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“This was sudden and a tough experience for me and my wife,” said owner-breeder Bruce Lunsford. “I can summarize this pretty easily. He gave me my highest highs in this business and now my lowest low. That's as simple as I can put it. He will be in my brain and my thoughts for the rest of my life. He was very special. The biggest win of my life was in the Pegasus down in Miami, so this was a really big loss. And he was going to be a great sire.”

Trainer Bill Mott said the problems started only a few days ago but became more serious by the day.

“He started to develop laminitis a couple of days ago and he went in a hurry,” Mott said. “He had a very good work on the fifth of August and was fine the next day. Then he developed what appeared to be a small foot abscess two days later. We were soaking it and treating it. We didn't think it was going to be anything serious, but it developed into laminitis in all four feet. He was with us in Saratoga and was in his stall. He started to get real uncomfortable on Tuesday. Yesterday was a bad day and it was getting worse and we had to make the decision to put him asleep.”

Art Collector was originally trained by Joe Sharp. He was transferred to trainer Tom Drury for his 3-year-old campaign. His first graded stakes win came for Drury in the 2020 GII Blue Grass S., which, because of the pandemic, was run on July 11. He returned with a win in the Ellis Park Derby before finishing fourth in the GI Preakness S., which began a three-race losing streak.

In July of 2021, Lunsford made the decision to turn the horse over to Mott, who helped turn around the horse's career. He won his first three starts for Mott in a streak that included the Alydar S., the GII Charles Town Classic and the Woodward. He scored another win in the Charles Town Classic in 2022. After winning this year's Pegasus, he finished his career with second-place finishes in the GII New Orleans Classic and the GII Alysheba.

He was being pointed for a return visit to this year's Charles Town Classic. Lunsford said the plan was to retire Art Collector after the Charles Town race and then to send him to Claiborne Farm, where he was to stand at stud.

Art Collector won 11 of 21 starts and earned $4,231,290.

“To win the Pegasus, what a brilliant race that was for him,” Mott said. “It may be the biggest race of the year so far in North America. We all have great memories of that. He won 50% of his races. He wasn't just an average race horse. He was pretty special.”

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“Majestic City will be sorely missed by myself and the entire team,” said Irish Hill & Dutchess Views manager Bill Leak. “He was a horse you could measure others against and only hope they can come close to his quality.”

Majestic City's wins during his five-year racing career included the GIII Lone Star Park H. and the GIII Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. He also placed in five additional graded races, including the GI Dixiana Breeders' Futurity and the GI Del Mar Futurity.

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Guest speakers include Dr. Renate Weller of the University of Calgary, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. She is joined by Dr. Thilo Pfau, University of Calgary, Professor Faculty of Kinesiology, and Yogi Sharp, DipWCF BSc (Hons) First Class, best known for his platform “The Equine Documentalist,” which brings research to the wider equine community.

Podiatrist Dr. Scott Morrison, the Rood & Riddle Podiatry Center founder, said, “We wanted to hold a conference that incorporated both veterinarians and farriers in a collaborative environment that will inspire all who attend,” Dr. Raul Bras, International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame inductee, added, “We hope this will be an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn new techniques, meet each other and facilitate future collaborations for everyone.”

For more information or to register for the course, click here. The conference will be limited to 85 participants.

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Why limit pasture access? Aren't horses natural-born grazers?

While horses evolved as grazers, the quality of the pasture grasses has increased dramatically in recent years, making it unsuitable for some horses, especially those that tend to be easy keepers.

“Many horses can graze pasture grasses with no problem whatsoever. Chronically overweight and obese horses sometimes benefit from limited grazing, however, which results in caloric restriction and improved health,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research. “Overweight horses are at a higher risk for insulin dysregulation and metabolic syndrome, both of which can lead to laminitis.”

In addition, many horse owners use restricted grazing preemptively to keep horses and ponies from becoming overweight.

What's the best approach to restrict pasture intake?

Horse owners have found several ways to successfully restrict pasture intake. The method used is often dependent on access to facilities and turnout areas, owner schedule, and what works best for the individual horse, according to Crandell. A trial-and-error approach must often be taken. Effective methods include:

• Strip grazing, which uses temporary fencing to section off areas of a larger field, allowing horses to graze fresh pasture in a controlled, strategic manner and moving the fences as pasture is eaten down.
• Feed limited hay (weighed at about 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight) provided in a way that slows consumption (e.g., small-hole haynets). For horses at risk for laminitis, hay should be tested for nonstructural carbohydrate content (below 12 percent is recommended).
• Use of drylots that allow limited or no access to pasture, but appropriate hay or other preserved forage is allocated, the quality of which is dictated by age, workload, and metabolic status of horses.
• Well-fitted grazing muzzles curb consumption by allowing horses to eat through holes or slits.

With all these options available, how do I know which method is the best?

Results of a recent survey in England may help you decide.^* Nearly 470 respondents had experience using one or more of the aforementioned restricted grazing methods. The most important considerations reported by respondents were practicality and welfare.

Fencing for strip grazing is more expensive and labor intensive than grazing muzzles, and these costs may therefore limit the method employed. Further, most boarding facilities have management restrictions. Owners are typically not allowed to alter a paddock, have only limited opportunities for turning out their horse (especially during inclement weather), and do not have the space or resources for drylots.

In terms of welfare, grazing muzzles had a low “welfare rating” by owners participating in the study, yet muzzles were frequently used. The researchers suggested that this disparity likely arose because muzzles are inexpensive and not particularly labor intensive.

While grazing muzzles got a bad rap in terms of welfare, respondents may not have fully understood the benefits of muzzling. For example, horses evolved as trickle feeders, grazing almost continuously for 16-18 hours a day. When their grazing time is restricted, horses are at risk of gastric ulceration, alterations in the equine intestinal microbiome, and behavioral changes, such as the development of stereotypies.

According to Crandell, “Muzzles do not necessarily limit a horse's time spent grazing or exercising; they do, however, restrict the amount of grass that can be consumed. Muzzles also allow horses to have contact with their peers, which means this approach supports both the physical and psychological needs of the horse.”

Horses fed all-forage diets benefit from a ration balancer or a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement, as these products provide important nutrients that are often in short supply in fresh and preserved forages.

Crandell also recommends addressing the potential stress associated with restricted grazing. “Horses with restricted grazing may benefit from a research-proven digestive supplement, such as Triacton.” Triacton provides total digestive tract support, including ingredients that buffer both the stomach and hindgut for gastrointestinal protection during times of stress.

^*Cameron, A., P. Harris, A. Longland, S. Horseman, and J. Hockenhull. 2021. UK horse carers' experiences of restricting grazing when aiming to prevent health issues in their horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 104:103685.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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Kentucky Equine Research responds: A diagnosis of EMS with laminitic episodes can make diet formulation a challenge, though you seem to be on the right track. Her basic ration, which consists only of forages and vitamin and mineral fortification, is appropriate given her body condition. You are wise to offset the potential soluble carbohydrate content of her hay by soaking it prior to every meal.

In reference to future grazing, however, continue to proceed cautiously and under the direction of a veterinarian that is familiar with the mare's endocrine-related problems. She has shown that she is becoming more and more sensitive to pasture grasses, so her time spent grazing might be restricted, even severely so, in the future. Some horses with metabolic disorders cannot handle grazing at all, regardless of season, time of day, or pasture composition. For these horses, a drylot that allows them to exercise as they wish with suitable preserved forage at their disposal is an option. With respect to pasture and hay, try to keep the level of nonstructural carbohydrates below 12 percent.

Two high-quality supplements from Kentucky Equine Research might also help, especially if you believe she may be able to tolerate some grazing in the future, even if it's limited by a grazing muzzle of another means of restriction. EquiShure is a time-released hindgut buffer that supports digestive health by minimizing disruptions in the microbial population brought about by diet or management changes, including those prompted by grazing. EquiShure stabilizes the pH of the hindgut and reduces the incidence of recurrent colic in some horses.

Another research-proven product recommended to reduce inflammation and support a normal endocrine response is EO-3, a marine-derived supplement that provides the specific omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which are known to have many health benefits. Further, EO-3 will likely add shine to her coat and may keep certain skin problems, such as scratches, from developing.

Read more here.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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Pratt-Phillips explains that fatty tissue is an inflammatory organ, which produces compounds that lead to inflammation in multiple different parts of the body. Those compounds can negatively affect the vasculature within the laminae, increasing the possibility for laminitis.

In addition, excess weight can have a negative effect on the horse's overall hoof health.

“Proper blood circulation is partly attributed to the compression and expansion of the digital cushion within the hoof,” Pratt-Phillips writes. “If a horse is carrying excess weight, the digital cushion's function may be compromised, resulting in poor blood circulation and laminitis.”

Of course, more weight can also cause strain on the hoof wall as it expands to absorb the concussion of a horse's movement.

“Over time, obesity may disrupt the integrity of the hoof wall, resulting in cracking or crumbling hooves,” wrote Pratt-Phillips.

Read more at the American Farriers Journal.

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Horse owners usually dread hearing the diagnosis of “Laminitis.” The disease plagues horses of many backgrounds, ages and disciplines. Using genetics, UF/IFAS and University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine scientists have made a breakthrough in the disease thanks to funding from The Foundation for the Horse.

A horse's hoof has a tough job. It must support a heavy animal which can move faster than 40 mph. Laminitis occurs when inflammation and damage of the tissue takes place between the hoof and coffin bone. It causes lameness, a diminished quality of life and often results in euthanasia.

“Laminitis is a tough problem for the horse and its owner,” said Dr. Samantha Brooks, UF/IFAS associate professor of equine physiology. “We have very few tools in our arsenal to manage the disease itself. We treat symptoms, pain and mechanical instability but do not have anything to target the cause just yet.”

Laminitis studies have previously been hindered by the scarcity of genetic information specific to hoof tissues. Scientists tapped into the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center Laminitis Discovery Database, an archive of data and sample sets from naturally occurring laminitis cases collected since 2008. Using that database, researchers examined 36 archived tissues of 20 Thoroughbred horses treated for laminitis.

There are three types of laminitis, and all impair the structure and function of the horse's foot. This research provided a snapshot of the active pathways and functions of the hoof, with a focus on supporting limb laminitis – the laminitis to which famous racehorse Barbaro succumbed.

“We understand the situations that trigger an episode of laminitis, but we do not have a good understanding of what is happening in the hoof,” said Brooks. “This study took a very comprehensive view of the processes early in the development of laminitis.”

Using gene expression analysis, researchers catalogued the changes in gene transcription across the 20 horses. Some had healthy feet, some were early in the disease process and others were more severe. Researchers identified trends in the disease process.

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Laminitis is the painful separation of the lamellar layers of the hoof, which often results in profound lameness, prolonged and expensive supportive care, and possible euthanasia. Despite extensive research in this field, many of the underlying mechanisms associated with the development of laminitis remain unclear.

The abovementioned theory proposed that sepsis-related laminitis, such as that induced by carbohydrate overload and black walnut exposure, involves apoptosis of cells that bind the lamellar layers of the hoof. The integrity of those cells helps suspend the third coffin bone inside the hoof. Researchers suggested that apoptosis occurs early in the disease process, even before signs of lameness manifest. Specifically, they proposed that exaggerated inflammation occurring with the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream could serve as a source of free radicals, which are known to induce apoptosis.

To test their theory, the researchers used hoof samples from horses subjected to carbohydrate overload or exposed to black walnut extract. Both models induce lamellar inflammation and sepsis. “When the researchers counted inflammatory and apoptotic cells microscopically, no increase in apoptosis was observed during either the development phase of laminitis or at the time of lameness onset,” relayed Whitehouse.

Though disappointing, these results sent researchers back to the drawing board in search of other mechanisms that contribute to the development of laminitis.

Meanwhile, horse owners must continue to employ management and nutritional strategies that keep horses safe from the ravages of laminitis. “In addition to avoiding management triggers, ensure horses have adequate nutrients to support the well-being of all body systems, including the integumentary system, which includes skin, hair, and hooves,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research.

“To dodge potential nutrient shortages, all horses should receive a fortified feed suitable for their energy needs,” she said. This feed may come in the form of a traditional textured or pelleted concentrate or it may come as a balancer pellet, which is often useful for horses that can maintain their weight on forages alone.

Horses with compromised hooves may require additional support in the form of a high-quality hoof supplement. “A comprehensive hoof supplement provides more than just biotin to foster hoof growth and integrity. In addition to diet, routine management such as trimming or shoeing plays a vital role in maintaining and achieving hoof health that will also serve the horse well in the face of a laminitis episode,” Whitehouse explained.

Chronic inflammatory conditions, like laminitis, often respond to supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA. The omega-3s found in certain marine-derived products, like EO-3, are more available to horses than those found in plant-based sources.

^*Catunda, A.P.N., G.E.S. Alves, F.O.P. Leme, A.M. Carvalho, B.S. Leise, P.J. Johnson, and R.R. Faleiros. 2021. Apoptosis in epithelial cells and its correlation with leukocyte accumulation in lamellar tissue from horses subjected to experimental sepsis-associate

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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“Upon consulting with a veterinarian team consisting of Dr. Scott Morrison, Dr. Jim Morehead, and Dr. Caleb Harms and our stallion manager Wayne Howard, it was determined that the only humane course of action we had was to euthanize Lord Nelson following his latest difficult battle with laminitis,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “It's pretty well chronicled his long fight with the disease. After several encouraging years, it unfortunately caught up with him and we couldn't allow him to suffer after we had run out of medical options.

“It is a very sad day at Spendthrift. Lord Nelson was an unbelievably courageous horse and I think he'll always be remembered by the entire team at Spendthrift and anyone who ever got to be around him. Just a very special animal and we will miss him,” Toffey said.

Lord Nelson was one of the fastest sprinters in recent history on the racetrack, capturing three consecutive Grade 1 wins in 2016. He turned in a near-record-setting performance in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, running six furlongs in 1:07.65, which was 0.05 seconds off the track record of 1:07.60 set in 1973, when times were recorded in fifths. He also won the seven-furlong Triple Bend Stakes (G1) and the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. (G1), both at Santa Anita.

This year, Lord Nelson's first crop of 2-year-olds have begun racing and include recent impressive Churchill Downs maiden special weight winner Trafalgar, Ellis Park allowance winner Bueno Bueno, and dominant debut Gulfstream Park maiden special weight winner Basking.

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“Upon consulting with a veterinarian team consisting of Dr. Scott Morrisson, Dr. Jim Morehead, and Dr. Caleb Harms and our stallion manager Wayne Howard, it was determined that the only humane course of action we had was to euthanize Lord Nelson following his latest difficult battle with laminitis,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift's general manager. “It's pretty well chronicled his long fight with the disease. After several encouraging years, it unfortunately caught up with him and we couldn't allow him to suffer after we had run out of medical options.”

He continued, “It is a very sad day at Spendthrift. Lord Nelson was an unbelievably courageous horse and I think he'll always be remembered by the entire team at Spendthrift and anyone who ever got to be around him. Just a very special animal and we will miss him.”

Lord Nelson won seven of his 13 starts for trainer Bob Baffert and Spendthrift, earning $958,271. The flashy chestnut closed his career with a trio of Grade I victories in the Triple Bend S., Bing Crosby S. and Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. in 2016. He was forced to miss that year's Breeders' Cup and the 2017 breeding season with a leg infection became laminitis. Lord Nelson's oldest foals are 2-year-olds and he currently has three winners.

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