Miller is scheduled to speak about the topic: “Feeding Your High Performance Horse.” His specialty with the Cargill Company is forage analysis and ration quality improvement.

“It is important to get the right foundation with the forage,” he noted recently while talking about the upcoming lecture, “so it is important to take the forage analysis and then use it as the basis for the animal’s nutritional program.”

“The other feeds you use are just supplementing the forage so we need to get more in lockstep with the forage first,” he noted.

Miller has worked for Nutrena as a nutrition specialist in the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah for the past five years.

He is a frequent guest lecturer at his alma mater, BYU Idaho, and he has been a special guest speaker at Utah State University, the University of Idaho and College of Southern Idaho.

In addition to his work for Nutrena, he is an owner-manager of his family’s farm and commercial cow-calf operation in Eastern Idaho that also includes over a dozen Quarter Horses.

Miller and his wife, Marcy, have three daughters, Hallee, Blyss and Sicaly. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and working on the ranch.

Zak and Marcy recently received the Excellence in Agriculture award from the American Farm Bureau Federation for the work in equine nutrition for the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah.   In addition, their work ranked in the top ten nationally for the year.

The March 16 program is being presented by Dr. Ellis Farstvedt, DVM, MS, ACVS Boarded Surgeon, about the topic -  “Lameness: How do we find it? How do we treat it?” Dr. Farstvedt is the managing veterinarian at the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center. The lecture is being sponsored in part by Luitpold Pharmaceuticals and Merial. Dr. April L. Knudson, DVM, a member of the Merial Equine Veterinary Professional Services Team, is also speaking during the March program.

Topics to be covered include new diagnostics and treatment advances in the industry.

The CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center is located at Copper Spring Ranch where it serves as a regional referral clinic, surgery facility, reproduction center, sports medicine and general equine veterinary practice which is open to all horse owners.

For additional information, contact the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center at 406.522.4044 or go to www.copperspringranch.com.

At the state-of-the-art veterinary facility, Dr. Rolfe is going to supervise the comprehensive reproductive service that covers the gamut from semen collection, freezing and collection, to embryo recovery and transfer, phantom training and reproductive management of the mare and stallion. In addition, he plans on utilizing his extensive background in sports medicine and general equine medical service as part of the highly trained team.

He comes to the veterinary clinic at Copper Spring Ranch from Fort Collins, Colo., where he operated the Performance Equine, LLC, practice for seven years in that state’s busy horse center.

Rolfe received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Oregon State University in 1999. After graduation, he returned to his home town in Reno, Nev., to work in a mixed animal practice before returning to Oregon State University to serve as a clinical instructor at the ambulatory service for the college’s teaching hospital.

While there, Rolfe headed up reproductive and dental courses for fourth year veterinary students and aided them with lameness-focused electives while also served the equine clients of the community.

At Corvallis, he recognized a strong passion for equine sports medicine and began to pursue his interest in treating the equine athlete. In the process, he continued to obtain more advanced experience on advanced reproduction and sports medicine at referral equine practices in several states.

Rolfe’s professional experience has included extensive reproductive work with clients in the Flagstaff, Ariz., with high-end performance mares and stallions.  During his career, he has treated equine athletes ranging from multiple NFR qualified barrel horses (including a two-time NFR arena record holder) to numerous Grand Prix level dressage horses.

While in Fort Collins, his practice ran the spectrum from work English and western performance to complex reproduction cases with valuable brood mares.

To advance his knowledge, Dr. Rolfe has completed an intensive six-month detailed course in equine chiropractics at Options for Animals in Kansas. Through the course, he obtained bio-mechanical and chiropractic knowledge that he applies on a daily basis to his practice when he is evaluating horses.

“It enables me to pick up on subtle points and gives me insight into where to look to diagnose challenging problems,” he said.

For the past five years, Rolfe also has been competing in dressage competition. “I started challenging myself and it helps me to understand the horse on another level and as a result, it helps me to be a better veterinarian,” he noted.

Another associated project is to obtain his certification as an F.E.I. approved veterinarian.

Rolfe’s wife, Tracy, is currently working as a high school counselor in Fort Collins and plans on joining her husband at the end of the school year.

Dr. Ellis Farstvedt, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, is the managing veterinarian at the CSR Sports Medicine Center. Other veterinarians on the staff are Dr. Lisa Baller, DVM, CVA; Dr. Mandi Holland, DVM, and Dr. Alan Goldhahn, DVM.

By Debbie Moors, Western Horseman
Posted with permission of Western Horseman

Ringbone isn’t an unusual malady. It’s common in senior horses that have led active, athletic lives. But the plight of those older horses has been of personal interest to Ellis Farstvedt, DVM, and the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center in Bozeman, Montana.

To read the entire article, click here.

I will be posting updates on the Copper Spring Ranch facebook. CLICK HERE to connect with us on facebook.

Dr. Patrick M. McCue, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACT

The presentation covers a comprehensive horse owner’s guide to foaling and foal care.  It covers a wide range of pertinent topics to prepare horse owners for the upcoming foaling season including what to do in emergency situations, foaling predictions, on-farm obstetrics and post foaling topics and the keys to a successful foaling season.

Dr. McCue is a world recognized authority on equine reproduction. He serves as the director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory and coordinates the Clinical Broodmare, Foaling and Embryo Transfer Services. In addition, he attends to dystopias, high risk pregnancies and other equine reproduction cases at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University. In addition to writing scientific articles and textbook chapters, Dr. McCue contributes a monthly column called “The Breeding Shed” to the American Quarter Horse Journal.

Dr. McCue graduated from veterinary school at the University of California, Davis, in 1986. He subsequently completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and a residency in Equine Reproduction at the University of California, Davis. He received a PhD in Comparative Pathology, with an emphasis on reproductive endocrinology and ovarian pathology in the mare, from UC-Davis in 1992, and joined the faculty at Colorado State University in 1994.

March Program

On March 24, Dr. Stuart Shoemaker DVM, a partner at the Idaho Equine Hospital of DACVS, Nampa, Idaho is the featured speaker. An expert of imaging technology, his topic is lameness imaging and advances in therapy.

Prior to joining the Idaho Equine Hospital, Dr. Shoemaker was on the faculty at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

The CSR Equine Medical Center serves the Rocky Mountain West with the most advanced digital equipment and medical technology available today to keep performance horses in optimum condition for the arena, ranch and breeding operations.

CSR Equine offers 360 degrees of equine excellence with sports medicine programs, comprehensive reproduction services, a state-of-the-art surgical suite with diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and certified acupuncture for the public while also serving as a referral facility in the Northern Rockies.

For additional information, contact the Copper Spring Ranch Equine Sports Medicine Center at 406.522.4044.

Over 50 horsemen from around the region learned up-to-date information about the prevention and treatment of colic and stomach ulcers during the second winter lecture at the Copper Spring Ranch Equine Sports Medicine Center.

Dr. Lisa Baller, DVM, CVA

The program was presented on Jan. 20 by Dr. Lisa Baller, DVM, CVA, a member of the veterinary staff at this regional medical facility for horses, and Justin Smith, an equine sales representative for Merial. It covered a broad spectrum of topics that are associated with these common ailments that impact horses across the state.

“Colic is the number one killer of horses but most cases of colic are mild and resolved with simple medical treatment,” Dr. Baller told the horsemen.  She pointed out that colic is not a disease, but instead is merely a symptom of a disease. It is defined as any abdominal pain that can come from any abdominal organ and not just a gastro-intestinal (GI) abnormality.

Baller said a first step is to recognize the symptoms of colic.  To minimize colic impact, identify the problem early and call your veterinarian immediately, she suggested. The signs include leaving food and an absence of appetite, repeatedly lying down, turning the head toward the flank, pawing, kicking or biting at the belly, repeated rolling, sitting in a dog-like position and stretching out and posturing to urinate. Other signs include the horse holding its head in an unusual position, lack of bowel movements, reduced or absent digestive sounds and inappropriate sweating. Horses, she said, can have rapid breathing and/or flared nostrils, an elevated pulse rate (greater than 50 beats per minute), depression and lip curling.

If these symptoms are noticed Baller said to call your veterinarian, remove all food while leaving some water and keep the horse in an area where it can be observed. She said to allow rest but walk the horse around if it is continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself.

Important information that the horse owner can obtain includes the specific colic signs such as pulse or heart rate, respiratory rate, digestive sounds, rectal temperature and color and moisture of the gums. She said it helps the veterinarian to have information on recent changes in diet and exercise and the medical history of the horse.

Horse owners should avoid passing any kind of tube into the horse’s stomach, giving the horse any substance by mouth, inserting anything into the rectum or giving intravenous injections.

If the horse needs to be transported to a veterinary clinic she suggested that dividers should be removed so the horse can be loose in the trailer with deep bedding.

Baller said colic can be classified in three categories. Intestinal dysfunctions such as spasms, gas distention, impaction and decreased motility are the most common and generally respond well to medical treatment.

Intestinal accidents such as twists and entrapments, which restrict blood flow in parts of the intestine, generally require surgery, she said.

Inflammation or ulceration which is caused by stress, medication, infection and parasites generally requires medical treatment.

Along with surgery, other treatments used by veterinarians include pain relievers, fluid therapy by intravenous or nasogastric routes, laxatives and tranquilizers.

Prevention programs and good management, of course, are the best way to minimize and deal with the threats of colic, Baller said.

It’s important, she said to establish a set routine, and incorporate an adequate roughage ration while not over-feeding grain.  Baller said the daily concentrated rations should be divided.

Establishing a parasite control program and providing exercise or daily turnout time should be followed along with proper dental care.

Other preventative measures include making a gradual diet change while providing clean and fresh water and avoiding the applications of equine medications unless they are prescribed by a veterinarian.

Horse owners should check hay, bedding and pastures for potentially toxic substances. In addition, they should avoid feeding on gravel or sand for fear of causing sand colic.

Stomach Ulcers

Justin Smith, Merial

Justin Smith of Billings, the equine representative for Merial, provided lecture attendees with a detailed look at equine stomach ulcers and how they should be prevented, managed and treated as the second part of the educational program.

Smith said Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a technical name for stomach ulcers; especially the chronic or recurring conditions.

Like Gastroesophaeal Reflux Disorder in humans EGUS is related to excessive exposure to stomach acid (HCL). Smith said cells of the stomach mucosa contain acid-stimulating receptors and this “acid pump” continuously secretes acid into the stomach.

Both conditions result in ulceration of the tissue lining of the digestive tract. He described it as a painful condition that reduces performance and can even lead to death – especially in foals. Many horses, he said, suffer in silence.

The problem affects a wide variety of breeds and equine disciplines and ages, he noted.

It impacts 93 percent of racehorse and 63 percent of non-racing performance horses and 51 percent of foals, according to Smith. But, it also impacts recreational animals. Horses can develop stomach ulcers in as little as five days. The condition can occur by simply transporting horses to and from one horse show. Even feeding the horse twice a day and providing light exercise can cause stomach ulcers, he added. Smith said horses in nature rarely suffer from stomach ulcers. Physical and social stress factors tend to contribute to ulcer formation.

Smith pointed out that stress factors can include everyday events including competition travel, training, trailering, and lay-ups due to sickness or injury. The occurrence can occur because of changes in routines, confinement or limited turnout or grazing.

If a horse consumes decreased roughage, increased acidity occurs which contributes to the acid level and the possibility of ulcers.

To view and assess EGUS damage, veterinarians use an endoscope, Smith said.  Other tools used by veterinarians to diagnose ulcers include patient history and lifestyle, laboratory tests to eliminate other conditions, clinical signs and response to FDA-approved treatment for presumptive diagnosis.

Damage is identified as wither Grade 0, Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3 depending on the severity of the ulceration.

Grade 1 ulcers show small lesions while Grade 2, or moderate ulcers, show large lesions. The Grade 3 level features extensive lesions with deep lesions and bleeding.

Clinical signs used to diagnose ulcers include altered eating and drinking behavior, weight loss, change in attitude, recurrent colic and a dull hair coat.

Because a newborn foal’s stomach lining is not completely developed, it is more susceptible to acid damage, Smith added. Foals depend on milk to neutralize stomach acid so it’s important that they continue to nurse. The clinical signs include poor appetite or intermittent nursing, colic, poor body condition, excessive salivation, diarrhea, teeth grinding and frequent lying on their back.

Smith said the only FDA-approved treatment for equine stomach ulcers is GastroGard® (omeprazole). The recommended treatment is a once-a-day dosage for 28 days. It is safe for horses four weeks of age and older and can be used while horses are kept in training.

Preventative measures include increased turnout with grazing or hay available. It is recommended, if possible, to feed alfalfa hay when feeding grain because of its buffering effect.

Smith said Merial has a FDA-approved oral paste to prevent gastric ulcers in horses called UlcerGuard® when they are opposed to stress.

According to Smith a daily dose effectively prevents stomach ulcers in healthy horses at risk for developing ulcers.

The drug, omeprazole, inhibits acid production at the source.

He suggested that horsemen should contact their veterinarian for more information.

This second winter lecture that was sponsored by the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center of Bozeman is being followed by a program on foaling and foal care on February 24 by Dr. Patrick M. McCue, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACT, with the Equine Reproduction Laboratory at Colorado State University.

For more information about the next lecture and to make reservations, call 406.522.4044 or go to www.copperspringranch.com.

Dr. Lisa Baller, DVM, CVA

Dr. Lisa Baller, DVM, CVA, a staff veterinarian at the CSR Center, is going to be one of the featured speakers, with a lecture that covers colic from the perspective of horse owners.  Baller’s presentation is going to address the diagnostic signs for colic, what horse owners can do at home and what to expect when a horse owner calls a veterinarian to their barn versus what to expect when a horse is taken to a veterinary clinic.

Dr. Baller also plans to cover good preventative measures, and will cover several cases studies to help horse owners obtain an idea of what veterinarians encounter when treating colic cases at equine hospitals.

In addition, a second presentation is being given by Justin Smith, an equine representative for Merial. Smith is going to provide information to help horse owners diagnose the signs of ulcers, talk about prevention programs and outline treatment procedures.

Baller has a special interest in lameness, sports medicine, acupuncture and alternative therapies that comes from her lifelong interest in horses. She grew up on a Park County, Montana ranch and graduated from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003 and has been practicing in Montana since her graduation. She is a registered United States Equestrian Federation veterinarian for rated hunter and jumper shows.

Along with her professional career as a veterinarian practice, Baller competes in hunter and jumper events with her Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods.

The lecture is free to clients of the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center who have been customers during the past year. The series is also free for MSU and University of Montana Western students. Other horsemen are welcome to attend for a fee of $15 to cover printed materials that are provided.

The third lecture on foal care is scheduled for February 24 with Dr. Patrick M. McCue, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACT. Dr. McCue’s topic is “Saving Foals – What horse owners should know about foaling and foal care.”

Dr. McCue graduated from veterinary school at the University of California, Davis, in 1986. He subsequently completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and a residency in Equine Reproduction at the University of California, Davis. He received a PhD in Comparative Pathology, with an emphasis on reproductive endocrinology and ovarian pathology in the mare, from UC-Davis in 1992, and joined the faculty at Colorado State University in 1994.

McCue is the director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory and coordinates the Clinical Broodmare, Foaling and Embryo Transfer Services. He also attends to dystocias, high risk pregnancies and other equine reproduction cases at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University. In addition to writing scientific articles and textbook chapters, Dr. McCue contributes a monthly column called “The Breeding Shed” to the American Quarter Horse Journal.

On March 24, Dr. Stuart Shoemaker, DVM, Idaho Equine Hospital, is going to present a detailed program about the latest lameness imaging technology and advances in therapy. He is one of this nation’s leading experts on imaging technology.

Copper Spring Ranch is offering the lecture series to give Montana horseman the opportunity to be better informed, and to give students the chance to interact with many of the top professionals in the equine medical industry.

The aim of CSR is not only to help regional horsemen but to also elevate the Montana horse industry throughout the state.

The CSR Equine Medical Center serves the Rocky Mountain West as a referral hospital for the Northern Rockies as well as for local area horsemen. The clinic features the most advanced digital equipment and medical technology available today to keep performance horses in optimum condition for the arena, ranch and breeding operations.

For additional information or to make reservations, contact the Copper Spring Ranch Equine Sports Medicine Center at 406.522.4044.

Dr. Kenton Morgan, DVM. Bill Brewster photo

By Bill Brewster

For Tri-State Livestock News

Over 50 horse owners received the latest information on preventive medicine and parasite control recently from Dr. Kenton Morgan, DVM, DACT, during the first of the winter lecture series provided by Copper Spring Ranch’s Equine Sports Medicine Center.

Morgan, an equine veterinary specialist for Pfizer Animal Health, started with a look at the broad picture of equine health categories at the lecture. He said the important areas included vaccinations, parasite control dental care, routine physical exams, biosecurity, barn management and nutrition.

“In preventive medicine, nutrition is the base,” Morgan said.

Morgan started with an overview of vaccination principles.

“Not all vaccines are 100 percent effective,” Morgan noted, “and a standard vaccination program for all horses does not exist.”

To be effective, he said vaccination recommendations should be based on five factors: Risk of disease for pathogens; consequences of disease – morbidity versus mortality; anticipated effectiveness of selected vaccines, and potential for adverse reactions.

Clients should understand, he said, that vaccinations in the absence of good management will not prevent disease. Vaccinations serve to minimize risk of infection but do not prevent it in all circumstances.  The primary series of vaccines and boosters should be appropriately administered prior to exposure and accomplished in conjunction with the broad management picture.

In addition, Morgan said clients should understand that horses in a population are not protected to an equal degree and protection is not immediate because it takes time for the immunization to take effect.

With very young foals, the best approach, according to Morgan is to immunize the mother during gestation.

Core Vaccines

CSR Equine lecture participants, from left to right, Dr. Kenton Morgan, DVM, Pfizer equine specialist; Dr. Ellis Farstvedt, DVM, director of the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center; and Morey R. Ray, senior Equine T erritory manager for Pfizer Animal Health. Bill Brewster photo

Morgan explained that core vaccines are those considered to be necessary for all horses no matter what their use because they are life threatening and mortality is high.

They include ones for West Nile Virus, Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Tetanus and Rabies. The details about how and when to give these vaccines is best determined by a horse owner’s veterinarian.

The equine encephalomyelitis diseases of Eastern and Western Encephalitis and West Nile Virus are all viral diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes to horse from infected birds, he noted.  They cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is found nationwide but primarily in the Eastern United States from New England t o Florida. The disease kills 75-90 percent of affected horses. There were 288 cases of EEE in the country in 2009, he said.

Western Encephalitis is generally fond west of the Mississippi.

Morgan said preventative measures include elimination stagnant water, aerial and topical spraying and placing horses in stalls at night with fans placed in stalls and turning off standard lights.

Tetanus

All horses are at risk for Tetanus (Clostridium tetani), Morgan said. The infection is caused by puncture wounds, lacerations and sole abscesses and affects the central nervous system.

Rabies

Equine Rabies is a virus transmitted via saliva of infected animals such a skunks, raccoons, coyotes or foxes. Morgan said horses generally just exhibit the dumb stage clinical signs rather than the viscous stage. The signs include depression, salivating and repeated swallowing movements.

Risk-Based Vaccinations

In addition to the core vaccines, Morgan told horse owners at the clinic that there are a number of risk-based diseases that are a particular risk in certain equine populations or area populations.

Those diseases include Equine Herpes virus (Rhinopneumonitis), equine influenza, Strangles (Streptococcus equi), Equine Viral Arteritis, Botulism, Anthrax, Potomac Horse Fever (Equine Monocytic Enhrlichiosis) and Rotoviral Diarrhea.

● Equine Herpes Virus commonly affect younger horses from weaning age to two or three years. It becomes latent in lymph nodes of the respiratory tract. Latent infections may be lifelong, he added.

● Equine Herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) causes abortions and neurologic disease. Equine Herpes virus type 4 (EHV-4) is an upper respiratory disease and rarely causes abortions. Morgan said many horse are latently infected for life.

● EHV Upper Respiratory Infection is one of the major causes of ‘colds.”  It is caused primarily by EHV-4 and occasionally by EHV-1. The virus is transmitted from infected horses when stressed.

For EHV 1 and 4 (respiratory) inoculations, Morgan said foals should receive a series of three shots at four to six months of age, then after that, every six months.

New recommendations call for adult horses to receive the vaccine every six months, he suggested.

● EHV – 1 (Abortion) is highly contagious and causes abortion in late pregnancy and occasionally causes the delivery of weak, severely compromised foals.

● Equine Influenza is a highly contagious, major cause of “colds.”  It is transmitted from infected horses and the signs include fever, nasal discharge, cough, anorexis and depression. It can cause damage to the lining of the upper respiratory tract and can be extreme. Moderate cases require six three months of rest and severe cases can require six months to fully recover. Dr. Morgan recommended one week of rest per day of an elevated temperature over 102.5 degrees followed by very gradual return to work.

The equine influenza vaccination schedule calls for the foal series of three shots beginning at six months of age. Pregnant mares should be inoculated four to six weeks prior to foaling. Adult horse should be vaccinated twice a year.

Parasite Control

An approach to parasite control that has been used for decades called for dewormers to be used every 60 to 90 days, Morgan said. This strategy, however, is being changed to provide more specific applications for different types of worms.”We are seeing resist ant populations because of frequent deworming administration, continue use of a single class of anthelmentics and under dosage that is caused by poor weight estimation and improper administration,” he said.

There is a growing concern, he said, because there are only three classes of equine anthelmentics on the market and no new ones on the horizon.

Through an extended period of time, through repeated exposure to the dewormer products, the susceptible population is replaced by a resistant population which becomes the dominant population.

For this reason, strategic parasite control is the new approach recommended by Pfizer and many veterinarians.

The traditional approach focused on large stronglyes and ignored tapeworms and small stronglyes and treated horses in 60 to 90 day intervals.

The new approach focuses on small stronglyes in adults and ascarids in foals.

It takes into consideration the frequency and type of wormers being used and analyzes the efficacy of currently used worming products, he noted.

The strategic plan also looks for the correct drug for the correct parasite at the appropriate time of the year.

He recommended fecal exams to identify high, moderate and low shedders. The qualitative analysis should categorize low shedders with less than 150-200 eggs per gram, Moderate shedders with 200-500 eggs per gram and high shedders with greater than 400 eggs per gram.

Morgan also recommended an assessment of the horse and property to determine if it is low, medium or a high risk.

It should take into consideration, the age of the horse, local climate cycles, type of pasture and whether is lush or over grazed and the horse density.

Management issues to look at include the use of individual stalls or paddocks, and whether individual pastures or large or small group pastures are used. It is also important, he said, to determine how horses are fed, whether manure is removed, and if pastures are rotated.

The collective result s from the survey gives tools, he said, for a veterinarian to use to develop a parasite control program based on all of the factors.

For effective parasite control, Morgan said veterinarians need to drive the parasite control program which should be based on science and clinical evidence. It’s important, he added, to evaluate current products to make sure they are effective.

Here are some of his recommendations:

● Small Strongyles cause concerns because of the encysted larval form which can cause weight loss, colic, diarrhea, fever and even death. The cyst wall forms a protective barrier and conventional dewormers are not effective.

● Roundworms (Ascarids) are the principal parasitic pathogen in the foal and young horses. The large (6-9-inch) worms live in the small intestines and affect animals under six months of age. Adults are immune.

They migrate through the live and lungs. Morgan said the eggs are very resilient and abundant. They live for one or more years on pastures and are not affected by climate.

● Tapeworms can cause significant pathology and can lead to colic when present in large numbers. He said the severity of pathology is proportional to the magnitude of the infection.

He said horse become infected by swallowing pasture mites after the mites ingest worm eggs.

Fall, he said, is a good time to treat for tapeworms.

The lecture was the first of a winter series at Copper Spring Ranch. Other lectures for horse industry participants are scheduled for January 27, February 24 and March 24. Go to copperspringranch.com for additional information.

CSR Equine Sport Medicine Team New Addition to CNFR
Advanced Diagnostic and Treatment Tools Available

Human athletes competing at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) have benefitted from and depended on medical care provided by Orthopaedic and Spine Center of the Rockies.

This year, for the first time, the equine athletes will have a similar opportunity. The Copper Spring Ranch Equine Sports Medicine Team will be available throughout the competition. Their 48-foot custom designed trailer will be at the fairgrounds where contestant’s horses are housed with emergency care available at the Casper Events Center.

The trailer contains the latest and greatest diagnostic and treatment tools that technology has to offer. And, all of that technology can be transmitted back to an owner’s vet for consultation. Diagnostic tools include X-rays, high-definition ultrasound, endoscopy and complete blood analysis. Dr. Ellis Farstvetd, managing veterinarian for Copper Spring Ranch’s Equine Medical Center in Bozeman, Mont., along with two nurses will staff the mobile unit at the CNFR. Dr. Farstvedt graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University and completed a three-year residency in Equine Surgery at Colorado State University.

“Injuries that any basketball or football player can get are similar to the type of injuries we see in horses,” Dr. Farstvedt said. “They can have pulmonary problems that are similar to humans like asthma. To perform at their best, they have to be as healthy as they can be, and that’s where we can help.”

Taking a horse to the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Team’s mobile unit would be similar to taking it to a referral clinic. The closest one to Casper is 150 miles away in Sheridan. Pricing at clinics has been studied and compared and set in accordance with other specialized clinics.

The Equine Sports Medicine Team will work closely with Dr. Donald Cobb, from Casper who has been the official veterinarian of the CNFR since it moved to Casper in 1999.

“This is probably the single most positive addition that we could make to the CNFR,” Dr. Cobb said. “The horses that these kids are going to be competing on are pretty hard to find and even harder to replace. You’ve got to take good care of them and having access to this kind of technology and specialists will be great. I’m really excited about it being here.”

The technology on the trailer rivals that of any other clinic in the state of Wyoming. Having it at the CNFR will enable competitors to give their horses’ quality medical attention without ever having to put them in a trailer. Having a board certified surgeon with the talent and expertise of Dr. Farstvedt is a bonus. His knowledge and experience have helped many horses when there is trauma and with the technology available, horse owners will know what all of their options are.

“The best thing about my job is being able to help horses,” Dr. Farstvedt said. “It’s very satisfying when there is a horse with a problem and be able to fix it. That’s fun.”

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