The year's end is a time for reflection, and looking ahead. This has been a critical year for the horse industry. We have been blessed with prosperity, and attacked by diseases and animal rights groups. Our horses are healthier than ever before, yet there are new dangers cropping up that could destroy our livelihoods. Let's take a few moments to ponder what has happened and what it means, and look ahead, before we make our resolutions for the new year.
Animal behavior is nothing new to horse people.
This attempt at working better with our horses and understanding their nature is a step forward. In fact, it was a carryover from problems discovered in late 1999. That isn't to say progress hasn't been made, but the diagnosis of EIA pretty much is a death sentence. On a more controversial side is the increasing use of nutraceuticals. The Nutraceutical Alliance was formed early in 2000 with the goal of unifying manufacturers, producers, and consumers and promoting scientifically sound research.