by: Kentucky Equine Research Inc. – source thehorse.com

Imagine you’re standing in the loft of your barn, lamenting the dwindling supply of hay. Snow and ice storms have made the trek to the regional hay sale nearly impossible. On the first clear sale day, you hook the fifth wheel to the truck and head off to the auction, hoping to bag a load of good-quality forage. When you arrive, however, there’s no decent hay available. Hundreds of bales are stacked on rickety wagons; the bales are off-colored, some variation of yellow or brown, and dust flies from them when the twine is snipped and the hay shook out. Some of the bales smell suspicious–musty and moldy. What’s a concerned horse owner to do? (more…)

Edited press release – source:  the horse.com

As of Jan. 1, 2011, clenbuterol (Ventipulmin) will no longer be a permitted medication in Equine Canada sanctioned competitions. As a result, horses competing in Equine Canada sanctioned competitions with a positive test result for clenbuterol will be sanctioned as per the Equine Canada penalty tables and drug classification system as a Class III offence. A withdrawal time of at least 72 hours is recommended after the last administration of this product. For additional information, please see the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency Schedule of Drugs. (more…)

by: Christy West, Digital Editor/Producer

Source:  thehorse.com

Osteoarthritis (sometimes called degenerative joint disease) is the most common cause of lameness in horses and currently there is no cure.¹ However, researchers continue to improve available treatment methods. At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, director of the Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University, presented the results of a study evaluating the use of bone marrow-derived stem cells in conjunction with microfracture for healing cartilage defects in horses. (more…)

Source:  TheHorse.com from an edited press release

With many horse owners still struggling to make ends meet in the current economic downturn, the horse industry continues to look for a ways to help with the ongoing unwanted horse problem. With the support of the Unwanted Horse Coalition’s Operation Gelding, the Tacoma Equine Hospital in Tacoma, Wash., is providing a low-cost castration clinic to struggling horse owners in the Puget Sound area.

Although there are no 100% accurate figures on how many unwanted horses there are in the United States, thousands of horses are neglected, abandoned, or sent to slaughter in Canada or Mexico each year, with more being born every spring. The cost of horse keeping is up while sales are down; a horse that could once bring in several thousands of dollars now only brings in a few hundred. A stallion presents an additional problem, as they are typically harder to sell and more difficult to handle.

Much like a spay/neuter clinic run by a small animal shelter, Operation Gelding helps address the issue of overbreeding and encourages responsible ownership.

“The impetus for these clinics is that the castration of a stallion will help prevent over-breeding and produce a gentler horse that is more rideable, more trainable and more saleable, allowing them to be used in several careers,” said Doug Corey, DVM, chairman of the Unwanted Horse Coalition.

On Dec. 31 the Tacoma Equine Hospital will be offering a low-cost castration clinic at their facility in Tacoma.

“It is our intention to offer this service to those people most in need of financial help as well as assist in decreasing the number of unwanted horses in our community,” says Linda Hagerman, DVM, owner of the hospital.

Hagerman, her associate, Meg deGravelles, DVM, the staff of Tacoma Equine, and numerous area volunteers will be on hand to perform the surgeries. They hope to castrate at least 10 horses.

For more information on Tacoma Equine’s Operation Gelding clinic, visit TacomaEquine.com.

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“Energy Healing – Try it For Free” class

January 8, 2011 – Eugene OR

January 9, 2011 – Hillsboro, OR

You’ve heard of acupuncture and acupressure.  Come learn about the “next generation” technique for accelerating healing and enhancing well being in this free 2-hour class. Often referred to as “acupuncture without needles,” Energy Healing is an effective tool for treating ailments and preventing illness that is easy to learn, easy to apply, and best of all is portable and can be used anytime, anyplace. (more…)

Tomorrow, Thursday December 30, 2011, is the deadline to pre-register for the ‘Intro to the 2011 Tests’ Clinic

Make sure you get your application in so that you don’t miss out on this Fabulous Educational Opportunity!!!

Each person pre-registered will be entered to win a beautiful Nuvella White Dressage Pad (MSRP: $89.95) donated by Toklat, a one-year subscription good for Dressage Today (we have 2 of these gift certificates) or another donated prize.

Go to the ODS Education Webpage for program information and registration form, or contact Francy Haupt: dqhorsestuff@comcast.net.

Please note: we highly recommend that you contact Francy Haupt at dqhorsestuff@comcast.net if you have questions.  If you contact the ODS Office, your message will not be read until after the deadline as our office is closed for the holidays and will reopen on 1/3/11.

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Pictured ODS Executive Director Corinne Stonier and family

Dear ODS Members,

From our staff and board to you and your family, we wish you an enjoyable Holiday and a prosperous and happy New Year.

The ODS Office is closed through January 3^rd (however we will be open for 4 hours on 12/31 to complete last minute membership renewals in order to get the most current list to the Omnibus printer and to USDF).  If your matter is urgent, please call my cell phone; otherwise, all correspondence will be replied to on or after January 3, 2011.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Corinne Stonier
Executive Director
Oregon Dressage Society, a registered non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization
www.oregondressage.com
PH: 503.681.2337 — CELL: 503.730.8036 — FAX: 503.681.3873
880 NE 25th Ave., Suite 2-173
Hillsboro, OR 97124

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MECHELEN, Belgium, Dec. 27–Edward Gal, the reigning World Cup champion, rode Sisther de Jeu to victory in the Jumping Mechelen World Cup qualifier Grand Prix Monday, the first of the 2010/2011 indoor series in which the Dutch rider has competed.

Edward and the 11-year-old Gribaldi mare scored 71.744 per cent, the only one of the 17 starters to score above 70 per cent in what is the 6th of the 10 events that make up the West European League World Cup series leading to the Final in Leipzig, Germany, at the end of April. Edward won the Final last March aboard the superstar stallion Totilas that was sold to Germany after the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Dutch team mate Hans Peter Minderhoud on the 15-year-old mare Exquis Nadine placed second with 68.255 per cent and Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg on Damon Hill NRW was third on 67.914 per cent.

The freestyle that will determine points for the WEL standings will be held Tuesday. (more…)

Asther de Jeu

Source:  dressage-news.com

HARSKAMP, Netherlands, Dec. 27–Asther de Jeu, a three-year-old Contango mare co-owned by Moorland Investments along with the prominent Dutch breeder, Emmy de Jeu, has been placed in training with Edward Gal.

Officially named Moorlands Asther de Jeu, she is a daughter of Contango out of the Elite mare Esther O.V. Ulft x Jazz x Amorwas first under saddle in June and was recently placed in training with Edward.
She is a dark brown mare, and scored 88 points in the IBOP test including a 9 for trot, 9 for flexibility, 9 and 9.5 for posture and balance. She was described by the jury as a “very talented and promising dressage horse.”

Edward, reporting on his Internet site the addition of Asther de Jeu to his lineup of horses, describes the mare as a “delightful, uncomplicated mare that is very cool in the head and fantastic movement.”

Edward has been competing for several years Sisther de Jeu, the 11-year-old mare by Gribaldi, on whom he is seeking to qualify for the 2011 World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany in April.

Edward is the reigning World Cup champion, which he won in March this year aboard the superstar stallion Totilas then owned by Moorlands that was sold to Germany following the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky where the pair won three gold medals.

Edward had previously trained and competed another Contango offspring, Ravel, that was sold to Akiko Yamazaki of the U.S. as the Olympic and WEG mount for Steffen Peters
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Click here to review the latest UVC-Nov2010Newsleeter (PDF File).

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