TEN COMMANDMENTS OF HORSE MANAGEMENT Follow a regular vaccination schedule. Introduce feed changes slowly. Follow a regular feeding routine. Feed frequently. Schedule regular visits with the farrier or trimmer. Provide consistent dental care. Manage pests. Set up a deworming program. What keeps a horse healthy? Daily exercise is a must Read more…
According to horse nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty, regardless of the weather, horses require a daily supply of salt. During cold weather, salt helps promote enough water consumption to prevent dehydration. In warm seasons, salt replaces what is lost from perspiration. Do horses need a salt block? In addition to shade Read more…
Possible consequences of this grain overload are diarrhea, colic, colitis, endotoxemia, metabolic acidosis and laminitis (founder). There are several factors that will influence the progression of events after such an overeating incident. What happens if you overfeed a horse? Overfeeding can lead to a host of physical problems, ranging from Read more…
Why does a horse ‘fall in’? The usual cause of falling in is a lack of balance and suppleness. Instead of engaging his inside hind leg to carry his weight and that of his rider through the movement, the horse stiffens against the rider’s inside leg and leans inwards. How Read more…
The horse will usually become unconscious, collapse, tremble and shake. Its ears or tail may tremble, while its eyes will glaze over, giving a distant or vacant appearance. It is something very disconcerting to witness. After the episode is over, however, the horse will generally return to its normal state. Read more…
Lack of coordination, weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, muscle twitching, impaired vision, head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, circling and coma are some of the severe neurologic effects. What does a stroke look like? Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of Read more…
“Prolonged overfeeding of phosphorus can cause big-head disease or secondary hyperparathyroidism, and two ponies included in the study were beginning to show signs of the disease by the end of the study period. What does phosphorus do to horses? Phosphorus is important for bone growth and skeletal health in horses. Read more…
The most common cause of hypoproteinaemia in horses is enteric protein loss, due to: Intestinal mucosal damage in inflammatory intestinal disease (enteritis or colitis) or with strangulating intestinal lesions. Intestinal malabsorptive disease. In addition, significant hypoproteinaemia can occur with blood loss. What causes low protein levels in horses? Protein-losing conditions Read more…
Although wild horses and burros are hardy and resilient creatures, they are susceptible to respiratory diseases just like their domestic cousins. While rare, respiratory infections do occur in the wild. What happens to wild horses that are rounded up? Using low-flying helicopters to stampede and round up wild horses, the Read more…
Overfeeding can lead to problems of obesity including equine metabolic syndrome and can lead to laminitis. If you find yourself becoming a master chef for a horse that doesn’t have any unusual or specific feeding requirements, you could be in danger of overfeeding your horse. What happens if a horse Read more…