Latest News – The Horse

Poultry and eggs were Kentucky’s leading farm commodity in 2009, with cash receipts of $911.6 million, ending the equine industry’s 10-year reign at the top of the list. According to a release Aug. 31 from state agriculture commissioner Richie Farmer, the equine sector was responsible for $780 million of the state’s total $4 billion. Kentucky farm cash receipts in 20

An effort to finalize proposed regulations on out-of-competition testing of horses in Kentucky erupted into a lively debate over penalties when two panels met in joint session via teleconference Aug. 31. The out-of-competition regulations have been drafted, revised, and debated over the course of several meetings and in public meetings conducted by a joint committee of the Kentuck

The number of piroplasmosis-positive horses imported from Europe varies considerably from one country to another, according to new findings by Swiss researchers. With piroplasmosis steadily creeping across the globe in the 21st century, spreading out of its once traditional tropical/subtropical regions, these researchers have been looking into prevalence statistics to better under

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker announced the state’s first confirmed equine case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) this year on Aug. 27. The affected horse was a 2-year old gelding kept in Oswego County. EEE is a rare viral disease of horses and humans that is spread by infected mosquitoes. To date, there have been no reported nor confirmed human cases of EEE i

Shoppers at 166 Kroger stores in four states will be able to purchase Flex Grounds Pass tickets to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games along with their grocery items from Sept. 1 – Sept. 24. Kroger stores in Central Tennessee, Southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, and Kentucky spanning locations from Owensboro and Louisville to London and Corbin will offer the Flex Grounds Pass

How owners manage pastures and seasonal consumption of grass carbohydrates can significantly affect horses with Cushing’s disease, according to researchers from the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine. And, while the researchers’ study did not focus directly on laminitis, owners could avoid laminitis by heeding its findings. Horses with Cushing’

Hurricane Earl isn’t expected to take a swipe at Massachusetts’ east coast until Saturday, but on Tuesday boarding barn operator Dausha Campbell didn’t waste time preparing for the storm’s arrival. “We feel like we’re a great big target,” said Campbell, owner of Serendipity Stables, in Plymouth. “Fortunately, we’re on pretty high ground and

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker announced Wednesday that USDA Risk Management Agency is expanding crop insurance coverage statewide for hay and pasture in the 2011 growing season. Last year, USDA had a pilot program for hay and pasture in only 15 counties. Producers interested in 2011 crop insurance coverage of hay and pasture must sign up by Sept. 30, 2010.

Experts advise: When it comes to respiratory illness in horses, save the gambling for Vegas. Be aware of the major respiratory diseases that horses are susceptible to at each point of their lives (commonly, heaves, Rhodococcus equi, and equine herpesvirus) and use preventive measures, both with management and vaccination, to head them off.

Recurrent colic is typically defined as three or more episodes of transient or prolonged colic occurring over a period of months or upwards of a year. Although a practitioner cannot always determine a definitive etiology without exploratory surgery, many diagnostics are available to help pinpoint the most likely cause of recurrent colic.

At what age is it safe to start introducing a young horse to loading on a trailer? We have no reason to go anywhere just now, but we want to teach him to load before he grows up and has to go somewhere.

In 1998 the USDA estimated approximately 1.4% of the horse population was overweight or obese. A more recent study, however, found the number of overweight or obese horses to be alarmingly higher. Weight management is an important issue in equine medicine, particularly as more details on the underlying mechanisms of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance surface.