“Foal diarrhea remains a disease of enormous significance to the horse industry,” said Dr. Dwyer. “Rotavirus is one of the most common pathogens in major breeding areas worldwide. Early recognition, diagnosis, treatment and biosecurity in cases of foal diarrhea are key to minimizing disease impacts to breeding farms.”

“It is frustrating as an owner to see abusers win races, then continue to be allowed to race,” she says. “I’m in favor of stiffer fines and penalties to discourage trainers from using both clenbuterol and albuterol.”

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals usually are man-made substances, found in products such as pesticides, plastics and personal care products. They are heavily prevalent in the environment and can mimic a body’s hormones, blocking real ones from doing their jobs. Because of this, they are known to produce harmful effects in humans and wildlife. Horses likely come into contact with EDCs through their food.

Traditional wood versus metal or modern products made from plastic or cement-board can require re-staining and repainting every 3 to 4 years. The recent advent of specialist urethane stains can provide a sincere benefit to minimizing the expense and labor required for this maintenance, so be sure to ask your barn builder about this option.

“While we share their heart break over the high incidence of fatalities at Santa Anita, we feel it is imperative to protect our right to give certain therapeutic medications, most notably, furosemide,” said AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber. “We are here to serve our membership in protecting the horse’s welfare. I work to maintain open communication with regulators, sharing my years of experience as a horseman.”

Fly Stoppers are beneficial insects that stop pest flies from developing, helping to control the fly population at your farm. They can be spread around manure piles, under water troughs, below bedding, the corners of pens and paddocks, and feeding sites.

Injury (trauma/wounds), lameness, and colic were the most common problems occurring at horse operations, totaling 51.6% and 53.4% for problems reported in 2005 and 2015, respectively.

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and contains a 15-digit numerical code unique to that horse which can never be altered. The ID numbers are very much like an automobile’s VIN number and provide a reliable way to verify a horse’s identity. In horses, the microchip is implanted into the nuchal ligament in the neck, using a syringe-like device.

“A year later, the ripple effects are still being felt throughout this community, opening doors to new markets and reproductive technologies previously underutilized or even unknown by most rare breed owners. The effect of the grant money was more than any of us could have imagined, giving all involved a solid sense of direction and the tools to accomplish meaningful breed conservation across the country and beyond.”

The liver is responsible for removing toxins from the blood, and it aids in storage of trace elements and glycogen, bile production and excretion. In conjunction with the liver, the kidney is another critical filter organ and is a major regulator of fluids and electrolyte balance. In combination, these organs are responsible for vitally important functions including producing hormones that affect the absorption of nutrition in the gut, blood pressure regulation, along with Vitamin D and red cell production.  All of these processes are critically important to the performance, health and well being of the horse.