Reduce tangling and dirt One of the most common reasons why equestrians braid manes and tails is in order to prevent them from tangling or getting dirty. Tangles and dirt accumulation can still happen, of course, but braids do reduce Read more…
In general, males, or stallions, will grow thicker manes than mares. This is not all in the name of attraction, however — male stallions will often fight over a female, biting each other’s necks in the process, and manes can Read more…
Generally, horses with Shivers lack a normal 2-beat contralateral (right front then left hind, left front then right hind) gait when walking backwards. Mildly affected horses show tenseness or trembling of the hind limbs and sudden jerky extensor movements of Read more…
The first signs of a cold can be a dull and listless appearance with tired eyes. Often horses are noticed for reduced appetite. In the advanced stages, there may be sudden fever, coughing and shortness of breath, plus increased nasal Read more…
Rain rot is a skin infection that often occurs during times of extended rainfall. It causes hair loss and can become a threat to the horse’s health, limiting work and riding. Keeping the horse’s coat clean and dry will deter Read more…
You may have also heard comments like: “Horses can smell fear,” or “If you act nervous, he’ll get scared, too.” But, horses are not telepathic. They are, however, very observant. Books and movies have pervaded the idea that horses can Read more…
Generally, unheated barns are healthier for your horses. Horses remain comfortable and healthier in much colder temperatures than we can. In fact, too much heat in the barn can be a hazard to your animals. The bigger the difference between Read more…
Traditionally, deworming schedules involved treatments every two months, rotating the types of dewormers to minimize the risk of the parasites building up resistance to the chemicals. Some horses, however, can be kept perfectly healthy being dewormed only in the spring Read more…
Why Does My Horse Act Like It’s Starving? If you are wondering “why is my horse so hungry all the time?”, it may have to do with natural feeding habits. Horses graze and if they cannot seek and find food, Read more…
If your galloping horse is ignoring your cues, the emergency pulley-rein stop can safely bring him to a halt. To execute it, shorten both reins, then brace one hand on your horse’s neck, holding the rein tightly and grabbing mane. Read more…