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Smart Strategies for Winter Horsekeeping

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Colic in Pregnant Mares
The Mysterious Fever of Unknown Origin
Navigating the Mysteries of Gray Horse Melanoma
Infographic: Feeding Hard-Keeper Horses
From Too Fat to Too Thin to Just Right
Longeing Do’s and Don’ts
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September 26, 2024

Dealing With Equine Colic: Here are 33 Do’s and Don’ts

June 25, 2024

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Everything You Need to Know About Laminitis in Horses

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Michael Ball, DVM

Michael A. Ball, DVM, completed an internship in medicine and surgery and an internship in anesthesia at the University of Georgia in 1994, a residency in internal medicine, and graduate work in pharmacology at Cornell University in 1997, and was on staff at Cornell before starting Early Winter Equine Medicine & Surgery located in Ithaca, New York. He was an FEI veterinarian and worked internationally with the United States Equestrian Team. He died in 2014.

Articles by: Michael Ball, DVM

From Sterilization to Stitches: Handling Horse Wounds

Minimizing Wound Complications

Michael Ball, DVM March 19, 2014

Wound care is one of those many horse issues where there are as many opinions as there are horse owners.

Horse Winter Coats: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Michael Ball, DVM October 15, 2013

If we want to better manage our horses’ winter coats, we need to understand what they are and how they grow.

Equine First Aid: Knowing Normal from Abnormal (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM April 7, 2010

For horse owners and others who care for horses, recognizing the differences between what is normal and what is abnormal about them forms the basic foundation for good animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.

Equine First Aid: Being Prepared for Emergencies

Michael Ball, DVM March 28, 2010

The best way to prepare for emergencies is to try to prevent them. Perhaps the best approach to first aid is to minimize the risk of accidents, injuries, and disease. Sometimes we do foolish things with, and to, our horses.

Book Excerpt: Emergency Transportation

Michael Ball, DVM December 13, 2006

You should be prepared to ship a horse if it is in need of emergency care at a veterinary hospital.

Locomotion (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM October 11, 2006

Locomotion is at the very heart of what most domesticated horses do for a living. The way a horse moves (specifically) often is taken for granted. Locomotion is directly linked to conformation as it dictates “the way a horse moves.”

Vital Signs (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM September 13, 2006

The physical examination should assess any changes in the horse’s demeanor, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, body temperature, evidence of shock, and hydration status.

Restraining a Horse (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM August 23, 2006

Once the decision has been made to use some form of restraint, the device should be applied quickly, properly, and with purpose.

Shipping a Horse with Colic (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM August 9, 2006

In my experience, shipping a horse with a severe case of colic can be a dangerous and harrowing experience. If at all possible the horse should be seen by a veterinarian and stabilized prior to transport.

Emergency Transportation for Horses

Michael Ball, DVM July 5, 2006

You should be prepared to ship a horse if it is in need of emergency care at a veterinary hospital.

Wounds and Lacerations (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM June 20, 2006

One of the most important facts regarding severe wounds is that the sooner they are noticed and repaired the better the patient’s prognosis, both functionally and cosmetically.

Severe Dehydration (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM May 31, 2006

Dehydration can be a significant problem for the performance horse as well as for horses suffering from other disease processes.

Stable Vices (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM May 24, 2006

A stable vice is an undesirable behavior shown by horses that are stall bound but also in pastures or small paddocks.

Exercise Exhaustion (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM April 19, 2006

Many exercise-induced problems could be avoided by applying common sense limits to performance stresses. If you plan to compete at eventing and endurance riding, make sure both you and your horse are appropriately prepared.

Basic Horse Handling (Book Excerpt)

Michael Ball, DVM April 5, 2006

Always think in terms of safety first when handling horses — safety for you, the horse, and anyone else in the general area. Like it or not, horses are fight or flight creatures and can be unpredictable when faced with new people or surroundings.

Out of Control

Michael Ball, DVM April 1, 2006

One night you hear kicking and crashing coming from the barn and think you have a cast horse. You run to see if you can help, and what you find is a horse down on his side paddling as if galloping on the ground. His head and neck are extended an