Preparing for Trail Season

The days are getting longer, the snow on the ground is FINALLY melting off, and spring is in the air… which means trail riding season is just around the corner!

Trail riding is an excellent activity to share with your horse. Whether you are taking a backcountry trip for several days or hauling down to the local open space for an afternoon, proper preparation helps ensure a safe and enjoyable experience!

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for trail season:

Conditioning

Before embarking on a trail ride, it is important to make sure that your horse is in adequate physical condition. For many of us, winter is a quiet time with minimal riding. We certainly wouldn’t expect ourselves to be able to go from several months off to running a marathon, would we? Make a plan for your summer trips and assess the potential difficulty of your chosen routes. Are you going to be riding the gentle creekside trails at Bear Creek Lake Park, scaling the rocky mountainside at Staunton State Park, or taking off for several days in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park?

Determine approximate length and difficulty of your desired rides and begin working on a conditioning plan. If you haven’t been working your horse all winter, start with short, light to moderate intensity rides. Start building up time and adding in more technical work. For horses who are intended to be used on mountainous trails, add in exercises designed to strengthen the hind end and stifles – such as hill work, backing, working over ground poles, and cavalettis. Build your horses’ stamina and fitness by increasing the time you spend in a proper trot and balanced lope/canter.

Equipment

For the safety and comfort of both you and your horse, always check your equipment prior to usage. Many horses fluctuate in weight and musculature over the winter, so start by ensuring your saddle fits appropriately and you have a proper pad that will wick away excess moisture and prevent rubbing.

If you are planning on riding rocky terrain, I recommend considering shoes or trail boots. While some horses have hard enough feet and do not require additional support, it is a good idea to have a properly fitting pair of trail boots in case of an emergency or soreness on the trail.

Consider other equipment that you may be using during rides – are you going to be donning a new pair of snazzy saddle bags? Tying a rain slicker to the back of your saddle? Prior to heading down the trail, be sure to expose your horse to all of these things in a comfortable and familiar setting. You do not want to learn that your horse does not tolerate saddle bags moving around on their back when you are trying to enjoy a breezy lope through the open field at Dawson’s Butte!

First Aid Kit

It is important to build a first aid kit to bring with you on rides. Depending on the length of the ride, I generally carry a small, abbreviated kit for the ride itself (generally a few select meds, some bandage material, hoof pick, etc.), and have a more extensive kit back in the trailer. Be sure to have a kit for BOTH your horse and yourself! As always, do not hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian to discuss an appropriate first-aid kit for your horse.

Trailer

If your trailer has been sitting all winter and you plan to haul to various trails, be sure to give it a thorough once-over prior to hitting the road. Be sure to check your floors, bearings, brakes, tires, and electrical. It may also be beneficial to schedule an annual maintenance appointment with your local trailer shop.

Paperwork

While most trail systems do not have specific vaccination or paperwork requirements, whenever you are traveling with your horse, it is important to have appropriate documentation. This may include a current Coggins, health certificate, vaccination record, brand inspection, and microchip information. If you find yourself overnighting somewhere, some places may require one or multiple of the above-mentioned documents, so make sure to confirm any necessary paperwork prior to departing.

**Remember, in the state of Colorado, if you are traveling greater than 75 miles you are required to have a new brand inspection! One way to save money and time is to invest in a “permanent travel card” for your horse. This replaces the need for a new brand inspection every time you travel. In order to obtain a travel card, contact your local brand inspector.**

Water

Trail riding can be thirsty work, so ensure you have access to water for both yourself and your horses. Some trails have hydrants or running water sources, but some don’t. You may need to be prepared to haul in your own water!  Be cautious of shared water sources as these can harbor infectious diseases. Toss a couple of clean buckets into your trailer and reserve them for your horses only.

Make a plan!

Take the time to research your desired destinations before heading out for your ride. Many trails are multi-use, so be prepared to run into bicyclists, hikers, dogs, and other riders. Additionally, be aware of the risks that may arise in each location – such as wildlife in the mountains or snakes in the rocky foothills. Find your trail online or use forums (or friends!) to gather information regarding parking, water, usage, and other amenities.

Whenever possible, find a friend or group to ride with. Let someone reliable know of your riding plans and an expected departure and return time.

If you are traveling outside of the range of your regular veterinarian, make a plan for emergency veterinary care – this may include calling local clinics and finding the closest one that may offer emergency services. Remember – many equine veterinary clinics are very busy right now, and many do not accept non-client emergencies. Some pre-planning may help identify a veterinarian who would be able to help in case of an emergency.

Most importantly, have fun and enjoy time in the great outdoors with your horse! Happy Trails!

Common Eye Conditions and When to Call Your Veterinarian

The eyes are arguably some of the most complex organs in the body. They are responsible for the incredible ability to process light into visual stimuli. So, naturally, eye problems are very common in horses!

The conditions we see most frequently are intimately related to the regions in which our horses live. In moist environments, such as the southeastern United States, it is far more common to see fungal infections, while here in Colorado, our dry climate and intense UV exposure fosters a different host of issues.

Here is a brief list of eye abnormalities that we often see here in our practice in Colorado:

  1. Corneal ulcers. A corneal ulcer is a defect in the outer later of the eye, the cornea. Ulcers can be caused by a variety of things, most commonly trauma. Other causes may include irritation related to “dry eye” caused by lack of eyelid or tear duct function or infections such as equine herpesvirus. Corneal ulcers can range from superficial to deep depending on how many layers of the cornea are affected. Luckily for us, most simple, superficial corneal ulcers heal in 3-7 days with topical antibiotic ointment, systemic NSAIDs, such as banamine, and protection of the eye with a fly mask. In some cases, corneal ulcers can progress and become infected, which can be characterized by cloudiness and discoloration of the cornea and require more intensive treatment.
  2. Conjunctivitis. We’ve all seen it at one point or another: goopy, watery, red eyes and swollen eyelids. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the soft mucosal tissue surrounding the eye and beneath the eyelids. This condition is commonly caused by environmental irritants, like dust, feed particles, or insects. It can also be caused by foreign bodies (grass awns, pebbles, etc) or infections. To treat conjunctivitis in horses, we turn to topical ointments and environmental management, like putting on a fly mask, watering dusty areas, and utilizing insect control.
  3. Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU). Also known as moon blindness, ERU is the most common cause of blindness in the horse. This condition is characterized by intermittent inflammation of the anterior (front) chamber of the eye. There are three types of ERU – classic, insidious, posterior, which vary in their severity and recurrence. While an exact cause of ERU has not been identified, there are several genetic and environmental factors that contribute to this disease. The inflammation from ERU can be painful and often requires long term management. Topical ointments and systemic NSAIDs are used to reduce pain and inflammation in the eye, and it is critical to protect the eyes from irritants, such as dust and UV exposure to prevent flare-ups.

When to Call the Vet

Eyes are fragile, vital organs. Issues involving the eye should almost always be considered a veterinary emergency and addressed promptly. If you notice any of the following signs, your horse’s eye condition should be assessed by a veterinarian:

  1. Swelling of eyelids or conjunctiva
  2. Eye pain – characterized by squinting, sensitivity to light, excess tearing, resistance to touching or handling
  3. New cloudiness (or blueness) in the eye
  4. Any injury to the globe
  5. Excessive discharge – watery, mucousy, or colored

Please Remember: do NOT apply any ointments, rinses or medications to an eye before it has been assessed by a veterinarian. Administering an incorrect medication to a compromised eye can worsen the condition!!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s eyes, please do not hesitate to contact any of the veterinarians here at MVS!

Proud Flesh- What is it and how can you treat it?

As horse people, wounds and wound management are unfortunately a common part of our lives! A common complication of wound healing in the horse is “proud flesh”.

“Proud flesh” is the common term for exuberant granulation tissue that may develop in relation to a wound. Granulation tissue is the body’s natural way of filling in defects left behind after an injury. While granulation tissue is a normal and beneficial part of the wound healing process, if there isn’t appropriate pressure from the surrounding skin or if the wound area is being irritated or stretched during healing, it can overgrow the bounds of the wound. We often see this as pink, lumpy tissue that is elevated from the level of the skin. This makes it very difficult for the skin edges of the wound to contract down and properly close.

So, how do we manage proud flesh? The biggest component of proud flesh management is debridement, or removal of the extra tissue, then placing an adequate bandage. There may be several rounds of debridement and bandaging before the proud flesh contracts enough to let the skin close over it. Keep in mind that since granulation tissue is a part of the healing process, it has a lot of blood flow and bleeds like crazy! But don’t worry, there is very rarely nerve supply in proud flesh, so the horses do not feel a thing. We also have several dressings and materials that we can use to help with the reduction of the proud flesh, such as steroid cream and antimicrobial dressings.

If you are dealing with a wound with proud flesh, it is important to prevent the horse from over using the area where the wound is, which may mean no riding while the wound is healing. Excess motion may lead to irritation, which will lead to more proud flesh.

If a wound is not healing, there are a number of other things that may need to be considered, such as a potential foreign body or metabolic disease in the horse. If there is no progress in the healing of a wound for a couple of months, consider calling your veterinarian to pursue further diagnostics.

Meet Dr. Maria Brock!

Hello, MVS family! My name is Maria Brock and I am so excited to be joining this wonderful practice as an associate veterinarian.

I grew up in Colorado and participated in a wide variety of equine activities. I was a proud member of Douglas County 4H and competed in several different western performance disciplines. I worked as a polo groom throughout high school and regularly volunteered with equine therapeutic riding programs. I even had a short stint in the hunter-jumper ring!

I started working with the wonderful people at MVS during the summer of 2016 and had the privilege of being Dr. Hartman’s technician for a few months. Over the past six years, all of the doctors and staff at MVS have played an incredible role teaching and mentoring me throughout my veterinary school experience. I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to come back and join a team that I already know and love so dearly!

During my schooling, I have developed strong interests in dentistry, nutrition, reproduction, and preventative medicine. I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and enjoy working with people to create thoughtful, realistic plans that will help keep their equine partners in top shape. I also have a strong interest in cattle and ruminant medicine.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring this beautiful state we live in. During my time off, you will find me riding a mountain trail with my horse, hiking with my loyal partner (and the newest member of the MVS truck dog crew) Moxie, or tending to the small herd of Black Angus cattle that my partner, Harrison, and I co-own.

I cannot wait to get out on the road and start meeting you all!