When staying in the sun or under the mist curtain, the horses showed higher levels of relaxation compared to the shaded areas. Perhaps the horses which displayed a higher ability of thermoregulation in the sun remained there, while those who felt discomfort in the sun more often used the shade. Read more…
There are several reasons why shade is especially important for horses: Horses that do not have access to shade can suffer from overheating (the large body of a horse takes longer to cool down than that of a smaller bodied animal) Horses with areas of white skin can burn easily Read more…
Rapid breathing is a last-ditch attempt to expel heat. Any horse will be breathing hard after working in hot weather, but if the “panting” continues after several minutes of rest, he may be having trouble cooling off. Cool it! Why is my horse breathing heavy at rest? Rapid breathing that Read more…
The average 1000 pound horse will drink around 10 gallons of water a day. Working horses, particularly in the heat, can easily increase this to 20 or more gallons a day. How much water does a horse need on a hot day? An idle, 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment Read more…
Outward signs of vitamin D toxicosis are depression, decreased appetite with weight loss, and limb stiffness. One study found that when young ponies were fed 14,000 IU vitamin D per kg body weight daily, acute toxicity and severe calcification of the lungs, heart, kidney and other organs occurred within 10 Read more…
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency in Horses Poor Appetite. Growth plate problems in young horses. Rickets. Stress Fractures. Poor Muscle Contraction. What causes vitamin D deficiency in horses? It has also been found that horses exposed to long hours of sunlight can still have lower levels of vitamin D than Read more…
Severe heat stress can cause colic, diarrhoea or collapse, so it is important to keep your horse cool. Can a horse get colic from being too hot? Effects of heat on horses. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can result in heat stress, heatstroke and problems such as dehydration, muscle spasms Read more…
Zinc-oxide cream, the white goop lifeguards use on their noses, is one of the most effective sunscreens available. It’s safe for horses and helps heal any skin irritation or blistering. Can human sunscreen be used on horses? If a mask doesn’t work for your horse, you can use human sunscreen Read more…
They provide just enough compression and warmth to aid circulation, without constricting natural movement. Horses that train hard and then stay stabled, like competition sport horses and racehorses, can use the socks to prevent stocking up after hard workouts. What are the socks on horses for? These “horse socks” provide Read more…
One white foot, keep him not a day, Two white feet, send him far away, Three white feet, sell him to a friend, Four white feet, keep him to the end. Whatever the intent behind the rhyme, we’ve learned that hoof color is not as important as we once thought Read more…