“Foals will show interest in feeds early on and, by about two months of age, their mother’s milk will no longer supply all the nutrients needed for optimum growth.” To support smooth, steady growth, suckling foals should be offered one pound of a properly-formulated foal feed per month of age per day, advises Pesta. For example, a 3-month-old would ideally be eating about three pounds of feed per day, in addition to milk and free-choice hay or pasture.

A line of horse heads down the barn aisle looks so wonderful said a friend. I agreed. It’s so much fun to visit with horses over the barn door and give them a quick scratch on the neck. Of course walking past all the horses leading a mare in heat may not be the ideal situation if you prefer a quiet life. At one barn I visited to give lessons every single warmblood in the barn lunged at me with teeth bared as I passed by. That wasn’t fun. Especially as the aisle was narrow. I’m not sure why every horse in that barn behaved that way, but it was certainly dangerous.

“Every one of these horses that has died because of Hendra represents one more compelling reason for horse owners to vaccinate their horses. The risk this disease poses to human health is also very real and it is important that the equine community remains vigilant in protecting horses and people from Hendra,” Dr Poole said.

The horses are evaluated moving in a straight line and around corners, and researchers use four different sensors, as well as reflective equipment, to monitor the horses speed and movements. The effects of shoe versus no shoe are investigated with several variables, including differences in footing/surfaces (e.g. concrete, rubber mat, dirt), direction (using a figure eight pattern), gait, and lead and counter-lead (at a canter).

“For a complete oral examination and good quality corrective care, horses need to be sedated to allow for a thorough examination of the oral structures using a dental light source. Pain relief during treatment can also be provided when needed. Veterinarians are trained in the use of these medications and in assessing the health of the horse so we can make the best and safest decisions for your horse’s well-being.” Dr Jackson said.

One dedicated team member recently tweeted, “Spent from 2:30 a.m. – 8 a.m. taking care of a foal in the neonatal ICU and somehow I’m not even tired.”

– Keep animals that were at the fair separate from animals that were not for 28 – 30 days. If at all possible, do not allow nose-to-nose contact and provide as much distance between animals.
– Disinfect all buckets, feeders, tools and footwear that was at the fair.
– Throw away any feed or hay that was at the fair.

Q: Is rotational deworming still a viable equine parasite control method?
A: This concept goes back decades and, overall, is highly discouraged. By deworming every horse every few months, horse owners can do more harm than good — increasing the horse’s risk for parasite resistance.