Top veterinarians and the USDA dispute allegations made in a May 30 article in The Denver Post that the West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine might have caused widespread abortions and deformed foals. Mare owners calling themselves the “Lost Foals Group” claimed the vaccine caused up to 1,200 abortions and nearly 300 deformed or dummy foals.

A news release from the USDA stated: “Some

The research team that made headlines in May after producing the world’s first equine clone–a mule named Idaho Gem–on June 9 has repeated its success with the birth of another mule–Utah Pioneer.

Researchers Gordon Woods, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT, and Dirk Vanderwall, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from the University of Idaho (UI); and Ken White, PhD, from Utah State University, said the male

The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care, which is celebrating 20 years as the leader in equine health care news and information, and its companion web site TheHorse.com, were recognized June 21, 2003, at the American Horse Publications’ (AHP) Annual Awards Program in Hunt Valley, Md. The Horse earned two first place awards, one second place award, and two third place awards.

If the job trend for veterinary school graduates continues as it has for the past few years, then the answer might be “no.” Concern was raised at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention due to the declining number of students entering equine practice when finishing veterinary school. “There is an acute shortage of new graduates entering equine practice,” noted

The battle over the slaughter of horses in the United States has shifted directly to Texas, where two slaughter plants operate. At the moment, operations at the two plants continue while the issue is being decided in federal court.

The two horse slaughter plants are Beltex in Fort Worth, Texas, and Dallas Crown in nearby Kaufman.

The background that led to the current battle is this

Research has shown that it probably isn’t a virus or bacteria (a biological agent) that links the Eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) to mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). Bill Bernard, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.; and Manu Sebastian, DVM, MS, a pathologist with the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, conducted the experimen

More and more horse owners across America are turning to trail riding as their recreational equine-based activity of choice. Breed registries such as the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, and Appaloosa Horse Club are recognizing this phenomenon and are encouraging it with special awards for miles ridden.

As more horses take to the trails in all parts o

Adapting to the environment, informed by genetic codes, and endeavoring to meet human demands, the horse’s hoof is like an individual fingerprint on the human hand. Decoding the process the horse uses to arrive at his ideal hoof form filled three days of lectures, discussions, and demonstrations at the May 2-4 Natural Hoofcare Conference at Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Despite owners providing excellent facilities, wounds are common in all types of horses. An owner should have an excellent working relationship with his/her veterinarian to provide optimal care.

While waiting for your veterinarian, there are a number of things a horse owner should not do. Placing fingers in the wound can contaminate it, as can hair from clipping around the wound. Do not

Elliott detailed evidence of a reduction in hind gut (cecal) pH following carbohydrate overload, generally believed to be the leading factor in the onset of laminitis in otherwise healthy horses. Carbohydrate overload has also been associated with an increase in amine (an organic compound containing nitrogen) production in the gut.

In my opinion, the cover photo on the May 2003 issue of The Horse captures a scene that occurs far too often in the equine ambulatory setting. Clients and horse handlers often assist in obtaining radiographs of their horses. Sometimes these people are directed to stand in or around the direct beam of the X ray machine, and all too often without any radiation protection whatsoever. Like

Veterinarians are scrambling to keep up with the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) cases emerging in the southeastern United States. Since the beginning of June, South Carolina has had 17 confirmed equine cases, with about 25 pending confirmation. Florida’s EEE case count is up to 113 this year, and Georgia has 30.

In 2002, South Carolina had five equine cases of EEE, Florida had 25, and

My miniature horse injured her shoulder last February (it has healed). However, after her first West Nile virus vaccination over a year later, she became lame in that leg/shoulder again. Is this a possible side effect to the vaccination?

There are several possible explanations as to why a horse might play with his water bucket every night.

Did you ever go to the tack store and try to figure out the exact amounts per serving of each ingredient contained in some of the nutraceutical products? It can be an important issue if your horse’s joint supplement, vitamin supplement, and food product contain duplicate vitamins and minerals, some of which can be harmful if given in excess doses. But when ingredients are labeled as X parts