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Connemara Ponies At Greater Risk For Ocular Cancer, Study Shows

A genetic risk factor for ocular squamous cell carcinoma that has been identified in Belgian draft horses, Haflingers and Rocky Mountain Horses has been proven to affect three additional breeds: Holsteiners, Belgian Warmbloods and Connemara ponies.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in horses. Drs. Margo Crausaz, Thomas Launois, Kathryn Smith-Fleming, Annette McCoy, Kelly Knickelbein and Rebecca Bellone evaluated three cases of ocular cancer with DNA testing and confirmed that each horse had two copies of the variant gene: one from each parent. The risk allele frequency was highest in Connemara ponies. With this information, the scientists recommend Connemara ponies be DNA tested for the gene to assist in breeding selection and management in an effort to limit the possibility of inheriting a copy of the gene from both sire and dam.

Because Holsteiners and Belgian Warmbloods had lower allele frequencies, the research team recommend that additional warmbloods with cancer be evaluated to determine the importance of genotyping.

Read the study here.

Corona Virus Cancels National Children’s Riding Competition

Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the US Equestrian Federation jointly released a statement that the last day of competition in the Kentucky Summer Classic was cancelled, as was the 2020 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm event that was to start Tuesday. Four people tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms; two were from a barn that had travelled to the event and one other was a braider who had been in multiple barns.

The cancellation of competition will allow the competition organizer time to sanitize the venue and determine if competitions slated to go later in August are able to commence safely. Individuals who attended the competition have been notified of the positive test results. Show management is also asking those people who tested positive for a list of whom they were in close contact with from 48 hours before their symptoms arose so that those people might be notified directly of their potential exposure.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days after a sanctioned competition must notify the competition organizer and US Equestrian.

‘Side By Side’: Fever Temple’s Half-Brother, Even Fever, Ponies Him To The Gate At Indiana Grand

Fever Temple and DeShawn Parker stepped onto the track for the afternoon's fourth race Tuesday, July 28 and were greeted by a familiar face. The pony horse assigned to take them to the gate was none other than half-brother Even Fever, a retired racehorse who recently joined the pony horse team of Liz Klopp at Indiana Grand.

“I knew Even Fever was being used for outriding at Ellis Park, but I didn't know he was here at Indiana Grand until a few weeks ago,” said Brandi Steele, trainer of Fever Temple. “Liz (Klopp) came up to me and told me she had just bought him (Even Fever) to add to her pony horses. It was pretty cool to see them side by side on the track today.”

Although Even Fever is grey and Fever Temple is dark bay, Steele sees the family resemblance in the two geldings. They all hail from her owner Jim Edgar's mare, Cecilia's Fever, and with six foals of racing age, four are currently or have been under the care of Steele. Even Fever was trained by Tom Dorris in Illinois for Edgar.

“We have had four in the barn by Jim (Edgar's) mare Cecilia's Hope and they are all dark bay and all look the same in the face,” noted Steele. “Looking at Even Fever, even though he's grey, he has the same facial features as all the others.”

Even Fever completed his racing career in 2018, racing primarily in Illinois. The now 10-year-old son of Even the Score won 10 races during his career and earnings in excess of $167,000. He is now excelling as a pony horse in his second career on the track.

Fever Temple, Lucky Fever, and Cecilia's Hope are all part of Steele's barn and currently racing. Fever Temple finished fourth in his start Tuesday. Lucky Fever has had four starts this year. Cecilia's Hope, a two-year-old, will make her racing debut Monday, Aug. 3 at Indiana Grand in the afternoon's third race.

Steele has been training for Edgar, former Governor of Illinois, for the past three years. Edgar has been a longtime proponent of horse racing and still owns part of a Standardbred, but his main focus these days is in the Thoroughbred industry.

“Jim has a farm around the Springfield (Illinois) area, but he breeds here in Indiana and his horses stay over here,” said Steele. “He has seven or eight brood mares right now.”

Although retired, Edgar is still actively involved on numerous boards and lends his expertise as a consultant. He was inducted into the Lincoln Academy of Illinois as Laureate and awarded the Order of Lincoln in 1999, the state's highest honor. He also has a state park named in his honor, the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area located in central Illinois. The stakes winning owner remains passionate about horse racing and attends the races frequently to watch his horses compete at Indiana Grand. His best horse to date was Fighting Fever, who won in excess of $276,000 before her retirement to the brood mare ranks in 2006.

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Two-Time Champion Roy H Retired; Gelding Will Remain Part of Miller’s Barn As Stable Pony

Trainer Peter Miller announced the retirement of two-time Sprint Champion Roy H on Thursday. The 8-year-old gelding won back-to-back editions of the Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2017 and 2018, and retires with $3,139,765 in earnings while winning 10 of 23 starts, including nine of his last 12 races.

“It is with some sadness but also great joy that we announce the retirement of Roy H from racing,” Miller said. “What can you say about a horse like this who has given us so many thrilling moments? He is the embodiment of class and we will definitely miss seeing him compete. Fortunately, we will not have to miss him for long as he will be retired as a barn pony and remain a very important part of our team. He is a 'favorite son' among our staff and the feeling seems to be mutual as Roy H loves to be around the other horses and loves to train.

“He gave Rockingham Ranch and me a tremendous ride. It was both an honor and a pleasure to train such a magnificent animal. He is sound and healthy and this seemed like the right time to make this change in his career. We've had him since he was a 2-year-old, so watching him grow and mature into a world champion has been a great gift.”

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