“Since we completed our first survey in May, the state has lifted some of the restrictions on the horse industry, which should provide a boost to equine business across the state,” said Elisabeth Jensen, KEEP’s executive vice president who oversees the daily operations of the organization. “However, we have yet to see the impact of how the pandemic is affecting horse sales and what that means for Kentucky’s equine economy. We hope that this second round of our survey can, when combined with the data from our May survey, paint a clearer picture of the challenges the industry will face.”

After two or three months of complete shut-down because of COVID-19 and now an only partial return to normal operations, lesson program owners are looking at scary balance sheets: same costs of feed and care, but nothing in the revenue column.

Feed and hay bills did not stop even though income evaporated amid the coronavirus pandemic. Organizations across the country offer access to hay banks and A Home For Every Horse helps connect horse owners with those resources.

Bone tissue responds to use by altering both its density and shape in response to the stress placed on it. Research has shown that short periods of cyclical loading – multiple short-duration sessions of moderate-to-intense exercise – is preferred over long periods of galloping, she said.

Spring growths of grass at their peak almost invariably exceed that limit. They are extremely dangerous for any horse with problems in controlling insulin. Areas that experience considerable regrowth in the fall after high summer heat, may have a similar high sugar scenario at that time.

“The primary source of vet suicide is adverse psychosocial working conditions. Many in the veterinary profession suffer from high levels of anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, and high personal expectations due to these risk factors,” said Dr Warwick Vale, AVA President.

A world-first sperm extender is set to more than double the effectiveness of artificial insemination rates in horses and may also have implications for humans. University of Newcastle scientists, Dr Zamira Gibb and Dr Aleona Swegen, have developed a revolutionary nutrient-rich liquid that enables collected horse semen to live for two weeks outside the body without the need to be frozen.

Horses, like humans, dissipate most of their excess body heat through sweating. Horses can sweat as much as 2½ to 3 gallons – 10 to 12 liters – per hour. Depending on the environmental temperature and the animal’s workload, it is possible for a horse to become dehydrated in as little as two to three hours. Furthermore, horses may not drink enough, even when provided water.

There are physiological differences between humans and horses. For example, horses don’t produce high levels of ketones, even when starving. Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) are not at high risk for cardiovascular disease, the way humans are. They develop laminitis instead.

Beyond the easily searchable genetic tests offered, the VGL’s new website also features a genetics glossary, coat color resources, and educational materials like “pop-up” scrollable definitions of words throughout the site, as well as continually-updated activities and gameslike animal-related crossword puzzles and DIY at-home science projects.