Don’t question the value of a gift. The proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth. This practice is also the source of the expression “long in the tooth,” meaning old. Why shouldn’t I look a gift horse in the mouth? Read more…
Mouth. A loose, relaxed mouth and lip is generally a sign of happiness in horses. If your horse is chewing or licking their lips, this could mean that your horse is thinking, calm and relaxed, while a tight mouth could be a sign of anxiety or fear. Why do horses Read more…
intramuscularly. With the exception of Strangles, all our commonly used equine vaccines are given intramuscularly. Where are most SQ injections in horses given? Subcutaneous injections are given in the fatty loose tissue layer under the skin. There are very few reasons to give a subcutaneous injection to horses. In most Read more…
Mouth wounds tend to heal well without suturing. External muzzle wounds are treated medically and allowed to heal for 2-8 weeks. How do you treat a horse with a sore mouth? While a horse is suffering from vesicular stomatitis, feeding soft feeds may reduce mouth discomfort. Anti-inflammatory medications may be Read more…
Young horses are frequently flexed at the knee or “over in the knee.” This is due to relative tightening of the joint capsule and tendons in the caudal (back) part of the carpus. Most foals grow out of this condition. How does over at the knees affect a horse? “It Read more…
Slobbers, or slaframine poisoning, is the excessive drooling that happens to a horse after ingesting Rhizoctonia leguminicola, the fungus that produces slaframine. This fungus is most commonly seen in red clover, white clover, alsike clover, and alfalfa. What causes horses to drool excessively? This excessive salivation usually results from horses Read more…
The arrow should always be on the left hand side of the horse’s head pointing forwards, the way that the horse is looking. This ensures that the bit is sitting the right way in the horses mouth and employing the correct pressure points. How should a bit sit in a Read more…
The general rule is; a well-fitting bit will create one or two wrinkles at the corner of the mouth once the bridle is on. If you are still concerned with how your bit fits, you could always ask your equine dentist, veterinarian or your horse trainer for their advice. How Read more…
Clostridium tetani likes to form spores that are very resistant to heat, drying, chemicals, and fire-breathing dragons. Ok, I got a little carried away there… but seriously, this bacteria can survive for years in the environment. More bad news: it is particularly common in horse manure. Does tetanus come from Read more…
Tetanus vaccination is essential for all equines as the bacteria that causes Tetanus. Clostridium Tetani, is present in soil everywhere. It can enter the body through minor abrasions, releasing toxins resulting in excruciating muscle spasms. This makes eating and drinking impossible and is usually fatal. How does tetanus affect horses? Read more…