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AVMA President To Tackle Vet Med’s Financial Challenges

Dr. José Arce, the American Veterinary Medical Association's incoming president, announced that during his first year in office he will focus on removing financial barriers for those who wish to enter the field of veterinary medicine. He will also prioritize promoting the well-being of veterinarians, including veterinary students.

Arce said that high student debt and other “formidable” economic challenges threaten the wellness of professionals in veterinary medicine. He said he will work to improve the educational debt-to-income disparities by advocating legislators to propose low-interest or interest-free student loans so that veterinary degrees are more accessible.

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Arce is also prioritizing fostering an environment that promotes mental health, personal happiness, and the emotional well-being of everyone involved in veterinary medicine.

Arce notes that the pandemic has highlighted the essential role veterinary medicine plays in public health. He hopes to foster relationships with other global veterinary associations and intergovernmental institutions to support global public health, animal health and animal welfare.

Stronach Group To Ban Owners And Trainers Who Ship Horses Via Cargo Ship, Citing Welfare Concerns

1/ST Racing Chief Operating Officer Aidan Butler distributed the following letter to racing connections at facilities owned by The Stronach Group on Aug. 17. The movement of horses via cargo ship has recently become a topic of discussion in the equine welfare community, as it has been the chosen method of transport for some entities moving horses from the mainland United States to Puerto Rico.

To Our Valued Owners, Trainers and Connections,

At 1/ST RACING, one of our top priorities is to protect the welfare and safety of horses that train and race at our venues. We believe this duty of care extends to horses during their racing careers and beyond, as they leave our facilities to race and train elsewhere or to retire.

As part of 1/ST RACING's ongoing and steadfast commitment to achieving the highest standard of horse care and safety in Thoroughbred racing, we reviewed the shipment of horses via cargo ship to race and train in other parts of the world. In consultation with our Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Dionne Benson, we have determined that the conditions in which these horses are transported via cargo ship are inappropriate, inhumane and represent a significant risk to their health and welfare.

Accordingly, effective immediately, any trainer or owner who is associated with shipping horses via cargo ship will no longer be welcome at any of our training or racing facilities. Trainers and owners shipping horses are responsible for performing the required due diligence to ensure horses in their care are transported in safety by humane methods.

Failure to prevent the shipping of horses via cargo ship will result in the immediate removal of the associated owner or trainer's horses from any, and all, 1/ST RACING venues.

I have communicated with the horsemen's groups in each of our jurisdictions in California, Florida and Maryland and have received their full support on this issue. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please connect with me directly via email at aidan.butler@1st.com. As industry stakeholders, it is our collective responsibility to protect these amazing athletes and we thank you for your joint commitment to their health and welfare.

–Aidan Butler

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KENA At Spy Coast Farm: Minimizing Equine Impact On Water Quality

The Kentucky Horse Council announced the topic for the August Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA) dinner will be Equines and the Environment: Minimizing Impact on Water Quality. The dinner will be held on Tuesday, August 31, at Spy Coast Farm's Equine Education Center in Lexington. KENA is a dinner and educational series geared toward equine professionals, horse owners and riders, and other equine enthusiasts.

Schedule of the evening's events:

Tour of Spy Coast Farm 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Networking: 6:30 – 7 PM
Dinner and Presentation: 7 – 8 PM

Location: Spy Coast Farm Equine Education Center, 3700 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511

The guest speaker for the evening is Tammy Barnes, Cooperative Extension Associate for University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. She will offer KENA attendees:

Insight into the best equine management practices for the preservation of water quality on horse farms and equine facilities.
Affordable, implementable steps to minimize the environmental impact of manure
Possible funding sources for these measures
Additional topics discussed will include riparian areas, heavy-use areas, water capture and composting

KENA provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines. Organized by the Kentucky Horse Council, KENA provides the opportunity for attendees to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry. KENA is made possible by the generous support of Dinsmore Equine Law Group, WesBanco, Neogen, University of Louisville College of Business Equine Industry Program, KESMARC Kentucky and Equine Land Conservation Resource.

For details and reservations, visit https://kentuckyhorse.org/KENA. Tickets are $40.

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Study: Do Laminitic Horses Move Differently, And If So, How Should We Shoe Them?

German researchers created a study to compare hoof loading patterns of laminitic and sound horses. They used 16 sound horses and ponies as controls, 17 animals that had recently recovered from laminitis and 21 animals that had recovered from laminitis 6 to 12 weeks before.

The scientists placed an instrumented boot on the horses and had them walk across a level, concrete surface with a pressure sensor.

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The sound horses bore the most weight (peak loading) at the toe during mid-stance; the laminitis horses showed peak loading at breakover, when the hoof goes from full loading to leaving the ground. Interestingly, the laminitic group did not show an increase in loading in the heel region; the middle hoof bore most of the weight in loading.

The study team concluded that laminitic horses should be shod with support focused on the middle of the hoof, frog and heel. They should also be shod with the intent to ease breakover, which should reduce loading of the damaged lamellae in the toe.