Archive of Articles
Edited by Extension Horse Specialist Dr. Ann Swinker, the Penn State Horse Newsletter publishes articles on the many facets of horse health, management, Penn State equine events related to the horse industry in Pennsylvania.
- 4th Annual Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference
- 5th Annual Penn State Equine Science Showcase and Registered Quarter Horse Sale
- 13 States Have Topped the 50 Percent Premises Registrations; Pennsylvania is One
- The 13 states that have topped the 50 percent mark are Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- 940 Youth Competed in PA State Horse Show
- The 48th annual Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show was held October 12, 13 and 14 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA, with more than 940 youth from over 60 counties participating. More than 1040 horses competed in 49 performance and 79 production classes.
- Anthrax Outbreak - Canada Quarantined 134 Premises in 2006
- An anthrax outbreak that began in early July has claimed 637 animals and caused 134 premises to be quarantined in Saskatchewan, Canada, as of Aug. 10, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The outbreak is the largest on record to ever hit Saskatchewan. In Manitoba, Canada, CFIA officials confirmed anthrax cases on 18 premises, with 126 dead animals reported.
- Prevention is critical to assure that your horse stays healthy.
- Being Prepared for the Worst: Develop a Health Care Plan for your Horse
- Blemishes, Lameness and Unsoundness Found in Horses
- Blister Beetle Toxicity
- Buying Hay, The Most Important Ingredient of the Horse’s Diet
- Buying Hay, the Most Important Ingredient of the Horse's Diet
- Hay is the most important part of the horse's diet and makes up 50-100 percent of the horse's diet. It is the best source of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and, most importantly, fiber that is necessary for normal gut function in the horse. The quality of hay varies considerably between different loads of hay. Hay is the bulk of the horse's diet. Grass or alfalfa hays are good sources of roughage. Grass hay is generally higher in fiber and dry matter than alfalfa, but alfalfa may be higher in protein, energy, vitamins and calcium. Many horse owners feed grass hay or straight alfalfa or a combination of grass and alfalfa to their horses. Grasses commonly used as hay are brome, orchard, and timothy. — Long stem hay is the traditional baled hay. It is cut, cured, and baled. It can be bundled in 30- to 80-pound square bales or large, round or long square bales that can weigh tons. Horse hay needs to be of good quality.
- CALENDAR of HORSE EVENTS
- Caring For the Older Horse
- There are many reasons owners keep older horses beyond their usefulness. Some horses have emotional attachment, are valuable breeding stock. Some horses have second careers and make safer mounts for youth and beginners. It takes a long time to train a horse that is safe, trusting and knows its job.
- A total of 15 horses (12 stallions and 3 mares) have tested positive for CEM in the US.
- Clarification on the Issue of the West Nile Virus Vaccine: Vaccine Safe for Use
- Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a sexually transmitted disease among horses caused by a bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis.
- Demystifying Business Planning: Concept, Customer, Cash
- Drought Conditions Can Cause Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle and Horse
- Nitrate poisoning can occur in cattle and horses grazing pastures or eating hays that have accumulated high levels of nitrates during growth. Nitrates accumulate in plants when excessive rates of fertilizer have been applied or when plants have been drought stressed. Nitrate levels tend to be higher in the lower one-third of the plant and accumulate more at night and on cloudy days. Some species of plants that are known to accumulate nitrates include Johnsongrass, sorghum, sweetclover, bromegrass, orchardgrass, lambsquarter, oat hay, rape, barley, wheat and corn. Ensiling forages suspected of having high nitrate levels usually reduces the chances for problems. However, hay continues to be dangerous as the accumulated nitrates do not decrease over time.
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Warning
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis Found in Horse Populations
- The number of counties with horses testing positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has mushroomed to 17-the widest dispersion of the virus in recent memory, according to veterinarian Sandra Norman, Equine Director for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Laboratories have reported 24 test-positive horses this year.
