Latest News – The Horse
Medicating for Equine Colic
When a horse shows signs of colic, his owner should call a veterinarian immediately to ensure that he receives the best treatment for the particular situation. Blikslager said evaluating the severity and duration of a horse’s colic pain
Stable Leveled Second Time by Tornado
Nearly three years after a tornado destroyed the barn at Stokely Farms near Battlefield, Mo., another tornado decimated the farm’s new barn (which was completed last fall) on March 12. One horse was killed during the storm, and the rest had a
Carriage Company Rebuilds
The horses and mules rescued last September from the flooded stables of Charbonnet Mid-City Carriages ushered in Valentine’s Day in Baton Rouge and Mardi Gras in New Orleans to the delight of many residents in hurricane-stricken Louisiana.
Herpesvirus Situation Ends in Maryland
Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreaks in Maryland drew to a close on March 8, after the Maryland Department of Agriculture lifted hold orders on the detention barn at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and an isolation barn at the Bowie Training
First Commercially Cloned Mares Born
On March 30, scientists announced the birth of the first commercially cloned mare created from the cells of champion cutting horse Royal Blue Boon. The filly, Royal Blue Boon Too, was carried to term by a recipient mare and born on Feb. 19 at
Nightshade and Ivermectin: A Deadly Mixture
Editor’s note: When researching the unknown illness story on this page, the following study on ivermectin’s interaction with a noxious weed was discovered. Nightshade and other poisonous plants should be eliminated from pastures.
Four Horses Dead, One Ill; Dewormer Questioned
Four horses on a South Texas farm died from unknown causes in February; one horse is recovering. The horses’ owner suspects the problems might have been caused by a dewormer; she has necropsy and other test results, but she has not released them
Interval Training: A Better Option?
Musculoskeletal injury is the main cause of wastage in Thoroughbred racehorses worldwide, with nearly 30% of all fractures being pelvic and tibial stress fractures. California studies in the late 1990s suggested fast work increased the risk of
Vaccine Helps Treat Pythiosis
The Horse recently discussed pythiosis in the aftermath of hurricanes. In 1994, Michigan State University (MSU) researchers teamed with scientists at Pan American Veterinary Laboratories (PAVL) to complete development of an
Uniform Medication
The AAEP organized the Racing Medication Summit in December 2001 during the University of Arizona Racing Symposium in Tucson. By the end of the day, there was recognition by the participants that an opportunity existed to address the ongoing
Permanent Identification
Hurricane Katrina taught us many lessons. Serving as the Horse Unit Coordinator for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office after Katrina, I received a much-needed education in permanent identification and the benefits
Superstition
I have a BS in animal science and am now taking graduate courses in animal behavior while working to save up for vet school. A topic we are discussing in class is comparative cognition in a psychology and neurobiology program. This has to do wit
Product Spotlight: Equine Vacations
A full-color catalogue of exotic destinations where you can gallop a horse through the surf, trot through fields of lavender, or Paso up a mountainside to catch your first glimpse of Macchu Pichu…it’s fantasy-inducing. There’s virtually no horse
MRLS: Sharing Knowledge
You might think, “Well, I’m not a breeder, and I’m not in Florida, so why should I care about mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS)?” Because it’s a great example of how an illness can pop up anywhere and take the residents by surprise. But,
Researchers Explain Short Shoeing Intervals
Farriers and veterinarians have said for years that shoeing intervals should be at most six to eight weeks, but why? Researchers from the Equine Performance Laboratory at Utrecht University (Netherlands) say it’s because horses must compensate
Risk Factors Associated with Renal Failure
In a recent study, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine researchers looked for patterns in horses referred to the hospital with renal (kidney) insufficiency in order to detect the disorder earlier. Renal insufficiency is often a
