Discomfort in a horse’s mouth can result from unnatural riding and training methods among others.

The key connection between bit and tongue

Improper bit placement can lead to an unresponsive, poorly moving horse

Reading Time: 3 minutes The interaction between a horse’s tongue and the bit is a critical aspect of horsemanship and equine welfare and has implications for physical health, behaviour and performance. A horse’s introduction to the bit can leave a lasting imprint on the horse’s mental, emotional and physical state, as well as their willingness to co-operate with a […] Read more

Natural movement and a ready supply of forage are equally important to horse health.

Embracing horses’ need for near-constant movement

Don’t discount natural movement; it’s important for horse health and weight management

Reading Time: 3 minutes Equine professionals, horse owners and caregivers increasingly emphasize the significance of giving horses continual access to long-stem, high-fibre, low-calorie forages. Interwoven with this ongoing forage availability, however, is another requirement that must be met: the horse’s inherent and almost constant need to move. Horses operate as grazing athletes. Their innate eating behaviours include a spectrum […] Read more


A wild horse on Alberta's eastern slopes.

Feral horse management framework released

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta has a new, science-based management framework that’s meant to recognize feral horses and ensure their future sustainability. More than 1,400 feral horses roam across six equine management zones in Alberta. Some zones face significant challenges to long-term sustainability, the province says, because of the number of horses on the landscape. Alberta’s public rangelands are […] Read more

Dandelions are among the bitter plants that horses are drawn to.

The benefit of bitters for horses

Bitter plants can provide a natural booster for horses’ gut health

Reading Time: 2 minutes Domestic horses are known for their preference for lush green pastures and sweet hay, yet their natural foraging behaviour intrigues equine professionals, scientists and horse owners: their attraction to a specific group of plants known as bitters. Horses, with their remarkable sense of taste and intuition, display a strong and deliberate inclination toward certain plants […] Read more


Activities like jumping require horses to have an enhanced ability to know how to move in relation to their surroundings.

Garden-grown proprioception and your horse

Horse Health: Proprioception gardens mix different types of footing, obstacles and terrain to build a horse’s body awareness

Reading Time: 3 minutes Proprioception is a natural ability shared by humans and horses. It involves the body’s inherent awareness of its position, movement and balance in relation to the surrounding environment. In horses, this perception varies. Different lifestyles and occupations require variable levels of proprioception to navigate daily tasks without stumbling or tripping and when encountering obstacles. However, […] Read more

This seven-year-old red mare in southern Alberta was bought just above slaughter price in May. PHOTOS: CALI LEWIS

The ‘rescue’ horse

With the proper approach, rescue horses can prosper and be public ambassadors for horse care

Reading Time: 4 minutes Rescue horses bring great awareness to equine welfare and serve as powerful reminders of the significance of responsible horse ownership. Like equine ambassadors, they provide valuable feedback and insights into the industry. These horses showcase the powerful outcomes that can be achieved when their fundamental needs change from absent to fulfilled. The term “rescue horse” […] Read more


Epigenetics underscores the need of getting a foal off to a good start

Epigenetics underscores the need of getting a foal off to a good start

Genes are only part of the story — how they’re expressed is a different matter

Reading Time: 2 minutes Epigenetics is an emerging branch of genetic science that examines the impact of the environment on an organism’s development. This field shows that genes can be switched on or off through life events without changing DNA sequences. The epigenome serves as a type of biological software that directs the genomic hardware of cells to determine […] Read more

“Each horse has a unique requirement for magnesium, depending upon diet, environment and lifestyle.”

The critical role of magnesium in horse health

Short-changing a horse on magnesium can impact both physical health and temperament

Reading Time: 3 minutes Magnesium is an essential macro-mineral that plays a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of horses. It is essential for more than 350 biochemical processes in the body of the horse, including generation of cellular energy and decoding genetic information. Understanding the importance of magnesium at the cellular level and its impact on health […] Read more


What were once thought to be age-related conditions are now found in horses at younger ages.

Slow and steady movement is what keeps horses healthy

Modern day horses suffer from many of the same health problems as modern day humans

Reading Time: 3 minutes Cinema portrays wild horses to be ‘running free,’ but the truth is that they spend hours and hours a day ‘walking free’ — moving slow and steady as they graze, browse and forage. Step, bite, chew, repeat. Horses were designed to move and it keeps them physically healthy and mentally content. The No. 1 function of […] Read more

Watch the whiskers and you’ll learn more about your horse

Watch the whiskers and you’ll learn more about your horse

An animal’s whiskers are important sensory organs and trimming them could be a bad idea

Reading Time: 3 minutes Veterinary professionals and cat owners have recently begun diagnosing and addressing whisker stress or whisker fatigue in felines. Simply put, the theory is that a cat’s whiskers can become over-stimulated from the unnatural habit of touching the sides of standard food and water dishes, leading to whisker stress or whisker fatigue. Although there is no […] Read more