Heather Smith Thomas

Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband near Salmon, Idaho, raising cattle and a few horses. She has a B.A. in English and history from University of Puget Sound (1966). She has raised and trained horses for 50 years, and has been writing freelance articles and books nearly that long, publishing 20 books and more than 9,000 articles for horse and livestock publications. Some of her books include Understanding Equine Hoof Care, The Horse Conformation Handbook, Care and Management of Horses, Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses and Storey’s Guide to Training Horses. Besides having her own blog, www.heathersmiththomas.blogspot.com, she writes a biweekly blog at https://insidestorey.blogspot.com that comes out on Tuesdays.

Articles by: Heather Smith Thomas

Influenza Vaccination

Equine influenza is a common respiratory infection. There are vaccinations against equine flu, but are all vaccines created equally? For the latest news from researchers on equine influenza, read on.

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Fencing on the Rocks

Over, around, or through, when your fencing runs into rock, there is a variety of choices to solve the problem

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Feeds and Supplements

The key to a good feed program is to start with the proper type of forage for the individual, then (if needed) pick the right concentrate or supplement.

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Emergency C-Section




With the right care, mare and foal can survive this critical event.



The first step in the decision to do a Caesarean section is that all other forms of help have been exhausted. Often,

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Bedding Choices




Investigate which bedding choice is safe, healthful, and cost-effective for your operation. 



Stalls have traditionally been bedded with materials that provide cushion and

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Wound TLC

Proper and prompt care for each type of wound can make a difference in healing.

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Safety for Horses During Hunting Season

Horse owners often worry about safety of their animals during hunting seasons, especially if the horse’s color might be mistaken for a deer or other large game animal. By taking a few simple steps, you can make your horse’s identity clear and reduce the risk of an accident.

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ACell Therapy for Injuries; Powder Form Again Available

Tissue-engineered products such as extracellular matrix (a graft material that can be implanted at the site of damaged tissue) are being used by a growing number of equine veterinarians to stimulate swifter and better healing for tendon and

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Health Problems of Young Horses in Training

Young horses in training are vulnerable to a wide variety of problems–everything from respiratory disease to training injuries. These horses are often taken off the farm where they grew up, transported to training facilities where they

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Feed Supplements for Horses

A feed supplement is anything fed to a horse in addition to a natural diet of forage. Technically grain is a supplement. But the term has come to mean any additional nutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals, extra protein, energy, etc.) tha

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