Equine caregivers know all too well, identifying and treating lameness in horses can be a frustrating and expensive process

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Equine Guelph’s new 'Lameness Lab' online tool, sponsored by Pfizer Equine Division, will help you learn about lameness through interactive activities.

“We think that a visual approach to lameness will greatly help horse caregivers better understand the basics of lameness and how to recognize the signs or symptoms in their horse,” says Dr. Cathy Rae, equine Technical Services veterinarian for Pfizer Animal Health. “This understanding should help them detect lameness earlier as well as guide them in knowing when to call their veterinarian.”

The Lameness Lab will allow horse owners to discover the causes and factors contributing to increased risk. You will learn about the body tissues involved and how to tell if your horse is lame. Plus, see videos of lame horses; test your knowledge and find out how a veterinarian detects lameness.

This online tool features video commentary by Dr. Nicola Cribb, assistant professor and equine surgeon at the University of Guelph, and Dr. Ken Armstrong, equine veterinarian and partner of Halton Equine Veterinary Services.

“I am pleased to help out with the ‘working with the vet’ section of the online tool,” says Armstrong. “In the videos, I explain to horse owners a typical process that vets go through from lameness assessment to diagnosis. Because it’s a team effort between the vet and the owner, it’s important for owners to understand what the vet is doing and why.”

To check out this tool, go to Equine Guelph’s ‘Toolbox’ at equineguelph.ca and click on Lameness Lab.

New Equine Welfare Course - Take Your Online Learning to the Next Level at Equine Guelph

More often than not, once you have committed to the equine industry, a life-long passion will ensue. Equine Guelph is continually expanding course offerings for these devoted horse lovers to help them transition into dedicated leaders. Equine Guelph has more to offer than any other online equine studies certificate or diploma program with 19 courses taught by highly qualified, top industry professionals from the University of Guelph’s renowned Ontario Vet College and beyond.

Equine Guelph is pleased to announce the first offering of 'Equine Welfare,' which will take place from March 5 – May 27 to 2012

This online course is designed for individuals who desire heightened awareness of global horse welfare issues including housing, management practices and procedures that can affect a horse's well being. Equine Guelph’s director, Gayle Ecker, explains, “We know that horses are a prey species and therefore may be very good at hiding health concerns. It is our responsibility as caretakers, and members of the industry, to reach a high level of education and understanding in order to provide a high level of care.”
Students will discuss pertinent welfare topics, including how to recognize negative emotional states, how welfare can be objectively assessed in the horse, and specific practices which may compromise horse welfare.

Instructor Katrina Franken (BSc and MSc Equine Science) is excited about this unique, online course designed to instill professional perspective and provide hands–on tools to tackle welfare issues. “The horse has a vast variety of roles in our lives," she said. "Whether it is a working equid in a developing country, an Olympic athlete flying around the world to compete or a cherished family pet --- they all have similar needs that can be surprisingly different from what we think.”

This course will provide the students professional perspective. All too often horse lovers project very human characteristics onto their horses. The cheeky teaching pony who pulls every trick out of the bag to ditch its rider might actually be suffering from back problems caused by its saddle. Recognizing situations like these are some of the first steps to becoming a professional with advanced knowledge in equine welfare.

This course will look at the biological and emotional factors that affect a horse’s quality of life. Students will learn how to assess welfare in practice and will discuss practical issues from a global perspective. Over the duration of the course, you will be provided with the background that is essential to really make a difference for our horses.’

Please note that this course is a core (required) course in the new Equine Welfare Certificate program offered by Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare and Equine Guelph. Visit equineguelph.ca for more information.

(Equine Guelph)