1. Welcome to this live web presentation featuring: Webcast Expert: Dr. Carey Williams Rutgers University Question Facilitator: Dr. CamieHeleski Michigan State University Contact us! info@myhorseuniversity.com www.myhorseuniversity.com (517) 353-3123 Please note: This presentation is intended for users with high-speed internet connections. Unfortunately, we cannot offer support for dial-up users at this time.

2. Introduction Types of Stress: Physical Psychological Causes of Stress: Temperature Transport Oxidation Effects of Stress: Ulcers Tying-up Summary

3. What is Stress? The body’s response to anything that it considers threatening Types of stress: Physical Based on physical makeup Ability to respond to changes in diet, injury, etc. Psychological Based on horses personality Its perception to life

5. Environmental toxins

6. Social environment

7. Variations in climate

9. Dealing With Stress Depends on the personality of the horse Demonstrative Confident = lets you know it! Bucks, kicks, bites, curious, mouthy, troublemaker Demonstrative Fearful = worries about everything! Shies the first time, needs time to relax

10. Dealing with Stress Passive Fearful = wants to please! Seems willing, tight muscles and lips, won’t show fear until pushed over the limit Passive Confident = what’s everyone worried about? Not normally stressed, internalizes stress, shows little change

11. Heat Stress Heat production will increase up to 50 % during exercise Normal response to heat stress:  sweating rate (abnormal = anhidrosis) Blood moves to capillaries under the skin respiratory rate

12. Signs of Heat Stress No sweating (Anhidrosis) Skin will be hot and dry Horse lacks major cooling system - evaporation Rapid HR 50 + at rest Rapid breathing 20 + at rest High rectal temperature 104 ° F

13. Treating Heat Stress Move to a shady area Provide fans, wind or other ventilation Spray legs with cold water Allow to drink small amounts of cold water frequently Provide electrolytes

14. Treating Heat Stress If severe: Vet will give cold water enemas Treat for dehydration Skin pinch test Mucous membranes Once overheated they are more likely to overheat again

15. Preventing Heat Stress Provide regular electrolytes in hot weather  the amount of grain and  the forage  fat in the diet Properly cool down after exercise Provide plenty of ventilation

16. Cold Stress Horses fight cold weather by using more energy to stay warm You would have to supply 2 lb of feed for each 10 degree F below critical temp In order to replace the energy lost during thermoregulation Know your horse is loosing too much heat if snow melts on his back instead of accumulating

17. Dealing with Cold Stress Precondition horse for COLD WEATHER Feed free choice grass hay Provide shelter from wind, rain and cold Blanket horses not ‘allowed’ in shelters

18. Why Do Horses Get Transport Stress? Physical factors: Unnatural sense of confinement Withholding food and/or water Noise and vibration of a moving vehicle Balancing and bouncing during the ride Poor ventilation Presence of exhaust, dust, molds, manure, and urine

19. Why Do Horses Get Transport Stress? Psychological factors: Separation from the herd Exposure to strange animals and environment Climatic factors: High internal temperature and humidity Health factors: Dehydration and fatigue

20. Transport Stress Shipping Fever – respiratory disease during or shortly after a trip Primary factor is a suppression of the immune system due to stress of the trip Transport stress can also cause: fluid intake, loss of appetite, hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia, weight loss, dust inhalation and coughing, diarrhea, colic, and tying-up

21. Effects of Transport Stress Studies have investigated: Horse orientation, design of the suspension and ventilation, quality of the transport environment, amount of stress  levels of Cortisol(stress hormone)  heart rate variability (HRV) Weight loss of ~ 6 % during a 24 hr haul Recovered ½ of weight lost over the 24 hr recovery Muscle enzymes (CK & AST)  after a 24 hr haul

22. Decrease Transport Stress Keep total travel time under 12 h If not plan over night stops Stop every 3 to 4 hrs Offer water every 6 to 8 hrs Clean the trailer thoroughly after each use Leave your horse’s head untied, or loosely tied This way they can lower his head to cough

23. Decrease Transport Stress Give your horse a few days to recover Record daily rectal temperatures Provide things the horse is used to I.e. usual hay, feed, water, bedding, etc. Leave a window or vent open Horses are much more tolerant of cold than we are

24. Decrease Transport Stress Dietary adjustments necessary? Bran mashes not necessary Vitamin C to increase immune system Vaccinate your horses against respiratory disease at least 2 weeks before Don’t ship a sick horse Allow extra time incase of an emergency

25. What Causes Oxidative Stress? Inflammation Reproduction UV Rays Other Stresses Bacterial Infection Rapid Growth Viral Infection Poor Nutrition Protozoa Environmental Toxins Exercise

26. O2•HO•H2O2 O2 + 4 e- + 4 H+ 2 H2O Oxidative Metabolism ROS are intermediates formed during metabolism of oxygen

27. Reactive Oxygen Species Harmful effects: Degrade proteins, DNA and PUFAs Cell environment is compromised Include: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) Singlet oxygen (1O2) Free radicals

28. H2O Oxidative Damage *OH

29. Antioxidant Mechanisms C C C *OH H2O H2O *OH E E E E E

30. Antioxidant Action Oxidation Antioxidant Free Radicals Stable Chemical Stable Chemicals

31. Antioxidants Antioxidant supplements: Vitamin E (most common) Vitamin C Beta-Carotene Glutathione Lipoic Acid Selenium Cysteine

32. Antioxidant Interaction adapted from Sen and Packer, 2000 + 2 Cys Vit E DHLA Cystine GSH Vit E• DHAA LA GSSG Vit C

33. Antioxidant Supplementation May be needed for: Growth Reproduction Transport Strenuous exercise Illness Any other stresses Avoid over-supplementation Mixtures work best

34. Are you giving your horse an ulcer? Ulcers affect: 80-90 % of all race horses 60 % of all performance horses 30-40 % of all dressage horses

35. Equine Ulcers Horses secrete stomach acid even when not eating Only ½ of stomach can handle acid When a horse grazes all day the roughage absorbs acid Saliva produced also neutralizes acid Grain increases ‘gastrin’, which stimulates acid secretion

36. Causes of Ulcers Main causes of ulcers: Changes in eating behavior Changes in training intensity Horses that are used to being outside can develop ulcers in 1 week after being kept inside Could be as early as 24 hours

37. Signs of Ulcers Change in attitude Poor appetite Colic Decreased performance Decrease in body condition Weight loss Dull or sour attitude Prevent ulcers by preventing stress! Also limit the use of Bute

38. ExertionalRhabdomyolysis Tying-up/Azoturia/Monday Morning Sickness Muscle pain associated with exercise Sporadic and chronic forms Different causes among breeds and types of horses Leads to poor performance and may end career

39. Recurrent ER Primarily affects Thoroughbreds but may occur in Standardbreds and Arabians Nervous 2 yr old TB fillies most severely affected May increase in severity as fitness increases Stress often creates and/or induces episode Elevations of CK and AST intermittent Hereditary condition

40. Clinical Signs

41. Managing the Episode Move into box stall initially for up to 24 hrs Call your veterinarian Blanket horse if weather is cool or hose horse to remove sweat if weather is warm Check for dehydration Small frequent sips of water when horse is hot Free access to water when horse is cool

42. Minimizing Stress Keep horses turned out if at all possible If not possible, feed ad libitumhay Stick to a routine If you need to make changes, do so slowly When traveling take items that are familiar I.e. own hay, water, grain, etc. Avoid riding in extreme conditions Feed a well balanced diet

43. Minimizing Stress Maintain a good health program Provide a pleasant environment Provide regular varied exercise Allow for play time Prevent boredom Allow your horse social activity Keep yourself happy and healthy!

44. What’s in Those Calming Aids? Supplements have been designed to ‘decrease stress’ or ‘calm a nervous horse’ Thiamin, Magnesium, and Taurine combined with other B-complex vitamins Tryptophan, insitol, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B12 Little research Lots of testimonials

45. Equine Science Center Better horse care through research & education Thank You! Carey Williams, Ph.D. Equine Extension Specialist cwilliams@aesop.rutgers.edu www.esc.rutgers.edu

46. Thank you for attending this live web presentation! For more information about My Horse University and its online program, Please visit us at: www.myhorseuniversity.com Contact us! info@myhorseuniversity.com www.myhorseuniversity.com (517) 353-3123 My Horse University is a national online program based at Michigan State University in partnership with eXtension and Equisearch.