Horse Care | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rutgers Hosts Virtual Equine Expert Panel

The Rutgers University Equine Science Center will host an “Ask the Expert” webinar on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST. The panelists will address equine health, manure and pasture management, exercise physiology and more.

The panelists include:

Dr. Michael Fugaro, New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners

Dr. Karyn Malinowski, Founding Director, Rutgers University Equine Science Center

Dr. Kenneth McKeever, Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences

Dr. Michael Westendorf, Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences

Dr. Carey Williams, Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences

Learn more and register for the event here.

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Tips To Prevent Winter-Weather Colic

Winter weather is rolling across many areas of the country and the vast temperature drops that tend to come with it make most horse owners anxious—and rightfully so. Certain types of colic are more prevalent when colder weather comes—specifically those that are impaction related.

An impaction colic is where ingested grain and hay ceases to move through the horse's digestive system. This blockage causes the intestines to distend and become painful. Impactions are often found in the pelvic flexure, where the large colon loops back on itself, but they can occur almost anywhere.

There are some management strategies can help keep impaction colic at bay:

Keep horses hydrated. It's imperative that horses always have access to unfrozen water. A bucket can freeze in six to 12 hours, if not sooner, so it's fair to say that a horse will be without water for part of the day or night in between when his buckets are refilled. The most important time a horse need access to ice-free water is the three hours after he has eaten.
Horses tend to drink more during cold weather when the water is warm; filling a bucket with warm water will also slow down the freezing process. Adding warm water to a horse's daily meals can also make sure he gets more water in his system.

Turn out horses as much as possible. The ability to move keeps a horse's gut going, as does continual grazing. Important to note, a horse that is moved from pasture to a stall is at an even higher risk of colic than those that are used to being stalled because of the dramatic change in management. A horse with a thick winter coat or a blanket, and access to shelter, can live outside comfortably even in single-digit temperatures.
Feed lots of forage. Though hay is much drier than pasture grasses, feeding hay constantly is easier on a horse than feeding hay just twice a day. Hay digestion also assists in keeping a horse warm.
Stay vigilant when temperatures tank. Though the correlation between plummeting temperatures and colic haven't been scientifically proven, vets report rashes of colic calls when temperatures drop. Try to keep horses in their normal routine and watch them closely for signs of colic.

Pensioned Awesome Again, Milwaukee Brew Welcomed To Old Friends Farm

On Friday, Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, announced the arrival of two new stallions: Multiple graded stakes winners Awesome Again and Milwaukee Brew.

Both were pensioned from stud duty in 2019 at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs, near Paris, KY., and have now been donated to the non-profit organization.

Awesome Again, now 27, boasts an exemplary resume as both a racehorse and a stallion. He broke his maiden at Hollywood Park in just his second start as a 3-year-old in 1997. He returned a few weeks later to capture that year's Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine. Back in the U.S. that summer the son of Deputy Minister went on to win the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and was third to Deputy Commander in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

At 4, he completed an undefeated season that included five graded stakes victories, among them The Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), The Whitney Handicap (G1), and one of the most memorable editions of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), where, looking defeated, he rallied in the stretch to defeat grade 1 winners Coronado's Quest and Swain and that year's Kentucky Derby-Preakness hero, Silver Charm.

As significant in the breeding shed as he was on the track, Awesome again sired three champions: Ghostzapper, 2004 Horse of the Year and champion older horse; Ginger Punch, 2007 champion older mare; and Nominee, a multiple champion in Trinidad and Tobago. His other elite runners include: Old Friends retirees Game on Dude–who captured 14 graded stakes and is the only three-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in history–and Awesome Gem, who captured the Hollywood Gold Cup at age 7; Breeder's Cup Distaff winner Round Pond; Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko; and 2019 year Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston.

He has sired 13 millionaires and five multi-millionaires as well as four Breeders' Cup Champions. Awesome Again is also the first Breeders' Cup Classic winner to sire a BC Classic winner (Ghostzapper).

Milwaukee Brew, 23, earned eight wins in his 24 starts and is best known for his back-to-back victories in the 2002 and 2003 Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Other wins include the 2002 California Stakes (G2) and the 2000 Ohio Derby (G2). The son of Wild Again retired in 2003 with earnings of well over $2.8 million. Also a prominent stallion standing at Adena Springs North, near Ontario, his top runners include Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Milwaukee Appeal, Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Ginger Brew, and Panamanian champion Coltimus Prime

The new stallions will join Adena's Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup, who were retired to Old Friends in 2015.

“We're very grateful to Frank and Belinda and everyone at The Stronach Group for trusting us with these two great Thoroughbreds,” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “The Stronachs have always been extremely generous when it comes to supporting their retirees. When Alphabet Soup's cancer needed special attention, Frank made sure all of his medical bills were taken care of. And I adore Awesome Again's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic even though he beat Silver Charm.”

“When it comes to Awesome Again and Milwaukee Brew, they are two of the best-natured stallions I've been blessed to work with,” said Adena Springs Stallion Manager Bill Drury. “When it came time to consider retirement settlements, if not my own backyard, there was no place I would rather they be than with Michael at Old Friends. His has a reputation of exemplary care, and the fan access is exactly what these champions deserve in their twilight years.”

In addition, in the coming weeks, a third Adena stallion, Silver Max, will be pensioned with Old Friends. Silver Max, is perhaps best known for ending reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan's nine-race win streak with his upset win in the 2013 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. In 2012 Silver Max had earned his first graded stakes over the same oval with a score in the Transylvania Stakes (G3T). He retired in 2014 with 12 wins from 27 starts and over $1.9 million in earnings.

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Contaminated Feed Leads To Doping Violations; British Governing Bodies Instate Moratorium

Contaminated molasses was sent from South Africa to Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it was sent to several equine feed companies that used it in their feed production. The molasses, supplied by ED & F Man Ltd, contained Zilpaterol Hydrochloride. Zilpaterol Hydrochloride is considered a banned substance by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and the British Horseracing Authority.

Horses that ingested the feed made with contaminated molasses received positive drug tests. Zilpaterol Hydrochloride is a feed additive used in the United States; it is primarily used to promote weight gain in cattle. Zilpaterol isn't harmful to horses, but it isn't approved for use in Europe.

The BEF Board has instated a 14-day moratorium on Zilpaterol positives; any horse that tests for the substance will not be subject to any regulatory action for breaking the anti-doping rules if the positive is consistent with the contaminated feed. The British Horseracing Authority gave a seven-day moratorium for racing; any horse with a Zilpaterol positive will also not be subject to regulatory action, if the sample is consistent with feed contamination.

Elective testing of horses has shown that the contaminated feed clears the horse's system in four days; investigations are ongoing to confirm the withdrawal period.

Horses competing in competitions not regulated by the BEF or BHA are subject to the testing and rules of that governing body.

For a list of contaminated feed and more information, click here.

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