A smooth, strong topline is a definitive sign of health. Your horse’s back musculature not only looks good but is important for his ability to support his spine and joints. If the topline is diminished, it’s important to assess the cause. Some possible reasons include: Multiple pregnancies Poor saddle fit … Read More
It sometimes begins with a horse that becomes anxious under saddle, has unexplained spooking and bucking when ridden, refuses to go forward, and has an inability to make progress in training. Or maybe they just resist being mounted and are cold backed but then work out of it. Perhaps the … Read More
Long summer days turn into crisp fall days and before we know it, winter has arrived. When we think of old man winter in horse form, we think of an old horse who has a long, shaggy hair coat and a swayed back, fat deposits in odd places, and is … Read More
The husband of one of my best friends often calls me before Christmas or his wife’s birthday and asks, “Is there anything she needs for her horse?” This man’s thoughtfulness reminds me that our significant others don’t always know what we horse people need or want for our horses. Also, … Read More
Tying-up is a disorder that occurs when normal muscle physiology is altered. Horses that tie up have painful, uncontrollable muscle contractions that lead to damaged muscle. Muscles fail to function properly, and symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the episode—from mild signs of stiffness and reluctance to move … Read More
From young horses to seniors, child’s mount through the upper level stars of any sport, the joints of a horse take considerable stress. The core supplements for joints in any species are glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. They are components of the joint cartilage and/or synovial fluid that bathe the … Read More
Researchers[i] from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, were looking for a non-invasive means to measure stress in horses. Horses can experience stress from a variety of sources including forage restriction, loss of a buddy, isolation, travel, unfamiliar environments, as well as excessive training. While there are physiological and endocrine changes … Read More
What makes a horse a performance horse? The performance activities of horses vary in both duration and intensity. Therefore, what we feed them also needs to vary. In this article, we’ll discuss feeding performance horses by addressing water and energy needs. Each and every performance horse requires water, energy (calories), … Read More
Now that lawn mowing season is in full swing, I get a shocking number of questions about whether it’s safe to feed horses your lawn clippings. The answer is absolutely not! Many of us got this pounded into our heads at a young age in 4H or Pony Club, but … Read More
The Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Unit was founded in 1990. In 2005, ConAgra Foods built a state-of-art equine facility for the horses. With many fans in the community, the unit’s 12 to 14 horses regularly receive donations of tack, trailers, and even new stablemates. But what they’ve sorely needed lately … Read More
