Cribbing, the oral stereotypic behavior in which the horse grabs an object with his teeth while flexing his neck and sometimes swallowing air, has long been suspected as a cause of colic. A study from the Universities of Illinois and Liverpool suggests that cribbing increases the risk for entrapment of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen (the passage between the liver and the

Barns can be elaborate statements about our love for our animals and our economic status. In terms of equine health and safety, the best solution is one that works, not necessarily the most impressive or expensive one. Often, spending more money on the barn does little or nothing to improve the contribution of the building to the health and safety of the occupants. In fact, less is

Colorado State University’s Ed Squires, PhD, an honorary Diplomate in the American College of Theriogenology (reproduction), presented several lectures at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention. One presentation was on using a new commercially available product called equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH, from Bioniche Animal Health) to have mares superovulate

Day after day, dollar after dollar, much of the cost and labor in horsekeeping is seeing that your horse gets the proper kind and amount of nutrition for his individual needs. Offer too much or over-supplement and you’re throwing money away at best. Skimp on feed quality or quantity and you potentially imperil your horse’s health. It’s important to budget wisely when you have only one or two

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) reiterated its position on euthanasia and horse slaughter in the wake of an accusatory Blue Horse Charities letter that was disseminated to the racing industry in early November (see article #4801 online). In part, the AQHA position statement read:

“AQHA does not support (national

In the end, remember that a pastured horse’s safety isn’t just determined by the materials and construction of the enclosing fence. Other factors to consider include his temperament and age, the number and choice of pasture mates and neighbors, the size of his pen or pasture, and the availability of foodstuffs.

Laminitis was the primary focus of the Second International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, held Nov. 10-11 in West Palm Beach, Fla. This conference is held every other year and sponsored in large part by John K. and Marianne Castle, whose Appaloosa Spot had chronic laminitis secondary to Cushing’s disease and died from colic years ago. There are several other private

Whether riding a reining pattern or jumping a Grand Prix course, the arena is one of the oldest established venues where equine performance is trained and measured. Arena competitions date back to the times when horse-drawn chariots dashed wildly around the Roman Coliseum. While construction and maintenance practices have changed dramatically, equine facilities still share several common

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, recently developed a new three-dimensional system for measuring various aspects of the horse’s sole. One day their work might help ascertain if hoof shape abnormalities can be predictors of impending injury. Additionally, the system might help researchers design new footwear and/or evaluate the foot during movement.

Susan Stover, DVM,

Americans might be making great strides in the sport of dressage, but in Germany, dressage is a way of life. An amateur dressage enthusiast, I experienced German dressage culture firsthand during six fascinating days in November. I found trainer Heide Hellwinkel through an American-based company, Hobby Horse Tours, which organizes training trips to Germany.

Orphan–the name itself evokes sadness and sympathy. A baby without a mother, in this case a foal. Whether it occurs through the death of the mare, or just that the mare cannot produce milk or will not take care of her foal, it all leads to one problem: how to care for the foal.

In the past, there have been two standard options:

1. Raise the foal by hand as an orphan, using some

The results of EMG analysis on muscle groups in the shoulder revealed that MUAP duration and amplitude were significantly lower in the youngest horses compared to the adult and senior groups.

The pathogenesis of chronic laminitis remains unclear. There is growing evidence, however, of a link between this condition and the development of certain systemic diseases, such as kidney disease, that involve small blood vessel damage. There might also be a link between routine vaccination and acute episodes of chronic laminitis. This has led to the theory that chronic laminitis produces

HBOT is one of the most powerful tools available as an adjunctive form of therapy, and in some cases it works well as the primary therapy in horses, says Casner. Colic and laminitis are the number one and two killers, respectively, of horses, and oxygen therapy (in conjunction with other therapies) can be very useful in treating both.