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

Environment and Hormones

Some natural and man-made compounds in the environment can disrupt the delicate reproduction hormone balance in many species, possibly including horses. Her suggestion was that although this cause of reproductive dysfunction had not been studied in horses, it should be considered in cases of reproductive abnormalities with no apparent cause.

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Educational Brochures

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has recently revised and redesigned 21 client education brochures with the support of Bayer Animal Health and Purina Mills. The brochures are available to veterinarians and come in packages of 25 at a low cost. According to Dana Roberts, AAEP’s Owner Education Coordinator, several other brochures are in the works and will be available in

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Managers Doing Good Job with Pastures

A week following the Dec. 23 release of information about the University of Kentucky’s pasture monitoring related to mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), Jimmy Henning, PhD, extension forage specialist at the University of Kentucky (UK) discussed some of the findings. There are some “real positive things” contained in the report, he said; the most important was that “we know a lot more

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West Nile Virus Changed to Endemic Disease Status; Fees will be Charged for Some WNV Testing

Government veterinary officials recently designated West Nile virus (WNV) as an endemic disease in the United States. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) previously had considered WNV a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD), since it had never been detected in the United States prior to 1999. (Read more about WNV at

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AAEP 2002 Radiology Panel

The radiology panel discussion at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention on Dec. 7 included presentation of 10 case histories, clinical presentations, and radiographs, with one of four panel members selected to evaluate each case. Tim O’Brien, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVR, professor in the Surgical and Radiological Sciences Department at the University of California, Davis,

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Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance

When a prescribed medication doesn’t work as it should, one cause could be antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance. Is the widespread use of antibiotics selecting for stronger and stronger pathogens that can resist the drugs we use to fight them? This was discussed at the Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance Table Topic, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor o

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AAEP 2002: Feeding the Geriatric Horse

With more and more horses reaching geriatric status (over 20 years of age), it?s important to understand how their nutritional needs might change. Diets should be adjusted if necessary to help old-timers live long and healthy lives. David Pugh,

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Kentucky Abortions Update

The ?blip? of abortions seen in August, September, and October in Kentucky has continued on through December. With only about 50 total abortions reported, this problem might not even catch the attention of many people in a normal year, as

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Purchase Exams Table Topic

Purchase examinations are a big bone of contention in many equine sale situations–not so much over the necessity of them, but over what exactly needs to be evaluated and how to interpret the results. Rick Mitchell, DVM, of Fairfield Equine

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Horseman’s Day at the 2002 AAEP Convention

Horseman?s Day, held for the third time as part of the annual AAEP convention, was another rousing success. There weren?t as many people in attendance as there were in San Diego last year, but they were just as enthusiastic. AAEP officials said

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Juvenile Bowed Tendons and Racing Prognosis

?Juvenile bowed tendons, or ?baby bows,? are not uncommon in yearlings and weanlings,? said Johanna Reimer, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVC (cardiology), of the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., at the 2002 American Association of

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AAEP 2002: Infectious Disease Forum

With West Nile virus (WNV) marching across the United States and affecting both horses and humans, infectious disease prevention has been a hot topic in barns, the media, veterinary clinics, and elsewhere. During the Infectious Disease forum, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of Equine Medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and

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AAEP 2002 Geriatric Dentistry Table Topic

“Dental Care and Management of the Geriatric Patient” was the focus of one lunchtime Table Topic on Dec. 5, with topics ranging from diet selection to systemic illness to sedation. With veterinarians filling all seats and standing against

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AAEP 2002: Biologic and Therapeutic Agents Forum

Among the topics of interest discussed were plasma products, compounding, and West Nile virus. The discussion of plasma products centered around the current United States Department of Agriculture licensure of only some of these products. Until 1995, noted Dr. Jim Bowman, president of Lake Immunogenetics, all plasma products were licensed by the USDA. At that point, it was decided by USDA

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AAEP 2002 Laminitis Sunrise Session

?Never use only clinical assessment to estimate the progress of a laminitic horse,? began Ric Redden, DVM, moderator of the laminitis Sunrise Session on Dec. 7 and founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky. ?X rays an

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