It’s been a long haul since the Covid-19 pandemic began and cut short the show season for Canadian riders who were in the US at the start of the outbreak. Back in April 2020, Horse Sport wrote about the abrupt end of the show circuit and the ensuing panic to flee to the border. But this winter – after many skipped last season due to the border closure and virus fears – Canadian competitors will once again flock to sunnier climates.
Florida has long ranked as a top competition destination for its international-quality showgrounds in Wellington and Ocala, and yes, the weather. But the Sunshine State also has some potential risks to horses that if not planned for and managed can lead to illness and other issues that will prevent you cantering into the ring.
We’ve gone to the experts – veteran competitors and a Canadian vet – to get their pro tips on how to manage horses’ health in the Florida environment and come out a winner.
Know Before You Go
If you’re thinking of making the trek south with your horses, there is a lengthy “to-do” list. The first item on that list is a healthy horse. Dr. Kathryn Surasky, a vet with McKee Pownall Equine Services in Ontario, has been traveling to Florida for the winter circuit for the last five years. While primarily based in Wellington, she also makes the trip to Ocala on a weekly to bi-weekly basis.
Dr. Surasky reminds owners to ensure their horses are up-to-date on preventive health measures. “Don’t forget that it doesn’t freeze typically in Florida, so insects are present year-round, which may alter your normal vaccination program,” she advises. This may mean recent boosters for EEE, WEE, and WNV are in order. Tetanus and rabies boosters are usually recommended. Check with the organizations you are planning to show under regarding the vaccine requirements for their competitions. Following the spate of Equine Herpes Virus at shows on several continents this spring, recent EHV-1 and 4 vaccinations may be required. “Also, influenza vaccination is mandatory within the last six months for horses showing in USEF-recognized shows.”
And owners will need to get their paperwork sorted out (both their horse’s documents and their own proof of Covid vaccination/testing), as the border can be a stress test. Set up a consult with your veterinarian well before your departure date to make sure all is in order.
When planning the trip itself, take into account the special needs of horses during a long trailer ride.
“In general, horses tend to be able to tolerate cold better than heat, and trailers, especially if there are multiple horses on, can get quite warm, so it is likely beneficial to clip your horse prior to shipping, as south Florida could easily be in the high twenty-degree temperatures upon arrival,” suggests Dr. Surasky. “If you’re shipping commercially, discuss with the company whether or not the drivers will remove blankets during transit. And erring on the side of less blanket (or even naked) is best.”
She also suggests shipping without leg wraps to avoid the bandages or boots slipping during transport. And if you’re not shipping commercial, you should consider stopping at a layover barn and allowing the horse to get off the trailer. “Also, if not shipping loose in a box stall, ensure horses can lower their heads,” she explains. “The respiratory tract does a better job clearing itself out when a horse can assume a more natural grazing type head position.” This is one way to help prevent shipping fever.
But no matter how seasoned your horses are, such a long journey is very stressful and extra care should be given to prevent ulcers and stomach issues.
Seasoned showjumper Erynn Ballard began traveling to Florida with her horses in 1994, and now calls the state her permanent home. While she has competed at both Ocala and Wellington, in the last decade she’s been exclusive to the latter. In terms of adding an ulcer management regime prior to shipping, Ballard says, “It’s a daily routine for my horses, so I don’t really change their regime for travel, I keep it the same. Their fitness is always good before they ship, and I believe that is very important when traveling long distance.”
Canadian dressage duo, Jaimey and Tina Irwin, will travel back to Wellington for the first time since 2020 and will be shipping 20 horses. They make sure that their horses are receiving GastroGard (omeprazole) a few days prior to shipping, and again upon arrival. “We also feed Neigh-Lox Advanced from Kentucky Performance Products, which is a supplement that can go right into the horses’ grain and helps to maintain a normal stomach environment and normal gastric acid levels,” says Tina. The Irwins also take grain with them and gradually change the horses over to the grain in Florida. “We work with a nutritionist that helps us match the grain in Florida.”
Erynn Ballard and Classic Penny competing in Wellington this spring. (Sportfot)
Went You Arrive
So you’re standing in the driveway of your winter stables and the trailer has pulled in. You’ve off-loaded the horses. Now what?
“Upon arrival, it would be ideal to monitor body temperature twice a day for three to five days,” advises Dr. Surasky. “Shipping fever presents as a fever, and can be a threat due to the increased stress during travel, decreased ventilation and an abnormal head position. In severe cases, shipping fever can progress into a pleuropneumonia which can limit athletic function long-term and in the most severe of cases be life-threatening.”
Temperature is one indicator as to how your horse is feeling after his trip. But there are other signs of wellness to look for. “Once the horses arrive, we let them go into their stalls and rest. We make sure that they are eating, drinking, and passing manure,” says Jaimey Irwin.
Dr. Surasky adds that horses have to expend energy holding themselves up during transit, so allowing them time to rest and settle in is ideal. Follow this with paddock time or a light hack, which can encourage more natural blood flow and proper GI function.
As for how much time off horses need after such a journey, that depends.
“Because our horses travel so fit, I don’t believe they need a lot of time off after travel,” Ballard explains. “A day of hand-walking or turnout is enough, then they can start back to normal work. Usually, they are so fresh they want and are ready to work!”
Most dressage horses, particularly those in Canada coming off of the last year’s reduced show season, don’t have the same jet-set lifestyle as the top show jumpers do. This difference necessitates some small changes to the arrival routine. “Once they have settled into their stall, they are taken for a hand walk and are turned out the next day,” says Jaimey. “We usually give them a couple of days off with turnout and then start to ride them lightly.”
Keeping Horses Healthy in the Tropics
SKIN DEEP
There is a common enemy in the Florida horse community ‒ the dreaded fungus. What is it and why is it such a nuisance?
“Once again, without a solid freeze throughout the year, there’s a completely different set of bacteria and fungus living in the soil and in the environment,” explains Dr. Surasky. “Couple that with the very frequent washing our horses tend to receive which makes the skin soft, along with normal small scrapes that can happen during everyday life, sand which is abrasive and gets everywhere, and high UV levels, and horses are at risk of dermatitis.”
This dermatitis, or Florida fungus, is something that every horse owner deals with, whether they’re from Canada or are native Floridians.
“Dealing with skin in Florida is a constant battle,” admits Ballard. “Usually, the horse’s first year in Florida is their worst. It’s like they need a year to develop an immunity to their surroundings.”
Ballard says her two most important rules are clean and dry horses. “Never put them away wet or dirty. Have fans to dry their coats, towel the legs, and use clean shavings daily. Turnout is in sun protection and fly masks, and all blankets and saddle pads are clean.”
The Irwins also make a point of keeping their mount’s legs clean and dry, and clipping the legs regularly to keep the hair short makes this task a little easier. “After riding, we shampoo the legs with Dawn dish soap to keep any bacteria out of the legs. We dry the legs with a clean dry towel and then spray them with alcohol,” Tina says. “We make sure that the horses air dry or stand in front of a fan until they are completely dry before they go back into their stalls.”
Even the most minor cut gets their full attention. “Any cut or scratch needs to be attended to immediately. They need to be cleaned and covered with vet wrap and a bandage. if possible, to prevent the flies and dirt from getting into them,” explains Jaimey. “There are special creams for fungus that you can get from the vet if they are not healing.”
Besides the fungus, another Florida mainstay is the bright, warm sun, the reason most people travel to the state in the first place. Yet it can be as hazard for horses as it is for humans. “Consider being especially careful if your horse has areas of pink skin, such as white markings,” says Dr. Surasky. “Like people, horses can suffer from sunburn. Try UV summer blankets and UV fly masks which cover your horse’s areas of pink skin, use sunscreen, and manage what time of day you’re turning out to limit damage.”
If fungus and sunburn weren’t enough to stress out horse owners and cause discomfort in their animals, there are also summer sores to contend with and prevent. “This is a condition where a fly deposits the eggs from a stomach worm in a break in the horse’s skin, and the eggs hatch into larvae within the tissue which cause the body to overreact, leading to a non-healing wound with excessive granulation tissue,” says Dr. Surasky. “Treatment includes removing the excessive tissue and larvae, deworming, and using a topical antimicrobial and steroidal ointment. Some horses seem more sensitive to it than others.”
Fly control is a whole other battle. In Florida, some horses who are sensitive to flies must wear a fly mask 24/7. To thwart the insects, barns must be kept as clean and free of manure as possible. Fly spray, good ventilation, and fans for air flow are crucial.
SWEAT IT OUT
Many horse owners give their charges Guinness for a variety of reasons – even the great racehorse Zenyatta drank it! Dark stout contains important B vitamins necessary for correct functioning of metabolic pathways.
There is no single rule or plan of action for every horse. It’s a fact that some horses acclimate better or faster than others. Trainers and owners must be vigilant to warning signs, and one of the most worrisome is if a horse stop sweating. “Horses not sweating is dangerous because this is their way of cooling down,” says Tina of the condition known as anhidrosis.
If this happens, Ballard advises, “Go get the Guinness!” And that’s no joke; the Irwins also feed the Irish beer in the horses’ grain rations to help them sweat.
Dr. Surasky explains the issue this way, “Unlike dogs who pant, the horse’s main cooling mechanism is through sweating and evaporation of said sweat. Although we don’t understand why, some horses will stop sweating. This can be a severe problem if not noticed and addressed.”
She explains that horses who stop sweating can easily overheat, leading to heat stress or heat stroke. Warning signs include less sweating on your horse, an increased respiration rate or poor performance. “Unfortunately, some horses just can’t sweat well, and these horses likely are just more suited to a different climate,” she admits.
THE HEAT & RIDING
So your horse arrived healthy and sound. You’ve kept his skin free from fungus and summer sores, your barn is practically fly-free thanks to frequent picking out of the stall. He’s happy in his UV protective turnout gear. But there are other things you can and should do to ensure your horse remains healthy and your showing season is worth the excessive cost to be in Florida. This includes providing proper shade while waiting ringside for the class, ensuring air flow in the barn is adequate from fans, access to clean water, adding salt and/or electrolytes in the diet, and considering what time of day you work the horse.
“Don’t forget to think about when the horse will have to show,” cautions Dr. Surasky. “If they are potentially going to have to show mid-day, during the hottest part of the day, consider giving them time to acclimatize to that. Do some of your training rides at the same time of day, allowing for frequent breaks as needed to get them used to it.”
In the end, Ballard believes that top-level horses who travel often adapt quickly. “In three months, we have had horses fly from Europe to Florida, Florida to Mexico,” she explains. “They have shipped in semi-trucks through Mexico and will ship from Mexico back to Florida. It’s crazy how adaptable they are. If you have a good program and good staff and good truck drivers the risk is low, and you have happy horses.”
