In between expos lately, I’ve been reading biographies of famous explorers. History remembers Ernest Shackleton as one of the greats. His name conjures images of ice, hunger, hardship, and hanging on when things go south. His Antarctic expeditions became legend because nearly everything went wrong, and he still brought most of his … Read More
After a long winter of hay, mud, and shorter days, turning horses back out onto green pasture feels like the official start of spring. It’s one of those simple seasonal moments we all look forward to—watching horses stretch their legs, lower their heads, and enjoy fresh grass again. But as … Read More
There’s something about that first stretch of green pasture after a long winter that makes both horses and their people happy. After months of hay, mud, and shorter days, it’s hard to resist opening the gate and letting them graze to their hearts’ content. As exciting as spring turnout is, … Read More
At some point, almost every horse owner ends up wrapping a leg. Maybe it’s after a hard workout. Maybe you’re trying to reduce swelling after an injury. Or maybe you’re protecting a wound while it heals. Whatever the reason, leg bandages are a common part of horse care. The challenge … Read More
If horses have one special talent, it’s finding creative ways to injure themselves. A small scrape can appear overnight. A minor cut can turn out to be deeper than it first looks. And sometimes a horse comes in from turnout with a wound that leaves you wondering exactly what happened … Read More
Most horse owners eventually face a situation they never saw coming. A trailer accident. A deep cut from a pasture mishap. A sudden bout of colic. A horse that comes in from turnout not quite right. In those moments, preparation matters more than panic. The truth is, emergencies are stressful … Read More
Some horses seem to gain weight just by looking at a bale of hay. We call them easy keepers, and while it’s often said with a smile, carrying extra weight can sometimes signal a much bigger issue. Equine Metabolic Syndrome, or EMS, has become one of the most important health … Read More
There are a lot of things to love about spring. Longer rides, greener pastures, warmer weather. But keeping horses clean this time of year? That’s another story. Between mud, rain, shedding coats, sweat, and insects, spring can be rough on a horse’s skin. It sometimes feels like you finally get … Read More
Most horses don’t need a huge pasture or a fancy barn to be happy. But they do need companionship. I learned that lesson years ago with a horse who had everything I thought he needed — good feed, turnout, shelter, and plenty of room to roam. On paper, it looked … Read More
Most of us recognize obvious lameness pretty quickly. But muscle pain and body soreness can be much harder to spot, especially in horses that quietly keep doing their jobs anyway. I think horse people sometimes get so used to little behaviors — tail swishing, stiffness, resistance, head tossing, difficulty picking … Read More
