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Equine

Horses and tummy aches…Colic with Dr. Bellefeuille, DVM, MS

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By contributing writer Dr. Molly Bellefeuille
Colic is a general term referring to abdominal pain. Signs of abdominal pain in the horse range from mild (fidgety, pawing, flank watching, kicking at their belly) to severe (rolling, dog- sitting, throwing themselves on the ground). Colic in a horse is an emergency and should be tended to quickly so the horse doesn’t hurt itself or the humans around it. Horses exhibiting these signs should be examined by a veterinarian immediately. Often times horses can be treated medically; however, some require surgical therapy. A delay in treatment can decrease the prognosis for survival.
The severity of the colic is often gaged by the amount of pain the horse is in. The pain level of a horse is often measured by their heart rate. An average heart rate in the normal horse is between 28-44 beats per minute (bpm). Horses experiencing severe pain will have a heart rate of 60-80 bpm. Other physical exam parameters evaluated are respiratory rate, presence of gastrointestinal sounds, color of mucous membranes and the amount of abdominal distention. Rectal examination is often performed; this allows the veterinarian to get a brief idea of what is going on.
The organs/intestines can be palpated rectally and it is noted if they are in the correct anatomical location or if they are distended with manure/gas. An abdominal ultrasound is another procedure done to help the veterinarian gain an insight as to what is causing the pain and what structures are involved. To read more pick up the September 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.

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Equine

The Danger of Lower Limb Wounds of Horses

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By Garrett Metcalf, DVM

It is common for horse owners to have a horse with a wound or laceration at some point in their life. Sometimes small lacerations can be perceived as benign, inconsequential problems that do not need immediate veterinary attention and are managed by the owners or trainers initially. Unfortunately, these simple-looking wounds can involve very important anatomical structures that can lead to serious infections that can be life-threatening or, at best career-limiting, for the horse.

Large wounds tend to get all the attention from owners or trainers because when they occur they are so obvious and visually appalling that medical attention is sought almost immediately. Those types of large wounds can be devastating, but they often involve the upper body regions of the horse, which heal better and often don’t involve structures such as joints or tendons.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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Equine

A Rodeo Photographer’s Journey

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By Phillip Kitts

Have you ever wondered what the rodeo looks like for contract personnel in the winter?
This month we will look at what the winter months look like from the rodeo photographer’s perspective.

To understand the time and demands that go into a career as a rodeo photographer, let’s start at when the season gets busy. Not all rodeo photographers work the same. There are many varieties in their career field. They can vary from the few weekends here and there to the full-timer who travels more than 30 weekends a year.

The full-timer that spends most of their year working usually hits the road in late winter. Yes, the winter months are slower but the photographer who has cemented themselves into the field usually books a few during late winter.

Rolling into the spring it begins to get busy. Depending on the photographer, spring can start with an every other weekend type schedule all the way to every weekend through the summer. In 2023 there were photographers that had 20-plus weeks straight going from rodeo to rodeo.
When late fall rolls in things begin to slow down, even for the go-getter who books everything they can.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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Equine

Where Legends are Made

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By Krista Lucas Wynn

The format of the American Rodeo, now known in its entirety as the American Western Weekend, has changed quite a bit throughout the years. The inaugural American Rodeo was held in 2014 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It is now held at Globe Life Field, across the street, with two full days of reined cow horse, cutting, reining, and rodeo competition.
Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls have been working to qualify for the 2024 event since last January. It is a long road to the American, starting with qualifier events all over the country. If a competitor wins money at a qualifier, they then advance to the regional finals in Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and Lexington, Ky.

Then, the top five from each event move on to the Contender Finals in Abilene, Texas, Feb. 10. There, the field will continue to be narrowed down to five in each event to compete at the American rodeo.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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