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Latest News:
- Horse owners urged to consider vaccinating for West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Rabies.
“We still urge horse owners to consider EEE and WNV vaccination.” says Dr. Charles Broaddus, Program Manager for VDACS’ Office of Veterinary Services. “We never know what mosquito activity will be in any given year, although with a wet winter and spring, it could be heavy in 2013. The bottom line is, these vaccines are very safe and effective. We believe that in most cases, private veterinarians will recommend them for their clients. Horse-owners need to be aware that the vaccines require boosters every six to twelve months.”
For more information, contact the Office of Veterinary Services, Division of Animal Industry Services, VDACS, at 804-786-2483. Information about rabies and rabies exposures can be found on the Virginia Department of Health’s Rabies Control web page. Horse owners should contact their veterinarians for further advice on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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Have questions about Virginia agriculture?
Answers can be found literally at your fingertips. Visit the new Virginia Agriculture magazine online. The site contains a virtual magazine you can peruse and learn more about Virginia soybeans, sows, or seafood—and much more. The Virginia Horse Industry Board has a full page ad on the inside back cover of the magazine promoting Virginia's horse industry. The VHIB also has a banner ad on the site. Be sure to visit the site and learn more about Virginia's number one industry— agriculture.
- New Equine Interstate Event Permit Allows Horse Owners To Move Animals Throughout Southeast United States For Six Months
Effective immediately, horse owners may elect to obtain the six-month passport in lieu of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that is only good for 30 days. Read more in the News Section
- Virginia Bred Young Horses Bring Top Dollars at Major Sales/VTA Names 2012 Virginia Bred Winners
Virginia juvenile horses have brought high prices at recent major Thoroughbred sales.
At the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March sale, a colt with five generations traceable back to Spring Hill Farm in Casanova {owned by the late Edward P. Evans} sold for $1.8 million, a record price for a 2-year-old. A son of Smart Strike, the colt also set the record for the most expensive juvenile sold in the nation as of March.
Two other Virginia breds in the sale included a colt by Speightstown who went for $330,000, also from the estate of Edward P. Evans, and a Mineshaft colt bred by Lazy Lane Farms in Upperville, who went for $125,000.
At the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale for 2-year-olds, also held in March, three Virginia breds brought top sale prices. A Malibu Moon filly bred by Hart Farm in Millwood went for $625,000 and was the third highest priced filly in the sale. Also sold were a colt by Spritely from the estate of Edward P. Evans who went for $560,000, and a colt by Exchange Rate, bred by Lynn Burleson and Hart Farm, who brought $375,000.
Additional Thoroughbred news: The Virginia Thoroughbred Association reports that Audley Farm of Berryville was named the Virginia Breeder of the Year for 2012, with Audley-breds earning $2,358,873 and 42 wins. The most famous, Bodemeister, finished second in last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He earned $1,304,800 in his career before retiring due to an injury and was named Virginia bred champion 3-year-old colt by the VTA.
Untouched Talent, Bodemeister's dam, received the Virginia Broodmare of the Year award for her son's accomplishments, as well as for her Smart Strike yearling filly who went for $1.3 million at the September 2012 Keeneland Sale.
- Dreamcatchers Program Pivotal in Study on Autism
Dreamcatchers Therapeutic Riding Center in Toano, Virginia, together with the College of William and Mary, has been conducting major research on autism and therapeutic riding. The findings, soon to be published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, have determined that children with autism who participate in therapeutic riding show statistically significant improvement, both in riding lessons and in the classroom. With fewer symptoms, the children demonstrated calmer behavior, improved relationships with others and greater engagement in learning. It was also found that the symptoms of autism are reduced with continued therapeutic riding. The study followed 21 elementary school children with autism over 30 weeks in therapeutic riding classes at Dream Catchers and in their classrooms.
Dreamcathers at the Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center near Williamsburg is a nonprofit organization hosting more than 110 lessons each week to help children and adults with special needs. Nancy Paschall, a member of the Virginia Horse Industry Board, is executive director of the center. The Virginia Horse Industry Board has been a supporter of this key research effort. For more information visit the Dreamcatchers website.
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Above: Welsh filly foaled in May owned by Catherine Akins, Powhatan
Virginia Horse Industry Board
Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
102 Governor Street, Room 318
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: (804) 786-5842
Fax: (804) 371-7786
Email: Andrea Heid, Program Manager
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