Chronic pain and lameness resulting from osteoarthritis (OA) and other musculoskeletal conditions are the most common causes of poor quality of life in senior horses. Priorities for senior horse care include early intervention for health challenges (including OA) and making management changes as needed. This means honing your skills for recognizing pain in an animal […]
In what could be a leap forward for equine science, a Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment researcher is helping spearhead a three-year project to map the genetic blueprints of 13 horse breeds and their relatives. Funded by a $765,000 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, this initiative, entitled “Functionally […]
Equine reproduction has significantly advanced in the last 30 years. On the stallion side, the development of semen extenders, processing techniques, and shipping containers has allowed cooled and frozen semen to be shipped worldwide. These advances have been beneficial to the horse industry in many different ways. First of all, it allows for the spreading of genetics […]
Recently the horse community has experienced an outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Multiple outbreaks of confirmed cases of the neurological form Equine Herpes Virus – 1 (EHV-1) has recently resulted in the cancellation of all FEI sanctioned events for the remainder of the Spring in Europe, and has promoted stricter biosecurity measures in places […]
In the realm of equine sports medicine, regenerative therapies have become commonplace treatment options for the injured performance horse. Regenerative medicine is an encompassing term for treatment modalities that utilize the horse’s own body to encourage the best healing possible. This is achieved by promoting the development of increased blood flow to the damaged area. […]
Halle Saywell’s talented Quarter Horse show partner, Gifted Invitation (Gracie) was cast in her stall one day during the 2015 Tom Powers Futurity in Michigan. In the process of getting herself free and back on her feet she suffered a serious injury to her coronet band. Over time, that progressed into a quarter crack, which eventually compromised the entire inside hoof wall […]
Heel pain related forelimb lameness has traditionally been and continues to be one of the most common causes of lameness in Quarter Horses. While traditionally attributed to navicular disease, the introduction of advanced imaging techniques to equine practice demonstrates that a variety of soft tissue injuries in the foot can be responsible for heel […]
Flexural deformities of the forelimbs in horses can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired (develops over time as the young horse grows, or secondary to severe injury). Acquired flexural deformities of both the fetlock and coffin joints are a relatively common finding in Quarter Horses, along with many other breeds. Acquired deformity of […]
Boney fragmentation in the fetlock joint is a condition seen across multiple breeds and disciplines of horses that may impact a horse’s future performance and career longevity. Fragments in the fetlock joint can occur both as a result of trauma and as a form of developmental orthopedic disease (Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) or Subchondral Cystic Lesions). […]
Subchondral bone cysts of the medial femoral condyle (commonly referred to as stifle cysts) are a common cause of hind limb lameness in Quarter Horses. According to a 2012 Equine Veterinary Journal study evaluating young cutting horses by R.D. Contino, prevalence can be as high as 10-13.6 percent. There are two proposed causes: 1) Developmental […]
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a common condition affecting young and growing horses that results in a fragment or fragments of cartilage (and associated underlying bone) within the joint that is damaged and often unattached from the parent bone. While much research has been focused on defining the exact mechanisms of why and how horses develop […]
The stifle of the horse is the largest joint, the most complex and often the most difficult to manage when there is a problem within that joint. The stifle joint of the horse is anatomically comparable to the knee joint of a human. The stifle joint is comprised of 4 bones: the femur, tibia, patella […]