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

"Have you heard?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© 2006-2007-2008 The Jurga Report: Horse Health Headlines. All rights reserved.
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International Eventing Kicks On Toward Badminton This Weekend in Wake of Rolex-Kentucky Tragedies

Jump, originally uploaded by billybofh.

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

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

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

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

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

Warning: Lawn Clippings Are Not Good for Horses!

golden light, originally uploaded by Dan65

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

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

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

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

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

Horses can also choke on clumps of grass clippings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From the US Eventing Association's official statement: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Natural Horsemanship Under Scrutiny at British Forum

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

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

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

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

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

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

Churchill Downs and Barbaro Owners Will Unveil Memorial Plans Next Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

(this post is edited from a press release)

AVMA Video Profiles Equine Veterinarian from Puerto Rico

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

States of New York Funds Equine Rehab Center at College

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008 Olympics: Hong Kong Riding High with Equine Special Effects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(edited from a longer press release)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008 Olympics Politics: Anky Speaks Out

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

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

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

She doesn't need a last name.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NY Times Article Shines Spotlight on Eventing Safety Issues; Rolex Kentucky Event Defends Course Design, Frangible Pin Use

Course construction work for the Badminton Horse Trials in England is underway. Here you see "frangible pins" or quick-release bolts, being used during fence construction. Badminton will be held the first weekend in May.

There is nothing like an article in the New York Times to get the whole world talking. And that is exactly what happened yesterday, April 9th, when the Times published an article detailing the high fatality rate in the past year among upper level event riders.

The article was #1 on the newspaper's web site for stories that had been emailed that day.

Twelve riders have died while competing at events around the world. Three weeks ago, former Olympic rider Darren Chiacchia was severely injured in what is called a "rotational fall" (horse somersault) at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida.

Injuries and fatalities at horse trials and three-day events are bad news no matter when they occur, but adverse publicity about the sport is exactly what the eventing world does not want to hear when it is only two weeks to the premier US international event, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, an FEI four-star competition at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

Reaction to the Times article has been swift and damage control may be working within 24 hours of the publication. Quoted in the Lexington Herald-Leader, Rolex organizer Jane Atkinson defended her event's safety record and pointed out that her event, unlike Red Hills, uses a high percentage of frangible pins, or "quick release" fasteners on the otherwise-solid obstacles on the cross-country course.

At ten events in Great Britain this year, a portable sensor-equipped ascending spread obstable (somewhat similar to the Badminton obstacle shown in the photo) with built-in high-speed video will be in use to gauge impact. One of the questions in eventing is the different between vertical impact against a solid fence compared to horizontal impact. Apparently high-speed horizontal impact is linked to rotational falls. The British fence project is called "Competitive Measure".

The Times article also took a shot at criticizing US coach Captain Mark Phillips of Great Britain as a course designer, since some fatalities and Chiacchia's injury took place on Phillips-designed courses. Surely a response from Captain Phillips will be forthcoming.

Chat rooms and forums and blogs across the web are dissecting the Times article, as we all have been forwarded a link to it by people outside the horse world who are curious about the high risks outlined.

It's interesting to note that the New York Times limited its coverage to rider fatalities and never mentioned the high wastage of horses in eventing. The sport should be thankful for that. As a journalist, I have seen countless examples of stories that created a stir because of a human fatality, while a lesser story that details the death of an animal can create a tempest. The recent attack by pit bulls on some miniature horses in Lubbock, Texas is a good example.

The discussion immediately becomes more emotional, but without including the deaths of the horses, it lacks the full dimension of the tragedy. There is a much wider scope to this story.

Eventing is a changing sport and it's impossible to say what effect the shortening of the advanced levels has had. There's no way to predict what comes next, but a slide show of gruesome grisly cross-country "wrecks" on the New York Times web site is not the best publicity a sport could have, especially in an Olympic year. Eventing can't change itself overnight.

Please read the New York Times article, and if you snoop around a bit, you will probably find some letters to the editor or reader responses lighting up their web site as horse people and the public respond.

Here's one from show hunter rider Bonnie Erbe on the US News and World Report. Bonnie is also a commentator on NPR and for the Scripps Howard News Service.

Link to New York Times article.
Link to Rolex (Kentucky) Three-Day Event article.
Link to US Eventing Association web site.
Link to FEI 2008 Report on Safety in Eventing.

Nike Just Does It: Riding Boots Revolutionized...and the Spurs Are Built-in!

Just in time for the 2008 Olympics, Nike holds up a mirror to equestrian sports and says, "Isn't it time you joined the 21st century?"

Double-click (or whatever your browser requires) on the image at left for a larger view of the new Nike "Ippeas" riding boot. Nike is launching a new design of footwear for every sport in the 2008 Olympics.

To quote from the press release:

After listening to insights and ideas from top equestrian athletes, several rounds of prototypes were produced and improved with each effort. The final creation was the Nike Ippeas, a beautiful leather and synthetic boot that provides protection, support, traction, traditional aesthetic and horse control in a total package that also reduces weight by eliminating the need for strap-on spurs.

Nike developed many innovations for the Nike Ippeas, including rubber pads for the outsoles of the boots to improve stirrup traction, an adjustable titanium screw-in spur system (inspired by track spikes) that eliminates the need for additional hardware on the ankles, and a full-length engineered zipper for easy on-and-off.

Perhaps the most revolutionary development is the most subtle: a thin, high-abrasion synthetic rubber material on the medial side of the boot that delivers improved grip on the horse and saddle, which gives the rider better communication with the animal and increased stability during demanding jumps.

Key Features
-Crafted footwear that marries innovation with the classic riding boot silhouette
-Rubber outsole pads to improve traction on stirrups
-Asymmetrical zipper for comfortable on-and-off
-Track and Field-inspired screw mount spurs (three possible positions)
-Full-length Zoom Air cushioning for underfoot comfort
-High-abrasion synthetic rubber on medial boot for control and communication

(end quote from press release)

This might take some getting used to. Hopefully the spurs are also removable.

Welcome to the horse world, Nike! Now, do you anything on the drawing board for my horse's feet?

PS "Ippeas" is Greek for "rider".

Olympic Politics: New Zealand's Mark Todd Says He Would Join Peaceful Anti-Chinese Protests at Olympics

From New Zealand: Mega-Olympic champion event rider Mark Todd is coming out of retirement at the age of 51 in hopes of making the New Zealand team and compete in Hong Kong this August.

His comment on the anti-Chinese protests as the Olympic Torch circles the globe (or at least tries to):

"I think you could probably do more while you were there in a peaceful sort of protest. I think athletes in general would be obliged to do something like that."

Todd was quoted by the New Zealand Herald as having made the comments to The Press newspaper.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee begs to disagree: "The International Olympic Committee has a view, which we subscribe to, that it is not an appropriate forum to be making comment about race, religion, creed or political stances whatsoever."

Todd's comments drew praise from political allies of the Tibetan liberation cause in New Zealand.

Information for this post was gleaned from reports provided by the excellent "Racing and Sports" web site in Australia.

Tense Weekend in New Zealand as US Horse Imports (Falsely) Test Positive for Disease in Quarantine

Ever wonder what it would be like to see the international horse world instantly freeze in its own hoofprints? Is there anything that is more of a threat to the upcoming equestrian sports of the Beijing Olympics than the worldwide protests against human rights violations in China and the political situation in Tibet?

The answer is "yes" and it almost happened last weekend.

I held my breath before reporting on this story because it was THAT big news and I didn't want to start any panic or rumors.

Here's what happened: A group of horses traveling to New Zealand from the USA underwent routine disease testing on their arrival in Auckland last week. So far, this is normal.

If you have ever been to that wonderful tiny island nation as a human traveler, you know that they don't exactly welcome you with open arms. No, inspectors come on board your plane as soon as it lands and spray the whole thing down. Including you. Including the overhead bins. Including the plane itself. An island nation that depends on agriculture for its place on the world map can't afford to let a potentially dangerous virus, a fly, a caterpillar or anything else into their country. And you'd better not have any food in your luggage when you go through customs.

Somehow, New Zealand managed to dodge the Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak in eastern Australia last fall--an outbreak that shut down showing, rodeos, breeding and racing and cost the nation an estimated AUS$1 billion. The Kiwis protected themselves by slamming shut their doors and re-dedicating themselves to strict quarantine protocols. Lax quarantine procedures are being blamed for the leak of EI into the general horse population in Australia.

The American horses that landed last week must have sent the ag inspectors into orbit when their tests came back positive for EI. Of course, the horses had tested negative before leaving the USA. Give credit to the Kiwis' Biosecurity New Zealand agency, though, for deciding that a re-test was needed to confirm the results.

And the re-test showed that an error had occured and the samples had been contaminated by human error. The horses were not infected with EI, and their quarantine proceeded as usual.

Under import health standards, horses are required to undergo 21 days of quarantine before departure for New Zealand, including testing and vaccination, and a further 14 days in post-arrival quarantine in New Zealand, where they undergo further testing. Such stringent requirements are in place to ensure that horses entering New Zealand do not carry diseases like equine influenza.

But what if they had tested positive? An outbreak of disease in horses in Europe, the USA, or Australia/New Zealand could have a disastrous domino effect on international horse transport for racing, breeding and showing, and especially for the prospects of the Olympics coming up August.

Consider this: New Zealand is the only racing nation in the world that is free of EI.

Spin the globe and get another viewpoint: African Horse Sickness (AHS) killed more than 130 horses in South Africa this winter and is having a disastrous effect on horse exports there, as it has been for the past few years. Horses from South Africa ran away with two of the big races at the Dubai World Cup a few weeks ago, but breeders and trainers there would have a tough time selling horses anywhere right now.

Keep an eye on this blog. From now until the Olympics I will keep you posted on the world map of contagious horse diseases. It's a map that many health officials in Hong Kong are watching carefully.

Luckily, I live near Harvard University, where the International Society for Infectious Diseases runs its worldwide health monitoring system. I will be using their data reports, sifting through reports on diseases affecting monkeys and water buffalo and swans (not to mention humans) for news on horse disease outbreaks and other health issues that might threaten the Olympics. They provide a terrific service and I will pass on any news "as it happens".

At this point, I think that world politics are a much bigger threat to the Olympics than horse diseases. Please read the papers, listen to NPR, and scour good international news sources on the web (I recommend Reuters' News Agency excellent Olympics-specialty news channel) to take the pulse of world politics and sports politics. Tibet may not have an equestrian team but the plight of that beleagured nation can and will affect the horses that are out there schooling for selection trials to go to Hong Kong.

I am old enough to remember the ill-fated 1980 Olympics. At that time, the old US Equestrian Team's eventing training center was located down the road here on Boston's North Shore. How well I remember the heartbreak when the US team and coach Jack LeGoff were told that they would not be allowed to follow up their success at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, because the USA cancelled plans to participate in the Moscow Olympics for political reasons.

The Olympics are not just about sports. Please read the news with that in mind, and keep healthy horses on your wish list.

Laminitis: Is Global Warming at Fault?

This pony is demonstrating the typical stance of a horse that is in pain from laminitis. It is stretching its legs out in front to get weight off painful hoof tissue. If you ever see your horse or pony standing like this, and reluctant to move, take immediate action. Call your veterinarian. Laminitis is a medical emergency. (Photo courtesy of International League for the Protection of Horses)

Spillers, the British feed manufacturer, thinks the answer to that question might be “yes!”

In a press release issued this spring, Spillers is warning horse and pony owners of the impact that climate change could have on horses and ponies prone to laminitis. Here’s an excerpt:

In the coming years, laminitis really could be the single biggest risk to your horse’s health. The climate is changing and the seasons are beginning to merge into each other. Milder wetter winters are countered by unpredictable summers that bring about flooding or droughts and this can have a severely detrimental knock on effect to our horses and ponies.

Horses and ponies have evolved to eat a variety of grasses, plants and shrubs that are typically of low nutrient value and in particular are lower in soluble carbohydrate (sugar) but the pasture that we keep horses on today tends to be much richer. With our milder winters too, grass is tending to grow all year round now. Recent research worryingly suggests that the nutrient value of winter grass is now very similar to spring/summer grass.

This less seasonal and more consistent grass growth has many implications for your horse and the way you manage him. Laminitis is one such implication and although traditionally the condition is seen more often during the traditional seasonal grass growth in the spring and autumn, laminitis is now a real risk throughout the whole year.

Clare Lockyer RNutr, nutritionist and research and development manager at Spillers says: “Don’t ignore the predisposing signs in your horse or pony, such as a cresty neck, sore feet or a change in hoof shape, as these are all warning signs. It is at this time that you have the chance to take preventative action because waiting until it happens could prove disastrous for your horse.”

If you think your horse or pony could be prone to laminitis, it is sensible to provide a high fiber, low starch and sugar, low calorie diet and more exercise.

Note: In recent years, many laminitis-prone horses have benefited from a bagged forage product with low-sugar formulation criteria. Spillers makes a special feed just for this purpose; their “Happy Hoof” is the original complete chopped fibre feed to be approved by the Laminitis Trust. However, it seems that it is not sold any longer in the USA.

Ohio Department of Agriculture Receives Patent for EHV Test

The following is an announcement contained within a longer press release issued this week by the Ohio Department of Agriculture:

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (April 4, 2008) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently received its first-ever U.S. patent for discovering a method to identify a potentially fatal strain of Equine Herpes Virus. The patent acknowledges the department’s pioneering work in identifying the strain and gives way to future research on developing vaccines.

Scientists from the department’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) worked quickly to isolate and characterize the Equine Herpes Virus strand that caused the notable equine disease outbreak at the University of Findlay in 2003. The outbreak, which was a rare case of the virus that led to neurological disorder, was fatal for 13 horses and caused neurological disease in 100 more.

The virus, which is common in horses, only typically causes respiratory and reproduction problems. Currently, vaccinations are available to prevent these troubles but are not available to prevent neurological problems that certain strands of the virus can cause. In the University of Findlay instance, the horses had been vaccinated but still fell ill to the neurological disease.

The discovery of the identification method by ADDL virologist Dr.Yan Zhang lead to the invention and patent of a test to identify the Equine Herpes Virus strand that causes the rare neurological symptoms.

In addition, Zhang has laid the groundwork and has even suggested a method for producing the first vaccine to protect horses from neurological effects of the virus.

The federal patent was issued to the Ohio Department of Agriculture on Jan. 29, 2008, by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a division of the United State Department of Commerce.

Could Your Horse Pass the Mensa Test? Psychology Researcher Proves That Horses Can Count!

It's a red-letter day for intelligent horses everywhere. Dr. Claudia Uller and Jennifer Lewis of the University of Essex are presenting their research into numerical discrimination in horses at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference in Dublin today.

Human adults, human infants and nonhuman primates are known to have a range of numerical abilities, but research into other species is relatively new.

In two tasks, modeled on those previously used with human infants and nonhuman primates to examine basic counting abilities, the researchers used apples placed in containers to measure whether horses would make a choice based on the number involved. Time, sound and smell cues were all controlled.

When given a choice, the animals chose the containers with the most apples significantly more often. This result suggests that horses too, and not only primates, are able to spontaneously discriminate between two small numbers.

In the first task 13 horses were tested in their stables, with a series of identical fake apples sequentially placed into two opaque containers in front of them – two into the first and three in the second. The containers were then held up to the horses at head level allowing them to make a choice. Eleven of the 13 horses selected the bucket containing three apples instead of two.

In a second experiment, 11 horses were shown two containers of apples that were matched in total amount of volume but differing in number: one contained two identical small apples and the second set consisted of one larger apple with double the surface area. Ten of the 12 horses selected the two apples instead of a single bigger one.
The results show that horses ‘go for more’ just like human infants and nonhuman primates have been shown to do in similar experiments.

Dr Uller said: “This result suggests that horses too, and not only primates, are able to spontaneously discriminate between two small numbers. This may be another piece in the jigsaw (puzzle) explaining the evolutionary origins of our ability to count.”

Blogger's Note: This is a real turn of events! Throughout history, the ability of so-called "trick" or "wonder" horses to count has always been discounted by academics. Horses like Beautiful Jim Key and"Clever Hans" thrilled thousands and were summoned by royalty to perform, but were denounced from the ivory towers by doubting professors as being manipulated by trickster trainers. We'll never know just how smart those horses were.

Don't Miss: Oprah's Undercover Investigation of Puppy Mills

The Oprah Winfrey Show will focus on puppy mills today, Friday, April 4. Check local listings and learn more about this growing phenomenon feeding the supply and demand for puppies in American culture.

The producers have posted a little preview of the show that you can view online by clicking here.

No, it's not about horses, but many people compare the over-production of horses with the over-production of dogs. I'm sure this will be an emotionally charged show but hopefully you can make up your own mind whether this is animal abuse or free enterprise.

To send Oprah's production company a message about our opinion of the show, go to this feedback form at Oprah.com.

Event Announcements: Vet Schools Open Their Doors, Labs, ORs, Stables...and You're Invited In!

Have you looked inside your local vet college lately? April is definitely "open house" month at most US veterinary colleges. The cloistered back halls and laboratories of several of America's leading university equine hospitals will be open for public viewing, with all sorts of seminars, demonstrations, and fun events planned.

Here's a quick rundown:

Colorado State University's annual James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital Open House will be this weekend, on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5.

Don't miss: Equine back expert and chiropractor Kevin Haussler's demonstration on saddle fit on Friday at 10 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. lecture "Why does my horse do that? Thinking like a horse," by Dr. Bruce Connally.

Also recommended is a Saturday lecture at 11 a.m.: "Can you tell me if your animal friend is in pain? Your integrative pain medicine options, including acupuncture and massage," by Dr. Narda Robinson, Colorado State University veterinarian and complementary medicine expert.

The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine will hold its annual “Open House” on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m at the large animal hospital complex in Blacksburg, Virginia. Visitors will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the 225,000 square foot complex, glimpse the inside of a dog’s stomach, witness equine acupuncture, and learn radiology, endoscopy, ultrasound, equine thermography and much more (!) throughout the day.

At the University of Georgia, the College of Veterinary Medicine will hold its annual open house April 4 (Friday) with veterinary hospital tours, a parade of dog breeds, and rodeo and farrier demonstrations. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with scientific exhibits showcasing every kind of animal from dogs to horses to exotics.

I think all of us would like to tour the new Leatherdale Equine Center at the University of Minnesota; their vet school open house is also this Saturday, as is the University of Illinois's and also Mississippi State's.

Notes from other schools:

• Vet schools at Ohio State, Cornell, Iowa State, the University of Florida, Washington State, and Purdue will host annual open houses next Saturday, April 12.

• The University of California at Davis claims to host the largest vet school open house in the nation! Called "Picnic Day", it will be on April 19 this year.

The Auburn University, , Kansas State and University of Missouri's vet school open houses will also all be on April 19...Missouri will have special guest stars, the Budweiser Clydesdales!

Oregon State's vet school open house will be on May 3rd.

• North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine Open House will not be held this spring because of the construction of the 110,000 square-foot hospital. Last year, the NC State open house attracted 10,000 visitors!

• The vet schools at Texas A&M and Louisiana State held their open houses on March 29; the University of Tennessee's was in January.

How much fun can a vet school open house be? Check out this great little video on the Iowa State web site.

Who's left out? No information seems to be readily available from some of the vet schools, so please check with your local regional college of veterinary medicine.

The World's Tallest Horse Has Died

Rip a page from the Guiness Book of World Records. The Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting today that "Tina" the Shire has died. Recorded officially by the Guiness experts as the tallest horse on the planet, Tina allegedly died while in treatment for a musculoskeletal problem at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama.

She was owned by the Williams family of Niota, Tennessee and had been judged the tallest horse in the world in 2007. And she was only four years old--still growing!

Another Shire, this time in Australia, is waiting in the wings to take over the title.

Rest in peace, big girl.