On March 1, a 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Macomb County, Michigan, tested positive for strangles. The horse developed clinical signs on Feb. 22, including a dry cough and nasal discharge. He is recovering, and three horses have been exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

On Feb. 25, a 5-year-old Standardbred gelding in Ashtabula County, Ohio, tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) after presenting with ataxia. The horse is recovering, and 11 horses have been exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.EHV 101Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected.In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from two weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.Horses with EHM usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of a respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore- and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.Herpesvirus is easily spread by nose-to-nose or close contact with an infectious horse; sharing contaminated equipment including bits, buckets, and towels; or clothing, hands, or equipment of people who have recently had contact with an infectious horse.Routine biosecurity measures, including hygiene and basic cleaning and disinfection practices, should be in place at all times to help prevent disease spread.Current EHV-1 vaccines might reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize viral spread, and the best method of disease control is disease prevention.

On Feb. 26, one horse in Bonnyville No. 87, Alberta, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The horse participates in rodeo events and was tested to fulfill an export requirement to the United States. It was not displaying clinical signs of disease.Movement controls have been placed on the infected horse and on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate that there are several other equines at the facility.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About EIAEquine infectious anemiais a viral disease that attacks horses immune systems. The virus is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from an infected to an uninfected animal, often by blood-feeding insects such as horseflies. It can also be transmitted through the use of blood-contaminated instruments or needles.ACoggins test screens horses blood for antibodiesthat are indicative of the presence of the EIA virus. Most U.S. states require horses to have proof of a negative Coggins test to travel across state lines.Once an animal is infected with EIA, it is infected for life and can be a reservoir for the spread of disease. Not all horses show signs of disease,but those that do can exhibit:Progressive body condition loss;Muscle weakness;Poor stamina;Fever;Depression; andAnemia.EIA has no vaccine and no cure. A horse diagnosed with the disease dies, is euthanized, or must be placed under extremely strict quarantine conditions (at least 200 yards away from unaffected equids) for the rest of his life.

Adobe Stock photoAs horses age, managing their soundness using a multimodal approach becomes increasingly important. Experts emphasize proactive joint care, appropriate exercise, and routine veterinary evaluations. Regular, low-impact work helps maintain joint mobility and muscle support, while avoiding long periods of confinement, which can worsen stiffness. Strategic hoof balance, body condition management, and early intervention for mild lameness are key. With thoughtful management and early attention to subtle changes, many senior horses can remain comfortable and active for years.Register and submit your questions for this Ask TheHorse Live event where two experts will discuss keeping horses sound as they age.Register NowAsk The Horse Live begins on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. EDT Days Hours MinutesAbout the Experts: Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMRLauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMR, is a clinical assistant professor of equine sports medicine at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, in Blacksburg. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Trager loves to teach and enjoys working on challenging lameness and poor performance cases, particularly those with neck and back pain and anything that involves advanced imaging. Howland M. Mansfield, DVM, CVA, CVMMPHowland M. Mansfield, DVM, CVA, CVMMP, of Summerville, South Carolina, received her DVM from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, in Alabama, and completed internships in both general equine medicine and surgery and in advanced equine reproduction. She is certified in both veterinary acupuncture and veterinary medical manipulation. She has practiced along the East Coast over the course of 14 years, in addition to time in Germany providing veterinary care for some of the most elite show horses in Europe. In 2012 Mansfield was named by the South Carolina Horsemans Council as the Horse Person of the Year for her efforts in equine rescue and in combating animal cruelty. She joined American Regent in 2023 as a technical services veterinarian where she can support the welfare of and improve health care for horses and small animals throughout the U.S.

Animals such as goats can offer companionship and entertainment for horses. | Photo: Alayne BlickleWinter can be a challenging time for riders as well as their horses. Shorter days with inclement weather can make finding time to ride a challenge. Horses confined in paddocks or drylots during winter still need something to do. Increasing turnout time, allowing social interactions between horses, and providing sufficient forage opportunities are enrichment opportunities that are critical to our horses welfare.Winter ConfinementKeeping horses off winter rain-soaked soils or frozen pasture plants is key to maintaining the integrity of your pasture next summer. Soggy soils or dormant plants grazed below 3 or 4 inches simply cannot survive continuous wintertime grazing and trampling. Pounding hooves compact wet soils, which suffocates plant roots and creates more mud. Overgrazing causes root resorption so grass plants no longer have long, healthy roots reaching deep into the soil utilizing moisture and nutrients.The alternative to destroying pasture is housing your horse in a mud-free confinement area. However, horses in confinement still need to have their needs met: They need to move about freely, have social contact, and be able to access food throughout the day. Even so, many horses in confinement develop physical or behavioral issues such as pacing, chewing, aggression, nervousness, or gastric ulcers.What Is Equine Enrichment?Equine enrichment is looking at ways to provide more stimulation in a horses environment to benefit their psychological and physical well-being. We all know our horses are smartscientific research confirms thisso when confining our horses, we also need to keep their personalities in mind.Here are a few ideas for ways to incorporate enrichment opportunities into confinement areas:Create an inviting place for your horse to roll. | Photo: Alayne BlickleConfinement area shape and design. You might be able to design your confinement area to encourage interest. Maybe a long, narrow paddock with feeding or water stations at either end? You might want to research creating a track paddock for turnout. A track paddock is a large, long confinement area shaped like a track that encircles a pasture or other area. The goal is to encourage horses to move more freely and interact with others. Or perhaps your confinement area can double as a round pen for extra exercise.Location. Locate your confinement area so your horse will have interaction and stimulus from the world around him. Set it up so your horse is part of your everyday lifeseeing things like kids playing, you coming and going, summertime lawn mowers and bicycles, snow shoveling in the winter, etc., provides stimulus and something for horses to look at and think about.Companionship. Be sure your horse has equine neighbors so he can see and possibly interact through nose touching or mutual grooming.Rolling area. Rolling is a natural activity that improves coat and skin condition as well as comfort. It is also thought to increase a horses flexibility by stretching and engaging muscles in the back, neck, and barrel. If you have room, create a sand pile in your horses paddock for this purpose. Alternately, use a sand arena or round pen for regular turnout so they can roll there.Provide hay stations and use slow feed haynets for frequent meals, or even free feeding if suitable for your horses. | Photo: Alayne BlickleFeed. More frequent, smaller meals are healthier for horses and mimic their natural lifestyle. Try feeding in different locations or stations so they do a bit of food-seeking. Offer different food types in different areas, such as hay cubes or low-quality hay for extra chew time. Consider adding a haynet or one of the slow feeders on the market to stretch eating time further.Browsing. You might be able to occasionally incorporate small branches of edible plants such as willow, cottonwood, bamboo, or blackberry vines. Weave a branch or vine into paddock fencing or incorporate a holder (think umbrella holder) into the paddock for this purpose. Important! Be sure to carefully research what plants in your area are safe and nontoxic for horses. Many species of plants, such as black walnut, yew, red maple, black locust, rhododendron, laurel, oak, and most fruit trees, are poisonous to horses. The ASPCA has a list of plants that are toxic and nontoxic to horses, or consult your veterinarian if youre unsure.Healthy treats. More food-related ideas include feeding occasional treats such as watermelon, plums (without the pit), bananas (skin and all), grapes, celery, or cut-up pieces of raw (orange) pumpkin. These, along with other types of low-sugar treats available for purchase, can be fed in alternative locations to engage curiosity and food-hunting behavior.Toys. Young horses, especially, might like playing with toys. Studies show that adult horses are less motivated by toys unless they are associated with food, such as with hay balls or treat licks.Scratching pads or brushes. This could be a large nylon brush or a worn-out broom head bolted safely to a wall or corner. A cow brush might work, as well. Or you might be able to screw a textured rubber door mat to a wall.A cow brush, large nylon brush, or a worn-out broom head bolted safely to a wall or corner can serve as a scratching pad or brush for your horse. | Photo: iStockFriends. Equine companionship is important for horse welfare. In addition, you might want to consider other buddies for your horses, such as a burro or goat. Dogs, cats, and even chickens can provide entertainment for horses.Turnout. Turn your horse out either by himself or with other horses to give them a chance to play and interact.Exercise and grooming. Even if you cant ride, you can still groom and maintain good hoof care for your horse. Perhaps you can hand-walk, longe, or do liberty work with your horse. Plan to exercise your horse a minimum of 30 minutes.Take-Home MessageUsing a confinement area reduces winters impact on pastures and improves productivity for the next growing season, which means less money spent on supplemental feed and happier, healthier horses. But confinement areas can be stifling for some horses, lacking in physical and mental stimulus. Providing enrichment for horses in winter confinement does not have to be expensive and can be as simple as adding turnout time with others, providing forage in a more natural way, feeding a new type of feed or occasional treat, or giving your horse a food ball or lick. Or it might mean scheduling extra one-on-one time with your horse. Think outside the box, mix things up, and have fun together and rest assured that you are supporting your horses emotional well-being at the same time.

Foals are born without any immune protection. | iStockBecause foals are born without any immune protection, failure of adequate antibody transfer through nursing leaves them vulnerable to life-threatening infections. Veterinarians must therefore confirm IgG levels shortly after birth and determine if intervention is needed. Brody Ann Klinglesmith, MS, DVM, resident veterinarian at Bar E North Breeding and Performance Horses, in Kiowa, Colorado, reviewed methods of measuring IgG levels in newborn foals during her presentation at the 2025 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 6-10, in Denver, Colorado.Klinglesmith explained that the equine fetus develops within an epitheliochorial placenta (where the outer membrane of the fetus contacts the maternal uterine lining), which means antibodies do not cross from mare to foal before birth. Newborn foals must ingest colostrum within the first 12-24 hours of life to absorb maternal antibodies through the gastrointestinal tract. Veterinarians measure immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most prevalent of all the colostrum components and the focus of diagnostics for clinicians, to determine whether this process, called passive transfer, has occurred.Testing IgG Levels in Newborn FoalsMeasuring IgG in the post-suckling foal can help ascertain the quality of antibody absorption and predict his immune systems ability to protect him from infections, lameness, septicemia (the presence of bacteria or bacterial toxins in the bloodstream), and death, Klinglesmith said. We want all veterinarians, especially ambulatory veterinarians who may be the first on scene to those foals, to be able to get really good, quantitative numbers in order to truly treat those foals in the best way possible, she added.She and her team looked at four different devices that determine efficacy of colostral antibody passive transfer in foals. They evaluated the testing options available based on:Ease of useRate of resultPortabilityAffordabilityKlinglesmith said the gold standard for checking IgG in foals is the single radial immunodiffusion test (SRID, a quantitative method that measures the concentration of antibodies or antigens), but it takes 24 hours and is not accessible to the ambulatory practitioner. Most veterinarians prefer the animal reproduction systems (ARS) densimeter (density meter), she added. There is also the SNAP foal IgG device, a semiquantitative test that estimates the amount of IgG in the sample. Finally, she said the Immuno-Check G by TargetVet is a 10-minute test that is simple to use and gives quick, reliable results for the ambulatory veterinarian.Evaluating IgG Testing Methods in HorsesTo see how the three testing methods compared to the gold standard, Klinglesmith and her colleagues collected blood samples from 18 neonates two, four, six and 12 hours post-suckling to see how the antibody numbers changed and numbers compared across devices.When looking at the TargetVet values against the ARS densimeter and gold standard SRID, they found comparable results. The SNAP test being semiquantitative did make direct comparisons a bit difficult, but there were significant differences between the SNAP test (and the other tests), especially at the two- and 12-hour time points, Klinglesmith said. Having true quantitative results is very valuable when managing foals that youre treating in order to determine if interventions are working or if you need to add some interventions.Take-Home MessageMeasuring IgG in newborn foals quickly and accurately is vital to determining the success of passive transfer and evaluating their health. Ambulatory veterinarians often evaluate foals first, so they need diagnostic tools that are accurate, easy, and reliable to use. Klinglesmith and her team found that the TargetVet and ARS densimeter were both comparable to the gold-standard SRID. We found that when it came to portability and accessibility, the TargetVet device was significantly better for ambulatory practices, she said.

Once taken in as a foal at deaths door, the Horse Trusts CEO Jeanette Allen has told Your Horse the moving story of how adored equine resident Teddy came into the hands of the charity.The now 13-year-old gelding is unrecognisable from the tiny six-week-old who was abandoned on the roadside in October 2012.A local councillor and Thames Valley police officer helped rescue Teddy, who was so small he was transported to safety in the back of the police officers car.The very underweight youngster was taken to the councillors yard before being given a home at The Horse Trust.Staff used jumper sleeves as warmers for his tiny legs and he was given a giant teddy bear for comfort, earning him his name. Credit: The Horse TrustUnfortunately despite the teams efforts, Teddy began to deteriorate.At the end of the first week he became lethargic and it was quite scary, explained Jeanette. He was lying on my lap in the stable and a group had gathered around him his groom and the vet he was not in a good way.He did a big sigh and then didnt move. We all started to cry as we thought the worst, but 30 seconds later he stretched out his legs and stood up.Teddy was rushed to the Royal Veterinary College where he stayed for a week before he was finally able to come home, and from then went from strength-to-strength.A fresh startTeddy and Uncle George in 2013. Credit: The Horse TrustTeddy was turned out with the late Uncle George, a then 34-year-old Shetland who never took any nonsense and took Teddy under his wing.We were very careful not to create a hand reared pony, which was why he was with George, but he was such a little character, said Jeanette. The stories of Teddys arrival here gathered interest from all over the world and he started sharing first-person updates.We were never going to rehome him and he quickly became part of the furniture with us.Teddy has fans all over the world. Credit: The Horse TrustTeddy continued to share his updates, winning the hearts of staff, visitors and fans from near and far.He was backed to ride and drive, proving himself successful at both, and even wowed the judges at Equifest, when he won the In Hand Rescue Horse/Pony class in 2019.Teddy made the headlines in 2022 for assisting emergency responders with their large animal rescue training and even met The Princess Royal when she opened the charitys training centre.Hes such a special boy, weve had him since he was so young and hes surrounded by all these oldies in their retirement home, said Jeanette. Hes an absolute rock star.Teddys antics can be followed via the charitys social media pages. Credit: The Horse TrustA lasting legacyThe Horse Trust is the worlds oldest equine charity. Founded in 1886, The Home of Rest for Horses was formed as a place of retreat for Londons cab horses. During the First World War it provided the first motorised horse ambulance to take in military veterans, and during the Second World War it became a wartime horse hospital, taking in animals injured in air raids.In 1965 the charity began its work funding equine veterinary research and six years later it made its final move to its home in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire.In 2006 it was renamed The Horse Trust, and to this day it continues its legacy in providing sanctuary for horses. The charity specialises in giving retired service horses and ponies a safe and loving place to call home when they can no longer work. Lead image of Teddy settling in with Uncle George, watched over by former City of London police horse Shrek. Credit: The Horse Trust Related contentTouching video shows cavalry and police horses retired to Horse TrustHousehold Cavalry horse who bolted through London retires from military serviceHorse Trust Teddy assists emergency responders vital trainingFarewell Caesar: Horse Trust pays tribute to extraordinary police horseThe post From tiny abandoned foal to stealing the hearts of the nation: Horse Trust Teddys remarkable story appeared first on Your Horse.

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According to the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, one new vesicular stomatitis (VSV)-positive equine premises has been identified in Yavapai County, Arizona.Since October 2025, VSV has been identified at 10 equine premises in Arizona, as well as in one wild horsefrom the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group in the Tonto National Forest. All confirmed caseshave been vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) serotype.The last outbreak of VSV in the U.S. occurred from May 2023 through January 2024, affecting 319 premises across California, Nevada, and Texas. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico and only occasionally results in incursion to the U.S.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Vesicular StomatitisVesicular stomatitis is a viral disease of horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, swine and New World camelids that occurs in the Western Hemisphere. It is named for the characteristic vesicular lesions it causes in the form of blisters, crusts and ulceration of the lips, muzzle, nose, tongue, ears, sheath, teats and/or coronary band. The virus is transmitted by biting midges and therefore is seasonal.Clinical Signs for vesicular stomatitis include:Vesicle formation leading to ulcerative lesions on the lips, muzzle, nostrils and tongue. The tongue is often the most severely affected area.Ulceration of the inner surface of the lips.Crusting of the muzzle, nostrils, and/or inside the ears.Excessive salivation secondary to the oral lesions.Difficulty picking up and chewing feed.Lameness due to painful erosions on the coronary band.Lesions can occur on the udder, sheath and inside of the ear.Lesions can develop secondary infections resulting in slow-to-heal wounds.Animals on pastures are at increased risk of vesicular stomatitis.Initial diagnosis is based on recognition of characteristic vesicular lesions. Infection is confirmed via laboratory testing for serum antibodies and/or virus identification in fluid samples from active lesions. Veterinarians are required to report suspected cases to state/federal animal health officials who will direct sample submission to an approved regulatory laboratory for diagnostic testing.There is no specific treatment for vesicular stomatitis. Best practices include implementing good biosecurity and treating affected horses with pain relievers, anti-inflammatories and supportive care as recommended by a veterinarian.Isolating all affected animals and placing the premise on immediate quarantine is required until all horses have fully recovered and no active lesions are present. The State Veterinarian will work with the local veterinarian to determine and implement necessary quarantine procedures.