6/ JUNE 2017 THE RIDER The Way of Horses: The Coughing Horse The sound of a coughing horse can make things


come to a halt. Conversation stops, chores are paused, training and riding lessons are interrupted as heads turn to look at the horse. Could the horse just be clearing a “tickle”, or could the cough be an indi- cation of a serious disease? Everyone watches to see if the horse will cough


again. Activity resumes if there is no more coughing – a slight pause in the daily routine. But if the cough- ing continues the audience becomes more attentive. Coughs are generally divided into two classifications: wet and dry. A wet cough, also known as a produc- tive cough, will be associated with mucus in the res- piratory tract. A dry cough may be an early sign the horse is developing a viral infection – ongoing obser- vation is recommended. The production of mucus is the body’s way of


By Eleanor Blazer Copyright @ 2017


getting rid of infection or foreign particles. The mu- cous traps the invaders and removes them from the body. A wet cough can be a sign of a bacterial infec- tion, such as – streptococcus equi (strangles), Recur- rent Airway Disease (heaves), or the battle against dust, pollen and mold that is present in the feed, bed-


ding, barn, arena, pasture. Closer observation will help determine the cause


of the coughing. A cough accompanied by a fever, nasal discharge, lethargy, and lack of appetite indi- cates an infection. The horse should be quarantined and a veterinarian contacted. In the absence of any infection signs, a journal


or some type of documentation should be kept to record the cough episodes - over time a pattern may develop. Be sure to describe the cough, count how many times he coughed, his activity at the time, if he was eating – the type and quality of the feed, even the time of day. Documentation will also help you de- termine if the cough is changing – getting worse or more frequent. A horse that coughs repeatedly when exposed to


dusty hay, being kept in an enclosed stall, or in the spring and fall when pollen and seeds are present might have Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), commonly known as “heaves”. This is a lifetime ail- ment and he will need to be managed, as it will pro- gressively get worse. Managing the horse with heaves means identifying what triggers the episodes


and eliminating the allergen. Horses that only cough when being ridden may


have a “warm-up” cough, or an “arena cough” – or both. A horse with a “warm-up” cough will cough a few times when exercise is started and then be fine. This horse may have a little natural buildup of mucus be- hind the larynx and needs to cough a few times to clear his airways. The arena cough may be confused with the “warm- up” cough. The arena cough only occurs when riding inside a covered arena, the trigger is the dust and other allergens present in the enclosed area. In time, constant exposure to the dust could lead to heaves. A cough now and then is normal, but if heads


are turning a little too often, it’s time to contact a vet- erinarian.


* Take the online course “Horse Health and Dis-


ease” taught by Dr. Jack Sales. Earn certification or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies. Go to www.horsecoursesonline.com for more information.


What’s more important than Farms Forever?


By Eleanor Renaud, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Our growing world population and shifting


climate puts increasing pressure on agriculture and farmers to produce more food. Maintaining sus- tainable farms and preserving productive farmland is another significant challenge as Ontario’s agri- food industry evolves. To address these challenges, the Ontario government recently mapped out a dis- cussion paper, Farms Forever, to help inform pol- icy development to support a strong and innovative agri-food sector. Farms Forever is a new initiative by the On-


tario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Af- fairs (OMAFRA), first tasked to Minister Jeff Leal in the Premier’s mandate letter in fall 2016. The new discussion paper outlines four policy objec- tives of Farms Forever:


1. Help preserve the productive capacity of agri- cultural land close to major urban centres 2. Support the local sourcing of food 3. Strengthen Ontario’s agri-food sector 4. Support young farmers and new entrants The discussion paper clearly outlines the


importance of working with stakeholders to ac- complish the Farms Forever objectives and the government is asking for feedback on the direction of this new initiative. Although the timing of the consultations is challenging for Ontario farmers with our current planting season, the Ontario Fed- eration of Agriculture (OFA) encourages members to offer their views on this initiative. Discussion questions in the document ask for input to build strategies for success, identify opportunities and obstacles to the initiative, support farming and food


processing and support consumer awareness and demand of Ontario products. OFA is a key stakeholder in Ontario’s agri-


food industry, and will be responding to the discus- sion paper with suggestions and identifying synergies to work together with government and fellow stakeholders to preserve Ontario farms and farmers. Our job is to advocate for Ontario farmers, and ensure farming remains viable for future gen- erations by keeping our land and farm businesses sustainable. Supporting our farmers and the agri-food in-


dustry today is the first step to ensuring a safe, steady food supply for future generations. It all starts with the goals outlined in the Farms Forever discussion paper – strengthening the province’s agri-food sector, preserving farmland, supporting the local sourcing of food and supporting new


farmers. This is the just the start, there’s a lot of work to do to, but OFA is confident the govern- ment’s Farms Forever is a step in the right direction for our industry’s future. Read more about the Farms Forever discus- paper


sion


on OMAFRA’s website,


omafra.gov.on.ca, and share your outlook on the future of Ontario’s agri-food sector.


www


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