Remember, the deadline is June 30 to be entered into the Rein 'Em In Member-Get-A-Member Drive.

Greetings EFP/L Community, 

Update from last month regarding the EFMHA Yahoo Group: The Membership Oversight Committee has agreed to the recommendation of Brad Lewis, and, therefore, the EFMHA Yahoo Group will become an independent and open list with a new name!

We have been hard at work on a number of tasks, all of which involve providing consistent, professional explanations, guidelines and general language about EFP and EFL. Work is ongoing on updated and new products, updated website information and new membership benefits specific to EFP and EFL. 

In case you are not familiar with the make-up of our task force, please be sure to read through the biographies of the members who are working hard to make sure the association truly represents the EFP and EFL communities.

As always, if you are interested in learning more about any of the projects we are currently working on, or have concerns, questions or ideas related to EFP or EFL, please don't hesitate to email!

Best Wishes,

Leif Hallberg, M.A., LCPC
Chair of the EFP/L Membership Task Force      

Safe Tying Practices     

By Heidi J. Potter, Equine Welfare Committee  

Things happen. Unexpected stimilus, bee stings or other unforeseen incidents can happen while your horse is hitched up. Horses, being prey animals, are naturally claustrophobic. If they feel trapped while being threatened or scared, to the point of flight, they can seriously injure themselves or anyone nearby. Here are a few thoughts on how to help prevent this from happening at your facility. 

Not unlike duct tape, baling twine has many different uses. Here is one idea on how to "recycle" the twine that seems to collect around most barns. Once your horse has been trained to give to pressure, you can avoid serious injury by adding a piece of baling twine to your stationary hitching areas. The baling twine remains attached to your cross tie rings or hitching rail. You simply then hang your cross ties, or your lead rope, to the twine. If you are using cross ties be sure to attach the panic release snap to the twine and not to your horse's head. If he is in a panic, you may be injured trying to get to his head. It is best to release him from a distance, if necessary. Using the twine allows the horse to break free if he ends up in a panic situation, reducing the chance of serious injury. 

There are a few items on the market that also help to make tying your horse more safe. One of these items is known as the "Blocker" ring. This neat little device offers a few different tying options. Some of the options allow the leadline to release as the horse pulls back, but in a much slower manner. Therefore, if he pulls back in a panic he experiences a slow release and not firm resistance.

I also recommend avoiding cross ties made of stretchy materials. If stretched beyond their capacity they can break. The result can be a dangerous, fast moving, whipping piece of material ricocheting around the horse and human, possibly causing serious injury.
 
Lastly, please be sure that every horse handler at your facility knows how to tie their horses up with a safety release knot. When the leadline is tied in this manner the handler can quickly release the horse if the need arises. 

As previously communicated, NARHA is proceeding with great enthusiasm and plans to announce a new association name in late June. In the meantime, we have received a few calls in the office regarding what will be expected of centers. Hopefully we can answer a question or two here.

Centers will be encouraged to update their websites and printed materials to include the new association logo. Centers will receive new electronic versions of the logo on their 2011 Standards for Certification and Accreditation manual CDs, and logos will be available online for download. Centers have the freedom to update their materials as current supplies are exhausted and capacity allows. Centers are definitely NOT required to implement the change immediately.

Announcing to the world the new, contemporary and accurately reflective name for your association should be great fun. It is not intended to create hardships for any centers or members, instead it will hopefully help you better explain the wonderful services your center offers. In fact, as we plan comprehensive media outreach to announce the launch, we encourage the centers to start thinking about the same thing. We plan to capitalize on this newsworthy moment, and by doing so reach targeted markets we may previously have missed. Centers will receive a press release template that can be customized and sent to their local media contacts.

All we ask is that you do what you can to include the new name and logo, whenever you can. Watch your mailbox for surprises and more launch information coming soon! This is an exhilarating time to be part of an amazing industry. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in making this association what it is and for helping with the naming process. Stay tuned!  

Please be aware that there has been an EHV/EHM Equine Herpes Virus (Rhinopneumonitis) outbreak in Utah, Idaho, and along the Front Range (Colorado). Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is another name for the neurologic disease associated with equine herpesvirus (EHV) infections. Neurological signs appear as a result of damage to blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord associated with EHV infection. Interference with the blood supply leads to tissue damage and a subsequent loss in normal function of areas in the brain and spinal cord.

Neurological signs appear as a result of damage to blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord associated with EHV infection. Signs of EHM include:

� Fever preceding neurologic signs (either in a horse diagnosed with EHM or in horses that
   have been exposed to a horse diagnosed with EHM)
� Decreased coordination
� Urine dribbling
� Loss of tail tone
� Hind limb weakness
� Leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance
� Lethargy
� Inability to rise

Horses may appear to be perfectly healthy yet spread the virus via the secretions from their nostrils. If you have any concern as to whether your horses may have been exposed, you can start by taking the horses temperature twice a day and while doing so make the horse yield the hind end away from you to see if there is any loss of coordination. If your horse is showing flu like symptoms, a temperature over 101.5 degrees and/or any neurologic symptoms, call your veterinarian right away. 

Information provided by Countryside Large Animal Vet Service. For more information visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/.