Latest News – The Horse

The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care, which is celebrating 20 years as the leader in equine health care news and information, and its companion web site TheHorse.com, were recognized June 21, 2003, at the American Horse Publications’ (AHP) Annual Awards Program in Hunt Valley, Md. The Horse earned two first place awards, one second place award, and two third place awards.

The research team that made headlines in May after producing the world’s first equine clone–a mule named Idaho Gem–on June 9 has repeated its success with the birth of another mule–Utah Pioneer.

Researchers Gordon Woods, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT, and Dirk Vanderwall, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from the University of Idaho (UI); and Ken White, PhD, from Utah State University, said the male

Top veterinarians and the USDA dispute allegations made in a May 30 article in The Denver Post that the West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine might have caused widespread abortions and deformed foals. Mare owners calling themselves the “Lost Foals Group” claimed the vaccine caused up to 1,200 abortions and nearly 300 deformed or dummy foals.

A news release from the USDA stated: “Some

There are valuable compounds, nutraceuticals, and supplements out there that are proven, produced by reputable manufacturers, and supported by science and/or make valid claims. Are you a careful enough consumer to make sure you are buying those products and are not being tempted by low prices or outlandish claims?

It has taken months of preparation for this moment. You’ve done the roadwork, marched your horse up and down hills, put in miles on the training track, added the speed and agility sessions, plugged in that heart rate monitor, and assessed your horse’s growing fitness by the numbers and by feel. And the hard work and dedication you’ve put into it have paid off–your horse just successfully

Why do we ask farriers to take knives and nippers (and sometimes a whole lot more) to our horses’ feet every six weeks? For many of us, it has always been just one of those things you knew you had to do if you had horses.

Producing a foal year in and year out takes its toll on the overall health of a mare, and the wear and tear on the reproductive system often makes it more and more difficult for her to conceive and carry a foal to term. The advances of science have given the breeder more tools with which to combat the aging process, but eventually time will win out and the mare will become barren.

Did you ever go to the tack store and try to figure out the exact amounts per serving of each ingredient contained in some of the nutraceutical products? It can be an important issue if your horse’s joint supplement, vitamin supplement, and food product contain duplicate vitamins and minerals, some of which can be harmful if given in excess doses. But when ingredients are labeled as X parts

There are several possible explanations as to why a horse might play with his water bucket every night.

My miniature horse injured her shoulder last February (it has healed). However, after her first West Nile virus vaccination over a year later, she became lame in that leg/shoulder again. Is this a possible side effect to the vaccination?

In my opinion, the cover photo on the May 2003 issue of The Horse captures a scene that occurs far too often in the equine ambulatory setting. Clients and horse handlers often assist in obtaining radiographs of their horses. Sometimes these people are directed to stand in or around the direct beam of the X ray machine, and all too often without any radiation protection whatsoever. Like

Despite owners providing excellent facilities, wounds are common in all types of horses. An owner should have an excellent working relationship with his/her veterinarian to provide optimal care.

While waiting for your veterinarian, there are a number of things a horse owner should not do. Placing fingers in the wound can contaminate it, as can hair from clipping around the wound. Do not

More and more horse owners across America are turning to trail riding as their recreational equine-based activity of choice. Breed registries such as the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, and Appaloosa Horse Club are recognizing this phenomenon and are encouraging it with special awards for miles ridden.

As more horses take to the trails in all parts o

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) case reports have risen into the hundreds this year, with confirmation of equine cases in at least nine states as the virus seemingly moves northwest from hot spots in the Southeast. Florida has been hit hardest, with a total of 174 equine cases reported from 47 counties as of July 25. The outcome of 163 of those cases is known: About 66% of those cases died

Sometimes it can be quite difficult to get a mare pregnant, especially if she has fertility problems. There are several reasons that a mare might be infertile, many of which can be treated. Two reproductive specialists from Lexington, Ky., shared their extensive knowledge of several of the problems that mares can face with attendees of the Thoroughbred International Exposition and Conference