Horse News & Views - March 2002

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners

• Under legislation passed in January 1998, eligible farmlands can be classed in the Farmlands Property Class and taxed at 25% of the municipal residential rate. Eligibility criteria for this class include: the property is assessed as farmland, is part of a farming business that generates more than $7,000 in annual gross farm income, has a valid Farm Business Registration number and is owned by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. For more information, call 1-800-469-2285.
• Regumate contains altrenogest, a synthetic progestational agent used to assist mares to establish the occurrence of estrus. Altrenogest can be absorbed from contact with skin and can penetrate porous gloves. Absorption can be increased from areas covered by occlusive materials, such as latex or rubber gloves. In case of accidental exposure, wash immediately with soap and water. If the eyes are exposed, flush immediately with water for 15 minutes and get medical help. The manufacturer warns against the following individuals handling the product: pregnant women, women with undiagnosed bleeding, those with thrombophlebitis disorders, vaginal estrogen dependant tumors, coronary disease, or suspected carcinoma of the breast, people with benign or malignant tumors which developed during the use of oral contraceptives or estrogen containing products. (Plumb, DC. Veterinary Drug Handbook, 3rd ed. 1999)
• Congenital anomalies of the horse include all physical abnormalities present at birth and some that may not be diagnosed until later in life. These may be acquired during fetal development, e.g., patellar luxation, most commonly found in miniature horses and Shetland ponies. Others have proven to be inherited, e.g., hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) of quarter horses and lethal white disease in breeds with white spotting.