#1- Dirt is a natural part of the equine diet. It contains minerals in bio-available form that the horse needs for various metabolic functions. Some of the minerals, iron for example, are more utilizable from the soil than when added to feeds or stored in forages. Horses that are constantly stabled and deprived of minerals naturally found in dirt may develop deficiencies even when supplied with those minerals in processed feeds.

One study indicates that overall, in the United States, 78 percent of horses have antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona and 34 percent have antibodies against Neospora hughesi. However, less than 1 percent exposed to EPM will develop clinical signs.2

Catherine is a 15-year-old student at The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica, NY, and has been training and competing with Messina for a little over a year now. The two met in the spring of 2017 when The ARK was looking for a new home for Messina. Messina was introduced to The ARK family in 2016 when owner, Susan J. Bruns, took a job managing the Export Barn. Tragedy struck when Susan suddenly passed away in late February of 2017 from an aortic aneurysm. The ARK knew they had to find a good home for Messina as well as an enrichment and exercise program.