THE STANDARDBRED AND TROTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

THE STANDARDBRED NEWS

Issue 19

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2004

Stallions can be advertised on STAGBI website for £15 per year other adverts including banners etc are subject to agreement. Don't neglect this effective method of advertising which is available 24 hours everyday, and every day of the week. Please also remember we would like to hear from anyone who has a story about Standardbreds - the most versatile breed in the world. website: http://www.standardbred.org

Breeders Services Notice

STAGBI Directors at a meeting on 10th Dec 2003 discussed and agreed the following.

1. The official opening and closing of the covering season will be from 14th Feb. up to and including 31st Aug in any current year. Concessions could be applied for any broodmare that was having difficulty conceiving, but this must be supported by a notification from an attending vet. to tthat effect.

2. Covering certificates must be ordered and purchased between 1st Jan. and 31st Oct. No exceptions. It is the duty of all broodmare owners to ensure that their broodmares are checked for pregnacy by the 31st Oct. in any current year. This is acheived by vet. inspection and/ good horsemanship.

3. From 1st Jan. 2004 all new stallions enterings stud, must have a vet. inspection prior to certification for accepance to the STAGBI register. This inspection will require a wind test, eye examination, confirmation examination for specific hereditary problems and a genital inspection. A vet. report will be required by STAGBI. The above procedure will be at the stallion owners' expense.

4. All covering certs. (part 4 foals) along with a hair sampl must be returned to breeder services no later than 30th Oct in the current yera.

5. All covering certs. (part 2 broodmares) along with a hair sample where necessary must be returned to breeder services no later than 15th Nov. in a current year

Standardbred Stories

FIRST EDITION (EDDIE)

We met Rebekah at the STAGBI stand during the Equine Event in November and she has kindly written this 'ode to Standardbreds in general and Eddie in particular'.

First Edition was bred by Raymond Jenkins and went on to have several wins before he was retired from racing. He was then sold to a lady called Helen before I acquired him. He is now living in a lovely country village farm with four others, hacking out regularly and used for pleasure rides, in which incidentally he loves to pace and show off how fast he can go.

After owning other breeds such as Arabs and Cobs, I have never had such a willing trusting of charismatic horse as the Standardbred. He has so much personality he stands out from all the other breeds wherever we go. So many people remark on his looks and conformation. We hope to do some endurance with him this year and he will remain with us for the rest of his days.

I wouldn't hesitate to have another Standardbred for their loyalty and personality is second to none. This breed is unknown to many but I would recommend them as an all-round family horse, as well as a competition horse.

Rebekah Brain

Rebecca enclosed a photograph which although could not be printed here will be in the future STAGBI exhibitions.

TRACING HIS PAST

Another contact and fan of the Standardbred made through the Equine event.

I bought Charlie in 1998, having no idea he was a Standardbred and have learned so much about him and the wonderful breed over the years.

I have tried so hard to trace his origin but have always come to a blank wall. I contacted Ray Davies a couple of years ago, and he told me it is unlikely that I would be able to trace him.

I believe Charlie is about 17 years old now. He was 12 when I bought him and the young lady who had him before had him for 8 years. She bought him from some dealers called 'Beamans'. I have spoken to Jenny Beaman and funnily enough she does remember Charlie because she said he was a harness racehorse but they sold him to this girl who wanted him just for riding and that was Sarah Ralphs. They cannot remember which sale they bought him from.

Charlie has a little muscle wastage on the left hand side of his neck, almost as if a shaft has gone into his neck during an accident and also his left shoulder is weak.

I would dearly love to know more about him. He is my treasure and very well behaved and obedient. We only go for gently hacks now as he has had tendon trouble since I had him, but he is a wonderful companion.

If anyone could shed some light on him it would be wonderful, if not, he is still my best friend, it would just be nice to trace his real name etc.

Another photograph which possibly may help to shed some light on who 'Charlie' really is. 'Charlie' has just a small star with a light body colour but no other white markings, but if someone does have any clues which Diane could follow she would be very grateful.

Diane Salter

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PROTECTION AGAINST LAMINITIS?

Laminitis is a problem that affects perhaps 10% of all horses and ponies during their lifetime. Vets list causes such as excessive feed, bacterial toxins in the gut, environmental toxins entering the foot, cortico-steroid overdose, nitric oxide poisoning, stress injury, colitis, colic, plant toxins, severe infections, retained placenta, respiratory infection and even forms of cancer. Then, add the many predisposing factors such as obesity, stress, hormonal imbalances, age, concrete, and hoof conformation plus farriery problems. Also, mineral deficiency or imbalance is implicated, with even a potential link to acid soils and soft water.

Laminitis is often a problem of stock on good grass, but equally can strike housed, over-conditioned, animals. High soluble carbohydrate feeds like rich grazing, grain feeds generally, even bran and sugar beet pulp, perhaps excessive feeding of carrots or apples have all been linked to laminitic problems. Feeding management requires keeping animals fit, but not fat.

Then, there is the genetics factor! Native ponies and horse breeds and crosses with undomesticated characteristics are particularly at risk: although obesity, fat deposits and laminitis can occur in any animal. Think of the pony that needed, when food was sparse, to be able to keep blood sugars high by mobilising body fats for energy. Now put him into domestication with abundant supplies of rich foods and we see why they can't cope with the abundance of nutrients!

Insulin is the hormone associated with human diabetes. The protein is required to convert sugars and starches into energy. Native ponies and horse may be genetically insulin resistant, so they switch over to fat storage when given high dietary sugar levels. They are more or less, glucose intolerant.

The essential mineral magnesium is involved with the action of insulin to clear glucose from the blood. Therefore, magnesium may help to support normal blood circulation, reducing blood vessel contraction and to eliminate circulatory failure in the feet. Magnesium may directly counteract a tendency to induced blood clotting. Magnesium deficient diets can induce insulin resistance. Magnesium may have beneficial effects that aid the control of laminitis symptoms!

Magnesium availability is particularly low in fast growing grass. As it is not available from body stores it has to be supplied daily. There is potentially a need for magnesium where animals are prone to laminitis, as well as those already with fat deposits particularly on the crest of the neck. There is a recognised magnesium need for nervous animals.

American vets report more rapid weight loss and reduced crest fat when exercise and magnesium are combined. One nutritionist has fed magnesium to over 1,000 horses so far and most have shown positive results. Also, a USA farrier reports horses returned to pasture turnout, some even receiving grain, with no adverse effect.

This evidence has now been taken up by Rockies with a totally new licking block that is high in new generation, palatable, magnesium ingredients, on a pure Cheshire salt carrier. The lick, with added 'protected' trace elements, has a formulation proven at a UK Equine College to stimulate smell and taste response. Alternatively, Laminshield Pure is available as an in-feed sachet supplement.

Magnesium is a nutritional addition to the equine defence - another piece in the jigsaw that the owner, nutritionist and vet have to assemble to reduce the incidence of crippling laminitis.

John Main

http://www.rockies.co.uk