If your horse is pulling the reins out of your hands by putting its head down suddenly, your horse is likely doing something called “rooting”. Canny school horses can learn a few evasion tactics in an effort to get out of work and rooting is just one of those tactics. Read more…
Cataracts are present in 5–7% of horses with otherwise normal eyes (Matthews 2000). Cataracts are the most common congenital abnormality in foals (Priester 1972; Roberts 1992). In adult horses, cataracts are a common sequela to equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) (McLaughlin et al. How do I know if my horse has Read more…
Redroot amaranth is toxic to most animals, including cats, dogs, horses, pigs, sheep, goats and cattle. Grazing animals are mostly affected by the negative effects of this plant because it is widely present in pastures. The toxic principle includes soluble oxalates, which can be found in all parts of the Read more…
It can result from traumatic injury, infection, inflammation, a foreign body, or be an indication of a body-wide (systemic) disease. An example of this is a bloodshot appearance to the white of the eye in horses with endotoxemia (endotoxin in the blood). What causes bloodshot eyes in horses? One of Read more…
One of the most common eye conditions seen in horses, especially during the summer months, is conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the inner lining (pink tissue) of the upper and lower eyelids. This results in a “red eye”. Are horses eyes supposed to be red? Conjunctivitis or ‘red eye’ Read more…
Answer: Actually there are many perfectly fine blind horses out there performing in every sport except polo. Blind horses are not allowed in polo since they cannot see a ball coming on the blind side. Some competitions require the horse to look like it has both eyes, but there is Read more…
Some horses are wider behind than in front, which means saddles tend to slip forward. Others have high withers and/or sway backs which might make the saddle slip backwards. Things like muscle injuries could also mean a horse has more muscle on one side than the other, which might make Read more…
Myth 1: Horses with blue eyes have more eye problems. Some horses have irises that are both brown and blue; the medical term for a two-colored iris is “heterochromiairidis.” These are more common in horses with patterned coats such as Paints and Appaloosas. What does it mean when a horse Read more…
The saddle pad or blanket provides a bit of extra cushioning between the saddle and the horse and helps the saddle stay clean. Without a pad or blanket, a saddle will sit directly on the horse, where it will absorb sweat and pick up dirt from the horse’s back. How Read more…
The respiratory system consists of the large and small airways and the lungs. When a horse inhales, the air travels down the trachea, which divides into the tubes known as the right and left bronchi, then into the smaller airways called bronchioles in the lungs. Do horses breathe oxygen? As Read more…