CA: First Case of WNV Found

This is important for every horse owner to know about as well as those involved with horse therapy and equine courses. 

"The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has confirmed the first case of West Nile virus (WNV) in a horse in 2012, according to a statement on the organization's website.

"On July 26, 2012, the CDFA Animal Health Branch confirmed the first positive equine West Nile virus case in Stanislaus County," the statement read. "The 2-year-old unvaccinated filly displaying severe neurologic signs was euthanized."

In a blog post published today (July 31), California State Veterinarian Annette Whiteford, DVM, said, "Each year, we find ourselves using this sad occasion to remind horse owners to have their animals vaccinated. It offers them maximum protection against the disease. And once vaccinations occur, horse owners should be checking regularly with their veterinarians to make sure they stay current."

Clinical signs for WNV include flu-like signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed; fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculations (twitching); hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound); changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or "just not with it"; occasional somnolence (drowsiness); propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); and "spinal" signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia (incoordination on one or both sides, respectively). Equine mortality rate can be as high as 30-40%.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported 83 cases of WNV in U.S. horses in 2011, with 15 of those cases being identified in California horses."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=20411&source=rss&utm_sour...

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Video: The BEST Anxiety Management Techniques

Anxiety is one of the most prominent disorders that we see in horse therapy and millions of people suffer from it daily! Here are some amazing managment techniques to crush anxiety! 

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/07/28/video-a-real-sufferer-cherry...

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, and/or other disorders please contact Pegasus horse therapy and equine courses and see how you can reach a solution :) 

Couples in Recovery!

This is something that has been around for quite some time now in the equine therapy and horse therapy communities, but now there is a blog devoted to just that! Check it out

"Every relationship needs help from time to time.

But couples who are grappling with addiction issues — with alcohol or drugs — have special needs above beyond those in a regular, everyday relationship. The 12-step recovery process can bring couples closer together, but it’s often a challenging time for the health of the relationship, too.

So we’re proud to introduce Couples in Recovery, a blog devoted to these kinds of issues, with Elaine Leadem, MSW, CSAT and John Leadem, MSW, MS, CSAT.

Elaine is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Elaine holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Marywood University. John is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Marywood University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Administration from the University of Scranton. They both enjoy specialized training by Patrick Carnes, PhD, and they both sport dual national certifications for Sex and Multiple Addiction Therapist by the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals.

Please give the Leadems a warm Psych Central welcome over at their blog today!"

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/07/23/introducing-couples-in-recov...

 

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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Equine Environmental Stewardship Courses

This is great for any horse lover or for those involved with equine courses, horse therapy, or equine therapy. 

"The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Extension has announced the dates and times of a four-part equine environmental stewardship course. The course begins July 19 and continues through Aug. 9.

Each class will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Londonderry Township Municipal Building, located at 7835 S. Geyers Church Road in Middletown, Pa. The four-part course costs $45 and includes a reference notebook, handouts, and a soil test kit.

Dates and session topics include:

• July 19--Grazing Principles for a Better Pasture and Healthier Horse
• July 26--Weed and Toxic Plant Identification and Management
• Aug. 2--Improving Pastures by Reseeding and Improving Soil Fertility
• Aug. 9--Got Manure? You Need A Plan

For more information on the equine environmental stewardship course, contact Donna Foulk at 610/746-1970."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=20326&source=rss&utm_sour...

 

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Combating Lonliness

I love posting these articles from Psych Central because they can really be applied to everyone even if you arent involved with horse therapy and equine courses. 

"1. Realize that loneliness is a feeling, not a fact. When you are feeling lonely, it is because something has triggered a memory of that feeling, not because you are in fact, isolated and alone. The brain is designed to pay attention to pain and danger, and that includes painful scary feelings; therefore loneliness gets our attention.

But then the brain tries to make sense of the feeling. Why am I feeling this way? Is it because nobody loves me? Because I am a loser? Because they are all mean? Theories about why you are feeling lonely can become confused with facts. Then it becomes a bigger problem so just realize that you are having this feeling and accept it without over reacting.

3. Notice your self deflating thoughts.  We often create self centered stories to explain our feelings when we are young, it is not unusual for children to assume that there is something wrong with them if they are not happy. If they are lonely and sad, children may assume other people don’t like them when this is rarely the case.2. Reach out because loneliness is painful and can confuse you into thinking that you are a loser, an outcast. You might react by withdrawing into yourself, your thoughts, and your lonely feelings and this is not helpful. At its best, anticipation of loneliness might motivate us to reach out and cultivate friendships, which is the healthiest thing to do if you are sad and alone. When you are a child, and your sadness causes you to cry, you may evoke a comforting response from others. If you’re an adult, not so much.

Victims of bullying may well have fans and friends, but they often aren’t aware of it because the shame and loneliness get more attention. Habitual assumptions about social status continue into adulthood and if you are looking for evidence that the world sucks, you can always find it.

4. Make a plan to fight the mental and emotional habits of loneliness. If you realize you are dealing with an emotional habit, you can make a plan to deal with loneliness. Since healthy interaction with friends is good, make some effort to reach out to others, to initiate conversation and face time even when your loneliness and depression are telling you not to. Yes, it is work, but it is worthwhile, just like exercising is worthwhile even when you are feeling tired or lazy.

5. Focus on the needs and feelings of others, the less attention on your lonely thoughts and feelings. I can walk down the street thinking about myself, my loneliness and the hopelessness of it all, staring at the sidewalk and sighing to myself. Or I can walk down the street grateful for the diversity of people I get to share the sidewalk with, silently wishing them good health and good fortune, and smiling at each person I meet. The latter is more fun, even though I sometimes have to remind myself to do it on purpose.

6. Find others like you. Now days there are more tools than ever before to find out where the knitters, hikers or kiteboarders are congregating so that you can get together with those who share your interests. This makes it much easier to identify groups with which you will have something in common, a natural basis for beginning a friendship.

7. Always show up when meeting up with others. You don’t have to run for president of the knitters society at your first meeting. But you do have to show up. I have been telling others to practice yoga for 20 years and promising I would do it myself for just as long, but except for the occasional coincidental yoga offering at a retreat, I didn’t take the trouble of finding a class I could attend regularly until a month ago. Now I am enjoying it and it wasn’t that hard. I have put a reminder in my phone to resign from the procrastinator’s society.

8. Be curious, but don’t expect perfection or applause. Each time you show up is an experiment, a micro adventure in social bonding. If you are curious about and interested in others, they will be attracted to you because you are giving them attention. So you will get attention in return. Curiosity about others also takes your focus away from those painful feelings that tend to make you hide and sulk.

9. Kindess goes a long way. “There’s nobody here but us chickens.” This is one of my favorite lines from The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment by Thaddeus Golas. Underneath the impressive facades of the high fliers are the same set of emotions we all are born with. Celebrities suffer from stage fright and depression too.

You have the power to offer loving kindness and generosity of spirit to all you come into contact with. It isn’t instinctual to be kind to strangers or people who scare you. But it is a choice. It is a choice that Jesus and Ghandi used intentionally. And in the long run it is a winning choice. The alternative, being mean or stingy with those you don’t know well, can get you a reputation as a Scrooge.

10. Be persistent even if a particular group does seem to be a dead end for you, try another. AA and AlAnon recommend that everyone try six different groups to find one that suits you best. If you are persistent, challenging the assumptions and feelings that tell you to give up and resign yourself to a life of loneliness, and showing up and being curious and kind to others and more and more groups, the odds are in your favor.

And once you have a friend or two, nourish those friendships with time and attention. Don’t be too cautious about whether you are giving more than you are getting at first. If you make more friends and some of them are takers, you can choose to spend more time with the friends who reward your friendship."

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/07/16/10-more-ideas-to-help-with-loneliness/

 

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An Emotionally Abusive Relationship

Another great article from Psych Central and this can really be applied to equine therapy and horse therapy because so many people are in these types of relationships. 

"If you’ve ever been in a controlling relationship, you know how easy it is to get caught in its web. It usually starts out with a simple suggestion like, “Do you think that outfit is the best you can do for the banquet tonight?” or “I think you’re better off ordering the salad,” or “You should get a real job and stop all that nonsense about making it as an artist.”

At first, you take their suggestions as a reflection of their love and concern for you. After all, their comments are not that far off base, and you certainly don’t want to appear unappreciative or defensive. At this stage of the relationship, you want to please your mate, not alienate him or her. It’s more important to appear receptive and understanding of your partner’s opinions than to challenge them.

Some time goes by. You now notice that your significant other’s opinions of you continue to be critical. Only now, there is an emotional undertone that suggests if you don’t abide by his opinion, he will be angry, punitive and emotionally manipulative.

The scariest times come when you believe the threats of rejection and abandonment.

 

The cycle has repeated itself in such a way that somehow, you’ve become sucked in and are believing the rhetoric. Or, at the very least, you’ve been trying to manage the critical outbursts. You’re now so consumed with keeping your partner’s emotional judgments at bay that you have trouble considering if his demands have crossed over into an abusive and inappropriate arena. Your judgment is clouded.¹

You continue to ask yourself, Is it me or him? You feel anxious around him, believing that somehow you can make things right again; you want to feel the love you did when the two of you first got together. Deep down, your biggest fear is that his opinions of you are right … that there really is something wrong with you, and you just may not be lovable the way you are.

Why Do People Want to Control Others?The bad news? You are now caught in the web. The good news? There is a way out. It is so important to understand what control is really all about. Let me show you the way.

Here’s what a person’s controlling behaviors are generally all about:

• Their own sense of helplessness and powerlessness

   

• Getting someone else (like you) to make them feel okay
• Wanting to hand-off their own anxieties so they don’t have to deal with them themselves
• Ensuring that you will never abandon or reject them
• Projecting their deepest fears of being inadequate and unlovable

A person’s controlling behaviors are virtually never about you.

Take Control Back

Here are five steps to getting out from under a person’s control:

1. Get your power back.

The quickest way to do this is to be willing to walk away from the relationship if need be. This enables you to move forward with the next steps from a place of power, not a place of fear.

2. Set limits on his criticism and emotional outbursts.

Let your partner know that you are open to hearing his concerns about your actions and how they impact him, but will no longer engage in conversations that attack who you are as a person.

3. Consider your partner’s concerns.

What are you willing to do for him? What is completely off the table? Make sure you align these requests with your personal well-being and integrity. Don’t agree to do things simply in order to keep the peace or save the relationship, especially if deep down you know it isn’t right for you.

4. Be clear and honest with yourself first, then your partner.

Consider your values, goals and needs. Make sure your decisions are in alignment with your highest self, needs and all. Let him know what you can and can’t do for him. Whatever you do, do not be intimidated. Have a powerful “no” and make it clear that he will need to accept the “no.” If he can’t, then it may be best for the two of you to part ways.

5. Find people and experiences that celebrate who you are.

Find ways to reconnect with the powerful person you truly are, i.e. someone that would never tolerate being treated in such a manner. Engage and connect with other people that support and love you for exactly who you are.

At the end of the day, only you can decide if his controlling behavior is something you are willing to live with or not. Relationships should be something that supports your growth, not something that diminishes it. Love celebrates who you are; it does not put you down. You deserve to have a powerful and loving relationship. So start with yourself. Love yourself enough to take the first step in reclaiming you.

Most couples deal with issues of control; it is a common tension that arises from time to time. However, if you and a loved one are struggling with how to deal with control issues constructively, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help. I want you to have the best possible outcome when it comes to strengthening your relationships."

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/07/12/in-an-emotionally-abusive-re...

 

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Getting Over a Bad Day In Relationships

Though it may not seem extremely relevant to horse therapy and equine courses, this is something many people struggle with. It's seems you can have a great couple days in a relationship only to let one day ruin the rest of the week. 

"Have you ever had one of those days where it’s clear that your relationship is more aggravating than soothing?

Every relationship has its share of frustrating days. An occasional bad day is expected and normal in any relationship. Only when the negatives begin to outweigh the positives is it time to become concerned.

Dr. John Gottman, a relationship specialist, identified through his research a concept he callspositive sentiment override. This refers to the lens through which we view and experience our relationship and partner on a regular basis:

Is our relationship and view of our partner generally positive with moments of negativity, or vice versa?

 

Gottman’s research suggests that it is important to view our partner’s negative moments as the exception to a bank of positivity built up over time in the relationship. If it seems that our partner’s positive moments are only the exceptions to consistent negativity — whether in attitude or relationship environment — then there is a greater likelihood of eventual breakup or divorce.

Simply stated, the culprit of relationship demise is not always the content of the arguments or the frustrations. Our perception of these events and our overall relationship environment also are important. However, for many of us, creating this concept of positive sentiment override in our relationships is much more easily said than done.

So, let’s look at some ways to create a healthy relationship environment with our partner that’s based on a bank of positivity:

1. Three positives to every one negative.

When your partner acts in a way that triggers negative emotion for you, come up with at least three positive things he or she does that either make you feel good, or that support the positive nature of your relationship.

2. Weekly togetherness activity.

Try doing something together on a weekly basis. It could be a date, but it could also be a productive activity, such as planning an event, building a model, baking cookies, doing a puzzle, making a photo album, writing a story, etc. Make it active rather than passive (e.g., watching TV together is passive interaction).

3. Turn frustration into an opportunity.

Is your partner having a bad day and acting coldly (or otherwise) toward you? Rather than joining in the negativity, try to understand what’s bothering your partner. See how you can be supportive to him or her. Keep in mind, once arguments start, listening stops on both sides. So having a productive conversation that can foster repair contributes to a healthy relationship environment.

4. Be mindful of the bad day.

Rough days will happen. Your partner will get angry and vice versa. If your partner is aggravating you, train yourself to think, “this must be a bad day,” rather than, “oh, there he or she goes again.” The former quote creates the exception moment; the latter quote creates a sense of negative constancy. Remember to still be supportive to your partner during these days — don’t be dismissive of your partner’s experience of the bad day simply because it’s recognized as the exception.

5. Build relationship rituals.

Healthy relationships often include joint rituals that increase positive affect and unity. These rituals often reflect a combination of each other’s relationship values. For example: dinners together; going to bed at the same time; weekly time with friends as a couple; enjoying a favorite TV show together; cooking together, etc.

6. Check in with yourself.

It can be easy to project our own emotions onto our partners. If you notice yourself frequently viewing your partner or relationship as a source of frustration or obstacle in your life, check in with yourself to see if something is happening on your side that could be contributing to these emotions. Outside help can be useful for this.

7. Check out couples therapy.

Couples therapy also can be very helpful to address and undo patterns of relationship negativity and help redirect your relationship into a positive environment.

While there are other areas that also have influence in the overall health of a relationship, having a general sense that our partner and environment are supportive encourages growth and strength as a couple. Thus, the occasional bad day ends up being just that — the occasional bad day."

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/07/11/7-tips-to-help-your-relation...

 

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Caring for Yourself After Depression

We all go through little episodes of depression at times, even those of us involved with horse therapy and equine therapy have times of gloom! Here are 4 ways to help care for yourself after these episodes. 

"1. Continue your treatment.

Coleman stresses the importance of continuing your treatment for at least a few months after your depressive episode is over.

He writes, “The window of six to nine months after a depressive episode is particularly critical, and to be on the safe side I often encourage depressed clients to consider the first year after an episode to be a time of heightened risk for relapse and recurrence.”

(Relapse means having another depressive episode within six months of the first one; recurrence means having another episode after six months.)

Research shows that continuing your treatment can reduce both. He also suggests talking to your treatment providers about how you can prevent relapse.

Interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful in reducing relapse, he writes. Psychotherapy after an episode is valuable because it can help you cope effectively with stress and build resilience.

Also, if you’re taking an antidepressant, don’t stop abruptly. Always talk to your doctor first about discontinuing medication because stopping cold turkey, as Coleman explains, can have serious side effects.

2. Seek help sooner rather than later.

If you start experiencing symptoms of depression again, don’t wait to get help until you meet full criteria for the disorder, Coleman writes.

He encourages readers to think about the early signs of your depression, which can clue you in on what to look out for. Pay attention “to the number of symptoms, their severity and duration, and their effect on your life.”

This doesn’t mean that you need to fixate or hyper-focus on how you’re feeling. Everyone has a bad day. As he put it, “Just have a low threshold for resuming treatment.”

3. Don’t isolate yourself.

Maintaining positive relationships is important. Coleman cites one study that found that just being part of a sports team protected some individuals from depression.

4. Practice self-care.

“When you’re recovering from depression, it’s especially important for you to have some routine in your life,” Coleman writes.

He clarifies that this doesn’t mean leading a boring life. It simply means taking good care of yourself, which includes getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and exercising. (Here’s one study on the importance of moderate exercise for reducing relapse.)

If you’d like to learn more about Coleman’s book, check out our review on Psych Central."

 

Source:http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/07/10/4-tips-for-caring-for-yourself-after-a-depressive-episode/

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Water and Horses

Though this may seem like a trivial article to post, it's actually a very essential thing we all need to know about horses, whether in horse therapy or not! 

"Water is one of the essential nutrients a horse needs to perform a number of life-support functions, including digestion and thermoregulation. Especially with the hot summer weather prevalent in much of the country, it's important to ensure horses have access to water at all times.

As horse owners, we know it's important to provide free-choice water to horses at all times, but it is also imperative that the water is of good quality, clean, and palatable.

A number of circumstances can lead a water deficiency in horses, including unpalatable taste, lack of water offered, or loss of thirst due to exertion. The effects of insufficient water intake include decreased performance, decreased feed intake, dehydration, and eventually, if not remedied, death.

On average, a typical 1,100-pound horse at maintenance consumes four to nine gallons of water per day. The amount of water a horse requires can vary depending upon several factors:

The type, amount, and quality of feed consumed

• Fresh pasture contains between 60-80% moisture and provide a large amount of the horse's water requirements when grazing.
• Hay and grain are very low in moisture, causing horses to drink more water to meet their needs.
• Higher levels of protein and sodium in the diet also increase the horse's water requirement as urinary volume increases.

Temperature and humidity

• Ambient temperatures above 85°F will increase a horse's drinking frequency and volume.
• Colder temperatures (below 45°F) can reduce a horse's water consumption"

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=20241&source=rss&utm_sour...

 

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Equine Oat Research

I can't wait to see the result on ths research and I'm sure those involved in horse therapy would ne interested to see as well.

"The Equine Oat Research Advisory Board (EORAB) is now accepting pre-proposal applications for the first Prairie Oat Growers Association Equine Oat Research Grant cycle. Research projects that the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) funds will aim to discover specific benefits of oats for horses. The EORAB invites researchers to submit pre-proposals that address one or more of the following questions:

• How do oats contribute to the health of the horse?
• How do oats contribute to the performance of the horse?
• How can oats be used to prevent or manage a clinical disorder(s)?

Topics should seek answers to more specific problems related to the broader research areas outlined above. For the 2013 grant cycle, up to $400,000 is available. Preference will be given to research projects designed to produce tangible results within one year from the start of the research.

The EORAB has a two-step selection process to determine which research project(s) are recommended for funding. Pre-proposals must be no more than three pages and are due by July 31. The EORAB will review the pre-proposals and select those it believes will provide the greatest benefit to the horse and oat industries, based upon scientific merit and in alignment with POGA's objectives.

Successful pre-proposal applicants will be invited to submit full proposals for funding consideration, which will be due Nov. 30. The EORAB will then evaluate the research proposals and recommend to POGA which proposal(s) should be awarded grant money. Researchers whose proposals are approved for funding will be notified by April 15, 2013.

"We have been planning the Equine Oat Research Advisory Board for more than a year now, and we are excited that we have reached the point where we can begin accepting research pre-proposals," said Bill Wilton, Prairie Oat Growers Association president and Equine Oat Research Advisory board chair. "It is evident just how much the equine industry stands to gain. The EORAB is looking forward to reviewing the pre-proposals submitted, and we are optimistic we will receive some brilliant project ideas that could benefit the entire equine industry."

The EORAB will review research pre-proposals and proposals, recommend which equine-related research studies should be funded by POGA, and advise POGA on further research or determine next steps based on research findings.

Keep your horse healthy with the information in Understanding Equine Nutrition.

The EORAB executive committee members include:

• Nathaniel White II, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, professor of surgery at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center;
• Lori Warren, PhD, PhD, associate professor of equine nutrition at the University of Florida;
• Mary Beth Gordon, PhD, director of equine research and new product development at Land O'Lakes Purina;
• Emily Lamprecht, PhD, development manager of Cargill Animal Nutrition;
• Brian Rossnagel, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources; and
• Bill Wilton, Prairie Oat Growers Association president.

"Our vision for the Equine Oat Research Advisory Board is to commission the scientific research necessary to prove the nutritional benefits of feeding oats to horses in order to better educate horse owners so they can make more informed feed purchase decisions," Wilton said. "We believe horse owners deserve to have a better understanding of what they're feeding their horses based upon objective, factual scientific research."

The full version of the pre-proposal application requirements for POGA's Equine Oat Research Grant 2013 are available at www.EquineOats.org."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=20243&source=rss&utm_sour...

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