Since 2015, the EDCC has been working to capture and inform the equine community of communicable disease threats in horses. Sarah E. Coleman shares how the Center was created and provides warnings to reduce infectious disease risks in the equine population. Similar to the CDC, the EDCC seeks information about disease outbreaks, posts messages, and informs the equine industry … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 27, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 21, 2025. Link. Most read posts from August 21, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Many problems with extreme conformation in dog and cat breeds. Link. 8 Gen Z habits that make others say, “Huh?” Link. Time management or prioritization? Link. Expert views on the importance of recordkeeping. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 31, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 24, 2025. Link. Most read posts from July 24, 2025 AHD Bulletin – The stares we can’t ignore. Link. Decoding pet insurance: Navigate policies, client questions (podcast). Link. Improve employee communications by these 9 phrases. Link. Difficult customers. Link. Hunter ticks and pathogen … [Read more...]
Spring health checklist promotes consistent routine for horse care
Spring brings new riding activities, fresh grass, mud and weather fluctuations that affect animals daily. Busy schedules and economic challenges frequently delay adherence to wellness exams, fecal testing and vaccinations. Horse owners will appreciate having reminders and checklists like the ones in this article to help manage their horses’ wellness. Consider sending the … [Read more...]
A horse owner’s most difficult decisions
Animal health pros will appreciate Louann Chaudier’s perspectives on dealing with four difficult situations, doing the right thing and determining the most viable set of actions. Economics plays a big role in these decisions, along with any health issues the horse may develop. The article is a good resource for veterinary teams who get brought into a decision-making … [Read more...]
Four situations among the hardest for horse owners to deal with
Keeping the welfare of the horse in mind, Louann Chaudier shares managing through difficult decisions for a horse’s life quality and ways to decide on a course of action. She covers a) costly vet bills, b) firing professional help, c) selling the horse to save money and d) when the owner’s health intervenes. Source: Horse Illustrated, November 1, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: … [Read more...]
Palace of Versailles to host 2024 Paris Equestrian Olympics (video)
Kim MacMillan shares the history of the Palace of Versailles located south of Paris where the 2024 Equestrian Olympics will take place. The venue is sure to provide visitors, participants and TV viewers a breathtaking backdrop to the events. Source: Horse Illustrated, July 17, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Sport horse DVM answers 6 questions about osteoarthritis
Steve Allday, DVM, has been the lameness specialist for many equine legends. He shares his perspectives on osteoarthritis with a focus on prevention. Content like this can help veterinary teams educate their clients about what it takes to keep a horse sound. Social media posts or newsletters offer practices ways to proactively communicate best health practices to horse … [Read more...]
How old is too old to breed a mare?
Most broodmares are generally past their reproductive prime as they approach about 15 or 16 years old, writes Anna O'Brien, DVM, answering a horse owner’s question about a 20-year-old mare. She explains a variety of considerations beyond the mare’s health. The best thing to do to properly evaluate the mare’s reproductive health and capacity is have your veterinarian perform a … [Read more...]
Efforts to save endangered equine breeds
“Heritage-breed horses are not just useful and beautiful—they are an irreplaceable reservoir of equine genetic diversity,” says Charlene R. Couch, PhD. “These animals offer valuable traits that were developed over centuries, such as stamina, unique gaits, hardiness, sound feet and good skeletal structure.” The ancestral sources of many of the heritage breeds no longer exist … [Read more...]
Horse owners’ survival guide for fall and winter
It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom until March, asserts this author. She shares resources to help horse owners and their horses get through winter . The article contains links to relevant ideas and activities: 15 steps to ride in an hour. Link. A winter spa day when its too cold for bath. Link. Curing winter boredom with barn aisle exercises. Link. Source: … [Read more...]
Legal ramifications of lay persons providing veterinary advice online
Animal owners frequently seek solutions for their horses and pets online. Some lay people are exposing themselves to liability by giving advice as if they are veterinarians. It happens all the time in chat rooms, Facebook groups and various internet venues. If a layperson is giving information about a specific condition, they’re diagnosing. That’s practicing without a license, … [Read more...]
Have a horse? Prepare for the inevitable.
Sponsored Content Olympic equestrians faced tough challenges, including having to fly horses into Tokyo from pre-export quarantine in Europe. But the biggest challenges arose when the horses spooked or refused during performances because of sumo statues. Also, daruma dolls startled them and a horse got punched. These challenges underscore the health and behavior … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 19, 2021
Last week’s most read post 40 percent of U.S. wild deer have coronavirus antibodies: study. AHD Link. Cat2VetDay is August 22nd Source: Cat Friendly Homes. Link. In the United States, more than half of our 74 million cats are not visiting the veterinarian regularly. See the resources available for immediate use including, 5 reasons NOT to postpone … [Read more...]
Strategies to help horses work with a veterinarian
There are plenty of easy things to help get your horse ready for a vet day without drama or trauma, writes Allison Armstrong Rehnborg. Even under the best of circumstances, vet day can be a bit chaotic. Teaching a horse the basics of good manners is part of being a responsible horse owner. . . it’s not the vets’ job.” - Ryan Cottingim Source: Horse Illustrated, January 6, … [Read more...]
Horses and riders ready for Tokyo Olympic Games
It’s not easy for Olympians to get to Tokyo with all the pandemic-related health concerns. But equestrians faced greater challenges, including having to have horses flown into Tokyo from pre-export quarantine in Europe as there were no horse flights out of North America that satisfied the U.S. equestrian horse welfare requirements. Schedules and other information about the … [Read more...]
Horse cost calculator helps owners understand true ownerships costs
Beyond the initial purchase price, horse care costs accumulate daily. Helping owners budget for all the costs minimizes the cost of veterinary prevention and maintenance. Veterinary teams can use this calculator to position how pet health insurance or wellness plans fit into a horse care budget. Source: Horse Illustrated, May 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: The calculator is a good … [Read more...]
Understanding Equine Cushing’s disease
Equine Cushing’s disease is a chronic, progressive endocrine disease seen in middle-aged to senior horses. More accurately labeled pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or PPID, this is a disease of the pituitary gland. Anna O'Brien, DVM, discusses the pituitary gland, disease symptoms, diagnostics and caring for a Cushing’s horse. Source: Horse Illustrated, January 23, … [Read more...]
5 horse adoption myths
Although perceptions are changing, there are still some stigmas about adoptable horses, says Pat Raia. She discusses some of the myths that create resistance to adopt some of the estimate 10,000 horses in 800 or more horse adoption agencies operating in the U.S. today. Source: Horse Illustrated, June 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Warriors of the West
Mustangs (wild horses) garner divergent attention now throughout range country. Brick Imerman and photographer Sheila Thompson provide an insightful pictorial on these remarkable animals that focuses on stallions. Source: Horse Illustrated, August 2016, page 52. (link unavailable). Nowhere is the hierarchy of the herd more evident than at the water hole. Stallions often … [Read more...]
Trail riding with dogs
Understand the value, training and best breeds to develop a good trail dog. The companionship for horse and rider is represented in this essay and pictorial. Source: Horse Illustrated, March 2016, page 36. (direct link unavailable) Trail dogs are common on ranches and farms, but less so in areas where people trail ride for pleasure. But a good trail dog is worth his weight … [Read more...]
Solving equine skin problems
Equine skin problems are uncomfortable and perplexing. Anna O’Brien, DVM, reviews common skin problems and what to do about them in this article. Equine veterinary hospital teams and the reps who call on them will benefit from reviewing this article and discussing the various treatment options. Source: Horse Illustrated, February 2016, page 57. (direct link unavailable) The … [Read more...]
State of the Equine Union
Highlights from an American Horse Publications survey that is sponsored by Zoetis show the state of the equine union in this article. It’s clear that the equine industry has stabilized and is perhaps growing slightly in terms of the number of people competing and the number of horses people own,” C. Jill Stowe, Ph.D., director of the University of Kentucky Agriculture Equine … [Read more...]