FEI Judicial Suggests that Grazing Can be a Source of Prohibited Substances

This just in from the FEI...drug testing at a new level!

Mary 64, one of the horses with which Michael Freund won the 2004 FEI World Driving Championship in Kecskemet (HUN), had tested positive to the prohibited substance Valerenic Acid.

In June 2005, the Judicial Committee held a first hearing in this case and accepted the evidence that the horse Mary 64 had been allowed to graze in a field next to the event, which contained Centranthus ruber plants. The Committee recommended that the parties conduct controlled tests in order to determine whether Valerenic Acid may be found in a horse’s systems as a result of the consumption of certain plants from the Centranthus ruber family.

The Judicial Committee resumed the hearing on 23 January 2006 in Frankfurt. The Committee found this to be an extremely difficult case to assess in the light of the varying technical advice it had been provided with and regretted that the tests conducted during the summer of 2005 had not been subject to full cooperation and coordination between the Person Responsible and the FEI.

After having heard the opinion of the different experts, the Judicial Committee considered that there were indications that results could vary due to the stage in the plant life cycle at which it is consumed by the horse, and various other factors.

The Judicial Committee also considered the exhaustive research engaged in by Michael Freund and his advisors to answer the question as to how the substance was present in the horse’s systems.

In a split decision, the Judicial Committee decided by a majority of its members present to terminate the proceedings by applying the provision in Article 146.2 of the General Regulations at no costs to the parties.

The full text of the Judicial Committee’s decision in this matter will be published shortly on the FEI website.

Oklahoma Clinic for Farriers with Michael Wildenstein

Farriers in the Midwest are in for a treat. Details below desribe an upcoming seminar with Hoofcare & Lameness consulting editor Michael Wildenstein at Oklahaoma State Horseshoeing School. With any luck, I will see you there!

Date: March 25, 2006
Time: 9 a.m. til ???
Presented by Oklahoma Farrier Supply and Grand Circult Products
Clinician: Michael Wildenstein CJF, FWCF (Hons), Resident Farrier at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Cost: Free!!!
Location: Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School, 4802 Dogwood Rd., Ardmore, OK 73401
Contact: Regan or Kathy Kester 1 800 634 2811; 580 223 0064 or email oshs@cableone.net
Extras: Free lunch! 5% discount on farrier supplies that day; eligible for AFA CE credits
Recommended hotel: Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn, Ardmore
Nearest airports: Oklahoma City or Dallas-Fort Worth

Photo shows Mike Wildenstein at a clinic on heavy horse shoeing at Tufts Vet School in 2004. He's sitting on the horse's right hock while he works on the left hoof! Photo by Taylor Keenan. (thanks!)

Edward Martin Update

Edward Martin has had some health problems and is resting at the hospital in Scotland. I spoke with the night nurse today and he will hopefully be going home sometime later this week.

In case you don't know him, Edward Martin FWCF MBE is the worldwide spiritual leader of the farrier community. If there is such a thing as a living legend, he is one.

If you would like to send Edward a card, write to Edward Martin, Field's End, Closeburn by Thornhill, Dumfries, Scotland.

This nice photo of Edward in better health was taken by our friend Alice Johnson. Thanks, Alice.

What's up with farriers and vets in the UK?

A change is afoot. The first clue was when it was announced that our friend Simon Curtis FWCF Assoc.RCVS, would take over as chairman of the Farriers Registration Council. Simon will not be the Registrar, as had been rumored; Miles Williamson-Noble will remain in that position, which is the chief administrator's role.

The bombshell came with a quote in this week's Horse & Hound from British Equine Veterinary Association President Chris Rea. In commenting on the statuatory review of the veterinary sugeons act in the UK, Rea told H&H: "The review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act....will include the regulation of para-professionals- every one from physios and equine dentists to MAYBE farriers". [Horse and Hound, 28th Dec 05].

This is not a power-grabbing move by the veterinarians, however. In actuality, it has been proposed that the veterinarians will lose power, since one of the proposals is that they will no longer be self-governing but will have to answer to a board of non-veterinarians. The new board might be an umbrella over the vets and animal husbandry para-professionals.

We live in interesting times; no matter where you go, changes are being discussed.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/vetsurgeons/.

http://www.bva.co.uk/about/ar04_act.asp

USDA Horse Protection Act "Listening Session" in Tennessee in February

On February 8, 2006, USDA APHIS Animal Care will host a Listening Session from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club on the Celebration show grounds in Shelbyville, TN.

This meeting will be the first of six Listening Sessions Animal Care will host in 2006 all around the country, including sessions in Springfield, MO, Chattanooga, TN, Temecula, CA, and Dallas, TX.

The objectives of the meetings are to:

1) Gather public input regarding the next Operating Plan;
2) Gather public input about the future direction of Horse Protection Act enforcement; and
3) Share information with the public about past, present, and future activities of the Horse Protection program.

USDA will first present an overview of the Horse Protection Program, followed by an open microphone session for people to share information with USDA.

A transcription service will be present to capture all comments on paper, which will in turn be posted on Animal Care's Horse Protection web page. Persons interested in horses regulated by the Horse Protection Act are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts.

Questions about the Listening Session can be directed to
Darby G. Holladay
U.S. Department of Agriculture
APHIS Legislative and Public Affairs
Tel: (301) 734-3265

Arky Pillsbury Has Died

Arky Pillsbury,the eternal official farrier at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, has died in Florida. He was 89. I will post more details as soon as I know them. Arky was recently the subject of a wonderful tribute in the Quarter Horse Journal. They printed a photo of his smile as a full page photo. That smile was a permanent part of Arky's face. What a wonderful man. I will miss him. The Congress will never be the same.