Previous studies have found that physiological responses and gait symmetry parameters are negatively affected when horses carry heavy riders, for example when the rider:horse weight ratio increases from 20 – 35% (Stefánsdóttir et al., 2017).

The 12 part course, how to recognize the 24 behaviors indicating pain in the ridden horse, is presented by international equine lameness specialist Dr Sue Dyson. It has been produced by the US’s popular evidence-based online educational resource Equitopia and helps translate Dr Dyson’s extensive research involving six studies and 400 horses, into action.

The AVA identify long working hours, high workloads, poor work-life balance, the attitude of clients and stress about performing euthanasia as prime reasons leading to veterinarian suicide. “It is not just a suicide issue, 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 Crawford.

The Bahamas does not produce its own hay, and with such incredible human dislocation on the islands, there is no safety net for horses. “These horses need us, and we are prepared to meet their needs in crisis,” said Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs for the Animal Wellness Foundation. “Our plan is to stabilize them, attend to any immediate needs, and to provide food for as long as six months.”

Clinicians with the Equine Surgery and Lameness Service were aware of an alternative method for stone removal through a flank laparotomy, but it had only been reported in the veterinary literature in two horses. Dr. Cheryl McCullough, a veterinary pathologist and Goose’s owner of 13 years, was willing to give it a chance.

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.