EQUINE NEWS Equine Grass Sickness Fund Patron - HRH The Princess Royal Chairman – Mrs James Gammell Ambassador – Mark Johnston

Spring / Summer 2012 Memories of William Ulla Balletta of Bedfordshire lost her horse William to acute grass sickness on April 30th 2011, a day which is forever etched on her mind. The shock of losing William to a disease she had never even heard of spurred Ulla to raise money, and also awareness of grass sickness, so that other owners might not feel so helpless, and know the simple steps they can take to help protect their horse. Here Ulla tells her story.

I will never forget that day, it was heartbreaking. It all happened so quickly, one minute I had a happy healthy horse, 24 hours later he was gone without warning. His symptoms started on the 29th April, the day of Prince William’s wedding. When I brought him in from the paddock he was not himself, he seemed depressed and was not eating or drinking, which was not like him at all. When the vet arrived he diagnosed him with colic and said his only chance was surgery. I remember him saying how tough William was as, on the outside you could not tell by looking at him how ill he was, but his heart rate had gone up to 80 (by the time we got to hospital his heart rate was 100).

When we arrived at hospital he was checked over by the vet, and that was when grass sickness was first mentioned. I was warned that William was very ill. I had never heard of it so when I got home that night I was on the internet straight away looking for answers. The more I read, the more scared I was, it was not looking good. a big enough hug and hoped that he knew how much I loved him. Early next morning the vet phoned to say they were going I felt for a long time and sometimes even now, nearly a year on, to operate but that if it was grass sickness William would that I let him down. I still picture his head over the stable door, and need to be put to sleep. That morning I waited for the every time I was out of sight he would neigh as if to say ‘where are phone to ring, dreading what I was going to hear. I kept you, please stay with me’. I miss him terribly and the memories telling myself that the longer I waited the better it looked, of that day are still very fresh in my mind. This was a devastating hoping and praying that I would get a phone call telling experience made worse by not knowing the facts about grass me it was all ok and he was coming home. At one point I sickness and this is what drove me to start my fundraising and to even thought that the fact he had the same name as Prince raise as much awareness as possible. William was a good omen, but it was not meant to be, grass sickness was confirmed and he was put to sleep. It is so important for horse owners to know about grass sickness and also what you can do to try and minimize the risks. If it ever I felt so helpless. Everything was taken out of my control. happens to your horse you need to be fully informed so that you I knew nothing about grass sickness, I did not even know know what questions to ask. It is important to know that if they are there were three forms of it or that horses could survive diagnosed with chronic grass sickness that they have a chance of the chronic form. For weeks it haunted me, what if he had survival, there are some wonderful stories of survivors who have had chronic grass sickness and I was not even given the gone on to lead normal lives. choice to try and nurse him through it. All I could think the I just wish William had had that chance. He was a great character next day was why did I not stay with him, did I give him and very sadly missed. 2 Spring / Summer 2012 Chairman’s message The end of the year brought the end came into the post of Administrator in of an era for the Fund with the retiral December. of two key members from the EGSF Professor Elspeth Milne has retired team. Joyce McIntosh, our nationally from the EGSF committee which she respected secretary decided to retire. joined many years ago. Her dedication She had served the Fund initially being and skill as a clinician led to a fundraiser and then by running the steps forward in the care, treatment and office for many years. Owners relied survival rate of chronic grass sickness on her expertise and supportive counsel cases. Her research into the disease and when going through the very distressing its pathology is well publicised and her process of their horse suffering from sound judgement and support during grass sickness. She had comprehensive her time on the committee have all knowledge of everything to do with been influential in plotting the course the business of the Fund, supporters, of research financed by the Fund and fundraising and research. I would like the respect with which the Fund is held. Caption: Philippa (right) thanks Joyce for to record my thanks for the tremendous Professor Milne’s advice leaflets can be her superb contribution to the Fund support she gave me as Chairman for sourced on the website. the last twelve years. I know that all of I hope you all have a wonderful spring you will give your support to Joyce’s and summer with your horses and Philippa Gammell replacement, Mrs Kate Thomson who ponies. Chairman Elizabeth Brown Retires For almost 20 years Elizabeth Brown has organised a winter dressage series at Etal by kind permission of Lord and Lady Joicey. Over the years this series has raised in the region £20,000 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund. We would like to thank Elizabeth Brown for this simply tremendous effort, and wish her a very long and happy retirement!

Understanding Intestinal Microbiota in Equine Grass Sickness – a New 3 Year Research Project Funded by The Equine Grass Sickness Fund

Congratulations to PhD student Joy Leng, collected, in addition to matched samples grass sickness. Gut bacteria are hard who has just started a three year research from healthy horses that have grazed on to study as they cannot be grown in a project exploring the role of gut bacteria the same pasture. From these samples it laboratory environment. Instead of this in equine grass sickness. This will be the will be possible to study the metabolic bacterial DNA from samples will be first study to characterise and quantify signatures of these horses and the sent to the University of Liverpool’s microbial populations in the intestine and bacterial communities contained within genetics department for sequencing, so faeces of horses with grass sickness using their gastrointestinal tracts. By looking that gut bacteria species present in the culture-independent methods. at the metabolic profiles (using NMR gut of horses with grass sickness can spectroscopy) it is hoped to find one or a be identified. This study is a first step This project will examine the influence group of metabolites (biomarkers) that are towards understanding how pro- or of the gut bacteria on equine grass only present in horses with the disease. pre-biotics may be used to modulate this sickness and aims to identify novel If such a biomarker is present then it intestinal bacterial population to reduce diagnostic markers in non-invasive may serve as a rapid and non-invasive the risk of grass sickness. samples to identify horses susceptible diagnostic tool. to grass sickness. This work will be performed by the University of Reading Although Clostridium botulinum in collaboration with the University of is believed to be implicated in the Happiness is. . . . Liverpool and samples will be obtained development of equine grass sickness from the Leahurst Equine Hospital. the project hopes to establish whether a heap of pooh! Here faecal, urine and blood samples there is an absence or presence of any from horses with grass sickness will be other bacteria that is seen in horses with Spring / Summer 2012 3 Dot and Sheila’s Big Adventure Dot Still and Sheila Watson are hoping to represent Great Britain at the Le Trec World Championships in Mafra, Portugal in Sept this year. Le Trec is a fantastic sport which requires endurance, agility, obedience, trust and fitness for both horse and rider, and a skill for reading a map (rider only!!!).

Dot and Sheila decided to raise funds of the money raised will go to the the summer, to give time for Dot’s for Le Trec by completing a challenge Equine Grass Sickness Fund, as both ankle to heal after an injury whilst involving at least three of the skills they of them have had the misfortune of training in Portugal. This of course require for their sport: fitness, agility dealing with this horrible disease first gives more time for fund raising! Please and map reading. They plan to walk a hand. The story of Dot’s horse Eddie support Dot and Sheila by donating on challenging circular route of 18km in Nine Lives and his struggle with grass their JustGiving Page www.justgiving. the Scottish Borders, anticipating a long sickness is on the EGSF website. com/letrecteamgbr-grasssickness but enjoyable day in the hills and hope to be finished inside 7 hours. Their challenge was initially scheduled The hardy duo have decided that 50% for April, but has been postponed until Out and About 2012 Thank you to the wonderful organisers of these shows, to be held in aid of The Equine Grass Sickness Fund. All schedules available at www.grasssickness.org.uk

Sunday May 20th Avon Valley Tidy Memorial Show, Hetton Le Hole, County Durham Sunday May 20th Hunter Trials, Strathearn Eventing, Perth Sunday June 3rd The Scottish Grass Sickness Show, Bogles Field, Blairgowrie, Perthshire

EGSF will be at the following shows, please do come and meet us and find out all the latest news about grass sickness. More to be added, check the website for updates.

June 21st to 24th Royal Highland Show, August 23rd to 26th Blair Castle Horse Trials, Perthshire November 16th to 18th HorseWorldLive, ExCel, London

Show us your support and keep up with all the news @grasssickness 4 Spring / Summer 2012 Squidge and Squodge By Nicola Rule

Well, the story goes that one of our horses was a ‘bit dull’, then he seemed to have colic. Sadly he died and grass sickness was diagnosed. A couple of weeks later our mare stood at the back of the field shelter looking very woebegone, which was not at all like her. We called the vets and, by pure chance, we got someone who had a past experience with EGS - she did not disclose this immediately but took Squidge into hospital and hooked her up to a drip. We then moved our other horses to livery as it was obvious, two ill horses and the common denominator being the location.

We got a call that evening to say they believed she had grass sickness and the likelihood of survival was minimal. At that point we took the decision to TRY and spent hours and hours with her talking, stroking, brushing, trying all the feeds people suggested and hoping. The vets were brilliant and everyone who walked by spoke to her and petted her. She would hear us arrive and a little whicker slowly turned into big neighs.

She unhooked the drip herself, and the vet decided to leave it off when she was offered hand fed grass and she took it. She then came out for nibbles and gradually started to eat - and developed an extraordinary and unexpected taste for parsnips! Tescos must have thought they had a mad woman in there - tatty old clothes, dirty and buying up their parsnips sometimes twice a day!

We then had to find a new location for grazing and went back to the friend where Squidge first lived and where she remains. She was gaunt to begin with and wore a rug even in good weather but slowly improved until the day she jumped out of her field - then we knew she was OK as she was back to naughty behaviour!

Squidge has been ridden with no ill effects and looks very healthy - she had a foal last year which we went into with trepidation and had the vet straight out following the birth, but she was fine and with no intervention required. The foal is a striking lass and is now as tall as her mother.

We had two totally different animals, an Arab X Appaloosa who died and a Welsh Mountain Pony who survived - is it the difference in their type or their difference in temperament, who knows? We were devastated by one and extremely fortunate with the other. Ace wins the 2012 Tarragon Trophy ‘The BHS Tarragon Trophy, which is presented to Congratulations to Ace, winner of the BHS Scotland Tarragon the Equine Personality of the Year, was named after Tarragon, Trophy for Equine Personality of the Year. Ace is a very who was orphaned by grass sickness at a month old. He special horse with a big heart and personality. He had a hard went on to give years of pleasure as a pony club eventer, start to life as a logging horse working on the Pentland Hills, before turning dressage superstar. Tarragon’s breeder was so Midlothian before joining Thornton Rose RDA in 1999. For distressed by the untimely death of Cheviot Bryony, Tarragon’s 12 years he has brought joy and happiness to disabled riders dam that she started a fund to support research into grass of all ages, helping and teaching them to find a sense of sickness. This eventually merged with other bodies and achievement and confidence, which in turn makes their lives evolved into The Equine Grass Sickness Fund.’ easier and more fulfilled. The grass sickness surveillance scheme needs YOU! We need reliable statistical data about GS cases. At present cases are grossly under reported, and the fascinating Surveillance Scheme poster included in this issue represents just the tip of the iceberg. The more cases reported, the better our data, and the body of knowledge about this disease will increase. Losing a horse to grass sickness is a most distressing experience, but please report all cases, either in person or ask a friend or your vet to help you. You can click the easy link on our website, or phone us at the office and we’ll take the details for you. We also have an easy fax-back form for vets. Spring / Summer 2012 5

. Epidemiology and Surveillance of Equine Grass Sickness in Great Britain Ireland, J.L., Wylie, C.E. and Newton, J.R. Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance, Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, UK

Introduction Methods Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a predominantly fatal neurodegenerative A nationwide surveillance scheme using postal and online questionnaires disease affecting grazing horses, ponies and donkeys. Great Britain has collected retrospective premises-level and prospective case-level the highest reported incidence of the disease worldwide. information for EGS cases occurring in Great Britain between January 2000 and January 2011. Incidence rates were estimated from the Aims number of horses on affected premises and time at risk from the start of the study period or from the date from which the premises history was To describe incidence rates and epidemiological known, if after January 2000. Recurrent premises were defined as those aspects of EGS on British premises affected with a history of previous cases or where multiple cases had been since 2000. reported to the surveillance scheme.

Results Recurrent Premises

A total of 1517 EGS cases were reported from 1246 locations in Great A total of 249 locations were defined as “recurrent” EGS premises. Britain since 2000. Complete location data was available for 1049 cases, of which: There was a significant association between country and recurrent premises (p=0.008).  60.9% occurred in  36.4% occurred in Scotland Proportion of affected premises reporting  2.7% occurred in Wales recurrent EGS cases:

A mean of 138 cases per year were reported to the EGS surveillance  Scotland 57.5% scheme (range 75 – 233 cases per year), with peaks seen consistently  England 43.0% in the spring (April – June; Figure 1).  Wales 35.3%

35 Compared to non-recurrent EGS premises, 30 recurrent EGS premises had significantly 25 (all p<0.001): 20 15  Larger total premises size 10  Larger size of affected paddocks 5 Percentage of Casesof Percentage  Greater total number of horses 0  Greater number of horses grazing Figure 2: Map of the geographical affected paddocks distribution of 1049 recurrent and non- recurrent premises for cases reported to Figure 1: Histogram of the temporal distribution of 1517 EGS cases reported the EGS surveillance scheme between to the EGS surveillance scheme between January 2000 and January 2011. Clinical Presentations January 2000 and January 2011. Incidence of EGS Clinical presentation was recorded for 1324 EGS cases, of which:

 Overall incidence was 1.95 cases of EGS per 100 horse years at risk.  46.6% were reported as acute (duration of clinical signs <2 days) Median Incidence  20.4% were reported as subacute (duration of clinical signs 2 – 7 days) Feature of Premises P Value1 Rate  33.0% were reported as chronic (duration of clinical signs >7 days) Recurrent premises 2.3 Median Median 0.3 Time on Premises Acute/Subacute Chronic EGS P value1 Non-recurrent premises 1.8 EGS Cases Cases England 1.8 Time resident on affected 365 days 730 days 0.05 Scotland 2.3 0.2 premises Time grazing affected Wales 2.3 60 days 90 days 0.009 paddock Table 1: Median incidence rates of EGS (cases per 100 horse years at risk) Table 2: Median time spent on affected premises and pasture of 1324 acute/subacute reported to the EGS surveillance scheme between January 2000 and January and chronic cases of EGS reported to the EGS surveillance scheme between January 1 2011. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis p values, respectively, for difference in 2000 and January 2011. 1Mann Whitney U p value for difference in median values. median incidence rate.

Conclusions A greater proportion of recurrent premises were located in Scotland and were larger establishments. Horses with chronic EGS had been kept on affected premises and paddocks for longer periods prior to disease compared to acute and subacute cases, which could be consistent with some degree of acquired immunity or increased exposure to protective factors resulting in decreased severity of clinical signs. This information, particularly data regarding areas of increased disease incidence and high risk premises, will be valuable in the development of future intervention studies, such as vaccination field trials.

Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge our collaborators on the Equine Grass Sickness Surveillance Scheme: The Universities of Edinburgh and Liverpool and the Equine Grass Sickness Fund. Jo Ireland is supported by The Stafford Trust. 6 Spring / Summer 2012 Jack’s Story Jack was born the night that Big The past 8 years have been challenging but massively rewarding. His immune system is compromised, and as a Brother series 3 started – 25 young horse he had no stamina and couldn’t keep weight on. May 2002. He was a beautiful He is prone to the occasional sarcoid and has distorted vision in one eye, and he still has spells where he loses interest in dun foal, impossibly fragile food and looks colicky. In 2008, worried about his stamina, I contacted EGSF who put me in touch with Nicola Tyler from looking and closely resembling Top Spec, who advised a diet that completely changed his life a camel, but his dainty looks and that he will remain on for ever. belied a huge personality. From Jack has since BE evented, been placed at the BRC National day one he was a feisty boy who Dressage Winter Championships twice, has BD points, competed at the BD Northern Area Festival, hunted and is went everywhere on his hind a stalwart of many Corbridge & District RC teams. He’s a show off who loves his public, loves his family, and is the legs, jumped over walls, out of best horse I’ll ever be lucky enough to have. He is still a thug fields, and bullied his mother – although I don’t mind, as if he didn’t have “attitude” we might have lost him! Jack once met a horse communicator mercilessly. who took one look at him and said that he has a huge ego and thinks he’s very special – and he’s absolutely right!!! Jack continued to thrive and throw his not inconsiderable weight about until Maundy Thursday 2004. He’d been off his feed for a couple of days, started to look really sorry for himself and was unusually quiet. By Good Friday he had a runny nose, wouldn’t eat or drink and something looked very wrong. The vet came immediately and mentioned grass sickness, the first time I’d really heard of it. All I knew was that it was usually fatal, but I thought it only occurred in Scotland so surely it couldn’t be happening to Jack?

The next few days were indescribably terrible. Despite medication our cheeky, plump youngster melted away. When he tried to eat feed came back through his nostrils and he couldn’t do anything other than try to chew hay and drop it. He couldn’t drink so we would wet his lips, but he just stood with all his four hooves together as if he was hobbled, and he physically shook, even wearing rugs.

By Easter Monday we were starting to question whether it was fair to keep him going. Tuesday the vet came back and as a last resort he gave him what I think was a massive antibiotic injection, and left us a course of injections to administer. A couple of days later we were convinced he was just a tiny bit brighter, and was looking interested in a calf in the adjoining cowshed. The following day he ate some mushed up apple and some cereal – tiny spoonful amounts and nowhere near enough to keep him alive, but he lifted his head and moved towards his stable door when my husband appeared! That signalled the start of a long road to recovery that took a full year for him to regain his weight. Spring / Summer 2012 7 A racing start! Huge thanks to new ambassador to the Fund, Mark Johnston, who has has been busy highlighting the work of the Fund and increasing awareness of grass sickness both in his monthly publication ‘The Kingsley Klarion’ and to visitors to Middleham Open Day. Mark said ‘I am delighted and honoured to take on this role in which I hope to increase awareness of the disease and the magnificent efforts of the Fund in fighting it’. We are looking forward to working with Mark and his supportive team over the coming months, and have a number of ideas up our sleeves….watch this space! Pentlands Rideout As we go to press an idea is afoot for summer Charity Ride across the Pentland Hills to the south of Edinburgh. Previous Pentland Rides have been an enormous success, providing great fun for the participants and a substantial amount of money plus superb publicity for the Fund. Jill Noble of Pentland Icelandics is spearheading a group to organise the ride. Keep a close eye on our website for updates and to book your place. Life as Grass Sickness Veterinary Nurse By Lucy Dawson

I started working as the Dick Vet Equine Hospital’s dedicated Grass Sickness Nurse last summer. I had never seen a case before and knew very little about the disease, so I was thrown in the deep end when I arrived on my first day to find three chronic ‘grassers’, as they are known to us, waiting for me. My job was to take complete control of their care, liaising with the vets to ensure each horse was receiving the best possible treatment and nursing. I mucked out in the mornings, weighed each horse to assess what to feed that day and arranged a feeding regime and grazing time.

Those memorable three were my introduction to the disease and highlighted just how variable the severity of the sickness can be. While one was showing some improvement and would eat small feeds and graze quite happily, another was refusing all of its concentrate feeds, essential for them to gain weight, and would only touch grass. And the third would show great appetite one day and be completely disinterested the next – no matter what you offered him. Finding new and interesting things for them to eat to encourage their appetite was a challenge, and I often had to sit with them and feed by hand. Even when they did have an appetite they would sometimes struggle to swallow even sloppy feeds. Looking after them was hard work and emotionally exhausting, but it was a privilege to be caring for such loved animals at the very darkest of times.

Since then I have sadly seen more acute cases come through the hospital than I have chronic. It is always shocking to see how quickly the disease can turn a completely healthy horse into one that can never recover. Seeing the realisation and acceptance from the owners is heart breaking too. It never fails to make me feel horrible that we can’t even try to save their beloved animal.

There are many aspects of the job that can be hard to accept at times; watching chronic cases waste away in front of you despite your best efforts, or knowing the acute and sub-acute cases never even stood a chance. But there are also elements that make it all worthwhile; the first time a chronic case starts to put on weight, or goes out to grass with a real appetite or watching one finally walk into the trailer to go home. Knowing that the hard work and dedication has paid off is hugely rewarding and I will leave this place in a few months’ time with some wonderful memories of the horses I have helped recover from this horrific disease. Please help! Thank you to everyone who kindly distributed leaflets far and wide for the Fund last year. This is a vital task, giving horse owners the information they need to recognise the signs and symptoms of EGS, and the preventative measures they can take.

Please can you help by putting our leaflets in your local feed merchant, tack shop or equestrian centre? Please email info@grass- sickness.org.uk and let us know your address and how many leaflets you would like. 8 Spring / Summer 2012 DONATIONS We acknowledge fundraising donations received from the following: Arundel Equine Hospital Ladbrokes, Galston Ulla Balletta, in Memory of William Mrs S Martin Baxter Storey Miss Rowell Beauly Firth Foal and Youngstock Show Jean Swinley Mr Birkett McCord Stores, Longridge Border Farm Supplies, Earlston Niki McLachlan, Gift and Home JM Breen Laura Jane Machole and Madge Elizabeth Brown, Etal Dressage Series Davina Mason Helga Buck Ruth Moore Child Support Agency, Cumnock L Moss The Cray Trust Carole Pierce Crieff Vets Stablesbrae Livery Yard Miss A Edwards Stranraer and District RC Gleneagles Equestrian Centre The Tack Room, Robertsbridge Hadlow Riding Club David Wain Stella Hakkins Margo Wain, in memory of Brian Wain MRCVS John Hall Camilla Warre Highland Pony Enthusiasts Club, Huntingdon All JustGiving Pages for EGSF Sue Hudson

We would also like to thank, most sincerely, the numerous people who have made personal donations to the Fund. Fundraising Roundup Remember the Fund is entirely supported by public donations, and receives no government funding. Without your donations we simply could not continue to fund research into grass sickness. A huge thank you to all out there busy raising funds for EGSF, your ingenuity never ceases to amaze us – homemade jam and cards, birthday money, Christmas presents, raffles, parties and shows are all ways in which you have raised money for us this win- ter – plus sales of our Christmas cards and calendars, and good old plain donations! Particular thanks to those who have set up a monthly standing order. Every penny is carefully targeted to help fund vital ongoing research into finding the cause and a method of prevention of this devastating disease. Two hardy souls have signed up to run the Brighton and Liverpool marathons for the Fund, and you can pledge your support to them at www.justgiving.com/egsf/ plus other great pages. The Avon Valley Tidy Memorial Show (20th May) and Scottish Grass Sickness Show (3rd June) continue their fantastic work, and both make a superb day out for competitor and spectator alike. This year Strathearn Eventing are holding a Hunter Trials in aid of EGSF (20th May) - if you can help at this event we would love to hear from you. Two intrepid ladies are raising money for EGSF and Le Trec by walking a challenging 18 mile circuit in the Scottish Borders. And a Perthshire Vet is asking for donations instead of 40th birthday presents! Please let us know if you are organising a fundraising event – we can help support you and provide publicity. Email info@grass- sickness.org.uk MOVED HOUSE? If you have moved please let us know your new address and your old one, so that we can continue to send you our mailings. Prefer your Equine News by email? If so please contact us at [email protected] to subscribe PLEASE PASS THIS NEWSLETTER ON TO A FRIEND If you require further information about the Fund please contact The Administrator, Equine Grass Sickness Fund The Moredun Foundation, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ Tel: 0131 445 6257 email: [email protected] Or visit our website at www.grasssickness.org.uk

The Equine Grass Sickness Fund is a division of The Moredun Foundation. The Moredun Foundation is a Company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland, No SC151865. The Moredun Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC022515