Horse Brief
Horse news
Horse and barn news in plain English: what happened, why it matters, and what you can do about it.
Barr, Knierieme Earn Veterinary Scholarships
Two veterinary students, Jacee Barr of Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine and Philip Knierieme of Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, will each receive $5,000 from The Foundation for the Horse. The awards will be presented at the 72nd Annual AAEP convention on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas, part of 30 scholarships totaling $625,000 in 2026.
Why it matters: Horse owners depend on the next generation of equine vets, and programs that support students can influence who is available to treat horses in rural and specialized areas.
BLM Starts Cedar Mountain Wild Horse Gather to Protect Herd and Rangeland Health
The Bureau of Land Management has begun a gather of wild horses in the Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area near Skull Valley, Utah. The agency says the estimated population is nearly double what the rangeland can support. Helicopters will guide horses into temporary corrals, and certain public lands around the site will be closed, including to drones.
Study explores horse owners' preparation and preferences for veterinary care
A University of Kentucky study published in Equine Veterinary Education surveyed 4,915 usable responses from horse owners across all 50 U.S. states about how they use veterinary care. It found that financial limits strongly shape how owners access care, with only about 14% keeping a dedicated medical savings account and close to 80% not insuring their horses.
Equine veterinarian shortage only going to get worse, industry warns
Equine veterinarians in Australia are warning of a looming shortage, especially in regional areas. Martin Dolinschek, the new president of Equine Veterinarians Australia, says lower starting pay and on-call demands deter new graduates, with only about 2 to 3 per cent of around 800 new vets each year thought to enter equine medicine.
Efforts Made to Respond to Equine Veterinary Shortage
A national commission, with input from the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, is examining a growing shortage of equine veterinarians in the United States. Few veterinary students choose equine work, and many equine-focused graduates move into small animal practice or leave the field within five years.
Horse owners should watch for symptoms of equine disease
Purdue University is urging horse owners to watch for signs of Potomac Horse Fever, a bacterial disease that can be fatal. A horse at the university's Large Animal Hospital was diagnosed in mid-June, earlier than the July or August cases usually seen in Indiana, and the specialist linked the early timing to a mild winter and spring.