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At Home with Trevor Kastner

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Professional Bull Rider Trevor Kastner

He’s a man of few words, but his accomplishments speak for themselves.

Trevor Kastner, of Roff, Okla., wasn’t planning to qualify for his fifth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2019. In fact, after the birth of his daughter McKenna in early 2018, the 32-year-old was planning to rodeo close to home and move on to the second phase of his life – breaking and riding young horses and spending even more time with his growing family.

That changed in March, when Trevor was catapulted to the top of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bull Riding World Standings after winning Rodeo Houston’s $50,000 top prize. That win allowed him to accomplish part of his goal of staying home, attending approximately 44 rodeos this year, as compared to his normal 80 to 100. When he sits down on his first bull in Las Vegas, he’ll be riding as the number three bull rider in the world, behind fellow Oklahoman Sage Kimsey and Utah’s Stetson Wright.

While he might be having a banner year, it only takes a few moments of visiting with the humble young man to realize he’s not a bull rider for fame or glory. He sees his success as a way to support a family.

His victories have given him confidence, no doubt, but that has never grown to arrogance.

Trevor’s path to professional rodeo began more than 27 years ago. “I wanted to ride bulls ever since I was a little kid. I started riding calves when I was around five. There was a little youth rodeo there in Sulphur, and I just kind of worked my way up from there. I went to steers, and then to junior bulls,” he recalled.

Trevor grew up in Dickson, Okla., a small town about 15 miles south of Sulphur in south central Oklahoma. He doesn’t recall the first time he rode a bull or a calf – it’s just something he’s always done. While he might have dabbled a bit with roping or bareback ponies, his focus was always riding bulls. He might have gotten his penchant for the rough stock end of the arena from his father, John, the foreman of Goddard Ranch in Sulphur, Okla., who rode saddle broncs at the amateur level.

“Growing up in this area, there are so many people who are involved in rodeo, and I grew up on the ranch, so everyone around kind of helped me out,” he said.

Trevor’s professional bull riding career began in 2008, when he took home a mere $6,500 in earnings. The following year he didn’t compete at all, having been sidelined by a knee injury.

In 2010, he gained momentum, finishing as 37th in the world standings with a little over $30,000.

Some big wins in 2011 earned Trevor his first WNFR qualification, where he placed in two rounds and finished the year ranked 12th with more than $101,000.

WNFR trivia enthusiasts might recall Trevor’s performance at the 2012 finals where he won $58,895 as the only qualified score in the “rank pen” of buckers in round nine. He actually placed in three other rounds that year, finishing fifth in the world standings with $168,553. “That was probably my favorite win of his,” his wife Katie shared. “It was his first round win at the finals, and his family and really close friends were there, too. Even though we had just started dating, it was really fun to see.”

Trevor returned to the finals in 2013, winning one round, tying for the win of another, and placing in a third. He finished the year in eighth place with more than $129,000.

In 2014, after a big win in San Angelo, Texas, Trevor was injured at Austin, breaking an exceptionally slow-healing bone in his hand. That year he only pocketed $22,810 in earnings.

Things picked back up in 2015, when he finished 20th in the world standings, and he followed that up in 2016 with a 16th place finish, barely missing the WNFR. In 2017 he finished 23rd in the standings.

His luck turned around in 2018, when he qualified for the WNFR. He placed in a round, but unfortunately was once again sidelined with an injury in the sixth round. “I got my shoulder hurt in the sixth round, and had to sit the rest of it out. I separated my AC joint,” he explained. “It wasn’t a major injury, but it was something I couldn’t keep going with. I think it was six weeks I sat out. It was a pretty rough finals.”

The 2019 Season

That brings us to 2019. With his baby daughter and wife at home, Kastner knew he wanted to spend more time with them and planned to cut down on his rodeo schedule. “I was planning to slow down a whole lot and go to 20 to 30 rodeos or so. I always wanted to be home quite a bit more before the baby got here, and now that she’s around it makes it even harder to leave,” he said. “2018 was supposed to be the last year I went to the finals. I just wanted to rodeo enough to make a decent bit. I planned to compete in the circuit rodeos and bigger winter rodeos.”

Then came Rodeo Houston, a marathon of a rodeo. The rodeo is a 19-day tournament style rodeo, with riders advancing from their series to a semi-finals, and then to a short round. The top four from the short round then advance to a final-four finals, where the champion is crowned. After years of not being a PRCA sanctioned rodeo, Rodeo Houston once again became an official PRCA rodeo in 2019, with earnings counting towards the PRCA World Standings. Prior to the rodeo, Trevor was holding on to the 22nd position in the world standings.

“I had made the Short Go before, but I never made the final four round. This year I won my series and semi-finals. The bull bucked me off in the short round, but there were not enough qualified rides in the short round, so I was able to advance to the final four round and wound up winning it. I was pretty excited,” Trevor said. “It’s been a crazy year. I was planning to slow down a whole lot, but that win gave me so much of a jump, I went ahead and kept going. I had some decent wins and plugged away at the other ones.”

Katie added, “That was kind of the bittersweet thing about him winning Houston. It jumped him so far ahead that he couldn’t waste it.”

In addition to the $149,100 regular season PRCA earnings he has won this year, Trevor had another huge win in 2019, winning $63,400 at the Days of ’47 Rodeo. “My other favorite win he’s ever had was probably Salt Lake this year. He’s always really subtle about if he wins. I’ll ask how he did, and he’ll say, ‘Not too bad. I won it.’ There’s no emotion about it,” she said with a laugh. “He called me late at night for that one, though. He said, ‘I didn’t want to scare you, but thought it was worth calling. I wound up winning it.’”

Trevor’s high ranking – number three – is his highest ranking ever going into the finals. “I feel good going into it, especially for no more than I rodeoed this year,” he said. “Going to compete in Las Vegas never gets old. I get butterflies every time.”

Katie and McKenna will also be traveling to Las Vegas to cheer him on. “We’ll be out there about two weeks. We drive out and spend a couple days driving out there and we’ll head home the day after the rodeo is over,” Katie shared.

While Trevor doesn’t have many superstitions or pre-ride rituals, you can bet there is one food item you won’t see him eating those 10 days in Vegas. “He will not eat chicken on days he’s riding,” Katie said with a laugh. “He always says if you eat chicken, you’ll ride like a chicken.”

Read more in the December issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.

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Equine

Grain Overload in Horses

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By Dr. Devon England

You come home after a long day at work, and your feed room door is wide open and grain bins are empty. What do you do? Before you call your vet, figure out what grains were eaten, try to estimate how much and determine which horse or horses got into the feed. Did your horse just get into some hay or alfalfa pellets, or did he get into a high sugar grain like Omolene 300? Did your horse get into chicken or cattle feed? If he did, is it a medicated feed, containing an ionophore like monensin or lasalocid?

Grain overload is an emergency, with better outcomes, the sooner the horse is treated. So, call your veterinarian as soon as you figure out a possible grain overload has occurred. Based on what feed and how much feed your horse consumed, your veterinarian can try to determine the risks to your horse and come up with a treatment plan. Signs of grain overload include colic, lethargy, inappetence, diarrhea and lameness. These signs will vary depending on how long ago grain ingestion occurred and the severity of grain overload.

If your horse got into hay or alfalfa pellets, these are low in sugar and therefore not a high risk for problems. Your horse may just have a mild belly ache (colic) episode. If your horse got into a feed like Omolene 300, they are at risk for grain overload. How severely they are affected will depend on a few factors including how much grain was eaten (5lb vs 30lb), if the horse normally receives that grain or doesn’t receive any grain, and the size of the horse vs the amount of grain eaten. Eating 5lb of grain for a full-size horse who normally receives grain may not be a problem, but that same amount of grain eaten by a small pony who normally only receives hay will be a problem.

Treatment for grain overload should be initiated as soon as possible. This includes lavaging the stomach to remove any remaining grain. Stomach lavage is only successful in removing feed within the first couple of hours. Horses will be given mineral oil or charcoal to decrease absorption of breakdown products (acids) from grain fermentation and protect the intestinal lining from damage. Intravenous fluids are given, because horses can quickly become dehydrated with grain overload, due to digestion products from the grain drawing in a lot of water into the colon. Anti-inflammatories, lidocaine, and ice boots are used in more severe cases to decrease the risk of laminitis. In more severe cases with damage of the intestinal lining, antibiotics may be used to prevent infections associated with bacterial escape from the damaged intestine.

If your horse got into medicated feed containing an ionophore, your horse is at high risk for heart failure and muscle damage, on top of grain overload. Ionophores are toxic at very low doses in horses (2mg/kg). These drugs are added to livestock feed to decrease parasites (coccidia), to help with feed efficiency, to decrease risk of bloat and to decrease methane emissions. If your horse has eaten ANY amount of medicated feed, they should be immediately seen by your veterinarian, even if they are not showing any clinical signs. Horses can have no clinical signs or be mildly lethargic in cases where small amounts of medicated feed were eaten but still have evidence on blood work or muscle and heart damage. Clinical signs include initial inappetence or colic signs, weakness or neurologic signs in the hind end, muscle fasciculations (twitching), laying down more, and not being able to stand. There is no anti-dote to ionophore toxicity. Treatment may include mineral oil, IV fluids, anti-inflammatories and supportive care, depending on how soon toxicity is identified. In severe cases, horses can die or develop heart failure, necessitating euthanasia. In less severe cases, especially if identified and treated early, horses can recover fully.

Grain overload can come with serious complications if severe or medicated feeds are involved, especially if treatment is delayed. Secure your feed room as best as possible and keep medicated livestock feeds in a separate location to prevent cross-contamination. And if you have any concerns about your horse getting into feed, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.

This article was originally published in the February 2025 issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.

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Gastric Ulcers

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By Dr. Devan England DVM

Does your horse have gastric ulcers? Gastric or stomach ulcers are frequently blamed for a variety of things including poor performance, acting ‘cinchy’, weight loss, not eating, poor coat condition, diarrhea and colic. However, gastric ulcers are not always the culprit and the only way to know for sure if your horse has gastric ulcers is to look at the stomach on camera, using an endoscope. Poor appetite and poor body condition are the mostly widely observed clinical signs with gastric ulcers, however, these are non-specific. If you think your horse might have gastric ulcers, the best place to start is to talk to your veterinarian and consider scheduling a gastroscopy. Gastroscopy requires the horse be held off feed for at least 16-18 hours and held off water for at least 6-8 hours. Fasting off feed and water is necessary to allow the veterinarian to see the whole stomach. If restricting feed or water is difficult in your management situation, many veterinarians will allow you to hospitalize your horse the night before gastroscopy for proper fasting.

Gastric ulcers are split into two types, classified by the location of the ulcer in the stomach. Squamous ulcers are ulcers that occur in the squamous or skin like portion of the stomach. This is the top part of the horse’s stomach, is closest to the esophagus, and has squamous tissue to protect this portion of the stomach from stomach acids. The other ulcer type are glandular ulcers. Glandular ulcers occur in the bottom portion of the stomach, which is closest to the small intestine. This portion of the stomach has glandular mucosa with cells responsible for producing stomach acids for digestion as well as cells that produce mucus and buffers to protect the lining from stomach acid. Gastroscopy is important not only for diagnosing whether ulcers are present but also determining the severity and the type of ulcer, because these two ulcer types require different treatments.

Squamous gastric ulcers are common in racehorses both in and out of training, with higher prevalence in racehorses under training. Prevalence in Thoroughbred racehorses in training has been reported to be up to 100% (Sykes 2015). Squamous ulcers are also prevalent in Western pleasure horses, Thoroughbred stallions on breeding farms, and Italian donkeys (Sykes 2015). Glandular gastric ulcer prevalence has not been as well described as squamous ulcers. Glandular ulcers are reported to be most common in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses, Canadian showjumpers and polo ponies, and American Quarter Horses (Sykes 2015).

Risk factors for ulcers vary by ulcer type. Anti-inflammatories (Bute, Banamine) can increase the risk of glandular ulcers in some horses by affecting normal defense mechanisms but are not a high risk in most horses. Horses that display stereotypic behaviors, such as cribbing, have an increased risk of squamous ulcers. Grain fed before hay in non-exercising horses, feeding larger amounts of grain, and increased time between meals increases the risk of squamous ulcers. Increased time with high intensity exercise and housing in single pens is associated with increased risk of glandular ulcers. A straw only diet, lack of water access and lack of direct contact with other horses increases the general risk of gastric ulcers.

If your horse is diagnosed with ulcers, the mainstay of treatment is a buffered formulation of omeprazole (Gastrogard, Ulcergard). Over the counter Omeprazole and compounded Omeprazole are not effective because without buffering, the acidic stomach quickly breaks down the drug before absorption. Most horses with squamous ulcers will have healing of these ulcers after a 4-week course of Gastrogard or Ulcergard at treatment dose (whole tube for the average horse). Some horses may be healed by 3 weeks of treatment, but all horses should undergo a recheck gastroscopy before stopping treatment. Horses diagnosed with glandular ulcers need combination therapy with Gastrogard/Ulcergard and Sucralfate for 4 weeks. About 2/3 of horses with glandular ulcers will heal in this time, but some horses may require longer treatment times so a recheck is always recommended before discontinuing treatment.

Horses at higher risk of gastric ulcers may benefit from preventative (low) doses of Ulcergard (1/4 tube in average sized horse) given for a few days before and during high stress situations like long distance travel and competitions. Sea buckthorn berry supplement may be protective against formation of glandular ulcers. Dietary management to decrease the risk of ulcers includes providing more frequent small hay meals if pasture access is not available, limiting high sugar grains as much as possible and adding vegetable oil to the feed.

Sykes BW, Hewetson M, Hepburn RJ, Luthersson N, Tamzali Y. European college of equine internal medicine consensus statement – equine gastric ulcer syndrome in adult horses. J Vet Internal Med 2015; 29:1288-1299.

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Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Older Horses

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As horses age, their nutritional needs change significantly, necessitating careful adjustments in diet and management to maintain their health and quality of life. Older horses, often categorized as seniors around the age of 20, may face a variety of age-related challenges, including decreased digestive efficiency, dental issues, and metabolic disorders, all of which require tailored nutritional strategies.

Challenges and Considerations for Senior Horses

One of the primary challenges in feeding older horses is their reduced ability to digest and absorb nutrients. As horses age, their digestive systems become less efficient at processing essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This decline can lead to conditions such as muscle loss, weight loss, and decreased immunity, making it crucial to adjust their diets to meet these changing needs.

Dental health is another significant concern. Many senior horses experience dental issues, such as worn or missing teeth, which can impede their ability to chew and digest forage effectively. For these horses, switching to a senior complete feed—formulated to be highly digestible and to meet all of the horse’s nutritional needs—can be beneficial. These feeds are designed to replace forage entirely when necessary, ensuring that even horses with severe dental problems can still receive a balanced diet.

Management Strategies

In addition to dietary changes, proper management practices are essential for the well-being of senior horses. Regular veterinary check-ups are critical to monitor their health and detect any early signs of age-related diseases. Common conditions like Cushing’s disease and metabolic syndrome can have a significant impact on a horse’s nutritional requirements. For example, horses with metabolic disorders may need a diet low in sugars and starches to prevent spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels.

Moreover, older horses often require adjustments in their living conditions to reduce stress. As they age, horses may become more sensitive to changes in their environment, such as temperature fluctuations or alterations in their social groups. Ensuring a stable, comfortable environment with gradual changes can help mitigate stress and maintain their overall health.

Feeding Recommendations

When designing a diet for an older horse, it’s important to consider factors such as body weight, activity level, and specific health conditions. Senior horses typically require a diet rich in easily digestible fiber, with added fats and proteins to compensate for their decreased digestive efficiency. Probiotics and prebiotics can also play a role in supporting gut health and improving nutrient absorption.

It’s essential to avoid feeding dusty or moldy hay, as older horses are more susceptible to respiratory issues and gastrointestinal problems. Soaking hay before feeding can help reduce dust and make it easier to chew for horses with dental issues. Additionally, complete feeds that incorporate all necessary nutrients can be an excellent option for horses that can no longer consume enough forage.

Caring for an older horse requires a holistic approach that combines tailored nutrition, careful management, and regular veterinary care. By understanding and addressing the unique needs of senior horses, owners can help their equine companions age gracefully and maintain a good quality of life. Every horse is an individual, so working closely with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist to develop a personalized care plan is essential for ensuring their long-term health.

For more detailed information on managing the nutritional needs of older horses, you can refer to resources such as OSU Extension, The Horse, Florida IFAS, and The Open Sanctuary Project​.

This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.

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