Two weeks ago, I asked readers for their input on remodelling their way of thinking to make things better for them and their horse. Deanna wrote:

Hi Kristi,
With regards to your editorial, something I have found that works real well, both with the horse and the rider, is to tell them to just ignore the problem. As in, pretend the boogie man isn't there, just ignore the reaction of the horse, and ride him through it. I find if we don't make a big deal out of something, then most of the time the horse quits because he can't get a reaction from the rider (sounds like a kid to me!!!!), and it also helps the rider because they focus on something else (like picking up a rein, asking for their face, etc). Before long both the rider and horse have forgotten the problem area, and are concentrating on the softening of both of their bodies-because they are learning to relax. Hope this helps.
Deanna

Deanna is absolutely right about this. By not reacting to the horse, you can solve a similar problem that may have several different causes. If the horse is reacting out of fear, not reacting can build their confidence that not only is it NOT really a boogie man, but also that the rider will not punish them in any way for reacting. However, if perhaps the horse is a little spoiled, and has learned that his rider will be upset if he spooks, then by not reacting, you eliminate the response he was looking for.

Photo credit: Chris Hassell

I also found that by changing the way I approached the ride, I could better control my reactions to my mare. As I mentioned last week, on one day after work, I went out to ride planning to catch a later ferry than usual - that way I wouldn’t be rushed. We had a good ride, cooled out, raked the arena, and still made the same ferry as I usually catch without rushing her or me.

The following ride day, I had a bad headache and my back was seized up tight. Rather than ride when I was feeling edgy to begin with, I recognized my discomfort and instead took her into the arena for a walk. I loaded my pockets with horse cookies and just spent some time playing with her. We did some trotting in hand, crossing rails, lunged a bit, fed her some cookies and just generally goofed off. She got to get out of her stall, with no pressure to perform, and I got to spend some quality time with my horse - who could ask for a better day!

Sometimes by ignoring the issue, or removing it altogether, you end up with a far better day than you had anticipated! Thanks again, Deanna, for your helpful response.

‘Til next week,
~ Kristi :)

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Many horses develop a bad attitude at feeding time. This can range from a mild laying back of ears as you approach with the grain bucket, to kicking at the stall walls or other horses, to charging the person bringing the food.

These horses - sweet as they may be at other times - are dangerous. It’s that simple. Sooner or later, someone is going to get hurt. It might be another horse, or themselves, or even you.

For starters, consider rearranging your feed schedule. Horses should have roughage in their gut before the grain goes in anyway, so if at all possible, feed them hay first. This can help to take the edge off their hunger, making them perhaps a little more mannerly than if they were waiting for grain first. We actually found this simple switch eliminated almost all of the stall door banging that used to happen in the barn where I worked.

The punishment or discipline should fit the crime as best as possible. For the horse that lays his ears back at feeding time, a simple “Hey!” often perks the ears forward. Then simply withhold the feed until the ears have popped forward. The deaf stallion that boarded at our place couldn’t hear the verbal reprimand, so I just held the bucket out of reach and wouldn’t pour the grain into the trough until he popped his ears forward - even for just a second at first, until he got the idea.

Horses tend to test limits with you from time to time the same as they do in their herd pecking order, so be prepared from time to time to get after a horse that normally behaves quite well. My filly, at a little over a year of age, decided that she could walk practically on top of me when following me to her grain bucket. A few well placed kicks in the chest - mimicking exactly what an older horse would have done to her if she had crowded their heels - took care of that behaviour. I was careful not to hit her in the legs, and didn’t hurt or scare her in any way, I just showed her with my actions that I would not allow her to crowd me.

Soon after that, she tried testing me again. Instead of crowding behind me, she would meet me at the feed bucket from the other side, and try to shove her head in the bucket as I poured her grain in. This behaviour was not dangerous in itself, but could lead to more agressive acts on her part. I dealt with her by making her back away from the feed bucket and insisting she wait a moment before she was allowed to eat. Now she quietly waits for me about five feet from the bucket. Once I have patted her chest and stroked her side as I walk away, then - and only then - does she approach the feed bucket.

All I had to do was be firm with her by using a combination of my body languange, voice, and a few physical cues such as pushing her backwards away from the bucket. That’s all it took to prevent this filly from becoming unruly at feeding time.

More next week - the more dangerous feed time behaviours and ways to help eliminate them.

If you have comments or suggestions along the way, please share with me at kristi@hiway16.com

Uh-oh, a droopy lethargic horse, slight nasal secretions, temperature is slightly elevated... darn it, your horse must have picked up an influenza or even rhinopneumonitis somewhere. Wait - not to soon to judge - he may have contracted strangles!

Strangles is an upper respiratory that strikes fear into many horse owners hearts. While most cases resolve well on their own, there is a risk of complication, and even death, that makes us far more leery of strangles than an average flu.

Strangles is not any more infectious in terms of transmissibility - in fact, unlike most respiratory illnesses it is not carried much by airborne means - but everything else is fair game for the contagious bacteria. Mucus from an infected horse, contaminated buckets, even the soil and bedding from the infected horse’s area can be carried from horse to horse - including on your hands or clothes or boots or even by flies. Strangles can also live in the soil for an indeterminate amount of time (some say 3-4 months, some say 2-4 years, some say forever).

The characteristic that generally indicates strangles is the swelling in the lymph nodes of the lower jaw. A hard, hot, painful lump will appear there, then finally it will rupture. Hot compresses can help to open the abscess earlier. Once fully drained, the horse starts on his road to recovery.

The name strangles was coined because when the lymph nodes in the throat area swell up so badly, the horse has trouble swallowing, and in some cases, their airway become blocked completely. Some may require a tracheotomy in order to breath. Horses with severe lymph swellings in the throat will extend their head and neck, tried to gasp for air, and may froth at the mouth. Feeding soaked feed (like complete feed pellets) if they will eat it is a good idea, as chewing and swallowing hay is very hard on their throats.

Antibiotics is generally not indicated in a routine case of strangles, as the disease seems best untreated other than externally. Keep the abscess area as clean from flies as possible - use SWAT (anti-fly wound cream) and if possible keep the horse indoors where it is easier to disinfect things.

Bastard strangles, which is thought to be caused by using antibiotics but can happen without them too, occurs when the strangles virus travels the lymph node system. It then settles in different nodes and causes them to abscess as well as or instead of the standard under the jaw location. Abscesses can come up on the cheek, above the eyes, on the shoulders, along the belly, and even in the lungs. All but the last of these are external, and once drained seem to heal well. Internal abscesses do not have a good prognosis and will need to be treated aggressively by a veterinarian.

Pupura hemmhoragica, which is rare, can also come from a case of strangles. The legs and lower belly and chest start to show edema, slight inner hemmhorage filling the lower regions. When the swelling reaches its peak, the heat of it will often blister the legs and the horse will slough the skin (some never regain the hair). Many purpura hemmhoragica cases do not survive.

In the next couple of weeks I’ll share with you some of the material I collected from various people’s personal experiences with strangles, and then some websites with information on the disease. If you have information to share, please email me at kristi@hiway16.com

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