The Power of Slow

I love finding articles like these on PsychCentral.com and this one is helpful for everyone, whether you're involed with equine therapy or not! It's all about slowing down. 

"Moving by the seat of our pants isn’t that helpful for efficiency. For one, rushing can mean making silly but time-consuming mistakes, like misplacing important items, locking your keys inside the house or glossing over errors at work.

And we might miss out on life altogether. “When things go too fast, we aren’t cognitively able to process the information, so a lot of our lives literally whizzes by,” according to Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7.

Below, Hohlbaum shares several helpful tips on slowing down and saving time.

 

1. Know your custom speed.

My idea of fast and furious is probably a day at the beach for anyone in NYC. (I know this because my friends in NYC tell me regularly.) But that’s OK. This is where your custom speed comes in.

“When you live at your own speed, you absorb experiences more fully,” according to Hohlbaum.

Your happy medium lies somewhere between bored and harried, she said. To figure out what speed works for you, keep a diary, she said. Record the times you feel rushed and the times you feel bored, along with the circumstances and the reasons.

Keep in mind that your ideal speed will vary, depending on the season and the time of day, Hohlbaum added.

2. Segment your life.

Hohlbaum suggested looking at your days like a puzzle. “Segment each piece into bite-size chunks,” she said. For instance, your segments might include household chores, creative work and bill-paying. Try to work on each segment separately, and avoid multi-tasking.

Hohlbaum has a helpful exercise for segmenting your schedule. You’ll need a whiteboard, index cards, a pen and magnets. Write down your priorities on the index cards. Tape a magnet to each card, and place the cards vertically on a whiteboard. Put the most important priority on top. Once you’ve accomplished that segment, move it to the bottom, and so on.

“[This activity] helps you visualize your day, makes it more manageable and gives you a semblance of control,” Hohlbaum said. “It’s also great to know that priorities can shift, as easily as magnets on a board, and that sometimes you need to be flexible in the face of change.”

3. Say no and set boundaries.

Hohlbaum suggested creating boundaries around your availability. As she explained, that includes “letting things go to voicemail, not answering text or instant messages when you’re busy or turning off your cell phone altogether for stretches of time.”

Saying no also is important for preserving boundaries. If saying no is excruciating for you, just remember that extra commitments only take time away from what’s truly important to you. The key is to say no and move on, without naming excuses, Holbaum said.

“Most of the time people ask you to do things because they think you are competent.” (Or they don’t want to do it themselves.) “But in my book, just because you can, doesn’t mean you have to,” she said.

4. Delegate.

“You don’t have to run a one-person show all the time,” Hohlbaum said. Accept help from others, or hire help if you can. Delegating helps you attend to the more meaningful things in your life — and have the energy for it.

5. Take time setting up.

Rushing can rob you of much-needed setup time. When you start a household or work project, it’s important to make sure that you have everything you need.

Say you’re renovating your home. “It’s much smarter to ensure you have all your supplies first before getting started only to realize you’re out of something, have to stop what you’re doing and go to the store — or worse, to discover the store is closed,” Hohlbaum said.

6. Think before you speak.

Another con of rushing?  Careless communication, according to Hohlbaum. “Careless communication can be extremely time-consuming as you have to then clean up what you could have avoided had you been clear the first time around,” she said. So, before sending an email, ask yourself: “How would I react to this message?”

“We all have 24 hours a day. It’s not the time that matters as much as the things you choose to do in the time that you have,” Hohlbaum said."

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/03/27/6-ways-to-slow-down-and-save...

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Equine Medication Rules

If you haven't read one of these books yet you need to! This is a must for all horse owners and those involved in equine therapy. 

"Wind Publications released the fourth edition of “World Rules for Equine Drug Testing and Therapeutic Medication Regulation” on Feb. 14 and has sold more than 100 copies. Thomas Tobin, MVB, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, DABT, professor at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center; Kimberly Brewer, DVM, a private practitioner; and Kent Stirling, executive director of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association authored the 286-page book. 

The newly released fourth edition covers medication rules around the world for the first time and features a forward written by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear. The book addresses specific regulatory procedures in place around the world to regulate the use of therapeutic medications and endogenous, dietary, and environmental substances in racing and performance horses. The book is based on the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) classification system for foreign substances and lists many of the specific regulatory thresholds/withdrawal time guidelines in place for the approximately 99 such substances--from acepromazine to xylazine--in use around the world. 

Some widely used therapeutic medications are associated with an unusually high risk of inadvertent identifications or overages; where appropriate, each of these substances is marked with a Horsemen’s Alert, which sets forth the reasons for the alert and suggests avoidance actions. Additionally, and somewhat unusually, three substances are listed as Chemist’s Alerts, with explanations provided. 

Regulatory thresholds are defined as plasma or urinary concentration of drugs/drug metabolites and are the essential regulatory tools. What the horseperson needs, however, are withdrawal time guidelines: simple, unambiguous medication administration guidelines scientifically linked to the regulatory threshold and which serve to greatly reduce the probability of a therapeutic medication “overage.” Appendix 1 of the book reviews the critically important matter of withdrawal time guidelines and the factors influencing withdrawal time guidelines in some detail. 

Many horse people are unfamiliar with the language of equine forensic science. Appendix 2, therefore, presents the language, definitions, and abbreviations used. Appendix 3 lists the equine therapeutic medications identified by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium; it is noted the therapeutic medication status of some of these substances is under review. Appendix 4 sets forth the need for suitable reference standards for therapeutic medication regulation and outlines National and local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Associations’ (HBPAs) contributions in this critically important area of forensic science. Appendix 5 lists the HBPAs that have supported these research efforts, and the book closes with Appendix 6, a list of scientific references.

The book can be purchased on Amazon."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=19771&source=rss&utm_sour...

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Building Resilience!

I found a great video from Psych Central that I wanted to share with all horse owners and those involed in equine therapy, because there are some great tips in here to increase our wellbeing and happiness! 

"We all know that having resilience in life is tied directly to one’s happiness. In general, the more resilient a person is — that is, the more easily they can bounce back from life’s downs — the happier a life they will lead.

So the question then becomes, How does one build resilience? Can we nurture it like we nurture our creativity or intimacy?

In this video, Psych Central’s Ask the Therapists Daniel J. Tomasulo, Ph.D. & Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. discuss the issue of how does a person make their relationship work. What goes into making a relationship successful? Find out by watching the segment below:

 

The 4 tips offered by Dr. Marie in the video to help build resilience are:

1. What’s going right with your day?
2. Act more positive than you feel
3. Acting kind
4. Dress as though you’re successful"

Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/03/19/video-building-resilience/

 

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Does Your Horse Look Uncomfortable?

This is an article every horse owner should look at. I advise everyone in or out of the equine therapy community to view this and take a look at your horse. 

"There's something not right with your horse. He's sweating, his muscles are twitching, and he can't seem to stand still. He just looks uncomfortable. You call your veterinarian and suggest it could be colic, but at the 2012 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 19-23 in Las Vegas, Nev., one researcher suggested another ailment to consider: equine motor neuron disease, or EMND.

Elizabeth G. Davis, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor and equine section head at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that while the first cases of EMND were reported in 1990 by Divers and colleagues, researchers and veterinarians are still working to better understand both the etiology and the disease itself. She gave an overview of what we, as an industry, know about EMND and what we're still working to figure out.

EMND Basics

Davis began by describing the EMND-affected horse and relaying what is known about potential disease causes. Affected horses, she said, appear thin due to a loss in muscle mass. These horses often stand in a "camped under" stance, hold their heads in a relatively horizontal position, and have an elevated tail carriage.

According to Davis, clinical signs of EMND include:

• General weakness;
• Anxiousness;
• Muscle fasciculation (twitching);
• Recumbency;
• Tachycardia (elevated heart rate); and
• Sweating.

Affected horses also have an urge to constantly shift their weight and continue moving, she added. Although researchers have not yet identified one specific etiology, they have demonstrated that EMND is associated with vitamin E deficiency. However, other mineral deficits or intoxications are likely involved because some horses with EMND exhibit vitamin E levels within the normal reference ranges.

Researchers have also observed that Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds seem to be overrepresented in some patient populations and gender does not appear to be a factor in the disease, she added. The breed association is most likely a result of management practices rather than a true breed predisposition.

"Horses with EMND have frequently been housed at the same location for at least 18 months," Davis noted. "There is minimal or no pasture for the great majority of cases." Additionally, she noted, the majority of affected horses consume grass hay and concentrate grain.

IS YOUR HORSE AT RISK?

Although researchers are still working to fully understand equine motor neuron disease (EMND), Elizabeth G. Davis, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associated professor and equine section head at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, relayed they have identified some risk factors for disease development. Some of those factors, she noted, put obese horses or those with equine metabolic syndrome at risk, simply from a management standpoint.

Common risk factors include:

• Drylot housing;
• A lack of fresh grass/fresh alfalfa hay; and
• Maintenance in the current living arrangement for at least 18 months.

Other less common risk factors include:

• Malabsorptive disease;
• Infiltrative intestinal disease; or
• Restricted movement or turnout due to injury.

Consult a veterinarian if concerns arise regarding particular horses and potential EMND development. Additionally, applying some EMND management techniques to at-risk horses could minimize the probability of disease onset.

--Erica Larson

Diagnosis

Davis relayed that EMND diagnosis is based on clinical signs along with histology and serologic tests. Specifically, she noted, pathologists examine a muscle biopsy from the tailhead to look for characteristic abnormalities typically associated with EMND.

"The characteristic lesions within muscle of the tailhead are a result of damage of very specific motor nerves," she explained. "The site of biopsy sample from the tailhead is very specific in order to obtain a sample of muscle tissue that has lost the normal innervation from health nerves; instead it has been innervated by these damaged nerves, which is referred to as an axonopathic effect."

In serologic tests a low plasma vitamin E level is often, but not always, found in EMND horses, Davis said. Additionally, she said, researchers and veterinarians consistently identify a mild to moderate elevation of the muscle enzymes creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase in EMND horses.

"The muscle enzymes are slightly elevated because of low-grade chronic muscle damage due to the loss of proper (normal) innervation from healthy nerves," Davis explained.

Management and Prognosis

Once a horse is diagnosed with EMND, owners should implement management changes carefully but aggressively: Provide horses with moderate to severe EMND with a deeply bedded stall to encourage rest, provide green forage, and administer about 10,000 IU of natural vitamin E daily via a feed supplement, relayed Davis.

For horses with mild to moderate EMND, feed green forage, administer 10,000 IU vitamin E, and if possible, offer pasture access, Davis said.

She stressed that when choosing a vitamin E supplement, avoid synthetic products. Natural vitamin E products are "well absorbed" by horses and are able to enter the central nervous system (CNS) at therapeutic levels, she explained, while synthetic products aren't well absorbed and typically don't reach therapeutic levels in the CNS. In most cases Davis recommends EMND horses be kept on vitamin E as long as they remain in an at-risk environment (see sidebar at left).

The prognosis for EMND varies and depends on the severity of clinical signs, Davis explained.

"Approximately 40% of horses with EMND continue to deteriorate and are euthanized within four weeks of the onset of clinical signs," she said. "Approximately 40% have marked improvement in clinical signs within four to six weeks after either relocation to another stable and/or administration of antioxidants, and approximately 20% remain permanently and noticeably atrophied."

Take-Home Message

Although EMND is not yet fully understood, it's a treatable--and often time preventable--disease. As with many equine ailments, early detection and treatment tends to yield more positive results, so consulting a veterinarian at the first sign of a problem is advisable."

 

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Va. Equine Conference Health Topics

I thought I would post up the health topics to be discussed at the equine therapy Va. Equine Conference in case anyone is going or would be interested. 

"The topic of the 2012 Southern Peidmont Equine Extravaganza, taking place April 7, is "Putting Science into Practice." The conference, sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council (VFGC), will be held at Virginia Tech's Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located outside of Blackstone. A grant from the Virginia Horse Industry Board is supporting the conference.

Speakers will present information on a variety of topics including grazing systems, nutrition, riding, training, and preventative medicine. Horse health and behavior presentations will include:

• Chris Teutsch, PhD, associate professor and forage specialist at Virginia Tech's Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, will discuss grazing systems for small acreage horse owners;
• Marty Adams, PhD, PAS, equine nutritionist and horse feed manager for Southern States Cooperative, will show horse owners how to design a nutritional program;
• Deborah Crane, Cert. ESMT, owner of Equine Sports Therapies in Brooklyn, Conn., will demonstrate equine massage techniques in an outdoor hands-on session;
• Brandy Phelps, DVM, a veterinarian from Jetersville, Va., will discuss emergency and preventative medicine for horses; and
• Scott Purdum of Advantage Horsemanship, based in Union Bridge, Md., will demonstrate practical approaches to behavioral problems.

An advanced pre-registration fee of $10 per adult will help offset the cost of meals and the speakers' fees. There is no cost for those under the age of 18. Pre-registrations must be postmarked by March 30. Registration on the day of the event will be $15 for adults and $5 for youth. All paid participants over the age of 18 will receive a coupon for a free bag of horse feed, compliments of Southern States Cooperative.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the actual conference beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Buffalo Creek Pony Club will provide lunch. The conference will conclude at 3 p.m.

For more information on this conference, visit the VFGC's website or contact Margaret Kenny at makenny@vt.edu or 434/292-5331."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=19715&source=rss&utm_sour...

 

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Illegal Photography- Whats it got to do with us?

This is an interesting article that I found on TheHorse.com and it can have some interesting effects on the equine therapy community. It is becoming illegal in Utah to even photograph a starving horse and present it to authorities!

"Those who photograph or videotape conditions at livestock operations without farm owners' consent could be criminally prosecuted if a bill now pending in the Utah legislature becomes law.

Sponsored by Utah State Rep. John Mathis, DVM, HB 187 (the Agricultural Operation Interference bill) would forbid anyone from recording still or videotaped images and sounds at agricultural operations used to produce livestock, poultry, livestock products, or poultry products without the expressed permission of the farm's owner or the owner's agent. If the bill becomes law, violators could face misdemeanor criminal charges. Members of the Utah House of Representatives approved HB187 by a 60-14 margin. The bill was introduced into the State Senate on Feb. 28.

Utah Farm Bureau Chief Executive Officer Randy Parker said that his organization supports the bill because it protects farmers and ranchers from overzealous animal welfare advocates and disgruntled employees who could use photographs and videotapes to make unfounded animal abuse allegations: "We (the Farm Bureau) don't condone the mistreatment or cruelty toward any animal. But farmers have a right to private property and privacy. There has to be some balance."

Some animal welfare advocates opposed the bill on grounds that its passage would eliminate evidence-gathering tools used to prosecute animal cruelty and neglect cases.

"If an individual steps on someone else's property and takes a picture of a horse that appears to be starving, and then provides that photograph to the authorities, that person would be in violation of this proposed law," said a written statement from Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah.

The agency also opposes the bill on grounds that it would provide special evidence-gathering protection for agricultural operations not extended to other industries such as health care and manufacturing operations, the statement said.

HB 187 remains pending in the Utah State Senate."

Source: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=19677&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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