Latest News – The Horse
New Recommendations Issued on Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome
To: Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners (KAEP)
From: KAEP Emerging Disease Committee
Re: Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome
Based on scientific and diagnostic results available to date, the following are suggestions
Federal Aid Not Currently Available; NTRA, AHC Begin Lobbying Efforts
Industry organizations have taken a proactive stand in the wake of the fetal loss syndrome that has gripped Central Kentucky farms in recent weeks. Tim Smith, commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), has been in
Ohio Diagnostic Lab Requests Owners Submit Aborted Fetuses, Deceased Foals
As Ohio veterinarians try to understand and determine what might be affecting foals in the Ohio River Valley, the number of foals and fetuses available for testing by the diagnostic lab is no greater than normal. Sheila Grimes, DVM, PhD, Pathology
Explanation: Ergotism or Ergot Poisoning
At the industry-wide meeting on Thursday, May 10, Dr. Steve Jackson, an equine nutrition consultant and owner of Bluegrass Equine Nutrition, and Dr. Jimmy Henning, an extension forage specialist at the University of Kentucky’s College of
Kentucky Veterinarian Seeing Increase in Laminitis Cases
Dr. Rhonda Rathgeber, a veterinarian with Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary firm in Lexington, Ky., specializes in performance horse problems. She said in the past 10 days, she has seen “a lot of riding horses lame with an associated colitis
Kentucky Legislators Ask USDA for Assistance With Horse Industry ‘Disaster’
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and two members of the House of Representatives from the Bluegrass State — Ernie Fletcher of the 6th Congressional district and Ed Whitfield from the 1st district — have written a letter to Secretary of Agricultur
Dr. Byars–Pericarditis Becoming More of a Problem
While the numbers are nowhere near those associated with early fetal loss and late gestation pregnancy loss, there is a pattern appearing with horses developing pericarditis (fluid in the sac around the heart), said Dr. Doug Byars, a specialist
May 12 Update: Foal Loss Appears to Be Slowing
As the breeding season winds to a close, you expect to see fewer foals being born. Therefore, there are fewer chances for the current syndrome to affect late-gestation mares. It also seems, however, that the loss of late-term gestations–and
Evidence Presented at Keeneland Suggests All Horses May Be at Risk
The foal loss syndromes facing Kentucky’s pregnant mares might be just the start of a host of problems that could affect horses of all ages, breeds, sexes, and uses in Kentucky and other states. Whether you have a gelding that is on turn-out, a
Kentucky Diagnostic Center Fetal/Foal Loss Update, 5/15
As of noon May 15, the Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center had received 26 additional aborted/stillborn equine fetuses/foals (18 late-term and eight early-term) for diagnostic testing/evaluation. The total received since April 28, 2001, is
Syndrome Problems Continue in Ohio; Spread to West Virginia
It might not be possible to gauge the extent of the fetal loss syndrome problem in Ohio since pleasure horse owners might not pay for the cost of testing on dead fetuses and foals presented to the diagnostic lab. However, anecdotal reports support
Additional Information on Zearalenone
In the industry-wide meeting at Keeneland on Thursday, May 10, zearalenone, a kind of mycotoxin, was put forth as a possible cause of the recent rash of late-term stillbirths, critical foals, and early fetal loss. But while experts seem to be in
Kentucky’s Fields Of Dreams Now Nightmares
The old-timers say Kentucky is horse country because of its soil. What’s now growing on that soil could be the cause of a rash of late-term losses in foals, early embryonic death, pericarditis (fluid surrounding the heart), reduced growth rates
Phillip Dutton Teams Up With Cosequin
Olympic Gold Medalist Phillip Dutton and Cosequin have teamed up to create a mutually beneficial partnership program. Dutton, who won the Team Gold Medal for Three-Day Eventing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as well as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, ha
Stallion Kills 4-year-old Boy
According to an Associated Press report, a 4-year-old boy in Colcord, Okla. was killed May 2 by a stallion that jumped a fence and attacked him as he played in his front yard.
The horse, which was owned by the boy’s family, and had graze
Championship Standardbred Racer Cam Fella Dies
Champion Standardbred, Cam Fella, died May 9 at the Kentucky Horse Park where he had been retired after a successful career at stud at Stonegate farm in New Jersey. At the age of 22, the gelding was humanely put down due to renal failure
