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.

NSAIDs can contribute to GI ulcers, diarrhea from colitis and colic, which all may trigger bouts of laminitis.   Even short term NSAID use has the potential for renal (kidney) and liver toxicity, and may decrease a horse’s health and performance.

Research has shown that NSAIDs may also slow down the healing process of soft tissues.  This means that the patient using NSAIDs may look normal and not have pain evident, but the tissue is weaker longer and at a higher risk for re-injury during the extended healing period.

The USEF now requires an “NSAID Disclosure form” to be filed with the Steward/Technical Delegate if more than one NSAID is used during a competition or in the five days preceding a USEF competition.  The use of Bute and Banamine together is currently prohibited.  Starting December 1, 2011, the presence of only one NSAID will be allowed!  The seven NSAIDs currently allowed with quantitative restrictions are Bute, Banamine, Naproxen, Ketofen, Arquel, Equioxx, and topical Surpass.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Helping Our Horses with Stress!

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We all know about stress in people, but what about our horses?  Horses were meant to be herd animals, wandering around the land, and grazing over 20 hours a day.

They are a “flight or fight” animal meaning fear or threat causes physiological changes (adrenaline, cortisone, increased heart rate, and increased blood to muscles) causing them to run away or fight by biting, kicking, rearing, and striking.  Yet we “break” them to behave how we want which conflicts with their natural instinct.

We confine them to stalls and paddocks, oftentimes with horses as stablemates they may not choose if given the choice.  Many show and race horses only get to exercise an hour a day and even then we control them during that time.

We feed meals of hay and high concentrated grains giving them lots of energy while only keeping them busy a few hours a day.  We expect them to walk onto trailers, which are moving, confining, noisy, and unnatural objects to be feared.  All these factors contribute to their stress.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Want to Be My Equine Valentine?

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What to give a Fire horse for Valentine’s Day?

Did you ever think different horses might like different types of gifts?  It is true that most any self respecting horse loves a healthy food treat but above that you can offer different shows of affection to different temperament types.

According the Traditional Chinese Medicine there are five major temperament types, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Each of these types has a unique set of characteristics and behavior patterns. Ideally, we want to approach each type in a way that best meets his/her physical and emotional needs.

For instance, the Fire horse loves attention, enjoys being admired and craves quality time with their owner. A detailed grooming session including a nice soap bath, mane and tail conditioner, bridle path touch up and pedicure is one way to get to the heart of a Fire horse.

A pleasant trail ride with lots of wide open trails and beautiful sites is another Fire horse favorite. This personal time with you is very special. The Fire horse loves to go fast and see new places but leave the mountain climbing and trailblazing to a tougher Wood type.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa, Training/Clinics

Tip of the Week – When Does Training Really Begin?

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What was your attitude when you woke up and thought about training your horse today? Did you think about how excited you were? Or did it raise feelings of nervousness, fear, anxiety, intimidation, or anger.

Did you ever think that from THAT very moment you might have already started training your horse?

Imagine having those same feelings when you approached your horse’s stall.  Your body language reveals your thoughts, feelings, and attitude, which affect how you present yourself to your horse. Horses are master interpreters of body language.

Now as you approach your horse’s stall, your horse will respond to your physical “presentation.” Are you weak, aggressive, distracted, enthusiastic? Are you dreading that a consistent problem will re-occur?  If you seem small in presence, not stature, he may be pushy or completely ignore you, because he doesn’t see you as a leader.  If you seem overly strong in presence not strength, he may avoid you and go to the back of his stall. He may even get fearful, defensive or aggressive. Does he look forward to coming out or see you as a walking feed cart? By your presence, he will know what kind of leader you plan to be, if at all. It all started with the attitude you projected when you approached his stall.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – What Type of Personality Is Your Horse?

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The Five Element Theory in Chinese medicine is based on five fundamental elements in the universe and the body that are in constant motion and change.

The first element, Wood, is associated with eyes, tendons, ligaments, hooves and nails and the season, spring.  The second one, Fire, is associated with speech, mind, blood vessels and complexion and the season, summer.  The third, Earth, is associated with muscles and digestion and late summer.  The fourth, Metal, is associated with skin and respiration and the season, fall. The fifth, Water, is associated with bones and elimination and the season, winter.

For example, a wood horse is more prone to bowed tendons, cracked hooves or conjunctivitis.  A fire horse is more prone to cardiac arrhythmias.  An earth horse is more prone to muscle atrophy and colic.  A metal horse is more prone to COPD or respiratory difficulties.  A water horse is more prone to arthritis and may get worse in the winter.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Get Joints

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If the joints don’t move well, the body doesn’t move well.  The ability to flex, extend and rotate the joints in the horse’s legs and spine sets the parameters for that athlete’s ability.

Many things contribute to joint problems such as nutritional imbalances, GI problems, trauma (acute or chronic), genetic pre-disposition, conformation, poor shoeing/trimming, metabolic disorders, normal “wear and tear,” and infections (systemic or in the joint).

A simple sprained fetlock as a yearling that isn’t treated appropriately can start the cartilage deterioration that will progress into arthritis and cause lameness a few years later.

Aggressive effective treatment of all joint injuries and continual preventative care are key to long term joint health, especially in the equine athlete.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Healthy Horse Tip – To Deworm or Not to Deworm

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Parasites, both internal and external, have been around as long as man and beast.  But are they all bad?

There is current evidence that some parasitic load is beneficial for developing the immune system, decreasing the incidence of allergies, and balancing the gut flora.  However, too many parasites can lead to colic, anemia (lack of blood), weight loss, and damage to various organs.  Age, overall health, risk to exposure, and geographical location all need to be considered when developing a deworming schedule.

Requesting your veterinarian to run fecals and fecal egg counts can help determine the frequency of deworming for your specific horse or herd.  Realize that all dewormers have a very low risk of potential side effects, including diarrhea which can be offset by administering pre & probiotics.

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Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Finding Your Way Out of the Supplement Jungle

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Not a day goes by that a trainer is not being asked by a client about the importance of supplements for his or her horse.

As equine nutritionists, we are often asked to have a look at this bucket or that pail and are requested to comment on supplement brands, ingredients, dosage or to make a recommendation on which supplement one should feed that will keep the horse healthy, sound and strong.

There also is the matter of those nasty health issues one likes to prevent, like colic, laminitis, inflammation and all those other types of problems.  Their hope is to overcome these with not only proper feed and hay, but also with the right balanced nutrient approach and appropriate supplementation that focuses on the individual horse.

There are surely enough products out there that promise to do that job, but is the trainer now responsible to educate his or her client about the “right” feed and supplement program for his client’s horse(s)?  After all, the trainer’s clients may think that because he is the person working and training the horse, he should know!

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