County-level data collected from Maryland’s 2010 Equine Census revealed an industry with assets valued at $5.6 billion and expenditures just under $513 million. There are approximately 81,000 equines in Maryland that are housed in over 16,040 locations around the state. The two largest equine counties are Prince George’s and Baltimore at 9,000 and 8,950 head respectively. Equine operations account

The Purdue University Extension and Historic Prophetstown will jointly sponsor workshops throughout the year for those interested in learning more about horse breeding, forage production, and driving. Three horse reproduction clinics will be offered Feb. 18-19, March 4-5, and March 12-13 at RX Acres Belgians breeding farm in Brookston, Ind, The clinics will cover topics such as horse health,

More than 12,000 compounding pharmacies operate in the United States, and each year compounded product sales reach $300 million–25% of that is spent in the animal pharmaceutical industry alone. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has developed regulations to provide assurances for safety and efficacy of drugs and devices, to ensure food supply safety, and to regulate food chain supplies and

More than 850 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Do you supplement your horse’s diet with electrolytes?”

Residing in horses’ skin are microorganisms known as skin flora–generally nonpathogenic bacteria that can cause skin disease, joint infections, and life-threatening illnesses if they enter the bloodstream or a joint, such as through an incision in the skin. According to the results of a recent study performed by researchers at Colorado State University’s (CSU) College of Veterinary Medicine and

Leaders of the Wyoming House of Representatives have declared allegations of ethics violations stemming from a complaint filed by a Wyoming resident against State Representative Sue Wallis unfounded. Wallis was the primary sponsor of HB 122, a measure allowing Wyoming livestock authorities to process abandoned horses and sell the meat. The measure also allows Wyoming livestock authorities to

According to a report from Horse and Hound, the Russian donkey Anapka–who was once the center of an international welfare controversy after she was attached to a parasail and flown over a beach as part of an advertising stunt–has died of suspected heart failure. Veterinarians believe the stress of parasailing might have led to the donkey’s eventual death, according to the report.

It isn’t every day that a new disease or ailment is discovered, as many of the most common equine health problems have been around for several decades, if not centuries. But within the past decade a new disease has emerged that appears most frequently in weanlings. The disease is equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), a gastrointestinal disease that causes excessive weight loss and stunted growth

“Donkeys are becoming more common patients for equine veterinarians, and although it is tempting to treat a donkey like a horse, there are important differences regarding patient handling and drug dosages,” cautioned Lori Bidwell, DVM, of Lexington Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine in Kentucky. Bidwell spoke on the key differences between anesthetizing donkeys and horses at the 2010 American

Veterinarians are feeling the impact of the recession and it’s hitting many with salary decreases, according to the 2011 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Report on Veterinary Compensation.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) announced on Feb. 4 that it awarded $1,055,400 in the form of 93 grants to support equine rescue groups in 32 states in 2010. More than 32% of the grants awarded to equine groups in 2010 will be used to complete various capital improvements so the rescue groups can safely care for more horses. Another 23% of the grants awarded

According to a report from the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), there recently has been a rise in the number of equine rabies cases diagnosed in the Corrientes province of Argentina. Officials believe the horses were infected with the disease via vampire bats. The extent of the outbreak remains unclear, but officials have announced they will begin vaccinating horses within a

Law enforcement authorities in Maryland are seeking those responsible for shooting a show horse residing in a Charles County pasture. Diane Richardson, press secretary for Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey said the horse’s owner discovered the 8-year-old Morgan horse lying in its pasture on Jan. 21. The horse had sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was later euthanized.

New developments in vaccines and current literature on equine immunizations were the focus of discussion at the vaccination Table Topic during the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md. The attending practitioners actively participated in the discussion with questions and comments on immunizations for various diseases. All agreed that

Technology is an amazing thing–especially technology that allows veterinarians to produce live foals from horses with very poor fertility and even from those that have died. A number of assisted reproductive technologies for horses have been optimized for commercial use, and veterinarians discussed these in detail during the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held

A mix of veterinarians and farriers discussed ringbone-related (a degenerative disease of the pastern and coffin joints) lameness and using MRI to better diagnosis foot lameness at a Table Topic discussion on foot lameness conducted at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.