Latest News – The Horse
Equine Herpes Outbreak in Australia
A mare (or mares) imported from North America to Victoria, Australia, is believed to be at the center of the latest outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1), or equine rhinopneumonitis virus, in Australia.
As the Australian
Officials Report 112 Equine Cases of West Nile Virus in Kentucky
Twenty-three cases of West Nile virus in Kentucky horses were confirmed Monday, the state Department of Agriculture reported. The number of Kentucky horses with the virus in 2002 now is 112.
The 23 horses confirmed today are of 10
Summary of Recent Australian Quarantine Case
The Australian Horse Industry Council has congratulated the quarantine authorities for their action and decisions in the case of a horse that became sick during quarantine in Sydney.
Horse Council president, Dr Paul O’Callaghan said “The
West Nile Virus Vaccine Q&A
The following information is from Rocky Bigbie, DVM, a representative of Fort Dodge Animal Health, the company that manufacturers the West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine. Company officials recommend that horse owners consult with their own veterinarians to get more specific details about the threat to their horses.
What is the vaccination schedule in normal areas and
Horse Auctions: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
For some, a horse auction is an excellent place for buyer and seller to meet and arrive at fair market value for an animal. To others, a horse auction is the place where good money was spent on a horse which couldn’t, or didn’t, perform up to expectations.
Cataracts and Lens Problems in Horses
A cataract can partially or fully obscure your horse’s vision, but surgical treatment can be successful.
Pre-Sale Questions
A pre-sale veterinary examination for a horse of any age in any discipline should address two questions. Can this particular individual, in the opinion of the examiner, be expected–barring illness or injury–to reach competition in a timely
Salvation from Slaughter
There are numerous horse auctions in the United States. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has commissioned a private study of some auction houses to learn: Where are these horses coming from? How many are there? What is their
What’s a Thumper?
My training is in equine myotherapy and sometimes I get asked about a thumper. Can you tell me more about this tool?
Stallion Mounting Behavior
I’m a veterinarian asking this question on behalf of clients who are standing a stallion at stud. The stallion isn’t new to breeding or to this farm; he’s in his third or fourth breeding season. He normally breeds eagerly, without hesitation
Putting Weight on Hard Keepers
Is your horse a “hard keeper?” If so, you are well aware of how difficult it is to maintain adequate or desirable body condition in this type of horse. The reality is that no two horses are the same when it comes to the amount of feed (and numbe
Hazard-Free Homes
A run-in shed is probably the least expensive shelter you can give your horse(s)–and, some believe, one of the healthiest. With a run-in shed, your horse lives as near to nature as domesticity allows. But that shed can’t be a slap-dash
Club Feet in Adult Horses
Some women love high heels. Walking in them might take some getting used to, but they provide the perfect look for big-city club-hopping or schmoozing at the latest gallery opening. They’re not so great, though, for jogging or other sports. A
Racing Toward Injury
There seems to be little doubt that musculoskeletal injury–including injury to bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments–is a major problem for Thoroughbred racehorses. This impression has been borne out by studies of “wastage” in the racing
Lest We Forget
There are tragedies every day; some are personal, some are public, and some are almost unseen. We need to remember all of these tragedies, from small to large, and not forget that we can make a difference to a person’s or horse’s life, if we tak
Foal Loss Possible in Caterpillar Areas
Four interesting facts were brought to light because of the late-term abortion and Eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) study that was recently completed at the University of Kentucky, according to Thomas Tobin, MVB, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, Dipl. ABT, of the
