Latest News – The Horse
Economic Impact Study of the Horse Industry to be Updated
The American Horse Council (AHC) has initiated efforts to update the National Economic Impact Study of the Horse Industry in the United States. The original study, completed in 1996 by Barents Group of Washington, D.C., established that
Smart Horse: Understanding the Science of Natural Horsemanship
In horse training we really have two goals: first, to condition (train) the horse to perform a particular action in response to a particular stimulus (cue), and second, to motivate the horse to perform that action each and every time that stimulus is presented.
Welfare Involvement at Local Levels
A Pike County, Ohio, resident reported suspected abuse in a 52-horse herd in mid-December 2003 to a veterinarian, who asked local law enforcement officials to have the horses examined. By Jan. 9, the horses in question had been examined by three veterinarians , were monitored, then were seized by local authorities. In the meantime, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had become
Animal Identification Plan Largely Misunderstood
Comments collected on the draft U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) have been largely characterized by misunderstanding and frustration, according to one government official. The plan, which at this time is not an official program of the USDA, was designed to establish a timely traceback system to minimize the spread of foreign animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, and to
Captive Bolt: Comments From The Industry
One item in the debate on equine slaughter is the use of captive bolt for euthanasia. This is the same method used on other livestock killed during slaughter or during a disease outbreak (such as foot and mouth disease on farms in England).
The Horse sent out a small survey to veterinarians and researchers around the world on the question: Is captive bolt a humane euthanasia for
Illinois Slaughter Legislation
New legislation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the state of Illinois was introduced Feb. 6, 2004, in the Illinois House of Representatives in the form of HB 6570. On Feb. 18, 2004, the bill was referred to the House Executive Committee. The legislation would also make it illegal to transport horses into or out of the state for slaughter.
The wording of the newly
Shipping of In-Foal PMU Mares on Hold
The shipment of PMU (pregnant mare urine) mares from farms in the United States and Canada was put on hold in February until after the foaling season, unless the shipping distance is very short.
The reason, says Nat Messer IV, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, associate professor at the University of Missouri, and a member of an advisory board created by Wyeth Industries in Brandon, Manitoba, is because
AQHA Equine Public Service Award
The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is accepting applications for its annual Equine Public Service Award until May 1. The award recognizes American Quarter Horses which are specifically used in the public service sector, including, but not limited to, police horses, park and mounted rangers, beach patrol, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, border patrol, and sheriff’s posse.
The
Old Horse Care and Feeding
Of the 5.32 million horses and ponies in the United States, 400,000 (over 7.5%) are 20 years or older and considered geriatric, according to Frank Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM. About 50 horse owners convened at the University of Tennessee’s (UT) College of Veterinary Medicine on Jan. 31, 2004, to attend a seminar highlighting techniques for managing older horses.
Loss of muscle mass,
Research Foundation Announces 2004 Grants
The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation (GJCRF) has announced $850,888 in funding for 20 projects in 2004, which will be distributed to investigating scientists at a dozen universities. This brings the GJCRF’s total funding since 1983 to $11,047,105 to underwrite 189 projects at 31 universities.
The 2004 research includes the launch of 11 new projects and the continuation of nine
Texas Horse Owners Aware of WNV Threat
Reports have surfaced that horse owners in Texas are becoming complacent and have backed off vaccinating their animals for West Nile virus (WNV), which has infected nearly 2,400 horses in the state since late 2002. Angela Pelzel, DVM, an epidemiologist with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), reported that she doesn’t believe that is the case–Texas horse owners have not grown
West Nile Virus Questions and Answers
In a question and answer session at the Western Veterinary Conference, Eileen Ostlund, DVM, PhD, head of the equine and ovine viruses section at the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, offered these answers to the audience’s West Nile virus questions.
Q. Can you use Merial’s recombinant canarypox vaccine to booster horses after
West Nile Virus–An Evolving Epizootic
“West Nile virus (WNV) is coming to a state near you if it hasn’t already arrived,” said Eileen Ostlund, DVM, PhD, head of the equine/ovine viruses section at the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, during the Western Veterinary Conference held Feb. 15-19 in Las Vegas, Nev. In a comprehensive overview of WNV’s activity in the United States
Captive Bolt Controversy
No matter your position on equine slaughter, there is a question in the minds of horse owners of whether a penetrating captive bolt is a “humane” form of euthanasia for horses. Many individuals and groups are dismissing captive bolt as inhumane, even if they have not researched the method, have not discussed it with someone knowledgeable in equine euthanasia, or haven’t witnessed it first-han
What’s Wobbler Syndrome?
Wobbler, also known as wobbles, takes its name from its primary sign–a wobbling or uncoordinated gait. In technical terms, the horse has a “proprioceptiveness deficit,” or a lack of physical awareness of his limbs and their placement.
Ready for Retirement?
Horses certainly are not immune to the physical problems associated with geriatric living. As the average lifespan for a horse increases, how do we make retired life as comfortable as possible for our faithful friends?
