Oldies But Goodies: Care of the Older Performance Horse Kate Bremser, DVM NCSU CVM Class of 2008 Mensa G and Michael Pollard – 16yo OTTB

Introduction Action 42 – 20 yo Hanoverian Falcon Flash – 22yo Australian TB

You Are What You Eat Nutrition - grain ▫Higher demand for fat and protein ▫Proper vitamin and mineral balance ▫Adding calories +/- adding energy ▫Easy to chew ▫Easily digestible

You Are What You Eat Nutrition – Hay ▫Easily chewed ▫Easily digestible ▫Calorie content ▫Sugar/Starch content

You Are What You Eat Supplements ▫Joint ▫Gut Health ▫Skin/Coat ▫Hoof Health

Joint Maintenance Steroid Injections IRAP PRP Adequan (Maybe?) Joint Supplements ▫Adequan (Maybe?) ▫Legend ▫Polyglycan ▫Pentosan

Physical Exam/Wellness Vaccination Schedules Endocrine ▫Bloodwork ▫Haircoat ▫Weight ▫Body shape Ocular Exam ▫Lenticular sclerosis ▫Corpora Nigra atrophy ▫Corneal abnormalities ▫Tumor development

Physical Exam/Wellness Respiratory Exam GI exam? ▫Enterolith ▫Pedunculated lipoma ▫Sand Limb anatomy ▫Central sulcus depth - thrush ▫Joint effusion ▫Joint ROM

Fitness/Exercise Maintaining muscle mass ▫2-3 days/week Appropriate concussion for bone/tendon health ▫Roadwork ▫Uneven surfaces Strength training ▫Hillwork ▫Cavaletti

Dentistry Balance point maintenance with excessive wear ▫Avoid changing table angle and grinding surface Check every 6 months ▫Wave/step formation ▫Missing/loose/broken teeth Check for hooks Don’t forget the incisors!

Shoeing Support Balance Correction Non-conventional shoes Sigafoo Ground Control Epona Baseline films ▫Palmar/plantar angle ▫Osteoarthritis/navicular changes ▫Digital cushion ▫Breakover

Alternative Therapy Mesotherapy ▫Saline ▫B12 ▫Carbocaine ▫Dexamethasone ▫Zeel

Alternative Therapy Chiropractics

Alternative Therapy Acupuncture

Rehabbing post Injury Alvin –

Rehab Alvin

Rehab Alvin

Rehab

Initial Injury September 2012 Stall rest – crosstied 4 months, loose 5 months Handwalking started March 2013 Turnout April 2013 Under saddle May 2013 ▫30 days walk ▫30 days walk/trot ▫Added hill work ▫Added canter

Rehab Complete! Alvin – back in competition April 2014

Questions?