Latest News – The Horse
Rabies Confirmed in Virginia Miniature Horse
The Tazewell County Health Department received confirmation Dec. 9, 2010 that a Miniature Horse from North Tazewell, Va., tested positive for the rabies virus. This is the eighth confirmed case of animal rabies in Tazewell County this year and the ninth within the Cumberland Plateau Health District, which includes the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell.
Equine Ulcers: Readers Share Experiences
More than 720 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Have you ever had to treat your horse(s) for gastric ulcers?”
Longtime UK Veterinary Science Lab Tech Retires
Sandra Collins, a senior laboratory technician in the laboratory of Gene Lyons, PhD, will retire from the University of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science on Jan. 3 after more than 40 years with the lab.
Breeders’ Cup: Life At Ten Investigation Still Ongoing
The chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said on Dec. 13 that any action stemming from the investigation into the Life At Ten case would be brought before the entire commission upon completion of a thorough review.
Pergolide Remains Treatment of Choice for PPID
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), often called equine Cushing’s disease, has been treated with the drug pergolide for years. The main reason pergolide was initially the treatment of choice was largely based on the drug’s effectiveness in treating people with Parkinson’s disease, a human endocrine disorder, according to Ronette Gehring, BVSc, MMedVet (Pharm), MRCVS, Dipl. ACVCP,

The Fight to Conquer Laminitis (Laminitis West 2010 Conference Report)
Teams of veterinarians and farriers from around the country gathered at the fifth International Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot in Monterey, Calif., Sept. 17-18, 2010, to discuss the most cutting-edge information available for the fight to conquer laminitis.
Horse Escape Blamed on Emu
News Editor Erica Larson will join me on the Weird Horse News blog starting today! She’ll be bringing you those off-the-wall, weird horse stories that
AAEP Foundation and Pfizer Announce Equine Memorial Program Matching Challenge
Pfizer Animal Health has pledged to match up to $25,000 to donate to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation’s Equine Memorial Program in 2011. Pfizer Animal Health’s matching challenge that urges practitioners to participate in the program was unveiled on Dec. 7 at the AAEP Foundation Celebration in Baltimore, Md., during the 56th Annual AAEP Convention.
FEI President Names Executive Board Members
Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) President HRH Princess Haya named Chairman of Geographical Group VII Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (BRN) and Chair of the Driving Committee Richard Nicoll (USA) as members of the FEI Executive Board on Dec. 13.
Researcher: Opioids Have a Place in Equine Medicine
Despite the fact that opioid drugs, such as morphine and methadone, have been known to cause serious side effects in some horses, a researcher from Scotland maintains that they are a good choice for treating severe pain in horses.
Registration Open for Kentucky Breeders’ Short Course
Registration is now open for the second annual Kentucky Breeders’ Short Course, hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture in partnership with the University of Minnesota. The Short Course will be held Jan. 21 and 22 at The Red Mile race track in Lexington
Riders4Helmets to Host Helmet Safety Symposium
Riders4Helmets, the helmet awareness campaign founded by Jeri Bryant and equine health product SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program, will host a “by invitation only” Helmet Safety Symposium Jan. 8, at the White Horse Tavern in Wellington, Fla., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The symposium is sponsored by Troxel Helmets, Charles Owen Helmets, Tipperary Helmets, and Samshield Helmets.

Weed of the Month: Bush Honeysuckle
Bush honeysuckle describes several species of woody honeysuckles found in the eastern half of the United States. Types of bush honeysuckles include Amur honeysuckle, Morrow’s honeysuckle, and Tartarian honeysuckle. All grow rapidly and produce multiple stems and can reach heights of about 30 feet. These deciduous woody shrubs are shade tolerant and flourish around stream borders and fence rows.
Horse Aid Live and Equine Health & Welfare Alliance Form Partnership
Horse Aid Live (HAL) and Equine Health and Welfare Alliance (EHWA) have formed a partnership to offer more resources for aiding the unwanted, homeless, and at-risk horse populations.
Tips for Winter Horse Hauling
With the change of seasons, USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians, reminds those who travel with horses to be careful when traveling and to invest time doing routine preventive trailer maintenance to enhance their travel safety.
Cell Phone Safety Tips for Equestrians
Obtaining roadside assistance from USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians, is a piece of cake for its traveling members. They simply call the toll-free number on the back of their membership card. But what if you’re in a rural area and your cell phone has …