Bäume und Sträucher für Pferde

Fructan-Risk: What does that mean?

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In the past, wild horses were used to feeding on barren meadows with dry bushes. The fields we keep our horses on today are nothing like those of 200 years ago. Today’s high-performance dairy farming has resulted in the cultivation of grass varieties that are rich in energy, protein and sugar, which are optimal for cows but unsuitable for horses. Therefore, we should keep an eye on the fructan content of the grass to prevent diseases like laminitis.

What is fructan?

Fructan is a long-chain carbohydrate that serves the plant as a storage for excess energy. It is produced during photosynthesis. This is the case, for example, when it is sunny but temperatures are low, so that the energy gained is not used directly for growing and is therefore stored for the time being.

Why is fructan in issue?

Fructans are metabolized in the large intestine by bacteria and are rapidly fermentable. A large intake can lead to a shift in the intestinal flora. The carbohydrate-splitting bacteria increase to the detriment of the crude fiber-splitting bacteria. They die and release endotoxins, which enter the bloodstream via the damaged intestinal wall. 

  • Endotoxins enter the bloodstream

In the hoof corium, the toxins lead to small blood clots which impair the blood circulation. This process can lead to the development of laminitis. It was long thought that protein was the trigger for feeding-induced laminitis, but this assumption is now outdated. Of course, the development of laminitis is related to other factors such as previous illnesses, poor hoof condition, or feeding that is generally too high in carbohydrates.  In addition, it is discussed to what extent mold toxins (endophytes) living in symbiosis with grasses have an influence.

Eine Wiese, auf die die Sonne scheint

When's the fructan-risk particularly high?

Basically, when the grass can not grow, it stores more fructan. This is the case, for example, when it is too cold or too dry.

  • Whenever the grass grows, the fructan content decreases.

In May and in October and November the highest levels of fructan are measured, as the grass is less able to grow at this time. In August and September, on the other hand, the fructan content in the grass is usually at its lowest.

In her dissertation in 2002, Sandra Dahlhoff found that the fructan content depends strongly on the average temperature of the past 48 hours. If the temperature increases, the fructan content decreases. In addition, the fructan content in the grass is mainly related to the average temperature during the night. If it was colder than 8°C, the risk of high fructan content is usually higher. If the previous night was rather warm, the risk is somewhat lower, unless it was dry for a long time. Again: Whenever the grass grows, the fructan content decreases.

fructan risk, fructan, fructan warning
grazing, fructan risk, fructan warning

Especially critical: sun and frosty temperatures

The following situation is particularly problematic: a lot of sun and frosty or cold weather. Photosynthesis can take place here, but the energy produced is not converted into growth.

A popular belief among horse owners is that short mown grass is particularly high in fructan because it can hardly grow and therefore accumulates fructan. This is only partly correct, as regularly mowing the meadows to about 15 cm, can help reduce the sugar content in the grass.

The HorseAnalytics App

Check out the Fructan-Risk Assessment
Eine Wiese, die mit Reif

How can fertilizing help?

It may sound surprising: Applying nitrogenous fertilizer in spring also helps combat high fructan concentrations, since today’s high-sugar, high-performance grass, such as German ryegrass or meadow fescue, can only grow well in nutrient-rich soils. If the nutrients are lacking, the plant is stressed and produces fructan.

The roughage may also be of concern.

Roughage also contains fructan. Thus, up to 80% of the fructan from the grass can end up in the hay. Special care should be taken with the first cut and the second cut. Washing the hay in warm water will flush the sugars out of the hay. The rule here is to let it soak for at least 30 minutes. But be careful: at the same time bacteria can multiply explosively!

Which types of grass are particularly rich in fructan?

German ryegrass and meadow fescue are considered to be particularly rich in fructan. Fructan is mostly stored in the stem. In contrast, timothy, red fescue, meadow foxtail and cocksfoot are low in fructan. Typically, a mixture of the different grass species is found in German pastures.

How can HorseAnalytics help?

Our HorseAnalytics app helps you by displaying the fructan risk at your horse’s location using a traffic light system. The app processes the weather data at your horse’s location and thus provides forecasts. This is an enormous relief, especially for horses with EMS or Cushing’s disease.

Learn more!

The app helps you assess the fructan-risk on a daily basis.

Deworming Horses: How to do it correctly

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Praziquantel, Febantel, Pyrantel, Ivermectin or Moxidectin? The question mark is getting bigger and bigger? Don’t worry, we’ll help you out!

What does worm infestation mean?

Worms belong to the so-called endoparasites. In other words, they attack the body from the inside. There are three main groups that affect horses: Roundworms, Tapeworms and Gastric Woodlice.

Regular deworming is part of preventive health care and maintenance in horses. If this is done, a potential worm infestation can be minimized. But when and how are horses best dewormed? These are exactly the questions we want to answer today. 

But first we would like to show you how the HorseAnalytics App can help. You can see the structure of the App on the following screens. Here you can organize and manage all appointments and barn routines, no matter if it’s a vet appointment, the deworming, the farrier or feeding schedule. Deworm your horse in the best possible way and keep it healthywith HorseAnalytics.

Simply download the app from App Store or Play Store and try it out right away! Just click on the corresponding button below.

HorseAnalytics, Management, Pferdemanagement

A parasite-free horse. Is that possible?

Straight away – the answer is No.

There is no such thing as a completely worm-free horse. An infestation with parasites cannot be avoided. However, a certain level of worm infestation is useful to strengthen the horse’s immune system as a healthy horse usually has no problems with a low parasite infestation and thus keeps the body’s defense mechanism on its toes.

Therefore, parasite control – in this case deworming – is not primarily aimed at completely eradicating worms, but at reducing the infestation to a tolerable level and keeping it to a minimum in order to prevent renewed disease and damage. Incidentally, complete eradication is almost impossible: the development cycles of the parasites are well adapted to those of the horses and their habitats, and re-infection is difficult to prevent. In itself, this would not be a big deal if it weren’t for resistance.

But what’s the best way of deworming horses?

Adult horses are given between two and four worming treatments per year. As a rule, parasites are active in all four seasons, but especially in spring and autumn. But now the question is which kind of dewormer to give, as it completely depends on the season.

In spring it makes sense to focus on roundworms, in the summer on roundworms and tapeworms, and in autumn on stomach borers.

The common way of deworming is to treat all horses with the same medication on the same day. But since parasites are getting resistant against those treatments the individualized approach can be a better way to avoid this. 

So, there are two different concepts of deworming. The strategic- and individual deworming.

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Strategic deworming

Deworming can be approached by deworming the horse 4 times a year as standard. This is how most stables handle it – little effort and the entire stock at once. However, this also has disadvantages, and here we come back to the resistance issue.

Over time, parasites can develop resistance to the ingredients of the worming treatments, so that the effect of the treatment is rather low. Since more and more resistances have been detected, the form of selective deworming is getting popular for good reason. In order to avoid resistance in parasites, it is extremely important to regularly change the active ingredients of the deworming medications. Groups of active ingredients should therefore be replaced every year.

Individualized deworming

Individualized deworming involves more effort because fecal samples of the horse must be regularly sent to the veterinarian or laboratory. There, the samples are going to be examined and the deworm medication is tailored to the horse’s worm infestation.

If we now look at a complete horse population, fecal samples must be taken from all horses at the same time and sent in. This procedure is carried out over several months. The positive thing here is that you only give the horse a worming treatment if there is a parasitic infestation. So no chemicals end up in your horse when it is not necessary and therefore the risk of parasites getting resistant is minimized.

Tips & Advice

Whether strategic or selective, each horse owner must decide individually on behalf of his horses – but deworming alone is not enough.

Stables, fields and paddocks should be thoroughly cleaned each day. Especially after treatment with a dewormer, parasitic infestations can result in large amounts of eggs, larvae and worms being found in the horse’s feces. So, to prevent a new infection or the infection of other horses, it is recommended to be especially thorough in cleaning the above mentioned places. If you take good care of the stable, paddock and pasture, the parasites have less of a chance.

How do you handle the deworming of your horses? Strategically or individualized?

Do you put your horse’s health first, too?

Download the HorseAnalytics app now!  Click on the button below to get to Google Play Store or App Store. 

 

See you soon!

Flying change made easy with pole exercises

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The flying change is an  important exercise across all equestrian disciplines. It is part of dressage tests from level 3 onward and an essential exercise for every show jumper. 

But teaching horses the flying change can turn into a real challenge. Especially amateurs often struggle with it. However, certain exercises target all the basics you need to ride a correct flying change. So, keep reading and find out how you should structure your training to reach your goal!

HorseAnalytics, Training, Trainingsübungen

The HorseAnalytics App offers more than 200 exercises for jumping, dressage and cross country to help you find inspiration for efficient and fun training sessions. So, don’t just trust the process, make it happen!

The flying change is all about the quality of the canter and straightness of the horse. Another important aspect when teaching the flying change is to avoid your horse getting flighty and stressed. Therefore, you shouldn’t ask for it in every training, but try to include it about 2 times per week.

The following training plan will show you how to structure your weekly training correctly. All exercises that are shown can be found in the HorseAnalytics App. You can search, save and share the exercises and of course go through all the other exercises we prepared for you to improve your training further.

But now, let’s get straight into it!

Weekly Training Schedule:

  • Monday

Easy Training

Exercise:

„Straightness on the centerline“

In this exercise, you’ll have to switch quickly between bending and straightening your horse. By bending your horse, you’ll work both sides evenly and therefore improve strength. Being able to smoothly switch between bending to one side, straightening the horse, and then bending it to the other will give you a feeling for balance, straightness, and improve the quality of the gaits, if done correctly. 

Dressurübung 3 - Gerade auf der Mittellinie
  • Tuesday

Gridwork

Exercise: „The Hourglass“

First, try to practice the flying change by riding over a single pole. With the grid shown in the picture, you can choose between a single pole and a grid of poles or fences.

But always keep in mind: Don’t hang on to the reigns to slow your horse down or turn. All your aids should primarily come from your lower leg and core. If your horse gets stressed and flighty step back and start over trying to regain balance, suppleness and straightness.

  • Wednesday

Dressage

Exercise: „Exercise for balance“

Vary your training and don’t think of the flying change today. You’ll stay on track nevertheless by practicing balance and working on throughness with this exercise.

  • Thursday

Dressage with flying change

Exercise: „Flexion and Bending“

Today, you will try to do the flying change without poles. By changing reigns and alternate bending and flexing your horse to both sides you’ll prepare for the flying change. Make sure that your horse canters calmly and easily and does not build up stress during the exercise.

  • Friday:

Lunging with poles

Exercise: „Triangles“

As we all know, a rider has his weaknesses too and hinders the horse to move balanced and free from time to time. Therefore, lunging is important to make sure the horse doesn’t get distracted by the rider’s mistakes which could result in muscular imbalances. Keep in mind, that the horse has to bend constantly while lunging as you’re keeping it on a circle. Your task is to make sure the horse bends correctly and engages the inner hind leg.

  • Saturday:

Jumping

Exercise: „B80T Course“

Ride a course with small fences and see if you’re able to keep rhythm and balance – get into a flow. Make sure you ride straight lines to every fence and don’t overwhelm your horse with flying changes.

  • Sunday

Restday

First level dressage – a detailed training program for your next competition

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Do you want to prepare for a first level dressage test and need some good exercises to spice up your training? We’ll show you how the HorseAnalytics App can help you to create an efficient and fun training schedule.

In a first level dressage test you will be asked for medium trot and canter, leg yield and change of rein. The judges want to see a rider who’s balanced and in harmony with his horse.

To achieve harmony in the saddle and make it look effortless, pole work can help a great deal. But it can take a lot of time to find exercises that suit you and your horse. Therefore, you’ll find a training schedule specifically targeting the challenges of a 1st level dressage test in this article. So, keep reading to reach your goal!

You can find all the exercises in the HorseAnalytics App. Of course, you can switch it up to make it more fitting to your individual needs. Download the App to be able to create your own training schedule and search, save and share all your favorite exercises. 

The HorseAnalytics App offers more than 200 exercises for jumping, dressage and cross country to help you find inspiration for efficient and fun training sessions. Don’t just trust the process, make it happen!

Ans now, let’s get straight into it!

Your Weekly Training Schedule

  • Monday

Easy Jog

Exercise: „Exercise for balance“

Use this exercise to work on rhythm and suppleness (always keeping the training scale in mind: rhythm, suppleness, connection to the bit, impulsion and so on). On this day we’re especially focussing on the first three points of the training scale. The horse should relax and stretch its muscles. Being able to keep a steady rhythm and connection in the voltes is the main goal.

  • Tuesday: 

Pole Work

Exercise: „H for Health“

This exercise helps to engage the hind leg through working with poles.

  • Wednesday

Test Riding

Focus on rhythm and correctness

  • Thursday

Lunging

Exercise: „Lunging with hashtag and trotting poles“

  • Friday

Flatwork

Exercise:  „Straightness on the Centerline“

The centerline is the first and last impression and one of the most important parts of your test. Getting it right is not easy but this exercise will for sure help you with it. On the last day before the competition, you can also include a few other parts of the test that you feel like need some more practice.

Dressurübung 3 - Gerade auf der Mittellinie
  • Saturday: Competition
  • Sunday: Rest 

 

 

Good Luck!