THE SA DERBY RIDER PROFILES: CHRIS VAN DER MERWE

By Caroline Malan What makes Derby so special? What makes Derby great is the uniqueness of the show. It is a show that is completely different to anything else in the calendar. Derby training starts months before the show, for horse and rider. We have to make sure our horses are super fit, and as riders…

BylizzieSeptember 5, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

LUMPS AND BUMPS: SARCOIDS

What they are: Sarcoids are unfortunately very common, being the most common skin tumour affecting horses. Sarcoids can have a varied appearance and will appear as anything ranging from a hairless area of skin to a big multi-lobed ulcerated mass. It is often difficult to identify sarcoids as they have such a variety of common appearances. Sarcoids…

BylizzieSeptember 5, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

LUMPS AND BUMPS: WARTS (PAPILLOMAS)

What they are: Warts are a type of tumour and are the most common growths found in horses. They are raised grey or pinkish cauliflower-like growths that are usually fairly small (usually not much bigger than the size of a pea). They can appear alone or in groups, and the most common location in which to…

BylizzieSeptember 4, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

LUMPS AND BUMPS: ABSCESSES

What they are: Abscesses are an accumulation of pus under the skin or in the deeper tissues. Abscesses can occur anywhere on a horse's body and are caused when a foreign body or infection stimulates white blood cells to congregate in one place. The white blood cells form pus and then the body starts to seal…

BylizzieSeptember 3, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

LUMPS AND BUMPS: NODULES

What they are: Nodules are referred to as simply nodules or as pressure bumps or sweat bumps. In medical terms they are referred to as eosinophilic granulomas with collagen degeneration, nodular collagenolytic granulomas or nodular necrobiosis. They are distinct, firm nodules about the size of a R2 coin, usually found on the neck, withers or back.…

BylizzieSeptember 2, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

LUMPS AND BUMPS: SEROMAS

What they are Seromas are fluid-filled sacs that occur secondary to direct trauma, such as being kicked by another horse. They usually start out as haematomas (bruises) that become seromas over the course of a few days or weeks. These lesions can appear anywhere on your horse's body but the most common locations are on his…

BylizzieSeptember 1, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

LUMPS AND BUMPS: WHEN YOU NEED TO WORRY

Lumps and bumps are all too common in our equine friends. Some just need a 'watch and wait' approach and others need urgent veterinary attention. The difficulty comes in differentiating between the two variants. Over the next few days we will be running through several of the common causes of lumps and bumps, and what…

BylizzieAugust 31, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: CONCAVITY OF THE SOLE

Q: Why is a concave sole desirable? A: Concavity of the sole is a far better sign than a 'flat foot'. Part of the foot's shock-absorbing mechanism is the ability of the sole to drop when weight is put on the foot, allowing the hoof wall to flex, and in some situations to improve traction (grip)…

BylizzieAugust 22, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: WHITE LINE DISEASE

Q: What is white line disease? A: The white line is the area on the ground surface of the foot that appears as a narrow ring at the outside of the sole but inside the rim of the hoof. Infection occurs here when this area is weakens and a cavity develops, which separates the outer hoof…

BylizzieAugust 21, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: FLU VACCINE

Q: If vaccines work, why do vaccinated horses still contract flu? A: Vaccines don't stop infection entirely, but they increase your horse's immunity to the infection. This means that the vaccine helps to reduce the severity of the disease and the clinical signs your horse will show. They also minimise transmission of the virus to other…

BylizzieAugust 20, 20190Comments

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