Latest News – The Horse
Endophyte-Infested Fescue: Hidden Dangers
Horse breeders noticed that they were having foaling problems with some mares which were grazing fescue grass or being fed fescue hay. Cattle producers reported that steers on fescue pastures or being fed fescue hay appeared to be unthrifty and that
PMU Ranching: Use or Abuse?
Horse industry representatives have been worried over the years not because of the existence of PMU ranches or treatment of mares, but mainly because the number of foals produced has such an impact on the general horse economy.
PMU Ranches and Stewardship
For those of you who would like me to condemn the practice of pregnant mare urine ranches, you’re going to be disappointed. For those of you who want me to say it’s a swell life for a horse, well, that isn’t going to happen, either.
Using Equine Activity Losses To Achieve Overall Tax Savings
Most performance horse owners begin their horse ownership and performance horse activities for purposes other than pecuniary (monetary) gain. Nevertheless, many hope eventually to turn a profit as their horse progresses in skill or as their
Cushing’s Disease Diagnosis
To many horse owners, it’s just old horse disease, and it’s an affliction with a number of names–pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), hyperadrenocorticism, ECD (equine Cushing’s disease), and, most commonly, Cushing’s syndrome.
Your Aging Horse is Only as Old as He Feels
So, rather than gauging a horse’s age by years, Ralston recommends horse owners base an animal’s retirement and/or health care management on the horse’s physical fitness.
Pain In Horses
Pain is defined as a feeling of distress, suffering, or agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings. The scientific term for the perception of pain is nociception, with noci the Latin for harm or injury.
Pelvic Fractures
Q: My horse was sound when he was turned out one night, and the next morning he was lame in the hind end. It took quite a few diagnostics by my veterinarian before it was determined that he had suffered a slight pelvic fracture. How common is this and what is his prognosis?
Growing Horses and Soil Quality
Whether you currently own a farm or are in the process of looking for one, the land itself is a consideration beyond location, outbuildings, acreage, and price. The vegetation, soil, water, and bedrock that are the foundation of the top layer of
Stallion Anatomy and Physiology
Having a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology, plus being aware of each individual stallion’s sperm production capability, can help the stallion manager to make better decisions concerning proper care of the horse and the number of mares to be booked each breeding season.
Complementary Therapies for Horses
Alternative therapies, such as homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and herbal treatments, have been generating phenomenal interest in recent years, and many people believe these modalities might provide an adjunct to veterinary medicine
Anatomy and Physiology of a Mare’s Reproductive System
Moody. Inscrutable. Temperamental. Cantankerous. Mares seem to get tagged with such stereotypical labels. When your female equine displays inappropriate behavior, you might hear someone snort, Typical mare! Your mare’s nature and individual”P>Moody. Inscrutable. Temperamental. Cantankerou
Nerve Blocks of the Lower Limb
When a veterinarian performs a lameness examination, he or she often will use nerve blocks to try and determine the location of the problem. The areas are blocked so that they become numb to pain, revealing which structures are involved in”P>When a veterinarian performs a lameness examination, he or she often will use nerve
Contagious Diseases
Any horse which is sick and suspected of having a contagious disease should be immediately isolated from the healthy stock. If possible, a single person should be assigned to the care of this animal, and that person should be educated to use proper
Bedding for Horses
Like humans, horses prefer to dwell in comfort. When at rest, the horse seeks a soothing environment–protected from the elements and predators, easy on his feet, and soft against his body. The domesticated horse must live in the enclosure that
Laser Surgery Primer
Understanding lasers requires knowledge of how stimulated emission multiplies light and produces the unique differences between coherent (laser) and noncoherent (regular) light. Regular light contains a mixture of wavelengths and radiates in a
