With 2013 in the books and a whole new year of horse health news and articles ahead, the staff at TheHorse.com took a few moments to tally our top 10 most popular articles of the past year. Covering a variety of topics related to horse health, the following articles received the most views in 2013.

Study: Some Horses, Riders have ‘Co-Being’ Relationship
If you’ve ever considered your horse to be your “better half,” you’re not alone. Norwegian and American researchers recently found that riders and horses can enter into a unique state of interspecies “co-being” with one other. Co-being refers to a state of relationship in which each partner evolves to “fit” better with each other, both physically and mentally. Read More

How Much Does a Horse Cost?
Because for many the dream of horse ownership is not to be denied, let’s take a look at what it really costs to own a horse besides the initial purchase price. How much an owner is willing to spend to support this "habit" varies, of course, depending on the equestrian sport she pursues, her geographic locale, and whether she keeps the horse on her home farm or boards him. Read More

How Much Weight Can Horses Comfortably Carry?
Horses might be strong, but the riders horses carry can be heavy—sometimes too heavy for the horse to carry comfortably. But new Japanese research has revealed a reliable method for ensuring our horses aren’t getting overloaded. By measuring gait symmetry—the evenness of a horse’s left steps to its right during various gaits—scientists are able to gather significant information about loading, or the weight horses can carry on their backs. 

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