JANUARY 2014 THE RIDER /41
WHAT’S UP DOC From the desk of Dr. Laura Frost
HALTON EQUINE VETERINARY SERVICES
why you can never seem to keep the skin on the front of the hind cannon bones clean? It almost seems sticky or greasy and despite hours of grooming, the legs still don’t look as good as the rest of the horse. So what is it? It is Equine Cannon Hyperkeratosis; a disease of the skin where an excessive amount of keratin is produced. Keratin is a naturally occurring sub- stance secreted by keratinocytes and when these cells are over- stimulated they can produce excessive amounts leading to this greasy condition. It is a seborrhea-like disease similar to a condition in infants called Cradle Cap.
Have you ever wondered
used to describe this condition such as Urine Scalding, Stud Crud and Cannon Crud. Many of these names are misleading as it is equally found in males and females and the condition is often found on horses that do not urinate on their hind legs.
greasy matted hair or crusts on the front of each hind cannon bone. You may even see this condition on the tips of your horse’s ears. It is not typically an itchy condition and it is not a painful condition for the horse. This condition is often more
How do I know if my horse has this disease? You will see a patch of
obvious on lighter coloured horses and may go unnoticed in milder darker haired horses. Confirmation can be made after having your veteri- narian examine your horse and possi- bly biopsy to rule out other possibili- ties.
Equine Cannon Hyperkeratosis There are various names
most appropriate product and sched- ule of treatment.
How can I prevent it? Equine Cannon Hyperkeratosis
Balance, Then More Balance
By Janice B. Wright, CanteringOnThru
Having problems
sitting the trot? Canʼt quite understand why your instructor says your seat balance is off when you feel youʼre not? Are you just starting to ride — or like many out there — time and affordability has rekindled your desire to start up again? Feeling nervous? Lost confidence after an injury? Want (need!) to improve your fitness level and core strength? Piaffe practice draining your horse? Or, maybe youʼve
become anxious, frustrat- ed, unable to accomplish more advanced move- ments because your horse is baulking when you practice, practice, prac-
tice...and as you walk back together towards the stall, you swear youʼre ready to trade off... ʻStun- nerʼ here
...for a newer, brighter, shinier model ʻif things donʼt change!ʼ (If any horsesʼ ears just perked up, perhaps you should read
on...there is hope.)
Riders have strug-
gles. Thereʼs much time, effort and commitment training with equines. Dreams of a perfect day, perfect position and per- fect horse? Not always the case. Maybe horses wish WE all got riding basics down quicker! Relaxed in their stalls as they snort and fart may be endearing to us, but does- nʼt necessarily mean they want to be saddled up, pulled up, and put up with you for another hour of not-quite-getting-it! ! Horses are perceptive movers. Could it be use-
ful if we dig even deeper to be more in sync with them?
In 2011, “Roozaro
Farm” of Oakwood, located in the Kawartha area (just 90 minutes northeast of Toronto), acquired THE INTER- ACTIVE HORSE SIMU- LATOR — with just that in mind. Repetitive moves and corrections — without a horse souring!! Referred to as this
“Roo”, tireless
instructional horse is per- fectly schooled, capable of advanced movements from walk to piaffe, han- dles riders with improper balance, knows when you are on the girth or, behind the girth, reacts correctly to your hands, seat and legs
and responds
favourably when you achieve the correct aids.
with immediate feedback: the “ah- hah!” moments riders gain. “First off, the horse is perfectly reliable, allowing the rider to relax more, and focus soley on position. I can ask a rider to ʻfeelʼ something, and over time,
they can
imprint the feeling into their brain and then into their muscle memory.” Kristi goes on to report, “I can help a rider improve position more easily when not moving around the arena. Balance is the key.” Visuals work well
I was blown away with how lifelike transitions of posting trot, canter and lead changes felt! Owners Sue and
Rick welcomed Level 1 coach, Kristi Newman, who assists riders to
improve their position. Eighteen years in event- ing and excelling at her sport, Kristi has aspira- tions of being on the Canadian Team and is currently competing in the National/Gold level
dressage shows. Through her pursuit of the equine sport, Kristi focuses on the psychological and physiology of horse and rider.
For Kristi, teaching students on Roo results
for me; to both feel and see where my problems are. As the sensor screen responds to the saddle sensors, and the sensors are what informs the rider and instructor how weight is distributed (seat bone corrections), enhance the
riderʼs sensations of the horseʼs lateral move- ments, as well as correct head and neck flexion. (Check yourself out in the
mirror...and take that “good” reflection back to your horse!) Roozaro
Farms
invites anyone wanting to enhance their riding expe- rience to look towards the benefits of the simulator! They offer clinics, pri- vate, or group lessons beneficial to all disci- plines from beginner to Grand Prix, western, hunter-jumper, to plea- sure rider. Who knows?.. 2014
can become your year of b a l a n c e !
roozarofarm@xplornet.ca •
www.interactivehorses-
imulator.com
is not a contagious type of skin dis- ease. It is a condition that will
treatment options but it is important to realize that this condition can only be controlled and not cured. Shampoos that are antiseborrheic are often used. Such products may contain tar, sulfur and/or salicylic acid combina- tions. Mixtures of propy- lene glycol and water have also been used topi- cally. Occasionally antimicrobials may be used, but generally this is not a primary fungal or bacterial problem. When using any of the topical medicated shampoos, it is important to allow suf- ficient contact time with the skin prior to rinsing. Your veterinarian can help you in choosing the
How can I treat it? There are several
require regular treatments for life. Initially, the treatment will be fre- quent and then once every 1-4 weeks for life. Don’t despair though, this is not a devastating disease but is more of a cosmetic blemish that may not be necessary to treat for the horse’s well-being.
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