Natural Horse Care in an Unnatural World

I've done a lot of thinking and research on many topics since my 27-year-old Paint, Kobeejo, underwent colic surgery for a strangulating lipoma last month. Mostly, I have gotten deeper into my already existing research on the horse's most unique digestive tract. The very first thing I wanted to fully look into was the ulcers the hospital discovered my horse had. Every veterinarian and nutritionist, even at Tufts, insisted the way to prevent ulcers was to feed 24/7 free-choice hay/forage, always provide fresh clean water and make sure your horse gets plenty of movement (living outside with a shelter being ideal). I had always learned that, if a horse has this, plus the companionship of other horses even nearby (and no excessive medications such as Bute), they would be good to go. My horse always had all of this! So, why did he develop such severe ulcers? As it turns out, studies show that horses in stressful situations, such as moving to a new barn, being taken away from the

I don't think there's anyone on earth who has not been impacted in one way or another by the Covid-19 pandemic. Businesses considered "non-essential" have been closed down, others close at early hours. Even the coffee I have been getting at night when I go up to walk Kobeejo and give him his meds during his rehab from surger y is not available at night. The store is open, but everything you can "grab and go" is closed down. They only allow people to order their coffee and food between the hours of 6am and 2 or 3 pm (depending on which store you go to). I assume because they are trying to cut back on the number of employees (and customers) in the store at once. Yet, I believe I saw more traffic out tonight than I have in the daytime. Starting tonight at 8pm, the governor ordered all "non-essential" businesses and people to "Stay safe. Stay home." But this has apparently caused more concern than clarification. What exactly does that mean?

Yesterday, I received photos from the vet hospital where Kobeejo had his lipoma surgery. Someone in the operating room took 2 photos. One of Kobee's small intestines (not sure if that round thing is a lipoma or THE lipoma or what). The other photo is of all the lipomas they removed from him. The long stalk shown is the one that caused his issues. If you look closely enough you can see that it is really TWO lipomas, the stalks wrapped up around themselves then around his intestine. It was by the luck of Riley (and quick action in getting him to the hospital) that he had no dead intestine and thus needed no resection. I cannot be 100% sure, but in the photo of the healthy intestine, I think the small lump there is a lipoma growing on the mesentery (fan-like tissue that holds up the small intestine). Healthy Small Intestine Lipomas removed from Kobee's intestine.

After Kobeejo colicked (a strangulated lipoma, which is unpredictable and unpreventable) and they also found ulcers in his stomach, I decided I needed to look into this further. I have always been a huge fan of 24/7 forage and no grains (just a ration balancer) and was always taught that this would prevent ulcers in horses. Even at the vet hospital, I asked them "How can a horse on 24/7 free-choice forage get ulcers?" They had no answer. The head of veterinary medicine even said to me, "Everything I would normally tell you, you already do." So, as is my habit, I began to research... a lot! pH Levels in the Stomach: The normal "cut-off" for equine intestinal pH is >4.0. Neutral is 7.0. So 4.0 is acidic. But, in the bottom layer (glandular), pH levels are naturally going to be low because that is where hydrochloric acid is produced and stored. Kobeejo's ulcers are located, typically, in the squamous (upper, or non-glandular) layer of the stomach.

When I arrived at the barn today, I noticed Kobeejo just standing in his small paddock (cut down while he recovers from his surgery), which is not normal for him. He's almost always eating when I arrive. I noticed his hay had been picked through but not as much as normal. So, I removed his blankets because it was a hot day (70 degrees, which is very warm for March) and he was a tad sweaty. I decided he needed a walk and grazing, so I took him out and walked him to where the best grass is (this winter has been the warmest on record, with no snow since December). His appetite for grass was normal. I brought him into the barn and put him on the cross ties so I could clean his stall and put him in. My friend Wendy noticed Kobeejo's right knee was swollen. I didn't feel heat in it, but it was observably larger than the left. Also, he was showing some signs of stocking up in his sheath and both hind fetlocks. Wendy mentioned infection and said I should take his temperature