Horses suffering from hyperthermia (an abnormally high body temperature) can quickly become dehydrated, lethargic and weak. Severe heat stress can cause colic, diarrhoea or collapse, so it is important to keep your horse cool. How do I know if my horse is hot? Signs they are too hot: Wet behind Read more…
Horsehair braid is a polyester mesh that comes in various widths and is used to stiffen the bottom of the dress. Don’t leave it out –it makes a wonderful difference! 1) Pin up the hem 2) Open the seam and separate the dress from the lining 3) The braid will Read more…
Although some sun is beneficial and necessary, a horse’s health can suffer negative effects when he’s exposed too long to the sun’s rays. Results can vary from skin and eye damage to immune system suppression and possibly skin cancer. Are horses okay in the sun? Make sure your horse has Read more…
THE IMPORTANCE OF A HORSE’S COOL DOWN If your horse is hot after exercising and does not properly cool down, he is not going to get enough oxygen or blood circulation, which traps heat in his muscles. In severe cases, this can cause neurological deficits or heat stroke. What happens Read more…
Riding your horse in the dark is perfectly safe if you take the right precautions. Your horse has excellent night vision and would look forward to a night time ride. Is it OK to ride a horse in the dark? Though it may make some riders anxious, there is no Read more…
It is best to start shaving horses at the beginning of the fall, when they start to shed hair, so around September or October. Usually, the hair grows back in 5 to 6 weeks, and then it is time for another shaving around December. The last shaving, if needed, can Read more…
The horse may or may not exhibit lameness. In fact, many horses with serious tendon damage are never lame. Swelling also occurs around the tendon due to an accumulation of fluid (edema). In the short term, ice or cold hosing and bandaging the leg should decrease the local inflammation and Read more…
Haircloth is a stiff, unsupple fabric typically made from horsehair and/or from the wooly hair of a camel. Although horsehair generally refers to the hair of a horse’s mane or tail, haircloth itself is sometimes called horsehair. Horse or camel hair woven into haircloth may be fashioned into clothing or Read more…
Internal parasites, poor teeth, recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) and other conditions can rob a horse of the nutrients needed to give him a good hair coat. Do all horses grow a winter coat? There is no question that most horses have the capacity to grow a winter hair coat that Read more…
Although wisping, banging and strapping sounds a little brutal, if not medieval, they are all actually a form of massage designed to develop and tone the horse’s muscles. The areas worked on are the neck, shoulders and quarters – never do this on bony or sensitive areas. Why do you Read more…