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Ontario Commission Announces Over-The-Counter Cough Remedy Could Be To Blame For Woodbine Capsaicin Positives

On July 20, 2020, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) issued a Notice to Industry concerning a number of horses in Ontario who have received a positive test for capsaicin over the past several weeks. As noted, the AGCO's priority is to conduct a fair and independent investigation to ensure the ongoing safety and integrity of horse racing in Ontario, as well as the health and welfare of equine athletes.

The AGCO Equine Drug Unit's preliminary investigation has revealed a potential source: a product known as ZEV (Lot#190104 Exp:01-2022), an oral product used for the treatment of respiratory conditions – has tested positive for capsaicin and related compounds.

It should be noted that capsaicin is not included in the list of active ingredients for ZEV.

Trainers and owners are advised to always use caution with all products administered to a horse. Not all ingredients which could result in positive tests may be listed on a product, and ZEV may not be the only source of a positive test.

The post Ontario Commission Announces Over-The-Counter Cough Remedy Could Be To Blame For Woodbine Capsaicin Positives appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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American Artist Jamie Wyeth Creates Thoroughbred Sanctuary In Honor Of Late Wife

On Tuesday, July 23, 2020, ten retired racehorses from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF)'s Second Chances herd boarded a Brook Ledge van at the Wallkill Correctional Facility to begin a journey to their new home at Pastures of Point Lookout (PPL) in Chadds Ford, PA. Each horse has a unique story that led to his retirement with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, but they all shared a similar stroke of good fortune thanks to an extraordinary gesture of kindness, love and generosity. After decades spent teaching incarcerated inmates life skills and equine care, the ten horses have begun the final chapter of their long lives in a sanctuary farm created to honor the memory of a beloved wife, muse and horsewoman.

Pastures of Point Lookout (PPL), a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in early 2020, was created to provide for the lifelong care of 10 horses from the TRF for the remainder of their days. PPL was created by the world-renowned American artist, Mr. Jamie Wyeth, in loving memory of his late wife, Phyllis Mills Wyeth (1940-2019). On the anniversary of her passing Mr. Wyeth turned to longtime friends, Graham and Anita Motion of Herringswell Stables, to help bring this legacy to life.

“To honor my late wife, Phyllis Mills Wyeth and her Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, I am transforming our farm into a retirement sanctuary for racehorses,” Jamie Wyeth explained. “I view Pastures of Point Lookout as a lasting reminder of the contributions to the world of horse racing by Phyllis and her champion, Union Rags.”

Anita Motion will serve as the Executive Director of Pastures of Point Lookout. She will implement the organization's guidelines and policies for equine care for the aging herd as well as providing oversight and hands-on management for the full-time farm staff who will care for the horses and maintain the 250-acre farm where they reside. Most recently the home of Belmont winning Union Rags (2012), the farm used by PPL has been modified to support the “pasture lifestyle” to which the TRF horses have become accustomed over their many years at the TRF Second Chances Program at Wallkill.

“It has been a remarkable experience to participate in the creation of Pastures of Point Lookout and to enable Mr. Wyeth to realize his dream for a legacy in his wife's honor,” shared Anita Motion. “Watching the horses step off the van on Tuesday and soak in the beauty of their new home was genuinely like experiencing a dream come true.”

Also, on hand to welcome the retirees were PPL board members Lisa Flagg and Katharine Maroney. On a very hot and humid afternoon, Lisa and Katharine were among several volunteers who helped unload and hose off the horses before hand-walking them down to their spacious new pasture.

“When I first received Anita's call to share this idea in late January of this year, I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. It simply seemed too good to be true,” said Kim Weir, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at the TRF. “In less than six months, and despite all the challenges we have faced around the world in 2020 due to COVID-19, the dream has become a reality. With this bold and generous gesture, Mr. Wyeth has given ten horses the happiest possible final chapter of their lives while saving twenty total – the ten adopted by PPL, and the next ten retired racehorses that the TRF can accept into our herd to take their places over the months ahead.”

The horses will live together, as they did for so many years at Wallkill, in a natural pasture setting. Run-in sheds will provide shelter from the sun and inclement weather, water is available from a nearby stream flowing through the farm, and the two full-time farm managers will manage their hay and grain, to supplement the abundant grass of their 20 acre pasture. All expenses for the operation of the farm along with the feed, farrier and veterinary care required by these horses will be covered by Pastures of Point Lookout according to the TRF's Adoption Policies.

To learn more about adopting a horse from the TRF at https://www.trfinc.org/adoptretire/

The ten TRF adoptees have become the “inaugural herd” of Pastures of Point Lookout. Consistent with the TRF's intake policies, all of these horses are registered Thoroughbreds and all have raced at least once. Six of the horses retired to the TRF when they were no longer able to continue their racing career and were unable to pursue second athletic careers, and four of the horses spent a number of years in adoptive homes, returned to the TRF when they had aged out of their second careers.

The post American Artist Jamie Wyeth Creates Thoroughbred Sanctuary In Honor Of Late Wife appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Equine Rescues Expect To Feel Financial Effects Of Pandemic In Winter

A study out of Britain indicates that animal welfare organizations are expecting to struggle throughout the winter months as the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is felt.

The equine portion of the survey, which was conducted by the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) and the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), was sent to 37 NEWC members and 126 equine rescues. Of those asked, 74 responded. Respondents feel that their organizations will be most impacted by the pandemic during winter months when welfare cases tend to rise because of the increase in costs associated with caring for horses.

It was noted that even with decreased donations, rescues still must attend to the animals in their care. British equine rescue and adoption agencies are once again placing horses into homes, but an increase in horses needing their assistance is expected.

There are nearly 850,000 equines in the United Kingdom with at least 7,000 of those animals were considered at risk before the pandemic hit. The rescues responded that they feel the pandemic will place additional pressure on equine welfare organizations, many of which are already operating at capacity.

Over 83 percent of the responding organizations, both large and small, reported that their fundraising has been impacted with the pandemic, with more than half reporting an income reduction of over 50 percent. Rescues that utilized shops to sell merchandise closed to visitors, greatly impacting their donations. More than 40 percent of organizations furloughed staff and over 70 percent had to reduce or eliminate volunteer help. Despite this bleak financial news, 62 percent of rescues still took in urgent welfare cases during lockdown.

An Equine Emergency Rescue Fund has been established to provide grants to British equine welfare organizations in need of financial assistance.

Keeping Clients Safe: Impact Of COVID-19 On Equine Vets And Farriers

Though equestrian competitions were halted and many boarding barns were shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, equine veterinary and farrier care have been considered essential services, allowed to carry on throughout lockdown. However, it has been a challenge to continually provide care for client horses while keeping customers and caregivers safe.

In order to continue to work, vets and farriers were mandated to establish protocols that followed state and local distancing, quarantine and decontamination guidelines. During lockdown, many equine clinics were able to continue to see emergency cases, but were unable to perform elective surgeries for multiple weeks.

When lockdown lifted, most clinics still didn't return to “normal”; many are unable to allow clients into waiting rooms or pharmacies, so workers meet their clients in parking lots to either take the horse from the owner or to deliver medications.

Many farriers are now unwilling to have clients or trainers hold horses while they are being shod, electing instead to have their assistants hold or to place the horse in crossties. Between clients, all tools are disinfected. Even when stay-at-home orders are lifted, may vets and farriers will keep their biosecurity practices in place to keep staff and clients safe.

Though the pandemic has changed the way equine professionals must interact with their clients, requiring much more interaction from a distance or via phone or text, equine professionals still strive to give their two- and four-legged clients the best of care.