The Vet Shortage Hits Home In The Catskill Region

Reality check for horse owners in Upstate New York hit fast this year of 2022 with equine vets in short supply in many areas.

 

The region of the Catskill Mountains seems particularly bereft of equine veterinary care options and represents a 'dead' spot for many horse owners in need of ambulatory vet services for their charges.

Changes in the operations of a vet practice closer to Albany than the counties of Schoharie and Delaware, the reluctance of practices north of the region to send vets more than 50 miles from home base and the lack of specialist equine vets to help horse owners navigate their horse health issues have escalated significantly.

While horse owners in the Hudson Valley have more vets than you can shake a stick at, the Catskill region that is a fast growing equestrian and equine population in New York State, suffers from little to no choice of horse care options.

Rushing a colicky horse or EPM equine to a clinic via horse trailer is not a positive option for the horse or their owner. A laminitic horse will not do well bouncing up and down on a trailer for an hour, and a mare with foal by her side will not enjoy the ride either.

What are horse owners to do? Many vet services are not offering any emergency services at all. Their message machine simply advises horse owners to take their ill horse to the closest hospital such as Cornell, a 2 hour ride away. 

Gone are the days of James Herriot's ethic,"You must attend." The note that Siegfried Farnon was often quoted as saying to his hardworking, patient care driven vets.

Some vets in the region are approaching retirement, while others have moved location to warmer climates. Changes notwithstanding, horse owners in the region are asking themselves and each other what can be done.

Overheard at a recent horse event, a lady talking about a large rescue operation in Delaware County with over 100 horses.

" The sanctuary sucks up any vet that shows up. So many horses that are all in need of care. But then every vet seems to burn out and leave, and they are too busy to come to us."  

While no-one wants to see any horse go in need of care, especially one at a rescue that has likely already endured major hardship, the need for a vet to attend their own farms has many regional horse folks upset.

Utilizing a specialist equine vet is hardly an option at this point for many. A qualified large animal vet will have to suffice although not surprisingly their experience and forte may not be everything that is needed for horse care however well-intentioned their efforts and hardworking they may be.

Comments that have come in to our online post on the topic include:

 " We have been waiting over a month for an appointment. When it finally came, almost all my horses were suffering from some form of tick borne disease. I knew something was wrong, but what could I do. No-one would come and I don't have a trailer." 

" I waited 2 weeks for a simple blood test. Meantime my horse was fighting an infection that went untreated, as the vet wouldn't dispense any broad spectrum antibiotics before the results came in."

" None of us wants to self-treat our horses. We need professional help. But what are we to do?"

" I contacted a large equine practice in Rhinebeck to come out, but we are just too far. I do wish someone would open a satellite office. I'm sure it would make good money."

" The large animal vet and her tech that came out were lovely people. But they are rushed off their feet. They can't possibly answer all the needs of the community on their own."

" I would expand my horse business but I can't because I can't get the vet care we need for our lesson horses and breeding program. It is so frustrating. We have these colleges in the region like SUNY Cobleskill that do Equine Studies, but no outreach vet programs or adjunct vet studies there."

 

" The only vets that will come out want us to guarantee it is worth their while financially and will attend for pre-purchase exams or expensive diagnostics. But good luck with anything else. They take the money quite happily and do the work, but they aren't interested in stuff like vaccines, regular lameness work ups or diagnosis, long term care for tick diseases or emergency suturing and the like."

" There is no billing anymore. The vet just ran my credit card before they'd even sent me a bill to review. That wouldn't be so bad if I didn't then have to wait more than 2 weeks for the reports on X-rays and ultrasounds. But if I complain, they won't come out again." 

" There's no question horses are dying and suffering needlessly because we can't get proper vet equine vet care. I just had to euthanize two horses because of missed diagnosis of EPM and Lyme as laminitis. I'm heartbroken."

" We stopped horse breeding and an FEI program here because the vet needs of our horses could not be met. Even as professionals interested in encouraging more education and equestrian opportunities in the region, it simply isn't possible to get vets to come out when we need them."

And the list of comments goes on. Extensively.

What is the solution? The vet shortage issue is nationwide and not just relative to the Catskill region. While horse owners will pay the $1000+ for a simple call out with some bloodwork, a quick exam and a few X-rays, the region simply doesn't have the huge performance horse barns that will encourage a vet to move in to the usually cold wintry region with the lure of big bucks and an endless stream of moneyed horse mavens.

 

The Catskill region does however offer a beautiful environment in which to work. Clean air, clean water, and a relatively low tax cost/property cost compared to neighboring areas as the taxes are subsidized by the New York Watershed and conservation grants for NYC water needs. 

There is a resurgence of art and cultural events and activities in the Catskills and beyond due to investment from New York State in establishing healthy outdoor activities with trails for hiking and riding, and a myriad of other pursuits. 

The people of the mountains are generally hardworking, down to earth types that are friendly and quick to lend a hand to others. 

Sure, there are many transplants too. This is partly due to Covid migration plus the area is burgeoning into an attractive region for migration for West Coast businesses. The Albany area just an hour to the north has attracted much Silicon Valley investment in recent years, and the Catskills is set to be elevated to new heights of appreciation for its blissful lifestyle as a result. 

The area is 'ripe' for an established vet practice or two, to develop a solid business model to serve the horse community, or for a new practice to take the reins and get started and build a sincerely profitable business.

Time will tell. Meantime, sourcing ambulatory horse health care will continue to challenge the horse owners and let us hope that something changes soon.

 

 

When East Meets West - Western Dressage Versus Dressage

 

It's sad to say it because so many would like to believe it to be true, but Western dressage simply does not equate to regular dressage.

The idea that you can take an regular dressage trainer's experience especially a classical trainer of today with an actual background of working with masters of the sport, that is well-versed in the art of the discipline, and anticipate that they can simply translate what they know to help the Western Dressage rider may work O.K.'ish' at the very basic levels. But once you get past the simplest of work, the most basic of basics, it simply is not the same method.

Yes there is training for similar principles of rhythm, bending through the entire horse on a circle, same size arenas and letters etc. But there are many differences too, not least the tack and equipment allowed and how it is utilized Here is a super article that explains the differences between English, Western and Cowboy Dressage.

 

The idea of marrying the two is not new and many riders have given demonstrations of Pas De Deux of English riding and Western riding (the latter sometimes being reiners versus Western Dressage which is of course different). Since the 1980's two time Olympian Lendon Gray was seen showcasing her dressage art alongside various Western cowboy riders, and such as Rocky Dare. The Cowboy Dressage rose to fame with Eitan Beth Helachmy in 1993. Other notable dressage riders such as Olympic Gold Medalist Anky Van Grusnven have switched to riding reining horses, though not sure if the idea of Western Dressage occurred in her world.

The Western Dressage arena is often opted into as a show place for the dressage rider who has determined for one reason or another that they would prefer to compete in this somewhat 'smaller' and less competitive pond. Reasons such as the horse's ability or temperament ( bearing in mind Western Dressage judges score based on very different values including the breed and innate movement of the horse), the rider's ability or temperament, or simply to try something different.

In Portugal and Spain the Gaucho - their version of a cowboy, has come to more prominence in equestrian competition in the U.S.A. but this is centered in recent decades, quite literally, around the bullfighting heritage more than herding cattle.

The seasoned Grand Prix dressage competitor/coach or clinician can likely turn their hand to offering some helpful instruction to the aspiring Western Dressage rider, but of course, having spent much of their careers specializing to such a high degree in the English version, they may be recalcitrant to play.

As a competitor it is possible to switch back and forth showing horses between both disciplines. But most proven advanced level clinicians in English dressage that spend many hours on the ground or in the saddle training horses and coaching students would likely argue that the ability to focus and switch out body movements, the way aids are applied (especially those from the seat), that have become innate through much hard work and diligence would become undone and cause negative results in terms of success on the winner's podium.

 

Specialization is likely to aid the aspiring student and the aspiring trainer. Of course you only want to train with people who know more than you do and equally importantly, don't just know how to ride it but also can convey their knowledge in an accessible manner in their teaching methods.

It is important to show humility in life and certainly in all things equestrian. We all have riding disciplines we excel at and/or prefer, but that is no reason to look down and frown on others or to set oneself on a pedestal. 

I firmly believe every horse person has something they can teach me. My mind is always open to new things and new methods that will benefit the horse and improve the communication and understanding between me and my equine partner. 

But it is also important to accept with equal humility the fact that you cannot do everything well. Focus is of critical importance when it comes to attaining advanced levels in any athletic endeavor. Accept that an English dressage trainer may not wish to work with gaited horses even though there is a USDF breed competition for dressage now, or an English dressage trainer may not wish to work with a Western Dressage rider or horse or train a horse that they consider is too small for them to ride due to weight percentages and fit. This is not a rejection, more a question of where the trainer feels they can best help.

Whether you choose to compete or whether you ride for your own satisfaction outside of the limelight, neither option is better or more valid than the other. Whether you ride in an English saddle or a Western saddle, a bit with two reins in hand or a bit with one rein in hand, or are simply constantly working with horses on the ground furthering knowledge on communicating with the equine mind from that perspective, all are to be equally respected.

But be cognizant that your choice of trainer and 'help' in reaching your goals needs to be a person driven to your goals. For many of us clinicians, the passion for dressage has been a lifetime of experiences all navigated with good heart, sharing our knowledge as we go. It is tiring, hard not to burn out over time but on good days, rewarding too. 

Earnest trainers will be honest and forthright about their talents. Earnest students will be honest and forthright about their talents too. 

Big pond or small pond, English or Western, as long as the horse's health and interest is always put first it will all work out at the end of the day. 

 

 

 

 

Horse Boarding Biz Owners - What Will You Do About Hay?

It's not a fun time to be running a horse boarding biz if you operate a facility in drought stricken regions of the USA. Managing the supply chain for horse feed and forage is hard enough most years with its variances in price and quality, but 2022/2023 promises to be harder than ever.

The first challenge is to find any 2nd cut at all. Many barns utilize 2nd cut over 1st as many horse owners prefer it due to its generally higher nutritional value. Though with farmers facing fertilizer cost increases of more than 500 percent, the usual process of adding fertilizer to the hayfields directly after the 1st cut if off the fields may not be as prevalent a practice as most years. Those producers that did spend the money on fertilizer may see little result as the dry weather kicked in negating some of its benefits.

Switching to a 1st cut supply might help, as theoretically there is more 1st cut available than 2nd, but as 2022 saw an early take of 1st cut due to good weather, yields for most producers were significantly down. So supply is not as high as usual there either although in general the quality was up.

What is an operator of a horse boarding biz to do to fill the forage need for the horses in their care, custody and control?

Our article in the September issue of Catskill Horse magazine addresses the hay hassles and hustles that can help mitigate the issue. Take a look. It's well worth the read.

 

 

Many barn owners are already forewarning their clients that there will be no hay fed during turnout times this winter, but that is short sighted.

The horses will simply lose condition, begin infighting and start chewing on fences and the pasture condition whatever it currently is will suffer. A better protocol may be to add a surcharge to the boarding bill ( giving lots of advance notice), so that supplies can be purchased.

The USDA recently published a scholarly filler article that surprised this author. It basic advice was to 'stock up early'. For many horse barn owners or managers the option of stocking up early is hampered by both cash flow and storage capacity for hay supplies. Though I agree it is a solid idea if you can manage it. But the cost of hay even now as we approach Fall is steadily on the rise, and many producers are already sold out. 

Naturally the hay dealers are fully aware of the situation and are stockpiling supplies to release later in the year, when the market prices will increase due to their manipulation of supply. This happens every year of course and is nothing new. Hay supplies suddenly become available later in the year as certain quantities are released into the market but at premium prices. Those prices increasing steadily as winter progresses and 'apparent' supplies dwindle.

There is no question that the trials and tribulations of running a horse boarding operation will be harder than ever to navigate this year but folks should get used to it. Climate change is here to stay and securing supplies is only going to become harder as a result. 

The average hay farmer isn't happy either - this year will be extremely tough for many as the 2nd cut is so scarce and many farmers won't see any income for 2nd cut as a result. 

 

Meantime finding replacement parts for tractors and ancillary hay making machinery is a challenge for hay producers. For example: A simple radiator for a Ford New Holland tractor on our farm was a whopping $2600 without installation and there were only 2 available in the entire country. Installation another $1200 - $1500 was quoted by a dealer and it was to take 2 weeks to complete. 

Horses need forage and we need farmers. Don't forget to thank your local hay supplier for their efforts to keep your horses fed. Hay production is always a rough process but this year is rougher than many for many!

The Big Ten! Catskill Horse Magazine 10th Anniversary Special

 

Let the celebrations begin! Catskill Horse magazine is pleased to announce their 10th Anniversary edition is in the works with lots of specials, fun look backs over the past 10 years in a bumper edition.

Press releases on topic with more details about the history of the magazine and where it stands now, as well as what is on offer to advertisers and readers in the bumper edition have been distributed but if you missed them there is still time to canter in and be part of this extra special celebration!

 

So don't forget to check in! Deadline for promo rates and special offer sign up is September 15th!

 

The Bonkers Biz of Running a Horse Boarding Barn?

The premise of running a horse boarding barn seems simple enough. Buy a barn and some property with paddocks for grazing. Install an area outside for riding and charge horse owners to bring their equine partners to enjoy the benefits of keeping their steeds at livery and watch the money roll in. What a bountiful existence.

The reality is that you have to be just a bit bonkers to start a horse boarding operation. 

Top 10 things to know before you begin:

1. Horse owners often know more than veterinary surgeons.

2. Insurance companies and the Spanish Inquisition (Monty Python version) have much in common.

3. Grass only grows once in a field but will grow everywhere else with abandon.

4. Hay and bedding have magical properties similar to the 'Vanishing Spell' in Harry Potter. Just say 'Evanesco' and poof - they are gone without a trace.

5. Clients will always arrive early on days when you are late to the barn for mucking out chores.

6. Supervising services from clients come for free - an added and unexpected bonus to help you through your day.

7. The best trainers are the ones sitting alongside the arena not the one working in the middle.

8. Fitbits and Apple watches don't measure stress levels - the number of glasses of wine you need to relax at the end of the day do.

9. Horses never colic, injure themselves or chew wood when you're looking.

10. If you find any spare time in the day to school your own horse you're doing something wrong.

 

It is not uncommon for horse barn operators to question why they are offering a boarding service at all. 

Gossiping or fractious owners, minor melodramatics over the smallest issue and the need for constant monitoring of staff that seem unable to offer consistent care or show up on time were not mentioned in the barn management classes you took during your Equine Studies. 

Indeed those expensive educational events seemed to overlook the human component in the boarding business. A degree in psychology may have been a better investment.

 

But at the end of the day. A very long and arduous day. The reason chosen by many to engage in the bonkers biz of running a horse barn is a simple one. 

The horse. 

Big, small or barely a horse at all, the four legged critters smell the best, snuggle the best, make us laugh, make us cry. They make us feel and feed our soul.

Do you often wonder how people navigate life without a horse in it? With no compass of how much they are missing out on? It is wondrous to consider that for many people, the notion of going out in all weathers to care for an animal that costs a great deal of money and effort to keep, and a sincerely large amount of hard-earned knowledge to understand, train and nurture, is a far-fetched idea.

And I suppose, if you really think about it - we are all a bit bonkers.

 

 

Keeping a Weather Eye on the Hay Market

 

 

As the snow starts to thaw and deer arrive back on the hay fields many farmers are planning their 2022 planting program. 

The steep increase in grain price means many hay farmers will think twice about keeping their fields under grass this year.

Diesel costs have skyrocketed, as have prices for fertilizer, machine parts and labor. Of course these price increases don't just affect hay, they affect grain prices too. Due to the war on Ukraine, a country that supplies 12% of the global output of grain, we will see increased in food costs not just for horses, but for people too.

Any hay reserves from 2021 have long since vanished. Despite the increased hay expenses, horse owners have little choice but to pay the premium rates especially if top quality hay is wanted. If like me you are looking for a new horse or two, it might be well to wait a bit, because the ridiculously high horse price market post the Covid pandemic is a bubble very likely to burst, as sadly people are forced to part with their horses as a result of the increased expenses of ownership.

Ulcer prevention, digestive health in general and overall mental well-being in horses are all significantly impacted if hay is replaced by products that offer less chewing satisfaction and less fiber quality and mass. 

 

At our organic horse hay farm at Willowview Hill Farm, our Catskill hills are already showing signs of Spring grass. The deer are already feasting on our crop. It's funny they go almost nowhere else in the valley to graze. I believe the organic nature of our fields is the reason why. Of course this means sharing our crop production with many 'Bambis'. Cute as they are, my husband worked out the amount of hay that one deer consumes at one point. It was a depressingly large amount from the perspective of hay income to the farm. 

 

But live and let live I suppose. I am already used to sharing any trees I plant and any shrubs or flowers I dig in to the garden with deer, voles and rabbits.

So the question becomes, should we continue to harvest hay or turn to other forage production. Especially as we have recently retired from horse breeding and simply don't need as much hay supply for our own horses. The amount of overage we sell has increased as a result, but baling small bales is a tremendous amount of work especially for my husband and myself to handle alone. 

One field of hay would easily suffice for our horses' needs. And frankly having more room to ride in the indoor arena instead of having to stack and store hay would be great.

It takes us a solid month of daily work to complete the first cut, and another 3 weeks to complete the 2nd cut. That does not account for the time it then takes to load and sell hay out of the barn throughout the year or service the equipment. Vacations, other income producing jobs such as clinic giving and horse training have to take a back seat when hay season rolls around. And you never know exactly when you'll be able to get busy on the fields so making plans to get other activities done is always a challenge.

 

 

Of course once the hay is harvested the grass fields are perfect for riding. Cantering around the outside of a field is less enticing than galloping over it. Once the grass is turned under, rocks will appear across the ground surface and if we ever want to return to hay cover then the rocks will have to be painstakingly picked up. The memory of that laborious task still lingers from 20+ years ago.

It's all fodder to ponder. 

In the U.K. fertilizer prices are up to 1300 UKL per ton. Similar increases are expected here in the U.S.A. Farmers across the country are turning to 'liquid gold' to fertilize i.e. cow manure. However, as hay farmers know, cow manure means weeds in the hay. At our farm we use horse manure to recycle and help re-balance the nutrients within the soil, along with organic mineral products such as lime.

The price of all hay will certainly increase again this year. Costs for production are ridiculously high. Horse owners are left with little choice than to pay up if they want first class hay that has been properly cured and managed.

Turns around the field don't come cheap with diesel prices at an all time high. To cure hay takes several rounds of work. The initial cut, a minimum of 3 turns between tedding and windrows and then the baling round. 

So my advice to all horse owners out there or barn managers that have to stock up for their clients' horses needs is to plan ahead. 

For boarding barn operators the hay budget won't go as far this year so boarding barns should think about increasing boarding rates now to cover the extra costs.

Sidebar: Here is a link confirming the above hay prices (focused on alfalfa production) from the USDA

 

 

 

In The Summer Time ~ When The Weather is Fine

Horses love to play in the snow

 

It's easy to understand the pleasures of riding horses out and about the trails and working in the arena during warm summer months. Winter - not so much, unless you are blessed to live in an temperate climate where the sun shines and temperatures don't plummet to the negative numbers.

Horses being the wonderful creatures they are, are perfectly content to live outside 24/7 especially if provided with some form of shelter from driving wind/rain/snow. Randomly as their nature dictates, they rarely utilize the shelter of a run-in shed during the coldest of winter weather. But provision of the option to seek refuge from harsh weather makes the equine owner feel better. At least it's there if they want it!

 

An indoor arena is a boon

There is much discussion about whether it is prudent to force horses to exercise under the direction of a rider during very cold weather. The balance between respiratory damage that may be caused by forced exertion that opens up the airways of the horse and subjects the lung tissue to cold temperatures versus the need to keep the horse fit and exercised, joints moving etc., is a delicate topic.

The key to understanding the cause and effect of damage that could be caused, either temporarily or permanently to the lung tissue of the horse (and possibly also the rider), first requires an understanding of how the respiratory system in the horse is constructed and what Mother Nature has built into the system to warm cold air that is inhaled.

Cold weather riding doesn't just affect the respiratory system, it can also negatively impact the musculature, joints and tendons, feet and heart.

Here is a good summary of important factors to consider and how to determine your horse's individual risk based on not just the temperature, but the difference in temperature from what you horse is used to depending on the region in the U.S.A. where you live.

Dehydration, chill from sweat icing on the horse's coat and many other factors should be carefully evaluated before heading out to ride.

Sometimes a day off for the horse or a diminished work out that does not require as much exertion as the horse is used are better options than riding the horse for the sake of feeling guilty for pausing or halting the schedule of training.

Even pregnant mares love to play in the snow

 

For horse business owners that rely on income from lessons given at the barn, the likelihood is that very cold weather will result in cancellations of booked activities from clients. To counter this downturn in sales creative horse related activities can be substituted that still provide value for the client but involve less hardship on the horse.

For example, while it may be brutally cold outside with wind chill factors chiming in to deter even the hardiest of individuals from working outside (indeed frostbite might be a real risk), the interior of the barn is usually warm enough to offer a place to work with the horse. Kids can be taught handling and grooming lessons, office or tack room space can be utilized as an educational space for horse movies, games and Pony Club/4H style lessons on tack cleaning, leg wrapping and basic first aid techniques. 

If the facility offers and indoor arena obviously there are more options to ride available. If mounted sessions are not viable consider doing some ground work such as obstacle training and activities that are less taxing on the horse's metabolic system.

For both horse and human proper equipment to keep both warm and to avoid injury from slipping on frozen or wet slippery surfaces is essential for the well-being of both parties in extreme weather.

The transition from one place to another, such as a relatively warm stall to a cold metal indoor, requires careful warm up and cool down times. The length of both should be extended from the norm on cold weather days. This will help give the horse's joints and tendons time to warm up and as a result there will be less chance of sustaining an injury. Handwalking your horse both before and after riding is a good idea in any weather, but is especially important in cold weather.

Always put your horse's needs first

The age and fitness of the horse and rider should also be considered in the equation. Obviously an older horse will be stiffer and will likely suffer from arthritis, while a younger horse may exhibit excitement and exuberance from forced confinement and be hard to control. The work schedule and activities for the horse should be tailored to suit his individual needs.

All that being said, riding in the snow and keeping active during the cold weather is lots of fun and can be very productive.So don't be guilty about taking a day off, but don't overlook the benefits of getting off the couch and hitting the boarding barn, even if you are not a daily caregiver for the horse and required to be there!