Severe injury of a racehorse is one of the most visible and critical situations race track practitioners must handle. Mary Scollay, DVM, senior association veterinarian for Gulfstream Park and Calder Racecourse, and Celeste Kunz, VMD, chief examining veterinarian of the New York Racing Association, moderated a Sunrise Session on triage of acute racing injuries.
A Pike County, Ohio, resident reported in mid-December 2003 what she thought was abuse in a herd of approximately 52 horses to Kristen Rohde, DVM. Rohde asked local law enforcement officials to have the horses examined by a veterinarian. By Jan. 9, the horses in question had been examined by three veterinarians (each of whom reported that some of the horses were in need of care), were
With researchers worldwide working on solutions to various horse health problems, there is a veritable mountain of information being published continuously. Much of this information is included in AAEP convention presentations, but some of this valuable research was either too new or brief to be included in the program. Thus, the Kester News Hour has new studies and information discussed by
Hurricane Isabel hit the Virginia coast with fury on Sept. 18. At its peak over the Atlantic, Isabel was a Category 5 hurricane (winds greater than 155 mph), sending coastal horse owners scrambling for safe shelter for themselves and their animals. When the storm hit land, it had faded to a Category 2 hurricane (winds from 96-110 mph and storm surges of six to eight feet), then dropped to a
In my opinion, the cover photo on the May 2003 issue of The Horse captures a scene that occurs far too often in the equine ambulatory setting. Clients and horse handlers often assist in obtaining radiographs of their horses. Sometimes these people are directed to stand in or around the direct beam of the X ray machine, and all too often without any radiation protection whatsoever. Like
by Kimberly S. Herbert and Stephanie L. Church
West Nile virus is a dangerous and scary disease, and it is spreading across North America very quickly. However, this is one of the few times when horses have it better than humans when it
There isn’t much time in the busy farrier’s life to chat with his brethren of the forge. On the road before daylight, driving endless hours, and arriving home late at night after a hard day’s work doesn’t leave much time for socializing. However
Reports from Central Kentucky and Ohio note that many farms are seeing no early fetal loss, late-term abortions, or term births of compromised foals. Dr. Roger Murphy, a private practitioner in Central Kentucky who was president last year of the
Weather during the cross-country phase played a key role in the outcome of this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, held in Lexington, Ky., at the Kentucky Horse Park on April 25-28. While some riders, including American winner Kim Vinoski on the 9-year-old Thoroughbred Winsome Adante, had the luck of going before incessant rains hit on Saturday, others struggled with pelting rain and
Some of our nation’s most competitive racehorses participated in a unique ulcer screening program this year at the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Park. The Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (KHBA) at the Derby, and the New
The wild horse is an animal most of us see as a beautiful, capable, defiant creature, comfortable in his environment and not needing human intervention to survive. However, this is not always the case, at least not in the United States.
Wil
After testing numerous pasture samples for mycotoxins, endophytes, and other possible causes to the problems in Kentucky, tests have shown higher than expected levels of a mycotoxin called zearalenone, according to Dr. Steve Jackson, a consultan
So far it looks as if many Kentucky breeding sheds will stay open as long as they have clients who want to book their mares…or until the stallions must head into quarantine for trips to Southern Hemisphere locations. Those trips usually take
As of May 10, the states of Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana seem to be clear of the problems of foal losses facing Kentucky horse breeders. Since Tennessee’s foaling season tends to coincide with Kentucky’s
Veterinary and diagnostic professionals in Kentucky are working feverishly to identify the cause of the recent abortion and early fetal loss syndromes. One of the most probable causes is mycotoxins in pastures. If that is the case,
Two “syndromes” of unknown origin that began in late April are causing Central Kentucky farms to lose an excessive number of foals and fetuses.
The first syndrome results in what broodmare owners know as “red bag,” or premature placenta
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