Latest News – The Horse
Rotavirus Vaccine
Researchers looked at healthy and sick foals and also checked mares at foaling and two days after foaling to see if the mares were shedding the rotavirus into the environment where the foals could pick it up.
Piroplasmosis: Scientific Information Needed
Don’t you just hate people who complain all the time and aren’t willing to do something about the problem? Me, too. I have been harping on piroplasmosis in this column for the last two months, and we’ve been covering the controversy stirred up b
Oversight and Interaction
The policies are stringent. A hard line seems to have been drawn. Responsibilities have been assigned. Excruciating details have been put forth. Now the big questions is: Who?
Georgia and the USDA decided to grant waivers to allow
Reproductive Challenges: Barren Mares
The anticipation and jubilation surrounding the arrival of the first foals of the new year have come for many of us. It is interesting how transient that celebration is. In fact, we are applauding Mother Nature and the victories of last year’s
Boarding: You Get What You Pay For
For many horse owners, deciding where to board requires the same careful thought and research as buying a new car, or even a house. Factors such as cost, location, and level of care all figure into the choice. So, too, does the type of horse and
Importance of a Purchase Exam
There are so many unknowns about a horse that you want to minimize any surprises you may get down the road. Purchasing a horse is an exciting and uplifting experience, and you want your expectations to be fulfilled. In order to avoid any
Evaluating Placentas Can Pinpoint Potential Problems
Although common knowledge among veterinarians, few horse owners know that the condition of a mare’s placenta following birth is a useful barometer for gauging the health of a newborn foal. If the placenta appears abnormal, the foal could be at
Without Warning: Dystocia
Eleven months is a long time to wait for the birth of a foal. Even with the best of care, things can go wrong and interrupt the normal development of the fetus and/or compromise the health of the mare.
When the day (or as is often the case,
Lest We Forget–Dubai International Equine Symposium 1996
In recent years, there has been an ongoing change in the attitude of horse owners, a positive growth in their understanding of their animals. At the same time, there has been a change in the desire of owners to know more, and that demand drives
It’s in the Blood
Blood tests aren’t magic, but they do have broad capability that ranges all the way from helping determine pregnancy to diagnosing rare diseases. So helpful are blood tests in making diagnoses that in most equine clinics and hospitals, they are
Share the Feeling
When was the last time you brought a non-horse person close to a horse? I mean really went out of your way to make sure they got to see and touch a horse. When was the last time you introduced a “horsey” friend to your breed or discipline? Let them realize why you have horses in your life, whether as an owner, rider, or horse lover.
My cousin grew up in Lexington, but not around horses.
The Equine Foot — Form and Function
There is an adage that is as old as the modern-day horse. It goes something like this: No foot, no horse. My late father, who could pick out a minute leg or foot unsoundness at a glance, used to lecture his young son about the importance of good
Uterine Cysts
The equine uterus, in a manner of speaking, could be compared to a house. When a house is snug and solid with no broken windows, holes in the roof, drafts, or plugged drains, it is a comfortable place in which to live. If, however, there are
Males as Athletes
In a crowd of geldings, his presence is conspicuous. The stallion that competes in sport adds extra energy to every step. His distinctive bearing attracts the eye, and he truly displays the look of eagles. Horsemen debate the pros and cons
What Can Your Veterinarian Do for Parasite Control?
In-feed wormer? Pastes? Stomach tube? Field rotation?
With a myriad of choices, designing a worming program for your horse can prove quite cumbersome. Unfortunately, the increased availability of commercial
The Farm’s First-Aid Kit
Most horse owners equip their barns, stables, and trailers with an equine first-aid kit. However, most of these kits are either overstocked or inadequately maintained. Outdated drugs, contaminated ointments, and irritating medications can do mor
