The number of farms, horses, and total value of sales for all United States-based equines significantly decreased from 2007 to 2012, according to a recent census conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Kentucky horse breeding farms are now eligible to apply for federal relief from agriculture-related natural disasters.
Statistics released by the Maryland Horse Industry Board show the equine industry in the state has assets worth about $5.6 billion, and that Thoroughbreds lead the way by population of breed.
Five months after horse industry officials lobbied for funds from the United States Department of Agriculture's Emergency Conservation Program to assist with property damage to dozens of Central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms due to a January ice storm, the USDA delivered some negative news.
The ongoing investigation into venereal disease contagious equine metritis has now located 21 stallions--one of which is now a gelding--positive for the causative organism Taylorella equigenitalis.
Unlike Hurricane Katrina three years ago, Hurricane Gustav appears to have done little damage to the Louisiana equine population.
It tends to get lost in the shuffle because it's not as sexy as anabolic steroids, race-fixing, or catastrophic breakdowns from a media perspective. But talk to people who work in the horse industry every day, and they'll tell you the issue of unwanted horses is serious and so broad it impacts the entire United States, not just the horseracing industry.
The American Horse Council and the United States Department of Agriculture are co-sponsoring a forum on the issue of unwanted horses. The all-day event will be held June 18 at the department's Jefferson Auditorium in Washington, DC.
The Jockey Club is now offering microchips for sale to interested owners and breeders for use in Thoroughbreds residing within the United States, the organization announced March 12.
Horse farm owners are being asked to participate in the 2007 Census of Agriculture, which will help determine the size and economic impact of the horse industry in the United States.
Weeks of lobbying by the horse industry proved successful the evening of Aug. 2, when the United States House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to remove from the Agriculture Appropriations Act language that could have stymied the movement of horses by cutting off funding for inspections.
The Unwanted Horse Coalition hopes to step up awareness and engage the entire horse industry in its "own responsibly" campaign.
All the equines in New York were valued at $1.83 billion at the end of 2006, up 8% from 2000, according to the results of a recent survey.
Churchill Downs is putting the finishing touches on quarantine and isolation facilities that will house foreign participants set to compete in the 23rd Breeders' Cup World Championships at the historic track.
The National Animal Identification System, still a work in progress but headed for mandatory implementation, could have been useful in tracking and containing strangles in Florida and Kentucky, a veterinarian with the United States Department of Agriculture said.
Chilean group I turf winner Mister Acpen returned to training at Santa Anita earlier this month after more than a year long odyssey stemming from his contraction of a rare disease that was discovered upon his return to the United States from Hong Kong, trainer Kristin Mulhall revealed.
