Welcome to e-Tips!
Welcome to the January 2010 e-Tips brought to you by My Horse University and eXtension/horses. Have you resolved to take better care of your horse’s health in 2010? An upcoming FREE webcast series offered by My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest can help you stick to your New Year resolution. You can learn about the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of common horse health problems from leading equine veterinarians.
January’s webcast, Colic: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention will feature Dr. Elizabeth Carr, Associate Professor in the Equine Medicine Department at Michigan State University. Dr. Carr will give a basic review of colic, discussing when the horse owner should worry, treatment options your veterinarian can use, and management practices to prevent certain kinds of colic. This live webcast will be on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Register now!
Other webcasts in the Horse Health series include:
Did you know...?
Equine Colic: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Adapted from the Online Equine Nutrition Course,
My Horse University
 Colic: Causes and Symptoms
Colic is defined as any abdominal pain although horse owners typically refer to colic as problems with the gastro-intestinal tract. The causes of colic are numerous, but generally they are related to the anatomy and the microflora of the horse's gastrointestinal tract. Some more common causes of colic include:
- High grain based diets/Low forage diets
- Moldy/Tainted feed
- Abrupt change in feed
- Parasite infestation
- Lack of water consumption leading to impaction colics
- Sand ingestion
- Long term use of NSAIDS
- Stress
- Dental Problems
Antibiotics may lead to colic, because they alter the microbial population in the gut, which in turn affects starch digestion. Dental problems may cause colic if the horse is unable to chew its food sufficiently. Older horses fed coarse hay are at greater risk of impaction colic. Read on...
Click here for additional resources on equine colic...
This Month's e-Tips
Colic prevention begins with good horse management. Follow the tips below to reduce your horse’s risk of colic.
- Feed your horse on a regular schedule (even on the weekends).
- Gradually make any feed changes to your horse’s diet.
- A clean fresh water supply at a comfortable temperature should always be available.
- Keep feed boxes and hay racks clean and free of mold and dust.
- Check teeth frequently for dental problems.
- Provide adequate daily exercise.
- Feed plenty of forage (75% of total diet for most mature horses at a light work load).
- Keep feed off the ground to avoid sand ingestion.
- Practice an effective parasite control program that fits your farm’s needs.
Question of the Month
Both vitamin E and selenium play a role in metabolism and have anti-oxidant properties:
a) True
b) False
Click here for the answer!
Photo of the Month
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This past August, I moved my new yearling Gypsy Vanner colt from Florida to Michigan. When we left Florida, it was 98 degrees…..when we arrived in Michigan, it was 30 degrees cooler!!! "ER's Earl of Latcho" celebrates his new found heat-freedom by kicking up his heels and racing around.
Submitted by Nan of Michigan.
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Want your extraordinary equine featured in the next Photo of the Month?
Send your photo along with your name and a little background info to info@myhorseuniversity.com and we'll also feature your horse on our brand new Facebook page!
Write "Photo of the Month" in the subject line.
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January 2010
In This Issue
Gold Sponsor
Purina Mills is a proud sponsor of My Horse University and eXtension.
News & Updates
FREE Live Webcast
Colic: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Dr. Elizabeth Carr
January 19, 2010
7 pm EST
Online Equine Nutrition and Feeding Course
Iowa State University
Begins January 14, 2010
6:30 PM CST
Online Equine Growth and Development Short Course
Iowa State University
January 22, 2010
1:00 PM CST
FREE Live Webcast
Respiratory Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
My Horse University and eXtension HorseQuest
February 16, 2010
7:00 PM EST
Mare/Foal Management Workshop
Texas A&M University
February 24, 2010
Horse Management 101 Workshop
Texas A&M University
February 25, 2010
MHU is now on Facebook!
Become our fan to be the first to hear about upcoming events and new products.
Trail Riding 101
New My Horse University
short course
Ask the Experts
eXtension invites you to Ask the Experts your horse-related questions.
Free Horse Learning Lessons
eXtension's team of horse experts have developed specialized lessons on various topics.
Online Horse Management Courses
Take an online course from My Horse University! eXtension HorseQuest participants can receive a 10% discount by entering the coupon code HQ1 when registering for a course.
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