Horse Health

As the mercury falls, we start to wonder if it's time to pull out the blanket brigade. There is a weight, a style, a color for every occasion. Unfortunately, we too often blanket our horses...

If you are a horse owner, you are undoubtedly familiar with the term “horse poor.” Any extra income likely covers feeding, housing and vetting our equine friends. Many of these costs are...

Have you ever seen white hairs on a horse's withers? When pressure is applied anywhere on the body, it cuts off circulation to the hair follicle. If the pressure is applied for too long a period...

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease in horses caused by a parasite, sarcocystis neurona, which is carried by birds and then picked up by opossums. Horses become...

Most horse owners don't realize their horse has an abscess until it "blows out" or the horse comes up lame. Abscesses typically run a predictable course. Caused by a puncture wounds and small...

The purpose of a male horse's sheath, also known as prepuce, is to protect the penis while retracted. The sheath is made up of folds of skin. The internal layer secretes lubricating oils from the...

Winstrol-V, formerly known as Stanozolol, is considered an anabolic steroid. When administered to horses, its tissue-building (anabolic) properties are much greater than its masculinizing...

Horse's teeth grow their entire lives. Senior horses, in particular, need to have their teeth floated (filed) as needed for this reason. It also means that as horses age, their teeth can literally...

Just like humans, horses are susceptible to certain diseases that can be prevented by vaccinating your horse. The vaccines you give and how often depend a lot on what type of horse operation you...

Many horses are overweight. Diet, exercise, environment and health issues can all contribute to your draft horse's obesity. Horses are designed to eat all day, so it can be difficult to restrict...

Avoiding equine muscle injuries or quickly treating them are crucial for horse owners. Cod liver fish oil supplements are being used to treat horse injuries related to sports, because of their...

Over the span of an equine athlete's career, the risk of injury is ever present. Stress and trauma can cause damage to soft tissue or bone. Bone spurs are a frequent side effect of injury. In an...

Horses don’t ask much of their human caretakers. They accept whatever conditions we provide and seem to be content with kindness, adequate food, water, stabling and a loving pat now and then. They...

If you are the proud owner of a horse, you are lucky indeed! His well being depends entirely upon you, however. I always say, “You can park a boat for the winter and forget about it, but you...

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a disease of a horse's endocrine system. Endocrine disorders are responsible for imbalances, and EMS is one of the more commonly diagnosed defects of this...

In the last weeks of Summer there are several things horse owners need to do to prepare their horses for Fall. Keep reading for helpful tips to keep them healthy in the coming seasons.

This is the first year that you have a horse stabled at home and you are learning volumes about horse care. You have established a perfect feeding schedule; farrier, horse dentist and vet care...

A well-groomed horse will have a smooth shiny coat. Some occasional issues with skin irritation and hair loss may occur. Many of these problems are easy to identify and treat with over-the-counter...

Knowing how to properly wrap a stable wrap is an essential part of horse ownership. From swelling to protection to wound management, wrapping will prove useful time and again.

Hoof abscesses in horses can be painful and hard watch your horse go through. However, there are some ways to help ease the pain and speed the recovery process along. Abscesses can come out...

Does your horse have arthritis, or is showing signs of arthritis? Have no fear, for arthritis can be maintained and cared for in many effective ways. Arthritis does not always equal retirement....

By nature, horses are well equipped to handle the temperature changes and weather conditions that occur as seasons change. They are sleek with ultra short coats in summer; winter has them...

What Is That Awful Smell? You have just cleaned out your horse’s hooves and notice a pungent, offensive odor. It is much stronger than the normal earthy smell of hoof grunge.

Navicular, founder, EPM, Cushing's and COPD are potentially life-threatening equine diseases. With early treatment, afflicted horses can go on to lead normal lives.

Caring for a Navicular horse is not easy. You should already know that they can not be healed

The old-time cowboys said it right, "No hooves, no horse!" Without sound legs and healthy hooves, your horse doesn't have "a leg" to stand on. Much has been written about...

The old-time cowboys said it right, "No hooves, no horse!" Without sound legs and healthy hooves, your horse doesn't have "a leg" to stand on. Much has been written about...

Treating white line disease and hoof fungus can be extremely difficult and can be painful for the horse. The key to never having to go through treatment for WLD is prevention. There are many steps...

This WILL cure the Canker in the Hoof and in a relatively short time span when directions are followed. I know from experience having gone through it myself. I've tried expensive surgery and...

Most winters are a little too chilly for a horse to go without a blanket. Measuring your horse is pretty simple and won't take long at all. Here are a few tips on how to measure for your horse's...

Horses should have their hooves trimmed on a regular basis. You should trim horse hooves every four weeks for horses that are kept in stalls or pins. Horses that are allowed to run in pastures...

Measuring a horse is easy and if you’re selling a horse it’s very important to get an accurate height. You can use a commercial weight tape, a stick designed specifically to measure a horse in...

Owning a horse is a wonderful experience. But, with ownership comes the responsibility of caring for and maintaining the well-being of your animal. Knowing how to check your horses' vital signs...

Colic is the number one killer of horses. Unfortunately, because colic is a general term used to refer to pain in the abdomen, proper treatment relies on proper diagnosis of what is happening...

Colitis is a form of colic with slightly more specialized symptoms in the advanced stages. Colic is a broad term for equines--used to articulate any abdominal pain--and colitis certainly falls...

You should de-worm your horse every so often. This keeps tape worm under control. Make sure you rotate the products you use. Do not use the same product two times in a row. Some paste kill...

Horse colic is not a disease; it's a set of symptoms that indicate a pain in your horse's abdominal area. Symptoms of colic include signs of anxiety and nervousness, including tail twitching,...

Has your horse or pony failed to shed out their winter coat this spring? Are you noticing other symptoms that signal there may be something unusual happening with your horse's health? Read on to...

When buying a horse, bring a trainer for consult, and pay attention to the horse's temperament and riding style. Research horses that fit personal goals before buying a horse with tips from an...

When choosing a thoroughbred horse, remember that these horses are hot and quick, so watch the owner ride the horse to determine what level of rider is required. Pick a thoroughbred horse with...

Problem horses do not take bridles easily and are hard to catch for riding or leading. Catch a problem or hard-to-catch horse for bridling with tips from a ranch owner in this free horse care video.

Polo wraps on a horse's legs help support tendons and ligaments during strenuous exercise or jumping. Put polo wraps on a horse correctly with tips from a ranch owner in this free horse care video.

Horse anatomy includes hocks, gaskins and pasterns, features owners and riders should learn to converse with specialists. Learn about horse anatomy and parts of a horse's back legs and hooves from...

Taping a wound on a horse comes after cleaning the wound and ensuring the horse can safely heal without professional medical attention. Learn to tape a horse's wound with tips from a ranch owner...

Taping a wound on a horse with vet wrap is a careful procedure that should not adversely affect circulation. Learn to tape a horse's wound with vet wrap with tips from a ranch owner in this free...

Horses have a food pyramid just like humans, though theirs includes dry, cured hay and food formula in pellets. Feed a horse healthy, nutritious food with tips from a ranch owner in this free...

Horses share many pieces of anatomy with humans, but many significant horse parts might be less well known. Learn about horse anatomy and parts of a horse's head and neck from a ranch owner in...

Many horses dislike equine massage in the morning. Learn when to avoid horse massage with tips from a certified equine sports massage practitioner in this free horse care video.

It's not only the horse who may not want an equine massage. Learn when an equine massage therapist should avoid horse massage with tips from a certified equine sports massage practitioner in this...

Knowing your horse is one of the most important parts of equine massage. Learn more about the importance of understanding horses for massage with tips from a certified equine sports massage...