Latest News – The Horse
Herpesvirus Shuts Down Virginia Horse Shows
An outbreak of an equine herpes virus has prompted Virginia’s state veterinarian to shut down all horse shows and public horse sales.
At least five horses have tested positive and several northern Virginia counties have been
HRTV to Re-Air John Henry Special
HorseRacing TV will re-air its original presentation of “John Henry: Standing Tall at 30” tonight (March 2) at 8 p.m. ET.
The re-airing of the one-hour documentary, which originally debuted in 2005, will coincide with the champion
MAF Launches New Animal Health Web Site
Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has launched a new interactive Web site devoted to animal health and welfare and the essential role played by scientific research focused on protecting, treating, and curing animals–including wildlife and companion
Rhodococcus equi
From the moment a newborn foal exits the warm fluid environment of its gestation and draws a first postpartum breath of air, it is exposed to millions of would-be invaders that would do it harm if not for the components of the foal’s immune system, which are myriad in number and elegant in their complex yet coordinated interactions. Foals are born precocious, meaning that they are designed and
Colic and Digestive Health (AAEP 2006 Wrap-Up)
Colic, defined as any abdominal pain, has resulted in the deaths of horses throughout recorded history, stated White. In fact, it is second only to old age as the number one cause of equine deaths in the United States today.
Serology
The horse’s immune system is a window to its world. The biochemical analysis of blood components can give the veterinarian valuable information about disease exposure and immune responses. When a horse is exposed to an antigen (a disease-causing
Correcting Shelly Feet
Shelly, crumbly feet can be a challenge for horses and their owners. The feet break down too readily if the horse is barefoot, and they are unable to hold nails if he’s shod. In this article we’ll look at several causes and potential treatments for
Healthy Habitats for Your Horse
There are many benefits to keeping horses on your own property, but there are also responsibilities, and one of the biggest is barn maintenance. Whether your barn is old or new, there are products on the market that can help ease the burden.
Nutrition to Go
A group of veterinarians gathered at the Land O’ Lakes Purina Mills headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., last fall to participate in discussions on subjects that ranged from Cushing’s disease to proper nutrition for horses young and old. Nicholas Frank,
Mini Management 101
The small size of Miniature Horses and Donkeys belies their strength and hardiness. Explains Mikelle Roeder, PhD (animal physiology), professional animal scientist and equine nutritionist for Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, “The diminutive stature and
Paperwork for When You’re Not There
Horse paperwork–it’s not what you’re thinking. This is not about your horse standing in front of a schematic drawing making a checklist of plans on how to break into the grain room in the middle of the night. This is about those issues that requir
Dentistry Series Part 3: Malocclusions
In the last two installments of this equine dental series, you’ve digested an overview of the basics of equine dentistry, and I hope you’ve gained an understanding of just why dental care for horses is rising to the forefront of equine veterinary
Equine Welfare Organizations
From the Mustang protection issue to slaughter bills, equine welfare concerns are getting plenty of attention in the mainstream media. Behind these issues are equine welfare organizations working hard to make a change in horses’ lives. Some of the
Choosing to Breed During Foal Heat
If a barn full of people were asked their opinion about breeding a mare during foal heat, a barn full of opinions would result. This topic has been controversial for a long time. There is debate about whether it is harmful to a mare’s health,
Equine Infectious Anemia Testing and Risk
Despite the fact that infection with equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus is found in fewer and fewer horses every year, U.S. horse owners continue to pay in excess of $50 million annually for required testing (Coggins tests). In 2006, the USDA
Understanding Horses: Basics #2 and #3
Last month we started talking about the three things every horse needs to know to make his rider happy. My hero, champion reining horse owner and trainer Dick Pieper, told me I had been making the training of my horses way too complicated. “You
