Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Education
  • Local
    • Shopping List

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Preventative Equine Health Care (or, how to sound holier than sh*t which is NOT my intention)

3/19/2012

 
Moving from the endurance world to the dressage world has given me the opportunity to see how other disciplines approach horse care.  And what’s more, horse-care styles vary depending on where you live.  Since I don’t live in Florida, Texas, or Michigan, I can't really discuss horse care around the country, only what I see in California which means my data set is actually fairly limited, so take this with the proverbial grain of salt.  I do not mean to offend anyone here, which always means that a dig is fast approaching, but in general, there seems to be some pretty big differences in how some endurance riders, English riders, western riders, and just plain ole backyard riders deal with equine health care.  

And ... here it comes.

Endurance riders seem to do a lot of preventative health care, especially if they compete regularly.  They learn to treat minor things very quickly and tend to run stuff by their vet.  This easy communication probably develops because an endurance rider will talk to a vet at least five times, or more, during an endurance ride.  When competing 50 or 100 miles, tiny things become gigantic things after 37 miles, and gigantic things become life-threatening at 87 miles.  Being open and communicative with your vet is a good idea.  In the sport’s early years, horses died.  And occasionally, they still do.  

When I was competing regularly, a pile of ignored hay or a mis-step on the trail caused gut wrenching worry.  Not only might either one of those things call for a metabolic or lameness disqualification, but they also might signal potentially serious health issues.  And allowing the horse to warm up out of it or sleep it off, just didn’t fly.  If you wanted your horse to compete that season, he needed to be in perfect health.  My vet became a critical member of my team.

I have quit worrying about mis-steps and lameness as a dressage rider.  We aren’t working “hard enough” to suffer the same kinds of injuries that happen to endurance horses.  Occasional bangs and mis-steps are just part of daily life and not career ending as they might have been before.  I also find myself less observant at shows of exactly how much water my horse drank from his bucket or how empty the hay bag is.  Do I care less?  No.  I just know that he isn’t going to die if he didn’t empty the entire bucket.  At an endurance ride, he might.   My endurance experience taught me the value of preventative health care.  And even though I no longer compete in that field, I still use what I learned to help manage my horses’ health today.

So...  

I have noticed that some English riders, especially those not competing, occasionally put off some of the preventative care that isn’t as time sensitive as say treating a colic or an acute injury.  I suspect this has to do with several things.  I think many horses are in regular training and riders don’t want to take the time off that vaccinating and teeth floating, or occlusal equilibration as it is now called, often take.  I also see many riders depending on their trainer for scheduling these types of things.  And frankly, many English riders and trainers come from a background that is steeped in tradition which means things often get done exactly how they’ve always been done.

Western riders care for their horses far differently than do the endurance or English riders.  Their history is different.  As the west was being settled and ranches began to dot the landscape, a culture of self-reliance was born.  Doctors for people were hardly available, and veterinaries were even more distant.  Out of sheer necessity, do-it-yourself remedies became a way of life.  I think that this style of horse keeping continues today.  Preventative health care is seen as an unnecessary expense.  Western riders will often treat their own horses and some see little reason to bring in a vet.  In this area in particular, many western riders, and especially backyard owners, will often wait to call the vet until the situation is serious (and often beyond fixing).  

So what does preventative health care entail?  There are some basics of course, but I suppose prevention can go as far as your personal values, particular discipline, and budget will allow.  I used to consider monthly Adequan injections part of my preventative health care plan.  Now that I am not conditioning for endurance, I see it as an unnecessary expense.  So what does my plan include?  Based on my veterinarian’s recommendation, this is the minimum of what I provide for each horse:
  • A thorough dental exam each spring which includes occlusal equilibration as needed (more on that).
  • Vaccinations each spring: Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, Tetanus, Eastern/Western encephalomyelitis, and West Nile Virus.
  • Biannual (more if needed) eggs per gram fecal counts to check for worm eggs.
  • The use of a dewormer each spring and fall.
 I also call my vet to discuss coughs, fevers, suspicious wounds, unusual swellings, or behavior changes.

Is there more that I could do?  Absolutely.  Is this the best preventative health care plan available?  No.  There is no end to the preventative care that we can provide our horses.  There are limitless vitamins and other supplements that we can feed.  We can run regular blood panels to evaluate the function of internal organs.  We can take x-rays to establish baselines and for charting bone changes.  It’s up to each rider to determine what she can afford and what she thinks is most necessary for each horse’s overall well-being.

If you own horses, disappearing dollars is a well-known phenomenon, but routine health care is a pretty important part of maintaining a healthy horse.  Bakersfield Veterinarian Hospital holds an annual Client Seminar with the purpose of educating its clients about all facets of equine health.  Over the next few days I am going to share the text of Dr. Tolley’s lecture, “Routine Dental Care is Essential to Your Horse’s Health.” 
Dom
12/8/2012 12:46:08 am

Such a great article!!! It's eye opening to dabble in various disciplines.

Karen
12/8/2012 01:56:29 am

In your job, I imagine that you see a lot of differences in how horses are treated and managed. How horses are trained, or not, also varies widely from barn to barn - as you also see regularly! I think good health care practices, regular hoof maintenance included, probably goes hand in hand with good training practices.


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian
    Email Karen

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at Second Level. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    October 2020

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!

    National Rider Awards

    • USDF Bronze Medal - 2020 
    Picture
    Lapel Pin
    • USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    • USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    • USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
    Picture
    State Rider Awards
    • CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
    Picture
    Ruby Rider Award, 2018
    State Horse Awards
    • CDS Third Level Horse Performance Award: Speedy G - 2020 (pending receipt)​
    • CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award: Speedy G - 2018
    Picture
    2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

    CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level: 63.514%
    Third Level: 62.105%
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:

    2021 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    (Q) Must Qualify
    2021 Pending …
    3/6-7 El Sueño (***)
    4/17-18 El Sueño (***)
    5/16-17 El Sueño (***)
    5/23 TMC (*)
    6/12-13 SB (***) OR
    6/19-20 El Sueño (***)
    6/27 TMC (*)
    7/3-4 Burbank (***) OR
    7/17-18 El Sueño (***)
    7/25 TMC (*)
    ​8/14-15 RAAC (Q) (***)
    8/29 TMC (*)
    ​

    2021 Completed …
    ​10/24-25 SCEC (***)
    ​11/7-11/8 SB (***)

    2021 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    2nd Level Qualifying 
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:

    Score 1: 60.610% Bhathal
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    CDS Championship
    ​2nd Level Qualifying 
    5 Scores/4 Judges/61%:

    Score 1: 
    Score 2: 
    Score 3:
    Score 4:
    ​Score 5: 

    Stuff I Read

    • A Horse Crazy American in Germany​
    • Avandarre in Dressage​
    • BB Quarter Horses​
    • Go Pony​
    • She Moved to Texas
    • Stubborn Together
    • Tales From a Bad Eventer
    • Your Dressage

    By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Design: Karen Sweaney
  • Home
  • About
  • Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Education
  • Local
    • Shopping List