Les Sellnow

Les Sellnow is a free-lance writer based near Riverton, Wyo. He specializes in articles on equine research, and operates a ranch where he raises horses and livestock. He has authored several fiction and non-fiction books, including Understanding Equine Lameness and Understanding The Young Horse, published by Eclipse Press and available at www.exclusivelyequine.com or by calling 800/582-5604.

Articles by Les Sellnow

Barn Fire Prevention

Farm owners and managers can take certain steps to minimize the chances of a barn fire occurring. Read More

Equine Vision: Impact on Trail Behavior (Book Excerpt)

Once you learn how the equine eye functions, you'll better understand your horse's actions. And you'll have insight managing your trail horse when it becomes skittish for no apparent reason. Read More

Conditioning the Trail Horse (Book Excerpt)

Most people wouldn't think of getting up from a desk job and heading off into the mountains or hill country for long hikes without first getting into condition. The same should be true for your horse. Your trail horse should be conditioned Read More

Stallions Ready for Action

Before your stallion heads to the shed, make sure he's in peak physical health and mentally ready to handle the rigors of the breeding season. Preparing the stallion for breeding season is a year-round job involving proper diet, exercise, and more. Read More

TheHorse.com en Español: Alimentando al Potro en Crecimiento

This is one of a series of articles translated as part of our partnership with A Caballo, an equine publication based in Mexico, and Jorge Murga, DVM. Kee Read More

Choosing a Boarding Stable

First, all boarding stables are not created equal. Some will provide excellent care for your horse and others, quite simply, will not. They'll take your money every month, but the horse might receive minimal care at best. Read More

Sexually Transmitted Disease

Many kinds of sexually transmitted diseases can affect horses; protect your stallions and mares from the most common offenders.

The horse's reproductive system is not perfect and often throws up roadblocks when Read More

Small Farm Efficiency

A growing number of owners want to keep their horses at home on small farms; here are some tips on doing it wi Read More

Bone Chips in Joints

Discovering a bone chip in a joint does not have to mark the end of a horse's athletic career. Read More

The Equine GI Tract: Down the Hatch

If the horse's gastrointestinal (GI) tract were a highway, no self-respecting engineer would take credit for its design. Take a trip along the highway of the equine GI tract to learn more about how your horse digests his food. Read More

Learning About Horses (Stable Studies)

What do you want to learn about horses? There is a plethora of programs available to those interested in the equine industry.

There was a time when an individual seeking a horse-related vocation had few choices for equine Read More

Uterine Inflammation, AAEP 2008

The mare's reproductive tract is similar to the respiratory tract in that both have mucosal immune systems. In both areas, the mucosal immune system is capable of producing excessive quantities of mucus when persistently irritated. Robert C. Read More

Foal Immune Responses after WNV Vaccination, AAEP 2008

Vaccinating 5-month-old foals with a single dose of West Nile virus chimeric vaccine in the presence of maternal antibodies to West Nile virus does induce a cell-mediated response (in the foal). Read More

<i>R. Equi</i> and Extrapulmonary Disorders, AAEP 2008

Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia is a prevalent cause of disease in foals, said M. Keith Chaffin, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor of medicine at Texas A&M University's vet school, at the 2008 American Association of Equine Read More

Feeding the Growing Foal

Start your foal out right to help avoid bone and tendon problems later in life. Read More

Building Immunity

The foal’s immune system is almost a blank slate at birth; researchers are figuring out how to best protect horses as they grow.

The process of building immunity against disease-causing pathogens for a horse begins with a Read More

Competent Horse Care

Timely deworming, immunizations, and farrier work are only part of the equation. Ongoing observation is required to ensure your horse is properly fed and cared for. Read More

Diazepam Levels in Foals

The combination of ketamine and diazepam (Valium) commonly comprise anesthesia agents in horses. However, she added, many surgeons steer away from the combination when anesthetizing mares that are suffering from dystocia (difficult birth). Read More

Embryo Transfer in Chronically Infertile Mares, AAEP 2008

Embryo transfer is a management procedure for producing foals by mares that either are in training or have reproduction problems. In some cases the goal is to allow young performing mares to reproduce while continuing their careers. In other cases th Read More

Breeding The Problem Mare With AI

"In my opinion, a mare that fails to become pregnant by AI with good semen quality and does so by natural cover without human intervention is an example of poor or inadequate breeding management by the personnel performing the AI," said Samper. Read More

Frozen Semen Use in Barren Mares

To rectify the lack of information problem, Barbacini and colleagues launched a study to determine the fertility of barren mares inseminated with either fresh or frozen-thawed semen. Researchers investigated the effects of mare age and uterine fluid Read More

Immunostimulants for Foals

A product that could stimulate the immune systems of newborn foals to better fight infection of Rhodococcus equi would be very beneficial, said Steeve Giguère, DVM, PhD, of the University of Florida, at the 2008 American Association of Equine Read More

DNA Testing for Twins (AAEP 2008)

Tissues from both the recipient and donor mare, as well as from the two stillborn foals, were submitted for microsatellite analysis. The analysis verified that the foals had identical genotypes and resulted from the transferred embryo. Read More

Managing Mules

More people today are turning to mules to take advantage of the temperament and work ethic of these horse/donkey crosses.

The population of mules in the United States is growing, although their numbers are still calculate Read More

Overbreeding

Who is at fault for the "overabundance" of horses in the United States today?

The "unwanted horse" dilemma in the United States is akin to the awakening of a sleeping giant. Just how major the problem is and who or what i Read More