Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on May 11 held a roundtable discussion with a variety of industry stakeholders on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This was the second in a series of listening sessions the USDA will hold throughout the country on the subject so the department can gather feedback and input that will assist the Secretary in making decisions about the future

Although anecdotes suggest the number of unwanted horses is growing, there is very little data that measures the magnitude of the problem or how extensively the various options to address the issue are being implemented.

To get a better handle on this situation, Jill Montgomery of JRAM Enterprises, an equine industry consulting firm, and Tom Lenz, DVM, chairman of the Unwanted Horse

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously May 12 to adopt the recommended report of a hearing officer in the five-year suspension of veterinarian Rodney Stewart, DVM.

That report, issued April 6, involved state racing stewards’ rulings dated Sept. 17, 2007, in regard to Stewart’s possession of multiple prohibited substances, mislabeled medications, and other matters,

A decision on the future of steeplechase racing in Australia’s Victoria state was deferred May 13 until next week after the Racing Victoria Limited board took submissions from pro- and anti-jumps campaigns.

RVL said the board would make an announcement next Monday, May 18.

“The Racing Victoria Limited board has not yet reached a decision on the future of jumps racing in Victoria and

The same strain of Clostridium difficile that causes illness and death in human hospitals was reported in a 14-year-old Quarter Horse, according to a paper published in May issue of the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. Clostridium difficile bacteria can proliferate in the intestines and produce toxins that can damage the intestinal lining of horses, humans, an

The University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) reported today (May 13) that two fetal necropsy cases had findings consistent with mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), the disease that in 2001-2002 in Kentucky caused an estimated $336 million in cumulative losses in all breeds of horses.

During 2001, when MRLS hit Central Kentucky particularly hard, an

Rachel Alexandra is among 13 horses entered for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

The standout filly was entered Wednesday to run against the boys, along with 50-1 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile.

Rachel Alexandra’s new owners paid a $100,000 supplemental fee to get her in because she wasn’t nominated to any of the Triple Crown races. The

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute of Lexington, Ky., strives to train veterinarians, first responders, and individual horse owners in large animal emergency response techniques by offering annual courses.

The group’s next large animal emergency response training course will take place Aug. 20-21 and 22-23, at the Kentucky Horse Park. Each course is “hands-on” and uses live, trained horses

(Originally published in the May 16, 2009, issue of The Blood-Horse magazine.)  

Calvin Borel, Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr., and Mine That Bird stole the show in the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. The upset victory was a Cinderella story if there ever was one. A hard-working,

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is soliciting bids for new long-term pasture facilities located in the continental United States.

One solicitation is for pasture facilities to hold 200 to 1,000 wild horses; the other is for facilities holding 1,000 to 5,000 wild horses. Both solicitations, which are open for 60 days, are for dry mares, mares in foal, and geldings. Each pasture

Upper airway problems can ruin a good horse, whether they slow him down or cause airway noise that hurts his show placings. But they haven’t always been easy to sort out because the upper airway couldn’t be examined under natural exercise conditions (with rider, tack, competitors, etc).

Seventeen students have been selected to participate in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Summer Scholars Program, an introduction to biomedical research through research-driven activities.

Hungarian-owned sprinting sensation Overdose, unbeaten in 12 starts, will miss his debut in England because of a foot infection.

The 4-year-old horse won’t run in the Temple Stakes at Haydock Park on May 23, but may recover in time for two races at Royal Ascot in June.

Overdose’s owner, Zoltan Mikoczy, said that an abscess was removed May 9 from the injured front left foot–which ha

Bailey Wick, a chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding ridden by Philip Dutton, was euthanized Saturday after falling at an obstacle while competing in the CCI3* at the Jersey Fresh event.

According to a release posted by event organizers, the horse fell at obstacle 20 on course. A necropsy was not performed, per the request of the horse’s owners, listed as Acorn Hill Farm.

International authorities in horse behavior, training, and welfare will converge in Sydney for the 5th Equitation Science Annual Conference to be held at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and Centennial Parkland Equestrian Centre July 12-14. Coaches and competitors are welcomed to attend.

“Ethical Equitation: A Sustainable Approach” will be the theme of this year’s

The Brooke Hospital for Animals, a UK equine welfare charity that operates across 10 countries in Asia, Africa, Central America, and the Middle East, has released guidelines for tourists utilizing the services of working animals while on holiday.

The Brooke is calling on all tourists to take action against the abuse of working equids by following a simple code when using working horses