Young foals are both precocious and precarious creatures. They are precocious in being able to arrive in the early hours of the morning and nurse and shadow their dams within hours of arrival. Yet they are precarious should they succumb to any illness which leaves them struggling for survival. Recognizing healthy behaviour and development of
What to watch for in the early days of a foal’s life
People aren’t the only ones to get late-winter blues
Late winter and early spring mark an interesting conundrum on the equine calendar. Prolonged winter weather conditions, declining nutritional values in feed, and lack of movement within confining snow boundaries and winter paddocks challenge the health of even the hardiest of horses. So it is not uncommon that particular illnesses occur and are aggravated as
Causes and treatment of hoof abscesses
An abscess within the hoof is a common cause of sudden, severe, non-weight-bearing lameness in horses. Pain is the one unmistakable symptom of a hoof abscess. Horses will completely refuse to bear weight on the afflicted foot. Owners unfamiliar with this cause of lameness often feel that their horse must have a broken bone. Pain
The deep relationship between horse and rider
Riders are aware of the numerous aids, equipment and body positions employed to influence a horse’s movement. However, few are aware of the much deeper exchange — what is not so readily obvious is that a rider’s own health and balance is intimately intertwined with the well-being of their horse. Few riders look towards themselves
Strangles — highly contagious, but most horses recover
Strangles, also known as equine distemper, is a highly contagious upper respiratory disease of horses, mules, and donkeys. Strangles infection, or the fear of strangles infection, tends to unsettle many horse owners despite that fact that strangles itself is rarely fatal. The stigma attached to this disease is fuelled by its highly contagious nature and
Is it really necessary to blanket your horse?
Agrowing horse-keeping trend is to blanket horses throughout the winter. Most often the decision to blanket a horse is the result of an emotional response by a well-intentioned owner. It has also become acceptable to blanket due to certain lifestyles chosen for horses. However, it is important to recognize that in general the practice of
Alfalfa hays: merging myth and reality
One of the most misunderstood feedstuffs in the horse industry today is alfalfa hay. Its position in the feeding program of horses is both revered and spurned. To unravel its benefits and the harms it is necessary to understand the nutrient-rich profile of this hay. When understood, it is the overfeeding of alfalfa hay, not
Monensin and horses — a deadly combination
Monensin, also known under its trade name, Rumensin, is extremely toxic to horses. It is one of the most common accidental poisonings in horses, and yet often goes unrecognized. Farm animals such as horses, cows, chickens and pigs can and commonly do share similar feeds. However, it is extremely important that horse owners are aware that feeds
Some weeds are toxic for horses
In natural settings, horses develop selective grazing habits, seeking out healthy grasses and forages and avoiding those that are harmful. Relatively few plants are poisonous to horses and, fortunately, horses tend to avoid eating these because of their low palatability. Horses with an abundant supply of quality pasture or hay avoid temptation to select harmful
The equine sarcoid — treating cancer in horses
The occurrence of cancer is relatively rare in horses. Of those cancers that do occur, the equine sarcoid accounts for a third of all the reported skin tumours. This tumour is unique to the horse and is highly variable in appearance and behaviour. It is a benign type of cancer that does not spread to
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