Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Top Ten Mistakes Even Experienced Horse Buyers Make

EquineLeglSolutions.com - Full Article

At Equine Legal Solutions, horse purchase and sale disputes generate more inquiries than any other topic. Here are the top horse-buying mistakes we see horse buyers, even experienced ones, make.



1. Not Getting a Veterinary Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE)

Even if the horse is FREE, not getting a veterinary pre-purchase examination (PPE) is a bad economic decision. For example, let’s say you are buying a child’s pony for $5,000. A PPE would add $500-1,000 (or more) to the initial cost, so you decide against it. You and your child try the pony, and she appears to be a great fit, so you buy the pony and take her home. Two days later, the pony is dead lame. You have the vet out and, after paying over $800 for a farm call, a lameness exam and diagnostics, you find out the pony has advanced navicular syndrome. The seller refuses to take the pony back, noting the pony was sound when you looked at her and you declined to have a PPE. You suspect the seller drugged the pony to mask the unsoundness. However, without a blood sample drawn during a PPE, you can’t prove the pony was drugged when you looked at her. You are now paying for the pony’s ongoing expenses and vet bills, and your daughter still doesn’t have a pony to ride. You can’t sell the pony to someone else (ethically, at least) because she is lame. Guess what – you have an expensive pasture ornament AND you’re buying another pony (but this time, you’re getting a PPE)...

Read more at:
https://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/top-ten-horse-buying-mistakes.html

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Study: Oral Stem Cells Might Help Horses’ Wounds Heal

TheHorse.com - Full Article

Body and leg wounds treated promptly with MSCs originating in the mouth heal better than untreated wounds.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | May 20, 2022

Scientists might have just discovered a very “cheeky” solution to equine skin wounds: oral stem cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) harvested from the mouth of one donor horse led to improved healing of other horses’ open body and leg wounds. The researchers’ findings suggest MSCs originating in the mouth might spur cellular changes that improve the way equine skin heals, said Olivier Lepage, DVM, PhD, of the Group for Medical and Rehabilitation Research in Sport Horses (GREMERES), part of the Centre for Equine Health at the National Veterinary School at Lyon – VetAgro Sup, in Marcy l’Etoile, France.

Skin wounds in horses—especially on the lower legs—are notoriously difficult and time-consuming to heal, Lepage said. They can create stubborn biofilms that further delay healing, and can close with tough layers of exuberant granulation tissue—also known as proud flesh—that is not only unsightly but also less stretchy than normal skin...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1111633/study-oral-stem-cells-might-help-horses-wounds-heal/

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Equine Activity Statutes

EquineLegalSolutions.com - Full Article

As of 2022, only three states, California, Maryland and New York, do not have equine activity statutes (though New York has a “safety in agricultural tourism act” that defines certain responsibilities for visitors to agricultural facilities). Do equine activity statutes offer real protection for horse people? If so, what protection do they provide, and are there any traps for the unwary?

What Are Equine Activity Statutes?

Equine activity statutes are laws designed to limit liability for injuries and deaths connected with horse-related activities. The principle of equine activity statutes is a long-standing legal doctrine, “assumption of the risk.” A person assumes the risk of participating in an activity if they have full knowledge of the risks involved and decide to participate anyway. Assumption of the risk is often a successful legal defense in horse accident cases, even in states without equine activity statutes.

How Can Equine Activity Statutes Benefit Me?

Equine activity statutes have two key benefits...

Read more here:
https://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/equine-activity-statutes.html

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Ride the Pony Express Trail



HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

The Pony Express National Historic Trail provides a chance to experience a piece of romanticized American history.

By Stacey McKenna
May 4 2022

From April 1860 to October 1861, hundreds of young men rode relays between Sacramento, Calif., and St. Joseph, Mo., delivering letters for along the Pony Express Trail. Though short-lived, the system was the first truly rapid mail service to cross the Rocky Mountains and connect communities out west with those east of the Missouri River.

Today, tourists can cycle, hike, drive, and ride parts of the more than 1,800-mile route, and intrepid equestrians can replay the adventure on their own mounts by joining the National Pony Express Association’s annual Re-Ride...

Read more at:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/pony-express

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Going the Distance: How Emirati Endurance Rider Fatima Al Harthi Is Paving The Way For Women In Sports

HarpersBazaarArabia.com - Full Story

by Jessica Michault
May 18, 2022

She’s giving a new face to the century-old sport of endurance riding

The first thing you notice about 30-year-old Fatima Al Harthi is her smile. It lights up her face. And she smiles quite a lot when she talks about her love of horses and her passion for endurance riding. The second thing you notice about Fatima? Her drive. As one of the first female professional endurance riders to represent the UAE, she has doggedly honed her craft since the tender age of 16. Today top endurance horse owners in the region turn to this Emirati native to ride their most challenging steeds.

It’s no wonder then that Canon Middle East recently tapped Fatima as one of its 2022 Trailblazer honorees, alongside two other groundbreaking individuals, Dubai-based Swiss watchmaker Maximilian Büsser and interior designer Laila Al Yousuf. “It was really such a happy moment when I found out about it,” admits Fatima. “Also I liked that they picked me because they thought I could inspire other women,” she adds.

Read more at:
https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/people/going-the-distance-how-emirati-endurance-rider-fatima-al-harthi-is-paving-the-way-for-women-in-sports

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Genetic Elements May Hold Secret of Success in Endurance Horses

KER.com - Full Article

March 23, 2022
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

Small units of genetic material called circulating microRNAs (ci-miRNA) may prove a valuable tool in the design of training programs for athletic horses, ultimately producing fitter, healthier horses that are more likely to complete endurance competitions.

Over the last several years, endurance competitions have increased dramatically in popularity. Horses participating in long-distance events are susceptible to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and heat stress, all of which may be life-threatening if not addressed. Clinically, these events can lead to myopathies, including tying-up, diaphragmatic flutter (thumps), and cardiac arrhythmias. Lameness may also develop during a competition, prompting elimination...

More at:
https://ker.com/equinews/genetic-elements-may-hold-secret-of-success-in-endurance-horses/?partner=ker

Thursday, May 05, 2022

The Enduring Arabian

Steve Bradley photo

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

This ancient breed has been influential on others while becoming a legend in its own right.

By Audrey Pavia
May 5 2022

When it comes to equine history, many believe you can’t go further back than the Arabian horse.

For centuries, the ancestors of today’s Arabians were carefully bred by the Bedouin tribes of the Sahara Desert. Used for war and for traveling long distances, these horses lived in close quarters with their nomadic keepers, sharing their tents on cold nights and developing deep bonds.

Life in the harsh desert meant only the strongest of these horses survived. The results were the development of a breed with a large lung capacity and great endurance that can travel for miles without stopping, with the heart and spirit to match.

In more recent times, Arabian horses have contributed their ancient genes to help create and refine other breeds. The Thoroughbred, Andalusian, Welsh Pony and American Quarter Horse are just a few of the breeds that owe their influence to the Arabian horse. An Arabian Horse Ambassador

What does it mean to live with a horse whose heritage is considered the oldest and purest of all of the breeds? Husband-and-wife team Lee Pearce and Naomi Preston of Baker City, Ore., know the answer...

Read more here:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/enduring-arabian-horse