Images and video consultations allow veterinarians to assess cases remotely, provide guidance and help owners make timely decisions when real-time visits or travel aren’t possible.

From managing chronic lameness to monitoring recovery, video has become an invaluable tool.

Yet telemedicine also highlights the limitations of what can truly be observed through a screen, and the lesson extends far beyond veterinary practice.

Telemedicine videos are a remarkable resource. They allow professionals to provide guidance across distances, evaluate visible injuries and monitor healing progress without immediate travel. They also empower owners to better understand horses and manage care.

What video can’t show

Even as a professional trained to read subtle signs of health, movement and behaviour, I’ve found that images and videos are snapshots.

Subtle lameness can be hidden by lighting, camera angles or the horse’s brief effort during filming. Muscular tension, uneven weight-bearing or hoof imbalances may go unnoticed.

Behavioural cues such as stress responses, reluctance or nervous energy often don’t translate through video, especially if the horse is made to ”perform” for the camera.

What appears perfect for a few minutes on video can tell a very different story when the horse is observed throughout its daily life.

At times, the information not relayed through technology can unknowingly change outcomes.

Even the most experienced veterinarian cannot rely on video alone. Subtle valuable information such as gait irregularities, tension in the back or limb, or inconsistent behaviour can be missed.

Video is inherently selective, capturing only a fraction of a horse’s reality. While telemedicine is a critical tool, it serves as an introduction to information — not a replacement for first-hand observation.

Horse buyer beware

If professionals cannot fully depend on video for nuanced assessment, horse owners should also be cautious when evaluating a horse for purchase, training or partnership.

Videos, whether part of telemedicine, online sales or training demonstrations, are compelling. They offer convenience, highlight desirable traits and create a sense of immediacy.

Yet no matter how polished or persuasive, they cannot fully represent the living, breathing animal behind the screen.

Online sales videos operate on similar principles.

They are crafted to present a horse at its best, moving fluidly, responding to cues, and often appearing temperamentally perfect.

Editing, camera angles and selective clips enhance this perception. Music and narration can create an emotional pull, further influencing the viewer’s impression.

However, just like telemedicine videos, sales clips are inherently limited. They cannot fully capture a horse’s daily behaviour and temperament, such as how it responds to strangers, interacts with the herd or manages routine stressors.

Subtle soundness issues such as slight lameness, stiffness, hoof imbalances or dental issues may not appear in just a few minutes of footage.

Likewise, management and environmental factors, including turnout, footing and daily care, profoundly influence a horse’s performance and well-being but are often invisible on video.

Even the horse’s emotional energy and connection are difficult to convey. How it relates to humans, responds to attention or communicates discomfort cannot be fully understood from a screen.

Even an honest video tells only part of the story.

A horse may perform well in a filmed moment but behave differently in daily life.

Tips for horse owners

Just as telemedicine videos are a starting point for veterinarians, sales videos need to be considered introductions for potential owners, not complete evaluations.

Owners can take practical steps to bridge the gap between video and reality.

Begin by asking detailed questions about the horse’s daily routine, health history and any previous injuries.

Whenever possible, observe the horse first-hand and consider multiple visits, which allow you to see how the horse responds in different contexts and assess consistency.

Pay close attention to interactions, such as how the horse engages with humans, other horses and its environment because these can reveal important information about temperament and emotional health.

In addition, take a page from veterinarians, who are often particular about the footage they request. Don’t hesitate to ask for specific views, movements or conditions on video, such as trotting in-hand on varied footing, standing square from all angles or lifting feet for inspection in order to gain the most informative perspective before committing to a visit.

Finally, recognize the limitations of video. No clip can substitute for firsthand experience and the tactile assessment that comes from being with the horse in real time.

Video can be a valuable tool without letting it dictate decisions.

Just as veterinarians rely on telemedicine for guidance while recognizing its limits, buyers and horse enthusiasts are best served by treating marketing videos as introductions rather than guarantees.

A horse is more than a highlight reel. It’s health, soundness and temperament are shaped by daily life, environment and interactions that no clip can fully capture. For veterinarians and prospective owners alike, video is a powerful starting point — but never a substitute for being there.

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Within this landscape, linebreeding is often presented as a thoughtful, strategic way to reinforce excellence, while inbreeding carries a sharper, more cautionary edge of the proliferation of genetic diseases and the loss of health.

Biologically, however, the distinction is mostly semantic. Both increase homozygosity, reduce genetic diversity and concentrate not only desirable traits but also hidden vulnerabilities that may take generations to appear.

Recognizing this truth allows us to discuss breeding practices clearly and safeguard the horses that inherit our choices.

How linebreeding works

Classically, inbreeding refers to matings between very close relatives such as full siblings, half-siblings, or parents and offspring.

Linebreeding slows the rhythm, repeating the influence of a notable ancestor further back in the pedigree, such as a shared grandparent for both sire and damn.

The language is gentler and the tone more palatable, but the mechanism is the same: every repetition increases homozygosity. Over generations, linebreeding quietly concentrates latent weaknesses that only become visible when the horses themselves, not the papers, reveal the cost.

Studbooks established in the 18th and 19th centuries placed lineage at the heart of breeding culture, and modern reproductive technologies now extend that influence far beyond natural limits.

Reproductive technology amplifies problem

Global semen distribution, frozen semen and embryo transfer allow the genetics of a few high-profile sires to saturate entire populations at a pace no natural breeding system could ever sustain.

Their traits — desirable and deleterious alike — spread rapidly through the gene pool, contracting genetic diversity as predictability increases and resilience diminishes.

Used thoughtfully, these tools can preserve rare bloodlines; used uncritically, they become engines of genetic narrowing that quietly reshape the biological landscape of entire breeds.

Four categories of genetic vulnerability

Across breeds and bloodlines, four major “targets” of genetic vulnerability appear repeatedly.

First, the connective-tissue disorders — HERDA in Quarter horses, WFFS in Warmbloods, CPL in draft breeds and the broader spectrum of collagen fragilities found in Friesians.

Second are the muscle-enzyme and contractility defects such as HYPP, PSSM1, MYH1 myopathy and GBED, which cluster predominantly in heavily muscled Quarter horse lines shaped by a handful of influential sires.

Third are immune-system vulnerabilities, most famously SCID in Arabians.

Finally, intense selection for discipline-specific traits can produce horses with increasingly reactive nervous systems or sensitive temperaments, which is an inherited fragility of a different kind.

These categories represent consistent genetic bottlenecks where repeated ancestry, concentrated selection and human ambition converge to narrow resilience.

Often, the barn sees these patterns long before science names them.

Owners and practitioners notice reproductive struggles, unexplained fragilities, metabolic crashes, behavioural issues or horses that fail to “hold together” despite excellent care.

By the time a DNA test is developed, the mutation has often already threaded through celebrated pedigrees, carried forward by seemingly successful members of the breed.

Name value fallacy

Pedigree culture encourages a particular kind of logic: repeated “good” names signal quality.

Seeing an influential ancestor appear multiple times in a pedigree is often celebrated as a badge of honour. Yet the story we tell ourselves about this pattern is misleading.

Repetition is not evidence of exceptional quality; it is an early warning of decreased genetic variation. What tradition labels as linebreeding is, biologically, a form of inbreeding softened by language and commercial polish.

Concentrating ancestry does not simply “fix type” or “lock in quality.” It narrows the genetic landscape and magnifies vulnerabilities that would otherwise remain safely diluted.

What COI and ROH actually tell breeders

Modern genomic tools strip away euphemisms.

COI (coefficient of inbreeding) estimates the probability that a horse inherited two copies of the same gene from a shared ancestor. ROH (runs of homozygosity) reveal long, identical stretches of DNA, the genomic fingerprint of a bottleneck.

In Friesians, high ROH reflects a small founding population, a closed studbook and aesthetic selection.

Certain Quarter horse subpopulations — descendants of stallions such as Impressive or Poco Bueno — show similar patterns.

Together, COI and ROH reveal the truth hidden by pedigree’s traditions: repeated ancestors are indicators of increased biological risk.

Yet genetic vulnerability is not destiny.

Disease emerges where heritage meets environment: processed feed, confinement, intensive training, metabolic strain and extreme selection pressure can bring hidden weaknesses to the surface.

HYPP attacks, metabolic collapse and sudden aortic ruptures are events shaped by inheritance, management and intensive training regimes.

The deeper truth is ethical as well as biological.

When phenotype becomes fashion and sport results dictate breeding choices, the cost is paid by the horse.

Balance is not merely lost — it is bred out.

How breed associations manage risk behind closed doors

Across breed associations, genetic issues are often managed quietly, internally, long before the public is aware.

Testing requirements, restricted matings or discreet removal of certain lines occur behind closed doors. From the outside, the breed appears healthy; inside, risk continues to intensify since the general public is unaware of the risks selected pedigrees raise.

Linebreeding is simply inbreeding that the industry labels as acceptable. The euphemism protects human interests, not equine well-being.

The central question remains: are we breeding to glorify a few celebrated bloodlines or to safeguard the long-term vitality, soundness and integrity of the horse?

The answer is not in the pedigree book or the sale catalogue. It is written in the living body of the horse, carrying the legacy of our choices, one generation at a time.

By shifting from name-collecting to true genetic diversity, breeders can move beyond the façade of linebreeding toward practices that protect the health, resilience and integrity of the horse for generations to come.

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While iron deficiency is a well-recognized concern in human health, dietary iron deficiency has never been documented in adult horses.

Iron carries a certain mystique in equine nutrition. Its association with blood and performance, particularly in the racing industry, has fostered the widespread belief that supplementing iron can boost energy or enhance oxygen delivery. In reality, the opposite is true for most horses. Chronic iron excess is now recognized as a silent yet pervasive disruptor of health.

Approximately 60 per cent of the body’s iron is bound within hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells from the lungs to the tissues. Another 20 per cent resides in myoglobin within muscles, storing oxygen for movement. The remainder exists in storage and transport proteins — such as ferritin and transferrin — and within immune cells in the liver and spleen.

Iron efficiency

Horses are remarkably efficient at recycling and regulating iron.

Red blood cells live about 150 days, after which their iron is reclaimed to form new cells.

Losses are minimal, and the hormone hepcidin serves as the regulatory gatekeeper controlling iron absorption and storage. Under normal circumstances, this system ensures that horses rarely — perhaps never — require supplemental iron.

In nature, horses are surrounded by iron. It is abundant in grasses, hays, grains and even water. A typical 500 kilogram horse consuming 10 kg of timothy hay daily, containing around 250 milligrams of iron per kg, ingests more than 2,500 mg of iron, which is well above the National Research Council minimum requirement of 400 mg per day and comfortably below the upper safe limit of 5,000 mg.

Thus, a horse on a typical forage-based diet will receive sufficient iron.

Iron in feed

It’s important to recognize that all plant-based feed ingredients naturally contain iron, so most commercial feeds already supply more than enough.

If iron is specifically added to a feed product, it appears on labels as iron oxide, ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate. These forms of supplemental inorganic iron are best avoided.

Additional sources can include certain salt blocks, which may appear reddish due to iron enrichment. Like fortified feeds, these sources of inorganic iron can contribute to chronic overload.

The problem with iron

The problem with high iron is not just the iron itself but how it disrupts the delicate balance of other essential minerals.

In the small intestine, iron, copper, zinc and manganese all compete for the same transport proteins. When iron levels are excessive, it can “crowd out” copper and zinc, preventing adequate absorption, even when diets appear balanced.

This mineral imbalance often develops subtly, leaving owners unaware of the underlying cause as structural and metabolic issues begin to surface.

Not all sources of dietary iron are obvious.

Pastures grown on iron-rich soil, or on soil acidified by modern agricultural practices, tend to increase the amount of iron available for plant uptake, resulting in forage with elevated iron content.

Horses grazing on such pastures may ingest far more iron than needed, particularly if copper and zinc levels are already low.

Well water containing more than 10 mg per litre of iron can further elevate total intake, and when combined with fortified feeds or multiple supplements, daily levels can easily exceed safe limits.

Collectively, these environmental and management factors make chronic iron excess a more realistic concern than deficiency in the modern horse.

Over time, this slow accumulation takes a toll.

Horses consuming iron-rich forages, feed or water or receiving unnecessary supplementation may show telltale signs such as rusty tips on dark manes, dull or reddish coats, brittle hoofs or recurring abscesses.

These subtle changes reflect underlying interference with copper, zinc and manganese absorption, minerals essential for connective tissue strength, joint health and hoof integrity. Left unchecked, the imbalance can contribute to fatigue, inflammation, weakened immunity and metabolic instability.

Emerging evidence further suggests that chronic iron overload may play a contributing role in metabolic disorders such as equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis.

Excess iron interferes with trace mineral balance and enzymatic function, disrupting insulin regulation and connective tissue health.

Horses grazing on high-iron, high-sugar pastures or consuming iron-rich concentrates may therefore be more susceptible to metabolic stress.

In this context, iron acts as an environmental factor that interacts with diet, water quality and individual metabolic resilience to potentially tip the balance toward insulin resistance and laminitic episodes.

Avoiding a problem

Horse owners can take several proactive steps to safeguard mineral balance.

Begin by testing forage and water, especially in regions with mineral-rich or acidic soils.

Evaluate trace mineral ratios, maintaining Fe:Cu:Zn between roughly 4:1:4 and 10:1:4 to offset excess iron’s effects.

Adjust feeding management as needed by offering tested hay, rotating or blending pastures and sourcing alternative water if necessary.

Under veterinary guidance, blood testing for ferritin and transferrin can help assess stored iron and detect early metabolic stress.

Iron is undeniably essential for equine health, yet for many horses, the challenge lies not in a deficiency, but in maintaining balance and avoiding excess.

The post Beware giving horses too much iron appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Early in my veterinary career, I heard them speak of “soft bones” and the patience needed when starting a young horse.

Their wisdom, passed down through generations, came not from textbooks but from a lifetime of working with horses.

It took years of hands-on experience for me to connect that old-world knowledge with modern science.

“Soft bones” are what we now call open growth plates — fragile seams of cartilage where bone is still forming and strengthening. Those horsemen understood an essential truth: pushing a young horse before its skeleton is ready can cause harm that lasts a lifetime, and ultimately result in the early breakdown of these colts and fillies.

While all animals have growth plates, horses are unique among domestic species in what we ask of them at a young age.

We expect them to carry riders, jump, turn sharply and perform athletic manoeuvres before their skeletons are fully knit together.

These demands often come when their bodies are still actively developing, especially in the deepest structural parts of the skeleton.

Understanding growth plates is not an academic exercise — it is the foundation for a horse’s long-term soundness and athletic potential.

Today, many horses are started under saddle at just two years old, some as early as 18 months — long before major growth plates, particularly in the spine and pelvis, have closed.

By contrast, traditional horsemen often waited until four years or more before beginning intensive training. They may not have had scientific explanations, but they had seen the damage caused by working a young horse “while the bones were still ‘soft’.”

The modern shift toward earlier training has happened without fully considering the horse’s biological readiness, and the consequences are increasingly visible.

Growth plates are regions of cartilage within bones that enable growth and later ossify into solid bone. This cartilage forms the critical scaffolding for skeletal development but remains soft, pliable and highly vulnerable to mechanical stress — especially in large, weight-bearing animals such as horses.

Forces such as weight, torque, shear and repeated impact placed on immature growth plates can cause permanent change in bone structure.

Once a growth plate is injured, the damage is often irreversible. The bone may fuse unevenly or prematurely, compromising its strength and alignment.

This can lead to chronic pain, compensatory movement patterns, neurological issues and, in severe cases, early retirement, sometimes before the horse reaches full physical maturity.

Most attention in equine development focuses on the more accessible growth plates of the limbs.

The racing industry, for instance, commonly uses the closure of the distal radius (the “knees”) around two to 2.5 years of age as a benchmark for skeletal maturity.

However, this standard is misleading.

The reliance on radiographic evidence stems primarily from older studies focused on the distal radius closure as a sign of readiness.

However, more recent research reveals that many critical growth plates, especially those deeper within the pelvis, spine and other core structures, remain open well beyond this age, often into the horse’s fifth or sixth year and even longer in some individuals. These findings highlight a significant gap between longstanding industry practices and current scientific understanding.

The deeper, less visible growth plates located in the pelvis, sacrum, lumbar spine, hocks, and cervical vertebrae mature much later. These internal structures provide the horse’s core foundation, strength, balance and ability to carry weight efficiently, yet they remain under-studied, rarely imaged and are largely unaccounted for in training protocols and veterinary assessments.

Externally, a young horse may look mature — tall, muscled and well-proportioned — but inside, vital load-bearing structures may still be developing.

Training that seems “appropriate” based on appearance can, in fact, be overloading tissues that are not yet ready for sustained stress.

The signs of growth plate strain or injury can be subtle, nuanced and easily misinterpreted.

A horse may not limp or display obvious pain, but may instead resist certain movements, appear unwilling to go forward, show persistent tension or develop vague, shifting lameness that evade diagnosis and respond poorly to therapies.

Such signs are often misread as behavioural problems or minor physical issues, when they may be early warnings of deeper skeletal compromise.

The cost of early skeletal trauma is high. Beyond the physical toll on the horse, there is the emotional and financial burden for owners managing chronic conditions, such as paying for repeated diagnostics and treatments or facing the premature loss of a horse’s athletic career.

By understanding growth plate development in the horse, owners and trainers can make informed choices that respect the horse’s natural developmental timeline.

This means matching workloads and training intensity to the horse’s stage of skeletal maturity rather than to its physical appearance or the demands of the industry.

Growth plate education is an essential part of good stewardship, protecting a horse’s opportunity for a sound, productive and pain-free life, but true change demands more than awareness. It calls for the courage to challenge outdated practices and place the horse’s biological reality above traditional expectations.

Growth plates offer no second chances: once damaged, full skeletal integrity can never be restored. The silver lining is that this outcome is entirely preventable.

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What is often overlooked, however, is that the horse, too, becomes a kind of weekend warrior. After spending much of the week in quiet routines, the horse is suddenly asked to transition into long rides, jumping lessons or demanding events on Saturday or Sunday.

This abrupt rhythm, though common, carries profound consequences for the horse’s body, mind and long-term well-being.

Horses are creatures of consistency. Their bodies and nervous systems are designed for steady, rhythmic movement, low-intensity grazing and regular social interaction.

When their lives are limited to stalls, small paddocks or low-activity pastures during the week, their bodies adapt to that reality. Soft tissues lose elasticity, cardiovascular fitness declines, joints may stiffen and the metabolic system becomes accustomed to low demand.

Then, with the arrival of the weekend, the same horse is suddenly asked to perform as if it had been conditioned for endurance, speed or precision all along.

The contrast is striking. It is not unlike asking a sedentary office worker to run a half-marathon once a week without any training in between. Muscles fatigue quickly, tendons and ligaments strain and joints take on impacts they are not prepared to absorb.

Recovery stretches out, and with each cycle the risk of chronic injury grows. This pattern, repeated over time, quietly lays the groundwork for unsoundness and behavioural stress that owners may misinterpret as attitude rather than adaptation.

Injury risk

The physical risks of the weekend warrior lifestyle are many.

Cold, unconditioned muscles are more prone to microtears, while tendons and ligaments, which strengthen only gradually, are vulnerable to overload from sudden exertion.

Intense bursts of work such as jumping, galloping or long trotting on hard ground can inflame hoof laminae, inciting laminitis, and inflame joint cartilage, accelerating the development of arthritis.

Horses fed a steady diet throughout the week but exercised heavily only on weekends may swing between energy surplus and deficit, stressing the metabolic system and contributing to long-term imbalances.

Poor-fitting tack that might be tolerated for a short weekday ride can become a real problem during longer weekend sessions. Extended hours under ill-fitting equipment magnify pressure points and friction, turning what was once manageable into genuine soreness or injury.

The horse’s mind is no less affected.

A week of limited stimulation can lead to boredom, frustration or low-grade depression. When suddenly confronted with intense engagement, many horses respond with anxiety, tension or even explosive behaviour. What appears to be disobedience or resistance is often a reflection of unmet needs and being overwhelmed by abrupt demands.

This weekend warrior phenomenon says more about human culture than horse culture.

In past generations, horses lived within a steady rhythm of daily use.

Farm horses worked each day at consistent levels, carriage horses moved regularly and saddle horses were ridden as transportation.

Today, the pendulum has swung toward sporadic bursts of activity, dictated by competition schedules and lifestyle demands. While this shift may suit human convenience, it are horses that bear the consequences of inconsistency.

Once an owner and/or rider recognizes the risks, steps can be taken to mitigate them.

Keep them moving

The most important support a horse can receive is daily movement. Horses with access to turnout, where they can walk, graze and socialize, are far better prepared for bursts of activity than those kept in stalls or small pens.

Even 15 to 20 minutes of midweek activity — whether hand-walking, groundwork or light riding — helps keep tissues supple and the mind engaged.

Building fitness gradually is critical. Long, intense rides should follow only after a foundation of steady conditioning has been established.

Owners must also learn to listen more closely to the subtle cues horses give. A shortened stride, reluctance to bend, wringing of the tail or a “cold” back is not stubbornness but often an early warning sign of overload.

Nutrition may need to be adjusted to better match workload, and recovery time is best built into the routine after strenuous weekends.

Most importantly, riders ought to be aware that some horses may come to associate their riders with discomfort if every interaction is tied to sudden exertion and pain upon recovery. Protecting the partnership means ensuring that time together is as rewarding as it is demanding.

Horses do not choose their schedules; humans impose it upon them. Recognizing the mismatch between equine biology and human convenience is the first step toward building a healthier balance.

A horse that is kept moving, conditioned progressively and supported with patience can thrive even if the rider’s time is limited.

However, a horse asked to carry the burden of sudden, unprepared exertion risks not only its soundness but also its trust in the human who asks it.

In the end, a horse is not a weekend vehicle, but a living being whose body and spirit depend on the rhythms we create for them.

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What I uncovered instead was a murky trail of fragmented data, shifting export markets, questionable industry practices and a stunning lack of transparency.

Canada’s horse slaughter industry historically handled tens of thousands of horses a year.

At its peak, more than 100,000 horses were slaughtered annually, many imported from the United States after U.S. slaughter plants closed in 2007.

These horses, sometimes young and healthy, often unwanted or surplus, were shipped for processing with meat exported to Europe and Asia.

In addition, the pharmaceutical industry, particularly pregnant mare urine (PMU) farms, historically contributed horses to the slaughter pipeline. While the PMU industry has declined, its impact continues to shape the movement of horses.

While horse slaughter may be unfortunate, it serves a practical role: unwanted horses in Canada and the U.S. provide meat for markets in Japan, France and other parts of Asia.

Even so, necessity does not absolve the industry from responsibility. There must be accountability in the transition from companion animal to livestock, including traceability, humane handling and ethical oversight at every stage.

Recent estimates suggest that domestic slaughter has dropped dramatically. From highs of more than 80,000 to 100,000 horses annually, numbers now appear closer to 15,000 to 25,000. This shift is due largely to several converging factors.

Tens of thousands of American horses entered Canada each year for slaughter, but advocacy campaigns and stricter U.S. regulations sharply curtailed this flow. Today, the majority of U.S. horses go to Mexico for slaughter rather than Canada, though some still enter Canadian facilities.

The European Union introduced requirements for drug history and traceability, making it harder for Canadian plants to export meat without full documentation. Japan has also increased scrutiny, particularly for live exports.

The number of federally licensed slaughterhouses has dwindled, with Alberta’s Bouvry Exports and Quebec’s Viande Richelieu dominating the landscape.

These two sister companies are corporately related, and while Bouvry has feedlot capabilities, the Granum Prime Feedlot has been shut down following legal scrutiny.

It is important to note that the Fort Macleod slaughter plant remains operational under Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversight.

The 2025 fine against Bouvry addressed past violations at the Granum feedlot but did not mandate closure, allowing the Fort McLeod facility to continue processing horses at reduced capacity.

While headlines may suggest shutdowns or fines signal the end of the industry, in practice, processing continues — quietly, persistently and largely out of public view.

One of the greatest challenges in understanding the horse slaughter industry is the lack of clear, publicly accessible data.

Federal reporting on horse slaughter ceased in 2017, and while organizations and advocates attempt to fill the gaps, discrepancies and missing information persist.

This absence of disclosure, whether due to fragmented regulation, corporate practices or systemic oversight issues, makes it nearly impossible to trace horses from auction to slaughter, monitor welfare standards or fully understand the impact of related industries.

Highlighting these blind spots is essential: without transparency, accountability remains out of reach, and the true scale and conditions of the industry stay hidden from public and regulatory scrutiny.

The persistence of opaque practices in the horse slaughter industry suggests that concentrated corporate power, political influence and regulatory limitations all play a role.

Large processing companies maintain significant leverage through economic arguments — jobs, trade revenues and market stability, which can slow legislative reforms or complicate enforcement.

Regulatory agencies, reliant on industry data and expertise, face challenges in monitoring welfare and traceability, while cross-border trade adds layers of complexity that obscure oversight.

These factors together create a system where transparency is limited, accountability is difficult and ethical scrutiny is often delayed or diluted, leaving the welfare of horses vulnerable to gaps in governance and industry influence.

Live exports for slaughter remain a small fraction of total horses, but they are ethically significant.

Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 horses are shipped annually from Canada to Japan, mostly draft breeds, enduring long flights in containment shipping. Public concern has mounted over the lack of transparency and oversight.

Bill C-355, introduced in 2023, aims to prohibit the air export of live horses for slaughter. Yet progress is slow, and industry influence remains strong.

The lack of clear reporting and public access to data keeps the industry largely hidden, leaving questions about humane treatment and traceability unanswered.

Canada’s horse slaughter industry has changed dramatically, but it has not gone away. Transparency is key, both to protect the animals and to allow the public, policymakers and advocates to engage meaningfully.

Understanding this hidden system — its decline, consolidation, corporate connection and ethical challenges — is essential for anyone seeking to navigate the intersection of agriculture, animal welfare and international trade.

The lives of these horses deserve scrutiny, clarity and oversight, even in an industry where horses, once unwanted as companions, become economically valuable as livestock.

The post Canada’s slaughter horse industry lacks transparency appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

As awareness has grown, so too has the adoption of slow feeding practices for horses, ponies, miniature horses, donkeys and mules.

Horses are trickle feeders, evolved to consume small amounts of forage continuously throughout the day.

Their digestive system depends on a near-constant intake of fibre to maintain gut motility, support a stable microbiome and regulate metabolism.

Domestication has limited their ability to forage naturally, making it essential to adopt structured feeding practices that mimic their natural eating patterns.

Get started with slow feeding

Introducing slow feeding can present challenges, particularly during the transition phase. Both horses and owners may experience frustration as they adjust.

Recognizing this as a process and approaching it with patience is key. Success depends on understanding the horse’s needs and making gradual adjustments to the feeding system.

Selecting the most suitable slow-feeding system often involves trial and error. Hay nets, racks, boxes and muzzles come in various designs and hole sizes, and not all horses will respond to them in the same way.

Some struggle with the netting, while others become frustrated if hay feels too restricted. Setting up slow feeding practices initially requires extra effort, especially for owners who need to fill and adjust hay nets multiple times per day.

Horses accustomed to receiving large hay portions at once may initially struggle with slow feeding. Signs of irritation, such as pawing, pushing or vocalizing can emerge as they adapt.

Some may feel temporarily hungrier, accustomed to consuming large amounts rapidly. The slower pace requires an adjustment period, during which they may seem dissatisfied, especially if they must work harder to access their food.

Some horses may even appear disheartened, displaying an attitude of “what’s the use?” Impatient or inexperienced horses need time to learn how to engage with slow feeders properly.

Ease into the feed change

To ease this transition, owners can introduce slow feeding gradually rather than making an abrupt shift.

A good strategy is to offer a slow feeder for part of the day while maintaining traditional feeding methods for the rest. This allows the horse to become familiar with the new routine without feeling deprived or overwhelmed. The goal is not restriction but rather encouraging the horse’s natural grazing rhythm.

When properly implemented, slow feeding supports metabolic, digestive and psychological well-being.

Benefits of slow feeding

Horses that adapt well to slow feeding often exhibit noticeable improvements in behaviour and health.

A key indicator of success is a sense of contentment — horses eat in a calm, consistent manner. With the urgency to eat removed, they rest more frequently and engage more with their environment, demonstrating greater security around food.

One of the most significant plus sides of slow feeding is improved gut health.

Horses experience fewer ulcers, colic episodes and digestive discomfort as their digestive systems function more optimally.

Physically, slow feeding at ground level, combined with movement —such as multiple feeding stations — encourages horses to engage their topline and core. This supports lean muscle development while enhancing overall strength and balance.

Many horses experience a reduction in “hay belly,” as proper hindgut fermentation minimizes gas and bloating, leading to more efficient nutrient absorption. This not only reduces the appearance of a distended belly but also improves posture as gut discomfort diminishes.

Long-term metabolic benefits include stronger hoofs, steadier energy levels and improved weight balance. Overweight horses gradually shed excess fat, while hard keepers maintain a steady, healthy condition.

Slow feeding also promotes healthier herd dynamics. With continuous forage access, competition and resource hoarding decreases, creating a calmer eating environment. Over time, horses relearn to self-regulate, naturally walking away from hay when satisfied rather than feeling compelled to eat everything at once.

This shift marks the emergence of true free-choice foraging where horses eat according to their individual needs.

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It can be a normal behavior, such as when a horse is trying to ward off flies, but it can also indicate a more serious problem.

Repetitive head movements can vary from mildly irritating to severely debilitating. Horses and ponies can be affected. They may shake their heads up and down or side to side, sometimes with forceful, jerky movements bad enough to cause self-inflicted injuries.

To alleviate discomfort, they might rub their noses on their legs or nearby objects, sneeze, or snort frequently. Excessive blinking or squinting can also occur.

How head shaking presents, how often and severity of the episodes all offer clues about its underlying triggers.

Behavioural changes such as irritability, anxiety and resistance to being ridden or handled often accompany the condition. Signs of discomfort may include pinned ears, tail swishing and sensitivity to light. Some horses may avoid direct sunlight, seek shade or tuck their heads into the flanks of other horses.

The condition may show a seasonal pattern, with symptoms worsening in spring and summer due to increased insect activity and brighter light. Symptoms also generally worsen during exercise. In severe cases, horses may exhibit signs of head shaking even while resting and can become dangerous to ride.

To diagnose the condition, it is essential to rule out potential causes.

Dental issues, such as sharp points, unaddressed wolf teeth, fractured teeth or an improperly used or fitted bit can lead to head-shaking symptoms. Ear problems, including infections, mites or aural plaques, may also contribute. Ill-fitting headgear or saddles can cause discomfort and pain, exhibited in head shaking.

In some equines, it can be a learned behavior in response to stress, boredom, pain or anxiety, especially if they are in high-stress environments or lack adequate social interaction.

Medical conditions such as infections, sinusitis, cranial nerve disorders, jaw joint pathology, guttural pouch infections, head trauma or tumours can also lead to head shaking. These cases are often accompanied by other symptoms like nasal discharge, coughing or other changes in behaviour.

A commonly recognized but poorly understood neurological condition linked to head shaking involves the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for facial sensation. It is postulated that the nerve becomes overly sensitized, causing neuropathic (shooting and burning) pain, leading to an involuntary and repetitive vertical head movement in horses as they attempt to evade the discomfort.

Diagnosis is complex due to the lack of specific tests. The process usually involves gathering a detailed history and conducting physical, dental and neurological examinations, as well as possibly using endoscopy and imaging. Observing the horse’s behaviour and recording episodes under various circumstances can provide valuable insights into potential triggers and patterns.

Once the cause is identified, treatment and management can be customized. Common therapies include anti-inflammatories, pain relievers and nerve-specific medications. Environmental management strategies, such as using fly masks, face masks or nose nets, can also help reduce symptoms.

Addressing dental issues through equine dentistry as well as ensuring proper fit of tack and equipment might be required. Behavioural modifications for both the horse and rider may be necessary.

Alternative therapies, including acupuncture, chiropractic care and herbal supplements, may also be used. While their effectiveness varies, they are additional options.

After ruling out other potential causes, there remains a subset of horses that exhibit a distinct, vertical type of head shaking similar to the natural fly defence system, but observed even when no flies are present. The shaking may be so severe that it prevents the horse from being ridden or used.

This form of head shaking is especially frustrating for horse owners and professionals, because its underlying mechanism is unknown. However, non-invasive, affordable and practical solutions like nose nets, fly masks and face masks can reduce symptoms in some cases. Magnesium supplements combined with boron have proven effective for others.

In summary, head shaking in horses is a nuanced issue that requires a thorough approach to diagnosis and treatment. With the right care, many horses can experience significant improvement, leading to a better quality of life and enhanced performance.

The post Why is my horse shaking its head? appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

That makes it easier for people to relate to horses, but also creates misconceptions about the role of horses in society and what they need to be healthy and happy.

Horses are large, herd-oriented herbivores with complex social dynamics and a need for near-constant foraging in ample space. This lifestyle has shaped their physiological and psychological requirements over millennia and remains essential to their well-being today.

One of the most immediate impacts of treating horses as pets is restriction of movement. Confinement in small spaces such as box stalls and small paddocks is increasingly common in suburban areas.

This limits horses’ ability to engage in natural activity and can lead to a sedentary lifestyle. The result is often obesity, muscle atrophy, loss of topline, dental and digestive issues, hoof problems or metabolic disorders.

Exercise routines suitable for smaller pets, such as short walks or bursts of exercise, are insufficient for horses. They have evolved to be in constant motion as they forage. Inhibiting this constant form of exercise results in illness in the form of unwanted behaviours as well as physical ailments.

Approaching horses like pets also short-changes their diets.

Unlike dogs, which typically have set mealtimes, horses are trickle feeders and need a steady intake of high fibre, low sugar forage throughout the day for optimal digestive health. Neglecting these requirements can lead to dysbiosis, colic, gut ulceration and metabolic problems.

Sugary feeds, too much feed and processed treats can result in over-nutrition and metabolic complications. Behavioural and health issues often arise in horses when their dietary practices do not align with their natural feeding behaviors.

Beyond physical health, the psychological well-being of horses is profoundly affected by social settings and relationships with other horses.

Treating horses as pets may inadvertently isolate them from their own kind. While bonding with humans is important, it cannot fully replace the social needs horses have with their herd mates and the need for constant companionship. Isolation or limited social interactions can lead to stress, anxiety, learned helplessness and a dullness in character.

Dogs have been bred to adapt to human settings and companionship around the clock, but horses typically interact with humans for much shorter periods, often less than an hour per day. They should then spend the rest of their time in the companionship of other horses in a natural environment.

Horses are also on a different time scale than most pets. Dogs and cats mature quickly. Horses have a prolonged period of growth and development over five years. They require specific care and time to support their growing bodies.

Treating them as pets can create unrealistic expectations for their behaviour and physical capabilities. Owners may inadvertently push young horses to behave like fully mature animals before they are ready mentally or physically.

Understanding, respecting and being patient with the natural maturation of horses is essential to avoid long-term negative consequences in their well-being and performance.

When the innate natures of dogs and horses are respected and their needs adequately fulfilled, both show a willingness to learn and interact effectively with humans. However, neglecting these needs in horses by treating them like large dogs can lead to more pronounced and potentially hazardous behaviour. Because horses are much bigger than dogs, situations can escalate quickly.

Misguided pampering of the horse without regard for their size, strength and natural instincts can lead to unwanted behaviour and human safety concerns.

There is a distinct line between pampering and high-quality care. The spoiled horse is often confused, anxious, insecure, pushy and unpredictable, typically through no fault of their own. These horses face an uncertain and challenging future as they gain a reputation for being dangerous and unpredictable to work with.

Commercial markets serving the equine community have influenced how horses are perceived, shifting them from livestock to pets by emphasizing emotional bonds that promote specialized products and services.

While this shift can benefit human-animal relationships, it can also create misleading illusions on the true needs and requirements of a horse.

As the role of horses in society evolves, it brings advances in their care, welfare and preservation, but also poses challenges that affect their health and well-being. Education and advocacy are essential in understanding their needs as large, herbivorous social animals.

The post Your horse is not your pet appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The brood mare is frequently undervalued as a performance horse. The same qualities of an elite performer — athleticism, soundness, intelligence and adaptability — should also be present in her. Furthermore, she plays a vital role in producing the next generation of horses.

The physical health of the brood mare is paramount. Her body shoulders the responsibility of conceiving, carrying the foal to term and providing her offspring the necessary nutrients for development from conception until weaning. This demands a significant intake of essential nutritional resources — calories, minerals and vitamins.

Monitoring the caloric balance of the mare through her body condition is relatively straightforward, yet it is equally important to ensure adequate mineral intake and levels, especially in multiparous mares.

Without proper supplementation. Multiparous mares become particularly vulnerable to mineral depletion, This deficiency can greatly affect the physical health of both mare and foal.

Selenium deficiency, for instance, can lead to weak or premature foals with compromised immune systems and growth, as well as dams prone to retained placentas.

Similarly, copper deficiency during fetal development can affect bone development in the foal, increasing the risk of conditions like osteochondrosis and skeletal deformities. Ensuring optimal mineral nutrition in a mare’s diet is essential for safeguarding her reproductive health and the physical welfare of foal as a fetus, newborn and growing youngster.

Mental and emotional well-being of the dam also play a significant role in the development of desirable traits and characteristics in her offspring. Essential components such as ample movement in a healthy herd setting, proper dental and hoof care, as well as judicious deworming and vaccination, all contribute to this aspect of mare health.

These practices better equip her to provide adequate care, attention, and guidance to her foal as it grows. It’s the mare who will teach her offspring proper social behaviours and provide the necessary protection and comfort during early social development and learning. A calm, content and confident demeanour in a dam will positively influence the foal’s behaviour and temperament, nurturing the growth of a mentally well-adjusted and socially adept individual.

In basic training program, brood mares often miss out on proper introduction to human interaction, leaving them without essential guidance and structure when handled by humans. Without instruction in groundwork etiquette, brood mares may feel anxious and uncertain during these interactions. This anxiety and confusion can result in perceived misbehaviour and harsh treatment from handlers, ultimately causing the brood mare to develop aversions to humans.

The significance of the dam’s attitude towards human handling should not be overlooked or underestimated.

Horses are experiential learners, and thus their early experiences significantly shape them. A foal’s initial impressions of humans are shaped by observing its dam’s interactions with them, and they tend to mimic their dam’s emotional response. This can shape various aspects of the young horse’s relationships with humans as they mature.

Renowned horseman Ray Hunt is credited with the phrase, “So they are started, so they go,” emphasizing the critical role of initial impressions upon a horse’s behaviour and performance.

Taking the foal’s perspective into account, it is highly valuable to approach these early influences in a way that promotes positive relationships with humans right from the beginning. This begins well before the horse officially begins training in a round pen.

By investing in the holistic elements that support the health and welfare of brood mares, we enable them to nurture their foals effectively, creating a ripple effect of benefits for the young horse.

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