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Apr 9, 2008 |
Activists fight horse exports to Mexico
As slaughter drops off in U.S., attention shifts to live exports
The irony is that more horses are now being shipped to Mexico as the result of
horse slaughter bans in several U.S. states, said Tom Lenz, a veterinarian, past
president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and chair of the
Unwanted Horse Coalition.
"What's going on today is exactly what we predicted," he said.
Horse slaughter isn't banned at the federal level, but bans in Illinois and
Texas effectively shut down the last three remaining plants in the U.S. last
year. Since then, exports of horses for slaughter have surged, Lenz said.
About 10,900 horses have been sent to Mexico for slaughter so far in 2008, up
from about 4,900 at the time last year - more than a twofold increase, according
to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
"Nobody is raising horses in this country to be processed. ... These are just
discarded horses," said Lenz. "If there were no longer horses being discarded,
there would be no horse slaughter in this country."
from a recent article in the Capital Press, Oregon edition
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Nov 10, 2007 |
Horse Brand Inspection fees to increase in
Oregon
The Oregon Dept of Agriculture has announced new fees for horse brand
inspections. Annual brand inspection fees for horses will rise from $5 to $10
and the lifetime inspection fee from $20 to $30. These increases are expected to
fund the brand inspection program for most for the next two years.
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Nov 9, 2007 |
Oregon State Fair Show meeting at
Oregon State Fairgrounds
The Oregon State Fair is now run by the Oregon State Parks. They were requesting
input from members of the horse community to see how they can get more people
coming to the fair. They also wanted to get input from exhibitors as to what
they liked and disliked about the show.
Many people present suggested that the fair hire a permanent show manager who
could help answer questions from potential exhibitors and to coordinate the
preparations necessary for scheduling classes. There were a lot of complaints
about the lack of prior notice for when and which classes were scheduled. People
requested at least one year notice, as is common with most horse shows, so they
could plan accordingly. The exhibitors stated that if they received notice
sufficiently in advance then the numbers of exhibitors would increase
significantly. There were also a lot of complaints about the fact that the Fair
Program did NOT include any information about the horse show or its classes.
People had no idea when different horse events were taking place.
The Parks Department pointed out that they don’t make money from the horse show,
not enough to pay for repairs and new buildings, anyway. Even increasing the
number of exhibitors will not make a difference. However, if they can plan the
classes to maximize the numbers of spectators who will fill the bleachers, then
they can make money. Their goal is to increase the number of people who attend
the fair. That is what gets them sufficient funds to allow they to repair and
build new buildings. One example was the draft horse competitions. When the are
scheduled, fair officials noticed an increase in visitors. Fair officials also
noted that the concerns and complaints that they are hearing are exactly what
they need to know about how the State Fair Horse Show is being run.
One gal I spoke to is into drill teams. She said they have some of their
competitions in the mornings before the fair even opens! Yet they fill the
stands when they are competing. The miniature horses also draw crowds.
The Parks Department wants our input! Their website is:
http://www.oregonstatefair.org/horse_summit
Irene B. Taylor
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Aug 5, 2007 |
Weed Free Rule
The U.S. Forest Service is gearing up to require riders to feed only weed-free
hay to horses and mules used on national forests in Oregon and Washington.
The agency wants to put a stop to livestock consuming weed-infected hay at
campsites and then spreading the seeds in their droppings to public lands and
pristine wilderness areas.
The Forest Service regulation went into effect Jan 1 (2007) to require riders in
the federal wilderness areas of Oregon and Washington to feed only weed-free hay
and pellets to their animals.
But it won't be enforced until 2009, when it also will encompass the two states'
19 national forests, said Nancy Phelps, a Forest Service spoke-women in
Portland.
Paraphrased from an article in the Capital Press Aug 3, 2007
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Jun 25, 2007 |
DSLD News
This letter was written in 2002. Alamo Pintado has once again given
permission to pass this letter on to the Peruvian horse world. They have treated
hundreds of Peruvian horses since 2002 and still feel the same today as they did
when they originally wrote and signed this letter.
Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, Inc.
To: Peruvian Paso horse owners
Re: Suspensory Ligament Desmitis
Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center has been treating horses for over 30 years
in Los Olivos, California. We see horses of all breeds and of all equine
performance sports. We have always seen a large number of Peruvian Paso horses
because of our locale to many top Peruvian breeders and trainers in the Santa
Ynez Valley and California.
In the last six years we have diagnosed well over 1,000 suspensory ligament
injuries in horses associated with racing, jumping, dressage, cutting and
endurance events. We have diagnosed approximately 8 Peruvian Paso horses with
suspensory ligament injuries during the same time period. Of these 8 injuries in
the Peruvian Paso horses, six were determined to be typical overuse injuries and
were treated as such at APEMC. Of the other two Peruvian Paso horses that did
not fit the typical overuse injury, one was due to being extremely overweight
and poorly taken care of and the other horse may have had what has been called
degenerative suspensory ligament disease but it was not confirmed with any
histologic evidence.
The veterinarians at APEMC have always found it to be curious that this
condition of the Peruvian horse has not been described in any equine lameness or
surgery text and has not surfaced as a cause of unsoundness in the Peruvian Paso
horses that we have dealt with on a daily basis for the last 30 years. On the
contrary, we have found suspensory desmitis to be very rare in the Peruvian Paso
population that we treat compared to a relatively high incidence in the
racehorse, jumper and dressage horses. We feel that these high rates are a
factor of footing, training and shoeing problems. We do feel that some of these
injuries are related to abnormal conformation in some horses and are not just
occupational hazards. Some large breed broodmares that have had numerous foals
will often develop a chronic progressive suspensory ligament degeneration and
breakdown that is very difficult to treat as long as they remain heavy and
continue to carry heavy pregnancies. Once this degenerative process develops it
is not possible to reverse and return the suspensory branches to normal with
rest or treatment. Weight management in any breed of horse is critical to health
and soundness.
I am sure that this condition has been diagnosed and documented in a certain
number of Peruvian Paso horses on some farms in the United States, but I have
not heard of the numbers and the overall incidence as of yet. We have seen this
identical problem in Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses, but these are horses that
were poorly conformed and passed the predisposing conformation to their
offspring. The simple answer to this problem is to not breed bad-legged horses
to bad-legged horses, or to breed any horse with a severe inherited conformation
fault. Once that becomes obvious, the problem goes away.
In our experience, the Peruvian Paso, as a breed, is a very tough, durable and
sound breed of horse when compared to all the other breeds of horses we see at
APEMC. I hope that the excitement and confusion over a small group of isolated
horses does not continue to cast irresponsible unwarranted connotations on a
very strong and sound breed of horse.
Doug Herthel, DVM Mark Rick, DVM
Greg Parks, DVM Ed Hamer, DVM
Carter Judy, DVM DACV
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Dec 8, 2006
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Horses not likely to escape national ID
It’s inevitable that animal ID program will include equines
Dave Wilkins
Capital Press Staff Writer
Horses will probably get roped into the national animal identification system sooner or later.
That's the consensus anyway.
Exactly when horse owners will be corralled and what they'll have to do to comply is still very much up in the air, however.
While horses may not be the primary focus, there's little question that they'll be included right along with other species such as cattle, hogs and sheep, if animal ID becomes mandatory.
"It is highly unlikely that the horse industry will be given the opportunity to opt out," the Equine Species Working Group said in a paper published earlier this year.
Politically, it would be difficult to exclude horses.
"The federal and state authorities and the broader livestock community that first proposed a national ID system expect that horses will be included within any system that becomes mandatory," the group said.
The ESWG has been designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the group representing horse owners in animal ID discussions.
Many horse owners have probably wondered why equines are being included. After all, horses aren't part of the human food chain like beef, poultry and pork (at least in the United States).
But equine diseases can spread quickly with the movement of horses across state and national boundaries.
Jim Knight, head of the equine program at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, considers disease management to be the primary reason that horses belong in a national animal ID program.
"I think it's necessary for disease control," he said.
Horses have the potential to spread such infectious diseases as rabies, salmonella, ringworm, leptospirosis, brucellosis and anthrax to humans, although such equine-to-human transmission is rare in the United States.
Animal ID is probably going to happen whether horse owners want it or not, and the system will likely include some things that they don't like, Knight said.
"It's probably something that's going to be needed because of the changing world that we live in and how fast things move," he said. "I think eventually it will be something that's beneficial."
Initially, the program is expected to focus on premise identification, a move that could help authorities trace the origin of a disease outbreak.
Eventually, the system could also include identification of all equine animals.
That could be a huge undertaking. In fact, just getting an accurate head count may be difficult.
According to a study conducted for the American Horse Council, there were more than 9 million horses in the United States in 2005.
Idaho alone had 158,458 horses, according to the AHC study.
A 2005 survey by the University of Idaho pegged the total number of equine animals (horses, donkeys, mules, etc.) at more than 206,000, and that number is now probably closer to 250,000, state brand inspector Larry Hayhurst estimates.
Then there's the big question: How will individual horses be identified?
In August, the ESWG recommended that for national animal ID compliance, horses should be identified with a radio frequency microchip implanted in the animal's neck.
Standardization of identification practices in the horse industry is a major focus of the working group.
Existing methods of identification include breed registration numbers, DNA parentage, brands, lip tattoos and radio frequency identification devices.
Only a small percentage of the horses in Idaho - perhaps 10 to 15 percent - have brand marks, Hayhurst estimated. The same is likely true in other Western states, he said.
For more information about the ESWG, visit its website at www.equinespeciesworkinggroup.com
Dave Wilkins is based in Twin Falls, Idaho. His e-mail address is dwilkins@capitalpress.com
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NOTE: This website does not endorse national horse identification
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Nov 18,2006
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West Nile virus kills Washington horse
A horse in Ravensdale/Maple valley area of King County, Wash, died of West Nile virus last month.
That horse had not received his booster shot for 2005 but had been vaccinated for West Nile in 2005.
In related news: As of Nov 7 2006, California has had 53 reported cases of West Nile. Oregon, 21 cases, Washington, 6 cases, Idaho, 321 cases.
From the Capital Press, dated Nov 17, 2006.
Posted Nov 18, 2006
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Sep 28, 2006
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West Nile Maps updated
See the latest counties that have reported West Nile in horses.
Go here for the info for Oregon and Washington http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/index.html
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Sep 11,2006
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Trail Monitoring Urged
In an effort to avoid downgrading of trails across the nation, the Back Country Horsemen of America (888/893-5161;
www.backcountryhorse.com ) urges all trail users to find out exactly how their area trails are classified. If a trail is downgraded, there will be reduced maintenance and restricted access. Tell your local district rangers and United States Forest Service recreational managers that you want to be kept informed. (A recent Court order mandates that the public has the right to he informed and involved in the trail-classification process.) If you find a trail has been downgraded, fight the decision by lobbying the USFS and your congressional delegations.
The request for grassroots monitoring and support is part of an ongoing effort by the BCHA to ensure the USFS operates within the public eye, with full public disclosure, prior to trail decisions made on public lands. For more information, send an e-mail to BCHA Chair Merlyn Huso,
h1azym@usfamily.net or Legal Committee Chair Steve Didier.
steve.didier@gmail.com
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Sep 30, 2005
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Dog illness traced to virus from horses
WASHINGTON - A puzzling outbreak of respiratory disease in dogs has been tracked to a virus that has infected horses for decades - a transfer researchers say is rarely seen.
The illness first drew attention sweeping through kennels of racing greyhounds in several states and has also been found in household dogs in some states.
The flu kills between 5 percent and 8 percent of infected dogs, Dr. Cynda Crawford of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine said at a briefing Monday. Some dogs get a cough, runny nose and fever, while others show no symptoms at all.
From a Register-Guard article. Eugene, OR dtd Sep 27, 2005
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