Welcome to the first blog of 2020! If you read our February Newsletter, you will realize HEAL is looking forward to an exciting and productive year!
My personal blog objective for 2020 is to provide you useful information where you can’t receive anywhere else! I remember attending a workshop and the speaker said “Information is information. It only becomes useful if you use it!” For some reason this quote left a lasting impression on me and the speaker was right!
So with that I want to share some useful information HEAL has collected over the years through our Be Part of the Research Survey.
History: I researched the Internet searching for data on equine chronic progressive lymphedema and/or chronic swelling, and the impact this condition had on the horses, their owners finances and the equine community. Much to my dismay, there was none! So I decided I’ll do it myself! Honestly, I could write a blog every month for the next two years discussing each question and the answers. There is a wealth of useful information in these answers!
One of the first questions HEAL asked is what state are you from and identify the breed impacted by CPL and/or chronic swelling. It has been instrumental in identifying the states where this is needed the most and what breeds are impacted by this misunderstood, but manageable condition.
Useful Information: 83% came from the USA and 17% were global!
Listed below are the top 5 states where horse owners answered our survey and identified the breeds most impacted. *Large breed horses include Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Hanoverian, Trakehner, Oldenburg horses, among others.
Useful Information: 83% came from the USA and 17% were global!
Listed below are the top 5 states where horse owners answered our survey and identified the breeds most impacted. *Large breed horses include Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Hanoverian, Trakehner, Oldenburg horses. This is a sample of the large breeds but it is not inclusive.
Be Part of the Research: Top 5 States
| State | Draft/Draft Crosses | Large Breeds* | Quarter |
| 1.New York | 60% | 40% | 0% |
| 2. Florida | 22% | 44% | 33% |
| 3. California | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| 4. Pennsylvania | 57% | 14% | 29% |
| 5. Texas | 50% | 17% | 33% |
Be Part of the Research: Top 4 Secondary States
| State | Draft/Draft Crosses | Large Breeds* | Quarter |
| 1.Ohio | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| 2. Nebraska | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| 3. Michigan | 33% | 67% | 0% |
| 4. Oregon | 67% | 33% | 0% |
Be Part of the Research: Low Response Rate
| State | Breed |
| 1.Washington | Draft |
| 2. Colorado | Large Breed |
| 3. Illinois | Large Breed |
| 4. North Carolina | Large Breed |
| 5. New Jersey | Large Breed |
| 6. Massachusetts | Draft |
| 7. Virginia | Draft |
| 8. Utah | Large Breed |
| 9. Georgia | Large Breed & Quarter |
| 10. Minnesota | Draft |
| 11. Connecticut | Draft |
| 12. Wisconsin | Quarter |
| 13. Nevada | Arab & Quarter |
| 14. Tennessee | Draft |
| 15. Indiana | Draft |
| 16. South Carolina | Draft & Quarter |
| 17. Iowa | Draft |
| 18. Maine | Draft |
| 19. Kentucky | Draft |
| 20. New Hampshire | Draft |
| 21. Rhode Island | Large Breed |
| 22. West Virginia | Large Breed |
| 23. Alaska | Draft |
Be Part of the Research- 17% Global Response
Highest Number of Responses to Lowest
| Global | Draft/Draft Crosses | Large Breeds* | Quarter |
| Great Britain/UK | 43% | 57% | 0% |
| Canada | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| Australia | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| New Zealand | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Belgium | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Netherlands | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| France | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Pakistan | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| Croatia | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Be Part of the Research Survey is a living document and is only a snapshot in time. HEAL has communicated with more owners than answered the survey! HEAL only provided you with what we could document and quantify.
HEAL will share with you the results at the end of the year. Approximately 62% of the states responded. As HEAL continues to raise awareness, educate and empower the equine community about this condition, the statistics will be updated!
Here is some homework for you!
Conclusion: Bottom line…. we don’t have enough certified equine lymphedema therapists to cover the states.. much less globally! Think about the state you live in and the breeds most common in your area. Do you think there is probably someone you can help? The Professional Guide to Equine Lymphedema is a great way to get acquainted with this condition to see if it is a career path for you!