Equine Psychotherapy:

Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) or Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) is the use of equines to treat human psychological problems in and around an equestrian facility

Benefits of Equine Psychotherapy:

• Respect for self and others
• Improved communication and social skills
• Boundary setting
• Empathy towards others
• Self control and confidence
• Responsibility and accountability
• Problem solving and cooperation
• Honesty and trust

Overcoming challenges in a non threatening atmosphere
Horses provide an excellent way for students to experience the open air. 
Equine therapy provides students with skills of patience, self-confidence, trust, and compassion. Horses typically weigh anywhere between 800-2500 pounds. Learning to trust such large and often intimidating animals requires patience, skill, and confidence. It is important to distinguish between horse riding and equine-psychotherapy.

Hippotherapy

• The word hippotherapy is derived from the Greek hippos meaning horse. Hippotherapy is therefore treatment or therapy that is aided by a horse.
• Throughout history horses have been used in many ways to help improve our quality of life. They have been essential for farming, battles, transport, entertainment, sports, herding animals and police work amongst many other uses. 
• Their versatility and ability to be easily trained have made horses an important part of many cultures throughout history. 
• Horses have recently played an important part in therapy and have been proven useful therapeutic aids to the therapist.
• Hippotherapy in its purest form is carried out by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapists. 
• It is based on a classic German model of practice used since the 1960s. 
• Therapists need to have had the relevant training and hold a certificate of clinical competence (SLP/CCC) if they are using the classical method as this involves the movement of the horse to influence the client.
• Hippotherapy can therefore be described as the use of the movement of the horse as a treatment strategy to address impairments, functional limitations and disabilities in children with neuromotor and sensory dysfunction. 
• Carefully graded motor and sensory input is provided to achieve treatment goals. 
• It can then be generalised to a wide range of daily activities. 
• Hippotherapy may also be used with adults, but it is more commonly started at an early age where the therapeutic effects and results are more immediate.

Therapeutic horseback riding

Therapeutic riding is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with special needs. 
Therapeutic riding provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport and recreation & leisure. Throughout the world, there are thousands of individuals with special needs who experience the rewarding benefits of horseback riding. 
A disability does not have to limit a person from riding horses. In fact, experiencing the motion of a horse can be very therapeutic. Because horseback riding rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.
 In addition to the therapeutic benefits, horseback riding also provides recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors.

At Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) centers, professional staff and volunteers work closely with riders to ensure safe riding sessions. A new rider is generality assisted by two sidewalkers who walk alongside the horse, as well as a horse leader. Riding classes are taught by an instructor who has a strong equine background, as well as an understanding of various disabilities.

PATH Intl. offers three levels of certification for therapeutic riding instructors: Registered, Advanced and Master
Therapeutic riding is used by disabled individuals who ride horses to relax, and to develop muscle tone, coordination, confidence, and well-being.

Therapeutic horseback riding is considered recreational therapy where an individual is taught by a non-therapist riding instructor how to actively control a horse while riding. 
It is used as exercise to improve sensory and motor skills for coordination, balance, and posture.

Most research has focused on physical benefit of therapeutic work with horses, with the most rigorous studies being subject to systematic review since about 2007. Claims made as to the efficacy of equine therapies for mental health purposes have been criticized as lacking proper medical evidence due in large part to poor study design and lack of quantitative data. 
Ethical questions relating to its expense and its continued promotion have been raised in light of this lack of evidence. 
While such therapies do not appear to cause harm, it has been recommended they not be used as a mental treatment at this time unless future evidence shows a benefit for treating specific disorders.

Equine Navel Ill

Equine Navel Ill

Equine Navel Ill, is a deadly equine disease which strikes new born foals from birth to about four months of age.  Navel ill damage is done just after birth, when the umbilical cord has yet to dry and is therefore vulnerable to the invasion of bugs which enter the blood stream via the umbilical stump.   These bugs cause navel ill and lead to equine liver, lung and kidney damage as well as equine septicaemia which targets joints and is known as equine joint-ill. Equine lameness could result from navel ill.

Navel Ill ,or omphalophlebitis - a collective name for any infection of the equine umbilical stump,  is a horrible equine disease causing a huge health risk to new born foals from birth to about four months old.  
Navel ill is highly dangerous to foals whose immune systems are not strong enough to fight organisms not previously encountered.  It is vital to be vigilant in mare and foal management.  If your foal is born in a clean environment, it will not get equine navel ill.  The best place for a foal to be born and avoid the possibility of equine navel ill, is on a clean, grassy pasture uncontaminated by other horses. Failing that, good equine stable management is your best weapon in the war against equine navel ill.


Symptoms 
A swollen, painful navel which does not dry 
An abscess may develop from which pus may ooze
A high temperature


Causes 

• Lack of cleanliness during foaling causes equine navel ill. 
• Prevention his desirable but none more so than equine Navel Ill.
• Make sure your equine friend’s stall is clean fresh and disinfected before foaling.     
• Replace wet bedding with fresh, dry bedding to ensure the foal is not exposed to environmental bacteria causing navel ill.  
• Ensure enough colostrum is taken in by the foal in the first few hours of nursing. 
• Colostrum is the first line of defence against navel ill providing all necessary elements to fight equine navel ill.   
• If the foal is not up and nursing within three to six hours, call the vet otherwise the digestive tract is exposed to bacteria and equine navel ill. 
• Some owners like to dip their foal’s navel in a form of disinfectant.   
• Check this with your vet first as type of product and correct dilution ratios are very important. Chlorhexidine, seems to be the most highly respected solution.

Treatment 
Have the foal seen to by the vet immediately you suspect equine navel ill.  Treatment will involve large doses of powerful equine antibiotics.  Admission to a dedicated equine hospital is the best course of action. Treatment may be long-term and joint lavage may also be required.  You must move quickly to get treatment for equine navel ill.
CLEANLINESS – the terminator of equine navel ill.

joint ill

Joint ill usually occurs in foals, although it may occur in horses of any age. Joint ill takes several forms, all of them septic in nature since they are evidenced by a break down of tissues in the area leading to sepsis which is a toxic condition resulting from the spread of bacteria and toxic products from an infection.

These conditiions include septic arthritis, septic synovitis, septic physitis, and septic bursitis based on where the infection if localized. Acute heat, swelling, and lameness in or around a joint or tendon sheath is the earliest indication of this infection.

Symptoms

Fever
Swelling
Lameness
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Sleepiness
Causes

Joint ill begins when bacteria enter the bloodstream and invade the bone or synovial membranes of the joint.

Any type of neonatal infection causing septicemia can cause joint ill and most cases in foals are the result of a navel infection. Bacteria gain entrance through the digestive or respiratory tracts. Often, the first indication of the disease is lameness, accompanied by hot, swollen joints and fever.

Prevention

Careful treatment of the navel of the newly-born foal is one of the best methods of preventing infections that lead to joint ill. With weanlings and older horses, good sanitation, along with prompt and thorough response to any bacterial or viral infections affecting the digestive or respiratory tracts, will help prevent joint ill.

Treatment

Treatment of joint ill should begin as soon as the infection is discovered. Massive doses of antibiotics for at least three weeks are often advised by veterinarians.

Joints with septic infections usually need to be irrigated, and at times it is necessary to open the joint to remove pus and debris. A suction drain is inserted and the leg is immobilized.

Stall rest and physical therapy are important for a successful outcome. Because of the seriousness of joint ills, a veterinarian should be consulted and treatments prescribed as early as possible.

CORNS IN Horses

Corns
Bruise of the sole at the back of the hoof at the angle between the wall and the bars
Improper shoeing or poor hoof trimming A “corn” is most common in the forefeet on the inner buttress and can be caused by 

Corns are described as dry (only mild bruising), moist (serous exudate present), or suppurative (infected or abscessed). Bruising may be associated with lameness, depending on the severity. When the foot is raised and the solar surface freed of dirt and loose horn, a discoloration, either red or reddish yellow, may be noted. Pressure on the affected area with hoof testers usually causes varying degrees of discomfort, again depending on the severity of the lesion.

CAUSES

- Yellow or red discoloration of the sole, usually on the front feet 

- Possible lameness 

- Soreness of the area when using a hoof tester

- Area of corn may become abscessed

TREATMENT

- Consult your veterinarian

- Corrective trimming 

- Shoeing to protect and transfer weight from the bruised area 

- Draining of the area if there is an abscess

PREVENTION 

- Proper hoof trimming and shoeing

Navicular Syndrome

Navicular Syndrome

Inflammation and degeneration of the navicular bone and surrounding tissues. 
Navicular disease is one of the most common causes of chronic forelimb lameness in the athletic horse but is essentially unknown in ponies and donkeys
This disease begins with inflammation and gradually results in deterioration of the bony tissue of the navicular bone.

CAUSES

- Genetics and poor conformation 

- Improper nutrition 

- Continual impact of the toe on hard surfaces

SIGNS

- Intermittent lameness that tends to get worse over time 

- Toe will become worn as it hits the ground before the heel 

- Usually affects front feet

TREATMENT

- Consult your veterinarian

- Proper trimming and shoeing 

- Medications to increase circulation and decrease pain 

- Surgery may be necessary

PREVENTIONS

- Proper breeding 

- Proper shoeing 

- Adequate exercise, avoiding athletic stress

Cracks

Cracks

Symptoms:
A crack in the hoof wall originating at the coronary band is known as a quarter crack when it occurs on the side--or quarters--of the hoof. Toe cracks may also occur, but are less common. These cracks typically begin on the inside of the hoof, where they are not visible, and become obvious when the crack reaches the surface of the hoof wall. Affected horses will not always be lame, but if the area becomes infected, it can cause severe pain.

Causes:
Cracks can be caused by trauma to the coronary band or heavy concussion, such as work on hard surfaces. Horses with weak or thin hoof walls are more prone to quarter cracks. Poor hoof conformation or an improper trim—especially long toes and underrun heels--can also lead to cracks. Quarter cracks can affect any breed of horse in any sport, but tend to be more common in race horses.

Treatment:
If the hoof is infected, your vet will open the crack to disinfect the area and remove any dead tissue, if necessary. In some cases, the vet will repair the crack using screws, staples, or wire lacing. The horse will usually require special shoeing to relieve pressure while the crack heals and begins to grow out. In most cases, your vet will cover the crack with an acrylic patch to reinforce the repair.

Abscess in horses

Abscess

Symptoms:
Abscesses in the hoof are typically characterized by sudden-onset, severe lameness. In some cases, the horse may refuse to put any weight at all on the affected hoof. The horse will be sensitive in the area of the abscess and may have an increased digital pulse and swelling in the lower leg.

A vet or farrier can pare away the hoof to reveal and drain the abscess, confirming the diagnosis. If left untreated, the abscess may erupt on its own through the sole of the hoof or at the coronary band.

Causes:
A hoof abscess is a pocket of infection in the lamina. It can start with a puncture wound caused by the horse stepping on a sharp object in the barn aisle, or a misplaced horse shoe nail. The hole allows bacteria to enter the hoof, where it thrives in the warm, dark environment. While the bacteria eat away at the hoof tissue, the horse's immune system attacks. The resulting pocket of bacteria, white blood cells, and dead hoof tissue puts pressure on the sensitive structures of the horse's hoof, causing the pain response.

Treatment:
Once the vet has located and drained the abscess, the key is to keep the area clean to avoid reinfection. The hoof should be soaked in a solution of Epsom salts in warm water to help draw out any remaining infection. The hoof should be kept bandaged until it has healed. A vet may suggest an anti-inflammatory, such as Bute, to manage the horse's pain. The recovery period is typically no more than a week to ten days, but this can vary widely depending on the severity of the abscess and the owner's ability to prevent reinfection.

Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (EGE)

Etiology
Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (EGE), also called Potomac Horse Fever, is caused by the rickettsial agent Anaplasma phagocytophila. The organism is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacterium that replicates in the cytoplasmic vacuoles of host cells, particularly granulocytes and monocytes, to form microcolonies called morulae.
Species affected
A. phagocytophila has a wide host range; naturally occurring infections have been recorded in horses, burros, dogs, llamas, and rodents. Humans have also been found to be susceptible to A. phagocytophila infections.
Geographic distribution
A. phagocytophila frequently infects horses in the foothills of northern California. Other states with confirmed clinical infections include Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Cases have also been confirmed in British Columbia, Great Britain, South America, and Sweden.
Transmission
EGE is a blood-borne infection transmitted by bites from ticks in the family Ixodiae. Infections can also be transmitted by blood transfusions in humans. Mechanical transmission by biting insects has been suggested as a possible means of spread. Incubation period The incubation period is 1-14 days in horses and 7-10 days in humans.
Clinical signs
Severity of signs varies with age of the animal and duration of the illness, becoming more severe over several days. Horses: Less than a year old, fever may be the only clinical sign. One to three year olds develop fever, depression, mild limb edema, and ataxia. Adults exhibit the characteristic signs of fever, partial anorexia, depression, reluctance to move, limb edema, petechiation, and icterus.
Zoonotic potential
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is zoonotic and causes human granulocytic erhlichiosis (HGE). HGE is a generalized disease ranging from mild nonspecific symptoms to severe and possibly fatal hematological disorders. Gastrointestinal signs are common and may be combined with photophobia, conjunctivitis, joint pain, coughing, and confusion.


Prevention and control
Horses that live in areas with Ixodes tick populations should be checked frequently for ticks. If found, ticks should be promptly removed with gloved hands. Human tick bites should be thoroughly disinfected after removal of the tick, and hands should be washed with soap and water. It is important to control tick populations in horse habitats to prevent infection.


Sources
•Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University Ehrlichiosis fact sheet http://www.cfsph. iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/ehrlichiosis.pdf
• Merck Veterinary Manual http://www.merckvetmanual. com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/52700.htm
• Franzen P. et al. Death of a horse infected experimentally with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The Veterinary Record.27 January 2007. http://veterinaryrecord. bvapublications.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/cgi/ reprint/160/4/122?view=long&pmid=17259454

Brucellosis in horses

Brucellosis occasionally occurs in horses. The bacteria usually localizes in muscles, tendons and joints, though it is most commonly seen in cases of infected withers in horses.
Drainage from areas infected with this organism contains high numbers of bacteria and is very infectious.
Brucellosis can cause abortion in mares, so transmission is possible for veterinarians handling fetal membranes.
Fistulous withers and poll evil are rare, inflammatory conditions of horses that differ essentially only in their location.
In fistulous withers the sinus is located on the withers and the symptoms are severe inflammation, swelling and pain on manipulation.
Because the exact nature of the infection in many of these cases is known only after obtaining culture results, veterinarians are urged to be cautious and to observe good protective technique when dealing with such cases.
Brucellosis can affect sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, horses, and dogs.
Brucellosis can also affect rats and wild animals including deer, bison, elk, moose, camels, water buffalo, and marine mammals.
People can become infected by eating or drinking (oral) raw milk or unpasteurized milk products that contain the Brucella bacteria.
Direct contact or aerosol exposure to infected animal fluids are additional ways to be infected.
People who work with animals (e.g., livestock producers, veterinarians) may be at higher risk of exposure to Brucella.
Infection in people causes flu-like signs (fever, night sweats, headaches, back pain).
Arthritis (joint pain) and re-occurring fevers may occur with long term infection.
Rarely, cases of brucellosis can involve the nervous system, eyes, or heart.
As the disease progresses one or more openings discharge pus with necrosis affecting the deep seated tissues and spine.
Brucella can survive for months in the environment under optimum conditions but can be destroyed by heat and some disinfectants.
Do not eat or drink raw milk or unpasteurized dairy products.
 Wear protective clothing (gloves, masks) when handling reproductive tissues (assisting delivery of newborn animals). Always wash your hands after touching animals.

Cryptorchidism in horses

Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testes to descend into a normal scrotal position from the abdominal cavity after birth.

Horses with one descended testicle are usually fertile, while horses with both undescended testicle are generally sterile. The testes may be retained anywhere from the abdomen to the inguinal canal, the normal passage route into the scrotum.

Three different forms of cryptorchidism are observed in horses: under the skin in the inguinal area, in the inguinal canal and in the abdomen. In bilateral cryptorchids, most of the time both testes are abdominal.
Cryptorchidism may not be apparent at birth, as the testes do not drop from the abdominal space, through the inguinal canal and ring and into the scrotum – where they remain – until after birth. The time it takes before both testes have descended varies from horse to horse but both testes should be in the scrotum by two years of age. In all cases of one undescended testicle, the stallion will still be able to produce normal amounts of testosterone. Usually, the undescended testicle is much smaller than the descended one.

Symptoms and Types

Bilateral cryptorchids/Complete rig

Both testicles remain in the abdomen
Physically appears as a gelding (testes cannot be palpated)
Infertility
Stallion-like behavior

Unilateral cryptorchids

One testicle remains in abdomen
Will still be fertile from the one descended testicle


Causes

Cryptorchidism can be due to hereditary or developmental issues, whereby the testicles fail to drop into the scrotum after birth.

 Treatment

There is only one method of treatment for cryptorchidism in horses — surgical removal of both testes. This is to prevent the trait from being passed on to offspring. In cases where the undescended testicle is low in the abdomen, the castration can be performed on the farm and is generally uncomplicated. If both testicles have been retained and are high in the abdomen, your horse may require more complicated surgery and will be referred to an equine surgical facilit

Interference in horses

 Forging is a common fault in horses working in fast tempo in any of the three gaits. It usually refers to a hind leg hitting (catching) the front leg of the same side. At the walk it is commonly referred to as over reaching, which in most cases involves the hind toe of the shoe striking the front toe of the shoe, hence you can hear it; rarely the horse grabs the heel part of the front shoe at the walk. During forging, the wounds, which some call the "treads", are caused mainly to the lower part of the front leg by the over reaching hind leg. 

“Brushing” refers to contact between opposite (right and left) fore or hind limbs. This most commonly takes place in the lower limb, pastern or fetlock and rarely above the fetlock. Brushing happens as a consequence of a lateral gait deficit, meaning something affecting side-to-side movement of the limbs in flight

“Over-reaching” or “grabbing” is a type of forging in which the toe of the hind foot contacts the lower forelimb on the same side, usually causing a heel bulb wound or catching the heel of the shoe.

“Scalping” refers to contact with the coronet band,  “speedicutting” refers to a strike to the fetlock area, “shin hitting” to the cannon area and “hock hitting’ to the hock region.