For a man who painted every day genre it is not surprising that Van Gogh painted horses though they were not his favorite subject. To celebrate Van Gogh’s birthday, we share this visual retrospective of his horse paintings and drawings. What animals did van Gogh paint? Dog Vincent van Gogh Read more…
If you want your dog to be your riding buddy, here’s how to get started. Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh corgis, Jack Russell terriers and Australian shepherds are commonly seen at stables, but most dogs can learn to safely run alongside or interact with horses, just as most horses can become Read more…
Horses are naturally friendly and social animals. Their survival depends on herd members looking out for each other, so they form strong friendships with their herd mates and keeping the peace within their group is vital. Equine scientists studying herds of wild horses rarely see any sign of aggressive behaviour. Read more…
In fact, a horse does not actively step on a man. It’s one of the reasons they avoid shadows on the ground; it could be a hole, resulting in a broken leg. They can be trained to trample things on purpose, and they will stomp a snake of their own, Read more…
Determining age One year old – your horse has six milk teeth incisors in each jaw. Two year old – your horse has a complete set of milk teeth incisors, which are wearing. Three year old – the two centre milk teeth incisors are replaced by adult teeth. Can you Read more…
Horses have hypsodont teeth that do not have nerves close to the surface like humans do. Their nerves are deeper within the tooth so floating does not cause them pain unless it is overdone. Do horses have nerve endings in their teeth? Most horses tolerate the rasping of their teeth. Read more…
What are the signs? Halitosis (bad smelling breath) Quidding (dropping partially chewed food particularly over the stable door or around the feed bucket) Reduced appetite/difficulty eating/slow eating. Food packing within cheeks. Poorly digested food in droppings. Weight loss. What signs indicate a horse was having a dental problem? The classic Read more…
Horses with very poor teeth are sometimes unable to properly digest the fiber contained in hay cubes or chopped hay, simply because they cannot adequately chew the ingested material. Mushy feeds such as soaked hay pellets or beet pulp can be used in these situations. What to feed an old Read more…
Periodontal disease is another very common condition, affecting up to 40% of young (3-5yo) horses and 60% of horses over the age of 15y. It is also the leading cause of tooth loss in the horse. The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gum Read more…
Horses are not prone to senility, however, loss of hearing, poor eyesight, or chronic pain can lead to behaviors that may be mistaken for mental decline. Elderly horses may be more prone to diseases like Cushing’s disease that have been shown to cause a deterioration in mental capability. How does Read more…