Latest News – The Horse

The Prepurchase Exam
A prepurchase examination or “vet check” of a potential horse purchase can identify any physical problems.
Determining Fetal Gender: Practice Makes Perfect
Transrectal ultrasounds can be up to 100% accurate in determining fetal sex at a determined gestational age.
Pre-Race Exams Included in Proposed West Virginia Racing Rules
The West Virginia Senate passed an overhaul of the state’s horse racing regulations Feb. 25, which include mandatory pre-race veterinary exams for horses. The revisions have met with some opposition from horsemen and breeders who claim their
Navy Base Officials Investigate Equine Incident
Officials at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., are investigating an incident involving a horse belonging to an active service member. Base Public Affairs Officer Kelley Stirling said that on the afternoon of Feb. 27, the horse’s
Texas Juveniles to Face Cruelty Charges
Two Texas juveniles will face criminal charges in connection with the shooting deaths of two horses, according to Grayson County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Ricky Wheeler. Wheeler said sheriff’s department investigators learned of the incident on Feb. 23 when the horses’ owner reported finding five animals wounded in their pasture. Of those, two animals died as a result of
Students Volunteer to Help Train Future Equine Practitioners
On Jan. 22, the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (SCAAEP) hosted a workshop that attracted 250 participants from 22 veterinary schools around the nation.
Ask the Vet LIVE: Equine Dental Care Recording Now Available
TheHorse.com’s Ask the Vet LIVE session on Equine Dental Care, held on Feb. 24, is now available for listening on demand.
Kentucky Horse Council Board Welcomes New Members
Polly Haselton Barger of Winchester, Darryl Leifheit of Lexington, and Cynthia Higgs of Lexington, have recently been appointed to the Kentucky Horse Council Board of Directors. In November 2010 KHC members enacted a change to the agency bylaws that increased the board of directors from 19 members to 23. The change was made in an effort to increase the reach and breadth of the membership based,
Hyaluronic Acid-Based Biomaterial to Enhance Leg Wound Healing (AAEP 2010)
Managing equine wounds–particularly on the legs– is often costly both in time and resources. Linda Dahlgren, DVM, PhD, Dipl. AVCS, spoke on the use of a hyaluronic acid-based biomaterial (CMHA) in several application methods to facilitate wound healing. She examined the use of the CMHA biomaterial to see if it could accelerate wound healing and decrease scar tissue formation in equine lower limb

Diarrhea
The horse’s large intestine absorbs large volumes of fluid from the bowel. When a situation interferes with fluid absorption from the large colon, fluid passes quickly from the body to increase the water content of the feces, resulting in diarrhea.
Horse Owners Need to Be Wary of Mud
Long-term exposure to soggy conditions can lead to cracking, chipping, or splitting of the hoof. Even more dangerous is the development of what’s known as white line disease, according to Mark Russell, MS, PhD, instructor-equine, for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Nutritional Support for the Lactating Mare and Growing Foal
When your mare is in foal, your main focus becomes her and the developing foal’s nutrition to support optimal health during gestation, lactation, and the first several months of the foal’s life. Improper nutrition during these key phases of development can have repercussions for the mare and foal for the rest of their lives.
Responsible Horse Ownership and Racing Reform (AAEP 2010)
Responsible ownership is one of the keys to addressing the country’s equine welfare problems. Racing is one segment of the horse industry that regularly is subject to public criticism, mostly due to catastrophic injuries sustained by race horses. Scott Palmer, VMD, of the New Jersey Equine Clinic, noted in a presentation at the at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, h
Learn to Improve Personal Brand in the Horse Business at March KENA Meeting
At the next KENA (Kentucky Equine Networking Association) dinner meeting, Doung Emerson will share three tips on branding the equine business with a presentation called “Horses Don’t Write Checks, Customers Do”. Emerson is the author of Profitable Horsemen, an online resource for horse professionals. He travels the country conducting workshops and seminars on equine business profitability and
Not Guilty Plea Entered in Montana Cruelty Case
A Montana couple accused of maltreating horses on their Carbon County ranch have pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them. Earlier this month, authorities discovered more than 60 animals residing on a ranch owned by Jack and Terry Martin. Based on veterinary examinations, authorities deemed half of the animals to be malnourished.
Rehabilitating After Injury With Mobilization
Early mobilization during acute healing phases increases blood and lymph flow and increases tissue tension to stimulate tissue repair and improve tissue alignment.