Investigators say they found serious violations of animal cruelty laws involving at least 40 Thoroughbred horses at the New York farm owned by Ernie Paragallo following a raid April 8 by State Police and animal protection agency officials.

“It’s the worst Thoroughbred farm I’ve ever seen like this,” said Ron Perez, president of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA, which conducted th

At a press conference April 9 at Churchill Downs, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced that the Louisville racetrack has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a comprehensive review of racing operations at the facility. Churchill Downs is the first track to be so designated by the Alliance.

The accreditation of Churchill Downs

At the Compounding Table Topic at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., facilitators made handouts available, including the FDA’s Compliance Policy Guide (CPG); the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA), the AAEP Position Statement/Guidelines for Use of Compounded Products, and a couple of

Equine influenza is a common respiratory infection in horses caused by the equine influenza A type-2 virus. While influenza is not particularly harmful to affected horses (i.e., it has a very low mortality rate), it is associated with explosive outbreaks that have a large economic impact on the industry. Vaccination of at-risk horses and continually updating the flu vaccines play a crucial

The ruler of Dubai is being investigated by equestrian authorities after a horse he owns and rides failed drug tests after two races.

Sheik Mohammed said he was unaware of the drugs but accepts full responsibility. The drug use came to light following testing by his staff after endurance races this year in Bahrain and Dubai.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) said April 7

State regulators in New York have begun an investigation into undernourished mares that were given away by Thoroughbred owner and breeder Ernie Paragallo.

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board will examine the circumstances under which the horses were given away by Center Brook Farm in upstate New York, as well as ownership questions that have arisen concerning the horses. The

The crowd-pleasing Westfalen mare Rocher, who might be known best for her flopping ears and hair-raising extended trot, will retire from international competition, according to Gypsy Woods Farm owners Charles (Chuck) and Joann Smith.

In a year that saw increased public scrutiny of equine welfare and medication issues both on the track and in the competition field, veterinarians at the 2008 Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in San Diego, Calif., gathered in a forum to discuss these and other performance horse issues.

Forum leaders Stephen Soule, VMD, of West Palm Beach, Fla.,

A hearing officer has ruled that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission acted properly when it handed a five-year suspension to veterinarian Dr. Rodney Stewart after cobra venom and other prohibited substances were found in a barn and in his truck at Keeneland in June 2007.

Hearing officer Robert Layton, who conducted a two-day hearing in December into Stewart’s appeal of the suspension,

Topics in equine health that are timely and relevant to today’s horse owner will be featured this year as part of the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s “Ask the Vet” online discussion on aaep.org/horseowner. Each month an AAEP-member veterinarian will answer questions submitted by horse owners pertaining to

A winter weather warning for Kentucky had been issued, and all the horses were in the barn for the night as a precaution. After all, how often have the weather forecasters been overenthusiastic about “catastrophic” storms?

Overnight the electricity went out; both landline and cell phones were dead. Trees, limbs and telephone poles were down, blocking roads and causing major damage to

Farrier Ian McKinlay, who was in the news last year dealing with Big Brown’s quarter crack prior to the Belmont Stakes, is back on the Triple Crown trail once again, treating a lesser quarter crack suffered by Quality

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance has received a contribution of $50,000 from Pfizer Animal Health.

“Pfizer Animal Health is proud to support the work of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance in its efforts towards improved health and wellness for the equine athletes,” said Kristin Ruff, equine senior