‘War Horse’ in Review  12/26/11

War Horse Screen Title

Director Steven Spielberg has done it again; creating another cinematographic masterpiece which should be enjoyed by all family members.  It is impossible to conceive of any horse loversnot welling up with tears by movie’s end.  After the last scene, the opening day movie audience broke into spontaneous applause.

Jeremy & Joey

‘War Horse’ is based on the 1982 Michael Morpurgo children’s book, turned Lincoln Center play, and now made into a successful big screen production.  An aging English tenant farmer named Ted Narracott (Peter Mullan), down on his health and luck, comes home with a beautiful horse that he couldn’t pass up buying.  He would have been better served coming home with a big strong draft-type horse for plowing his family’s virgin fields.

Ted’s son Albert (Jeremy Irvine) falls in love with their new horse, now named Joey.  To gain his father’s respect and save the family farm, Albert swears to train Joey to plow their fields.  The boy and horse develop an inseparably strong bond until The Great War (World War 1) breaks out and Joey is sold to the military both to serve and to help Ted from losing the farm.

Joey is a magnificently special horse that touches the lives of everyone he comes in contact with.  He affects the British and German soldiers, a kindly French farmer and his impressionable granddaughter.  Joey sustains his share of war tragedies and injuries, but is a trooper until the end.  The war causes all involved sustaining bloody conflicts and Joey finds himself struggling to survive.  By movies’ end there was hardly a dry eye in the theater.

War Horse in Battle

Over the last 30 years, I’ve watched a great number of television and big screen horse movies including Secretariat, Seabiscuit, and Dreamer. However, ‘War Horse’stands uniquely apart in its depth of emotion and inspirational message of good deeds and good turns amidst a world filled with disappointing realities.  I rate this movie 5 out of 5 HorseDoc hooves!

Link to: Movie Preview 30 seconds

            “The Good, the Bad and the Controversial” was the subject matter discussed by Dr. Gregory A. Beroza at a Nassau-Suffolk Horsemen’s Association meeting Nov. 2, 2011 at Old Bethpage Village. Dr. Beroza, founder and Director of the Long Island Equine Medical Center in Huntington Station, N.Y., set aside medical topics in favor of discussing current issues that affect horse lovers both on Long Island and nationwide. His views reflected the goals of the N.S.H.A., a 501C charitable, educational and service organization dedicated to addressing the concerns of local horsemen since 1967.

             The “Controversial” centered on topics recently addressed by Dr. Beroza in articles and blogs co-authored with Paula Rodenas, a well respected equestrian journalist, and including the Carriage Horses of New York City and the disposition of unwanted or aging horses. As there are no longer slaughter houses in the United States, horses are subsequently being shipped to Mexico and Canada, often under terrible conditions. With retirement facilities overflowing and philanthropic funds becoming scarce, Dr. Beroza noted that humane euthanasia is more often becoming the best solution and is the responsibility of the owner.

             Although Mayor Bloomberg is in favor of keeping carriage horses inManhattan, many animal activists have launched protests. TV personality Bob Barker recently went to Washington, D.C. to argue for abolishing the use of all exotic animals in traveling circuses. Rodeo has also been criticized; yet carriage and rodeo horses provide income for their owners in keeping with the horse’s long history as a working animal.

            During a lively discussion period, education, conservation and promotion were emphasized, as well as the need for horsemen of multiple disciplinary interests to work together. “We should all bond together to help each other stay in business and support the horse industry,” said Dr. Beroza. Among the people in the audience were Denise Speizio (NSHA President); Frank Bradford (NSHA Past-President & Troop Commander of the Rough Rider Calvary Mounted Unit); Kathleen Kleinman, President of the Muttontown Horsemen’s Association; Jerry Trapani, President of the Paumonak Driving Club; Susan Harvey, District Commissioner of the Meadowbrook Hounds Pony Club; and, many other enthusiastic horse and stable owners, and NSHA committee members.

             To learn more about some of the “Controversial” issues in Dr. Beroza’s lecture and see other related articles and YouTube videos, please visit the Blogsite of the website www.HorseDoc.com or contact Dr. Beroza via Email horsedoc@horsedoc.com or call 631/427-2213. For information about the Nassau Suffolk Horsemen’s Association, visit www.nshaonline.org. For information about the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, call 516-572-8400.

 -see accompanying photo of Denise Speizio, NSHA President & Dr. Gregory Beroza

By Dr. Gregory Beroza & Paula Rodenas.

August 7, 2011

What could be more romantic than a carriage ride through Central Park? The colorful carriages that help make Manhattan and its park special are threatened with extinction if Senator Tony Avella of Queens gets his way. According to a report by Patricia Saffran in the June 2011 “Horse Directory”, Avella is proposing a bill that would declare them illegal. During recent demonstrations, Avella and animal rights groups claimed that the horses are not humanely treated and expressed safety concerns, even though accident rates have been low. Meanwhile, pro-carriage citizens point to the close connection between the horses and their drivers, and assert that the horses are well cared for and appear to be content and quiet in the heart of the city.

On April 15, 2011 it was announced that the New York City Council voted on measures to form a “benefits package” for the horses. This package includes five weeks off a year, a lower retirement age, the requirement of waterproof blankets in wet weather and heavy blankets in cold weather, larger stalls, reflective material and emergency brakes for the vehicles; and additional training and mandatory licensing for all new drivers. In 2006 it was estimated that there are more than 200 horses and approximately 350 drivers on the city streets. The horses are housed in five different locations.

Carriage horses are removed from the streets when the temperature rises above 90 degrees in summer and drops below 18 degrees in winter. The A.S.P.C.A. provides a water truck for the hot weather and a horse ambulance if needed. Carriage operations may be suspended during inclement weather, such as high winds, tornado watches, thunderstorms, icy roads and snowfall.

Ironically, the proposed Bill (8.5013A/7748) to eliminate carriages supports the return of horseback riding in Central Park, which has been non-existent since the closing of the Claremont Riding Academy in 2007. Despite overwhelming changes in the 20^th and 21^st centuries, horses have been an important element of the New York City scene since the early 20th century, when their transportation role was replaced by the automobile and they became part of the leisure world. In fact, the ‘Big Apple’ got its nickname from the apples that were fed to horses on the streets in days of yore.

Jerry Trapani, President of the Paumanok Driving Club on Long Island and a respected professional farrier, said, “The horses and carriages are an important part of the tourist trade in New York City. They are well cared for in all aspects of shoeing, health, feeding, housing and rest periods. The largest danger to the horses is unsafe car drivers. Most accidents are caused by reckless drivers hitting a carriage and scaring the horses. The [carriage] drivers are trained, and they care about their horses’ welfare. The life of a carriage horse in New York City is much better than in most other cities, and definitely better than some of their counterparts on many farms.”

A carriage was struck by a taxi on July 25^th, injuring three tourists and the driver, Salvatore Terranova, 70, who was hospitalized in critical condition with a head injury. The horse sustained cuts to its body. This accident called further attention to the carriage horse issue. Mayor Michael Bloomberg could not be reached for comment.

The Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.) is responsible for the welfare of animals, and its role with regard to horses is complex. A spokesperson explained that the A.S.P.C.A.’s Humane Law Enforcement department is composed of 17 New York State peace officers, who are authorized to enforce state and city animal cruelty laws. The cruelty laws are written by the Agriculture and Markets Department, which deals with misdemeanor and felony animal cruelty and laws pertaining to the transportation of horses. Administrative code regulations pertaining to rental horses, and specifically to carriage horses, are found in the following 3 areas: Department of Health, Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Transportation.  The NYC-DOHMH (Department of Health and Mental Hygiene}, which has a veterinary service within, regulates horses in the five boroughs. Veterinary Services licenses rental horses and requires that a private veterinarian completes a licensing form stating that the horse is sound and suitable for work. Consumer Affairs licenses the carriages and their drivers. There are only 68 medallions available, which can be traded or sold, but no new ones are issued. The carriages are inspected, and hearings are held for violations, such as no lights on the carriage and overloading it with too many passengers. Complaints are investigated. Working a horse with an obvious injury would not only violate city rules, but would be considered animal cruelty. Carriage drivers are trained and undergo an exam and an apprenticeship under the sponsorship of a licensed driver.

Although the A.S.P.C.A. is nowadays associated primarily with the concerns of dogs and cats, it began with those of horses. In 1863 an American, Henry Bergh, was working as secretary of the American Legation in St. Petersburg, Russia when he saw a carriage driver viciously beating his own horse. When Bergh tried to stop him, the man shouted angrily, “It’s my horse. I can do as I wish with it!” Bergh began to think about the rights of helpless animals, and when he returned to New York, he waged a one-man battle against cruelty. At first he was labeled “the great meddler,” but he enlisted support and by 1866 his actions led to the formation of the nation’s first anti-cruelty law and the foundation of the A.S.P.C.A.

The horse’s relationship with humans differs from that of household pets. The horse has been a valuable working animal since man first realized, thousands of years ago, that it could be more than just a good meal. Horses were partners in warfare, exploration and transportation, and in the age of mechanization they became partners in sport. The horse is a working partner, whether he is pulling a carriage, herding cattle or jumping obstacles. Because they are expensive to maintain, most horses must earn their keep. Activist extremists have only an idealistic vision of horses running free in large grass covered pastures, shoeless, unencumbered by saddles, bridles and harnesses; but that is impractical in view of the horse’s history and development as a domesticated animal.

“The horse has been domesticated for over 5,000 years,” said Linda Kramer, President of the Carriage Operators of North America. “The horses in Central Park are probably more cared for than any other horses in the world.” Hundreds of American cities have carriage horses; there are more than 1,000 carriage companies; and many cities around the world offer commercial carriage rides, such as London, Paris and Seville, to name a few.

The Carriage Operators of North America (CONA) belongs to both the Animal Welfare Council and the American Horse Council, which recognizes the carriage industry as a place for otherwise unwanted horses. Ms. Kramer pointed out that many carriage horses are sturdy draft breeds or draft crosses, weighing 1,600 to 2,200 pounds; and others are often retired standardbred ex-race horses. Carriage horses are mainly driven at the walk, which does not stress the joints. They can often work soundly into their teens or early twenties. It is not logical for a carriage owner to mistreat his horse, because that horse represents his livelihood, says Kramer, who has 23 horses in Philadelphia. She said she would not hesitate to stable any of them in New York. She also noted that after the closing of Claremont, New York City’s last remaining riding academy, Chateau (carriage) Stable, assumed the responsibility of Claremont’s handicapped riding program.

According to Anita Gerami, whose family has owned Chateau Stable for over 40 years, the equestrian program for the disabled is held on Saturdays and will be expanded to four times a week. “We are very aware of (Senator) Avella looking to ban the horses and carriages, along with other political people who tried to do the same,” she said. “As far as I am aware, nobody has been cited or convicted of animal cruelty (owner or driver), though this business is regularly accused of such by our opponents. All of the stables have 24-hour stable staff and sprinkler systems. In our stable we have automatic waterers, skylights, fans, a certified dental tech on call and two vets on call. We own a farm in Pennsylvania, where we transport our horses back and forth. It’s very heartbreaking to dedicate your life like my family and myself have; and then to be labeled as an ‘abusive business’ because we choose and use our horses as our income.”

One of Senator Avella’s proposals involves replacing carriages with antique-style electric cars. “I don’t think he will be successful,” said Linda Kramer. “He failed at a city level [to eliminate horses and carriages] and now he is trying to do it on a state level.”

Dr. Pam Corey - ASPCA Veterinary Director

The A.S.P.C.A. supports the phasing out of carriage horses, explained Dr. Pamela Corey, Director of Equine Veterinary Services for that organization, because it would give the horses a better life. Carriage drivers would be offered a new vocation. As the primary enforcer of New York City’s carriage horse laws, with firsthand knowledge of ongoing problems and violations, the A.S.P.C.A. concluded that it can no longer support the status quo.

New Yorkers for Clean, Livable & Safe Streets (NY-CLASS), an organization dedicated to improving the city’s quality of life through education and advocacy, believes that viable alternatives to carriage horses will relieve the city government of its financial burden and avoid the safety and quality issues caused by the horse carriages.

“As an equine veterinarian, I am concerned about the health, welfare and safety of all working horses,” said Dr. Pamela Corey. “I’m naturally troubled by abusive training and working practices and issues of neglect or substandard care. The carriage horses in New York City work in extreme conditions, and I believe the industry requires constant monitoring to ensure their compliance with city regulations. I also believe the regulations could be strengthened to benefit the horses (even though they are some of the strictest in the nation). The health concerns that I have for this particular group of urban horses relate to their lack of access to emergency veterinary care and the general state of their hoof and farrier care. I also feel that some individual horses fare better than others with the lack of daily access to grass pasture and turnout, in terms of their nutrition and behavioral needs.”

What will become of the horses if carriages are eliminated? The state senate bill proposes that the horses be sold or donated and cared for humanely for the rest of their lives and that the information about their disposal be forwarded within five days of such sale or donation. But since most of the horses are the personal property of their individual owners (and some are already living on farms), this may be difficult to enforce.

Of even greater concern is the fact that most of the present equine retirement facilities are already over-subscribed and under-funded; meaning that premature euthanasia or slaughter are looming new problems. The majority of carriage horse owners and drivers are decent, hard working, horse loving caregivers.  As in any industry, there are only a few bad apples; however, should that mean the end of an otherwise beneficial industry. Furthermore, what are to eventually become of other presently acceptable equestrian activities in New York and other cities?

Chateau Stables 'Otis' in NYC

It seems that the most rational focus of this debate should be to best supervise and regulate any and all humane equestrian use issues; rather than to ban entire industries, complete with all the individuals financially and emotionally tied into these well recognized forms of equine use. Perhaps government regulators are attempting to take too strong a role in limiting individual liberties! Work horses help build the ‘Big Apple’ and now they may be forced to leave it.

Adding individuals knowledgeable about the healthcare and well-being of horses to a volunteer civilian review board composed of individuals without any financial conflicts of interest in New York City’s carriage horse matter might be a good start. Their goal would be to help government officials in best regulating, humanely maintaining and protecting the public interests in the proper servicing of the New York City equine livery system.

The carriage horse issue is clearly a controversial double-edged sword with a multitude of industry-wide repercussions which impact New York City ambiance and its tourism.  Its outcome will ultimately affect the face of the city and the fate of its horses in the new millennium. In similar terms, how would a safer Times Square look without all those distracting and potentially dangerous lights look?  How do readers feel about all this?  Email your comments to horsedoc@HorseDoc.com.

2011 Hambletonian Trophy Presentation

Check out our latest video of the 2011-30th Hambletonian with behind the scenes coverage and stunning interviews.http://t.co/l4z9sR6

INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ON RACE DAY MEDICATIONS @ BELMONT PARK
by Dr. Gregory Beroza & Paula Rodenas

Race Day Medication Summit at Belmont Park - Program Cover

A first ever international summit on race day medications, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage also known as ‘bleeding’ (EIPH) and the racehorse was held June 13-14, 2011 at Belmont Park. It was hosted just days after the Belmont Stakes by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and co-sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC). The goal was to be informative and exchange views on the management of EIPH that will hopefully help the United States in making appropriate future decisions about the controversial use of race day medications.

Dr. Robert Lewis - AAEP's Past President

Of all the available medications for EIPH or ‘bleeding’, the best results have been obtained from the medication Furosemide, also generically known as either Lasix or Salix. This diuretic was first used in the 1960s to control high blood pressure in humans, but it was later found to have a beneficial effect on heart-lung function. Despite years of resistance to incorporate its national use, in 1995 New York State became the last state to allow the use of Lasix in Thoroughbred racing. Prior to that era, a horse that might have won an out-of-town Grade 1 Stakes race such as the Kentucky Derby and/or the Preakness Stakes on Lasix would be forced to run in New York without it in the Belmont Stakes, giving that horse a perceived distinct disadvantage.

Alexander Waldrop- NTRA 69KB President & CEO

Critics of Lasix see it as a performance-enhancing substance and believe it can also mask the presence of other medications. Those who favor the use of Lasix believe it is humane and therapeutic and enables a horse to achieve its natural maximum potential by minimizing bleeding.

Robert D. Manfred, Jr.- Exec VP Major League Baseball

Performance-enhancing drugs have long been an issue in American sports. Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Executive Vice-President of major league baseball, started the summit by speaking of such drugs’ perceived impact on the integrity of the sport and noted that the best that can be done is to wage a strong battle against their use. He pointed out that performance-enhancing drugs are effective, and the subsequent pay-off is huge.

Dr. N.E.Robinson - Prof MSU College Vet Med & Eq Pulmonary Lab

Dr. N. E. Robinson, a well recognized veterinary authority on bleeding and a Professor at the Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine and Director of their Equine Pulmonary Laboratory, explained the pathology of bleeding. As athletes, Thoroughbred racehorses, as well as other sport horses, are prone to injuries and other health-related problems. A large percentage of equine athletes have some presence of blood in their windpipes. This may increase with age, speed, distance, footing, cold weather and other factors. Blood is pushed through the lungs, particularly to the back of the lungs (the dorso-caudal area under the saddle), creating damaged areas formally referred to as ‘lesions’. The veins in those areas become thicker, capillaries rupture and bleed, and scarring occurs; sometimes permanently. Pulmonary arterial blood pressure increases with speed. During exercise, blood flow pumped from the right side of the horse’s heart may equal more than 75 gallons per minute. Eventually a narrowing of the blood vessels, or venoclusive remodeling, occurs. A horse that visibly bleeds from the nostrils after a race is called a “bleeder.” There are four grades of bleeders, Grades 1 and 2 being the mildest categories and Grades 3 and 4 deemed as substantial.

Race Day Medication Panel & Attendees

The summit’s panel discussants were comprised of prominent veterinarians, trainers and racing officials from many parts of the globe, including Hong Kong, England, Ireland, Australia, South Africa and France, and the attendees came from 13 countries. Many of the panelists critically considered Lasix as America’s best answer to EIPH. In fact, an Irish representative half-joked that Ireland’s solution to bleeders was ‘to retire them or send them to America’. Outside America, many other countries take a more conservative approach to dealing with EIPH; and many alternative medications and therapeutic approaches were discussed in detail, including medications such as Carbazochrome or “Kentucky red,” Premarin and others; a regimen of scoping and observation; lavage; improved diet and stable management; and giving the horse sufficient periods of non-competitive rest.

Bill Nader - Exec Director Hong Kong Jockey Club

Bill Nader, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and former Senior Vice-President of the New York Racing Association, encountered a whole new world when he moved to Hong Kong four years ago. No Lasix is allowed there in training or racing, and a horse that bleeds is given a mandatory three months off. If the bleeding returns a second or third time, the horse then faces compulsory retirement. Local racing fans are kept well informed with all such bleeding incidences being reported, and the racetrack has a hi-tech laboratory on its premises. Dr. Brian Stewart of Hong Kong said that a horse showing any amount of blood of pulmonary origin at the nostrils after exercise is considered an official bleeder. Post-race exams are mandatorily conducted on approximately 10% of runners at the request of the stewards, and any findings are reported. However, it is very difficult and controversial to compare the racing scene in Hong Kong to that of the United States, as Hong Kong is a small area, races are only held a few days a week, racing is controlled exclusively by the country, and horse racing is China’s only form of legalized gambling.

Dr. Larry Bramlage- AAEP On Call & Dr. Steven Reed- Rood & Riddle Equine Speaker

In Ireland, Lasix is regarded as a therapeutic substance only and cannot be used on race day. Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Irish Turf Club, attributed EIPH to several possible causes: genetics, stress, environment, poor stable management, allergies, frequent shipping and overwork. Irish bettors are also well informed and can obtain information on their web sites, and generally they won’t bet on a horse known to bleed.

Dr. Anthony Stirk of the British Jockey Club said that as there is no official definition of EIPH in the British rule book, medication may be given during training and is not checked, but the horse must be drug-free on race day. He noted a significant improvement in horses that are turned out in a field as opposed to those kept in a more contained conventional stabling environment.

Trainers-Christophe Clemente, John Size, Graham Motion & Richard Mandella

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella from California believes that EIPH is the result of stress, not necessarily from racing, but even from the pressure of just going to the gate. The trainer of recent Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, H. Graham Motion, said of the use of Lasix in two-year-olds, “Prevention is better than the cure.” Motion, who trains in several different countries, stated that Lasix is controllable. Interestingly, several of the foreign trainers said they would use Lasix if they could. Veterinarians were mostly concerned about greater long-term complications such as inflamed airways and pleuropneumonia due to bleeding. There is also an economic consideration, as Europeans and Asians are reluctant to buy or breed to American Thoroughbreds that race on Lasix. “My worry for American racing is that you are becoming isolated,” said Dr. Stirk. “We want to see more (drug free) international racing.”

Attendees-Jockey Guild Director Terry Meyocks & Jockey John Velazquez

In England and Ireland, horses are stabled away from the racetrack and able to enjoy long, easy gallops in the countryside. By contrast however, the American racehorse spends most of its time isolated to a stall and is exercised only during its daily gallop on the track, which creates an unnatural environment. This contributes to many of its problems, and efforts to overcome these by use of bleeder medication, steroids and other substances have resulted in negative publicity for the sport. Legislators are now calling for serious federal regulation of performance-enhancing drugs and medication.

Although no formal recommendations were announced at the summit, many issues were discussed, such as options for the administration of Lasix, barn security, more stringent medication abuse penalties, education and research. The RMTC (Racing Medication and Testing Consortium), which consists of 25 racing industry stakeholders and organizations representing Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing, is currently holding its own separate sub-committee meetings. According to Chris Scherf of the RMTC, these sub-committees will report to the governing board Aug. 4-5. If their recommendations are adopted, they will be sent to the racing commission and, hopefully, implemented as quickly as practically possible.

Dr. Pam Corey-ASPCA Veterinary Director-Attendee

With present hopes of a much needed renewed financial racing vigor due to the current addition of increasing gaming dollars, there is also a significant threat of preserving racing’s integrity by more stringent monitoring of its medication protocols and testing. It appears that future regulatory developments will determine the allowance or exclusion of Lasix in Thoroughbred racing in America, and the rules will be enforced on a national basis rather than managed state by state. Presently racehorses in New York may be given 100-250 mg. of Lasix by a NYRA veterinarian four hours prior to a race. Under national regulatory pressure, New York State exhausted its jurisdictional last standing non-medication position in 1995. It is amazing that now, some 16 years later, a return to non-medication standards are even being considered.
For an even playing field, Lasix must either be permitted and controlled uniformly in all states and potentially all countries or be completely banned, with stiff penalties for noncompliance. Several European trainers agreed that they would not like to race their non-medicated horses against a field of American horses on Lasix, because they believe it gives those medicated horses an edge. There appears to be a dichotomous political standoff between American breeders and trainers who feel that Lasix is necessary and European purists who don’t want to compete against their American counterparts. The long-term effect of Lasix use in the future equine breeding stock has also been questioned, again on a partisan basis.

Thoroughbred Times Senior Staff Writer-Frank Angst

One suggestion offered by a seminar attendee was to first eliminate the use of Lasix in all American Graded Stakes races, which are the races most often entered by European race horses. The Graded Stakes winners are also the most probable horses to go to the breeding shed and most heavily contribute to the future genetic pool of race horses. Americans appear more prone to first consider eliminating Lasix use in the lower tiered claiming races of less talented race horses.
It was pointed out at the summit that if Lasix is eliminated in American racing, additional security issues will become problematic, training methods will change, and – worst case scenario – something else, including more exotic medications, will come along! Ultimately, the welfare of the horse should be the primary concern.

See a few photos from the 2011-143rd Belmont Stakes Day and be directed to a unique up close You tube video of the day’s events. http://bit.ly/k79ZVr

2011-143rd BELMONT STAKES PHOTOS 6/11/11

HorseDoc ‘Talking Horses’ presents unique up-close live coverage of premier race day events including interviews and video of horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, etc.  Actual on-track race coverage.  Link:bit.ly/k9NkAE

 
          When horses bite into life, they do it in the way that was determined by their evolution as grazing animals. Their natural grazing characteristics allow their ever erupting teeth to gradually wear down in proportion to their growth.  Their 12 front teeth are designed for grabbing and/or biting and their 24 rear molars are for grinding. The condition of their teeth affects the animal’s overall health more than owners and trainers realize. Just as a horse needs four balanced feet, he must also have a well-balanced mouth to perform properly. Horsemen are acquainted with the old saying, “No foot, no horse,” but, while they can easily see the condition of the feet and legs, the inside of the horse’s mouth is not so easily accessible; but just as important. 

          The initial baby teeth, called caps, are lost or need to be extracted into the horse’s 5^th year of age.  Their adult teeth emerge and change as he ages; the very long upper teeth drop down from within his sinuses and the lower ones erupt from his jaw bone each at an estimated rate of 1/16 inch per year. At first, the grinding surface of the baby teeth of a young horse meet on their flat surfaces; while those of an older improperly managed horse may eventually wear to a 45 degree occlusive angle. As a grazing animal, normally the horse is constantly wearing down his teeth. His teeth may eventually wear down to an abnormal angle, because the upper row sits slightly wider in his mouth than the lower row; thereby placing uneven abnormal stress on the horse’s jaw and TM (temporal-mandibular) joint.

Intraol Dental Examination, see sharp inside points

          If the horse cannot process his food properly, his digestion is also harmfully affected. Whole oats, for example, may be swallowed without even being ground. This is comparable to a person swallowing his food whole, without chewing it. The best nutrition is useless if the horse cannot digest it effectively. In turn, the horse may lose weight and perform poorly. He may show signs of unthriftiness, digestive trouble, and colic or he may possibly even develop ulcers or have breathing problems. Properly ground food is essential to the optimal digestion of a horse’s feed.

          Symptoms of tooth problems may be evidenced in many different ways. If the teeth are not in proper alignment, are broken, are impacted or infected, a horse might drop his food, veer out to get away from the bit because of pain, develop undesirable lead switches, shake his head, bite his tongue or the inside of his cheek, fight the bit or generally not be training up to par, achieve sub-maximal weight gain, and/or develop breathing or oral bleeding problems.

          One of many racing thoroughbreds that I recently treated at Belmont Park for trainer David Duggan had a tooth growing irregularly into his cheek, thereby causing an ulcer. After the tooth problem was corrected, there was a marked improvement in the horse’s performance. David stated that, “proper dentistry made my job of training easier. Before the tooth problem was fixed, my horse was uncontrollable and would not have made it to the races. Now there is no longer a problem with his performance.”  Additionally, I also examined and floated 5 recently claimed thoroughbred racehorses for Robert Klesaris at Belmont Park. Both he and his assistant, Raul Ruiz, noted that the very next day, 2 of those horses had “a remarkable improvement in their training performance”.

Uncle Mo Winning 2010 Breeders Cup Photo by Z

          A racing filly training at Belmont Park for trainer Jim Toner went to far as to flip over backwards to avoid training just because of her anticipated pain due to her sharp teeth. Once properly floated and balanced, her behavioral problems were resolved. During the 2006-07 Winter Aqueduct and the 2007 Spring-Summer Belmont meets, one of my regular dental client trainers, Gary Contessa, captured Leading Trainer titles following regular power floating and balancing maintenance care. There is a direct correlation between good dental health and optimal athletic performance.

          In the performance show world, Jagger Topping, of Swan Creek Farm in Bridgehampton, New York remarkably observed that, for his large population of horses, our power floating dentistry went even more smoothly and quickly than the previously conventional hand-floating methods he formerly employed. Ann Aspinol, of Topping Riding Club in Sagaponack, New York had “no doubt” in her mind, that over the past 5 years we have been taking care of her horses’ teeth, they now look better and maintain their weight better than in previous years. Even her boarders recognized a positive difference. Lieutenant Nicholas Pandolfo, former commanding officer of the Nassau County Mounted Unit, observed after several years of our improved dental care that he had been able to appropriately cut back on his feed bill, because his horses are now eating well and doing better.

          The Chronicle of the Horse recently reported in its March 28, 2011 issue about 2 top international dressage riders who were immediately eliminated from FEI World competition because their horses had blood coming from their mouths during competition. One horse was quoted supposedly as having ‘bit its tongue’. Without further information one can only speculate that these horses may have had recent or unresolved dental issues which equated to serious show consequences.

          Ideally, performance and pleasure horses should have their teeth examined and floated twice a year. According to New York State law, this should be done by a licensed veterinarian; although interpretation and regulation of these laws has been indecisive, at best. While some lay people calling themselves dentists have experience and training in this area, a qualified, knowledgeable veterinarian will provide the best opinion and the most thorough job. The veterinarian should examine the entire mouth, looking for and correcting any potential problems; and, yes, horses do get cavities, although they are not as significant a problem as they are in people. Floating is the procedure in which sharp enamel points or rough edges are removed with a dental file and it is an essential part of routine horse care.

Equine Scull and Dental Power Equipment

          The method I employ is power floating; primarily using motorized equipment rather than hand tools. The standing horse is lightly sedated (something a lay person cannot do), and the horse’s mouth is propped open with a speculum. This enables the veterinarian to look and reach far back into the caudal recesses of a horse’s mouth, where they may have sharp “hooks”; especially common to older horses. A combination diamond and carbide bit is used, which does not injure the inner soft tissues of the horse’s mouth. With power equipment, I consistently get equally balanced results in all 4 quadrants of each and every horse’s mouth. Trainers and owners should be aware that after sedation, although horses can go back to work 1 hour later, there may be show rules governing proper withdrawal times prior to showing, due to the tranquilizers used. In racehorses it is four days.

          Laws regarding professional care of the horse’s teeth vary from state to state, because there is no national code. Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners, this countries 2 major regulatory organizations overseeing the practice of dentistry within veterinary medicine, universally agree with the rest of today’s world of modern medicine, that both large and small animal dentistry is uncategorically a medical procedure, and that veterinary dental assistants or technicians can be utilized by veterinarians in their office and under their direct professional supervision. Although veterinarians are universally required to have nationally recognized credentials, not all equine veterinarians or veterinary dentists have proper state licenses.

Power Dentistry Equipment In Use

          To date, there is no uniform nationally recognized dental training code, although most veterinary schools include courses in dentistry as part of their professional curriculum, and areas of veterinary dental specialty are burgeoning. However, the business practice of equine dentistry in New York State is limited to licensed professionals only. Consequently, should an owner use a non-licensed individual to perform dentistry and any damage is done to their horse, the owner has little course of legal action or restitution; similar to using an untrained, unlicensed and unregulated contractor. Lay individuals performing dental procedures cannot obtain malpractice insurance for doing such.

          Power floating has its share of bonafide critics when performed improperly; however, when done right, it is vastly superior to the older manual methods. This is analogous to current use of power equipment by properly trained, skilled and licensed contractors. My fourteen years of pioneering experience utilizing motorized tools to power float and balance tens of thousands of horses’ teeth, have proven to me that it is absolutely the best method of routine dental care available to the public. Medical licensing was established in the late 1800s to protect the public against shoddy work from untrained, unskilled, unlicensed and uninsurable non-professionals. In my humble view, to practice equine dentistry today without direct supervision of or by a medical license is comparable to the dark ages, when barbers were allowed to perform surgery on their patrons.

Equipment for Surgical Removal of Cheek Tooth Under General Anesthesia

Surgical Removal of Infected Cheek Tooth Under General Anesthesia

Surgically Removed Lower Cheek Tooth

          Basic regular dental maintenance, complete routine oral examination and early problem correction help eliminate the risk of serious future trouble, such as cracked teeth, impacted teeth, dental and sinus infections, TM joint problems, secondary breathing problems such as soft-palate displacement, behavioral and attitudinal training and performance issues, etc. The well being and careers of our prized horses are at stake.

Debra Wilcox before Accident

“I always told my girls, ‘Put your helmet on,’ and they’d say, ‘Oh, Mom!’” recalled Debra’s mother. Some of the female students at the Wilcoxes’ Hillcrest Farm were reluctant to wear helmets for fear of messing their hair. “Even on the ground with a hard-to-handle horse, the helmet should be worn,” said Mrs. Wilcox.

Debra’s plight was not as well publicized as Olympic rider Courtney King-Dye’s spill in March 2010 in which she also sustained a severe head injury when her horse slipped and fell. Courtney’s skull was fractured, and she was in a coma for a month. She had ongoing physical and speech therapy and is on the road to recovery. Before her accident, Courtney wore a helmet with some horses, not others, and on the day of her accident, she was in a hurry and didn’t put it on. Her story served as a wake-up call for dressage riders. When she attended the World Equestrian Games, Courtney found herself regarded as a role model. She noted that Sue Blinks and Jacqueline Brooks were wearing approved helmets in the Grand Prix arena, a setting that traditionally calls for formal top hats. “Is there some reason we don’t care about the brains of people competing above fourth level?” questioned event rider Darren Chiacchia, who suffered a head injury in 2008 (see Chronicle of the Horse, December 17, 2010).

Courtney King-Dye on Mythilus from Jaffer of Star-Ledger 6/26/10

Since the King-Dye accident, the United States Equestrian Federation has mandated that, effective March 1, 2011, everyone except riders 18 and older wear protective headgear on horses competing at the F.E.I. (International) levels of dressage. “Dressage riders called the Courtney King accident their 9-11,” said Sally Ike, USEF manager of eventing. The first rule change, influenced by a decrease in head injuries in combined training (which includes a dressage phase) through the use of helmets, required anyone on a horse to wear an ASTM/SEI-approved helmet while mounted on competition grounds. In January, a Rider4Helmets-hosted symposium in Wellington, Florida discussed the topic at length. In February, the USEF executive committee said it would meet to define the rule as applied to breed competitions.

Although Courtney King-Dye attracted national attention, there are many riders like Debra Wilcox whose unexpectedly altered fates went unnoticed by all but their friends and relatives. As Debra’s mother pointed out, the injury is only the first part of the scenario; the care of a coma patient is ongoing and extensive help is needed from insurance companies in order to carry on with necessary therapy. Families of coma patients face exorbitant, unimaginable expenses and responsibilities.

2010 Alltech F.E.I. WEG Jumping by Peggy Kline

Hunter-jumper riders have long acknowledged the need for protective headgear. EMTs at dressage shows are not called upon as often to tend to head injuries as they are at competitions that involve jumping. It was long believed that riding at speed or jumping obstacles creates more of a risk that riding quietly on the flat. “There’s more of a chance of something happening – if the horse spooks or refuses a jump, for example, or if he takes a bad step,” said jockey Frank Lovato, Jr., who was injured in a 1980 racing accident. But, as Courtney King-Dye said, “I think my accident showed everyone, including me, that anything can happen.”

2010 Alltech F.E.I. WEG Eventing- Happy Times & Sam Griffins by Peggy Kline

While her experience alerted the equestrian community, there is still a need to educate the general public. Several years ago, a New York TV channel aired a program that featured a handicapped child shown riding without a helmet. When a viewer wrote in and criticized this, she received a form letter from the producer saying, essentially, “We are sorry you did not like our program,” missing the point entirely. A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control revealed that riding accidents accounted for 11.7% of all traumatic brain injuries in recreational sports between 2001 and 2005.

The United States Equestrian Federation rules define an acceptable helmet as “properly fastened protective headgear which meets or exceeds ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. It must be properly fitted with harness secured.” Helmets are required in all classes that include jumping, as well as in marathon combined driving, Paso Fino classes, combined training, endurance competition, Morgans, roadsters and possibly other divisions as listed in the official rule book.

Proper Polo Headgear

The United States Polo Association long ago mandated that all polo players wear their helmets during competitions; and almost all polo clubs also mandate use of helmets during every practice. The Nassau County Mounted Police Unit’s policies are indicative of most other mounted units wherein the officers are mandated to wear their protective headgear whenever mounted, except for color-guard ceremonies. However, each municipality is responsible for their own standards. Protective helmets are optional in all rodeo events. Many high level rodeo riders, especially in bronc and bull riding, now voluntarily wear protective helmets after several of their colleagues sustained severe head and face injuries that would have been minimized by wearing helmets.

Proper Mounted Police Headgear

Western riders, however, continue to wear their familiar cowboy hats.  Marty Pelcyger of Arizona, who rides cutting horses, said the National Cutting Horse Association calls for western hats in their rules of attire. Anything else, he suggested, would look “silly.” (Imagine John Wayne wearing a safety helmet.) However Dave Brian, Director of Shows of the NCHA, quoted the rules as saying: “Under advance approval of show management, safety helmets are permissible in place of western hats.”

Cody Whitney-Extreme Bulls by Greg Westfall 2/19/11

In reining, the Western equivalent of dressage, helmets are optional. Reining was the only sport at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in which riders appeared in western saddles and cowboy hats. According to Jessica Johnson of the National Reining Horse Association, that association’s executive committee is reviewing the new dressage rules and may meet with the USEF for discussion in the near future.

Kaycee Feild on Multi-Chem Brother by Greg Westfall 2/19/11

“I have found that 99% of the time, falls occur without incident,” said reiner Sue Lomangino of Long Island. Although she approves the enforcement of the helmet rule for youths, she feels that the use of a helmet should be an individual decision in the case of adults. She pointed out that Christopher Reeve was wearing a helmet when he was paralyzed in a cross country spill in 1994. The helmet did not protect the cervical portion of his neck. It was what Sue called a “freak accident.”  Reeve broke his first and second vertebrae (C1 and C2), just below the edge of his helmet.

2010 Alltech F.E.I. WEG Reining-Anky Van Grunsven on Whizashiningwalla by Peggy Kline

Think of barrel racers galloping around at great speed, their hats flying off behind them. The danger is obvious. Yet a representative of the National Barrel Racing Association said that helmets are optional for all riders and estimated that only about 10% of the riders wear them.

The American Quarter Horse Association requires approved helmets for hunters, jumpers and equitation or for anyone jumping on the show grounds. For Quarter Horse racing, individual state racing commissions oversee the use of helmets.

Goldikova-2010 Breeders Cup by Z

Jockeys in the Thoroughbred racing world are well aware of the dangers of galloping at 30-plus miles per hour. According to Bruce Johnstone, Manager of Racing Operations for the New York Racing Association, the sport has a minimum standard for jockey helmets that allows some leeway for different types or brands. The older Caliente helmet has been improved upon by a new European-made helmet that is larger and more shock resistant. Jeff Johnson, Regional Manager of the Jockeys’ Guild, explained that while the states all have their own rules for helmets and other safety equipment, many states try to adopt rules listed in the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) list of “model rules” in an attempt for uniformity. Joe Mahoney, information officer for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, said, “Safety is of paramount importance” and cited New York State rule 4006.7 as follows: “Every jockey, apprentice jockey, and other riders, whether in a race or when exercising a Thoroughbred horse, shall wear a safety helmet of a type approved in writing by the stewards, and no change shall be made in any such helmet without the approval of the stewards.”

The bottom line seems to be that the English disciplines are presently adaptable to helmets, while Western riders are reluctant to give up their cowboy hats. Should safety helmets be mandatory or a matter of individual choice in all equestrian sports events? To see additional photos or to contribute to public discussion about this subject, please see the Blogsite at www.HorseDoc.com. The authors also appreciate any comments or points of view being addressed directly to them via Email: horsedoc@horsedoc.com. Let us hear from you!

As we in the northeast and many other regions of the country are in the midst of one of our most severe winters in the past several years, it is time to reflect on the appropriate health care of our equine companions.  Whether or not you personally hold yourself directly accountable as your horse’s owner, legal guardian or best friend, it is nonetheless our moral obligation to best care for the comfortable health of these amazing animals no matter the circumstances.  Winter brings cold weather, snow and frozen water and heating pipes.  Fresh clean frost free water is a necessary mainstay of all living beings and our horses require their sizeable daily portion of potable water.  Make sure all the pipes to your barns are sufficiently protected from freezing.

Horses Winterized in Snow Turnout

Properly applied, heat tapes are well worth it.  Please be careful in the application of heat tapes because, wrapped too closely around pipes so that they cross, they can short or burn themselves out and can cause fires.  Where appropriate, space heaters and heat lamps can be used, however, not all types are safe for use in barns.  Make sure any extension cords, outlets, fuse boxes and services are properly grounded and of sufficient size to carry the increased winter electrical loads.  If you are in doubt about any of these electrical recommendations, please check with a qualified electrician to assure your barn and horses’ safety.

Unless heated automatic watering sources are being properly used, outdoor water buckets often freeze.  Being outside for several hours, eating dry hay without water and being returned to a barn with more dry hay and unpalatable ice cold water, is an unplanned and unfortunate set-up for a horse developing a digestive tract impaction.  We often must think for and take appropriate precautions for our horses, no different than we would to protect our children from winter’s worst elements.  Regular and timely feeding of warmed grained mashes enriched by adding dietary oils for digestive tract lubrication, is a good method for increasing a horse’s necessary water intake and keeping their stools appropriately softer.  Lesser winter volumes of food may be sufficient to nourish our horses due to their decreased activity, but some horses require the same, if not more feed, due to their increased need for energy to produce heat.  Because of their long winter coats, their true body condition may not be readily apparent.  Check your horse’s body conditioning as each one is uniquely individual.

Foot Iceball-no pads-no borium

Foot no Iceball-snow pads-heel caulks

Unless properly blanketed and during moderate winter days, horses should not be turned-out for as long a period of time as you would during the warmer months.  During the coldest days, it may be more appropriate to keep them in the barn or turn them out for only an hour or two daily.  While it makes for a beautiful postcard to see horses standing knee deep in fresh snow, practically speaking, it is often more dangerous than it appears.  Horses feet can ball up with snow or ice and cause them to slip, slide or be unable to get proper traction.  Snow pads are one solution to lessening this problem.  Borium and/or heel caulks applied to the bottoms of our horses’ shoes are another helpful solution.  Care must also be exercised that horses not panic from being entrapped in knee high or chest deep snow which can cause them to act in unpredictably dangerous manners.  Horses can break bones in their feet and legs from poor footing, compounded by dangerous behavior or even panic due to a perceived entrapment in the snow.

Horse too deep in snow drift

Blankets and leg wraps can be used, both indoors and outdoors, to help your horse conserve their body heat.  Each should be applied appropriately to avoid other problems.  Making your horse too warm by excessive blanketing, both inside and outside the barn, is possible and should also be carefully avoided.  Unless your horse is properly acclimated to the winter’s worst weather, the disparity in conditions between inside and outside the barn can cause a horse to sweat and loose even more valuable water.  Just like with people, the cold wind blowing over your horse’s body increases the chill factor.  This can create a more significant problem than the lowered temperature itself.

Try to provide your horses with a covered structure or wind break if they are to stay outside for any significant length of time, during the winter.  You will find horses migrating to protection from the wind, when they need it most.  Similarly, seal barns from any drafts or air leaks, especially if the barn isn’t heated.  A well insulated draft free barn filled with horses usually doesn’t need auxiliary heat during average winter conditions, to keep it above freezing.  Collectively, horses’ body heat is amazingly warm.  This can be yet another reason not to turn some if not all of the horses out during the most severe winter days.  Heated barns should be kept above freezing, but not so warm that horses don’t grow a sufficiently protective winter hair coat.  Be aware, however, that no ventilation whatsoever can create its own problem, leading to increased respiratory disorders.  This issue is best accessed via the help of qualified veterinary and architectural/contractor input.

Scenic winter snow; Horse & Groom heading back to the barn

Winter time is often a slower and less intense time for equestrian use.  So, this is a good time to catch up on several veterinary health care responsibilities such as examination and floating of our horses’ teeth.  Late fall & winter vaccinations, useful against respiratory viruses, are just as prophylactically important as are their use against flu in people.  Horses housed more closely increase their opportunities for sharing respiratory viruses and parasites, also making deworming very timely and appropriate.  Any and all of these important equine medical issues should be discussed with and addressed in conjunction with your veterinarian, as part of your overall supervised healthcare program.

For additional equine healthcare information about this or other subjects, please review Dr. Beroza’s internet site @ HorseDoc.com and/or review the ‘Talking Horses’ materials on the HorseDoc.com Blogsite and/or call the Long Island Equine Medical Center @ 631-427-2213.