Police in San Luis Obispo County are hoping the public can help them identify those responsible for shooting two Arabian horses at the Varian Arabians horse ranch in Arroyo Grande, Calif., last Wednesday night.

Ranch staff discovered the two wounded mares in their pasture early Thursday. Both animals sustained gunshot wounds, said San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department Sp

On December 22, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a nationwide voluntary recall of ketamine hydrochloride injectable (100mg/ml, 10 ml vials) manufactured by Teva Animal Health Inc. Read the FDA press release.

Ketamine is sometimes used for equine anesthesia and pain managem

The American Horse Publications (AHP) is conducting an Equine Industry Survey to gauge participation trends in the U.S. equine industry. In addition, the survey seeks to gather information regarding the most important issues facing the industry.

C. Jill Stowe, PhD, is providing co

More than one horse in a stalled situation can create a heap of unwanted manure. But owners can turn that daily chore of mucking stalls into a pile of “green” compost material, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

Horse manure is the easiest type to compost, said Kevin Heflin, MS, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension associate in Amarillo.

While c

Surgery to correct “roaring” in National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses can restore racing performance to levels similar to a matched group of peers in the short term, but career longevity appears to be negatively impacted following these procedures, report a team of UK researchers led by Safia Barakzai, BVSc, MSc, DESTS, Dipl ECVS, from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, has purchased 360 acres in South Carolina’s Aiken County through the Darley America arm of his Thoroughbred empire. He eventually will operate a training facility on the property, according to a story on www.aikenstandard.com. The deal for the land closed Dec. 30.

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Equitrekking, the Emmy Award-Winning Public TV series that is broadcast to tens of millions of viewers on PBS and international networks, announces the launch of EquitrekkingTravel.com. This new enterprise will allow individuals and groups to enjoy in person the horse riding vacations they could previously only see on the popul

 Thoroughbred Placement and Rescue (TPR), a 501(c)(3) located in Upper Marlboro, Md., specializes in retraining and placing horses directly off of the racetrack to pleasure and show homes. In the past year, even with the downturn in the economy, TPR (as their fans fondly call them) still found homes for 123 horses. While this does not quite match their hightest number of 150 (before the

The two major endocrine disorders affecting horses–equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID or equine Cushing’s disease)–were hot topics at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Table Topic session on Equine Endocrine Disorders.

The more recently described EMS is a condition that fir

On March 20 experts in infectious diseases and on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in animals will convene a daylong symposium at The Ohio State University to explore the human and animal health threats posed by this emerging health problem. Health workers are aware that MRSA can be transferred from person to person; they might be less aware of the risks posed to animals by

Teaching kids about horses can also provide them with the “horse sense” needed for life. A new, free program from eXtension HorseQuest offers adults working with young people and equines an easy way to learn more about horses, mules, and donkeys, get new ideas focused on horses and youth development, and earn a certificate of completion.

The Read More

Of the nearly 2,200 horse health, care, management, and welfare news articles posted on TheHorse.com in 2009, which ones stood out to our editors? Here are their top picks:

Kimberly S. Brown (Editor/Publisher)

In November 2008, TheHorse.com took a giant proactive stance in the area of unwanted horses. In conjunction with sponsor Gainesway Farm, The

Monique Koehler, a pioneering advocate for retired racehorses, will receive a Special Eclipse Award for her work with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Koehler, who founded TRF in 1982, will receive her award on January 18 at the 39th Annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The 2009 World Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil, included discussions of Rhodococcus equi, which causes foal pneumonia; sleep disorders and seizures; guttural pouch problems; late-term abortion; and tendon sheath problems/lameness.

Horses’ beauty in motion is achieved via the culmination of a complex and highly integrated interaction between muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and a variety of other connective tissues. Successful coordination of all musculoskeletal system components is imperative for smooth, fluid, pain-free movement.