Desperate Horses in dry lots and box stalls will sample anything green in sight when turned out
Reading Time: 2 minutes In natural settings, horses develop selective grazing habits, seeking out healthy grasses and forages and avoiding those that are harmful. Relatively few plants are poisonous to horses and, fortunately, horses tend to avoid eating these because of their low palatability. Horses with an abundant supply of quality pasture or hay avoid temptation to select harmful […] Read moreSome weeds are toxic for horses
Scratches — several names, several causes
Due diligence Once the horse is placed in a favourable environment a variety of treatments can be undertaken
Reading Time: 2 minutes Scratches, greasy heel, mud fever, mud rash, or equine pastern dermatitis are all various names for a skin condition that occurs on the backside of a horse’s pastern. The area of skin on the underside of the pastern becomes inflammed and ulcerated, oozing and weeping to form scabs and crusts. The thick, crusty, black scabs […] Read moreBlister beetle-infested hay can be toxic to horses
Alfalfa High numbers of the insect reported in fields in western North Dakota this summer
Reading Time: < 1 minute The University of North Dakota Extension Service is warning that blister beetles, which are toxic to horses, could be a problem in the state this year. According to insectsofalberta.com, the insect is also found in southern Alberta. NDSU equine specialist Carrie Hammer says there have been several reports of alfalfa fields infested with blister beetles […] Read moreA healthy back indicates a sound horse
Early care A horse’s spine is just not sufficiently developed to withstand heavy weight bearing until it is fully mature
Reading Time: 3 minutes Horses were not naturally created to bear the weight of a rider, so conscious effort needs to be taken to develop and condition a horse’s back. This conditioning will then allow it to successfully and comfortably carry a rider without sustaining long-term damage. Seen from the side, the horse’s top line begins from the poll […] Read moreThe equine sarcoid — treating cancer in horses
Treatment Some sarcoids resolve on their own, but others require careful consideration by a vet
Reading Time: 2 minutes The occurrence of cancer is relatively rare in horses. Of those cancers that do occur, the equine sarcoid accounts for a third of all the reported skin tumours. This tumour is unique to the horse and is highly variable in appearance and behaviour. It is a benign type of cancer that does not spread to […] Read moreRetained placenta in mares
final push Generally, discharge of the placenta occurs within an hour of the foal’s birth
Reading Time: 2 minutes The birth of a foal is a remarkable event that must unfold in an expedient manner. Expulsion of the fetal membranes or placenta is a seemingly less glamorous event than the arrival of the newborn foal, yet its well-timed release is equally important to the thriving foal. Discharge of the placenta is an extension of […] Read morePrevention and care of girth itch
Reading Time: 2 minutes Horses being ridden or driven will occasionally develop a peculiar skin lesion immediately in the area behind their elbow, in the axilla or “armpit.” This skin lesion appears “rash-like” and is typically associated with the girth/cinch so the colloquial term “girth itch” is often used to describe it. The appearance of girth itch is variable. […] Read more
Adverse consequences of phenylbutazone
Bute Indiscriminate use can harm the horse, and does not address the cause of the pain being treated
Reading Time: 3 minutes Phenylbutazone, referred to as “bute” amongst horsemen, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for the short-term relief of pain, inflammation, and fever in horses. It is one of the most common medications administered to horses but indiscriminate use is wrought with adverse consequences. Therefore horse owners must be aware of its appropriate and prudent use. […] Read moreWhen a horse’s time has come
Reading Time: 2 minutes At times the decision to euthanize is clearly obvious, even with an apparent immediacy. It is a self-evident ending when the horse has a fatal injury or an unrelenting illness. However all scenarios are not so straightforward, especially when individuals are confronted with situations of illness, injuries or aging that slowly taints the quality of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
