Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Robbie Timmons, whose vision and tireless efforts have helped place more than 20,000 Thoroughbred ex-racehorses into new homes as a result of the 1997 launch and subsequent nationwide expansion of CANTER USA, has received the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 2014 Lavin Cup.
Genetic data could become more accessible to owners and researchers as scientists discover new techniques that offer more “value for money.” And this, one British research group says, could lead to a higher number of horses being genotyped and a better understanding of diseases and disease processes.
Foot problems can commonly cause horses to be scratched from a race, lose training days, overload other structures, and have shortened careers. Functionally adapted for speed and efficient use of energy, the Thoroughbred foot is light and lacks the mass for protection commonly seen in heavier boned breeds.
The 1992 American Derby record setter The Name's Jimmy died March 7 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky.
Thoroughbreds are born to run. But to satisfy this need for speed, the horse must have a strong foundation on which to gallop—we're talking about his hooves.
Paul Bittar, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), outlined his hopes yesterday (Oct. 3) ahead of the sessions at the forthcoming International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Conference, when the subject of the use of anabolic steroids in racing will be considered. The conference will take place Oct. 7-8 in Paris, France.
Eric Mitchell, editorial director and editor-in-chief of The Blood-Horse, shares his thoughts on the recent Texas ruling about registration of cloned foals for the American Quarter Horse Association and how that might impact the Thoroughbred industry.
Osteochondrosis—one of the most common forms of developmental orthopedic disease—in young Thoroughbreds can be directly linked to racing performance later in life, according to recent study results from a team of French equine orthopedics authorities.
Endoscopic exams the upper respiratory tract (URT) are often standard procedure when veterinarians evaluate Thoroughbred yearlings possibly destined for the racetrack. These exams, which evaluate URT function, can satisfy sale conditions and assess a horse's suitability for racing.
When more than 50,000 people cheered Zenyatta to victory in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic, they were responding to the mare's personality and charisma as well as the sheer athletic prowess with which she defeated rivals repeatedly.
Agricultural authorities in California are seeking six animals to receive follow-up testing in connection with a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Animal Health Branch study of equine infectious anemia (EIA) infections in racing Quarter Horses.
Researchers recently investigated two issues related to the adoption of off-the-track Thoroughbreds: identifying individual horse characteristics that influence the length of stay at an adoption facility, and determining any identifiable horse characteristics that make adopted animals more likely to be returned to the adoption facilities.
Exactly how different racing surfaces affect horses--specifically the lower portions of the legs--remains unlcear. Anecdotal evidence suggests that synthetic track surfaces could be more assciated with some musculoskeletal injuries than dirt or turf surfaces. In order to understand the interaction between surface and horse health better, a research team r...
For a Thoroughbred the road to the racetrack is sometimes a rocky one, wrought with physical challenges such as the musculoskeletal condition osteochondrosis (OC). But recently, English researchers have taken a step forward in understanding a potential genetic component of OC.
The British Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), headquartered in London, England, has awarded £1.6 million in equine veterinary research and education grants in 2013, a rise of over 30% on the 2012 allocation.
According to New Zealand equine researchers, 2-year-old Thoroughbreds that are "idle" during training have prolonged times from starting training to entering either a trial (i.e., a practice race with no betting) or a race, but caution must be used to ensure horses get breaks when needed.
One of the most controversial topics in Thoroughbred racing today is the race-day use of furosemide (commonly called Salix or Lasix). The drug is used to lessen the effects of a respiratory condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), characterized by bleeding into the lungs or out the nose during exercise. In the midst of rumor and fact...
According to the results of a recent study, the effects of tapering--the practice of reducing exercise prior to a big competition commonly used in human athletics--could be beneficial to equine athletes as well.
For athletic horses sporting increasingly popular nasal strips, the phrase "winning by a nose" carries new meaning. Research studies evaluating these accessories' efficacy, however, have produced mixed results.
Off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) are popular mounts for riders of many disciplines. But when feeding an OTTB, it's important to understand how he was fed during his time on the track, and how his nutritional needs differ once he begins his new life.
Any owner will agree that he or she considers several factors when purchasing a horse. From conformation to show records and bloodlines to temperament, the number of aspects a potential horse owner evaluates can be endless.
When an equine athlete suffers a sesamoid fracture, the owner will often ask his or her veterinarian that daunting question: "What's his prognosis to return to competition?" A team of researchers recently set out to determine if, in some cases, the size and shape of a bone fragment could help veterinarians give a more accurate prognosis for ...
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