Latest News – The Horse
West Nile Virus Alert!
by Kimberly S. Herbert and Stephanie L. Church
West Nile virus is a dangerous and scary disease, and it is spreading across North America very quickly. However, this is one of the few times when horses have it better than humans when it
Halternatives
The past 15 years, various techniques have resulted in a type of Arabian “halter” presentation that poses the horse in a now-familiar stance. What is missing in this presentation? To me it’s the evidence of trust, affection, and mutual esteem
Carnivorous Horses
While taking questions from the audience at a one-day behavior program in New Zealand this May, a well-respected horse owner and trainer described behavior she had recently witnessed in a horse involving a scenario I had never heard or thought
Bedding Benefits and Risks
Most horse owners take great pride in providing their horses with clean, nice-looking stalls; some of us might even throw in that extra bit of bedding for added comfort. But could we be unknowingly harming our horses more than helping them? Let’
Feed for Speed
Few dispute that nutrition is important for athletic performance in racehorses. However, I’d wager that there is much less agreement among horse owners, nutritionists, and veterinarians when asked to expound upon the “nitty gritty” of what works
Cardiovascular Changes With Moldy Corn Poisoning
Fumonisins are toxic byproducts of the fungus Fusarium verticilloides, which often grows on corn. These mycotoxins can cause leukoencephalomalacia (moldy corn poisoning) in horses, and are undetectable to the naked eye. Horses exposed to
Clostridium in Mares and Foals
Newborn foals are especially susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases such as clostridial enterocolitis, which is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, toxemia, shock, or death without prior signs. While this disease occurs only
Hoof Dressings: What Studies Show
Hoof dressings aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be–at least not in the opinions of some experts. Ilka P. Wagner, DVM, owner of Equine Veterinary Services (Texas), and Susan Kempson, BSc, PhD, senior lecturer in Preclinical Veterinary
Diagnosing Breathing Problems
Many of you are familiar with the respiratory condition known as “heaves,” also termed recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Primarily caused by chronic exposure to dusts and molds in hay and bedding, heaves can cripple the function of a horse’s
You Should Be Afraid, But…
West Nile virus is here to stay. Just like its cousins Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, it can be controlled, but only with diligence and hard work. West Nile virus (WNV) is deadly in about 40% of the horses which get the disease. It
Finding a Suitable Cooled Semen Facility
I’m considering using shipped cooled semen for my mare. How do I find a qualified facility?
Probiotics and Yeast Cultures
What is the best formulation of probiotics and yeast in the equine diet? Which bacteria are beneficial?
Understanding Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU)
ERU is one of the most frequent causes of equine blindness. Here’s what you need to know.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
You’re preparing your mare for the upcoming breeding season. The stud owner insists on a bacterial culture of your mare’s uterus prior to live breeding to reduce the chances of her passing any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) she might have
Alberta Drought
A severe drought in northern Alberta is taking its toll on the horse population of that Canadian province. Canadian newspaper reports have indicated that many Alberta horses have been sent to slaughter (because the drought has made feeding
EIA in Georgia: Four Horses Test Positive, 94 Quarantined
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced last week that four horses in Chattooga County tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA) and have been euthanized. At press time, 94 other horses in the county had been
