Latest News – The Horse

Comments collected on the draft U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) have been largely characterized by misunderstanding and frustration, according to one government official. The plan, which at this time is not an official program of the USDA, was designed to establish a timely traceback system to minimize the  the spread of foreign animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, an

Poco Bueno has been identified as the sire line associated with the brutal affliction known as hyperelastosis cutis or hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA).

If we have any doubt about a horse with lesions that look like HERDA (also called HC), we can test to see if that animal does have this disease. Usually it’s easy to diagnose, once you’ve seen a few.

Bowker, one of the foremost researchers on the structure of the horse’s foot, discussed several characteristics that differ between “good” feet and “bad” feet in great detail. First, however, he defined what most consider a good, strong foot.

More than 500 farriers, equine veterinarians and other hoof-care professionals filled the lecture halls and meeting rooms of the first annual International Hoof-Care Summit, held Feb. 4 through 7 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The success of the Summit marks a milestone in the equine hoof-care industry because of the event’s unusual format.

The Summit broke the traditional structure of hoof-car

In conjunction with its focus on the plight of the retired and unwanted Thoroughbred in the Feb. 28 issue of Blood-Horse magazine, Blood-Horse Publications announces the establishment of what is believed to be the first-ever online directory of Thoroughbred welfare and rescue organizations. Located on the web at

Lunn presented studies that he and six other scientists completed comparing immune responses between commonly used, commercially available vaccines.

Genetics, racing surface, number of starts, age of the horse, pre-existing disease, conformation, and trauma have all been implicated as potential factors in the cause of racing and training injuries.

Twenty-five Quarter Horses were killed yesterday (Feb. 22) in a barn fire in Damascus, Md., according to an article in the online edition of The Baltimore Sun.

The fire was reported around 6 a.m. at Summerwind Farm, a breeding and training farm in Montgomery County. “Firefighters found a 100-foot by 100-foot barn

Glaucoma (increased fluid pressure within the eye to a level incompatible with eye health) in horses is not well recognized, but look for it in cases of cloudy cornea, corneal edema, or severe unrelenting ocular inflammation.

The Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners (KAEP) held its annual membership meeting Feb. 18 in Lexington, Ky. The organization was established in 1979 as a constituency of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association. It has grown from a handful of equine veterinarians to over 160 members and has been active all aspects of equine health and welfare in the commonwealth.

Outgoing

J. Harold Drudge, DVM, Professor Emeritus in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science, died Jan. 28. Widely acknowledged for his numerous contributions to the field of parasitology, Drudge is especially known for the significance of his work in equine helminthology (the study of parasitic worms). He received various national and international awards, and wa

According to a Feb. 23 ProMED-mail post, Kashmir, India, could be experiencing an equine anthrax outbreak.

In late December 2003, an India Times article reported that, “Veterinarians here have raised alarm over the spread of anthrax amongst livestock. Over 135 horses from a state-run stable have died due to the deadly disease. The numbers are rising.” According to the

Feb. 21-28, 2004 has been designated by the North Carolina Horse Council (NCHC) as “Horse Health Awareness Week.” Equine veterinary practitioners and horse organizations across the state were encouraged to hold special clinics and other events this week to call attention to horse health.

The NCHC recommended that veterinarians emphasize four especially important diseases and made

A Pike County, Ohio, resident reported in mid-December 2003 what she thought was abuse in a herd of approximately 52 horses to Kristen Rohde, DVM. Rohde asked local law enforcement officials to have the horses examined by a veterinarian. By Jan. 9, the horses in question had been examined by three veterinarians (each of whom reported that some of the horses were in need of care), were