Over the course of the past few weeks, news articles and Internet rumors have surfaced regarding the West Nile-Innovator vaccine, the USDA-approved vaccine for protecting horses against West Nile virus. The rumors and misinformation pertain specifically to abortions and deformed foals following vaccination for West Nile virus. An article published in the Denver Post on May 30, 2003, has

The same research team that produced the world’s first cloned member of the horse family, a mule, has repeated its success with the birth of “Utah Pioneer” early Monday morning.

Researchers Gordon Woods, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT, and Dirk Vanderwall, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from the University of Idaho and Ken White, PhD, from Utah State University said the male mule foal’s

Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., was cleaned out of horse tack on Friday, June 6. In all, 18 saddles (English and Western) were stolen, plus all the leather halters, lead ropes, and bridles. The small college has a variety of summer riding camps for kids, and while the staff has been able to borrow enough tack to hold classes, they are in need of donations of tack or funds to buy equipment,

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture last week released the results of a recently completed experiment conducted by the Departments of Veterinary Science (Karen McDowell, MS, PhD) and Entomology (Bruce Webb, MS, PhD, and Walter Barney) and the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (Neil Williams, DVM, PhD, and Mike Donahue, PhD). This is the fourth in a series of

A recent sharp rise in Kentucky farm accidents might have been caused by heavy rains that left farmers well behind in field work. Accidents in the late spring included three fatalities.

The rains have been so frequent that farmers are working feverishly to put up hay, transplant tobacco, mow pastures, and do other chores, according to Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray

Allegations that the West Nile virus vaccine might have caused abortions and deformed foals were made in a May 30 Denver Post article. Mare owners calling themselves the “Lost Foals Group” claim the vaccine has caused up to 1,200 abortions and nearly 300 deformed or dummy foals. However, top veterinarians dispute those allegations based on their experiences.

Tom Riddle,

In Canada, Alberta and Ontario horse breeders and owners insured through CBL Oxford Insurance and Canada Brokerlink can feel confident that its horse mortality insurance policies will provide compensation for any horses killed by the West Nile virus (WNV).
 
Canada Brokerlink Inc., one of the largest insurance brokers in Canada, has informed policyholders that as long as a horse has

Attended by delegates from more than 60 countries, Alltech’s International Feed Industry Symposium provided an abundance of information for those involved with horses, poultry, pigs, dairy and beef cattle, agronomy, aquaculture, and companion animals. Each year, the meeting provides a forum for researchers and international industry leaders to gather, exchange ideas, and discuss the future of

Stallion owners must determine if their stallions have what it takes physically to make a good breeding prospect, including good semen quality, before the start of the breeding season. In his presentation at the sixth annual Equine School at the Alltech Symposium, Peter Sheerin, DVM, Dipl. ACT, a theriogenologist at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., asked the audience: “What

In today’s competitive equine market, developing strategies to succeed and grow can mean the difference for an equine business. Michael White, an equine advisor for Teagasc in Tipperary, Ireland, spoke about promoting growth of the Irish equine industry in the global market at the sixth annual Equine School at the Alltech Symposium in Lexington, Ky. The suggestions he gave the audience can be

The term “laser” conjures up images varying from action movies to removal of skin wrinkles to hands-free toilet flushing. What these things have in common is that a beam of light with a particular wavelength produces a particular desired effect. A surgical laser simply delivers coherent (meaning the beam stays together indefinitely), monochromatic (single wavelength as opposed to the visible

Joint trauma can severely limit performance and seriously affect the quality of your horse’s daily life. Owners want and need to know how best to manage equine joint disease. The most important factor in successful treatment is early detection and diagnosis.

Any of the components of joints–the joint capsule, synovial membrane, synovial fluid, cartilage, bone, and ligaments–can b

We have a 4-year-old Thoroughbred with a bowed tendon. He has been laid up for about a year and is now in training and doing well. When we race him, should we wrap his leg to support the bow or leave it open?