3D printing future for therapeutic shoes?

Equinescienceupdate.com - Full article

Australian vets and scientists from CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) have given a surprise Christmas gift to ten-year old mare, Holly, who suffers from chronic laminitis.
She recently took the first steps in her new 3D printed titanium shoes that were custom designed to fit her foot.

The team of 3D printing experts worked with horse podiatrists to scan Holly's feet and design the “horse-thotic” which aims to support the foot and encourage it to heal, whilst making Holly comfortable...

Read more and see video here:
http://www.equinescienceupdate.com/articles/3fpts.html?utm_source=Equine+Science+Update+enews+Dec+2013+%28FREE%29&utm_campaign=CCDec13FREE&utm_medium=email

Steaming's Effect Horse Hay Studied

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM
Dec 17, 2013

Soaking hay in water is a common practice used to reduce dust and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) levels for horses with respiratory or metabolic conditions. But soaking can leach essential nutrients, such as phosphorus and magnesium, from hay and be labor-intensive.

In the last few years hay steaming has gained popularity as a soaking alternative, but how does it compare to soaking? University of Minnesota researchers, who recently studied soaking’s effect on hay, set out to answer that question...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33054/steamings-effect-horse-hay-studied?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=12-23-2013

Study: Underrun Heels Impair Horses' Hoof Loading Ability

Photo: Renate Weller, DrMedVet., PhD, MRCVS, MScVetEd, FHEA
Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Nov 28, 2013

Collapsed heels are a common problem in horses, particularly Thoroughbred racehorses, and can cause decreased performance and lameness. Because little is known about the mechanism behind this condition, a group of researchers from The Royal Veterinary College, in London, U.K., recently examined the relationship between collapsed heels and hoof deformation. Farrier Peter Day, Dipl. WCF, presented their findings at the 2013 International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, held Nov. 1-3 in West Palm Beach, Fla...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32942/study-underrun-heels-impair-horses-hoof-loading-ability?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=lameness&utm_campaign=12-04-2013

State-of-the-Art Animal Care Facility Planned at JFK Airport

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Diane E. Rice
Nov 27, 2013

By early 2015, horses and other animals will enjoy a new $32 million state-of-the-art facility at New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. Port Authority officials said the center will set new national airport standards for comprehensive veterinary, stalling/kenneling, and quarantine services, and create more efficient ways to transport animals worldwide. JFK officials project the number of animals served at 70,000 each year...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32955/state-of-the-art-animal-care-facility-planned-at-jfk-airport?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=welfare-industry&utm_campaign=12-05-2013

Immediate Effects of Shoeing on Horses' Movement

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Erica Larson, News Editor
Dec 11, 2013

Do you think your horse moves a bit unevenly after a trim? You might be right. Researchers recently showed that while routine farriery care had little influence overall on horses' movement, horses do show some movement asymmetry after being trimmed.

Thilo Pfau, PhD, a lecturer in the Royal Veterinary College Department of Clinical Science and Services, presented recent research on the topic at the 2013 International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, held Nov. 1-3 in West Palm Beach, Fla...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32986/immediate-effects-of-shoeing-on-horses-movement?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=12-17-2013

Study: Some Horses, Riders have 'Co-Being' Relationship

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Nov 21, 2013

If you’ve ever considered your horse to be your “better half,” you’re not alone. Norwegian and American researchers recently found that riders and horses can enter into a unique state of interspecies “co-being” with one other.

Co-being refers to a state of relationship in which each partner evolves to “fit” better with each other, both physically and mentally...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32915/study-some-horses-riders-have-co-being-relationship?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=12-03-2013

Stem Cells to Treat Chronic Laminitis: The Sooner the Better

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Dec 18, 2013

For years, the veterinarians and podiatrists at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, in Lexington, Ky., have been testing stem cell therapy's efficacy as an adjunctive treatment for the hoof disease laminitis. Their access to a large stem cell bank combined with a high caseload has created the ideal scenario for studying this cutting-edge treatment.

Most recently, the Rood & Riddle team investigated whether stem cell therapy could help stabilize chronic laminitis cases and during what time period stem cell administration is most effective. Vernon Dryden, DVM, CJF, APF, presented their results at the 2013 International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, held Nov. 1-3 in West Palm Beach, Fla...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33060/stem-cells-to-treat-chronic-laminitis-the-sooner-the-better

Racehorse Drug Testing Not Without Its Challenges

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Tom LaMarra
Dec 14, 2013

Out-of-competition testing is designed to detect the use of substances such as blood-doping agents and "emerging drugs," such as peptide venoms that can have pain-killing effects, Foreman said.

Out-of-competition testing of racehorses has broad support, but important issues, such as the constitutional rights of licensees, have made use and enforcement difficult for regulators, panelists said Dec. 11 during the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing and Gaming.

Alan Foreman, chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA) and an attorney, said out-of-competition testing rules are in place for 24 racetracks, most of them the larger operations in North America. But many industry stakeholders don't understand how it works or the restrictions that go along with it...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33045/racehorse-drug-testing-not-without-its-challenges

Nutritional Support of the Immune System in Horses

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2013

Mature, idle horses on a sound nutritional program are likely to be getting everything they need to keep their immune status strong enough to protect them against disease. However, some groups of horses are at increased risk of illness because of challenges to their immune systems. Young horses, weanlings, senior horses, undernourished or starved equines, horses in heavy training, those that travel frequently, and those that are exposed to various other types of stress may need some help in avoiding infections. For these horses, certain nutrients can give the immune system a boost. Among well-known supporters of immunity are zinc, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/nutritional-support-immune-system-horses?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6555395b39-KER_Newsletter_11_27_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-6555395b39-11166

Drinking Water Temperature

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Sue McDonnell, PhD, Certified AAB
Nov 28, 2013

Q. A few years ago I read an article describing research done at New Bolton Center on drinking behavior. It said that the research showed that in winter, horses prefer to drink warm water rather than ice cold water, and, as a result, veterinarians recommend giving horses warm water during the winter to be sure that they drink enough.

So, that winter we hung buckets of water along the fence every morning and evening at feeding time. It seemed our horses drank very little warm water from the buckets. Instead, they kept going to the stream even when it was partially frozen over. On days that the stream was completely frozen, they would drink from the buckets. We thought they might not like something about the hanging buckets, which were quite a distance from their hay racks...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/15582/drinking-water-temperature?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=12-02-2013

Urgent Alert: Key Land Conservation Incentive Set to Expire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
For additional information, contact:
Holley Groshek, Acting Executive Director
Equine Land Conservation Resource
Phone: 859-455-8383
Email: hgroshek@elcr.org
www.elcr.org

 
Lexington, KY – December 9, 2013 – At Equine Land Conservation Resource we often ask the question where will we ride, drive, race, compete, raise foals and grow hay tomorrow? The expiration of a key land conservation incentive will greatly impact the answer to that question.
 
There is a general consensus in the equine community that saving land for horses and horse-related activities is a top priority.  Open space is at a premium these days and conservation has become an increasingly important issue in the equine world.   For this reason, Equine Land Conservation Resource supports federal legislation that prevents the loss of open space.  One of the strongest and most cost effective tools to accomplish this is the enhanced tax incentive for landowners who permanently retire development rights on their land. 
 
This incentive allows farmers and ranchers, horse people, and family land businesses to remain prosperous and viable, when they might otherwise not be able to continue to keep their land open for farming, pastureland, breeding, trails, horse shows, competition venues, hay and grain production or any of the other uses of open space which impact the horse community.
 
For example, Fauquier County, Virginia landowner Marion Poynter recognizing the importance of conserving horse lands permanently protected her historic 47-acre farm this year by donating a conservation easement to the Piedmont Environmental Council.  Mrs. Poynter and her farm, known as “The Meadows,” are known in equine circles for their warmblood sport horse breeding program, which is largely based on the now protected property.   However, we are in danger of losing this enhanced incentive which is set to expire at the end of the month.
 
Unless Congress acts, some of the farms and open fields, essential to our industry and sport, will be lost forever. H.R. 2807 and S. 526 would make the enhanced incentive permanent, and both bills have strong bi-partisan support.  
 
We are asking the media to help us inform the equine community and urge them to take immediate action by contacting their senators and representative (202-224-3121) and asking them to co-sponsor S. 526 or H.R. 2807.  If their representative is already a co-sponsor, they can still call and let them know how important it is to move this legislation before the end of the year.  To learn more about the enhanced tax incentive program please visit www.lta.org/easementincentive.
 
Working together we can conserve and protect our cherished equine places and spaces!!
 
About the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR): The Equine Land Conservation Resource builds awareness of the loss of lands available for horse-related activities and facilitates the protection and preservation of those lands. We work to ensure America’s equine heritage lives on and the emotional, physical and economic benefits of the horse-human relationship remains accessible. ELCR serves as an information resource and clearinghouse on issues related to conserving horse properties, land use planning, land stewardship/best management practices, trails, liability and equine economic development. For more information about the ELCR visit our website at www.elcr.org or call (859) 455-8383.

Mucho Macho Man Wins $5,000,000 in Revolutionary Burns Polyflex Shoe

Easycare Blog - Full Story

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 by Kevin Myers

Did you know there is a significant connection between the Burns Polyflex Shoe and the soon-to-be-released EasyShoe?

Curtis Burns of No Anvil, LLC, has been working closely with Garrett Ford for more than two years to help guide the evolution of the new EasyShoe and to provide feedback on the numerous design elements. There have been some fascinating conversations back and forth over that time, and the trust and respect between these two thought leaders is palpable...

Read more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/bootlegging/mucho-macho-man-wins-5000000#sthash.00w9TKDX.dpuf

Isabella Bird, Rocky Mountain Explorer

Stargazermercantile.com - Full Article

If I asked you to name some explorers, how many could you name? Now, let’s say you’re on a game show trying to win a trip around the world and a lifetime supply of Rice-a-Roni. Get to it! It’s the “Lightening Round” and the clock is ticking. There’s Magellan, da Gama, Columbus, Ponce de Leon, Lewis and Clark . . .now, quick, name female explorers! If the only name on your list is Dora the Explorer, you’re never going to make it to Rice-A-Roni territory. For that, you’re going to have to offer up a more unexpected name. Howzabout Isabella Bird?

The Early Bird

Isabella Bird was born in England, in 1831. She was as sickly as a character from a Dickens novel, but she had a hankering to see the world. When she was 22-years-old, her doctor suggested that to help her health, she should take an ocean voyage. Hmm… Allrighty then. I confess that I got a little hung up on this point because it was 1854 and we weren’t exactly talking about taking a cruise on The Love Boat, sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them on the Lido Deck. It was a good deal more “rustic” back then! But, hey, I’m not a 19th century doctor, so perhaps that was a perfectly logical suggestion. Isabella’s father presented her with £100 and quite literally shipped her off to stay with relatives in America, for as long as her money lasted...

Read more here:
http://stargazermercantile.com/isabella-bird-rocky-mountain-explorer/

French horse riders take tax protest on to streets of Paris

Theguardian.com - Full Article

François Hollande's plan to treble VAT on equestrian centres will 'send 80,000 horses to the abattoir', warns industry

Kim Willsher in Paris
theguardian.com, Sunday 24 November 2013

A French mood of mutiny that has rippled through Brittany and infected teachers, farmers and shopkeepers, skipped species on Sunday when horses took to the streets of Paris to complain about tax rises.

Thousands of disgruntled horse and pony riders rode through the French capital to complain about tax increases they say will put many of them out of business and send 80,000 animals to the abattoir.

The "cavaliers" blocked roads from the symbolic Paris squares, Place d'Italie, Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation, in protest at government plans to almost treble VAT on equestrian centres...

Read more here:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/24/france-equestrian-tax-protest-paris

A Personal Rant About What’s Become of FEI Endurance - Patti Stedman

Enduranceintrospection.com

by Patti Stedman
December 7 2013

[The first thing I have to do is officially divorce my personal opinions, comments and this entire rant from what is my official role on the AERC Board of Directors. I have certainly expressed my thoughts and feelings and ideas to that group of twenty-six, and am open to discussing that if anyone has questions on what is going with regard to doing BoD business, but not here, and not today.]

Here, this morning, I am going to have a temper tantrum of massive proportion to express my disgust and frustration.

I am furious that international competition, which left me cheering and proud in the late 1990s when I was just starting the sport, has become a shamefully divisive topic of discussion.

I am disgusted that a sport that I think of as “one horse, one rider and 100 miles” and “to finish is to win” with a full 24 hours to complete a challenging course has become, for some, a massive stable of disposable equines and a 100 mile flat track race complete with hazing vehicles and VIP tents and faster and faster ride times and a mentality that is not only “to win is to win” but “win at all costs” with money a massive motivating factor, up, down and across the organization. Openly as well as pervasively and deeply ingrained in every facet of its existence.

I am saddened, deeply, that riders in my country have been so tempted by life-altering money, that they have sold their partners in that “one horse, one rider” scenario to be assimilated into one of those stables of disposable equines. It reminds me, once again, that in this sport as in all horse sports, big money and big egos rarely means much of anything good for the horses involved.

I am horrified and sickened by stories of fractures and exhausted horses and injections and hazing and drugging of disposable horses and positive drug tests resulting in a slap on the wrist and no discernible change in the conduct of certain riders’ and owners’ and trainers’ behavior.

I am ashamed that the sport of endurance, as I see it, is and will continue to be tarnished by its association with what is going on, and that that ship has already sailed on a course that I am convinced is unalterable.

I am dismayed that I will be called upon to defend a sport which for me is, at its very heart, a test of horsemanship and preparation and athleticism DRIVEN by concern for the well-being of the horse.

I am angry that riders in my country and in Canada and in dozens of other countries, many duct-taping their dream together on a shoestring budget, compete against others on such a wildly un-level playing field, attempting to be honest and rule-abiding, while their competition is anything but.

I am stymied as to why they would want to continue to do so.

In Anticipation of AAEP - Nancy Loving

Thehorse.com Blogs - Full Article

7 December 2013

My grandmother always thought there was something wrong with the pre-teen me as I raced around the house with hands held in front like I was holding reins and the rounded part of a pretzel lodged in my mouth like a bit, while I made neighing sounds. (Getting those neighs just right does take a bit of practice, by the way.) As I think back on this, well, there is something wrong with this image--kind of like the cart going before the horse. I mean, if I was steering myself ... hmmm, you get the idea. I am digressing. My mom thought I’d be okay and really didn’t need any professional help. My grandmother wasn’t so sure. Well, I suppose they were both right--I didn’t persist in acting like a horse but my horsey passion kind of took over my life as I went on to surround myself with “all things horse” by becoming a horse doctor.

So, is it any wonder that even in my travels, I end up going where everyone talks all day long about horses? If I ever wanted to network with people from all over the world who have the same focused passion, well, there’s one place where horse vets go--the annual AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) Convention. Each year, nearly 6000 (count 'em!) horse doctors, veterinary students and trade show exhibitors from various parts of Planet Earth descend upon a different U.S. city...

Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/aaep-convention/archive/2013/12/07/in-anticipation-of-AAEP.aspx

Stress on endurance horses probed in study

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Dec 04, 2013

Endurance horses generally cope well with the stresses of racing, a study suggests.

The conclusion was based on the assessments, including electrocardiograms and blood chemistry analysis, of horses who competed in two endurance events – one in Norway and one in Denmark.

“This study would indicate that, based on the analyzed parameters, endurance horses cope well with the stress and physical demands of endurance racing,” the Scandinavian researchers concluded...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/12/04/stress-endurance-horses-probed-study/#axzz2moENEaOD

Tips for Managing Horses in Winter to Avoid Colic

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Edited Press Release
Nov 21, 2012

By Eleanor Kellon, VMD, staff veterinary specialist for Uckele Health & Nutrition

Colic can strike at any time and has many known--and some not-so-well-understood--risk factors. The fall and winter seasons themselves are known risk factors and there are several things you can do to decrease your horse's likelihood of developing colic. As pastures dwindle in the fall and the horse must switch to a different diet, two major factors are at play. One is the fact there is a different diet. The other is change in moisture level of the diet.

Most owners know they should transition slowly when adding or changing grains and other concentrates. However, it is important to realize that a change in forage, including hay types, should also be made gradually. This is because the protein, sugar, and starch components of hay are digested in the small intestine and--while digestive enzymes there can successfully adjust to changes--it doesn't happen overnight...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/30900/tips-for-managing-horses-in-winter-to-avoid-colic?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=11-26-2013

You Are Ready For Your First Ride - Trust Me! - Patti Stedman

Enduranceintrospection.com - Full Story

By Patti Stedman | November 29th, 2013

It concerns me sometimes that we’ve made success in our sport seem like some unattainable thing, requiring hours and hours of ceaseless daily conditioning over mountains at a gallop with a heart rate monitor and reverse splits and seven gazillion supplements.

It’s just not that complicated.

You take:

• One sound horse (this is a deal breaker — our veterinarian judges will not let you start a ride with a horse with a “hitch in his giddyup”)
• Saddle and tack and clothes that fit both you and the horse well (doesn’t have to be fancy or endurance tack – whatever works!)
• Some time to do some “legging up” of your horse, some short rides, some longer rides, so that you and the horse can happily do a 15 or so mile ride a few weekends before the competition in about 2 and a half hours and both feel pretty happy and comfortable at the end (no swollen legs, no hang dog look, no sore back)
• A little effort to TRAIN your horse so that it can pass and be passed on the trail, be around other horses on the same trail without going totally bananas, stop without being run into a tree, able to deal with reasonable trail obstacles safely, to eat and drink and rest when he is given an opportunity to do so, and to pace at the pace that YOU would like to go (since he’s a herd animal and will likely try to run as fast as the rest of the escaping herd unless you TRAIN him that you pick the pace and he won’t die as a result),
• Practice time learning to camp safely, and
• Getting familiar with AERC rules, which can be found, along with a plethora of other “getting started” information at www.aerc.org

Them’s the basics. Let’s Keep It Simple, Silly, shall we?...

Read more here:
http://enduranceintrospection.com/you-are-ready-for-your-first-ride-trust-me/

To Protect Your Horses, Use ICE

USRider.org

Lexington, KY (Sept. 6, 2005) – Say you’re traveling with your Horses and are involved in a serious accident. If you’re incapacitated, how will first responders know who to contact? How will they know what to do with your Horses?

USRider is advising horse owners of a new initiative that has been receiving a lot of publicity recently – ICE, which stands for In Case of Emergency. This very simple program has been designed to aid emergency responders in identifying victims whose identity is unknown and in determining who needs to be notified.

USRider is a nationwide roadside assistance plan created especially for equestrians. It includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lockout services, plus towing up to 100 miles and roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with Horses, emergency stabling, veterinary and farrier referrals, and more.

Implementing ICE is easy. Program your emergency contact information into your cellular phone and designate it with the acronym ICE. For example, if your brother John is the person you want to have alerted in the event of an emergency, insert the letters “ICE” before his name in your phone’s address book, creating an entry such as "ICE – John."

For those who regularly travel with Horses, it’s important to make it easy for first responders to know who to contact for information on handling your Horses. To do this, program an entry called "ICE – Horse" with the contact information of someone with the authority to make decisions about the care of your Horses if you are incapacitated.

The idea for ICE was conceived by Bob Brotchie, a clinical team leader for the East Anglian Ambulance Service, after years of trying to reach relatives of people he was treating. With ICE, paramedics or police can swiftly find the number or numbers and reach relatives or friends who could help identify deceased victims and treat injured ones, by providing vital personal information, including details of any medical conditions.

USRider strongly encourages the public, especially those who travel with Horses, to participate in the ICE initiative.

"This is a simple way to ensure that emergency, ambulance and hospital staff can quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them,” said Mark Cole, managing member of USRider. “In addition, those people could provide pertinent information about your Horses in the event of an emergency."

Before putting someone's name in as an emergency contact, be sure to discuss it with the person first and ask for permission to do so.

"While we recommend that USRider Members carry their USRider Membership at all times, we would like to recommend that they use their cellular phones to program the emergency contact number and membership ID number on their card into their cellular telephone as well, such as 'USRider-800#' and 'USRider-ID#' – so they have it in an emergency."

In conjunction with these recommendations, USRider recommends that conscientious horse owners prepare a limited/special power of attorney document relating to any treatment and care of their Horses in the event that the owner is incapacitated. A sample power-of-attorney form is available online at www.usrider.org.

"While these are not pleasant subjects," said Cole, "this is part of good animal stewardship, and conscientious horse owners should take steps to see that their Horses are properly cared for in an emergency."

An additional safety precaution is to secure emergency contact information to your horse trailer. USRider has created exterior emergency decals and interior information placards that are included at no extra cost in the USRider membership kit. Non-Members can request copies of these decals from the USRider website by entering the site’s guest book.

For more information about USRider, call toll-free (800) 844-1409 or visit www.usrider.org.

Winter-Driving Safety Guide

Equisearch.com - Full Article

By Courtesy of USRider Equestrian Motor Plan

Hauling your horse this winter? Don’t leave home without this quick-reference guide to winter driving.

This winter maintain your trailer, and follow these winter-driving tips from USRider.

• Go slow. Follow this rule of thumb: "rain, ice, and snow--take it slow." Slow down even more when approaching curves, ramps, bridges, and interchanges. Avoid abrupt actions, such as quick lane changes, braking, and accelerating.

• Check the weather. Before setting out on a trip, check weather reports, and plan accordingly. In many states, you can dial 5-1-1 for travel conditions and road closures. Allow extra time for inclement weather. Be aware of changing conditions. Look ahead, and keep track of the driving conditions in front of you. Actions by other drivers can alert you to problems and give you time to react. Look out for black ice, which is hard to see.

• Don't become overconfident. Don't be susceptible to the false security of four-wheel drive. While four-wheel drive may help you go, but it won't help you stop...

Read more here:
http://www.equisearch.com/farm_ranch/trailering/winter_tip_for_pulling_a_horse_trailer/?utm_source=TrailRiderNL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Reparixin: The Future of Laminitis Treatment?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Nov 19, 2013

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine, and ketoprofen—these are all common drugs when it comes to managing inflammation in horses. Each has its advantages and disadvantages though, and when trying to block the inflammatory response in horses with laminitis there is no gold standard treatment. But what if a new drug, from an entirely untapped class, got thrown into the mix?...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32896/reparixin-the-future-of-laminitis-treatment?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=lameness&utm_campaign=11-20-2013

Feed Management to Minimize the Risk of Impaction in Horses

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2013

Winter, with its icy water sources and lowered equine activity levels, is one of the riskiest times for horses that tend to develop intestinal impaction. Fresh grass has been replaced in the diet by dry hay; horses tend to drink less when offered very cold water; and with a break in regular training and exercise, they may not sweat enough to feel thirsty. These are all contributing factors to impaction colic because they are all conducive to slower movement of ingested material through the digestive tract.

Regular intake of suitable forage, adequate chewing and moistening of this forage with saliva, and proper hydration status are important in preventing impaction. Exercise also encourages movement of ingested material. Horse owners need to be sure they are carrying out management steps to help their horses avoid problems...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/feed-management-minimize-risk-impaction-horses?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f0b6494b3f-KER_Newsletter_Kentucky_Equine11_20_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-f0b6494b3f-11166

Back Country Horsemen of America Gets the Job Done with Low Impact on the Land

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
November 17, 2013
 
Peg Greiwe
peg@backcountryhorse.com
 
Back Country Horsemen of America Gets the Job Done with Low Impact on the Land
by Sarah Wynne Jackson
 
Back Country Horsemen of America cherishes our wild lands and they make sure that everything they do has the lowest impact possible on the land and the environment. That’s one reason they love horses and mules. Horse power is irreplaceable in the many public lands where motorized use is prohibited, such as the Bass Lake area in the Sierra National Forest, and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests where the endangered woodland caribou makes a last stand.
 
These precious places need protecting, but our enjoyment of these areas necessitates occasional trail improvements. The predicament is easily solved with the use of the original horse power.
 
Re-Furnishing an Historic Structure
 
The Selkirk Valley Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Idaho recently used horses and mules to complete two packing assignments for the US Forest Service in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, without once violating the “no motorized use” rule.
 
West Fork Cabin, an historic reconstructed smoke-jumpers’ cabin, sits in a small meadow about a mile and a half from a forest service road. Originally built in 1931, it is open to the public for shelter and overnight stays. Because it sees heavy use, many things needed to be replaced.
 
Members of the Selkirk Valley Chapter of BCHI gathered at the trailhead and secured the awkward items on their pack stock. One pack animal carried a 150 pound wood stove and 150 pounds of water on the other side to even out the load. Another carried bunk bed frames, while two others were loaded with three mattresses. The last carried a variety of miscellaneous items.
 
When the motley-looking crew arrived at West Fork Cabin, the surprised resident campers helped Selkirk Valley BCH replace the old items with the new. After a brief visit, they packed the horses and mules with the old items and returned to the trailhead, accomplishing an essential job with a minimum impact on the land.
 
In the Name of Science
 
When the Sandpoint Ranger District in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests received a grant to conduct a study on white bark pine on Keno Mountain, they asked the Selkirk Valley Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Idaho to pack in and out the necessary equipment. In July, they packed all the gear to the top of Keno Mountain. After equipment was put in place to harvest pinecone seeds in the trees, Selkirk Valley BCH packed the gear out. After the harvest, they will repeat the process to bring down the equipment and harvested seeds.
 
The Selkirk Valley Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Idaho look forward to doing whatever they can to maintain local forests. They clear trails, tidy trailheads, assist with scientific studies, and pack in and out a wide variety of equipment and materials using the original horse power, which treads lightly on the land.
 
Having a Blast
 
Partnering with the Bass Lake Ranger District, the Sierra Freepackers Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of California repaired a section of the Spring Cove Trail at Bass Lake in the Sierra National Forest. Their goal was to bring it up to acceptable standards by widening the trail, which required blasting out some rock that made the trail unsafe for horses.
 
The Sierra Freepackers used mules to pack in a variety of equipment needed for the project including a specialized pionjar drill, Boulder Busters, and hand tools. The pionjar is a versatile gas powered tool used to drill holes in the rock. Water was added for expansion and the Boulder Buster inserted. A mat was placed over the blast holes for safety and to keep flying debris to a minimum. As rock was broken up, BCHC members cleared the pieces from the trail.
 
After the project was completed, two BCHC members came back a couple of days later and rode the trail with some novice riders to evaluate the work from horseback. Thanks to the hard work of the Sierra Freepackers and their low impact horse power, the trail was successfully improved without causing damage to the surrounding land.
 
About Back Country Horsemen of America
 
BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations, affiliates, and at-large members. Their efforts have brought about positive changes regarding the use of horses and stock in the wilderness and public lands.
 
If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com; call 888-893-5161; or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on public lands is in our hands!

To Blanket or Not to Blanket? A Good Cold-Weather Question

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Luke Bass, DVM, MS
Nov 15, 2013

The chilly months from late fall to early spring are generally a time of slowed activity for horse and rider, but attentiveness to horse health and management is just as crucial during the cold season. As an equine veterinarian, I’m often asked about blanketing during the cold months.

Primary considerations in horse blanketing are hair coat and environmental temperature. Here is some information that will assist you in making the right blanketing decision for your horse...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32878/to-blanket-or-not-to-blanket-a-good-cold-weather-question?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=11-19-2013

Great Britain: Crocs for horses: Plastic slip-on hooves that making nailing horseshoes a thing of the past

Dailymail.co.uk - Full Article

• Designer John Wright came up with the new GluShu design
• A traditional horseshoe is coated with comfortable plastic
• Instead of nails, the shoe is glued on to the horse's hoof

By STEVE NOLAN
PUBLISHED: 12:32 EST, 4 March 2013

A revolutionary slip-on plastic coated hoof that doubles as an equine fashion accessory could spell the end for nailing on horseshoes.

An equestrian designer came up with the 'GluShu', which uses a traditional metal horseshoe that is coated in a durable thick plastic covering and glued to the animal's foot rather than nailed.

The coating offers the horse more cushioning and offers an easier alternative to the traditional method of fitting shoes.

But not only are they easier to fit and more comfortable for the horse, the shoes could become something of an equine fashion accessory as they come in a variety colours including neon pink and grey and look like the popular plastic sandals Crocs.

The new shoes were designed by John Wright with the help of GB Olympic equestrian team farrier Jeffrey Newnham.

Read more here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287987/Crocs-horses-Plastic-slip-hooves-making-nailing-horseshoes-thing-past.html

“Two-Gun” Nan Aspinwall: An American Cowgirl

Stargazermercantile.com - Full Article

by Anita Lequoia
Campfire Chronicle - True Stories of the American West

While much of the U.S. is sitting around lamenting the fact that we don’t get the next season of “Downton Abbey” until January, I thought it would be fun to explore the life of a different sort of lady. These days, Nan Aspinwall and her horse, Lady Ellen, may not be as familiar to most people as the Dowager Countess and her granddaughter, Lady Edith, but believe you me, Nan’s story doesn’t disappoint!

Nan Jeanne Aspinwall was born in Nebraska in 1880, but she was not your typical female of the day (or any day, for that matter). She was not a gal to be satisfied working on her quilt squares or doing other “proper” womanly things. Instead, she honed her skills as a sharpshooter, archer, trick roper, stunt rider and bull rider. But that’s not all...

Read more here:
http://stargazermercantile.com/two-gun-nan/

Managing the Club Foot

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Nancy S. Loving, DVM
Nov 07, 2013

A horse with slightly asymmetrical feet is nothing out of the ordinary. But if one hoof differs dramatically from the other, you might be dealing with a club foot—an abnormally upright hoof with long, contracted heels and a prominent or bulging coronary band. Because shortening of the musculotendinous unit (the deep digital flexor muscle and tendon) causes this syndrome, it is more accurate to describe a club foot as a "flexural deformity" of the coffin joint. And while a deformity might sound like a career-ending flaw, with proper management affected horses can lead very comfortable and even athletic lives...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32785/managing-the-club-foot?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=lameness&utm_campaign=11-13-2013

N.M. Horse Processing Plant On Hold Again

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Pat Raia
Nov 05, 2013

Just days after a federal judge threw out a lawsuit seeking to halt horse processing in New Mexico, a new order handed down by a Denver, Colo., appeals court has barred the USDA from carrying out inspections at U.S. horse slaughter plants.

Horse slaughter has not taken place in the United States since 2007 when a combination of court rulings and legislation shuttered the last domestic equine processing plants. Prior to 2007, USDA personnel carried out inspections at horse processing plants until Congress voted to strip the USDA of funds to pay personnel conducting those federal inspections. In 2011, legislation reinstated USDA funding for horse processing plants in the United States and, in June 2013, Valley Meats Co. LLC in Roswell, N.M., received a Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) permit, which allows placement of personnel at the plant to carry out horsemeat inspections...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32821/n-m-horse-processing-plant-on-hold-again?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=equinomics&utm_campaign=11-10-2013

Breeders' Cup Drug Tests Come Back Clean

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By The Blood-Horse Staff
Nov 05, 2013

he California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) said Nov. 4 all urine and blood samples collected from horses in the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif., have tested negative.

Testing was performed at the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Laboratory at the University of California, Davis.

Under standard protocol in California, all horses that raced in the Breeders' Cup were pre-race tested for TCO2 levels in blood. Post-racing tests were performed on urine and blood samples from the first four finishers in all 14 Cup races; additional horses were tested randomly at the discretion of the stewards...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32816/breeders-cup-drug-tests-come-back-clean?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=welfare-industry&utm_campaign=11-07-2013

Selling a Horse on Trial: 10 Tips to Lower Your Risk

Thehorse.com Blog - Full Article

November 1 2013

In certain segments of the horse industry, it is fairly common for the buyer to take a horse home (or to a trainer’s) and try the horse out before making a final decision. Frequently, the buyer will also have a vet check performed during this trial period. Trial periods benefit the buyer by providing them with an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate a horse prior to purchase. Offering a trial period can often help the seller complete a sale.

However, trial periods can be fraught with problems...

Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horses-and-the-law/archive/2013/11/01/selling-a-horse-on-trial-10-tips-to-lower-your-risk.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=lameness&utm_campaign=11-06-2013

Using Hay Replacers for Horses

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Emily Lamprecht, PhD
Nov 10, 2013

When times of severe drought or other weather phenomenon result in poor quality or availability of pastures and hay, horse owners often turn to complete feeds (those that contain a full diet of roughage, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other needed nutrients) or hay stretchers/replacers (designed to replace the fiber component of the hay/pasture that is no longer available).

These products can be extremely useful to horse owners to help them through the tough hay times, but they do come with some usage guidelines to keep horses happy and healthy...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32844/using-hay-replacers-for-horses?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=11-12-2013

Rescue Horses and Veterans: A Good Fit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Cindy Gendron: 757-932-0394; cindy@homesforhorses.org

Rescue Horses and Veterans: A Good Fit

Homes for Horses Coalition Members Provide Programs that Meet the Needs of Both Horses and Humans

On this Veterans’ Day, The Homes for Horses Coalition salutes both our veterans, and our members that are helping them to reclaim their lives, as they give new life to horses in need.  The entire mission of member organization Horses4Heroes is focused on serving military heroes and their families.  Through Operation Free Ride, thousands of military men, women and their children have registered for and/or received free horseback rides at host facilities from coast to coast.  In addition to recreational programs for military families, Horses4Heroes offers therapeutic programs to veterans such as Back in the Saddle, a four-week empowerment workshop, and Unfinished Business, a program for veterans with PTSD and others who need to say “good-bye,” get over a loss or difficult situation.  Wherever and whenever possible, Horses4Heroes uses rescue horses in these programs.

At Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, the ZEAL Program combines Animal Assisted Coaching and Experiential Learning to help veterans rebuild trust and confidence, as well as, refocus their attention to giving to the horses while healing their broken minds and bodies.  “The skill developed working through life’s challenges with equine therapy partners is one that cannot compare to traditional educational models, says Jodi Messenich, Executive Director of Zuma’s.  “The partnering with horses once destined for slaughter brings a level of compassion coupled with a desire to help another being. Those life lessons are creating compassionate hard working young men and women to lead our next generation.”

The Soldier Buddies program at Riding Star Ranch matches returning military soldiers and military veterans with at-risk youth between the ages of 12-22. The military veterans serve as positive role models and help instill morals, character, and essential life skills to their young "Buddies".  Together, the Soldier Buddies care for a program horse including learning how to ride, and even how to drive, in the structured equine-assisted environment.  The human benefits of the program include learning responsibility, compassion, self-esteem, trust and teamwork among other social and life skills.  The horses involved in the program benefit from the socialization and retraining while receiving loving, hands-on care from the Soldier Buddies.  These aspects are vital to the re-homing and adoption of the rescue horses.

Cindy Gendron, The Homes for Horses Coalition Coordinator, says “These are just a few of our members that have witnessed the symbiotic relationship that rescue horses can have with humans that need healing.  It’s an honor to observe how these and other members are helping veterans face unique challenges by allowing them to bond with horses facing their own.”

About The Homes for Horses Coalition
The Homes for Horses Coalition is supported by the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the Animal Welfare Institute and The Humane Society of the United States’, Jeannie Dodson Equine Protection Fund.  It is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse, while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue and protection community. Find us online at www.homesforhorses.org and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/HomesforHorses.

Anatomy Anyone?

Easycare Blog - Karen Bumgarner

Monday, October 28, 2013 by Guest HCP

As people who care for horse’s hooves, it behooves us to know as much as possible about this structure. Yes – pun intended. We as horsemen need to understand how the entire leg is made and how it all works together. I know we have seen many of the moving parts, either while we hold the hoof in our hands or while watching the horse move. But what do we really know about the hoof and the leg? We can read the books, practice on cadavers, do our homework but the learning process never ends.

While out riding I came across a scattered skeleton of a horse. Oh what an opportunity to study the bones. But amongst this was one intact front leg. Not only was the leg intact but the hoof capsule was still attached, complete with a shoe! Oh wow!...

Read more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/insights-from-the-inside/anatomy-anyone

Swollen or Filled Legs: What’s Wrong With Your Horse?

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 21, 2011

Horses can rapidly develop swelling or “filling” in one or more legs. Is it serious? What causes it?

A common reason for filling is inactivity in a horse that is accustomed to moving around. An example might be a horse that is usually turned out in the pasture but has been kept in a stall overnight, maybe at a show or in preparation for an early ride the next day. The owner notices that the horse’s rear legs are puffy and swollen as he’s led out of the stall. The legs are not uncommonly warm, and the horse may move somewhat stiffly but is not truly lame. Caused by inactivity and reduced lymph flow, this “stocking up” is usually not serious and will dissipate as the horse is exercised. It’s more common in older horses and can affect all four legs, though stocking up is often seen only in the hind legs...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/swollen-or-filled-legs-what%E2%80%99s-wrong-your-horse-0

Heart Murmurs Often Don’t Affect Performance in Horses

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 9, 2013

Abnormal sounds, known as murmurs, can sometimes be heard as a veterinarian listens to a horse’s heart. Owners who hear the words “heart murmur” may worry that their horses can’t be ridden or are in danger of dying. And would anyone buy a horse at a sale, knowing it had a heart murmur? Thankfully, though a heart murmur is not an uncommon finding on examination, the majority of horses are not troubled by this condition, and their sale prices and performance potential are often completely unaffected. However, some types of heart murmur signify serious problems, and a veterinarian will be able to determine how significant the condition is for a particular horse...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/heart-murmurs-often-don%E2%80%99t-affect-performance-horses

How accurate is thermography of horses’ legs?

Equinescienceupdate.com - Full article

Infrared thermography is increasingly being applied to investigate the cause of lameness in horses. The equipment is easy to handle and the method is fast and safe, both for the animal and for the vet. But is it accurate?

Recent work by Simone Westermann at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna shows that the technique is surprisingly tolerant of variation in the position of the equipment, i.e. how far from the horse and at what angle to the animal the infrared camera is held. However, it is extremely important to ensure that the horse is not standing in a draught as even barely detectable wind speeds are sufficient to have a dramatic effect on the measurements.

Infrared thermography is increasingly being applied to investigate the cause of lameness in horses. The equipment is easy to handle and the method is fast and safe, both for the animal and for the vet. But is it accurate?

Read more here:
http://www.equinescienceupdate.com/articles/hathl.html?utm_source=Equine+Science+Update+enews+Oct+2013+%28FREE%29&utm_campaign=CCOct13FREE&utm_medium=email

Are Drugs OK after the Expiration Date (and What Do I Do With Them)?

Doctorramey.com - Full Article

Posted on November 1, 2013 by DrRamey

Here’s something about which I get calls all the time.

You come out to the barn and you find that your horse has a bit of swollen leg. You think, “I think that I’ll give him a couple of tablets of bute,” because you think it might help with the soreness and swelling. You check your tack box for the drug. If you’re like me, your tack box is probably more like a time-capsule than it is an organized cabinet. Anyway, you dig through your tack box and finally find a bottle of bute under one of the assorted colors of leg bandages that you keep. You’re happy, but then you find that the stamped expiration date on the bottle says that the drug expired 18 months ago. What do you do? If you give your horse a couple tablets, will it work? Could it maybe even hurt your horse? Let’s look at some important questions.

1. Are Expired Drugs Safe?

Almost undoubtedly. There don’t seem to be any published reports of toxicity in people from drugs used after their expiration date, whether those drugs are injected, ingested, or put on the skin (there was one report, back in 1963, of damage to a person’s kidneys from an outdated antibiotic product, but that product isn’t available anymore, and it wasn’t the antibiotic that caused the problem). That does make some sense, I mean, it’s not like your horse’s bute pills are going to morph into some poison – or explode – at any time after they expire. So the expiration date doesn’t really mean that the medication has become unsafe to use. Most medical authorities state expired drugs are safe to take, even those that expired years ago.

2. What Does the Expiration Date Mean?...

Read more here:

Balancing the Microbes in the Horse's Digestive Tract

KER.equinews.com - Full Article

By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 3, 2012

The importance of maintaining a balanced microbial population in the equine digestive tract is often underscored in popular-press articles and primers on horse nutrition, but what does “balanced” mean? What types of microbes are living in the digestive tract? How many are there, and what is their purpose? What can be done to keep them balanced?

A delicate balance exists among the different types of microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Humans cannot live on forage because we lack these microbes that break down forage into usable bits. The products of forage digestion are volatile fatty acids, which horses use for energy. Humans have some microbes that should stay in balance as well, although they pale in number and function compared to those of herbivores. We are being inundated with products that address that function in humans, and nutritionists emphasize the importance of that balance in the human digestive tract in overall health and well-being. Like humans, horses cannot perform their best if digestive microbes are out of balance...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/balancing-microbes-horses-digestive-tract

Researchers Study Head, Neck Positions' Effects on Muscles

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Oct 11, 2013

The physiological effects of horses' head and neck positions (HNP) while being ridden is a topic of fierce debate. And until now, there hasn't been any data on head and neck position's effect on muscle activity, especially that of the muscles controlling these positions.

Kathrin Kienapfel, MA, a doctoral student at Ruhr-University Bochum, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, recently evaluated electromyography (EMG, a tool that allows researchers to read muscle activity through sensors attached to the skin) activity of three major head and neck muscles when horses performed three characteristic HNPs:...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32696/researchers-study-head-neck-positions-effects-on-muscles?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=lameness&utm_campaign=10-30-2013

Tickets for Arabian Nights Christmas Show are Now on Sale

Special Christmas show, “Amirah’s Wish,” runs Dec. 1 through Dec. 31 
 
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Nov. 4, 2013) – Step aside, Rudolph – Santa is headed for Arabian Nights in just a few weeks and when he arrives it will be by a team of Arabian horses instead of the usual reindeer.
 
Tickets are now on sale for the Arabian Nights Christmas show, “Amirah’s Wish.” This holiday tradition will run from Sunday, December, 1 through Tuesday, December 31.
 
Arabian Nights’ Christmas show began in 2004 and has quickly become a favorite for families in Orlando during the holidays, with many repeat visitors.
 
“Arabian Nights’ Christmas show is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday spirit with the entire family,” said Arden Tilghman, President of Arabian Nights. “Our show wraps the most unique styles of horsemanship, acrobatics and aerial performance from around the globe into a fun, season spectacle.”
 
Audiences at “Amirah’s Wish” will find a completely different story line from Arabian Nights’ new show, “The Royal Celebration,” which debuted in July.
 
Christmas show tickets cost $66.99 and up with a 25% discount for booking online at www.arabian-nights.com. Tickets are also available at all Florida Walgreens stores in Florida. Paper tickets can be purchased in advance from any cashier, and then reservations made by phone.          
 
Arabian Nights features world-class equestrian entertainment and some of the top Arabian horses in the world. The champion Arabians performing in the show come from Al-Marah Arabians, the historic horse farm owned by Mark Miller, who is also the owner of Arabian Nights. Miller’s family is only the third family to have had control of this herd in its 200-plus year history.
 
Arabian Nights is located at 3081 Arabian Nights Blvd. in Kissimmee. 
 
For more on Arabian Nights, please visit the all-new website, www.arabian-nights.com.

Antibacterial action of honey

Equinescienceupdate.com - Full Article


Wounds to the lower limbs of horses can prove challenging to manage. Recently there has been a growing interest in the use of honey in such cases.

Not all honey is the same. Its antibacterial quality depends on the type of honey and the conditions under which it was harvested and processed. Most honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which has antibacterial properties. Some types of honey contain additional active components. For example, the antibacterial properties of manuka honey are believed to be due to high concentrations of methylglyoxal, a compound usually found in only low quantities in other types of honey.

Manuka honey, produced by bees foraging on manuka plants (Leptospermum scoparium), native to Australia and New Zealand, has been the subject of considerable research. Honey from other sources is often used in practice, but there has been little research into how effective it is...

Read more here:
http://www.equinescienceupdate.com/articles/aah.html?utm_source=Equine+Science+Update+enews+Oct+2013+%28FREE%29&utm_campaign=CCOct13FREE&utm_medium=email

I Bought a Lame Horse: Now What?

CS.Thehorse.com - Full Article

Blog: Horses and the Law
21 October 2013

As an attorney, I frequently help unhappy horse buyers decide whether they have a viable legal case against the seller, and if they do, whether I'm the right attorney to represent them. Here is what I look for during an initial consultation.

Did the Buyer have a Prepurchase Exam?

If the buyer had a veterinary prepurchase examination, I always ask to see the written report. What the buyer remembers the vet said may be very different than what the written report says. If the prepurchase report says the horse was lame in the same limb now causing the problem, this is a red flag. The buyer, on notice that the horse was lame, would have had a duty to investigate why the horse was lame before buying, not after...

Read more here:
http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horses-and-the-law/archive/2013/10/21/i-bought-a-lame-horse-do-i-have-legal-recourse-against-the-seller.aspx#sthash.EN0msOj4.dpuf

Australian Researchers Create Custom Titanium Horseshoes

Scanned and modeled on the racehorse's hooves, these new shoes are a first for 3-D titanium printing. Photo: Courtesy CSIRO
Thehorse.com

By Edited Press Release
Oct 17, 2013

Scientists at CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization—Australia's largest scientific research organization) have custom-made a set of titanium shoes for one Melbourne, Australia, racehorse, a first for the sport.

The horse, dubbed "Titanium Prints" by researchers, had its hooves scanned with a handheld 3-D scanner this week. Then, using 3-D modeling software, the scientists used the scan to design a "perfect-fitting," lightweight racing shoe. Four custom shoes were printed within only a few hours, they said.

Traditionally made from aluminum, each racing shoe can weigh up to a kilogram (about 2.2 pounds). But the horse's trainer, John Moloney, says that the ultimate race shoe should be as light weight as possible.

"Any extra weight in the horseshoe will slow the horse down," he explained. "These titanium shoes could take up to half of the weight off a traditional aluminum shoe."

CSIRO's titanium expert John Barnes, PhD, said that 3-D printing horseshoes for racehorses from titanium is a first for scientists and demonstrates the range of applications the technology can be used for.

"There are so many ways we can use 3-D titanium printing," he said. "At CSIRO we are helping companies create new applications like biomedical implants and even things like automotive and aerospace parts. The possibilities really are endless with this technology."

The precision scanning process takes just a few minutes and for a horse, shoes can be made to measure each hoof and printed the same day, scientists say.

More:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32724/australian-researchers-create-custom-titanium-horseshoes?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=lameness&utm_campaign=10-23-2013

Equine Glycogen Replacement After Exercise

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · January 24, 2010

Glycogen is a large, highly branched sugar molecule that is stored in muscle and the liver, and is used by the body as an energy source. Made of long chains and branches of glucose, glycogen is used for quick, high-intensity exercise. Depleted muscle glycogen and buildup of its end products, lactate and pyruvate, contribute to muscle fatigue.

Horses produce glycogen two to three times slower than humans and other animals. In contrast to humans, horses are not able to accelerate muscle-glycogen replacement by consuming large amounts of digestible carbohydrates or sugars. Horses that are worked frequently, therefore, can have decreased stores of muscle glycogen that cannot be replaced before the horse is asked to work or perform again...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/equine-glycogen-replacement-after-exercise

Hunting-Season Safety Guide

Equisearch.com - Full Article

By Dan Aadland

This fall, stay safe on the trail with these five practical hunting-season guidelines.

In the fall, when Rocky Mountain aspens turn brilliant yellow, there’s no place I’d rather be than in a snug hunting camp among stately spruce by a clear stream, my horses and mules picketed nearby, aromatic pine smoke curling from the pipe of the tent stove.

Contemplation of such a scene keeps me going during bitter winter and summer doldrums. Hunters in other parts of the country are similarly drawn, whether to crisp corn fields laden with pheasants, red maple groves holding deer, or deep southern woods, now finally free of summer’s oppressive heat and humidity.

These same fall conditions draw those of us who ride for pure pleasure. There’s nothing quite like a trail ride through autumn trees, the smell of fresh air and brilliant foliage, the enthusiasm of your good horse when there’s a trace of bite in the breeze. Riding during this time of year is too fine to be avoided simply because it coincides with hunting season.

Ready to saddle up and enjoy this spectacular season? Follow these five guidelines to help keep you and your horse safe...

Read more here:
http://www.equisearch.com/trailriding/hunting-season-safety-guide-2/?utm_source=TrailRiderNL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Omega Fatty Acids: What Do They Do for Horses?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Emily Lamprecht, PhD
Sep 30, 2013

Adding supplementary fat in your horses’ diet is one way to provide concentrated calories as well as some other functional benefits to your horse; but what sources of fat are best?

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are a hot topic in human, pet, and equine nutrition alike, and for good reasons. With such a wide array of information and products out there, it can be confusing and difficult to make decisions, so let’s break down what the omega fatty acids are, and how they can play a role in a healthy balanced diet for our equine counterparts...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32628/omega-fatty-acids-what-do-they-do-for-horses?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=10-07-2013

Horse Feeds or Horsepower: Evaluating the Best Use of Grain

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 7, 2013

With easily accessible fossil fuel supplies becoming harder to find, the energy industry has looked at alternate sources of power for the millions of cars and trucks on America’s highways. Technologies have been developed and refined for deriving vegetable-based fuels from corn, soybeans, and sugarcane, agricultural products that previously were used mostly for human and animal food. This situation has led to increased market competition for these crops, pushing prices up for a finite supply even as more efficient farming practices have boosted production.

The manufacture of crop-derived fuel is probably not yet at its maximum efficiency, but it will need to improve significantly to equal the energy return on investment (EROI) of conventional oil. In other words, it takes energy to make energy, and a low yield of power equates to an expensive and inefficient use of raw materials...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/horse-feeds-or-horsepower-evaluating-best-use-grain

Study: Horses Able to Stay Fit When Kept at Pasture

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Kristen M. Janicki, MS, PAS
Oct 01, 2013

There are many theories on how to best manage performance horses during periods with no forced exercise (whether after sustaining an injury or just for a rest period), and owners are often left with a dilemma: stall rest or pasture turn-out? To find the answer, a team of researchers recently completed a study evaluating how well horses maintain a certain fitness level with either pasture turnout or stall confinement.

Patricia M. Graham-Thiers, PhD, and a team of Virginia Intermont College researchers assigned 16 horses in light to moderate work to one of three groups: pasture turnout (P), stalled and exercised (E), or stalled with no exercise (S). During the 14-week study, horses in the P group roamed on approximately 100 acres of pasture, while horses in the S and E groups stayed in stalls during the day and were allowed access to a one-acre paddock at night.

The researchers exercised horses in the E group five days per week for one to two hours per day at the walk, trot, and canter. The team also used GPS units attached to the horses' halters to estimate the distance each horse traveled in a 24-hour span at intervals throughout the study period...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32630/study-horses-able-to-stay-fit-when-kept-at-pasture?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=10-15-2013

New Equine Influenza App Launched

Thehorse.com

By Edited Press Release
Oct 14, 2013

Zoetis has developed an app for mobile devices designed to help horse owners determine their economic risk for equine influenza virus, which causes one of the most common respiratory diseases in horses.

The Equine Influenza Calculator app prompts users for the approximate cost of vaccination, as well as the potential cost of treatment and the number of days off training in the case of an equine influenza infection. Using this information, the app calculates individual risk based on economic and environmental factors of each horse owner.

This contagious disease can cause fever, coughing and nasal discharge, and it can spread rapidly from horse to horse. Risk increases with very young or geriatric horses, as well as horses that are exposed to unfamiliar horses. Proper vaccination can help protect horses from infection and help horse owners avoid financial loss. The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends that at-risk horses be vaccinated every six months.

The Equine Influenza Calculator app is available for free in the Apple App Store.

Kerrits receives 2013 Oregon Excellence Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

October 2013
Contact: Michele McAlpine 

Email: michele@kerrits.com

1.800.274.7946

www.kerrits.com
 
Bingen, WA— Kerrits has been selected for the 2013 Oregon Excellence Award amongst all its peers and competitors by the Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC).



Each year the SBIEC conducts business surveys and industry research to identify companies that have achieved demonstrable success in their local business environment and industry category. They are recognized as having enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community. Small businesses of this caliber enhance the consumer driven stature that Oregon is renowned for.



Kerrits has consistently demonstrated a high regard for upholding business ethics and company values. This recognition by SBIEC marks a significant achievement as an emerging leader within various competitors and is setting benchmarks that the industry should follow.



As part of the industry research and business surveys, various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the selected companies in each category. This research is part of an exhaustive process that encapsulates a year long immersion in the business climate of Oregon.



About SBIEC:

The SBIEC is a leading authority on researching, evaluating and recognizing companies across a wide spectrum of industries that meet its stringent standards of excellence. It has spearheaded the idea of independent enterprise and entrepreneurial growth allowing businesses of all sizes to be recognized locally and encouraged globally.



Particular emphasis is given to meeting and exceeding industry benchmarks for customer service, product quality and ethical practices. Industry leading standards and practices have been developed and implementation of the same has been pioneered by the dedicated efforts of the business community and commerce leadership.
 
Ride On! About Kerrits Performance Equestrian Apparel:

Home-grown performance that sprouted in 1986, Kerrits Performance Equestrian Apparel thrives on creating innovative, functional and stylish performance apparel, uniquely designed for women who love to ride – and their horses.

Sore No More - Topper's New EasyShoe

Easycare Blog - Full Story

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 by Amanda Washington

Last weekend at the 2013 AERC National Championships, I was lucky enough to be in the presence of several very knowledgeable, very talented hoof care practitioners. Between Christoph Schork, Rusty Toth and Susan Summers, I was in hoof care nirvana. Right there along with me was Topper, my seven year old Arabian gelding.

Topper has been barefoot his entire life. I got him as a gawky, gangly three year old, and chucked him out to barefoot horse heaven. Hundreds of acres of dry desert foothills. He spent his youth running up and down the hills, living in total bliss. Minus a stall, a blankie and a warm mash every night. Topper was never much for roughing it. I started lightly riding Top the end of his third year, trail riding at a walk a mile or two on gentle trails. His fourth year brought a little more riding, but nothing intense by any means. You see, when you're 15.2 hand four years old on spindly, long legs, it's all one can to do stay balanced. All of the riding that took place until Topper's fifth year was barefoot on lovely sandy trails. I boasted about his strong feet and anticipated no issues in that department. Unfortunately, barefoot perfection did not bless us as we ramped up the miles.

When Topper turned six, we started riding further, faster and frequently. I had him in Easyboot Gloves for all of his conditioning miles, which he seemed to come through with ease. However, the day after our longer, harder rides, I noticed Topper was tentative and footsore. I started putting Comfort Pads in his boots, which he definitely seemed to like, but did not help his day-after soreness. At this point we xrayed Topper's front feet, and thankfully found no pathology other than thin soles. Unfortunately this proved to be difficult to remedy and caused more problems than expected. All summer we battled a sound-sore cycle that I thought he would get through with proper padding and riding. He did a few endurance rides with Easyboot Glue-Ons and Sikaflex packing. While he felt excellent during the actual ride, the bruising that showed up weeks later indicated his feet could not handle the extra pressure.

See more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/chronicles-of-the-pink-helmet/sore-no-more-toppers-new-easyshoe

ACTHA's Newest Partner...The Equine Land Conservation Resource!

10/9/2013

No one is more dependent upon having lands to ride on than us trail riders. The pool of public and private land has is dwindling dramatically...6,000 acres per day! ACTHA has proudly partnered with The Equine Land Conservation Resource, who is here to insure our  juniors  have  the  privileges  and  beautiful  trails we have enjoyed.

Working Together to Save Our Horse Lands

American history is imprinted with hoofprints. From the Native American ponies to the horses that pulled the Conestogas across the prairie to the pleasure and competition mounts of today horses have been an integral part of our economy and our identity.

Unfortunately, our equine heritage is now at risk. With over 6,000 acres of open land disappearing each day to poorly planned development and sprawl, we may lose the ability to support our equestrian population in as little as 15 years.

Good Neighbors

Privately owned land is the most at-risk component of our equestrian landscape.  Boarding barns, competition venues, trails, hunt fixtures and hayfields are being lost every day as a result of development, misunderstanding of liability issues by new owners of land, and rising demand for land around urbanizing areas.  ELCR offers talking points for explaining liability issues to landowners; liability management tools; guidelines for fostering positive relationships with landowners; model rules of usage and other protections for landowners who wish to open their land to horse usage; and information about the benefits of ensuring that horses stay in your community.

Bringing Horses to the Conversation

Planning and zoning decisions can affect how land is taxed, what it may be used for, and which standards and regulations are applied to it.  These regulations determine not only whether individuals may keep horses on their own property, but also whether horses have access to community parks and trails. ELCR offers users the tools they need to understand land use planning, zoning ordinances, and their implications for horses and horse-related activities.  In this section you will find a primer on terms and processes, sample letters, and tools to support involvement in planning and zoning in your community.  Our website also provides tools for community planners to help them understand how to include horses and horse-related activities in their planning efforts.

Amino Acid Requirements for Horses

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Sep 18, 2013

Amino acid. Sounds like something leaking from a Spanish battery, rather than a supplement you’d want to give to your horse.

But an acid isn’t always something that burns or is even “acidic.” In this case it describes a specific order of molecular composition. And amino comes from the word “amine,” which refers to a kind of organic compound.

So yes, they’re fine to give to your horse. No, let’s rephrase that: Amino acids are critical to your horse's health...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32559/amino-acid-requirements-for-horses?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=bluegrass-equine-digest&utm_campaign=09-29-2013

Researchers Evaluating Inflammatory Markers of Laminitis

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Kristen M. Janicki, MS, PAS
Sep 26, 2013

Whether it’s a foal wobbling around a stall for the first time or researchers completing their first preliminary study, small steps are an important part of the horse world. British researchers recently took one such step in the realm of understanding laminitis: While much more work is needed to confirm the theory, researchers have obtained some preliminary evidence suggesting that evaluating blood levels of certain anti-inflammatory markers might indicate a horse is at increased risk of developing laminitis...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32611/researchers-evaluating-inflammatory-markers-of-laminitis?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=older-horse-care&utm_campaign=09-27-2013

Adequan Slowly Returning to Market

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Erica Larson, News Editor
Sep 17, 2013

Luitpold Animal Health, manufacturers of Adequan products, issued an update Sept. 16 indicating that while Adequan IM has slowly begun returning to the market, the drug will remain in short supply for a time. The company announced in May that they expected supply shortages due to factory renovations at their Shirley, N.Y., facility, and supplies have been limited throughout the late spring and summer.

"We are pleased to announce a shipment of Adequan IM was released to the market last week and was received by veterinarians beginning Friday, Sept. 13," the Sept. 16 statement read. "Adequan product supply remains limited, and the initial shipments will not fully satisfy market demand. Luitpold made significant investments in upgrading its manufacturing facilities earlier this year...

Read more here:
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New laminitis research findings

Equinescienceupdate.com - Full Article

The benefits of feeding a balanced diet alongside appropriate forage, grazing restriction and regular low intensity exercise whenever clinically possible in the management of laminitis prone horses and ponies has been highlighted by new research.

Laminitis continues to be a significant welfare problem of horses and ponies, causing widespread suffering. Investigations into the underlying causes and disease processes involved in the condition are ongoing.

Among recent research efforts are four projects completed by the International Laminitis Research Consortium, the research body initiated by The WALTHAM® Equine Studies Group. The group comprises veterinary, nutrition and research experts, including Dr Nicola Menzies-Gow and Professor Jonathan Elliott of the Royal Veterinary College, Annette Longland of Equine Livestock and Nutrition Services, Dr Pat Harris of the WALTHAM® Equine Studies Group, and Clare Barfoot of Mars Horsecare UK Ltd.

The four separate studies, two of which were funded by The Laminitis Trust, have shed new light on:

● The role that grass fructan may have in the development of laminitis.
● The important influence of water temperature when soaking hay to reduce the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content.
● A possible link between recurrent laminitis and reduced anti-inflammatory capacity.
● The potential anti-inflammatory benefits of exercise.

Read more here:
http://www.equinescienceupdate.com/articles/nlrf.html?utm_source=Equine+Science+Update+enews+Sep+2013+%28FREE%29&utm_campaign=CCSep13FREE&utm_medium=email

How Much Is That Horse Sweating?

KER.equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 16, 2013

Hard-working horses sweat as they exercise, and intense or long-duration performance can cause a significant loss of body fluid and electrolytes. Owners need to have a fairly accurate idea of how much sweat the horse has lost so that they can provide enough fluid and electrolytes to be sure that their horses make up these deficits.

Estimates of sweat loss have sometimes been based on the extent and intensity of work the horse has been asked to perform. However, each owner’s idea of light, moderate, and heavy exercise is likely to be slightly different from the way other riders define the same work session.

Researchers at Martin Luther University in Germany recently collaborated in a study designed to evaluate equine sweat patterns after exercise. They used 17 Warmblood mares that were assigned to a light work group or a medium work group. The horses were groomed and weighed before exercise. Immediately after exercise, they were unsaddled and photographed to record visible sweat. The horses were weighed three hours after exercise to determine the amount of weight lost. This figure was corrected for water intake, loss of weight in feces and urine, and estimated respiratory fluid loss. All horses completed each work regimen twice; one horse completed each regimen three times...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/how-much-horse-sweating

Slowing Feed Intake Reduces Glycemic Response in Horses

KER.equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · August 27, 2013

When horses consume large grain meals, glucose floods into the bloodstream (glycemic response), triggering a reaction in which the body produces insulin to deal with the sugar overload (insulinemic response). These reactions are foreign to the natural digestive pattern in which a horse grazes continuously on medium-quality forage, rarely if ever ingesting carbohydrate-rich grains. This unnatural feeding pattern can cause health problems in some equines. Young growing horses are more likely to develop skeletal problems if they are fed grain products that produce large glycemic responses. In mature horses, gobbling a large grain meal may lead to obesity, insulin resistance, colic, laminitis, or metabolic syndrome...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/slowing-feed-intake-reduces-glycemic-response-horses