Latest News – The Horse

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) recently introduced a new award, which recognizes public officials who make a significant contribution to keeping Kentucky’s horse community vibrant and growing. The first recipient of this award–the KHC Equine Heritage Award–was Representative Rick Nelson, whose district includes Harlan and Bell counties. Representative Nelson was commended for his perseverance

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) reminds animal producers, marketers, and veterinarians that maintaining a foot-and-mouth disease-free United States requires constant awareness and vigilance. Anyone involved with livestock needs to recognize the general signs of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and how to report suspicious symptoms. Foot-and-mouth disease is not contagious to people, but

Lynn Boggs recently turned to Facebook to find homes for 52 Ohio Thoroughbreds in need. The message she posted on Facebook gained international attention within hours, and all of the horses were placed in new homes within five days.

A vaccine for Rhodococcus equi, the common bacteria that affects foals, often causing severe infections, pneumonia, and sometimes death, is in the final stages of development. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health (ISPAH) said on Jan. 27 that a candidate vaccine for R. equi would be tested in a field trial in Germany in the near future.

At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., Marjorie W. Miller, DVM, discussed medication rules from several equestrian governing bodies as well as the role of veterinarians in equestrian sport.

A Texas couple is facing multiple animal cruelty charges in connection with the alleged maltreatment of 39 horses removed from their Coryell County property earlier this week. In addition, 250 dogs, two Bengal tigers, two mountain lions, one primate, one deer, and one raccoon were found residing on the property.

A Florida man, Luis Miguel Cordero, was sentenced on Feb. 1 to serve four years in prison after he plead guilty to poaching two horses and butchering them for their meat. Miami-Dade County law enforcement authorities arrested Cordero in September 2009 as he attempted to poach two horses located in the pasture of a Northwest Miami-Dade County ranch. Cordero later confessed to the Miami Gardens

At the Table Topic session on shock wave therapy during the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., attendees briefly discussed equipment–in particular, focused shock wave equipment. Treatment protocols were discussed in general. Practitioners noted a difference between treating specific injuries versus maintenance of a chronic problem. In treating a

These days, as a veterinarian, it is not unusual to walk into a barn and set up more than $100,000 in equipment to do a routine exam. We have digital radiography, computerized radiography, ultrasound, and even lameness locators.

Do you have any advice on the emotional rehabilitation of horses coming to rescues from abusive situations?

The old adage “No Hoof, No Horse” has never been truer than in this day and age. Balancing your horse’s feet has become more of a factor in promoting good performance and long-term soundness. The optimum balance comes as the horse’s weight is distributed equally over his foot.