Latest News – The Horse
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
Milkshaking
The “milkshake” has enjoyed some popularity as a performance-enhancer for racehorses, although it is banned in all racing jurisdictions. This “milkshake” doesn?t involve milk and syrup; the primary ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, commonly know
Florida MRLS Update 3-31-06
A second foal has been confirmed as having died from mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in Florida, according to Dana Zimmel, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, of the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The first case was a
First Commercially Cloned Mare Born
Scientists and veterinarians today (March 30) announced the birth of the first commercially cloned mare, created from the cells of champion cutting horse Royal Blue Boon. The filly, Royal Blue Boon Too, was carried to term by a recipient mare an
Emergency Training Emphasizes Horse Handling Skills, Practical Equipment
“Keep your knee gently pressed into her neck, and if she decides to get up, go ahead and let her, don’t fight it.” An emergency instructor gave this advice to a firefighter learning to hold down a horse acting as an injured animal during a
MRLS in Florida
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Interval Training: A Better Option for Racehorses?
Musculoskeletal injury is the main cause of wastage in Thoroughbred racehorses worldwide, with nearly 30% of all fractures being pelvic and tibial stress fractures. Studies in California in the late 1990s suggested fast work increased the risk o
