The Table Topic forum on Infectious Neurologic Diseases at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Meeting, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., was well-attended with 20-30 practitioners in and out during discussions. A list of common neurologic infectious diseases found in North America was presented to the attendees. Practitioners were asked to choose the most pertinent disease

When pain is localized to the foot but no abnormalties can be seen on radiographs (often called X rays), problems in soft tissues within the foot are often the culprit. However, imaging soft tissues in the foot to arrive at a diagnosis can be challenging, especially when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not available or financially feasible. At the 2010 American Association of Equine

Gulfstream Park announced Jan. 27 it lifted a quarantine at one barn at the Florida track and four others at its training facility at Palm Meadows. An unidentified horse from the barn of trainer Jonathan Sheppard showed symptoms of possible neurologic problems, prompting the quarantine. On Jan.26, Gulfstream flew the samples from the horse to the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. On the

The Table Topic session on Sport Horse Practice (with a focus on eventers) at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Meeting, held Dec 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., was well-attended by approximately 100 people. The discussion began with soundness management of the three-day event horse. Major topics of discussion included shock wave therapy and regenerative medicine. Attendees

The horse industry in the United States is not the only one dealing with an equine welfare problem. Some European countries are also facing challenges in assuring all horses have a good quality of life, according to Joe Collins, MVB, PhD, MRCVS, CertEP, CertVR, who recently conducted his PhD study at University College Dublin’s Veterinary Sciences Center. Collins discussed equine welfare in Europe

One of the Table Topic discussions at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners annual meeting, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., addressed equine endocrine disorders. Moderators and attendees discussed diagnostic testing for equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Horses with the EMS phenotype (easy keeper, regional adiposity, obesity,

A committee that advises the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KRHC) on its breeders’ incentive program met again Jan. 25 and approved three additional recommendations for ways in which the program should be changed.

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss will send their Horse of the Year Zenyatta to be bred to young stallion Bernardini, who stands at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley near Lexington, in 2011.

According to Alex Dugdale, MA, VetMB, DVA, Dipl. ECVA, MRCVS, a senior lecturer in the school of veterinary science at the University of Liverpool in England, “obesity (in horses) creeps up on us.” When it comes to battling obesity, keeping the horse healthy and happy while still helping him drop weight is of paramount importance.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health confirmed positive test results for equine infectious anemia (EIA) in two horses earlier this month in northeastern Missouri. Department officials have tested 696 other horses, including those located nearby and any that might have been in contact with the infected animals. No further positive cases have been identified.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors during this year’s annual meeting approved new helmet rules for riders in both eventing and dressage–just two weeks after dozens of stakeholders in equestrian sport met with the goal of improving rider safety across disciplines.