By Dr. Corine Selders

Spring is here and the horse show season is in full swing. To make this show season the best one yet, here are some tips to keep your horse healthy and competing to the best of his ability.
For starters, you may need a negative Coggins and a health certificate. They are required for interstate travel and some shows.
A Coggins is a blood test for equine infectious anemia and it is good for one year. However, some states require a negative Coggins within six months. A health certificate states that the examining veterinarian found the horse healthy and free of infectious disease.
If you need either of these documents, plan ahead. The Coggins tests generally take a week and the veterinarian cannot complete the health certificate without it.
Horse shows are a breeding ground for infectious diseases. The horses are stressed, which lowers their immune system. The horses are stabled in small, enclosed spaces facilitating the spread of airborne pathogens. Often the stabling is dusty and has poor ventilation. How do you protect your horse?
First, the show horse must be current on all vaccinations. The primary diseases that we vaccinate against are Eastern Equine and Western Equine Encephalitis (which are mosquito-borne diseases causing similar symptoms to West Nile virus), Tetanus (horses are highly susceptible), and Influenza. To add to this combination there is the fairly recent West Nile virus (also a mosquito-borne encephalitic disease), Equine Rhinopneumonitis (generally, a respiratory disease), Strangles (streptococcus equi equi - an upper respiratory disease), Rabies, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis, and Pneumabort, a vaccine for pregnant mares.
Most show horses should be vaccinated against the four primary diseases plus Rhinopneumonitis and West Nile Virus. Strangles vaccines are recommended when many horses congregate. The Rabies vaccine is for horses in an endemic or high-risk area. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis is also for endemic areas.
San Diego County has not had a Rabies incident in decades and Venezuelan Encephalitis is not in the county. However, if you are leaving San Diego County, these may be needed.
The stress at horse shows can cause a host of GI problems. It has been demonstrated that trailering, performing, and having unusual feeding/exercise schedules can predispose horses to stomach ulcers. Colic can also appear during stressful situations.
Protect your horse by providing the same feed and feeding schedule, and always offering plenty of fresh water. Another way to protect the horse is by giving Ulcerguard (omeprazole) starting three days before and during the show. If colic is an issue, giving a probiotic during the show may help.
Monitoring water intake, providing electrolytes, and adding mineral oil and water to the horse's grain/beet pulp ration may also be a good preventative measure.
Other keys to preventing colic begin well before the horse show by having the horse's teeth floated and by adhering to a consistent worming program. Checking a horse's teeth biannually and having the horse's teeth floated annually or every two years is part of a good health maintenance program.
Good dentition allows a horse to efficiently consume and absorb the nutrients contained in his diet. Horses should be wormed every two to three months or use a daily feed through wormer (Strongid C) with a biannual ivermectin paste wormer.
The wormers should be rotated among several products on the market to ensure that a wide variety of parasites are eliminated and to decrease the chances of resistance. These parasites can cause colic, damage intestines, lungs, liver, and arteries, and the minor irritation of the horses rubbing out the tail hairs.

Being well prepared prior to the horse show with a Coggins, health certificate, vaccinations, good teeth, and a low worm load can help your horse stay healthy during the show. Paying meticulous attention to feed and feeding times, and providing electrolytes, a probiotic, and preventative ulcer medication may further guarantee a healthy horse and a fun horse show experience.

Dr. Corine Selders is an equine veterinarian and owns Cedar Creek Equine Veterinary Practice Inc. She lives in Ramona with her husband Todd Barrow and their daughters Alexandra and Anneke. Her e-mail address is dr.selders@cedarcreekequine.com.