Synthetic racing surfaces were the topic that raised the most concern among the approximately 80 veterinarians from the United States, Canada, and Europe in attendance at the Lameness in Racehorses Table Topic held during the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention.
A discussion of opinions on synthetic surfaces and practitioners’ perspectives of di
As part of a racetrack screening program, three New Mexico horses have been identified as carrying Theileria equi, the causative agent for equine piroplasmosis. These infections are noteworthy as these horses are not epidemiologically linked to those involved in a larger ongoing investigation centered on horses from a South Texas ranch.
Information on the new cases, and an
The California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) Foundation is awarding $264,000 to 12 different charitable organizations caring for retired California racehorses. It represents an increase of approximately 50% from the amount granted in 2008, its first year of fundraising.
Last year, after only six months of operation, the CARMA board voted to grant $150,450 to eight charitie
 The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks.
Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was recorded in France, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, and the USA. France confirmed three cases on one premises and one case on another premises. Switzerland reported Taylorella asinigenital
On Monday, the controversial gather of about 2,700 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustangs from the Calico Mountain Complex Herd Management Complex in Nevada will begin as planned after a federal judge declined to stop the roundup.
On Dec. 23, U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled to allow the gather on grounds that the roundup was within the BLM’s purview under th
Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is an emerging intestinal disease primarily of recently weaned foals. Lawsonia intracellularis, the causative bacterium of EPE, is capable of inducing similar disease in many animal species, most notably swine. To date, comparatively little research has been undertaken into the disease in horses.
The purpose of the Table Topic on Rehabilitation held during the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., was to educate veterinarians on the opportunities and use of rehabilitation techniques in equine practice.
Rehabilitation is defined as attempting to restore to a former capacity or to bring to a condition of health or useful activity.
Santa Anita’s traditional opening day of Dec. 26 brought out 35,292 to watch a pair of grade I races and to honor Zenyatta and John Henry. The crowd was the largest in the last 10 years of opening days at the “Great Race Place.”
The throng enthusiastically cheered Jerry and Ann Mosses’ undefeated Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Zenyatta who was par
Frequent hand washing is one of the most effective ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness, but it is also frequently ignored–even in hospitals, where studies have shown that physicians are often the worst offenders.
That phenomenon piqued the curiosity of Ontario Veterinary Colle
4-H Ontario and Equine Guelph recently announced a new partnership that will see the creation of a 4-H online horse learning community placed within the successful online learning environment developed by Equine Guelph. The Grand River Agricultural Society has generously provided $10,000 as initial funding.
The 4-H horse curriculum and new horse industry resources will be co
A simple, noninvasive urine test to diagnose cryptorchidism in horses that appear to have been castrated has been developed by a group of researchers from the Racing Laboratory at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Male horses that appear or are presumed to be castrated can in fact have one or even two retained testicles. Retained testes should be removed to help eliminate objectionable b
A variety of sarcoid and skin tumor treatments and management topics were discussed by veterinarians during a Table Topic at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention. All veterinarians in the room had treated skin tumors and were willing to discuss their successes and failures.
Since sarcoids are the most common skin tumor in the horse, their treatme
A horse shot in the head and left for dead in Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest last year is thriving as a therapy horse at a ranch for young people in need.
U.S. Forest Service officers and local residents rescued the Hero, then known as Trooper, from the forest in October 2008. The horse sustained the gunshot wound in a botched euthanasia attempt. Wrangler Russell Willeford
Because of New York state budget problems, the drug testing laboratory at Cornell University might close and move to another institution, according to an article on cornellsun.com. The laboratory tests horse blood and uring samples for p
The Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) Table Topic attracted an audience of about 60 veterinarians at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. The audience ranged from practitioners to researchers to USDA personnel who participated in a question and answer session about this foreign animal disease that caused concern at multiple stallion collec
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the deaths of six wild horses.
Earlier this month, agency helicopter pilots discovered the animals’ carcasses in a remote area along the Nevada-California border during a scheduled round-up of animals from the Buckhorn Horse Managemen
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