Vaccinating at the proper time of the year against Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is critical to protecting horses from the sometimes-fatal mosquito-borne disease, according to Judy Marteniuk, DVM, MS, associate professor in Equine Medicine and Extension at Michigan State University. As of Aug. 19, 18 cases have been confirmed, with seven pending lab results. Eastern equine enc

Members of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation’s Rokeby Circle were briefed on Aug. 19 by Lisa A. Fortier, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, on her work in equine sports medicine as it relates to regenerative therapies. Her presentation was part of the organization’s annual dinner at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Santa Anita is about to become the first California racetrack to abandon the 2006-mandated synthetic surface experiment and return to dirt. Frank Stronach, chairman of MI Developments that owns the track, made the announcement Aug. 18 an evening meeting of horsemen and racing followers he had called at the Surfside Race Place satellite wagering facility adjacent to the Del Mar tra

Scientific, legal, and ethical points of view on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in competition horses continued to stream Switzerland’s air even at the close of the two-day NSAIDs congress, hosted by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in Lausanne. Although no consensus was reached,

A New York Morgan horse trainer already facing multiple animal cruelty charges was arraigned this week on yet another charge connected to a horse that was euthanized on her East Aurora farm in November 2009. Last March officials from the SPCA Serving Erie County removed 73 horses and numerous dogs and c

Fire officials in Allen, Texas, are investigating the cause of a barn fire that claimed the lives of more than 20 horses earlier this month. Allen Fire Department Fire Marshal and Asst. Chief Craig Gillis said the fire in the 7,200- square-foot, barn where 24 horses were stabled, broke out on Aug. 10. Of those, 22 horses died (including a foal that was born due to stress during th

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