| Winter Whoas |
January/2009 |
The two Miniature Horses and the Miniature Donkey came trotting through the early morning gloom from the frozen field into the spotlight of the barn for their morning hay. As they got closer, I noticed they were moving .
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| Free Horses? |
December/2008 |
The offer of a free horse today often makes longtime horse owners laugh, cringe, sigh, or all of the above. In the past couple of years as slaughter has left the United States, there have been more horses needing homes that are offered for free that used to become part of the slaughter group. Folks in these troubled economic times are finding it harder to pay upkeep on their horses.
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| The Next Step |
November/2008 |
What does the rest of the country think about horse owners--and the horse industry--about now? Probably not too highly, would be my guess. A call from CBS radio network reporter Stephan Kaufman out of Washington state asked if I would comment on the plight of starving horses in the United States. Ouch! If national news media think that horses being abandoned and left to starve is a rampant problem throughout the United States, we have some educating to do inside and outside of our industry.
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| Teacher to the End |
October/2008 |
Years ago my family became the owners of a beautiful, older Arab mare named Danza Mia. She’s been mentioned in this column several times, including a couple of years ago when we had to make the decision for euthanasia. Based on her necropsy, it was the right decision.
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| Beware of Rabies |
September/2008 |
There is absolutely no reason for a horse owner not to vaccinate a horse against rabies.
Numerous states already this year have reported rabies in a variety of domestic and wildlife species. Horses get rabies.
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| Feeding Frenzy |
August/2008 |
It seems like we've spent a lot of time talking about hay in the past year, but for owners of an animal that should consume 1-2% of its body weight each day in forage (grass, hay, or as part of a "complete" diet), this is becoming a critical and pricey issue. For a 1,000-pound horse you need 10-20 pounds of hay per day.
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| A Better Way? |
July/2008 |
Breeders willing to risk disease or injury for the traits they desire are at the heart of the problems we face today.
We've had bad news following bad news lately with the loss of some of the top horses in equestrian sports. The only silver lining to emerge in this dark storm of fatal injuries in Thoroughbred racing and eventing is that these incidents have heightened awareness throughout the equestrian world, and it takes that spotlight shining on a problem for a solution to be found.
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| Horse Feed: Going Green? |
June/2008 |
Are horse owners willing to "go green" in the ways they feed horses and in the packaging of those feeds?
The 24th Alltech International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium covered a myriad of topics for all species, but the theme of the recent conference was "The Greenest Generation." Basically, the company that is best known in the horse industry for being the title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 focused on looking at how companies are using developments in nutrition science to revolutionize the way we feed the world and raise animals.
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| High Cost of Hay |
May/2008 |
The cost of horsekeeping continues to go up, but the pleasure of riding a horse still outweighs the financial burden.
Our wish is that you live somewhere that has plentiful pasture, inexpensive hay, and easily obtained bedding at a reasonable rate. And if you live in such a place, please let us know because there are lots of folks who would like to be your neighbor! It seems every day this spring we have received e-mails from rescue groups or have seen news programs or newspaper articles detailing another herd of horses that was either being given away or taken away because of lack of proper care and feed.
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| Today's EPM |
April/2008 |
What have we learned about equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) since it first was reported in 1995? A lot, and not enough. EPM has been called the "most overdiagnosed neurologic disease in the United States" by some researchers and veterinarians, yet we really don't know how many horses are affected each year by this disease. Estimates are that thousands show actual clinical signs that are observed by owners.
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| 'Loved' to Death? |
February/2008 |
We must do the best we can to create an environment where our horses can thrive physically and mentally.
Horses weren't designed to be "apartment dwellers," said a horseman friend of mine. That made me start thinking about how horsekeeping has evolved.
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| Have We Learned? |
January/2008 |
How can we apply what we know today to make the lives of horses better in the next 25 years?
There's always more to learn, but sometimes we forget to give ourselves credit for what we have learned and to try and figure out how to apply that knowledge to make our lives--and the lives of our horses--better in the long run. This is the 25th year of this publication, which started as Modern Horse Breeding in 1983, then was changed to The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care in March of 1995.
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| Be Prepared |
December/2007 |
Nature can be awesome, and deadly. As horse owners we love to be outside pretty much all of the time. A solitary ride through huge flakes of falling snow. A spring canter among flowers and green grass.
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| To Serve and Protect |
November/2007 |
While horses never cease to amaze me with their willingness to do pretty much anything we decide to do with them--run, jump, cut, rein, piaffe, pen, herd, pull, carry--police horses are a unique subset of this tremendous species. At the recent North American Police Equestrian Championships (NAPEC) in Gaithersburg, Md.
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| A Horse Industry |
October/2007 |
Ownership, stewardship, and the roles horses play in our lives.
Some of the dinner conversations we share with friends are typical, no matter your breed or discipline--good horses, injuries, good shows, colic, funny things that happened with the horses, lameness, and so on. In other words, at a party, the horse people tend to end up in one corner of the room comparing war stories.
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| Have You Helped? |
September/2007 |
The number of horses that can be helped is dependent on the number of horses the industry is willing to absorb.
There's a commercial on television that gives various scenarios of what might have happened if individuals had donated money and skills to various charitable organizations and local benefits. Then it shows what happened when those individuals didn't help.
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| Changing the World |
August/2007 |
How many of us can say, "I have been forever changed by this experience."?
How we see our world varies on where we live and the experiences we have. The Horse magazine brings you not only topics that are relevant to horses and their owners in the United States, but looks at how horses fit into the picture in North America and the world.
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| Lessons Learned, Again |
July/2007 |
Sometimes we need to hear the same things again in order to learn them. Or maybe it's not the learning, but the applying what we've learned. I had to call Dr. Andy Anderson after reading his column this month and put his lessons into practice at home.
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| Horse Abandonment |
May/2007 |
Any domestic horse in the United States that doesn't have an owner who is managing the horse on a regular basis is abandoned. All domestic horses start out life in the United States as the property of someone. Even the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) horses are "owned" by the government.
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| A Life With Meaning |
April/2007 |
The heartbreaking end to Barbaro's saga was all too familiar to those who love horses, but the true meaning behind the story is uplifting and, as Roy Jackson (who owned Barbaro with his wife, Gretchen) says, full of positives and inspiration. On behalf of those closest to Barbaro, I would like to take this opportunity generously extended by The Horse to share some of the encouraging lessons we have learned.
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| Ain't Life Funny? |
February/2007 |
Isn't horse ownership fun (said firmly with tongue in cheek)? Actually, it is. But it's the other moments of owning horses that make our non-horsey friends and family wonder if we're crazy; sometimes we wonder, too! Life's little coincidences sometimes are so ironic that you have to laugh about them; otherwise, they'd drive you crazy. Take for instance that the cover story this month is on moon blindness (aka equine recurrent uveitis, or ERU).
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| What Were They Thinking? |
January/2007 |
Somewhere out there are one or more people--owners, trainers, tack shop managers, veterinarians, etc.--who know where the guilt should lie. A counterfeit clenbuterol product was brought into the United States illegally (by someone), allegedly sold at a tack shop in Texas (by someone) to either an unsuspecting horse owner or trainer, or someone looking to save a few bucks at the risk of their horses' health. Then it was either sold again on the backside of a Louisiana racetrack or perhaps taken to the backside by the original purchaser and used on horses--in some cases with deadly consequences.
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| A Broader View |
December/2006 |
What will you do for the needy horses of the world this holiday season? Through The Horse and The Horse.com, our company tries to publicize many horses and organizations in need throughout the year. We feature an Adoptable Horse from a 501(c)(3) organization each week in our free electronic newsletter, we publicize organizations in need, and we promote fundraisers for groups.
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| It's a Cruel World |
November/2006 |
What defines "cruelty"? The same question was asked of pornography, and the answer was that it's hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. Unfortunately, cruelty to horses has many faces, and not all are what they appear. Some things one person considers cruel, another considers that particular horse's job.
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| Bumps and Bangs of Life |
October/2006 |
It looked bad. My daughter Barbara and a college friend purchased a 2-year-old registered Quarter Horse filly (Casey) last year that had 30 or so days of training on her. They wanted to give the filly some additional training in order to sell her and pay for some school expenses.
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| Shipping and Disease |
September/2006 |
The welfare issues of horses in the United States, and around the world, are of concern to all horse owners. Whether it's starving, neglected, or abused horses in our own county, or the plight of working burros and mules halfway around the world, we care. Sometimes we don't know how to put our caring into action.
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| Highs and Lows |
August/2006 |
The staff of The Horse magazine just got back from the American Horse Publications seminar, where this magazine was named top equine publication in the industry. In part, the judge's comments said: "This extremely tough decision boiled down to who best served their mission and targeted audience.
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| Thoughts on Barbaro |
July/2006 |
No one knows why it happens, but it does. Whether the horse involved is a Kentucky Derby winner like Barbaro, or a backyard companion, it is rare when an owner doesn't face losing a horse to some sort of catastrophic injury or disease during a lifetime of working with horses. The more athletic and competitive the animal, the greater the risk.
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| Equality or Survival |
June/2006 |
How can we help? That was the question asked over and over by myself, veterinarians, and other visitors as we helplessly walked by stall after stall of sick and injured working mules and donkeys at the hospital run by the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) in Marrakech, Morocco. A pair of inquisitive burros that had been rescued from lives of misery and now teach local school students and visitors about welfare peered happily out of the end stall.
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| MRLS: Sharing Knowledge |
May/2006 |
You might think, "Well, I'm not a breeder, and I'm not in Florida, so why should I care about mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS)?" Because it's a great example of how an illness can pop up anywhere and take the residents by surprise. But, it's also a great example of how expertise and experience can be shared to mitigate current problems.
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| The Hardest Decision |
April/2006 |
Several recent occurrences have brought to mind the role of humans as stewards of our animals. These stories don't all have to do with horses, but how many horse owners do you know who don't have dogs, cats, or other critters running around the farm? The first incident involved a baby goat (Missy), one of a pair of twins rejected by a young doe (mama goat). So, into the house came Missy and C.
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| Paralyzed With Fear |
March/2006 |
There have been numerous outbreaks of the deadly neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) recently. There seems to be no rhyme or reason, and nothing that indicates it springs from a single focal point and has spread, like West Nile virus did. A few cases here, a single horse there, an outbreak at a racetrack or barn.
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| Five Years Hence... |
February/2006 |
Morris Animal Foundation has set a tremendous goal for 2006--with input from industry leaders they will determine one priority area of equine health where research should be conducted, seek the most gifted researchers to tell them what specific science needs to be done to learn more about that area, then contribute up to $500,000 a year for the next five years to make those research priorities a reality. The topic of research has not been determined, but it could be colic, respiratory disease, lameness, the gene mapping project, or any of a number of other areas where ample funding for focused research will make a difference to our horses.
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| New Year, Same Resolve |
January/2006 |
A new year has begun. How many resolutions have you made? Broken any yet? Mine include getting home and barn emergency kits together. I've had them in the past, but when we checked after the hurricanes made preparedness an issue in our lives, things had been "borrowed," scattered, unpacked, and used without being replaced. Heaven only knows where the scissors went.
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| Christmas Giving |
December/2005 |
Two months, three hurricanes, five states, hundreds dead, thousands homeless, billions of dollars in damage. How can we understand? More importantly, how can we help? In last month's issue, we devoted many pages to covering what happened in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We've discussed specific and general needs of horse owners and veterinarians in those areas devastated by these storms.
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| Heroes Nonetheless |
November/2005 |
Hard to imagine, isn't it? Two severe hurricanes hitting within a month of each other. Striking within miles of each other. People we know, people we've never met--their lives are changed forever. Their stories have touched us and made us cry.
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| Dreams Can Come True |
October/2005 |
Soñador is Spanish for "dreamer," the title of a movie opening this month that sounds like a natural fit for horse lovers. According to information from DreamWorks, Dreamer's writer/producer John Gatins grew up loving racehorses, and wondering why horses that broke their legs couldn't be saved. Then came the moving, true-life story of Mariah's Storm, a top-notch Thoroughbred filly who broke her leg, but through medical advances and care returned to be one of the best of her generation.
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| Death and Destruction |
September/2005 |
West Nile virus (WNV) was first identified in October 1999 because of an alert zoo veterinarian in New York. The epicenter in 2005, as in 2004, is expected to be California. In six short years, a disease that had never been seen before in North America marched across the country like Sherman's army, leaving a path of human and animal death and destruction in its wake.
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| Jiminy Crickets! |
July/2005 |
If it's the right thing to do, why don't people do it? We assume good people in all walks of life, in every business, ask that same question. Horse owners have a common bond--the horse. That animal gives many of us a livelihood, and all of us some of the greatest pleasures, challenges, disappointments, and yes, even love (whether or not it's reciprocated away from the feed tub).
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| Old Horses, Old Problems |
June/2005 |
It is amazing how many horse owners have one or more horses over the age of 15. My daughter's old Arab mare is 22 this year. She's slowed down (somewhat), has a bit more trouble getting up and down, and has a little more sway to her topline, but she has lost none of her zest for life. She rules the roost, but is the kindest soul on the farm.
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| Online Horse Health Care |
May/2005 |
The Internet has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives; we use it for music, movie tickets, tools, clothing, research, a social life, sport picks, and who knows what else. Information is so easy to find, but there is, as always, a catch--maybe it's just a little too easy.
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| Pointing Fingers? |
April/2005 |
Originally the reason to cover the plight of working horses in Mexico was to open the eyes of U.S. owners to the fact that our horses don't have it too bad in this country, despite any disagreements we have on equine welfare issues. We also wanted to highlight the good work the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) is doing in that country and others.
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| Care and Welfare |
March/2005 |
Twenty-four, seven--that's what caring for horses entails. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, horses are the responsibility of someone. And that's if they are young and healthy, turned out, and don't need special care. If they have physical or psychological problems, or if there are special needs that must be seen to, care can become time-consuming and expensive.
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| What Price Life? |
February/2005 |
A few dollars vs. thousands of dollars, or total loss? Do you sometimes wonder if horse owners should be made to act more like car owners? For cars, it's mandated that you must have insurance to protect you, and the people around you. Bad things happen.
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| Ulcers in Horses: A Pain in the Gut |
January/2005 |
You're cranky. That burning pain is rolling up through your gut and seems to awaken every nerve in your body, and not in a good way. No position is comfortable, and nothing makes it go away. You eat and it seems to ease the pain, but only a little and only for a while.
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| Behavior, Good and Bad? |
December/2004 |
What makes our horses "acceptable" to us, even when they might not be "acceptable" to another owner? As someone who has taken her share of bucks, falls, bounces, and near-misses, at this stage in my life I'm not looking for a new "challenge" or a "project" horse. There are others like me out there.
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| Casting Stones... |
November/2004 |
Accidents are terrible things. A horse buyer (not a slaughter buyer) acquired 50 horses from sales in Minnesota to take to his farm in Kentucky. He's known to other horse owners in his community to buy these types of horses and re-sell them to riding camps and trail riding programs. He hired a double-decker livestock truck to haul them home, and he was riding in the cab of the truck when the truck overturned, tumbled down an embankment, and crashed into a utility pole.
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| Compounded Problems |
October/2004 |
Compounded medications are in the news, on our shelves, and in our horses. Compounding is a confusing topic, but one that has of late come to the forefront of legal and ethical treatment of our horses. Compounding is not bad; in fact, it's extremely necessary.
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| Times Are a-Changin' |
September/2004 |
There are many of us old enough to remember nasogastric tube deworming of our horses. The vet would show up in his truck, haul out the buckets, pump, and hose, and we'd line up to twitch the horses and fill their stomachs full of whatever that stuff he used. That seemed to work pretty well.
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| Drugs: Good and Bad |
August/2004 |
Olympics. Just the word makes us swell up with pride. This month horses and riders from around the world will converge on the birthplace of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The idea of the Olympics is to have all countries send their best athletes to compete on equal terms for honor, and bragging rights.
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| Horses Seeking Jobs |
July/2004 |
Wanted: Caring owner for a willing horse. Former training in running fast and turning left. Recent training in whoa, relax, turn, yield to leg, going slower, and trusting humans. Willing to do most any kind of work, from trail riding to jumping.
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| Welcome A New Delivery |
June/2004 |
There is a commercial on television that promotes a saying: Change is good. Horse people aren't known for their willingness to change, or to change quickly. However, we are quick to accept good ideas whose time has come.
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| HC/HERDA In the News |
May/2004 |
I'm amazed at some of the angry reactions that followed our publication of a news item last month on a hereditary disease called hyperelosis cutis (HC) or hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA). Some of the researchers involved--Ann Rashmir, DVM, MS, Dipl.
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| Captive Bolt Controversy |
April/2004 |
No matter your position on equine slaughter, there is a question in the minds of horse owners of whether a penetrating captive bolt is a "humane" form of euthanasia for horses. Many individuals and groups are dismissing captive bolt as inhumane, even if they have not researched the method, have not discussed it with someone knowledgeable in equine euthanasia, or haven't witnessed it first-hand (not via video, since we all know how clever people can be with computers; 2004 Oscar winner "Lord of the Rings" is proof of that technology).
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| Mad Cows and Horses |
March/2004 |
We know horses don't get the deadly neurologic problem commonly termed mad cow disease or BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). However, we've faced our own plethora of neurologic crises in the past few years, including West Nile virus (WNV), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), and the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). All of these can be deadly to horses, and they can cost us thousands of dollars per horse to treat, with a positive outcome not assured.
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| Glass Half Full? |
February/2004 |
Mud. Yuck! Is there any worse problem that we face in our equine environment than simple dirt and water mixed into a gooey sludge? The English have a great word for going out into the mud--they "slog" through it. Certainly sounds like what happens when our boots sink and slide.
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| Coming of Age |
January/2004 |
We're all getting a little bit older, but as with fine wine and good horses, that often means things are getting better. The Horse magazine is celebrating its 21st year in 2004 since its inception as Modern Horse Breeding. And you'll notice a few things different this year.
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| PMU Horses For Sale |
December/2003 |
Put aside for the moment your belief that the PMU (pregnant mare urine) industry is right or wrong. The issue at hand is Wyeth pharmaceutical company's reduction in the number of ranchers under contract to collect pregnant mare urine as the main ingredient for hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women. Wyeth has cut ranchers from 409 to 264.
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| Indications of Trust |
November/2003 |
Trust is an important part of any partnership, whether between two people or between an animal and a human. There has been much talk about the revival of natural horsemanship. Honestly, it's not a revival; it's a concept new to many people today who didn't grow up with horses.
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| Wanted: Career Revival |
October/2003 |
The talks in the conference room to the group of bright, young attendees might have sounded a bit like a revival to the uninitiated. In fact it was...well, a bit like a revival.
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| Wanted: Crystal Ball |
September/2003 |
Wouldn't you like to be able to foresee the future, even if just for a few little things? Nothing so dramatic as making a killing on the stock market (if that can even be done these days) or hitting the lottery. Simple things would do, such as knowing when the tire is going to go flat on the truck or trailer so you can get it fixed before you get stuck on the side of the road.
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| Is He Worth the Money? |
August/2003 |
Fast, good, cheap. Pick two. That's an old manufacturing adage that I think is very appropriate to taking care of our horses. In other words, you can have something that is fast and good, but it won't be cheap. Or have something that is fast and cheap, but it won't be good.
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| Lights, Camera... |
July/2003 |
What does a movie like Seabiscuit have to do with general horse owners? In my opinion, anything that draws positive attention to horses is a good thing. Universal Studios has given this movie every chance to be a success.
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| Advice and Advisors |
June/2003 |
Who among us hasn't had a problem that frustrated us because we didn't know where to turn for answers? Maybe it's something complicated or technical and there isn't anyone in our area who is an expert. Perhaps the question deals with something controversial, and we're afraid of hurting someone's feelings or making that person feel that we are looking beyond him or her for answers.
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| Depending On the Team |
May/2003 |
Who is responsible for the horse, and what are that person's limits morally and legally for making decisions about his/her horse's health, care, and well-being? Being a responsible horse owner, you tend your horses daily in a way that ensures they are well-nourished, exercised properly, and that their general health is looked after in the means you think best suits yourself, your horse, and your particular set of circumstances. Because of that, you probably have established a "team" of people on whom you depend for horse health advice and services, the leader being your regular veterinarian.
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| New View on Slaughter |
April/2003 |
By the time this magazine is in your hands, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will have released a report they commissioned to answer some of the questions raised in the industry about horse slaughter. The TRF is, of course, strictly a Thoroughbred rescue group.
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| Gambling On Health Care |
March/2003 |
While only a small percentage of you are involved in the industries that have legalized gambling, many of you live in states with legalized racing, and all of you benefit from those industries. A tremendous number of the research projects from around the world that have shed new light on diseases and injuries have been funded by horse racing dollars from tracks and simulcast facilities.
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| Owners On the Front Lines |
February/2003 |
With next month's magazine, you will receive a special supplement that brings you the latest in horse health news from the annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. A record-breaking crowd of horse vets traveled to Orlando, Fla.
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| History in the Making |
January/2003 |
In 2003, we celebrate the 20th year of the publication of this magazine, which began life as Modern Horse Breeding in 1983. In late 1994, that magazine was purchased by Blood-Horse Publications, and it was renamed The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care in March of 1995. While following the tradition of publishing educational articles designed for hands-on horse owners, The Horse went a step further to include all aspects of horse health, care, welfare, and management.
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| What Do You See For 2003? |
December/2002 |
We've certainly had some tough moments in the past couple of years. And despite worry, the industry is strong, but changing. While some of the top-level owners of competition horses--those who own horses as business investments--might be jumping ship because of Wall Street, the everyday man or woman who uses the horse as recreation is holding fast. Call it lifestyle, or a choice of disposable income, or even hard-headedness, but the cost of keeping a horse seems to pale these days in the new mindset that prizes family, home, choice, and independence.
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| Things to be Thankful For |
November/2002 |
With fall comes Thanksgiving, followed quickly by Christmas, then the New Year starts us all over again. Where did 2002 go? Where have the past few years gone? In 1999, we were all worried about Y2K (haven't heard that one in a while, huh?). Late that year, we heard about some strange, foreign disease that was killing birds in New York, then got into people and horses.
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| You Should Be Afraid, But... |
October/2002 |
West Nile virus is here to stay. Just like its cousins Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, it can be controlled, but only with diligence and hard work. West Nile virus (WNV) is deadly in about 40% of the horses which get the disease.
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| Lest We Forget |
September/2002 |
There are tragedies every day; some are personal, some are public, and some are almost unseen. We need to remember all of these tragedies, from small to large, and not forget that we can make a difference to a person's or horse's life, if we take the time to care.
Remembering September 11
I had attended a seminar at Pat Parelli's International Training Center in Pagosa Springs, Colo.
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| Olden Horses; Golden Horses |
August/2002 |
As the Baby Boomers are edging into and out of middle age, there is a push to learn more about the ills and problems of this generation. There is also the discovery that middle age and beyond doesn't necessarily mean slowing down. Today's adults are living longer, healthier, and more active lives than any generation before us; the same can be said of our equine companions.
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| Cooperative Research |
July/2002 |
Symbiosis occurs when two living creatures survive better by working together. For example, there are populations of microbes living in the digestive system of the horse that help break down feedstuffs and create nutrients needed by the horse. The horse in return offers those microbes the perfect place to live and reproduce.
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| Supplemental Cooperation |
June/2002 |
Since last month's column, a big step forward was taken by some manufacturers in the supplement industry. This step forestalled any "en masse" immediate regulatory action; however, it does not mean state feed regulators can't or won't enforce laws currently on the books regarding supplements. The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) called a meeting in Chicago on April 3-4, when 25 representatives of supplement companies met to craft a response to the regulatory threat.
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| Supplement Loss? |
May/2002 |
There are some regulatory rumblings that could change the way all of us feed and take care of our horses every day, whether you are a horse owner or a veterinarian. Many nutritional supplements are sold illegally.
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| Save Horses From Humans |
April/2002 |
I want to believe...Maybe that's my problem. I want to believe that all horse owners take the best possible care of their horses, or at the very least feed, water, and care for them with proper farriery and veterinary attention. Unfortunately, too many decades of reality under my belt make me skeptical that any kind of legislation will change human nature.
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| Competition Medication |
March/2002 |
I don't know of any horse owner who doesn't give medication to his or her horse. However, for those who compete with a horse, the medication issue has been front and center for the last few years, and it's a hot topic again. There is legal medication, illegal medication, and illegal use of legal medication.
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| Understanding Horse Health |
February/2002 |
Our friends and colleagues help us in many ways. We've seen an outpouring of caring for friends--and complete strangers--since terrorists took aim at our country on September 11. I think that has made us a little more aware of how we treat others, and a little more appreciative of those who go out of their way to help us.
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| Time to Get Mulish |
November/2001 |
Because of our closeness to nature and our dealings with domestic creatures that still exhibit many of their wild instincts, horse owners are blessed with a high sense of survival. (How many times have you almost been hurt by horses, but anticipated a situation or reacted in time to keep yourself safe?) But, what we have called "horse sense" in the past perhaps today should be called "mule sense.
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| Help is On the Way |
November/2001 |
Conscientious horse owners do everything possible to take care of their horses. They vaccinate appropriately, deworm on a regular basis, feed a balanced diet, and provide a proper environment for the well-being of their horses. But even the best care can't protect horses against everything.
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| Messages |
October/2001 |
There are three very important topics that need to be covered this month, all of which have to do with horses, horse owners, and horse health. And all have to do with communication and the importance of making sure that the message you want sent is the one being received.
First, officials from the USDA and Georgia met with FEI (Federation Equine International) and Olympic officials in Brussels on Dec.
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| Studying Ourselves |
October/2001 |
The recent release of the national study on the impact of the horse industry on the U.S. economy should make horse owners feel proud (page 6). Our $112.1-billion impact on the economy is staggering, and the $25.
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| Dissecting A Mystery |
October/2001 |
This magazine contains a tremendous amount of factual information about the health problems that are occurring in Kentucky, Ohio, and other states this spring. We also are continuously updating our web site as news becomes available.
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| Share the Feeling |
October/2001 |
When was the last time you brought a non-horse person close to a horse? I mean really went out of your way to make sure they got to see and touch a horse. When was the last time you introduced a "horsey" friend to your breed or discipline? Let them realize why you have horses in your life, whether as an owner, rider, or horse lover.
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| Piroplasmosis: First Step On A Long Road |
October/2001 |
I'm not happy, but I am satisfied. I'm not happy because I still think there are more questions than answers about letting horses positive for piroplasmosis enter the United States and compete in the Olympics. I'm not happy because I think this country should stick by established regulations and not get in a position to agree to something just because other countries think it should be that way.
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| Lest We Forget--Dubai International Equine Symposium 1996 |
October/2001 |
Having just returned from the Dubai International Equine Symposium, and aside from the fact that I'm still having trouble deciding which day it is, I came away from this trip enlightened. While the speakers who presented the 29 different lectures came from either the United States, England, France, or Scotland, there were more than 40 countries represented.
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| Piroplasmosis: Scientific Information Needed |
October/2001 |
Don't you just hate people who complain all the time and aren't willing to do something about the problem? Me, too. I have been harping on piroplasmosis in this column for the last two months, and we've been covering the controversy stirred up by this little parasite for a year or more. Because of this, The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care, in cooperation with several other groups and organizations, is planning to put together a special report on piroplasmosis in next month's issue.
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| Oversight and Interaction |
October/2001 |
The policies are stringent. A hard line seems to have been drawn. Responsibilities have been assigned. Excruciating details have been put forth. Now the big questions is: Who?
Georgia and the USDA decided to grant waivers to allow piroplasmosis-positive horses to enter the United States later this year to compete in the Olympic games in Atlanta (see page 6, and The Horse of January 1996, pages 5 and 6). The officials representing our country--thus all horse owners--put forth a 20-point plan that details everything from housing to feed to time spent in the country for these positive horses.
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| Hope |
October/2001 |
When someone you know dies, it is human nature to become reflective. You think about how that person touched your life and the lives of others around you. You think about your own life--the brevity and uncertainty of each day and what keeps you going in the face of this uncertainty.
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| Who Is My Equine Neighbour? |
October/2001 |
Many of us will remember the story of the Good Samaritan from the gospel of Luke, when the lawyer asked Jesus to define "who is my neighbor?" This question was asked because the lawyer didn't want to have to go out of his way to help someone that he didn't have to help. He wanted to focus his attentions close to home and hearth.
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| Reflections |
October/2001 |
We all miss school, at least parts of it. Before you fall off your chair laughing, try to think back to when you took a course that really grabbed your attention. You could argue and discuss the finer points of literature or math or psychology or science or whatever and really enjoy hearing something you didn't know before.
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| Diversity |
October/2001 |
Admit it. You, the ultimate dressage competitor, have always wanted to ride in a competitive trail class. You "trail ride" your horse, don't you? Open a few gates without getting off. Walk over the railroad ties or logs instead of around them.
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| Bits And Pieces |
October/2001 |
We welcome the new year, and all the promise it holds. We also welcome some new names, but familiar friends, to the 1997 Editorial Advisory Board of The Horse, and we thank those who have served without fanfare for the past year. These busy professionals, whose only recognition has been and will be having their names listed in small type on the masthead on page 3 of each magazine, help guide this publication.
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| Attitude |
October/2001 |
Sometimes we need to get away from what we do to appreciate the rest of the world. Sometimes we have to get away from what we do to appreciate what we do. Looking out helps us look in.
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| Questions of Balance |
October/2001 |
There is no consensus on "alternative" or "complementary" approaches to equine health care. In fact, it would be hard to find a more controversial topic. For every "expert" who terms acupuncture, chiropractic, and other new therapies as advancements, there are others who believe them to be without merit.
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| Injured Riders Can't Help Horses |
October/2001 |
Why doesn't every rider wear an approved safety helmet, and wear it correctly, every ride? Statistics show that most people who are severely hurt in riding-related incidents suffer from head injuries. I guess it's a lot like the debate concerning seat belts -- personal freedom.
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| Info Flow |
October/2001 |
When did we lose our way? How did it happen? What was the reasoning behind horse owners asking questions about health care, putting up money for research to find answers, then being ignored when breakthroughs occurred? I've been asking these questions for years, and there are no answers.
Oh, there are replies.
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| It Starts With One Opinion |
October/2001 |
Have you ever noticed that most conversations start with one person's opinion? Usually followed by another person's opinion, or a variation on the first opinion. Which then leads to a conversation and possibly learning something about each other.
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| Do You Know? |
October/2001 |
Sometimes don't you wish you could just catch up? You know, read that book that would help you understand what horse whisperers actually do; digest that article on foal imprinting before the first one hits the ground next year; watch a video on first aid to pick up some pointers on being prepared; sort of "sit at the feet" of some of the greats and listen to what their experience has taught them so you can learn from their victories and mistakes?
Winter is the usual time for horse people (and gardeners) to sit back and soak up learning about what they are too busy doing the rest of the year. While we try to seek out these professionals and bring their findings to you in every issue of The Horse, the horn of plenty will be overflowing in the next few issues.
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| Horse Talk |
October/2001 |
I was judging the state 4-H team public speaking on equines this morning, and some thoughts popped into my mind. The kids really did a good job--for the most part they had practiced, had done their research, and worked well together. That brings to mind our cover story for this month--Communication.
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| Understanding Horses |
October/2001 |
Sometimes we forget how many different types of equines there are, and how many different things we do with them. As president of the Kentucky Horse Council (I needed something else to do), I was involved this past weekend with our Horse Fair. It is held each year in association with the Breyerfest model horse extravaganza at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
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| Longevity, Legality, And Laminitis |
October/2001 |
My guess is that each of us has had a mentor; one who in his or her age, wisdom, and patience let us make our youthful mistakes, let us find our own way within the boundaries of common sense, and tested us a few times to see just what we had learned. Max was mine.
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| Give 'em Some Air! |
October/2001 |
Before I go into this column on my opinion about the legalization of clenbuterol (trade name Ventipulmin), I want everyone to know I am personally prejudiced in this area of discussion. Clenbuterol is a legal drug for horses with airway constriction.
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| Dual Hemisphere Breeding |
October/2001 |
Thoroughbred breeding stallions truly have joined the jet set. These four-legged Romeos are flying from one part of the world to another these days as they perform breeding duties on both sides of the equator. Hundreds of stallions from other breeds also have joined the jet set, but in less dramatic fashion.
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| Its All A Matter of Perspective |
October/2001 |
The altimeter reading indicates we are miles above the Pacific Ocean. We just passed the International Date Line, heading toward Sydney, Australia. Exotic places like Pago Pago slip under our wings in the darkness while the moon plays peek-a-boo through the high clouds.
All around are people I don’t know, and will never see again.
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| Deductive Reasoning |
October/2001 |
By the time you read this, tax time will be nearly over. The rush to get all those receipts collected and all the itemized deductions documented will be but a fond memory. My guess is that you, like many others and me, had some charitable donations in 1998.
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| Heads Up! |
October/2001 |
Don’t know about you, but I am asked to work with a number of worthwhile causes each year—human and horse. I’ve gotten better over the years at saying no, just because if you get involved in too many things, you can’t do a good job at any of them. That doesn’t mean the ones that get a no are not worthy of time and effort, just that I’m not the right person for that particular project.
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| What Makes It Great |
October/2001 |
Look at the expression my daughter’s leased horse Mason has in the photograph to the right. Haven’t we all felt that way at some time. Having to stand calmly when our brain is dancing around thinking, "Whoa, boy! I know what’s coming!" Anticipation sometimes is fun, like waiting your turn to go into the arena when your horse is going good. Anticipation can be nerve-wracking, too.
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| Decisions, Decisions |
October/2001 |
Information is a peculiar thing. It seems that no matter how much we have, we want more. While some people would have you believe that is wrong (the "ignorance is bliss" crowd), others firmly believe that what you don't know can hurt you..
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| Consequences |
September/2001 |
Do you want a say-so in what the United States government is doing that concerns horses? I’m talking about the issue of allowing equine semen into this country with even less testing than presently is required. Horse breeders know that semen can carry a lot more than the hopes of the next generation.
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| Pests |
September/2001 |
Ah, summer! The weather is blissfully hot in the day, and gently warm at night. Our horses lay in the sunshine, baking away aches and slowing into summertime mode. The insects whiz by our heads anytime we are outdoors.
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| Western Influences |
September/2001 |
DATELINE JERUSALEM: "The Israeli Health Ministry has officially designated the outbreak of western Nile River fever as an epidemic. Since the beginning of the outbreak, 13 people have died and 61 are being treated in hospitals..
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| EPM Vaccine Argument |
September/2001 |
When there is a new drug or vaccine going through the approval process with FDA or USDA, there are certain criteria that have to be met. We discuss this in-depth in our article that begins on page 37. The federal government also accepts input from the public when a regulated product is undergoing official scrutiny.
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| Fact or Opinion? |
September/2001 |
No doubt about it, West Nile is a nasty disease. It causes neurologic problems in humans and horses, and has led to deaths in several species. Since the United States never dealt with West Nile before last year, it's even scarier than some of the more common deadly diseases that we face every year; but it shouldn't be. The human flu kills an average of 20,000 people each year.
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| Happy New Year |
September/2001 |
Sometimes it's good to take a step back and look at the big picture. Maybe you will discover that the way you've put hay in the loft all these years can be done differently to save you time (and an aching back). Maybe you've decided that you want to start lessons again after years of riding on your own; after all, it's tough to be your own coach, and you want to improve.
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| Progress and Prognostication |
September/2001 |
The year's end is a time for reflection, and looking ahead. This has been a critical year for the horse industry. We have been blessed with prosperity, and attacked by diseases and animal rights groups. Our horses are healthier than ever before, yet there are new dangers cropping up that could destroy our livelihoods.
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| Are You Ready For West Nile? |
August/2001 |
The dog days of summer are here, and if weather patterns hold true, it will be hot and humid over a large area of the country. And if disease patterns hold true, humans and horse owners are starting the worst time of year for West Nile. Even though this disease will appear in many places this fall for the first time in U.
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| Spring Clean-Up |
June/2001 |
Rains have gently fallen and the fields are green. Horses are traveling about the country for breeding, showing, or trail riding. Semen is becoming a Fed Ex favorite cargo. Foals are frolicking, and visitors from around the world come to the United States to see and buy horses.
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| EPM: The Next Step(s) |
June/2001 |
EPM research is proceeding at a fast pace across the country, as you will see in our EPM Special Report this month. There are many questions to be answered, and many of those answers result in more questions. Here are some of the knowns, and the unknowns.
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| Winter Messages |
June/2001 |
It will be late January when you receive this issue of the magazine. Winter already has been tough on many of us, and on our horses. Lots of snow, freezing rain, and below-normal temperatures make us wish for more temperate climes where we actually can get on our horses and ride on something not frozen. Someplace where our ears, fingers, toes, and nose aren’t constantly numb by the time we finish chores.
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| A Source of a Different Color |
May/2001 |
With this month's issue of The Horse, subscribers receive a supplement valued at $25 as part of their subscription. The Horse Source is the equine industry's most comprehensive directory of products, suppliers, and organizations. With more than 11,000 listings broken down into 115 categories, The Horse Source is the place that professionals and horse owners alike search for names, numbers, e-mail addresses, and web sites; and/or do comparison shopping among similar products.
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| The Same, but Different |
April/2001 |
How many of you just spent a pretty big chunk of your weekend around horses? It amazes me in talking to other horse people just how many things can be done that involve everything from the Thelwell-sized ponies to upper level dressage horses to eventing masters to trail riding friends, to one-of-those-things-turned-another. At a local schooling show, there was a woman my age who because of injury (yes, with a horse) had to quit riding for a time.
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| Education: Human and Horse |
January/2001 |
The amazing versatility of horses can sometimes leave you in awe. A recent trip overseas brought that point home. In some places if the horse doesn’t work, the family doesn’t eat; in others horses cope with Molotov cocktails, terrorists, and riots. Italy was the site of the World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA) conference, a bi-annual gathering of veterinarians from around the globe.
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| Behind the Scenes |
January/2001 |
This month's cover story takes a look at the sport of rodeo. Whether you are a fan or not, rodeo is one of the fastest-growing equine sports in the world. It is run by very forward-thinking people in regard to animal welfare.
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| Continuing Education at the AAEP Convention |
January/2001 |
T he American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recently held its 45th Annual Convention in Albuquerque, N.M. More than 2,600 veterinarians attended, plus spouses, veterinary students, technicians, and exhibitors. Ben Franklin, DVM, Program Chair, aided by the Educational Programs Committee, Abstract Selection Committee, and staff of AAEP, put on a terrific four-day Scientific Program.
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| Heads Up! Loose Horse! |
July/2000 |
Here we go again! California is trying to pass legislation that on the surface "appears" to be a good thing, but, in reality, will cause harm to our horses. It got through the Assembly without anyone in the horse industry knowing much about what was going on.
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| Competition |
July/2000 |
Competition season is in full swing, and those who don't compete actively are gearing up for those weekend and week-long trail rides. Most kids are out of school by now, and the breeding season is winding down. Longer days and warmer nights are our reward for seeing our horses through another winter.
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| Witches And Brooms: Preparing for Equine Diseases |
May/2000 |
What an incredible time of year! Spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming. Hopes are high as a new season starts, and horses are traveling everywhere for training and competition. Diseases are threatening our horses, our livelihoods, and us.
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| Still Searching |
February/2000 |
What a shame when a horse has to be put down because of illness or injury. Big Ben, one of the top show jumpers of our era, was euthanized because of colic. While he lived to a ripe old age, had been retired for several years, and was in the hands of experienced horse caregivers, he wasn't immune from that devastating disease.
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| 2000 And Beyond |
January/2000 |
Let's not get into the technical argument of whether this is the end of the millennium or if we have one more year. Fact is, the calendar now reads 2000. I've lived to see man walk on the moon and AI allowed in the Quarter Horse industry.
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| Slaughter Horses |
December/1999 |
Slaughtering horses is a topic that offers a no-win situation for a journalist; you’re going to upset someone if you just bring up the topic. So why did The Horse decide to look into this issue? Because horse owners in this country deserve a first-hand account of the process from someone with no vested interest. That way, each owner can make up his or her own mind on the issue.
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| Ulcer Pain |
November/1999 |
Horse owners cause ulcers. What else are we to conclude when one of the world's leading researchers in this area of equine health says that "100%" of domestic horses have ulcers at some point in their lives. Ulcers are one of those problems that probably have plagued horses since we first put bit in mouth and sat astride, but one that we only recognized and were able to diagnose with certainty in the last decade.
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| Dry Times And Other Changes |
October/1999 |
The drought is severe here in Kentucky, as it is in many parts of the country. A couple of my neighbors said they are feeding hay to their horses as if it were January. That's probably true of many owners, especially in states such as Pennsylvania, which is having one of the worst droughts in its recorded history.
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| Horse Deaths; Horse Thefts |
August/1999 |
We’ve had two cases of colic at our barn in the last week. Why? Is it the weather? Is the pasture too dry? Is there too much/too little grass? Was there something different growing/blooming/going to seed? Are the horses not drinking enough? Should the salt blocks be changed? Was the moon in the wrong phase the week before summer started the same day the barn manager wore the red shirt instead of the blue one?
Colic is a frustrating disease. It’s hard seeing our horses in pain and not being able to do much about it.
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| The Problem With Drugs |
July/1999 |
Even though the weather in California is beautiful, you’ve got a horse that’s not acting quite himself. This 2-year-old colt has a fever, has been depressed, has gone off feed, and isn’t tearing the barn down as usual. You know he’s got a respiratory bug, and it’s not getting any better.
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| Y2K |
March/1999 |
If you don't know what the headline means, you already are in trouble. But it's not too late to prepare for the Year 2000. The first thing you should do is go out immediately and buy a bottle of champagne (or sparkling non-alcoholic grape juice) for your New Year's Eve party. Reports are that this will be a dear commodity as the new millennium approaches.
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| Understanding |
February/1999 |
There are many people out there who, in this winter season, are doing more than their jobs. These are the people leading disabled kids around a chilly indoor arena on patient, donated horses -- a highlight of most of these kids' weeks. They are the people planning spring and summer events for the multitude of non-profit organizations scattered throughout the world that assist horses, or horse people, in having better lives.
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| Resolutions |
January/1999 |
Happy New Year! I guess everyone has made his or her resolutions by now...get in shape, ride even when the weather is bad, take more lessons, save enough money to buy that new trailer you've been wanting, be more tolerant of the vocal people of the world who mean well, but are totally clueless.
Okay, I'll confess.
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| Two Futures |
July/1998 |
The first Kentucky Horse Council Equine Industry Summit was a success. There were more than 40 different equine organizations and breed associations which sent delegates, most of whom thanked the state horse council for getting them together on a common topic--equine welfare. (Actually, one person said that the Summit could be termed a success for the mere reason we got a Western pleasure trails group in the same room with the serious dressage people, and all of them were nodding their heads in the same direction!) Unfortunately, the organizers had identified more than 130 equine groups based in Kentucky, ranging from international organizations such as The Jockey Club (registry for Thoroughbreds) down to a several-member riding club.
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| Spring Cleaning |
May/1998 |
It's spring and with the weather warming up and summer right around the corner it's hard to concentrate on one thing at a time. There are several issues that need attention this time of year and it's hard to keep just one on the front burner while the others are simmering.
Slaughter Horses
I am not opposed to horses being slaughtered for meat.
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| Choices |
April/1998 |
Do we have an obligation to our industry? Does our industry have an obligation to us? (Sounds a little Kennedyesque.) If your neighbor has a horse with strangles, would you expect him or her to tell you so you can protect your horses? If you had a contagious disease on your farm, would you tell your neighbors? If you had something that could help your neighbors' horses, and it really wouldn't cost you a thing to provide it to them, would you have an obligation to hand it over?
While these questions seem convoluted and turned upon themselves, there are valid reasons to raise them: CEM and EPM.
Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a venereal disease that can reside in mares and stallions without causing symptoms, can be spread through the venereal route (breeding) and through improper hygiene and management, and in rare occasions can cause abortion.
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| Contagious Disease: Care Not Fear |
March/1998 |
It never seems quite fair when "something" happens that doesn't directly involve you, but ends up affecting you. Vesicular stomatitis did that to many horse people in the last two years. Restrictions on movement of horses caused problems for people who had not been within 100 miles of an infected horse.
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| A Sad Day Or A New Beginning? |
February/1998 |
For those of you who have been readers of this publication for the last few years, you know I am an advocate of horse owners giving money in support of equine research. Without money to pay for personnel, animals, equipment, and all the other things that make research possible, there will be no solutions for the new or age-old health problems of our horses.
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| Damming The Info Flow |
January/1998 |
Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, was one of the industry leaders who was asked to provide veterinary comment on editor Kimberly S. Herbert's
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| If A Horse Dies on the Highway, Does Anyone Hear? |
August/1997 |
Fall is upon us, and soon it will be winter. Fall marks a dying time, when trees lose their leaves...and horses lose their lives. It's tough for some people to feed their horses through another winter. Some older animals probably wouldn't have a pleasant time of it anyway, since they don't have as much ability to chew, digest, or forage.
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| Working For Welfare |
June/1997 |
Animal welfare and animal rights are not the same; neither are the people who support each cause. Animal welfare means horse people making sure horses are kept and utilized in a humane and safe manner, with consideration given to the animals' health and well-being, both mentally and physically. Animal rights, on the other hand, means that horses have the same rights as you and me.
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| Stewardship |
March/1997 |
PO Box 911108, Lexington, Ky., 40591-1108; E-mail kherbert@thehorse.com. There will be quite a few people wanting to communicate with me after reading this column, so I thought I'd get the housekeeping part out of the way early so we can all concentrate on the topic at hand--PMU ranching.
I listened to the animal rights and welfare people at the American Veterinary Medical Association meeting last year rant and rave about these "hapless mares" and the "horrid life they live" in confinement just to produce a product used in human medicine.
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| Reach Out |
September/1996 |
By the time you receive this magazine, October will be drawing to a close. For many people, thoughts will be turning to slowing down for at least a couple of months. Trophies and ribbons will be hung with pride or tucked away with others.
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| Do You Care About Horses? |
September/1996 |
If someone asked readers of this publication if they cared about horses, the reactions could range from a mildly baffled "Of course," to an offended "Of course!" Same words, close to the same meaning, but a much different emphasis. The same is true of those who deal with equine issues from the "rights" versus the "welfare" stance.
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