Christy M. West

Christy West has a BS in Equine Science from the University of Kentucky, and an MS in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Articles by: Christy M. West

AAEP Convention 2005: The Science of Lameness

Both horse owners and veterinarians spend a lot of time observing horses for lameness, but not all observers perceive lameness the same. Sometimes this is because of a less than clear understanding of equine biomechanics. Researchers such as

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AAEP Convention 2005: Diagnostic Anesthesia

Diagnostic anesthesia (nerve blocks) comprise an essential part of lameness examinations for many practitioners. Their function is to anesthetize specific structures in the lower leg and thus allow identification of the location of pain. However

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Bone Scintigraphy (AAEP 2005)

Scintigraphy is an imaging modality that reveals “hot spots” of bone and muscle metabolism that can indicate remodeling due to stress, fractures, or other causes. Many practitioners use it as a screening tool to pinpoint the location of a bone

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AAEP Convention 2005: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“I am here to convince you that MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is in all your futures, so you are going to have to develop some familiarity with this,” began Robert Schneider, DVM, MS, equine orthopedic surgeon at Washington State University,

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AAEP Convention 2005: Reproduction/Perinatology Forum

It’s important that all the players in an industry speak the same language, and the Reproduction/Perinatology Forum on Dec. 3 at the American Association of Equine Practitioners convention in Seattle, Wash., tried to help equine veterinarians do

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Purchase Exam at Auction (AAEP 2005)

While consignors used to hate these exams, they are now very welcoming of it because it’s opportunity for them to assess action on the horse (how many people are seriously looking at the horse).

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AAEP Convention 2005: Inflammatory Airway Disease

A racehorse running at top speed breathes about 120 times per minute, moving about 12-15 liters of air per breath or 1,400-1,800 liters per minute. With this amount of airflow, it’s not hard to imagine that any amount of airway inflammation can

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AAEP Convention 2005: Upper Airway Obstructive Disease

“Before high-speed treadmill (HSTM) endoscopy, we did not recognize the complexity of maintaining a open airway under enormous pressure swings during inspiration and expiration (breathing in and out),” said Eric Parente, DVM, associate professor

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Weaving, Headshaking and Cribbing (AAEP Convention 2005)

We often punish horses for exhibiting undesirable stereotypic behaviors, but most of these behaviors are responses to suboptimal environments. Thus, punishing the horse for the behavior only increases the already heightened stress that caused

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AAEP Convention 2005: Physical, Psychological, or Both?

When your horse’s behavior changes, you wonder what caused the change–did he start kicking his stall because he is in pain, or just because he hates his new stablemate? Behavior changes can stem from physical problems, psychological ones, or a

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Foal Imprinting — Research Review

While horse owners worldwide want a simple answer to the question of whether foal imprinting works or not, it’s hard to give a simple answer to what really isn’t a simple question. This was the message of an imprinting research review presented

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Farrier Licensing Controversy

Horseshoers (farriers) in the United States have long practiced with no regulation and only voluntary certification, but some in the industry think that should change–soon. An American Farrier’s Association (AFA) task force presented a proposal

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Ad-Painted Horse Causes Welfare Warning

Not many people think of using their horses as painted billboards, and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says you shouldn’t. At least, they say, not with regular paint, as it could harm the horse. According to a story on

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Should Farriers be Licensed?

Horseshoers (farriers) in the United States have long practiced with no regulation and only voluntary certification, but some in the industry think that will–and should–change soon. An American Farrier’s Association (AFA) task force presented

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Advertisement-Painted Horse Causes Welfare Warning

Not many people think of using their horses as painted billboards, and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says you shouldn’t. At least, they say, not with regular paint, as it could harm the horse. According to a story

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