Latest News – The Horse
West Nile Virus Returns to Italy
West Nile virus (WNV) has re-emerged in Italy, resulting in 28 equine clinical cases, including seven deaths as of last week, according to an epidemiological bulletin produced by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale” (IZSA&M), an Italian public health institute.
The epidemic began in central eastern Italy in August, in the same
Readers Share Their Knowledge on Equine Rabies
More than 790 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “How knowledgeable are you about equine rabies?”
Eddie’s Bad Day
Eddie, a 9-year-old gray Arabian gelding from Powell, Wyo., survived a wild ride last week after the trail beneath him collapsed, sending him through water
Flaxen Color Genetic Research in Progress
Understanding the genetics of horse color could be a gateway to a deeper understanding of the molecular biology of the horse. Worldwide collaborative efforts, such as the Horse Genome Project, seek to identify and understand the entire DNA sequence of the domestic horse. Discovering the mode of inheritance of observable traits such as
2016 Olympics: Rio de Janeiro Elected as Host City
The city of Rio de Janeiro has been elected as the Host City of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 following a vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session. IOC President Jacques Rogge made the announcement at the close of the first day of meetings of the IOC’s 121st Session in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“I would like to congratulate the city of Rio de Janeiro on its election
Thoroughbred Racing Safety and Integrity Standards to Expand
The independent monitor for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance will conduct a “systematic and formal data-gathering phase” in the next few months and release a “detailed, comprehensive report” by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the alliance, which accredits racetracks, is developing standards for wagering security and tote protocol that will
WEG 2010 Ticket and Hotel Packages Available
Discipline series ticket and accommodation packages to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are available through Active Travel Inc. Tickets for the games, which will occur in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 25 through Oct. 10, 2010, went on sale last week.
“We have worked closely with Alltech and Short’s Sports to develop packages for this event featuring a limited supply of A level premie
Fecal Egg Counts Can Help Guide Deworming Choices
Worried about resistance? Concerned that your parasite control program isn’t working as well as it used to? With questions like these, it can pay to incorporate fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) into your deworming program this fall.
“While FECRTs aren’t a definitive test for resistance, it’s a good start for evaluating
Condition Horses to Prevent Lameness
Many horses are trained athletes that are bred and conditioned for a specific sport such as racing, jumping, western performance or dressage. While these sports are relatively safe, just like a human athlete, there is always a possibility of injury and in most cases with horses the injury tends to be lameness.
Selena: The conclusion
Equine ER author Leslie Guttman will be a featured guest Saturday (10/3) on Horsetales with host Ercel Ellis on central Kentucky’s WLXG 1300 AM, 10
Basic Hoof Care
A horse is only as sound as his feet. Care and management of the feet will vary, however, depending on the individual horse, his conformation and hoof structure, environment and climate, and use. Whether he needs to be shod or can be left barefoot will also hinge on these factors.
Managing Airway Disease
Can you adequately treat your horse’s inflammatory airway disease if you have little control over his environment and face strict drug withdrawal times? Researchers have proven that anomalies of the equine upper respiratory tract, such as left laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring) and dorsal displacement of the soft palate, negatively impact performance. But

Small Farm Efficiency
People in increasing numbers are seeking limited acreage where they can enjoy the rural way of life, including horses. For some the small farm must at least be operated efficiently in order to be affordable.
Gelding Still Acting Like a Stallion
Q: My friend has a 14-year-old gelding who was gelded late (I’m not sure how late, but he did sire some foals) and is pastured with a 23-year-old mare. Last spring they were fine pastured together. This spring, however, she started her heat and he bit her severely all along her lower crest and withers and chased her around to the point of soreness and exhaustion. The
Dominance Issues
My gelding seems to always be in a bad mood. Snickers seems to be in excellent health, so I wouldn’t suspect that his behavior is the result of being uncomfortable or in pain. He is a manageable horse, but he’s hardly ever pleasant. I need advice.
Lawsonia: Emerging Concern for Horse Industry
PE is caused by the obligately intracellular (can only survive in cells) bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, which causes an unusual pathology: intracellular growth causes proliferation of the cells lining the SI), thickening the mucosa.