Mounted search and rescue

[ALLEN SNYDER <allendana1@sbcglobal.net>]

Dave S. asked for this and a few others, so here is what I have learned.  A couple of things I forgot to mention:  my vet told me pasture horses do not get EPM nearly as often as stalled horses possibly because they can choose their grass/hay.  In a stall they are hungry and may be forced to "clean up" hay they may not eat otherwise.  The other is nutrition and keeping them strong with regular, but not intense exercise is helpful.  Show horses may get more recurrences from stress. 

 

Next, I believe refined sugars in excess, ie sweet feeds can hinder immunity just as it can humans.  Look for lower sugar feeds, more natural grains or senior pellets with some of the higher quality ingredients like flax, ricebran, probiotics ("good" bacteria), but the best water, pasture and hay you can get are still key.  I wish I had my own place sometimes!

 

  Finally, I am not only converting my halters to the breakable leather crown, but going to try a device called a Safe-T that has an elastic buckle.  It sounds as though it may give a bit first, which may help calm a frightened horse, then it should break first.  This is supposed to leave a working rather than broken halter.  I will let you know if it helps.  Take care.  

Note: forwarded message attached.

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• From: ALLEN SNYDER <allendana1@sbcglobal.net>
• To: Susan Wright <owright@internetpro.net>
• Subject: Re: Your EPM experience
• Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 23:11:36 -0700 (PDT)

Thank you for your thoughts Susan.  Although I have seen some good articles in Horse Journal and I believe, John Lyons' magazine, I will manage my own farm different than the boarding barns I have used.  I never despised any creature before, but possums should not be invited into any barn by careless management.  Raccoons and pigeons also carry this protozoal disease and shed it in their feces.  They contaminate ponds, hay and food sources when allowed access.

 

Ponds are hard to control, so always provide a source of fresh water or a tank and hope it is used.  DO NOT LEAVE HORSE OR CAT FOOD OUT AT NIGHT IN AN OPEN BARN.  It is an invitation for a buffet and then the possums were nesting in the hay in the hay barn!  The contaminated hay was fed to horses.  Try to avoid buying hay that has any suspicious "holes" or areas resembling a nest with feces etc.  You can ask the seller and hope for the truth, but a good hay manager does not allow possums in the hay.

 

CLOSE stall doors at night if horses are turned out to hopefully keep varmints out of stalls.  Our show barn left the doors open and possums came in to eat cat food and then bedded down in the stalls and contaminated them.  At least 3 known cases of EPM were diagnosed at this barn within the year.  It is difficult to prove this was the cause as I am told 50% of horses are exposed to EPM at some point in life or in my case, maybe multiple times.

 

I suspect stress at the show barn and direct exposure were the culprits.  I cleaned up a very foul stool with a snakeskin in my horses' hay and did not think of possum.  I thought it may be from a cat.  I should have stripped the stall and discarded all the hay!  Part of our treatment that was different this year was also the antioxidants vitamin E (high dose from the vet) and DMSO.

 

Hope this helps.  If your friend wants to email, she is welcome.  If she has any doubts, get a second opinion from another local vet who has experience with EPM or go to a university vet school.   I know that my horse knew I did not give up on him and good "nursing" care was given.  I am an old ER nurse and gave the Marquis myself daily partly because I wanted to be sure he got it, but did not want him getting head shy.  He had an amazing spirit and recovered beyond expectations the first time, so I tried again.  I wish I had gotten the neck Xrays sooner to make an earlier decision.  Dana  

 

PS  The silver lining is now I can feel a little freer to look for a safe horse to lease for our 9 yr. old beginner who is learning hunt seat.  Bailey was to be her first horse and he was not safe for her.  My 20 year old TB is too much horse at about 17 hands.  I am seeing if he can handle MSAR, but he has to load better!

Susan Wright <owright@internetpro.net> wrote:

So sorry about your beloved horse, Dana.  I hope your experience can help someone else who is treating it. Thankfully, I have not had this in any of my horses, but we do have plenty of possums around and a good friend's pony had the disease three or four years ago (he is doing fine after extensive and exPENSIVE treatment).
If you have the time, I would be most interested in reading what you have learned about prevention, too.
Again, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your horse.
Susan Wright

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