This is the welcome message sent to every new member of the EC and IR Group - the Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Yahoo Group founded by Robin Siskel in 1999, co-owned with Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD.  The EC and IR Group is a leader in field work with horses with Cushing's Disease and Insulin Resistance and the largest membership based equine group on the internet. The collection of useful information on this website has been largely due to the Philosphy developed by Co-Owners Robin Siskel and Dr. Eleanor Kellon over the 10 years of this groups existence.

[Join Here EquineCushings Group].

"First, please let me extend a warm welcome to the EquineCushings List [and Website]. We’re glad that you've found us but sorry that you have a need to be here. All too often members find the list after they are already having problems with a horse and they’re very anxious to try to quickly find something that works for their animal. We’re here to help as best we can. Even so, please do take a few minutes to read the files that have been emailed to you [the information available on this website], and fill out a case history on your horse for us as suggested in the New Member Primer

These short files are extremely valuable information that will start getting you and your horse on the right track immediately [Website Overview of DDT/E] – doing a case history and reading those files will also make it far quicker and easier for us to giveyou good accurate information and suggestions than if we have to get you up to speed totally through multiple list postings.

In this article, I’d like to give you a little understanding of the group and its basic philosophy, along with some basic list rules. We are a very scientifically and medically based group and yet quite open to considering newer supplements and treatments. While we are often cutting edge in treating these conditions, everything that we recommend will have a sound scientific and medical basis. Sometimes we do consider or members try things that have been found to work in other species including humans, but are not yet studied in horses. That said we are always open to considering new issues, treatments, and so on. We just try to keep posts in clear context as to if there is solid scientific or medical basis for the issue, versus if it’s a personal theory, observation, or experience. Please try to keep your posts in context in this regard.

We are extremely fortunate to have several veterinarians on the list, including Dr. Eleanor Kellon. Eleanor’s expertise in Equine nutrition and supplements has been invaluable to the list’s success and to list members (a list of her published books is in our files section, she’s also the editor of The Horse Journal). Much of what we’ve found to be so helpful for these horses has originated with Dr. Kellon’s research and then has been proven effective or optimized using member reported blood work and detailed feedback, both positive and negative. YOUR feedback regarding your horse’s progress, both good and bad, is extremely valuable to the list that way. You are encouraged to use an Equine nutritionist who is NOT associated with any particular product line to balance your horse’s diet based on the actual hay and forage that you are using. I should note, however, that all have slightly different basic guidelines they use – the successful program we suggest on the list is based on Dr. Kellon’s research and her suggested guidelines. We cannot speak to results for any other program or diet balancing methods but we know from years of member feedback that the suggestions here on the EC and IR Group work beautifully for the vast majority of horses if followed closely and properly. See the online file “Nutritional Needs for Insulin Resistance or Cushings” file for more detailed information on this subject.

Because the list is so high volume, you’ll often only get one reply answering your post. If that answer is correct, generally no one posts just to concur. They may post to add additional information, and almost always will post to correct anything that was perhaps incorrect. Also note that we generally don’t interpret regular blood panels – that is best done in consultation with your own vet. You are welcome to post the information, but feedback on it will be somewhat dependent on if any of the vets happen to note it and have time to comment, or if other list members’ note issues that they happen to know about. We DO regularly help with advice regarding both Cushings and insulin resistant diagnosis and blood work: ACTH, insulin and glucose, T4 and T3, BET Cushings screen (great for the insulin & T4 at low cost, but not very good to diagnose Cushings), low dose dexamethasone testing (also has too many false positives and a possibility of precipitating a laminitis attack in a few horses), etc.

This list should be used in conjunction with your local vet and farrier – realize that there is NO way that anyone on the list, even the veterinarians, can give you veterinary advice for your horse’s particular situation since we haven’t seen your horse for a direct evaluation. You can arrange a private consult with Dr. Kellon to work in conjunction with your vet, provide you with a second opinion, or for diet balancing, etc. The majority of list members, including myself as list owner, may have excellent and quite useful opinions and advice, but it isn’t in any way a replacement for working with your own veterinarian and farrier and is only opinions coming from past experience, education and seeing many case histories over time on the list. Also, please realize that this list is not only about sharing information but also about discussing it in depth -- it is NOT a personal attack in any way if someone asks you for evidence of some information that you have posted or takes issue with something that way – this is part of what is required to be sure that we are on the right track and considering good information that is in accurate context. Polite inquiries of this nature are always appreciated and expected both from list owners and moderators, and also from list members such as yourself.

We’re a collaborative effort – each member hopefully will not only learn from the list but also, as they learn and can, will help others by answering their posted questions. In this way you can “pass the favour forward” so to speak, helping others as you find the list has helped you and your companion animal. Your feedback of how things progress with your animal, both positive and negative occurrences, will help us all get better and better at helping these animals. I believe that you will find a tremendous amount of information here that is useful to you for as long as you have horses or any type of equine in your life. "

Sincerely,

List Owner and Founder: Robin Siskel

List Owner: Dr. Eleanor Kellon

Moderators and Support Team Volunteers of the Equine Cushings List ("EC and IR Group")