Stephanie Ruff

Stephanie Ruff has spent her entire career in various facets of the equine industry. She was a freelance writer for many years, was the owner/editor of Arabian Finish Line, managing editor of Arabian Horse Life and content manager of Practical Horseman and Dressage Today before moving to The Horse. She has ridden many different disciplines, but for the last 20 years has focused on dressage. Stephanie has both a B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky and has always had a keen interest in equine health, science, and research. A native of Pennsylvania, Stephanie enjoys hanging out with her Arabian and Half-Arabian mares, two German Shorthair Pointers, traveling and embracing the Florida lifestyle where she currently lives.

Articles by: Stephanie Ruff

Pennsylvania Launches 2003 West Nile Virus Surveillance Program

Pennsylvania health official announced April 14 that Pennsylvania has launched this year’s effort to detect and control mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus (WNV).

“It’s that time of the year againtime to get your yard back in shape or just get out and enjoy Pennsylvania’s natural wonders,” Acting Secretary Dr. Robert Muscalus said. “But don’t forget about the mosquitoes. In 2002,

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Drug Raid at Australia Racetrack Produces Zero Positives

A massive out-of-competition drug-testing raid was conducted at Randwick racecourse Monday morning in Australia as 30 trainers had blood samples taken from horses in their stable.

The Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) Racing tested the samples for performance-enhancing drugs, including EPO and peptide hormone. New South Wales chairman of stewards Ray Murrihy said the ARFL

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Details of the U.K. EHV-1 Outbreak

The United Kingdom’s Animal Health Trust (AHT) has detailed the country’s EHV-1 outbreak that began in early March. At least 12 horses have been euthanized due to advanced neurologic deterioration resulting from infection.

The first reported cases were detected in Gloucestershire. Two Thoroughbreds showed neurologic signs on March 12-13. Both had rapid progression of hindlimb ataxia

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Equine Influenza in the U.K.

Equine influenza has been confirmed to date in 14 Thoroughbred race training stables since March 13, according to the United Kingdom’s Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Influenza is not usually life threatening, but rather makes a horse uncomfortable and vulnerable to other diseases. Treatment typically includes a minimum of three to four weeks of rest to avoid long-term

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Leg Amputation

“If a horse needs an amputation or he’s not going to live, that’s not much of a choice,” began Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center and host of the 2003 Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium, in a presentation on Jan. 18. “Horses with catastrophic injury or disease of the lower limb are most often euthanized as there is irreversible vascular, soft tissue, and bone

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Misplaced Nail on Thoroughbred Mare: Case Study

Initially the 7-year-old mare was in excellent physical condition with no history of lameness, but became sore the evening of a reset with commonly used, very wide-web shoes. The farrier returned that evening to reset the shoes and lower the nail holes, and commented to the trainer that the previous holes might have been too high in the feet.

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Using Self-Adjusting Palmar Angles to Treat Heel Pain

“How do we use the palmar angle (the angle the wings of the coffin bone make with the ground) to influence the mechanics (of the foot)?” asked Ric Redden, DVM, host of the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium and founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky.

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Wall Ablation for Severe Laminitis

“It’s only a sinker when the hoof is on it–the hoof on a sinker can shut you down and kill the horse,” said Redden in his presentation “Treating High-Scale Laminitis With Wall Ablation and Transcortical Cast.” Redden is known for his aggressive, groundbreaking treatment of severe foot problems, and this presentation certainly was in character.

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Venogram Procedure (Step By Step)

Following is an in-depth description of the steps taken to perform the digital venogram.  I encourage you to follow each of these steps to achieve consistent, informative venograms.

I. PREPARATION

  • Work Area

1. Choose a safe, quiet area.
2. A

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Interpreting Venograms and Artifacts

Becoming familiar with the range of normal venograms is difficult, but it is more difficult to become accustomed to artifacts that are induced by incorrect techniques. This presentation will attempt to discuss interpreting changes present on venograms. We will also review common findings of the pathologic foot.

Consistency in procedure is the key to quality venograms! Changes

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Pat Parelli: Anvil Side Manner

“For seven years in a row, I’ve been voted the world’s worst shoer,” joked world-renowned clinician Pat Parelli at the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium Jan. 16-18 in Louisville, Ky., to begin a discussion on “Anvil Side Manner.”

“Why do you guys want to shoe horses, anyway?” Various attendees answered that they began horseshoeing because they couldn’t afford a shoer for their ow

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EHV-1 in the United Kingdom

Several regions of the United Kingdom have been fighting the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). At least 12 horses have been euthanized due to advanced neurologic deterioration resulting from infection. According to the British Horse Society (BHS), there are currently no horse movement restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural

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Group Seeks to Redefine What Only Veterinarians Can Do

Each state has a veterinary practice act, which is a legal interpretation of what constitutes veterinary practice in that state on all species. For example, chiropractic or acupuncture might be considered veterinarian-only skills in some states, while in other states they can be performed by a skilled lay person under a licensed veterinarian’s direction.

The American Veterinary Medica

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Kentucky Derby Party to benefit LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

BATON ROUGE– The Companions of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine invite all horse enthusiasts to the fourth annual Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Country Club of Louisiana.

Proceeds from the party will benefit expansion of the Equine Intensive Care Unit in the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics. The project will expand and update the

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Pest Control for Horses

Stable hygiene is the first line of defense in keeping pests out of a barn. Another place to exercise good stable hygiene is in the feed room. The storage of feed can either deter or attract rodents and other critters that don’t belong in the barn.

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FDA Expands Label for Zimecterin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it has approved additional label claims for Zimecterin (ivermectin), adding several species and stages of small strongyles to the list of parasites controlled by the equine dewormer.

The announcement means that Zimecterin is now proven to control a total of 60 species and stages of equine parasites, 32 of which are in the

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