In Equinews 11, 1 the first article describes the innovative management style at Glenlogan Park, a large Thoroughbred operation in Queensland, Australia. "Principles of Bone Development" explains the complex process of skeletal growth in young horses, with tips for supporting trouble-free maturation. A feature on preventing developmental orthopedic disease points out the importance of proper nutrition for mares, foals, weanlings, and yearlings. In other articles, new KER staff members are introduced, and a story on competitive trail riding takes readers along to share the success of a Quarter Horse in a discipline that is often dominated by Arabian horses. Shorter features list honors gained by horses on KER-formulated feeds as well as the dangers of oversupplementation.

First Kool Money & Kim Ito
Alex Picov Memorial Winner

Congratulations to Bill and Belinda Taggart of Uxbridge, Ontario. Their two-year-old Quarter Horse filly First Kool Money was named 2007 Canadian Champion after an incredible 2007 race record of six wins, two seconds and one third in nine starts at Ajax Downs and $97, 400 in earnings.

With a much greater number of horses and tracks, Alberta has diminated this award in the past. First Kool Money is only the second Ontario horse to be honored in this way and the first in 16 years. Among the highlights in 2007 were wins in the All Canadian Futurity and the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity.

First Kool Money was raised from weaning on Brooks Performance Feeds and is trained by Don Reid who also uses a Brooks-formulated feed.

Congratulations, Bill and Belinda!

Melissa Fryer has been honored with a Committee Excellence Award from the United States Hunter Jumper Association. Melissa was recognized for her excellent work on a USHJA member survey project as well as her dedication and commitment to the sport. Melissa is product manager for KERx Special Needs Nutrition, a division of Kentucky Equine Research.

Theodore O'Connor, the pint-sized equine with the big heart, was recently named the United States Eventing Association Horse of the Year and also the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year. "Teddy" and Karen O'Connor placed third at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, won the individual gold medal at the Pan American Games, and assisted the U.S. team in bringing home a team gold medal as well. Measuring only 14.1 hands high and therefore qualifying as a pony rather than a horse, the chestnut gelding is an Arabian/Thoroughbred/Shetland cross. Karen O'Connor is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research and Pennfield Feeds, a KER Team Member.

The work of Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, a University of Minnesota professor, was recently cited in the 2007 edition of Technology Transfer Works: 100 Innovations from Academic Research to Real-World Application. Valberg was recognized for her part in the development of the KERx product RE-LEVE, a low-starch horse feed designed to aid horses prone to muscular disorders such as polysaccharide storage myopathy and recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis. These syndromes cause severe muscle cramping known as tying-up. The feed also has been used for horses with metabolic conditions like laminitis and Cushing's syndrome.

"I am thrilled that RE-LEVE is making an impact in preventing the pain associated with tying-up, and that KER is able to get it into the feed bins of horses across the world. It is great that the creativity of academia can partner with the practicality and resources of industry to make such a remarkable difference in the lives of horses," said Valberg, who first collaborated with KER nutritionists to formulate RE-LEVE in the mid 1990s.

RE-LEVE dealers can be located by going to the KERx Web site at www.kerx.com. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of RE-LEVE will be forwarded to the University of Minnesota for continued support of equine research.