Summer is sizzling, and Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has the products your horse needs to perform its best.

To celebrate the season, KER has activated discounts on four of its premier products: Equine Ester 100™, KER•Flex™, Restore™, and Bio-Bloom™. The following discounts apply:

• Equine Ester 100™ (50% discount)--an antioxidant rich in natural vitamin E
• KER•Flex™ (30% discount)--oral joint supplement contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
• Restore™ (15% discount on 40-lb bucket, 25% discount on pastes)--replenishes electrolytes at optimal levels without unnecessary sugar
• Bio-Bloom™ (15% discount)--dual-action hoof and coat supplement

Order online or call 859-873-1988 for assistance.

Shipping and handling charges apply. Offer only available within the continental United States. Good through September 30, 2010, or while supplies last.

Seeing the general difference between a fat horse and a thin horse is simple, but when trying to monitor subtle changes in a horse's condition, a body condition score chart can be a valuable tool.

A body condition score chart illustrates the Henneke Scale, which uses numbers 1-9 to objectively rate a horse's overall body condition.  A horse with a body condition score of 1 is considered poor or emaciated, while a horse with a body condition score of 9 is extremely fat.  Healthy horses have a body condition score from 4-7. 

A free downloadable horse body condition score chart is now available from Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

The chart details the key areas to monitor to determine your horse's condition: thickening of the neck, fat covering the withers, fat deposits along backbone, fat deposits on flanks, fat deposits on inner thighs, fat deposits around tailhead, fat deposits behind shoulders, fat covering ribs, and how the shoulder blends into the neck. Example illustrations are included.

The chart is available in two options:

• Low-resolution for online use
• High-resolution for print use

Read more about body condition scoring.

KER is an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving both the horse owner and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. Contact marketing@ker.com for more information.

Equine Ester 100 ™ provides superior antioxidant support to horses that require vitamin E supplementation. Horses that might benefit from supplementation with Equine Ester 100™ include those without access to fresh forages such as pasture, performance horses in strenuous work, breeding horses, and those diagnosed with neurological problems such as equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

For a limited time, Kentucky Equine Research is offering a clearance sale on Equine Ester 100™ at 50% off its regular price. Purchase a 750 gram jar--that's 50 servings--for $21.50. Learn more about Equine Ester 100™ and buy online.

Snow Fairy completed a Classic Epsom/Curragh double through her winning performance in Sunday's Irish Oaks, becoming only the 13th filly in history to win both events. Victorious by a margin of eight lengths, the 3-year-old filly might be destined for the Breeders' Cup later this season.

Notes from The Curragh indicate Snow Fairy, "opened up a gap on her pursuers in a matter of strides, continuing to pull away all the way to the line."

Of the Irish Oaks performance, Trainer Ed Dunlop noted, "She won really well and is a filly with a huge heart."

Dunlop followed the same path with Ouija Board in 2004, culminating in a career that included seven Group 1 wins, among them the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Snow Fairy's performance was fueled by Saracen Horse Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Team Member based in England.

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) wants to send you and a guest to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games!

To celebrate the World Equestrian Games coming to Kentucky, KER is giving away tickets to its fans, followers, and customers. Ten pairs of tickets will be available to those who sign up for KER's newsletters, The Weekly Feed and Equine Review, between now and September 24.

To enter on ker.com, go to the contest page and sign up for the KER newsletters. Current newsletters subscribers can enter the contest by selecting the newsletter they already receive.

A new winner will be announced every week. Each week's winner will have their choice of which event they'd like to see from the remaining available tickets.

AVAILABLE TICKETS

Winners each week will be able to choose from among the available ticket pairs. KER holds tickets to nearly all the WEG events, but once they're claimed, they're gone--so sign up early for the best odds and selection!

Winners will be notified via email and posted on KER's Facebook profile.

Tickets must be used for the winner and a guest (not to be given away or resold), and must be picked up from the KER booth (400-502) at the International Equestrian Festival in downtown Lexington at least one day prior to the event. Read the full terms and conditions.

The Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010. This is the first time the Games have been held in the United States. Purchase tickets to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

KER is an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving both the horse owner and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. Contact marketing@ker.com for more information.

Nicholas Gonzalez, who saddled Big Red Mike to a win in the recent Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine, was named Trainer of the Week according to Thoroughbred Times Today.

Kentucky Equine Research Team Member Brooks Feed in Ontario is the feed supplier of choice for Big Red Mike and other horses in the trainer's stable.

Gonzales led all trainers by wins in Ontario last year when his horses finished 104 races in first place. Based at Woodbine and Fort Erie, he has a lifetime record of 32 stakes wins.

With the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games approaching, the race is on to see which riders, drivers, and vaulters will represent the United States for the eight World Championship titles to be contested in Lexington.

The selection process is ongoing, but several of the equestrians sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) are in contention.

KER riders have made a big impact on selectors in the sport of eventing. Phillip Dutton holds five of the 18 spots with horses Connaught, Kheops du Quesnay, The Foreman, Truluck, and Woodburn. Karen O'Connor and Mandiba have also been named to the short list for consideration. All short-listed horse/rider combinations must participate in the Land Rover 2010 USEA American Eventing Championships for final selection. This event will take place September 9-12, 2010, in Fairburn, Georgia.

In the sport of combined driving, KER equestrian Chester Weber is among 10 drivers named to the nominated entry for WEG. From this group the definite entry (team and Individuals) will be named to represent the United States in the Four-in-Hand Driving Championships.

Sponsored rider Mary Jordan also finished in the Top 10 at the selection trials for para-equestrian dressage, riding her own homebred mare Paxton Abbey.

Read more about KER's sponsored equestrians.

KER is an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving both the horse owner and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. Contact marketing@ker.com for more information.

Driver Chester Weber is one step closer to competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Ten names were included on the Nominating Entry recently filed by the United States Equestrian Federation. The Definite Entry for both team and individual competition will be pulled from this group to represent the United States.

Weber is one of several high-caliber equestrians sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER). See the entire roster of sponsored riders.

Boosting his record to 7 wins in 15 starts, Australian-bred Starspangledbanner claimed victory in the July Cup (Group 1) at Newmarket in England. Running no worse than second throughout the race, Starspangledbanner overtook Equiano late in the uphill stretch run to finish in first place by a neck. Taking the third spot was another Australian-bred horse, the seven-year-old mare Alverta.

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Australasia formulated the feed products on which both Alverta and Starspangledbanner, a four-year-old colt, were reared. Starspangledbanner spent his growing years at Makybe Stud in Victoria, while Alverta was produced by Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales. The products are manufactured and distributed by Ridley Agriproducts, a KER Team Member.

The win was the second for Starspangledbanner in the Global Sprint Challenge following his victory in the Oakleigh Plate earlier in the year.

The Equine Health and Welfare Alliance (EHWA) and Kentucky Equine Research (KER) have teamed up to create comprehensive guidelines for the management of nutritionally neglected horses.

Assembled by the head research veterinarian and nutritionists at KER, the guidelines feature the nuts and bolts of restorative nutrition, specifically how best to feed horses safely for the first two weeks of rehabilitation. Titled "Refeeding Starved or Malnourished Horses," the guidelines contain a convenient, easy-to-read chart that can be posted in the barn for quick reference.

"Everyone in the equine industry should be concerned about unwanted or neglected horses," said Bryan Waldridge, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, ACVIM, head veterinarian at KER's research farm. "The recommendations produced through the partnership of EHWA and KER will serve as a guide for individuals and humane groups that want to rehabilitate malnourished horses. It is our hope that no horse will suffer from lack of feed, but because some do, we can provide nutritional advice to those who come to the aid of those horses in need."

The goal of the EHWA is to develop and maintain a comprehensive network of education, research, and support for the basic needs of all equines that allows them a life of dignity. The EHWA has a core membership of veterinarians, but membership is not limited to veterinarians, and all equine organizations, supporters, owners, and enthusiasts are encouraged to join. To learn more about EHWA, visit the organization's website at www.equinehealthandwelfare.org.

Kentucky Equine Research is an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving both the horse producer and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and to apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. For more information on KER, go to www.ker.com.

The Queen's Plate Stakes, the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown, had a celebrity guest this year. Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance to watch Big Red Mike pull away in the stretch at Woodbine Racetrack to win by a length and a half.

Big Red Mike, the wire-to-wire leader in the $944,316 race for Canadian-born three-year-olds, is trained by Nicholas Gonzalez. Kentucky Equine Research Team Member Brooks Feed Store in Port Perry, Ontario supplies feed to Gonzalez' training stable.

Big Red Mike is owned by the Terra Racing Stable and is named for owner Dom Romeo's red-haired son. The horse's next start will be in the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie Raceway.

Equinews, the official quarterly publication of Kentucky Equine Research (KER), is opening its archives to print and electronic media outlets, making available hundreds of articles for reprint.

Articles that appear in Equinews are assembled using the latest equine nutrition and exercise physiology knowledge. The nutritionists and veterinarians on staff at KER are frequent contributors.

"Sharing Equinews articles is a great way to spread the word about equine nutrition and its importance in the well-being of all horses," said Mark Llewellyn, editor of Equinews. "Disseminating sound nutritional information is one of KER's founding principles, and this is another way we can accomplish that goal."

To kick off this launch, KER invites editors to reprint "Forages: The Foundation for Equine Gastrointestinal Health" at their discretion. Written by renowned nutritionist Joe Pagan, Ph.D., this article was most recently published in the last issue of Equinews.

Please use the following statement when reprinting this article: "Reprinted with permission of Kentucky Equine Research (copyright holder). For more information on horse nutrition and health, visit www.ker.com."

Editors can browse through the complete collection of issues here. For more information on reprinting other articles from Equinews, contact KER at marketing@ker.com or 859-873-1988.

For nearly 25 years KER has been a leader in equine nutrition and exercise physiology research and innovation. KER is the official equine nutritionist of the United States Equestrian Federation and of the Australian Equestrian Team. KER also sponsors many elite riders representing the United States and Australia. To learn more about KER, go to www.ker.com.

Peter Huntington, BVSc, Director of Nutrition for KER Australasia, is scheduled to speak at the 14th Animal Science Congress of the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production (AAAP) Societies, August 23-27, in Pingtung, Taiwan, Republic of China.

The theme of this year's Congress is helping farmers produce high-quality animal products using environment-friendly management practices and appropriate animal welfare protocols. Huntington will speak about two management issues: the importance of forages in equine diets and the obstacles that face nutritionists and veterinarians in creating rations for metabolically challenged horses such as those with Cushing's disease or equine metabolic syndrome.

"In recent years, this conference has been a popular gathering place for producers and researchers, with more than 1,000 people in attendance. I think the focus of this year's conference is compelling and certainly timely, and I am happy to be representing KER at this event," said Huntington.

The Congress provides a forum for presentation and discussion of the most recent developments and advancements in the field of animal production with representation from many disciplines.

For more information on the Congress, go to http://aaap2010.npust.edu.tw/Congress.

Joe Pagan, Ph.D., founder and president of KER, recently presented original research at the Nordic Feed Science Conference in Uppsala, Sweden, June 22-23. Nearly 40 presentations were given during the two-day conference. The papers presented by Pagan were:

• Fish oil and corn oil supplementation affect red blood cell and serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in Thoroughbred horses;
• Form of alpha-tocopherol affects vitamin E bioavailability in Thoroughbred horses; and
• The effect of short term adaptation to a high fat diet on insulin sensitivity in aged Thoroughbred horses.

Click on the above links to read each paper.

Infectious diseases and their impact on horse welfare and the horse industry were the focus of this year's National Issues Forum, co-hosted by the American Horse Council (AHC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), June 20-23.

The forum provided an opportunity for the horse industry, key federal and state authorities, and others to discuss how each sector can protect the health of the country's horses and the commercial viability of the industry in the face of emerging and re-emerging diseases.

Recent outbreaks of contagious equine metritis, equine piroplasmosis, vesicular stomatitis, equine herpesvirus (EHM), and others continue to affect every aspect of the horse industry. The cost of these diseases is difficult, if not impossible to quantify, in terms of fatality rates, veterinary care, the effect on sales, breeding, racing, competitions, recreation, and the interstate and international movement of horses.

During his opening remarks, Dr. Jere Dick, Associate Deputy Administrator and Chief of Field Operations for USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services said, "This workshop is a unique opportunity to bring together diverse segments of the equine industry to discuss how to address preparedness for, and response to, equine infectious diseases in this country...and to identify priorities related to equine infectious diseases, to explore the critical support functions that could be performed by each segment of the industry, and to discuss funding issues."

For more information, visit the AHC at www.horsecouncil.org.