Owners of mares should know correct anatomical terminology, have a working knowledge of the normal reproductive cycle, and be acquainted with common problems that could occur. The following article is designed to help mare owners understand the normal reproductive tract of the mare, and the words that veterinarians use to describe normal and abnormal aspects of that anatomy.

See diagrams

There was some apprehension in Central Kentucky as to whether the elimination of cherry trees and spraying for caterpillars would be enough to decrease the numbers of mare reproductive loss (MRLS) abortions that occurred in 2001, and to a lesser degree in 2002. The removal of the cherry trees to eliminate the most suitable habitat for the Eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) moth to lay her eggs,

Veterinarians are scrambling to keep up with the number of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) cases that continue to emerge in the southeastern United States. South Carolina in the last three weeks had 17 equine cases confirmed, and about 25 pending. Florida’s EEE case count has risen to 113 horses this year, and Georgia has logged 30 cases.

In 2002, South Carolina had five equine case

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

From the USDA:

“Some recent stories have suggested that the Fort Dodge Animal Health West Nile Virus Vaccine approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may cause pregnant mares to abort or give birth to deformed foals. The misleading information in those articles has sparked many anxious phone calls from horse owners, veterinarians, and others involved with horses.

A research project has determined 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, an internal medicine specialist at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., and Manu Sebastian, DVM, MS, a pathologist with the University of Kentucky’s Livestock

Researchers have discovered that supplementing enzymes could help digestion of starch in the equine small intestine. “With dietary enzyme supplementation and enhanced small intestinal starch digestion, the feeding of cereal grains to horses will become a more efficient and safer practice than it has been in the past,” said Nerida Richards, PhD, of the School of Rural Science and Agriculture a

There can be a number of reasons why a horse might have performance problems. A diagnosis can be frustrating, but one reason that might be overlooked is mycotoxicosis. It wasn’t until recently that the significance of mycotoxins was realized, said Thomas Buckley, MS, head of microbiology at the Irish Equine Centre. Buckley presented “Coping With Mycotoxin Contamination: Protecting Equine

Attendees of the Thoroughbred International Exposition and Conference (TIEC) in Lexington, Ky., June 20-22, learned about the past and future of equine research. Edward Bowen, president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, spoke about past and current research of the Grayson-Jockey Club and other foundations raising funds for equine research.

The Grayson-Jockey Club

Blood-Horse Publications, the parent company of The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care, earned 16 awards at the American Horse Publications annual awards program Saturday night in Hunt Valley, Md.

Students at Anderson College in Anderson, S.C., are compiling information on stock trailer accidents in order to better understand trailer safety concerns. The following questionnaire is being distributed to acquire this data, and horse owners submitting information are encouraged to send in any photographs or news clippings on the accident.

All information will be kept confidential,

The Belmont Ball, hosted by the New York Racing Association on June 5 at Belmont Park, raised more than $175,000 for the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. The black-tie event this year honored internationally renowned equine artist Richard Stone Reeves and also paid tribute to Affirmed on the 25th anniversary of his Triple Crown triumph.

“I cannot adequately thank the New York

Despite recent media reports, Wyoming, Colorado, and USDA veterinarians say that there is currently no scientific proof to link the West Nile virus vaccine to aborted, stillborn, or deformed foals, and that horse owners should continue to vaccinate their animals to protect them from the deadly disease.

Claims by a Denver newspaper that some pregnant mares may have been adversely

Young foals are notoriously difficult to anesthetize because of their extreme sensitivity to most anesthetic drugs. Ideally, foals are anesthetized using only an inhaled anesthetic. One inhalant, isofluorane, has proven itself easy to use with relatively mild adverse effects. A newer inhalant, sevofluorane, has been successful in adult horses which are poor candidates for anesthesia. Recently

Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER, a type of tying-up) is an inherited disorder in Thoroughbreds. Research suggests that RER involves an abnormality in the regulation of calcium in muscle cells. High-grain diets have been implicated as triggers of acute episodes, perhaps because of their influence on calcium balance.

Research in cattle has shown that electrolytes and minerals, suc

There is a fine line between striving to maximize a horse’s performance and pushing the animal beyond his physical limits. Standardbred racehorses experience a decrease in body weight and an abnormal decrease in blood cortisol when they are overtrained. Researchers from New Zealand recently conducted a study to see if there are any other physiologic changes associated with overtraining. The