Our horse’s piaffes are pfizzled. His slides have slid. His rollbacks are back. His leads don’t change. Someone will almost reflexively say “Maybe he needs to have his hocks injected.” He might. Maybe it’s … Read more

My experience shows that horses with a high value (value based on the cost of buying them) can make people crazy. It’s okay in a way – it is important to … Read more

If you are squinting at the title, I want to say that I am happy to see your horse by an “equine chiropractor” and that you feel happy for your … Read more

Sometimes horses lick and chew their training material. This has been thought to be a sign that the horse learns or shows’submission’. A new study has shown that horses can show … Read more

What does “cold-backed” mean? A horse with a sensitive or painful back is called ‘cold-backed’. These symptoms may be mild like discomfort due to tightening of the girth, or more severe, … Read more

This summary is a mixture of direct excerpts from a variety of publications, letters to the Falabellas family, a French Veterinary Medicine Study, and Thesis on Falabellas. Many other articles have … Read more

Weight loss can simply be explained by the body using more calories than it consumes. There are many possible causes for chronic weight loss in horses. These include poor quality feed, limited … Read more

Vitamin E (tocopherol), a fat-soluble vitamin, plays many roles in the body. Vitamin E’s main role is to act as an antioxidant. It works in close collaboration with Vitamin C and … Read more

As a horse owner of EMS or laminitic horses, one of the first things you will be told is “no treats,” ..”. Sometimes, a grape or prune can be used to … Read more

Researchers in New Zealand discovered that ryegrass staggers were caused by tiny fungi called Endophytes 25 years ago. They discovered that the mycotoxins created by endophytes within ryegrass cells can … Read more

A researcher has questioned the effectiveness of a cornerstone treatment to treat equine gastric problems. He believes that a revision is necessary over diet recommendations and current blanket dosing guidelines … Read more

Researchers in Canada have reported that the estrus cycle may play a role in lung function in severe asthma-afflicted mares. Researchers at the University of Montreal wrote in the journal Animals that … Read more

CBD. It doesn’t matter if you are already using it or if you are thinking about it. It is not the latest “snake oils” promising to cure everything from hair loss and … Read more

During the winter and fall, bananas and apples were the most common fruits in grocery stores. You can now find many off-season fruits thanks to imports from warmer climates. This variety is … Read more

Horses can have vitiligo, which is an unsightly skin condition. However, it is essentially cosmetic, according to a newly published scientific review. “Therefore any treatment for the disease should always … Read more

Study findings suggest that steel horseshoes may have a soft, polyurethane coating on the base to reduce overload in horses’ front legs. Researchers wanted to compare steel shoes with soft … Read more

Spanish researchers have highlighted the rarity of horses with chimerism (a form of genetic balancing) in which an individual has two distinct genetic makeups. The university of Seville and Cordoba … Read more

In a Russian translation, scientists have described five distinct types of Yakutian horses. They are famous for their ability to withstand extreme climates in Siberia. Yakutian horses, also known as … Read more

Psom salts or magnesium sulfate are becoming a more common supplement for horses. Magnesium is an essential element in nerve and muscle function. Horses deficient in this vital element may … Read more

If a recent US study shows, it may be more beneficial to clean your horse’s water trough more often than to try new methods of keeping it clean. If not … Read more

Let’s begin with the most basic components of all leverage bits. The cheeks are composed of the purchase as well as the shank. The mouthpiece is composed of the bars, and – … Read more

Although the term “epiphysitis”, is often used, it is more accurate to call it physitis. It is an area that has become inflamed if it ends with the medical term “-itis”. The … Read more

What is Topline? …… How do you get it? Horses’ topline is the term for the muscle covering that covers the horse’s neck and back. What is topline? There are two … Read more

Signs that Horses Have Respiratory Problems A horse may have a cough if they are experiencing irritation in their respiratory system. There are many types of coughs, and each type can … Read more

You are probably familiar with the conflicts surrounding Lasix or furosemide if you are involved in race horses. Furosemide was originally created to treat bleeding lungs in race horses. But many … Read more

Recently, I saw an advertisement for a broodmare that stated it could not have any Caslicks. I was struck by the stigma attached to this word. A mare that does … Read more

The facts about kidneys Horses’ kidneys are amazing. They process approximately 45 litres of blood per hour to filter out waste and keep the essential bits that your horse needs. … Read more

Horses with hind leg problems A hind leg problem could cause lameness in horses. These problems can cause permanent disability in horses of all ages and can be caused by a … Read more

The cowboys of the west were called “vaqueros” in Spanish. (The Spanish term “vaca”, which means cow, is translated as: In the old west, cowboy was a term that was seldom used. It … Read more

I get asked often the question, “How do you know what hackamore I should get?”. There are many answers that address different concerns. First, make sure it fits properly. There are … Read more

In the fall, sedation is required for both clipping and for travelling. There are three main methods horses can be sedated. Two of these are by intravenous sedation administered to … Read more

No matter your riding style, every horse knows someone who hates having his mane pulled. This is not the case. Only 3% of horses have problems with professional braiders, mostly because they … Read more

Q: My nine-year-old mare has an odd habit that seems to be getting worse rather than better. I have regular instruction–dressage basics with some jumping. My horse refuses to take more contact … Read more

Q: I ride in an arena that doesn’t have mirrors. How can I tell if my horse is behind a vertical? Do you have any clues? –Name withheld on request A. I can clearly … Read more

Shoulder-in is my favorite exercise, due to its many incredible benefits: * A suppling exercise * This is a great exercise to straighten the spine because it allows you to … Read more

A horse’s tail can reveal a lot about his overall health and well-being. It should be visible at rest as well as during exercise. It should be lowered and carried with … Read more

Information about the Schwarzwalder Kaltblut horse The Black Forest records show that horse breeding was documented in the Black Forest as early as the fifteenth century. The Walderpferd was a type … Read more

Information about the Karabakh Horse The Karabakh horse is a rare breed that originated in Azerbaijan, Asia. This breed is extremely old and shares many of the same ancestral genes as … Read more

True or false: Horses grow their teeth throughout their lives. Short answer: False. Horses don’t get new teeth during their lives. This is a complicated story. Their very long, straight teeth push (erupt), through … Read more

Primary squamous-cell carcinoma is a common form of cancer in horses. It is only found in areas with squamous cell carcinoma, which can be the skin, stomach, and nasal cavities.The appearance … Read more

Melanoma, a common skin condition that causes nodules in older grey horses, is very common. It usually occurs between 7-8 years old. Over 80% of grey horses will experience at least … Read more

As an animal communicator, I view the problem from the perspective of the animal and not as a trainer. If a horse is being abused but has been treated well, then … Read more

White line disease (WLD), also known as seedy-toe, is a term that describes similar infections. WLD and seedy toe look identical and both involve the same opportunistic fungal or bacterial invaders. Both … Read more

Don’t panic if your horse has a swelling in his throat after coming from grazing. This could be due to Grass Glands. Horses can develop large submandibular lymphodes (the area behind … Read more

Horses are quadrupeds and can be ridden fast or jump to escape danger. As with any animal that has one leg at each corner of its body, if one limb is … Read more

GENETIC BOOTTLENECK OVERCOMING Przewalski’s horse, pronounced “shuh-VAL­skees”, faces the same challenge as many endangered species: recovering from an historic bottleneck. Przewalski’s horses today, which number around 2,000, are the descendants of … Read more

1. Horse Behavior There are several visual and behavioral indicators that can help you determine if your horse is in need of a better fitting saddle. Do any of these sound … Read more

Your horse may respond to your shouting name, and come running towards you. Did they recognize your name? Many riders believe their horse is intelligent enough to pick it out. Some riders aren’t so … Read more

The placenta connects the foal and mare, and is vital. It supplies oxygen and nutrients to the foal through various blood vessels and interconnections with the mare. The mare’s endometrium (the … Read more

Uveitis, a common cause for blindness in horses is still a mystery. It can also be difficult to treat in its recurrent forms. Although there is no cure, it does not necessarily … Read more