Horses will need at least 1/10th of an acre of space per horse for an adequate turnout or dry lot. This provides them with enough space to move about freely and get some exercise. How much space does a horse need? In general, professionals recommend two acres for the first Read more…
Have a cooler or an Irish knit sheet available to put on your horse after his bath, along with a towel or two to dry his legs. You can use a bucket to wash and rinse your horse, or if you plan to use a hose, be sure to fit Read more…
Central fatigue is different. This refers to processes in the brain where the muscles may have the capacity to exercise, but the brain overrides this and makes the horse slow down. Central fatigue can be due to a variety of factors, such as low blood-sugar levels, hormones in the blood Read more…
Domesticated, or tamed, horses can live in almost any habitat, but wild horses prefer plains, prairies, and steppes for many reasons. Horses need wide open spaces for defense purposes, and they need some shelter, like trees or cliffs, to protect them from the elements. Are there natural horses? Feral horse Read more…
FRONT END EXERCISES Riding Downhill. An excellent way to strengthen your horse’s front end is to ride downhill. Stretching Moves of the Head and Neck. Here’s one with good research behind it: Dr. Backing. Riding Uphill. Irregular Cavalletti. Poles in a Circle. Collection. Hoof Pick Pressure. How do you strengthen Read more…
One common cause of hind limb weakness, or paresis, is Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis. EPM is caused by Sarcocystis neurona, a microscopic protozoa, that migrates randomly through the spinal cord and brain. It can affect any limb and the signs may vary; muscle atrophy is a common finding in horses with Read more…
Horses commonly lose muscle mass due to stall rest, a lack of work, and age, according to Sotela. “Chronic lameness in the limbs or spine or neurologic disease can also decrease muscle mass,” she adds. Working with a veterinarian to rule out underlying issues is key. What causes muscle wasting Read more…
Feedstuffs high in fat include vegetable oils (100%), rice bran (15-18%), flax seeds (30-40%), and heat-treated soybeans (15-22%). In addition, commercially available fat-added concentrates typically contain 5–14% crude fat. What is the most fattening food for horses? Fat has more than twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and Read more…
Lucinda offers four ways to help build your horse’s topline: Stretching – engaging the tummy muscles. When warming up, incorporate moments when you work your horse in a stretching frame amid transitions. Groundwork – stepping under with the hindleg. Hill work – working the hindquarter muscles. Polework – flexing the Read more…
In horses, the bacteria are transmitted through contaminated feed or water, or by direct contact with infected individuals or surfaces that have been contaminated with manure from an infected individual. Mice, barnyard chickens, pigeons, and wildlife can be sources of Salmonella. Are chickens safe around horses? Not only is it Read more…