Latest News

Emerging Pathogen Lawsonia Detailed in New Study

Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc October 3, 2008

Lawsonia intracellularis is known to be the causative agent of proliferative enteropathy (a spreading disease involving the intestines) in horses and is an important emerging pathogen responsible for a number of North American outbreaks. But where the bacterium comes from, how it is spread, and how general equine

Colorado Rescue Operator Sentenced to Service, Probation

Pat Raia October 2, 2008

Alesha Matchett, the Colorado woman who pleaded guilty in August to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty for neglecting horses at a rescue ranch she operated, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and four years supervised probation

Penn State University Teams Up with Farriers for Laminitis Event

Edited Press Release October 2, 2008

Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Professional Farriers Association hosted an educational event Sept. 13 for farriers, veterinarians, and horse owners alike. More than 50 peoples from four states attended the event.

Esco Buff, PhD,

Hitting the Trails? Take a Look at What Our Readers Wear

Megan Arszman October 2, 2008

More than 1,850 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “What safety equipment do you wear when riding your horse?”

Hurricane Relief Fund Provides Horse Feed

Edited Press Release October 2, 2008

The Kentucky Horse Council established an online donation process Sept. 22 to assist horse owners in Texas with providing feed for their horses. Horse enthusiasts from numerous states responded generously. Within eight days, almost $5,000 had

NTRA to Introduce Racing Safety and Integrity Initiative

Tom LaMarra October 2, 2008

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association will unveil its Safety and Integrity Initiative Oct. 15 and fully expects broad industry cooperation given progress made thus far, officials said Oct. 1.

“The train leaves the station Oct. 15,”

Glanders Reported in Brazil

Erin Ryder October 2, 2008

A horse in the southeastern portion of Brazil has tested positive for glanders. This disease has not occurred in this area of the country since 1968. A report on the case was released by the

Racehorse Ready to Run After Bout with Ataxia

Liz Brown October 2, 2008

Racehorse owners Suzanne VanderSalm and Ellen Bennett of Hickory Corners, Mich., weren’t about to give up on Navigator, their Thoroughbred who became ataxic (incoordinated) suddenly as a yearling three years ago. VanderSalm had come home from

Don’t Ignore Melanomas

Marcia King October 1, 2008

The latest research indicates that equine practitioners and the general public need to understand that a melanoma is not just a benign bump.

The statistics are a little daunting:

Up to 80% of gray horses older

Kentucky Reports Second Equine West Nile Virus Case

Erin Ryder October 1, 2008

A second Kentucky horse has been confirmed as positive for West Nile virus, animal health officials announced.

The affected animal is a 17-month-old Tennessee Walking Horse from Adair County, in the south-central portion of the state. This

Racing Task Force Focuses on Funding

Ron Mitchell/The Horse October 1, 2008

Lack of funding for the regulatory functions of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission was the focal point at a Sept. 30 meeting of the state’s Task Force on the Future of Horse Racing.

During the panel’s monthly meeting, members were told

Film Showing to Benefit Equine Health Research

Edited Press Release October 1, 2008

A private showing of “The First Saturday in May,” the award-winning documentary from the Hennegan Brothers that profiles the connections of six Thoroughbreds, including Barbaro, on the road to the 2006 Kentucky Derby, will be held at the histori

Poisoning in Horses: Common Toxic Substances

Equine Disease Quarterly October 1, 2008

Poisoning in horses is not a common occurrence, but when poisoning occurs, effects can be disastrous and far-reaching. Listing all toxic substances is impossible, as virtually everything on the planet can be toxic at sufficiently high dosages.

Mississippi State Vet School Adds Ambulatory Service

Mississippi State University October 1, 2008

Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine ambulatory service is catching on as a win-win opportunity for both vet students and area horse owners.

David Christiansen, DVM, assistant professor in the Department of

Update on Status of Olympic Substance Test Hearings

Edited Press Release October 1, 2008

The hearings for the six riders suspended for positive substance tests at the 2008 Olympic Games have begun, but the Tribunal of the F?d?ration Equestre Internationale (FEI) has not yet reached a decision in five of the cases.

Third Kentucky Horse has West Nile Virus

Erin Ryder October 1, 2008

A third horse in Kentucky has been confirmed positive for West Nile virus. Two other cases have been reported thus far this year, with the second reported just hours before the third. The cases all occurred within different counties.

The