Horses are finicky. Many of them decide that medications, whether in pill or powder form, are not to be ingested at any cost. Need some ideas for getting medicine into your horse? Here are some quick tips to help:

• Crush pills into a powder (check with your vet first to make sure that the pills can be crushed without compromising the medicine's integrity) and dissolve in warm water. Pour it into a dosing syringe. Alternatively, mix the powder into applesauce and pour into a dosing syringe.
  
• Mix powdered medication into a small bit of applesauce and molasses. Pour it over your horse's grain and mix it in thoroughly, so that the grain is sticky. Toss in some apples or carrots to up the appeal even more - many horses can't resist this mixture.

• Push pills into soft horse treats - Stud Muffins work particularly well for this. Be sure that the pill is covered by the treat, and feed the treat to your horse. If you have a small bit of powdered medication, sometimes you can slip it into the center of a horse treat, but make sure that the treat is small enough that your horse will eat it in one bite. Horses are finicky.

What tricks have you come up with to get your horse to take his medication?

An Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) outbreak is currently spreading through the Midwest, meaning that practicing proper biosecurity habits in your barn is more important than ever. The virus is highly contagious, is spread through the air or via contaminated equipment, and affects the horse’s central nervous system. The outbreak began with barrel horses and likely spread at show grounds; two affected horses have had to be euthanized.

To protect your horse, good biosecurity habits are necessary. Any new horse that comes onto your property should be quarantined from other horses. If you travel to other barns, it is best to change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash your hands before handling horses on your own farm.

If you travel to a show, keep your horses separated from those of other competitors. Bring along your own water buckets to avoid having your horse drink out of a communal water trough. Fill buckets by holding the hose above the bucket – don’t drop the hose into the bucket, since this could cross-contaminate the water.

Bring your own equipment to the show, including a pitchfork. You should only use your own tack and grooming kit on your horse; keep everything separate and secured in your trailer so your equipment can’t accidentally be used on another horse. Wash your hands frequently, and always wash them before and after handling your horse.

You will also want to carefully watch your horse’s health during and after the event. A horse with EHV-1 typically presents with a fever, coughing, nasal discharge, and a depressed appearance. Some horses may go off of their feed. Horses with neurological symptoms may seem off-balance, have difficulty rising or standing, and appear uncoordinated. If you suspect that your horse has EHV-1, call your veterinarian immediately and quarantine your horse from any other horses on the property.   

Many shows and events in the Midwest have been cancelled until the outbreak is brought under control. While the virus does not affect humans, it can prove fatal for horses. Anyone competing or traveling in the United States should use caution and good biosecurity practices.