We all need support, but for horses, proper support and care of hooves, legs and tendons is of paramount importance, especially when you're training your horses for competition of field work. Luckily, at TicTac Equestrian, we have an impressive, extensive range of Tendon Boots in store, from some of the finest quality equestrian brands out there, including Mark Todd, Tekna and Equilibrium. Made from the highest quality materials, with the latest equestrian technology, these boots are perfect for providing additional support to your horses to avoid unnecessary pain or strain. So for a full range of products, be sure to check out the official TicTac Equestrian site.
Further to our previous posts on Horse health and conditions that can affect the comfort and well-being of your equine buddies, here's a brief insight into another common, and somewhat irritating condition - Thrush. Thrush is a bacterial infection that occurs on the hoof of a horse, specifically in the soft inner region of the hoof known as 'the frog'. The reason it can be quite common is that unfortunately, the bacteria which cause thrush occur naturally in the animal's environment — especially in wet, muddy, or unsanitary conditions, such as an unclean stall — and grow best with low oxygen. Therefore, Horses with particularly deep clefts, or narrow or contracted heels are more at-risk to develop thrush. Symptoms One of the most obvious indications of thrush is an unpleasant odour that occurs when picking out your horses feet. Additionally, the areas of the hoof that are infected will be black in colour and will easily break or crumble when scraped with a hoof pick. When picking the hooves, around thrush areas, the differences between healthy and infected areas can be seen when there is healthy white/grey tissue surrounding a dark and unpleasant-smelling area. Thankfully, Thrush is easy to diagnose, fairly easy to treat and is generally much less harmful than some of the other unpleasant conditions found in horses which can have much more serious effects. However, if left untreated, the bacteria can potentially migrate deeper into the sensitive parts of the hoof, which can sometimes even result in lameness. At this point, the horse may also react when his feet are picked out, and blood may be seen. Treatment and prevention Treatment for horses with thrush includes picking out the feet twice a day, taking special care to clean out the two collateral grooves and the central sulcus. The feet may then be scrubbed clean using a detergent and/or disinfectant and warm water, before coating the infected area with a specially-designed thrush-treatment product (which you can ask your vet for more information about), or with iodine solution, which may be soaked into cotton balls and packed into the clefts to reduce the spread of infection and to maintain a clean and sterile area within the vulnerable part of the hoof. As always however, it's usually wise to consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns. As a rule though, Horses with thrush, or those at risk for contracting it, are best kept in a dry, clean environment. Daily cleaning of the hooves also contributes to the prevention of thrush. In general, thrush is relatively easy to treat, although it can easily return and it can take up to a year for a fully healthy 'frog' to regrow after a severe infection. For a helpful guide to identifying and treating thrush in horses, here's a quick video:
At TicTac we know that an integral part of Horse care involves keeping a close eye on your horse or pony's health and well-being; something that can be helped by learning common signs of ill health and noticeable symptoms of common ailments that can affect domestic horses. One particularly important condition to look out for that can be quite common in horses is Colic. However, with a combination of swift action, preparedness and knowledge, further trouble can be prevented. Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term 'colic' can in fact encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is a wise idea to alert your local vet if you are concerned about any kind of pain or discomfort in your horse. As mentioned above, the most common forms of colic are gastrointestinal in nature and are most often related to colonic disturbance. There are a variety of different forms of colic, some of which can prove fatal without surgical intervention.
The incidence of colic in the general horse population has been estimated between 10 and 11 percent on an annual basis. It is important that any person who owns or works with horses be able to recognize the signs of colic and determine whether or not a veterinarian should be called. Clinical signs include:
Pawing and/or scraping
Stretching
Frequent attempts to urinate
Flank watching: turning of the head to watch the stomach and/or hind quarters
Biting/nipping the stomach
Pacing
Repeated flehmen response
Repeated lying down and rising
Rolling
Groaning
Bruxism
Excess salivation
Loss of appetite
Decreased fecal output
Increased pulse rate
Dark mucous membranes
For more information, or if you are concerned about unusual behaviour in your horse or ill health always be sure to contact your local vet.
