Latest News – The Horse

The term “dummy foal” is being used less and less. A more accurate term for the foal exhibiting behavioral or neurologic abnormalities that are not related to infectious or toxic conditions, congenital or developmental abnormalities, or metabolic disorders is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Sometimes the term “neonatal maladjustment syndrome” is used.

Incidence of dystocia is around 4%, although this varies by breed, Embertson said. While many dystocias are resolved on the farm, some cases need to be referred to a hospital. This decision should be made based on the position of the foal, duration of the dystocia, distance to and preparedness of the referral hospital, and the experience of the farm’s foaling personnel and veterinarian.

Riddle said that most mares are outside all of the time or are only brought up for feeding until they reach one month before their expected foaling date. Whatever is preferred, broodmares thrive on routine.

A record crowd of nearly 6,200 attended the 49th annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in New Orleans, La. Adding to that total was twice the number of veterinary students who attended the 2002 convention. The convention offered nearly 100 scientific presentations, a hands-on wet lab, and an equine health seminar for horse owners.

The 50th Annua

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding adoptions around the country in order to find homes for horses and burros in the program. These unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horses and burros are found on Western public rangelands administered by the BLM and the United States Forest Service. In order to prevent overpopulation on these lands, excess horses are put up for adoption to

Comparing pasture samples from 2002 and 2003 didn’t associate mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) with anything other than the Eastern tent caterpillar. However, Wayne Long, MS, of the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Department of Agronomy, provided some insight on pasture management in Central Kentucky and stressed the dangers of tall fescue toxicosis. He presented field study results on

Phoenix-based Farnam Horse Products has released ComboCare, a new over-the-counter dewormer that kills ascarids, tapeworms, small strongyles (including the encysted stages), and bots.

“This is so timely now because recent surveys show a significantly high proportion of tapeworms in horses in the U.S. These tapeworms have been associated with colic in a number of cases,” said Tom

Horse owners should be vigilant about having equine survivors of West Nile virus (WNV) re-examined by their veterinarians before putting the animals back into work. In a study of Minnesota horses which survived clinical WNV can make the horse more dangerous to ride or drive. Julia Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Associate Professor in Clinical and Population Sciences at the University of Minnesota’

The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is looking for clippers–people who are concerned about the loss of equestrian land and riding areas and want to do something about it. These clippers clip newspaper and magazine articles, not shaggy horses, and send them in to the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource’s (ELCR) national office. The articles assist the ELCR in developing a national

The American Horse Council (AHC) has been asked to share the Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA): Uniformed Methods and Rules (UM&R) created by the USDA.

There is a brief period for review and comment and the AHC asks that you click here or visit

Effective Feb. 1, 2004, the USDA will institute a new blood test for determining the equine piroplasmosis status of horses upon entry into the United States.

The competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CELISA) is more sensitive than the Complement Fixation test (CFT), which is currently used to test for piroplasmosis. The CELISA has a greater chance of identifying chronically

Flying feathers and pounding hooves will be examined on March 26-28 as Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine hosts the nation’s first conference specifically about lameness and shoeing of draft horses. The conference is being organized by Carl Kirker-Head MA, VetMB, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ECVS, the current Marilyn M. Simpson Chair in Equine Medicine at Tufts.

Speakers are a

On Wed., Jan. 21, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) will present a free seminar, “Racehorse 101,” to inform racing fans about American Quarter Horse ownership. The seminar is part of the activities taking place during the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, Jan. 22-24 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Current and potential owners can learn more about partnerships, claiming horses,

The 1986 equine influenza outbreak in South Africa virtually halted racing in some parts of the country. Last month, equine flu again reared its ugly and contagious head, causing cancellation of races at several top tracks and forcing quarantine of horses suspected of being exposed to the virus. The flu affected six stabling/training complexes and approximately 3,000 horses, according to Rob

Leptospirosis, often called just “lepto,” can cause flu-like illness in horses that sometimes results in abortion or uveitis (moon blindness). In Kentucky, there seems to be a cyclic pattern to abortions caused by leptospirosis. In 2001, there were about 40 cases, but over the past two years there were less than 10 each year. Through Jan. 12 of 2004, there have been already 27 cases, accordin