When Delegada X (DeeDee) arrived at the Center for Equine Health in December from Belgium on her way to her new home in California, she appeared to be an ordinary white horse staying a couple weeks in the quarantine facility. In truth, DeeDee is something of a miracle worker, credited with saving the life of her young owner, Beatrice (Bea) de Lavalette.

On March 22, 2016, Bea, then 17, was waiting in line at the Brussels Airport in Belgium for a flight to Florida to visit her family when the first of numerous terrorist bombs exploded approximately 10 feet away.

After serving the equine industry for nearly 40 years, the quarantine facilities at the Center for Equine Health (CEH) are due for a makeover. As the only USDA testing site for contagious equine metritis (CEM) in California, the CEH serves an instrumental role in testing horses coming into the country and preventing the spread of this disease that impacts the fertility of affected mares.

Dr. Carrie Finno was appointed director of the Center for Equine Health (CEH) beginning July 2017. Having already served as interim director, Finno is familiar with the leadership demands and administrative management duties for the CEH. She oversees the center’s programs and initiatives that advance the health of horses and acts as a liaison between the school and the equine industry in California and nationally.

Last year brought devastating wildfires to both Northern and Southern California. Thousands of horses and other animals were affected throughout the state, and UC Davis was there to assist on many levels. Veterinarians, staff, and students spent countless hours in fire zones and on-campus rescuing and caring for victims of burns and smoke inhalation.  

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new Advanced Equine Assisted Reproduction (EqART) program to provide total equine reproductive health care at UC Davis. For the past couple of years, veterinary scientists and clinicians have been perfecting a unique in vitro fertilization process known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Goldie Kaszub fondly recalls how her niece, Christa Roedel, has had a passion for horses ever since she was a young girl. Growing up, she always wanted a horse of her own. Realizing her dream, Roedel acquired Buddy, an 8-year-old Missouri fox trotter gelding, and considers him as her best friend, confidante and teacher. To honor this special bond, Kaszub established an endowment to provide support for the teaching herd at the Center for Equine Health (CEH).

Foal season will soon be upon us, and the timely subject of an age-specific equine disease should be on the minds of all breeders and foal owners. Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is a transmissible intestinal disease caused by the bacteria Lawsonia intracellularis (LI), commonly known as “Lawsonia disease.” While it only affects approximately 10 percent of foals, the consequences well exceed the cost of vaccinating.

John, an 11-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding, and his owner/rider Doug Parker worked for years to qualify for the World Series of Team Roping in Las Vegas. Just before that became a reality in 2016, however, John was stricken with botulism, a toxic poisoning that had already killed one of his stablemates. Parker, who knew the World Series was now out of the question, raced to the UC Davis veterinary hospital to save John’s life.