Remove fly masks at night for better visibility, unless advised otherwise for a medical reason. Remove the mask when it’s raining, to avoid the mask becoming covered in dirt/mud if they roll, reducing visibility. Can you leave a fly sheet on in the rain? You can leave a fly sheet Read more…
Seen a lot of horses in fields looking like the one above? No this horse isn’t blindfolded and he is not injured. He is simply wearing a fly mask. A fly mask is a piece of gear used on horses heads to cover the eyes, jaw, and sometimes the ears Read more…
Olympic dressage. For some, Olympic dressage is that sport where an athlete sits on a horse and makes it dance. What is the dancing horses called? The famous Spanish Riding School features the Lipizzaner horses (often called Lipizzan in North America), who trace their lineage back to the sixteenth century. Read more…
Don’t euthanize a horse just because it’s going blind. However, you should not euthanize a horse just because it is going blind. Many horses adjust well to blindness and can live happy lives without sight. What can I do for a blind horse? Hanging a wind chime near the water Read more…
Watch to see if the horse tracks movement with the uncovered eye, and then try the same thing with his other eye. Lead your horse over jump poles or logs. If he trips or stumbles over these obstacles, it’s possible that he’s not seeing them clearly. How can you tell Read more…
Also, a blind horse can follow a fence line to help him navigate his new home. Blind horses typically have above average hearing and can use sound reflections from nearby physical structures and objects to identify their presence and avoid bumping into them. What happens when a horse goes blind? Read more…
feral horses. Horses that live in an untamed state but have ancestors that have been domesticated are called “feral horses“. For instance, when the Spanish reintroduced the horse to the Americas, beginning in the late 15th century, some horses escaped, forming feral herds; the best-known being the mustang. What do Read more…
Hanging a wind chime near the water trough or run-in shed is a way to give the horse some extra guidance. A radio playing in a nearby barn will also help the horse stay oriented. Avoid turning the blind horse out in a large group of horses, but don’t isolate Read more…
Compared to other similarly sized mammals, horses have a superior ability to use oxygen – their aerobic capacity is around two and half times that of cattle, and this is a large part of what gives equines their athletic edge. Are horses athletes? Horses are exceptional athletes but their anatomical Read more…
Dressage. Dressage is called the “highest expression of horse training,” and involves the rider and their horse performing a routine. Essentially, it’s a horse dancing with a human riding on its back. Amazing. What is horse prancing called? Dressage: How ‘horse dancing’ evolved from ancient, deadly beginnings to modern Olympic Read more…