Outbreak alert website for Equine Disease

outbreak-alert.com
This website is courtesy of Merial.  It may feed chronic worriers a little too much but it seems to have accurate and timely information.

National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) 2015 Equine Study

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), a nonregulatory division of USDA–APHIS–VS, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Statistics Service is planning for the Equine 2015 study, NAHMS third national study of the equine industry. The survey is scheduled to begin in summer 2015.

Your input is essential if we are to address specific needs and information gaps in the equine industry. Stakeholder input will be collected throughout the remainder of 2013 to help determine the objectives of the study. What information would you like to know about the equine industry and what would prompt equine owners to participate in this national study? 

You can provide input on specific information that would be valuable by completing a 5-minute survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NAHMS_Equine2015_I.  Surveys must be completed by December 31, 2013.

Results of previous NAHMS studies of the equine industry are available at: http://nahms.aphis.usda.gov.

Comments and questions can be directed to Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz at 970-494-7261 or Josie.Traub-Dargatz@aphis.usda.gov

Free talks at Marion Dupont Scott Equine Center

The Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center

would like to invite you to attend our 2013-2014 Tuesday Talks

 

 

December 3, 2013:  “Diagnosis and Treatment of Upper Airway Conditions: 

                                 Can Surgery make a difference?"

                                 by Dr. Kenneth Sullins

 

 

January 7, 2014:      “Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Airway Conditions:

                                 Lower airway infections and how to treat them effectively"

                                 by Dr. Martin Furr

 

 

February 11, 2014:  “Tendons, Ligaments & Imaging:

                                ‘No leg no horse’: Advances in diagnosis and treatment of tendon
                                 and ligament injuries".                                 by Dr. Nathaniel White

 

 

March 11, 2014:      “Sports Medicine & Lameness:

                                What can go wrong within your horse’s joint and how we can help”

                                by Dr. Jennifer Barrett 

 

 

April 8, 2014:         “Advances in Holistic Equine Medicine:

                                Ways to complement traditional medicine for your horse’s complete wellbeing” 

                                by Dr. Anne Desrochers (Location TBD) 

 

Seminars will begin at 7:00 pm in the library of the

Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Leesburg, Virginia,

unless otherwise stated.

 Please contact Sharon Peart at 703-771-6842 or speart@vt.edu

for reservations or information. 

 

www.vetmed.vt.edu/emc/

Herbal supplements

Until there is some oversight of this multimillion dollar industry there is no way to know what you are feeding your horse (or yourself)

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/11/222

Seven More Organizations Support AHC Welfare Code

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 9, 2013

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact: Ashley Furst

202-296-4031

acole@horsecouncil.org

 

Seven More Organizations Support AHC Welfare Code

 

(Washington, D.C.) The American Association of Professional Farriers, American Competitive Trail Horse Association, California Professional Horseman’s Association, Canadian Association of Professional Farriers, EQUUS Foundation, Inc., Maryland Horse Council, and the U.S. Eventing Association are the latest organizations to endorse the American Horse Council’s (AHC) Welfare Code of Practice.

 

“These seven organizations have added their support to the 42 other associations that endorse the Welfare Code of Practice,” said AHC president, Jay Hickey. “The continued support for the Code shows that more-and-more organizations are committed to the common goal of ensuring the welfare of the horse in all their activities.”

 

The AHC Welfare Code of Practice is a broad set of principles designed to establish good welfare procedures for organizations to follow to “Put the Horse First.”  The code outlines in broad strokes what principles organizations are committed to in breeding, training, competing, transporting, enjoying, and caring for their horses.  The code encourages everyone to consider the health, safety, and welfare of their horses in all aspects of their activities, including the social and ethical issues. 

 

The AHC’s code is not intended to supersede an organization’s rules or regulations.  The organization’s more specific rules still govern activities sanctioned and regulated by the organization.  Rather the code is a compliment to any such rules and restates the principles to be followed by breed registries, trade associations, various disciplines and the horse community as a whole in pursuing their equine activities.

 

“By committing to the Code, an organization is reemphasizing that it supports the principles for which the code stands and that it is committed to the responsible ownership, breeding, training, competing, use, transport, care and welfare of the horse.  The AHC encourages all members of the equine industry to support and endorse the Welfare Code of Practice as yet another indication to the horse community, the public, the media, federal and state officials that the industry is committed to ‘Putting the Horse First,’” said Hickey. 

 

To review the AHC Welfare Code of Practice, a list of the 42 organizations supporting the code, and a FAQs page, please visit the AHC Website at www.horsecouncil.org.

 

Link to article on AHC website

 

Find the AHC on Facebook

 

Formulating a Ration for Your Horse Seminar

Formulating a Ration for Your Horse

October 16 and 23, 2013 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Harford County Extension Office

2335 Rock Spring Road in Forest Hill, MD 21050

Is your horse's feed providing just the right combination of nutrients? Do you know how to make sure it is? This workshop will teach you how to select feeds that are best suited to your horse and develop a ration to meet your horse's individual needs. Topics will include: an overview of the horse's digestive anatomy; determining your horse's nutrient requirements based on its current body condition score and workload; selecting hay, concentrates, and supplements that are right for your horse; and calculating how much of each feedstuff to feed to your horse each day. 

This is a two-part class so participants should attend both sessions. Registration is $10 per person and includes

printed materials and refreshments. Space is limited, so advanced registration is requested by October 14. This class is geared toward adults and older youth, but younger horse lovers may attend with a parent or guardian.

 For more details or to register, contact Sara or Robin at 410-638-3255 or sbh@umd.edu.

Nationwide Equine EEE, WNV Case Totals Creeping Up

Thankfully Maryland has only had 1 confirmed case of EEE (Eastern equine encephalitis).  Regardless, this article from The Horse has great info on the nationwide status of EEE and WNV (West Nile virus):
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32632/nationwide-equine-eee-wnv-case-totals-creeping-up