With galloping grace, elegance in their gait of perfect pace and natural beauty with their flowing manes, horses have become an iconic and esteemed animal, for certain. What makes horses so special? Horses are special creatures. They are majestic, strong and can display a broad range of emotions. Whether they’re Read more…
The Charioteer represents intellect, reason, or the part of the soul that must guide the soul to truth; one horse represents rational or moral impulse or the positive part of passionate nature (e.g., righteous indignation); while the other represents the soul’s irrational passions, appetites, or concupiscent nature. What does the Read more…
Learning theory is a summary term for what is known from psychology and horse behavior about how animals (in this case, horses) learn and respond to training. There’s a saying in the horse world that every time you work with your horse, you are either teaching him something or un-teaching Read more…
While it has long been understood that spending time with animals and pets can positively affect our mood, new research suggests that horses may have a sixth sense that can identify anxiety, stress, and fear in humans, thus helping individuals identify these emotions in themselves. How do horses deal with Read more…
If you choose sanitary menstrual pads, we recommend using them only for short rides as they may cause UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). Tampons are a better choice for equestrians, as long as you can place them correctly so that they don’t cause discomfort while riding. Can you wear pads while Read more…
‘You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink‘ is a proverb which means that you can give someone an opportunity but not force them to take it. What is the origin of the phrase you can lead a horse to water? This metaphoric term dates Read more…
Sneezing and blowing is a common behavior and is often an indicator of pleasure in horses. Blowing, snorting or sneezing is also a natural response to an irritant (usually dust or plant material) in contact with the sensitive membranes of the nasal passages. Can horses cough? Symptoms of Coughing in Read more…
Horses that suffer an allergy to hay can be allergic to either the hay dust or to the mold that can grow in the hay. Signs of wheezing, sneezing and coughing are indications that your horse is having an allergic reaction to airborne dust or mold. Can moldy hay cause Read more…
Smell helps horse select what they eat (horses are sensitive to poisonous plants, moldy forage and grain, dirty water, etc.). Horses use smell to detect other horses by smelling feces, urine, and body odors. Smell is very important in detecting the sex and stage of estrous in mares. Why do Read more…
Table 1. Feeding risks at various mold spore counts Mold spore count per gram Feeding risk and cautions Under 500,000 Relatively low risk ½ to 1 million Relatively safe 1 to 2 million Feed with caution 2 to 3 million Closely observe animals and performance Will a little bit of Read more…