By Jacquelin Boggs, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Senior Equine Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis So, your mare just had a foal—first and foremost, congratulations! We know that many months of solid teamwork and—let’s be honest—a good dose of worry have gone into realizing this miracle. From choosing the sire to preparing your mare for breeding to confirming and monitoring her pregnancy, you and your veterinary team planned it all so carefully and now you have a gorgeous new four-legged family member to brag about. Of course, the responsibility of rearing this precious newborn is just beginning. But don’t worry, you’ve got this. Even so, never forget that your veterinary team is always your first line of help to ensure your foal’s health and well-being, and it takes a village to raise a happy, healthy equine family member. The tips and insights in this blog can be referenced as a care guide for your foal in her first 6 months of life, specifically in months 2 to 6. For foal care tips at birth and for the first few days, check out blog, “Caring for Your Newborn Foal.” Start off on the right hoof with newborn diagnostic tests In prep for newborn foal exams, I typically measure both serum amyloid A (SAA) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. 1. SAA testing  is a valuable diagnostic measure that can help detect infection before other clinical signs appear. At Zoetis, we have a device called the Stablelab® EQ-1 handheld reader that can accurately quantify SAA in 10 minutes.1 If SAA is elevated, it is an early indicator of infection which is helpful to know so that you and your veterinarian can promptly diagnose and treat your newborn foal. 2. IgG testing indicates whether your foal has acquired adequate transfer of maternal antibodies from the mare’s first milk called colostrum. While the IgG test can determine whether your foal has enough antibodies to support their immune system health (to protect against future infection), the SAA test can identify a potential infection that may require additional diagnostic tests or treatment. For additional newborn foal exam tips, emergency preparedness and guidance for the first few hours of life, visit the following blog: “Caring for Your Newborn Foal.” Optimizing growth and development in the first six months Healthy feeding Exercise and play in the first six months Young foals often sleep during the day but should get up to nurse about three to four times an hour. I like to remind clients that it’s important for your mare and foal to enjoy abundant turn out and exercise. One caveat, I’m referring to foals that have no complications—please consult your foal’s veterinarian for physical activity recommendations (especially if there were any issues seen at newborn foal exams). Basically, the less time foals are confined to stalls, the better. Whenever possible, avoid confining them for more than 10 hours per day. Avoid forced exercise or fatigue. Remember that your foal’s immature bones and joints are still growing and developing. Foals with limb deformities or other musculoskeletal problems may need to have their exercise restricted. Estimating body weight can be challenging, but it’s important for tracking growth and ensuring you’re using the correct doses of dewormers and other medications. Planning a vaccine schedule This chart can be a helpful tool to refer to when determining which vaccines your foal will need in the first 6 months. As always, please consult your veterinarian for vaccine and timing recommendations to help prevent your foal from contracting both core and risk-based diseases. View and download this recommended vaccine schedule for foals and check out a snapshot of it below. The recommendations in this chart are based on the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Vaccination Guidelines.6 Your foal initially gets maternal antibodies from the mare, but as they begin to wane, it’s important to help protect your foal from common diseases with the appropriate vaccines. In their first year, foals require several doses of both core and risk-based vaccinations to develop protection. The ugly ascarid-deworming foals For the first 6 months of a foal’s life, the lifecycle of the ascarid (roundworm) is oral ingestion from pasture, through the lungs into the GI tract. Therefore, clinical signs associated with ascarid infection can include coughing and other respiratory issues as well as GI signals like colic. Ascarids are the most significant parasite threat to this age group and can restrict your foal’s growth if left uncontrolled.7 The parasite larvae that foals swallow in pasture can also migrate causing coughing and nasal discharge. The adult worms live in the small intestine and can cause colic, intestinal blockage and even rupture. Below are key takeaways in alignment with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP):7 Target the right parasites at the right time A targeted approach for controlling parasites depends on when your foal was born. The following chart can serve as a helpful guide:7 *At weaning, ask your veterinarian to conduct a fecal egg count (FEC) test to determine if a final roundworm treatment is needed between 6-9 months of age.**If verified still effective against small strongyles through fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Do not use Quest® Gel or Quest® Plus Gel in foals less than 6 months of age or in sick, debilitated and underweight horses. Do not use in other animal species, as severe adverse reactions, including fatalities in dogs, may result. Consult your veterinarian for assistance in the diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitism. Weaning: The next adventure   Weaning typically happens between 4 and 7 months of age. After 4 months, a mare’s milk alone does not provide enough nutrition for growth, and most foals are happy eating hay and grain on their own. The first step in the weaning process is to ensure that your foal is eating good quality hay and is comfortable eating a well-balanced ration that supports rapid growth.9 There are a variety of effective weaning methods, but most typically fall into three camps (gradual, abrupt and intermittent).10 It’s a great idea to bring this up as a topic of discussion with your veterinarian to gather their recommendation based on

By Liberty Getman, DVM, DACVS, Equine Technical Services, Zoetis Do you ever think about what it takes to become an Olympian? As many of us gear up to watch the summer games in Paris, we’ll hear time and time again about athletes’ preparation—and the army of supporters who have stood behind them over the years as they ascend to the world stage. But what about horses? What does it take to care for them as they prepare for competition? Surprisingly, there are many parallels between what it truly takes to support an elite human athlete and how horses are cared for during training for equine competitions. In addition to working as an equine surgeon with a sports medicine specialty for over 17 years, I’ve trained and competed in ultra-marathon races and have seen these parallels firsthand. Ultra-marathons are races longer than a marathon (26.2 miles) and can range from 50 to 200 miles or longer. Whether a human or equine athlete, it takes diligence and the right team behind you to establish a strong training foundation to succeed. My support network includes a physical therapist who I work with several times a month, along with instructors in cross-training and yoga and nutritional guidance to help support my body through this demanding work. Horses preparing for Olympic competition have similar demands. The keys to being successful in equine or human athletic endeavors comes down to having a solid support network, nailing the simple things and being proactive.  Here’s what that means. It takes a village Have you heard the saying “It takes a village”? Well, it’s also appropriate when you think about what it takes to care for a horse, especially one training for the Olympics. Ensuring a horse stays performance-ready takes a cast of valuable players, all with their own expertise and responsibilities, and all just as dedicated to your horse’s health and the competition as you are. I recently caught up with eventing Olympian Doug Payne, who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  In addition to running the world-class training center Payne Equestrian, he echoed the need for an army of strong support behind him, saying, “Being on the road for over 40 weeks of the year and managing an Olympic training schedule could not be done without a world-class team.  I’ve focused on building a support system of professionals who care about the horses as much as I do, and I trust my team implicitly to ensure our horses stay healthy and are ready for showtime.  That goes for everyone, from the grounds staff to the grooms, veterinarians and trainers.” Similarly, when I train for an ultra-marathon, I have a team standing behind me. On a weekly basis, it’s not unusual to have appointments with my physical therapist, converse with my nutritionist and even meet with my trainer for exercise plans beyond just running. My team is invaluable to my success on the trail to the finish line, just like the team standing behind every Olympian at the Paris Games and the one standing behind you and your horse. For the Olympian-level horse, the team behind the scenes often comprises a wide range of professionals, including: While that might seem like a lot, it’s only a few of the people responsible for making it all happen. From the groundskeeper who notices a hole in the ground, a loose fence post, or a nail sticking out of a board—to the veterinarian who administers preventative care, every team member plays a vital role in keeping a horse healthy and on track for competition. The same goes for your horse. Whether an elite equine athlete, a local hunter-jumper or an old, faithful senior horse, he could benefit from having several professionals with varying disciplines to help support his well-being.  It’s quite common for a horse’s groom, farrier or massage therapist to notice when something appears off, and they can flag it for the rider, owner and, ultimately, the veterinarian to evaluate. While you may not have as big of a team as horses competing on the world stage, it still takes the dedication and care of many to ensure your horse lives a healthy and happy life. The little things add up You don’t become an elite athlete overnight. Discipline, determination and ensuring all the basics are met create the springboard for success. What’s more, it’s often the little things that have the biggest impact. When I talk to people about training for an ultra-marathon, they often ask about the long runs or intense workouts that my preparation requires. But there are more mundane things that play an equally critical role in my and any athlete’s success, including proper nutrition, high-quality and consistent rest, and getting used to the game-day atmosphere. The same goes for horses. In addition to a well-planned training regime, good nutrition, rest, quality care and preparation for the chaos of a competition are non-negotiable for a horse to be healthy and succeed at high-level competition. “Ultimately, horses’ comfort level on the road plays a major role in their success.  We work a lot on desensitizing our horses to novel environments at home by making our training environment as exciting as we can to mimic the intensity of the event atmosphere.  We plan to finish up in the barn by 4 p.m. to ensure the horses get plenty of rest with peace and quiet during otherwise hectic periods of time.  We also bring our own grain and ensure the highest quality hay when we travel to ensure proper nutrition and keep the horses’ routine as similar as we can to what they experience at home,” said Payne. When it comes to nutrition, be sure to evaluate your horse’s diet and start with simple, high-quality forage and grain. In both human and horse training, there’s often a temptation to focus our efforts on adding supplement after supplement, without tending to the underlying diet. But no amount of supplements can counteract poor nutrition. The same goes for exercise and rest. Exercising

Diego Almeida, CJF, EE, FE, TE, AWCF Your horse’s care team is one you’ve likely built through trusted referrals and research between trimming or shoeing appointments, veterinarian visits, day-to-day feeding, care and more. And when it comes to your horse’s hoof care, farriers are your foot health and functionality experts. A horse’s hoof is so much more than just the keratin-based hoof wall, sole and frog we see on the outside—it’s a true foot, with a complex inner structure of bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves and vasculature. Without regular, professional hoof care, we have “no horse,” as the saying goes.  In addition to providing regular hoof maintenance, farriers also collaborate with veterinarians on lameness and other foot health problems to make strategic trimming and shoeing choices that support their treatment plans. Common conditions that veterinarians and farriers collaborate on include: As program director at a university-based farrier school, as well as in my private practice, I get the chance to work with both horse owners and veterinarians in a variety of hoof care situations. I believe the following key tips can help horse owners prepare for successful hoof care appointments.  Horsemanship is key to farrier safety To be ready for a farrier appointment, horses must learn the skill of standing quietly when held and when tied. Groundwork and preparatory foot handling by someone experienced in horse training is incredibly important—ideally when your horse is still young—but it’s relevant for adult horses too. Recognize that farriers aren’t horse trainers, and any time spent getting your horse to be cooperative and safe for hoof handling may put their safety at risk. It’s crucial to understand that in addition to safety considerations, anytime hoof care professionals are asked to work on a horse that’s moving around, resisting, reacting, spooking or exhibiting other challenging behaviors, they won’t be able to perform their best trimming and shoeing work. Additionally, extra appointment time will likely put farriers behind schedule for the rest of the day, and they may even lose expected compensation. Below are several handling tips to help prepare your horse for hoof care appointments: Hoof care appointments can feel long and intense for horses standing on three feet for extended periods of time, especially older horses, those with soundness issues and those that are out of work and unfit. For example, imagine a human with a comparable challenge going to their first yoga class and being asked to hold a pose that their body isn’t used to. It could result in loss of balance, fatigue and frustration. Consider these ways you can support your horse’s stamina during hoof care visits: Your horse’s head position also plays a significant role in how smoothly your farrier appointment will go. Here are several handling tips: If your horse has been stalled before the appointment, exercise him before the farrier arrives if you can safely do so. Even hand-walking or simple groundwork can help stretch your horse’s legs and use his mind, which can help him stand more quietly during his hoof care visit.  Importantly, if your horse is turned out, have him caught and ready when your farrier arrives.  Provide a safe farrier work space A farrier’s working environment is another crucial factor to prepare for. First, ensure that the work area is spacious and remove clutter to allow your hoof care professional to get out of the way if a horse moves or reacts unexpectedly.  Avoid feeding horses or turning other horses out that are near the horse being worked on. Remove dogs and other barn animals from the space along with anything that could be distracting to your horse. Additionally, avoid moving equipment or doing anything that might cause a spook, and ask your farrier first if you need to walk another horse by the horse they’re currently underneath. Develop open lines of communication  The best working relationships are built on trusted lines of communication between horse owners, veterinarians and farriers. Each of us observes different nuances of a horse’s behavior that help complete a fuller picture of what care he may need. Here are a few examples of how healthy, respectful communication benefits horses and everyone involved in the care team: Options to consider if your horse requires sedation Finally, if your horse’s behavior could potentially be unsafe, it’s appropriate for your farrier to suggest that you contact your veterinarian to discuss sedation options. Farriers understand that not all horses behave the same, and some horses are still growing and learning. However, our safety is our livelihood. The more that horse owners can help prepare horses to be confident and safe when receiving professional hoof care, the better job farriers can do to support his/or her foundation, performance and well-being with their best trimming and shoeing work.  For additional hoof health insights, read the following blog: “Factors that affect your horse’s hoof growth and quality.” About the author: Diego Almeida is the program director for Montana State University Farrier School in Bozeman. He’s a certified journeyman farrier and the first to achieve all three advanced endorsements—Educator, Forging and Therapeutic—offered by the American Farrier’s Association (AFA). He heads the AFA’s Educator Endorsement Committee and is an AFA tester and certification instructor, supporting the development of other farriers in the U.S. and abroad. In 2019 Dr. Almeida achieved his Associate of the Worshipful Company of Farriers in England, and he’s a past winner of the International Hoof-Care Summit’s Rising Star Award and a three-time recipient of the AFA’s J. Scott Simpson Outstanding Educator Award. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Do not use DORMOSEDAN GEL in horses with pre-existing atrioventricular (AV) or sinoatrial (SA) block, with severe coronary insufficiency, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, or chronic renal failure. Do not use in anesthetized or sedated horses, or in conditions of shock, severe debilitation. See full Prescribing Information.  Do not use DORMOSEDAN STERILE SOLUTION in horses with pre-existing atrioventricular (AV) or sinoatrial (SA) block, with severe coronary insufficiency, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, or chronic renal failure. Intravenous potentiated sulfonamides should not be used in anesthetized or sedated horses. Careful consideration should be given