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Posts Tagged ‘equine’

Cushings disease occurs in horses, dogs and even people. However, the symptoms are different, depending on the species. In horses it results in increased hair growth (longer, thicker, curly) whereas in dogs it results in hair loss and even bald spots. The horse version of this illness is called ECD (Equine Cushings Disease).

As a horse ages, there is an increasing tendency for the pituitary gland to develop tumors or to grow too large, resulting in it producing more hormones. This in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce additional steroids and when the level of steroids becomes excessive it results in cushings. Since these changes are age related, ECD is most often found in horses over 15 years but has been found in horses as young as seven.

Cushings was first identified in explained in’21, by Dr. Cushing, after whom the disease is name. ECD is the equine variation of the disease first identified in humans by Dr. Cushing.

Different horses show different symptoms of Equine Cushings Disease. The most common symptom is coat changes (longer, thicker, curly, failure to shed in Spring, becoming lighter in color). The heavier coat results in increased sweating as a secondary symptom, due to over-heating, especially in summer. The horse tends to lose muscle in its neck and back, despite increased appetite and eating more, while developing a pendulous abdomen. Diabetes often develops, with an associated increase in water consumption and urination. Laminitis always develops eventually. The horse becomes more prone to infections and slower to heal from external injuries due to a depressed immune system. The natural depressions above the eyes tend to fill in with fat.

Any of these symptoms can be caused by a variety of illnesses other than ECD. Consequently, blood and urine tests are normally used to confirm that the cause is ECD (e.g. by measuring hormone levels and hormone response levels) and to rule out other possible diseases. Studies have shown that many horses with ECD are either not diagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed (the symptoms are incorrectly attributed to a different disease), with the result that they do not receive appropriate treatment.

ECD cannot be cured. However, the hormone levels can be reduced to more normal levels through medication, slowing the progress of the disease. As some of the medications can have serious side effects (e.g. liver disease), one needs to monitor for any such side effects and change the medication accordingly.

One also needs to watch for symptoms of secondary diseases, such as laminitis or diabetes, which are more common in horses with ECD. These need to be treated promptly to prevent them from further damaging the horse’s health.

Finally, one should make the horse more comfortable by treating the individual symptoms. If the horse is over-heating due to a heavier coat, one should clip the coat to make the horse more comfortable.

Horse riders need to remember the three p's - patience, persistence and positive reinforcement - when beginning to train a new horse. These are the basics that are necessary for you to understand before undertaking the rewarding task of teaching your horse to do what is desired. Following these basic tips will provide the foundations of a great relationship between horse and rider.

If you want to train a horse you must first have plenty of patience. Patience is required when teaching a horse anything that is new to him. Horses are prey animals and are aware of this fact. As the sun sets, watch horses in their pens or pasture. A herd of horses will group together for safety. They may be seen standing head to tail and side by side. Standing like this helps them to spot potential danger from different directions. A rider could be thrown if a horse unfamiliar with water were to rear up. Both could be seriously hurt or worse. Therefore, it is imperative that your horse be trained with much patience and that he learns to trust you not to take him into a situation that could be dangerous.

Horse and rider can develop a mutual trust and a confident partnership when due patience has been employed in training. It often surprises those new to horse training that one can remove or reduce the fear of impending doom felt by most horses at their exposure to new objects and situations. A horse can be scared of percieved threats, no matter how silly they may sound, such as the flapping of a shirt on a washing line. Patient training will teach your horse to feel as relaxed as you are about the flapping laundry, and he will trust you enough to walk past it without getting spooked.

Persistence when training your horse will bring great rewards. Both horse and trainer can gain in confidence and trust by practicing exercises over and over again. Ground work is the beginning of professional training which may seem tedious but is important for both horse and rider. Ground work means exactly that - not actually getting up and riding. But trainers understand that horses are no different than children learning to walk. A horse is like a baby and must learn the basics before he is ready to start being ridden.

Persistence means that you will probably have to keep repeating the same task until your horse understands. It is important for the horse to know just what he needs to do. Your horse needs to know to be still when you bring out the tack, for example. This is unnatural for your horse. It needs to be taught, and in this teaching persistence will be required. You must be more persistent than your horse. You need to remain persistent, or else he will think that he can get away with resisting or avoiding you. Persistence in training may also be termed consistency.

As a trainer you will have to use plenty of positive reinforcement. If a horse sees you as the herd leader, he will generally just want to please you. Lifelong friendships can be developed between horse and rider where each understands their role in the relationship.

Positive reinforcement can simply mean a murmur of approval to your horse, a scratch behind his ear or a well-placed pat. Your emotional state will be sensed by your perceptive horse. If you feel happy with the progress of a particular exercise, allow the horse to feel that emotion too.

A word of caution here - it is not a good idea to enter the training area with your horse if for any reason you are stressed, angry or in a particularly bad mood. The horse will sense the negativity and may become uncooperative. This has less to do with rebelliousness and more to do with the horse's fear. Your horse could be scared or apprehensive of what you may do when upset if you do not have the necessary trust between you yet.

A lasting bond of trust between horse and rider, regardless of the event or type of riding, is the ultimate goal of horse training. The basics are the same regardless of whether you choose English or Western style, or whether you will be riding for pleasure or competition. The 3 p’s principles – patience, persistence, and positive reinforcement – can be applied to any breed of horse for a successful training experience.