Latest News – The Horse
Groups File Injunction to Halt Horsemeat Inspections
On Feb. 22, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with several other groups filed for an injunction to prevent the inspections of horsemeat (scheduled to start March 10) until a pending lawsuit prohibiting the fee-for-service
First 2006 Florida EEE Cases Emerge
By March 1, the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) season in Florida was already underway, and Florida veterinarians remind horse owners to make sure their horses are vaccinated against the disease, which can have a mortality rate of up to
Platinum Performance And Farnam Reach Settlement
Platinum Performance reported on Feb. 28 it reached an agreement with Farnam in its lawsuit to prevent Farnam?s use of the name ?Platform Performance? on a line of equine products.
Toronto Police Horse Killed On Duty
The city of Toronto is mourning the death of 9-year-old “Brigadier,” a member of the Metro Police Mounted Unit. The horse had both front legs broken in what is being described as the deliberate impact of a minivan on Friday, Feb. 24.
The Equine Eye: Ocular Emergencies (Book Excerpt)
Well before an ocular emergency occurs, you should familiarize yourself with the easily visible outer structures of a horse’s eye. Observe the eye with the aid of a penlight or other light source. Evidence of pain is a clear symptom of most ocular
Jockey Club Inspects Thoroughbred Broodmares
As a follow-up to a rule revision last August that added provisions for field inpections, The Jockey Club (TJC) sent two teams of representatives to Thoroughbred farms in six states in December 2005 to examine broodmares with early 2005 breeding
Why Vets Get Kicked
A Swiss study of kick injuries to veterinarians found that the risk of injury to those treating horses is highest when performing painful procedures on the horse. In the study, Sabina Jaeggin, an assistant in the Vetsuisse Fakulty in Zurich,
Using GPS to Train Racehorses
An Australian researcher says he’s found a reliable way for trainers to monitor Thoroughbred racehorse fitness using global positioning system (GPS) technology measurements of velocity and heart rate during fast gallop training routines. He
New York Enacts Pre-Race
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board voted Jan. 19 to adopt an emergency rule allowing for the collection of pre-race blood samples from horses entered into races at the state’s Thoroughbred and harness tracks to test for excess
Wild Horse Shot in Outer Banks
Investigators are searching for information on the shooting death of a pregnant wild horse found Dec. 27, 2005, on the Outer Banks of Currituck County, N.C. A resident found the 2-year-old shot in the stomach, said the Currituck County Sheriff’s
Helping Horses and Students
For the past six years, the Young Horse Research and Teaching Program has held a yearling sale of horses purchased from pregnant mare urine (PMU) farms through the auspices of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC). On
Animal Health Trust Cuts Made
In November 2005, The Horse reported on studies at the U.K.’s Animal Health Trust Centre for Equine Studies in Newmarket. In December, the research staff changed significantly. For more information see
Horse Owners’ Needs Still Urgent After Hurricanes
Salty water drowned pastures in Louisiana and Mississippi months ago, but the needs of horses in areas left incapacitated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita remain critical, say area veterinarians and residents. Most Gulf Coast horse owners need
Breaking News – Voluntary Fee-For-Service
On Feb. 7, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced an interim rule establishing a voluntary fee-for-service program, which allows horsemeat processing plants to continue to receive federal antemortem inspections.
The
USDA Considers Inspection Alternative
Horsemeat processing plants in Texas and Illinois have petitioned the USDA to allow plants to pay inspectors’ salaries on a per-service basis, according to Steven Cohen, a USDA spokesperson. The Nov. 23, 2005, petition was in response to the
Herpesvirus in Five States
T he neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) has been diagnosed in at least five different states in January and February (The Horse learned of a fifth state with herpes after the cover went to press). While many of the
