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

Forelimb Flexion Test

You’ve decided to sell your horse and the potential buyer has sent a veterinarian to your farm to perform a purchase exam. As you stand beaming with satisfaction next to who you hope will be the new owner, the veterinarian picks up

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Do You Know?

Sometimes don’t you wish you could just catch up? You know, read that book that would help you understand what horse whisperers actually do; digest that article on foal imprinting before the first one hits the ground next year;

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Advances In Equine Nutrition: KER conference 1998

The nutrition conference for feed manufacturers presented by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) of Versailles, Ky., attracted more than 200 delegates involved in research and feed manufacturing from the United States, Europe,

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Horse Talk

I was judging the state 4-H team public speaking on equines this morning, and some thoughts popped into my mind. The kids really did a good job–for the most part they had practiced, had done their

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Housing Your Horse

In the back of your mind somewhere there lurks a Dream Barn. Go on, admit it. You’ve planned it down to the last luxurious detail–from the Olympic-sized riding arena (with the climate-impervious perfect footing) right down to the automatic fly

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Understanding Horses

Sometimes we forget how many different types of equines there are, and how many different things we do with them. As president of the Kentucky Horse Council (I needed something else to do), I was involved this past weekend with our Horse Fair. I

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Probiotics and Digestive Aids: Microbes to the Rescue

While the horse receives the bulk of the nutrients as his food is broken down, he’s not the only one who benefits; the microbes take their share and thus maintain their populations. Their presence is essential to the horse, who could not digest fiber

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Potomac Horse Fever Breakthrough

Potomac horse fever was an equine disease shrouded in mystery. Scientists knew what caused the illness–the bacterium Ehrlichia risticii–but its source in Nature could not be found. No one knew how horses became infected. Until now.

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Longevity, Legality, And Laminitis

My guess is that each of us has had a mentor; one who in his or her age, wisdom, and patience let us make our youthful mistakes, let us find our own way within the boundaries of common sense, and

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Definition Of Horses As Livestock

What is livestock?

Livestock is most commonly considered animals kept or raised in a farm or ranch setting and used in a commercial enterprise. The raising of livestock is an agricultural endeavor that promotes the preservation o

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Equine Foot Research In America

Back in the 1800s, the world really could have used a better hoof on a better horse. History tells us that breeders tried to comply, by including soundness as a criterion for reproduction. Veterinary medicine complied with

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What You Do Not Know…

The federal government decided to include funding for equine research in the fiscal year 1999 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that passed recently (see Up Front page 9). Those moneys are earmarked for several areas, including research into

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Give ’em Some Air!

Before I go into this column on my opinion about the legalization of clenbuterol (trade name Ventipulmin), I want everyone to know I am personally prejudiced in this area of discussion. Clenbuterol is a legal drug for horses with airway

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Boarding Contracts Part 2

Many attorneys recommend including in boarding contracts an exculpatory clause in which the boarder agrees to a waiver of the farm’s liability for personal injuries or injuries to the horse. This is important due to the nature o

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Semen Analysis

A stallion produces untold billions of sperm during a lifetime, and in a normal ejaculate, he can send four billion of them on a race to fertilize a single egg. Only one sperm can succeed. Unfortunately, there are times when none of them succeed

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American Association Of Equine Practioners

Throughout this magazine, you find references to the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners). Those of you who have been subscribers since The Horse came into being probably understand the

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