OVER 130 people attended two industry information evenings in Kildare organised by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and the YITBA last week.

The first was a strangles and atypical myoglobinuria (sycamore poisoning) information evening held at the Palmerstown House Estate last Wednesday week (November 5th). This was followed a day later by the foal preparation and pinhooking discussion for YITBA members at the ITBA offices.

Dr Vivienne Duggan of UCD and Dr Andrew Waller of the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket discussed strangles and the ease with which it could be totally eradicated, if only farms adhered to simple bio-security measures of isolation and screening.

Dr Waller discussed the diagnostic process and the ability of streptococcus equi to ‘hide’ within the the air-filled guttural pouch. Carriers can shed the bacteria and infect other horses, without showing clinical signs of the disease. Current testing methods can produce accurate results within 58 minutes and identify carriers.

Risk management is a simple matter of quarantining all animals moving onto the farm, which will include any that have been away and mixed with other horses, and screening all horses for streptococcus equi.

Any infected animals are treated, screened, and given the all-clear before being allowed into contact with the resident horses.

Dr Duggan looked at the history of recent exposure to strangles in the Irish thoroughbred to warn against complacency. In 161 samples taken from 16 studs and four racing yards, 16 tested positive for recent exposure to the disease and Duggan concluded that levels were “about the same as we see in all horses in the general population.”

SYCAMORE POISONING

Dr Ursula Fogarty of the Irish Equine Centre then explained the seasonal threat of atypical myoglobinuria and how it was traced to the sycamore tree specifically.

After particularly good growing seasons of mild weather, the seed pods (‘helicopters’) are larger and more rounded than usual and contain high levels of toxic hypoglycin, which drastically affect the horse’s metabolism and generally proves fatal within 24-36 hours of ingestion.

The identified risk factors are horses aged three or younger grazing in paddocks from October to February with fallen sycamore leaves and seed pods. High winds exacerbate the risk and trees shed their leaves and seeds when temperatures drop below eight degrees. By reducing grazing time in affected fields, or closing them off altogether, the risk can be minimised.

PINHOOKING SEMINAR

The foal preparation and pinhooking discussion at the ITBA offices saw a large turnout of YITBA members hear expert advice on foals and pinhooking from veterinary surgeon Turlough McNally of Anglesey Lodge, Jacqueline Norris of Jockey Hall Stud, master farrier Liam O’Donovan and bloodstock economist John Lynam.

Turlough McNally discussed the various growth and limb deformity issues that can affect the young horse and Jacqueline Norris explained the process of getting a foal ready for the sales and the pitfalls to avoid, paying particular attention to fitness and hoof condition.

Liam O’Donovan complemented both speakers by explaining remedial hoof care. Finally, John Lynam analysed sales returns. For pinhookers he recommended sires whose first two-year-olds are not doing well, but who might go on to be good at three. When selling, select the right sale: it’s better to be a big fish in a little pond than is a little fish lost in a big pond.