3. Results
Honduras
Two hundred horses, more than twice the antici-
pated number, received health care from the Equi-
tarian team during the four work days. Almost all
of these animals also received hoof care from the
WHW team on the same day. Only the first 100
received tetanus toxoid intramuscularly, due to lim-
ited supply of vaccine brought from the United
States, as neither the vaccine nor tetanus antitoxin
is available in Central America. (No surgical proce-
dures were performed to subsequent horses.) The
majority of the horses seen were cart horses (76%),
followed by riding horses (12%), foals (8%), and year-
lings not yet working (4%). Five yearlings were
already at work as cart horses, as were all of the
2-year-olds. The average age for the cart horses
(5.9 years) was younger than for the riding horses
(7.2 years). The range of BCS was 1 to 6, with an
average BCS of 2.33 for foals, 2.78 for cart horses,
and 4.4 for the riding horses.Low BCS (3) indicative of malnutrition was the
most common problem identified (42% of horses).
Lack of both adequate calories and proteins was
suggested by the low scores, together with a large
abdomen, poor hair coat, minimal muscle mass
along the top line despite many hours of work per
day, and lethargic attitude (Fig. 1). Vitamin sup-
plementation with injectable or oral vitamins was
provided at the time of examination for many of
these horses along with nutritional counseling.
Upon questioning, the majority of the owners stated
that the horses ate just roadside grass or cut grass from unimproved fields. This was in contrast to
some of the higher-scoring horses that were fed left-
over produce, including banana peels. Most of the
cart horses were relatively small in size, with an
average weight of 246 kg, based on weight tape
estimation. Mares with foals at their side were
thin, as were the foals. Most horse owners failed to
recognize the need for extra nutrition for the late
gestation and lactating mare as well as the benefits
of resting the mare after foaling. Weaning was not
common until the foal was 8 or 9 months of age,
forcing many of the foals to trot alongside its dam
while she worked in the city.
Internal and external parasites contributed to the
poor state of many horses. Of the 14 fecal samples
submitted for examination, strongyles and ascarids
were found in most. Heavy tick loads were found in
the ears, mane, and perineal area on 24 of the
horses. In the most severe cases, insecticide la-
beled for bathing horses to control ticks was dis-
pensed along with instructions for use. Lice were
observed on just one debilitated horse. All but two
saddle horses that had been recently dewormed
were administered anthelmintic. Oral ivermectin
was administered to the majority of horses while
supplies lasted, after which a variety of paste de-
wormers were used. Young foals were given half of
the recommended dose of fenbendazole, along with
instructions to administer a dispensed full dose in 2
to 3 weeks. Harness-induced sores were commonly observed
across the chest, back, and girth area in the cart
horse population. These were cleaned and treated
with silver sulfadiazine cream. World Horse Wel-
fare saddlers provided better padding for the har-
ness of the worst-affected as well as less-abrasive
breast plates, breechings, and girths. In a few
cases, a better-fitting wooden saddle was also pro-
vided (Fig. 2). Instead of a bit, many carters used a
chain noseband positioned low on the nose, which
caused superficial wounds on a number of horses
(Fig. 3). Alternatives to chain for the noseband
were suggested to the owners. Virtually none of the horses had ever had dental
work. Significant incisor and cheek tooth problems
were identified in multiple horses, including one
that was having difficulty eating due to a fractured
molar and had a BCS of 1 (Fig. 4). Another horse
with a fractured molar also had unilateral maxillary
sinusitis that was addressed with a sinus trephina-
tion and flush along with systemic antibiotics. The
veterinary students participated in routine floating,
and, along with the local veterinarians, watched
correction of incisor abnormalities, waves, hooks,
and ramps. Equine infectious anemia tests were to be per-
formed on samples from horses with pale mucous
membranes and/or fever. Although only 12 sam-
ples were submitted, promised governmental funds
were ultimately not available to run the tests.
The possibility of concurrent piroplasmosis was sus-
Fig. 1. Typical cart horse with low body condition score, poor
hair coat, pendulous abdomen, poor muscling on the top line, and
lethargic attitude. Note the chain noseband (photo by Dr. Tracy
Turner).
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2012 303
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