By Jeremy Powell, DVM

Equine Protozoal Myeoloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurologic disease of horses caused by the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona. This disease
agent is common throughout most of the continental United States. Some serological surveys suggest that as many as 50% of the horses in the U.S. may have been exposed to this disease causing organism. However, the number of horses that come down with disease is low. Outbreaks of the disease are typically sporadic and isolated. It can be attributed to levels of stress in the horses or infection patterns as dictated by the source of the infection, the opossum.

The opossum acts as the definitive host for the disease. It transmits the infectious agent by shedding it through its feces. Horses usually become exposed when they ingest contaminated feed, water, hay or pasture forage. This disease can affect horses of any age or breed, but the horse becomes a dead end host and cannot continue to transmit the disease.

Once inside the horse's body, the protozoan eventually moves to the brain or spinal cord and attack the central nervous system causing neurologic signs to develop. Clinical signs most commonly seen with the disease typically begin with a slow onset, but can appear acutely. These signs may be asymmetric and can be varied depending upon what part of the brain or spinal cord the organism has infected. Signs can range from subtle incoordination, weakness, poor balance or stability, droopy lip or eyelid, muscle atrophy, dragging a toe, complete paralysis, and death.

Diagnosis of EPM can be difficult. Since many horses are exposed to the protozoan, many will already have a positive blood test. Other testing can be performed on the fluid from the spinal column. However, since spinal taps can be of some risk and difficult to perform. Therefore, many times treatment is begun based on a positive blood test plus the demonstration of clinical signs.

There are two medications approved for treatment for this disease. This medication can be expensive, but it has been shown to be effective against the disease when given once daily for a period of 28 days. Recovery may be variable depending on how progressed the disease was before treatment was initiated. There is also a killed vaccine produced by Fort Dodge that is available to aid in the prevention of this disease. Other prevention measures should focus
on controlling opossums around stables, and storing feed in sealed containers.

Click here to download an article with additional information on EPM (pdf file 1.17 MB)

Cowgirl Up Riding Club

The Cowgirl Up Riding Club was started by a lady in the Pineville area who was recovering from health problems and wanted to ride for exercise. She posted a note somewhere, wanting ladies to ride with, and the rest is history.

We currently have Around 75 members from Missouri, Eastern Oklahoma, and NW Arkansas.  We ride on Wednesdays and Saturdays and sometimes schedule campouts.  Our ladies get together to have fun and relieve the stress of everyday life. They ride all different kinds of horses, some gaited, some not, it doesn't matter.  We meet every month at the Rogers library at 6:30 on designated dates.  A newsletter is posted following the meeting with scheduled rides and subjects of discussion.  We are always doing something fun and welcome new members. 

Membership dues are $12.00 yearly, which gives you access to our web site.

Carol Ferguson
Cowgirl Up Secretary
CarolF71@myfamily.com

NWA Cavalcades

NWA Cavalcades
The Cavalcades meet each March and have rides at Devil's Den in April, June and October.
Ben Shockey - President
Beverly Shockey - Vice President
Julie Stewart - Treasurer
Jill Jones - Secretary
479-643-2214 for more information

Arkansas Appaloosa Horse Club

Arkansas Appaloosa Horse Club, Inc.
www.arkansasaphc.com

Monty Holmes, President, 1-501-988-5113
Carol Jones, Vice President, 1-870-879-0285
Rena England, Secretary/Treasurer, 1-870-777-4011

For more information on Competitive Trail Riding, contact Trudy Kincade 501- 888-4876

A Ride in the Woods
The new Hidden Diversity Multiuse Trail is experienced from horseback.
PRAIRIE CREEK; The grand opening of the Hidden
Diversity Multiuse Trail in the Hobbs State Park
Conservation Area was supposed to be history by now, but some trail users are not standing on ceremony. With park permission, horseback riders, mountain bikers, runners and hikers are already taking quiet advantage of the 16 miles of completed trail looping around the hills and hollows in the park south of Arkansas 12.  Click here to read the complete article from the 11/24/05 Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
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	Click on the images for larger views

Dressage and Vaulting Instructor Relocates to NWA

East Coast Dressage and Vaulting instructor relocates to NW Arkansas

Dressage Training and Experience
USDF Bronze Medalist and ARICP certified in Advanced Dressage and Vaulting. Owned and operated Ice Pond Farm a full service classical dressage training facility near Hebron, Connecticut for 15 years. Trained with Franz Rochowansky of the Spanish Riding School, Walter Zettle, Canadian Olympic Coach, and apprenticed with Pam Goodrich, bronze medalist on the Pan Am Games Team.
Trained in Portugal, the classical approach to Dressage under George Maleroni, a student of Nuno Oliviera.

Education and Teaching Experience
Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Taught First Grade in Lincoln, Kansas
Taught Head Start in Midland, Texas
Operated day camps for children for the city of Hebron, Ct., to teach care of horses and riding.

Now accepting students for lessons
icepondfm@aol.com
Cell (479) 426-2469

Lipizzan Breeding and Sales

VICKI SHERRADEN
(479) 254-9177
Ice Pond Farm, Rogers, AR
Relocated from Connecticut in 2005
Dressage-Vaulting
Trainer and Instructor