When horses started dropping dead, farm staff and veterinarians raced to find the cause.
Read MoreThe Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine played a significant role in diagnosing and treating several horses in Louisiana infected with Clostridium botulinum type C, which causes botulism. They discovered that alfalfa cubes were infected with the toxin that originated from one source and were sold in various states, with horses in Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico reportedly falling ill and many even dying from the toxin.
Read MoreA federal judge on Tuesday granted Louisiana and West Virginia’s request to halt implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) in those states until a wider lawsuit challenging its constitutionality is decided.
U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty granted the states a preliminary injunction, saying that the threatened harm to plaintiffs outweighed that of the defendants and that the decision “will not undermine the public interest.”
Read MoreAva Grace Townsend, 9, competed for the National Little Britches Rodeo world finals barrel racing title at the Lazy E Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., July 5-10.
The event boasted competitors from across the United States and Canada.
Equine owners would find life easier this summer if their horses could communicate as well as Mr. Ed from the popular 1960s television sitcom. The talking equine always had something to say; real horses require closer attention to understand their signals.
During the hot summer, for example, it is the responsibility of the equine manager to ensure horses are drinking enough water to maintain good health and performance and to know when to back off an animal’s level of activity, said Kris Hiney, Oklahoma State University Extension equine specialist.
Read MoreFour Cowgirls and two Cowboys from the McNeese State University rodeo team have qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo and will head to Casper, Wyoming, to compete June 13-19.
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) crowns both individual event and team champions. Over 400 students from more than 100 universities and colleges representing 11 regions will compete at this year’s competition.
Read MoreFor decades, LSU AgCenter researchers have sought to alter female horses’ reproductive cycles to help them become pregnant earlier and give birth at the beginning of the year to meet the needs of the competitive racing and show horse industry.
While Erin Oberhaus, an equine physiologist with the AgCenter, had successfully caused mares to ovulate and become pregnant months ahead of Mother Nature’s schedule, no foals were born using these methods until last month.
Read MoreChurchill Downs Inc. officials say they have placed an owner on the no-entry list at Fair Grounds after her horse appeared in a Texas bail lot while still in the entries at the New Orleans track.
Little Red Kid was advertised on social media Jan. 30 by a kill pen, but at that time was still supposed to be headed to the ninth race on Feb. 3.
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