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Positive EHV-1 Case Triggers Quarantine At Saratoga

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 86 at Saratoga Race Course under a precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in that barn.

The unnamed, unraced filly, who is trained by Jorge Abreu, was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on Sunday, July 11 after developing a fever. She was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for EHV-1 was returned on Thursday afternoon. The filly began treatment immediately, and is improving under the care of Dr. Luis Castro, DVM.

Overseen by Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the director of NYRA's veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC, the Barn 86 quarantine is effective immediately with standard precautions and biosecurity measures now in place.

The 46 horses stabled in Barn 86, which is home to stalls for Abreu and trainer Kenny McPeek, will be monitored daily for fever and other signs of illness.

During the initial quarantine period, these horses will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population. Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 86 will have isolated training hours at the Oklahoma Training Track following the close of training for the general horse population at 10 a.m.

As of Thursday evening, no additional horses in the quarantined barn have exhibited symptoms.

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Potential Biomarker Found For Ascending Placentitis

Ascending placentitis is an infection of a mare's placenta that commonly causes late-term abortions; it can have a devastating economic impact on the breeding industry.

A new study has helped to identify which mares might be at risk of developing this infection by focusing on one variant of an inflammation-related protein, reports The Horse. The study was led by Dr. Yatta Linhares-Boakari, who found that mares that developed ascending placentitis had more messenger RNA (mRNA) of serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) in their placental tissues than those mares who didn't. Yatta Linhares-Boakari says her research might allow scientists to determine the difference between placentitis and other causes of inflammation.

The study team bred 10 pony mares and introduced Streptococcus equi spp zooepidemicus into the cervixes of half of them to induce ascending placentitis. Three days later, the researchers took blood samples, sedated and euthanized all of the mares used in the study to investigate the tissues of the mares and the fetuses.

The scientists found that mares that had placentitis had significantly higher SAA values. They also discovered that haptoglobin (Hp, another protein associated with inflammation) values in the fetuses' blood was significantly higher in the placentitis group.

Additionally, the team found distinct patterns of proteins in the tissues of infected mares and a never-before-seen mRNA trend: Both SAA and Hp were found at increased levels in the mares with ascending placentitis. SAA1 and mRNA were found in greater numbers in the placental membranes of infected mares, as well.

The team concludes that their findings — specifically the elevation of SAA1 in blood – may eventually be able to assist in pinpointing ascending placentitis in its early stages when it might be treated more easily.

A Focused Strategy Needed To Prevent Veterinarian Burnout

Many veterinarians feel pressured to be on call for their clients round the clock, especially if they're one of the only equine caretakers in the area. Vets are often called out for an after-hours “emergency” that turns out to be a non-life threatening situation that could have been resolved during normal business hours. That constant hustle is taking its toll on many veterinarians, so many are trying to provide guidance on how to reduce burnout.

EquiManagement suggests there are some ways to alleviate this near-constant pressure, including working for (or opening) a multi-doctor clinic or collaborating with other practices in the area to share the on-call burden. Young veterinarians are often eager to take on emergency cases and the sharing of the caseload offers older vets a unique opportunity to mentor younger colleagues.

Additionally, being forthcoming with clients about professional boundaries can assist vets in regaining a work-life balance. While discussing new “office hours” for an equine veterinarian may feel uncomfortable in an already-established practice, loyal clients often stay loyal – they just want to be kept in the loop. Offering customers alternatives should be a priority; this could be as simple as providing phone numbers for another veterinarian who is available for after-hours care. Adjusting the time in which a vet practices (which might include later openings and closings) is another option to remain available for clients, yet regain the opportunity for some down time.

The option to treat only equine emergencies is another possibility to avoid burnout. After-hours emergency care is often more financially lucrative than dealing only with cases seen during the day.

Seeking to educate owners on what a true emergency is can also go a long way to alleviating the possibility of burnout for veterinarians in general. An emergency situation is scary for many owners; reassuring clients that reaching out via text, email or phone call is always OK leaves them feeling less alone.

Flying Cross Farm Announces ‘Developing Thoroughbred’ Competition For 3-Day Eventing Prospects

Just a month before the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover arrives at the Kentucky Horse Park, Flying Cross Farm in Goshen, Ky. will play host to a unique competition for off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Held in conjunction with the farm's annual USEA horse trial, the “Developing Thoroughbred” class will give recently retired racehorses an opportunity to showcase their potential as successful, competitive, top-level event horses for the future.

The competition will be modeled after the USEA's Young Event Horse classes, which are restricted to 4 and 5-year-old horses. Open to horses of any age which are either one year off the track (Thoroughbreds with a published workout or race in 2020 or later) or two years off the track (Thoroughbreds with a published workout or race in 2019), the special class will not only showcase the Thoroughbred breed but also provide horses and riders with the educational, constructive feedback that the YEH program provides.

The idea came to Flying Cross Farm's Heidi Jones via Lori Miller, head trainer for Thoroughbred Aftercare organization Friends of Ferdinand.

“We thought this was a really cool idea,” said Jones. “We are already setting a course for YEH stuff, and now we're opening it up to more people who might otherwise miss out on what the YEH program has to offer. It will help showcase the breed and what these horses can do as a second career. It's also a perfect set up to prep for RRP, so it could be really good stepping stone for those horses, as well.”

Each horse will demonstrate a dressage test appropriate for the level, then complete a jumping course with five show jumping-type fences and 10 cross country style fences followed by a final 100-meter gallop to showcase the horse's stride.

The Developing Thoroughbred class will be sponsored by Friends of Ferdinand, and both divisions are scheduled to be held at Flying Cross Farm on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Entries will be taken online after Aug. 3 via Blue Horse Entries.

More information about the Developing Thoroughbred class can be found at the Flying Cross Farm website.

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