Category Archives: Health

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 to insult your horse. I’m...

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 is not limited to their...

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 are certainly possibilities, it’s most...

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 physical forms of forage 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 audience numbering in the millions...

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. The natural feeding habit of...

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 aren't even sure what constitutes...

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 job to the next. The...

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 as a by-product, including beet...

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 most common types, and fortunately...

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. Classified as non-ruminant herbivores, horses’...

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 move. It’s more than the...

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 Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine Lab...

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 confirmed that dampness (relative humidity)...

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 span all age groups, but...

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 hind end completely slipped out...

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 intensifies. Are they warm enough...

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 summer, or throw on a...

“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 symmetry and balance is definitely...

My very first horse was an ex-hunter/jumper in her twenties. She was a true gem of a horse, aptly named Lady Be Good. Due to her former career however, Lady...