What type of impact do various terrains actually have on the health of a horse’s hooves and legs? French researchers are using a highly sensitive 3-D dynamometric shoe and other instruments to give unprecedented insight into the biomechanical effects of diverse surfaces on not only a horse’s limbs, but his entire musculoskeletal system.

Researchers attached the shoe to the front right

Early identification of a toxin produced by the diarrhea-causing bacterium Clostridium difficile, in the feces of horses with diarrhea might help identify which horses are at risk for developing serious disease, report researchers from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Diarrhea in horses can range from a mild, self-limiting condition t

Brereton C. Jones’ homebred Thoroughbred champion Proud Spell has been retired from racing and bred to Indian Charlie, who stands at Jones’ Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. The breeding took place April 11.

Proud Spell, who was voted 2008 champion 3-year-old filly, won or placed in all 13 starts and earned $2,131,610 for trainer J. Larry Jones. Her biggest wins came in the Kentucky Oaks and

Extension tests (such as trotting a horse off after he stands on a toe wedge for a short time) are sometimes used to detect certain lamenesses, but their use and interpretation are generally not very standardized between practices and practitioners. Until now.

Researchers at Auburn University need horses to participate in a study that will examine the use of chasteberry (vitex agnus castus) supplements in horses with Cushing’s disease.

This study, which is being conducted through the Department of Animal Sciences, will take place for seven months beginning in April. Chasteberry supplements are often used to treat Cushinoid

Several topics were discussed at the infectious diseases table topic at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention held in San Diego, Calif. Bonnie Barr, VMD, from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, and Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, from Colorado State University, facilitated the session.

The first topic discussed was rabies vaccination. In some parts

Those in attendance discussed history and clinical examination of many typical hind limb lamenesses. They noted that once the decision to perform diagnostic analgesia (nerve blocks) or treatment is made, the concern for safety should be foremost in the clinician’s mind and appropriate restraint is critical.

Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue of Glenville, Pa., has made it to the Top 10 in a $1 million shelter makeover contest sponsored by Zootoo.com, a Web site for animal and pet lovers.

Richard Thompson, founder of Zootoo.com, announced the top 10 shelters selected from a list of 20 finalists at the April 7 Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo in Las Vegas.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is widely used to treat proximal suspensory desmitis (inflammation of the suspensory ligament). It is thought to improve lameness by inducing the release of cytokines (inflammatory mediators) that can result i

In efforts to save money around the barn, researchers recommend horse owners carefully consider the supplements they’re adding to their horses’ feed. The researchers behind the 2008 study, “Feeding management practices and supplement use in top-level event horses,” said many supplements are not needed, and giving too many can be

Representatives from dozens of national and state-based equine protection, advocacy, and rescue organizations gathered April 9 and April 10 at Bally’s Las Vegas for the third annual Homes for Horses Coalition Conference to discuss the re-homing of at-risk horses in America and other equine welfare concerns.

The conference was held in conjunction with The Humane Society of the United

It is our hope that through sharing the experiences of injury and recovery, other riders may be able to prevent some accidents from happening. Or, if they do sustain a horse-related injury, they will utilize the rehabilitation services offered to them during their recovery to ensure they achieve their maximum recovery possible.

The Oklahoma legislature on April 7 approved a bill that prohibits cloned horses or the offspring of cloned horses from participating in races at tracks in Oklahoma. The bill provides that neither clones nor the offspring of clones would be permitted to race even if they are registered by a national breed registry.

Sponsored by State Sen. Joe Sweeden and State Rep. Don Armes, the bill is