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Earthworms And Rhodococcus Equi: What’s The Connection?

Rhodococcus equi is a bacterium that can cause severe pneumonia in foals. Shed in the feces of infected horses, pigs, and wild boars, it can survive in the soil and is often acquired when foals inhale it, reports The Horse.

A group of scientists in Japan thought there might be one additional critical reservoir that thus far has been missed in the R. equi life cycle: earthworms. Dr. Shinji Takai of the Laboratory of Animal Hygiene at Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, reported that earthworms ingest R. equi with the soil the eat; the bacteria then reproduce abundantly in the worms' digestive system before being released back into the soil through the earthworm's feces.

Dr. Takai notes that the anaerobic state of the earthworm's intestines makes it favorable for the bacteria to reproduce.

Dr. Takai and other scientists took soil samples from two breeding farm pastures, pig pens, the school's forest, and forest and orange groves where wild boars live in Japan. They found R. equi in the digestive content of 170 earthworms and in 47 soil samples.

They then compared the amounts of bacteria in the upper and lower gut of 23 earthworms. They found that R. equi was nearly 40 times more abundant in the lower gut than in the surrounding soil, supporting the idea that the bacterium proliferates in the worm's digestive tract. The bacteria do not appear to infect the worms, but the worms are keeping the bacteria in the soil active.

This doesn't mean that farms should try to eliminate earthworms on their farm, Dr. Takai stresses. The most successful management of the disease is the removal of feces of infected foals, which will reduce the amount of R. equi that earthworms can ingest and put back into the soil.

‘Big Red, White And Blue’ Exhibition Brings Together Racing Celebrities At Spa Fine Art Gallery

The Spa Fine Art Gallery in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is hosting a month-long exhibition entitled, “Big Red, White and Blue,” commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat running his juvenile races (1972) in Saratoga Springs, NY.

The rare collection features a brand-new collection of Secretariat paintings by Lisa Palombo, and hand-signed photography by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, affectionately known as “the First Lady of Racing” as well as Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte.

Select memorabilia and historical pieces from the Secretariat/ Meadow Stables Archives will be on display and available for sale. The special exhibition kicks off with an opening champagne reception on Fri., August 5th, 2022 from 7-9 pm at the gallery with appearances and signings by:

Contemporary American Impressionist Lisa Palombo,
Hall-of-Fame Horseracing Journalist Steve Haskin,
President of Secretariat.com Leonard Lusky, and
Other Surprise Guests.

“We're thrilled to offer such an amazing collection and body of artwork by Lisa Palombo celebrating the legendary Secretariat and his legacy of excellence, “said Alyson Stryker Gallery Manager, of Spa Fine Art. “We're also proud to be representing equine artist Lisa Palombo for over 10 years now. Her recognition and base of collectors worldwide only continue to grow.”

Secretariat is widely considered to be the greatest racehorse of all time and the most recognizable name in Thoroughbred racing. Big Red as he is most often affectionately referred to, became America's Horse after his historic Triple Crown win in 1973, winning the Belmont Stakes by an unimaginable 31 lengths (in world record time) in what stands today as perhaps the single greatest horse racing performance ever.

Steve Haskin, whose vintage photos of Secretariat will also be on display during the event, added, “Most people remember Secretariat from his historic Triple Crown campaign, but many forget that some of Big Red's most memorable moments came at Saratoga, both at 2 and 3. This is where the legend was born. In the span of 27 days, Secretariat ran three times at the Spa. Big Red never looked back after that and ended the year as North America's “Horse of the Year.”

Secretariat returns to Saratoga in a dazzling display of color from the brush strokes of talented artist Lisa Palombo who has made Big Red one of her favorite subjects and has shown him from every angle, from his magnificent stride and powerful shoulders to his alert eyes peering through his blinkers in classic headshots and drawing off to his five-length victory in the Hopeful Stakes.

All these and her other paintings come alive in splashes of bright colors that enhance Secretariat's overwhelming presence. As a change of pace there is an intimate black and white image of Big Red and exercise rider Charlie Davis on the track walking toward you with a blinker-free Secretariat showing off his exquisite face with its familiar markings that makes you feel as if you are right there watching him.”

ABOUT LISA PALOMBO

Lisa Palombo is a renowned Contemporary American Impressionist known for her expressive brushwork and fearless use of color. Her equine, polo and horse racing paintings are especially masterful, capturing the elegance, motion, and thunder of these magnificent animals. Lisa began her formal art education at the age of nine while spending summers at the acclaimed Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She later graduated from RISD with honors and has been painting professionally for over 30 years. Her awe-inspiring artwork adorns the walls of private collectors and corporate collections worldwide.

ABOUT SECRETARIAT

Big Red, as he is most often affectionately referred to, became America's Horse after his historic Triple Crown win in 1973, establishing stakes records in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes that still stand today. Celebrating racing's past to enrich its future, Secretariat.com is the official website for the legendary champion.

ABOUT SPA FINE ART

Spa Fine Art proudly represents an outstanding group of over 200 fine artists, which include both established and emerging, as well as nationally and world-renowned. From traditional to contemporary, our artists work in various styles and mediums and compose a wide array of subjects such as equestrian, landscape, abstract, figurative, and still life. Conveniently located in the heart of historic downtown Saratoga Springs, NY, we are just steps away from all that this beautiful and exciting city has to offer. For inquiries, contact Spa Fine Art Gallery, 376 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, (518) 587-2411, or visit www.spa-fine-art.com.

The post ‘Big Red, White And Blue’ Exhibition Brings Together Racing Celebrities At Spa Fine Art Gallery appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hold Your Horses: Study Shows Equines Are Capable Of Self-Control

German study has shown that horses are able to exhibit a level of self-control which is surprising in grazing species: they can hold out for a better food reward.

Dr. Désirée Brucks and her researchers at the University of Giessen defined self-control as the ability to forego immediate satisfaction for a better reward in the future. Self-control varies widely both between and within species.

Many grazing species have little self-control, but horses' complex social interactions in herds may be linked to higher self-controlling abilities. Brucks and the scientists suggest that self-control may be a factor in training horses, or when the horses have to deal with potentially stressful management.

The scientists created a delay-of-gratification test using 52 horses which were taught that they would get the higher-value reward only if they didn't eat the lower-value reward offered first. In the first phase of the study, familiar experimenters stood just out of reach of the horse with a low-value treat (some hay) in one hand and a high-value treat in the other. They put the low-value reward in reach of the horse and if the horse refrained from eating the hay for 60 seconds, it then got the higher-valued treat. If it ate the hay, it did not get the treat.

The horses were tested in two ways: with the experimenter's eyes visible and gazing directly at the horse, and with the experimenter's eyes hidden behind sunglasses.

The researchers found that 20 horses (41.67 percent) were able to wait the required 60 seconds for a higher-valued treat. All horses performed worse when the experimenter's eyes could not be seen.

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In the second experiment, there was one experimenter per horse and 30 more horses were tested. Only two of the horses successfully waited the 60 seconds for the food reward. The horses that had been through the first test tolerated the delays better than the horses that had not been through the experiment.

Horses that had free access to hay were able to better tolerate the food delays than horses that had restricted access to hay. The researchers found no correlations between how the horse owners perceived their animals and the horses' success in the test. The team also found that horses that pawed at the ground or looked away were more successful at waiting than horses which did not engage in distraction behaviors while waiting.

Veterinarians Issue Warning About Health Of Horses In War-Torn Ukraine

Nearly four months into the war in Ukraine, the country's 30 veterinarians warn that the health of local horses is worsening.

There are 20,000 horses in the “critical welfare zone” which have been experiencing stress from the war, restricted medication, and the need to relocate often. Vets in these areas say that their most-needed items remain feed and medical supplies, but that portable diagnostic equipment, like ultrasounds, scopes, and X-rays, are desperately needed as well.

In particularly short supply are painkillers, sedatives, and antibiotics. Adding to the issue is that many horse owners have lost their jobs and cannot afford the medications needed to care for their horses. Though international veterinary organizatons are sending medical supplies at regular intervals, the medicines are rapidly being utilized as the condition of the horses is worsening.

The most common challenges are risk of starvation and colic, wounds and injuries, and overall stress from the war and constant relocation.

Plans for online training sessions and veterinary missions to the Ukraine are being organized. A fund to pay back vets who are treating horses without payment is being discussed.

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