National Convention of Veterinarians To Be Held in Washington, DC This Summer

The nation's veterinarians will be meeting this summer in Washington, D.C., for the American Veterinary Medical Association's 144th Annual Convention. The convention, held July 14-18 at the Washington Convention Center, will feature some of the nation's leading veterinary experts discussing a wide variety of topics on veterinary medicine and public health, including avian influenza, bioterrorism, pet nutrition, alternative medicine, and much more. In all, more than 1,000 topics will be discussed by 600 world-renowned experts over the 5-day convention.

In addition, the convention will begin with a presentation by keynote speaker Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who will discuss CDC's focus on diseases spread by animals and the increased importance of veterinarians in public health.

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 75,000 member veterinarians engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association's issues, policies and activities.

The Week in Review: Anti-Slaughter Gains with Triple Crown as Backdrop

They say that history is defined as when more happens in ten minutes than happpened in the past ten years. Looking at the round-up of news from the anti-slaughter movement, this was an historic week.

Anti-slaughter legislation in Illinois saw the signature of the governor, effectively ending the state's DeKalb horse "processing" plant's chances to continue. Actress Bo Derek targeted Illinois and campaigned in the state in support of the law.

And in Texas, horse slaughter at two plants in the state was dealt double blows by a US Supreme Court decision and the state legislature.

A nationwide ban is still in committee in the US Senate, after passing the House of Representatives this year.

I'm sure that as soon as I post this, I will hear about a gain on the pro-slaughter side.

I ran across a nice blog post on the slaughter issue, positioned on the backdrop of the Triple Crown races. For many people, Street Sense's loss to Curlin in the final strides of the Preakness was a bitter disappointment: no Triple Crown winner again this year. I think this is sad, since it was such an exciting race and Curlin's surge to the wire, after being passed in the stretch by his rival, brought to mind the old days of Affirmed and Alydar, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. A good rivalry will make people interested in horse racing as much if not more than a superior horse devastating his rivals on three Saturdays.

The blogger who agrees with me is Andrew Cohen, legal analyst for CBS News. He posted his take on the week's event at the track and in the courtroom, on Katie Couric's "Couric and Co." blog. Cohen is a racehorse owner himself and used Couric's blog to advance his own politics, but I think that for horse politics to even show up on a blog like that is evidence of how emotionally-charged this issue is....and that editors in high places agree that This Is News.

People in the horse world who have never blogged or written letters to the editor, or posted on forums are doing so. We are finding out that some very interesting people either own racehorses, love racing, or just care passionately about horses. And, we are finding out that these interesting, influential people are on both sides of the issue.

I find the parallels between horse slaughter and gun control compelling. The opponents have emotion and an all-star lineup of celebrities on their side. The proponents have hard-to-deny arguments in defense of individual or state's rights on their side. It's hard for me to understand, but I do recognize that some of us can be as emotionally attached to weapons as we are to horses.

But unlike gun control, both sides of the horse slaughter debate profess to love horses, although it's a pretty tough "love" or a selective "love" in some cases. If people really do love horses, we should be able to work this out, for their sake.

Louisiana State University Equine Hospital Dedicates "The Lexi Suite"

In honor of the extraordinary efforts of globe-trotting veterinarians and technicians, a determined team of horse owners, and a remarkable 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, the Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine dedicated “The Lexi Suite” in the Equine Intensive Care Unit at the LSU Large Animal Hospital on Thursday, May 17.

Named in honor of Lexius (Lexi), owned by Ms. Julie Calzone & Mr. Robert Gardes, Lexi is the mare who presented LSU with the opportunity to cure uveitis in North America through a procedure known as a vitrectomy. The surgery is rarely performed and was unprecedented at LSU.

On September 22, 2006, Dr. Hartmut Gerhards from the Clinic for Horses of Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany, worked collaboratively with Dr. Eric Storey, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, to perform the vitrectomy on Lexi’s right eye. Assisting Dr. Gerhards was Dr. Bettina Wollanke of Munich.

The surgery would not have taken place without the help of Lexi’s owners. Their generosity did not stop with the surgery; Calzone and Gardes have also established the Lexi Fund to dedicate financial resources toward clinical service, scientific investigation and education endeavors in the field of equine ophthalmology.

The dedication was attended by horse enthusiasts from around the state, as well as members of the faculty and staff of LSU’s Equine Health Studies Program. “The event is a celebration of Lexi’s journey and the remarkable efforts of all that were involved in her recovery, and a formal recognition of the incredible philanthropic support that has been demonstrated by her owners,” said Dr. Eric Storey, Lexi’s first ophthalmologist at LSU.

“Both Bob and I feel very strongly that Lexi called all the shots, including picking Dr. Storey and LSU,” said Calzone. “We knew we simply had to stand by her while she led the way for a new life and new eye sight, not only for herself but for other horses in North America. She is a very special horse, and we all are fortunate that she chose us. If it weren’t for Dr. Storey and LSU, none of this would have been possible.”

This post was based on a news story provided to LSU staff; photo courtesy of LSU web site.

Cornell Vet School Appoints Farrier to Faculty Position

Cornell University Resident Farrier Michael Wildenstein , CJF, FWCF (Hons) has officially been promoted to the position of Adjunct Associate Professor of Farrier Medicine and Surgery in The Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, effective May 15, 2007.

The university is also announcing plans to enlarge the farrier shop and to expand the student farrier enrollment to four per semester. This includes farrier students and veterinarians who wish to participate in the popular podiatry internship at Cornell with Mike.

In 2008, Cornell will also be hiring another farrier to work with Mike for six months of the year, and Mike will be encouraged to lecture and teach outside of Cornell.

Michael Wildenstein has served as Cornell’s resident farrier for more than 15 years. His self-designed career goals culminated with the award of a Fellowship with Honors from the Worshipful Company of Farriers in England. Only three other farriers in the world can boast of that degree; the fellowship alone is akin to a PhD in farrier science and is considered the most difficult exam and thesis in the world.

Along the way, Wildenstein authored a book, hosted conferences, lectured around the world, was inducted into the horseshoers’ hall of fame—all while somehow managing to train farriers in the farrier school and tend to all the hoof-related support needs of the vet school. He also serves as a consulting editor to Hoofcare and Lameness Journal. One of his H&L articles, on deep sulcus thrush, was the first place award winner in the category of "horse care education" in the American Horse Publications awards in 2006.

In Cornell’s early years, farrier Henry Asmus was assistant professor of surgery at the vet school. Asmus made a mission of educating rural blacksmiths and farmers and by authoring papers filled with progressive and innovative solutions to hoof problems. He established the farrier school at Cornell, which is still operating and is the oldest school in the USA, and wrote pamphlets for the US Government on shoeing and farm horse care. Until the 1930s, Cornell vet students were required to study farriery and one of their "lab" hours was time spent working in the forge with Professor Asmus.

Later farrier instructors held staff positions and upheld the school’s reputation for excellence. Cornell has always educated farriers from within the vet school and has offered an annual two-day conference open to all farriers for the past 24 years.

With Asmus as a predecessor, Mike Wildenstein’s promotion at Cornell is not unprecedented in the rich historical annals of the esteemed university. But in our changing times, when farriers are working so hard to contribute to the welfare of horses, the fact that one university is reopening the faculty to a farrier is a meaningful milestone to thousands of farriers who spend their days crouched under horses, studying the hooves in their hands with equal intensity to any scholar in a laboratory.

As an added boost, Mike's promotion received a vote of confidence from the polling of the entire Cornell vet school faculty.

Photo courtesy of Cornell University.

Film Star Horse Survives Colic Surgery Scare in New Zealand; Watch the Video

Massey University's equine hospital in New Zealand is reporting today that good is still triumphing over evil, at least when it comes to horses referred to their clinic. Brego, one of the superstar horses from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, is recovering from emergency colic surgery performed last week at the university's vet college hospital.

Veterinarian Ray Lenaghan is the caretaker of the 22-year-old Dutch warmblood stallion while owner/actor Viggo Mortensen is away, and he noticed that the horse was uncomfortable. The horse was rushed to Massey's equine hospital in the town of Palmerston North on the North Island and was ready for surgery in 40 minutes.

Owner Viggo Mortensen played the role of Aragorn in the film series. Brego is relentlessly pursued by a legion of villains throughout the film, but is, of course, invincible as only Tolkien's horses can be.

The horse's true villain turned out to be a tear in his bowel. Surgery was performed by university specialist Frederik Pauwels at Massey.

“We anaesthetised him, made a mid-line incision into his belly and explored. We found a large amount of small intestine stuck in a tear in his gut – part of his bowel was stuck,” Pauwels said. The surgeon removed more than six feet of intestine to repair the damage and noted that the horse would probably have died without the intervention.

Brego recovered at Massey before returning to Lenaghan's farm and is expected to be fine after a month or so of stall rest. Several other Lord of the Rings equine cast members reside at the farm. Irish-born Lenaghan, who is also a three-day event rider, was consulting vet during the filming of the three movies and his wife, rider Jane Abbott, was Liz Tyler's stunt double and played Princess Arwen in the films. The Rings films were the first I ever saw to list veterinarians and farriers in the credits at the end of the film. (I'm one of "those" people who sit in the theater and read all the credits as the lights come on.)

Actor Mortensen purchased the horse at the end of filming of the epic. Brego, whose real name is Uraeus, is a former sport horse sire and FEI-level dressage horse ridden by the late Lockie Richards. Of course, he has his own web site, but details of the surgery have not been posted there yet.

Massey University is the largest college in New Zealand and is somewhat akin to a "national university" for the tiny, horse-loving country. Several leading international veterinarians including Colorado State orthopedics expert (and New Zealand native) Dr. Wayne McIlwraith and Australian laminitis researcher Dr. Chris Pollitt are graduates of Massey's vet school.

Watch a video feature on Brego and his recent health drama on New Zealand's Channel 3 News.

NFL Lineman Receives PETA's "Compassionate Action" Award

Blogger's note: When was the last time you read saw the NFL and PETA mentioned in the same article? Strange bedfellows made good news today!

Chandler, Arizona — For heroically rescuing a horse who was stuck belly-deep in mud, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Leonard Davis will receive PETA’s "Compassionate Action" Award.

According to news reports, Davis had just returned to his Chandler home when he noticed that Ranger, a horse, was stuck in a sinkhole across the street. The mud was up to the horse’s belly. Without hesitating, Davis fastened straps around Ranger and used his John Deere tractor to pull the frightened animal free from the mud. Davis then hosed Ranger down, as neighbors and emergency responders looked on.

Davis—who packs more than 360 pounds into his 6-foot-6-inch frame and recently signed a lucrative seven-year deal with the Cowboys—said that he used to regularly free horses who got stuck in the mud on his family’s farm and modestly called his rescue of Ranger "no big deal."

"Leonard might think that his rescue of Ranger was ‘no big deal,’ but Ranger—who’s doing fine—probably feels otherwise," says PETA Director Daphna Nachminovitch. "Although Leonard is best known for letting defenses think that they just hit a brick wall, it’s his soft spot for animals in need that makes him a real hero."

Top Reining Horse Walla Walla Whiz Spins Out of Life-Threatening Situation at 2007 NRHA Derby in Oklahoma

Walla Walla Whiz, ridden by Shawn Flarida, is at the top of the standings at the NRHA Open Derby this weekend, even though he was hospitalized a few days ago. Photo courtesy of Kathy Dambrill, NRHA, and Waltenberry, Inc.

(via NRHA press release)

Oklahoma City, OK – May 17, 2007 – To watch National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Two Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida and Walla Walla Whiz compete in the first section of the of the $80,000 added Open Derby go round on Wednesday, May 16, you’d never know just two days before Walla Walla Whiz had a frightening experience!

Flarida says on Monday, they noticed Walla Walla Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda) seemed lethargic and was obviously in pain. Flarida called Dr. Alan Donnell, DVM, at Equine Sports Medicine, to check him out. Flarida says Walla Walla Whiz’s condition was worsening. “Dr. Donnell was very instrumental in getting him (Walla Walla Whiz) to the hospital. By the time we left the barn, it took three men to carry him to the trailer. He was really, really sick. They told me it could be life threatening.”

Walla Walla Whiz, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, from Weatherford, TX, was transported to Oakridge Equine Hospital in Edmond, OK. Dr. Kevin Kersh performed a diagnostic examination to try and figure out what was wrong. “When he (Walla Walla Whiz) came in he was colicky and what I noticed was he was quite dehydrated. Dr. Donnell started fluids at the show and gave him a fair amount there and the horse was still quite dehydrated when he got here.” Dr. Kersh continued, “I don’t know how close to losing him we were, but if it progresses, it doesn’t take a lot of time to go to life threatening. The potential was there and it could have quickly turned into something bigger.”

For the next 24 hours, Doctors at the Oakridge Equine Hospital gave him lots of intravenous fluids and electrolytes to get him re-hydrated. Dr. Kersh says they gave Walla Walla Whiz other medications through gastric tubes pumping into his stomach.”

Dr. Kersh released Walla Walla Whiz around 9:00 pm on Tuesday evening. The next decision to be made was whether or not Flarida could compete in the Open Derby go round the next morning. Dr. Kersh says it was a collaborative decision between the other veterinarians at the hospital, Dr. Donnell, Flarida and himself. They all agreed that it would not be detrimental to Walla Walla Whiz’s well being to compete.

Dr. Kersh says, “I told Shawn to prepare himself because he (Walla Walla Whiz) might not perform to his usual level, but there was no risk of any long-term damage.” Flarida’s draw with Walla Walla Whiz was set for Wednesday at noon, just 15 hours after being released from the veterinary hospital.

When Walla Walla Whiz’s run was over the judges’ score was announced ….. 225.5! That score secured first place in the first section of the Open Derby go round. It’s the talk of the barns and everyone is still amazed at how he performed.

Dr. Kersh says his quick recovery shows the horse’s determination. “For him to bounce back, to go from looking as bad as he did to performing that well is remarkable. He’s an incredibly tough horse. He obviously likes what he does to be able to bounce back and do as well as he did.” Flarida says Walla Walla Whiz is like a football player, “He’s a game-type horse, always ready.”

The 2007 NRHA Derby runs through Saturday, May 19, at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK.

Smoke Gets in Their Lungs: Florida Vet Blogs Horse Help Hints From Under the Forest Fire's Haze

One of my favorite bloggers is someone who shares my interest in horse health. Alan Weldon DVM, Dipl.ACVIM of Jacksonville Equine Associates in Florida publishes "The Horse Doctor" blog and always seems to have something interesting going on in his life or practice. I highly recommend that you "subscribe" to his blog or add it to your favorites list.

A few weeks ago, the good doctor was stopping by the zoo to help an elephant, but today his post is especially timely. As you may have heard on the national news, Florida is under a haze of smoke from forest fires there and in Georgia. And where there's smoke...there's horses with respiratory issues. And there's also Dr. Weldon, helping a bear and her cub fleeing the flames.

Read Dr. Weldon's update on the Florida fires and his recounting of a client's diligence in installing an air conditioner in the stall of her horse to help with respiratory flareups. He also gives instructions for making an ad hoc inhaler.

As the summer goes on, I am sure that we will have plenty of disaster alerts, but hopefully none on the scale of hurricanes or widespread devastation. I think the "citizen journalism" or "we journalism" as it is sometimes called, will be very, very important on a local level. Vet clinics could set up blogs now for possible posting later. Unlike a web site, which needs access to a computer and passwords to the server and admin accounts, a blogger can post on the web from any email-friendly device--even a cell phone or PDA.

With vets like Dr. Weldon out there paving the way, we could have a network to know about health risks before they happen, with tips to care for horses in a given at-risk area because of natural disasters or disease outbreaks. I hope that vet clinics who have created blogs will let me know so I can give them the recognition they deserve.

Illinois Senate Passes Ban on Horse Slaughter in the State, Governor Says He Will Sign Bill into Law

Actress Bo Derek is smiling this week. On Wednesday, the Illinois Senate voted 39-16 to approve a measure that would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the state. The new law would force closure of the foreign-owned DeKalb slaughterhouse and processing plant. Governor Rod Blagojevich's aide said he will sign the bill.

Bo Derek targeted the Illinois legislation as her priority and campaigned to convince Illinois lawmakers of the need for a ban.

In Texas, meanwhile, the two slaughterhouses gained a second wind when a measure added to a pet welfare bill countered a recent court ruling to close the slaughterhouses.

The issue is no longer about horses; it is about lawyers, celebrities and....money.

PETA Drops a Load When London Restaurant Adds Horse Meat to the Menu

The BBC and all the British newspaper are covering a developing controversy in England over not just horse slaughter, but also the consumption of horse meat.

When London celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was featured on the British TV show "The F Word" this week extolling the sublime pleasures of eating horse meat, protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) went to work. Not only did they protest outside his toney Claridge's Hotel restaurant, they backed up a dump truck and deposited a load of horse manure in the busy street, blocking the entrance.

FEI Responds to Safety Issues in Eventing

This statement has been issued by the Federation Equestrian International (FEI), the governing body of horse sports in the Olympic disciplines, following the isolated deaths of several horses and riders during competitions in the USA and Europe in the past few weeks:

The FEI is seriously concerned by the fatal accidents which have occurred in Eventing over the last months. Even though the FEI does not have the authority to manage and oversee national events, which are governed by the National Federations, it is determined to do its utmost to ensure the safety of the sport.

It has been decided to this effect to formalise the Eventing Safety Cross Country Working Group into a permanent FEI Safety Sub-Committee. This Committee will be led by International Rider and Course Designer David O’Connor (USA). The Committee membership will include riders, course designers and trainers of the leading Eventing nations. The Committee may invite experts from other disciplines and sports as the need arises.

The FEI Headquarters have set up a specific Eventing safety database and compiled a comprehensive report of all the figures relating to falls on Cross Country at international events, which is available on the FEI website www.horsesport.org > Eventing > Safety (direct link http://www.horsesport.org/c/safety/safety.htm). The role of the FEI Safety Sub-Committee will be to analyse the figures, trigger specific investigations (i.e. specific combination of fences, analysis of riders or horses falling several times during a year, events with abnormal number of falls, etc.), and produce concrete recommendations. Ensuring that the strictest international safety requirements are applied to the national level will also be part of their mission.

The FEI wishes to emphasise that it takes the welfare of the horse very seriously and sees safety of both its animal and human athletes as its highest priority.

World-Leading Equine Research Center to Close in England; Watch the BBC News Report

Professor William "Twink" Allen of the Equine Fertility Unit of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) in Newmarket, England is a man whose time has come. While one would expect him to be revelling in the high-tech age of horse science at the height of his stellar career as a researcher, Professor Allen may be soon sending out his resume as he goes looking for a new job.

The BBC is reporting that the famed reproduction research unit in the British horseracing and breeding capital of Newmarket will close due to a shortfall in funding by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The TBA says that they will not fund the research center to the amount needed to keep it open as an arm of the new University of Nottingham veterinary college in England.

As reported previously in this blog, Professor Allen's ground-breaking research accomplishments have not been as celebrated at home in England as they have been in other parts of the world. The British government even banned horse cloning, a process that owes much of its success elsewhere to Allen's research at the Newmarket farm. Allen has pioneered new techniques in in vitro fertilization (IVF) for horses and also is a proponent of genetic modification to produce superior eventing and jumping horses.

One of the Unit's most publicized projects was a consulting project for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai, who breeds not only some of the world's fastest Thoroughbred racehorses but also the fastest racing camels. Sheikh Mohammed fretted that his fastest female camels were out of the races for a good part of their 13-month pregnancies. As it turned out, no scientific research had ever been done on camels, so the EFU was brought in to start some. Professor Allen applied embryo transfer technology from the horse world to the race camel world. Dubai is now home to the Camel Reproduction Centre, under a plan set up by Professor Allen. Coincidentally, the camels lost their child jockeys, who were replaced with robots.

Animal research and the ethics of reproduction are much more politicized in Britain than in the USA and other countries. The British animal advocacy group "Animal Aid" has given Professor Allen its "Mad Scientist" Award, and the Unit has been under constant criticism by animal research foes.

In an article in today's newspaper The Guardian (UK), news of Animal Aid's latest report on the Equine Fertility Unit is published. "A Dead Cert" charges that the EFU and the prestigious Animal Health Trust, also in Newmarket, have caused unnecessary suffering to horses in the name of science. It is not known if the Animal Aid report was timed to coincide with the TBA announcement, or vice versa, or if this is a strange coincidence.

Animal Aid is the organization that recently pulled off a publicity stunt on a national news program in England that implied that horsemeat was barbecued and served to racegoers at Cheltenham Racecourse, site of the accidental deaths of 11 National Hunt horses during the 2006 racemeet.

Professor Allen vows that he will euthanize the Unit's band of mares, who were bred and raised on the farm and have never been separated or moved from the setting.

Watch the BBC video news report here and check out the Guardian article, as well. It was only last week that this blog reported on the highest rate of success ever at the Badminton Horse Trials by mares, most of whom headed straight from the Cotswolds to centers like the EFU for immediate breeding and subsequent embryo transfer. Thoroughbred breeding in the UK, as in the USA and other countries, still requires live breeding and embryo transfer technology is not allowed.

FEI Update on Amy Tryon's Abuse Investigation at Rolex Kentucky

We have a new statement from the FEI this morning regarding their investigation into the way that the injury to Amy Tryon's horse Le Samurai was handled. The horse was euthanized a few days after the event. The FEI's public statement reads:

The FEI has now received the official reports and video footage regarding the case of alleged abuse involving rider Amy Tryon (USA) and horse Le Samurai which occurred on 28 April 2007 at CCI 4* Lexington. The FEI has notified Ms Tryon through the USEF of her right to be heard before a panel of the FEI Tribunal, which has been constituted to address the matter after it was referred to the Tribunal by the FEI Secretary General further to the applicable rules. Ms Tryon's response and that of the Tribunal panel will determine whether and when a hearing will be scheduled.

Pergolide Cleared for Equine Veterinary Use by FDA

This announcement just in from the FDA:

May 11, 2007

CVM Working to Address Concerns about Supplies of Pergolide for Horses

The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is aware that veterinarians and horse owners are concerned about the issuance of an FDA Public Health Advisory (PHA), www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/pergolide.htm, detailing the removal of pergolide products from the market. Pergolide, a drug used to manage the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in humans, is being removed from the market due to concerns about cardiac side effects.

CVM recognizes that veterinarians are prescribing pergolide for the treatment of Cushing’s Syndrome in horses. Veterinarians have been prescribing the drug under the provisions of the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act which allows veterinary practitioners to prescribe approved human drugs for “extralabel” use in animals.

FDA is working with the sponsors of the approved products and all other interested parties to ensure that pergolide remains available to treat Cushing’s Syndrome in horses until a new animal drug application is approved for that use. This includes trying to make the approved product available through veterinary distribution channels and exercising enforcement discretion as appropriate over the pharmacy compounding of pergolide. Bulk substance used for pharmacy compounding should be labeled for “animal use only.” All pharmacy compounding must be done under a valid veterinary prescription to treat an affected horse.

Although the sponsor has stopped marketing pergolide for human use, CVM will also work with sponsors who are interested in seeking approval of a new animal drug application for the use of pergolide to treat Cushing’s Syndrome in horses.

For more information, contact Christopher Melluso, DVM, at Christopher.Melluso@fda.hhs.gov or (240) 276-9065.

Pergolide Update: Crisis Makes the Evening News; Resource Blog Launched for Horse Owners Concerned about Drug Ban

Above: a horse shows common signs of Cushings disease, including the telltale long coat that does not shed. Horse owners report a rapid improvement of the appearance of horses when they receive pergolide as a medication for Cushings disease. Photo courtesy Dr. Christian Bingold and the hoofcare.com web site.

A proactive horse owner in Pennsylvania has pleaded her case for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) release of the Parkinson's disease drug "pergolide" for equine veterinary use by enlisting the power of the broadcast media. Horseowner Judy Amick and her veterinarian were interviewed for a story that ran on the 5:00 news yesterday on WJAC-TV6, the NBC affiliate in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Pergolide is widely used to medicate horses suffering with Cushings disease. Many people credit oral pergolide medication with controlling their horses' Cushings symptoms, especially the periodic low-grade laminitis that is a common side effect of the disease.

Recently, pergolide was removed from the US drug market by the FDA because of side effects experienced by human users.

Horse owners say that their horses have no side effects, and that the drug is actually keeping horses alive that would have to be euthanized without the drug.

Click on this link to watch a clip from the segment: http://www.wjactv.com/news/13288711/detail.html?rss=john&psp=news

The withdrawal of pergolide has been a call to arms for Pennsylvania veterinary expert and author Eleanor Kellon VMD. She is the resident medication expert on the 5000-member "Cushings list" discussion group on Yahoo.com. The discussion group helps support owners of horses with Cushings or insulin resistance problems.

To mobilize horse owners to take action in the pergolide situation, Kellon has launched a blog designed to give details on the drug's political battles, and to give owners resources for letterwriting and petitions.

Click on this link to go to the new blog: http://pergolideaction.blogspot.com/

"This site has been started to keep (people) current on the latest information in the fight to keep pergolide available for our horses," Kellon writes of the new blog. "There is at present no viable alternative to pergolide to control Cushing's Disease (PPID) or to stave off the debilitating, often painful and life-threatening side effects of this disease."

Kellon encourages horse owners to sign the "Save Pergolide" petition, and use the site's links to write to federal and state officials, elected representatives, equine veterinarian associations, state horse councils and groups.

UC Davis Researchers Use Horse Genome to Investigate HERDA Skin Disease in Quarter Horses

The elimination of a debilitating, degenerative skin disease in horses is now possible, thanks to the recent identification of a gene mutation and development of a new diagnostic test by researchers at the University of California, Davis.

Findings from the study on the genetic cause of hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia, or HERDA, which primarily affects the American Quarter Horse, were reported online May 8 in the scientific journal Genomics by veterinary geneticist Danika Bannasch and colleagues at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. A patent on the newly developed test is pending.

"Identification of the gene enabled us to develop a DNA screening test to help horse breeders avoid producing horses with this disease," Bannasch said. "Equally important, the test should prevent the unnecessary destruction of young horses that actually have less serious skin irregularities, which can be mistaken for the early stages of HERDA."

This research represents the first time a scan of the whole horse genome has been used to identify a novel disease gene in the horse.

HERDA causes skin along the saddle area of the horse's back to stretch and tear easily, making the horse unfit for riding. Researchers suspect that the disease may be related to a deficiency in the horse's wound healing process or a malfunction in its normal inflammatory response system. An earlier study of affected horses by the UC Davis group demonstrated that the disease cannot be definitively diagnosed by skin biopsy. Foals affected by the disease rarely show symptoms at birth, and most cases are not diagnosed until the horse is about two years old and being broke to ride.

Previous work by the UC Davis group showed that the disease has an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance and carriers show no signs of the disease. Breeders may never know that their horses are carriers of the disease because they usually sell their affected foals before the horses show symptoms. Since there is no available treatment, most horses diagnosed with the disease are euthanized because they cannot be ridden and are unsuitable for future breeding.

The UC Davis team members began their search for the mutation with the entire complement of horse genes, totaling about 25,000 genes. They were able to narrow the location to chromosome 1, the largest of the horse chromosomes, by identifying the section of the genome that was identical in horses affected by the disease. From there, they were able to zero in on a group of 20 genes in this region by comparing related regions in the genomes of humans, chimpanzees, mice, dogs and cows. The team performed a sequence analysis of those genes, and then identified the mutation.

Screening for this genetic mutation among the study's control group of unaffected horses suggests that 3.5 percent of American Quarter horses are carriers. Although carriers do not develop symptoms, they can produce affected foals if bred to other carriers.

Funding for the research was provided by the American Quarter Horse Foundation and the Center for Equine Health at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Mares Win Top Places at Badminton--Embryo Transfer Next

Congratulations to Australian rider Lucinda Fredericks, who has won the 2007 Badminton Horse Trials with her mare Headley Britannica. The pair also won the grueling Burghley event in the fall of 2006, and Lucinda's husband, Clayton, won the Rolex (Kentucky) Three Day Event in the USA last week. Lucinda led throughout the event, and basically won on her dressage score.

"Brit" is the first mare to win Badminton since Bambi in 1954.

Sadly (for us), American rider Kim Severson incurred a few faults in show jumping today and slipped to third place. German rider Andreas Dibowski and the mare FRH Serve Well, fourth after a clear round cross-country, had a clear round in show jumping and moved up to second place to produce another unique Badminton result – never before have mares taken the one-two. Serve Well is the daughter of Hanoverian sire Sherlock Holmes.

Once Headley Britannica cools down, she's off to the ET station. She'll be bred and the embryo will be flushed and implanted in a surrogate mare so Brit can stay in training. This will be her first foal.

British eventing star The Wexford Lady has six foals on the ground, thanks to ET technology.

Phoebe Buckley's 15-hand mare Little Tiger has a foal by Catherston Liberator due in July, from a surrogate mare. She also will be bred next week, this time to the eventing stallion Mill Law. Phoebe fell on cross-country but remounted and finished.

Harald Ambros, who was the first rider ever to represent Austria at Badminton, rode the Irish-bred mare, Miss Ferrari.

Six mares made it through Badminton this year; nine started.

To learn more about Badminton Horse Trails, visit the EquiSearch.com Badminton 2006 slide show by Fran Jurga.

Archival photo of trot-up preparations in the Badminton stable area provided by Badminton Horse Trials. It looks like a still from an old movie that would have to star Cary Grant. Still, things haven't changed much in 50 or so years.

World's Oldest Twin Horses?

The BBC web site in Great Britain has created a little slide show about what is believed to be the world's oldest surviving pair of twin horses. The pair are currently in the care of the Veteran Horse Society (VHS) in Wales, at their farm by the sea.

The VHS is a wonderful organization that not only serves in a rescue/retirement/welfare capacity but also has a strong educational and promotional mission, encouraging the continued use and fitness of older horses. Prizes are given to aged horses competing in shows and in public view.

Two Horses Dead After XC at Badminton

Sadly, two horses have died during cross-country day at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, England.

The first, Skwal, ridden by Andrew Downes (GBR) jumped the course and finished. He collapsed after leaving the main arena with a probable heart attack.

The second horse, Icare D’Auzay, ridden by the experienced French rider Jean-Lou Bigot, had a freak accident. The horse broke a flag which severed an artery. Despite emergency treatment on course and transport to a veterinary hospital, he could not be saved.

Contrary to anxiety before the cross-country about the ground, the great effort put in by the Badminton management produced an excellent track with 43 completions and 33 clear rounds, of which 18 were within the time.

Australia's Lucinda Fredericks on the mare Headley Britannica remains in the lead, one point ahead of American Kim Severson and Winsome Adante. Three German riders fill the next three places.

The papparazzi have left the Cotswolds: Zara Phillips did decide to withdraw Toytown this morning. Several other horses did not go forward.

One of my equestrian journalist heroes, Simon Barnes, wrote about the agony of Zara's decision in London's The Times:

"I’d be damned if I’d gallop a horse of mine round there, even if they let me off jumping those frightful fences. It was hard as the hob of hell, hasn’t rained within living memory, and if you gallop a horse too far and too hard on hard ground, you are going to get injuries."

Zara Phillips missed a chance to qualify for the Olympics in 2004 because Toytown was laid up for a year with a soft tissue injury.

Read Simon's full article (commentary, really) here.

Photo of Nicola Wilson on course by Kit Houghton, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors

Barbaro Documentary Re-Scheduled (again)

First it was hockey. Tonight it was poker. They pre-empted the Barbaro documentary for TV poker?

NBC Sports is now saying that the one-hour Barbaro documentary (which was scheduled to air tonight) will be telecast tomorrow (Saturday, May 5th) night at 8 p.m. ET.

ESPN and ESPN2 will have practically a full day of racing speculation and coverage tomorrow (Saturday), beginning at 5:30 a.m. with a break from 9 a.m. to noon. Their afternoon broadcast from Churchill Downs will then yield to NBC at 5 p.m. for the coverage of the Derby itself.

Injured Event Horse Le Samurai Is Dead

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY--Amy Tryon's Rolex (Kentucky) Three-Day Event mount Le Samurai has been humanely euthanized at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. The horse stumbled or was somehow injured at the final fence on cross-country at Rolex last Saturday. The FEI Tribunal is investigating Tryon's handling of the situation to see if abuse occurred.

On her web site today, Amy Tryon wrote, "I am heartbroken at the passing of Le Samurai. Sparky was a wonderful horse and a gallant partner who meant the world to me. His loss has left me indescribably sad. I want to join the Broussards in thanking the veterinarians who tried so hard to save him."

The horse did cross the finish line, where he was immediately seen by the veterinary team and transferred to the nearby veterinary hospital. Descriptions of his injuries suggest major damage to the gelding's suspensory ligament and or network of ligaments in the lower leg. No statement has been made on the exact diagnosis. One report in a newspaper said that an "elevator shoe" had been applied to his foot; this would probably be some sort of a patten bar shoe.

Statement from the Broussard Family, Owners of Le Samurai

"It is with tremendous sadness that we announce that Le Samurai has been humanely euthanized. From the outset we have been determined to give this magnificent horse the best veterinary treatment available, but only so long as the continuation of that treatment remained consistent with Sparky's best interests. Regrettably, the veterinarians treating him have advised us that a successful outcome is not possible.

"Sparky will be greatly missed by our family, Amy Tryon and everyone who knew and loved him. We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. (Robert) Hunt and the veterinary staff at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for their tireless dedication to Sparky's well-being. We also wish to thank the eventing community around the country for all the kindness and good wishes that have been extended to us and to Sparky.

--Jerome and Rebecca Broussard

An edited telecast of highlights from the event will be on NBC Sports at 5 pm (eastern time) on Sunday, May 6.

Broussard statement courtesy of USEF. Photo by Michelle C. Dunn courtesy of Rolex.

Badminton Cross-Country Footing Will Be Safe, Course Designer Says

Zara Phillips, above, has decided to remain in contention at the Badminton Horse Trials. The weather in Britain this spring has been exceptionally hot and dry, apparently, and the normally forgiving footing on tomorrow's cross-country course is very hard. Zara hopes to qualify for the British eventing team for the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong...but not at the expense of her horse, Toytown. Photo by Kit Houghton, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors and Badminton Horse Trials.

From the world-famous Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, England:

Over the last two days concerns about the condition of the ground and firmness of the going have caused riders to worry about the possible effects on their horses.

“We could not begin to do the remedial work until we were sure it was not going to rain and we have started this morning,” said Director and Course Designer Hugh Thomas yesterday. “It won’t be perfect but I think we will produce ground that is acceptable.”

While the team of groundsmen have been working on the course they are presently setting to work to make the conditions the best they can.

“There was a riders meeting at lunchtime and they requested that every part of the course was treated and the management is happy to implement their requests,” said Press Officer Julian Seaman. "Every part of the rideable course – where any horse might go, is currently being treated and the team of groundsmen will work though the night if that is what it takes. Riders will be walking the course late tonight and early tomorrow morning. The riders at this evening’s press conference were very positive about their intentions to run their horses tomorrow.”

Blogger's note: Leading rider William Fox-Pitt withdrew his horse from competition because he feared that the hard ground would be detrimental to his horse's soundness or that he might risk injury. Many of the riders entered in order to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong. However, too-hard or too-soft footing means that the risk of injury is increased, so riders were forced to make a choice between qualifying and possibly shortening their horses' careers.

The Asphalt Jungle, a.k.a. Badminton Horse Trials

Photo: The Queen may be headed to Kentucky but her grand-daughter, Zara Phillips, is on top of the world at home as she trots up her horse for the vets on Wednesday. She will ride dressage tomorrow; this is her first attempt at the Badminton Horse Trials in abnormally-sunny Gloucestershire, England. Many thanks for the photo to our friend Kit Houghton, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors.

Things were a little tense in England today at the world-famous Badminton Horse Trials. It was the first day of dressage, and lovely Headley Brittanica, ridden by Australia's Lucinda Fredericks, is in the lead.

(Lucinda's husband, Clayton, won the Rolex Three Day Event in Kentucky a few days ago, and will compete at Badminton as well.)

As usual, the riders are staring with concern at the ground. For once, it's not underwater. The audience is not clad in Barbour splendor. The sun is beating down, the crowd is mysterious behind the latest sunglass fashions...and the cross-country course is hard as a rock.

It remains to be seen what will transpire on Saturday; there is still a full day of dressage tomorrow, including the anticipated great ride by American Kim Severson and her Winsome Adante.

Apparently the forecast is for more warm, dry weather. As a result, William Fox-Pitt has withdrawn his horse, and the rumor is that reigning World and European champion Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and US coach Mark Phillips, may withdraw as well. That would send half the media corps--and all the papparazzi--back to London.

Tradition Continues at Badminton Horse Trials in England

What, no wellies? Badminton House is not dripping, the audience that showed up Wednesday to watch the trotup was in shirt sleeves, and riders are obsessing about the dry, hard footing for Saturday's cross-country. All in a day's eventing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the fairytale Cotswolds village of Badminton in Gloucestershire, west of London. In this photo, Rolex Kentucky champion Clayton Fredericks of Australia trots up WP in Limbo for the vets on Wednesday. Thanks to Kit Houghton and Mitsubishi Motors for this classic photo.

This report comes directly from the event office:

The quest for the 2007 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton trophy began this afternoon with the first horse inspection held in front of Badminton House.

Riders presented 77 horses in front of the ground jury of Christoph Hess (GER), Barry Rycroft (AUS) and Jane Tolley (GBR). All the horses passed and now go forward to dressage on Thursday and Friday.

Sixty nine riders representing 12 countries are vying for the £55,000 (over $100,000US) first prize. Twelve riders have two horses entered including British riders Daisy Dick, Mary King, Ruth Edge, Oliver Townend, Harry Meade, Sarah Cohen and British first-timer Dominic Ruane.

Among the entries, 21 riders are making their Badminton debut including reigning World and European Champion and local rider Zara Phillips; American team member Kim Severson, who has won the Kentucky Rolex four-star event three times and brings the British-bred Winsome Adante; 2006 Luhmuhlen winner and German team members Frank Ostholt and Air Jordan and former European Champion Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago De L’ile.

Reigning 2006 Badminton champion Andrew Hoy will be unable to defend his title because of his horses' health problems (see related story). The competition at the top is lightened with 2005 and 2003 winner Pippa Funnell missing, as well as 2004 winner William Fox-Pitt, who withdrew Balincoola prior to the horse inspection today. A new name could be engraved on the silver trophy on Monday morning.

As the Meteorological Office is forecasting high temperatures and cloudless skies for the duration of the event, work is continuing on preparing the ground conditions on the course. Five hundred tons of top soil are currently being spread around the course; take-offs and landings are being watered and parts of the course are being aerated with the equi-vator.

A New Fly Mask for the Little Guys

Everyone loves spring because the bugs aren't such a problem, but it won't be long now. Start planning how you will help your horses survive the hordes of black flies, midges, greenheads, and mosquitoes this summer, because the tack shops and catalogers' warehouses are all stocked up...and the shelves will be bare when the bug season hits hardest. It's like buying a bathing suit or a winter coat: the best time to buy one is when that item isn't yet needed.

Miniature horse owners are always complaining about the fly mask shortage for their horses' head sizes. Believe it or not, mini heads are not shaped like horse foal heads and the foal size fly masks don't fit right on a lot of minis. Farnam has just announced two new sizes of their Supermask for miniature horses; it's the official fly mask of the American Miniature Horse Registry.

So you can get those minis out of the air-conditioned family room and out into a field this summer!

Statement from the US Equestrian Federation on the Injury to Le Samurai at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

(Lexington, KY) – The injury to Le Samurai, ridden by Amy Tryon, sustained at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on April 28th is under review by the FEI. They will obtain a statement from the Ground Jury at the competition and from the Appeal Committee, and conduct a hearing which will include a review of the tape of the incident. A judgment will then be made in the case. The USEF will honor that decision, abide by it and enforce it. A schedule for this hearing and judgment has not yet been set.

Amy Tryon is devastated by this tragic injury to her partner. She has been an outstanding representative of the United States, both on and off the field, winning medals in many international competitions including the Olympic Games and The FEI World Equestrian Games. Amy is respected worldwide as a kind and generous horse woman who gives back to the sport, and an athlete of great character and principle. The USEF is prepared to guide her through the hearing process.

Le Samurai continues to rest comfortably at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky.

(Text is from a press release received 2 May 2007 from USEF)

FEI Investigates Possible Abuse to Horse Injured on Cross-Country at Rolex Three-Day Event

On Saturday, I posted on this blog about Amy Tryon's horse Le Samurai being injured at the last fence of the Rolex cross-country course at the Kentucky Horse Park. The horse continued and crossed the finish line, where he was immediately examined by veterinarians and transported to the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute nearby.

While no real diagnosis has been disclosed, it sounds like the horse may have ruptured his suspensory ligament or somehow disrupted the suspensory apparatus. The injury is not life-threatening.

Yesterday the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI), which is the governing body of world horse sports, announced that they had launched an investigation into possible horse abuse in this incident.

Here's the official statement from the FEI:

The FEI was notified of an alleged case of abuse which occurred during the CCI 4* Lexington, Kentucky USA on Saturday 28 April involving competitor Amy Tyron (USA) and Le Samurai.

The preliminary investigation was conducted according to the regulations, whereby the Ground Jury met on Saturday 28 April following the cross country to investigate an incident of alleged abuse before fence 34. The Ground Jury collected written statements from the Fence Judges and Sector Steward and reviewed the video as well as interviewing the FEI Veterinary Delegate, Dr. Catherine Kohn. The rider, Amy Tyron, was interviewed on Sunday immediately after the Sunday morning horse inspection and gave her account of the incident. Following the interview, the Ground Jury referred the matter to the Appeal Committee. The Appeal Committee, in full possession of all the written statements and video recording, took the following decision:

According to article 164.4.5 of the FEI General Regulations: “In serious cases, immediate disqualification with one or more horses from a competition or from the whole event with a referral to the Secretary General (for referral to the Judicial Committee)."

Once the FEI has collected all reports and evidence, the case will be submitted to the Tribunal (the former Judicial Committee) and all the relevant evidence will be reviewed prior to any decision being made.

The FEI takes these matters very seriously and endeavours to ensure that the welfare of the horse is a priority.

(end of statement)

I will keep you posted on this one. Amy Tryon was Bronze Medalist for the USA at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Researcher Warns of Obesity Risks in Horses

Why are our horses so fat these days? Researchers at several veterinary colleges and equine science centers around the country are turning their attention to what can be done to both slim down our overweight horses and figure out how they get that way in the first place.

Philip Johnson BVSc, MS, MRCVS, professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, has been studying obesity in horses for several years, and is particularly concerned with links between obesity and the risk of laminitis.

Part of the problem, Johnson feels, is genetically-altered feed. Grasses and hays available on the market are meant for food animals such as cows, genetically enhanced to promote quick weight gain.

"When you’re feeding cattle, you want them to grow heavy fast," Johnson said. "But the cattle have a shorter life span. When horses get the same kinds of grass and hay, the effects of obesity are long-term health issues."

According to Johnson, the genetics of horses, like many species,allows for the extra storing of fat in preparation for winter,when there is typically less food available. In nature, horses would eat less in the winter and lose the weight by spring. Under human care, horses are fed generously year round and never lose the extra weight.

Read a complete article on Dr. Johnson's views on laminitis and obesity posted on the University's web site.