TABLE OF CONTENTS
MEMBER PROFILE: James [Geert] and Melissa Mol
AROUND THE WATER TROUGH
HEALTH & WELLNESS SECTION
FEATURED MEMBERS: James [Geert] and Melissa Mol
Our 3rd Quarter 2024 Members Meeting will be held July 22nd at 8:00 p.m. EST. Our two BOD candidates will be joining us for a town hall and Q&A. Plus, we'll talk about the Fall Clinic and Virtual Horse Show coming up later this year. Don't miss it!
FROM THE REGISTRAR
Hello EBRA Members & Friends!
It’s hard to believe that we’re halfway through 2024. I am certain everyone has been busy with foaling, breeding, farm work, and enjoying their horses. Here at the EBRA we’ve seen quite a few registration transfers and new memberships coming through- signs of a strong interest in the breed.
As we look towards the second half of the year, I look forward to seeing registrations for all of the 2024 foals. Be sure to visit www.europeanbrabant.com to complete your registration application and pay for registration/DNA testing online. A side view of the horse can be sent in by email along with any supporting documentation that is not uploaded with the online application. Questions about registration, DNA testing, or other policies can be sent to registrar@europeanbrabant.com
We are working towards some behind the scenes changes with our Grassroots registry software this fall. In addition, I will be on maternity leave for a few weeks in September/October. With these changes I suggest submitting registration applications and transfers early and ask that you bear with us as turnaround times may be a bit longer than usual. Rest assured that we remain committed to supporting you and your program and will have things sent back as quickly as possible.
Wishing you all the best with your summer adventures. We love seeing what you are up to with your horses so be sure to share with us on social media!
Rebecca Courtney
EBRA Registrar
CLASS III DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
Founding Member and Class III Director, Dr. Hernando Plata, has served this organization for several years, and has been a key driving force behind its founding. He, along with his wife, Lisa, committed countless hours to the establishment of the Registry and we have been tremendously lucky to have their combined passion, insight, intellect and talent. Thank you for serving as a Director Dr. Plata. And thank you both, Herando and Lisa, for your vision and direction in guiding the EBRA to its fruition! As Dr. Plata hangs up his spurs from the BOD, we have two very capable and qualified candidates who are seeking to fill his seat - Melissa Mol-Pelton and Melissa Brown. They will be joining the 3rd Quarter Members Meeting on Monday, July 22nd at 8 pm EST, to share a bit about themselves, their vision for the EBRA and how they may achieve those goals as a Director. So be sure to Zoom in! In the meantime, you can read a bit about both these two incredible Brabanters.
MELISSA MOL-PELTON (Connecticut) My lifelong journey as an equestrian and passionate horse lover has shaped my connection with the European Brabant Registry of America. The European Brabant holds a special place in my heart and family history. Our family roots trace back to Belgium, where the European Brabant has been integral to our heritage. This breed's significance in our family lineage has fueled our commitment to developing and preserving the Brabant in America.
I am eager to contribute to the organization’s mission. Its members' hard work and dedication resonate with my values and vision for the breed's future. Serving on the board of directors would allow me to bring my unique perspective, rooted in both personal and familial investment in the European Brabant.
I am committed to the long-term support and success of our association. I understand that preserving a heritage breed like the European Brabant requires passion and strategic efforts in breeding, education, and advocacy. I am ready to dedicate my energy, resources, and skills to help the registry achieve its goals.
Joining the board would be an honor and a fulfilling opportunity to ensure that the Brabant continues to thrive in America. I am excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share my passion and commitment to the breed. Together, we can advance the registry’s mission, safeguard the breed's future, and honor the deep-rooted heritage that the European Brabant represents.
MELISSA BROWN (South Carolina) As an experienced equine professional, I bring deep expertise and passion for the European Brabant breed. Managing a farm, I’ve successfully overseen multiple pregnancies and ensured the health and welfare of these horses. My involvement with diverse breeding lines and established industry connections enables me to contribute valuable insights to the registry. Skilled in both animal care and business management, I am well equipped for the strategic responsibilities of a board member. Dedicated to the advancement of the Brabant breed, I am eager to bring my knowledge and enthusiasm to support the registry’s goals and initiatives.
BLUE RIBBON BRABANT
Turtle, 2023 EBRA Grand Champion Stallion, attended a Young Horse Show qualifier in May held at Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia MO. The Young Horse Show is an all-breed nationwide series created in 2009 to provide sporthorse breeders, owners, trainers, and riders of all disciplines an affordable show venue to introduce and evaluate their young horses to the show environment.
Turtle was shown in two classes: 4 year old in-hand and jump chute. He received very high marks in both 4-year-old classes, coming home with two blue ribbons. Turtle tied for the highest jump score in the entire show, which is remarkable when all other participants were sporthorses. We were thrilled with his performance, but even more impressive was the effect he had on the show attendees, the staff, and the judge. Turtle attracted a lot of attention because most folks have heard of European Brabants but have never seen one. Some of the staff working the show saw Turtle two years ago at his debut appearance and were thrilled to see how he has matured. He impressed everyone with his conformation, traditional yarn turnout, and calm demeanor. The judge was surprised by Turtle’s passion for jumping. She spoke to us after the show remarking that he reads fences well, has good form, and is very light footed for his considerable size. Turtle qualified for the finals at Tryon NC in the Fall. It is a pretty long drive, but if time permits we may take the trip in November. Once again, the Young Horse Show was an enjoyable experience and a great opportunity to promote the breed.
In June, Turtle and his little blue roan brother, AKH Starry Night Indigo, attended the American Warmblood Society and Sporthorse Registry Missouri Inspection. Indigo was participating in his first AWSSR Inspection as a young horse. It was Turtle’s time to be inspected as a mature horse with an objective of earning Stallion Breeding Approval.
AWSSR is an all-breed performance registry. Horses must satisfy the performance requirement to receive a full registration. Indigo’s objective was to score over 62 to meet the performance goal. He did very well, earning Blue Preferred designation with a score of 75.5. We received lots of great feedback and tips to guide Indy’s development. It was great for Indigo to travel with his brother and spend the night away from home. Not quite 2 years old, Indigo was very brave through all the new experiences.
The day before the Inspection, AWSSR held an in-hand handling clinic. Turtle and I participated in the clinic to help improve our communication when faced with external distractions. It can be difficult for a young stallion to concentrate with mares nearby so this clinic was on point for us. We learned new skills and were able to apply them the next day during the Inspection. Turtle upheld the Blue Preferred designation he received as a young horse and met his goal of earning AWSSR Stallion Breeding Approval. He received his approval certificate and will be listed on AWSSR website, where his future performance and breeding accomplishments will be tracked.
Unlike the Young Horse Show, the boys attracted lots of attention from the attendees. At the Inspection, many were amazed by Turtle’s size. He definitely stood out at that venue! Indigo’s blue coat was noted by several people, and many were surprised by how large he was at such a young age.
FRESHLY BAKED IDEAS
EBRA Member Melissa Mol-Pelton created a custom Brabant draft horse cookie cutter, which is now available for pre order exclusively through the EBRA. The Brabant cutter order will be placed on August 15th and 3D printed. These fun miniature draft horses would be the perfect gift or stocking stuffer for any horse lover in your life, so pre order yours now! Once the cutters are made, they will be shipped directly to you.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The EBRA Virtual Horse Show is back for 2024 and registrations will be open beginning September 1st, so be sure to mark your calendars. Along with the classes we offered last year, we will be adding in-had and under saddle trail classes. That's right! We asked what you would most like to see added to the line up and we listened.
Our breed conformation, halter and showmanship classes will be judged by one of EBRA's Independent Evaluators, Megan Greenwood.
FALL CLINIC ANNOUNCEMENT
The EBRA is hosting an online "Behavioral Based Horse Management" clinic on October 19th at noon EST presented by Thomas Guthrie, MS, and Christine Skelly, PhD, of Michigan State University Extension. All EBRA Members attend free and non-Members are welcome for $10.
This online clinic will address managing horses based on their natural behaviors and will address horse problems rooted in negative emotions, such as fear and anxiety, and unwanted learned behaviors. The clinic will address aspects of the horse’s physical environment, social relationships, and routines, which often contribute to problem behaviors. The clinic will apply a scientific lens and an analytic approach to solving behavior problems by analyzing possible underlying causes and contributing factors, and how best to change behavior using evidence-based modification methods, develop training plans that ensure long-term success, and strive to improve horses’ overall well-being.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Christine Skelly, Ph.D., Founder and Director of My Horse University, an online horse management program based out of Michigan State University Extension. Campus coordinator of the MSU Extension Equine Team to develop adult educational programs and serve as a resource for youth activities in Michigan. Consultant to specialists, industry professionals and horse owners in Michigan and work closely with the Michigan Horse Council. Interests include equine nutrition, facility design and management, and environmental stewardship.
Tom Guthrie is a statewide equine extension educator for Michigan State University. Based in the Jackson County MSU Extension office, Tom’s role is to develop and provide statewide accessibility to educational programming within the Michigan equine industry. Tom’s extension efforts for the equine industry focus on environmental management on horse farms, pasture management, toxic plant identification and general equine management. Tom has bachelor’s degrees in animal science and forestry along with a master’s degree with a non-ruminant nutrition specialization, all from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
EQUINE LAMINITIS
Horse owners usually dread hearing the diagnosis of “Laminitis.” The disease plagues horses of many backgrounds, ages, and disciplines.
Laminitis is a common, extremely painful, and frequently recurrent condition in horses. It has significant welfare implications for owners. This condition affects the tissues of the laminae bonding the hoof wall to the pedal bone in the hoof. This can result in the pedal bone sinking or rotating within the hoof under the weight of the horse. In extreme cases, this can result in penetration of the sole of the foot by the pedal bone. More than 7% of equine deaths are linked to laminitis, with many animals having to be euthanased.
So you may be asking yourself, “What are the causes of Equine Laminitis?”
Well, laminitis can arise in three general situations. The first is diseases associated with inflammation. For instance, certain types of colic, diarrhea, retained placenta, and severe pneumonia. The precise sequence of events leading to laminitis is still unclear. In diseases associated with inflammation, the exact identity of the laminitis trigger remains elusive, but there is the activation of inflammation throughout the body which results in turn in lamellar inflammation. The end result is failure of the adhesion between the laminae and laminitis.
The second is endocrine (hormone) disease. For instance, Equine Cushing’s disease or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction also referred to as PPID and equine metabolic syndrome.The hormone insulin appears to be important in laminitis associated with endocrine disorders, but again the exact sequence of events remains unclear.
And the there is mechanical overload, such as supporting limb laminitis or SLL. This is often associated with a fracture or infected joint in the other leg so that the leg which is bearing all of the weight is at risk of laminitis. In mechanical overload laminitis, it is thought that there is inadequate blood supply to the lamellar tissue associated with excessive and continuous weight-bearing.
A horse is unlikely to die from laminitis, but an owner may decide to euthanase their animal if the pedal bone penetrates the sole so that the outlook is very poor or if their animal does not respond to appropriate treatment over a prolonged period.
Some folks believe that subpar farrier work can cause laminitis, but there is no documented evidence of this. However, a lack of farriery attention can lead to feet becoming overgrown which may result in abnormal stress on the feet and hence laminitis. Often, it is the farrier who spots the early signs of laminitis, so be sure to get your horse’s hooves trimmed regularly and listen to your farrier. After all, their whole focus is feet.
If you don’t know what the clinical signs of equine laminitis are, let me take a moment to give you tips on what to look for.
Laminitis can affect a single foot, all four feet, the forefeet alone, or less commonly, the hind feet alone. Some horses get very mild laminitis that is not severe enough to cause any visible lameness but does result in divergent hoof growth rings. The horse often leans back onto its heels to take the weight off the painful toe area. The lameness is worse when the horse walks on hard ground or turns too. You can observe the horse shifting weight between feet when resting. And there may be increased digital pulses in the extremities. If you observe lameness, test to see if there is pain by using hoof testers at the point of the frog on the foot.
If you suspect your horse has laminitis, call your vet. Bring your horse in from the field slowly and stall-rest them. You should make sure there is deep bedding that comes all the way up to their knees and hocks. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh water and feed your horse a diet based on low-quality hay. If necessary, the hay should be soaked to remove as much of the carbohydrate as possible.
In order for the vet to diagnose your horse with laminitis, they will assess them for the clinical signs I mentioned before. They will also take x-rays of the pedal bone to see if it has sunk or rotated. They will likely also draw blood to test for any underlying endocrine diseases.
“We have very few tools in our arsenal to manage the disease itself. We treat symptoms, pain, and mechanical instability but do not have anything to target the cause just yet,” says Samantha Brooks, associate professor of equine physiology at the University of Florida.
Most often, vets will use the Obel laminitis grading system. It is useful to describe the severity of lameness. In Obel Grade 1 laminitis, horses alternately and incessantly lift their feet. Lameness is not evident at a walk but is evident at a trot as a short, stilted gait. Horses with Obel Grade 1 laminitis may exhibit transient periods of weight shifting, have slight increases in temperature at the coronary band and have slight increases in digital pulse pressures. Horses that walk with a stilted gait but still allow a foot to be lifted are classified as Obel Grade 2. These horses will often have a head-bobbing lameness when walked in a tight circle in either direction. Horses with Obel Grade 3 laminitis move reluctantly and vigorously resist the lifting of their feet. The most severe classification is Obel Grade 4, in which horses refuse to move unless forced.
Many severely affected horses only rise for short periods of time and demonstrate a characteristic “saw horse” stance of rocking or shifting their weight onto their hind feet. This stance is commonly seen in horses with more severe pain in the forefeet than in the hind feet and is often accompanied by anxiety, muscle fasciculations, and reluctance to move. Horses with pain equally severe in all four feet may have a normal stance. Horses with the most severe cases of laminitis often develop poor body condition and pressure sores resulting from prolonged periods of recumbency.
If your horse is diagnosed with laminitis, various medicines can be given to control the pain including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone ('bute') or Banemine and opiates like morphine and pethidine. Acepromazine has been traditionally used to increase the blood supply to the feet as it was thought that all laminitis was a consequence of decreased hoof perfusion. The drug's beneficial effect is probably more related to its sedative properties resulting in the horse standing still or even lying down taking the weight off their feet. In cases of laminitis associated with inflammation, the short-term, around 3 days, use of ice to cool the feet may be beneficial.
Foot support is a vital part of the treatment to help limit movement of the pedal bone and reduce the pain experienced by the horse. This can be achieved in a variety of ways including providing deep bedding, and frog supports such as Lilypads or TLC frog supports. Stall rest, along with dietary changes are important factors. Rather than grass, horses should have low-quality hay and no or minimal concentrates. Roughage-rich foodstuffs like beet pulp and chaff can form part of a revised diet.
If the laminitis is the result of an underlying condition, such as an endocrine disorder like PPID, the disease should be treated accordingly with pharmaceutical interventions such as Prascend.
Again, the diet of a lamanitic horse should consist of low-quality hay fed at 1.5% of the horse’s actual body weight. If necessary, the hay should be soaked to remove as much of the carbohydrate as possible. Hay is preferable to haylage, as haylage is more palatable so the animal will eat more and horses seem to produce more of the hormone insulin in response to haylage compared to hay. If necessary, fiber-based products that contain chaff or sugar beet can be fed instead of some of the hay ration. If extra energy is required once the laminitis has resolved, then oil can be added to the diet. The European Brabant Registry of America hosted a clinic by Dr. Beth Valentine, which dives into recommended draft horse diets, so be sure to visit www.EuropeanBrabant.com, visit to forum, and tune into her very informative presentation.
Listen, it takes weeks to months for a horse to recover from laminitis. In one research study, 72% of animals were sound at the trot after 8 weeks and 60% were back in work. Once an animal has had laminitis, they will be at an increased risk of getting it again. The current episode can be cured, but laminitis will likely occur again at some point in the future. Management changes should be put in place to minimize the risk of a repeat episode.
Prevention measures for laminitis associated with inflammation or sepsis can be prevented by prompt treatment of the underlying disease and the use of ice to cool the feet in horses at risk of inflammation-associated laminitis before its occurrence.
In conclusion, dear Brabanters, the goal of medical and biomechanical therapies in acute laminitis is to minimize damage to the laminar attachments. Therapeutic measures aimed at the resolution of the primary disease process should be instituted immediately. Cryotherapy, if clinically practical, should be applied to the hoof wall and pastern and maintained in a manner that keeps the hoof wall surface temperature at 7°C–10°C for 48 hours. Anti-inflammatory drug therapy is indicated to reduce inflammation associated with acute septic diseases.
Analgesic therapy is most often achieved by the use of NSAIDs; however, alternative analgesic therapies may be needed when NSAID therapy is not sufficient or not tolerated. Mechanical support should be instituted to limit displacement of the third phalanx and increase patient comfort. There are multiple ways to provide mechanical support, with no single therapy being appropriate for all horses. It is necessary to examine the response of each horse individually and alter the therapy, based on pain. Applying support directly to the frog and heel region of the hoof and increasing the contact or weight-bearing surface of unaffected parts of the foot are among the most effective methods of biomechanical support during the acute stage of laminitis. Horses should be monitored frequently, and the response to all aspects of the treatment regime should be assessed and adjustments made on the basis of this response.
If you spot lameness, it may be your run-of-the-mill abscess getting ready to burst. In a worst-case scenario, it may be laminitis. So be sure to be observant. When in doubt, call your vet.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
By Stacy Pearsall
She discusses the anatomy of horse teeth, the time of teeth rupture, the aging of a horse by teeth, and the importance of equine dental care.
BRABANTS ON THE MARKET
"Dill" is a 95.75% bay roan colt, sired by Chris uit den Blommendaal, out of Carter's Kit Karson. Dill is a beautifully designed Brabant colt out of Carter's Kit Karson and sired by Chris uit den Blommendaal. We've had several colts out of this pairing and all are beloved family horses. Take him home as a stud prospect or geld him and put him to work - you can't go wrong. He is available for $8000 through All the King's Horses.
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