They should never be put on a wet horse. When you buy a new rug do not throw away your old one! There will come a time when exceptionally rough weather or accidental damage will mean that you need a replacement for a few days while your main rug is Read more…
For pleasure. Horses roll because it feels good! Wallowing in the dirt scratches an itch they otherwise could not reach. According to Clark, it is also an indication that they are happy and feel safe in their environment. Why do horses like rolling in mud? Rolling helps the horses to Read more…
Like us, horses can get stressed and nervous when traveling, competing, or learning the ropes of a new job. They exhibit anxiety in different ways—from excessive chewing or grinding teeth, weight loss, to spooking easily, pacing, rearing, bolting, sweating, or suffering from gastric ulcers or diarrhea. How do you calm Read more…
Don’t feed moldy hay to horses. Most moldy hay problems are from mold spores, which can produce respiratory disease in horses. Many of the common mold toxins develop in the field during a delayed harvest. If you suspect a mold toxin problem, review your horse’s nutrition and health. Can you Read more…
Horses are more stressed and spook on windy days because they hear many different sounds and cannot identify predators. The wind also creates additional sounds made by objects blowing in the wind, such as leaves, debris, etc. This can frighten the horse because it may perceive these sounds as being Read more…
Hand Walk or Graze in Shade – Putting a horse back into his stall while still wet can cause him to heat back up, particularly if the air is still. Allowing your horse to fully or partially dry outside in the shade or in the barn aisle with a fan Read more…
Some horses seem to be prone to hoof abscesses. This may be because of their living conditions (wet, muddy conditions soften the hoof and predispose to infection) or because of the anatomy of their hooves. What causes horses to get abscesses? An abscess occurs when bacteria get trapped inside the Read more…
Not only does mud make it difficult for horses to move properly, but it can cause slips and falls. Mud also affects a horse’s balance, and standing in mud over the long-term can cause joint pain. If your horse stands in deep mud or falls as a result of the Read more…
Mud fever boots will help to keep your horse’s legs clean and protected when he’s turned out in muddy conditions. Shires offer two close contact “mud socks” that fit snugly around the contours of your horse’s leg like a second skin. They help to keep your horse’s legs dry and, Read more…
In a painless procedure, tattoos of India ink are stamped on the inside of a horse’s upper lip for identification purposes. Tattooing is just one of many safeguards used to prevent fraudulent substitutions in horse races, known as ringers. Does lip tattooing hurt? Lips are one of the most painful Read more…