Reading Time: 3 minutes Whenever the term “choke” is used in horses, it refers to an obstruction or blockage in the esophagus. This is very different than the extreme medical emergency of choking in humans, whereby an obstruction of the airway or trachea has occurred. The choking horse can still breathe — but the choking horse cannot swallow. Choke […] Read more
If you see your horse choking, call a vet right away
Horse Health: The condition in horses refers to the inability to swallow rather than an obstruction of breathing
The many reasons a horse rolls
Horse Health: It’s an eye-catching move, but it’s also completely natural behaviour
Reading Time: 3 minutes Whenever an animal as large as a horse drops to the ground it captures most everyone’s attention. Fortunately the most common reason a horse does drop to the ground is to roll, and rolling is a perfectly natural behaviour for horses. It is both beneficial to their health and an indicator of their health. Horses […] Read more
Overconsumption of clovers can affect horse health
Horse Health: There are clear symptoms to watch for when there’s clover in a horse’s diet
Reading Time: 4 minutes Whenever horses are grazing on pastures where clover is present, certain health concerns for the horse need to be kept in mind. It is of value to recognize the type of clovers present in the pasture, as well as the type of health problems that might ensue with ingestion of particular types of clover. Clover […] Read more
Healthy hooves are the result of many factors
Horse Health: A horse’s lifestyle and diet can make a major difference in hoof health
Reading Time: 3 minutes The hoof responds to everything it experiences in its environment as well as everything going on within the body. Inseparably tied to the body, a sound foot depends on more than a correct trim. This in no way dismisses or diminishes the importance of a proper hoof trim, rather places the trim in its rightful […] Read more
The lowdown on the common lumps and bumps of horses
Horse Health: Often the best treatment is benign neglect until they get better on their own
Reading Time: 4 minutes Over their lifetime, horses present with an array of lumps and bumps on various occasions. At times the lump or bump will seemingly appear suddenly from out of nowhere, or it may develop slowly and remain for years without change. The behaviour and clinical picture of the lump/bump will determine whether it needs further investigation […] Read more
Management strategies for using grazing muzzles
Horse Health: Grass consumption can be reduced by 30 to 80 per cent depending on the horse or pony wearing one
Reading Time: 3 minutes The grazing muzzle is a simple, effective, and sensible tool caretakers can use to manage the grass intake of their horses. The grazing muzzle is a basket-like contraption — a piece of headgear a horse wears with the intention of slowing down and reducing grass intake on pasture. The horse wearing the muzzle can breathe […] Read more
Preventing or repairing ‘proud flesh’ on horse wounds
Horse Health: Proper management from the onset is important in avoiding its appearance, especially on lower limbs
Reading Time: 3 minutes Nature has a way of healing wounds in horses and for the most part, has a remarkable inherent ability to return the skin to its original state. However, horses, more so than any other species, tend to be particularly prone to a troublesome complication of wound healing referred to as ‘proud flesh.’ Whenever it appears, […] Read more
Injuries to coronary band need extra TLC
Horse Health: Coronary band injuries commonly occur when trailering horses
Reading Time: 3 minutes Through their lifetime horses can accumulate a number of injuries — cuts, scrapes, scratches and bruises. Most locations on the horse’s body are fairly forgiving of such injuries, however there are a few sites on the body where added vigilance is necessary to ensure a favourable outcome. An injury to an eye or a joint […] Read more
Lice and ticks and horses
Horse Health: Horses that have stressed immune systems are more vulnerable
Reading Time: 3 minutes Lice and ticks are unwelcome guests on horses and donkeys, taking up residence in the warmth of their thick winter coats with peak infestations occurring during the late winter and early spring. Horses infested with lice are intensely itchy, and often the first sign of trouble is a tattered hair coat — or perhaps extra […] Read more
Winter is the ideal season for healthy weight loss in horses
Horse Health: Hay nets are a good way to prevent horses from overfeeding during the colder months
Reading Time: 3 minutes Is your horse carrying too much weight? The answer to this question is an important order of business, and best asked at the beginning of the winter season. If the answer to this question is yes then the winter season is the ideal time to implement intervention. Weight loss is far easier in the colder […] Read more
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