– For horses that are stuck in mud or quick sand, a large diameter (3/4″-1″) cotton rope can be tied with a bowline around the girth and over the withers can provide some forward assistance without putting pressure on the belly. – Do not ever pull a horse out forcefully Read more…
Dirt is a natural part of the equine diet. It contains minerals that a horse may be missing and has beneficial microbes that benefit digestion. Horses in the wild and in our pastures have been eating dirt forever. This common phenomenon of dirt eating even has a name: geophagia. Why Read more…
Encountering a bit of mud can be good for your horse’s hooves, keeping them from becoming dry and contracted. The same goes for his skin—an occasional roll in the mud helps protect him from insects and encourages production of natural oils that, ultimately, will lead to a shinier coat after Read more…
To “saddle a dead horse” means to place u-bolts in the wrong spot. The cable has two parts – it’s end (called a dead-end) and the part that is attached to the load. What does it mean to ride a dead horse? Flogging a dead horse (also beating a dead Read more…
The theory that horses consume soil because they are missing an essential nutrient is usually a myth. A: Your horse is most likely licking/eating the soil (also known as geophagia) due to boredom. He doesn’t need to be stressed or unhappy to develop this habit. What does it mean when Read more…
Horses will happily eat coconut meat, as well as the brown fibers from inside the husk. Coconut meal is a good source of dietary protein, and coconut oil is an alternative source of dietary fat. Is coconut good for horses? Premium quality coconut meal can be a valuable feed for Read more…
Removing sand from a horse’s intestines can be difficult. Psyllium, a natural laxative, can help dislodge the granules, but surgery may be needed to manually remove large amounts of sand. How do you get sand out of a horse’s stomach? Sometimes the veterinarian can hear the sand in the digestive Read more…
It now favors wet areas along railroad embankments, stream banks and roadsides in mountain and piedmont counties of NC as well as the rest of North America. Horsetail is an evergreen, spreading, reed-like perennial with cylindrical, hollow, photosynthetic stems with tiny appressed, residual leaves. What states does horsetail grow in? Read more…
Experiencing Stomach Upset On occasion, horses experience stomach trouble. This may occur if they’ve eaten old or decayed forage, a noxious weed, or experienced a change in diet. The natural solution for a queasy gut is to eat dirt, or clay. Clay binds toxins, balances pH and settles the stomach. Read more…
Treat the symptoms Spend some extra time grooming. If temperatures permit, wash your horse with a dandruff-specific shampoo. After bathing, apply a topical skin conditioner to replenish moisture and encourage a healthy coat. What causes dandruff on horses? Causes of horse dandruff include lice, mites, insect bite allergies, parasites, dietary Read more…