Cushings Medication "Pergolide" Will Be Withdrawn from US Market, FDA Says

Horse people in the USA know pergolide (also called Permax, when the brand name is used) as the medication of choice for many horses suffering from Cushing's disease. What many in the horse world don't know is that it is actually a human medication used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Recently, reports have surfaced of heart problems developing in human patients. Acting on those reports, the FDA today announced that the drug--both Permax and pergolide generic derivatives--will no longer be sold in the US.

What does that mean to owners of horses with Cushing's disease? It's hard to say. I have been trying to get more information to share.

As always, Eleanor Kellon VMD is right on the case. Dr Kellon is veterinary consultant to the Equine Cushings discussion list on yahoo.com; the list currently boasts almost 5000 members, of which I am one, and the group is one of the fairest, best-informed and most diligent that I have found on the web. Obviously many of those 5000 are medicating their horses with pergolide and this is Big News on the List today.

Here is some sage advice from Dr Kellon: "First, don't panic.Many drugs that fall by the wayside for human use actually end up in veterinary use. Trental (pentoxifylline) is a good example. They're not approved for veterinary use, but the FDA grants veterinarians considerable leeway in 'off-label' (i.e. not approved for the use on
the label) drug prescribing in animals.

"There may be some information available on closely related alternatives," she continued. "I'm checking into that."

"In humans, most recent studies are finding about 22% of people on pergolide develop some level of dysfunction of their heart valves. The number that develop serious problems with it is much, much lower. As for horses **as far as we know, the has not been recognized as a clinical problem in horses on pergolide**. We probably have more
long term follow up on Cushing's horses here than even in university vet school records. Some horses here have been on it for 5, even 10 years."

Dr.Kellon is also the author of the reference book Equine Drugs and Vaccines, as well as Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals, both of which are well-thumbed and never far from my desk.

Some of the Cushing's listers knew about the ban 12 hours before I did. I heard about it from them by email before I even checked my feeds tonight. Way to go, thanks!

By the way, the Yahoo Cushings list, and one horse in particular named Magic, are featured in an article in the spring 2007 edition of The Gaited Horse.

Vodka Shots Racetrack Veterinarian's Case Dismissed

One of this winter's most unusual news stories fizzled to a whimper today when a county attorney was forced to dismiss a case against a veterinarian in Nebraska. Witnesses called by the prosecution failed to show up to testify against the veterinarian, who was charged with injecting vodka into racehorses before they headed to the gate.
The full story is reported in today's Omaha World newspapers.

Another Pin in the Map: EHV Quarantines, Dead Horses, in Maine This Week

ME is the abbreviation for hte stae of Maine. hen ou crossed teh border, the state tourism board had ots of clever bumper stickers affixed to cars (Maine doesn't allow billboards): SAIL ME. SKI ME. PAINT ME. KAYAK ME.

I wonder if they had any printed up that said "QUARANTINE ME?"

So many horses from this area (I live only 13 nautical miles from the Maine border and can see it on a clear day) went to Florida or Aiken or Southern Pines this year that is is hard to imagine a major outbreak among the remaining horses, but two barns in central Maine are under quarranteine today after the death of two horses, as reported by the Kennebec Journal and Mainetoday.com.

I will update this story over the weekend when more details can be tracked down. In the meantime, if you are in Maine, stay where you are and check your records to know where your horses have been in the past 60 days or so. If your horses have been in contact with horses from Rome and Wales in central Maine, call your veterinarian for advice and have your vaccination records handy.

The scary thing is that we all know that trailers and horse vans are heading north this weekend from winter shows and training grounds. Around here, April is the month when horses switch barns, switch trainers, get bought and sold, leased and bred.

Let's hope this is a self-contained outbreak; my heart-felt sympathy to the owners who lost their horses. Watch for details.

EIA: Ireland Signals "All Clear!" After 101 Days Without A New Case

Ireland is an island nation, and a horsey place it is. It is the breeding ground and nursery for much of the Europe's Thoroughbred and National Hunt (jump racing) stock and the source of many of the world's top show jumpers ("Irish Sport Horses") and lovely Connemara ponies, one of the world's most versatile breeds. And if you were looking for a foxhunter, wouldn't you go to Ireland?

If you can't find a horse to buy in Ireland, something's wrong. At least you'd have a good time looking.

Now suppose you found the horse of your dreams there and you find out its farm is quarantined, or that your government has issued a ban on Irish imported horses.

And if you live in Ireland and want to sell a horse overseas, you find that buyers are not coming to the sales. Not answering your ads. And if they make an offer, it's lowball. "Because of the scare, who knows?" the buyer shrugs. Can you wait til after "the scare?" Just how long might it last...

Those are just a few scenarios that played out in Ireland this winter. In Ireland, an equine disease outbreak is News. Yes, with a capital N.

But last week, the Irish Department of Agriculture & Food said that this fall's outbreak of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), sometimes called Swamp Fever, is over. Here are a few out-takes from the official document, which you can read online at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=animal_health/EIA/EIA.xml

"The Department of Agriculture & Food has confirmed that it is now 101 days since the last of twenty-eight cases of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) was confirmed on 10 December 2006. Given the passage of more than ninety days since the last case was confirmed, all remaining ninety-day tests have been done and all results are negative for EIA. Accordingly, all remaining premises restrictions are being lifted and none remain in place.

"In all, the Department confirmed twenty-eight cases of EIA between 15 June and 10 December. Most of the cases were concentrated, with some exceptions, in the Dublin/Meath/Kildare area. All but three of the cases were in thoroughbred horses.

"Since the first cases were confirmed, almost 57,000 blood samples have been tested at the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) and the Department's Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL). During the month of January alone, the IEC tested over 14,000 samples, most of which were taken as a result of the EIA recommendation of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) in their Codes of Practice for 2007.

"The Department has publicly endorsed the ITBA recommendation and has written to the over 50 studmasters throughout the country who have themselves committed publicly to the strict compliance with the ITBA recommendation, commending them for the manner in which they so publicly signed-up to the strict implementation of the ITBA recommendation and acknowledging their contribution to the combined efforts of the Department and the industry to contain and eradicate EIA from Ireland. The Department continues to support the ITBA recommendation that all mares to be covered should have a negative EIA test within 28 days of transport to studs or foaling units.

"At one time or another movement restrictions were placed on 53 separate premises and the Department had imposed movement restrictions on over 1200 individual horses, the majority of them on their home premises where their owners were advised by the Department to ensure that they are isolated from contact with other horses.

"The Department is continuing to progress its epidemiological investigation into the circumstances in which the disease was first introduced into the country, as part of which officials from the Department have travelled overseas to consult with international colleagues...It is not possible, at this stage, to say when the investigation will be concluded, other than to say that it remains the Department's position that, if sufficient evidence is gathered to support a prosecution, the Department will seek to have the case prosecuted through the Courts. Because of the nature of the investigation, the Department is not in a position to comment any further on its progress at this stage.

"In view of the veterinary linkages associated with a number of the cases, the Department has reiterated its advice, consistently given since the outbreak began, that veterinary practitioners should, at all times, observe the highest standards of hygiene and should ensure that, in all circumstances, contaminated veterinary instruments are either appropriately disposed of or thoroughly sterilised (autoclaved) before reuse."

(Blogger's note: tainted vaccine was identified as the source of the outbreak.)

Court Decision Blocks USDA Fee-for-Inspection Plan at Horse Slaughterhouses

USA Today is reporting this news:

"A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked the Agriculture Department from providing horse meat inspections for a fee.

"The decision in a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States is another setback for the horse slaughter industry."

Read the whole story here:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-28-horse-slaughter_N.htm?csp=34

It figures that such an emotional issue would boil down to decisions made in court rooms. I wonder if any of the attorneys cashing in on this will donate a cent toward helping some homeless horses. It seems that reform issues like transport regulations and conditions at the slaughterhouses are completely off the table and we are down to either/or: slaughter or no-slaughter.

Meanwhile, the EU keeps touting new regulations for horse medication use on horses intended for human consumption. And over here, we have been shipping horse meat over there from horses whose medical histories would fill the Manhattan phone book. If I did eat horse meat, would I want to eat meat from an ex-racehorse from the USA? The EU apparently doesn't like genetically-modified ingredients in feed supplements sold for horses but does allow US horse meat to be sold to humans. Does anyone else see a disconnect there?

WEG 2010 Announces Individual Discipline Directors

Is it my imagination or is 2010 sneaking up on us? It is fascinating to watch things take shape for the 2008 Olympics...but if 2008 is "next year"--can 2010 be far behind?

I guess not! Manager selections for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 were announced yesterday:

Driving: Susan Gilliland, Dunellen, FL USA
Endurance: Art Priesz, Ivanhoe, MN USA
Eventing: Jane Atkinson, Stamping Ground, KY USA
Para-Equestrian: Janis Linnan, Clovis, CA USA
Reining: Brad Ettleman, Denver, CO USA
Vaulting: Kersten Klophaus, Wermelskirchen, Germany
Dressage: Glenda McElroy, Glendale, CA USA
Show Jumping: David Distler (Co-Manager) Norwalk, CT USA
Show Jumping: Hugh Kincannon (Co-Manager) Lexington, KY USA

Congratulations to the appointees!

Rube Goldberg Device at Hong Kong Racetrack Casts a Security Shadow on Equestrian Olympic Events

The Internet is buzzing this week after the discovery of a multi-speared dart gun buried in the track surface behind the starting gate at a Hong Kong racetrack. The device was loaded to be able to hit the rumps of multiple horses loaded in the gate.

I know this sounds like a scene from the Marx Brothers' "Day at the Races" but this really happened. More importantly, one wonders about security at the racetrack at Sha Tin, site of the 2008 Olympics Equestrian Events, only 18 months away.

Certainly the mastermind of the dart gun device had a betting window payoff in mind, but I'm not the only one who is thinking about what a discovery like this says about security at the Olympics and other high-profile horse events and races.

To learn more about the dart gun scandal and how it may relate to security for horses at the Olympics, I recommend a story in Tuesday's ">New York Times.

In defense of Hong Kong, we must ask the question: is there a safe place on the planet? Comments, please!

Event Announcement: Arabian Conference in England

Are you a devotee of the Arabian breed? A student of bloodstock history? A history buff?

I've just learned about a conference to be held near London, England in May that offers a rare, in-depth look into the origins of the modern Arabian horse and, in particular, the lives of the intrepid Brits who traveled to the Mideast in the 1800s to bring horses back to Britain (and to Poland, Russia, and other countries) and establish breeding farms. In this case, the farm was to be known as Crabbet Stud. They knew what they were doing, but oh! the adventures and the intrigue of their plan to transplant the epicenter of the Arabian breed so far from the desert!

This is a rare scholarly equestrian meeting with breeding, social history, and more than a few nods of the head, I'm sure, to modern-day politics.

Conference Title: "British Travellers & Equestrian Enthusiasts in Greater Syria and Arabia: Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, Lady Anne Blunt, and Others"
Host: University of Kent at Canterbury
Date: 25-26th May 2007

Sponsors: Kent Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (KIASH); School of English, University of Kent; Juddmonte Farms; HE Dr Sami Khiyami, Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic; HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Organisers: Donna Landry, Professor of English at the University of Kent, Canterbury, Nicholas J. Mills, MRCVS, and Barnaby Rogerson, Eland Press, London

Once part of the Ottoman Empire, ‘Greater Syria’ and ‘Arabia’ serve today as geopolitical flashpoints. Yet for centuries the region was celebrated for being a centre of learning and civilisation that far outshone anything known in Europe. As late as the nineteenth century, Eastern travel could still be seen to be enlightening as well as adventurous.

It thus seems timely to revisit the experiences of Western visitors who travelled to the Middle East in search of something different from the stereotypical backwardness currently presumed by many Western institutions. The travels, accounts, and ideas of Wilfrid Scawen Blunt and Lady Anne Blunt provide a unifying focus within a broader discussion regarding travels to the region, past and present, and representations of Eastern travel in various media.

In their enthusiasm for ‘asil’ Arabian horses, an equine currency and treasured commodity appreciated by both East and West, the Blunts helped transform the global horse industry. By importing some of the finest Arabian bloodstock to establish their internationally famous Crabbet Stud in England, the Blunts changed forever the way the breeding of these magnificent horses has been conducted. We aim to assess the legacy of the Blunts’ views about modernization, imperialism, nomadic culture, and equine genetics by investigating the complex agency of Eastern blood horses in the making of the ‘English’ thoroughbred, and the much-debated story of the origins of the breed.

The conference will bring together academics, independent scholars, authors, travellers, travel writers, and bloodstock experts, for the benefit of a public as well as academic audience. We hope that this might be the first of a series of conferences and publications on the writing and material culture of travel in the region, with an interest in the culture of the horse.

Speakers to include:

Glenn Bowman, U of Kent, ‘Sites, Spectacles, and Simulacra: The Issue of Authenticity in Approaches to the “Holy Land”’

Dr. Rebecca Cassidy, Goldsmiths, U of London, ‘Lady Wentworth and the Incendiary English Mare’s Nest’

Dr. Kay Dickinson, Goldsmiths, U of London, ‘Travels to and from Syrian Cinema’

Dr. Caroline Finkel, historian, and Andrew Byfield, author and botanist, ‘Imagining the Great Anatolian Ride’

Robin Hanbury-Tenison, FRGS, author and traveller, ‘Six Long-Distance Equestrian Journeys’

Michael Harris, Arab Horse Society of Great Britain, ‘The Arabian Horse at a Crossroads'

Brigid Keenan, author, ‘Travelling in Syria with Isabel Burton’

Marius Kociejowski, author and traveller, ‘European Travellers to Syria and the Question of Orientalism’

Professor Donna Landry, U of Kent, ‘Lady Anne Blunt and the Oriental Thoroughbred’

Nicholas J. Mills, MRCVS, ‘Origins of the Thoroughbred from the Evidence of Sporting Art’

Huw Owen-Jones, traveller, ‘Riding from Damascus to Palmyra in Ancestral Hoofprints, Spring 2006’

Barnaby Rogerson, publisher and author, ‘Wilfrid Blunt, the Radical Traditionalist’

Caroline Sussex, breeder, ‘The Influence of the Crabbet Stud Worldwide’

Peter Upton, author, ‘Reassessing the Blunts’ Legacy’

Jasper Winn, author and traveller, ‘Bloodstock Politics and the Cultures of the Desert and the Steppe’

H.V.F. Winstone, author, ‘Writing the Life of Lady Anne Blunt’

Other invited guests to give papers, or serve as chairs and discussants, as they wish:
Tim Cox, sporting librarian
Patricia Lindsey, breeder and author
Rosemary Archer, author and breeder
Professor Gerald MacLean, U of York

Publication of revised essays in a handsome volume is planned.

Contact: Professor Donna Landry, School of English, Rutherford College, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT 2 7NX; d.e.landry@kent.ac.uk; Office phone (with secretary on long ring for messages): (44) 01227 82 4745.

Shocking News from Cornell's Hospital for Large Animals

(This is an excerpt from an article by Lauren Gold, courtesy of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine)


Standardbred racehorse Hard Hitter came to Cornell University to see veterinary cardiologists Anna Gelzer and Marc Kraus last fall after uncharacteristically dropping out of a race in Saratoga Springs. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a condition that caused his heart to lose efficiency under stress. When stressed, he became short of breath and unable to run.

Doctors recommended internal electric cardioversion, a procedure to shock his heart back into normal rhythm. Cornell is one of just a few facilities in the country to offer the treatment; about a dozen horses have been treated so far -- all with success.

In Hard Hitter's case the procedure would take much longer than usual -- and would lead to the discovery of a new technique.

Atrial fibrillation, in which the heart's upper chambers (atria) quiver and cause ineffective heart contractions, is common in horses -- as well as in humans with other heart ailments. In horses it usually occurs in otherwise healthy hearts.

Pasture horses can live full lives with atrial fibrillation. But afflicted racehorses in the past were treated with quinidine, an anti-arrhythmic drug that often causes severe side effects and doesn't always work. For Hard Hitter and his generation of racehorses, though, cardioversion is a new, quick, relatively painless procedure -- costing about $1,700 -- that gets otherwise healthy horses back into racing shape in just a few weeks.

Hard Hitter would be given an internal shock via two catheters threaded through his blood vessels into carefully chosen spots in his heart. He would be under general anesthesia for the shock -- but first he had to be awake and standing as doctors positioned the catheters.

And this is a tricky job: Gelzer and resident Sophy Jesty inserted two catheters fitted with shock-delivering coils into Hard Hitter's neck, where his skin had been anesthetized. Kraus pushed an ultrasound receiver into the horse's chest and on a screen watched one catheter make its way toward the heart's right atrium and the other to just above the heart in the left pulmonary artery. The locations allow the current to reach the largest possible area of the atrial wall without affecting other regions of the heart.

The crew then lined the obliging horse up against the back wall of a green-padded stall. An anesthesiologist looped his halter lead and a rope tied to his tail over two hooks. Vet students lined up beside him, feet braced and hands out. The anesthesiologist administered a shot -- and the 950-pound animal fell gently, backwards and down.

Gelzer administered the first shock to the heart: 100 joules. She and the team peered at the electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor -- and shook their heads. Like many horses, Hard Hitter would require more than one shock.

A second try failed, and a third. The EKG wasn't changing. The cardiologists consulted X-rays and ultrasound images, adjusted the positioning of the leads and tried again. Still no luck.

Then Gelzer had an idea: inject harmless saline solution through the catheters. This would provide contrast in the ultrasound imaging and better show the exact location of the leads. They gave it a try -- and almost immediately they saw that one lead was in a little too far.

They repositioned the lead, tried again. And -- voila: Normal sinus rhythm.

"We learn something new every time," said Kraus (after cheers subsided). Gelzer's trick now will be incorporated into standard protocol, he added.

As for Hard Hitter, he stayed overnight for monitoring, then hit the road back to Saratoga. And just a few weeks later, he was back in light training. Chances are 60 percent that the fix will be permanent.

Blogger's comment: I love this story. Cornell's reporter has skillfully taken us inside the surgery unit by making an otherwise anonymous patient into a real horse--and with a great name, no less. But moreover, the writer made the surgeons into real human beings who had something to learn from a horse who wasn't worth a million dollars. Thanks, Hard Hitter and Cornell!

In Print: April Smithsonian Magazine Looks at Barbaro's Struggle and Death

The April issue of Smithsonian hit the newsstands today and the good news is that you can pick up a copy and enjoy a first-class article about Barbaro's struggle, written with sensitivity and intellectual curiosity by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Twomey.

The even better news is that you can read the text online:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2007/april/barbaro.php

with an added interview with Twomey here:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2007/april/barbaro-author.php

But the images are visible only in the printed copy. If your newsstand doesn't have it, your library probably has a subscription.

You'll find my name in small print in the article. I spent hours on the phone with Twomey, as I'm sure all the other interviewees (McIlwraith, Stover, Moore, etc.) did. Granted, we were talking about a subject near and dear to my heart, but it was a vicarious pleasure for me to be interviewed so skillfully by a master journalist, while all the while being aware, just below the surface, that he knew exactly what he was hoping I'd say. I'd like to be his intern and learn how he assembles a story.

For someone who is not even a horse person, let alone well-schooled in veterinary medicine, Steve Twomey proved with this article that ethical, professional journalists can craft a credible article while still being sensitive to the emotional nature of a subject like euthanasia. The true pros not only do their homework on a subject but also earn the trust of their interview subjects...and don't betray that trust when the deadline crunch arrives.

See you at the newsstand. Save one for me!

Strangles: Did you know that...

The British Horse Society (BHS) and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) are planning a "Strangles Awareness Week" in the UK in conjunction with strangles-vaccine manufacturer Intervet. To be held May 14-20, the promotion will try to educate horse owners about the highly-contagious disease and also raise funds for more research.

Strangles is certainly not just a UK problem. It crops up periodically all over the USA, as well.

BHS and BEVA are assembling an impressive body of information for the campaign. Here's a preview from their "Did You Know..." fact sheet; watch this blog for more helpful information about strangles in the weeks to come:

Did you know that...

* Strangles is one of the three most significant equine respiratory infections worldwide and is responsible for 30% of infectious diseases.

* Strangles isn’t a viral infection, but it is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus equi. Different strains have varying levels of severity.

* In Sweden, approximately four cases of strangles are seen for every case of "flu."

* 36 Irish cases of the disease were reported between January and March of last year, with a further 56 outbreaks recorded between April and August.

* In the UK, nearly 20% of horses sampled during recent bacteriology testing proved positive for the strangles bacterium, Streptococcus equi.

* Strangles is fatal in 1% of cases, with 10% of infected horses developing ‘Bastard’ strangles, the serious complication where further abscesses form on other body organs.

* Horses can harbor the disease with no outward signs for years after infection and may shed the infective pathogen for up to six weeks upon recovery.

* While 75% of horses develop immunity of up to five years or more after infection, 25% of horses may go down with the disease again within this time.

* Last year strangles cost at least two British horse establishments approximately £20,000 (almost $40,000 in US dollars) each.

* Although horse-to-horse contact is often thought to be the most common means of the bacterium spreading, the local environment and particularly shared water sources are very important modes of transmission. It is also spread by in-direct contact such as tack and stable equipment.

* The bacterium is known to survive for 63 days on wood at 2°C (35°F) and even longer in water.

Thanks to BHS, BEVA and Intervet for their efforts to educate horse owners about the disease.

To learn more: http://www.equine-strangles.co.uk/

Research: University of Guelph Team Explores Equine Umbilical Stem Cell Therapy for Joint Repair

(adapted from a story published by the University of Guelph)

Professor Dean Betts and doctoral candidate Thomas Koch, from the University of Guelph's Department of Biomedical Sciences, are hoping to use stem cells to improve cartilage healing after joint injuries. They’re working with horses, where joint injuries are both common and costly, and say the research could be a model for helping human joint injuries.

“Equine joints are similar to human joints in aspects such as joint thickness and spontaneous athletic injuries, so the research may be transferable,” says Koch.

Much of the team’s research focuses on perfecting the technique for isolating, expanding and differentiating adult stem cells. They’re using blood from the umbilical cord of horses as a source of stem cells. Because most horses are observed when foaling, it’s relatively easy to collect the cord blood at that time.

Obtaining cord blood samples is non-invasive and much easier than obtaining stem cells from an embryo. Koch says there is also evidence that stem cells from cord blood are “younger” than bone marrow stem cells, which means they’re capable of more divisions, and creating more diverse tissue types. The younger stem cells may also be less prone to rejection when used to help heal cartilage in another body.

Because there are no other reports on isolating stem cells from equine cord blood, Betts and Koch are eager to gather as much information as possible. Already, they’ve succeeded in differentiating the cord blood stem cells into three different cell types including chondrocytes – the building blocks of cartilage.

Betts says the three-dimensional structure of cartilage and its attachment to the underlying bone is difficult to reproduce. Despite this, there have been encouraging results using osteochondral grafts – pieces of bone and cartilage grafted to the site of the injury. He hopes further research will reveal more ways to reconstruct the tissue either at the injury site, or as a graft that can be surgically implanted.

This research is supported by Equine Guelph, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and an international research grant from the Danish Research Council.

Barbaro Breakdown Telecast Nominated for Emmy

From the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) this afternoon:

At a breakfast meeting of the IMG World Congress of Sports in New York City today, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced that NBC received a nomination for the 28th Annual Sports Emmy Awards for its coverage of the 131st Preakness Stakes,

NBC’s telecast of last year’s Preakness, in which Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was injured shortly after the start, was produced by Sam Flood and among the on-air talent was Gary Stevens, another Hall of Fame jockey who began his first full year as a network sports analyst in 2006. Other members of the NBC on-air team for the Preakness were Bob Costas, Tom Hammond, Mike Battaglia, Tom Durkin, Bob Neumeier, Kenny Rice and Donna Brothers.

NBC’s 2006 Preakness telecast was one of five nominees in the category of Outstanding Live Sports Special. Others nominated in this category are ABC for the 2006 FIFA World Cup; FOX for MLB on FOX’s postseason coverage; CBS for the Pittsburgh-Indianapolis NFL Divisional Playoff telecast; and CBS again for its coverage of the 2006 Masters.

Former jockey Jerry Bailey also received an Emmy nomination as an on-air personality; Bailey is associated wtih ESPN's racing broadcasts and will be working on camera for this weekend's Lane's End Stakes on ESPN.

Bloggger's note for non-sports fans: FIFA is acronym for the world governing body of soccer and I think that MLB in this instance is Major League Baseball; NFL is the National Football League: "Masters" in this case refers to a golf tournament held in Georgia, not the Spruce Meadows jumping event.

The NBC list of on-air team members unfortunately did not include Dr Larry Bramlage of the AAEP's On Call program; I think that Dr. Bramlage's comments while Barbaro was on the track and when he was vanned away were key to the impact (and success) of that broadcast. It is not easy to think on your feet and provide credible information while you are watching a tiny monitor showing a horse standing in the middle of the track, and you are listening to input through your earbuds that you have to convey in simple English to millions of racing fans. He would get my Emmy!

2008 Olympics: Transporting Horses from Point A to Point B in Hot, Humid Weather

Sport horses are a different breed. Unlike Arabians and Thoroughbreds whose metabolism is well-suited to hot climates, heavier warmbloods have a metabolic difference in the way they react to hot, humid conditions and stress. Knowing this, the Veterinary Committee and the Welfare Sub Committee of the FEI had a meeting to discuss transport related issues for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong (HKG). The 19 March meeting was attended by Martin Atock, Managing Director of Peden Bloodstock, and the FEI Directors of the Veterinary and Olympic Departments.

Peden Bloodstock is the specialist flight/transport management company that has arranged and managed horses in transport for FEI events around the world in the past and will be transporting horses from several continents to Hong Kong for the Olympic events in August 2008.

In a report provided by the FEI, the Veterinary Committee advises that horses arrive approximately 10 days before the competition. This is in accordance with Atlanta Olympics research and will enable a thorough flight recovery and give the horses a fair chance to get used to the HKG climatic conditions. It also leaves room for treatment in case any horse suffers from travel sickness or minor injury in flight. At the moment, flying schedules are being designed to adhere as closely as possible to the 10-day period, although this will not be possible in each case.

Further discussions are required to define the optimal stable temperature in air-conditioned stables and the temperature phases leading from horse arrival to competition (e.g. start with a cool temperature and gradually increase in the days leading up to competition). The test event will help in this evaluation.

At the moment it looks like most of the horses will travel to HKG in combi flights; this creates more room for transport of grooms, gives more flexibility in flight scheduling, but causes some problems in terms of unloading the horses and the aircraft turnover time. This issue is being given urgent attention as the time from aircraft to air-conditioned vans/stables at the venue is one of the most important transport-related factors in preventing post-flight fever and has a major effect on post-flight recovery of the horses.

It would be of great benefit to the sport if those participating in the Olympic Test Event in HKG shared their monitoring protocols in an attempt to collect as much data as possible in a standardised way, and also to allow these data to be shared for the benefit of our sports both at the Olympic Games and in the future.

The group plans to organize a seminar on Competition and Transport issues in heat and humid conditions at the beginning of 2008, during which the findings from the test event will be discussed. This seminar will be open to all interested.

The meeting was chaired by John C. McEwen BVMS MRCVS, Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee and Dr Frits Sluyter, Director of FEI Veterinary Department.

(photo from www.PedenBloodstock.de)

Danish Horses Need to Stay in "Touch" with Each Other, Study Shows

Horses need physical contact just like we do. The question is which form of physical contact they prefer.

Research at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) at the University of Aarhus in Denmark has revealed that horses have a clear need for physical contact with other members of their species. Now researchers have started studying which form of physical contact horses favor.

In the preliminary stages of the study, a series of test horses were given the chance to greet another horse on the other side of some bars or a dividing wall, or by entering a room with another horse in it. The alternative was to go back to its stall where it could see but not touch the neighbor horse.

"The horses’ need for contact with another horse – irrespective of how it was done – was so pronounced that it was impossible for us in that study to distinguish which form of contact the horses preferred," reported head scientist Eva Søndergaard.

"The second stage of the experiment was therefore to investigate which form of contact the horses preferred, using a 'press button' method," she explained. "The method, which is used on other livestock such as cows and pigs, involves giving the animals a task to find out how hard they are prepared to work to achieve a certain result. With this method it is also possible to distinguish between an actual need and something that would just be nice to have, but is not absolutely essential."

The work for the horses involved pressing a button with the nose. The reward is contact with another horse in a certain way. By counting how many times the horses press the buttons, it is possible to measure the form of contact they are prepared to work the hardest for.

Denmark has the highest number of horses per capita in Europe. According to the researchers, it is therefore natural that Danes carry out research into horse behavior. DJF has a very important role to play in providing policy advice, for example in relation to the preparation of new regulations for horse owners. This means that the research results can be directly applied, once they have been tabulated and analyzed.

For instance, a draft bill by the Danish Ministry of Justice specifies that keepers of horses should have at least two horses. "This means that they will recommend that horses have social contact. But so far it has not been defined what this social contact should be and there is no minimum requirement set out. This is where our results can be useful," says Eva Søndergaard.

For further information please contact: Scientist Eva Søndergaard, Dept. of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Telephone: +45 8999 1319, e-mail: Eva.Sondergaard@agrsci.dk

The Humane Society of the United States Responds to Rumor of Horse Abandonment in Kentucky

If you've read a newspaper in the past few weeks,you may have seen an article making it sound like the state of Kentucky is being inundated with starving, lame horses with nowhere to go now that the Texas slaughter plants have at least temporarily shut down. These articles have painted a pretty ugly picture of Kentucky horse owners. Now the Humane Society of the United States has a response to those articles, which they claim are manufactured "news." You can decide for yourself, but here's the HSUS spin on things:

WASHINGTON, March 16 /-- At the annual meeting of the Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association today, the organization's president, Dan Evans, surveyed the membership about the situation. None reported an increase in abandoned horse reports or sightings.

"The notion that Kentucky is overrun with unwanted horses is absurd," said Pam Rogers, Kentucky State Program Coordinator for The Humane Society of the United States, who was at the meeting. "We are a state of horse lovers...These claims made by the horse slaughter industry's lobbyists have no basis. This is just plain rumor mongering."

The reports surfaced after a federal appeals court decision closed down two horse slaughter plants in Texas. Equine welfare experts report that the horses bound for the Texas slaughter plants are now being shipped to a plant in Mexico to be killed. The only horse slaughter plant still operating in the United States -- in DeKalb, Illinois -- is importing horses from Canada for slaughter, underscoring the point that there is no surplus of horses available in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 92.3 percent of American horses going to slaughter are healthy and in good shape -- not starving or neglected animals.

Recommended Reading in Today's Washington Post

This will be easy. Just click on the link, a page will open, and you read.

The Washington Post published a succinct and poignant editorial letter today from Dr Nat White, director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia. As you know if you read this blog, his hospital has been quarantined for the past few weeks after some horses there showed symptoms of Equine Herpes Virus. Several horses were euthanized during the small outbreak but, on a much larger scale, the horse industry in northern Virginia was paralyzed. If you've ever driven on Route 50 from Washington toward Middleburg, you know that the area is not just horsey, the road itself if horsey. There are normally more horse trailers than trucks on that highway. And when a virus quarantine happens during breeding season, the effects can be very far-reaching.

Dr. White touches on those subjects and the need for more research in his letter. Click here to go to the Washington Post and have a quick read. There is also a link there to email the article to your friends and horse industry contacts.

Then scroll down to the next post and read about the latest outbreak, this time just up the coast from California's Silicon Valley. Perhaps you've been affected by one of the disease quarantines this winter, or perhaps you will be affected by the next one. Stay informed. This blog will continue to try to keep up. It's disturbing that there is so much EHV news to report.

Photo of Dr White courtesy of Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and Hoofcare & Lameness Journal.

EHV at Boarding Stable Near Silicon Valley

The San Mateo Daily Journal is reporting that sick horses at a boarding stable in the Half Moon Bay area have been diagnosed as suffering from Equine Herpes Virus Type-1 (EHV-1) following diagnostics at the University of California at Davis. This follows an outbreak earlier this winter at racetracks nearby in the Bay Area.

San Mateo County is the region directly south of San Francisco, near the airport area, between the city and Palo Alto and San Jose. Half Moon Bay is about 25 miles south of San Francisco and is noted for its surfing.

Here is a clip from the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, which was published on Friday:

(Begin quote)

"The first confirmed cases of the neurotropic (neurological) form on Equine Herpes Virus in San Mateo County were recently identified by Bayhill Equine.

"Three cases were identified at a boarding facility in Montara, north of Half Moon Bay on March 12. A 4-yr old pleasure horse became febrile on March 6th. She began showing slight signs of ataxia on the evening of March 11th, and was unable to stand the next morning. At that time, one other horse in the paddock was also ataxic.

"Based on history, clinical signs, and the number of horses affected. A presumptive diagnosis of Equine Herpes Virus was made, and the horse referred to the UC-Davis Large Animal Clinic. The diagnosis was confirmed the afternoon of March 12 based on a positive nasal swab, blood, and spinal tap.

"Two other horses at the boarding facility have also tested positive, with one other pending. Two of the affected horses were subsequently euthanized at UC-Davis after failing to respond to treatment.

"Currently, three stables in the Moss Beach/Montara area are under voluntary quarantine to help stop the spread of the virus."

The department is referring inquiries to Wayne Browing, DVM at Bayhill Equine, Inc. in Redwood City.

Veterinarians for Equine Welfare: New Organization Shines Light on the Slaughter Debate, Counters Status Quo of Politics

(WASHINGTON, D.C.), March 14 – A group of veterinarians from all disciplines has created the new organization Veterinarians for Equine Welfare (VEW) out of concern about what they feel is misinformation being transmitted to the public regarding the national debate on horse slaughter.

Members of VEW believe that the veterinary profession’s integrity is being undermined by the hard-line stance of individuals whose opinions have been swayed by unfounded logistical concerns, as opposed to what should be a primary concern for animal welfare.

VEW organizers consulted with representatives of the horse industry, the field of equine rescue and the humane community to respond to their concerns, with the goal of facilitating a dialog that will improve the life-quality of all horses. The group feels that it has been common practice in the veterinary profession to marginalize animal welfare advocates, and the veterinarians involved in VEW believe that it is time for a change.

"As a veterinarian, my first concern is for the health and well-being of my patients, which come from all walks of equine life. They represent the spectrum from equine royalty to wild horses," said VEW Founding Executive Committee Member Nena Winand, DVM, PhD. "I support VEW and the dialog it has engendered, because I believe it will truly strengthen our ability to improve the life-quality of all of our patients.

"The coalition recently launched www.vetsforequinewelfare.org as a resource to educate other veterinarians, animal health professionals and horse owners about the options available for day-to-day proper treatment of horses, and to provide humane information and options to those who can no longer care for (or must end the lives of) their horses.

"The views of individual vets are, and should be, more respected than any 'body' that represents them, as they are aimed at educating politicians and laymen alike on issues that have escaped their attention," said Theo Antikas, DVM, PhD. "In the words of Heraclitus, 'education is the sun to the educated.' It is hoped that educated vets will put an end to the unwarranted, immoral suffering of horses prior to and during slaughter."

The website will also serve as a forum to inform other veterinarians, horse owners, politicians and the American public about the truth behind horse slaughter, a practice that has never been considered a legitimate form of euthanasia by veterinary professionals or organizations.


(text is edited form of VEW press release)

EHV Quarantine Partially Lifted at Virginia Equine Hospital

Latest news on the Equine Herpes Virus quarantine at Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia:

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Horses quarantined at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, are being released from three of the four biosecurity perimeters that were established within the hospital.

The State Veterinarian has authorized the release of these horses based on stringent criteria established by the center including the isolation of groups of horses, the length of time for which the horses have shown no symptoms and three consecutive negative tests for EHV-1.

There are currently two horses remaining at the center that tested positive for the virus, both of which have improved and are in stable condition in the center's isolation unit. These two horses will remain in isolation until they pass the testing criteria. The results of tests performed on these horses are expected next week.


To learn more, and to download the hospital's video press releases for the Virginia horse community, visit http://www.equinemedicalcenter.com/

McIlwraith Recognized for Achievements in Equine Orthopedics

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO - Wayne McIlwraith BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, DSc, Dr. med vet (hc), Diplomate ACVS, director of the Colorado State University Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, was recently recognized with the Founder's Award for Career Achievement, given by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the art and science of veterinary surgery by diplomats of the ACVS, and is the college's most prestigious award.

The award credits McIlwraith for selflessly sharing his knowledge through teaching, publications and training of other veterinarians.

McIlwraith currently holds the Barbara Cox Anthony University Endowed Chair at Colorado State. He has trained more than 44 graduate students and supervised 20 residents in equine surgery He is recognized internationally as an authority on equine orthopedics, and has written or co-written 230 research papers and ten textbooks.

McIlwraith has previously been recognized with numerous honorary degrees from as far away as New Zealand, Italy and Vienna. He has lectured extensively on equine orthopedics.

"Dr. Mcilwraith has been one of the most recognized names in equine surgery and orthopedic research in the past 50 years and possibly the last century," said Cornell University's Dr. Alan Nixon, veterinarian and diplomat of the ACVS, who presented the award.

"His work shows contributions in every area associated with the development of the principals of surgery, the quest for better techniques and medications through research, and a tireless effort to teach others and share knowledge with equine surgeons throughout the world," he continued. "He is the embodiment of a combination of surgical practice and surgical research, a tireless disseminator of his extensive knowledge, and the 'father' of arthroscopy surgery in the horse. He is an extraordinary mentor to numerous surgeons both here and abroad."

Dr. McIlwraith received his veterinary degree from Massey University, New Zealand. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in joint disease research while at Purdue. Dr. McIlwraith became board certified as a diplomat in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1979 and joined the faculty at Colorado State that same year.

(provided by press release)

Hagyard Sport Horse Program Sponsors Young Event Horse In-Hand Symposium

Have you taken a look at some of the major equine veterinary clinics in the United States this year? They are branching out. Adding imaging centers. Podiatry centers. Performance analysis. Gait analysis. A few years ago the buzz world was alternative therapies...now it's performance technology. The cynics among us will say that the dollar rules, but let's hope that the horse wins in the end.

To that end, Hagyard Davidson McGee, the 130-year-old Lexington, Kentucky equine veterinary service, has changed its name to the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Along with that change came an even bigger one. The Thoroughbred is King at Hagyard, given its location in the heart of the Bluegrass Region, but a side gate to the big pasture has opened and the sport horses are jumping, piaffing, and lunging their way into the practice.

Hagyard's Sport Horse Program is headed by Dr. Duncan Peters and Dr. Jorge Gomez. They will be reaching out to Lexington's burgeoning sport horse scene to offer them the same high-tech services that the Thoroughbreds receive. Clients may choose various levels of interaction with the Hagyard Sport Horse Program. These range from a case-by-case basis to a comprehensive retainer relationship wherein the veterinarian and client form a "partnership" to establish customized programs that reach long-term health and maintenance goals and fully optimize the equine athlete's performance.

This is a clever concept, when you remember that about 1000 sport horses will be coming to Lexington in 2010 (only a few short years away) for the World Equestrian Games. The Thoroughbreds will have to share the spotlight that year and Hagyard is wise to prepare well in advance.

If you were jumping into the sport horse medicine field, where you would begin? By finding a niche, of course, and using it as a toehold to make friends and spread the word. Hagyard is doing just that by sponsoring the two-year-old division of the United States Eventing Association's first-ever Young Event Horse In-Hand Symposium on April 9-10, 2007 in Norwood, North Carolina. Open to yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds, this pilot program is intended to help breeders and owners of future event horses promote and market their youngstock.



The Symposium will help breeders and trainers learn more about how to present their young stock in the best possible condition and turnout, but also how to present them in-hand and to market them. Eventing's senior statesman, Denny Emerson of Tamarack Hill Farm, will lead the Symposium along with Colorado's Kristi Wysocki and Virginia's Bruce Griffin.

Read a detailed post about the Symposium from the USEA's blog.

Good luck to two new concepts--the USEA's Young Horse Program and Hagyard's Sport Horse Practice. The horse world needs new ideas and new energy and these are two examples of where we can go, when we think we can.

Former Leading Dressage Stallion Blue Hors Cavan Retires--as a Gelding

One of the most successful dressage horses of recent years has officially retired from the show ring...but not without an interesting post script in the area of horse health.

Blue Hors Cavan, a 15-year-old Hanoverian, captivated audiences all over the world in international competition for the Danish team with rider Lars Petersen. At one time, he was the highest rated stallion competing in the sport of dressage.

But now his performance record is a little confusing, since his last years were competed as a gelding.

Blue Hors Cavan was afflicted with testicular hernias. He missed the 2000 Olympics in Sydney when the hernia flared up and he coliced; he was gelded in 2001.

The University of Guelph vet school has an explanatory page on stallion hernias.

Read more about Blue Hors Cavan and his career:

Dressage Daily has a summary of the horse's career and his retirement ceremony in Denmark.

Blue Hors Cavan's castration report was news when it was reported on Eurodressage.com.

Blue Hors Cavan's page on the web site of Blue Hors Stud in Denmark is still active.

Lars Petersen, Blue Hors Cavan's long-time rider, now lives in Florida

Blue Hors Cavan's successful son Cassidy was named best dressage stallion in Denmark and how lives in the USA, training with Danish (of course) trainer Bent Jensen.

Horse Health Corporate News : Schering-Plough Acquires Intervet

News reports from Europe are confirming that Schering-Plough is acquiring Organon BioSciences (OBS), the parent company of Intervet, from Akzo Nobel, in a move that could create a new leader in the global
animal health industry. The deal, said to be worth 11 billion Euros ($14.4bn), was announced on Monday from the Netherlands headquarters of Schering-Plough.

The deal may place Schering-Plough at the top of animal health corporations worldwide by sales.

One of Schering-Plough's most familiar equine-market products is the anti-inflammatory Banamine. Intervet makes several widely-used vaccines, plus wormers like Panacur and specialty treatments like Regumate.

Read the press release from the Schering-Plough web site here.

2008 Olympics: Quarantine and Importation Updates

The rigors of travel and the exposure of hundreds of horses to each other and a new environment have been of great concern to the organizers of the equestrian events at the 2008 Olympics. The FEI announced today some updates on disease prevention and quarantine in Hong Kong, site of the equestrian events.

A 7-day pre-export quarantine (PEQ) at approved centers around the world and a 10-day post-arrival isolation (PAI) have been regulated. During the PAI, training can continue at specified times and the competition can commence.

At this time, it seems that the venue stables will be opened two weeks prior to the competition.

For an optimal flight recovery and acclimatization of the horses, it is strongly recommended that horses arrive as early as possible. This has the additional advantage that any horses suffering from travel sickness or respiratory problems after the flight can receive treatment and fully recover before the competition.

When horses arrive late, there is little time for treatment. Also, administration of certain medications can cause problems when the FEI Veterinary Regulations commence (normally three days before the first horse inspection for each discipline).

It is strongly recommended that all horses be given a booster vaccination against equine influenza between one and two months before entering the PEQ facilities, to ensure an optimal immune level and minimise the risk of influenza issues causing an importation problem. Horses suffering from influenza in the PEQ period will compromise not only their own travel to Hong Kong, but possibly also for all horses which are in that PEQ-facility at the same time.

Another disease for which vaccination should be made is Japanese encephalitis. The vaccine against this disease is being manufactured in Tokyo.

In previous FEI events, the percentage of horses suffering from travel sickness was rather low. Some figures: 2000 Sydney Olympics: no clinical travel sickness, 4 horses with fever, all recovered within 48 hrs post arrival. FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Kuala Lumpur: no cases of travel sickness.

To learn more about the equestrian events, visit a new web site developed specifically for those events, and published in English.

AAEP Veterinarians Will Be "On Call" in Run-up to Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

Who can forget Dr. Larry Bramlage's helpful commentary at the 2006 Preakness Stakes when Barbaro was rushed from the track on the horse ambulance? Dr. Bramlage did not just happen to be at the rail that day last May; he was there in an official capacity, "just in case" a veterinarian's commentary was needed. Dr. Bramlage's presence was arranged by the American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) "On Call" program.

With the March 17th premiere of the 2007 Citgo "Racing to the Kentucky Derby" series, the AAEP's "On Call" program will begin its 17th year of providing horse health information during live Thoroughbred racing on the major networks. "On Call" is designed to deliver accurate veterinary information to broadcast and print journalists through media-trained veterinarians who respond to crisis situations and answer questions about the health of the equine athlete.




As the 2007 schedule kicks off, veterinarians have been named to assist six spring racing telecasts as well as the Triple Crown:

* March 17: San Felipe Stakes - Dr. Rick Arthur at Santa Anita Park with support from Dr. Milton McClure at Oaklawn Park and Dr. Rosalyn Randall at Tampa Bay Downs.
* March 24: Lane's End Stakes and Rushaway Stakes - Dr. Rhonda Rathgeber at Turfway Park.
* April 7: Wood Memorial and Bay Shore Stakes - Dr. Celeste Kunz at Aqueduct; Santa Anita Derby - Dr. Rick Arthur at Santa Anita Park.
* April 14: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and Commonwealth Stakes - Dr. Scott Hopper at Keeneland Racecourse.
* April 21: Coolmore Lexington Stakes - Dr. Alan Ruggles at Keeneland Racecourse.
* Triple Crown: Dr. Larry Bramlage.

Since the founding of "On Call" in 1991, more than 30 AAEP members have volunteered their time and expertise to the program. Offered during all live network racing as well as arena events such as the AQHA World Championship Show, over 75 events are supported by an "On Call" veterinarian each year. The program is made possible in part by an annual donation from the Oak Tree Racing Association.

For more information about the AAEP's On Call program, contact Sally Baker, AAEP director of marketing and public relations, at sbaker@aaep.org or (859) 233-0147.

(Edited from a press release provided by the AAEP and NTRA; photo of Dr. Bramlage being interviewed on NBC provided by AAEP)

New Hurdle Design Debuts at 2007 Cheltenham Festival; Safety Is the Goal

Tomorrow's a big day in England. The gates to the Cheltenham Festival will open, and millions of British, Irish and international racing fans who can't squeeze through the gates will spend hours watching the world's premier National Hunt (what we would call steeplechasing, though it's not exactly the same) racing meet on television. In addition to the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, the meet has races for amateur riders and is a real extravaganza for enthusiasts of jump racing and risk-taking.

In 2006, the Festival, which is located in Cheltenham Spa in Gloucestershire, west of London, was marred by tragedy: nine horses died during the races last year.

As the majority of injuries and deaths in 2006 took place in hurdle races, new "headless" or bracketed hurdles have been installed. They have a lower wooden structure than the standard hurdles. Horses' hooves are unlikely to make contact with the hard wood jump frame, making the jumps less likely to cause injury.

"Headless" or bracketed hurdles are an approved construction of hurdles where the protruding (but still padded) uprights are slightly reduced by 2 - 2½ inches (to about 1 - 1½ inches). This is achieved by sitting the top horizontal bar of the hurdle in a bracket rather than it being morticed directly into the upright.

Although the heads of hurdles could not be identified as a direct cause of deaths, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) approves the new jumps and is confident that they will make it safer for horses.

"Hurdling, by its very nature, is jumping at speed," wrote RSPCA consultant veterinarian David Muir. "Any fall is, therefore, likely to be hazardous. The use of headless hurdles is one way to prevent contact between the fast moving hooves of the horse and the solid jump structure."

Horses will also be inspected this year by a veterinarian to make sure they are fit to run in the high profile races.

RSPCA equine consultant David Muir said, "The death of one horse is unacceptable and we were shocked by what happened at Cheltenham last year. We looked very carefully at what happened to see how animal welfare could be improved. We believe the course is now safer, but horses may still be injured or killed during this year's event.

"We urge race organisers, owners and trainers to make equine welfare a top priority. Owners and trainers of horses with pre-existing conditions should think carefully before entering. We hope the new vet checks before some races will mean fewer fatalities."

Cheltenham Festival culminates on Friday with the Gold Cup.

Michigan State University Posts Seminar "Slide Shows" on Web Site

The web site of Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine was enhanced recently with the addition of four "slide shows" from university clinicians on specific health problems in horses.

The slide shows are in Macromedia's "Breeze" program which mimics PowerPoint and can be controlled by the user.

The lectures, with links to each, are:

Foaling with Dr. Hal Schott (Cases from the neonatal critical care facility)

Hoof Care of the Laminitic Horse with Dr. Frank Nickels

Fat, Foundered Horses (information on Insulin Resistance problems, or "Equine Metabolic Syndrome") with Dr. Hal Schott

Equine Cushing’s Disease with Dr. Hal Schott

Note: I am not sure about the effects of bandwith on the loading time of the images. Each presentation varies, with about 45 slides being the average. They loaded quite quickly with my DSL connection but I don't know how a dial-up connection would do. No special software is needed to view the files.

Thanks to Michigan State's Office of Publications editor Judy Lessard for announcing the web site update.

Humorous Horse Honored: Cushings Syndrome Research to Benefit from Peter Stone Model of Willem, The Talking Hanoverian

There once was a horse named Willem, and he made a lot of people smile. The highly opinionated Hanoverian dressage gelding was one of the the horse world's most popular bulletin board contributors, and his heavily-accented posts were read by thousands of posters and lurkers on the forum run by the Chronicle of the Horse.

In case you had any doubt at all that the Internet truly has become an influential force in our horse world, consider this: Willem has been immortalized as a Peter Stone model horse.

Willem's fame on the Internet began in December 2001, when he shared – complete with German accent –
what horses really want for Christmas, including many "karroten" (carrots) and "Don't nott to buy no ugly ass things for us to wear und then say it be a present for us."

Willem's heavy-hooved advice extended to such varied subjects as the correct way to feed a horse, how to improve in competitive dressage and the proper way to breed.

In real life, Willem lived in southern California and was also the official Taste Tester Horse for Giddyap Girls horse treats.

Sadly, Willem was humanely destroyed in July 2003, after a gallant fight against Cushing's-related sinking founder. His legacy will be as a fundraiser for Cushing's research; proceeds from the sale of each of the Willem Models from Peter Stone will be donated to the Center for Equine Health at the University of California at Davis.

Even the hard-to-please Willem would approve of this publicity.

Watch for the fundraiser model horses to appear later this year.