The Remarkable Work of Vaccinations By Duane Chappell, D.V.M., Merck Animal Health Your horse’s immune system does extraordinary and complex work, but even this intricate defense mechanism can’t go it alone. Vaccination has proven to be an extremely effective and safe way to provide a targeted boost to the immune system to help safeguard horses against deadly infectious diseases. Preventing disease through proper vaccination is far safer, easier and more economical than treating the disease after the horse is already sick. Many diseases that horses encounter are preventable and vaccination is solid insurance, not to mention an important biosecurity measure to help prevent mass outbreak of disease. In addition, some…

Thanks to new Pony Club Pizza blog sponsor, Blue Bridle Insurance we now have a series explaining Horse Insurance. Colic is the # 1 cause of death for horses age 1 to 20. It is some consolation to know that Mortality insurance policies include Emergency Colic Surgery Expense coverage at no extra charge. The limits and conditions included in the policy vary depending on the insurance carrier so this may be something for you to consider when making your selection. Limits range from $3,000 to $5,000. Some limits are capped at the agreed value of the horse that is insured or some pay a percentage of the insured value, whichever…

Sometimes our membership shares wonderful stories. In this case its a poem written to a horse who greatly impacted many people. Read on about Clive aka Cruising Altitude who sadly crossed the rainbow bridge on July 6th. Ode to Clive aka Cruising Altitude July 21,1996-July 6,2017 I Had an Irish Horse By Alecia Haselton To all Irish horses wherever you be You’re God’s gift to mankind I’m so thankful for thee To all Irish horses The breed it is blessed (say “blest”) They have a great heart And their minds are the best I look forward to Heaven If ever I’m there I’ll ride an Irish horse It will be…

When it Comes to EPM Not Just Any Treatment Will Do Brought to you by Merck Animal Health Stumbling. Weakness and muscle atrophy in the hind end. Behavioral changes. Lameness. Any of these could be a sign your horse has equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). It can have devastating effects on a horse’s ability to perform. A progressive and potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system, EPM is caused by a single-celled protozoal microorganism, most commonly Sarcocystis neurona (S. neurona), and is primarily transmitted by opossums through their feces. EPM is one of the most common neurological diseases of horses in North America. Researchers estimate that approximately 30 to 80%…

Keys to Effectively Deworming Your Horse Brought to you by Merck Animal Health Gone are the days when you just grabbed a tube of whichever dewormer was on sale. We know now that the most effective deworming program involves treating the right horse at the right time for the right parasites. The key is to work with your veterinarian to conduct fecal tests to determine your horse’s shedding status (how much and of which parasites he is shedding), then customize the deworming protocol. Low egg shedders typically require only two dewormings a year, whereas high shedders may require up to six treatments. Horses that spend most of their time in…

Practical Biosecurity Measures at Home and Away Brought to you by Merck Animal Health The best way to protect your horse from infectious disease is to keep his vaccinations up to date while implementing management practices that reduce his exposure to pathogens at home and away. An understanding of the principles of biosecurity will go a long way in preserving your horse’s health and your time in the saddle this summer. Horse traffic Environments such as a show or event where many animals and people are moving freely around the facility, interacting with numerous people, animals and objects, are at increased risk for infectious disease outbreaks. Whether you’re home or…