As with all the products coming from BRD Inc in the last 20 years or so TravelPro was created to solve

an urgent and increasing problem with contemporary horses. “As the calls began to flood in regarding

the EHV1 virus it was clear that the number of horses with impaired immune functions are at crisis point.”  comments Daniel Haggerty VP, BRD, exclusive U.S. Distributors of TravelPro. “The over use of ulcer guarding products combined with aggressive de-worming practices have weakened and damaged digestion and compromised immune functions at what can be critically diminished levels. This compromised immune function leaves horses vulnerable to unprecedented health issues and viruses in particular.”

TravelPro was specifically formulated to replace expensive ulcer guarding pharmaceuticals and their long list of dangerous side effects. TravelPro is a completely safe yet consistently effective natural product with ingredients that precipitate the prevention and repair of the 3 specific issues leading to serious problems for horses in transit or after reaching an event.

1. TravelPro balances acid production to normal levels. A critical difference from the ulcer guarding products that block normal acid production, digestion and immune functions.

2. TravelPro balances PH levels, improving digestion and B-complex production, the horse’s primary

mechanism to reduce stress for an immediate and lasting calming effect. Calm horses eat better as they travel.

3. TravelPro improves immune function. Experts agree good digestion is responsible for up to 70% of

all immune function. As a bonus TravelPro’s electrolytes help your horses drink more water

Add TravelPro to your regular feeding the day before you travel and each day on the road. They’re calm, eat and drink better and just feel better. When you arrive your horse will be calm, fresh and ready to perform at their very best, every event every time. You can enjoy the convenience, save your money and rest easier knowing you’re giving your horse what they need to travel safe, like a TravelPro.

1. What is an appraisal?
An appraisal is the act of estimating cost, determining value, forecasting earnings, or providing a non-monetary opinion such as whether or not an item is genuine or fake using education and research, as well as adjustments.  An Appraisal is not a precise measurement, nor a guess.  It is a relative estimate (opinion) based on supporting facts.

2. What kind of appraisal do I need?
The most popular appraisal by demand is the Full Summary Appraisal report.  These are the kind used for sales, insurance, IRS donations, etc. This appraisal is a summary of facts and supportive information of how much your equine is worth.  These can be used in a court of law.

Another type of appraisal is the Restricted Use Appraisal.  These can only be used by the client, and cannot be used in a court of law.  The same research is conducted as in the Summary Appraisal, yet it is more limited and less detail.  Restricted Use only requires information to be stated, not explained or summarized.

The most detailed oriented, and most rare appraisal is the Self-Contained Appraisal.  This method requires the appraiser to explain in detail about how opinions and conclusions were formed.

3. Why would someone need a horse appraisal?
Prove your horse’s value!
More and more people today are needing to prove their horses value, whether it is for sales, litigation, insurance, and more.  People need a professional horse appraiser who is compassionate and can advise in the proper process and procedures.  Equine Appraisals of Texas is here to serve you!

4. How do you determine value of my horse?
Equine Appraisals of Texas evaluates the unique circumstances of each project and then applies the most appropriate method, as defined by the American Society of Equine Appraisers.  The Sales Comparison method is most often used, and determines the “fair market value” of the horse.

5.  What kind of horses do you appraise?
Equine Appraisals of Texas is a new business, starting in July of 2011.  Cara Olson is certified, and  is working on her Sr. Appraisal status.  As of right now, Equine Appraisals of Texas is  focusing on Performance Show horses, Including Quarter Horses, Paints, and Appaloosas in all show disciplines including Western and English All-Around, Reining, Cutting, and more!

GAO Releases Horse Welfare Report

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released its eighteen month report entitled “Horse Welfare: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter.”  In 2009, Congress directed GAO to examine horse welfare following the end of domestic slaughter in 2007.  You may view the complete report here.

The study was requested by Congress in the 2010 Appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The GAO is an independent federal agency that Congress often turns to for reports and analysis of important issues.  GAO evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analysis, recommendations, and other data to help Congress make informed policy, and funding decisions on issues before it.

Report Findings

The 63 page GAO report made a number of findings.

•    The U.S. slaughter market has changed since domestic slaughter ceased in 2007.  Exports to Canada and Mexico have increased with nearly the same number of U.S. horses now processed in those countries (138,000 in 2010), as were in the U.S. before the state bans on slaughter and the restrictions on paying USDA employees involved in the process were put in place.

•    These horses are traveling further to slaughter now and are being slaughtered in facilities not protected by U.S. law and regulations.

•    Many of the state veterinarians contacted for the report said that fewer horse sales have been held and that prices for horses have declined since 2007, especially for the lower-to-medium end of the horse market.  This means owners have fewer options for getting rid of horses they no longer want.  The number of shippers has also declined dramatically.

•    The GAO analysis indicates that the prices for these horses have declined by 8 to 21 percent, depending on sale price (lower-to-medium end). GAO estimated that the economic downturn reduced prices for all horses by perhaps 4 to 5 percent, which does not account for the entire decline.

•    Horse welfare has also declined; although, the precise extent is unknown.  State, local government, and animal welfare organizations reported a rise in investigations for horse neglect, straining their resources.  They attribute this to several factors, but primarily the ending of domestic slaughter and the downturn in the economy.

•    Several state veterinarians reported more cases of horses abandoned on private or state parks since 2007.  Nearly all reported anecdotes indicated that the number of cases of abandonments has increased.

•    Based on the information these officials provided, the primary drivers for the increase in abandonment and neglect are the cessation of domestic slaughter, causing lower horse prices and difficulty in selling horses, and the economic downturn, affecting horse owners’ ability to properly care for their horses.

•    State and local governments, tribes, and animal welfare organizations, especially rescues, are facing growing pressures to care for abandoned and neglected horses at a time of economic recession and tight budgets.

•    Tribes reported increases in abandonments on their land, exacerbating the overpopulation of herds already there.

•    The increase in unwanted horses available for sale or being abandoned on public lands is affecting the federal government’s ability to manage the wild horse and burro population and adopt out these animals in government holding facilities.

•    USDA faces three challenges in overseeing the welfare of horses during the transport to processing plants: (1) the current regulations only apply to transport directly to the plant; (2) annual bans by Congress on USDA’s use of funds appropriated for inspecting horses impede USDA’s ability to improve compliance with, and enforcement of, the current transport regulations; and (3) horses are now traveling significantly greater distances to their final destination where they are not protected by U.S. humane slaughter protections.

•    In particular, GAO found that the Congressional ban on funding for the inspection of horses bound for slaughter had impeded the USDA’s efforts to protect horse welfare because it only allows a  USDA compliance officer to inspect the owner/shipper certificate, not the actual horses or their condition. Even if a compliance officer suspects a violation of the regulations regarding the physical condition of horses on the way to slaughter they are not allowed to inspect the horses to document potential violations by shippers.

•    Even after the recent economic downturn is taken into account, horse abandonment and neglect cases are reportedly up, and appear to be straining state, local, tribal, and animal rescue resources.  GAO found that clearly the cessation of domestic slaughter has had unintended consequences, most importantly, perhaps, the decline in horse welfare in the U.S.

Report Recommendations

The GAO report offered several recommendations to Congress and the USDA.

Matters for Congress

•    In light of the unintended consequences, the report suggests that Congress may wish to reconsider the annual restrictions on USDA’s use of appropriated funds to inspect horses being transported to slaughter facilities to allow USDA to better ensure horse welfare and identify violations of the Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter regulations.

•    Congress may wish to consider allowing USDA to use appropriated funds to inspect horses at slaughter facilities under the Federal Meat Inspection Act.

•    Alternatively, Congress may wish to consider an explicit ban on domestic slaughter and shipping horses for slaughter in foreign countries.

Matters for USDA

•    To better protect horses USDA should adopt the amendments proposed several years ago to the transport regulations to more broadly define “equines for slaughter” so that federal oversight is extended to more of the transportation chain for horses going to processing facilities.

•    USDA should use other agency resources to improve the completion, return and evaluation of the owner/shipper paperwork required under the transport regulations.

•    USDA should enter into formal agreements with Canada and Mexico to improve the cooperation and assistance between USDA and the authorities in those countries responsible for processing horses.

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) kicks off the 2011 national show season with the Youth National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Youth Nationals), July 23-30, 2011 at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M. The equine industry’s shining young stars, ages 6-18 (although you might find some remarkable 3 year-olds in the lead-line classes) will swagger into Albuquerque with their Arabians, Half-Arabians, and Anglo-Arabians to present the work they’ve put in at the practice pen since last year’s Youth Nationals.

Approximately 950 of the world’s best kid-toting horses will be trailered in from about 40 states and three Canadian provinces and will compete in dozens of different classes, spanning almost every possible discipline, boasting the versatility of the Arabian horse and their Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian siblings. Looking for halter, side saddle, jumping, reining or English pleasure classes? Youth Nationals has them all and more.

The excitement begins with some education thanks to the 8th Annual Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman’s Association (APAHA) Youth Nationals Clinics on July 21 from 2 – 5p.m. in the Horse Arena. This year’s clinicians are the 2010 APAHA Horseman of the Year, Bob Battaglia, and Horsewoman of the Year, Vickey Bowman. The clinics are free and open to the public.

It’s down to business on July 22 from 2-5 p.m. with the Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA) Youth Board Meeting and Convention where youth delegates vote on the coming year’s leadership and listens to the always-popular keynote speaker. This year’s pick, professional photographer Mike Ferrara will give convention-goers a look at the horse industry from behind the lens.

Classes kick off July 23 and last through July 30 with three sessions each day, with the exception of an evening session July 23 and July 27. New this year is a special two-day cutting clinic, July 28-29. The Arabian Cutting Horse Association is hosting this unique opportunity to “test-drive” a finished cutting horse to youths interested in learning more about this exciting discipline. Following the live cattle practice, youth riders will be offered the opportunity to compete for a Vinton Saddlery cutting saddle and other prizes for the nominal fee of $50 per person.

A selection of youth-focused activities, from a stick-horse-making workshop to an ice cream social, provide plenty of activities for kids while their not showing or watching the arena action.

The Youth Nationals Shopping Expo provides an array of equine life-style products–tack, clothing, jewelry and art for exhibitors and the public to browse in Lujan A from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., July 23-30.

Admission to the show and shopping expo is free and open to the public. For more information about Youth Nationals, contact the Arabian Horse Association at (303) 696-4500 and choose option #4 or contactinfo.comp@arabianhorses.org.

July 1, 2011

AHC WASHINGTON UPDATE

Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011

On June 27, 2011, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011 (S.1281). The bill would prohibit the interstate transport of any horse in a double-deck truck.

Background

Senator Kirk has said he was prompted to introduce the bill by accidents involving horses’ being transported in double-decker trucks, primarily a 2007 accident in Wadsworth, Illinois involving the overturning of a double-deck cattle truck carrying 59 Belgian draft horses. Eight horses died at the scene and ten were later euthanized. Kirk had previously introduced a similar bill when he was a Member of the House of Representatives.

Several states have passed legislation banning the transport of horses in these trucks, but there is no federal prohibition. However, it is illegal to transport horses to slaughter in such vehicles.

Bill

The bill would prohibit the interstate transport of any horse in a double-deck truck including ones specially designed for horses.

The bill would impose civil penalties of $100 to $500 for each violation of the proposed probation. A separate violation occurs for each horse transported.

Congressional Action

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

If you have any questions, please contact the AHC.