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 moreA healthy back indicates a sound horse
The 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
Keeping your horse away from the dentist
Reading Time: 3 minutes Timely equine dentistry is an influential tool in maintaining a horse’s dental health. However, it is not the only tool, nor is its practice any more important than several others that shape the wear of a horse’s teeth. Since a horse’s teeth are ever growing, practices that occur every day in their lives incrementally continue […] Read more
Can A Champion Horse Live Forever?
Reading Time: 2 minutes In 1996 a sheep named Dolly, the world’s first cloned mammal, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Since then cloning technology has been adopted by some in the equine community. So far there are fewer than 100 cloned horses in the world. Many are genetic twins of historical champions and as such are of extremely high […] Read more
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