Happy Birthday to Wisconsin!

Happy Birthday to Wisconsin!

Wisconsin became a U.S. state on May 19, 1848. The Badger State was the 30^th state in the Union.

Do you live in Wisconsin?

How are you celebrating this stellar date in Badger State history?

Here in Southeastern Wisconsin, we had planned to participate in a horse show, but it was canceled at the last minute.

Next, we organized an informal trail ride near our home barn. Appropriately, the Wisconsin state motto simply reads, "Forward."

But the weather didn’t cooperate.

So we are in a state indeed.

However, we still proudly proclaim a boisterous and bold “Happy Birthday” to the state of Wisconsin.

Tomorrow, of course, is Memorial Day. Temperatures are expected to soar to record heights, accompanied by humidity. As we remember and honor our fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, we will likely take time at the barn to bathe our overheated horses too.

How will you spend Memorial Day? Will you ride horses in a parade, attend a picnic or what?

Related Items:

Little Britches of Wisconsin Rodeo season in full tilt

Make Memorial Day picnics more memorable

Memorial Day Movies: Will 'Hangover' or 'Kung Fu Panda' Casts Bring You to the Theatre?

SWBA holds 2011 Memorial Showdown May 27-30

Wisconsin Jr. High School Rodeo lists 2011 competitions

 

Share

Free Informational Resources on Equine Herpes Virus Outbreak

Free Informational Resources on Equine Herpes Virus Outbreak

Horse lovers have grown concerned about the recent and ongoing cases of EHV-1, Equine Herpes Virus. This extremely contagious disease, which can prove fatal to horses, seems to be erupting in multiple locations.

Multiple equestrian events have been canceled or postponed, as planners prove particularly cautious about EHV-1. Following are a couple of examples:

 

• National Cutting Horse Association cancels shows over EHV-1 outbreak
• Utah's Laurel Brown Racetrack postpones May 21st QH races for EHV-1 scare

Is it possible to improve your horse’s chances of avoiding infection with Equine Herpes Virus? These practical pointers can help:

• 10 Ways to Minimize Your Horse's Risk of EHV-1 or Equine Herpes Virus

Here are several additional links to free online educational and informational resources on EHV-1. CTRL-click on each title link to open that article in a new internet window.

• AAEP issues warning on EHV-1 - Equine Herpes Virus outbreak .
• AAEP About the Outbreak and Additional Resources . 
• AAEP List of State Vets  .
• AAEP Fact Sheet  .
• USDA Brochure on the Disease  .
• Bio-security Tips  .

 Image/s:

Four Ponies photo by Vertigogen

Creative Commons Licensing

Share


 

AAEP issues warning on EHV-1 - Equine Herpes Virus outbreak

AAEP issues warning on EHV-1 - Equine Herpes Virus outbreak

Horse owners are on alert, with headlines calling for caution over an apparent epidemic of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1).

Equines in several U.S. states (and Canada) have turned up with the highly contagious and possibly fatal disease, leading to heightened precautions and even cancellations of major equestrian events.

Image:

Grey Horse in Pasture

Creative Commons Licensing

See related EHV-1 article here:

National Cutting Horse Association cancels shows over EHV-1 outbreak

Equine veterinary association posts EHV-1 warning.

Following is a press release from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), issued in the U.S. and Canada earlier this week (emphases added):

Message sent to AAEP DVM Members in the U.S. and Canada on May 16, 2011

Currently, there are reports of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) affecting horses in the U.S. and Canada. This outbreak appears related to initial cases at a cutting horse show in Ogden Utah, which was held from April 29 - May 8. Horses at that event may have been exposed to this virus and subsequently spread the infection to other horses. While the true extent of this disease outbreak is uncertain, there is clearly a very significant elevated risk of EHM cases at this time. At this time control of the outbreak is critically dependent on biosecurity.

Laboratory submission of nasal swabs and whole blood samples collected from the exposed horse can be utilized for virus detection and isolation. Please consider testing any suspected cases.

The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse but typically only causes neurological disease sporadically. However, in an outbreak of EHV-1 neurologic such as we are experiencing now, the disease can reach high morbidity and case fatality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 infection is typically 1-2-days, with clinical signs of fever then occurring, often in a biphasic fever, over the following 10 days. When neurological disease occurs it is typically 8-12 days after the primary infection, starting often after the second fever spike. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs may include: nasal discharge, incoordination, hind end weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. Prognosis depends on severity of signs and the period of recumbency. 

There is no specific treatment for EHV-1, although antiviral drugs (i.e. valacyclovire) may have some value before neurological signs occur. Non-specific treatment may include intravenous fluids, and other appropriate supportive therapy; the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is strongly recommended. Currently, there is no equine vaccine that has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.

Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission, and contaminated hands, equipment, tack, and feed all play a role in disease spread. However, horses with severe clinical signs of neurological EHV-1 infection are thought to have large viral loads in their blood and nasal secretions and therefore, present the greatest danger for spreading the disease. Immediate separation and isolation of identified suspect cases and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures are key elements for disease control.

Please report any confirmed EHV/EHM cases or suspect EHV/EHM cases to your state/provincial animal health department as soon as possible.

For additional questions, please contact Keith Kleine, AAEP director of industry relations, at (800) 443-0177 or kkleine@aaep.org.

Sincerely,

William Moyer, D.V.M.
2011 AAEP President

May 16, 2011

The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a free online booklet with additional information about Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1).

Image:

Pastured Mare and Foal

Creative Commons Licensing

Share

America Remembers ... September 11th

America Remembers ... September 11th

Last night, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that Al Qaeda  terrorist leader and arch nemesis Osama bin Laden had been slain in Pakistan, where he was apparently hiding out in a walled compound.

Almost 11 years ago, Al Qaeda operatives attacked the United States, killing many Americans and others in New York City's World Trade Center and in the American Pentagon outside Washington, DC.

America and our allies have hunted for Osama bin Laden ever since, to bring the fanatic to justice.

We will never forget.

Who remembers this astonishing equestrian tribute to America, featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales, which aired one year later?

Take a look.

America is strong, and we care about our own. May we continue to pray for our nation and particularly for those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. May we intercede for those who bravely place their own lives in harm's way to serve our country.

Never say nay.
 .

 .

The A to Z Challenge and Horse Breeds from A to Z

The A to Z Challenge and Horse Breeds from A to Z

 (posted for the A to Z Challenge)

Yee-haw!

We made it through the A to Z blogging challenge for the month of April, posting one entry each day to complete the entire alphabet.

Just for fun, let’s look at a sampling of different equine breeds from A to Z.

Appaloosa, Akhal-teke and Arabian

Bashkir Curly, Barb, Belgian, Brumby

Cleveland Bay, Clydsdale and Connemara

Dole, Don and Drum Horse

Estonian and Exmoor

Falabella (photo at left), Fjord and Friesian

Gypsy Vanner

Hackney, Haflinger, Hanoverian and Holsteiner

Icelandic and Irish Cob

Jennet and Jutland

Kiger Mustang and Kinsky

Lipizzaner and Lusitano

Missouri Foxtrotter, Morgan and Mustang

New Forest Pony and Nokota

Oldenburg

Paint, Paso Fino and Percheron

Quarab and Quarter Horse
Rhinelander and Rocky Mountain Horse

Saddlebred, Selle Francais, Shire and Standardbred

Tennessee Walker, Thoroughbred and Trakehner

Unmal and Uzunyayla

Ventasso and Virginia Highlander

Warmblood (photo at right) and Westfalen

Xilingol
Yili and Yonaguni

Zebra  (OK, not actually a horse or pony, but still an equine.) and Zweibrucker

How many of these equine breeds have you ever seen? How many more types of horses, ponies or other equine varieties can you name for each letter of the alphabet? 

Which is your favorite?

Crossing the finish line with the A to Z Challenge

Thanks to those who organized April’s A to Z Challenge this year, as well as to the many old and new readers and blog visitors who stopped by at The Mane Point. Welcome, new subscribers and  blog followers!

Image/s: Creative Commons Licensing

Share