If a horse is confined in a barn during winter, he is at risk for respiratory problems.

With the recent Athens Olympics as our inspiration, we might all be pondering what it takes to go “faster, higher, and stronger.” Whether you’re a human, a hamster, or a horse, the answer, at least in part, is muscle fibers–each of which holds within it a certain potential for athletic performance.

When muscle fibers work together, they can provide the impetus for explosive forward or

A new product has been designed to counteract the effects of stress and support the health of the entire equine digestive tract. SUCCEED is a new supplement, introduced by Freedom Health, that the company says has been shown to be safe for all ages and types of horses, including foals and pregnant mares has been released.

Many horses undergo various types of stress on a daily basis,

What makes our horses “acceptable” to us, even when they might not be “acceptable” to another owner? As someone who has taken her share of bucks, falls, bounces, and near-misses, at this stage in my life I’m not looking for a new “challenge” or a “project” horse. There are others like me out there. We want a horse that is easy to catch, doesn’t destroy a stall, stands tied, has impeccable

Today’s equine management practices can be a recipe for disaster. For a horse, stall life and two meals a day might be like living in a prison, and that lifestyle might contribute to delinquencies and health problems in horses.

“These meals often contain a large soluble carbohydrate component and a low fiber component which allow the horse to consume the food rapidly, leaving a long

In the days leading up to Hurricane Frances’ landfall in Florida, it became apparent that if Marion County were to sustain significant damage from the storm, there was no plan to address ensuing problems relative to the equine population. On Sept. 4, a pre-storm meeting was held at the Ocala Breeders Sales pavilion for area equine veterinarians and representatives of the University of Florida

On Dec. 1, we received additional information from the Hunter Valley Equine Research Centre (HVERC), a research facility adjacent to Scone racetrack in the heart of the Australian breeding area, on a problem that is causing sporadic abortions throughout the area in mid- to late-term pregnancies. This disease has been termed equine amnionitis and fetal loss (EAFL). Some researchers and

As lead sponsor of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 857) in the U.S. House of Representatives, I feel it is important to respond to articles recently published in The Horse that grossly misrepresent my bill and the issue of horse slaughter as a whole.

Several misleading themes continue to be put forward by opponents of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

Royal Kaliber, a prominent U.S. showjumper, was euthanatized Oct. 8 in the Netherlands. The stallion underwent colic surgery for intestinal adhesions on Sept. 27 and had been recovering well until his progress considerably slowed. Royal Kaliber took Chris Kappler to a team silver and an individual bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

According to Tim Ober, DVM, a veterinarian

Four horses that competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece–including one gold medalist–have tested positive for banned substances. The four positive horses are Irish show jumping gold medal winner Waterford Crystal, ridden by Cian O’Connor; German showjumper Goldfever, ridden by Ludger Beerbaum; German event horse Ringwood Cockatoo, ridden by Bettina Hoy; and Austrian event horse

I have a 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who has been in training for three months. When should I start giving him a joint supplement? Also, when should I begin giving him a vitamin supplement?

The Animal Supplement Council (NASC) has initiated a Quality Seal Program as part of its ongoing effort to improve and standardize the animal supplement industry. The seal is a way for consumers to know that when they buy a product, they buy from a reputable manufacturer. Different from the NASC logo, the seal signifies that the company has been independently audited for the implementation of

I think my 11-year-old mare isn’t getting enough sleep. What should I do so that she’ll sleep more?

While they aren’t used to improve vision in horses, soft contact lenses can be used to protect the eye and facilitate healing in horses with non-infected ulcerations. Reasons to avoid contacts for a particular horse include reduced tear production, infection, deep corneal ulceration where there’s a risk of rupture during lens placement, and abnormal corneal curvature.