Tag: Horse Care

Equine legs are a marvel of mechanics: they're able to support massive bodies and provide the horse's power and speed. However, horses' lower legs don't do well with wounds. With little tissue and multiple high-motion joints, healing cuts, punctures and other injuries can be difficult. In addition, the lower legs are also closer to dirt, bedding and debris, so it's imperative that equine owners and caretakers take care with these injuries. 

A recent study from Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazi, explored using the amniotic membrane as a wound dressing, reports The Horse. The amniotic membrane is a thin layer that surrounds a fetus. Equine amniotic membrane can assist with healing corneal and skin injuries, but it requires special storage that can limit its use outside of universities or laboratories.

Dr. Marcos Rosa wanted to know if amniotic membrane stored in a conventional freezer could still assist with wound healing. He and a research team created a 1.5-inch by 1.5-inch skin lesion on each front limb of six mares. One limb had a piece of amnion applied while the other limb served as a control. 

The amnion had been stored for over one year in freezers that ranged from 14 degrees F to -11 degrees F. Before application, the amnion was thawed and rehydrated in a saline solution. 

The team then covered both front limbs in a cotton bandage. They removed the amnion dressing on day 3 and continued to manage both the treated and not-treated wounds the same way until they healed completely. Small tissue samples from the healing wounds were evaluated, both visually and microscopically throughout the trial. 

The study team found that the wounds treated with the amnion were less painful and had better-organized tissue and improved blood vessel formation. The wounds treated with the amniotic tissue also had statistically significant decreased healing times: amnion-treated wounds healed on average in 73 days, while non-treated limbs healed on average in 84 days.

The scientists conclude that readily available, affordable amniotic tissue that can be easily stored would allow for vets to use the tissue regularly, both in a clinic and in the field. 

Read more at The Horse. 

The post Study: Amniotic Membranes Aid In Lower-Limb Wound Healing appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Churchill Downs Inc. and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority each released statements on Saturday night concerning the equine fatalities at Churchill Downs racetrack, including the two Kentucky Derby day deaths that brought the total to seven dead horses since April 27.

Churchill Downs Inc. statement:

Two horses sustained severe injuries during today's Churchill Downs race card. Chloe's Dream suffered a right knee fracture in Race 2 at the top of the first turn. Freezing Point incurred a left front biaxial sesamoid fracture in Race 8 midway down the backstretch. In the interest of pursuing the most humane treatment for each horse, the owner, trainer and private veterinarian, in consultation with a board-certified equine surgeon, made the difficult decision to euthanize. We express our most sincere condolences to those connections who cared for and loved Chloe's Dream and Freezing Point.

It is with the utmost sadness that we report these tragic fatal injuries. Churchill Downs is unwavering in our commitment to the health and well-being of equine safety. The equine fatalities leading to this year's Kentucky Derby are a sobering reminder of the urgent need to mobilize our industry in order to explore every avenue possible and effectively minimize any avoidable risk in the sport.

Despite our determination to continually improve upon the highest industry standards, there is more to be done and we will rigorously work to understand what caused these incidents and build upon our existing data, programs and practices to better understand what has been incredibly difficult for us to witness and accept this week.

While each incident reported has been unique, it is important to note that there has been no discernible pattern detected in the injuries sustained. Our track surfaces are closely monitored by industry experts to ensure their integrity. Each horse that participates in racing at Churchill Downs must undergo multiple, comprehensive veterinarian exams and observations to ensure their fitness to race.

From here, we will fully and actively work with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) to thoroughly investigate each incident to determine, to the degree possible, any underlying health or environmental causes and apply those learnings to continue to improve the safety of this sport. Together, we all want what is best for the horses.

The team at Churchill Downs works year-round to deliver an inspiring and world-class event to thousands of fans, but also to provide the safest racing environment each and every day. We are proud of the enduring legacy of the Kentucky Derby and these magnificent horses are central to its iconic appeal. While we believe the incidents leading to this year's Derby are anomalies, they are unacceptable and we remain steadfast in our commitment to safety and integrity.

HISA statement:

HISA mourns the losses of Chloe's Dream and Freezing Point alongside their connections and the entire racing community. HISA's mission is to vigorously protect the safety of our horses and riders. The Racetrack Safety Program has been in effect since July 2022 and requires thorough pre-race veterinary inspections to ensure every horse is fit to race and holds every track to rigorous safety and maintenance standards.

Churchill Downs has been cooperating with HISA since its inception and is in full compliance with our rules and processes. On the morning of each race, every horse undergoes a hands-on inspection and is observed in motion outside their stall. A team of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) regulatory veterinarians also views each horse in the paddock, during the post parade and as they approach and load into the starting gate.  If a horse is deemed unfit to race by the regulatory veterinarians, it will be scratched, as was the case in a number of circumstances this week. Both Chloe's Dream and Freezing Point passed all inspections without incident.

Additionally, Churchill Downs retained Mick Peterson, Director of the Racetrack Safety Program at the University of Kentucky and the preeminent racetrack surface expert, to ensure safe and consistent conditions across racing and training surfaces. Peterson was previously retained by HISA as part of its national accreditation process, and we are confident in his ability to identify potential issues at play.  Dr. Peterson has assured both HISA and Churchill Downs that the racing surface is safe.

HISA is in constant communication with the KHRC as it leads investigations into the recent fatalities, and has already initiated its own, fully independent, investigation.  HISA will share more details as they are available.

The post Churchill Downs Inc., HISA Issue Statements On Horse Deaths appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Chloe's Dream, a 3-year-old gelding owned by Rocket Ship Racing and trained by Jeff Hiles, became the sixth fatality of the Churchill Downs spring meet after he was injured in the Kentucky Derby day program's second race on Saturday and subsequently euthanized.

Settled near the back of the field of nine 3-year-old maidens going 1 1/16 miles on the main dirt track, Chloe's Dream was pulled up by jockey Corey Lanerie just after rounding the first turn. The horse was taken off the track by horse ambulance and euthanized, according to NBC.

The son of Honor Code was making his second career start after a third-place finish in his debut March 24 on the synthetic Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park. Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., Chloe's Dream was a $12,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Chloe's Dream is the first horse to suffer a fatal injury while racing on the Churchill main track this spring but the sixth known death since Wild On Ice, pointing to the Kentucky Derby, sustained a catastrophic injury while training on the morning of April 27 and could not be saved.

Two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. collapsed and died after racing. Parents Pride did not finish her race on the opening night program April 29 and was taken off by horse ambulance and then died. Chasing Artie, beaten 28 3/4 lengths in a turf sprint on May 2, suffered a similar fate.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission subsequently suspended Joseph's right to enter horses in Kentucky, pending an investigation into the deaths, and his Derby entrant, Lord Miles, along with several other horses, were scratched. Churchill Downs also issued a ban on Joseph from its tracks.

Code of Kings, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Tim Glyshaw, died after flipping in the paddock before an April 29 race and breaking his neck.

On May 2, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Take Charge Briana, a 3-year-old Curlin filly, was injured at the top of the stretch of a 1 1/16-mile turf race, vanned off, and euthanized.

The post Sixth Horse Dies During Churchill Spring Meet With Derby Day Racing Fatality appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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University of Minnesota Extension's Hannah Lochner responds to a reader question about overseeding horse pastures.

Question: Last year's drought left my pastures sparse and some areas are even bare. Our pastures are mostly grass with a little clover here and there. What grasses do you recommend I overseed in my horse pastures?  

Cool-season grasses are ideal for horse pastures in the Upper Midwest and tend to meet the nutritional needs of most horses. Having a mix of grasses can help your pasture maintain productivity with changes in weather. For example, some species tolerate warmer, drier conditions better than others.

When determining which species of grass do well in horse pastures, we evaluated persistence, yield, and horse preference. We found that grass mixtures containing endophyte-free tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and timothy perform well in horse pastures. Horses grazed these mixtures more uniformly with a higher percentage of forage removal. Mixtures containing these species also yielded well and were persistent over time under grazing pressure. Depending on the species present in your pasture, you may choose one or two of the species above to overseed with. In the case of large areas of bare ground, it will be best to overseed with a complete mixture.

Sign up for the University of Minnesota Extension newsletter here.

The post What Pasture Grasses Are Best For Overseeding Horse Pastures? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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