North Carolina horse owners are being urged to guard against equine piroplasmosis after 11 horses were confirmed with the infectious disease. The horses were found in four counties: Robeson, Sampson, Harnett, and Wake, and farms are now under quarantine. There currently are no movement restrictions on horses within North Carolina or between other states. According to Tom Ray, DVM,

National federations for 58 countries have submitted nominated entries for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Nominated entries are submitted pending verification and approval of horse and rider qualifications. The nominated entries list includes more than 900 athletes and more than 1,300 horses. This list will decrease some when definite entries for each disc

Congratulations, your horse has learned a new trick! Now, start all over again–this time on the other side. That’s right; it turns out if you want your horse to learn a trick or skill correctly, you’re probably going to have to teach with cues that are visible to the horse from both sides of his head. According to new equitation science research, what a horse learns on hi

More than 390 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “What is your most important parasite concern?”

Q: Can you address off-label use of the rabies vaccine in late-term broodmares? My therio vet won’t give it because it’s off-label usage. So I arrange for another vet in her practice to vaccinate my late-term mares. I cannot imagine my foals not having that protection from his or her first moments.
A: Rabies vaccination can be administered in the last trimester of pregnancy prior to delivery

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named the following horse/rider combinations to the Short List/Nominated Entry for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games according to the USEF Selection Procedure for Endurance. From this group the Definite Entry will be named to represent the United States in the Endurance Championships. The Games take place from Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 201

After investigating the deaths of 14 horses that had grazed on pastures near maple leaves, a Dutch research team suggested the fungus responsible for European tar spot that covers the maple leaves causes the deadly disease “MADD.” Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, or MADD, is an acquired, noncontagious myopathy (muscle disease) characterized by severe muscle pa

With the economy the way it is, many neonatal foals are being managed on the farm rather than being sent to a clinic, according to Kelsey A. Hart, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, at the recent American Veterinary Medical Association meeting in Atlanta. While a veterinarian should evaluate every newborn foal, it is important that

While many people spent their summer vacations relaxing on the beach, a group of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) students traveled to Central America to help animals in need. In June, Katie Cooley, Brolin Evans, Brittany Fisher, Kellie Horton, and Stephanie Starling, all second-year CVM students, participated in a Volunteers for Intercultural and

The United States Equestrian Federation has named the following horse/rider combinations to the Short List/ Nominated Entry for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) according to the USEF Selection Procedure for Dressage. From this group the Definite Entry will be named to represent the United States in the Dressage Championships. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games take

The future of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) use in international equestrian competitions is currently under open debate in an unprecedented two-day congress hosted by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in Lausanne, Switzerland. This “long-awaited” event on Aug. 16 and 17 provides a forum for an organized and scientifically informed debat

A novel twist to an existing surgical procedure is creating new opportunities for healing a long-recognized form of lameness, according to Italian researchers. Palmar foot pain (a modern term for navicular syndrome) cases are now being treated with e

Alltech presents its first-ever YouTube Film Star contest to promote the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) to be held in Lexington, Ky., from Sept. 25-Oct. 10. The winner will receive two tickets to the opening ceremony of the Games, two hospitality passes for the opening ceremonies, and a $1,000 cash prize. Whether you are a seasoned director of feature films, a s

Thrush, underrun heels, hoof cracks, shelly feet, and laminitis, oh my! Today’s horses can face many common hoof problems, whether the animals are pasture pets or high-level competition horses. Join us on Monday, August 16, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern U.S. time for our Ask the Vet Live Q&A chat event on Common Hoof Problems.

Richard Rettele, a 70-year-old who trains Thoroughbreds and rides Quarter Horses, just keeps on going—he won a $15,000 stakes aboard Fearles Fred in the $15,000 Queen City Dash at River Downs in Ohio Aug. 10. Rettele is a Kansas native who began training Thoroughbreds in Michigan at Detroit Race Course and Hazel Park. His wife, Carol, trains the Quarter Horses, which compete

The prognosis for horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) caused by prolonged vitamin E deficiency is usually poor, but veterinarians from the University of Minnesota showed that early diagnosis and treatment can help these animals. Equine motor neuron disease is usually diagnosed too late for the veterinarian to help the animal, said Holly E. Bedford, DVM, MS, who presente