Suit Filed Over Horsemeat Inspections
Animal rights groups and U.S. residents living near three horsemeat processing plants jointly filed suit against the USDA on Feb. 13, less than a week after USDA announced a program to allow fee-for-service inspections of horses at slaughter plants. The Appropriations Bill eliminated funding of USDA inspectors at these plants. The groups allege that allowing fee-based inspections for horsemea
First Aid for Horses: Knowing Normal from Abnormal
For horse owners and others who care for horses, recognizing the differences between what is normal and what is abnormal about them forms the basic foundation for good animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.
USRider Calls for Improvements on Trailer Wiring
USRider has publicly urged horse trailer manufacturers to improve their electrical wiring practices. “Trailers flex and move constantly when being towed, so it is imperative that proper wiring techniques be used to ensure the proper and continua
Kentucky Equine Restrictions – EHV Affected Areas
While we are confident that the situation at both Turfway Park and the Western Kentucky Training Center have been satisfactorily resolved; we remain concerned over the apparent spread of equine herpes virus from Pimlico to other racetracks,
Cuts Made at the Animal Health Trust
Researchers’ departure “a bitter pill to swallow”
In November 2005, The Horse reported on studies underway at the Animal Health Trust’s Centre for Equine Studies based in Newmarket in the United Kingdom (Helping Horses
The Respiratory System (Book Excerpt)
The respiratory system’s main goal is to transfer oxygen from the air we breathe to the red blood cells where the oxygen will be transported throughout the body and be available for all organs and tissues.
Medication Consortium Lobbies For Long-Term Funding Mechanism
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, expected to exhaust its bridge funding this year, continues lobbying the industry to support a per-start fee that would be shared by horsemen and racetracks.
RMTC chairman Dan Fick, executive
Research Sought on Use of Alcohol in Racehorses
Having gotten field reports that racehorses are receiving vodka intravenously in an attempt to calm them down before races, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) has authorized laboratories to develop a test for
New Product Reduces Herpesvirus Clinical Signs
Pfizer Animal Health on Feb. 8 announced the release of Zylexis, which according to the company’s research prepares the horse’s immune system to function more efficiently against equine herpesvirus (EHV) types-1 and -4 pathogens. The
Final Kentucky Racetrack Released From Quarantine
Equine herpesvirus quarantines at two Kentucky Thoroughbred facilities were released, ending the recent outbreak of the neurologic disease. Robert Stout, DVM, Kentucky state veterinarian, lifted the quarantine at Turfway Park in Florence on Feb.
Arena Dust and Human Health
Respiratory health in horses is often a concern, and we work tirelessly to control dust in our horses’ working and living environments. Ironically, we give little regard to our own respiratory health in and around the barn. It has long been know
Michigan Veterinarian Describes Neurologic Herpes Case
A 3-year-old Standardbred mare suffering from signs of neurologic disease tested positive for equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) and was euthanatized at the Allegan County Fairgrounds in Allegan, Mich., on Jan. 18. The horse had been shipped in
Pimlico Quarantine Lifted
The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) lifted its self-imposed quarantine on Pimlico Race Course this morning (Feb. 8), allowing horses from the Baltimore track to compete at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., for the first time since Jan. 21. Twelve
Second Neurologic Horse Euthanatized on Maryland Farm
A competitive event horse that began showing neurologic signs of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) last Thursday (Feb. 2) was euthanatized on Sunday (Feb. 5) after a rapid decline in health. The mare is the second horse to be euthanatized on the
Maryland Officials Distribute Biosecurity Information for Stable Operators
The Maryland Department of Agriculture released the following tips on avoiding transmission of illness.
Keep your stable disease-free:
- Limit traffic of incoming people who could have been exposed to germs elsewhere.
Maryland Trainers Holding Their Breath
For more than a week, Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) chief operating officer Lou Raffetto said he could “see the light at the end of the tunnel” regarding the ongoing battle with equine herpesvirus.
There was some light Feb. 3, when Laurel