Over the past three decades, equine surgeons have become more adept at repairing even the most devastating fractures. Long gone are the days when horses sustaining fractures were humanely euthanized with a sad shake of the head. Now, horses are largely salvaged–and even return to athletic careers–with a little help from skilled hands, an arthroscope, power drill, plates, wires, and/or screws.

Not only can DNA-based tests indicate whether or not a horse is infected with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), these tests can also measure the amount of virus in the horse's nasal secretions.

"Virus isolation has been the gold standard test for EHV-1, but have recently been replaced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests," reported Nicola Pusterla, DVM, PhD, Dipl.

One in four respondents to a recent survey on UK boarding stables reported serious welfare problems, reported World Horse Welfare.

The survey results show serious welfare concerns reported by the public, including 13% who said there had been injuries at their livery yard in the past 12 months, 10% reported no access to fresh water in grazing or turnout areas, 21% recorded

Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's Rachel Alexandra arrived in Louisiana Nov. 27 but probably won't race until March or April.

Rachel Alexandra shipped by van from Churchill Downs to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots without incident, Fair Grounds officials said. The filly hasn't raced since early September but had begun jogging at Churchill for trainer

Want to see an example of less-than-stellar drainage? Check out your own horse barn. One of the most important concerns for a building site is water drainage, which includes water flowing to the building site as well as water moving away from the barn.

On Nov. 19 the General Assembly of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) approved new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations as well as a new list of prohibited substances. The passed regulations included a "progressive list" of substances that will now be allowed in competition in limited amounts.

Some national federations

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) today issued a statement on new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations passed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) General Assembly Nov. 19. The passed regulations included a "progressive list" of substances that will now be allowed in competition in limited amounts, including phenylbutazone

Blind horses can usually get by with a little help from a friend; or, in this case, a trustworthy companion horse, said Ann Dwyer, DVM, a private practitioner with a strong interest in equine ophthalmology and co-owner of Genesee Valley Equine Clinic LLC in upstate New York. She spoke at the first AAEP Focus on Ophthalmology meeting, held in Raleigh, N.C., in October.

Uveitis is

With four days of consecutive dressage lessons that ran from Nov. 20-23, Elmer Bandit, the 38-year-old National Competitive Trail mileage holder, observed Thanksgiving by resting at his Independence, Mo., boarding stable home.

How has Elmer prepared for winter?

"He has grown an inch of hair, at least, and is very soft and furry," reported his lifetime owner,

Summer Bird, winner of the grade I Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup, was withdrawn from the Dec. 6 Japan Cup Dirt after suffering an injury in a workout at Hanshin Race Course.

According to owner Dr. K.K. Jayaraman, the son of Birdstone came back from his work Nov. 29 showing signs of lameness.

One theory explaining this “horse of a different color” phenomenon is that, historically, only a few coat colors might have been appropriate for survival in the wild. For example, horses of a certain color could have been better camouflaged, considered a more appropriate mate, have more tolerance to certain pathogens, or better adapt to the environment than horses of other colors.

For years, the fabled Hialeah Park race track has sat idle — battered, broken, and left to rot.

These days, fresh paint coats the walls, pink flamingos are practicing their familiar moves and some of the luster has been restored to Florida's grand old track. On Saturday, those famous flamingos are expected to fly again, when Hialeah reopens for its first race day in

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance is seeking public comment on its activities in advance of the release of an annual report in late December.

Tommy Thompson, a former federal and state official who serves as independent monitor for the alliance, is preparing the year-end report. The alliance was formed in the fall of 2008, and this year i

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information about who shot and killed a 6-year-old Palomino gelding named Firecracker near Fawn Grove, Penn., just across the Maryland state line, according to an article on inyork.com.

According to the article the shooting probably took place the

The family of 55-year-old Dr. Alister Rodgers, the equine veterinarian in Australia who was the most recent person to lose his life to Hendra virus, is urging the horse industry and the Australian government to do more to combat this disease, according to an article on