HBO's "Real Sports" Investigates Racehorses Sold for Slaughter Issues Tonight

"Real Sports" host Bryant Gumbel headlines HBO's sports newsmagazine format show at 10 p.m. EDT. On the schedule: an investigative segment on the fate of US racehorses in the hands of the slaughter-for-meat industry.

HBO has not disclosed many details about tonight's segment but the press release tells us that the segment is called "Hidden Horses" and describes it this way: "Few casual horse racing fans are aware that many former racing horses are slaughtered for profit. When a thoroughbred race horse reaches the end of its career or is simply no longer profitable on the track, it is often taken directly to auction and sold for meat. Because horse slaughter is no longer practiced in this country, these thoroughbreds are now being shipped by 'killer buyers' to slaughterhouses abroad, which are frequently less regulated and less humane than former U.S. slaughterhouses."

I'll be watching, how about you?

Surgery Survivor Horse Dies Competing on Cross-Country Course at New Jersey Event

In Memory of Tigger Too: 1991-2008, originally uploaded by Rock and Racehorses.

Tigger Too, owned by US Equestrian Federation President David O'Connor, died after a fall at the water jump on the cross-country course at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** at the New Jersey Horse Park yesterday. Tigger Too was ridden by Lauren Kieffer, according to the US Eventing Association. Kieffer was not injured.

USEA also reports that preliminary necropsy findings on Tigger Too, a seventeen-year-old gelding, showed that he passed away from an acute abdominal aortic rupture. Final necropsy results are pending.

From the archives: “Tigger Too was an interesting case,” Karen O'Connor said in a testimonial for the horse's successful use of the nutraceutical "Succeed". “This horse has had three colic surgeries and had much of its colon removed in the last one. All of this pressure of competition, training, shipping…it really takes its toll. Since his colic surgeries, Tigger Too has always been a poor doer. But with SUCCEED, the horse is really blossoming. He’s as big and beautiful as ever. And you can see the difference in his performance.”

David O'Connor has jumped Tigger Too without a bridle in his clinics.

The FEI investigative panel has been convened to review the facts surrounding the incident, and more information will be released once the investigation is through.

The three-day event was won by Amy Tryon.

Photo: Lauren and Tigger Too galloping off into cross-country yesterday, before the fall. Photo kindly loaned by Sarah K. Andrew, a.k.a. "Rock and Racehorses", who happened to be there and has some nice photos of Tigger Too in the last minutes of his life. Click on the link under the photo to see more photos.

Derby Debacle: Dr. McIlwraith Offers Insight on Eight Belles Catastrophy

We were all cheering for the filly coming down the stretch. We knew she couldn't--wouldn't--catch Big Brown Saturday afternoon. But this was something special. The two of them out front...the others trailing down the track.

And then came the announcement. Eight Belles was down on the track. Eight Belles fractured both front legs. Eight Belles was...dead.

I wonder how many people switched off their televisions when Big Brown crossed the line, and never saw the disaster. Lots, I hope.

I can still hear everyone in the room moaning "Nooooooooooo" in unison. What else could you say?

Well, lots of people have lots to say. From PETA to CNN to even our local newscasters here in Boston.

Whichever side of the debate you want to join in, do. But do your research first.

For starters, read this article in today's Rocky Mountain News from Colorado. It is an interview with Colorado State University's Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, director of the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University. Dr. McIlwraither offers examples of cases he has worked on with multiple-limb fractures and why there was no option to save Eight Belles.

I will list some other horse health references as I find them. For now, I think the interview with Dr. McIlwraith is one of the best resources available.

Stay tuned. Stay hopeful.

Purina Recalls Horse Feed Products in Most Eastern USA States

Welcome to our nightmare: the possibility of contamination in horse feed. That's the bad news. The good news is that so far there are no reports of any adverse effects on horses.

People have been asking about an alleged recall of Purina products for horses, and I am posting their notice, in its entirety, for all to read (please see note at end). This has been going on for some time but emails circulating through the horse community have picked up steam in the past week, so people have questions:


Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC has implemented a voluntary product retrieval of certain feeds manufactured between November 3, 2007 and February 8, 2008 at our Statesville, N.C., feed plant; between January 1, 2008 and February 8, 2008 at our Harrisburg, Penn., feed plant; and between January 1, 2008 and March 10, 2008 at our Guilderland, N.Y. plant.

This voluntary retrieval was initiated due to the possible presence of aflatoxin contamination above acceptable levels.

To date, we have received no confirmed aflatoxin-related animal health complaints involving any of the retrieved products. Nevertheless, we have taken such precautionary action as our utmost priority continues to be our customers and the well-being of their animals.

All dealers who purchased any of the retrieved products directly from Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC have been notified. These dealers are located in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Our investigation and product testing identified one ingredient of concern, which originated from a single supplier. We have discontinued purchasing from this supplier. Other feed companies that purchased from this supplier are facing a similar situation.

For more information about specific products included in the retrieval, contact the Statesville, N.C., Feed Plant at 704-924-5100 or the Harrisburg, Penn., Feed Plant at 717-737-4581.

I think the most important piece of information in this, besides the fact that no animal health reports have been issued, is that other manufacturers bought the ingredient thought to be contaminated. That means that owners should be alert no matter what brand of feed they have purchased since the winter.

Check with your local feed dealer about any possible problem with feed you may have purchased, but it sounds like there was a quick action that prompted the possibly contaminated feed being removed from the retail supply side before it could be sold. Let's hope!

To learn more about aflatoxins, which are byproducts of mold contamination, check this page from Cornell University's Animal Science Department.

Colorful Badminton Dressage: A Real Gypsy Horse Goes for Glory

The sun shone on the Badminton Horse Trial in Gloucestershire, England on Thursday, the first of two days of dressage. Australian Clayton Fredericks is in the lead after the first day, but this horse caught my eye.

Here you see Olivia Haddow riding Patris Filius. If I remember my Latin, that means "Son of the Father". Olivia calls him "her naughty little coloured cob". The 15.1hh horse was sold by gypsies as a three-year-old at Abergavenny Market in South Wales. Now 14, he is said to be by a gypsy stallion and out of a "flapper" mare, which is a derogatory Brit dismissal for a low-end racehorse. Horse and Hound describes him as "clever coloured with the brain of a pony and the stride of a horse".

But look at the marking on that horse's hind end; it looks like an artist stroked him with a pen.

The front end looks like it enhances his movement, at least at the trot. I'd like to see this horse gallop!

Some gypsy horse breeder knew what he (or she) was doing!

Photo courtesy of Kit Houghton and Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Royalty Rides On: Badminton Horse Trials Begin Today

How do you like my horse? Zara Phillips, grand-daughter of Queen Elizabeth, presented her horse Wednesday to the veterinary inspection committee for clearance to ride in the 2008 Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, England. The first phase of the three-day, three-phase competition, the dressage test, begins today and will be televised (although not quite "live" except for cross-country on Saturday) on the Internet, thanks to HorseTV. Zara hopes to qualify for the British team for the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Games in Hong Kong this August. The horse is Ardfield Magic Star. He looks Irish. Photo by Kit Houghton, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Horse with Lighter Coat Colors Are More at Risk for West Nile Virus

"Have you heard?"

An announcement received today from the Merial corporation is putting horse owners on notice that West Nile virus (WNV) is a risk for all horses in infected areas, but that owners of light-colored horses should be particularly concerned.

The reason? A recently published study shows that light-colored horses have a greater chance of dying from West Nile virus (WNV). (Reference: Epp T, Waldner C, West K, Townsend H. Factors associated with West Nile virus disease fatalities in horses. Canadian Veterinary Journal 2007;48:1137-1145.)

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan evaluated 133 clinical cases of WNV in the southern portion of the province. Of the total cases, 43.8 percent died. Light horses such as palominos, buckskins, grays, whites or duns were four times more likely to die than dark or multicolored horses.

“The study did not explore specific reasons for increased fatality risk for light-colored horses,” says Frank Hurtig, DVM, MBA, Director, Veterinary Services for Merial Ltd. “However, vaccinating for WNV can help protect all horses.”

WNV is transmitted from mosquitoes to horses. If infected, a horse may exhibit signs such as fever, depression, muscle tremors, weakness, lack of coordination and paralysis. (See Canadian study.) About one out of every three equine WNV cases dies.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recently revised its core vaccination guidelines to include WNV. Every horse in the United States could be exposed at some point during the year, but spring and summer is an especially important time to protect against WNV. The disease shows no geographic borders and has been identified in all areas of the country. (See: Guidelines for Vaccination of Horses: West Nile Virus. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Available at: http://www.aaep.org/wnv.htm.) Plus, more temperate climates may experience longer mosquito seasons, potentially exposing horses to WNV for a longer period.

Blogger's note: this information was provided by Merial; the company is the manufacturer of Recombitek vaccine for West Nile virus. ®RECOMBITEK is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. Duluth, Georgia.

Fun photo courtesy of our friends at Equitana 2009, coming up in March 14-19 in Essen, Germany: see you there!

© 2006-2007-2008 The Jurga Report: Horse Health Headlines. All rights reserved.
http://special.equisearch.com/blog/horsehealth/index.html

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International Eventing Kicks On Toward Badminton This Weekend in Wake of Rolex-Kentucky Tragedies

Jump, originally uploaded by billybofh.

If you are interested in the crisis level of human and horse fatalities in the sport of eventing lately, you might like to follow a few of these links for more information.

The US News and World Report blog by Bonnie Erbe has lots of interesting comments here.

A joint letter to the public from USEF President David O'Connor and US Eventing President Kevin Baumgardner was published today and can be read here.

Meanwhile, in England tonight the horse vans are rolling onto the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire where the horses will be going through the first vet check tomorrow for the world's greatest three-day event, the Badminton Horse Trials. Two horses died there last year.

I guess that's the way to keep score in eventing, of late.

Warning: Lawn Clippings Are Not Good for Horses!

golden light, originally uploaded by Dan65

It seems a little bit early in the season, but there’s no mistaking that sound: the mowers have started. Is there a more sure sign of spring?

I was surprised at how quickly the grass filled in and sprang up here in the Boston (Massachusetts) area. The temperature soared last week, and the grass responded, in spades.

If the sound of mowers is the first sound of spring, the second should be the sound of horse owners explaining to landscapers, lawn crews and neighbors that, while the thought is kind, it is NOT okay to dump mulch mower bags or raked-up grass clippings into horse paddocks or feeders.

Some people will think they are doing some clever recycling and being kind of animals, but the opposite is true.

Wet green lawn clippings are often left in mower bags or in piles, where they start to ferment quickly. A hungry horse will nibble at the clippings, and the fermentation (and the gastric gases it creates) in the gut can be deadly. We won’t even talk about the chemicals from herbicides and fertilizers!

Horses can also choke on clumps of grass clippings.

Laminitis might be a risk too, particularly for horses with other risk factors like insulin resistance, and for ponies.

If your turnout borders an area served by a landscape crew, talk to the crew foreman. If you are off at work and leave your horses turned out, consider posting a sign on your fence.

When you arrive home in the evening, check your pastures and paddocks and arenas, especially along any sections facing neighbors or the road to make sure nothing has been dumped.

Consider writing a letter to the editor of your paper, and post this article in your feed store and any stores that sell lawn mowers or at nurseries and farmstands that sell plants.

Chances are, your neighbors and community members are completely unaware of the dangers of grass clippings to horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Just a few years ago, I was informed at a party during a chance conversation that a neighbor took great pride in dumping the chemical-filled, fermented piles from his mulching mower into the paddock of a boarding barn where my horse lived. I was speechless, and it flashed through my brain that there had been a few deaths from colic at the farm. Who knows if they could be related or not, but the thought came to mind, nonetheless. You can bet the neighbor doesn’t do that anymore.

Second Horse Destroyed After Rolex Cross-Country: The Quiet Man Shattered Shoulder

A horse with local connections has been euthanized after a mishap on the cross-country course at the Rolex (Kentucky) Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park. Sarah Hansel's The Quiet Man was reported yesterday as undergoing treatment for a shoulder injury but this morning is reported as euthanized.

From the US Eventing Association's official statement: 

"Dr. Catherine W. Kohn, V.M.D, Veterinary Delegate, explained that due to the extent of injuries incurred in his fall yesterday on cross country, The Quiet Man was sadly humanely euthanized this morning. The Quiet Man's loss will be felt by all.

"After re-examining the horse's injuries, the damage to the gelding's shoulder proved to be more serious than originally thought. 'There were several pieces of the fracture and it was determined that the prognosis was poor for athletic performance or comfort and they made the decision for humane euthanasia, which was performed this morning,' Kohn said."

The Quiet Man was a 12-year-old Holsteiner-Irish Sport Horse cross owned by Sarah and Parker Hansel. Sarah calls Keene, New Hampshire her home.

Lord of the Rings Horse Star "Frodo Baggins" Euthanized After Rolex 3-Day Cross-Country Injury

What could have been the great sports-meets-entertainment story of the 2008 Olympic equestrian games was cut short today when a horse stared at by millions of moviegoers and thousands of eventing fans was euthanized.

If you saw the movie "Lord of the Rings", you may remember fleeting glimpses of the galloping dark horse now known as "Frodo Baggins" on the U.S. eventing scene. He was in the first film in the series, shot in his native New Zealand.

Frodo Baggins crossed the Pacific and became one of the United States Olympic Team's short-listed horses for the Hong Kong events coming up this summer.

Frodo Baggins was euthanised today at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. He was transferred to the clinic after sustaining multiple injuries on course in the cross-country phase of the Rolex (Kentucky) Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday afternoon.

Ridden by Laine Ashker, Frodo Baggins fell at the fifth fence, known as the Flower Basket. Lexington's daily newspaper, the Herald-Leader, described the fall this way: "Jumping at a high speed, her horse, Frodo Baggins, apparently caught his front feet on the fence, causing it to flip over, slamming himself and his rider on the ground."

According to US Equestrian Federation's Joanie Morris, Ashker was conscious, talking and moving her extremities when she was transported by helicopter from the Horse Park to the University of Kentucky Hospital, where she is currently under the care of the emergency and trauma services staff.

Frodo Baggins was attended to immediately by a team of veterinarians. He was stabilized, sedated and transported to the Hagyard clinic, which is across Iron Works Parkway from the Horse Park.

According to Joanie, further tests at Hagyard showed that Frodo Baggins had sustained a fracture at the base of his skull as well as a serious lung injury. The prognosis was very poor. A representative for the Ashker family concurred that euthanasia was the most humane option for the horse.

Frodo Baggins was a black New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred; web site records tell us that he was either 10 or 13 years old. He was owned by his rider, who had placed with him at two horse trials this spring in Florida.

Laine and Frodo were named to the 2008 USEF Winter Training List for special sessions in Ocala, where they trained in dressage with Captain Mark Phillips and show jumpers Laura Kraut and Lauren Hough.

I had anticipated Frodo's return to Hong Kong, where he would compete against New Zealander Mark Todd and his horse, Gandalf. Laine had written of her horse on the Rolex web site, "In addition to filming the movie over a course of eight months, he also paraded around New Zealand for fans, met the prime minister of New Zealand, and even walked down the red carpet at the premiere of the film with Elijah Woods himself!"

Ashker was a featured rider on the 2008 web site of the Rolex event, and she also publishes a blog (similar to this one) chronicling her training and competition progress in 2007 and 2008.

Frodo's death is the second tragedy for Laine is less than a year. A s reported in this blog in June 2007, Laine's former eventing star, Eight Saint James Place, collapsed and died at the finish line of the 2007 Jersey Fresh*** Horse Trials. A tree and gravestone have been planted at the Horse Park of New Jersey, overlooking the water fence, in his memory. Autopsy reports revealed that the horse suffered an aneurysm, also called "equine pulmonary hemorrhage". Two horses died of pulmonary hemorrhaging last month at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida, as reported in this blog on March 19.

Earlier today, Laine Ashker competed at Rolex riding Mazetto, a Cleveland Bay/New Zealand Thoroughbred who was owned and ridden by her friend, Eleanor Brennan, who died this last year while competing in Florida.

The Rolex web site reports that Laine is ranked as the third leading rider in the US, and the top lady rider. She represented the United States in the 2007 "test event" in Hong Kong, which monitored the effects of heat and stress on the international horses, as well as the functioning of the new facilities. This was her fourth year of competition at Rolex

Natural Horsemanship Under Scrutiny at British Forum

HRH Princess Anne (seated, center) attended the National Equine Forum (NEF), held last month in England. In this photo, she is observing a demonstration of the new National Equine Database for British horses.

Is natural horsemanship just popular science or does it have legs that will hold up under academic scrutiny? Many international educators with formal credentials in equine behavior and equestrian science are asking some tough questions. Others would like to see more academic recognition of natural horsemanship principles in the larger scope of equine behavior studies. The academic nuances of natural horsemanship were voiced in public last month at the National Equine Forum in England.

Dr Debbie Goodwin BSc PhD FLS, a Lecturer in Applied Animal Behaviour at the University of Southampton in England and President of the International Society for Equitation Science, presented her view of natural horsemanship. She explained how natural horsemanship trainers have produced a cultural change in the thinking and approach to horse:human interactions and how academic equine ethologists have been concerned at the way some natural horsemanship trainers have presented “equine ethology.” (Ethology is the scientific name for the study of behavior in zoology.)

According to Goodwin, often personal opinions are claimed to be facts, without any associated objective study of horse behavior in the natural or domestic environment. She pointed out that good natural horsemanship trainers are talented observers of horse behavior and can detect and respond precisely to subtle cues during horse training but that not all followers of these methods are as effective as the originating trainers.

Dr Goodwin expressed the importance of sharing knowledge for the ultimate good of the horse and that natural horsemanship scientists studying horse behavior had recently formed International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) to help communicate their work.

ISES will host the 4th International Equitation Science Conference in Dublin, Ireland on August 2 to 4, 2008, just before the opening of the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Churchill Downs and Barbaro Owners Will Unveil Memorial Plans Next Week

Barbaro with surgeon Dean Richardson and owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson, during the colt's hospitalization at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. (UPenn photo)

Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will join Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum representatives for a news conference at the track in Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday, May 1. The media event will introduce the artist selected to create a permanent memorial honoring Barbaro. The Kentucky Derby 132 winner died in January 2007 after a lengthy battle with laminitis.

The memorial, a bronze sculpture, will be placed outside Churchill Downs’ Gate 1 along with Barbaro’s ashes sometime next year. A clay model of the sculpture will be present. Additionally, the Jacksons and Museum officials will announce a national student art exhibition related to Barbaro’s memorial, to will be hosted by the Museum.

Following the news conference, the Jacksons will join Churchill Downs and Museum officials in unveiling a bronze marker that will identify the spot where Barbaro’s memorial will be installed in front of Gate 1.

Two days later, the 134th Kentucky Derby will be run at the track.

NOTE: The track would like to state that the news conference is for Churchill Downs credentialed media members ONLY and is not open to the general public.

(this post is edited from a press release)

AVMA Video Profiles Equine Veterinarian from Puerto Rico

Anyone aspiring to become a horse-specialist veterinarian will gain some inspiration from this short video profiling Dr. Jose Ramos, who grew up wanting to be a vet, but was challenged not only by the hurdles of a long, expensive educational process...he had to learn how to speak English to make his dream come true! This veterinary video minute is produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

States of New York Funds Equine Rehab Center at College

The 2008-2009 New York state budget has a nice surprise for the state’s horse community. The state funded a $7 million construction project to build an Equine Physiology and Rehabilitation Center at Morrisville State College in Morrisville, New York.

The new center is designed to augment Morrisville State’s comprehensive equine studies programs. Construction of this facility will add another learning opportunity for students and will provide an important resource and training center for the equine racing industry in New York.

The facility will be equipped to condition horses, provide physical therapy for injured horses, and to study and research methods to improve equine conditioning and training. It will include equipment such as an underwater treadmill, therapy swimming pool, Eurociser (computer operated walker with variable speeds), a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and a physiology lab. Stabling for horses and an indoor track are also planned.

The college will offer an Equine Physiology concentration within in its Equine Science bachelor degree, and plans to offer a bachelor degree in Equine Physiology.

Morrisville has one of the most unique equestrian teams: in addition to hunter/jumper and western teams competing on the ICHS calendar, students are involved with showing the schools’ signature six-horse hitch of Percherons in shows. It is the only school in the United States with a draft horse showing program.

Morrisville State College offers a bachelor of technology degree in equine science and two associate degrees in equine racing management and equine science and management. Facilities include a draft barn with a covered round pen and runouts and a 34,000 square-foot breeding and hunter jumper facility. This state-of-the-art facility includes a breeding and foaling barn, a hunter jumper barn, five-stall stallion barn, a complete breeding laboratory, collection area, laptop classroom and two indoor riding arenas.

A western and racing facility has two indoor riding arenas with a heated classroom, a one-half mile racing track, four hot walkers, three round pens and two outdoor riding arenas, paddocks and riding trails. The racing program includes training of both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds.

New York Facts and Figures: New York is home to approximately 200,000 horses, according to the state's 2006 survey, which also showed that 54 percent of horses in New York were kept primarily for pleasure use, up from 39 percent in 2000. Breeding horses totaled 26,900, down slightly from 2000. A total of 14,500 horses were used primarily for racing, with Thoroughbreds accounting for 63 percent and Standardbreds accounting for 37 percent. Fourteen percent of horses in New York were used for competition. The category of lesson horses was added for the 2005 survey and totaled 11,100 head of horses. The remainder of New York’s horses were used for specialty use (riding camps, carriage rides, etc.) or “other” uses, such as farm work.

New York owners spent a total of $2.06 billion during 2005 for operating and capital expenses, an increase of nearly three times above the 2000 total of $704 million. During the five-year interim, owners reported a doubling in costs for farrier, veterinary and horse health expenses.

2008 Olympics: Hong Kong Riding High with Equine Special Effects

This is just for fun: Hong Kong television is promoting the tiny island province as the ultimate horsey tourist destination for the equestrian sports sector of the 2008 Olympics Games this summer. Watch this little :30 commercial for some creative special effects! See anyone you know? You might want to watch this twice, some of the effects are pretty subtle...and very well done!

Rollkur Revolt: FEI Makes Official Statement Discouraging Overflexion in Dressage Training

This photo illustrates a horse in the "overflexed" position condemned by many critics. While an FEI special investigation could not prove that the practice actually harmed the horse, the new thinking is that the practice may constitute a form of mental abuse. The FEI supports the concept of "the happy horse" in the competition arena.

In the small type of the April 10th summary from the veterinary committee of the Federation Equestrian International (FEI), the world governing body of equestrian sports, is a paragraph of particular interest to those on either side of the debate over a training method commonly called "rollkur" or "bite the chest":

STATEMENT ON HYPERFLEXION (ROLLKÜR): the following statement was adopted: There are no known clinical side effects specifically arising from the use of hyperflexion, however there are serious concerns for a horse's well-being if the technique is not practiced correctly. The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse. The FEI states that it does not support the practice.

Rollkur was first brought to the public's attention by a German dressage magazine that was highly critical of Dutch dressage rider Anky van Grunsven's warmup routine before her Grand Prix performance. The criticism led to disputes between many factions of the dressage community. Researchers including America's Dr. Hilary Clayton and France's Dr. Jean-Marie Denoix presented evidence to the FEI at a special forum on the subject last year. Veterinary researchers could find no evidence of direct harm to the neck or spine of the horse.

In late 2007, a new book called Tug of War: Classical Versus "Modern" Dressage: Why Classical Training Works and How Incorrect Riding Negatively Affects Horses' Health by German veterinarian Gerd Heuschmann became a manifesto for condemnation of the practice. The book was an immediate bestseller and is the rare example of a horse book climbing into the upper atmosphere of Amazon.com bestsellers. Tug of War is currently #1 on Amazon in riding books, #1 in horse training and #2 in overall equestrian books. (Edgar Prado's My Guy Barbaro is #1 overall in the equestrian category.)

This debate is ongoing and how the FEI statement is interpreted should be interesting. Stay tuned for more rollkur news!

Humane Society of the U.S. Publishes Guide to Horse Care

(edited from a longer press release)

The Humane Society of the United States Press has announced the release of The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Horse Care, an educational resource for first-time and experienced horse owners. The book includes information on how to choose a horse; meeting a horse's physical, emotional and nutritional needs; an overview of horse breeds and disciplines; and advice to help guide horse owners through good decision-making at all stages of a horse's life.

The book includes recommendations on how to choose a horse; meeting a horse's physical, emotional and nutritional needs; an overview of horse breeds and disciplines; and advice to help guide horse owners through good decision-making at all stages of a horse's life. Co-author Erin Harty, a lifelong horsewoman and former Chronicle of the Horse online forums moderator and administrator, and equine experts on the HSUS staff have collaborated to produce an engaging and easy-to-read overview of the joys, costs and responsibilities of horse ownership.

Keith Dane, director of equine protection for The HSUS, said of the book, "We hope that this book will inspire all horse owners — from the novice to expert, English to Western — to embrace the special bond we have with horses, and to create a physical and emotional environment that provides their equine companion with the best care possible."

The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Horse Care is the cornerstone of the organization's "Horses: Companions for Life" program.

For more information on the Equine Protection program, visit humanesociety.org/horses_equines.

Blogger note: This book has deep Equisearch.com connections. It is edited by Deborah Salem, a former editor of EQUUS Magazine, and includes many photos by yours truly, Fran Jurga. This book is very thoroughly researched and the attention to detail is remarkable. It does not press any sort of animal-rights agenda but advocates safe, responsible and kind horsecare practices. It would make a great anchor for any horsecare book shelf and will probably be referenced as an authoritative book on the subject for many years to come.

Book Details
The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Horse Care
Published by Humane Society Press ( humanesociety.org/hspress )
ISBN: 798-1-934785-00-3
Cover price: $22.95
Paperback, 373 pages with 76 photographs and illustrations
Co-authors: Erin Harty and The Staff of The Humane Society of the United States

2008 Olympics Politics: Anky Speaks Out

Olympics Gold Medalist and World Champion dressage rider Anky Van Grunsven of The Netherlands has posted a statement on her web site regarding her view of the political impact of Chinese human rights violations in Tibet and how riders should respond at this time:

"Of course I follow the situation in Tibet. Sporters (riders) should know what is going on there. But I think the human rights aspect gets more attention because of the Olympic Games. Hopefully it will work out in a good way and it would be nice if we, sporters, could help a little bit to make the situation better."

I know it is hard for Americans to imagine this, but Anky is a "brand" of her own in her home country, with her own line of clothing, interviews with the prime minister, and guest appearances on every imaginable television program. The logo above emblazons her web site and says it all.

She doesn't need a last name.

2008 Olympics Protest: German Equestrians, Mindful of History, Will Gallop On

Argentinian show jumping rider Gregorio Werthein carried the Olympic torch through Buenos Aires yesterday. (Reuters.com photo)

Germany has decided that it will continue with plans to compete in a multitude of sports at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, in spite of pressure to withdraw in protest against Chinese oppression of Tibetan human rights.

But German athletes are among the most outspoken on their distaste for Chinese politics. The German water polo team has announced plans to wear bright orange terry-cloth robes poolside, evoking the orange prayer robes of Buddhist monks protesting in Tibet. German pole vaulter Anna Battke is planning a protest during the opening ceremony, according to the Germany newsmagazine Der Spiegel. She is urging athletes to participate in the ceremony dressed either as monks or Chinese government officials. At some point in the ceremony, athletes representing the two groups would simultaneously bow and shake hands, symbolizing peace between them.

The cover of this week's Der Spiegel (similar to our Time magazine), shows the Olympic rings but, if you look closely, the rings are actually handcuffs.

As always, it pays to take a spin around the web to some of the foreign-based news web sites that have English versions. You will certainly see a different spin on the news from what you will hear and see on the US television news. On the AsiaOne website you will read: "I have considered whether I can compete in China under these conditions," attributed to German show jumper Ludger Beerbaum.

Germany is perhaps the birthplace of the political Olympics, going back to Adolph Hitler's controversial hosting of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. US participation in those games were hotly protested by Jewish Americans who were outraged by the persecution of Jews under the Nazis. Germany did not allow Jewish athletes to represent their country and Hitler did not recognize African-American Jesse Owens' remarkable feat of winning four gold medals.

In the equestrian events in 1936, Germany won team and individual gold medals in all the sports; the Spanish Riding School's Alois Podhajsky won the bronze medal in dressage for Austria. Horses with the Trakehner brand won six gold medals.

It's sad to look at the medal standings from 1936: once-great horse nations Poland, Hungary and Romania were up there in the medals. Poland won the silver in eventing ahead of Great Britain!

At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, politics and sport made deadly contact when Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes and coaches.

On the bright side, it was the sport of table tennis and its international competition scene that initially brought China out of its withdrawal from the world stage back in the 1970s. One thing led to another, and now China is the most dominant force in international commerce.

So, it looks like the show will go on for the Germans in Hong Kong. German riders are among the favorites in all three Olympic equestrian disciplines. And most of the rest of the world will be riding German-bred horses. They have nothing to protest there. But watch for a strong German will to win in the eventing, as the Germans were disqualified and stripped of their gold medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens when Bettina Hoy crossed the start line twice in the show jumping phase. An insightful article about Bettina's ongoing resentment can be read on the Reuters Olympics web site.