In the Midwest there are several racetracks–featuring both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing–that sometimes slide under the radar of the mainstream racing community. But like all other tracks around the nation, these venues see wins, losses, and, unfortunately, catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries. Andrea L. Beisser, BA, and her colleagues analyzed the circumstances surrounding catastrophic

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have recently identified a genetic mutation associated with the disorder cerebellar abiotrophy (CA). This debilitating neurologic disorder causes the degeneration of the cerebellum, and mainly affects Arabian horses. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception, coordination, and

How much impact does a racing surface have on the horse’s body and which parts are stressed most during work? According to Abigail N. Dimock, DVM, MS, of the University of California, Davis, who in collaboration with Kurt Hoffman, DVM, and other colleagues completed a study on the subject recently, track surface has more of an impact on bone stress than initially thought.

The Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council (EHWC) met January 19 in Frankfort to discuss the future of the unwanted horse in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Rusty Ford, chairman of the council,, presided over the meeting that included members from different aspects of the equine industry and Kentucky government.

Rep. Tom McKee discussed new legislation, namely Kentucky's HB

About 2% and 6% of all racetrack fatalities in Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, respectively, are the result of scapular fractures, according to Stuart A. Vallance, BVSc (Hons), who, with Susan Stover, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, and a research team at the JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, has investigated the risk factors for this fracture so

Dozens of horses have been killed by the floods that continue to trouble Australia, according to the New Zealand-based website Horsetalk. About 80 Standardbred horses at the prominent Cold Mountain Stud, located near Moore in Queensland, perished in the flood.

According to reports from the British equestrian magazine Horse and Hound, a horse dealer from North Wales is facing prosecution for failing to properly quarantine a horse that was recently imported to Great Britain from Ireland.

Laminitis is not a modern condition–it has been recognized for well over 2,000 years. The Greek philosopher Aristotle even referred to it around 350 B.C. as ‘Barley Disease,’ presumably because it was associated even then with excessive grain consumption. However, according to Patricia Harris, MA, PhD, Dipl. ECVCN, VetMB, MRCVS, there has recently been an increased interest in pasture-associated

In the first study of its kind performed on 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses, Daniel T. Meagher, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of Valley Equine Associates, in Ranson, W.Va., set out to determine the prevalence of radiographic lesions and their effect on race performance. A similar study was previously carried out on radiographic abnormalities in yearlings, but Meagher’s study was the first to examine the

Before purchasing a yearling it’s important to review his health records to ensure he is healthy and sound enough for a successful racing career. Jennifer L. Higgins, DVM, gave potential buyers insight into specific lesions that could reduce a horse’s career earnings when she presented a retrospective study on the subject at the 56th Annual Convention of the American Association of

Equine piroplasmosis (EP), which is classified as a foreign animal disease, has made several appearances in the U.S. over the past few years, and it’s causing concern at racetracks around the nation–the main locations at which EP has been diagnosed.

The extreme flooding in Queensland, Australia, has reached what some reporters are calling “biblical proportions.” The still-rising water now covers an area as large as France and Germany combined, according to a report on the ABC Brisbane website. The damage from the water (which could rise to 30 feet or more) is expected to exceed $1 billion, according to the U.K.-based Telegraph.