Rules for Safely Handling Horses Wear sturdy hard-toed shoes or boots that will protect your feet if the horse or pony steps on them. Get the horse’s attention before approaching or touching and always approach the horse from the front. Read more…
Stifle – Found on the hind legs only, the stifle is equivalent to the human knee joint. Located between the femur and the tiba, the stifle is below and behind the flank swirl. What are the parts of a horses Read more…
fetlock: Sometimes called the “ankle” of the horse, though it is not the same skeletal structure as an ankle in humans. Known to anatomists as the metacarpophalangeal (front) or metatarsophalangeal (hind) joint; homologous to the “ball” of the foot or Read more…
Putting horses out in a large pasture will give them the opportunity to move out of the path of the storm, an option that stabled horses don’t have if the barn ends up in the path of a tornado. If Read more…
tail. Dock: the living part of the tail, consisting of the coccygeal vertebrae, muscles and ligaments. Sometimes used colloquially to refer to the root of the tail, below. What is the dock area of a horse? tailThe Dock. The area Read more…
Stand to the “near side” (left side) of the horse, between the head and shoulder, ideally at the throat latch. Standing behind a horse is also unsafe, as they have a blind spot there as well. When standing close to Read more…
The mane and tail are used to help protect the horse from bugs biting the skin. The tail is able to swish side to side and hit any bugs in the process. At the end of the neck is the Read more…
Fats/oils are digested in the small intestine of the horse and are a concentrated source of dietary energy, providing approximately 2.25 times more energy than an equal weight of digested carbohydrates. What does fat do for a horse? Fats are Read more…
Many owners keep horses stalled during storms, but turning horses out to pastures might keep them safer. Severe weather can be a troubling event, especially when there are animals whose welfare and comfort is of concern as well. Should horses Read more…
Horses with heart disorders or defects may have a general loss of condition, become fatigued easily (particularly after exercise), have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and show signs of weakness (including fainting or collapse). What are the symptoms of Read more…