Latest News – The Horse

Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed in Horses in Three States
Horses in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas have tested positive for VS, and multiple facilities in each state have been quarantined.

Del Mar Focuses on Horse Safety as Summer Race Meet Approaches
Del Mar’s new safety initiatives include extensive reviews of horses entered to race, stricter medication rules, additional out-of-competition drug testing, and more.

BLM Gathers 188 Burros From Nevada Herd Management Area
Prompted by a series of vehicle collisions, the BLM gathered and removed 188 wild burros from public lands. Approximately 52 wild burros remain in the area.

Anthrax Confirmed in Sutton County, Texas, Horse
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which historically has been found in the soil in some parts of Texas.

EIA in Texas Horses: More Cases Confirmed
Texas animal health officials confirmed EIA in 16 Quarter Horses on one premises in Kaufman County and a Quarter Horse residing in Montague County.

Why Navigating the Horse Genetic Map Is Important
Knowing the “location” of horses’ genetics—proximity to some, distance from others—on a “map” could help improve breeding programs and conservation efforts, researchers said. Here’s how.

Feeding Young Horses Alfalfa
Is it okay to feed a growing 3-year-old horse alfalfa hay? An equine nutritionist weighs in.

EHM in North Dakota: Case Confirmed in McKenzie County
The affected McKenzie County, North Dakota, horse is receiving veterinary care while isolated and recovering at home, officials said.

WNV in Iowa Horses: First Cases of 2019 Confirmed
Two horses from Davis and Union counties, Iowa, tested positive for WNV in late June, animal health officials reported.

The Ins and Outs of Feeding the OTTB
Careful dietary consideration can help make an OTTB’s transition from racehorse to pleasure or sport horse easier on his digestive system.
Dr. Mary Scollay Named RMTC Executive Director, COO
The RMTC said it selected Scollay based on her experience with racehorse medical treatment, pre- and post-race drug testing, research into emerging threats to racing integrity, and racing regulation.

Detecting Twins in Horses: Check the Fetal Heartbeats
Veterinarians used fetal ECG to detect two fetal heartbeats simultaneously in a mare suspected of carrying twins at eight months of gestation.

Improving Genetic Diversity in PRE Horses
When breeders flock to the same few stallions in a certain breed, a genetic nightmare can result. Here’s how a PRE organization and researchers used science to improve genetic diversity.

Don’t Learn the Hard Way With Equine Disease Outbreaks
Don’t learn the hard way or wait for another outbreak to make disease risk reduction a priority on your farm. Do it now. Your horse’s life might depend upon it.

Foals Don’t Learn to Pace From Their Dams
Some horses with two copies of the gene associated with pacing don’t pace, so are they learning from their dams? Not necessarily, researchers have learned.

How Long-Distance Transport Could Impact Horse Virus Spread
Researchers know that transport can affect horses’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to developing disease. But recent study results suggest it could also make horses more likely to spread disease.