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

Laryngeal Paralysis

Partial paralysis of the larynx prevents maximal opening of the equine trachea. Affected horses can move air, but breathing noises occur, especially during exercise. The most common form of laryngeal paralysis is recurrent laryngeal neuropathy

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Joint Fusion to Eliminate Lameness

Joint arthrodesis is a procedure that locks a joint by fusing bones together. The procedure is used in the pastern joint of horses to treat lameness due to severe osteoarthritis, fractures, bone cysts, and various limb deformities in foals.

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Feeding Laminitic Broodmares

My best friend’s broodmare has unilateral laminitis (laminitis in one front hoof); she is a 19-year-old Quarter Horse and is currently five months pregnant. The concern is what to feed her to keep the foal healthy, and to keep her from suffering.

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Supplement Regulation News

The threat of a supplement regulatory crackdown motivated 25 ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors to join with the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) on April 3-4 to hammer out a proposed Compliance Plus program. This

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UK Legislation Threatens to Change Medication Policy

Legislation is under consideration in the United Kingdom that would drastically affect the way horse owners obtain medications such as dewormers for their horses. Amendments to the legislation would require a veterinary prescription for the

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Foal Hyperbaric Chamber Studies Commence In Kentucky

Two landmark clinical studies examining the effects of treating foals with septic (infected) joints and “dummy foals” (those which suffered from lack of oxygen prior to or during delivery) in hyperbaric chambers have begun in Lexington, Ky.

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MRLS Study Reaches Task Force

A new study has pinpointed several factors that predisposed mares to early fetal loss in Central Kentucky and nearby areas in 2001, but was unable to identify a specific cause. Feeding hay in pasture prior to abortion, a history of abortion in

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From Forge to Foot

There isn’t much time in the busy farrier’s life to chat with his brethren of the forge. On the road before daylight, driving endless hours, and arriving home late at night after a hard day’s work doesn’t leave much time for socializing. However

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Designing Your Horse’s Home

When I was a teenager, I took a tour of the Royal Mews in London, England. I had imagined a staggeringly opulent setting for Queen Elizabeth’s horses, and I wasn’t disappointed–the carriage house alone was worth the price of admission, and the

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Modifying Semen Extender

Stallion semen is particularly susceptible to freeze-thaw damage, so multi-step procedures are being developed and evaluated to slowly extend and cool the semen prior to freezing it. In addition, the common semen extender INRA82, developed at

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Stolen Horse Hotline

Anyone who has lost a horse or had a horse stolen knows that trying to find the animal can be very frustrating. It is very difficult for law enforcement officials to search for these horses–many times because of a lack of resources or manpower,

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Caterpillar Update

The newest study on early fetal loss and Eastern tent caterpillars began on May 21 and will continue for the next three weeks. The research is funded by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and headed by internal medicine specialist Bill

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