Latest News – The Horse

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors during this year’s annual meeting approved new helmet rules for riders in both eventing and dressage–just two weeks after dozens of stakeholders in equestrian sport met with the goal of improving rider safety across disciplines.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health confirmed positive test results for equine infectious anemia (EIA) in two horses earlier this month in northeastern Missouri. Department officials have tested 696 other horses, including those located nearby and any that might have been in contact with the infected animals. No further positive cases have been identified.

According to Alex Dugdale, MA, VetMB, DVA, Dipl. ECVA, MRCVS, a senior lecturer in the school of veterinary science at the University of Liverpool in England, “obesity (in horses) creeps up on us.” When it comes to battling obesity, keeping the horse healthy and happy while still helping him drop weight is of paramount importance.

A Montana rancher faces multiple animal cruelty charges in connection with the alleged neglect of 450 horses. Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said the horses are residing on 9,400 acres of deeded land and 30,000 acres of leased Crow tribal land southeast of Billings, Mont., with scant forage and no water source.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has rejected Madeleine Pickens’ plan to create a Wild Horse sanctuary in Nevada according to a written statement from BLM Director Bob Abbey. The wife of Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens first offered to establish the sanctuary for horses in BLM long-term holding facilities in 2008. Under the plan, 10,000 animals currently residing in BLM long-term holding pastures

When it comes to lame horses, things aren’t always simple–the injuries/problems don’t always come one at a time. Take sidebone, for example–in a recent study presented at the 2010 the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention (held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.) researchers described a series of cases with sidebone, coffin bone fractures, and associated soft tissue problems.

More than 810 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Do you live in a horse-friendly community?”

Claudia Klein, DrMedVet, PhD, Dipl. ACT, ECAR, started her PhD at the University of Florida in Gainesville under the guidance of Mats Troedsson, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, ECAR.

On Jan. 24 the (American Association of Equine Practitioners) AAEP Foundation released the findings of its 2010 Equine Respiratory Research Workshop, held July 20-21, 2010, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The report sums up future objectives identified by leading researchers of upper and lower respiratory diseases, immune responses, genetics, diagnostic priorities, and treatments.