A horse most often tosses his head out of frustration. He wants to go forward, but his rider maintains a firm hold on his face. You hardly ever see a horse on a loose rein toss his head. He might take off running, but he’s not flipping his head up Read more…
In moonlight, horses can see as well as humans do in the sunlight. Riding in the dark does make some riders queasy, but mounted horses are perfectly capable of safely negotiating open fields and lightly wooded areas after sunset. Can horses see you in the dark? Horses have excellent night Read more…
The horses’ power and beauty and the excitement of racing undoubtedly attracted many to the grandstands. Another draw, though, was the possibility of pay day that promised relief from the tight clamp of poverty for a week, a month, or, if a long shot finished first in the big one, Read more…
As a general rule, senior feeds usually become appropriate for horses when they reach the age of 15. That said, however, it’s possible that a much younger horse with digestive and nutritional challenges will benefit from senior feed. Is senior feed good for horses? Senior feeds are formulated for the Read more…
Possible symptoms after horses ingest nightshade include acute hemorrhage, gastroenteritis, weakness, excess salivation, dyspnea, trembling, progressive paralysis, prostration, and death. Toxicity is highest in green berries, followed by red or black berries, leaves, stems and roots. What is Night Shade used for? After centuries of use as a poison and Read more…
Aged horses are more prone to respiratory, eye and dental problems. Elderly animals are also less able to cope with environmental stresses, such as wind, wet and cold. Additionally, hormonal changes may affect overall body condition, hair growth, appetite and energy levels. What happens to horses as they age? Aging Read more…
Horseback riding not only strengthens your horse’s muscles, but it can also give your muscles a great workout as well! A highly involved physical activity, horseback riding engages muscles throughout your entire body. Do you gain muscle from horse riding? Actually, horseback riding, an exercise of moderate intensity, has a Read more…
Over 60% of the 100 sound horses had a positive flexion test. Of these, about 50% showed a slight lameness, 35% a mild lameness, and 15% a distinct lameness. There was no influence of weight, height or ROM on the score of the flexion test. Are flexion tests reliable? Flexion Read more…
Thorough external examination of the horse at rest to check for any signs of injury, illness or abnormality. This will include checking the eyes in a darkened stable, listening to the heart and lungs, thorough inspection of the limbs, the back, the skin and the teeth. What is involved in Read more…
While animals of many species routinely give birth to multiple healthy offspring from one pregnancy, horses are not designed to nourish two fetuses and produce viable twin foals. Double pregnancies put the mare and both foals at risk, and good outcomes are rare. Can a horse carry more than one Read more…