Virginia Creek Farm

06/09/2024

01/27/2024

Interesting…

Kheiron Biotech, owned by Argentine Polo Player Adolfo Cambiaso clones about 100 horses each year — more than just about any company in the world — including about 10 clones of his deceased mare 'Dolfina Cuartetera'.

Next year, the company expects to double its output. Although clones are still not permitted in horse racing, cloned horses sell for upward of $1 million to the best polo clubs in Argentina, to endurance riders in the Middle East and to show-jumping equestrians around the world.

What began as an effort to immortalize champions has now become a massive, multimillion-dollar industry with Argentina imposing few rules on cloning, and polo association leaders placing no restrictions on how many cloned horses can play in a game, leaving it up to the companies and the teams to define their own limits.

Kheiron Biotech have also now begun combining cloning with gene editing.

In mid-December, they successfully implanted seven cloned, genetically modified embryos. If the pregnancies are successful, the world’s first genetically designed horse will be born next year — a horse whose genes have been edited to be stronger and faster, a sort of polo superhorse.

If he gets the green light from Argentine regulatory authorities, the company hopes to take this technology to the next level — changing the s*x of a clone, for breeding purposes or perhaps to make an even better animal - asking the question, if an elite stallion was cloned, could that same horse be even more powerful as a mare?

The possibilities of this experiment — and its long-term risks — are yet to be fully understood. What are your thoughts on cloning and genetically editing horses?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/29/horse-cloning-polo-argentina/

01/09/2024

01/07/2024

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/W4BaMXsQMc9kMNU9/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Is posture a fundamental factor in the clinical relevance of kissing spine?

This image is powerful! We can clearly see the effects of spinal posture on the proximity of the spinal processes!

But what we might not be aware of is just how much horses live in a “hollow back” posture!

This spinal posture is created by biomechanics, the functional link between the entire topline from the position of the head and neck to the position of the pelvic region.

But also this posture is perpetuated by horses living in a constant sympathetic state and many other factors of domestication, feeding, confinement, hoof balance and human interference on major proprioception centres!

Join Dr Neidhart and myself as we delve into understanding kissing spines

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/kissing-spines

Thanks to Tuskey Dressage for the image 🙌

12/13/2023

The average age for a race horse to be broken in is 12-18 months old, thoroughbred and standardbred.

That being said it is common in Standardbreds to have older weanlings in harness. You can see from the photo below the uncomfortable posture and distress this weanling is in. Because of two year old racing the age of breaking in must be before hand. Some stables wait longer but the average age in my experience is 12-18months.

I have looked inside a 14 month old standardbred and you can find those photos on this page of every growth plate fully open above the knees on the caudal and cranial aspects. Studies that have been conducted focused on lower leg limbs while ignoring the hundreds of other growth plates and bones present in a young horses body.

Setting industry welfare standards are pointless if the horses body is being exploited on a fundamental level and not legislated against. When I was given this photo a few years ago, it was passed on to the industry body who sent “a stern email”. Since then stakes for 2 year old harness racing in New Zealand have been increased, making it the most profitable age group. Because of the echo chamber racing operates in the trainer felt safe to have posted this in a public racing page.

That echo chamber is done!

The internet will show the industry how disgusting this practice is. I have sat on this image for years feeling disgusted in myself for not sharing it sooner but I wanted to wait until I had the reach worthy of sharing it. I have been told of trainers who put foals on the jogging frame with their mothers. If the industry won’t set standards to protect the horses then the pressure will have to come from the outside! In a time where social licence is important to operate these things matter.

There are great racing people out there who are waiting and are treating their horses with kindness but you will be judged and accountable by your worst members because they make up the majority of racing in my opinion. I expect to get allot of flak for this post and I’m fine with that.

10/16/2023

The Omentum is thinner than the mesentery and see through in appearance. It attaches to the stomach. Whereas the mesentery is much larger, thicker (varies a lot in appearance depending on the horse’s health and condition) and in simple terms, connects intestines.

The most common internal affliction that gets talked about is ulcers (stomach and hindgut) but we often see varying degrees of health and issues with omentum and mesentery too! These complex structures can be damaged, of poor quality due to health problems or even adhered to things they shouldn’t be.

09/20/2023

Good education here.

09/11/2023

09/07/2023

Merck Animal Health is voluntarily recalling three batches of Banamine/Banamine-S (flunixin meglumine injection) 50 mg/mL in the United States, used for injection in cattle, swine and horses to the consumer level due to the presence of particulate matter. Banamine/Banamine-S (flunixin meglumine inje...

08/10/2023

08/10/2023

SOLD

Lincoln 7yr old 16 hand OTTB gelding by Uncle Mo

Linc is a straightforward, intelligent, willing partner who is capable of taking care of an adult amateur, young rider, or beginner in a program. His first 6 months post-track with me in the spring of 2021 were spent moving cattle, doing clinics and schooling shows, and trail riding. Since being sent back to me the beginning of this year (rehab from kissing spine surgery) Linc has participated in xc schooling, trail riding, dressage and jumping lessons, hound walking, obstacle training, and has been ridden sidesaddle. He is also the horse I tack up for guests to ride over the others I have in the barn. We would like to see him in a home where he can be turned out 24/7 and have a job that focuses on flatwork/sidesaddle, hunting, and fence work under 2'. Lincoln has excellent stall, field, ground, trailering, and grooming manners. He is currently barefoot and wears renegade boots when ridden over hard ground. He will wind suck at feeding time, but this can be controlled by a collar if need be. Xrays are available to interested parties. Priced in the high 4 figures, but a forever home is the owners biggest concern. Located in Trenton, SC.

Videos:
https://youtu.be/0JeHC8PKJLw
https://youtu.be/Dx10oNLrJqg

08/10/2023

07/21/2023

07/16/2023