Horse Health

Item title	Created	Summary	Categories
Equine Veterinarians to Broaden Expertise During AAEP Annual Convention	09 02, 2010	Veterinary meeting to provide science, business and welfare educatio	Horse Health \| U.S. & World News
Equine Veterinary Assistant for a Day	08 11, 2010	I have just recently gotten back from Virginia where I was both visiting my big sister, and to attend the Chincoteague Pony Swim to report on the event. Overall my two week vacation was a blast, but the part I would most like to share is my experience as a equine veterinary assistant.	Horse Health \| Blog
Virtual Education Leading the Way for Today’s Animal Care and Control Professionals	07 29, 2010	Duquesne University’s Online Humane Leadership Bachelor’s Degree Accepting Spring Term Students (January 2011)	Horse Health \| U.S. & World News
Tragedy Strikes NWTRC Horse	07 27, 2010	On July 19th the NorthWest Therapeutic Riding Center's premier pony, Kleng, the 2009 NARHA National Therapeutic "Equine of the Year", suffered a bout of colic, a dreaded ailment every horse owner hopes to never experience.	Horse Health \| Northwest News
Irresponsible Horse Breeders	07 08, 2010	If you can believe it, this beautiful horse's uncaring owners wanted to put him down rather than treat his minor injury.	Horse Health
Doctors Corner: Equine Fitness	07 01, 2010	Many factors are involved in the preparation of our horses for the many activities they perform with us, such as training, equipment, nutrition, farrier care and veterinary care. Fitness is another very important aspect that deserves attention. Whatever the activity, proper fitness will help our horses perform their work with less stress, fatigue, and, ultimately, less injury. Fit horses will be able to perform activities better and enjoy them more.	Equestrian Basics \| Horse Ownership \| Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Laminitis Emergency!	07 01, 2010	As most horse people know, laminitis (founder) is a bad deal! When laminitis strikes, the horseman often wonders: is this an emergency and how fast should I react? The answers are YES and quickly!	Hoof Care \| Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Horse Health
Ferndale horse facility hosts farm tour for Whatcom County horse owners	06 15, 2010	Saturday, June 12th brought nearly 25 small farm owners to Broken Auger Farm in Ferndale, Wash. this past weekend. Barbara Daugert, proud owner of the facility, gave a tour explaining how she started this farm project in 1996 when she and her husband purchased the 15 acre piece. Every effort has been made to create a farm that is environmentally sound, and a sanctuary for the current horses that live here.	Farm Management \| Barns/Shelters \| Horse Ownership \| Feeders/Waterers \| Paddocks/Pastures \| Seasonal Preparations \| Horse Health \| Preventive Care \| Blog
EXCITING FUTURE FOR VETCELL UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP	06 15, 2010	The treatment that returned Dream Alliance to the racecourse	Horse Health \| U.S. & World News
Doctors Corner: Dealing with the “B—chy” (Temperamental) Mare	06 01, 2010	It’s unfortunate that the time of year when horses are most active in shows, events, and trail riding just happens to be the time of year for breeding. Mares are seasonally polyestrous which means they have regular heat cycles that coincide with long daylight seasons. During the winter, mares are in anestrous, which means that their ovaries have very little activity and therefore they show very little or no heat signs. As daylight hours increase, there is increased ovarian activity resulting in the spring transition in February and March when mares start producing follicles.	Equestrian Basics \| Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: How Feed Plays a Role in Stomach Ulcers, Part II	06 01, 2010	A more recent study at Texas A&M University suggests that the differences seen in the Tennessee study were related to the type of hay fed. In the study conducted by Texas researchers, the incidence of ulceration was compared in horses fed a pelleted concentrate along with either Bermuda grass hay or alfalfa hay. Twenty-four Quarter Horse yearlings (12-16 months of age) were used in a trial with two 28-day treatment periods separated by a 21-day washout period in which neither of the treatment diets was fed.	Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Horse Health
A New Product for Joint Care	05 14, 2010	Friday afternoon found me driving to Woodinville, Wash., to attend an open house for a new client, Joint Oats 4 Horses. I found their information while looking through other horse magazines and gave them a call. They are only a couple of hours away so my husband and I decided to go meet the staff.	Horse Ownership \| Consumables \| Health Products \| Horse Health \| Holistic/Alternative Care \| Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Blog
Doctor's Corner: Equine Piroplasmosis	03 01, 2010	Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease present in over 90 percent of the world. Along with Australia, Canada, England, Iceland, Ireland and Japan, the U.S. has been classified free of EP. There was an epidemic of EP in Florida during the 60s after infected horses had been imported from Cuba. It took $12 million and over 20 years of testing, quarantine, tick control and other measures to eventually eradicate the disease and finally declare the U.S. free of EP in 1988. Unfortunately, EP was detected again in the U.S. recently, causing renewed concern over the disease.	Veterinary Care \| Diseases \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Improving BCS, Part 1 of 2	03 01, 2010	Numerical scoring is the most widely accepted standardized method of assessing body condition in horses. Though different systems exist, the most prevalent system created uses a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 denoting emaciation and 9 designating obesity. When this method is practiced and consistently applied, body condition scoring provides a reliable means of monitoring body weight.	General Horse Information \| Horse Ownership \| Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: Heel Pain in Horses	02 01, 2010	Most horse owners have heard the dreaded term "navicular disease." It falls in the category with Strangles and colic as far as terms you hope your veterinarian doesn’t mention when discussing the health and soundness of your horse. But what is navicular disease?	Hoof Care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Working Hard or Hardly Working?	02 01, 2010	Optimal nutrition of the performance horse hinges foremost on the exercise it performs. Just as the diet of a human bodybuilder is dissimilar to that of a marathon runner, most horses are fed with performance goals in mind. Therefore, accurately assessing the level of work performed by a horse is essential in determining the amount and type of feed offered.	Feed & Nutrition \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Water~The Overlooked Nutrient	01 01, 2010	The most important nutrient in the horse’s diet is one that is rarely added to feeds: water. Though it is often overlooked in discussions involving equine nutrition, water could be considered the first limiting nutrient of all horses, as they cannot survive for as many days without water as they can without feed.	Feeders/Waterers \| Feed & Nutrition \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: Sleep Deprivation in Horses, Part 2 of 2	12 01, 2009	As noted in last month's article, sleep deprivation will occur in horses if they are either prevented from lying down or unwilling to do so. Unlike humans, horses take several days or even weeks to develop symptoms of sleep deprivation.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Cover Story: Vita Flex Nutrition Equips Your Horse For Health	06 01, 2009	How do you know when your horse needs supplementation? What, exactly, do supplements do? Every horse and every owner is different, so rather than bringing you a list of “one-size-fits-all” instructions, NWHS went to the experts at Vita Flex Nutrition to find the best advice on supplementation. Just like any other piece of tack or equipment, finding the right fit is the best way to ensure the health and happiness of your horse.	Feed & Nutrition \| Horse Health
Doctors Corner: Medication Safety	06 01, 2009	Handle and store your horse's medications safely Previous articles have discussed how to administer medications to horses, whether injectable, oral or topical. This month, I'd like to focus on proper handling of medications to ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the products.	Horse Ownership \| Security \| Parasites \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Veterinary Care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Horse Rescue, Part 1	06 01, 2009	Five years ago, many rescue horses were geriatric, lame, sick or otherwise not "useful" to their owners. When a young, sound horse came in through a rescue, it was easily placed into an adoptive home. Now, we are seeing greater numbers of sound, young, even well-trained horses end up in neglect situations; they are staying in rescue organizations for months, even years, before finding adoptive homes.	Horse Ownership \| Hoof Care \| Rescue/Adoption \| Parasites \| Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Horse Health
Feature Story: Essential Equipment: Weed Free Feed	06 01, 2009	There is a new regulation for livestock owners that could cost you money if you’re not careful. USDA Forest Service Rangers are given full authority to hand out citations for non-compliance. There is no talking your way out of this one, folks!	Horse Ownership \| Seasonal Preparations \| Feed & Nutrition \| Horse Health \| Northwest News \| Trail Riding
Feature Story: Veterinary Technology: 21st Century Health	06 01, 2009	Imagine you find your horse with a nail in his foot. You call your veterinarian. She is on the way and has told you to leave the nail in place. She wants to take an x-ray to determine the exact location of the nail and whether it has damaged any vital structures. Only then will she remove the nail and begin therapy. It’s 1999, so she will have to drive back to the clinic to develop and review the films, which hopefully are of good quality, and then drive back to your farm to provide care. Cross your fingers traffic isn’t bad.	Health Products \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Veterinary Care \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: General Wound Care	05 01, 2009	Everybody has a wound spray, ointment, powder, or miracle paint to sell to treat wounds. In fact, the more strange the product, the more people think it works (especially if it’s blue, smells like turpentine, and was made in a jar in someone’s garage). Do these products work? Maybe. Who says? The neighbor, the vet, the feed store? Probably not the FDA. What is the best way to treat a wound? Is there a best way? In this article I hope to cover some basic wound care concepts.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Will Chiropractic Benefit My Horse? Part 3 of 3	05 01, 2009	Chiropractic is a very powerful tool in veterinary medicine. Why does it have such an impact on overall animal health?	Holistic/Alternative Care \| Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: Pigeon Fever	04 01, 2009	Other than their name, pigeons have nothing to do with Pigeon Fever, a highly contagious disease of horses. Pigeon Fever has been considered endemic to California, but in recent years the incidence has been increasing in other western states such as Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington. It has also increased in southern states such as Kentucky.	Disaster Management/Emergencies \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: What to do About Worms	03 01, 2009	If you haven’t heard already, I’ll break the bad news: we are already starting to see resistance to our current dewormers for horses. The worse news is that there are no new dewormers due to come out anytime soon. What does this mean? We need to utilize other methods of parasite control besides just giving dewormers every eight weeks.	Preventive Care \| Parasites \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Power of Chiropractic, Part 1 of 3	03 01, 2009	Chiropractic is a holistic health care system widely used in human medicine and quickly growing within the veterinary field. The word “chiropractic” is a combination of the Greek words for “hand” (cheiros) and “done by” (praktikos), meaning “done by hand.” The science and philosophy of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between spinal biomechanics and the nervous system.	Preventive Care \| Holistic/Alternative Care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Will Chiropractic Benefit My Horse? Part 1 of 3	03 01, 2009	Many horse owners are using chiropractic care as an important component of their horse’s health care plan. When used in conjunction with traditional veterinary care, it can provide pain relief from chronic or acute problems. Chiropractic approaches health issues from a different angle from traditional medicine and offers an additional tool to keep your horse working in top form.	Preventive Care \| Holistic/Alternative Care \| Horse Health
Spotlight on the News - March 2009	03 01, 2009	Horizon Structures is beginning an innovative new program, called “Horizon Cares About Horses,” that will donate $25 from the sale of every horse barn or run-in shed to a horse rescue organization of the customer’s choice.	Feed & Nutrition \| Horse Health \| Products
Doctor's Corner: AAEP Convention Highlights	02 01, 2009	The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is a non-profit organization for equine veterinarians. Founded in 1954 in the basement of a Louisville, Kentucky hotel with eleven charter members, the AAEP has expanded to over 9,000 veterinarian and student members in 64 countries. The mission of the AAEP is to protect the health and welfare of the horse through equine research, public education programs, involvement with animal welfare affairs and ethics, and professional development programs for its members.	Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Breeding/Foal care \| Parasites \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Equine Osteopathy	02 01, 2009	Many techniques initially developed for humans eventually find their way into veterinary medicine. Among the modalities that have been adapted to the animal world is osteopathy. It was originally developed over 100 years ago as a means to detect and heal disease in the human body. The premise of osteopathy is that a living body is an inter-related entity with an inborn ability to maintain or return to optimum health provided that the structure, or musculo-skeletal system, is functioning within the boundaries of its natural balance.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health \| Holistic/Alternative Care
Doctor's Corner: Think Before Breeding	01 01, 2009	Breeding horses, especially with artificial insemination, takes a fair amount of preplanning and organization. What stallion to breed to? Artificial or natural cover? How much does it cost? How old is the mare? What potential medical problems may come up when your mare gets close to foaling? Do you need to take on the responsibility of another horse? What about all the unwanted horses right now?	Breeding/Foal care \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Healthy, Natural Shine	01 01, 2009	You’ve seen them. You’ve admired them. You’ve wished your horse looked like one of them. Them being the slick, shiny horses you see paraded on TV in numerous horse shows, on the covers of glossy magazines, in dressage rings, and out in green-laden pastures under bright, sun-filled blue skies.	Horse Ownership \| Feed & Nutrition \| Holistic/Alternative Care \| Horse Health
Doctors Corner: Prescription Drugs for Horses	08 01, 2008	The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the governing body that regulates the development, production and sale of medications in the United States, both human and animal. Here, we’ll review the basic rules and regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Doctors Corner: Equine First Aid	06 01, 2008	Although we had snow in late April, the summer months should be fast approaching. There are more horse activities during these months and people are showing, pleasure riding, trail riding and traveling more with their horses. This is also breeding and foaling season. With all this activity, travel, and commingling of horses, there is more risk of illness, injury and other health related problems. Consequently, it is a good time to review the basics of first aid and what is included in a first aid kit.	Horse Ownership \| Horse Health \| Preventive Care \| Veterinary Care \| Veterinary Care
Doctor's Corner: Is Your Horse a Weekend Warrior?	05 01, 2008	Since this is the recreational riding issue as well as the beginning of the “nice” time of year around here, I thought I would remind everyone about “tying up” in horses. Just like us, horses don’t do well with a sudden return to heavy exercise without some sort of pre-conditioning. Exercise, as well as nutrition, is extremely important.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Feature Story: Common Sense Horseshoeing	05 01, 2008	Throughout history, the farrier has been looked upon by some as a saint and by some as a butcher. In most cases, both titles apply to farriers who continue to practice the trade.	Hoof Care \| Horse Health
Book Barn: Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming	04 01, 2008	As anyone who works with horses can attest, even the friendliest horse can be unpredictable. Horse handlers need authoritative information, but they also need both hands free. A conventional book is neither the safest nor the most convenient source for step-by-step instructions when difficult equine situations arise.	Preventive Care \| Products \| Books \| Grooming Equipment \| Ground Work \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: Veterinary Q&A for Kids	04 01, 2008	Young riders' questions are answered by a local vet.	Horse Ownership \| Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Dentistry \| Horse Health
Equine Wellness: Horses and Youth	04 01, 2008	Editor's note: Filling in for Nicole Lanphear this month, we have Dr. Hannah Evergreen, a veterinarian with a holistic practice in Western Washington. Dr. Evergreen shares her experience of watching kids grow up in the company of horses, one of the most natural, healthy ways you can guide young people toward a responsible future of caring for the people, creatures, and world around them.	Equestrian Basics \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: EMS, Cushings, and Spring Feeding	03 01, 2008	Over the next few months, our horses here in the Pacific Northwest will be challenged by the lush green grass we are blessed with after the months of rain and cold. For many, the grass is a welcome source of vitamins, protein, and carbohydrates and a break from relying on expensive hays and grains as a chief source of nutrition. For a growing number of horses, however, this same grass can be extremely dangerous to their health.	Feed & Nutrition \| Preventive Care \| Diseases \| Horse Health
Weed Seed Free Feed	03 01, 2008	In 2007 it became rule of law in Washington State that state-certified weed free forage must be used at all wilderness trails and trailheads in designated wilderness areas within Region 6. This region includes Washington, Oregon, and a section of Idaho. In 2009 this rule of law will include all National Forest System lands in Region 6, and no doubt will soon become a requirement on all public lands.	Northwest News \| Feed & Nutrition \| Recreational Riding \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: A Thorn in the Side	02 01, 2008	The initial complaint was a trickle of blood from Sampson’s nose. Not a common problem in horses, and this particular case had a very unusual cause. Sampson’s unexpected story is the subject of today’s article and it illustrates just how tough horses can be.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health
Prenatal Planning: Mare and foal care advice from Dr. Wendy Vaala, Senior Equine Technical Services Specialist for Intervet	02 01, 2008	From simple checklists to online calculators, breeding calendars offer broodmare owners a way to ensure the best care for their expecting mares and newborn foals. Sometimes, however, the sheer amount of information available can be overwhelming, especially when not all sources agree.	Horse Health \| Breeding/Foal care \| Farm Management
Doctor's Corner: Do I Have to Clean That?	01 01, 2008	Always frequent questions for veterinarians: "How often do geldings or stallions need their sheaths cleaned?" "Do you have to clean them?" "Why do they need cleaning?" As with any question, there are multiple answers depending on the horse.	Preventive Care \| Horse Health
The Business of TCS: An excerpt from Shipped Semen 101	01 01, 2008	Artificial insemination is the preferred method of breeding on numerous farms. There are many reasons for incorporating AI into your own breeding program. Most importantly, AI protects the stallion, mare, and stallion handler from accidental injuries that can occur when hand breeding mares. It reduces the risk of introducing infections to both the stallion and mare. It reduces the risk of illness or injury to the mare’s newborn foal, especially if the mare is being rebred on foal heat. It allows the breeding farm to breed more than one mare per collection. And lastly, AI allows the breeder to ship transported cooled semen.	Farm Management \| Breeding/Foal care \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: Equine Herpes Report	03 01, 2007	There are many strains of equine herpes virus with various levels of virulence that infect horses . Equine herpes viruses are ubiquitous and found worldwide . Although uncommon, the neurological form of disease caused by EHV-1 is extremely contagious, deadly, and outbreaks have been disturbingly more common in recent years . Recognizing these threats, management practices can be implemented to reduce the spread of the health risks posed by these and other contagious diseases.	Horse Health \| Diseases
Focus on the Rider - Finding a Balance	07 01, 2006	Exercises to improve your balance on the ground and in the saddle In riding, as in life, balance is of paramount importance. As the well-known symbol of balance, the yin-yang, suggests, we, as riders, are constantly working to find a state of harmony between opposites.	Holistic/Alternative Care \| Horse/Rider Safety \| Horse Health
Doctor's Corner: Equine Conformation and Lameness	04 01, 2005	Conformation is a term to describe a horse’s anatomical makeup relating to its specific function. For example, Quarter horses are anatomically built to work at high speeds for short distances while Thoroughbreds are bred for high speed and long distance. Whether purchasing or breeding horses, it is important to decide beforehand what the intended use of the horse will be and whether or not it has the right conformation for the chosen discipline. In addition conformation is used to help predict future lameness issues and can be helpful in guiding lameness diagnosis. & This article will discuss some common conformational issues and introduce the concept of how these can relate to lameness. This is an enormous topic and is only discussed briefly here. Conformation is mainly a heritable trait although nutrition, environment, and hoof care play a role as well. Horses have been bred for thousands of years to encourage the expression of conformational characteristics that improve the use of certain breeds.	Preventive Care \| Hoof Care \| Horse Health

Equine Veterinarians to Broaden Expertise During AAEP Annual Convention

09 02, 2010

Veterinary meeting to provide science, business and welfare educatio

08 11, 2010

I have just recently gotten back from Virginia where I was both visiting my big sister, and to attend the Chincoteague Pony Swim to report on the event. Overall my two week vacation was a blast, but the part I would most like to share is my experience as a equine veterinary assistant.

Horse Health | Blog

Virtual Education Leading the Way for Today’s Animal Care and Control Professionals

07 29, 2010

Duquesne University’s Online Humane Leadership Bachelor’s Degree Accepting Spring Term Students (January 2011)

Horse Health | U.S. & World News

Tragedy Strikes NWTRC Horse

07 27, 2010

On July 19th the NorthWest Therapeutic Riding Center's premier pony, Kleng, the 2009 NARHA National Therapeutic "Equine of the Year", suffered a bout of colic, a dreaded ailment every horse owner hopes to never experience.

Horse Health | Northwest News

Irresponsible Horse Breeders

07 08, 2010

If you can believe it, this beautiful horse's uncaring owners wanted to put him down rather than treat his minor injury.

Horse Health

Doctors Corner: Equine Fitness

07 01, 2010

Many factors are involved in the preparation of our horses for the many activities they perform with us, such as training, equipment, nutrition, farrier care and veterinary care. Fitness is another very important aspect that deserves attention. Whatever the activity, proper fitness will help our horses perform their work with less stress, fatigue, and, ultimately, less injury. Fit horses will be able to perform activities better and enjoy them more.

Equestrian Basics | Horse Ownership | Preventive Care | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Laminitis Emergency!

07 01, 2010

As most horse people know, laminitis (founder) is a bad deal! When laminitis strikes, the horseman often wonders: is this an emergency and how fast should I react? The answers are YES and quickly!

Hoof Care | Feed & Nutrition | Preventive Care | Diseases | Horse Health

Ferndale horse facility hosts farm tour for Whatcom County horse owners

06 15, 2010

Saturday, June 12th brought nearly 25 small farm owners to Broken Auger Farm in Ferndale, Wash. this past weekend. Barbara Daugert, proud owner of the facility, gave a tour explaining how she started this farm project in 1996 when she and her husband purchased the 15 acre piece. Every effort has been made to create a farm that is environmentally sound, and a sanctuary for the current horses that live here.

EXCITING FUTURE FOR VETCELL UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

06 15, 2010

The treatment that returned Dream Alliance to the racecourse

Horse Health | U.S. & World News

Doctors Corner: Dealing with the “B—chy” (Temperamental) Mare

06 01, 2010

It’s unfortunate that the time of year when horses are most active in shows, events, and trail riding just happens to be the time of year for breeding. Mares are seasonally polyestrous which means they have regular heat cycles that coincide with long daylight seasons. During the winter, mares are in anestrous, which means that their ovaries have very little activity and therefore they show very little or no heat signs. As daylight hours increase, there is increased ovarian activity resulting in the spring transition in February and March when mares start producing follicles.

Equestrian Basics | Preventive Care | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: How Feed Plays a Role in Stomach Ulcers, Part II

06 01, 2010

A more recent study at Texas A&M University suggests that the differences seen in the Tennessee study were related to the type of hay fed. In the study conducted by Texas researchers, the incidence of ulceration was compared in horses fed a pelleted concentrate along with either Bermuda grass hay or alfalfa hay. Twenty-four Quarter Horse yearlings (12-16 months of age) were used in a trial with two 28-day treatment periods separated by a 21-day washout period in which neither of the treatment diets was fed.

Feed & Nutrition | Preventive Care | Horse Health

A New Product for Joint Care

05 14, 2010

Friday afternoon found me driving to Woodinville, Wash., to attend an open house for a new client, Joint Oats 4 Horses. I found their information while looking through other horse magazines and gave them a call. They are only a couple of hours away so my husband and I decided to go meet the staff.

Doctor's Corner: Equine Piroplasmosis

03 01, 2010

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease present in over 90 percent of the world. Along with Australia, Canada, England, Iceland, Ireland and Japan, the U.S. has been classified free of EP. There was an epidemic of EP in Florida during the 60s after infected horses had been imported from Cuba. It took $12 million and over 20 years of testing, quarantine, tick control and other measures to eventually eradicate the disease and finally declare the U.S. free of EP in 1988. Unfortunately, EP was detected again in the U.S. recently, causing renewed concern over the disease.

Veterinary Care | Diseases | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Improving BCS, Part 1 of 2

03 01, 2010

Numerical scoring is the most widely accepted standardized method of assessing body condition in horses. Though different systems exist, the most prevalent system created uses a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 denoting emaciation and 9 designating obesity. When this method is practiced and consistently applied, body condition scoring provides a reliable means of monitoring body weight.

General Horse Information | Horse Ownership | Feed & Nutrition | Preventive Care | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: Heel Pain in Horses

02 01, 2010

Most horse owners have heard the dreaded term "navicular disease." It falls in the category with Strangles and colic as far as terms you hope your veterinarian doesn’t mention when discussing the health and soundness of your horse. But what is navicular disease?

Hoof Care | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Working Hard or Hardly Working?

02 01, 2010

Optimal nutrition of the performance horse hinges foremost on the exercise it performs. Just as the diet of a human bodybuilder is dissimilar to that of a marathon runner, most horses are fed with performance goals in mind. Therefore, accurately assessing the level of work performed by a horse is essential in determining the amount and type of feed offered.

Feed & Nutrition | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Water~The Overlooked Nutrient

01 01, 2010

The most important nutrient in the horse’s diet is one that is rarely added to feeds: water. Though it is often overlooked in discussions involving equine nutrition, water could be considered the first limiting nutrient of all horses, as they cannot survive for as many days without water as they can without feed.

Feeders/Waterers | Feed & Nutrition | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: Sleep Deprivation in Horses, Part 2 of 2

12 01, 2009

As noted in last month's article, sleep deprivation will occur in horses if they are either prevented from lying down or unwilling to do so. Unlike humans, horses take several days or even weeks to develop symptoms of sleep deprivation.

Preventive Care | Horse Health

Cover Story: Vita Flex Nutrition Equips Your Horse For Health

06 01, 2009

How do you know when your horse needs supplementation? What, exactly, do supplements do? Every horse and every owner is different, so rather than bringing you a list of “one-size-fits-all” instructions, NWHS went to the experts at Vita Flex Nutrition to find the best advice on supplementation. Just like any other piece of tack or equipment, finding the right fit is the best way to ensure the health and happiness of your horse.

Feed & Nutrition | Horse Health

Doctors Corner: Medication Safety

06 01, 2009

Handle and store your horse's medications safely
Previous articles have discussed how to administer medications to horses, whether injectable, oral or topical. This month, I'd like to focus on proper handling of medications to ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the products.

Equine Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Horse Rescue, Part 1

06 01, 2009

Five years ago, many rescue horses were geriatric, lame, sick or otherwise not "useful" to their owners. When a young, sound horse came in through a rescue, it was easily placed into an adoptive home. Now, we are seeing greater numbers of sound, young, even well-trained horses end up in neglect situations; they are staying in rescue organizations for months, even years, before finding adoptive homes.

Feature Story: Essential Equipment: Weed Free Feed

06 01, 2009

There is a new regulation for livestock owners that could cost you money if you’re not careful. USDA Forest Service Rangers are given full authority to hand out citations for non-compliance. There is no talking your way out of this one, folks!

Feature Story: Veterinary Technology: 21st Century Health

06 01, 2009

Imagine you find your horse with a nail in his foot. You call your veterinarian. She is on the way and has told you to leave the nail in place. She wants to take an x-ray to determine the exact location of the nail and whether it has damaged any vital structures. Only then will she remove the nail and begin therapy. It’s 1999, so she will have to drive back to the clinic to develop and review the films, which hopefully are of good quality, and then drive back to your farm to provide care. Cross your fingers traffic isn’t bad.

Health Products | Preventive Care | Diseases | Veterinary Care | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: General Wound Care

05 01, 2009

Everybody has a wound spray, ointment, powder, or miracle paint to sell to treat wounds. In fact, the more strange the product, the more people think it works (especially if it’s blue, smells like turpentine, and was made in a jar in someone’s garage). Do these products work? Maybe. Who says? The neighbor, the vet, the feed store? Probably not the FDA. What is the best way to treat a wound? Is there a best way? In this article I hope to cover some basic wound care concepts.

Preventive Care | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Will Chiropractic Benefit My Horse? Part 3 of 3

05 01, 2009

Chiropractic is a very powerful tool in veterinary medicine. Why does it have such an impact on overall animal health?

Holistic/Alternative Care | Preventive Care | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: Pigeon Fever

04 01, 2009

Other than their name, pigeons have nothing to do with Pigeon Fever, a highly contagious disease of horses. Pigeon Fever has been considered endemic to California, but in recent years the incidence has been increasing in other western states such as Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington. It has also increased in southern states such as Kentucky.

Disaster Management/Emergencies | Preventive Care | Diseases | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: What to do About Worms

03 01, 2009

If you haven’t heard already, I’ll break the bad news: we are already starting to see resistance to our current dewormers for horses. The worse news is that there are no new dewormers due to come out anytime soon. What does this mean? We need to utilize other methods of parasite control besides just giving dewormers every eight weeks.

Preventive Care | Parasites | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Power of Chiropractic, Part 1 of 3

03 01, 2009

Chiropractic is a holistic health care system widely used in human medicine and quickly growing within the veterinary field. The word “chiropractic” is a combination of the Greek words for “hand” (cheiros) and “done by” (praktikos), meaning “done by hand.” The science and philosophy of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between spinal biomechanics and the nervous system.

Preventive Care | Holistic/Alternative Care | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Will Chiropractic Benefit My Horse? Part 1 of 3

03 01, 2009

Many horse owners are using chiropractic care as an important component of their horse’s health care plan. When used in conjunction with traditional veterinary care, it can provide pain relief from chronic or acute problems. Chiropractic approaches health issues from a different angle from traditional medicine and offers an additional tool to keep your horse working in top form.

Preventive Care | Holistic/Alternative Care | Horse Health

Spotlight on the News - March 2009

03 01, 2009

Horizon Structures is beginning an innovative new program, called “Horizon Cares About Horses,” that will donate $25 from the sale of every horse barn or run-in shed to a horse rescue organization of the customer’s choice.

Feed & Nutrition | Horse Health | Products

Doctor's Corner: AAEP Convention Highlights

02 01, 2009

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is a non-profit organization for equine veterinarians. Founded in 1954 in the basement of a Louisville, Kentucky hotel with eleven charter members, the AAEP has expanded to over 9,000 veterinarian and student members in 64 countries. The mission of the AAEP is to protect the health and welfare of the horse through equine research, public education programs, involvement with animal welfare affairs and ethics, and professional development programs for its members.

Equine Wellness: Equine Osteopathy

02 01, 2009

Many techniques initially developed for humans eventually find their way into veterinary medicine. Among the modalities that have been adapted to the animal world is osteopathy. It was originally developed over 100 years ago as a means to detect and heal disease in the human body. The premise of osteopathy is that a living body is an inter-related entity with an inborn ability to maintain or return to optimum health provided that the structure, or musculo-skeletal system, is functioning within the boundaries of its natural balance.

Preventive Care | Horse Health | Holistic/Alternative Care

Doctor's Corner: Think Before Breeding

01 01, 2009

Breeding horses, especially with artificial insemination, takes a fair amount of preplanning and organization. What stallion to breed to? Artificial or natural cover? How much does it cost? How old is the mare? What potential medical problems may come up when your mare gets close to foaling? Do you need to take on the responsibility of another horse? What about all the unwanted horses right now?

Breeding/Foal care | Horse Health

Equine Wellness: Healthy, Natural Shine

01 01, 2009

You’ve seen them. You’ve admired them. You’ve wished your horse looked like one of them. Them being the slick, shiny horses you see paraded on TV in numerous horse shows, on the covers of glossy magazines, in dressage rings, and out in green-laden pastures under bright, sun-filled blue skies.

Horse Ownership | Feed & Nutrition | Holistic/Alternative Care | Horse Health

Doctors Corner: Prescription Drugs for Horses

08 01, 2008

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the governing body that regulates the development, production and sale of medications in the United States, both human and animal. Here, we’ll review the basic rules and regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry.

Preventive Care | Horse Health

Doctors Corner: Equine First Aid

06 01, 2008

Although we had snow in late April, the summer months should be fast approaching. There are more horse activities during these months and people are showing, pleasure riding, trail riding and traveling more with their horses. This is also breeding and foaling season. With all this activity, travel, and commingling of horses, there is more risk of illness, injury and other health related problems. Consequently, it is a good time to review the basics of first aid and what is included in a first aid kit.

Horse Ownership | Horse Health | Preventive Care | Veterinary Care | Veterinary Care

Doctor's Corner: Is Your Horse a Weekend Warrior?

05 01, 2008

Since this is the recreational riding issue as well as the beginning of the “nice” time of year around here, I thought I would remind everyone about “tying up” in horses. Just like us, horses don’t do well with a sudden return to heavy exercise without some sort of pre-conditioning. Exercise, as well as nutrition, is extremely important.

Preventive Care | Horse Health

Feature Story: Common Sense Horseshoeing

05 01, 2008

Throughout history, the farrier has been looked upon by some as a saint and by some as a butcher. In most cases, both titles apply to farriers who continue to practice the trade.

Hoof Care | Horse Health

Book Barn: Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming

04 01, 2008

As anyone who works with horses can attest, even the friendliest horse can be unpredictable. Horse handlers need authoritative information, but they also need both hands free. A conventional book is neither the safest nor the most convenient source for step-by-step instructions when difficult equine situations arise.

Doctor's Corner: Veterinary Q&A for Kids

04 01, 2008

Young riders' questions are answered by a local vet.

Equine Wellness: Horses and Youth

04 01, 2008

Editor's note: Filling in for Nicole Lanphear this month, we have Dr. Hannah Evergreen, a veterinarian with a holistic practice in Western Washington. Dr. Evergreen shares her experience of watching kids grow up in the company of horses, one of the most natural, healthy ways you can guide young people toward a responsible future of caring for the people, creatures, and world around them.

Equestrian Basics | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: EMS, Cushings, and Spring Feeding

03 01, 2008

Over the next few months, our horses here in the Pacific Northwest will be challenged by the lush green grass we are blessed with after the months of rain and cold. For many, the grass is a welcome source of vitamins, protein, and carbohydrates and a break from relying on expensive hays and grains as a chief source of nutrition. For a growing number of horses, however, this same grass can be extremely dangerous to their health.

Feed & Nutrition | Preventive Care | Diseases | Horse Health

Weed Seed Free Feed

03 01, 2008

In 2007 it became rule of law in Washington State that state-certified weed free forage must be used at all wilderness trails and trailheads in designated wilderness areas within Region 6. This region includes Washington, Oregon, and a section of Idaho. In 2009 this rule of law will include all National Forest System lands in Region 6, and no doubt will soon become a requirement on all public lands.

Northwest News | Feed & Nutrition | Recreational Riding | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: A Thorn in the Side

02 01, 2008

The initial complaint was a trickle of blood from Sampson’s nose. Not a common problem in horses, and this particular case had a very unusual cause. Sampson’s unexpected story is the subject of today’s article and it illustrates just how tough horses can be.

Preventive Care | Horse Health

Prenatal Planning: Mare and foal care advice from Dr. Wendy Vaala, Senior Equine Technical Services Specialist for Intervet

02 01, 2008

From simple checklists to online calculators, breeding calendars offer broodmare owners a way to ensure the best care for their expecting mares and newborn foals. Sometimes, however, the sheer amount of information available can be overwhelming, especially when not all sources agree.

Horse Health | Breeding/Foal care | Farm Management

Doctor's Corner: Do I Have to Clean That?

01 01, 2008

Always frequent questions for veterinarians: "How often do geldings or stallions need their sheaths cleaned?" "Do you have to clean them?" "Why do they need cleaning?" As with any question, there are multiple answers depending on the horse.

Preventive Care | Horse Health

The Business of TCS: An excerpt from Shipped Semen 101

01 01, 2008

Artificial insemination is the preferred method of breeding on numerous farms. There are many reasons for incorporating AI into your own breeding program. Most importantly, AI protects the stallion, mare, and stallion handler from accidental injuries that can occur when hand breeding mares. It reduces the risk of introducing infections to both the stallion and mare. It reduces the risk of illness or injury to the mare’s newborn foal, especially if the mare is being rebred on foal heat. It allows the breeding farm to breed more than one mare per collection. And lastly, AI allows the breeder to ship transported cooled semen.

Farm Management | Breeding/Foal care | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: Equine Herpes Report

03 01, 2007

There are many strains of equine herpes virus with various levels of virulence that infect horses . Equine herpes viruses are ubiquitous and found worldwide . Although uncommon, the neurological form of disease caused by EHV-1 is extremely contagious, deadly, and outbreaks have been disturbingly more common in recent years . Recognizing these threats, management practices can be implemented to reduce the spread of the health risks posed by these and other contagious diseases.

Horse Health | Diseases

Focus on the Rider - Finding a Balance

07 01, 2006

Exercises to improve your balance on the ground and in the saddle In riding, as in life, balance is of paramount importance. As the well-known symbol of balance, the yin-yang, suggests, we, as riders, are constantly working to find a state of harmony between opposites.

Holistic/Alternative Care | Horse/Rider Safety | Horse Health

Doctor's Corner: Equine Conformation and Lameness

04 01, 2005

Conformation is a term to describe a horse’s anatomical makeup relating to its specific function. For example, Quarter horses are anatomically built to work at high speeds for short distances while Thoroughbreds are bred for high speed and long distance. Whether purchasing or breeding horses, it is important to decide beforehand what the intended use of the horse will be and whether or not it has the right conformation for the chosen discipline. In addition conformation is used to help predict future lameness issues and can be helpful in guiding lameness diagnosis. & This article will discuss some common conformational issues and introduce the concept of how these can relate to lameness. This is an enormous topic and is only discussed briefly here. Conformation is mainly a heritable trait although nutrition, environment, and hoof care play a role as well. Horses have been bred for thousands of years to encourage the expression of conformational characteristics that improve the use of certain breeds.

Preventive Care | Hoof Care | Horse Health

Horse Health

Free E-Newsletter

NWHS RSS Feeds

NWHS Magazine

How do you use riding spurs?

Northwest Equine Events

Labor Day

Annual Women's Retreat, Alice Trindle

Parelli Level 2

Ride Without Fear: Overcome Mind & Body Tension