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
Shed Ready? Breeding Soundness Exam
March 01, 2000
Reproduction, from Nature’s viewpoint, is a pretty straightforward procedure that begins with breeding and ends with parturition. From the horse owner’s viewpoint, it isn’t all that simple or easy. Many things can happen between those two points Read More
Ringbone in Horses
February 01, 2000
Ringbone, a lameness disease of the pastern and coffin joints, is a degenerative disorder that has no cure. Once the condition occurs, it's always there and will progressively worsen. Read More
Getting A Second Opinion
February 01, 2000
Your horse comes up lame. You call your veterinarian and have him or her come out and examine the animal. Your practitioner prescribes a treatment protocol that is carried out. The horse improves somewhat, but a nagging lameness remains. You cal Read More
Artificial Insemination For Horses
February 01, 2000
Artificial insemination of equines has been around a long time and, through the years, has had a profound impact on the horse industry. Most of the impact has been of the positive variety, but there also have been some negatives. Just when Read More
Growing Up: Estimating Adult Size
January 01, 2000
You look at that little 14-hand cutting mare which you have decided to breed. She's a dandy, you think, but just a little small for general ranch work or pleasure riding. So, you take her to that 16-plus-hand Thoroughbred in the next county and Read More
American Horse Council 1999
December 01, 1999
Horse enthusiasts attending the American Horse Council (AHC) meeting were presented with heady figures concerning the economic impact of the U.S. equine industry. They also heard sobering reports involving the importation of horses with Read More
Transportation to Slaughter: Proposed Regulations
December 01, 1999
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations governing the transportation of horses to slaughter facilities are, relatively speaking, nearing the implementation stage. The transportation of horses to slaughter Read More
Horses Destined for Slaughter
December 01, 1999
One of the most controversial topics involving equines in the United States concerns sending horses to slaughter. Many horse owners and even non-owners are miles apart when this issue arises. There are those who take an extreme stance—that human Read More
Gastric Ulcers
November 01, 1999
Stomach ulcers and lesions can be an affliction in horses young and old. The presence of ulcers often causes severe discomfort to the horse and, in radical cases, can result in death. Attempting to describe ulcers is a bit like trying to describ Read More
Colic: To Walk Or Not To Walk
October 03, 1999
Despite what has been passed down through the years, it is acceptable for a colicky horse to lie down. Furthermore, it is considered unlikely that the horse will twist the intestines by rolling. Read More
When Joints Fail: Osteochondrosis
October 01, 1999
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an affliction, if left untreated, that can have long-term harmful effects on the young, growing horse as well as the performing or racing horse. OCD actually is a disease subset of osteochondrosis and Read More
Antibiotics: Use And Abuse
September 01, 1999
Science, as well as all of mankind for that matter, is engaged in a relentless battle against bacteria. On the surface, it would seem that the human side has the advantage. Billions of dollars are available for research, and some of the best Read More
Parasites And Pastures
August 01, 1999
Pastures and internal parasites. You can’t have one without the other. If you have pastures, your horses will have internal parasites. These pesky little creatures that can erode a horse’s good health have been successful in thwarting the Read More
Leg Conformation
July 01, 1999
Good leg conformation in a horse is a must if that animal is to remain serviceably sound for a lifetime of work and performance. No matter how beautiful or well-pedigreed a horse, it will matter little if the animal suffers from Read More
Thyroid Glands in Horses
July 01, 1999
A properly functioning thyroid gland is highly important to a horse's good health. That much is easy. From there it gets more difficult and complex. Knowing when the thyroid gland is in a state of dysfunction is not easy to determine. Read More
Bone Formation With Exercise
June 01, 1999
Strong bones are essential if a horse is to perform successfully and still remain sound. Bones that are weakened by disease, injury, or inappropriate training regimens can result in catastrophic injury, as anyone involved with racing well knows. Read More
Epiphysitis
May 01, 1999
A discussion of epiphysitis is anything but simple, straightforward, or lacking in complexity. To begin with, there is confusion and Read More
Testicular Descent
April 01, 1999
A discussion of cryptorchidism in young stallions is fraught with controversy. Everyone agrees on what constitutes cryptorchidism, but that sometimes is as far as agreement goes. We know that the condition involves the retention of one or both Read More
Vaccinations for Horses
April 01, 1999
Vaccines have been true godsends the world over. Diseases that once laid waste to large segments of the human population now are held in check by vaccines. One of those killing diseases, smallpox, has been eradicated. Much the same has happened Read More
Spring Tune-Up
March 01, 1999
We are ready for a new season of fun riding or competing. The question that must be answered at this point is this: How ready are our horses? In some cases, the answer is that they are kept ready all year long. Read More
Post-Foaling Problems In Mares
March 01, 1999
Next on the concern list immediately after foaling is the mare. Did she come through the short, but almost violent birthing process unscathed? Or are we facing some post-foaling problems that could compromise her health, her ability to conceive again Read More
Teasing for Successful Breeding
February 01, 1999
A good teasing program is essential for insuring success in an equine breeding program. Without it, breeding can become a hit-and-miss proposition, despite the sophisticated tools that are available to veterinarians and breeding technicians. Read More
Botulism Alert!
January 01, 1999
It was a grim sight. My wife's handsome young National Show Horse gelding lay writhing on the ground, unable to rise. He appeared to be in the grip of partial paralysis that allowed movement of the front legs, but not the rear. We immediately Read More
Fetal Development and Foal Growth
January 01, 1999
Foals born to mares which do not receive proper nourishment during gestation could be born weak and be susceptible to more health problems than the foal born of a well-fed mare. Read More
Regulating Estrus in Mares
December 01, 1998
When a mare is left to her own devices reproductively, she will fall into a rhythm with Nature. When the days are short, dark, and cold, her reproductive system will shut down. When the longer, warmer days of spring arrive, her reproductive system Read More
