The Steroid Debate

“Steroid” use has made headlines because of abuse in human athletes for the past decade, from Major League Baseball to track and field events. The topic has also become hot in the horse industry, from steroid use for bulking up young horses in

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Natural Stallion Behavior

Q: I own a Lusitano stallion that has been stabled at the same barn for four years. Within the past four to six months, he has shown increasingly aggressive displays toward two stallions that walk in front of his stall. He kicks an

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Weight Loss in Horses

Thin body condition of a horse might represent true “weight loss,” or, more likely, it might be secondary to inadequate calorie intake over a period of time. The identification of a thin horse is usually not difficult–the horse’s owner, stable

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Umbilical Issues

When should a colt be vaccinated for tetanus, and does a leaking umbilical cord ever seal off without surgery?

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Grooming Products

Good management is as important as good products when caring for your horse’s coat, mane, and tail.

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Oral Joint Supplements for Horses

With scores of oral joint health supplements on the market, how do horse owners know which to buy? This article examines the current state of the equine nutritional supplement industry, and it presents a seven-step “ACCLAIM” approach for horse owners.

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Desensitizing Your Horse to Fly Spray

A HORSE’S LAMENT: How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. ‘Tis the rankest compound of villainous smell that ever offended nostril. Yonder vessel full of foul sound and fury. Cruel icy tears assailing my body. –Equus

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Searching for the Source of Carpal Lameness

The equine carpal (knee) joint is a veritable puzzle of bones and sometimes a diagnostic enigma for veterinarians. Mike Ross, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center offered some insight to practitioners on working

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Equine Color Vision Research: Seeing Things Differently

If you have a horse of a different color, chances are your horse knows it–although he might not be able to say if he’s red or green.

New physiological and behavioral research by various teams across the globe has added weight to the

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Repairing Hernias with Subcutaneous Mesh

Incisional hernias (protrusion of abdominal contents through a gap in an incision beneath the skin) occur in up to 17% of horses receiving abdominal surgery, reported Gal Kelmer, DVM, MS, clinical assistant professor at the University of

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MRI for Diagnosing Sesamoidean Ligament Desmitis

The high degree of detail seen with MRI has made it possible for veterinarians to find equine injuries they’ve never seen before. One example of this–MRI evaluation of desmitis in the oblique and straight distal sesamoidean ligaments–was discussed.

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Handling a Choking Horse


All animals can choke, including horses. When it happens, it should be considered a medical emergency. A horse chokes when its esophagus is obstructed, rather than the trachea, or windpipe. Although horses are still able to breathe in this

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Equine Locomotor Pathology Group Moves Toward Certification

The International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP) held the first of its second series of lectures earlier this month. Around 100 veterinarians attended the weekend course hosted by Virginia Equine Imaging and led by Jean-Marie

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Wooden Shoes for Chronic Laminitis

The chronically laminitic horse is often a very tough case to manage because displacement of the coffin bone within the foot leads to a lot of pain and damage, in addition to the damage that allowed the displacement in the first place.

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Alliance Formed at Sound Horse Conference

At the recent Sound Horse Conference, leading animal welfare organizations joined with Tennessee Walking Horse industry groups to announce the formation of the new Alliance to End Soring. The conference took place April 11 and 12 in

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More From The Horse

knee flexion, lameness exam
Mückenplage auf der Pferdeweide
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pastern bone damage in sport horses; horse arena footing; How Uneven Feet Affect a Horse in Motion

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