Horseman's Report
Top 7 Insects Found at the Barn & How to Protect Your Horse
With summer upon us, you’re likely in the middle of the war on flies around your barn. Whether they are looking for a bloodmeal or just to be an annoyance, these persistent insects always seem to manage to find your horse. When developing a plan to manage these pesky critters, it’s important to know what species you’re battling. Behavior and breeding sites are specific to each fly species, and control tactics should be focused on the specific pest at your facility.
Scratch that Itch: Common Reasons for Horse Tail Rubbing
Most horse owners dream of having a horse with a long, thick, shiny mane and tail, and go to great lengths to make it look beautiful. So, when you walk out to the barn to find your horse’s tail tattered and worn from rubbing, you immediately try to determine why he did this and how you can stop him from doing it again.
Keep Calm & Ride On - When to Use Calming Supplements
Horses are unique individuals that handle situations differently. While one horse may be calm as a cucumber and show no care in the world, another might have a very high “flight” response and become nervous at the slightest thing. Although some horses can be more “high-strung” by nature, there are some things that horse owners can do to help ease the situation and help their horse become more rideable.
Crash, Boom, Bang! How to Help your Horse Cope with Fireworks
The Fourth of July is viewed by most Americans as a time of leisure – hanging out with family and friends by the pool, good barbeque and watching the fireworks. For horse owners, this impending holiday brings nervousness and concern about their horses’ reactions to the bright, flashing lights and the thunderous booming. Horses can easily be frightened by fireworks; however, there are some things you can do to help him cope.
Hoof Anatomy: What Horse Hooves are Made of
The equine hoof is a great example of Mother Nature’s engineering capabilities. Consider the size and weight of a horse relative to the size of a hoof, and how fast horses can run or how high they can jump; it’s amazing how so much is supported by so little. A horse’s hooves play a key role in its ability to survive and function. Without solid, sound feet, you have no horse, so understanding hoof anatomy is extremely important.
Farrier "Talk" - Understanding Horseshoeing Terminology
Each industry and profession tends to have its own jargon, and horse farriers are no different. As a horse owner, you should be able to understand what your farrier is telling you about your horse; otherwise, you may miss out on important information. It’s also worthy to note that you should ask your farrier questions if you don’t understand. Farriers want their clients to feel good about what they’re doing and how they’re addressing any concerns you may have. Whether you’re a seasoned horseman or new to horse ownership, a refresher on farrier work and terminology is always helpful.
Breaking Boredom: Horse Toys to the Rescue
A horse’s natural environment is outside in lush green pastures with room to explore, hanging out and interacting with other members of their herd. Due to geographic location, barn set-up, injury or severe weather, any sort of lengthy pasture time may not be an option. When horses are restricted in box stalls or smaller turnouts, they can become bored, grumpy and sometimes even destructive!
Managing the Perpetual Hard Keeper
There is certainly no shortage of weight management questions in horses. Most of the time the discussions revolve around topics for overweight horses and how to manage their weight control, but what about the otherwise seemingly healthy horse that just can’t keep weight on?
Understanding Equine Behavior
You’ve had your horse for a few years and have a great partnership with him, but do you really know him? Horses communicate to other horses and humans with their body language, which can sometimes be misinterpreted by horse owners.
Oh, Crud: Managing Skin Irritations
Your horse’s skin is his largest and one of his most important organs. The skin does everything from help your horse stay hydrated to hold his body together; healthy skin also blocks invading pathogens and provides protection against bugs and the sun.
Mosquito Control: A Multi-Pronged Battle
Mosquitoes can be enormous pests to our horses, but even worse, they may spread diseases [disease-causing pathogens] like West Nile virus or Eastern and Western equine encephalitis (EEE and WEE).
Heat, Hydration & Electrolytes
It’s summertime, which is usually the time of year when most horse owners begin riding and working their horses more.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Equine Grooming Products
Regular grooming is as important to your horse’s health as a balanced diet and regular exercise, which is why it’s essential that you pick the right grooming products.
Rehabilitating the Injured Horse
When an active or performance horse gets injured, the diagnosis and treatment can vary dramatically from surgery to solely stall rest.
Equine Allergies: Nothing to “Sneeze” at!
Just like people, horses can suffer from allergies. Allergies are an abnormal reaction to foreign substances (called allergens) by the immune system to which it has become hypersensitive.
Vitamins and Minerals: Small, but Mighty!
Vitamins and minerals make up a small part of your horse’s diet, but they are essential to his overall health.
Equine Emergency: Choke!
The word “choke” normally makes us think of an emergency situation where a person has food stuck in the airway, unable to get oxygen into the lungs.
“Click” with your Horse: The Basics on Clicker Training
Many of you have probably heard the term ‘clicker training,’ but do you know what it is? Equine clicker training is a relatively new method of training that is becoming popular with horse owners.
“Treating” Your Horse Right: Sweet Treat Recipes & Tips
Most horse owners love to feed their horses treats. After all, it’s a great way to reward your horse and tell him that he’s appreciated.
To Buy or Not to Buy… What to Look For When Buying a Horse
Purchasing a horse is exciting, but can also be slightly scary for some horse owners.
A Guide to Equine Insurance Policies
Horses are very valuable animals, and despite their size and power, are very fragile and can easily injure themselves. Oftentimes the decision on how to address the horse’s injury comes down to what the horse owner can afford.
Equine Winter Nutrition
As cold weather approaches, horse owners need to prepare for the dietary changes often associated with feeding horses in the winter.
Winter Effects on Equine Skin & Hooves
As the seasons change from summer to winter, many horse owners start to transition from daily riding to riding more as the weather suits.
Dewormer Dilemma: Creating a Dewormer Program
There are a number of dewormers on the market and it can be confusing to horse owners in knowing which one to buy and how they differ. So… how do you choose?
The Facts of Fecal Egg Count Exams
Horse owners are constantly looking for economical ways to provide high-quality care for their horses.
Under the Sun – Protecting Your Horse from Sun Damage and Sunburn
In the late spring and early fall, you will often find horses in their pastures lying flat on their sides while soaking up the sunrays. The sun feels good and is important for Vitamin D production, which helps ensure proper functioning of the bones, joints and muscles; however, getting too much sun can create some problems for your horse as well.
Caring for Senior Horses
Thanks to better nutrition, management and veterinary care, horses are living a much longer, and in many cases, productive life than their forefathers just a decade or so ago.
The Mane Attraction – Tips for Achieving a Beautiful Mane & Tail
Every horse’s mane and tail are unique and serve some very important functions. Manes can help keep your horse’s neck warm in cold weather and provide some fly protection.
Grooming – A Mini Health Check-Up
With hectic work and family schedules, it’s often difficult to spend quality time with your horse on a daily basis.
Taking a Closer Look – Caring for Your Horse’s Eyes
As the popular proverb states, “the eyes are the window of the soul.” Not only are a horse’s eyes an indicator as to what he’s thinking or feeling, they’re also one of his most functionally important attributes.
More than Meets the Eye - Understanding Equine Vision
Vision is very important to your horse. Having developed as open range prey animals that are active during both day and night, horses have traditionally used their vision as a means of staying alive.
Signs That Your Horse May Need a Dental Check-Up
Having healthy teeth is one of the most important aspects of your horse’s overall health. Without regular maintenance, your horse could have difficulty eating and potential mouth soreness.
A “Bit” About Bits
By definition, a bit is a piece of metal or synthetic material that fits in a horse’s mouth and aids in the communication between the horse and rider.
A Spotless Reputation: Tack Cleaning Tips
For some people, cleaning tack is a relaxing activity, while for others, it is a necessary chore. Whatever your feelings, it is important to clean your tack regularly and check for wear-and-tear while you clean.
Blanketing - Don't Let Your Horse Be Left Out in the Cold
To blanket or not to blanket? That is the question facing many horse lovers as cold winter weather approaches. There is, of course, no simple answer.
Anatomy of Your Horse’s Skin
The saying that beauty is skin deep is only partially true when it comes to your horse. Your horse’s skin is a very important part of his anatomy and health, and understanding the makeup of his skin is the first step to keeping it healthy and maintaining his beauty!
Late Summer Concerns: Bots and Pasture Conundrums
As the seasons change and it turns to fall, horse owners will face a couple of new concerns with their horse care management: bot flies and pasture maintenance.
The Cecum: Key to Your Horse’s Digestive Health
Despite the fact that the cecum is one of the most important parts of a horse’s digestive system, most horse owners ignore (or don’t fully understand the functions of) it until their horse shows signs of upset.
Prepping for and Handling Trail Emergencies
Everyone hopes to avoid emergencies while out enjoying trail rides, but the reality is that when you are involved with horses, you need to be prepared for anything and everything to go wrong.
Benefits of Cross-Training Your Horse
Top human athletes often work on a rigorous cross-training schedule. They devote themselves to their own specific sport, but also branch out to improve muscle strength, endurance, coordination and overall soundness.
Methods for Rehabilitation
A lame horse is enough to chill any horseman’s heart. Luckily nowadays, horses and their owners have plenty of new options to help in the healing process.
Fighting Flies
Every spring, horse owners gear up for a major battle: fighting flies. This is a battle best fought on two fronts—first, minimizing the number of flies to begin with, and second, keeping your horse comfortable.
Trailer Loading Tips
While some horses march happily into trailers, many do not. Horses naturally live in wide-open spaces; they like light and plenty of room around them.
The Barefoot vs. Shod Debate
If you want to stir up an interesting conversation among horsemen, bring up the barefoot versus shod question. Be forewarned—the discussion may get heated!
Understanding Equine Joint Structure and Function
When the term “soundness” is used for horses, it almost always means orthopedic soundness. Respiratory soundness is important too, but most people think of legs and joints first.
Something’s in the Air: Winter Barn Ventilation
For horse owners in many parts of the country, winter and cold weather means “buttoning up the barn.”
What Is Oxidative Stress?
Regardless of the type of event, all equine athletes require nutrients for stamina and performance.
How to Recognize an Overheated Horse
Overheating can be a serious problem for horses. While most common in the summertime, horses are susceptible to overheating all year long.
Liniments or Poultices… What’s the Difference?
Your horse finishes work and you want to provide some additional relief to his legs. What do you use? Two weapons in every horseman’s arsenal should be liniments and poultices.
Focus on Filth Flies: House flies around the horse barn
Now that warmer weather is upon us, flies are making their presence known, bothering both horses and their owners.
Feeding the Growing Horse
Proper nutrition of the foal and growing horse plays a vital role in the health and performance throughout their life.
Feeding and Management of the Broodmare
January 1st is considered the universal birth date for many horse breeds (i.e., Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses), and breeders strive to have foals as close to that date as possible.
The Importance of Fly Control for Healthy Horses
If you have horses, you have flies! Flies and other biting insects are constant pests that irritate both horses and riders, especially in the summer months when weather conditions create the perfect breeding ground for flies.
In Case of a Horse Emergency: Expert Advice from Dr. Richard Godbee
Everyone who owns a horse may at some time face an emergency situation. This can range from a minor scrape to severe colic or bleeding situations.
Don't Forget Your Tack When Spring Cleaning
No matter the climate, cleaning tack for spring riding is a chore worthy of attention. Tack that is well cared for not only looks good but is also more comfortable for the horse and rider.
Featured Trail Ride — Marin County, CA
Let's head west to Marin County, California. There are about 200,000 acres of public land in Marin, including Point Reyes National Seashore, California State Parks, Marin County Open Space, Marin Municipal Water District and more.
Is Your Horse Too Fat or Too Skinny?
Horse owners understand the need to have a fairly accurate idea as to the weight of their horse(s). This is important in determining how much to feed, how much dewormer to give and a myriad of other reasons.
On The Fence: Tips for Choosing Horse Fencing
One of the most important elements of setting up a barn or horse facility is choosing the type of fencing for your property.
Ticks Bite – How to Protect Your Horse against Ticks
Few things are hated more among animal owners than ticks. These arachnids – ticks are not insects, but relatives of spiders and scorpions – are difficult to control and can cause major health problems for your equine companions.
Hoof Care, Inside and Out
While horses must live with the hooves that they’re born with, there are certain things horse owners can do to help keep their horse’s hooves healthy, and prolong his life and riding career.
Assessing Hay Quality
In lieu of a serious injury or illness, feed makes up the majority of the annual cost of maintaining a horse. Forage, such as hay or pasture, makes up the bulk of the diet for most horses, and in some, the entire diet.
The Scoop on Joint Care
Horses are bred and raised for athletic endeavors. Successful athletes require good genetics, conformation, proper nutrition, training and conditioning.