The Horse Doctor

Many of our clients now use wireless video camera systems to monitor their foaling mares ( sure beats sitting by the stall late at night). With recent advances in computer wireless technology , you can put your camera feed on the internet and have someone else watch it for you. I have heard rumors that there are fee for service sites but I haven't found them yet ( any entrepreneurs out there that want to start one?) . The equipment is fairly inexpensive ~$200- $400 but you will need a DSL or cable internet hookup for a high speed connection.There are several sites that will help you host your web camera feed and there are even sites dedicated to those that just like to watch for the fun of it. "Foalnet" This site is set up so that you can get an alert whenever a mare starts to foal...turn up the volume on your computer. There seems to be quite a following of foalings on the internet and people just like to watch them. Even if you don't want to web-cast it would still ...

It was bound to happen. As medical and scientific advances progress it was only a matter of time before someone cloned a horse . VetGen Inc. of Austin Tx was the first to sell a cloned horse , and now plans to sell 22 clones by 2008. They also project that they will sell 100 yearly for about $150,000 each. I'm still skeptical since several recent scientists have been exposed for faking alot of their data and others were unable to reproduce the experiment results. So if you have some spare cash lying around and really want to start over in training your horse( I know theres something you would do differently) heres your chance.

The first documented cases of MRLS have been reported in Florida (Alachua County). For those who were living in a cave in 2001 , there was an outbreak of abortions in Kentucky that devastated the Thoroughbred industry that year, about 3000 foals were lost. There were many Veterinarians and specifically Internists that were overwhelmed with the foals and mares affected. Besides the abortions , there were foals born that soon died with pericarditis (fluid in the sack around the heart) and uveitis (inflammation in the eye). Someone who definately thinks outside the box found a link with this syndrome and the Eastern tent caterpiller(ETC). I for one was skeptical , leaning more towards the camp looking into mycotoxins ( fungal toxins). The ETC feeds on wild cherry and crab apple trees and are cyanide accumulators as well as potentially ergotoxins . While the actual causative agent remains ellusive, several studies have shown that feeding ETC to pregnant mares reproduces the syndrome w...

I was recently asked about the use of Methotrexate in the horse by an owner. She had obtained some ( your guess is as good as mine where it came from) at the recommendation of her trainer( remember ,this is an injectable prescription drug). She was told that it would help her horse move "smoother". Methotrexate has been used for years in race horses as a supposed treatment for arthritis. This is because it's human use is as a chemotherapeutic agent and has been used to suppress the immune response in rhumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. It's use to "smooth" out the movement of the horse cannot be justified. A recent report stated the following "Methotrexate is known to have a negative effect on reproduction. In fact, it is coupled with the drug RU-486, the morning-after pill that causes abortion in humans. When administered as chemotherapy or to treat arthritis, the law requires patients to be informed: "Tell your doctor if you are pregn...

Now here's a worth while cause. I'm working on the board of Directors for this group that has put together a center where we can teach disabled kids to ride and to provide a Physical Therapist that uses horseback riding as therapy. It's called Horse sense and Sensitivity .Having a nephew with Down Syndrome this is also important to me. Since most of these kids have concurrent physical limitations as well, the actions and motions involved in horseback riding are a tremendous benefit to them physically. They can finally find themselves taller than everyone else, moving freely without a walker or wheelchair and having a sense of control . There are several programs working at the center including a physical therapist, a Certified Instructor in Handicap riding giving lessons and a program for emotionally and physically abused kids to learn horsemanship as well. There is a great deal of potential for growth with this organization and I would encourage all of you to look at their...