Two of my equestrian dreams came true in August 2001 in Nova Scotia, at the beautiful 350-acre Beaverdam Farm owned by Arthur and Carol Rivoire. Our family vacation is usually spent at Chincoteague, Va., where the wild ponies roam on nearby Assateague Island, but after reading about the Beginner’s Driving Vacation in Nova Scotia, I convinced certain members of my family that we should head

New legislation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the state of Illinois was introduced Feb. 6, 2004, in the Illinois House of Representatives in the form of HB 6570. On Feb. 18, 2004, the bill was referred to the House Executive Committee. The legislation would also make it illegal to transport horses into or out of the state for slaughter.

The wording of the newly

WNV isn’t the only threat posed by the common mosquito. All forms of arboviral encephalitis (arthropod-borne neurologic disease)–some of which, like WNV, can afflict both horses and humans–are mosquito-borne, as are malaria, dengue fever, and deadly canine heartworm disease.

One item in the debate on equine slaughter is the use of captive bolt for euthanasia. This is the same method used on other livestock killed during slaughter or during a disease outbreak (such as foot and mouth disease on farms in England).

The Horse sent out a small survey to veterinarians and researchers around the world on the question: Is captive bolt a humane euthanasia for

What the research findings suggest is that young, growing foals, horses that are prone to tying-up or laminitis, those with Cushing’s disease, and some that tend to be excessively ‘hot’ mannered could possibly be managed better on low-glycemic diets.

Comments collected on the draft U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) have been largely characterized by misunderstanding and frustration, according to one government official. The plan, which at this time is not an official program of the USDA, was designed to establish a timely traceback system to minimize the spread of foreign animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, and to

When it comes to pest control products, the safest choices lie with EPA-approved chemical formulations developed for horse use, such as DEET, pyrethrins/pyrethroids, and organophosphates, or the EPA GRAS (“generally regarded as safe”) products like citronella and geraniol.

A Pike County, Ohio, resident reported suspected abuse in a 52-horse herd in mid-December 2003 to a veterinarian, who asked local law enforcement officials to have the horses examined. By Jan. 9, the horses in question had been examined by three veterinarians , were monitored, then were seized by local authorities. In the meantime, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had become

On many breeding farms, Parascaris equorum (roundworms) and other intestinal parasites in young foals are now controlled with one class of dewormer. This has become common because of the belief that certain drugs, like ivermectin, are highly effective and free from parasite resistance. However, a recent report from Ontario, Canada, describes foals from a breeding farm with fecal egg

It is tempting for veterinarians to use laboratory reference ranges collected from full-sized horses when treating miniature horses. This is not always appropriate, however, as miniature horses have some breed characteristics that are only now becoming apparent. In fact, researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) have been diagnosing ocular abnormalities in miniature horses more frequentl

In today’s world, a natural or man-made disaster can strike at any time. The only defense we have is preparation. Unfortunately, many animals are dragged, stranded, drowned, or dropped during attempted rescues by untrained personnel. Rescuers often get hurt, and the animals might be more injured by the rescue than they were during the accident. Rescuing these animals shouldn’t be a rodeo. Man