Equine
Non-Infectious Diarrhea in the Adult Horse
By Lauren Lamb, DVM
Diarrhea in the adult horse can be caused by infectious and non-infectious diseases. Last month we talked about infectious causes of diarrhea; this month we will focus on the common cause of non-infectious diarrhea. The three most common causes of non-infectious diarrhea include sand accumulation in the colon, proliferative and inflammatory bowel disease, colon neoplasia (cancer), cantharidin toxicity (blister beetle) and parasite infection in the large colon.
Horses with sand accumulation in the colon frequently have a history of living in an area with sandy soil and being fed hay on the ground. Other common findings in the history include weight loss over a period of months to weeks, mild colic multiple times prior to developing a severe colic and intermittent or consistent diarrhea. Yes, I said that correctly, sand accumulation in the colon will cause colic as well as diarrhea.
A fecal sedimentation is a simple test that can be performed on a horse’s feces to confirm sand accumulation in the large colon. A fecal sedimentation can be performed by simply collecting a hand full of feces from the horse’s rectum and placing this feces in a plastic palpation sleeve. The palpation sleeve is then filled with one to two liters of water and hung up on the wall for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes the fingers of the plastic palpation sleeve will be full of sand if your horse has sand accumulation in the large colon. Not all horses that have sand accumulation in the large colon will pass sand in their feces. Abdominal radiographs of the lower abdomen can also be used to diagnose sand accumulation in the large colon. A powerful radiograph machine is needed to obtain diagnostic radiographs of the lower abdomen. Horses requiring an abdominal radiograph may need to be referred to a specialty equine medical center.
To read more pick up a copy of the August 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Krista Lucas Wynn
Each year, when the professional rodeo season wraps on Sept. 30, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announce the Nutrena Horse of the Year, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, in each event. This is a prestigious award, voted on by the members of the associations. To be named Horse of the Year by fellow competitors is a high honor only a few achieve.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Krista Lucas Wynn | Copy Editor
The name, “Daddy of ’em All,” instantly brings to mind the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration. Cowboys and cowgirls from all across the country dream of competing on the iconic Cheyenne arena dirt.
Every July, pro rodeo contestants travel to Cheyenne, Wyom. to vie for the title of champion of the Cheyenne Frontier Days. The rodeo is steeped in western tradition and celebrated the 125th year this summer. With nearly two weeks of rodeo action, fans watched bareback riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, and steer roping.
Steer roper, Tuff Hardman, knew winning “the Dad” was a tall order, but with a good horse and a few prayers he left no doubt who the best steer roper at Cheyenne was when it was all said and done. After two rounds, Hardman qualified back for the finals tied for ninth place with a time of 30.8 seconds.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Utilizing the horse to human connection.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor
Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.
Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.
“My boys have been riding since they were 18 months old, and for the first 17 years they had a leader and sidewalker. When we moved here, and Mandy started teaching them, she just said, ‘Let’s see what they can do,’ and they ride independently now,” Danielle Frank explained, whose two sons, Adison and Aiden, ride with Stable Strides Farm. “Mandy is amazing beucase she doesn’t place any limits on them, she always wants to see what they can do.”
It is her dedication to never setting limits that earned Cleveland a spot as a national finalist for the NSBA 2024 Dianne Eppers Cowgirls Reaching-Out-to-Community Award. The award was established by the NSBA Foundation to recognize cowgirls across the industry for their selfless contributions to the equestrian community.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of the NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
(Photos Courtesy of Hannah Claxton)
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