Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is the most common cause of blindness in horses and is believed to affect approximately 10% of the equine population. The exact cause of ERU remains unclear, although researchers have shown that recurrent bouts of inflammation involving activated T-cells (cells largely responsible for cell-mediated immunity) lead to destruction of the retina.

In an

A new welfare specialty license plate for the state of Maine is now available for purchase, announced Planet Dog. The plate directly supports the health and welfare of Maine’s companion animals.
 
The plate features colorful silhouettes of a cat, dog, rabbit, horse, and bird with the slogan “respect. love. adopt.” It can be purchased at Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch offices, as wel

Looking for new and compelling information about the latest in animal health information and research, veterinary advances, and animal-related events? Morris Animal Foundation’s Hot Topics blog provides regularly updated health research and event information about dogs, cats, horses, llamas/alpacas and wildlife, and it also

Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms announced Oct. 13 that champion and leading Thoroughbred sire Theatrical has been pensioned from stud duty.

The 27-year-old son of Nureyev, out of the Sassafras mare Tree of Knowledge, was bred in Ireland by Bert and Diana Firestone. They raced Theatrical in Europe and the United States, and later raced him with the late Allen Paulson. After his stellar racing

Equine Guelph’s youth program, EquiMania!, will be back at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Nov. 6-15 to teach kids about horse health care and safety in a fun, interactive setting.

Safety will be a big theme at this year’s EquiMania!. The “Play Safe. It’s HorseSense!” safety initiative will be expanded to include safety on the entire horse farm. The multifaceted safety initiative

The Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office today noted that a seventh 2009 case of West Nile virus (WNV) has been confirmed.

An 18-month-old Quarter horse filly in ballard County had an onset of clinical signs of ataxia, lethargy, and inappetence on Oct. 5. By Oct. 15 she was much improved. She had not been vaccinated against West Nile virus.

Of the seven confirmed WNV cases

Alltech, a global leader in animal health and nutrition, is pounding the pavement this fall with a series of lectures promoting the swiftly approaching Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. The 2009 Alltech On The Road tour featuring Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech, will include six presentations over a two-day period–October 26-27.

“With less than one year remaining

A horse quarantine has been lifted at the Hoosier Park racetrack in central Indiana where two Thoroughbreds tested positive for Streptococcus equi (the bacterium that causes the disease strangles).

Racing manager Jeffrey Smith says no other horses have shown signs of the disease. Smith says the quarantined barn is being disinfected and won’t be used again during the track’s

The Retired Racehorse Training Symposium at Maryland Therapeutic Riding in Crownsville, Md., featured 13 horses at various stages of post-race training. Steuart Pittman, a Maryland horse trainer who conceived of and conducted the event, focused the audience’s attention both on the qualities and training of each horse and the skills demonstrated by their riders.

Retired jockey J.K.

Four Thoroughbreds have died on the Oct. 14 opening day of Wetherby’s first meet of the jump season in England.

Marrel and Divex were euthanized after they were injured in the feature race, the Bobby Renton Chase. The same happened to Nut Hand following the first race and Miss Giboa broke a leg when falling in the last.

Wetherby was criticized for inconsistent ground last season but

It was weather fit for neither man nor beast. But, it was not going to stand in the way of the determined horse-and-rider combinations that made their way to the Kentucky Cup Endurance –the official test event for the discipline of endurance riding and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The day promised two international-level competitions consisting of a 75-mile and a 100-mile

A blood sample is usually a key step in diagnosing a horse as insulin resistant. But a recent study showed that one sample might not give enough information for an accurate diagnosis, because the horse’s blood sugar and insulin fluctuates daily. “Your veterinarian should probably take at least two samples on different days,” recommended Shannon E. Pratt, PhD, of North Carolina State University, wh

On Oct. 8, 2009, the United States Senate passed the final version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R.2997). The House of Representatives approved the bill the previous day. This bill provides funding for the USDA for fiscal year 2010 and contains two provisions of interest to the horse industry.

GAO