Patterns of health maintenance on Michigan equine operations

Data from two 12 month prospective monitoring programs that followed management, economics and animal health from randomly-sampled equine operations in Michigan were used to determine patterns of health maintenance. Health maintenance measures were grouped, and average uses per year were computed for the most-common measures reported: respiratory, Potomac Horse Fever, neurological and multiple-system vaccinations, deworming, and general farrier work. Factors examined for potential association with health maintenance measure use were numbers of equids and horse-days on the operation, average age of equids, disease prevention management procedures, and operation and individual equine activities. The most-common vaccinations reported were respiratory vaccines (administered an average of 0.9 times per equid per year, of which 61% were for rhinopneumonitis). Multiple-system, Potomac Horse Fever and neurological vaccines were given on average 0.9, 0.9 and 0.7 times per equid per year, respectively. Deworming treatments were administered approximately 2.7 times per equid per year, of which 64% were ivermectin. Overall farrier work was reported 3.3 times per equid per year, trimming was done 2.9 times and shoeing was done 1.5 times per equid per year. In general, operations with active equids engaged in training, breeding or showing showed increased use of health maintenance measures. Overall use of health maintenance measures in the Michigan equine operations monitored did not appear to reach recommended levels, because many operations reported no use of these measures. However, on operations where health maintenance measures were reported, operators were using these measures at or near recommended levels.