Just like human infants, foals need properly established gut microbiota in order to develop correctly and be healthy in their first years of life. Microorganisms associated with contact with the mare and consumption of colostrum and milk are the first to colonize a foal’s GI system.

EEE is fatal in 30% of human cases and 90% of equine cases. It is also known to affect deer and other mammals, but is most common in horses. Horses and humans are both “dead ends” for the virus, meaning that the virus cannot be transmitted from one infected individual to another; the levels of virus in the bloodstream are too low for a mosquito  to pick the virus back up and spread it further. “Just like West Nile virus,” says Barrell, “the horse is not a threat to other horses.”

In addition to general horsemanship sessions, a plethora of discipline-specific sessions will be provided by other top experts in the industry, including:

o   Charlotte Bredahl-Baker, Dressage

o   Sinead Halpin, Eventing

o   Candice King, Hunter/Jumper

o   Dan James, Reining

o   Liz Austin, Dressage

o   Jane Melby, Barrel Racing

o   Dana Bright, Driving

o   Kristin Whittaker, Western Dressage

o   Rick Christy, Hunter under Saddle

o   Gary Lane, Easy Gaited

o   Steve Lantvit, Ranch Horse

o   Kelly Hulse, Saddleseat

o   Heidi Potter, Trail Obstacles, Centered Riding™

o   Simon Cocozza, Core Strengthening and Yoga for Horses

o   Jim Masterson, Masterson Method in Motion

Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, meaning that a horse needs to have two copies of the mutation to be affected. WFFS is a fatal genetic defect of connective tissue characterized by hyperextensible, abnormally thin, fragile skin and mucous membranes. More than 700 Thoroughbreds were tested for the WFFS mutation, including 22 catastrophic breakdown fatalities. The allele frequency among all samples was 1.2 percent and the carrier rate (or horses with one copy) was 2.4 percent. None of the horses in the study had two copies of the mutation and only one of the 22 catastrophic breakdown cases carried the WFFS allele.

This number will assist in determining if it’s too hot to exercise a horse. If the sum is below 130, thermoregulation should not be a concern. When the comfort index is between 130 and 150, horses will sweat, but they can exercise without major problems. When the comfort index exceeds 150 and the humidity is greater than 75 percent, heat dissipation may be an issue and riders should monitor their horses carefully. If the comfort index exceeds 180, a horse should not be exercised, as it will be unable to dissipate enough heat to stay safe.

The general fund grants support individualized employee/volunteer training and center immersion training through approved educational clinics and or workshops. The Arizona Fund grants support individualized employee/volunteer training and center immersion training and scholarships or financial assistance for client expenses.

The State of Oklahoma is requiring horses living in counties with positive VS cases to have a health certificate within five days of when you are traveling. Lucas Oil World exhibitors who are from an area that has a positive VS case are required to have a health certificate within five days of when you leave, instead of the 30-day requirement. If you are traveling from a county that does not have any positive VS cases, you will be required to have a health certificate within 30 days of when you leave for the show.

I’m all for awareness and measures to reduce transmission of strangles and other diseases. However, the best way to do so is never clear. One approach is to cancel events altogether. Yes, that will prevent transmission, but is such a drastic measure necessary?