The legislation authorizing the study asks for the value of equines in the state, the number of equine owners and the number of equine operations. But they re not sure how large the industry is or if North Carolinians are taking advantage of the potential benefits of an equine economy. The legislation asks the Rural Center to identify opportunities for growth in the industry and evaluate the need for creating an equine industry board to conduct marketing, educational, research and...

While Fasig is offering such stars as reigning Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint victor Maryfield and multiple Grade 1 winner Octave, the Keeneland catalog boasts the likes of 2006 champion older female Fleet Indian as well as fellow Grade 1 winner Spun Sugar. After Fasig-Tipton hosts its one-day selected fall mixed sale this evening, Keeneland will kick off its 15-day November breeding stock sale on Monday with a record 5,415 horses cataloged. The sales pavilions at Fasig-Tipton and...

Long a favorite sidekick of cowboys, jockeys and farmers, a local clinic is proving horses can be pretty good therapists, too. That research could prove quite important, as little research exists on equine psychotherapy, which has been around only about a decade. Patients participate in 10 weekly sessions, where they learn how to interact with the horses, though not in the way one might expect. Sessions typically begin with observation of the horses, followed by the assignment of some...

Meanwhile, horse owners whose animals are due for a second vaccination are being reminded they will be contacted about the shot by their local vaccination centre. He said planning was now underway to start vaccinating horses in a buffer zone around the property in a bid to stop the virus spreading. NSW deputy chief veterinary officer Ian Roth said several horses on one property just south of Walcha had the virus. Investigations had started into the source of the infection, which had most...

That comes just months after all markets on the race were frozen, an unprecedented step taken amid fears that equine influenza would force the race to be cancelled. With the threat of equine influenza fading, the only bug going around now is the betting kind. But proving its cultural impact is not to be sneezed at, today's Melbourne Cup is expected to see more money thrown at it than ever before. The cup field has been weakened, with European and Japanese owners staying at home and many...