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Officials Place Barn 37 At Belmont Park Under Quarantine After Suspected Equine Herpesvirus Case

Officials at the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 37 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., under a precautionary quarantine after a suspected case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) developed in that barn.

Freudnme, a 4-year-old colt trained by Chris Englehart, exhibited fever and neurological symptoms on Saturday morning and has started treatment under the care of a private veterinarian.

Freudnme last raced at Finger Lakes Racetrack in the Ontario County Stakes on June 24, 2019, where he finished 2nd. He has a series of recorded workouts at Belmont beginning on Feb. 24, 2020.

Overseen by Dr. Anthony Verderosa, Director of NYRA's Veterinary Department, and in consultation with the NYSGC, the quarantine of Barn 37 is effective immediately with standard precautions and biosecurity measures now implemented throughout the barn. The length of the quarantine will be determined following the return of test results.

All 37 horses stabled in Barn 37 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 37 will have isolated training hours following the closure of the training track.

At this time, no other horses in the quarantined barn have developed fever or exhibited symptoms.

NYRA will provide additional updates as necessary.

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Antibiotics And Equine Gut Health

Antibiotics can be hard on the digestive and immune systems of horses, but there are some natural approaches that can assist in restoring the equine body back to a normal state after a course of antibiotics has been finished.

Horses, just like humans, have bacteria and microbes that live in their intestinal tract; antibiotics damage the microbiota and inflame the gut wall, creating a “leaky gut” that allows compounds that are normally blocked to pass into the body. Damage to the microbiome also damages the immune system. In the case of chronic infections like Lyme disease, for which a horse may be on repeated rounds of antibiotics, the immune system and gut may never fully recover.

Helping a horse repair his gut is essential after the course of antibiotics is completed. Quality feed, prebiotics and probiotics can assist in repairing the gut wall and the immune system. Horses that eat mainly hay and forage are generally healthier than horses fed lots of grain.

Prebiotics are short-chain fibers that microbiota grown on; common forms are inulin and beta-glucans, among others. Horses can get additional amounts of prebiotics by including items in their diets that contain them (like chicory, oats and barley) or by using a commercially available supplement. Herbs like marshmallow, aloe, dandelion and ginger can all help heal the gut wall and can be planted in pastures or gardens to be fed to horses.

Probiotics fed to the horse while he is taking antibiotics can help do some damage control, but they will assist even more once the course of antibiotics has finished. Other nutrients like glutamine and colostrum can help heal the gut wall and repair the immune system. It will take a minimum of three months for the horse's gut to heal after a short course of antibiotics and much longer for repeated antibiotic use for chronic disease.

Nationally Recognized Apprenticeships For Horse Industry Ready To Run

Through collaboration with employers and educational entities, a new horse care apprenticeship program has recently been registered with the Kentucky and United States Departments of Labor. This opportunity, aimed at providing “earn and learn” training in horsemanship, is an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program for individuals interested in working in the horse industry. Given the recent suspension of H-2B visas in the United States, an avenue which has historically been critical to Kentucky's equine industry workforce, the creation of this apprenticeship program cannot come at a more opportune time to continue to train a domestic workforce.

The Horse Trainer (Horseman) Apprenticeship (O*Net-Soc Code: 39-2011.00 Rapids Code: 1001) encompasses 2,000 hours of carefully employer structured competencies during which an apprentice can attain industry-recognized skills needed to successfully begin or continue a career in any horse related industry sub-sector, such as: racing, breeding, showing, and other similar disciplines.

While on the job, apprentices will learn or improve their skills in areas such as: horse handling, feeding and nutrition, proper grooming and exercise, identification of disease or illness, basic health care and medical treatments and facility care and maintenance. This program was created to produce a well-rounded, competent horseman capable of excelling in any facet of the equine industry.

Advantages for apprentices include:

Earn while you learn at your own pace
Learn the skills horse industry employers have shown they are seeking
Advancement within the industry promoting an increased future earning potential
Faster access to state mandated occupational licensing

Advantages for employers include:

Customized training
A skilled workforce educated by industry experts
Improved productivity and lower turnover

This new apprenticeship is the result of collaboration between the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce/Kentucky Equine Education Project's Equine Talent Pipeline Workforce Initiative, the Bluegrass Community and Technical College Workforce Solutions / North American Racing Academy and equine employers across the industry.

Additionally, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) will be able to provide valuable assistance through its newly launched apprenticeship support program developed specifically to help employers manage their apprenticeships. The services BCTC and KCTCS will assist employers with include:

Recruitment
Mentorship/Coaching
Administrative Services: Federal registration, Employer Acceptance Agreements
Compliance / Record-Keeping: Ensuring that apprentices are completing on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Evaluating ROI and employer's satisfaction with their workforce pipeline.

Apprenticeships have been utilized in various industries across the United States for decades, providing education and training within the setting that knows best, the workplace. The introduction of the Horseman apprenticeship elevates the Kentucky equine industry to a higher tier, allowing any individual the opportunity for world-class hands-on learning.

“Adding a nationally recognized apprenticeship for aspiring horsemen and horsewomen to our industry's workforce recruitment and training toolbox will help immeasurably. This program helps us make working with horses more accessible to more potential workers and breaks down many of the barriers to entry which often exist” notes Remi Bellocq, Executive Director, North American Racing Academy at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

“The horse industry has been hungry for a way to bring all the players together to reach, and train, a broader audience of new horseman. The creation of the Horseman apprenticeship in Kentucky, the Horse Capitol of the World, is the perfect solution” states Laurie Mays, Equine Talent Pipeline Project Manager with KEEP and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Both apprentices and employers can expect great things from this program.”

American Pharoah Halter Headlines Iowa Aftercare Organization’s Online Fundraising Auction

American Pharoah, one of the most famous horses in the world, is helping Thoroughbreds whose lives are spent far outside of the limelight, especially when their racing careers are over.

A halter worn by the 2015 Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic winner headlines the upcoming silent auction raising money for the Iowa-based Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds (HART) aftercare organization.

The halter was donated by Kentucky's Ashford Stud, where American Pharoah has been a stallion since retiring after the unprecedented season that saw him not only become the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes but to also capture the Breeders' Cup Classic.

In its 10th year, HART's silent-auction fundraiser will be conducted entirely online, starting at noon on June 26 and concluding July 3 at 8:30 p.m. Central. The auction features other memorabilia, services, photos, paintings, tack and more. All the proceeds go to HART's care, rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming of retired racehorses from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. Those wishing to donate outside of the auction may do so directly through HART's website at iahart.org.

“We're so grateful to Ashford Stud for donating this halter worn by one of the all-time greats,” said HART president Jon Moss. “This is a chance for a racing, horse or sports enthusiast to own this priceless memorabilia while helping horses that don't have a set future when they are through racing. HART finds safe, loving homes for our retired racehorses, preparing them for second careers in the show ring, eventing, trail riding or simply as pleasure or companion horses.”

An account with 32auctions is required for bidding. Auction items can be viewed in person July 3 starting at 3:30 p.m. CT in Prairie Meadows' Prairie Rose Room on the fourth floor in the Clubhouse.

To view items, create an online account or for more information, go to www.32auctions.com/hart2020.

Since 2011, HART has worked closely with the horsemen at Prairie Meadows to provide Thoroughbred horses a soft landing after their racing careers are over.

HART is accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and is a TAA grant recipient. Facilities and organizations that rehab, retrain and/or re-home horses receive support from the TAA after undergoing an arduous application process and are inspected annually to maintain accreditation. HART is Iowa's only TAA-approved organization.

HART's board includes a representative from the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Associations, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

“Our racehorses take care of us,” said Moss, who also is executive director of the Iowa HBPA. “All of us in racing owe it to take care of them when they are through racing. We thank Ashford Stud and American Pharoah for helping Iowa horsemen to do our part through HART. We also say thank you to all our contributors over the years without whose support HART would not continue to be the organization here to help horses find new homes.”

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