HORSE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER AND MORE!!!
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Topics in this issue:
1) Feature: Demystifying medical terms
2) Recommended products and services: Biodiesel
3) Rally and rating tips: Stübben Hammanol
4) Questions and answers: half chaps, topical agent, hay bags, and more on
bits
5) Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs: Pilates: Body in Motion by Alycea
Ungaro
6) Fun and educational websites: Sport Pony Magazine, USPC News, tack of the
day
7) Featured rule: Footwear unmounted and mounted
8) Free item exchange

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Feature: Demystifying medical terms
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Do you know what's actually wrong with your horse if he has
encephalomyelitis? Don't let the fancy name throw you off. For example, if
you strain something in your arm and the doctor examines it, she might say
gravely "Ahhh, you have tendonitis." It sounds like something that took
years of medical school to be able to diagnose, but basically, she just said
that you have a swollen tendon. (Anything ending in "-itis" means
inflammation.) Another common example in humans is scoliosis. It sounds
like some dreaded disease but if we look at the root word (scoli: crooked,
curved) and the suffix (-osis: abnormal condition) basically the only thing
that the doctor said, is that the person's spine is more curved than normal.

Many of the root words, prefixes, and suffixes used in medical terminology
come from Latin, a language that is no longer in everyday use. It might be
easier to understand if the doctor just said, "You have a swollen tendon, or
a crooked spine." but one of the important reasons that medical
professionals have developed their own language is so doctors from different
countries can come together and all agree to use the same terms for these
conditions and diseases. The important thing is to not let these terms
dazzle or intimidate you.

Let's take a look at a few of these roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Some root words:

arteri: having to do with the arteries
arthr: joint
bacteri: bacteria
bi: life
encephal: having to do with the brain
enter: having to do with the intestines
lamin: having to do with the laminae (laminae are little tubules that keep
the hoof wall connected to the coffin bone, and our fingernails connected to
our fingers)
lith: stone
melan: black
myel: having to do with the bone marrow; spinal cord
ophthalm: having to do with the eye
pneum or pneumon: having to do with air and the lungs
rhin: having to do with the nose

Two common prefixes:

a- or an-: without or absence of
anti: against

Some suffixes:

-al: pertaining to
-emia: blood condition
-ia: condition of diseased or abnormal state
-ic: pertaining to
-itis: inflammation
-oma: benign tumor
-trophy: nourishment

Now let's have some fun! Here are ten words you might come across when
learning about horses. See if you can use the prefixes, suffixes, and roots
above to figure out exactly what they mean (answers at the end of the
newsletter):

rhinopneumonitis
encephalomyelitis
laminitis
arthritis
melanoma
anemia (as in Equine Infectious Anemia or EIA)
enterolith
arteritis (as in Equine Viral Arteritis or EVA)
opthalmia (as in periodic opthalmia or moon blindness)
atrophy

If this topic interests you, find the meanings of many more roots, prefixes
and suffixes at this website:
http://www.gen.umn.edu/faculty_staff/jensen/1135/medterms/default.html

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Recommended products and services: Biodiesel
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Many people tow their trailers with diesel trucks, but have you spent much
time following diesel vehicles on the freeway? The toxic fumes are almost
overwhelming for me. I can't imagine how it must be for a horse that can't
escape them in the trailer. Now there's an alternative. Want your horse to
smell the aroma of french fries instead while at the same time saving the
environment? Fill up with biodiesel!

The following are some questions and answers about biodiesel from the
www.biodiesel.org website.

What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from
domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can
be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend.
It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no
modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and
essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable
resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less
toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in
the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our
dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy.

Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine?
Biodiesel can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no
modification to the engine or the fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent
effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls and pipes from
previous diesel fuel storage. The release of deposits may clog filters
initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel meeting the
biodiesel specification is used.

Where can I purchase biodiesel?
Biodiesel can be made available anywhere in the US. The National Biodiesel
Board (NBB) maintains a list of registered fuel marketers. A current list is
available on the biodiesel web site at www.biodiesel.org or by calling the
NBB at (800) 841-5849.

For those of you in California, there are public biodiesel fueling stations
in the following cities:

Martinez
Berkeley
Redding
Cudahy
Santa Barbara
Goleta
Santa Cruz
Concord
Hopland
Garberville
San Diego
Santa Rosa
Ventura
Laytonville
Monterey
Ventura
San Jose
Ukiah

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Rally and rating tips: Stübben Hammanol for leather conditioning
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At a recent C3 proficiency assessment, Jordan Janis, C2 member of Shasta
Pony club came with an impeccable turn-out for both herself and her horse.
The horse's hooves were oiled, not a speck of dandruff in the jet black mane
or tail, and the tack was the most supple I have ever experienced (and I've
felt a lot of tack). Deer Creek DC, Margie Mooy described it as "buttery
soft." I had to know what Jordan's secret weapon was. Jordan admitted that
she conditioned all her tack on a regular basis with Stübben Hammanol.
That's enough of a recommendation for me! Hammanol is available through the
Dover (www.doversaddlery.com) and many other online and real-life tack
stores.

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Questions and answers
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Stormy, Oh Guru of all things Horse Managementy,
We are having a non-qualifying dressage rally, with lots of new D'sykins.
The formal sheets say that clean, neat, safe attire is the accepted. Does
that include half chaps and appropriate boots? Also, even though we
announce it lots of times, lots of clubs come with Furacin for the anti/3
ointment. It is usually especially gross, too--hay, dirt, blood, horse
parts. Does it just take awhile to educate?

Marcy Neher, HMO Inland Empire

Hi Marcy,

Let's take this from the top...

Ok, half chaps at a non-qualifying dressage rally. I refer back to what
Wayne Quarles wrote on the Pony Club website (go to www.ponyclub.org, forms
section, Frequently Asked Questions - Activities).

"Regarding the use of half chaps, in competition, the only place where half
chaps are allowed is in Polocrosse. Again, we are stating that for
qualifying rallies and at championships, they are not permitted, except in
Polocrosse.

While they are not encouraged for all mounted activities, they may be used
for lessons.

At ratings of C or higher, they are not appropriate for either formal or
informal attire.

At D ratings and rallies, the DC may deem them appropriate.

Half chaps are not recommended for games with the vaulting on and off the
ponies.

It should be noted that using half chaps with riding sneakers are not felt
appropriate. Riding sneakers do not have the depth of heel to ensure that
the strap would stay in place. As with all equipment, half chaps should be
in good repair and safe. A worn and stretched piece of elastic on a half
chap is as unsafe as worn stitching on a stirrup leather."

So, my interpretation is that in your situation, if the DC of the individual
clubs say that the D's they are sending to the dressage rally may wear half
chaps, then they cannot be penalized for it. As a half chap lover myself, I
would still discourage D's from wearing them at the dressage rally because
they are specifically forbidden in the dressage rulebook. I would prefer
them to wear something that would be legal at a recognized dressage show
(jodhpurs with jodhpur boots and elastic straps or garters, or tall boots)
so they get used to the feel of riding without the half chaps, and they
don't pass on misinformation to other Pony Clubbers and other dressage
competitors.

On to the question about the topical antibacterial/antimicrobial/antibiotic
agent required in the equine first aid kit. Let's start by defining the
terms. First of all, the "/" symbol in medical terminology means "or" so
the topical agent you use needs to say on the packaging that it is either
antibacterial, antimicrobial, or antibiotic (or any combination of the
three).

Antimicrobial literally means "pertaining to against microbes".

An antimicrobial is a substance that that kills or slows the growth of
microbes such as bacteria (antibacterial activity), fungi (antifungal
activity), viruses (antiviral activity), or parasites (antiparasitic
activity).

Antibiotic literally means "pertaining to against life".

"An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. They
are relatively harmless to the host, and therefore can be used to treat
infections. Antibiotics are not effective in viral, fungal and other
nonbacterial infections, and individual antibiotics vary widely in their
effectiveness on various types of bacteria."
(excerpted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic)

Antibacterial literally means "pertaining to against bacteria".

"In its broadest definition, an antibacterial is an agent that interferes
with the growth and reproduction of bacteria. While antibiotics and
antibacterials both attack bacteria, these terms have evolved over the years
to mean two different things. Antibacterials are now most commonly described
as agents used to disinfect surfaces and eliminate potentially harmful
bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, they are not used as medicines for humans or
animals, but are found in products such as soaps, detergents, health and
skincare products and household cleaners."
(excerpted from: http://www.tufts.edu/med/apua/Q&A/Q&A_antibacterials.html)

Long story short, antimicrobial is a general term for something that kills
or interferes with bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. Antibacterial
just kills or interferes with bacteria, and is most often used when talking
about disinfecting surfaces. Antibiotic also means it kills or interferes
with bacteria, but the term is more often used when describing a medication
for a human or animal. So, if you're washing your hands, you might use an
antibacterial soap, but if you're applying an ointment to a wound it would
probably be an antibiotic ointment.

I know a lot of us have been educating the kids that Furacin is usually not
the best choice for an antibacterial/antimicrobial/antibiotic agent in the
equine first aid kit. Furacin (generic name: Nitrofurazone) is sold as an
antibacterial agent that is most useful for infected burns and infections
due to skin grafts. At one of the last Chief Horse Management Judge's
seminars, Donald McLean reported that the latest research showed that for
the types of minor cuts or wounds that Pony Clubbers might encounter,
Furacin actually slowed healing in many cases. He recommended many
alternatives, the most common of which is a triple antibiotic ointment such
as Neosporin®. The topical agent needs to be enough to supply a team of 4
horses, so the little tube of triple antibiotic ointment in the human first
aid kit will probably not be a sufficient quantity to satisfy most horse
management judges. Practically speaking, in an emergency situation that you
might need triple antibiotic ointment for all 4 horses, one full tube would
probably do the trick. However, if you want to be sure not to lose any
horse management points, get 2-4 tubes and double check that they have a
current expiration date!

One last word on the subject, often people have "Corona®" ointment as their
topical antibacterial/antimicrobial/antibiotic agent. Corona® is labeled as
an "antiseptic" which as far as I can tell from the definition below, means
exactly the same as "antimicrobial".

"An antiseptic is a substance that kills or prevents the growth and
reproduction of various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa,
and viruses on the external surfaces of the body. The objective of
antiseptics is to reduce the possibility of sepsis or infection by germs.
Antibacterials have the same objective but only act against bacteria.
antibiotics perform a similar function, preventing the growth or
reproduction of bacteria within the body. Disinfectants operate on
nonliving objects such as medical instruments."
(excerpted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiseptic)

Despite the fact that antiseptic and antimicrobial are similar terms, you
may get into trouble with Corona® for two reasons. First, Corona® ointment
as far as I can tell doesn't have an expiration date (all medications are
required to have a current expiration date). Second, since it doesn't
specifically say "antibacterial, antimicrobial, or antibiotic" on the label,
many horse management judges have been told that it isn't acceptable. At
this point I just throw up my hands and call it a night.

Be antimicrobial,
Stormy

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Hello Stormy,

At a recent Everything But the Horse Rally, we had a question come up about
hay nets. In pony club, are hay nets and hay bags equal in terms of HM? I
know the HM Rulebook refers to hay nets, and says they prefer cotton to
synthetic, but can we use hay bags (they seem safer (in terms of horse's
getting stuck in the net) and tidier (less hay drops onto the ground).

Thanks!
Susan Ferreira, former DC, Devil Mountain PC


Hi Susan,

Great question! I haven't heard any official word from national about hay
nets vs. hay bags and there isn't any difference noted in the HM handbook so
here is how I handle it at rallies and at home. The HM handbook says that
hay nets must be hung so that even when empty, the lowest point is above the
point of the horse's shoulder. This is so the horse can't get a foot caught
in it. When properly hanging a hay net, the competitor should run the long
tie rope over what they are tying to, then down through the bottom of the
hay net, and then pull it together so the top and bottom are both at the top
and tie in a quick release knot. All of this is described in the USPC D
manual pages 179-180. Hay bags serve the same purpose, but since there is
only one large hole that the horse could possibly get caught in, it is much
safer than a hay net (and as you've noticed, less hay is wasted). I always
ask that competitors hang the hay bag so that the bottom of the hay opening
is above the point of the horse's shoulder. It also mentions in the D
manual that the hay net (or bag) shouldn't be tied to the same ring that the
horse is tied to. "If he should pull back and pull the ring loose, the hay
net would be attached to his halter rope and could scare him." When working
with trailers at a one day rally, often there is only one spot available to
tie both horse and hay. Practically speaking, when tied to a trailer, the
horse's breakaway halter or snap would break before they pull the trailer
apart so I'm not sure how valid that concern is.

Keep the hay in the bag,
Stormy

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Hi, I have a TB, 7 yrs old, gelding, he is an ex-racehorse who for the last
3 yrs has been trained (really well) for english pleasure/hunter/jumper. He
is great, he is also 16H and powerful.

He is and has been always on a snaffle bridle with a basic snaffle D ring or
full cheek, single jointed snaffle. He will pick up a trot, canter at the
word and sometimes needing a slight and I mean slight leg pressure (never
needs a kick or crop)....he is always willing...but sometimes a little too
willing.

Occassionally he will start to pull and little and when cantering,
especially to the left. With other horses in front of him, he will speed up
and continue to gain speed. I (37 yr old who has been riding most of my
life) can hold him and using my seat and some reins get him to control his
speed and bring him back, once in control he will continue usually at a good
pace.

On trail he has been wonderful, sound, sane, not spooky or unpredictable.
But again, occasionally like the other day, the trail ride was a little
windy, the clouds were coming in, the weather was changing and we took a
trail that ended up having a lot of things going on with it, dogs, runners,
joggers, bikes, etc...all of which he handled find with a soothing word or
two and leg and seat firm...but then he either saw something that the other
horses didn't or heard something, and he was all of the sudden, turning, and
trying to head home, he clearly was spooked and uneasy about it...so knowing
I can't fight nor should I try too, I brought him around and around circling
him, so he wouldn't rear up or buck or run, I talked to him and when he
started backing up and ears were just not listening to me and he was side
stepping, I gave him his head a little bit and allowed him to move forward
which was now in the direction of the barn....once I allowed that he kept
picking up and trying to start a fast trot and if I had given him any rein
it would have been a canter/run...I had to hold him respectively well the
entire ride home until he could see and hear the barn and whatever was
bothering him was long gone. I have a 10 yr old daughter who also rides him
and he is wonderful with her. He doesn't pull too much with her...but since
I know he can get racey and fast, being his nature, I don't want to punish
him for it certainly, but I want him to respect both us and when she pulls
back it has to get his attention.

I can play with the reins and alternate getting him playing with the bit and
his attention and then half halt him alternating reins to slow him, but I am
afraid my daughter might be too inexperienced to do that in an emergency or
occasion like the trail ride the other day.

So my question is, several people suggested that I get a kimberwick bit
staying with the single rein, just adding the curb chain to the snaffle for
additional brakes.

But my instructor said to try a simple snaffle slow twist, full check, so
that he is just going from a snaffle to a slow twist no other changes...this
way with light hands it shouldn't affect him unless we need too. What is
your suggestion?

Shauna via the Internet

Hello Shauna,

You gave a great description of the situation. The ideal solution is to
find something that gives you more control without adding more pain. It's a
double edged sword with a bit, because more control usually means more pain
for the horse, and more pain can stop them quickly or make the horse "lose
his mind" and bolt because of the pain.

The best way to control a horse, is to control his mind. As I'm sure you
know, this is done through quiet, consistent, and correct training. It
sounds like you are already able to achieve this with your current bit when
you are riding.

With all the Pony Club work that I do, I often see children that are
overmounted, or on horses that may be appropriate at home, but who are "an
accident waiting to happen" in new situations. It is not fair to the horse
or the budding rider to put them in these situations if you already have a
feeling that something might happen that the child can't handle, or can't
handle without a lot of hardware in the horse's mouth. A 10 year old on a 7
year old ex-racehorse doesn't sound like the best combination in
unpredictable situations. My first instinct is to keep her in calm,
supervised environment on your horse until her strength and skills are
strong enough that you don't worry about how she will handle the unexpected.

That said, you may also want to experiment with a kimberwick. The Uxeter
kimberwick will give you 3 different places to put the reins. You can put
them through the whole ring for the mildest snaffle effect, in the top slot
for a very slight curb effect, and the lower slot for more of a curb effect.
Personally, I don't like kimberwicks with jointed mouthpieces in most
situations. If the lower slots are being used along with direct reining,
the bit will collapse in the horse's mouth and the inside bit ring will put
pressure on the horse's face, often confusing them and leading to head
tossing. If your boy is tolerant (like it sounds he is), he probably
wouldn't object too much and you might find that the trade off between more
control and pain is worth your daughter's safety. You could also try an
Uxeter kimberwick with a low port unjointed mouthpiece. We often associate
unjointed bits with severe Western curbs, but a low port kimberwick is
actually milder than a jointed kimberwick, it won't collapse with direct
reining, and they both have curb chains.

If you are looking for another bit for yourself, I would suggest trying a
pelham with two reins. Two reins are usually too much for a 10 year old to
handle correctly, but for you, it would offer a way to have the option of
using a snaffle or mild curb depending on the situation. Again, if you are
direct reining with a jointed pelham's curb rein, the bit will collapse and
may confuse the horse. If you use the curb reins correctly though, just for
longitudinally rebalancing the horse (not laterally softening), you might
find it a very useful bit.

I would definitely not recommend any type of twisted mouthpiece, even a slow
twist. This style never gives the horse any relief. Even when you aren't
using the reins, it still pulls against the horse's lips. It may feel that
you have more control at first, but as the horse's bars, lips, and tongue
start to get deadened to the ridges on the bit, you'll end up with an
unresponsive horse.

Keep up the good training,
Stormy

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Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs!
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From Clair Spackman, DC Panache Pony Club

I recently bought a couple of books about Pilates. One I particularly like
is called "Pilates: Body in Motion" by Alycea Ungaro. As I was reading it
last night I thought that what it talks about really ties into the work you
do.

Here is a direct link to it on the amazon.com website:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789484005/qid=1113842129/sr=2-2/ref=
pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-2473026-3090516

The author talks about the need for focus and concentration, being detail
oriented, paying attention to what your body is saying etc. Also many of
the beginning exercises would I think be useful to riders. For example
there is one where you are lying on you back on the floor with one leg in
the air drawing a circle with your toe in the air while making sure that
your hip does not move off the floor. If not exactly similar to the
movements we make when riding, the thought process is very much the same as
for example having to try to move your outside leg back without your upper
body tipping forward etc. The exercises in this book are identical to those
that I am doing in the Pilates class that I do, although we do a few
non-Pilates variations too. Therefore this book would probably be one that
you could use at home even if you didn't have someone you were working with.

Interestingly enough Pilates called his method controlology i.e. being in
control of your body. As I think about it, you can not be in "control" of
your horse if you are not in control of you own body parts. Expecting
finessed movements from your horse requires finessed movements from the
rider and the ability to control your own balance and movements. Doing
Pilates exercises might be very useful to young riders who would have to
think about how they move their body without having to try and deal with the
movement of the horse.

Stormy's note: This book received 5 out of 5 stars in 34 online reviews,
looks like it's a winner!

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Fun and educational websites
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I'd like to offer a big welcome to Sport Pony Magazine, an online magazine
based in Canada. Stay tuned for some of the Horse Management Newsletter
articles to show up in this magazine!

http://www.sportponycanada.com/magazine

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The second listing isn't a website, but for those of you in the United
States Pony Club organization, be sure to look at your Spring 2005 issue of
USPC news. There are fantastic articles in there about botulism, rabies,
tetanus, feeding the boarded horse, and equine insurance.

************************************************

Tack of the Day is a cute division of the Bit Of Britain tack company.
Every day during the week they put up a new item at noon at substantial
discount. The best part though are their hilarious descriptions of the
items. The current item for this weekend (available through Monday, May 2nd
at 11:59am Eastern time) are Sigma Competition Full Seat Breeches... only
$44.00!

Log on quick at: www.tackoftheday.com

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Featured rule: Footwear, mounted and unmounted
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2002 Horse Management Handbook page 32 section 21 B: Footwear while
unmounted

When unmounted, acceptable footwear is a shoe that is securely fastened,
entirely closed, covers the ankle, thick-soled and in good condition.
Totally canvas or cloth shoes of any kind are not allowed. A sturdy leather
shoe or boot is recommended.

2002 Horse Management Handbook page 33 section 22 C: Footwear while mounted

While riding, a conventional type of riding footwear with a heel, such as
leather or rubber or rubber riding boots, jodhpur boots, or the equivalent,
is required. "Waffle" type soles are not allowed.

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Free item exchange
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**FREE**FREE**FREE**

Submit your free horse-related items or services here. If you or your club
has items they are willing to pass along to a new family, this is a great
place to list them. Listings can come from any part of the country, or even
overseas!

Free items may include but are not limited to:

riding clothes
rally equipment
horse-related games and toys
tack and training equipment
blankets, wraps, halters
books or magazines
horse-related artwork
and of course...horses and ponies!

The recipient may be expected to handle any shipping costs.

Please provide a phone and/or email contact with each listing. Items will
be listed in the next HM Newsletter and will not be renewed unless an
additional email is sent asking for the listing to be continued.

So...clean out your tackroom and make room for more stuff!

To submit your items, simply reply to this email or write to:
stormy@... .

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Call for submissions
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Help make this newsletter the best it can be. Do you have any issues you'd
like to see addressed here? How about ideas for recommended products, books,
or videos? Want to submit your own article, or a question for the questions
and answers section? Send them to: stormy@... and I'll keep a log
of topics and articles for upcoming issues.

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Answers to the medical terminology quiz:

rhinopneumonitis: an inflammation of the lungs, nose, and air passages

encephalomyelitis: an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord

laminitis: an inflammation of the laminae

arthritis: the inflammation of a joint

melanoma: a black, benign tumor (commonly found under the tails of grey
horses)

anemia: a condition of having not enough blood (or blood that doesn't carry
nutrients properly)

enterolith: a stone in the intestines

arteritis: an inflammation of the blood vessels (a symptom of EVA is swollen
legs because the horse's blood vessels aren't functioning properly to return
fluids to the heart)

opthalmia: a diseased condition of the eye

atrophy: a condition of not having enough nourishment (a term usually used
when talking about muscles, when they lack nourishment they get smaller, or
"atrophy".)