The AEBM is a member of the Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC)

Transcription

1 SMOOTH TRANSITIONS SSpprri iinngg EEddi iitti iinn Annual General Meeting 2010 The Annual General Meeting f the AEBM was held n Friday, 10th f September at Wri Yallck. Our new cmmittee was duly elected and they are: President - Julie Leitl, Vice President - Mandy Ethertn, Secretary - Kerryn Dunlp, Treasurer - Deb Cllins, rdinary member #1 - Tania Zalisz, rdinary member #2 - Susan Vickering and c-pted rdinary member #3 - Sue Wdruff. Our AGM and rdinary meeting was fllwed by a great scial evening, which included dinner, a quiz, a raffle, dr prizes, and a slide shw put tgether by members f the cmmittee. Our wnderful majr Spnsr, Cavall Hrse & Rider, supplied the prizes fr the evening and will cntinue t supprt the AEBM during ur next year. The fllwing is the President reprt as tabled at the AGM: This last July marked ur 8 th anniversary since the incrpratin f the AEBM. Fr thse f us wh have been arund since the very beginning, and the beginning meaning the inceptin f the AEBM, like myself, are feeling pretty prud that the AEBM cntinues t be an rganisatin that, thrugh the dedicatin f ur vlunteer cmmittee and membership base, cntinues t supprt - withut prfit hrse wners in their search fr infrmatin f hw their hrses can benefit thrugh a bareft and natural lifestyle apprach. During this last year we have cntinued ur wrk t further develp the AEBM. Our system f cmmittee meetings has changed as we nw cnduct the meetings in the cmfrt f ur wn hmes, n ur cmputers via Skype. This has enabled us t include peple in ur cmmittee that wuld therwise nt have been able t Majr spnsr f AEBM Inc Karramar Mystique, Pht by Kerryn & Peter Dunlp, AEBM Members. attend meetings easily due t the demgraphics f where they live. We have als stepped up ur educatinal service by prviding, when requested, riding clubs, with a speaker t give presentatins n the benefits f bareft, and natural lifestyle. One day infrmatin seminars N Hf, N The AEBM is a member f the Australian Hrse Industry Cuncil (AHIC) Jin us n Facebk!

2 Cntributrs this issue: AEBM Editrial cntact: - Wendy Elks, Member admin@aebm.rg.au - Glenn Wilsn, Member - Hves Naturally, - Susan Vickering, Cmmittee Member - Carlene Wilsn, Member - Julie Leitl, President - Website: Hrse - are als nw serving t bth educate and raise extra funds fr the AEBM. Riding and equestrian clubs can als rganise ne f these seminar events as a club fund raising effrt. Thanks t the cntinued genersity f ur Majr Spnsr Cavall Hrse & Rider, ur rganisatin cntinues t prmte bareft thrugh spnsring equestrian events, and thrugh further develpment, prductin and distributin f ur newsletter. And new members nw receive welcme gift bags that include Cavall gdies, whilst all members are able t win Cavall hf bts thrugh members nly cmpetitins, and receive generus discunts n Cavall prducts. Our website cntinues t shw wh we are t the wrld. S, with the last year behind us, we nw lk frward t the electin f the AEBM cmmittee fr the cming year. I wuld like t thank each f the cmmittee members fr their time and dedicatin ver the last year and say that I have enjyed the experience as the AEBM President. Julie Leitl, President, AEBM Hw can yu help? BECOME A MEMBER The AEBM cntinues t have a strng cmmitment t educating all Australian hrse wners, prmting the enrmus health and welfare benefits f bareft, natural lifestyle with particular interest paid t hf care. We cannt d this withut ur members! In rder t help us cntinue this imprtant wrk we ask that if yu have previusly been a member, please renew yur membership nw fr Fr thse wh haven t yet jined us, please cnsider membership fr nly $25 per annum. AEBM SPONSORSHIP We are always lking fr equestrian events where bareft hrses are likely t be cmpeting s we can ffer spnsrship f a Best Perfrmed Bareft Hrse. These events can be anywhere within Australia and can be any type f equestrian event. Our spnsrship package can include prize packages wrth hundreds f dllars, and the feedback frm ur prize winners has been fabulus! SPONSORSHIP If yu have a business in equestrian gds, please cnsider prviding sme fr us t add t ur wnderful prize packs. This is a great way t prmte yur business and the AEBM. HOOFCARE PROFESSIONALS The AEBM website has an extensive listing f Hfcare Prfessinals frm arund Australia. If yu are nt n ur list, please cnsider jining the AEBM and have yur details added s we can cntinue t assist hrse wners frm arund the cuntry t find a HCP in their area. We receive many inquiries frm peple lking fr HCPs as barefting has becme a mre ppular chice fr hrse wners. HCPs listing n ur site reprt excellent results frm this advertising media. WEBSITE If yu have yur wn hfcare r ther equestrian related website, please cnsider adding a link t ur AEBM website.

3 The Cushing s Hrse by Wendy Elks Cushing s Syndrme is cmmn in lder hrses, but it can strike yunger nes t. Awareness is imprtant, as early interventin can alleviate symptms and pstpne serius, lifethreatening cmplicatins. When an equine reaches their later teens, sme start grwing a lnger cat, which may be seen as nature s way f keeping ld bnes warm. But in fact a lng cat, which desn t cmpletely shed in the summer, is the definitive symptm f Cushing s disease, r syndrme. Cushing s, as it s generally knwn, is a cllectin f symptms rather than a specific disease, which can affect dgs, hrses and peple. The majrity f cases are thught t be caused by a benign tumur n the pituitary gland, which is lcated at the base f the brain. There s n knwn cure, and thugh the tumur is prgressive, it s slw-grwing. As the pituitary gland gverns the endcrine r hrmnal system, symptms indicating hrmnal changes are significant indicatrs. Drinking cpius amunts f water, muscle wastage despite gd appetite, dd accumulatins f fat, hirsutism (excessive hair grwth), and lethargy are all signs f endcrine disease; but with hrses, a shaggy, lng, wavy cat is the classic sign f Cushing s. It is nw thught that Metablic Syndrme, a cnditin similar t type-2 diabetes which ften affects verweight hrses and pnies, can als predispse t Cushing s Syndrme. By the time a hrse displays the clse-the-bk symptm f lng hair, Cushing s is well-advanced. In the early stages it s difficult t detect at all. This is where an infrmed wner cmes in, alert fr signs f metablic change, because Cushing s can be managed and pstpned in several ways. This is well wrthwhile, as it will almst inevitably lead t the serius, painful cnditin f chrnic laminitis. Even withut the symptm f a lng shaggy cat, a hrse that suddenly grws ld may in fact be aging unnaturally due t hrmnal haywire. That gd der with the cresty neck, fr example, may have an veractive thyrid, and be suffering frm Insulin Resistance - which as mentined ften ges hand-in-hand with Cushing s. The iceberg effect Pht curtesy f Sue & Graeme Wdruff, Members On the psitive side, Dr Mark West f Hastings Veterinary Clinic in Victria says that tumurs affecting the pituitary gland are almst always benign, and very slw-grwing. It s the cmplicatins f Cushing s laminitis and insulin deficiency that can be devastating; like the iceberg t the Titanic, it s the underlying element that can d the mst damage. The classic advanced-cushing s hrse is skinny and lethargic, with lng, clur-leached hair and a pt-belly. Lss f muscle tne has caused the abdmen t sag, and the tp-line t fall away. The hrse drinks large amunts, and urinates ften. If the thyrid is affected there may be pckets f fat arund the neck, rt f the tail, sheath, and eyes (a sign f this is that the natural depressin abve the eyes is cncave, rather than cnvex). As the disease advances the immune system breaks dwn and the hrse will suffer frm infectin and parasite attack. There may be increased appetite but n weight gain, high temperatures, and sweating. Mares and stallins can suffer infertility prblems. Hf abscesses and laminitis becme chrnic. Eventually, euthanasia is the nly ptin. The clinical term fr Cushing s Syndrme, named after the physician wh identified it, abut 70 years ag, is hyperadrencrticism : hyper- meaning increased; adren- indicating the adrenal glands, and crticism referring t the adrenal crtex. In a

4 hrse with Cushing s, the pituitary gland secretes excessive amunts f ACTH (adrencrtictrphic hrmne) int the bldstream, this in turn stimulates the adrenal gland, lcated near the kidneys, t release crtisl, which acts as a kind f trigger t ther glands. Hyper means that, due t interference t the pituitary gland, crtisl is being released at an unregulated rate. When the endcrine system is cmprmised, the delicate hrmnal balance is upset, and this thrws ut the entire system. Symptms present accrding t the glands mst affected. There s an added cmplicatin: similar syndrmes. Insulin Deficiency (Equine Metablic Syndrme) and thyrid dysfunctin can cause similar symptms, but are nt necessarily related t Cushing s. This is why the clinical prfile differs frm hrse t hrse, and why careful, individual diagnsis is necessary. Testing fr Cushing s The endcrine system f mammals is mysterius and cmplex; much is still unknwn, thugh mre is being discvered all the time. Because f the nature f Cushing s, clinical diagnsis is difficult, and nt ttally reliable. Mark West explained that while bld samples and urine tests can reveal sme hrmnal changes, they cannt give a cnclusive diagnsis f Cushing s syndrme. Several diagnstic tests which measure crtisl levels in the bld are incnclusive, especially in the early stages. The current, mst reliable test fr Cushing s is the dexamethasne suppressin test, r dex test. In this test, Dexamethasne, a crticsterid, is administered t the hrse. Tw bld samples will be drawn: ne in the late afternn, and ne the fllwing mrning. The rush f crtisl in the bld shuld cause the pituitary gland t shut dwn, r stp the prductin f natural crtisl. In respnse, the mrning bld test shuld shw a lwered level f natural crtisl. If the mrning reading shws a duble dse f crtisl the natural and the synthetic, the pituitary gland hasn t dne its jb. Vets hesitate t carry ut the dex test willynilly, fr tw reasns. In the early stages, the tell-tale nn-regulatin f crtisl may be s lw that n abnrmality will shw up, and therefre the test, which isn t cheap, is incnclusive. In later stages, when the level f bld crtisl is already high, injecting mre crtisne int the system can dangerusly raise the level and trigger an episde f laminitis - smething t avid at all csts. A lw-dex test is available but it s less cnclusive, and still carries sme risk. The lng, nn-shedding cat remains the simplest and mst straight-frward sign that actin needs t be taken. Once a firm diagnsis is reached, there are several drugs which can help, with Perglide, used t treat Parkinsn s disease in humans, yielding the best results. Trilstane, develped in the UK, shws great prmise as it blcks crtisl prductin. It s still very expensive, but when demand grws and efficacy and safety are prven, it shuld becme mre affrdable. With prper care and management, symptms can be relieved r pstpned fr years, and even reversed t sme degree. Janice Psnikff, head f Orange Cuntry Veterinary Services, in Suthern Califrnia, says that Cushing s disease shuld nt be feared, but respected. When caught early, treatment is very successful in reducing clinical signs and allwing affected hrses t live almst nrmal lives. Fr thse hrses in advanced stages f the disease, treatment still ffers imprved quality f live and lngevity. Therapists acrss the spectrum agree that a hlistic apprach is best. A supplemented diet which includes vitamins, minerals, and antixidants such as vitamins C and E will bst the immune system and imprve verall health. Chaste Tree berry (Vitus agnus castus), is an rganic surce f dpamine stimulatin used by naturpaths t nrmalise pituitary functin. Veterinarian Dr Judith Mulhlland says that Chaste Tree berry, used primarily t level the hrmnes in mares, is helpful in reducing symptms in arund 50% f hrses suffering frm Cushing s. Her website, has cmprehensive infrmatin abut Cushing s and ther serius cnditins. Equine naturpaths using herbal treatments prefer t begin with a veterinary diagnsis, then treat specific symptms. They advcate natural remedies t supprt synthetic drugs, r as the first step befre a drug regime is begun, as treatment fr Cushing s is life-lng, and the human-use drugs which have been fund t assist hrses are nt cheap. Renwned and respected equine herbalist, Victria Fergusn, says that sme medicinal plants, referred t as adaptagens, are knwn t equalise the metablic system. Apart frm the afrementined Chaste Tree berry, circulatry

5 herbs can strengthen the system, and aid healing. Devil s Claw, fr instance, is used as a natural alternative t phenylbutazne in the treatment f laminitis, and it desn t have bute s negative side-effects. Hw can wners help? As with all cancers, and metablic cnditins such as insulin resistance, early detectin can make a huge difference. Being aware f pssible symptms, and adjusting factrs like diet and prper hf-care, really can help t delay the nset f severe syndrmes like Cushing s. Fr mre advanced cases, a lt can be dne t alleviate symptms and make the hrse mre cmfrtable. Elevated crtisl in the system is similar t a cnstant state f stress, s added stress shuld be avided. The wner can assist by: - Sticking t a strict rutine. - Prviding sheltered, cmfrtable surrundings, with cnveniently-placed water and feed. - Prvide a GENTLE cmpanin - hrses hate t be alne. - Prvide a gd rug in cld weather - but dn t ver-rug as hairy Cushing s hrses can get very ht! - Having the lng cat clipped ff prir t the summer mnths will keep the hrse cler and mre cmfrtable. - Grm regularly t minimise skin disease and parasites. - Keep the feet well-trimmed, and watch fr laminitis. - Wrm the hrse mre frequently, and immunise annually against tetanus and strangles. - Have the dentist visit twice a year. - Avid giving phenylbutazne fr pain relief; bute weakens the bld-vessel walls, thus further cmprmising the system, and can actually exacerbate laminitis. - Avid subjecting the hrse t bssy r new hrses. Diet is imprtant Prviding a plain, easily digestible, high-quality diet is very imprtant. High rughage and lw prtein are the key pints, as Cushing s hrses metablise prtein at far greater rates than nrmal, and prtein verlad causes cellular damage. Gd quality grass hay shuld frm the bulk f the diet (saking the hay prir t feeding will remve much f the sugars fr insulin resistant hrses). Eliminate rich fds, including lucerne, green grass (beware f Spring and pst-drught flushes!), grains, starches and sugars, including apples and carrts. It may seem bring and bland, but sticking t what hrses evlved t eat is what they need mre than anything else. Victria Fergusn recmmends linseed and/r sunflwer ils, in mderate amunts, t prvide mega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids; and Rsehips, Garlic, Seaweed, Dlmite and Brewer's Yeast t prvide minerals, trace elements and vitamins in their natural frm, which are mre easily metablised than their synthetic cunterparts. She emphasises the imprtance f getting an individual diagnsis, taking and bserving results at regular intervals, and adjusting treatments accrdingly. Over-feeding grains and keeping hrses in a permanent state f besity, ut f misguided lve r an enhancement fr the shw-ring, may pre-dispse hrses t severe illnesses such as insulin deficiency and Cushing s (think f health issues such as diabetes amngst verweight peple.) Lack f exercise is als a factr. Light wrk is f great benefit, physically and mentally, aiding circulatin and pumping xygen-rich bld thrughut the bdy and inflamed, laminitic feet. If wrking the hrse is ut f the questin, a walk r a grm will be enjyable and beneficial, as well as lifting the ld friend s spirits and interest in life. Plenty f rughage, water t stand in t sthe sre feet, and a bit f lve and attentin will keep yur glden ldie happy and well fr much lnger. Australian Brumby Research Unit The Australian Brumby Research Unit has just develped a new initiative which will allw the cmmunity t experience first hand the brumby cuntry f Australia. Brumby Turs f the Outback are nw available fr grups. S if yu have an interest in being part f grups r rganizing a grup yurself just cntact the Unit t bk yur experience: ts/brumbyturs%20australia.pdf

6 Friends f the AEBM Australian Certified Equine Hfcare Practitiners The AEBM prudly supprts The Hrses Hf magazine. In the next issue yu will find: - A Bareft Milestne: Releasing The Fury - Garrett Frd's hrse The Fury wins the 2010 Tevis Haggin Cup. - Superstar Bareft Endurance Hrses! - Granite Chief reaches 10,000 Miles! And B tackles the Tevis. - Darlyn s Bareft Predictins revisited - Ten Year Predictins fr the Bareft Mvement, written in A Lk Back at 10 Years f The Hrse s Hf! - Marjrie Smith, Lking Back n Bareft. - Dr. Rbert Bwker, BAREFOOT N: Can Yu Hear Us Yet?? - Pete Ramey, Hf Care in the 21st Century? - Treatment f Disease in the Equine Frg - Part 3 f Health and Disease f the Equine Frg. - Sabine Kells: Bnnie, the hrse wh started it all. - Gretchen Fathauer: Bareft and NaturalHrseTrim. cm - Cutting the Natural Bareft Way - A bareft, naturally cared fr, and naturally trained cutting champin. - Open Jumpers Bareft, f curse! - These tw successful bareft Open Jumpers in Suth Africa are the nly nes in their cuntry! - Online Extras, 14 extra pages: Frg Disease Help: Useful Tls, Clse Inspectin f the Frg, Successful Treatment Understanding the Feral Hrse Ft by Dr Rbert Bwker Bareft in Suthern Spain! by Tracey Parker Internatinal Hf Cnference in Australia: February 2011 ESA & Balance Internatinal Bareft News & Phts frm the Past AEBM Membership Benefits AEBM Membership is nly AU$25 a year. This mney is used slely t prmte the benefits f a bareft, natural lifestyle fr ur dmestic hrses. Membership includes: Member s nly cmpetitins A $25.00 Cavall gift vucher fr every member f AEBM which can be used twards the purchase f any Cavall Hf bts r saddle pad frm Cavall Australia A 10% discunt n any purchase frm Cavall Australia (nt t be used with abve vucher) Pririty spnsrship f members club events Website Want mre infrmatin abut the AEBM? Wuld yu like t read articles abut barefting? Lking fr a Hfcare Prfessinal in yur area? Are yu a Hfcare Prfessinal? Fr this infrmatin and much mre, g t

7 TAFE f Tasmania: Certificate III in Agriculture Natural Hf Care by Susan Vickering (June 2010) I have been riding since the age f seven and was lucky enugh t wn my first pny when I was just 8 years ld. I grew up in England and mved ut t Australia in I nw have tw hrses, an 11 year ld TB gelding and a 4 year ld Arabian Riding Pny gelding. I discvered bareft abut 4 years ag and after ding lts f research n the internet decided that it was in the best interest f my hrse t give it a g. At that time I nly had the ne hrse, my TB gelding Wal. I fund myself a trimmer and had just the tw back shes pulled at first t see hw my by cped. He seemed t manage well after my initial dubts, and n the secnd trim the frnt shes were pulled ff. It was a reasnably truble-free transitin with the help f sme hf bts. I started t trim fr myself after my hrse was ut f wrk fr 3 mnths due t an injury. I tk a hf trimming clinic and have been trimming my wn hrse ever since. Being very impressed with hw my wn hrse was ging bareft, I was very interested when I read abut TAFE f Tasmania ffering the Natural Hf Care curse. I became aware f the curse thrugh smething being psted n the AEBM website a few years ag. After registering my interest with TAFE I received the curse infrmatin pack. I finally enrlled in the 2009 curse and am really glad that I did. The curse started with an intensive 2 week blck which I had t stay in Tasmania t d. This seemed quite daunting at first but I can hnestly say it was the best 2 weeks yu can imagine fr smene with a passin fr hrses and hves. The whle 2 weeks was jam-packed with learning amngst a grup f like-minded peple. It was a fantastic experience and sme great friendships were frmed. Tpics cvered in the curse included: - Hf Mechanism - Sheing and Traditinal Methds - Hf Prtectin (bting) - Tls & Equipment - Crrect Hf Trimming - Hrse Handling - Trimmers Bdy Psture and Fitness - Assessing Cnfrmatin and Sundness - Hf Pathlgies & Rehabilitatin - Feeding Plans - First Aid - Interacting with Custmers The curse c-rdinatrs and tutrs were wnderful and generusly shared their knwledge and experience with the students. They created a really supprtive and encuraging grup in which t learn. After cmpleting the intensive 2 week blck in Tasmania the curse requires the fllwing: Mentrships Yu are required t undertake a minimum f 3 mentrships with trimmers wrking in the industry and apprved by the curse. Case Studies 5 case studies must be cmpleted which must cver a full hf capsule cycle. Assignments 12 assignments need t be cmpleted cvering all aspects f the curse. Final Live Trim Yu are required t either g back ttasmania t perfrm a live trim assessment r vide yur live trim and submit it fr assessment. I am nw nly 1 assignment and the live trim assessment away frm finishing the curse and am lking frward t develping my wn hf trimming business in the cming mnths. 7

8 The AEBM will be spnsring the Best Perfrmed Bareft Hrse award at the upcming HRCAV Tp Team Trphy Dressage, t be held at Werribee Park n 13 th & 14 th Nvember. Get yur entries in!!! Laminitis/Funder by Julie Leitl Spring fr mst peple it means sunny days and flwering gardens, but fr thse wh wn hrses and pnies that are prne t laminitis, Spring spells dread! The majr cause f death in ur dmestic hrse is clic, and the secnd is laminitis (Pllitt). There are many causes fr laminitis in the hrse, and althugh sme breeds are mre susceptible than thers, it makes sense that all hrse wners educate themselves abut the causes, and risk factrs, as preventin is certainly much better than cure! The laminitis we see in Spring and Autumn is cmmnly knwn as IR (insulin resistance) r EMS (equine metablic syndrme). IR is defined as the failure f tissues t respnd apprpriately t insulin (Frank, 2006). Sme laminitis risk factrs fr hrses are: Overweight/Obese Diet high in nn-structural carbhydrates (NSC = sugar and starch) Lack f exercise Stress Genetic predispsitin Insulin insensitivity Cushings disease Clic episde/s Systemic illness Endtxic/pisning Inapprpriate feeding f grain Retained placenta Injury t ne r mre limbs Reactin t sme medicatins Pr r inadequate hfcare Sme signs f acute laminitis: Shifting f weight frm ne ft t the ther (usually frnts) Standing with frnt feet stretched ut in frnt (usually with hinds tucked under) Lying dwn fr lng perids Unwilling t mve, r mve at nrmal pace Pulsating digital arteries Maybe generally unwell This pny is suffering frm the lng term effects f laminitis and had nt been receiving prper care. Nte the slippered, neglected feet. He is nw adpted and receiving the crrect management and hf care. Sme ther signs may include: Heat in the hves Bld visible in the white line Stretched white line Hard neck crest Shrt striding Sund n sft fting but nt sund n hard grund Treatment: 1. Determine and remve the cause. 2. Seek veterinary advice/treatment. 3. Expert hfcare this is essential, particularly after changes in the feet such as rtatin f the cffin bne. 8

9 Preventin: Are yu a Rider f Distinctin? Are yu a member f the AEBM? Are yu a Rider f Distinctin? Are yu a bareft hrse rider cmpeting in yur field it culd be jumping, trail riding, pny club, shwing, endurance riding, dressage, eventing, rienteering, adult riding club, natural hrsemanship, driving, campdrafting, western riding, racing? Are yu a bareft-friendly instructr, breeder r smene rescuing and rehming hrses? Is there smething special f distinctive abut what yu d with bareft hrses? Yu culd be eligible fr an AEBM/Cavall Hrse & Rider RIDERS OF DISTINCTION Award. Yu will receive a pair f Cavall SIMPLE Bts and a Cavall Ttal Cmfrt System Saddle Pad. Fr mre infrmatin and an entry frm dwnlad the PDF dcument n ur website. Maintain a healthy weight fr the hrse Organise a weight lss regime fr verweight hrses (whilst ensuring a nutritinally balanced diet) Limit amunt f time grazing n high NSC pasture - use a grazing muzzle r strip graze (sme hrses/pnies will need t be remved frm all grass and fed a predminately grass hay diet during times f high risk) Exercise yur hrse regularly Avid feeding grain t inactive hrses/pnies Feed hay with lw NSC cntent (10%) Avid sweets such as apples and carrts Avid pre mixed feeds cntaining mlasses Hrses/pnies suffering frm chrnic laminitis need t be managed very carefully and prbably fr the rest f their lives. Envirnmental cnditins cnstantly change and management practices will have t adapt t thse changes. It is the respnsibility f the hrse wner t prvide a well balanced diet and exercise prgram alng with lifestyle and envirnmental cnditins required fr laminitis management, bth in the shrt, and ver the lng term. Whilst specialist hf trimming can help fundered hves by re-establishing hf functin and balance, hf trimming alne will nt save yur hrse frm the nging effects f laminitis. If yu suspect that yur hrse r pny may be prne t, r suffering frm laminitis, seek prfessinal advice as sn as pssible as delaying treatment can have severe cnsequences. Fr further reading: Dr Dnald Walsh Kathryn Watts, Agricultural Scientist Prfessr Chris Pllitt, Queensland University With prper feeding and lifestyle management and specialist bareft hf care, severely fundered hves can heal. Befre and After picturess f Skye,.an aged pny suffering frm chrnic funder and cushings disease. 9

10 N Hf, N Hrse Seminar Held at Seville Public Hall, Seville by Carlene Wilsn Julie Leitl hsted the AEBM s secnd N Hf N Hrse seminar at Seville in the beautiful Yarra Valley n 29th August Only bareft enthusiasts were in attendance, which is a real shame. The sheing cntingent f hrse wners were nt represented and after talking t a cuple f friends that d she it is pssibly due t the misguided belief that they wuld be ear-bashed abut hw cruel/wrng they are t she... In my pinin after attending nthing culd be further frm Julie's bjectives in hlding this seminar. It was a huge day indeed with lts t take in and I was thankful I wasn't ut clubbing (yes ha ha, as if) the night befre. Even thugh the sun was shining utside (nt t mentin I was missing ut n precius riding time), it was imprtant fr me t g and learn abut the influences that affect my hrse's health, fcusing n feet - and I can't emphasise enugh hw interesting the day was. Julie tk us thrugh the structures f the hrses hf in the mrning, and after lunch we lked at the many specimen bnes. I particularly fund the differences in the diseased bnes and hw what is dne t the hf (be it farrier, bareft r whatever) determined and affected the pressures n the internal structures and bnes, and thus in sme instances re-shaped them accrding t thse frces (ie grew bne spurs r side bars r cmpressed pedal bnes, the frmatin f ringbne, etc. We lked at fal bnes and a 10 case study f a fal that had shcking feet and why/hw that had happened. We lked at laminitis and hw and what that des t feet, hw the hf capsule actually frms/grws (d yu realise hw thin that actually is!!!!) and bnds, the arterial and venus (and nerve) bld supply and hw that all wrks in the hf. Whilst we were discussing funder/laminitis we learned that there was an auditr amngst us that had researched and gne as far as t reseed her prperty t eradicate the different grasses that caused prblems with hrses, as the grasses swn here are primarily develped fr the intense farming f cattle and nt at all suitable fr hrses. I wuld dearly like fr her t share her knwledge n that subject at a future seminar (r at the very least, perhaps she culd write an article fr the website?). Julie als had recently received real brumby feet frm utback Australia that she brught alng t shw us, they were fascinating and t my eye were perfect lking feet. They smelt t kingdm cme but we gt ver that. She als had a crss-sectin in frmaldehyde t shw us the differences and, in particular, hw far up the pedal bne sits in the wild hrse cmpared t a dmestic hrse (the difference being determined by the terrain and the restrictin in mvement and the difference in nutritin due t what they are eating). Be yur hrse bareft r shd, it truly was the examinatin f frm and functin f the hrse's hf. Of curse I'd like MORE inf nw... hmmm, when is the fllw up seminar Julie???

11 Hrses, Italy, Barehf - what's next? By Glenn Wilsn Mentin Italy t a grup f Australians and the range f respnses may include fine dining, classical art, Rme, Ferrari, beautiful shes and fashin, the Ppe, Ducati, Fiat, Flrence and culture. Nt t many f us will think f 'Italy and hrses' despite that cuntry's lng and prud equine histry that makes ur, and ur American friends, relatinship with these animals lk like we are just cming ut f kindergarten. Yes, Italians have been 'ding hrses' fr a very, very lng time. There are sme classical Italian breeds, including the Murgese, whse ancestry dates back t the 15th century; the Mareammana, riginally frm Tuscany; the Salern, an Olympic winning shw jumper; the Sanfrantellan, and what is cnsidered Italy's mst prlific native breed, the flaxen maned, slidly built Avelignese pny. S nw we are ver the mental hurdle f mixing Italy with hrses, I will intrduce yu t Maurizi Patti. Maurizi is an Italian wh is als very much int hrses; especially if they are barehf (r culd be), as he is a barehf trimmer. He is als a fllwer f the Nevzrv Haute Ecle (NHE) and Italy's fficial representative f NHE. He has tw hrses, Mr Cypr and Mrs Lency, and accrding t Maurizi, "bth enjy a life where they are allwed t live like hrses. That means freedm, bareft, n riding and enugh gd quality fd." Maurizi is cming t Australia later this year t cnduct three wrkshps in the NHE methd in Tallangatta Valley, Nrth East Victria. This is exciting fr me fr a number f reasns: as the c-hst f the three wrkshps, as a barehf trimmer, as a keen 'L" plate hrseman, and as smene wh was quite awestruck when I first discvered Alexander Nevzrv's website a cuple f years ag (I was als quite shcked at the images f cruelty and abuse f hrses invlved in 'equine sprts' Alexander's wife Lydia had amassed and psted t supprt the Nevzrv's passinate campaign t free the hrse frm abuse at the hands f humans - but that's a whle ther different basket f eggs). 11 The pprtunity t find ut mre abut all these things and explre the wrld f barehf hrses frm the Italian/Eurpean perspective was cmpelling. But rather than wait until Maurizi arrived n Australian sil, I thught I culd 'interview' him by and share with the reader what I had gleaned. It wuld seem that life fr the Italian dmestic hrse is very similar t the life an Australian dmestic hrse has, and that is the full spectrum f living and 'uses' that ur hrses seem t enjy, r endure. Maurizi says, "Well, they (hrses) d the same things ther peple frm arund the wrld d with their hrses. They practice jumping, dressage, races (legal and illegal), classical riding, Parelli etc. There are nt many peple here fllwing NHE as mst f them still lk fr results and hrses are seen as tys t play with. Nt many peple take gd care f hrse s welfare. What I usually hear frm peple is that hrses are expensive t maintain, therefre they must d things t amuse themselves - such as riding etc." "In Italy yu can find all kinds f activities. Husing is still pretty traditinal, especially in suth Italy: stables are really cmmn and it is really rare yu will see hrses tgether. Nrth Italy is a little better because they have pastures and grups f hrses tgether, but still there is a lt t d twards the welfare f hrses. We have all kind f breeds but mst are Arabian breeds. The San Fratellan is an Italian breed which lives in Sicily and they can be seen in the Nebrdi s muntains. It is a black and rather tall hrse. In Puglia regin we have the Murgese breed, which is als black and it is usually used fr dressage. Then we have the Sella Italian, which is used fr jumping and f curse we have many mre Italian breeds." Our cnversatin then turned t the really imprtant subject f barehf. I asked Maurizi if barehf was very ppular in Eurpe and Italy in particular? Maurizi said, "Cmpared t the shd hrses in Eurpe, bareft is yet nt s ppular but a lt has been dne twards it. I, fr example, have had my hrses bareft since the beginning f Right nw thse wh try t keep a hrse bareft is that wner wh has an unsund hrse and after spending thusands f Eurs in vets they decide, as a last resrt, t remve the shes." This sunds very familiar, desn't it?

12 "What barehf style/philsphy d yu generally fllw?" I then asked. Maurizi started with Pete Ramey and Jamie Jacksn, but then lked int the Strasser methd t. "Hwever, hrses are nt the same and trims cannt be standardized. Sme prceedings culd be fine fr lts f hrses but fr thers they may just get lame. In a trim I wuld never lk fr the beautiful shape f the hf but fr what makes the hrse sund and cmfrtable", he said. Maurizi discvered bareft frm a guy he met during his Parelli 'stage', wh later became a very gd friend f his. He was a blacksmith (farrier) and a bareft trimmer t. Tday he nly trims. "What types f hrses d yu nrmally trim?" I asked. Maurizi replied, "Definitely mine and as I said thse hrses with prblems such as laminitis, navicular syndrme r thse hrses with an undiagnsed prblems. Like ne wh had pain in a hind leg and the vet did all he culd. The wner tk the hrse t Rme t have a Scintigraphy withut being able t diagnse the prblem. S they called me and I unshd the hrse and after a few mnths she lked and mved as if she never had that prblem. Then I trim sme pnies. Yu have t knw that trimming fr me is nt a jb but a passin s I d nt have that many." Realising that the wrld f hrses has many similarities indeed, I psed the next questin, "What time interval between trims d yu try 12 and achieve?" Maurizi said, "I usually trim with a time interval f 4 weeks. Then it depends n the seasn t, like in winter I can wait a bit lnger as the hf grws slwer than spring/summer." N real surprises here either it seems! "I d trim 6 hrses in Switzerland - 3 belng t a NHE schl member and 3 t different wners. In September I am ging t have a NHE wrkshp in Slvenia and the rganizer, wh is als a member f the frum, asked me if I culd trim her hrse while I am there. She is nt happy with her trimmer, nt because he is nt a gd trimmer but because he is t hard with her hrse and makes him very nervus." GW: What des yur tl kit cmprise f? Maurizi: "I have an Asct Dick knife, a rasp, a hfjack and, when needed, a nipper." GW: What are the cmmn pathlgies in hves yu find mst? Maurizi: "I think cmmn pathlgy in hves here is cntracted hves. An imprper sheing is usually the cause f hf cntractin and mst likely I get called nly when the hrse cannt walk anymre. But then by barefting the hrse it sn gets better, especially if wners give hrses better living cnditins, which means lts f mvement, prper feeding and n stalls. Als, as all ver the wrld inf dmestic sprt hrses, the ther tw cmmn pathlgies are laminitis and navicular syndrme." GW: What attracted yu t Alexander Nevzrv? Maurizi: "The absence f fear in bth man and hrse and that can be achieved nly by cmmunicatin and respect." GW: Have yu studied r fllwed any ther hrsemanship teachers/teaching/styles? Maurizi: "Yes, befre NHE I was fllwing Parelli, which was surely better that traditinal but still very vilent cmpare t NHE." GW: D yu think hrses are better ff tday than they were 10, 50 r 100 years ag? Maurizi: "If I think f my hrses then I wuld say yes. In general I wuld say N. A lng time ag hrses were used t help humans in

13 the daily wrking time, s maybe hrses then were part f the family. Tday hrses are nt needed t help peple s they are nw used fr sprt and sprt lks at hrses as machines, pushing them until hrses are cmpletely brken. Once they break them, next step is slaughterhuse. Hwever, things are changing and we are wrking hard with Hrse Revlutin (a Nevzrv term) t make things happen." GW: D yu think hrses have a 'higher' agenda with humans? Maurizi: "Hrses d nt have agenda, they just live the mment. Usually peple have agendas with hrses but just because they dn t knw better." GW: Any ther thughts yu'd like t share with Australian readers? Maurizi: "With Australian readers I wuld like t share my endless happiness. Since I have met NHE a new kind f awareness has enlightened me: it has made me realize that what cunts in life is t try t make my sul always free, free f expectatin, free f any agenda, free t respect and free t lve." GW: D yu knw much abut Australia? Maurizi: "I knw it is a wnderful place and that peple are very respectful tward nature and cmmunity life. I als knw abut Abrigines, then kangars and that Australia is a very big and beautiful cuntry." GW: D yu knw what G'day mate means? Maurizi: "What I have heard f it is that if I plan n visiting Australia I shuld ensure I pack: 1 x big stick and the ability t say G day which it shuld mean hell. Yet I need t learn it better and maybe yu can explain it t me." Well I shall try t explain it t Maurizi when he arrives here in Tallangatta Valley just after Equitana in Nvember. Further resurces: cle.php?sid=0&id= "The Functinal Hf" Australian Cnference Feb 2nd - 5th 2011 Werribee, VIC Hsted by Australian Equine Educatin Services, ABN An Invitatin t all Equine enthusiasts t participate in Australia's first prfessinal scientific cnference aimed fr Veterinarians, trimmers, farriers, hrse industry and wners. Expressins f interest invited fr spnsrship fr this exciting 4 day cnference featuring Internatinal and Australian speakers Rebecca Sctt, Marg Richardsn Australian Equine Educatin Services AEBM Editrial Plicies We encurage yur submissins, including phts, articles and stries abut bareft hrses. If yu wuld like t cntribute, please cntact us. Material that is published des nt necessarily reflect endrsement by The AEBM cmmittee r any f its members. The AEBM is a member based, nn-prfit rganisatin with an elected cmmittee which supprts ur members and thse wh believe in natural lifestyle and physilgically crrect bareft hfcare. We respect privacy and d nt sell r distribute any member infrmatin. If yu wuld like t becme a member f the AEBM, please cntact us at admin@aebm.rg.au 2010 by Australian Equine Bareft Mvement Inc. All rights reserved. N part f this publicatin may be reprduced by any means whatsever withut the written permissin f AEBM cmmittee. The infrmatin cntained within this newsletter is intended fr educatinal purpses nly. Readers shuld seek advice frm their veterinarian and qualified help frm a bareft trimmer/farrier befre attempting any trimming f hves. Opinins expressed herein are thse f the authrs and d nt necessarily reflect thse f the publisher.