All That Work

Saturday May 21 2011

Carol and I went out to flag 6-8 miles of trail down to the Snake River for next Sunday's Owyhee Fandango 80 and 100 milers.

It should only take a couple of hours, right?


Well, it would have if it also hadn't taken us a couple of hours to: shuttle one truck to one spot up on the rim, and our bodies to another spot; if a red bull of a farmer hadn't stopped us for trespassing (we were just cutting through one small part of his property on a dirt road, to avoid going miles out of the way, and I tend to read No Trespassing signs around here as saying "No Trespassing except for Me and My Owyhee Friends"); if we hadn't stopped for a yummy Murphy Burger for energy since we were right by there and it was already lunch time; and if we hadn't lost the trail many times in the oceans of thigh-high cheat grass that had taken over the prairie, trails and all, in the 3 weeks since we'd been there. Plus we had to of course spend some time enjoying the great weather and gawking at the wildflowers and scenery and birds along the route.

We got 'er done though, and just in time to avoid the sky-swallowing rainstorm (thunderstorm??) that got to us right when we arrived at our waiting truck.


We got back home and Steph was depressed. She'd been out marking more trail, and discovered a couple of miles of trail that she'd marked the night before was vandalized (ribbons and clothespins stolen) by someone I'll call Mr Grumpy.

We're not sure if Mr Grumpy hates horses only, also hates ATV/motorcycles, or just hates people in general. The ride is not on his land and not on his road, but when we have a vet check out in his general area (nowhere near sight or sound of his property), he and another family member start up their trucks and drive out of their way to tear up and down the dirt road, trying to scare (hurt?) horses (and people? I often wondered how he'd feel if, say, his wife or daughter were riding horses and someone did this to them, or how he'd feel if someone did get hurt). He's called the sheriff on us - for no reason, since we aren't on his property or road and we have permission to be there.


On top of that, it's one week till the ride, and Steph has considered uttering the "C" word ("Cancel") because of the EHV-1 viral outbreak that is making people skittish about coming. I am crushed that some good friends had to cancel, though I completely understand why they are not.

There are about 40 pre-entries, and there have been a few cancellations, though ironically the EHV-1 outbreak seems to be well contained. It would be a terrible shame to not have the ride because the trails are gorgeous now, with an extraordinary amount of grass, and wildflowers coming up, and copious amounts of water in the creeks.


Has all the work so far been for nought?

[Slide show here:]

The Fandango Flagging Begins

Friday May 20

Despite the outbreak of EHV-1, which has cancelled some events around the country, on advice of our head vet, and the fact that the outbreak seems to be pretty well managed, we are planning to go ahead with our 3-day Owyhee Fandango endurance ride next weekend.


Yesterday Judy and I hiked along the Snake River and flagged a portion of the route to Celebration Park, Idaho's only archaeological park. If you're riding the 80 or 100 miler on Sunday, you'll ride here, cross this bridge,

see these old ruins;
;
you'll see pelicans and cormorants and many other waterfowl, and if you look up at just the right place at the cliffs across from the Park, you'll probably see a golden eagle nest.


Today we flagged the trail to Upper Hart Creek for Day 1's 25 and 50. Mac was a little concerned when a herd of young cows ran up to us (thinking we were bringing them food? Thinking we were food? That's what Mac thought anyway.)


Steph went out on the ATV this afternoon; we have a couple of hikes planned (we could haul the horses, but it's just as easy - and nice - to hike along the Snake River and the Petroglyph boulders - and many more miles by horseback to do.

And of course, the weather will be perfect for everybody during the ride!

[Slide show here]

Eaglets!

Wednesday May 18 2011

I went out with retired bird biologist Karen, to check up on a couple of eagle territories.


The Brown's Creek golden eagles whose territory and nests I found last year, who raised a youngster last year, have two babies in the nest - big babies! (Note the one laying down in the back left of the cavelet.) The adults moved to a different nest this year on the same cliff face - a nice nest with a little cave, plenty of room, a choice between sun and shade, and shelter from rain and snow. You can see the eaglet in the sun panting from the heat. It wasn't hot today, but you can see why heat is a big killer of eaglets.


Karen estimates their age to be 6 weeks.

Mean fledging age is 63 days. A nesting attempt is considered successful when the young is 51 days old.

The golden eagles down the creek on the cottonwood tree nest are still raising their one eaglet! There's a big difference - size, feathering and maturity - between her (I'm just guessing it's a she) and the two cliff nest eaglets. Karen estimates this one to be 4 weeks old.


I checked on another canyon that was known to have historic eagle nests. I sort of 'rediscovered' these nests last year that haven't been monitored for many years. For at least the last two years, the territory has been unoccupied, though the whitewash around two of the cliff nests isn't so very old.

One can see why this nest might be undesirable from the big rock that fell in it...


though this one looks good to me.


But then, I'm not an eagle.

We'll check on these nests one more time - between the 51 and 63 day marks - to see if they can be labeled Successful.

EHV-1 Outbreak in the Western US and Canada

Tuesday May 17 2011

An outbreak of neurologic Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) started at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah which took place on April 28-May 8. Horses had left the event before participants were notified of the disease.

It is highly contagious and any exposed horses and facilities must be quarantined to stop the spread of the disease. It could become very serious.

Thehorse.com defines EHV-1: Equine herpesvirus is highly contagious and can cause a variety of ailments in horses, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease mostly of young horses), abortion in broodmares, and myeloencephalopathy (evident in the neurologic form). The virus is not transmissible to humans. Clinical signs of the neurologic EHV-1 form include fever, ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, and incontinence. The virus is generally passed from horse to horse via aerosol transmission (when affected animals sneeze/cough) and contact with nasal secretions.

As of today, May 17, "The number of horses confirmed or suspected to have EHV-1 remains on the rise, with several states reporting cases," according to Thehorse.com.

So far there have been 6 EHV-1 positive horses in California, 2 in Colorado (one was euthanized; a second horse was euthanized after displaying severe signs although a positive diagnosis has not been confirmed), 1 in Washington.


The AAEP released the following information:
URGENT RESPONSE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Currently, there are numerous reports of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) affecting horses and farms across the U.S. and Canada. This outbreak appears related to initial cases at a cutting horse show in Ogden Utah, which was held from April 29 - May 8. Horses at that event may have been exposed to this virus and subsequently spread the infection to other horses. While the true extent of this disease outbreak is uncertain, there is clearly a very significant elevated risk of EHM cases at this time.

At this time control of the outbreak is critically dependent on biosecurity. Laboratory submission of nasal swabs and whole blood samples collected from the exposed horse can be utilized for virus detection and isolation. Please consider testing any suspected cases. The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse but typically only causes neurological disease sporadically. However, in an outbreak of EHV-1 neurologic such as we are experiencing now, the disease can reach high morbidity and case fatality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 infection is typically 1-2-days, with clinical signs of fever then occurring, often in a biphasic fever, over the following 10 days. When neurological disease occurs it is typically 8-12 days after the primary infection, starting often after the second fever spike. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs may include: nasal discharge, incoordination, hind end weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. Prognosis depends on severity of signs and the period of recumbency.

There is no specific treatment for EHV-1, although antiviral drugs (i.e. valacyclovire) may have some value before neurological signs occur. Non-specific treatment may include intravenous fluids, and other appropriate supportive therapy; the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is strongly recommended. Currently, there is no equine vaccine that has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus. Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission, and contaminated hands, equipment, tack, and feed all play a role in disease spread.

However, horses with severe clinical signs of neurological EHV-1 infection are thought to have large viral loads in their blood and nasal secretions and therefore, present the greatest danger for spreading the disease. Immediate separation and isolation of identified suspect cases and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures are key elements for disease control. In order to assist you and your clients further, visit online here http://list.aaep.org/t/68400/2510/113322/0/ for Frequently Asked Questions, resource information from the AAEP, USDA, state and provincial animal health departments, and other related information regarding this outbreak and the disease. For additional questions, please contact Keith Kleine, AAEP director of industry relations, at (800) 443-0177 or kkleine@aaep.org.

Sincerely,

William Moyer, DVM
2011 AAEP President
Raising the Standard in Horse Health

American Association of Equine Practitioners
4075 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington , KY 40511
859-233-0147

****

Remember the devastating Equine Influenza in Australia in 2007? It's better to be overly cautious than to risk a severe outbreak, as there is no vaccination, the disease is easily transmissible, highly contagious, and can be deadly.


It is recommended all horse owners follow these four biosecurity measures on their operations:

* require individuals to wash their hands before and after contact with each horse;
* avoid contact with other horses;
* disinfect boots and change clothes that come into contact with other people’s horses;
* isolate horses returning from shows for 2-3 weeks.

If you have any reason at all to think your horses could have been exposed, monitor your horses for any symptoms, check for elevated temperatures (above 102) twice daily, hunker down for a week or so, and contact your veterinarian immediately if you see any symptoms (fever, ataxia - incoordination, weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, and incontinence).

Equisearch has good up-to-date information on the disease, its progress and monitoring:
http://blogs.equisearch.com/horsehealth/?utm_source=eqs&utm_medium=nl&utm_campaign=eqs .

TheHorse.com will have reliable information:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18257

N(ow)IMBY!

Monday May 16 2011

I can't believe I missed a Raven nest - practically in my back yard!

Just up Pickett Creek, barely 100 yards from the house, we saw a pair of Ravens flapping around a tree across the creek while riding by today. Connie said, "I bet they are on a nest!"

- A nest! Right there! In the fork of a cottonwood tree. With at least one youngster on it. Before the leaves busted out on the trees, it would have been easy enough to see, especially with Ravens flying in and out of it. I've walked and ridden past there enough I should have seen it. I am appalled!


I occasionally see 'Hoss' (with the unusually low voice) and his wife (with the unusually high voice) around here, sitting in the tree tops, flying around overhead, but I thought they were just hanging out this year, since I'm pretty sure it was that pair who lost their two babies last year (though it is almost impossible to tell Ravens apart).


I'd checked up Bates Creek on the old nest (that red tails are in this year), and looked further up Pickett Creek where red tails nested last year, and I even noticed several magpie nests this year along the creek, that I haven't seen in the 4 years I've been here - but I missed the Raven nest.


I really don't know what to say.

The Little Princess Goes To School

Friday May 13 2011

Today is the day the little princess Smokey started boot camp. Today the little princess Smokey saw God Andy.

'Little' Smokey - the daughter of Princess, is 2. And big. But really, still a baby. She hasn't been asked to do much of anything her whole life other than leading, and standing tied, and getting her feet trimmed. She has been allowed to grow up and develop, physically and mentally, be a horse on a lot of acreage - footloose and fancy free... until today.

Andy and his wife Gloria came to pick up Smokey - Steph is sending her off to school at Andy's for a couple of weeks of basic training.


Smokey had never been in a trailer before. Ever. I've seen glimpses of a bit of Stubborn in her, when she doesn't get her way. Today would be her biggest challenge ever, to get in a trailer for the first time to go to Andy's house.

Andy's a local cowboy trainer - grew up here then left then came back - and he's already worked with a lot of local endurance riders' horses. He's very good with horses - gets them to do what he wants them to do, in a quiet, light-handed, but insistent way.

It didn't take too much asking from Andy to get Smokey to go up to the big scary trailer and stand there,


and even start putting a foot


then two


inside the trailer.

But then, she decided she didn't want to go in that trailer. And when Smokey doesn't want to do something, she can indeed be stubborn about it.


She started making a big deal out of it, backing up, then wanting to get away from it all. Andy simply started asking her to go in circles around him. He used a lunge whip, either flicking it at her hind feet or butt, or tapping her on the butt with it, gently but insistently.


She didn't want to do that, either, clamping her tail down and freezing before leaping forward.


It took some time. Smokey thought she could out-stubborn Andy, but he kept asking her to move her feet. She tried everything she could think of to just get away from the situation - she tried yanking away,

rearing,


she tried lunging at Andy,

she tried almost falling over, she even double-barreled at him, but Andy just kept asking her to move - move - move in a circle around him. The harder she resisted, the more effort he asked her to put into moving around him.


Her only respite was a quiet space right in front of the trailer. As long as she stopped and stood quietly right there, she got to stand there and rest.




He'd then ask her to step into the trailer; and as long as she made an effort to move forward - give in to the pressure on her head, or move a foot forward and relax, she got to stand there.


As soon as she resisted - threw her head up or backed up, Andy asked her to go back to moving her feet around him, move, move, move.

Andy kept the same patient demeanor: just kept asking her for a response, releasing when she gave, and when she resisted, he just asked her for more effort in moving forward.

It took about an hour - time for a thunderhead to build and completely cover the sky, with thunder rumbling overhead - before Smokey really gave in to moving around Andy without resistance - no tail tucking, no crowding Andy, no pulling on the rope. She was wet with sweat.


Ten feet away from the trailer, Andy asked her to walk around him (she no longer needed to trot, because she was no longer resisting), and he then straightened her out and walked toward the trailer on a loose lead rope, and she walked right into it without any hesitation.




It's art. It's a matter of timing: requesting and rewarding at just the right moment. It's a matter of making the wrong things difficult and the right things easy for the horse.

It's a matter of making the horse move forward. "You can't get a horse to do anything without forward motion," Andy said. "It's hard to get a green horse to back up from a standstill. First you get his feet moving forward, then you ask him to back up." Then same was true for Smokey - it was hard for her to just stand still at the trailer door and lift up her feet one by one and step inside (especially the first time) - so once he got her willingly moving forward without resistance, it made it easy for her to keep walking right into the trailer.

Andy left Smokey to stand in the trailer for a bit, then he led her out - she leaped out of there - then he circled her a few more times and led her back to the trailer and she walked right in again. This time he stepped inside with her and had Gloria close the door. They stood in there a while quietly; and when Gloria opened the door and Andy walked out with Smokey, the filly stepped out beside him calmly.


They walked to the side of the truck and trailer (a new spot), where Andy asked Smokey to step around him in circles.


She did this quietly, calmly; and Andy led/drove her along the side of the trailer, to the door, where she turned and on her own hopped right into the trailer.






He left her in there a while by herself. Then he did it twice more: leading her out (calmly) and away from the trailer, then letting her go back in (calmly and willingly) - and there you had a horse that will now willingly go into a horse trailer.

Princess Smokey's whole perception of the world changed today - Boot Camp has begun!