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Spring 2007 Newsletter
I am sitting here at my computer waiting for Kayte to foal. Thank goodness for video baby monitors. I’m not quite trusting that winter is really over but certainly signs of spring are here. Spring 2007 in Colorado came all at once along with the start of a new show and roping season, the wind, softball, the mosquitoes, and yes…the babies!
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and biting flies. It causes fatal anemia (destruction of red blood cells) in horses. It is very rare due to very stringent monitoring and control policies by the federal and state governments. This disease is what we test for when we run a Coggins test. Many barns, shows, etc require this test and it is required for transport across state lines (along with a health certificate). Some states require that this test be run within 12 months of entry, other states require 6 months. Please be prepared when you go traveling! EIA has been detected recently in Colorado so some venues may be updating their entry protocol.
It is time for spring vaccinations. Every horse’s situation and exposure is different and it is my practice philosophy to recommend a thoughtful individual protocol to you. Please call to schedule your spring vaccinations or for advice.
For those of you who have not made it out to the farm, please remember that we offer short and long term boarding, have ample facilities for clinics of most disciplines and love to see appointments here at home. We also have a breeding shed and are able to manage and house stallions. Dr. Richard Wheeler will be managing the breeding programs here at the farm. Dr. Wheeler is well versed in stallion and mare management and very proficient in breeding with frozen semen and performing embryo transfers (collections and implantations). Dr. Wheeler can be reached at 970-227-2320.
Monica Mills is still working here at the farm with me and will be joining me on the road periodically as well. She has been a great asset to the team here and has handled many projects already for me. Monica also gives beginner lessons on her quarter horse, Tubby, is interested in giving clinics to others on their own horses, and is involved in the local 4-H club.
Please remember to update your contact information if necessary. I also LOVE to have folks’ email addresses to keep in closer contact and increase efficiency in the office.
I appreciate your loyalty and continued trust.
Sincerely,
Kerri Belsito, DVM
Physical Fitness for Horses and Riders
Kerri Belsito, DVM
Berthoud, COAfter a long hard winter I bet we all are looking forward to resuming a more productive training schedule for ourselves and our horses!
Fitness can be broken down into three main categories: Musculo-skeletal; cardiovascular; and mental. Those of us lucky enough to have attended the awards banquet in January had a crash course by Dr. Margot Nacey in how to manage our own mental health. Keeping that pony of yours happy is essential to your relationship and performance as well.
When designing a fitness program, the first hurdle is to lay out some reasonable goals. You must assess the current fitness level, any limitations or risk factors and plan a healthy path towards meeting those goals. Also remember that the physical and mental fitness of a horse and rider team is a directly affective relationship. In other words, own at least YOUR human half of the team dynamic. The most common obstacles to obtaining your goals include your time and/or commitment level, your environment, or a mentally or physically unhappy team member.
Let’s assume that all of those reading this article are interested in getting their horse fit for eventing. It is important to realize that because of the three phases of this sport, event horses and riders are the ultimate athletes The tasks involved require that both anaerobic and aerobic capacity are optimized: The musculo-skeletal system must be able to handle both well. Different muscle fibers do different jobs and this is why conditioning protocol is so critical. This is also why some breeds/builds of horses are just simply better suited to higher level eventing.
The muscle’s response to exercise will needs to be understood and evaluated as a pillar of your training program. The number of muscle fibers per muscle and per individual is constant in adults. The changes in muscle size (positive or negative) are a result of a difference in size of individual fibers and the metabolic capacity of the fibers. So agree or disagree, this is a main reason why a thoroughbred or quarter horse is pushed at an early age. The maximization of number of muscle fibers may directly affect that horse’s athletic career.
Eventing is like a long distance sprint…our goal is to maximize both anaerobic and aerobic mechanisms and all 3 types of muscle fibers: slow oxidative fibers for long duration low intensity function (stamina for those canters and trots); fast oxidative muscle fibers for medium duration and medium intensity function (strength for those canters/trots/hills); and fast glycolytic fibers for the anaerobic function (strength for sprint/intense jumping). Do not overlook that recovery time for skeletal muscle can be up to 48 hours. When designing a training program remember to not use the same muscles intensely every day (i.e.-schooling collection, high intensity interval training or jumping every day). If the muscles are not given enough time to recuperate, there is actually a negative effect on size, strength and overall function, not to mention the risk of injury or severe muscle damage.
I love this quote from Mark Todd.
“One thing that you must never underestimate is the part that schooling on the flat plays in the fitness program of an event horse. I like to spend between 20 and 30 minutes schooling in basic dressage with a few simple jumping exercises included. Additionally, I prefer to incorporate a hack with a varied degree of trotting and hill work depending on where I am in my training with a particular horse. If you cannot school your horse often, your time hacking needs to be more demanding, so it may incorporate longer trotting periods, more hill work, extended cantering, etc.
I typically do not work my horses for more than 1.5 hours in any given day. If I am looking to make the workout more intense, I will have them trot most of that time or they can do more hill work. Typically, the actual speed and endurance test does not take much longer than 1.5 hours so I don’t think there is any point in hacking your horse for hours on end. The combination of schooling and hacking is essential for building up strength and balance.
I should also mention that I like to vary the horses’ routines so that they do not think that a hack always precedes their schooling. Some days, I take them straight to the schooling exercises, just as if they were at a competition. Additionally, I try to vary the timing of my schooling so that all of my horses are used to working in the morning, midday and afternoon. Given that a competition may have you riding at various times, if your horse is used to being worked only in the morning, he may become resistant or upset if he is suddenly asked to work in the afternoon.
The key with this and all training is to establish a goal, create a schedule and work to this schedule with minor adjustments as needed. Training is a process and for both you and your horse, the combination of schooling and hacking provide a great resource to develop physically and mentally over different terrain, through various types of weather and with different stimuli present.”If your goal is to create a lasting and positive partnership with your horse, take Mark Todd’s quote to heart. Enjoy the spring and get you and your horse to ‘the gym’!
Sincerely,
Kerri Belsito, DVMOur Misson | The Practice | Boarding | Newsletter and Seminars | Products | Directions
970-215-6856 phone . 970-532-2442 fax
kbelsito@aol.com