When are you going to do it!

Even in horse therapy or when we are taking care of horses we can get a case of Procrastination. In the article below Psychcentral.com goes through some tips to stop Procrastination in all aspects of our lives. Maybe you've been thinking about trying horse therapy, when are you going to do it! 

"1. Put yourself in Procrastination Jail.

If I feel pressure to jump in and finish something in a rush, and therefore can’t bear to start, sometimes I put myself in jail. If you’re in jail, you have all the time in the world. You have no reason to hurry, no reason to cut corners or to try to do too many things at once. You can slow down, concentrate. You can take the time to get every single detail right.

 

2. Ask for help.

This is one of my most useful Secrets of Adulthood. Why is this so hard? I have no idea. But whenever I have trouble getting started because I don’t know exactly what to do, and I ask for help, I’m amazed at how much it…helps.

3. Remember that most decisions don’t require extensive research

I often get paralyzed by my inability to make a decision, but by reminding myself that often, one choice just isn’t that much different from another choice, I can get started. Also, I try to identify a knowledgeable person, and just follow whatever that person does.

4. Take a baby step.. If you feel yourself dismayed at the prospect of the chain of awful tasks that you have to accomplish, just take one step today. Tomorrow, take the next step. The forward motion is encouraging, and before long, you’ll probably find yourself speeding toward completion. In the same vein…

5. Suffer for 15 minutes.

You can do anything for fifteen minutes, and fifteen minutes, day after day, adds up surprisingly fast. That’s how I finally dug myself out of my crushing (if virtual) load of digital photos. Fifteen minutes at a time.

6. Do it first thing in the morning.

The night before, vow to yourself to do the dreaded task. Get everything ready — any phone numbers of information you need, files assembled, everything ready to go. And the next day, at the first possible moment – as soon as you walk into work, or when the office opens, or whenever – just do it. Don’t allow yourself to reflect or procrastinate. This is particularly true of exercise. If you think you’ll be tempted to skip, try to work out in the morning.

7. Protect yourself from interruption.

How often have you finally steeled yourself to start some difficult project, only to be interrupted the minute you get going? This makes a hard task much harder. Carve out some time to work.

8. Work can be one of the most pernicious forms of procrastination.

Don’t kid yourself."

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/10/26/8-tips-to-stop-procrastinating/

 

Pegasus is an organization that brings recovery through Horse Therapy and Equine Courses to help people achieve an addiction cure! Visit PegasusEct.com for more information! :) 

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Deciduous Teeth in Young Horses

I know this is something overlooked much to often on horses and we tend to forget about the basics sometimes; even those in horse therapy can forget about horses' teeth! This article from TheHorse.com exaplins how you can manage deciduous teeth in young horses. I think this article is a great reminder for the average horse owner and owners that are involved in equine courses. 

"Most horse owners are privy to caring for their adult horses' teeth and diligent in obtaining proper dental care. But caring for foals' and young horses' deciduous (or simply put, baby) teeth is a little different, at least from a veterinary standpoint.

At the American Association of Equine Practitioners Focus on Dentistry meeting, held Sept. 18-20 in Albuquerque, N.M., Jack Easley, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVP, a private practitioner from Equine Veterinary Practice LLC, in Shelbyville, Ky., discussed what to watch for when dealing with deciduous teeth, and what veterinarians look for when examining them.

"Knowledge of eruption times of deciduous and permanent dentition should be second nature to veterinarians working in the equine mouth," Easley said. "The shedding of deciduous teeth is an entirely natural process that generally does not require human intervention to proceed normally."

However, he noted, as with any other natural occurrence, sometimes things don't go as planned. Some veterinary intervention could be required to put the young horse's mouth on track for a healthy life.

Basics of Tooth Eruption

"Horses under five years of age have mixed hypsodont dentition," Easley began. "From 12 months to six years, equids shed 24 deciduous teeth and erupt 36 to 44 permanent teeth."

Easley explained that a foal's first deciduous incisors erupt at about six days of age, followed by the second incisors at about six weeks and the third incisors at about nine months. These deciduous incisors are smaller than the horse's permanent teeth and are shaped like a dome.

"They have a flattened root, short crown, and shallow infundibulum (a crescent- shaped depression in the central crown of a tooth) on the occlusal (chewing) surface," he noted.

The incisor caps begin shedding when the horse is about two-and-a-half years of age and continue to shed until the horse reaches about four-and-a-half years.

Horses' deciduous premolars begin erupting shortly after birth, Easley noted.

"As the juvenile horse matures, the crowns of deciduous premolars wear thin and the roots resorb, forming a flat premolar cap as the underlying permanent teeth erupt," he added.

The juvenile horse's permanent teeth will erupt starting at about a year old and continuing until the animal is four years of age.

Easley explained that horses have vertically successional teeth, meaning that each deciduous tooth and its associated permanent tooth reside in the same alveolar crypt (the sockets from which horses' teeth erupt). The mechanisms behind equine tooth eruption have not been studied in great detail, he noted, but it's likely that eruption is a multifactorial (having multiple causes) process fueled by eruptive, resorptive, and hydrostatic forces.

He also relayed that between the deciduous tooth and the permanent tooth lies a layer of soft tissue that contains osteoprogenator cells (loosely organized cells that become osteoblasts, or cells that can form bone), cytokines (inflammatory mediators), and odontoclasts (cells that aid in the resorption of deciduous teeth roots). This layer of soft tissue plays a major role in helping the horse's body transition successfully from deciduous teeth to permanent dentine.

"The combined action of resorption of the deciduous tooth roots, development and eruption of permanent successors, and attrition of the clinical crown results in the shedding or exfoliation of a wafer of the deciduous tooth, often referred to as a cap," Easley explained.

"Deciduous premolar caps close to natural exfoliation should: 1) be digitally loose; 2) have partial loss of the crown; or 3) have a palpable demarcation noted on the lingual (tongue) or palatal (the palate, or middle part of the roof of the mouth) aspect of the clinical crown with little or no gingival attachment to the remainder of the cap," Easley noted, adding that malodor often arises as the teeth draw near to shedding.

Easley reported veterinarians often encounter eruption pseudocysts--bony enlargements located on the lower jaw or the upper cheek bone--when dealing with juvenile teeth.

"These pseudocysts (or eruption bumps) normally result from erupting permanent premolars and are most prominent in 3- and 4-year-old horses," he said, adding that the growths generally regress and disappear within a year or so.

Maleruption in Juvenile Horses

Easley reviewed several types of maleruption (eruption of a tooth out of its normal position) juvenile horses can face when their permanent teeth develop.

Worn Deciduous Teeth Crowns--When the crowns of deciduous teeth become worn, they loosen to the point they are displaced or shed into the horse's mouth. Easley noted these worn caps and their aftereffects are often associated with gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Retained Deciduous Incisors--As the name suggests, this occurs when one or more incisor does not shed as the permanent teeth arrive. Often, this abnormality is caused by "the permanent tooth erupting slightly (nearer the inside of the horse's mouth) to the deciduous, resulting in failure of the deciduous root to completely resorb."

Easley explained that retained deciduous incisors cause clinical signs including head tossing during eating, rubbing incisors on fixed objects, quidding (dropping chewed food from the mouth), and bitting problems. He noted that in some cases a narrow space can develop between the deciduous tooth and the permanent tooth, a precursor for periodontal disease in horses.

Loose incisor caps are often easily removed in standing horses, he said; however, some instances require sedation to successfully remove the cap.

Retained Premolar Caps--"Premolar caps can appear much like a table with four legs lying over the top of the permanent tooth," Easley said. Gingivitis and periodontal disease can result if the premolar cap's roots remain in the gum after the cap is shed, and it also predisposes horses to developing dental problems later in life.

Retained premolar caps can cause gingival irritation, dysmastication (abnormal chewing), anorexia, loss of appetite, and a predisposition to malocclusion (abnormal relationships between opposing teeth). Further, he explained, eruption bumps can result from the delayed eruption of permanent teeth, an occasional side effect of retained dentation.

Easley said these are primarily cosmetic problems; however, he warned that in some cases they can be caused by anachoretic pulpitis--a condition in which blood-borne bacteria become lodged within the pulp of the tooth, necessitating immediate treatment.

Easley noted that, similar to loose incisor caps, these caps can usually be removed easily.

Malocclusions--Several different types of malocclusion can affect juvenile horses as they shed their deciduous teeth, Easley noted. Permanent teeth can erupt misaligned with the rest of the teeth, spaces can develop between permanent teeth, and overcrowding can occur in young equine mouths.

In some cases of malocclusion (i.e., with asynchronous eruption of permanent teeth--permanent teeth in close proximity that erupt at different times) a veterinarian will recommend removing deciduous teeth.

"As a general rule in equine practice, if one cap has shed, the cap in the same position on the opposite side of the jaw should be evaluated and, if loose or close to exfoliation, it should be removed," he explained.

To Remove, or Not to Remove?

"The practice of methodically removing deciduous teeth at set ages results in premature removal in some horses," Easley noted.

In cases like these, when the deciduous teeth are removed prematurely, the dental sac covering the underlying permanent tooth is exposed and quickly destroyed by mastication, Easley said. This leads to loss of blood supply to the chewing surface, where active cement deposition might still be occurring, he added, which can result in conditions that predispose the animal to the development of caries (cavities) later in life.

For these reasons most veterinarians opt to let healthy deciduous teeth shed on their own.

Take-Home Message

Although many horses' deciduous teeth shed without incidence, there are times when maleruptions, retentions, or malocclusions develop in the juvenile mouth. In these cases, a veterinarian familiar with equine dentition is the best resource for keeping a young horse on the road to life-long health and wellness."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=18986&source=rss&utm_sour...

Pegasus is an organization that brings recovery through Horse Therapy and Equine Courses to help people achieve an addiction cure! Visit PegasusEct.com for more information! :) 

 

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Music Therapy

 

I think experimenting with different types of therapy not only gives people new hope to try new things, but also lets find great effective new ways to invoke therapy, because not all therapy works with every type of person. For example, some people love horse therapy and some hate it (which I dont see how you could), but every person is different!

I found a forum post I wanted to share about something this person calls "Music Therapy", yes we have heard of it before and there are many different ways to do it, but this way is simple. I'm sure we've all been touched by music in some way, so take a look at what this person said...

"I am wondering if others can comment if there are special songs that help--inspirational, relaxing, energizing, etc. I got to thinking of this when I read how music can actually change your brain.

I don't listen to music often anymore. I was thinking I should change that. I know that if I listen to sad songs or watch sad movies I get really undone by them (don't want that!). So I want to create a playlist of audio or video of songs that I can use for different purposes like cheering me up, thinking philosophically, relaxing, etc.

I found one this evening that strikes a good note to me personally -- "Heal the World" by M. Jackson. I never thought much about it before, but actually it's quite comforting...the lyrics speak to me about PTSD in a private way, and give me hope. I found his video on YouTube (for some people it might be triggering, approach with caution) but --here are some of the lyrics"

You can view the lyrics and source below! 

Source(Check this out!!): https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/music-therapy.20508/

 

Pegasus is an organization that brings recovery through Horse Therapy and Equine Courses to help people achieve an addiction cure! Visit PegasusEct.com for more information! :) 

 

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Ask a VET- Live Online

I saw this on TheHorse.com and thought it would be a great share for the horse therapy community. Sign up for the event before October 26th!

"Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, and herbal medicine often generate a good deal of controversy. Staunch supporters often clash with skeptics when discussing these new, largely unregulated fields of veterinary medicine. Is there any real evidence that these therapies can help horses? What training do practitioners offering these modalities have? How can you find out more about these approaches?

Get answers to these and many other questions during our free Ask the Vet LIVE online Q&A chat about Complementary Therapies onWednesday, Oct. 26, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern U.S. time (5-6 p.m. Pacific)! When you register for this event, you'll be able to send in your questions ahead of time. You can also ask questions during the live event on Oct. 26. This free live chat is brought to you by Understanding Equine Accupuncture.

Our on-call panelists for this event will include:

Benjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT, has been licensed to practice acupuncture since 1996 and is the chairman of the American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) Owner Education Committee. He is also on the Board of Directors for the AAEP and the American College of Theriogenology, and is a specialist in equine reproduction and infertility.

Ed Boldt, Jr., DVM, received his certification in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) in 1993 and in veterinary chiropractic through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 1996. He currently he has a private equine practice limited to complementary medicine based in Colorado, but including Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma Performance Horse Complementary Medicine Services). He is the past executive director for IVAS and a past lecturer and teaching associate for the IVAS Basic Acupuncture Course.

We hope you can join us on Oct. 26 for this event! Reserve your seat now!"

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=18952&source=rss&utm_sour...

Pegasus is an organization that brings recovery through Horse Therapy and Equine Courses to help people achieve an addiction cure! Visit PegasusEct.com for more information! :) 

Please support us by "Liking" our page at...Horse Therapy! 

Update on Lyme Disease

I've been reposting a couple updates on the Lyme Diseases current state in the Horse Therapy community. TheHorse.com has been progressively posting about the newest studies and information on it. Heres the latest...

"Lyme disease (known as equine borreliosis in horses) is the most common human disease transmitted by arthropods in North America.Ixodes sp. ticks, the vector of Lyme disease, are being described in areas where they have not been reported before. States in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and the Great Lakes region have the highest number of reported human Lyme disease cases in humans, and horses in these areas are at high risk of exposure to the Lyme organism, Borrelia burgdorferi.

Any horses housed outdoors are at risk due to increased exposure to ticks and the aggressive feeding of the Ixodes ticks. The small ticks are difficult to see in the hair coat. It is thought that ticks must be attached 12 to 24 hours before humans are infected, as is likely to be the case in horses.

Clinical signs associated with equine borreliosis are variable and include shifting leg lameness, myalgia (muscle pain), dermal hypersensitivity, behavior changes, weight loss, uveitis, and neurological signs.

B. burgdorferi diagnostics include culture, direct microscopic visualization, and polymerase chain reaction, but the most often used diagnostics are serologic tests such as immunofluorescence assay, Western blot (WB), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The new multiplex bead-based Lyme test combines testing by ELISA and WB proteins in a single, quantitative, bead-based assay.

Antibody-based diagnostics makes diagnosis difficult, since it is thought that 60 to 70% of horses in endemic areas may be seropositive. Often owners request Lyme testing for "baselines," pre-purchase examinations and assistance in determining causes of poor performance, for example. In the equine borreliosis seropositive horse, it is estimated that a very low percentage actually develop or have signs that may be associated with Lyme disease.

The accepted treatment for equine borreliosis is the use of a member of the tetracycline family of drugs. Response to treatment has been seen by practitioners and owners as a confirmation of a Lyme disease diagnosis, but this response must be cautiously interpreted due to anti-inflammatory effects of tetracycline drugs. It is also difficult to determine response to treatment with serological testing, because B. burgdorferi antibody levels are known to persist for years in humans and are also apparently long-lived in horses. Retesting is suggested four to six months after treatment to see if there is a decrease in serological values. This retesting can be questionable in determining response to treatment because horses are likely to be exposed and possibly reinfected post-treatment if living in areas of high tick density. The new veterinary fluorescent bead-based multiplex test, however, may assist in determining response to treatment.

Horse owners should attempt to prevent exposure to ticks by using insect repellants and removing brush and dense undercover, which provide habitats for host mammals infected with ticks. Attention to grooming also may help prevent tick attachment.

Further studies are needed on the effective diagnosis, treatment, immunity, and prevention of equine borreliosis."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=18917&source=rss&utm_sour...

Pegasus is an organization that brings recovery through Horse Therapy and Equine Courses to help people achieve an addiction cure! Visit PegasusEct.com for more information! :) 

Please support us by "Liking" our page at...Horse Therapy!