The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has called upon the Australian government to implement a nationwide welfare standard and a register to protect the welfare of all horses, not just the racehorses. Their official statement reinforces that the footage as reported on the ABC’s ‘The 7.30 Report’ was highly distressing andRead More →
On our cover in this issue, we feature a portrait by Louise Sedgman of Kerrie Fitzgibon and her home-bred Bear Junior (a.k.a. BJ). “It’s my favourite photo, BJ looks huge!” says Kerrie. “Louise was making some squeaky noises and it’s like he was asking ‘what is she doing mum?’ AtRead More →
After two years of consultation with industry experts, welfare advocacy groups and animal welfare scientists, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) have released their comprehensive and progressive Thoroughbred Welfare Guidelines. They can be viewed and downloaded here. The time spent developing these guidelines, and the rules which support them, was necessaryRead More →
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the first jurisdiction in Australia to in law that animals are sentient and have intrinsic value. The Animal Sentience Act applies to all vertebrate species (including wildlife and fish) and cephalopods (octopus etc) and some crustaceans. While Australia’s national and state legislation already recognisedRead More →
Our knowledge of equine anatomy may be based on outdated findings and needs to be revised. According to the anatomy books that, to date, have served as study reference to veterinarians and practitioners around the world, the nuchal ligament lamellae attaches from C2 to C6 or C2 to C7. However,Read More →
If you’ve been around horses long enough, you know the scene. A friend says, “Now that’s a happy horse! Just look at him!” And meanwhile, you’re thinking, “Wait, happy? Are we talking about the same horse? That’s not what I call happy.” As interest in equine welfare grows, so doesRead More →
Equine Guelph will be attending the third annual Best Horse Practices Summit at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine, United States, this October 19 – 20. “We are looking forward to attending this evidence-based conference and networking with industry professionals sharing the same philosophies regarding the well-being of horses,” saysRead More →
The 15th International Equitation Science Conference, with the theme of ‘Bringing Science to the Stable’, kicked off on Sunday 18th August with two pre-conference workshops. The first was ‘Lost in Translation: Improving the Communication of Science to Equestrian Communities’ presented by two members of the ISES Council, Cristina Wilkins ofRead More →
Two research projects that contribute new knowledge into the interaction between the equine hoof and the ground were presented at the 15th International Equitation Science Conference, hosted by the University of Guelph. The findings are part of an ongoing and massive collection of data by the laboratory of Dr JeffRead More →
Vets support responsible noseband use. The Chilean Equine Veterinary Association (ACHVE) and the Chilean Veterinary College (COLMVET) have pledged support of the responsible use of nosebands in all equestrian disciplines. In their press release, they acknowledge the research that has found restrictive nosebands are associated with an activation of theRead More →
