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

Optimal nutrition of the performance horse hinges foremost on the exercise it performs. Just as the diet of a human bodybuilder is dissimilar to that of a marathon runner, most horses are fed with performance goals in mind. Therefore, accurately assessing the level of work performed by a horse is essential in determining the amount and type of feed offered.

Energy is produced by aerobic

Foal rejection is a heartbreaking twist to an otherwise normal foaling and unless the mare has rejected a foal before, there is no way to predict if and when it will happen.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission reported May 11 that testing associated with this year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks has been completed and there were no medication violations.

According to a news release from the regulatory body, tests were conducted by the University of Florida Racing Laboratory on the first four finishers in each race. The samples were tested to Thoroughbred

What are the most important neurologic problems veterinarians face throughout the year? That’s the question Debra Sellon, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate dean of the Graduate School at Washington State University and professor of equine medicine, and this author (Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.) posed to the audience to start the