2008 Olympics: The Comeback Games

As the Olympics approach, the fairy-tale stories are emerging, and--thanks to them--the public will have underdog favorites to cheer and journalists will have plenty of stories to write. It happens every time.

This year, we have the Russian circus horse in dressage, and the comeback of gold medal old-timer Mark Todd in eventing. Some of the people competing against Todd weren't even born when he started winning medals.

But there's an even more colorful comeback story than Todd's. Look to Japan, not usually known as a dressage powerhouse nation, and meet Hiroshi Hoketsu. The last time you saw him was in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, if you were alive then.

Fifty-four years later, Hoketsu name shows up in the world standings for dressage, and he's out to set a new world record. No, he probably won't outscore Anky and Isabel, but if his horse stays sound/healthy and he makes it to Hong Kong, he will likely be the oldest Olympic competitor.

Hiroshi Hoketsu is profiled today in an unlikely place: the Wall Street Journal! The venerable financial daily also sent a video crew out to meet him.

According to the WSJ, Hoketsu was disqualified from the 1988 Olympics in Seoul when his horse became ill in quarantine.

Read the article; watch the video (below). It's time to start choosing your favorites for the Olympics...not just the ones who will medal, but the ones who will make it there, after a lot of hard work.

They're the ones who will be riding out the dreams of people like you and me.

AAEP Veterinarians are “On Call” for 2008 Thoroughbred Racing Telecasts

Media-trained equine veterinarians representing the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ “On Call” program will support a month of live Thoroughbred racing broadcasts on the major television networks. The program is now in its 18th year.

Already this season, Dr. Rhonda Rathgeber was on hand for the Lane’s End Stakes and Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park on March 22 and Dr. Tom Brokken watched Big Brown whiz to his win at the Florida Derby this weekend at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Watch for AAEP “On Call” veterinarians to provide on-air insight into horse health issues at the following spring racing telecasts, as well as the 2008 Triple Crown races:

April 12: Toyota Blue Grass Stakes with Dr. Scott Hopper at Keeneland Racecourse; Arkansas Derby with Dr. Milton McClure at Oaklawn Park; and Holy Bull Stakes with Dr. Tom Brokken at Gulfstream Park.

April 19: Coolmore Lexington Stakes with Dr. Alan Ruggles at Keeneland Racecourse.

Once again, the Triple Crown races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes) will have the expertise of Dr. Larry Bramlage embedded with the television crews.

Since the founding of “On Call” in 1991, more than 30 AAEP member veterinarians have volunteered their time and expertise to the program. Offered during all live network racing as well as arena events such as the AQHA World Championship Show, over 75 events are supported by an “On Call” veterinarian each year.

The "On Call" program is made possible in part by an annual donation from Oak Tree Racing Association.

Florida Horse Health Alert: 2008 EEE Deaths Up to Nine

Part of the problem with mosquito-borne illnesses becoming more prevalent is the mosquito itself. The Asian Tiger Mosquito (ATM) has invaded the southeastern USA; it was carried from Asia in container loads of used tires that were not inspected for mosquitoes and falls under the heading of "invasive species". This new breed of skeeter is particularly well-suited for spreading diseases. The University of Florida is trying to educate people that the mosquitoes around them have changed their stripes.

As convoys of horse vans and trailers prepare to head north from Florida after the winter polo, horse show and racing seasons end next month, the warm climate that lured horsemen to the Sunshine State may play a cruel and deadly trick on them.

Already, nine cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been confirmed in Florida since the beginning of 2008, even though the peak season does not begin until May. There were a total of 18 cases of EEE in 2007 for the entire year.

Sadly, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture, six of the dead horses had not been vaccinated and two had not received booster shots. Only one horse was current with vaccinations.

EEE is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. Signs of the virus include fever, listlessness, stumbling, circling, coma and usually death. The disease is fatal in horses in 90% of the cases.

So far this year EEE has been confirmed in horses in Putnam, Lake, Polk, Columbia, Clay and Volusia counties, all of which were fatal. Volusia has been hit the hardest, with four of the nine cases having been found there.

If you live in Florida and if you have been in the state with your horses recently (or plan to go), please consult your health records and be certain that the horse's vaccination status for EEE is up to date.

For more information, and continuing updates on occurences of the disease in Florida, please read the state's Department of Agriculture web site's recent update.

Hungry Horses? CBS News Posts Hay Shortage Stories from Central Kentucky

How bad is the hay shortage in the southeastern United States? CBS News thinks it is bad enough to warrant almost four minutes of coverage on tonight's CBS Evening News.

The first video in this post is the main story that appeared on the air; it runs through a variety of people with a stake in the hay situation, from a hay dealer to a self-sacrificing owner to the director of a horse adoption farm. And it sounds pretty grim.

People from the more urban areas of the United States would marvel at the sheer square footage of grassy turnout that most horses in Kentucky enjoy.

CBS also produced an "Eye to Eye" segment with horse owner Beverly Danko about the personal sacrifices she has made--cancelling cable tv, internet, and cell phone service to free up more money for horse hay--and how far she is willing to go to feed her horses.

CBS has an interactive page for reader comments where you can post your response to the hay shortage story.

New Book Announcement: Molly the Pony Survived Katrina and Then the Adventures Began

Suppose you were the pony who had to stay behind. Your people have to leave. There's a storm coming. But you'll be okay...won't you? Who's this Katrina everyone's talking about and why is she headed toward Louisiana? The wind blew and blew. And then it was quiet. Weeks went by, and still the pony waited for someone to find her.

Finally, neighbors called a feedstore and asked if someone could get some food to the pony.

So begins the true story of a plucky little pony who is rescued after Hurricane Katrina and finds a new life on Kaye Harris's rescue farm with lots of new animal friends who were also rescued after the storm.

I first "met" Molly the Pony while profiling her for a story in EQUUS. I talked to her owner. I talked to her vet. I talked to her surgeon, Dr. Rustin Moore at Louisiana State University's vet school. It was Dr. Moore who convinced me this was no ordinary pony.

When a dog on the rescue farm attacked Molly, her throat was ripped, all four legs were wounded, and her intestines were exposed in a belly wound. Her front leg was especially badly injured. Her vet, Dr. Allison Barca, described it to me as "raw meat, chewed to the bone".

Dr. Moore thought he had seen it all in the weeks after Katrina. LSU staff and students had created a command center for animal triage, working day and night on horses and dogs and every imaginable form of livestock and pet. A pony with no known owner to pay the bills? A homeless pony with an infected leg wound? Should he perform a high-risk amputation procedure? The chances of a happy ending to Molly’s story were slim to none, and the risks for the vet school were high.

That was before Dr. Moore met Molly. After observing her behavior and personality, he changed his mind.

With Dr. Moore's help, Molly's right front leg is removed below the knee. Soon fitted with a prosthetic limb, Molly relearns how to walk and embarks again on a new mission in life: making new people friends.

As the jacket blurb promises: All who have had to start over after displacement, abandonment, injury, or amputation will find a friend in Molly as they follow her story of bringing a smile to everyone she meets.

And it's all true!

Over the years, I have "profiled" a lot of horses, from famous racehorses to champion show jumpers and almost every other kind of horse. I can't remember a horse being described in such glowing terms by so many people as Molly the pony in New Orleans. "She's just so special," people kept telling me wherever I went.

And I have to agree. Read this book and you will too. Along the way, you will learn about the hurricane, about pet rescue, about equine amputation and artificial limbs and hooves. But mostly you'll learn a lot about spirit and courage and attitude.


This book would make a great gift, horse show prize, silent auction donation, or library addition. You'll never forget Molly or the human heroes who help her!

Please order Molly the Pony by Pam Kaster from your local independently-owned bookstore. Its ISBN code number is 978-0-8071-3320-0. The publisher is Louisiana State University Press. The cost is $15.95.

Click here to go directly to a page about ordering this book.

About the Author: Pam Kaster is the author of Zydeco Goes to Horse Camp. She is an editor of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association newsletter, and a member of Equine Photographers Network. A former manager of a riding program for disabled riders, she has been a Red Cross disaster-preparedness volunteer for twenty years and managed a Red Cross shelter during Hurricane Katrina. She lives in Zachary, Louisiana, with her husband, three horses, three dogs, and a cat.

Molly's new career includes visits to hospitals and group homes. She's busy making new friends and teaching people about the power of a second chance at life! (Louisiana Equine Council photo)

Happy Birthday: Dressage Superstar Bonfire Begins His 25th Year

A basket of fruit for the aged dressage super-hero, Anky's Bonfire.

Many arguments can be made for the leading senior citizen of the horse world. In Great Britain, there is even a Veteran Horse Society that promotes the health and welfare of the “senior” horse and rewards the efforts of those who continue to compete with older horses. In Kentucky, the “Old Friends” retirement home warehouses elders of the racing world whose stud or racing careers are over, but who live on in the hearts of their fans.

In the sport horse world, one horse, personifies the electric charge that overcame the sport of dressage in the 1990s and transformed it into an exciting spectator sport. No longer would people say that watching dressage was like “watching paint dry”. Not with a horse like Bonfire in the ring.

Bonfire was the horse who carried Dutch rider Anky van Grusvnen to super-star status. For years, they battled tooth-and-nail against the technically-perfect Germans. Always crowd favorites, Bonfire and Anky infused the sport with risky, expressive performances that dropped many a jaw and elicited worldwide wows.

Together, Anky and Bonfire won the World Cup five times. According to her web site, they have shared an Olympic Gold Medal…and three Olympic Silver Medals. They won the World Championship, the European Championship and were National Champions of the Netherlands eight times.

Today, Bonfire is retired at Anky’s training center. He turned 25 a few days ago and was rewarded with a basket of fruit from a Dutch charity that uses the Oldenburg gelding as their poster boy. The charity provides a retirement home for old riding school horses to prevent them from being slaughtered.

Speaking at the Fourth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot in Palm Beach, Florida last fall, Anky's farrier Rob Renirie included senior horses in his four-part master class on sport horse farriery. When it came time to talk about the retired athletes, Rob proudly drew on the example of his old friend Bonfire, who has retired to life as a sound, healthy pensioner.

Bonfire has his own page on Anky's web site. He is the first horse among all those featured--obviously always at the top of her list!

All horses should have it so good. Bonfire certainly has earned his place in the paddock. Long may he graze.

Among Bonfire's routines are solarium sessions.

Rags to Riches Retired; 2007 Belmont Winner Reinjured Pastern

Did Rags to Riches run her heart out when she surged by horse-of-the-year Curlin at the wire of the mile-and-a-half long 2007 Belmont Stakes? The filly was never the same again. She spent last summer hanging out in Saratoga, looking pretty bored. Thanks for the thrills, Rags. (Fran Jurga photo)

(Via press release from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association)

Delray Beach, FL - March 24, 2008 - It was announced today that 2007 Belmont Stakes winner and Champion Three Year Old Filly Rags to Riches will be retired to Ashford Stud where she will be bred to leading sire Giant's Causeway.

In 2007, Rags to Riches made history when she became only the third filly to win the coveted Belmont Stakes, and the first to do so in 102 years. Rags to Riches outdueled eventual 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin in a breathtaking stretch run to capture the Belmont. She had five wins from six starts in 2007 and amassed career earnings of $1,340,028. In January, she was honored with the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Filly of 2007.

The filly was sidelined last September after suffering a hairline fracture to her right front pastern during the running of the Grade l, $250,000 Gazelle Stakes at Belmont Park. She returned to Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher's barn at Palm Beach Downs earlier this year where she resumed training.

"She has re-injured her right front pastern and because of the timing, the decision was made to retire her as opposed to trying to bring her back in the fall," said Pletcher from Palm Beach Downs. "It's a sad day for racing and all of her fans. She will go down in the history books as one of the best fillies ever to run. With the tremendous family that she comes from, she should make a terrific broodmare. We are excited for her and the prospects that lie ahead."

The Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith owned filly will leave Palm Beach Downs today and travel to Ashford Stud, in Versailles, Ky., where she will be bred to the Tabor and John Magnier owned stallion Giant's Causeway.

Another Tragedy: Event Horse Dead at North Carolina Horse Trials

From the United States Equestrian Federation comes an official statement regarding the third equine fatality in one week at East Coast horse trials:

Raeford, NC - Task Force, owned by JC Chester and ridden by Jan Byyny, suffered a catastrophic hind leg injury and was humanely euthanized today during the warmup at Southern Pines II Horse Trials in Raeford, North Carolina.

Task Force, a 16-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding, had enjoyed a storied career in eventing with Jan. The pair enjoyed a long, successful partnership, including winning the Jersey Fresh CCI*** and representing the U.S. at the World Championships in 2006 and other international competitions.

The Carolina Horse Park Foundation, the USEA, and the USEF extends their heartfelt sympathies to all of 'Jedi's' connections and friends on the loss of this great horse.

--end statement--

Thanks to Joanie Morris of USEF for that announcement.

Jan Byyny's statement on the death of her horse:
"I have been lucky enough to ride 'Jedi' for the last eight years and could not have asked for a better partner, friend, and companion. He had many moms and many Jedi moments, but has been a fantastic horse. I will miss him tremendously. Thank you to the Southern Pines crew for taking such great care of us."

Jan and Task Force were alternates for the 2004 US Team at the Athens Olympics and were the highest placed Americans at the 2005 World Cup in Sweden. They were in second place in the Open Intermediate-B division after yesterday's dressage.

Top Trainers Take Over for Darren Chiacchia: Maddens, Ransehousen, Hough, Holling and Dover Pitch In to Train and Mentor Injured Olympian's Students

For all those who are cynical about horse professionals and the show scene, consider this clip posted today on the web site of injured Olympic event rider Darren Chiacchia, who remains hospitalized in intensive care at a Tallahassee, Florida hospital after a horrific fall six days ago at the Red Hills Horse Trials:

"Many of the world's top equestrians have reached out to help keep Darren Chiacchia's, Independence Farm, running smoothly by donating their time and talents to teach his stable of students. Friend and neighbor in New York state, John Madden, came to Independence South in Ocala to help Darren's students as they prepare for this springs upcoming competitions at Poplar Place, The Fork and the CCI at the Florida Horse Park. Regarding Chiacchia, Madden said that his 'contribution was made very easy. Darren has been a good friend and is an excellent horseman, which is evident from his students.'

"Earlier in the week, Missy Ransehousen, daughter of famed dressage trainer and previous USET Chef d'Equipe Jessica Ransehousen, worked on the flat with Chiacchia's students and will be attending The Fork horse trials with them. On Friday, Jonathon Holling will be helping out and attending Poplar Place and the CCI* at the Florida Horse Park with Chiacchia's students.

"On Monday and Tuesday, one of show jumping's star riders, Lauren Hough, will teach Darren's students how to further their skills in the show jumping arena. Dressage legend Robert Dover will be here on Wednesday to help them prepare for their dressage tests. The end of the week will bring back jumping legends John and Beezie Madden on Thursday morning.

"Both Holling and Ransehausen will teach here at Independence Farm on a weekly basis and will mentor the students through their upcoming events."

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Darren reportedly has opened his eyes a few times and can squeeze hands, according to the web site. His Independence Farm is located near Ocala, Florida.

EHV Closes Canadian Vet School Hospital

Canada's Western College of Veterinary Medicine's Large Animal Clinic at the University of Saskatchewan announced yesterday that as a precautionary measure, a decision has been made to temporarily suspend admission of non-emergency equine patients. The move is designed to control risks related to equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infection.

WCVM suspended its equine clinical services following admission of two local horses that proved to be suffering from the neurologic form of EHV-1 infection, also called equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM).

The virus, which is contagious through contact and through aerosols, can be controlled by restricting contact and with stringent decontamination of hospital facilities. EHV-1 can not be transmitted to humans or to other animal species and is not a reportable disease in Canada.

Non-equine activities and services provided by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are not affected by these precautions.

“We suspended equine admissions at the Large Animal Clinic and placed all of our remaining equine patients under isolation to minimize the risk of further disease transmission among horses,” said Dr. Katharina Lohmann, a specialist in veterinary internal medicine at WCVM’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and an associate professor in the veterinary college’s Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences.

“In addition, we’re working closely with the local riding stable where the first two cases originated and where eight other horses have developed clinical signs. The stable owners have also implemented a quarantine of their facility to control the potential spread of EHV-1 to other farms.”

The most common sign among horses infected with this virus is mild respiratory disease during the first two years of life. Much less commonly, infections can result in more severe complications such as abortions in pregnant mares or nervous system disease (EHM).

The clinical signs identified in the two horses admitted to WCVM included fever, limb swelling, musculoskeletal incoordination and urinary incontinence. Affected horses remaining at the stable of origin are being treated supportively and are improving. No deaths have occurred.

Lohmann added that the current plan is to re-open the Large Animal Clinic for regular services once diagnostic testing determines that in-clinic horses pose no risk of virus shedding and once the hospital facilities have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

"The Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the owners of the stable and the owners of horses involved in the outbreak have taken these precautions to prevent any spread of infection," says Lohmann.

US Eventing President Issues Statement on Eventing Safety for Horses and Riders

Ken Baumgardner, president of the US Eventing Association (USEA) has issued a letter and an addendum related to the association's concern over safety issues in the sport following this weekend's fall at Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida by Olympian Darren Chiacchia, who remains on life support in intensive care in a Tallahassee hospital. In completely unrelated tragedies, two horses died on course; necropsy reports revealed that both died of heart failure. Chiacchia's horse appears to have been uninjured.

The letter is full of concern about saety and specifically mentions the evolution of the cross-country phase in a direction of testing the horse's ability to jump "technical questions" that require great agility and collection; the days of galloping horses seem to be fading in favor of a gallop-then-collect repitition as the horse proceeds around the course. There are many reasons why eventing in the USA has gone in this direction, but primarily it is in keeping with changes in the sport on the international level.

Back in the 20th century, eventing included a "roads and tracks" endurance phase before cross-country, which was eliminated in favor of what is now called "the short format" and a horse's cross-country score carried more weight than the dressage score, which is no longer the case.

In December, the USEA leadership conducted a full day workshop, called the "G10 Summit", solely on the issue of safety in the sport. Another meeting later this week in Leesburg, Virginia will also address the subject.

Baumgardner wrote, "....the USEA will immediately investigate avenues to work with veterinarians and equine research professionals to find ways to reduce the stressors on our horses and explore the mechanisms of equine cardiovascular failure. If it makes sense to do so, I will ask the USEA Board of Governors to commit funding to this effort. We reaffirm the USEA's commitment to ensuring the well-being of our equine partners as well as the safety of our riders."

Please read the complete letter on the US Eventing web site.

Update on Darren Chiacchia's Horse's Recovery from Fall

As you may know by now, former Olympic eventing rider Darren Chiacchia of New York was seriously injured on Saturday while riding a horse cross-country at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida.

The news tonight is that a fund has been set up by the Equestrian Aid Foundation to help with Darren's considerable medical expenses.

But earlier today came the news of Baron Verdi, the Trakehner stallion that Darren was riding. In what was called a "full rotational fall", the horse "somersaulted" and appeared to recover, while Darren apparently did not. As expected, the horse suffered bruises but is apparently in good shape, considering his acrobatics, and is being ridden.

Baron Verdi is owned by New Spring Farm's Tom and Cheryl Holekamp of Columbia, Missouri and Ocala, Florida. The Holekamps also own another Trakehner stallion, namely the stunning black Windfall, Darren's most famous international partner.

Competing stallions in eventing is a special challenge, and one that Darren Chiacchia has mastered. At Red Hills in 2007, a rein broke while Darren was on cross-country astride Windfall, and the pair completed the course and finished 13th. That's an amazing accomplishment.

New Spring Farm has come forward with a special announcement about Baron Verdi's condition since the fall, and many more details, on the stallion's promotion page for breeding on their web site.

No further news has been posted about Darren's condition. He remains in critical but stable condition and is breathing through a ventilator. Updates are being posted on the home page of his web site.

Advisory: Veterinary Inspections at Florida Dressage Competition

Following Federation Equestrian International (FEI) directions, veterinarians in Florida have begun partial enforcement of a long standing FEI rule requiring veterinary inspection for horses arriving to compete at Concours de Dressage International ("CDI") events. CDI is the elite international level of dressage competitions.

The first enforcement of the rule in the United States is being applied this week at the Zada Enterprises CDI at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

Ken Braddick of Equestrian Sports Productions LLC (ESP), hosts of the CDI, provided the advisory to the dressage community.

David Distler, the senior FEI official in the U.S., said that the rule for veterinary inspections was long standing but had never been enforced in the United States. It is, however, standard procedure at CDI competitions throughout Europe.

"The FEI decided last year that it would begin enforcing the rule in the United States in 2008," Distler said.

He continued: "It was decided that veterinarians would take the temperatures of the horses when they arrived at the FEI stabling for the CDI but to forego the rest of the examination that is in the rules and is applied in Europe."

The Zada Enterprises - WEF Dressage Classic CDI-3*/ CDIY / CDIJ begins tomorrow, March 20 and continues through March 23 at the North Show Grounds at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Event Rider Chiacchia Remains in Intensive Care Unit

A statement about event rider Darren Chiacchia's condition has been posted on his web site: "After breathing independently for a few hours, Darren had a temporary set back. He developed a fever and pneumonia causing him to be re-intubated and is now breathing with a ventilator. He continues to receive superior medical care and remains in critical but stable condition.

"The Chiacchia family wishes to extend their appreciation for all the concern and support."

The former Olympian suffered major chest injuries during a fall on Saturday during the Preliminary level round of cross-country at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida.

Both Red Hills Event Horses Suffered Fatal Heart Failure on Cross-Country Course

(abbreviated from a press release issued by the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida)


Tallahassee, FL -- Post mortem examinations completed by
the Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department of The
University of Florida on two horses which died during the
recent Red Hills Horse Trials competition, revealed
the cause of death of both animals was Pulmonary
Hemorrhage.

“Despite the excellent organization of the Red
Hills Horse Trials, the competent veterinary team on site,
and the rapid response in both cases, nothing could
be done to save these horses and there are no known methods
to have prevented these rare occurrences,” the report
stated.

“According to Eleanor Green, DVM, Chief of Staff, Large
Animal Hospital, University of Florida, complete post
mortem examinations were performed on both horses, Saturday
evening, March 15, 2008. The owners gave permission to
share information about the cause of death.

Preliminary results have indicated that Direct Merger,
ridden by Jonathon Hollings, died because of Pulmonary
Hemorrhage, which is bleeding into the lungs.

Leprechauns Rowdy Boy, ridden by Missy Miller, also had a Pulmonary
Hemorrhage; in addition, and during the fall at the jump,
the animal sustained a severe fracture between the third
and fourth cervical vertebrae of his neck.

Fatal Pulmonary Hemorrhage is a rare condition in elite
equine athletes, yet in cases of sudden death during
exertion, it is at the top of the list of possible causes.
The scenario is similar to sudden death from heart
disorder in basketball players, in that the occurrence is
very uncommon, while a heart disorder would be the most
likely cause when a young, healthy athlete dies acutely
during exertion. It is exceedingly rare for two horses
to be affected on the same day during the same
competition,” the report concluded.

Dr. Mike Sigman, DVM, Veterinary Delegate of the Federation
Equestrian Internationale (FEI) which oversees Eventing
Competitions worldwide, headed the Veterinary team at the
Red Hills Event. Sigman said "consideration for horse
safety and response to incidents is always exceptional at
Red Hills. Both incidents were handled as well as possible.
Everything that could have been to aid these two horses was
done. If we could have saved the animals we would have.
Unfortunately no one could have helped them. When speed is
involved in any sport, accidents will happen."

Thomas Barron, Board Chairman of the Red Hills
organization, said, “safety of the mounts, riders and
spectators is a top priority of this event every
year. Our Safety Plan is reviewed and revised after each
Trial. We have Emergency Medical personnel on site as well
as Veterinarians. Nothing is left to chance. We require
riders to wear appropriate safety gear, as do other events
of this kind. But like any sport, there are always risks
involved. We deeply regret the accidents which took place
over the weekend.”

“Since its inception,” Barron continued, “the Red Hills
Course has been designed by Mark Phillips, U. S. Olympic
Equestrian Coach and riders planning to enter the event are
provided a description of the course, terrain and course
difficulty well in advance. Mark Phillips is a
recognized authority in his field. His courses are designed
to safely test the ability of horse and rider. There will
always be situations where a horse will refuse to go over
an obstacle for some reason, and this weekend was no
exception, but the refusals were scattered about the course
as they have been in previous years.”

Chiacchia Update: Hospitalized Event Rider Improving in Florida

A press release just in from the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida announced that the organizers have received encouraging news regarding New York event rider Darren Chiacchia and his condition. The Olympic medalist was airlifted to a hospital yesterday after a fall on the Preliminary level cross-country course that did not appear to injure his horse.

Family and friends at the hospital report that Darren is still in critical condition in the Neuro Intensive care unit at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, but is now showing definite signs of improvement.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat newsapaper, quoting a nurse at the hospital, his condition has been upgraded from "critical" to "serious but stable".

An Internet video of a press conference shows the palpable tension in the faces of organizers and USEF president (and former eventing star) David O'Connor as they made statements. The event is apparently banning media access to the competing riders unless formal interview arrangements are made. This sends the media into the crowds to interview spectators, primarily about the dead horses. Most non-horse specialist media representatives are not familiar with horses or the demands of the sport of eventing, nor are many spectators, who may inaccurately describe what they saw or what they have heard.

In one case, spectator comments to the Tallahassee media contradicted the official statement from organizers that one of the horses died "instantly".

One woman interviewed on Florida television compared Darren Chiacchia to Christopher Reeve; the actor's spinal paralysis was caused by a fall from a horse at a low-level eventing competition. In contrast, Chiacchia's brother, Dan, compared Darren to Evil Knievel when interviewed by the Buffalo (New York) NBC affiliate.

According to one report, Chiacchia may have had as many as six entries to ride over the course, albeit at different levels, yesterday. Therein lies another nuance of eventing: to the uninitiated, it may sound like going at the "Preliminary" level would be a pretty easy outing for a horse. Chiacchia's injury did not occur while he was riding one of his international-level horses over the most difficult obstacles. Had that been the case, the Internet's "YouTube.com" site would be lit up with spectator videos of his fall.

"His horse was going over a jump and actually did a somersault. He did it so fast he wasn't able to break away from the horse. The horse landed right on top of him," Dan Chiacchia, Darren's brother, said Saturday on Channel 2 News in Buffalo. "He's had his share of spills. I think he's sometimes refer to him as the Evil Knievel of horse jumping. Seems like there's not a time that goes by where he doesn't break something."

Event riders are required to wear body protectors and certified protective headgear in competition. Red Hills Horse Trials is one of the most highly-regarded events in the sport in the United States.

Eventing in the United States attracted widespread media attention in May of 2007 when a horse was injured on-course at the Rolex (Kentucky) Three-Day Event. The horse was later destroyed and the rider was subjected to an investigation by the FEI (international governing body of horse sports).

But the 2007 Rolex incident stirred concerns about the impact on horses of errors in judgment on the part of riders and the high risks of eventing, which the sport's supporters say are part of eventing's formula of balancing skill, talent and risk with condition, footing, course design, equipment function...and luck.

Injured Olympian Darren Chiacchia Undergoing Treatment at Florida Trauma Center

Veteran 2004 US Olympian event rider Darren Chiachia of New York was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital's Trauma Unit earlier today for treatment of critical injuries suffered at an obstacle on the cross-country course at the Red Hills Horse Trial nearby.

According to the event organizers tonight, more tests are needed and Darren, 42, is being treatment by the appropriate specialists.

Darren was injured at fence 5C on the Preliminary course; his mount, Baron Verdi, was apparently uninjured. The rider was quickly treated by EMS units and transported to the hospital by Life Flight, a medical helicopter emergency service.

Three months before making his 2002 World Equestrian Games debut, Chiacchia broke both hips in the worst riding accident of his career during the cross-country portion of the Bromont event in Quebec.

Darren, who splits his year between Springville, New York, where he trains at Independence Farm, and Ocala, Florida, was in first place after dressage in the Preliminary division when the accident happened. As is common in eventing, he had horses to ride in several divisions, including two in the *** World Cup, where he was in 4th and 12th place behind leaders Amy Tryon and Leslie Law after dressage and one in the CIC*** where he was also in 12th place.

Red Hill organizers have asked that people not call the hospital to inquire about Darren.

Also today at Red Hills, two horses appear to have collapsed and died on the cross-country course. Rider Jonathan Holling's horse Direct Merger went down near Fence #8. "The accident was in no way related to a jump on course," Hollings said in a published statement to the media.

In negotiating the combination Fence #17 A and B, Missy Miller and Leprechauns Rowdy Boy fell. The horse suffered seizures, according to onlookers, after the fall and then died. The rider was not injured.

Owners and riders are awaiting necropsy results from post-mortem testing on the two dead horses at the University of Florida in Gainesville while the entire horse world crosses its collective fingers that Darren's injuries are not as severe as reports make them sound.

Well-wishers can visit the quickly-formed "Best Wishes to Darren" Facebook page to communicate support for him during his recovery.

The Organic Games: Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Events Will Require Largest International Movement of Earthworms in History

Hong Kong is a tiny island. So the pile up of manure and stable waste from the upcoming 2008 Olympic Equestrian Games could pose both an environmental problem and a health risk to the people and animals living there.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club's solution is an innovative manure treatment program. Each day, stable waste will be collected from the stables and “processed”, then “aged” for a week or so, at which time the organic matter will be turned over (literally) to some 80 million earthworms which Hong Kong is importing from Australia.

(No word yet why local Chinese earthworms can’t fill the job. Perhaps Australia has a thriving earthworm breeding industry?)

The numbers are staggering. According to Liu Daping, a spokeswoman for the Chinese affairs division of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), the worms’ castings (excrement) will be harvested and shipped to farms as fertilizer. Each day, 40 tons of fertilizer can be produced from 80 tons of stable waste and that is enough to fertilize a 20-hectare farm for a year.

During the 2007 Test Event in Hong Kong, the system processed 10 tons of stable waste per day. Presumably a new wave of immigrant earthworms will be headed to Hong Kong this summer. Currently 30 tons of stable waste from racehorses in Hong Kong is being recycled each day.

Foaling by Flashlight at Cornell Vet School During Storm Blackout

Trees crashed down around the beautiful campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York last weekend as a powerful storm barreled through central New York. The campus was without electricity for 24 hours, according to a university news source.

Veterinarians were assisting with the birth of a Thoroughbred foal at the Equine Park when the lights went out on Saturday night. The attending veterinarians gathered up flashlights and continued delivering the healthy foal.

A second Thoroughbred foal was born on Sunday, just as the lights came back on.

Carol A. Collyer, director of the Equine Park, said that in her 20 years at the Park, she had never worked through such a long power failure.

Comic Relief: Are We Being Too Bullish on Dressage?

Enjoy a recent Schweppes commercial aired in Europe. Yes, that's Jan Brink riding in the first few seconds. I'd love to know who put this together and who's riding "the bull". Well done!

West Virginia Racetrack Shut Down by Potentially Contagious Disease

March 13 Update: Sometimes there is good news...and today we learned that the filly did NOT test positive for Equine Herpes virus (EHV). Racing and training are back on track in West Virginia!

From the West Virginia Department of Agriculture:

A horse barn at the Charles Town racetrack in West Virginia was placed under quarantine Monday after a local veterinarian reported he was treating a four-year-old filly for neurological symptoms of an unknown origin.

Races and training have also been suspended through Thursday evening, pending test results on the sick horse.

"Because we are unsure of what we're dealing with at this particular time, the Department's state veterinarian, the Charles Town track veterinarian and the racing steward have agreed it would be best to quarantine the barn and suspend events at the track until we can determine what this horse is suffering from," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass.

Test results should be complete later in the week, according to State Veterinarian Joe Starcher.

Don't Miss Stacy Westfall on the Ellen DeGeneres Show!

Amidst all the jokes, viruses, and medical mythology circulating through our emails in the past few months, a few treasures stand out. In particular, the musical kur performance of Denmark's Andreas Helgstrand's Blue Hors Matine's freestyle dressage performance at the World Equestrian Games in August 2006 and, two months later, the amazing bareback-and-unbridled reining freestyle at the '06 Quarter Horse Congress by natural horsewoman extraordinaire, Stacy Westfall riding Whizard's Baby Doll, also known as "Roxy".

Thanks to that widely emailed YouTube video clip, Westfall has been invited to demonstrate her amazing art of horsemanship to a worldwide television audience on “The Ellen Degeneres Show.”

One of those emails happened to land in the inbox of talk show host/comedienne Ellen Degeneres. Producers from the show contacted Stacy and then aired that video clip of the Congress bareback-bridleless routine during Ellen's February 28th show. The clip linked to this blog post is from that show, but Stacy's on to bigger and better things, just two weeks later.

Stacy and Whizards Baby Doll will now appear on the Ellen Degeneres show in person!

A video crew from the Degeneres show will videotape a demonstration ride tomorrow at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center at Griffith Park in Burbank, outside Los Angeles. The actual show featuring Stacy and Whizards Baby Doll will be taped on Thursday, March 13 for airing on Friday, March 14.

Check the map online to find out air times for the “The Ellen Degeneres Show” in your area.

For more information about Stacy Westfall, visit her website.

Click here to download the video for your iPhone or iPod. The video is available in three different bandwidths on the website.

Thanks to Kathy Damrill of the National Reining Horse Association for spreading the word about this. For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit www.nrha.com or call 405-946-7400.

Morgan Horses Receive Rich Endowment at University of Vermont's Historic Farm

The scenic horse farm is located in the beautiful countryside near Middlebury, Vermont.

The University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge, Vermont, has received a pledge of $1 million from the Amy E. Tarrant Foundation. The gift, the largest ever to the historic facility, will be used to create an Amy E. Tarrant Endowed Fund for the Morgan Horse Farm, with $800,000 to establish the endowment and $200,000 designated for current operating needs. Earnings on the endowment will provide funding for the farm in perpetuity.

"We are so very grateful to Amy Tarrant for her gift," said UVM president Daniel Mark Fogel. "The Morgan Horse Farm is an important part of the history and culture of the University of Vermont and indeed the entire state and region. This endowment will give the farm a margin of comfort it's never had in meeting its annual operating expenses and investing in the maintenance of its historic buildings."

The Morgan Horse Farm was given to the University of Vermont in 1951 by the federal government, which had operated the Morgan breeding program since receiving the farm from publisher and philanthropist Joseph Battell in 1907. Battell had begun breeding Morgans on the farm in the late 1870s.

Today, the UVM "government" line of Morgan Horse is considered one of the best in the world. In addition to operating a commercial-scale breeding program, the farm serves as a laboratory resource for UVM's equine science students to learn about foaling, breeding, and animal care.

Tarrant’s past support of UVM has included funding for the Ellen A. Hardacre Equine Center at UVM, named after her mother, and for the renovation of the remount barn at the Morgan Horse Farm.

"Words cannot adequately convey our gratitude to Amy Tarrant for this gift," said Rachel Johnson, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "Our students, the visiting public, and those beautiful Morgan horses will benefit from her philanthropy for generations to come."

The UVM Morgan Horse Farm, The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute of Chazy, New York and the Middlebury Large Animal Clinic of Middlebury, Vermont will host the 20th Annual Reproduction Workshop on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, 2008. Call the UVM Morgan Horse Farm at (802) 388-2011, Monday-Friday, for further information.

(Some information in this post provided by the University of Vermont.)

Arabian Horse Association Forms New Charitable Foundation

(edited from press release)

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) announced the formation of a new Arabian Horse Foundation to meet the growing needs of the Arabian horse community. The foundation will fund previously unsupported areas, such as general education, equine research and disaster relief. Donors will have the option to designate their contributions to a particular category.

“This foundation will provide, for the first time, a way for donors to select how they want their gift to be used,” said Larry Kinneer, President of the Foundation.

Board members decided on the new categories partly based on recent events. “The fires in Southern California in 2007 displaced approximately 4,000 horses. And no one can forget the devastation that Hurricane Katrina caused to both humans and horses. Each of these tragic events left horses without homes, food and water, and in need of medical attention. In the future, when such catastrophic events occur, the Arabian community will have a presence in helping through the Arabian Horse Foundation,” said Kinneer.

When asked about the other categories previously unsupported, Kinneer added, “Research into equine health-related needs has always been important to our breed as well as the entire equine community. We can now focus our financial support, particularly toward genetic problems or ailments that are unique to our breed. And, seeking every opportunity to educate the public about how wonderful Arabians are is always high on our priority list.”

Visit the Arabian Horse Foundation’s website at www.arabianhorsefoundation.org where you can get more information about the foundation or make a contribution.

The foundation’s administrative offices are at the Arabian Horse Association headquarters located at 10805 Bethany Dr., Aurora, CO 80014. Call (303) 696-4500 for more information.

Michigan State Research Team Tests Air Quality in Track Stables

Soldier and horse wearing gas masks in World War I. Michigan State tested air quality in racetrack stables for two years. (Wellcome Medical Library image)

Thistledown Race Track near Cleveland, Ohio can come up for air now. The stable area there has been a test site for the past two years, as researchers from Michigan State University, with funding from the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, took measurements to determine relative air quality inside the barns.

Melissa May, currently a PhD student in MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine’s Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology program, wanted to study the exposure of racehorses to airborne particulate matter and its relationship to mucus production in the airways.

The researchers used the same technology for monitoring stable particulates that is used in human workplaces. In the first year, the team measured the ambient air quality. As expected, the research showed the air quality varied month-to-month and between stables -- open air fared better than closed -- and that stables’ air was more particle-clogged in the morning during cleaning. More interestingly, certain stalls within stables consistently had the highest particle concentrations.

After those observations, Dr. Edward Robinson, MSU CVM’S Matilda Wilson Professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, says, they were able to determine that there is a relationship between air particles and presence of mucus in horses’ air passages. “It was a significant relationship,” he says. But surprisingly, “the most important factor determining the presence of mucus is actually the trainer. When we say trainer, we mean everything else in the stable we haven’t measured.”

Some stables are very busy; others are more tranquil. Some have more horses brought in and out; some have lights on all night. “So we’ve noticed a lot of different management factors that may account for the severity of mucus and inflammation,” Robinson says.

In 2007, the team measured the personal exposure of horses to dust -- that which accumulates in their nostrils. Horses wore samplers, much as humans do for such testing, and tubes were run up the horses’ necks, down their faces and near their nostrils. They measured 60 case horses and 60 control horses. Those data are now being analyzed.

But May says the study has netted some benefit already. “There are a lot of very easy and inexpensive things we can do to improve the horses’ environment to reduce exposure to particulates,” she says. “In the end, we will be able to give some valuable recommendations to the race track as to how to control particulates in stables.”

Equine Health Breakthrough: Strangles Blood Test Research Completed, New Vaccine Next Step

Nasal discharge is typically an early sign of strangles.

A new diagnostic blood test has been developed to combat the virulent horse disease known as "Strangles", caused by infection with the bacterium Streptococcus equi (S. equi). The breakthrough has come after four years of research by scientists at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, England.

The blood test identifies horses that have recently been exposed to Strangles, enabling it to be nipped in the bud.

The blood test is ideal for screening horses prior to movement, competition or sales and will be available immediately.

The next big step is to produce a new effective vaccine, which would be a major breakthrough in protecting horses and ponies around the world.

The Horse Trust's Chief Executive Brigadier Paul Jepson said: “We are delighted our funding for this project has been so fruitful. This represents major progress in our battle to reduce the suffering caused by this common and debilitating disease.”

The development of the test is part of the campaign ‘Breaking the Strangles Hold’, launched by the Animal Health Trust and British Horse Society in February last year by the AHT’s President HRH The Princess Royal.

The campaign has two main aims: to raise awareness among owners, riders and anyone involved in the health and welfare of horses, and to generate funds to support the vital research in the ongoing battle to eradicate the disease.

Peter Webbon, Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust, said: “Our research scientists have a particular interest in the diagnosis and prevention of Strangles and the development of this diagnostic test is a major milestone. Huge thanks go to all of those who have supported the campaign.”

In the first half of 2007 the Animal Health Trust diagnostic laboratories analysed almost 8,000 samples from suspected strangles cases in the United Kingdom.

Strangles is the most commonly diagnosed infectious horse disease around the world. It can prove fatal. Clinical signs include fever, profuse nasal discharge and abscessed lymph nodes of the head and neck. The swelling of these lymph nodes may, in severe cases, restrict the airway, hence the name ‘Strangles’.

In February 2007, the strangles vaccine in use in Europe failed tests, which showed that samples had dropped below EU approved levels. The vaccine was withdrawn from sale.

Special Report on White Paper Download: Role of Placenta Infections in Premature Foaling from AAEP

Today the American Association of Equine Practitioners Equine Research Coordination Group (ERCG) issued another in its series of white paper reports on special topics in equine research.

"Placental Infections Cause Majority of Premature Foal Births" is the title of a four-page article, which may be downloaded and read in its entirety courtesy of The Jurga Report.

The report contains interesting information about the differences between human and equine uterus reactions, and the susceptibility of the equine uterus to bacterial infection. Induced labor, a common practice in human pregnancy when problems arise, is not a viable option in horses.

The paper urges horse owners to be aware of the warning signs of uterine infection and instructs owners to collect the placenta (birth sack) after delivery for examination by a veterinarian.

To download your copy of the white paper on placenta infection, which is in the form of a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) document, click on this link: aaepERCGplacentaWP.pdf

Healthy Australian Horses at Sydney's Royal Show Will Be Wrapped in Red Tape

The horses are headed back to Sydney! After months of canceled events and confusing veterinary restrictions, the specter of Equine Influenza is being declared history in the state of New South Wales. Let the shows (and races and rodeos and parades and breeding) begin!

As many as 1000 horses are being schooled and groomed for their roles in shows, parades, and entertainment events at the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales’ Easter Show in Sydney later this month.

But can they pass the test to even get onto highways and then comply with stringent paperwork to get onto the grounds?

In the state of New South Wales, horse owners and transporters must notify the state government before moving horses; the system has taken the name THS, for Traveling Horse Statements.

From now until at least the end of June 2008, a THS must be carried on the journey when moving horses by vehicle or traveling to a horse event.

According to the state’s agriculture web site, "Horse events must be registered and the event number recorded on each THS before attending an event, so it is important for event organizers to register early.”

"The NSW Department of Primary Industries has stepped up the monitoring of events to ensure compliance with these requirements,” says a notice on the web site. “NSW Police will also continue stopping vehicles moving horses and checking for a THS. Heavy penalties apply for failure to produce a valid THS."

According to an article in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, horse owners heading to the Royal Easter Show will need to produce a ream of documents and testing information at a special inspection site before entry to the grounds.

The horse show's web site states that every horse coming onto Sydney Showground must either be an EI recovered horse, or an EI approved vaccinate. It is also an RAS requirement that every horse coming onto the Showground be microchipped and have that microchip recorded on the Australasian Animal Registry database.

“Each horse must be accompanied by a certificate of immunity, extensive blood-test and nasal-swab information and a travel plan specifying the exact route taken from the stables to the showground door,” writes reporter Paul Bibby. “Then there is the microchip - scanned upon arrival and checked against all documentation to prevent the entry of impostors. When each horse leaves the showground all of its bedding, food and water will be disposed of and the stables cleaned according to strict Department of Primary Industries standards.”

The public will not be allowed into the stabling area, according to Bibby.

The Royal Easter Show has been the culmination of the show season since 1822 and includes, in addition to the championship horse show, shows for all types of livestock and a wonderful heavy horse show. Most shows were canceled this year because of the disease outbreak.

Retired Racehorses Give Back to Racing Through Research

(via press release)

More than 100 horses currently being cared for by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will take part in a study at Texas A&M University that will attempt to identify genes in horses predisposed to fractures and catastrophic breakdowns.

"We're looking for some kind of genetic trait that may make the difference," said Jana Caldwell, a PhD student in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She is working with a team, headed by Dr. Bhanu Chowdhary that specializes in equine genetics.

"It seems fitting that our horses at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation would find a way to give back," said Diana Pikulski, executive director of the TRF.

The Equine Genetics Laboratory will receive tissue samples from horses in a blind study who suffer catastrophic breakdowns from a group of regulatory veterinarians throughout the country. Researchers will use TRF horses – those with 30 or more starts and did not sustain career-ending injuries.

"The TRF horses are all over the country and have been exposed to all kinds of track conditions,” said Caldwell. “We'll use approximately 170 of them in our study.”

The TAMU team believes that there should be a reason why some horses run 30-plus times and don’t break down as opposed to horses who run 10 times and snap their leg. Among the various reasons, genetic make-up could be one. No organized studies have been carried out up till now to study this aspect. Hence, the team is undertaking this work with the long-term goal to identify genetic signatures that can help to predict which horses might be at higher risk of breaking on the track than others.

The team emphasizes that a study of this magnitude and complexity will take time before any concrete answers will be forthcoming. Nevertheless, the initial phase of the work planned for the next couple of years will certainly improve our understanding of the likely genetic causes than we have today.