
Horse Health
Why Do Horses Eat Weird Things?
Horses are not picky eaters. I mean, they’re not carnivores, so they will generally turn up their noses at a good steak (although I did…
Horses are not picky eaters. I mean, they’re not carnivores, so they will generally turn up their noses at a good steak (although I did…
I hesitate to say this, but your horse may be fat. Please don’t take this personally. I’m not saying that you are fat. And I’m not trying…
Horses are complex social animals that rely on body language and facial expressions in order to communicate. As any horse person can attest, this communication…
You’re grooming your horse one afternoon when you notice a rough, hairless area has appeared on his jaw. Is it ringworm? A wart? Though these…
Forage is the most important ingredient in the horse’s diet, yet the choices in forage species and form are sometimes daunting. Understanding the types and…
Imagine you’re a taking an exam… In a stadium that seats 12,000 spectators, during an international sporting event that is broadcast live to a television…
Horses are non-ruminant herbivores also known as a “hindgut fermenters.” Their digestive tract is made up of a simple stomach, small intestine and large intestine.…
It’s tough to spot an obese horse when it’s your own. We tend to think, “She’s just big boned,” or “It’s her breed.” Many owners…
Like any top level equestrian event, the Palm Beach Masters is a bustling ecosystem of equine professionals and practitioners moving in methodical bursts from one…
There is a trend these days to label many highly nutritious feed ingredients as worthless wastes. This particularly falls on anything that might be classified…
Colic is a catchall term used by horsemen to describe equine gastrointestinal distress, but there are several different causes. Impaction colic is one of the…
This probably comes as no surprise, but the horse is a unique animal. This is especially true when it comes to how they digest food.…
It happens every winter. A horse that may not even have a prior history of laminitis is found to be very lame and reluctant to…
If anyone is uniquely qualified to offer tips for keeping the sport horse fit and sound, it’s Ashlee Watts. As the director of the Comparative…
Research has proven that exposure to cold causes increased stiffness in both muscle and connective tissue, including tendons and ligaments. A recent human study also…
Impending winter weather and loss of good pasture make all owners of thin senior horses anxious. Some things to consider when a horse is underweight…
I walked into the pasture and Jimbo, a 36-year-old Quarter Horse, came toward me with his hind end listing off to one side. Then his…
Unfortunately it’s that time of year again. The days grow shorter, the air whips colder, and our concern for the wellbeing of our equine companions…
You do it at the end of every ride—take ten minutes to walk your horse out, then maybe rinse them with cool water in the…
“The equine hoof is a complex marvel of natural engineering,” say Susan Kauffmann and Christina Cline in The Essential Hoof Book. “Developing an eye for…