Parasites should be viewed as a natural state, and we should recognize that even frequent treatments will not prevent them completely. Our goal is not to eliminate parasites, as history has shown us this is impossible and only leads to anthelmintic resistance. Instead, our goal should be to reduce parasite contamination levels in the environment and thereby keep parasite burdens under control.

It shouldn’t really surprise us: parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to the drugs we use. Bacteria are now increasingly resistant to antibiotics, malaria parasites are widely resistant to antimalarials, and parasites are no different. We should all learn the lesson from history.

After Thoroughbreds have completed their race careers, they are often ideal candidates for another vocation. To call attention to these horses’ second career possibilities, nationally recognized Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital has created a series of annual awards, the first of which will be presented to the top Thoroughbred sport horses of 2009.

Not only can exercise safely be imposed in any age horse, but it also might be protective to joints, reported a Colorado State University research team led by Chris Kawcak, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, an associate professor and equine surgeon.

“Injuries involving the musculoskeletal system in horses are common and can typically result in secondary to chronic changes in the structur

Horses could suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like humans do, hypothesized human gastroenterologist John Hunter, MD, from the Gastoenterology Research Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

In humans, IBS is extremely common and thought to affect up to 15% of the population at some point in their lives. Symptoms include recurrent abdominal pain accompanied wi

The Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence Symposium: Hoofbeats and Society: the Horse-Human Relationship is scheduled for May 15-16 at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Mass.

Unrivaled Belle stuck a nose in front of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra just before the wire to complete a stirring stretch duel to score the $400,000 La Troienne Stakes in front of a disappointed crowd at Churchill Downs April 30.

Understanding the life cycles of common equine internal parasites can help you manage them correctly, leading to healthier horses and “cleaner” farms. Owners are often concerned about internal parasites–maybe a little too concerned–and their actions to rid horses of all parasites are leading to the unintended consequences of making some deworming products ineffective.

Glanders has been identified as the culprit in Bahrain, where veterinarians have had to euthanize eight horses in three weeks.

The talents of the upcoming film Secretariat were the star attractions of the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs April 29.

Secretariat, a Disney production that is scheduled to be released Oct. 8, chronicles the career of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. The prominent theme of the film is the journey of Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery, in taking

The sponsor of an Illinois bill that would reestablish horse processing in that state has referred it back to committee.

HB 4812 would repeal a state prohibition against horse processing for human consumption. The measure was poised for a floor vote in the state House of Representatives last month. However, bill sponsor Rep. Jim Sacia withdrew the bill before the vote could take p

“Own Responsibly: The Problem of the Unwanted Horse” brochure has been updated and released by the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC).

The brochure details such aspects of the UHC as its key mission to educate horse owners about owning and breeding responsibly. The coalition’s goals are also listed, with the objectives being to 1) raise awareness of the issue and its con

Mandatory helmet laws for riders, damages available to a successful plaintiff in equine litigation, and liability waivers were among the topics addressed during the first day of the 25th National Conference on Equine Law in Lexington, Ky. Presented by the University of Kentucky College of Law’s Office of Continuing Education, the April 28-29 conference attracted more than 180 participants from 27

Travis Tryan’s Precious Speck, best known as “Walt” and a four-time AQHA/PRCA Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year, died April 24 of an aneurysm while warming up for morning slack at the Clovis Rodeo in Clovis, Calif. The American Quarter Horse was 20.

“They had a special bond, and even in those final moments Walt seemed to be looking out for Travis,” said

Colic and gastrointestinal health in the horse are the subjects of the annual Equine Medicine Symposium of the student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) at the University of California, Davis. The symposium is scheduled for May 8, and proceeds will help fund wetlabs and other activities for students as well as help send several to the 2010 AAEP convention.

The Animal Humane Society (AHS), in partnership with the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition and the Minnesota Horse Council, will offer a free, one-day horse castration clinic on May 15 at the Isanti County Fairgrounds in Cambridge, Minn., through the Gelding Project. The goal of the clinic is to reduce the number of unwanted horses in Minnesota.

The clinic is the second in a serie