Latest News – The Horse
Maryland and USDA Officials Distribute Biosecurity Information
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has released the following tips on avoiding transmission of illness in horse facilities. The USDA has published a separate brochure on the same topic (shown at right), which is available online at
Neurologic Case Shows Difficulty of Rule-Outs
A 24-year-old pleasure mare in Brunswick, Ga., has been diagnosed with concurrent infections of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) and equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1). Both can cause neurologic disease.
This case highlights the
Sexual Misbehavior Vaccine?
I am looking into ways to settle down a colt that is showing full-blown sexual interest already at a 1 1/2 years of age. He’s just too much for us to handle, but we are not ready to geld him. If you try to correct him when he’s all excited, he
More Than Skin Deep?
It was two years ago–in April of 2004–that this magazine published the announcement that the Poco Bueno Quarter Horse sire line had been identified as carrying the recessive gene that causes hyperelastosis cutis (HC, also known as hereditary
Hoof Care for Toeing Out
An owner looks for help for a filly that wears down her feet unevenly with turned-out toes.
Fever, Colic, Swelling…What is It?
I had an 8-month-old colt stop eating his grain on Friday. I took his temperature, which was 105?F, and gave him Bute…
Horse Body Condition Score
A reader asks for help finding an equine body score chart in layman’s terms and understanding some horse anatomy terms.
Recovering from Sesamoiditis
My sister’s gelding has sesamoid problems on both forelimbs. Can the sesamoid bones be removed?
Whole Lotta Shakin Going On
Your horse is doing it again: Inexplicably tossing his head and sometimes charging off. Your trainer has tried everything–fly spray, changing tack, new bits, negative reinforcement–and while your horse goes through periods where he never flips
Failure to Sweat
A horse in motion is a striking image: Vigorous, powerful, animated. In your mind’s eye you can imagine his ears pricked forward, nostrils flared, limbs strumming the ground, streaks of sweat punctuating his rippling muscles. To create
Drug Resistance from Daily Dewormers
Are daily dewormers contributing to the development of drug-resistant parasites? A study from the North Carolina State University (NCSU) suggests they might be. The study used fecal worm egg count reduction tests (FWECRT) to evaluate small
Varying Glucosamine Levels in Products
A Canadian study evaluating oral equine glucosamine supplements found glucosamine levels didn’t always meet product label claims. Additionally, based on dosing recommendations and actual glucosamine content, the recommended maintenance dosage (1
Trailer Shopping
You’re finally ready to buy a trailer–one of the more significant purchases you’ll make as a horse owner. It’s a lot of money, so you’ll want to make a wise investment. It’s a good time to buy a trailer, as horse travel has evolved into a part
Endophyte-Infected Fescue
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a nutritious cool-season perennial grass that grows on more than 35 million acres in the United States. Introduced from Europe more than 100 years ago, it didn’t become popular until the mid-1940s afte
Out of Control
One night you hear kicking and crashing coming from the barn and think you have a cast horse. You run to see if you can help, and what you find is a horse down on his side paddling as if galloping on the ground. His head and neck are extended an
The Perfect Engine
Much has already been stated in this series about the special concerns involving front limb soundness in the horse since 60-65% of the animal’s weight is carried in the front end. This does not mean that there are no concerns involving the
