Latest News – The Horse

Can horses get swine flu?

Probably not, said Tom Chambers, PhD, who heads the OIE Reference Laboratory for Equine Influenza at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington.

Influenza viruses have an amazing ability to mutate and change their characteristics, so scientists who study them never say “never.” But, while it’s perhaps not impossible for a

Florida State Veterinarian Thomas J. Holt, DVM, reported today that an overdose of selenium was the probable cause of death of the 21 polo horses that collapsed prior to a competition in Wellington on April 19.

In a memorandum to Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson’s office, Holt

Many horses sport leg protection while working or during turnout. Some horse owners also use “support” boots, which are designed to lessen the strain on their horses’ lower-limb tendons and ligaments. But David Marlin, BSc (Hons.), PhD, says some boots might be doing little to protect your horse’s legs and could even be causing them harm.

By adding no penalties to their stellar dressage score of 32.3, Lucinda Fredericks of Australia and Headley Britannia earned the $80,000 first prize at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event yesterday.

Bettina Hoy of Germany and Ringwood Cockatoo, who lost their dressage lead by adding 9.6 time penalties on cross-country yesterday, also jumped faultlessly today to take home $37,000 for secon

Quality Road, a contender for the Kentucky Derby, returned from a mile and three-quarter gallop on the Belmont Park training track April 26 with a tinge of blood from a newly-patched quarter crack, but his connections remain optimistic he will make the May 2 “Run for the Roses.”

A five-furlong breeze Monday morning will be the determining factor on whether the Elusive Quality colt makes

Professional rider Ian Olding was killed in a fall at the Belton Park Horse Trials in Lincolnshire, U.K., on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Olding, 47, was competing in the advanced class on a 12-year-old horse named Gran Kiki. The accident occurred at fence 13a, a square spread fence. The FEI said an investigation into the

The “greatest two minutes in sports” will be preceded by the greatest week in sports at the Web site of our sister publication, The Blood-Horse. With expanded video segments, including live streaming video on Derby Day, and award-winning news, BloodHorse.com has you covered throughout Derby week.

BloodHorse.com’s coverage of

Quality Road, who figured to be among the top choices for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby will not start in the Run for the Roses, it was confirmed Monday morning by Chris Baker, farm manager of Edward Evans’ Spring Hill Farm.

“There was some tenderness in the foot this morning and he’s not 100%. (Trainer) Jimmy (Jerkens) wasn’t comfortable breezing him, and without a work, he can’t go,” Baker

An accident on the track at Churchill Downs the morning of April 27 provided a tragic kickoff to the week leading up to the May 2 Kentucky Derby.

The incident occurred while many of the contenders for the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks were on the track to breeze following the morning maintenance break, although none of them were involved.

Doctor Rap, trained by David Carroll, was read

The operator of a Nebraska training ranch and sanctuary for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustangs could face further penalties if the BLM decides to seek its own charges in the case.

Morrill County authorities charged Jason Meduna with one count of felony animal cruelty in connection with the alleged maltreatment of

Aboard Headley Britannia, Lucinda Fredericks of Australia galloped and jumped to a faultless cross-country round to take over the lead (32.3) at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Dressage leader Bettina Hoy of Germany incurred 9.6 time faults to drop to second place (38.4).

Buck Davidson, of Riegelsville, Pa., held on to third place, despite 1.2 time faults on My Boy Bobby (40.2), and Tim

The show was on in Las Vegas April 18 as the world’s top FEI dressage and show jumping riders took to the arena in an entertaining competition featuring the sport of reining. The Rolex FEI World Cup played host to the International Reining Celebrity Challenge at the Thomas & Mack Arena. After early mornings and late nights of practicing sliding stops, rollbacks, spins and lead changes, six o

Sharing the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of horses, USRider is proud to partner with the USEF in an effort to further enhance the safety of those who travel with horses.

USRider provides emergency roadside assistance and towing services through their Equestrian Motor Plan along with other travel-related benefits. With an annual fee

ReRun, the nonprofit Thoroughbred adoption program, announced that it will hold its spring Moneigh eBay auction between May 3-10, featuring “Fabulous Fillies and Marvelous Mares.”

Fans always ask ‘Where are the girls?’ so this May we will be paying tribute to them,” said “Moneigh” Mary Simons who assists the equine artists in creating their handiwork.

The spring auction will include

Mike Winter of Canada and his mount, Kingpin, sustained a fall today during cross-country at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which is under way at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Veterinary officials transported the horse away in an equine ambulance, and Winter left the course in a medic van.

Kingpin, a 1996 chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding, and Winter were in 17th