The Scoop

Equine News you can use

Compiled by Jill Haight & Tracy Williams

Seminole Feed Launches New Line of SPILLERS® Low-Starch Horse Feeds

Seminole Feed and SPILLERS,® the leading horse feed company in Europe, have partnered to introduce the first, and the best ever, complete line of low-starch horse feeds. The product line now includes a low-starch feed for every life-stage of the horse, from the growing foal to the senior equine.
Originally introduced in 1996, Spillers/Seminole horse feeds offered the first truly low-starch premium feeds in the United States. Traditionally, feeds in the U.S. are made with ingredients like oats, corn, molasses and other high-starch ingredients. Conversely, Spillers/Seminole feeds contain highly-digestible fibers such as beet pulp and soy hulls. Beneficial English herbs are even included in some formulas.

"Too much starch in a horses diet can increase the risk of laminitis, colic and developmental orthopedic diseases," states Larry Mack, Nutritionist for Seminole Feed. "Additionally, high levels of starches and sugars in the diet may lead to hyperactivity in certain horses and ponies." While some horses are more sensitive to starches and sugars than others, most will benefit from a diet with a reduced level of non-structural carbohydrates.

The new product line will feature eight different horse feeds. "Meadow Herb has been a popular product because of its great taste and health benefits," says Jill Haight, Marketing Director for Seminole Feeds, "We expanded it from one product, into a line of products, including Meadow Herb Senior Mix for older horses, Meadow Herb Competition Mix for performance horses or those requiring a higher fat level, and Meadow Herb Cool Mix, a lower-calorie version similar to the original, for pleasure horses and easy keepers."

A similar concept was used with developing the new line of SPILLERS® Safety 1st Pelleted feeds from the ever popular Spillers/Seminole Hdf Pellet. "HDF stands for highly digestible fibers," quotes Jimmie Glisson, Vice President of Sales for Seminole Feed. "Feeds that are low in starch and contain highly digestible fibers are a safer alternative for horses than high-starch grains. To easily convey to this to the customer, the name Safety 1st was chosen for the new line of Highly Digestible Fiber feeds." The Safety 1st range will include Safety 1st YoungStock Pellet for growing horses and broodmares, Safety 1st Performance Pellet for working horses, and Safety 1st Lite Pellet for horses and ponies that need a lower calorie diet.

In addition to pelleted and textured feeds, chopped-forage based feeds are included in the low-starch line. Recommend by farriers and endorsed by the Laminitis Trust, Happy Hoof is a unique blend of long-stemmed fibers and pelleted nutrients designed for horses at risk or suffering from laminitis. And for those horses that need a little extra fat & fiber in their diet, Spillers/Seminole Showing Chaff will offer it up in a palatable and natural chopped form.

Finally, one lucky SPILLERS® customer, will be driving around their farm or horse show in style, in a new John Deere Gator CX. Seminole Feed is having a contest to reward loyal customers and encourage new ones. Those using SPILLERS® feeds will receive a stamp on an entry card for each bag purchased. When the card has 10 stamps, the customer will be rewarded with a FREE bag of SPILLERS® horse feeds, and a chance to win the grand prize - a John Deere Gator CX or one of two first prize awards - a Super Sport 50cc Scooter.

To learn about Spillers/Seminole feeds, the benefits of low-starch nutrition, or contest details, stop by your local Spillers/Seminole dealer, visit www.SpillersSeminole.com or call 1-800-683-1881.

Kentucky Horse Park to Host 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games

The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. will host the 2010 World Equestrian Games after beating out Normandy, France for the privilege. For the first time since the WEG's beginnings in 1990, it will be held at one venue; never before has one facility been able to meet the needs of every event in the competition. It is also the fist time the WEG will be held outside Europe; Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain were the previous locations, and this year Germany hosts the event.

In addition, the 2010 Games will make equine history by making para-equestrians a part of the event. "Our athletes with disabilities have unfortunately not received the attention and respect they deserve," said Debbie Banfield, President of the United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. "By holding the para-equestrian events in conjunction with the other FEI Game disciplines, it gives those special equestrians the equal opportunity to share the same excitement of the entire FEI competition along with all other equestrian athletes."

In addition, the 2010 Games will make equine history by making para-equestrians a part of the event. "Our athletes with disabilities have unfortunately not received the attention and respect they deserve," said Debbie Banfield, President of the United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. "By holding the para-equestrian events in conjunction with the other FEI Game disciplines, it gives those special equestrians the equal opportunity to share the same excitement of the entire FEI competition along with all other equestrian athletes."

The WEG is the world championships for show jumping, dressage, three-day eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. It is held every four years, two years before the summer Olympic Games, and is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. The competition lasts for two weeks and will feature approximately 800 equestrians and 1,000 horses. This year's games will be held from Aug. 20 to Sept. 6 in Aachen, Germany.

"I thought that Barbaro was special from the start, but it wasn't until he was injured that I realized what an amazing horse he really is and how fortunate he was to have the team at the New Bolton Center to care for him," said Anthony Fleishmann, President of Reeves International, Inc., Breyer's parent company. "After the Preakness, we were inundated with mail asking us to make a model of Barbaro, and I realized Breyer could both honor a great champion and do some good on behalf of Barbaro for all the thousands of horses who rely on New Bolton when they are hurt."

After a landslide victory at the Kentucky Derby, Barbaro, owned by Gretchen Jackson and trained by Michael Matz, shattered his right hind leg during the Preakness Stakes. Barbaro survived the incident thanks to surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson who set the leg with a plate and 27 screws, applied a cast and fitted his left hind foot with a special shoe. After recently changing Barbaro's cast, Dr. Richardson says everything is healing well and "his leg looks excellent." Since the accident, there has been an outpouring of public support and sympathy for the colt who has been a model patient during the entire ordeal. He remains in intensive care at the New Bolton Center.

Breyer's Barbaro portrait model will be available for purchase online at www.breyerhorses.com as of Oct. 1, 2006. The model will sell for $45 plus shipping and handling; $10 benefits the New Bolton Center

MRLS Outbreak in Florida

In March, the University of Florida confirmed three Florida cases of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, according to Dana Zimmel, DVM of the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. Although Florida did not experience a devastating epidemic, like that of Kentucky in 2001 and 2002, the cases have still awakened concern, and the University is urging education and awareness of this relatively mysterious disease.

The current MRLS theory isolates the tiny hairs (or setae) coating the bodies of Eastern Tent Caterpillars as the disease-causing mechanism. When the horse consumes a caterpillar, the caterpillar hairs can poke through the gastrointestinal tract, allowing normal gut bacteria to escape into the body's circulatory system. These little pockets of hairs and bacteria circulate through the body and can cause infections - generally in areas of high blood flow and low immune response such as the placenta (in a pregnant mare), heart and eye. Thus, MRLS is characterized by late-term abortions, early fetal loss, inflammation of the heart, inflammation of one eye, and alive but septic foals.

To successfully prevent MRLS, you must keep your pregnant mares away from the caterpillars altogether. Since the Eastern Tent Caterpillars live on cherry and apple trees, this may require moving horses away from the trees or cutting them down. If you can't move your horses or cut down your trees, limit grazing time by providing hay to pastured horses or by restricting time spent on pastures.

Much is still unknown about MRLS and why certain mares are more susceptible than others in contracting an infection. Currently there is no treatment, so prevention is vital. For more information on Florida cases, contact Dana Zimmel at ZimmelD@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.