Tag: Horse Care

With the equine veterinary industry facing a shortage of new veterinarians and the exit of existing veterinarians, Boehringer Ingelheim is launching a program to help transform the future of equine veterinary practice.

“Equine health care as a whole is already feeling the pinch from having fewer veterinarians in the field, and we know even greater challenges are ahead if this trend continues,” says Amanda McAvoy, Executive Director, U.S. Equine Business. “To help address this issue, we've created The Stable Life, an initiative that provides tools and resources that practitioners can use to help their practices thrive, ultimately leading to more of them staying in the equine veterinary field.”

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), only a small percentage of new veterinary school graduates pursue an equine focus. Of these new equine practitioners, 50 percent leave for small animal practice or leave the field entirely after just five years.

“We know that these new graduates initially chose to pursue veterinary medicine because of their desire to improve the health of horses,” says McAvoy. “These practitioners have pointed to burnout, fatigue, lack of life/work balance and the challenges of running a business as some of the reasons for leaving the equine practice.”

Boehringer Ingelheim has had a history of supporting practitioners that reaches beyond being partners in equine health care. On an ongoing basis, Boehringer Ingelheim sponsors working sessions throughout the country featuring industry experts on such topics as:

• 12 Steps to Transforming Your Equine Practice
• Rockstar Resilience for the Equine Veterinarian
• Five Simple Ways to Increase Profitability
• The Neuroscience of Difficult Conversations
• Creating a Sustainable Life in Equine Practice

During the 2022 AAEP convention, Jamie Pribyl, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim Professional Services Veterinarian, moderated the Lifestyle and Wellness Panel, with discussions centered around time management, boundaries, communication and professional guilt.

“We will continue to support the AAEP sustainability efforts and provide ongoing webinars and working sessions on these topics,” says McAvoy. “But we are also looking for more ways to support equine practitioners through The Stable Life.”

As an initial step, AAEP attendees were invited to complete a confidential survey covering such topics as personal, financial and career challenges. Content delivery preference was also addressed.

“We think we know what veterinarians need in order to thrive in this business, but we want to be sure we are addressing as many needs as we can moving forward,” says McAvoy. “By having the veterinary community participate in the process of building The Stable Life, we think we will develop the most effective tools possible and be able to deliver them in a meaningful and impactful way.”

Click here to complete the survey, which will be open until February 28, 2023.

The post Boehringer Ingelheim Launches ‘The Stable Life’ To Help Equine Practices Thrive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) Board of Directors voted at its meeting Dec. 14 to add six new directors in 2023. For a second consecutive year, Jeffrey Bloom, managing partner of Bloom Racing Stable, will serve as president of the TAA.

“It has been incredibly humbling and rewarding to serve as President of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance over the past year, and I am honored to uphold my role in 2023. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the six new directors joining our cause. As Directors for the TAA, it is our duty to act as liaisons for aftercare within the racing industry and to facilitate the TAA's mission to accredit, inspect, and award grants to our 80+ accredited aftercare organizations.”

TAA directors may serve up to five consecutive years and after five years are required to rotate off the board for a minimum of two years before being eligible for renomination. However, directors are still eligible to serve on TAA committees. James G. Bell, former president and racing manager of Godolphin, served as TAA president in 2014, 2021, and remained on the TAA's board and executive committee for 2022 as immediate past president. After devoting five years of their time, expertise, and resources, Bell, Walt Robertson, Susie Hart, and Nicole Walker will rotate off the TAA Board of Directors come January 2023.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance board all these years,” said Bell. “As the old saying goes: 'we've come a long way, but we have a long way to go!' Awareness and Aftercare are now in the same sentence, and the focus now must shift to obligation and sustainability. We are grateful to all those that have embraced this very important component to our industry.”

Bloom is joined on the executive committee by TAA Vice Presidents Craig Bandoroff, owner of Denali Stud and Madeline Auerbach, founding board member of the TAA, founder of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), and a Thoroughbred owner and breeder; TAA Treasurer Melissa Hicks, director of tax services at Dean Dorton; TAA Secretary Walter Robertson, attorney at Stites & Harbison; Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing and president of 1/ST Content; Terry Finley, founder and chief executive officer of West Point Thoroughbreds.

The directors beginning service in 2023 are: Price Bell, general manager of Mill Ridge Farm; Dr. Bonnie Comerford, DVM, veterinarian at Tiegland, Franklin, & Brokken; Joe De Francis, HISA director and managing partner of Gainesville Associates, LLC; Georganne Hale—returning for a second term–vice president of racing development of Maryland Jockey Club; Ric Waldman, president of Ric Waldman Thoroughbred Consulting, Inc, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association member; Mark Simendinger, former development manager and general manager of Kentucky Speedway, former member of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and former president of Turfway Park.

They join current TAA Directors: Bloom, Madeline Auerbach, Craig Bandoroff, Laura Barillaro, Dr. Jeffrey Berk, Simon Bray, Donna Brothers, Boyd Browning, Aidan Butler, Tom Cannell, Jack Damico, Terry Finley, Melissa Hicks, John Keitt, Chip McGaughey, Josh Rubenstein, Richard Schosberg, Tom Ventura.

About the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

Based in Lexington, KY, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders' Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $28.1 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 81 aftercare organizations comprised of approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. To learn more about the TAA, visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.

The post Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Board Of Directors Elects Six New Members appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Many people deck their barn aisles with festive decorations to get in the holiday spirit, but it's prudent to be sure the items being used are safe for horses and other animals often found in barns: dogs and cats.

Spruce and pines in the form of wreaths or boughs are fine, but any sap ingested might cause a mild irritation to soft mouth tissue. These items are safe to use, but are best hung out of reach of inquisitive equines. 

Holly leaves and berries are mildly toxic to horses, but pose more of a risk to dogs and cats. Animals that ingest holly may have severe gastrointestinal issues, according to The Horse.

One seasonal plant that should be avoided completely is mistletoe. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing, cardiovascular collapse, a slow heart rate, and erratic behavior in horses, dogs, and cats. 

Poinsettias, often used in holiday décor, are mildly toxic to horses, dogs, and cats, but only if ingested in large quantities. 

Additional décor options, like tinsel, can block the digestive tract if ingested; lights may pose electrocution and fire risks. It's wise to consider using LED lights, which tend to run cooler; every light should be outdoor-use safe. If using a live Christmas tree, it should be watered regularly to prevent combustion. 

Read more at The Horse. 

The post Dangerous Décor: How To Keep Horses Safe This Holiday Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Testing of horses conducted on Tuesday at Churchill Downs enabled the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) to confidently release two groups of horses that had been previously exposed to EHV-1, according to an alert released by the Equine Disease Communication Center.

Exposed horses under the care of three trainers had been placed in separate barns. Horses under care of two of the trainers were sampled Tuesday (blood and nasal swabs) with negative results reported. With these results and having had no known exposure to a clinical horse in 14 days, the KDA released these four horses.

Additionally, the KDA has successfully demonstrated by testing that four of the previous asymptomatic positive horses no longer have detectable EHV-1 DNA in blood or nasal swab, so those four have also been released.

The index case first showed clinical signs on Nov. 28, 2022, resulting in a quarantine of 13 horses in Barn 37.  Testing of those 13 horses did identify five additional positive horses, which were immediately placed in secured isolation at Barn 42.

As of Dec. 14, the KDA continues to have three exposed horses under the care of one trainer that have not been resampled, are being monitored daily, and remain under quarantine.

As indicated above, four of the six asymptomatic horses that had been isolated at Churchill have completed required testing and have been released from quarantine. The two remaining positive horses continue to be asymptomatic and remain in isolation under quarantine. The index horse continues to improve and remains isolated at the veterinary referral hospital.

Additionally, horses in Barns 36 and 38 are considered indirectly exposed and have not been sampled. They are being monitored daily and remain under quarantine. The KDA will continue monitoring these horses and will immediately test if symptoms appear or illness is suspected and has provided two approved protocols to qualify horses in these two barns for release. These horses can qualify for release by testing negative 14 days since last opportunity of indirect exposure. Alternatively, assuming no clinical cases develop or are suspected in Barns 36 and 38, these horses could qualify for release 28 days after last opportunity of indirect exposure. The KDA currently identifies Nov. 30, 2022, as last known indirect exposure with Dec. 1, 2022 being day one post indirect exposure.

Churchill Downs implemented heightened biosecurity measures and lifted exit restrictions on horses from the unaffected barns provided they have a valid Health Certificate issued within 24 hours of departure beginning Dec. 3, 2022.

There are nine strains of equine herpesvirus on record, and many horses are exposed to some form of EHV with no serious side effects or symptoms. Three strains are considered serious health risks, including EHV-1, which may present with fever and respiratory symptoms and can also carry neurological symptoms and a risk of death. Symptoms of the neurologic form of EHV-1 include fever and nasal discharge, followed by lack of coordination, lethargy, head tilt, and inability to balance or stand. EHV-1 is highly contagious and may be transmitted through contaminated equipment, contact between horses, and on clothing or hands of humans working with sick horses. Veterinarians aren't sure how long the virus can survive in the environment, or how well it travels through the air. The Paulick Report compiled a list of frequently-asked questions about EHV-1 during an outbreak at Sunland Park five years ago.

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