Phenylbutazone (PBZ), commonly known as Bute, can be the horse owner’s (and horse’s) best friend. This popular and economical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) blocks pain, reduces swelling and inflammation, and lowers fever, making it an
If you are new to the breeding business, you will soon realize that putting a foal on the ground can be an expensive proposition. Breeding can be as simple as turning a stallion in with a group of mares, or it can be as sophisticated as importin
Solar electricity, produced by photovoltaics (PV), is a proven means of generating electricity from the sun, and it’s not just for high-tech houses anymore. Whether you want to be more “green” in your electrical use on the farm, you have a remot
A little bran, warm water, and molasses are all it takes to create a mouth-watering mash fit for horse utopia.
For a mare, the birth of her foal is an explosive process, in the best of circumstances requiring less than a half-hour from the time her water breaks to the time the foal has been delivered through the birth canal. In a wilder existence, a
Looking at a horse’s delicate limbs, it’s a wonder that those bones can put up with any sort of pressure at all. Equine bones are very tough, but fractures still happen. When they do, even the most stoic of horse owners can feel desperate. But a
In nature, mares have a high fertility/ conception rate since they are continually with a stallion who teases and breeds them at the best times. But few domestic horses are bred under natural conditions in pasture harems, and broodmare managers
A new year has begun. How many resolutions have you made? Broken any yet? Mine include getting home and barn emergency kits together. I’ve had them in the past, but when we checked after the hurricanes made preparedness an issue in our lives,
On Nov. 10, 2005, President Bush signed the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations bill containing an amendment prohibiting the use of federal funds to inspect horse meat. The amendment includes a 120-day phase-in period that allows slaughter plants i
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA) on Nov. 14, 2005, gave unanimous approval to revised medication rules that were controversial when implemented under an emergency order signed in August by Gov. Ernie Fletcher. The regulations are
Surgically repairing or stabilizing fractured ribs in a newborn foal can reduce the risk of further complications such as puncturing a vital organ, say Robert Hunt, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, and Fairfield Bain, DVM, MBA, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVP, ACVECC. Th
Horses’ ears are designed for distinguishing fine sounds, protecting sensitive inner ear structures, and communicating with herdmates. An 18-month-old Belgian Warmblood filly’s ear was injured (likely on a fence), resulting in the ear bending
Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER, tying-up) causes affected Thoroughbreds to suffer recurring episodes of muscle cramping, stiffness, excessive sweating, and a reluctance to move after exercise. With no cure available, information on how
As research involving veterinary equipment results in more and more sophistication, both veterinarians and horse owners face something of a dilemma. For the veterinarian, the question involves how much a practice can afford to invest in the latest
As a rule of thumb, we know that our horses should be trimmed (and shod if necessary) at least every six to eight weeks. But where did those numbers come from? Van Heel recently studied how a hoof changes between trims, and she found that neglecting
The Kentucky State Veterinarian’s Office announced yesterday (Dec. 30) that while 11 horses from Turfway Park’s Barn 26 that previously tested positive for equine herpesvirus now test negative, five horses still tested
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