Healthcare Concerns About Headshaking, Sarcoids And Obesity Discussed At 20th National Equine Forum
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14th March, 2012 11h51
The 20th National Equine Forum (NEF), held last Thursday 8th March 2012, saw Professor Derek Knottenbelt giving enlightening and entertaining presentations on headshaking and sarcoids. The event also played host to an illuminating presentation on equine obesity from Lisa Randle, presenter of the BHS Thesis of The Year, who raised the concern that obesity largely goes unnoticed and may be becoming a more serious epidemic threat than emerging equine disease.
The Forum was held at the new venue of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in Westminster this year. It was attended by over 200 of the country’s most influential members of the equestrian industry, including NEF President HRH The Princess Royal, leading equine vets, international riders and trainers and equestrian trade business leaders.
Professor Knottenbelt presented an inspiring paper headshaking – an alternative hypothesis. He explained that a high proportion of headshakers show the worst signs during exercise but many have very variable symptoms. He described how nostril-clamping has recently been identified in some horses, showing affected horses attempting to close each nostril in turn as if trying to prevent the intake and movement of air and possible associated pain.
He went on to suggest that the condition is very similar in nature to the syndromes of facial pain encountered in the human in multiple sclerosis, post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia and cluster headache syndromes. In all these conditions, uncontrollable pain is the cardinal feature. Therapy for headshakers is currently limited to the use of drugs and/or management changes including the use of masks and contact lenses. Expectations for cures are high but realistically not achievable at present. He closed by emphasising that headshaking is a serious neurological condition that has a significant implication for the welfare of the horse, warranting a thorough clinical investigation.
Professor Knottenbelt also gave a practical update on sarcoids commencing his presentation by emphasising that the sarcoid should be regarded as a form of skin cancer and not a wart. He explained that researchers are still some way off finding a definitive cause for the disease but what is known is that horses of all ages can be affected and that it has a genetic basis. It is also clear that the fewer lesions present at any one time, the fewer the horse will get and that this may link to the feeding habits of flies. There is also some suggestion of an increased prevalence in thin-skinned horses.
Prognosis is guarded and early treatment is important as success is more likely if the lesions are small and the horse is under 4-5 years old. The correct choice of treatment is critical, taking into account each individual lesion. “Resorting to homeopathic rubbish or other witch-doctoring is not what cancer deserves. We are in desperate need of more effective treatments and some form of prophylaxis if we are to rid the horse of this distressing and expensive disease,” he said.
Lisa Randle kept to the theme of equine healthcare with her revealing paper Equine obesity – helping horse owners to help themselves. She raised the serious problem of owner perception of equine obesity, stating that her own research indicates that owners appear to be accepting the obese phenotype as representative of normality. Unless perceptions can be altered then owner behaviour will continue to perpetuate the problem of between 30 and 54% of horses and ponies in the UK being either overweight or obese. Lisa suggested that a potential solution could be the introduction of ‘well horse’ clinics. She explained: “Equine vets, nutritionists, physiotherapists and dentists could work together to educate and motivate horse owners in cases where action is required. Owners need the support of equine professionals to healthily manage the horses and ponies in their care.”
Presentations were also received from:
- Nick Meakin, Chairman The National Equine Database on passports and the National Equine Database
- Tim Brigstocke, Past Chairman, Rare Breeds Survival Trust on the protection of native breeds against over-breeding
- Catriona Cook, Yorkshire Regional Access and Bridleways Officer, BHS on the problems of future access for riders
- Dr Rachel Murray, Senior Orthopaedic Advisor, Animal Health Trust on the effects of arena surfaces on lameness
- Sue Pimbley, Independent Professional Trainer and Coach on equine degrees are they worth the paper they are written on?
- Helen Niebuhr, head of the equine team at Darbys Solicitors on liability issues – courts or conciliation
- Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare and Petra Ingram, Chief Executive of The Brooke on developing nations – what lessons for behaviour change
- Dr Georgina Crossman, Executive Coordinator, Advancing Equine Scientific Excellence (AESE) on advancing equine scientific excellence
- Stuart Earley, Chief Executive of the Scottish SPCA on welfare in racing – the Scottish experience
- Janice Shardlow, Head of Governance and Legal BEF on what constitutes doping? - welfare versus performance
- Michael Seals, Chairman, Animal Health and Welfare Board for England on the Animal Health and Welfare Board
- Professor Josh Slater, Technical Official for Biosecurity, 2012 Olympic Games on Olympic equine health security
HRH The Princess Royal, President of the NEF concluded the day.
The National Equine Forum is chaired by Professor Sir Colin Spedding and is convened by Miles Williamson-Noble. It is sponsored by the Association of British Riding Schools, Bedmax, The Blue Cross, British Equestrian Federation, British Equestrian Trade Association, British Equestrian Veterinary Association, British Horse Society, British Horseracing Authority, Bulley Davey, Darby’s Solicitors, Dodson and Horrell, Donkey Sanctuary, Equine Products UK, Horse Trust, Jeffress Scholarship Trust, NFU Mutual Insurance, South Essex Insurance Brokers, Weatherbys and World Horse Welfare.
The full proceedings of the 2012 Forum can be downloaded at
www.bef.co.uk on the National Equine Forum page.
The 2013 National Equine Forum will be held on 5th March at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Westminster, London.
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