Clipmarks | MorganLvr's 'horses' clips

Reaction Case Underlines Need for Horse Owner and Vet Communication

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:59:39 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Just a reminder that it's YOUR horse and you have the right to ask questions and make your own decisions.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

The ability to have a straightforward, informative conversation with your veterinarian about his or her prescribed treatments for your horse can be just as important as asking questions about treatments or diagnostics that your own physician recommends. With the ever-increasing (read: overwhelming) breadth of information out there about equine veterinary topics, it's not surprising that similar to the laundry list of side effects presented with a pharmaceutical commercial, your horse could have adverse reactions to medications on the market. A horse owner shared with The Horse her story of a treatment gone wrong, with the hope that it can be an impetus to other owners to ask their veterinarians the hard questions and research the substances being administered to their horses.

Tags: horses, meditation, side effects, reactions

Special Report: Racehorse Durability

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:58:52 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Research on the loss of durability of racehorses in the last 34 years.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

In this exclusive report, The Blood-Horse investigates whether the Thoroughbred racehorse is as tough today as it was 30 to 40 years ago. Editors of The Blood-Horse recently sought the answer to this question by producing a comprehensive review of 34 years of historical Thoroughbred stallion progeny records pulled from The Jockey Club's extensive database. The full study, containing more than 200 pages, is available as a free download in PDF format.

Eric Mitchell, executive editor for digital media of The Blood-Horse notes, "There has been anecdotal evidence for years that the Thoroughbred of today is not as tough as it has been in the past. We compiled stallion progeny race records for foal crops from 1970 through 2003, broke the data down by decade, and then calculated starts per foal for each stallion and each decade to look for trends. We were looking to see whether the starts per foal have decreased over time and clearly they have."

Tags: horses, racehorses, duribility, the blood=horse

Hazards Could be Hidden in Hay

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:47:28 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Just a reminder to ALWAYS check anything you feed your horses.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

Just 24 hours after Betsy Bueno of Santa Rosa, Calif., began feeding her horses a new batch of hay, one colicked and began to show neurologic signs. Within days, two of her 12 horses required euthanasia and seven were showing similar clinical signs.

"I thought they had gotten some poisonous hemlock outside," Bueno said. But her veterinarian asked to look at her hay.

In the jumble of green material comprising a bale, it can be difficult for a horse owner to spot a dangerous plant, especially in its dried form.

Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ABVT, ABT, vice president and medical director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center, recommends testing hay for toxic plants, even if hay is purchased from a familiar source.

"Don't send just one flake," she said. "Compile several small samples from several bales."

Tags: hay. poision, hemlock

In the Spotlight: Radiation Therapy for Equine Cancer Patients

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:45:05 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: How encouraging! As well as a darn good thing to know.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

While radiation therapy might seem like an unrealistic option for managing horses with cancer, Janean Fidel, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVR, Dipl. ACVIM, from Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine suggests the opposite. She attests that radiation therapy is a viable option for numerous equine tumors, including melanomas and sarcoids.

"Even though cancer is not as common in horses as dogs or cats, it does still occur and just like in small animals, radiation therapy is a valuable tool in the treatment of our equine oncology patients," emphasizes Fidel.

At the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum, held June 4-7, Fidel reviewed the biology of radiation therapy and highlighted that the goal of this modality is to deliver the highest possible doe of radiation to the tumor while sparing the normal surrounding tissue--a challenging task at best.

Tags: horses, radiation therapy. equine, cancer

Walking Horse Exhibitors Withdraw from Show

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:14:05 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: I tried and tried to come up with an appropriate comment for this, but words fail me...

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

Hundreds of trainers withdrew their horses from competition at a major Tennessee Walking Horse show last weekend after USDA inspectors arrived on the scene to examine horses for violations of the Horse Protection Act.

According to Earl Rogers Jr., president of the Kentucky Walking Horse Association, the four-day Owingsville Lions Club Horse Show drew more than 500 Tennessee Walking Horses, many of them contenders for the breed's championship title at the upcoming National Celebration in August. But the prospect of failing USDA testing brought the competition down to just 40 horses in the show's final two days.

"If they had been found in violation, they would not be able to show at the Celebration," said Rogers, who also manages the Owingsville show.

Tags: walking horses, exhibitors, usda, soring

Euthanasia For Wild Horses?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:50:54 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Surely this can't be the only way!

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

Bonnie Matton, president of the Wild Horse Preservation League, wasn't happy when the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it might consider euthanasia as a means to manage wild horse herds, but she wasn't surprised, either.

"They're between a rock and a hard place," said Matton, whose Dayton, Nev. nonprofit group advocates on behalf of wild horse issues. "These herds need management, but it's expensive and the BLM's budget can't keep up."

BLM Deputy Director Henri Bisson presented the euthanasia option during the June 30 meeting of the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board in Reno, Nev., as one solution to cope with increasing herds and a shrinking budget.

Tags: horses, wild horses, euthanasia, blm

Link Between Facial Hair Whorls and Horse 'Handedness' Reported

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:27:46 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: This is absolutely fascinating!

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

Irish researchers identified a unique link between equine motor laterality, or "handedness," and specific characteristics of facial hair whorls (trichoglyphs): right-handed horses had significantly more clockwise whorls whereas whorls were more likely to flow in a counter-clockwise direction in left-handed horses.

"It has long been speculated that most horses experience some degree of motor laterality in that they prefer one lead (or side) over the other," said co-author Jack Murphy, PhD, from the department of Life Sciences at the University of Limerick. "Riders tend to find that most horses have a 'preferred' side and gallop, jump, and work better on either the left or right rein."

Equine Bone Fragility Disorder Reported in California

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:02:00 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

eterinary researchers at the University of California, Davis, are working to classify a newly observed bone fragility disorder that might prove to be the culprit behind some cases of intermittent chronic lameness that have no other explanation.

After an extensive review of medical records from horses examined at the university's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between June 1980 and June 2006, researchers found 16 horses with lameness that could not be pinpointed. All 16 horses showed multiple sites of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (or "hot spots") on scintigraphic images, which indicates increased bone activity (such as bone remodeling or healing after a fracture).

"The horses all have similar clinical symptoms and present with what we think are differing stages of the same disease," said Jonathan Anderson, BVM&S, resident in equine surgery at the hospital and lead author on the study.

Tags: horses, bone diseases, veterinary

Big Brown's Owners Adopt No-Drug Policy

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:37:18 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: This is wonderful if IEAH is truly serious about ending doping of race horses, and if others will follow suit.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH) Stables--the partnership that races Big Brown--has taken the first bold step in securing a no-drug policy in racing by announcing Monday that all its horses starting Oct. 1 will race without any medication, with the exception of Lasix, which trainer Rick Dutrow asked that they exclude because several of his horses are bleeders and require Lasix to race.

"We have decided to withdraw all of our horses from medication, except for Lasix," IEAH co-president Mike Iavarone told Blood-Horse. "We're beginning Oct. 1 because the horses should be clear of all substances by that time.

"In addition, we are willing to allow racetracks to do pre- and post-race testing on all our horses, and we will pay all expenses."

Tags: horses, horse racing, ieah, big brown, medication

Jockey Injured, Horse Euthanized after Churchill Spill

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:32:25 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Yet another horse has to be euthanized after taking what should have been a simple bad step.

This should NOT be happening, and I think the powers-that-be in racing better find out why so many horses go down and never get up.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan suffered minor injuries in a spill in the first race June 21 at Churchill Downs. He was taken to Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville for X rays, which revealed no broken bones or serious injuries, according to his agent Doc Danner.

Bridgmohan, who will turn 29 next week, was riding Vinstar for owner Stonestreet Stable and trainer Steve Asmussen. Vinstar appeared to take a bad step near the sixteenth pole in the six-furlong sprint and Bridgmohan was dropped in the process of trying to pull the colt up.

The rider appeared to have been kicked by a trailing horse as he rolled under the rail. Bridgmohan was taken to First Aid complaining of pain in his left leg and right arm before being transported to the hospital.

Vinstar, a 3-year-old son of Vindication, had to be euthanized after suffering sesamoid fractures in both front legs and a dislocated right front fetlock, according to Lafe Nichols, DVM, the state veterinarian for Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.

Tags: horses, racing, catastrophic injuries

Brain Dysfunction in Cribbing Horses Gives Researchers Something to Chew On

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:32:37 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

In the first study of its kind, researchers from the United Kingdom have discovered that cribbing horses learn differently than horses that don't crib.

Cribbing is a stereotypy in which a horse grasps an object between his incisor teeth and inhales air into the esophagus while emitting an audible grunting noise. It is the most common stereotypy among stabled horses.

Previous research has suggested that changes in the chemical pathways in specific regions of the brain appear to be important in environmentally-induced stereotypies such as cribbing. In particular, cribbers reportedly have fewer types of dopamine receptors in a specific region of the brain referred to as the dorsomedial striatum.

"Post-mortem studies have illustrated that crib-biting horses have differences in some brain areas," explained Matthew Parker, MSc, a doctoral candidate in the School of Psychology at the University of Southampton. "We wanted to see how this affected their learning."

Homes for Horses Coalition Launches Web Site

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:51:09 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Another much needed resource for unwanted horses.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

The Homes for Horses Coalition has launched a new Web site, www.homesforhorses.org.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with the Animal Welfare Institute and several other groups, formed the Homes for Horses Coalition last July. Keith Dane, director of equine protection for the HSUS, said the coalition was designed to support equine-focused nonprofits.

CSU Research Aims To Reduce Injuries To Race Horses

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:47:29 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr

Clip Source: www.examiner.com

Sports

SPORTS: CSU research aims to reduce injuries to race horses

By MIKE HOOKER, The Associated Press
2008-05-10 06:00:38.0
Current rank: # 900 of 7,332

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -

The death of a top race horse in the Kentucky Derby is something researchers at Colorado State University hope to help prevent in the future.

Eight Belles, a filly, fractured both front ankles after placing second at the race last weekend. Veterinarians euthanized her at the track, prompting a nationwide discussion about the risks the animals face from aggressive training and breeding.

At CSU's Equine Orthopedic Research Center, one veterinarian is a pioneer in bone and joint surgery that is saving race horses. Another has tissue samples from 150 different horses, hoping to find an answer to the common injury that Eight Belles suffered May 3.

O'Connor Horse Tigger Too Dies at Jersey Event

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:16:05 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: Yet another good horse dies in competition.

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

O'Connor Horse Tigger Too Dies at Jersey Event

by: Kimberly S. Brown, Editor
May 11 2008, Article # 11850

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The U.S. Eventing Association released the following official statement regarding Lauren Kieffer and her mount Tigger Too following the death of the David O'Connor horse on May 10 during the Jersey Fresh CCI3* at the New Jersey Horse Park in Allentown, N.J.

"The organizing committee of the Jersey Fresh CCI3* regrets to announce the death of David O'Connor's horse, Tigger Too, ridden by Lauren Kieffer, at Fence 28 on the cross-country course today. Lauren was uninjured in the fall.

"The FEI investigative panel has been convened to review the facts surrounding the incident, and more information will be released once the investigation is through.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the O'Connor and the Kieffer families after the loss of this wonderful horse."

Tags: horses, catastrophic injury, eventing

Eight Belles

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:42:39 GMT

clipped by: MorganLvr
clipper's remarks: What can be done to prevent catastrophic breakdowns?

Clip Source: www.thehorse.com

Eight Belles' Injury Raises Questions About Racing Industry

by: The Associated Press
May 05 2008, Article # 11807

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A day after Big Brown blazed across the finish line, the snapshot of Eight Belles down on the dirt set off a raging debate that extended far beyond the Kentucky Derby: Is horse racing now facing an image crisis?

With the memory of Barbaro still fresh, Eight Belles' catastrophic injury Saturday put increasing focus on a sport already trying to overcome a decline in popularity.

Her death has raised thorny issues about the whole Thoroughbred industry, including track safety, whether fillies should be allowed to run against colts, and whether horses are bred too much for speed and not for soundness.

Tags: horses, breakdown, horse racing, kentucky derby