Keeping the horse’s hoofs properly trimmed and shod is the best prevention. The farrier should use trimming and shoeing techniques that maximize movement and circulation in the foot, leading to good cartilage health. Barefoot horses that have properly shaped feet and are allowed freedom of movement seldom get sidebone. What Read more…
1) Shank length (lower): This measurement is taken from below the mouthpiece to the bottom of the shank (not the bottom of the loose ring) and is generally done in centimetres; 5cm, 7cm and 9cm are the options available within the Neue Schule collection. What determines the length of a Read more…
five sacral vertebrae. The strength of a horse’s back and how much weight he can comfortably carry are dependent on the size of the vertebrae in this area. The five sacral vertebrae are fused together to form the sacrum which runs from the pelvis to the upper end of the Read more…
A bit consists of two basic components, the bit mouthpiece that goes inside the horse’s mouth, and the bit rings of a snaffle bit or shanks of a curb bit, to which the bridle and reins attach. What are bits in the horses mouth? By definition, a bit is a Read more…
As with other adult mammals the horse has four distinct types of teeth – incisors, canines, premolars and molars. Which type of teeth are found in horse? Behind the interdental space, all horses also have twelve premolars and twelve molars, also known as cheek teeth or jaw teeth. These teeth Read more…
All large bodied animals, such as horses, take longer to cool down (and warm up) than smaller bodied animals. Rugs prevent any cooling breeze from cooling the body. When should I rug my horse? Temperature Guide to Rugging a Horse Temperature Stabled/Clipped 10 to 15 degrees Stable Sheet or Lightweight Read more…
Did you know horses have hypsodont, or high-crowned teeth, that continue to erupt throughout their life. This is why they have to have their teeth filed, or “floated.” Why do horses have high-crowned teeth? The evolution of high-crowned molars among horses (Family Equidae) is thought to be an adaptation for Read more…
Horses and cows have radicular hypsodont teeth. What are radicular teeth? Radicular grooves (RGs) are a developmental groove in the root of teeth that may continue apically down the root. Grooves run from the beginning of the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and along the root surface to the apex. Do horses Read more…
Jointed mouthpieces feature a break or multiple breaks in the bit and engage pressure on the tongue, bars, and lips of the horse. A single joint has only one break in the mouthpiece and creates a “nutcracker” effect. What does a jointed bit do? Jointed bits Jointed mouthpieces (single or Read more…
Wolf teeth are more commonly found in the upper jaw but may appear in the lower jaw in some horses. Sometimes there may be a wolf tooth only on one side and not on the other. The majority of wolf teeth do emerge through the gums, but some may remain Read more…