Latest News – The Horse
Thieves Steal College Tack; Donations Needed
Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., was cleaned out of horse tack on Friday, June 6. In all, 18 saddles (English and Western) were stolen, plus all the leather halters, lead ropes, and bridles. The small college has a variety of summer riding camps for kids, and while the staff has been able to borrow enough tack to hold classes, they are in need of donations of tack or funds to buy equipment,
Second Cloned Mule Born
The same research team that produced the world’s first cloned member of the horse family, a mule, has repeated its success with the birth of “Utah Pioneer” early Monday morning.
Researchers Gordon Woods, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT, and Dirk Vanderwall, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from the University of Idaho and Ken White, PhD, from Utah State University said the male mule foal’s
MRLS Agent in or on Caterpillar Exoskeleton
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture last week released the results of a recently completed experiment conducted by the Departments of Veterinary Science (Karen McDowell, MS, PhD) and Entomology (Bruce Webb, MS, PhD, and Walter Barney) and the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (Neil Williams, DVM, PhD, and Mike Donahue, PhD). This is the fourth in a series of
Gelding: Why and When? A Veterinarian Explains
As Funny Cide pursued the Triple Crown, it brought to the fore the question of why some horses are gelded and others are not. Dr. Larry Bramlage, on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, shed light on the subject.
West Nile Virus Vaccine: Adverse Effects in Mares?
Allegations that the West Nile virus vaccine might have caused abortions and deformed foals were made in a May 30 Denver Post article. Mare owners calling themselves the “Lost Foals Group” claim the vaccine has caused up to 1,200 abortions and nearly 300 deformed or dummy foals. However, top veterinarians dispute those allegations based on their experiences.
Tom Riddle,
Too Much Rain May Equal More Farm Accidents
A recent sharp rise in Kentucky farm accidents might have been caused by heavy rains that left farmers well behind in field work. Accidents in the late spring included three fatalities.
The rains have been so frequent that farmers are working feverishly to put up hay, transplant tobacco, mow pastures, and do other chores, according to Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray
Improving Breeding Programs
In today’s competitive equine market, developing strategies to succeed and grow can mean the difference for an equine business. Michael White, an equine advisor for Teagasc in Tipperary, Ireland, spoke about promoting growth of the Irish equine industry in the global market at the sixth annual Equine School at the Alltech Symposium in Lexington, Ky. The suggestions he gave the audience can be
Evaluating Semen Quality
Stallion owners must determine if their stallions have what it takes physically to make a good breeding prospect, including good semen quality, before the start of the breeding season. In his presentation at the sixth annual Equine School at the Alltech Symposium, Peter Sheerin, DVM, Dipl. ACT, a theriogenologist at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., asked the audience: “What
Alltech Symposium Serves International Audience
Attended by delegates from more than 60 countries, Alltech’s International Feed Industry Symposium provided an abundance of information for those involved with horses, poultry, pigs, dairy and beef cattle, agronomy, aquaculture, and companion animals. Each year, the meeting provides a forum for researchers and international industry leaders to gather, exchange ideas, and discuss the future of
Insurance Provides Comfort to Horse Owners and Breeders Against West Nile Virus
In Canada, Alberta and Ontario horse breeders and owners insured through CBL Oxford Insurance and Canada Brokerlink can feel confident that its horse mortality insurance policies will provide compensation for any horses killed by the West Nile virus (WNV).
Canada Brokerlink Inc., one of the largest insurance brokers in Canada, has informed policyholders that as long as a horse has
No More Hitchhikers
Internal parasites are insidious culprits. They steal, damage, and even kill. The worst part of the whole scenario is that they can’t be totally eliminated, only controlled. In the theft department, internal parasites rob in two ways: First, they steal nutrients from the horse’s body; second, they take money from the owner’s pocket in the form of lost food value. Adding to the problem is the
Drugs and Competition
The use of drugs in the competition horse carries with it some extra concerns and responsibilities. Many of the major issues related to drug use in the performance horse involve the treatment of lameness. It is imperative that the moral and ethical line between treating minor pains and more serious injuries be quite clear. Many of the anti-inflammatory drugs can have extremely powerful effect
A Shot in the Dark
Author’s note: This article is intended to improve your understanding of drugs commonly used in equine veterinary care; it is not a “treatment guide” for the lay person. No medication or combination thereof should be given without veterinary consultation. Medications given in the wrong circumstance, via the wrong route, and/or in the wrong combination can hurt or kill. The administration o
FDA Approves New Equine Dewormer With Additional Label Claims
The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it has approved additional label claims for Zimecterin (ivermectin), adding several species and stages of small strongyles to the list of parasites controlled by the equine dewormer. The announcement means that Zimecterin has been proven to control 60 species and stages of equine parasites, 32 of which are in the small strongyle group.
New Advisory Board Members Appointed
A new board will serve in an advisory capacity to The Horse magazine. Each of these American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) members is volunteering to mentor the publication by answering questions and helping us understand topics of importance to horse owners. Each person brings a wealth of knowledge and years of service to the industry. We will maintain our previous group
EHV Outbreak in England Unusual; Some Cases Could be EHV-4
“It’s very unusual to get EHV-1 outbreaks all at the same time on different premises,” said James Wood, BSc, BVetMed, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, DLSHTM, Dipl. ECVPH, head of epidemiology at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in the United Kingdom, about the recent flare-up of neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 cases in his country. At least 12 U.K. horses have been euthanized after infection with the
