Anti-histamines. These are a safe medication for horses (they do not have the same risk of laminitis as with steroid use) but have limited effectiveness. What antihistamines can you use on horses? Tripelennamine is used in horses to treat allergic problems such as hives and itchy skin reactions or more Read more…
Reins are held in a rider’s hands and are used to guide a horse while riding. A bridle bit goes into the horse’s mouth and is used with the reins to communicate with the horse. Do reins hurt horses mouths? Horse bits are not necessarily cruel, though they can cause Read more…
Causes of Lice in Horses Lice can be transmitted by: Sharing of infected grooming or riding equipment. Using a blanket that has lice on it. Physical contact with an infected animal. Where do horses get lice from? Horses in overcrowded environments where direct contact is inevitable. Transmission via fomites, eg Read more…
Horses in a crowded environment can very easily spread the parasites to each other. Lice can also be transmitted by fomites—objects such as combs, brushes, or blankets that, if shared, can help spread lice from horse to horse. How easily are lice transmitted? Head-to-head contact with an already infested person Read more…
Origins. In Book 23 of the Iliad, Homer writes “Hold your horses!” when referring to Antilochus driving like a maniac in a chariot race that Achilles initiates in the funeral games for Patroclus. During the noise of battle, a Roman soldier would hold his horses. Where did the phrase hold Read more…
Hold your horses” literally means to keep your horse(s) still, not to be confused with holding them in a stable. Someone is to slow down when going too fast, or to wait a moment, or to be more careful, or to be patient before acting. It is usually followed up Read more…
When your horse is behind the vertical, it means that his nose is too close to his chest and there’s too much pressure across his poll. It usually happens when your horse becomes too strong in your hand and as a result, you keep a tight rein. Is it bad Read more…
Aside from that, rein back is an incredible strengthening exercise even when done unmounted – performing an in-hand rein back a few times a day can work wonders for developing muscles and strength in a horse. What does pulling back on the reins on a horse do? When you pull Read more…
At certain times of year (fall), Stable Flies are particularly drawn to equine eyes, especially the corners of the eye. They cause irritation that results in tearing and squinting and predispose to the development of corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis. What causes watery eyes in horses? Dust, wind, and flies are Read more…
Jockeys often give horses a cue to change leads (often with a flick of the wrist and/or shifting of weight), and many horses learn to change automatically. How can you tell if a horse has changed leads? You will see a slight hesitation in stride and then a shift in Read more…