Equine

The economy is the No. 1 reason for a dramatic increase in the number of unwanted horses.

In another step toward reform of the Thoroughbred racing industry, the RMTC approved new national standards for drug testing.

Washington -- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) again delayed implementation of its new rules to fight identity theft. The enforcement date for the controversial Red Flags rule is now Nov. 1, 2009, the agency reports today in a prepared statement.

A new list shows upcoming events in equine practice.

Philadelphia -- In an open letter to friends and supporters, the dean of the University of Pennsylvania?s veterinary school warns that a proposed 24 percent cut in state funding for the school will have a ?devastating impact? on the school and the Commonwealth.

Washington -- A summary of the latest research on equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), based on interviews with 18 veterinarians or state equine program managers who dealt with outbreaks in recent years, is available through the USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspections Services' (APHIS) Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH).

Phoenix -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed legislation banning the practice of horse tripping and creating a registry of equine rescue facilities and a public list of those facilities.

Washington -- As the deadline nears to implement Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft rules, federal agencies issued a set of frequently asked questions to help affected businesses, such as veterinary practices, comply.

Lexington, Ky. -- The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) board of directors approved new national laboratory standards for racehorse drug testing and created an accreditation program for laboratories, along with an independent Equine Quality Assurance Program to provide third-party examination of testing labs.

Lexington, Ky. -- Scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 were awarded through the Winner's Circle Scholarship Program during June to 33 students who study equine veterinary medicine in 28 states, four Canadian provinces and at one school in the West Indies.

Raleigh, N.C. -- The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is adding a second "Focus" continuing-education session this year, offering two days of lectures and a day of laboratories on equine ophthalmology in October.

Washington -- Starting Aug. 3, imported horses can be quarantined in permanent, privately owned facilities.

Elmont, N.Y. - At least the victory stayed in the family. Mine that Bird, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, finished third in this year's $1 million Belmont Stakes.

Washington - Reopening of U.S. processing plants is among the four most popular solutions suggested for dealing with increasing numbers of unwanted horses, according to a new survey.

National Report - The nation's last three horse-slaughter plants have been shuttered since 2007, but new ones may start to open around the country in coming months.

Elmont, N.Y. - Ruffian was considered by many to be the finest Thoroughbred filly in racing history. It is on the site of her burial that the Ruffian Equine Medical Center opened this year.

National Report -- Investigators continue to look for the source of an outbreak that has spread to 48 states.

Furosemide decreases bleeding in racehorses, according to a new study released from the University of Pretoria, Colorado State University (CSU) and the University of Melbourne.

Baton Rouge, La. -- Environmental contaminants at racetracks could possibly skew the results of drug tests in racehorses, according to a researcher at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Austin, Texas -- What is reported to be the nation's first case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) for 2009 was detected in a horse in Starr County, one of Texas' southernmost counties.

Horse owners open to reopening of U.S. processing plants, according to survey.

Three new courses are available on The Ohio State University's Web site.

Lakewood, Colo. -- The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) released a 12-page consensus statement on equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) as a guide to veterinarians in managing the disease.

Its unwanted horse conference leads to a plan for scientific fact-gathering on the subject.

Lexington, Ky. -- The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) is offering incentives for stallion castration in an effort to address the neglected horse issue in the state.

Elmont, N.Y. -- Mine That Bird, this year's Kentucky Derby winner co-owned by a veterinarian, finished third in Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes, the final race in the 2009 Triple Crown.

Washington -- The American Horse Council (AHC) is putting together what it believes will be "the most inclusive presentation on safety and welfare ever assembled" June 16 at its annual National Issues Forum, focusing on "Welfare of the Horse."