Two Texas juveniles will face criminal charges in connection with the shooting deaths of two horses, according to Grayson County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Ricky Wheeler. Wheeler said sheriff’s department investigators learned of the incident on Feb. 23 when the horses’ owner reported finding five animals wounded in their pasture. Of those, two animals died as a result of

Long-term exposure to soggy conditions can lead to cracking, chipping, or splitting of the hoof. Even more dangerous is the development of what’s known as white line disease, according to Mark Russell, MS, PhD, instructor-equine, for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Responsible ownership is one of the keys to addressing the country’s equine welfare problems. Racing is one segment of the horse industry that regularly is subject to public criticism, mostly due to catastrophic injuries sustained by race horses. Scott Palmer, VMD, of the New Jersey Equine Clinic, noted in a presentation at the at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, h

When your mare is in foal, your main focus becomes her and the developing foal’s nutrition to support optimal health during gestation, lactation, and the first several months of the foal’s life. Improper nutrition during these key phases of development can have repercussions for the mare and foal for the rest of their lives.

Early mobilization during acute healing phases increases blood and lymph flow and increases tissue tension to stimulate tissue repair and improve tissue alignment.

A Montana couple accused of maltreating horses on their Carbon County ranch have pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them. Earlier this month, authorities discovered more than 60 animals residing on a ranch owned by Jack and Terry Martin. Based on veterinary examinations, authorities deemed half of the animals to be malnourished.

At the next KENA (Kentucky Equine Networking Association) dinner meeting, Doung Emerson will share three tips on branding the equine business with a presentation called “Horses Don’t Write Checks, Customers Do”. Emerson is the author of Profitable Horsemen, an online resource for horse professionals. He travels the country conducting workshops and seminars on equine business profitability and

Horses used in the Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races at the 2011 Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada, will receive veterinary inspections upon arrival to the event and prior to competition under new rules announced by Stampede management on Feb. 23. The annual Calgary Stampede features rodeo-style competitions and livestock exhibitions. The Stampede’s GMC Rangeland Derby chuckwagon race pits four

Most breeders meticulously plan out every detail of breeding a mare. But sometimes things don’t go quite according to plan.Suppose, for example, as breeding season approaches, the clinically breeding-sound mare is anestrus (she doesn’t show an estrous cycle and, thus, she’s difficult to impregnate). What now? injectable deslorelin (which is currently used to induce ovulation in mares during the

Fewer Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustangs will be removed from the range and more mustang mares will receive anti-fertility treatment under a new management strategy plan announced by agency director Bob Abbey on Feb. 24. Under the plan, the BLM will reduce the number of wild horses slated for removal during the next two years from 10,000 to 7,600, unless conditions such as drought or other

Ann E. Dwyer, DVM, says that the most basic point-and-shoot digital camera is an “invaluable tool for documenting and following a variety of ophthalmic problems such as those affecting the orbit, eyelids, cornea, iris, and lens of the equine eye.” Such conditions include corneal ulcers or trauma, cataracts and lens-position abnormalities, and tumors such as squamous cell carcinomas or sarcoids of

Retired Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbred racehorses will get help retraining for a second career thanks to a new rule passed by the Oklahoma Racing Commission last week. Under the rule, Oklahoma Breeding Development Fund Special Account funds may be used to help qualifying equine welfare organizations care for retired and unwanted Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbreds. Funding for the program will come from