News.
It's always fun to share horsey news with fellow horse folks. Please send us your news, wrap up of events and clinics, comings and goings at your barn and don't forget to add a photo or two. We'll share it on our facebook page. If you'd like us to give you press coverage of an event please email us the details as far in advance as possible.
Rapid Growth of IEA Dressage Program Results in Demographic Move from Regions to Zones for the 2023-2024 Season
Due to the rapid growth in membership of the IEA Dressage Program, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Board of Directors recently approved the IEA Dressage Committee’s recommendations to expand the demographic areas of teams into six Zones beginning with the 2023-2024 season. Previously divided into 11 Regions, the newly organized Zone structure allows Regions to grow within each Zone and mimics the way the IEA Hunt Seat Program has expanded over the years. Read the full article...
The U.S. House Ag Committee Wants to Hear from the Equine Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and members of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture want to hear from you regarding the Farm Bill. In particular, they ask for any new programs or ideas that you, or the organization that you represent, would like to see considered for the 2023 Farm Bill. Read the full article...
Biosecurity Research Findings – More than Just Vaccination
In a new University of Guelph study at the Ontario Veterinary College, preliminary findings reveal that a perception exists among horse owners and some event organizers viewing vaccination as a ‘bullet-proof’ intervention that will protect their horse from ailments. Read the full article...
AQHA Launches Members-Only Web Portal: myAQHA
AQHA Offers members access to what they need, when they need it, with a new member benefit.
The American Quarter Horse Association listened to members’ needs and designed a new web platform to give members more access to their membership and ownership records. MyAQHA (myaqha.com) offers several new services designed to improve the AQHA member experience.
Current AQHA members are invited to create a myAQHA account. Learn more about myAQHA.
Expired and non-members can renew or join and save $5 by using promo code MYAQHA5 at checkout.
MyAQHA will continue to be developed to meet members’ needs with more new features to be released as the website progresses. For assistance in navigating myAQHA, check out the user guide.
During this initial soft launch of myAQHA, your feedback and thoughts are welcomed to improve the site’s member dashboard experience. After you use the site, be sure to share your feedback on myAQHA by selecting the “Feedback” button on the right-hand side of the screen. Please share your thoughts on the following features:
• Look and feel
• Organization
• Ease of use
• Functionality
AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.
Brain-penetrating Drug Candidate Shown to Be Effective Against Deadly Encephalitis Viruses
A new antiviral compound that was designed, synthesized and tested by researchers at the University of Louisville, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Pharmacy and the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center (UTHSC) has been shown to be highly effective against two types of devastating encephalitis viruses that cause harm to humans. The multidisciplinary team found that BDGR-49 protects against the deadly eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) or Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). Read the full article...
Sustaining Emergency and Critical Care Services While an Equine Veterinary Crisis Rages On
It has been widely known in the equine community in recent years that students in veterinary colleges throughout the country are choosing to steer away from equine veterinary medicine.
In 2021, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) highlighted this plight by sharing that only a small percentage of veterinary graduates were entering the equine profession. Even more disturbing is the news that 50 percent of these graduates will leave the equine profession within five years. Read the full article...
Equine Veterinary Crisis - Sustaining Emergency and Critical Care Services in an Ever-Changing Landscape
There is a crisis silently brewing in the equine veterinary world.
The combination of older veterinarians leaving the field, current equine veterinarians leaving for better pay and work/life balance, and fewer numbers of veterinary students choosing equine as their elective field of specialty have seriously affected the availability of primary and emergency care for horses throughout the United States and beyond. And, if nothing is done now this could be greatly problematic for horse owners who need to seek medical care for their horses in the coming years.
Michael Erskine, director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg, Virginia, is part of a national commission looking into the problem. The EMC is one of three animal health care facilities of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Equine veterinarians typically provide emergency care for their client’s horses, but emergency coverage can be especially challenging, taking a huge toll on equine practitioners who are often expected to be available 24/7,” said Erskine. “Equine referral hospitals, unlike small animal emergency clinics, are few and far between with horse owners often having to travel substantial distances to seek comprehensive emergency care.” Read the full article...
Warm Early Spring Means Early Eastern Tent Caterpillar Egg Hatch
By Holly Wiemers.
Eastern tent caterpillars have begun to hatch in Kentucky, with the first detection in Fayette County March 1 and in Western Kentucky counties the last week of February. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment entomologists said the abnormally warm spring has created favorable conditions for an early annual hatch. Read the full article...
Up to $75,000 Available for Research Investigating The Impact of EAS on Social, Physical, Cognitive, Mental, Emotional and/or Spiritual Aspects of Participants
Proposals Due May 26, 2023
Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF), a 501(c)3 organization, announces this request for proposals to investigate the impact of Equine Assisted Services (EAS) on social, physical, cognitive, mental, emotional and/or spiritual aspects of participants. HHRF is thrilled to announce an increased award amount of up to $75,000 for this grant cycle. Deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, May 26, 2023. Read the full article...
Equine Guelph Drives Home Safety with Online Trailer Course
Planning on getting hitched in 2023? Equine Guelph is rolling out a brand-new online course March 6 – 20 on TheHorsePortal.ca - Horse Trailer Safety (Part One).
“WAY too many private horse owners tell me ‘they didn't know’ after an incident with their horses and trailer/transport. Hauling horses is a serious responsibility,” says Dr. Rebecca Husted. “Due diligence is required to make sure your set up is safe and emergency preparedness is essential. This course will ensure you do know how to effectively check your own rig.” Read the full article...
AAEP Publishes Lawsonia intracellularis (Equine Proliferative Enteropathy) Guidelines
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist veterinarians with clinical signs, risk factors, treatment and other considerations associated with Lawsonia intracellularis (equine proliferative enteropathy), an enteric disease typically seen in weanling and yearling horses during the fall and early winter in North America. Read the full article...
Minerals and Insulin Resistance
Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
Minerals have direct and indirect involvement in virtually every action in the body, and have important effects on Insulin Resistance (IR) or its consequences. IR is different in the horse than in the human, but the same basic principles apply. There is evidence of activated antioxidant defenses in the tissues of IR horses.
Building the horse’s own antioxidant basic defenses is most effective. This includes the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme systems, as well as the antioxidants glutathione, CoQ10, carotenoids and vitamin A, flavanoids, and vitamins E and C. Glutathione is particularly widely distributed. Read the full article...
Equine Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Guidelines Now Available from the AAEP
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist practitioners with diagnostics, clinical signs, risk factors, treatment and other considerations of Equine Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, a non-fatal infection that causes cutaneous lesions most commonly observed as nodules on the head, pinnae, scrotum, legs and neck. Read the full article...
MMP Enzymes and Laminitis
Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
MMPs are matrix metalloproteinases – enzymes that break down connective tissue protein/collagen in the body. If you follow news releases and articles about equine laminitis, you have surely seen mention of MMP enzymes since the late 1990s. Turns out they are not the major players as was originally thought.
The basement membrane (BM) in the hoof is a thin layer of connective tissue lining the junction between the dead laminae of the hoof wall, and the live laminae of the inner hoof. This system locks the hoof wall to the tissues inside like Velcro.
In laminitis caused by things like colic/gut infections, black walnut shavings, grain, or experimental fructan overload, it was noted the basement membrane is damaged or destroyed and that the level of MMP enzymes is increased. This led to the theory that the activation of MMP is what causes laminitis. Read the full article...
Solving a Mare’s ‘Behavioral’ Problems
Common signs of ‘misbehavior’ can be a direct result of pain.
When Korrina Tomes-Hughes – horsewoman, wife and mother of four – acquired a horse who often squealed and kicked out, she told her husband they had a year to solve the issues. “If a horse isn’t safe, they don’t stay at our house,” she said. “Considering a 1,200-pound horse versus our littlest kid of 40 pounds, there can be no taking chances when it comes to safety.”
It is important to bring up any behavior-related issues with your veterinarian, so they can examine your horse for any potential pain and discomfort that may be directing the behavior you’re seeing. And, that’s just what this family did. “You can’t just write [a horse] off for a bad day, or even a bad week. And when you have a mare, you especially have to make sure she is comfortable,” she said. Read the full article...
New Equine Fecal Transplant Research
Fecal transplantation has been very successful in treating humans with issues such as C-difficile infection, which is also a leading cause of diarrhea in horses. Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Dr. Luis Arroyo and his team are about to begin a study which could make treating gastro-intestinal (GI) issues in horses using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) a viable option. FMT has been given to horses with diarrhea, but so far, there is little evidence-based medicine to support that FMT is efficient in horses. One challenge is the path to the colon is much longer in a horse, precluding administration by enema for example, and therefore requiring delivery into the stomach via the nose instead. The inoculant needs to survive the trip to its intended destination. Another challenge is the preservation of a product that can be on hand when needed.
Amazing progress in genome sequencing has opened doors to new research tackling GI issues. Arroyo has been involved in studies examining the inhabitants of the equine gut and explains there is still much to learn, but we are starting to develop a clearer picture of how the micro-environments are very different in a diseased gut compared to a normal healthy one. They are recording what types of bacteria live in different areas of the GI system, what proportions of each bacteria should be present, and how they interact. Read the full article...
Caring for Barn Cats?
Veterinarian shares 8 tips for looking after our most resourceful felines.
Barn cats are kings and queens at horse farms and ranches, keeping away varmints like moles, mice and consequentially, even snakes. But even the most independent outdoor cats can benefit from added protection and routine care.
For advice on caring for barn cats, we turned to Oklahoma State University's Assistant Clinical Professor with the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sarah Peakheart.
Purrr-use these top tips for thriving barn cats:
1 Offer any outdoor cats (and dogs) a safe, warm place to sleep. A heated or insulated cat house is perfect for keeping outdoor cats in winter months cozy. Also, ensure they have plenty of food and fresh water. Consider a heated water bowl to help prevent frozen water during wintertime. Read the full article...
Horizon Structures Presents Series….Safety and Selection of Horse Hay Feeders
By Nikki Alvin-Smith
Saving up to 30 percent on your hay bill is an appealing reason to opt in to purchase a hay feeder. The University of Minnesota studies showcased that not only users of large square and round bale feeders could benefit from a smaller hay bill, but also horse owners that utilize small squares could get in on the significant savings.
Hay feeders can be labor saving boon, but with so many options on the market, what should the diligent horse owner look for when selecting a feeder and what safety measures should they employ to mitigate the risks of injury, choke or colic to their horses. Here are a few suggestions to help the neophyte equine hay feeder user navigate the world of feeders.
Cows and Horses
Cow feeders may be more readily available and cheaper than horse feeders, but does this make them a good option for use around equines? The answer is a resounding “No!”
Cows necessarily are not as athletic as horses and certainly their legs are shorter and their activities generally more lethargic than our beloved equines. While photos posted on social media of horses standing in the center of an empty round bale feeder may seem funny, the reality is that the gaps in the feeder are large enough for equine hooves to become trapped and can result in catastrophic injury or even death. Read the full Article...
Why Do Horses Eat Dirt?
One of the most frequently asked question from my clients is “Why does my horse want 
to eat dirt? Is she missing something in her diet?” Well, the question can be answered several ways, as there is not one particular reason why horses engage in this perfectly natural activity. Horses are supposed to eat a certain amount of dirt on a daily basis.
• Dirt is a natural part of the equine diet. It contains minerals in bio-available form that the horse needs for various metabolic functions. Some of the minerals, iron for example, are more utilizable from the soil than when added to feeds or stored in forages. Horses that are constantly stabled and deprived of minerals naturally found in dirt may develop deficiencies even when supplied with those minerals in processed feeds.
• Dirt also contains microbes that the horse’s digestive tract can benefit from. Some microbes are located in plant roots so the horse may dig through the dirt to get at the roots of these plants.
• Dirt contains water and salt which can both help a thirsty horse stay hydrated. However, it is always better to make sure horses are supplied with fresh drinking water and salt at all times.
Read the full article.
Standing a Stallion? Cash in on a FREE listing in Catskill Horse Stallion Directory
The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse continues to add more resources to the magazine to service regional horse businesses and horse owners with the addition of a Stallion Directory.
To grab your free listing as a stallion owner please submit the following via email to us at info@CatskillHorse.org :-
Stallion Name:
Bloodlines to 3 generations:
Registry of Stallion: GOV/VHW etc.
Age:
20 words or less highlighting his credentials:
Stud Fee: Up to you whether you want to list or show as Private Treaty
Location where stallion stands: Town/State ( Your full address if you wish published)
Contact Name:
Contact Tel #:
Contact Email:
Website address:
And most importantly a great photo! Must be copyright released to us by photographer if not your own to release.
Say Hello to our Advertisers!
The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse would like to thank all the advertisers that are helping us defray the costs of providing this community directory/resource. Please let them know you found them here and support them back. Lots more to come...we're working on it!