Water, water, everywhere? Not at Saratoga!

New environmental laws in New York state are mandating changes in the way that horses are bathed--at public facilities, anyway. Until recently, horses at racetracks were bathed and had their legs hosed for a good part of each morning. The resulting runoff made the backside of the flat track look like the land of 10,000 puddles.

And when a car went by, your designer shoes just might get splashed, to say nothing of your fabulous hat. (Mine would be splashed too if I wore designer shoes or fabulous hats. Maybe next year.)

The puddles were a nuisance but hoses and horses are synonymous at the racetrack and the same was true across the street at the harness track and probably down at the polo stables too.

The Saratogian has a story about how puddle-free the backstretch will become in the next few years, thanks to a new law in New York that requires limitations on agricultural runoff water. Twelve new washracks at the harness track and six new racks at the flat track will test a new surface called Flexi-Pave, which is a porous "paver" surface that acts like a big sponge and sends water down into a drainage bed beneath the surface instead of letting it puddle on the surface.

If the racks live up to their billing and the horsemen approve, more racks will be installed next year.

Flexi-Pave sounds like it is a distant cousin to Polytrack. The manufacturer grinds up old car tires and pounds the pulp into paving; it takes about eight tires to make a square foot of wash rack surface, or 768 tires for each 12x8 pad, if I did the math correctly.

So far, I haven't been able to find the new wash racks; everyone is creating puddles as per usual at most of the barns. I will take some photos and add them to this post as soon as I find them!

If trainers continue to be enamored with the "hot" new cold therapy products like Game Ready and the MacKinnon Ice Boot, Saratoga may become a hose-free zone and need some agricultural laws about dust control in a few years.

Morgans Re-Invade New England...And Ask Questions about Laminitis and Metabolic Problems

The Morgans are leaving today.

For the past week, the horse population of Massachusetts has been swollen by the influx of about 1,100 Morgans who set up camp in lovely Northampton, Massachusetts for the 68th Annual New England Morgan Horse Show. Only the Grand National show in Oklahoma, the season-end championship, draws more Morgan horses.

While the Morgan breed was founded only a few miles from the show site, in the form of Mr. Justin Morgan's single exemplary horse named Figure, the breed is now spread out all over the country. There were cars and horse vans from every state, it seemed.

Morgans and Morgan crosses still dominate the local pleasure horses around here, but they do seem to be losing ground, and there's a reason why.

Tuesday night, I'll be hosting an educational event in Saratoga Springs, New York, not far from Northampton. Too bad some of the Morgan breeders can't stay for another few days and attend.

The speaker will be Dr. Donald Walsh, head of the Animal Health Foundation in St Louis, Missouri. He will talk about research into laminitis and in particular Cushings disease and insulin resistance problems (sometimes lumped under Equine Metabolic Syndrome) and the sort of low-grade but insidious laminitis that results from endocrine problems in middle-aged to older horses.

I will set my watch and wait for the first person in the audience to stand up and say, "Dr. Walsh, I've got this Morgan..."

For some reason, Morgans seem disproportionately affected by the endocrine model of laminitis. The Morgan world, around here anyway, seems divided into diehard show people and stayhome recreational owners, and yet both camps are affected, since the show people have older horses in their breeding program.

Many Morgans are affected by the metabolic symptoms by the time they are ten. Many others are not affected at all. It is so sad to see horses with cresty necks and fat deposits in odd places when they are in the prime of their years.

In my memory, we rode Morgans in their 20s. They are tough but kind horses who become like family members, and owners go the extra mile to care for them. A lot of them use the medication called pergolide and go to great lengths to analyze hay and pasture and grain, hoping to find the right prevention formula.

I don't know why the Morgan breed seems so disproportionately affected by this syndrome, and it seems to affect a good number of them no matter where in the country they live or what type of pasture they are on.

Maybe Dr Walsh will have some answers. I know there have been some studies on hereditary factors for this problem in pony breeds. I'd like to see some done in Morgans, just because I like these horses and I think they are great family horses. But if people start avoiding them because the last one or two or three they had suffered from metabolic problems and laminitis, the families will miss out on a great versatile horse that is also usually an easykeeper and has a pleasing personality.

The Animal Health Foundation has a terrific web site on laminitis. Much of their research is conducted by Dr Chris Pollitt at the Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit at the University of Queensland. My guess is that there aren't too many (if any) Morgans in Australia and the good doctors there have no idea how many nice horses here in New England will benefit from their research, once they figure out what precipitates this syndrome.

Maybe next year when the Morgans and their people come back to Northampton, we'll have some good news for them and the lovely horses that they left at home.

Good News from Vienna: Spanish Riding School Stables Are Open Again

Perhaps you read the article I wrote in the June issue of EQUUS about the outbreak of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) at the Spanish Riding School stables and farm in Austria.

I learned today that the quarantine has ended. Most of the stallions are on summer vacation but there are seven in residence in Vienna if you are in the neighborhood and would like to stop by. You can also visit the hallowed temple of dressagedom, the Winter Riding School, which was built in the early 18th century.

Welcome back to the Lipizzaners! They won't get too comfortable, though; this fall they will visit Holland, France and Belgium for special performances. They are planning a tour of western USA cities in the fall of 2008. They visited eastern and central US cities in 2005 and EquiSearch.com hosted their tour blog.

Only at the Tevis Cup...

I was looking over the advice to this year's Tevis Cup entrants about conditioning for the ride (which begins--and ends--today).

As if meeting a mountain lion on the trail (see previous post) wasn't enough to worry about:

When you enter, purchasing helicopter medical transport is an option. A recommended option.

Among the advice to riders is that they practice riding at night, since the ride basically begins in the dark and many stragglers are still on the trail after the darkness falls that night.

A little known fact about the Tevis Cup is that it is scheduled each year to coincide with the "riding moon" in mid-summer. Organizers warn, however, that moonlight can't penetrate the forest canopy and much of the ride is through thick forest.

They contend that the darkness won't be an issue for the horses, but it is often an issue for the riders, who need to practice letting their horses decide where the trail is (and where it isn't). They advise: "Your horse doesn't want to fall of a steep trail either, and he can see better than you can at night. You must allow him to determine the direction to go or run the risk of steering him over a cliff, with possibly deadly consequences."

My favorite tip is to tape glow-bars onto the horse's breastplate (you need a breastplate to keep the saddle from slipping when you do some of the steep verticals on the trail). I've never tried this trick but "they" say that it will shed enough light for you to see the trail.

Another tip? Extra long reins so if you are "tailing" your horse up a canyon (dismounting and hanging onto the tail as the horse climbs), you can still control the horse.

Little known fact: the trail can be so dusty (if you're not in the lead) that many riders wear goggles and masks.

Visit http://www.foothill.net/tevis/ to learn about this uniquely American endurance test. The site has interactive maps to follow the progress of riders.

And then take your own horse out on the trail. Pretend it's pitch dark out and there's a mountain lion on the trail ahead of you...

Tevis Cup: Mountain Lions? No Problem!

It happens every July, and I'm still in awe.

It's time to turn all eyes toward California. And up to the clouds. This weekend is the world-famous Tevis Cup, also known as the "100 Mile One Day Trail Ride". This challenging ride starts near Lake Tahoe, passes through the mountains, and ends up at a fairground in Auburn, California. Horses and riders climb 18,000 feet and descend 23,000 over the 100 miles.

According to the Auburn Journal, last year's winner, Virginia farrier John Crandall, ran the race on his Arabian, Heraldic, in 15 hours and 8 minutes. Crandall also won the Haggin Cup for the best conditioned horse. And he's coming back this year to try to do it again!

750: that's how many volunteers it takes to make this ride happen.

The Tevis has a fantastic, info-filled web site, with an interactive map so you can follow your favorite rider's progress up and down the trail.

Here's a tidbit of advice I saw on the web site, in the log of the trailkeepers:

"While marking trail from Foresthill to Francisco's on Saturday 7/21, myself and another rider encountered two mountain lions 3.9 mi South of Mosquito Ridge Road. They were about 60 ft from us walking up the single track trail, went around the bend and disappeared silently. We respected their space and they did not startle the horses. We are fortunate to have these majestic animals around and people should be mindful that we are crossing their territory."

How many horse events would consider meeting a mountain lion to be such a matter-of-fact occurrence?

Interesting fact: The Tevis rules require horses to be shod or else wear protective boots.

There will be 17 veterinarians at 10 locations on the trail.

Something you may not know about this ride of all rides: there's no prize money. Not a dime. The winner gets a belt buckle. And the thrill of a lifetime.

The way this event is organized and the horsemanship needed to condition a horse for it are remarkable and under-publicized in the mainstream horse world. I'll be looking to the West this weekend and riding along, on the web. It may be as close as I ever come.

Still not convinced? Here's a link to a good article from the San Francisco Chronicle about the race. It's a few years old, but it really captures some of the unique aspects of the event.

British Three-Day Events Will Sport Safety Flags on XC Courses After French Horse's Death at Badminton

Details were sketchy but even they were gruesome: A three-day event horse at the Badminton Horse Trials in England in May somehow bumped into one of the flags marking the course and was stabbed in the chest by the pole. His injury was so severe he had to be euthanized.

To make sure that that never happens again, on August 20th 2007, British Eventing will introduce new regulations for the type of red and white jump flags and poles used to indicate direction on cross country fences. In order to reduce the risk of injury to horse or rider all flags and flagpoles on certain fence types must meet four criteria based on construction, material, design, and how the flags are secured to the fence.

While these rules currently only apply in Great Britian, event organizers around the world are surely looking closely at their XC equipment.

The types of fence required to use safety flags at UK events include:

- Corners;
- fences less than 3 meters jumpable wide;
- related fences which because of their design offer a jumpable line of less that 3 meters wide;
- fences where horse might jump close to a flag;
- fences jumped on an angle where knocking a flag is a possibility.

The flags and poles on these fences from 20th August must fit the following criteria:

- the flag poles must be made of a material that cannot shatter, break or splinter, such as suitable plastic or carbon fiber or any other appropriate materials;
- there must be no points anywhere on the flag poles and any sharp corners and/or edges on the flags must be rounded;
- there must be no ‘open ends’ of any part of the flag poles which may come into contact with horse or rider;
- flags must be secured in such a way that they ‘break away’ and/or move away from the fence if/when struck by either horse or rider in such a way that the chance of horse and/or rider being injured is significantly reduced.

All flags and flagpoles to be used in these situations will need to be approved by the BE Field Staff.

BE Sport Director Mike Etherington-Smith commented; “Safety of horse and rider is the number one priority in our sport and any steps which can be taken to further improve it will be taken. This rule is a safety measure to avoid potential accidents and it is hoped that all organisers will understand the importance of introducing such flags as soon as possible.”

Information for this post supplied by British Eventing. Photo of "The Lake" courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors and Kit Houghton.

"Little Big Man" Makes a Big Comeback at Pan Am Games; Show Jumper Goes Clear in First Day of Show Jumping In Spite of Health Issue

First, the bad news: the USA is sitting in fourth place in the show jumping at the Pan Am Games, behind Canada, Brazil and Mexico, respectively.

Now, the good news: The USA's Little Big Man bounced back from colic symptoms and contributetd a clear round in today's event! Here's the official report from USEF editor Brian Sosby, who is on the ground in Rio:

"...The third member of Team USA to tackle the course was New Jersey’s Laura Chapot and her 13-year-old KWPN Dutch Warmblood, Little Big Man. The gelding, which has had several tough days due to a displaced colon, bounced back and turned in a clean round, though there was a split second where it seemed that fence 12 might say otherwise.

"Some quick thinking and control on the rider’s part helped prevent it, which is another wonder considering she has been up with her mount for the past three days.

“'I’m just amazed at my horse…he had a displaced colon,' she said. 'Somehow, it got back where it belonged. We were up through the night. But [before the competition], the vets said it was OK, and everything was in order. George [Morris, chef d’equipe] said, ‘Give it a shot,’ and despite my horse being tired…he put in an amazing performance'.”

"The clean-and-clear round, on a time of 82.41 seconds, sits Chapot and Little Big Man in sixth place overall on a computed score of 1.38.

"The horse has been totally cleared by the veterinarians to compete – an issue that was of the utmost importance to the vets, the team and the rider. Chapot made it clear that under no circumstance would she compete otherwise.

“'I made it very clear this morning that in no way was I going to take my horse [into the ring] if there were any possible repercussions,'” she said."

Thanks to Brian Sosby and USEF for the report!

Arizona Horse Dies When Pen Splits Open Beneath Him in Storm: Watch the Tragic Video

Please read this tragic story from Mesa, Arizona, where a summer storm wreaked havoc on Sunday. The ground literally opened up and tried to swallow an 13-year-old Quarter horse named Cash, who soon found himself at the bottom of a sinkhole in his pen. In spite of valiant rescue efforts, the horse died.

A brief video posted on the Arizona Republic web site gives you an idea of the depth of this hole and the horse's predicament.

Banned Down Under? Come to America!

New Zealand's top Thoroughbred, Don't Ya Lovett, retired from racing recently. He didn't want to. His trainers didn't want him to. And his owners didn't want to him. But it's The Law.

In Australia and New Zealand, any horse that "bleeds" (exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage) more than once is banned from racing. And they have never even heard of Lasix.

Before the horse's running shoes could be yanked off, the trainer received a long-distance call--couldn't the horse be shipped to America to run here?

I guess that's why you never hear of any US horses heading Down Under to run in the Melbourne Cup.

Read this story in its entirety at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10453165

Potomac Horse Fever in Saratoga? Vet Clinic Warns Local Horse Community

I've just returned from Saratoga Springs, New York, where several people mentioned to me that there is or was an outbreak of Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)in the region. This was news to stop me in my tracks.

At one farm that I visited in Ballston Spa, I was told that one of the horses there had recovered from PHF-like symptoms.

An announcement from Saratoga Equine Clinic has been posted to help put horse owners in upstate New York both on the alert and at ease. There does seem to be a problem with sick horses in the area, and the horses need medical attention, but it might be less severe than the horrors of true Potomac Horse Fever.

Any illness is disturbing and this one comes at a time when horses are at their most mobile. The Northway was lined with horse vans bringing horses to the racetrack at Saratoga after Belmont Park's closing on Monday. Polo activity is accelerating. The County Fair was in full swing in Ballston Spa, with horses coming and going daily. And horse owners were out enjoying their horses on a perfect summer weekend.

Saratoga Equine reports that so far, no horses to their knowledge have died from the unknown illness. They remarked in their announcement, "Although the prevailing clinical signs are very typical of PHF (Potomac Horse Fever), diagnostic testing to confirm a PHF infection has been unrewarding."

The vets there are crediting vaccination with helping many horses in the area: "Although the efficacy of PHF vaccines in preventing clinical disease is very controversial, our clinical observation is that vaccinated horses have a better chance surviving the disease. Therefore, non-PHF-vaccinated horses should receive immunization."

Principle symptoms of PHF are general lethargy and fever, sometimes accompanied by colic-like symptoms, diarrhea and other alarming medical signs that may look like other diseases. If left untreated,the disease may escalate into a true medical emergency. Many severe cases have included disastrous laminitis as a side effect.

In Texas, three cases of Potomac Horse Fever, which is not a regulatory disease, have been confirmed in Kerr County by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Potomac Horse Fever is not typically found in Texas, but the recent flooding there is being blamed for the cases.

Horses with PHF usually live near rivers, streams, ponds or canals. The infection involves tiny flukes that are parasites of water snails. The flukes hatch their offspring into the water, and these are then picked up by aquatic insects that molt into flying insects, including caddis flies and mayflies.

Horses can become exposed to Potomac Horse Fever when they eat or drink anything contaminated with the insects.

I'll keep you posted on this story; thanks to Saratoga Equine Clinic for keeping the horse world informed.

Pony Perfection on XC Course at the Pan Am Games; Mara Dean Pulls Up Nicki Henley

Veteran US rider Karen O'Connor of The Plains, Virginia is in the lead after the cross-country (second-day) of eventing at the Pan Am Games in Brazil. She is riding Theodore O’Connor , owned by the Theodore O’Connor Syndicate). Her mount is a 12-year-old Thoroughbred/Arabian/Shetland cross--and technically a pony by definition, since he measures up to just 14.1 hands.

Elsewhere in the news, the first place rider going into today's XC retired on course. Dressage leader Mara Dean, riding for the USA, told USEF that her horse, Nicki Henley, wasn’t quite right between fences 22 and 23. She made the decision to pull him up immediately.

According to U.S. Chef d’Equipe Captain Mark Phillips' remarks to USEF, Nicki Henley walked back to the stable where he was met by a team veterinarian who did confirm that he sustained an injury to his left front leg, but it is thought he will be fit to fly home on Monday with the rest of the team.

Read lots more and check the standings at http://www.usef.org/panams/viewprSL.aspx?id=2287

Thanks to USEF and Joanie Morris for sending home the news.

Otterbein College Plans New Equine Center Thanks to a Student's Family's Gift

Ohio's Otterbein College has authorized the construction of a new academic equine science facility on 111 acres in Westerville, Ohio. To be named the Patrick and Jill McCuan Center for Equine Science, the facility will be approximately two miles from the main campus. Construction for the nearly $4 million project, to be funded totally through private contributions, is intended to replace the buildings and pastures leased for many years in Galena, Ohio, which is five miles north of Westerville.

Features of the new center include a main structure with classrooms, stalls for 50 horses, an outdoor arena, paddocks and riding trail.

The expanded facility will allow the already-established equine science department to double its enrollment over the next ten years. Currently about 75 students major in equine studies at the college, which is near Columbus, Ohio.

Otterbein has one of the most active equestrian team sport offerings with IHSA, dressage and eventing teams representing the school. The school also has a therapeutic riding program and offers Bachelor degree programs in equine business and facilities management, pre-veterinary studies, equine health technology (RVT program) and an equine studies minor.

The college's lead gift of $1.5 million came from The McCuan Family Trust.

Patrick (Pat) and Jill McCuan own and operate a 118-acre horse farm and riding facility of their own in Maryland called Sunset Hill Farm. In September, their daughter, Megan, will enter her senior year as a equine administration major at Otterbein.

Amy Tryon Found Guilty of Abuse in Le Samurai Case But...Not Too Guilty

Here is the announcement received today at 3:06 p.m.:

The Tribunal of the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) has taken its decision in the case of alleged horse abuse committed by Mrs. Amy Tryon on her horse Le Samurai while participating in the cross-country phase of the 2007 Rolex Lexington Kentucky 4-Star Event on 28 April 2007.

The case involved the riding of an apparently lame horse in the final moments of the course, and the state of the horse when the last fence was jumped. A hearing was held in this matter on 25 June 2007, at which the parties presented a substantial volume of evidence including testimony from a number of very experienced members of the international eventing community.

The dilemma which the Tribunal had to resolve was a very difficult one. The main issues to be decided were (a) whether the competitor committed an “abuse” as this term is defined under the applicable rules (see note to the editor) and, if an abuse was committed, (b) whether it was an intentional act or an unfortunate omission to take action and stop the horse, as signals of discomfort were not correctly perceived by the competitor.

The Tribunal came to the conclusion that the competitor's behaviour at the end of the cross-country phase of the event objectively constitutes abuse according to the requirements of the applicable FEI regulation. The competitor acted, by continuing to ride after the horse was objectively lame and injured. Conversely the competitor omitted to act, by failing to pull up the horse when she could have. This caused or was likely to cause pain or discomfort to the horse.

The Tribunal expresses its opinion that “abuse of horses constitutes an offence that violates the most fundamental rules of the equestrian sport and is, as such, highly reprehensible from a moral point of view”. The Tribunal determined that, had “the competitor intended to ride a lame or injured horse, a suspension for life would not have been an inappropriate or a too severe penalty”.

The Tribunal’s decision indicates, however, that it determined in this case that there was a “significant disconnect between what Amy Tryon felt and what was actually occurring.” While Amy Tryon was negligent in not stopping the horse, the Tribunal determined that she did not understand that the horse had been injured until just as she pulled him up. The decision states that “[t]he Tribunal believes that in the state the competitor was in – tired, focused on completing the course and without the benefit of video and ability to observe matters or analyze them logically - she did not realize that the injury had occurred, and thus never intended to continue on course with a lame or injured horse. The Tribunal believes that the competitor clearly realized that the Horse took quite a number of uneven strides, but could not determine their cause or likely severity. The Tribunal believes that the competitor should have nevertheless stopped earlier to understand the severity of the lameness.”

The determination that there was no premeditation and no actual awareness by the competitor that she was riding a lame or injured horse is taken into account in imposing sanctions on the competitor.

After careful examination of the parties’ submissions and evidence, the Tribunal confirms the disqualification of horse and the competitor from the above-mentioned event and imposes the following sanctions on the competitor:
- suspension from competition for a period of two months (to commence immediately and without further notice at the end of the 30-day appeal deadline, or sooner if the right of appeal is waived);
- a fine of CHF 1,000;
- a cost contribution of CHF 1,500 towards the legal costs of the judicial procedure.

The Tribunal decision states that Mr. David O’Connor, President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Member of the FEI Eventing Committee and Chairman of the FEI Eventing Safety Committee, phrased the dilemma and the conclusion well in remarking: “Premeditated abuse is an action that should, and needs to be dealt with in the most severe actions that we as a sport can take by our judiciary side. Similar cases to this [the present case] are much harder to judge and I feel should be dealt with on a whole different level. Should this be taken seriously – yes; career changing – no.”

The full text of the decision (30 pages) is available on the FEI website under LEGAL/DECISIONS.

Indiana Bans Toe Grabs on Front Shoes of Racing Thoroughbreds

On July 18, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission passed a regulation banning toe grabs of a height greater than four millimeters on the front hooves of all (racing) Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses.

The state's new toe grab regulations are consistent with the model rules adopted by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) at its convention in Jackson Hole in April 2007. California was the first state to initiate a front grab ban and was soon followed by New Mexico.

Hoofcare and Lameness Journal will facilitate a discussion on the toe grab recommendations during the Select Yearling Sale at Saratoga on Tuesday, August 7th. Featured speaker will be Kentucky farrier educator Mitch Taylor, who will present research and findings compiled by the Jockey Club's hoofcare committee from the Horse Safety and Welfare Summit held last October, from whence came the push to ban toe grabs.

With Mitch will be Kentucky farrier Steve Norman, who also served on the committee and who daily serves on the front lines as farrier to some of the world's top racehorses. The public is invited to review the findings and discuss toe grabs and racing surfaces (and anything else) with Mitch and Steve.

All Hoofcare & Lameness events at Saratoga this year will take place in the dart room at the Parting Glass on Lake Avenue. Educational gatherings are hosted by your blogger, Fran Jurga, each Tuesday evening from July 31 to August 21.

Mitch Taylor will make a formal presentation on the subject of Thoroughbred racing from the farriery point of view at the Fourth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot on November 2-4 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Visit http://www.laminitisconference.com to learn more.

One Step Closer: Walking Horse Celebration Agrees to Plan

One of the great nail-biter situations--and most under-reported stories--in the horse world moved another notch forward (or backward, depending on your point of view) this morning. I received a short email with this message:

"The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC) agreed this morning to affiliate with the National Horse Show Commission. Representatives of both organizations met this morning at the Celebration offices in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and reached an agreement."

This means that the 2007 Celebration, billed as the "world's greatest horse show", would follow the NHSC guidelines for soring inspections which are, in turn, based on a new operating plan put forward by the US Department of Agriculture to ensure that the Horse Protection Act is not violated.

People think that Lexington, or Ocala, or Saratoga, or Scottsdale is the epicenter of the horse world, but for the past few months, anxious eyes in Washington, DC and across the South have been watching the little town of Shelbyville, Tennessee, headquarters of Tennessee Walking horse associations (there are several for trainers, owners, exhibitors, and shows, based on political affiliations) and the site of the Walking Horse Celebration.

At stake: whether the Walking horse show interests (organizers, owners, trainers et al) would agree to agree to move forward as a single body in the face of the USDA regulatory procedure. This is not a simple situation: each organizaiton trains, licenses and assigns its own Designated Quaified Persons (DQPs) to inspect Walking horses at shows affiliated with the different groups. When the USDA sends in inspectors and veterinarians (VMOs), they are really sort of inspecting the inspectors, and re-inspecting horses--and sometimes disqualifying them--after they have been passed by the local DQPs assigned by the NHSC and other groups.

The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reported, "The NHSC is made up of delegates from the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) and the Walking Horse Owners' Association (WHOA). Last week, both the membership body of both organizations voted to recommend to the NHSC to sign the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Operating Plan for 2007-2008. "

I believe that the only group left outside the coalition is the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA).

The industry held its breath to see what the Celebration would do. The article in the Times-Gazette does not mention soring, but talks around it. USDA inspectors effectively shut down the Celebration last year by inspecting the horses that had qualified for the final World Championship class. The three horses that did pass the inspection did not show as the championship class was cancelled--without the trainers' knowledge or agreement, according one leading trainer. Earlier in the week, the show was shut down by unrest between trainers, owners, spectators and the federal inspection team.

The USDA had to compromise on some points to move forward with their plan for how inspections would be conducted this year. At the heart of the problem is the so-called "scar rule" which disqualifies horses with evidence of scar tissue on their pasterns. Trainers argue that many horses have scar tissue on their pasterns because of pasture injuries or fence wounds, and that their scarred horses have not necessarily been subjected to illegal soring methods. They also prefer to call them "calluses", not "scars".

This is a complicated story--perhaps the most complex in the entire US horse industry. I do not feel qualified to report in depth on the issue because it is so complicated and I believe that the issue must be reported on objectively. The US horse press seems to have abandoned the Walking horse industry and even condemned these people but these horses are hugely popular and the show attracts nearly a quarter of a million people from 40 states. The arena holds 30,000 people. The horses fill 1,650 stalls in 63 barns on 105 acres.

The Celebration was recently listed in the New York Times book, 1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die. The 2007 Celebration will be held in Shelbyville August 22 - September 1. I guess I would rewrite that book title to read: 1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before They Die.

Without the support of the larger horse industry, the Walking horses and their entourage of humans are way out on a limb. I have to admit that I have never been to a Walking horse show and until I get to one, I won't comment. Interpretation is up to you.

Dr. Galantino-Homer Appointed Laminitis Senior Research Investigator at Penn Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Hannah Galantino-Homer has been appointed the senior research investigator of the newly created laminitis research initiative at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Galantino-Homer will serve as a leading investigator in Penn Vet’s laminitis research efforts. The appointment was effective July 1.

“With this appointment of one of our best and brightest, Penn Vet reinforces its commitment to equine disease research,” said Dr. Joan C. Hendricks, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “Dr. Galantino-Homer’s appointment is our first step in focusing and investing more time and funds in answering the fundamental questions of what causes laminitis and how it can be treated. Her expertise and vision will help us develop preventative and therapeutic management strategies for this devastating condition.”

Prior to her new appointment, Dr. Galantino-Homer was a lecturer and researcher in the Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, located at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center.

Dr. Galantino-Homer received her VMD from the School of Veterinary Medicine and her Ph.D. from the Biomedical Graduate Studies at Penn. Her undergraduate degree in biology and English literature is from Swarthmore College. Dr. Galantino-Homer, who attended the George School in Bucks County, is also a Diplomate of American College of Theriogenologists.

The new initiative will enhance work currently being done at Penn Vet in the area of equine disease research, which is funded in part by donors to the Laminitis Research Fund. Laminitis, a debilitating and painful condition of the hoof, is a silent killer that affects horses around the globe. Both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) list laminitis as the priority area for equine research and funding.

This post is from the University of Pennsylvania.

Prescription for a Problem: Wet + Hot

The recent wet weather in Texas and the Midwest, followed by searing summer heat, makes me shudder. The mosquitoes will breed with a vengeance, for one thing, and some may even be carrying EEE, EIA or WNV. (Let's hope not!) I read today that some horses in Texas were put down because of positive Coggins tests: state orders. And they showed no symptoms of Equine Infectious Anemia, which is often the case. (A Coggins test checks a horse for EIA, an insect-borne disease that is transmittable from horse to horse.)

But one of the most common complications of prolonged wet weather followed by humid conditions is the scourge known as rain rot. I always think of rain rot as lurking under blanketed horses here in the Northeast. If you have never seen a horse with rain rot, it looks sort like the horse's topline (and sometimes legs) has been scoured with steel wool.

All it is is a bacteria-like skin infection, caused by the same organisms that cause scratches and cracked heels, but it is still darn hard to get it to go away. And it is disturbing to have people say over and over and over again; "Eee-eew, yuck, what's wrong with your horse?"

Treating horses for rain rot is pretty simple, but it's also a lot of work. Your mantra will be "Clean and dry. Clean and dry. Clean and dry." But that can be hard to do if your horse itches and insists on rolling in mud!

First you have to kill the bacteria with an antiseptic bathing (and drying) regimen, then you have to treat the bare patches (lots of people like tea tree oil products for this step), and finally you have to use some sort of barrier cream (like Desitin, used for human diaper rash, which is a similar problem).

A couple of things you don't always hear about: if your horse has rain rot, wash all your sheets and coolers and especially your saddle pads. And if the horse is going to be turned out, use common sense about the exposed bald patches and the risk of sun burn. I don't know how long a barrier cream lasts or if it contains any sunscreen but it seems likely to me that the sun could burn the exposed skin. And obviously, use common sense before you put a saddle on a horse with rain rot on his back or withers.

Listerine mouthwash (diluted) supposedly is a good antiseptic to dab or spray on the skin after you've picked the scabs off. Or is that the equine equivalent of an urban legend? I know that Efferdent makes a great foot bath and toothpaste is supposed to help white-line disease, so you could make your dentist smile with those tips...

The photo you see with this post is courtesy of the International League for the Protection of Horses in Britain. It's a rescued horse; they thought I'd be impressed with the severity of this case of rain rot, or rain "scald", as the Brits call it. Obviously, the horse is also emaciated. Look at its coat, not its bony rump. You can double click on the photo to enlarge it and see it in detail.

One of my favorite horse blogs is Lynda Polk's "Hoofbeats" blog for the Houston Chronicle. She describes one of her horse's colic-y reactions to the oppressive heat and humidity in the Houston area this summer in a recent post.

Between droughts and floods, it's easy to imagine that many people are cursing the weather this summer, but I have to say that it has been super here in New England!

USA Wins Team Gold Medal in Dressage at Pan Am Games

Lauren Sammis (right, above) rode Sagacious HF (left, above) to a first place finish and Team Gold for the USA in the dressage competition at the Pan AM Games in Brazil today. This candid photo was shot during casual training at the new equestrian center barn. (photo courtesy of Lauren Sammis and Hyperion Farm; isn't email wonderful?)

THE USA SCORED GOLD in Rio de Janeiro earlier today. Lauren Sammis, Chris Hickey and Katie Poulin-Neff held off Canada (silver) and Brazil (bronze) to win the dressage competition. Lauren Sammis on Sagacious HF finished first overall, but I think that individual medals are not awarded in this competition. Scroll down to yesterday's post to read more about Lauren, Sagacious, and his owners at Hyperion Farm.

From One Champion to Another: Street Sense Sends Good Luck Roses to Sagacious HF at Pan Am Games

Two dozen yellow roses showed up at Hyperion Farm in Wellington, Florida recently. They were addressed to Sagacious HF, the eight-year old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Hyperion Farm's Al and Judy Guden. The horse will compete for the USA tomorrow in the dressage at the Pan Am Games in Brazil.

And they were signed by a horse that knows a whole lot about roses: 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.

The roses were a token of good luck from one champ to another but also testimony to an old friendship. The Gudens switched from owning Thoroughbreds in New York to owning dressage sport horses in Florida when the moved south but Judy Guden went to school with Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger years ago in West Texas...hence the yellow roses!

Al Guden emailed me tonight with this insight into one of America's top sport horse owners and one of America's great Eclipse Award-winning Thorougbred trainers: "Judy and Carl went to school in Olton, Texas from the first grade right through high school. They graduated together in a class of 42!"

He continued, "Carl trained race horses for us for a number of years. We had an Unbridled mare named CEO Sis who had a short and successful career and she produced one horse that we race and won a few more races."

(Note: Carl Nafzger trained Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic winner Unbridled. You may remember the famous video clip of him at Churchill Downs alternately shouting at and kissing the 90+ year-old owner Mrs Genter. His famous speech was "He's taking the lead. He's gonna win. He's gonna win. He's gonna win. He's a winner! He's a winner! He's a winner, Mrs. Genter! You've won the Kentucky Derby, Mrs. Genter! I love you,"--that was one of the greatest Derby moments ever!)

Carl and his wife Wanda recently visited Hyperion Farm to wish the Gudens well.

Street Sense by the way will be a shut-in (probably literally) this weekend while Churchill Downs hosts a Police concert. Once that is over Street Sense will head to Saratoga; his arch-rival Curlin arrived there yesterday.

For all those reasons and more, I'll add my best wishes to those of Street Sense. Let's hope that Sagacious HF and his rider Lauren Sammis shine in the Brazilian sun tomorrow!

The Gudens will be waiting for a call to tell them how their horse does in the big arena tomorrow. Judy opted not to attempt the trip as she is completing another round of treatments for ongoing breast cancer therapy.

Lauren Sammis's saddle cloth (below) says so much about the caring spirit of this rider, the courage of such a young horse to represent his country overseas, and what we all hope will be the joy of proud owners who love their horse.

That horse has a lot riding on him; win or lose, he's brought the Games into perspective for many of us.

Learn more about Sagacious HF and other Hyperion Farm champions like KWPN young stallion champions (in Europe) Uptown, and Washington (owned in partnership with Kathy Connolly and Toine Hoefs) at http://www.hyperionfarm.com

News Flash: Funny Cide Retired from Racing

The headline in the racing papers took the wind out of my sails this monring. One of my favorite racehorses, the eternal underdog known as Funny Cide, has been retired from the track by New York trainer Barclay Tagg.

The gelding is seven years old...and retiring sound. He won the Wadsworth Handicap at Finger Lakes Racetrack on July 4th and Tagg wants him to go out on a high note. Most people remember him as the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He was the first New York-bred to win the Derby.

It sounds like Tagg will use the gelding as a stable pony for a while. He ruled out retiring the horse to a lifetime of turnout on a retirement setting and even hinted that Funny Cide might make a good showhorse. He certainly has the looks for it.

According to the Blood-Horse, Funny Cide retires with 11 victories from 38 starts, with six seconds and eight thirds, for earnings of $3,529,412. Not bad for a yearling who sold for $20,000.

I hope Funny Cide stays in the news for a long, long time.

PAG '07: USEF Report on Friday's Dressage Horse Inspection

Banners fly above the converted military base that is now the equestrian center at Deodoro, outside Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by rider Lauren Sammis of the USA dressage team.

From a release by Joanie Morris, reporting for the US Equestrian Federation from the Pan Am Games in Brazil:

Deodoro, Brazil – Thirty-five horses from 13 nations were presented for the dressage horse inspection on Friday, July 13 at 8 a.m. The horse inspection ensures that all the horses in the event are fit to compete.

The horses were inspected in alphabetical order by nation, with the United States last. All four horses looked super, led off by the diminutive Brilliant Too and rider Katherine Poulin-Neff. Brilliant Too appears to grow in stature whenever he gets in front of a crowd but Poulin-Neff had her running shoes on and kept up with the 15.1 hand Hanoverian/Thoroughbred gelding.

“He’s really happy,” said Poulin-Neff after she presented her horse. “Actually he’s been really fresh. Every day he’s been coming out, twisting his head up and bucking...we were riding here in the indoor and the wind was blowing and they must have been doing helicopter training because the helicopters were going over and he was higher than a kite. He definitely feels really good and he’s going really well. We’re definitely excited to be here.”

Alternate rider Susan Dutta and the Hanoverian stallion, Pik L were second to present. Susie’s husband, Tim, who organizes the shipping for the US horses (and accompanied the dressage horses in the air) presented Pik L for his wife. A seasoned veteran, Pik L handled the jog with no trouble.

Lauren Sammis and Hyperion Farm’s Sagacious HF exhibited all the personality for which they are renowned and the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding strutted down the lane as if all the people present had come just to see him.

Chris Hickey rounded out the quartet with Brenna Kucinski’s Regent. The 9-year-old KWPN gelding was blindingly shiny in the Brazilian sunlight and appeared remarkably well in front of the ground jury.

After the horse inspection, Hickey let himself fully enjoy the moment.

“Now we’re getting excited,” he said. “We’re really here and we’ve been training and working and the horses are fit and ready but not over worked. They’re fresh and ready but not overworked and that’s important coming into a competition like this.”

While parasailors jumped from airplanes onto the surrounding military base in Deodoro, the riders went to work in the practice arenas at 11am, and took advantage of the opportunity to ride in the main arena before noon. The US drew the fourth team slot, meaning that Sammis will ride tomorrow and Poulin-Neff and Hickey will compete on Sunday.

--Joanie Morris

ASPCA Praises New Colorado Law Requiring Veterinarians to Report Animal Abuse

This just in from the ASPCA:

NEW YORK, July 13, 2007 — The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) has praised a new Colorado law that requires veterinarians to report any case in which they suspect an animal is being abused or involved in fighting. The legislation went into effect on July 8.

In addition to suspected cases of animal abuse, the law also requires veterinarians to report cases in which they suspect animal neglect, which includes failing to provide adequate shelter in extreme heat or cold, as well as failing to provide adequate food or water.

“We are extremely gratified that Colorado has passed this important legislation,” said Ed Sayres, president & CEO of the ASPCA. “We believe that staying vigilant in reporting signs of animal cruelty in our communities is one of the most successful means of preventing it. It is our hope that other states will follow Colorado’s example and establish similar legislation.”

The law was modeled after similar legislation wherein medical doctors must report signs of potential child abuse or neglect in patients. Eleven other states have passed similar animal abuse prevention laws. To learn how you can help fight animal cruelty in your community, please visit www.aspca.org/cruelty.

Blogger's comment: I wonder what the penalty is for not reporting abuse/neglect? And if there is any funding for enforcement of the law and education of veterinarians on how to report abuse (and how to recognize it and maintain good community relations), or is this an example of a "feel good" law without any teeth?

Going to Ireland? Don't drink the water...unless you're a horse!

Horse-friendly Irish City Takes Care of Its Horses...Before Its People!

Things are bad in the western Ireland city of Galway. The city's water system has been contaminated since the spring, when 200 people fell ill and the problem was traced to e.coli contamination in the city's water system, which comes from a local lake. Residents have been drinking bottled or boiled water for months now.

But when Galway's fabulous new racecourse opens on July 30, the horses won't be worried. The city paid for a sand filtration and UV-enhanced purification system for the horses' water supply so there will be no fear of any horses becoming ill.

On farms in the area, racehorses and the famed foxhunters of the region are having to drink imported water or else the lads have to boil it. (That's a lot of water.)

Galway tourism is said to be suffering from the water ban. The region is home to the famed Galway Blazers hunt and a huge number of flat and jump racers, as well as the hundreds of event horses and show jumpers that are bred and trained there. (Think: Middleburg, Virginia with a brogue and a lot of really great pubs, celtic music, and sailboats. Does it get any better than that?)

An only-in-Ireland post script: How bad is the water from the lake? The churches in the area have even imported holy water from outside Galway.

Flying Horses: The Exodus Begins as Curlin and Friends Take Flight to Saratoga

You know summer has come when the word "Saratoga" starts popping up in the news. The storied spa resort at the foot of New York's Adirondack Mountains will see a population boom in human and horse residents in the next few weeks as the track and training center prepare for six weeks of the world's richest (and most scenic) horse races beginning July 25.

The local Saratoga television station has posted a video of Preakness winner Curlin and 16 other top Thoroughbreds from Churchill Downs in Kentucky. They arrived in Saratoga yesterday on a cargo flight from Louisville. The video does not show the interior of the plane but it does detail the interesting technique of side-by-side van loading used to get the horses down the ramp and into their transport.

It includes a very short close-up of Curlin coming off the plane and looking like a frequent flyer.

Meanwhile, Curlin's nemesis on the track is making news and giving me some competition. Todd Pletcher's Rags to Riches, the filly who won our hearts with a gutsy stretch run to pass Curlin at the wire of the Belmont Stakes last month, has her own blog now! She's still stabled at Belmont Park on New York's Long Island, where she is entered in the Coaching Club American Oaks race for three-year-old fillies on July 21st. Once that race is over, she'll head up the New York Thruway to Saratoga in a van to join Pletcher's other top horses at his training barn at Saratoga's "Oklahoma" training track.

Over at youtube.com, I counted 29 videos posted in honor of the big chestnut filly. Now that's star power!

Barbaro Still Makes News: Vanity Fair Writer Chronicles "Gone Like the Wind"

It's been a while, but the memory of Barbaro is still stamped on many hearts....and visible on many magazine racks.

Students of good journalism and lovers of the Late Great One should beat a path to the newstand and settle down with the August issue of Vanity Fair to read Buzz Bissinger's tribute to Barbaro: "Gone Like the Wind".

Call me old-fashioned, but I think that a story like this one deserves to be read from the printed page. And it's so hot out (at least around here), you can justify sitting in front of a fan for a good read.

This article is a bit different because it includes some very personal excerpts from Gretchen Jackson's diary.

True, for those who can't afford to buy the magazine or who can't make it to a newsstand, the article is posted on the VF website. But it's not the same as holding the fat magazine in your hands and drinking in those words.

There's also a terrific slide show of Barbaro images, some of which I had not seen before.

However you read it, do. Then send an email to the editors and ask them to assign more writers to chronicle life with and around horses. VF has had some interesting horse-related articles in the past year or so, and this is the latest.

July 12 post script: The Thoroughbred Times is reporting that this article is being used as the source material for a screenplay for a new feature film from Hollywood, to be created by the producers of the recent film "Friday Night Lights". Barbaro on the big screen! I wonder who will play Dr. Scott Morrison from Rood and Riddle...how about Brad Pitt? Will farriers finally make it on the Hollywood scene? I'd cast Tom Hanks as Dean Richardson, George Clooney as Michael Matz, Anthony Hopkins as Roy Jackson and Meryl Streep as Gretchen Jackson. Edgar Prado will have to play himself...

FEI: Germany's "Air Jordan Z" Show Jumper Failed Drug Test from Las Vegas World Cup But Rule Won't Be Enforced

This just in from the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI):

The FEI Legal Department received today the analysis report from the Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques in Paris which confirms the presence of reserpine, a substance prohibited in competition under FEI rules, in the "B" sample of the horse Air Jordan Z, ridden by Daniel Deusser at the FEI World Cup (TM) Jumping Finals in Las Vegas on 19-22 April 2007. Daniel Deusser finished second.

Under the FEI's Equine Anti-Doping rules, the FEI Investigating Body (composed of its Veterinary and Legal Departments) are responsible to conduct follow-up investigations which may be required following the receipt of test results. Based on a number of factors related to the testing procedure and integrity of the samples in this case, the Investigating Body has determined that it cannot assert that a rule was violated in this case, and the rider has been informed accordingly.

Under the FEI's Equine Anti-Doping rules, which were adopted last year further to the recommendations of an FEI Task Force on Anti-Doping and Medication Policy and within the framework of the World Anti-Doping Code, the FEI must meet a specified standard of proof when alleging a doping violation, in order to safeguard the rights of athletes. Issues that concern the integrity of blood or urine samples can prove material to whether this standard can be met.

The FEI does not, as a matter of policy, announce the existence of positive test results until it has received and assessed the results of the confirmatory ("B") analysis and determined that they confirm the presence of a prohibited substance, or the rider has waived the right to such an analysis. Unfortunately, news of the positive test result in this case became public through third parties.

Blogger's Note: Reserpine is a common sedative used in horses because of its long-acting properties. "Serp" is also one of the most commonly found prohibited substances.

EVA Outbreak in France's Normandy District

The FEI has confirmed that the driving event scheduled in Les Haras du Pin in France on 11 July has been cancelled due to an outbreak of Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) in the area.

EVA is a viral disease that is spread by breeding activities (a stallion spreads the virus through the semen), but can also infect susceptible horses via the respiratory route. The disease is characterized by fever, edema (swelling) and by abortion in pregnant mares. Movement restrictions in the departments of Eure and Orne have been enforced. Horses in the center at Val de Reuil, where the infection surfaced, have been isolated.

Further investigations are ongoing. Horse owners planning to travel in the areas involved should update themselves on any movement restrictions in place.

Blogger note: Normandy, as you may recall from your World War II history, is a province in France northwest of Paris on the coast below The Netherlands. Its beautiful beaches were the site of the "D-Day" invasion in June 1944.

Several of France's leading racetracks and training centers are located there, along with CIRALE, the diagnostic testing and research center for lameness and biomechanics run by the French government and the national veterinary college. Horses from all over France ship there to be examined by the famous locomotion expert, Dr. Jean-Marie Denoix.

In addition, France's leading nationally-owned stud farm is Normandy's famed Haras du Pin (literally "stable at Pin", the village name). Known affectionately as "The Versailles of Horses", Haras du Pin is the national stud for the Percheron breed; the area is sometimes called La Perche.

Haras du Pin is a stallion station; there must be 30 or more Percheron stallions housed there in supreme luxury, plus other breeds. EVA at Pin would be a catastrophe, so it is easy to see why they would cancel the driving event. However the area is still a very active place for horses of all types.

Also nearby is the famed French racecourse at Deauville, which is comparable to Saratoga or Del Mar in the USA. In summer, Deauville becomes Europe's epicenter of flat and jump racing: the beautiful seaside track hosts four international Group 1 races during August alone. The training center there is home to almost 600 horses in August (in Europe, racehorses do not stable at the tracks, but are vanned there on the day of the race), and it is the site of France's mid-August yearling sales. The countryside around Deauville is home to 75 stud farms.

EVA is one of the most dreaded and feared equine viral diseases.

Mr Muscleman Sidelined with Bone Chips

America's richest Standardbred racehorse in training will be taking some time off.

Surgery to remove bone chips from the knee of seven-year-old gelding Mr. Muscleman will keep the campaigner off the trail for a few months, according to the US Trotting Association.

Patricia Hogan, DVM, DACVS of the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, New Jersey performed the procedure on Mr. Muscleman, who is trained by Noel Daley and owned by Adam Victor & Son Stable. The horse has won $3.5 million in his career.

Strangles in a Pregnant Mare: British Researchers Investigate Disease Outbreak and Help a Foal to a Healthy New Life

Thanks to the diligence of vets at England’s Animal Health Trust, and funding from leading charity The Horse Trust, a newborn foal has escaped the potentially fatal disease of equine strangles. This story is shared from our friends at the AHT:

A pony mare named Bobbles was one of a number of horses and ponies affected by an outbreak of strangles at a stable in the British county of Norfolk. The mare's owner became concerned when she noticed a swelling the size of a tennis ball in the pony's neck.

“I called my (local) vet immediately” she said, "and she contacted The Animal Health Trust, which is renowned for its expertise in infectious diseases."

The Trust’s diagnostic laboratory soon confirmed the diagnosis of Strangles, one of the most common and feared infectious diseases of horses worldwide. It causes a range of clinical signs, including fever, profuse nasal discharge and abscesses of the lymph nodes in the head and neck. These often erupt through the skin to release highly infectious pus. As a result, the disease spreads easily and quickly within groups of horses.

Although the condition causes a high degree of suffering, most horses do eventually recover. However, some horses remain long-term carriers of the disease even after recovery, and they can then infect other horses and start new outbreaks.

When the pony mare's sample was deemed positive, Trust vet Jeremy Kemp-Symonds arranged to visit the farm and test all the horses and ponies there. As he had suspected might be the case, the disease had already spread widely.

As part of the project, Jeremy monitored all the horses carefully and, within two months, they all appeared to have made a recovery.

However, tests showed that Bobbles, the pony mare, was a carrier of strangles and therefore still capable of infecting other animals. It was therefore necessary to isolate her immediately. Unfortunately, there was a further complication: Bobbles was pregnant and there was a very high chance that her foal would be infected soon after birth.

“This was a major concern,” says Jeremy Kemp-Symonds “because the fatality rate in very young animals can be around ten per cent. We therefore decided to treat the mare with penicillin. Thankfully we managed to clear the infection completely before Nelson was born”.

In other Strangles-related news from England, the pharmaceutical firm Intervet has recalled all batches of its strangles vaccine, Equilis StrepE. The firm is currently unable to advise when the product will become available again, although it is unlikely to be this year (2007).

Quality monitoring indicated that the vaccine’s antigen level had decreased slightly over time and dropped below the approved release requirements.

As there is no alternative vaccine available in Britain for the time being, Intervet advises horse owners to follow adequate stable management and hygiene procedures to minimise the risk of disease and to be vigilant for symptoms.

Horse Health Headlines from the Pan Am Games

Thanks to Hyperion Farms' owner Al Guden, some of the health-specific details of the horses competing at the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are finding their way to the Internet. Al and Judy Guden own the dressage horse Sagacious HF, ridden by Lauren Sammis.

Things started off a little shakily for all the horses headed to Brazil when their chartered plane developed mechanical difficulties and the departure was delayed. All the dressage horses had gathered to complete their quarantine requirements in Wellington, Florida in preparation for the trip.

Al reported that veterinarian Rick Mitchell of Fairfield Equine Associates hydrated the horses with IV fluids an hour before they were vanned in the Florida heat from Wellington to Miami for the takeoff.

Speaking of veterinarians, apparently the veterinary hospital that was to be built at the showgrounds in Rio did not get finished or equipped on time, so the Americans carried every imaginable veterinary supply and piece of equipment on the plane with them. And when they arrived in Brazil, they were told that their cargo crates could not be cleared until Tuesday.

That meant, roughly, that there were grooms, horses, halters and leadlines...but little else because everything--literally everything--was packed in the crates.

It took a few hours, but apparently the crates are now on their way to the showgrounds.

Those are just a few of the rough details. Many thanks to Al Guden for his early report.