The phrase “nature vs. nurture” is usually used to refer to the debate over which has a greater impact on a person’s personality and preferences–genetics or environment/rearing. But for this article, we’ll use it in the context of fetal programming, or what makes a foal develop into a physically healthy (or not so healthy) horse. Hint: Nature and nurture in this case are scientifically proven to

What would be your pick for the most groundbreaking news in equine lameness, surgery, or racing for 2010? Not sure? Read on to find out what Scott E. Palmer, VMD, Dipl. ABVP (Equine Practice), hospital director and a staff surgeon of the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, N.J., and past president of the AAEP and American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, deemed the most important news in

What would be your pick for the most groundbreaking news in equine veterinary internal medicine for 2010? Not sure? Read on to find out what Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., deemed the most important news in equine internal medicine in 2010. He presented this discussion during the Kester News Hour session to help kick off the 2010 American

“Stallions do not become sires because of reproductive capability,” began Dickson Varner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, professor of large animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University. “They’re selected based on performance, pedigree, and conformation–reproductive ability is last. The equine breeding industry abounds with stallions whose level of fertility is less than optimal.” Varner discussed

“No foot, no horse” is perhaps the most used and still the most true statement there is in horse care. A horse is generally worthless without functional feet, which is why the American Association of Equine Practitioners devoted a complete day during the 2010 convention (held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.) to farriery topics and the working relationship between veterinarians and farriers.

Technology is an amazing thing–especially technology that allows veterinarians to produce live foals from horses with very poor fertility and even from those that have died. A number of assisted reproductive technologies for horses have been optimized for commercial use, and veterinarians discussed these in detail during the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held

When pain is localized to the foot but no abnormalties can be seen on radiographs (often called X rays), problems in soft tissues within the foot are often the culprit. However, imaging soft tissues in the foot to arrive at a diagnosis can be challenging, especially when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not available or financially feasible. At the 2010 American Association of Equine

When it comes to lame horses, things aren’t always simple–the injuries/problems don’t always come one at a time. Take sidebone, for example–in a recent study presented at the 2010 the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention (held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.) researchers described a series of cases with sidebone, coffin bone fractures, and associated soft tissue problems.

Radiographs of a horse’s limb joints are an important part of the pre-purchase examination for any performance prospect; the goal is to find any problems that might cause lameness down the road. However, it appears that in cutting horses at least, certain lesions seen on radiographs of the stifle joint just don’t hurt a horse’s performance as much as many have thought. Myra Barrett, DVM, MS, Dipl.

Neuroaxonal dystrophy, or NAD, is a neurologic disease that can affect horses as well as humans, sheep, cats, and dogs. The condition is not yet fully understood, although researchers believe there might be a genetic component.

If your horse has to be sedated, the effect of that sedative on the fluid pressure within his eyes (intraocular pressure) might be the last thing you’re worried about. Unless, of course, he is being sedated for an eye procedure–then this issue becomes quite important. At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., one veterinarian discussed

Equine herpesvirus-1 disease is “one of the costliest equine diseases worldwide,” said Dr. Rebecca McConnico.

You might already know that vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cell membranes and tissues from damage by reactive free radical molecules. You might even know that it’s been recommended to help treat several neurologic diseases in horses. But did you also know that just feeding vitamin E might not be enough, and that having the right source of that vitamin E is also key?

Some say the incidence of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is increasing, while others say it’s decreasing. Who’s right? At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., one presenter sought to answer that question. Frank Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, director of the Louisiana State University Equine Health Studies Program, discussed a

Osteoarthritis (sometimes called degenerative joint disease) is the most common cause of lameness in horses and currently there is no cure.1 However, researchers continue to improve available treatment methods. At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, director of the Orthopaedic