Newsletter 55 Sep/Oct. 2005

FILMING THE GILBERT DOCUMENTARY

Gilbert loved to be up close to the camera with Troy.

The main reason for my trip to South Africa this year was to be part of a documentary being filmed about Gilbert, the zebra. You can read Gilbert's past story - just click here.
I met Gilbert last year for two training sessions which resulted in a some video footage being shown at one of my courses this year.
Janine White, a student at my January camp, saw the footage and was inspired to write a film about it. She then received a scholarship to enable the film to be produced as a short documentary so Janine, Troy (the producer) and I spent three weeks with Gilbert filming his education in hoof trimming and leading out.
We all enjoyed the lovely warm weather and ate too much yummy food, and achieved the goal of trimming Gilbert's hooves so he could remain sound in a domestic situation. I also started him on a leading program that will eventually enable his owners, Carin and Izak, to take him out for rides with their other horses which will help keep his feet in good shape.
If you'd like to read the full story of his daily training and see more photos, click here.
The film of Gilbert is expected to take at least 12 months to produce, depending on who buys the rights but hopefully I will have a promo to show at my summer workshops. I'll keep you posted.

Taking Gilbert for a walk with Carin and Ros.

ALL HORSES ARE PRONE TO LAMINITIS
There are only two kinds of horses.... those that have laminitis and those that will get it!

So what is laminitis and how do horses get it?
Put simply, laminits is inflamation of the sensitive laminae in the hoof, causing a breakdown of the bond between the hoof wall and the coffin bone.
Severe cases are commonly known as founder and major causes are by eating rich green grass but it can also be caused by concussion of the hooves on hard surfaces, over-eating grain, infection from retaining afterbirth, excessive weight bearing on one leg, stress and medications.
There are many good texts giving much greater detail on the causes and treatments, so if you own a horse, you should be aware of how this condition occurs and how to keep your horse from suffering it.

One such book with an excellent chapter on laminitis is The Sound Hoof - Horse Health from the Ground up by Lisa Simons Lancaster (read a full review). You can purchase this book from www.tallgrasspublishers.com.
This book lists the early clinical signs of laminitis as:

• Reluctance to move freely
• Blood stains visible in the white line
• Pulse and respiration may be elevated due to pain.
• When moving, prefers to canter rather than trot if given a choice.
• Feet are off balance - may have long toes, high heels or both.
• Moves forward soundly but takes slightly shorter than normal strides.
• Sound on soft terrain but may limp or stumble on hard or rocky ground.
• Sole bruising and a stretched white line (in some horses, by the time you see this they have been compromised for quite some time).
  
  Late clinical signs: (Founder)
• Lies down a lot
• Standing but will not move
• Bounding digital pulse
• Sole hot to the touch
• White line stretched
• Will not allow you to pick up a foot
• Stops eating
• Sole bruise in the shape of a coffin bone
• Shifting weigh tfrom foot to foot (swaying side to side).
• Standing with front legs stretched out, back arched, trying to lean back to get weight off toes.
• When asked to turn in a tight area like a stall or narrow barn aisle the horse rocks backwards onto haunches, lifts head up and lurches around because it hurts to turn the feet.

Usually several of these signs will appear together or appear over the course of a few days.
All of the signs need to be evaluated in context. No single indicator would be diagnostic for laminitis.

If you suspect your horse has laminitis or founder then do your research, ask many opinions from varied sources (natural hoof care practitioners, vets, farriers) and comminicate with others who have successfully rehabilitated a founderd horse or pony.
Then DO someting about it - just hoping that early signs will go away is leading to a severe case which is more painful for your horse and your pocket!

Better still, assess your horse's sitation before it occurs;

• Do you have hooves trimmed regularly? (ie: every 4 weeks - not 8, 10 or 12) to maintain good hoof balance and health.
• What is the diet? Grains, lucernes, rich grass or a fresh flush of grass all cause laminitic attacks.
• What stresses does your horse endure? Travelling, competing, over training, illness, vaccinations, de-worming and medicating can all be triggers for laminitis.

BEGINNERS ODE AT ANAWA STUD
From all accounts I hear this event was a great success with 21 riders of all ages taking part on horses of all stages but mostly newcomers to the sport.
The cross country course tested a few, expecially the creek crossing and the water jump but everyone reported they enjoyed the day and learnt a lot.
The results were:
1st - Heather Laird on Picadilly Royala (Joylene's mare - pictured below)
2nd - Helen Vagg on Audi
3rd - Diane Johnson on Piper
4th - Merri Durkin on Ned
5th - Diana McCullagh on Cutie
6th - Liz Stanfiled on Honey
7th - Rebecca Dixon on Nara
8th - Lee Davis on Daisy
9th - Jessica Cowen on Indy
10th - Deb Johnson on Albie

Deb Johnson and Albie having their first go at a ODE