MyHoofPrints

Uncovered: The true face of soring Tennessee Walking Horses

"If those spectators could see the true face of soring, they'd be running these people out of the business." -- Humane Society

I wonder who we contact to put these people out of business?

Read also:

Exposed by graphic video, top horse trainer pleads guilty to cruelty

Tennessee Walking Horse Association's response

Contact the Tennessee Walking Horse Association's Executive Director, Ron Thomas: rthomas@twhbea.com

5th skunk confirmed positive for rabies; rabies "map" now available online

All Larimer County residents are urgently advised to keep their pets, horses and livestock vaccinated and up-to-date, and to avoid skunks that are out in daylight or are behaving strangely.

-- Larimer County

via larimer.org

OK, now we're getting cose to home, just one street over. Remember, a rabid skunk can infect your horse or other livestock. Thank goodness horses now get the rabies vaccine. If your animals are not up to date on their rabies vaccination, call your vet now. (Click on the Larimer.org link above for the full story.)

Earlier coverage: More rabid skunks discovered

Deadly EHV-1 returns: Colorado quarantining facility

This just in via e-mail from the state veterinarian:

"The Colorado Department of Agriculture is continuing to investigate and monitor horses exposed to one horse with a confirmed case of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) within the state; a Douglas County premises remains under quarantine. Strict bio-security and disease prevention practices have been instituted on the quarantined premises. This quarantine may be released in seven days if there are no additional horses showing clinical signs.

Three facilities received horses from the same transport vehicle. Horses at those facilities remain free of clinical signs of EHV-1. The movement restrictions on these facilities will be released on May 22, 2012, as they have completed the 21-day observation time period.

Unlike the EHV-1 outbreak in 2011, the initial case in Colorado originated from

Mustang Makeover: Acrobatics anyone?

FORT COLLINS, Colorado - Argo the ex-wild mustang, and Cayla, his foster mom, continue to astound us. The other day, when I happened to be in the arena at our stable, they tried something new!

As a sidenote, watch the earlier Argo videos, and note how much he has filled out in such a short time. Somewhere back in Argo's heritage, beautiful ancestors contributed to some very special looks.

Cayla Stone temporarily adopted Argo from a herd of wild horses in order to train him for the Extreme Mustange Makeover competition, June 8 - 10, at Colorado State University. You can see Cayla and Argo compete at the event, where Argo will also be available to a good home via the Extreme Mustang Makeover auction.

Learn more about Argo and see his other videos by clicking on our Mustang Makeover section.

Be sure to visit Argo's Facebook page: My Extreme Mustang Makeover!

(Note: Cayla is a trained gymnast. Do not try this at home.)

Rabies: More infected skunks reported

9News reports that more infectecd skunks have been reported in neighboring Weld County. If you think horses are not at risk, think again. A rabid animal is an irrational animal, and can go after a horse in a pasture or paddock, biting the horse and infecting it. Please call your vet of choice and get a for-the-record rabies vaccination before it is too late.

Health department reports rabid skunk was mauled by larger animal

Health department: Rabid skunk was mauled by larger animal

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- The Larimer County Health Department said Friday that the rabid skunk found on the west side of town had been mauled by a larger animal, which means that animal could be roaming the area sick and infected with rabies.

If you have not already had your animals vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian, do so now.

Read the Larimer County Health Department press release.

Read also: Rabid skunk found in Fort Collins -- horses, pets at risk

Read also our 2009 post: Rabies claims Colorado horse (first in 25 years)

Rabid skunk found in Fort Collins -- horses, pets at risk

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- (Text of an e-mail I received Thursday night from my vet, Dr. Allen Landes, owner Equine Medical Services) The CDC has confirmed a rabid skunk was found on the west side of Fort Collins near west LaPorte Ave. This confirmed rabies case and another recent one around the Ault area should alert all animal owners that we need to vaccinate all our animals (dogs, cats, horses, and other livestock) against rabies.

If your horse has been vaccinated in the last 12 months by a veterinarian, then your horse is considered vaccinated. If your horse has not been vaccinated in the last 12 months or has been vaccinated by someone other than a veterinarian, they are considered un-vaccinated and if considered a rabies suspect could be euthanized for testing. Colorado State Statute does not recognize owner-administered rabies vaccines. The following excerpt is from Colorado Department of Public Health statement: (Rabies Prevention and Control Policy, Management of Domestic Animals Exposed to Rabies, Updated July 1, 2011) http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/rabies/exposed%20pets%20policy.pdf  "Additionally, Colorado law, 25-4-607, C.R.S., requires rabies vaccinations be performed by a licensed veterinarian. Thus owner-administered rabies vaccine is not recognized."

Update: Health department says skunk was mauled by larger animal

‘Horse whisperer’ on call for rescue

"You have to be patient, and that's what makes me like it a lot. It's the challenge of it all."
-- Ammon Mast, farrier

via www.tricitytimes-online.com

What better choice for emergency livestock calls than a horseshoer? They deal with all different types of horses on a daily basis. I wonder what other cities do for situations like this. (Click on the tricitytimes.com link above for the full story.)

Two horses euthanized at Grand National steeplechase

"I am not happy about drop fences and Becher's is a drop fence." - David Muir, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

via www.usatoday.com

When two horses go down at the same fence, it makes you wonder. You also have to wonder about racing in general. Is horse racing's fatality rate higher than other horse disciplines, or just more publicized? (Click on the usatoday.com link above for the full story on the two horse deaths at the Grand National.) The situation for Thoroughbreds breaks my heart. A tiny percentage of the more than 20,000 produced in North America each year make decent money, and of the leftovers, a minority make reliable pleasure or show horses. Final stop: the slaughterhouse.

Read also - Horse deaths: 24 per week on U.S. racetracks

4'10", weighing 86 lbs., teen girl saves 25 horses in barn fire

Stories like this remind me that there is still hope for humanity (even politicians). Madison did not give up on pulling horses out of the flames until the smoke hung so low that she could not even crawl into the burning building.

Somebody like the American Horse Council or the United States Equestrian Federation needs to give this girl a special award. Bravo, Madison! Click here for the full story.