Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Not Your Average Equine Ulcer

TheHorse.com - Full Artice

Gastric disease develops most commonly in the squamous region, when stomach acid splashes onto that vulnerable area of tissue. Why it develops in the glandular region—and how to prevent and treat it—is less clear. Five researchers discuss what we do know about equine glandular gastric disease.

Posted by Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor | Jun 28, 2020

What scientists are learning about the recently defined equine glandular gastric disease
Gastric ulcers are nearly ubiquitous in our domestic equine population. We know they plague anywhere from 50% to 90% of horses, particularly performance horses. But not all ulcers are created equal. In the past few years researchers officially split gastric disease into two categories: squamous, affecting the upper portion of the horse’s stomach, and glandular, a nonulcerative condition affecting the lower. Gastric disease develops most commonly in the squamous region, when stomach acid splashes onto that vulnerable area of tissue. Why it develops in the glandular region—and how to prevent and treat it—is less clear...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/173644/not-your-average-equine-ulcer/?utm_medium=Nutrition+enews&utm_source=Newsletter

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Minimize Transport-Related Disease, Gastric Ulceration in Horses

KER.com - Full Article

March 13, 2020
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

If you think that safely transporting horses, particularly over long distances, causes you strife, just imagine for a moment the stress your horse must feel. While many management strategies minimize stress and illness during and after transport, injuries, dehydration, and respiratory issues persist.

“Gastric ulceration occurs when horses experience stress, contributing to weight loss and changes in behavior and performance, and transport can certainly stir stress in many horses,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research.

Considering the nature of the industry, transport over long distances can rarely be avoided, especially for competition horses and many breeding horses. In an attempt to minimize transport stress and the associated health problems, veterinary researchers recently attempted to identify healthier ways to travel...

Read more here:
https://ker.com/equinews/minimize-transport-related-disease-gastric-ulceration-in-horses/?partner=ker&utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=12f537483c-KER_Equinews_062420&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-12f537483c-11166

Friday, June 26, 2020

Officer Barney: Always on Duty

HorseNetwork.com - Full Article

Emily Daily
June 25, 2020

It’s not often that a horse has had a million hands pet him throughout his lifetime, but for Officer Barney, a retired mounted police horse, that number is no exaggeration.
For 12 years, the 17-hand Belgian gelding was the lead horse for the Baltimore Mounted Police Unit (the oldest mounted police force* in the United States), but now at age 24, he’s enjoying a quieter life performing a different type of public service.

From Amish Country to the Big City

Barney’s tale begins on the outskirts of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he worked as the lead horse for a six-horse hitch on an Amish farm. Janine Gilley, a now-retired Baltimore City Police Officer, was hunting for a strong, steady horse to join the ranks of the city’s mounted unit and visited the farm to try out their horses. The horse she’d traveled to see didn’t pan out for the intended job, but something about Barney caught her eye—he seemed like just the type who’d fit in with her unit. She made the farmer an offer on his prized lead horse, and soon enough Barney was en-route to his new home in the city.

Barney had little riding experience, but it didn’t take long for him to master his new duties in Baltimore. At six years old, Barney was a quick learner and epitomized all the special qualities needed for the force: bravery, patience, and most importantly, a kind disposition...

Read more here:
https://horsenetwork.com/2020/06/officer-barney-always-on-duty/?utm_source=Horse+Network+Email+List&utm_campaign=f4bc492318-HN_2020_6_25_2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5694ca6b0c-f4bc492318-84641243&goal=0_5694ca6b0c-f4bc492318-84641243&mc_cid=f4bc492318&mc_eid=b3c9897994

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Volunteers Weigh In on New COVID-19 Protocols

USEventing.com - Full Article

June 24 2020
By Claire Kelley - USEA Staff

Since the USEA lifted the COVID-19 suspension on June 1, 2020, there have been 11 recognized events that have taken place across the country. Events such as Plantation Field, Waredaca, and Full Gallop Farm have been the pioneers for adapting to the new normal of eventing. Setting the standard high, these events have diligently followed the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan and have shown everyone how an event can run safely and smoothly. The success of these events is due largely in part to having strong volunteers.

Many dedicated volunteers have come back to work including John Bandrofchak, a cross-country timer at Full Gallop, Skip Simmons, a show jumping steward at Waredaca, and Susan Hart, a dressage scribe at Waredaca. Last week, the USEA featured Plantation Field and this week, volunteers from Waredaca in Laytonsville, Maryland and Full Gallop in Aiken, South Carolina share their experience...

Read more here:
https://useventing.com/news-media/news/volunteers-weigh-in-on-new-covid-19-protocols?utm_medium=40digest.7days3.20200625.home&utm_source=email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=campaign

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Genetic study of Arabian horses challenges some common beliefs about the ancient breed

Phys.org - Full Article

June 23 2020
by Cornell University

A study involving Arabian horses from 12 countries found that some populations maintained a larger degree of genetic diversity and that the breed did not contribute genetically to the modern-day Thoroughbred, contrary to popular thought.

An international team of scientists was led by the University of Florida's Samantha Brooks, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of animal sciences; Cornell University's Doug Antczak, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine at the Baker Institute for Animal Health; and Andy Clark, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor in Cornell's department of molecular biology and genetics.

The group collected and examined DNA samples from 378 Arabian horses from Qatar, Iran, UAE, Poland, USA, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark and Canada...

Read more here:
https://phys.org/news/2020-06-genetic-arabian-horses-common-beliefs.html

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Hemp for horses? Studies show it might work

DallasNews.com - Full Article

Researchers at Tarleton are studying the use of CBD to calm horses and other livestock.

By Kimberly Guay

11:30 PM on Jun 20, 2020

Can CBD minimize pain and manage obsessive compulsive behaviors in horses? Researchers at Tarleton State University hope to have an answer soon. Observers around the world need to know.

While federal officials have yet to finalize rules allowing the nonintoxicating cannabinoid in animal feed — or even in food products for human consumption — CBD supplements are a hot commodity among horse lovers seeking to ease pain, reduce muscle and joint inflammation, and calm stress in their animals.

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp, leading to a lot of hype about the potential benefits of CBD for horses, but reliable data is scarce...

Read more here:
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/06/21/hemp-for-horses-studies-show-it-might-work/

Sunday, June 07, 2020

What gives the mighty mule its endurance? Researchers investigate

HorseTalk.co.nz - Full Article

June 7 2020
Horsetalk.co.nz

Mules are renowned worldwide for their outstanding muscular endurance, but what gives them this ability to outshine their horse and donkey parents?

Hybrid vigor has long been recognised and widely exploited in animal and plant breeding programs to enhance the productive traits of hybrid progeny from two breeds or species.

However, its underlying genetic mechanisms remain enigmatic.

Researchers from Northwest A&F University in Yangling, China, set out to understand more about the molecular mechanisms at work in mules that provide this superior muscular endurance...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2020/06/07/mighty-mule-endurance-researchers/