How to care for the basic health needs of horses
Man has been linked to the horse for centuries, but often in the past, it was more of an adversary relationship than a partnership. In recent years, that has changed for many horse owners. Thanks to the efforts of equine behaviorists at the
Cribbing and wood chewing by horses can create problems for horse and owner alike. Wood chewing is often considered by many owners to be a rather benign vice, while cribbing more frequently is considered to be a direct threat to the horse’s
When Anne Thomas called me to her ranch house early one spring morning, she said it was urgent. Her 5-year-old horse, Charlie, was having trouble breathing. When I arrived at the barn, I could see the bay gelding standing in the middle of his
The twenty-first century is going to be exciting for the horse world. We will see technology continually improve our ability to study, diagnose, correct, and hopefully prevent more of the hoof problems that have plagued horses for centuries.
While visibly obvious, fatigue is hard to quantify. Electromyography (EMG) measures conduction along nerves in a particular muscle group–as muscle fibers fatigue, EMG signals shift from high to low. Taking EMG readings during galloping is
There is a new 3-year-old gelding in my barn. He cribs and wears a collar; the collar seems awfully tight to me. A respected friend says that the other horses might pick up this habit from this horse. Is that true? And how can I work with
Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance, they are a public and equine health hazard. In addition to spreading West Nile virus (WNV), mosquitoes can carry malaria, yellow fever, dengue, filariasus (e.g., dog heartworm), and several encephalitis
Skeletal injuries–those involving bones and joints–are a major concern for all athletic horses. The usual outcome of these injuries is a lameness problem that hampers a horse’s training and competition program or, in some cases, is so severe
Two talented equine veterinarians have been inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame for their extraordinary efforts in the area of hoof care. James Rooney, DVM, Dipl. ACVP, of Queenstown, Md.; and Richard Mansmann, VMD,
Moving a horse which can’t get up might seem like an impossible task. However, with the proper training, a down horse can be moved safely and easily onto a trailer and to a veterinary hospital. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of
Corneal diseases can range from minor annoyances to serious problems resulting in blindness in horses.
Gray is a 22-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. My question is how/whether to clean his penis. When he lengthens it to urinate, I try to pick off the black crusty stuff, but it is somewhat unpleasant to do this.
Feeding horses can take up a great deal of time and money. Yet the subject is often not given the attention it deserves. Here are some tips and best practices for feeding your horses.
No definite cause of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) has been identified, but a recent discovery that Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) can cause early fetal losses (and likely contributed to MRLS) has scientists at the University of
At over 670 riding centers, more than 30,000 individuals with mental or physical disabilities find recreation, challenge and a sense of independence thanks to Equine Assisted Activities backed by the North American Riding for the Handicapped
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a white, tasteless crystalline powder, is already a favored supplement in the horse industry. Years before any scientific evidence supported its use, it had earned a reputation for helping alleviate many of the
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
