NERN, R-VETS, & UC Davis Students. Photo by James Westin
ENCINITAS, CA – National Equine Resource Network (NERN) and a group of colleagues including equine vets, vet students, and equine rescue sanctuaries gelded a total of 100 stallions and colts throughout central California. This week-long rolling series of low-cost gelding clinics potentially reduced the future horse population of the state by 500, at a time when the continuing economic downturn has significantly reduced the number of good homes available for horses.
“When NERN was formed two years ago to assist the equine welfare community in saving and caring for at-risk horses, our goal was to make an immediate impact,” noted Shirley Puga, NERN Founder and Executive Director.
“Low-cost gelding clinics held in partnership with equine veterinarians were an obvious way as they require a relatively small financial commitment while producing major results by impacting the number of horses that might be neglected or abandoned in the future,” she said.
Horses in Floods, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Wildfires and Hurricanes – Is Your Barn Prepared?
April 5, 2012 – In the last two years, the equestrian community has been hit extremely hard by natural disasters. From the wildfires in both the USA and Australia, to the tornadoes in the Midwest and the South, to the flooding in the East, most equestrians either know someone personally or have experienced first-hand the tragedies and destruction these events can have.
Floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires are generally beyond our control, and any of these events can have devastating effects on communities and individuals. Emergency personnel can be overwhelmed saving human lives, but what about your horses? Horse professionals have the additional responsibility of trying to ensure the safety of the animals in their care. Having a plan can make a difference. We invite you to attend Equestrian Professional’s free horse business webinar on disaster preparedness, and learn what you can do to keep your horses, your barn and yourself safe.
RALEIGH – Equine owners across North Carolina are urged to discuss their annual vaccination protocol with their veterinarians to protect their animals from mosquito-borne diseases.
West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis are endemic in the state and can cause illness or death, but can be prevented with a sequence of two vaccines.
More mosquitoes are expected this year because of the warmer-than-normal winter. Officials don’t know for sure if that will mean an uptick in mosquito-borne viruses or if disease transmission will start earlier in the season. However, State Veterinarian David Marshall says that common sense would dictate being extra vigilant since the diseases are so easily preventable.
1 Year old gray filly (Derby - Lil Miss Lollipop by Navajo) and 5 month old chestnut colt (Derby - Secret Letters by War Secretary by Secretariat).
Loxahatchee, Florida – One would scarcely recognize the severely matted chestnut colt as a six-month-old Thoroughbred, much less a horse who shares the royal bloodlines of his famous lineage with Secretariat, War Secretary and War Admiral. Hardly the size of a two-month-old, the malnourished youngster and another one-year-old Thoroughbred peacefully chomped on some hay in a comfortable and clean stall at Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue yesterday.
Jennifer Swanson and Brad Gaver, co-founders of the all-breed horse rescue picked up the horses near Okeechobee and Indiantown from a pasture. For the past few weeks, a neighbor had been helping to feed the starving horses until the rescue had room.
Comments Needed for the Desatoya Herd & Other News
Wild horses of Nevada
Dear Wild Horse & Burro Defenders;
Please help the Desatoya Wild Horse herd in central Nevada by commenting on the helicopter stampede and removal plan in which the vast majority of wild horse families would lose their freedom later this year. As many as 500 horses could be removed from their legally designated Wild Horse Herd Management Area of over 160,000 acres. BLM is only allowing for 127-180 wild horses, while permitting the year round grazing of 600 head of privately owned livestock.
Instead of preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for just the wild horse removal, BLM has included this wild horse action as part of a habitat restoration project EA. The “restoration” plan calls for the cutting of pinyon, juniper and sagebrush to improve the habitat for threatened populations of sage grouse. Yes, that’s right — destroying sagebrush habitat to help struggling sage grouse populations. It is easy to conclude that the “restoration” might also create more grazing land for welfare cattle. Livestock damage is the major cause of declining sage grouse populations throughout the West.
Chicago (EWA) – The Equine Welfare Alliance has released the first comprehensive analysis of economic forces that have caused major shrinkage of the horse industry in recent few years. The study analyzes the cost of alfalfa, grass hay, corn and gasoline as well as the impact of the extended recession, and explains why breed registries have seen an approximately 50% reduction in foal registrations since 2007.
While all sectors of the economy have been hammered by the economic conditions this new study shows that the horse industry has also suffered hyper-inflation of its costs. The combination has been devastating.
Wellington – March 23, 2011 – The Seraphim12 Foundation is writing a new history for horses around the world as the team fights imposing legislation and raises awareness through actions and education. Seraphim12 represents the essence of the bond that exists between horse and human, a bond that should never be broken. Conceptualized by lifelong equestrians, Manda Kalimian and Pamela Polk head up the Seraphim12 Foundation, reconstructing the bridge that interconnects horses with humans.
In a world where horses are mostly seen for financial value and usefulness, people have forgotten the power and sensitivity horses provide, acting as a mirror to reflect back to us, who we are and who we can be. It was three and a half years ago when Kalimian realized that slaughterhouses were still in existence, an e-mail from a rescue organization changed her world – she knew that she needed to do something.
Fortunate Prospect at Old Friends after celebrating his 31st birthday. Photo by Rick Capone.
GEORGETOWN, KY — MARCH 16, 2012 — Fortunate Prospect, a top sprinter and broodmare sire, was euthanized due to complications of old age on March 15 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY. The son of Northern Prospect out of the Lucky Debonair mare Fortunate Bid was 31.
Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends, where the stallion had been pensioned since 2006, made the announcement this morning.
According to Blowen, Old Friends veterinarian Dr. Doug Byars arrived at the farm within minutes of Fortunate Prospect showing signs of distress and advised euthanasia after a thorough examination.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Animal Care Program will hold listening sessions throughout the United States [including the Kentucky Horse Park] to obtain public feedback on the Horse Protection Program. In particular, APHIS is interested in hearing feedback on the questions below:
• Congress passed the Horse Protection Act in 1970 to eliminate the cruel and inhumane practice of soring horses. How close are we to achieving the goal?
• Can the industry achieve a consensus on how to carry out a self-regulatory program to enforce the Horse Protection Act in a consistent way?
• What responsibilities should USDA-certified Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) have within the industry?
March 10, 2012 – Mountain Grove, MO (EWA) – A bizarre chain of events has followed the contentious meeting of the Mountain Grove City Council on March 6th concerning the Unified Equine proposal to build a horse slaughter plant near the town.
Unified Equine CEO Sue Wallis claimed that the project would be a 50% partnership with Belgian company Chevideco, and that they would invest $6 to $7 million in a plant that would be designed by Dr. Temple Grandin.
But during the meeting city residents became inflamed by a presentation given by attorney Cynthia MacPherson, cataloging the pollution and crime that Chevideco’s Dallas Crown facility had brought to the town of Kaufman, Texas.
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April 5, 2012 – In the last two years, the equestrian community has been hit extremely hard by natural disasters. From the wildfires in both the USA and Australia, to the tornadoes in the Midwest and the South, to the flooding in the East, most equestrians either know someone personally or have experienced first-hand the tragedies and destruction these events can have.
RALEIGH – Equine owners across North Carolina are urged to discuss their annual vaccination protocol with their veterinarians to protect their animals from mosquito-borne diseases.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Animal Care Program will hold listening sessions throughout the United States [including the Kentucky Horse Park] to obtain public feedback on the Horse Protection Program. In particular, APHIS is interested in hearing feedback on the questions below:
March 10, 2012 – Mountain Grove, MO (EWA) – A bizarre chain of events has followed the contentious meeting of the Mountain Grove City Council on March 6th concerning the Unified Equine proposal to build a horse slaughter plant near the town.
