PATTERNS OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE ON MICHIGAN EQUINE OPERATIONS

Data from two 12 month prospective monitoring programs that followed m anagement, economics and animal health from randomly-sampled equine op erations in Michigan were used to determine patterns of health mainten ance. Health maintenance measures were grouped, and average uses per y ear were computed for the most-common measures reported: respiratory, Potomac Horse Fever, neurological and multiple-system vaccinations, de worming, and general farrier work. Factors examined for potential asso ciation with health maintenance measure use were numbers of equids and horse-days on the operation, average age of equids, disease preventio n management procedures, and operation and individual equine activitie s. The most-common vaccinations reported were respiratory vaccines (ad ministered an average of 0.9 times per equid per year, of which 61% we re for rhinopneumonitis). Multiple-system, Potomac Horse Fever and neu rological vaccines were given on average 0.9, 0.9 and 0.7 times per eq uid per year, respectively. Deworming treatments were administered app roximately 2.7 times per equid per year, of which 64% were ivermectin. Overall farrier work was reported 3.3 times per equid per year, trimm ing was done 2.9 times and shoeing was done 1.5 times per equid per ye ar. In general, operations with active equids engaged in training, bre eding or showing showed increased use of health maintenance measures. Overall use of health maintenance measures in the Michigan equine oper ations monitored did not appear to reach recommended levels, because m any operations reported no use of these measures. However, on operatio ns where health maintenance measures were reported, operators were usi ng these measures at or near recommended levels.