Millions of Americans woke up this morning to see Barbaro and Dr Dean Richardson on the CBS "Early Show". Here's a link to a video of the segment, although I do not know how long this link will be active.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=1927027n
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Pharmacy Sued Over Horse Deaths in Saratoga
People here in Saratoga haven't forgotten the tragic death last year of the promising young racehorse Saratoga County in a local vet hospital. Saratoga County was one of several horses that developed colitis-like conditions that have been linked to the use of what is believed to have been a contaminated or improperly manufactured medication.
Severe laminitis is a common side effect of colitis and three of the four horses developed the hoof disease and were euthanized. A fourth horse at Belmont also received the medication and developed colitis and laminitis and was euthanized.
According to the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, the pharmacy is being sued for the alleged wrongful deaths of the horses.
Severe laminitis is a common side effect of colitis and three of the four horses developed the hoof disease and were euthanized. A fourth horse at Belmont also received the medication and developed colitis and laminitis and was euthanized.
According to the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, the pharmacy is being sued for the alleged wrongful deaths of the horses.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Horseshoers aren’t always lucky...but they always have a lot of friends
Under the fledgling gingko tree, The Saratoga blacksmith stands…
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would have approved: On Tuesday morning, August 15th, recently-deceased Saratoga horseshoers were remembered in a memorial service at the horseman’s blacksmith shop behind the Oklahoma training track. Their living shoer friends stood around an anvil, under a tree, to honor them.
Jim Brummitt, Charlie Campbell, and Bruce Scott were familiar faces around Saratoga, and all three became ill and died last year at what should have been the heights of their careers. Charlie was the paddock farrier at Saratoga until his death; his twin brother Joe has taken over for him now.
A group of friends of the three pulled together and raised funds to create a memorial area by the blacksmith shop. A fresh young gingko tree, a picturesque anvil on a stump and plaques in remembrance of many deceased track shoers were dedicated.
The names on the plaque are: Jim Brummit, Charlie Campbell, Bruce Scott, Tony Amato. Jim O'Connell, Rodney O'Domski, John Dern, Frank Starnes, Andy Gardner Sr., Tom McNabo, George A. Boyle, and George Boyle.
About 20 current horseshoers showed up for the service, which included prayers lead by former jockey Pat Day. He thanked the farriers for the part they played in making it safe for jockeys to ride in races.
I looked around and I noticed that none of them was younger than 40 or so. Where is the next generation of New York racetrack shoers? Maybe, because Tuesday is the dark day at Saratoga, they all had the day off.
I'm very glad I was able to be there for the dedication. It was a terrible shock for me to learn that Rodney O'Domski had died. I knew him quite well a long time ago when he was the farrier at Coolmore in Ireland and only learned of his death when I read the plaque.
Gingko is an herb that is supposed to prevent memory loss...an appropriate choice for a memorial tree.
Ray Amato promised he'd help me identify all the horseshoers in the photo; as soon as I have all the names, I will edit this post.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would have approved: On Tuesday morning, August 15th, recently-deceased Saratoga horseshoers were remembered in a memorial service at the horseman’s blacksmith shop behind the Oklahoma training track. Their living shoer friends stood around an anvil, under a tree, to honor them.
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Jim Brummitt, Charlie Campbell, and Bruce Scott were familiar faces around Saratoga, and all three became ill and died last year at what should have been the heights of their careers. Charlie was the paddock farrier at Saratoga until his death; his twin brother Joe has taken over for him now.
A group of friends of the three pulled together and raised funds to create a memorial area by the blacksmith shop. A fresh young gingko tree, a picturesque anvil on a stump and plaques in remembrance of many deceased track shoers were dedicated.
The names on the plaque are: Jim Brummit, Charlie Campbell, Bruce Scott, Tony Amato. Jim O'Connell, Rodney O'Domski, John Dern, Frank Starnes, Andy Gardner Sr., Tom McNabo, George A. Boyle, and George Boyle.
About 20 current horseshoers showed up for the service, which included prayers lead by former jockey Pat Day. He thanked the farriers for the part they played in making it safe for jockeys to ride in races.
I looked around and I noticed that none of them was younger than 40 or so. Where is the next generation of New York racetrack shoers? Maybe, because Tuesday is the dark day at Saratoga, they all had the day off.
I'm very glad I was able to be there for the dedication. It was a terrible shock for me to learn that Rodney O'Domski had died. I knew him quite well a long time ago when he was the farrier at Coolmore in Ireland and only learned of his death when I read the plaque.
Gingko is an herb that is supposed to prevent memory loss...an appropriate choice for a memorial tree.
Ray Amato promised he'd help me identify all the horseshoers in the photo; as soon as I have all the names, I will edit this post.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Get well, Chris Pollitt!
Dr. Chris Pollitt of the University of Queensland and director of the Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit (AELRU) is recovering from injuries suffered both when he was kicked in the face by a horse and difficulties under anesthesia during surgery to repair broken facial structures and his nose.
Dr. Pollitt is a key contributor to Hoofcare & Lameness Journal; issue 80 contains information about his research to prevent laminitis using cryotherapy (intensive icing of the feet and legs).
Chris's smile may be a little crooked, but we should all be extra delighted to see him. In the USA, Dr. Pollitt is expected to attend the AAEP Convention in San Antonio, Texas in December. He is not a speaker, but will support his students and staff who are presenting new research from the AELRU. He has agreed to be a special guest at a gathering of Hoofcare & Lameness subscribers, tentatively planned for Monday evening of that event.
Send "get well" messages and maybe pledge a donation to: laminitisresearch@uq.edu.au or visit http://www.laminitisresearch.org>
In the USA, donations to Dr. Pollitt are channeled through the tax-deductible portal of the Animal Health Foundation. Read about laminitis research at http://www.ahf-laminitis.org
Stay tuned for more details.
Photo caption: Dr. Pollitt presented a marathon "master class" on the equine foot and laminitis at the 2003 AAEP Convention in New Orleans. (Fran Jurga photo)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Dubai will build a horse park...
This just in from the TradeArabia news service: A Dh1.6 billion ($435 million) equine tourist attraction will be built at the Dubailand's Eco Zone area in the coming years, a report said.
"Al Kaheel Park will become the most comprehensive equine tourist attraction ever built. It will extend over almost 10 million sq ft of preserved desert landscape. Destined to be like no other horse centre in the world, Al Kaheel will be the ultimate equine experience," the Gulf News report said quoting a press statement. Al Kaheel will be an educational theme park and working horse farm dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. Strategically located in the heart of the desert in Dubai, the homeland for the Arabian horse, the park will be the place to get "up close and personal" with horses. Every evening, "Fly Without Wings", a nightly production of light, sound and action, featuring world class equine acts with over 45 performers and over 70 horses, will be held. In addition, the park will boast the world's first interactive and multimedia museum. Daily attractions such as virtual reality rides, stunt shows, horse presentations, hay rides, desert trekking to horse drawn carriage tours will be on offer.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Groucho said it best...
I just ran across this acerbic witticism from Groucho Marx on one of the Saratoga racing pundit blogs:
End of sermon. It must be the heat.
By the way, the Saratoga blogs are fun to read in the morning, here are a couple of them:
http://www.saratogaracingdaily.com/
http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/
"I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." ~ Groucho Marx
It reminds me of the nonsensical excuses that people give me for not belonging to professional organizations or subscribing to magazines. You're not marrying the concept, you're just opening yourself to some potential benefit that might at some point come your way, if you are open to it, and you are opening the door for your own opportunity to give something back to your profession or field of interest, if you feel like it.End of sermon. It must be the heat.
By the way, the Saratoga blogs are fun to read in the morning, here are a couple of them:
http://www.saratogaracingdaily.com/
http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/
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