Latest News – The Horse

One of the most competitive races for Horse of the Year honors in recent memory will conclude tonight, Monday, Jan. 18, with announcement of whether it is Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta, two females who dominated American racing in 2009.

The Horse of the Year announcement will be made at the 39th annual Eclipse Awards dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The

More than 2,500 horses received vaccinations through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC). Established in December 2008, the UHVRC is now accepting applications for 2010.

“It is wonderful to see larger organizations that haven’t forgotten the smaller efforts taking place throughout the country,” Michael Russell, DVM, director of veterinary services f

Studies at both the molecular and cellular level are needed to better determine how tendon injuries occur, said a group of researchers in the United Kingdom. Only then can appropriate treatment and preventative measures be developed.

“Some tendons are more prone to injury than others; the majority of tendon injuries (97-99%) occur to the forelimb tendons, with the superficial

A new worldwide Eventing Risk Management Policy and Action Plan aimed at reducing cross-country horse falls was launched at the third annual FEI Safety meeting in Malmö, Sweden, Jan. 17. Based on a six-year statistical study of the sport, the plan will be used to monitor risk factors in eventing, and to streamline international data and ideas to further understand the root causes of fal

The former operator of a Nebraska training ranch for Bureau of Land Management mustangs has been found guilty on 145 of the 149 felony animal cruelty charges against him.

Jason Meduna was charged with 149 counts of class 4 felony animal abandonment and cruel animal neglect resulting in injury or death last April after Morrill County law enforcement authorities and personnel from e

The 2010 Universitiy of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science Equine Diagnostic and Research Seminar series kicks off Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. with a presentation by the University of Pennsylvania’s Sue McDonnell, PhD, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. Her presentation is titled: “How horses think and why it matters to equine scientists and veterinarians.”

The

The popular American Quarter Horse party known as QuarterFest is returning to Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 2010, and tickets are now on sale. The Tennessee Miller Coliseum at Middle Tennessee State University will host QuarterFest April 30-May 2.

QuarterFest gives equine enthusiasts the opportunity to connect with other people who share their passion. Participants can bring their horse

After conferring with owners Jerry and Ann Moss, a decision has been made to run the champion mare Zenyatta in 2010 rather than breed her, trainer John Shirreffs said Jan. 16.

The undefeated Zenyatta, a finalist for 2009 Horse of the Year, had been working weekly at her Hollywood Park base since becoming the first female to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in electrifying style N

Theriogenologists typically recommend low centrifugation speeds for separating equine semen from seminal plasma in ejaculate, as it was unknown whether higher speeds would damage the cells. However, higher forces did not damage sperm in a new study.

“There are some stallions that have low sperm concentration in their ejaculates and need to be centrifuged to concentrate the ce

As news of the devastating earthquake, which struck the Caribbean island nation of Haiti on Jan. 12, continues to unfold, the Santa Anita jockeys’ colony and Santa Anita Park have joined forces to send aid via the American Red Cross.

A horse brought to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University yesterday (Jan. 14) from Spencer, Mass. with gunshot wounds has undergone emergency surgery to manage bone and soft-tissue injuries to the head, veterinarians said.