Vitamins are required by the horse for growth, tissue maintenance, body function, and optimum athletic performance. Vitamins are classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble. What does vitamins do for horses? Vitamins help the horse’s body carry out the functions essential Read more…
Because supplemental vitamin C is not absorbed well by the intestine of the horse, over three grams of vitamin C per day has to be fed in order to make an impact on the blood vitamin C levels. Can a Read more…
It will not hurt your horse at all to eat fruit that is merely bruised or a little overripe. Don’t ever feed your horse anything that is rotten or moldy. Mold is extremely dangerous for horses and even a small Read more…
Most IM shots are given to adult horses with a 1½ -inch needle so that the medication is injected deep into the muscle mass. Foals are usually given IM injections with a 1-inch needle. What size needle do you use Read more…
There is no specific treatment for equine influenza, with many horses needing mostly supportive and nursing care. Sometimes there is a secondary bacterial infection which can need further treatment. Your horse will need a minimum of six weeks rest to Read more…
Communal barns for horses Groups of horses can be kept together in communal barns, but care should be taken to make sure that all horses get adequate access to hay, feed and water. Enough space should be provided to allow Read more…
Artificial insemination (A.I.) is a technique used to transfer appropriately processed semen from a stallion into the uterus of a mare at the correct stage of her oestrus cycle resulting in a single pregnancy. How do they artificially inseminate horses? Read more…
AI rules in Quarter Horses, which permit shipment of frozen semen, also allow embryo transfers. Ten years ago, a group of Quarter horse breeders challenged an AQHA rule limiting a mare to conceive just one foal per year, saying the Read more…
Sidebone rarely causes lameness, however if some of the bony formations fracture, rub together or push against other sensitive structures in the foot, this can potentially cause pain and manifest as lameness. How does side bone affect horses? Sidebone may Read more…
When a horse is down, it can be either due to a primary injury or poor footing (particularly in the winter). Your veterinarian, who you called immediately because of rule #2, can quickly determine if there’s an injury that you Read more…