Category: Education

Public Health Researchers Create Bilingual Resources Illustrating Safety for Horse Farm Workers

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 30, 2017) — The unpredictable nature of Thoroughbreds present a safety risk to farm workers. Knowing safe practices, proper handling and signs of danger can protect farm workers, but non-English speaking employees must overcome a language barrier to learn and implement those practices.

Seeing an opportunity to reduce occupational hazards in a workforce with limited communication, researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health recently completed a community-based research project to develop bilingual resources outlining practical safety skills for Thoroughbred farm workers.

Results from the Thoroughbred Worker Health and Safety Study, a five-year research project examining occupational safety and health hazards experienced by Thoroughbred farm workers, informed the creation of safety resources for workers and managers. Jess Miller Clouser in the UK College of Public Health and Jennifer Swanberg, professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore, co-led the project. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and supported through the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention based in the UK College of Public Health.

The researchers collected 32 surveys and conducted 26 in-depth interviews about injuries and illnesses on Thoroughbred farms with farm owners, managers, and human resources personnel. They also orchestrated community-based surveys with 225 Latino Thoroughbred farm workers, gaining valuable information about the real-life nature of farm work and common occupational injuries and illnesses experienced by workers. Finally, the researchers translated their findings into a set of bilingual educational material designed to prevent common exposures and injuries on Thoroughbred farms.

The materials include 12 bilingual illustrated posters depicting safe practices when working with Thoroughbreds or farm equipment. They also created a guide for farm managers and employers, which outlines promising practices used to ensure the safety and wellbeing of non-English speaking farm workers. The researchers also released 10 research briefs, which summarize specific health or safety topics on farms. They hope these resources will break information barriers between non-English speaking workers and their employers and equip farm workers with knowledge to protect themselves from danger. 

“Working with Thoroughbreds, and horses in general, can pose risks unlike those that workers have experienced in other industries,” Clouser said. “The ability to accurately communicate information about hazards or even just horse behavior is a critical part of maintaining a safe environment on farms.  We hope that the materials can help farms and workers overcome this challenge.”

The safety guides are available to farmers and workers for free at www.workersafetyandhealth.com. For more information about the materials, contact Jess Miller Clouser at jess.clouser@uky.edu.

KEEP Conference: Facilitate Horse Encounters

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By , BloodHorse Daily

 

With the continued urbanization of the United States, speakers at the first Kentucky Equine Education Project industry conference Oct. 18 in Lexington said it’s more important than ever for industry participants to reach out to the general public to help facilitate a connection to horses.

“We sometimes forget that while we get to see horses every day, the vast majority of the world does not,” said Price Bell of Mill Ridge Farm and Nicoma Bloodstock. “They want to see how horses live, how they are cared for each day.”

Bell, who participated on a panel discussing growth opportunities for the industry at the two-day conference, is the board president of Horse Country Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides tours of Central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms.

KEEP works to promote horse industry awareness in Kentucky.

Bell noted that the original economic engine for horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering, faces more and more competition. He said it’s important for the industry to create new experiences for customers. He said the thing that makes racing unique compared with other gaming is the horse, and providing access to horses at tracks and farms can create unique experiences that will create new fans.

“Our consumer has changed a lot in my lifetime. Now that you can bet on anything, people want an experience. They want to touch a horse, they want a nice place to go for the races,” Bell said. “The horse is the differentiator… Demands of the horse racing consumer have dramatically changed from a sort of betting commodity to an experience. We need to drive more experience-based exposure to the horse for people.”

Bell said it’s hugely important to fans that the horse is treated well during its racing career and will be treated well after it’s retired. Bell said bringing people into contact with horses and allowing them to see first-hand how well they are treated can help when animal rights groups assail the sport.

“I believe in promoting transparency and promoting horses. The more you bring people into your barns, it helps affect the conversation,” Bell said. “Through social media, initiatives like Horse Country that celebrate the horse, its care, and its love; it can help change the conversation.”

Kentucky commissioner of agriculture Ryan Quarles, also participating on the panel, said strides have been made in educating legislators about the breeding industry. He said more of them understand that the backbone of the industry are family-owned farms. But he encouraged farm owners to continue to reach out to lawmakers and invite them to see the operations first-hand.

Quarles, a Republican who was elected in November 2015, said he is committed to working with the equine industry.

“Over the years Agriculture has had a limited relationship with the equine industry,” Quarles said. “I want to change that. I believe we need a more active role. You are going to have to educate me and the Department of Agriculture, because of that limited previous interaction.”

How to Protect Your Horse from West Nile Virus Infection

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By Kristen Browning-Blas
Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Late summer is peak transmission season for West Nile Virus, and confirmed cases are rising among horses in many regions.
Veterinarians and public health experts urge owners to protect their horses by reducing mosquito populations and possible breeding areas. Equine veterinarians at Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital say two important methods will help protect horses against West Nile Virus infection: reduce exposure to mosquitoes and vaccinate against the virus.

Reduce exposure to mosquitoes
• When possible, stall horses during peak mosquito activity, at dawn and dusk.
• Eliminate areas of standing or stagnant water on property, dispose of discarded tires, and change birdbath water and water in tanks for horses at least weekly.
• Use fans on horses while stabled.
• Use insect repellants designed for horses. A fly sheet and fly mask will minimize your horse’s exposure to mosquitoes.
• Use incandescent bulbs around the perimeter of the stable.
• Remove any dead birds found on the property, as birds are part of the virus cycle. To pick up a bird, use rubber gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out. For information on testing of birds for West Nile Virus, contact your public health office.

Vaccinations for West Nile Virus
There are currently four licensed vaccine formulations available for use in horses based on efficacy and safety studies for protection against West Nile Virus. “West Nile is one of our core vaccines, so most people vaccinate here,” said Dr. Luke Bass, a veterinarian with CSU’s Equine Field Service. The American Association of Equine Practitioners recognizes the West Nile Virus vaccine as a core vaccination for all horses regardless of geographic location.
Though the West Nile Virus vaccine is commonly used in horses, vaccination is just one part of the preventive strategy; methods to reduce mosquito exposure should be employed at the same time. Vaccination against other causes of equine encephalitis (eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis) does not protect your horse against West Nile Virus.
The initial West Nile vaccination or booster vaccine must be given prior to exposure to the virus and your horse should be vaccinated well in advance of mosquito season. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the best vaccination protocol for your horse depending on previous vaccination history and virus and mosquito activity.

Vaccinations for the pregnant mare
It is important to consult your veterinarian to determine the best method of protection against West Nile Virus for broodmares. Several of the West Nile vaccines have been given to pregnant mares without observed adverse outcomes. As a general recommendation, reproductive specialists suggest avoiding vaccines of any kind in the first 40 days of pregnancy.

Diagnosis and treatment of West Nile Virus
Clinical signs of West Nile infection include fever, incoordination, muscle twitching, head pressing, hyper-excitability, anorexia, lethargy, recumbency (lying down), and death.
Diagnosis of West Nile Virus is made by noting the clinical signs and by positive diagnostic tests on blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
Treatment is primarily supportive, with anti-inflammatory drugs and fluids. Some horses may require hospitalization and assistance with a sling in order to remain standing. Products that provide antibodies to West Nile Virus are available, and the use of these products in equine cases should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Frequently asked questions:
Should I vaccinate my horse for West Nile Virus?
Yes, work with your veterinarian to determine the optimal plan for your horse.
Can I vaccinate my mare if she is in foal?
Yes, work with your veterinarian to determine the optimal plan for your mare.
How old should a foal be to receive the vaccine?
Recent research has shown that foals 3 months of age can be safely vaccinated against West Nile, and will subsequently build an immune response. If your foals are in a high-mosquito area, you may want to vaccinate them as early as 3 months for this disease.
Can a horse infected with West Nile Virus infect horses in neighboring stalls or infect me?
No, the virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, not by contact with an ill horse.
Find current information on West Nile Virus here:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Mosquito Control Association
American Association of Equine Practitioners

LTBA Will Award Scholarships at Louisiana Cup Day at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs on August 6

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(New Orleans, La.) – Louisiana Cup Day will take place on Saturday, August 6, at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award two (2) scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
  • Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Fall 2016.
  • Must be in good standing with the college or university.
  •  Must be present to win.
Registration: 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. at the designated booth
Races begin: 3:15 p.m.
Drawing time: Approx. 5:10 p.m.
The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
For more information, please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.

 

Trainers Exam Prep Class to be Held at Remington Park

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The Elite Program, Inc., home of the Groom Elite national groom certification program, is presenting C. Reid McLellan, PhD and his Trainers’ Exam Prep Class August 15-17 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. McLellan, one of the original writers and national instructor of Groom Elite 101, the racing industry’s only national groom certification program, is a respected and engaging educator that has been teaching people about horses for over 40 years. McLellan, a participant on the Welfare and Safety of Racehorse Summit’s committee that wrote the current National Trainers Exam, founded an award winning BS degree Equine Program at Louisiana Tech University that was honored when one of its first graduates, Keith Desormeaux, saddled a classic winner in the 2016 Preakness. McLellan’s Trainers’ Exam Prep class is an intensive 20 plus hours of information about the Rules of Racing, including material covered on both the barn and written portions of a trainer’s licensing exam. In addition to individuals considering taking a racehorse trainer’s licensing exam to be licensed as either a trainer or assistant trainer, owners or horseplayers that want to know more about the Rules of Racing are encouraged to attend.

Rules of Racing differ from state to state and this class points out those important differences. Claiming rules are undergoing major changes in some jurisdictions. Drug rules and regulation uniformity is a goal of the racing industry, but it is important that trainers (and owners) understand the significant differences that still exist, even among major racing jurisdictions.

Registration fee after August 12th is $350 and includes a 110-page study guide, refreshments and lunch each day, a ROAP produced DvD “Duties of Racing Officials”, a CD with narrated power point study guides and a link to a private web page where attendees can take practice written tests. New to the 2016 class materials is a section of racehorse handling videos that reinforce the written materials. Participants that register by July 31 get to pay a special “Early Bird” registration fee of $299; those that register between August 1 and August 12 pay $329. Class size is limited to 12 so early registration is suggested.

For more information and to register for the August 15-17 Trainers’ Exam Prep Class in at Remington Park, go to http://www.purplepowerracing.com or call Dr. McLellan at 859-321-4377.

Summer Horse-Care Tips from KER

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Wednesday, June 22, 2016— Summer has arrived! Temperatures are up, sweat is dripping, and insects are swarming all over. While the warm weather offers great opportunities to work with your horse, it also brings certain horse-care challenges. Consider the following summertime horse-management tips from the equine nutrition experts at Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Heat. Temperatures are capable of soaring past 100 degrees on summer days. As the mercury creeps up, horse owners must fine-tune certain facets of management, including provision of shade and plenty of fresh drinking water. Read more to help your horse beat the heat:

·         Hot Weather Hazard for Horses

·         Checking for Dehydration in Horses

·         Summer Pasture-Associated Heaves

·         Keeping Horses Cool in Hot Weather

Sweat. Sweating is the only way horses have to dissipate body heat. Unlike dogs, horses can’t pant to cool off! Some horses even experience issues with sweating.  Learn more about your horse’s sweat:

·         Watery or Lathered: Differences in Horse Sweat

·         Anhidrosis in Horses and Electrolyte Therapy

·         Electrolytes and Performance Horses: Is a Salt Block Enough?

·         Dietary Sources of Potassium for Horses

Skin. Despite the short, tight hair coats characteristic of summertime, problems still pop up in the skin, hair, and hooves of horses. Keep an eye on coat and hoof health through daily grooming and hoof-picking. Read more to keep your horse comfortable this summer:

·         Feeding for Sound Summer Hooves

·         Hoof Rings in Horses: What Do They Mean?

·         Maintaining Coat Health of Horses: Grooming, Bathing, and Feeding

·         Skin Problems in Horses: Culicoides Hypersensitivity

·         Common Skin Problems in Horses

Foals. As foaling season comes to an end, fruits of the breeders’ labors are on full display, but foals are just as, if not more, vulnerable to health problems as their mature horses. Foal caretakers know that several once-overs a day will keep illness away. Keep your foal healthy with these tips:

·         The Young Years: Nutrition from Birth to Two Years of Age

·         Foal Diarrhea: Look to Nutritional Supplements for Help

·         Estimating a Foal’s Mature Height

·         Keep an Eye on Foal Halters

·         Foal Dribbling Urine: Patent Urachus

·         Rhodococcus equi Infection in Foals

For more seasonal tips like these, subscribe to Seasonal Spotlight, a quarterly mailing full of timely information on equine nutrition and health. Seasonal Spotlight won the Business Equine-Related eNewsletter award at the 2015 American Horse Publications (AHP) Equine Media Awards. KER also offers The Weekly Feed, a previous AHP winner delivering the most recent headlines in equine nutrition every week.

 

16th Annual Lone Star Park Trainers’ Exam Prep Class – March 30-April 1. Grand Prairie, Texas

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The 16th annual Lone Star Park Trainers’ Exam Prep Class is scheduled Wednesday through Friday, March 30 to April 1. Class will begin Wednesday at 8:30 AM and continue until 4:00 PM, followed by an 8:00 AM to 4PM schedule on Thursday and conclude with an 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM session on Friday. Class will be held in the chaplain’s classroom in the Racing Office at Lone Star Park. . Tuition is $350 at the door. Those that register early (by March 24th) pay SPECIAL EARLY BIRD TUITION of $299.
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. The 2015 class at Lone Star reached its enrollment limit in the final week, so register as soon as possible to guarantee your spot.

Seven, all of whom had recently completed Groom Elite 101 and/or 201 attended the Gulfstream Park 2016 Trainers’ Exam Prep Class. During class days, four of the participants had a horse racing and we arranged lunch time around two of those races. Three of those “graduates” plan to take their Trainers’ Exam within the next few weeks. Three are planning to take the Assistant Trainer exam and 1 is going to wait until next year as he continues to enjoy working in the stable area at GP West.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Mailing Address:
C. Reid McLellan, PhD
2575 US Highway 150 W
Stanford, KY 40848

Telephone: 859-321-4377

For more information
http://www.purplepowerracing.com/