HAPPINESS IS IN THE FIELD: PREVENTING ATYPICAL MYOPATHY IN GRAZING HORSES WITH RATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF PASTURES AND HORSES DRAWN ON THE BASIS OF THE IDENTIFICATION OF RISK FACTORS FOR DISEASE - Agricultural Research Updates - page 154

Table 1. (Continued)

Parameters

Risk factors Protective factors

Sloping pasture
Steep slope

Incline Gentle slope

Surrounded by or containing trees
Access to dead leaves piles up in
autumn

Trees

Humid pasture
Pasture surrounded by or containing a
stream/river

Humidity

Management of the pastures
Spreading of manure
(*) Age was identified as a confounding variable regarding the risk factors associated
with the animal's sex. Sex is linked to age, as ―gelding‖ is a status that follows
castration, a procedure usually performed in males >18 months old ( i.e . the most
risky age for AM). Because females are more frequently kept at pasture than
males, a higher percentage of AM cases are females.
Table 2. Summary of preventive measures for the development of atypical
myopathy

WHERE?
All over Europe, but especially in Belgium, France and Germany.
WHEN (in general)?
High risk seasons (mainly autumn and spring)
Especially autumns that are warmer than usual
Spring after an autumnal outbreak
During outbreaks
WHEN (in particular, i.e. during high risk seasons)?
Lack of solar radiation
Strong wind
Rain and Thunderstorms
Cool temperature without heavy frost
FOR HOW LONG?
Until 4-5 days of frost during daytime or snow
FOR ALL GRAZING EQUIDS, but horses particularly at risk are:
Young horses
Horses with normal body condition
Untrained horses
HORSE MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE THE RISK
Regular deworming and vaccination
Provide supplementary feeding (by preference carbohydrate rich food)
Do not feed hay from the ground or in conditions that favour mould formation