Changing weather conditions in any climate can make riding horses in early spring a challenge. Trailering can be dangerous, parking can be scarce, and it can be hard to get motivated in thirty-degree weather. Keeping a horse active and encouraging movement is a crucial component of early spring horse health. Many of us have competition goals…
This month, winter officially arrives! That may be a scary thought for some, and a happy one for others. Most equestrians, however, don’t enjoy the temperature drops, shorter days, and the thought of snow. Winter brings the possibility of issues like thrush, abscesses, hoof bruises and snowballs, and questions about whether to leave shoes on…
In recent years, a large selection of feeds targeting senior equines has become available at most feed stores. These feeds are specifically developed for our senior equine friends who may have dental, digestive and weight maintenance issues. After years of training and experience under saddle, these horses are predictable mounts that are easy to have…
The Basics of Digestion in Horses Things to know before you go: Equine Foregut: Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine Equine Hindgut: Cecum, Large Colon, Small Colon, and Rectum (the cecum and colon make up the large intestine) The digestion process begins with the horse chewing its feed. Chewed feed then travels through the esophagus to…
The Basics of Digestion in Horses Things to know before you go: Equine Foregut: Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine Equine Hindgut: Cecum, Large Colon, Small Colon, and Rectum (the cecum and colon make up the large intestine) The digestion process begins with the horse chewing its feed. Chewed feed then travels through the esophagus to…
Summer is the perfect time to own a horse. The show and competition circuit are in full swing. Farms and ranches teem with activity. Long, sunlit days lend themselves to lazy trail rides. But summer’s hot weather and high humidity pose serious health risks for most horses and ponies. Luckily, there are simple ways to…
Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) make use of partnering with horses to help promote emotional and physical growth. EAAT are particularly useful for people who have ADD, anxiety, autism, dementia, delay in mental development, down syndrome, other genetic disorders, depression, traumatic brain injuries, behavioral disorders, and various other physical disabilities. Horses and History Humans have…
There is no one specific underlying reason for lameness to occur in a horse. It occurs in all breeds, sizes, confirmations, and disciplines of horses. Reasons for lameness can be anything from pain in the horse or the conditions the horse lives in. The Merck Veterinary Manual defines lameness as “An abnormal stance or gait…