6/ THE RIDER EXTRA AUGUST 2010 The Way of Horses


micrograms in a gram. A dime weighs about a gram, so it doesn’t take much.


Botulism toxicity kills 70% of untreated adult hors- es. Nearly 90% of all affect- ed foals will die.


By Eleanor Blazer Copyright @ 2010


One of the world’s most powerful toxins may be living in your barn or pasture. This toxin, clostridium botulinum, is commonly known as botulism.


One microgram is lethal, and there are a 1, 000,000


In adult horses the first sign of botulism toxicity may be dysphagia – difficulty in swallowing. The affected horse may drop water and feed from the mouth. He will have an appetite, but be unable to eat or drink. Other symptoms include weakness, depression, muscle tremors, inability to move or a stiff choppy gait when moving, respiratory stress, dilated pupils, colic or constipation. The symptoms may progress quickly, or occur over several days. The amount of toxin ingested affects the severity and progression of the symp- toms.


The symptoms of botulism poisoning can mimic other diseases. Tetanus, rabies, lead poisoning and


equine protozoal encephalomyelitis (EPM) are a few. The veterinarian should be able to rule out most of these illnesses based on observing the central ner- vous system, asking about the horse’s general health and the events leading up to the onset of the symptoms.


Horses that are exposed to a large amount of the toxin may be found dead with no previous symptoms.


An affected foal will have trouble swallowing; milk will run out of the mouth when trying to nurse. The foal will lay around an abnor- mal amount of time, with the head resting on the ground. As time passes the foal will become weaker and develop muscle tremors. The term “shaker foal syndrome” is a common name for the disease in foals.


and septicemia (navel ill). Diagnosing botulism may come too late to treat the killer. It takes time to run the tests and results can be inconclusive. If a veteri- narian suspects botulism, treatment is generally start- ed immediately.


Treatment can be expensive and time con- suming.


The veterinarian will try to rule out other foal illnesses such as selenium deficiency, polyarthritis, hypoglycemia


A Horse, Of Course


If you don’t like that Devil story, try this one. The blacksmith engaged to shoe the Devil made the shoes red hot, then burned the devil’s feet with the hot iron…the Devil tried to with- stand the pain, but screamed to have the shoes removed when the blacksmith began to drive nails to hold the shoe in place.


By Don Blazer


I hate to be the bearer of bad news…but today’s horse- shoes don’t have the power to bring you luck.


Oh, horseshoes used to be lucky…that’s a fact. But modern manufactur- ing has rendered the modern horse shoe useless in the luck department.


The Devil remembers the pain so vividly that when- ever he sees a horseshoe he slinks off into the shadows. The devil will go nowhere near a home which has a horseshoe over the doorway. Other reasons why a horseshoe is lucky:


cannot scream in pain and hiccup at the same time. There are two things that are mandatory if the horse- shoe is to bring you good luck. 1. The horseshoe must have been worn by a horse. 2. The horseshoe must have been found, not purchased.


Horseshoes were lucky for any number of reasons and one simple fact; choose the reason for luck that you like and stick with it. The fact is a fact and you can’t change the fact.


Horseshoes are made of iron which is born from the marriage of rock and fire, two of the basic elements of ancient times; iron therefore was considered to have magi- cal powers.


Luckily you can hang the horseshoe above your door with the ends up or down…just depends on what you want to do. Hang the horseshoe ends up if you want to “catch” luck; hang it with the ends down if you want luck to pour over you each time you enter the home. The true fact of why horseshoes are lucky is that the lucky horseshoe was com- monly held in place with seven iron nails.


The devil came to Count Dunstin in 969 AD and asked to have horseshoes put on his cloven hoofs. Dunstin rec- ognized the Devil and tricked the Devil into letting him squeeze him in an oxen lift while he affixed the horse- shoes. Dunstin squeezed the Devil so hard the Devil promised him anything if he’d just free him.


Dunstin freed the Devil after making the Devil promise that any home with a horseshoe over the doorway was off limits and no demons could bother those residing or visiting within. Dunstin became the Archbishop of Canterbury…now wasn’t that lucky?


Horseshoes are made by blacksmiths and black- smithing is considered a very lucky trade. Because black- smiths work with fire and iron, blacksmiths are thought to have very special powers— -consider how magically they take your money.


Iron repels fair-folk, keeping away mischievous demons, imps, pixies and elves.


The horseshoe invokes the crescent moon shape of pagan moon goddesses and so invites their protection. The crescent moon sym- bol has luck-giving properties in ancient Mediterranean cul- tures.


A witch cannot walk under a horseshoe.


Horseshoes can cure hic- cups—-most quickly if your toe is stepped upon by a horse wearing a horseshoe. You


Since ancient times the number seven has been con- sidered very important. Note: life is divided into seven ages, a rainbow has seven colors, astrology once held that seven planets made up the universe, there are seven deadly sins, a seventh child is thought to have spe- cial powers, there are seven days in the week, the moon changes from one phase to another every seven days, and your body goes through a rad- ical change every seven years. But modern manufactur- ing has put a curse on the horseshoe’s good luck. Today’s horseshoe has eight nail holes (even more in some aluminum shoes) and today’s horseshoer invariable uses eight steel nails to affix the shoe.


Darn the luck!


Visit A Horse, Of Course on the Internet at www.donblazer.com


Horses fighting botulism poisoning must have their activity con- trolled. Physical movement accelerates the progression of muscle weakness and increases the possibilities of death. Mineral oil is usual- ly given to aid in the pas- sage of the toxin and help prevent impaction colic. The veterinarian may administer an antitoxin, which is very expensive. The horse cannot be down and the antitoxin must be given early in the progres- sion of the illness to be rea- sonably successful.


Protecting the horse from exposure to botulism can be difficult as the botulism is in the soil.


Decaying vegetation and animal carcasses give the spores the perfect incuba- tion environment. The bac- terium likes a warm moist medium that is slightly alkaline.


Improperly fermented haylage or silage, hay not completely dry before bal- ing, dried hay not stored properly, the presence of a dead animal in the feed or dead animal carcasses in the drinking water are all avenues of contamination. Large round bales of hay are frequently the source of botulism poisonings. The contamination of a wound or umbilical stump can also cause the illness.


ment can alleviate the expo- sure risk. Silage and hay- lage should not be fed to horses that have not been vaccinated against c. botulinum. Hay should not be baled unless its moisture content is less than 35 per- cent. Hay processing equipment should not be set low to the ground – gather- ing soil into the bales must be avoided. Throw out any bales of hay where dead animals are found. Water sources must be kept clean. Horse owners must be aware of the dangers that may lurk in the shadows.


There are currently eight types of c. botulinum identified. These are types A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, and G. Horse owners need only be concerned with A, B and C. The most prevalent type to affect horses is Type B. A vaccine to prevent Type B is available. Con- sult your veterinarian. Being vigilant and practicing good manage-


* Proper nutrition and management practices can prevent many problems associated with caring for horses. You can learn how to provide your horse with a better life-style by taking the online course “How to Feed for Maximum Perfor- mance” taught by Eleanor Blazer. Go to www.horsec- oursesonline.com for more information.


Eleanor’s web site at www.thewayofhorses.com


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The Rider Extra! Call (905) 387-1900, 1-877-743-3715


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