No matter who they are or what they do for us, often, our animals need our support too and that is why we have developed 4CYTE Epiitalis® Forte. Made with our world-exclusive, patented, ingredient – Epiitalis®, 4CYTE is scientifically proven to support joint health in horses and dogs.

What is – Epiitalis®? It is a natural, sustainably sourced and derived from a plant seed oil high in unique fatty acids, Epiitalis® is our exclusive, patented active ingredient that is supported by world-class research and is making a big impact on the joint health industry. Epiitalis® is easily digestible and readily absorbed into the body.

How 4CYTE Epiitalis® Forte supports your horse:

• Supports normal joint function, mobility, and flexibility
• Helps maintain the health and resiliency of joints and connective tissue
• Supports normal recovery capacity post-work
• Aids with maintaining healthy cartilage development
• May help address occasional gait irregularity and unwillingness to travel forward
• Supports normal movement patterns
• Helps maintain career longevity and competitive edge
• Eases joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity
• Supports ability to meet performance demands

Since 2008, 4CYTE and Epiitalis® have undergone rigorous assessments to evaluate their safety and efficacy in laboratory, in vivo, and clinical trials across multiple species including dogs, horses, and humans. Many of these studies have been peer reviewed and published in leading international journals.

One study led by Dr. Wayne McIlwraith reported a world first, scientific breakthrough – read the study at https://www.epiq-ah.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Published-Paper-Horse.pdf.

You can use 4CYTE preventatively or for maintenance for joint care. It is safe in ponies over the age of six months and there have been no reports of negative side effects from long-term use. It is palatable and easy to administer and has a 100% money back guarantee for palatability. The horse formula tastes like apples which is delivered once daily, orally. The flavor makes resistance less likely. The dosage varies by weight but an average cost per day is about $1.60 per horse.

Your animal deserves this innovative approach to joint care that is unlike anything else on the market. Check with your veterinarian or purchase online.

The post A REVOLUTION IN JOINT CARE appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The good news is that there are answers, and the more knowledge you have, the more power you have to make the right decisions for your horse.

We sat down to chat with Ann Andrews, DVM, CVA, of Park Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., to answer your most-asked questions.

Photo by Christiane Slawik

Q: Does my horse need vaccinations?

As modern-day horse owners, it’s easy for us to take for granted the health advantages that vaccines now offer our equines. Not too many years ago, horses died from tetanus, rabies, Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis, and other diseases.

Nowadays, horses can be protected from these diseases with vaccinations; if not completely, at least with the resulting illness being less severe. The key is developing a program alongside your veterinarian that meets the individual needs of your horse.

Q: Is there a safe and essential minimum of vaccinations required?

Like many equine veterinarians, Andrews follows the guidelines of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), which recommends a few core vaccines for all horses.

“The AAEP is a great resource for horse owners, and not just for vaccinations, but many health issues,” she says.

There are five diseases the AAEP’s core vaccines protect against: EEE, WEE, rabies, tetanus, and West Nile virus. Photo by peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock

Here’s a brief description of the diseases core vaccines protect against, and their recommended frequency.

◆ Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE) are viral diseases spread by mosquitoes that cause neurological damage or death. Vaccine frequency is annual in spring prior to the rise in vector season.

◆ Rabies is a fatal neurological disease that affects all mammals; it can be transmitted by raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes. Vaccine frequency is annual.

◆ Tetanus is a bacterial disease that is often fatal; it can be contracted through wounds or punctures. Vaccine frequency is annual.

◆ West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurological disease transmitted by mosquitoes; it can be fatal, and recovered horses may have abnormalities in behavior and gait. Vaccine frequency is annual in spring prior to vector season.

“Depending on your geographic location, regional prevalence, exposure risk, stabling environment and other factors, your vet may also recommend certain additional risk-based vaccinations,” says Andrews.

Commonly recommended risk-based vaccines include:

◆ Equine herpesvirus (rhinopneumonitis/EHV): EHV-1 and EHV-4 are viral diseases that can cause abortions in broodmares, neurological issues, and respiratory illness. Horses that travel, compete, or are kept in high-density environments are particularly susceptible.

u◆Equine influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral disease that causes respiratory illness and impacts performance. Horses involved in activities that involve contact with other horses are at highest risk.

◆ Potomac horse fever (PHF) is a disease caused by the bacteria Neorickettsia risticii and transmitted to horses drinking from water sources where parasitic worms have infected aquatic insects. Vaccination is recommended in areas where the disease is prevalent, as well as for horses traveling to or through those areas. 

◆ Strangles (Streptococcus equi) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes swollen lymph nodes and respiratory issues. Horses in high-risk environments (for example, where new horses arrive frequently) are most susceptible.

Flu/rhino and strangles vaccines are a good idea to add to the list for horses that travel to competitions. Photo by Janet/Adobe Stock

Other risk-based vaccines include:

◆ Anthrax

◆ Botulism

◆ Equine viral arteritis

◆ Leptospirosis

◆ Rotaviral diarrhea

◆ Snake bite

◆ Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE)

Q: Do vaccinations differ for horses that compete or are stabled in a large boarding facility versus a small herd or retirees that never travel?

“Even for older horses and those that live in a closed environment with no interaction with outside horses, the four core vaccines are always advised,” says Andrews. These provide protection from common diseases and illnesses, especially those that are spread by mosquitoes or chance encounters with wildlife.

“For horses that travel to competitions and/or live in large barns where lots of horses come and go, I’d also recommend additional vaccines to cover their exposure, including flu/rhino at least annually and perhaps a booster every six months, and strangles,” she adds.

Q: If my horse has reactions to vaccines, what can help minimize them?

Common reactions include swelling at the injection site, lethargy, going off feed, and sometimes colic and laminitis. The best solution might seem to be spreading out vaccinations over several days or weeks to avoid bombarding the horse’s system with multiple antibodies at the same time.

“The problem with this approach is that each vaccine can cause a reaction, even if it’s minimal,” says Andrews. “Then the horse’s system has to process, and potentially react to, each vaccine spread over many days instead of one episode with multiple vaccines.”

However, there are ways to work with your vet to help minimize reactions:

◆ Vary the injection sites for each vaccine, such as different locations on the neck and hip. “This also helps identify reactions to certain vaccines if there’s swelling at the injection site,” says Andrews.

◆ Allow the horse free movement after vaccinations to help his system process the antibodies.

◆ Devise a proactive approach, such as treating with Dexamethasone or Banamine the day before the injections, the day of, and a couple days after.

◆ Another benefit of having a client/vet relationship is the ability to dig deeper to find solution (see more below).

“One client’s horse had severe reactions to vaccines,” she recalls, despite trying the ideas above. “I decided to switch the brand of vaccines, and for whatever reason, that worked for him. Now we have an established protocol that we follow every time, and it’s helping keep his side effects as minimal as possible.”

If your horse has severe reactions to vaccinations, you might consider asking your vet about checking titers—the level of antibodies in the horse’s blood that are specific to a particular pathogen.

Q: Are there any differences for vaccines based on geography, weather, et cetera?

Certain diseases or illnesses can be more prevalent in some areas of the country than others, and your vet’s vaccination recommendations will reflect that.

For example, Potomac horse fever was first discovered in Maryland near the Potomac River. It’s since been reported in numerous states (including California), and it seems to peak in summer and fall in areas with bodies of water, like lakes, creeks, rivers, and ponds.

Botulism, a potentially fatal neurologic disease, is not a regional disease per se, but it’s more commonly found in horses that eat from large round hay bales as well as fermented haylage and silage feeds. If these forage types are common in your area and consumed by your horse, your vet may recommend this vaccination. 

Botulism is more commonly a threat for horses that eat from large round bales. Photo by pimmimemom/Adobe Stock

Horses in Florida and other areas with higher mosquito populations or longer mosquito seasons may be recommended to have boosters for Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus.

Quarantine and Biosecurity Imagine this. After years of searching, your dream horse had finally arrived. You smile as he steps off the trailer and into his stall in the big barn.  A couple days later, he’s lethargic and has stopped eating. When you go to halter him, you notice the area under his jaw was swollen. You call the vet, sure that he has an abscessed tooth. The vet arrives and peeks over the stall door. “Your horse doesn’t have an abscessed tooth. He has strangles.” Within days, every horse in the barn is sick. The following weeks of treatment, mess, stress, and expense could have been avoided with a simple quarantine and biosecurity program. “I believe every horse owner should quarantine any new horse that comes to their property,” says Andrews. “At the client barns where we have a quarantine protocol, I’ve seen numerous times how it prevented huge outbreaks of illness and confined it to one horse.” Setting up a quarantine system is simple and well worth the time. Here’s how: ◆ Use portable panels to set up a corral that’s away from the barn and pasture fence lines. ◆ Keep the new horse in this area for a minimum of two weeks, and up to three. Monitor daily for elevated temperature and other signs of illness. ◆ Avoid cross-contamination with feed and water buckets, grooming tools, et cetera, and be sure all handlers wash their hands after contact with the quarantined horse. ◆ If the quarantined horse gets sick, use biosecurity measures when treating the horse, including separate (or disposable) clothing/gowns, gloves, hats, boots, and masks. ◆ When the horse is released from quarantine, thoroughly clean the area with a 5-10 percent bleach solution and allow to dry. If you don’t already have a separate area, use portable panels to set up a corral away from other horses during the quarantine period. Use brushes and water buckets that aren’t shared with any other equines. Photo by Christiane Slawik

For more on recommended vaccines, visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

This Q&A about vaccines for horses appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Horse Vaccines Q&A appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Humane Colorado’s Harmony Equine Center

Adoptable Horse: Peach, a 4-year-old, 14.2hh grade mare
Organization: Humane Colorado’s Harmony Equine Center, Franktown, Colo.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Peach

Peach is a sweet and shy mare that loves a treat. She has been saddled and has begun to learn a few tricks. Peach is four years old and already showing great potential. Because of her age and training level, Peach would do best with someone who can continue to teach her so that she can continue to grow. Don’t miss out on Peach!

Contact Humane Colorado’s Harmony Equine Center today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Peach!

Photo courtesy Humane Colorado’s Harmony Equine Center

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Peach appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Welcome to your home away from home to relax, enjoy a trail ride or lesson, and soak up life on a one-of-a-kind farm. It doesn’t hurt that it’s lavishly and whimsically designed with equestrians in mind.

Photo by L.A. Berry

Your Host, Cari Swanson

The wind beneath the wings at Windrock Farm is Cari Swanson.

A U.S. Dressage Federation silver medalist and graduate of its “L” education program, Swanson applies her experience as an international-level dressage and national-level eventing competitor, trainer, and instructor to the entertainment industry. She’s put good seats and hands on inexperienced actors like Farrell, Beyoncé, Russell Brand, Russell Crowe, Hillary Duff, Jonathan Groff, Ethan Hawke, Salma Hayek, and Tim McGraw, all while training horses to perform complicated stunts and action scenes. Hollywood horses must hit their mark with the acuity of a Spencer Tracy.

Cari Swanson on the horse that inspired a mission: Red, the namesake of Red Horse Rescue. Photo by Swanson Productions

“Cari gets the shot every time,” said Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee about working with her on Taking Woodstock. “Her horses hit their mark for each take, even when the human actors do not.”

“Cari trained me for The Magnificent Seven,” said actor Haley Bennett. “I started out fearing [horses], and learned not just how to ride, but ride with gracefulness and integrity. She treated horses as equals. I found that a rare and dignified trait.”

Swanson-trained horses have contributed to the production of films Arthur (2011), H. (2014), and Echo Valley (2024); the video game Red Dead Redemption II (2018); miniseries Orange is the New Black, The Knick, The Plot Against America, and White House Plumbers; and commercials for E*Trade, the New York Knicks, New York Lotto, and Ralph Lauren.

“The horse’s wellbeing and joyful attitude are the most important criteria for training,” says Swanson, whose own story of finding Listo, owned by Ashley Waller, reads like a script. She had flown across the country to see an Andalusian for sale, only for his owner to warn her that the stallion was “too dangerous” to purchase.

“I’ll take him,” she said.

Fast-forward to the fall 2016 Unbridled Spirit campaign, projected from the windows of Ralph Lauren’s flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City, where the “dangerous” Listo is seen at liberty in a slow-motion video sequence across eight windows, connected by an invisible thread to Swanson’s every ask.

“I was proud of that one,” she says. “The stage was maybe three strides. It was super hard because he had to run, rear, and jump a 1-foot pole, but we had to make it look like 5 feet!”

Windrock Farm

You don’t enter just a house at Windrock; you enter another world. It’s one of trompe-l’oeil countryside and celestial landscapes; of chandeliers, oriental rugs, and visits from four-legged friends.

Two beds and a balcony view can’t be beat as you overlook the horse pastures. Photo by L.A. Berry

“Can you trust your horse to come in the house and behave?” asks Swanson, who trains horses to go through doorways and into rooms to build confidence. “It’s vital to working with a horse on set, where there are distractions and strange footing.”

As you follow the incense through the foyer toward the staircase to your room, don’t forget to look up to appreciate an artful cosmos—and winged white stallion, an homage to Listo—painted overhead.

Each room offers a pastoral view (nothing like going to sleep to the northern lights or waking up to a horse grazing below), private bath, and ample closet space, including an extra riding helmet and boots in case you forget yours.

Windrock Farm’s carousel horse promises a magical ride at this Amenia, N.Y., Airbnb. Photo by L.A. Berry

Red Horse Rescue & Movie Nights

Ever wonder what it’s like to train horses for the movies or teach actors to ride? To benefit Red Horse Rescue and horses finding haven there, Windrock Farm regularly hosts cozy screenings for up to two dozen guests of Winter’s Tale. These include a visit from Listo before the curtain goes up, après film stories about the production, and a lively dinner by firelight.

You don’t just enter a house at Windrock: You enter another world. Photo by L.A. Berry

“The rescue has placed dozens of horses and continues to follow their careers, with a clause written in that a horse can be returned at any time,” says Swanson. “There can be six to 10 rescues at the farm [at any given time] being retrained so they can find a special human to love them in a new career.”

To help them—like you—feel at home.

To book or learn more about Windrock Farm and services offered by Swanson, visit cariswanson.com or Instagram @cariswanson17. Help horses get a second prance at redhorserescue.org.

This article about Windrock Farm appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Windrock Farm: Hollywood Horsedom’s B&B appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“It is a very wide range of things,” says Libby Hanon, equine adoption and marketing specialist at the ASPCA Equine Transition and Adoption Center (ETAC) in El Reno, Okla. She says that the term can mean late teens and onward in terms of age. Horses younger than their late teens that are experiencing issues typically associated with senior horses, such as PPID and arthritis, may also be called senior.

Boundless Potential

But labeling a horse as a senior is not about defining him by his potential limitations. Hanon describes senior horses as “amazing,” and enthusiastically relates that they have a lifetime of experience behind them to share.

“They can offer a lot of teaching,” she says. “They are a great option for beginners or people who have not had a horse in a while.” In these situations, Hanon says that it’s often ideal if the horse comes with a wealth of experience behind him.

“They can also offer a calming effect on younger or high-strung horses in the pasture,” she says, adding that they can also provide a much-needed confidence boost to their companions.

Versatile and diverse, Hanon says that senior horses can be great candidates for riding, too, particularly trail riding. She says that having a suitable job often helps senior horses stay healthy and feel young.

“Likewise, horses keep us young and healthy,” says Hanon. “It works both ways.”

Despite popular myths, many of the adoptable senior horses available on MyRightHorse.org do not require medical maintenance or even extra budgeting to maintain their health.

But if this isn’t enough to convince you, there is a feel-good benefit that adopters often experience when they provide a senior horse with a wonderful, stable home in their final years.

Overcoming Emotions

If you are considering adopting a senior horse, it might be easy to get caught up in the fact that you will have a finite amount of time with your horse.

Hanon, however, counsels adopters to think more positively.

“On several occasions, we’ve had a horse that we would consider ‘late in life,’” she says. “We felt they might only have a few years left.” But she says that when a match with the right person is made, they often see these horses flourish and live more years than originally expected.

With a good routine, positive interactions, and gentle exercise, such as liberty work and hand-walking, Hanon says that senior horses often see an improvement not only in their quality of life, but in the quality of life of their adopters, too.

Rather than focusing on how much time you have left, she says it’s more important to focus on what you can make of the time you have.

Preparing for the Future

While it’s important to note that not all senior horses will come with extra expenses, potential adopters should be aware that as their adopted horse continues to age, extra expenses can arise.

To help compensate, some My Right Horse Adoption Partners provide incentives for adopting senior horses. While not guaranteed, some of these incentives may include reduced adoption fees and temporary stipends to help with medication costs.

Even so, because senior horses need to have long-term, stable homes, Hanon says that if you’re considering adopting a senior horse, it’s important to take an honest look at yourself and your budget to determine what is sustainable for you, adding that it’s OK to go in a different direction and consider more affordable choices.

Success Stories

And senior horse adoption success stories abound. Nicole Walters oversees the West Virginia Horse Network in Charleston, W. Va. She has helped facilitate some wonderful senior horse adoption experiences.

“When I look at senior horses, I think of what they can do,” says Walters. “I don’t think of what they can’t do.”

She describes many adoptable senior horses as being excellent friends and entertainers and a joy to be around. The enthusiasm Walters exhibits toward senior horses is often contagious, so much so that people who have adopted a horse through her organization have realized that age is just a number, and have fallen in love with these horses as individuals.

For example, each year, Walters and her team take adoptable senior ponies to the Adoption Affaire at the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio. In 2023, one of those senior ponies, Fiona, was adopted by a little girl who was very active in taking lessons and showing.

“Her family could very easily have gotten her a riding pony,” Walters says. “But she fell in love with this senior pony, and now she sends us pictures of the pony dressed as a unicorn, Christmas pictures, Easter pictures, that kind of thing. The pony is the light of her life. The family doesn’t look at Fiona as a consolation prize. They look at her at the Grand Prize.”

Though she could have looked for a riding pony, Riley fell in love with senior pony Fiona at Equine Affaire.

This year, the organization took another senior pony, Noelle, to the Equine Affaire. Initially, a veterinarian was interested in adopting Noelle, but ended up walking away. However, another family soon followed.

The family was grieving, the child having lost her father, and needed something to heal her. While the family was discussing the possibility of taking Noelle home, completely unaware of what was unfolding, the veterinarian reached out and said that while she could not adopt the pony for personal reasons, she would like to donate the cost of the adoption fee. Her donation made the decision even easier for the family to adopt Noelle.

Harper had recently lost her father and found that adopting senior pony Noelle helped her with healing.

Now the withdrawn pony who prefers children to adults has the perfect home, and her new owners are equally as thrilled.

“Senior horses are a gift to us,” says Walters. “We offer them not as an apology, but as an opportunity.”

This article about senior horse adoption appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Adopting a Senior Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Kentucky Equine Adoption Center

Adoptable Horse: Angel, a 26-year-old, 15.1hh gray Appaloosa-cross mare
Organization: Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, Lexington, Ky.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Angel

Angel is a lovely gray Appaloosa-cross mare who recently came to Kentucky Equine Adoption Center through an animal control case. When her owner could no longer provide care, Angel needed a safe place to land — and KYEAC is grateful to be that place.

In her 20s, Angel is in her golden years and is looking for a peaceful, non-riding home where she can enjoy life at a slower pace. She wasn’t emaciated upon arrival, but like many horses, she benefits from consistent care, good nutrition, and a calm environment. She can be slow to warm up to new people, but with trust and consistency, she is settling into her new surroundings. She has “boss mare” energy and loves her pasture buddies.

Angel would make a wonderful companion horse for someone looking to provide comfort, kindness, and a soft place to retire. If you have room in your heart and pasture for a sweet senior mare, Angel would love to spend her retirement surrounded by love and care. Her adoption fee is $500.

Contact Kentucky Equine Adoption Center today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Angel!

Photo courtesy Kentucky Equine Adoption Center

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Angel appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“It’s important to remember that each horse is an individual. When formulating a diet for a senior horse, the first thing to consider is whether he has any medical issues (PPID, EMS, et cetera) that might change his nutritional needs,” says Lisa Kivett, DVM, whose Foundation Equine Clinic is based in Southern Pines, N.C.

Photo by Christiane Slawik

Nutrients

“Some older horses may have a decreased ability to absorb protein and other nutrients like phosphorous,” says Kivett. “As a general recommendation, I prefer grains with 10 to 15 percent protein, 5 to 12 percent fat, 15 to 18 percent fiber, added vitamin E, and potentially vitamin C.”

Many people don’t realize that you need to feed at least the minimum recommended amount (this is printed on the bag/label) in order for the horse to receive the correct balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. This holds true whether you’re feeding a complete “senior” feed or other type of grain ration.

If you have an easy keeper that tends to gain weight, even the minimum recommended amount may be too much. For those horses, a ration balancer may be a good choice, as these feeds are formulated to be fed in much smaller quantities (typically 1 to 2 pounds per day), but still provide the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Forage

Quality forage should form the basis for your horse’s nutritional program, no matter his age, but this can present a challenge since many old horses outlive their teeth.

“Once a horse no longer has sufficient tooth surface to grind hay, we have to find another source of calories and fiber to keep him healthy,” says Kivett. “This is most easily accomplished with commercial senior feeds. These feeds are formulated as a complete diet, meaning they meet all the horse’s nutritional needs, and have forage added as a hay replacement.”  They’re also easy for the horse to chew, digest and absorb.

Since a horse must eat at least 1 to 2 percent of his body weight daily, this means the average horse needs about 12 to 25 pounds of a commercial complete feed daily to meet his needs.

“Many horse owners are shocked by the amount, but when we consider that this is replacing all the hay they eat, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched,” says Kivett. “It’s important to keep in mind that this can only be safely done with complete senior feeds. Other grains are not designed to be fed this way and would result in health problems if fed in these quantities.”

Other forage replacement options include chopped, bagged forage; hay pellets; and hay cubes. Soaking cubes or pellets to form a mash works well for a senior that can’t chew hay.

“No matter which option is chosen, it’s still critical that the horse receives 1 to 2 percent of his body weight per day,” says Kivett. “This is measured dry, before any water is added.”

Be careful not to feed an older horse in an environment where he must compete for food. Separate him at feeding time so he can eat at his own pace and not fret over other horses trying to steal his food. This will also allow you to monitor his consumption and notice if he’s not cleaning up or has trouble eating.

Dental Details

Some owners mistakenly think an old horse with worn-down or missing teeth doesn’t need dental care.

“It’s pretty rare to see an older horse with absolutely no teeth and no risk of periodontal disease,” says Kivett. “While older horses are less likely to need a float, they are more likely to have periodontal disease and other painful oral conditions that require treatment.

“Dental abnormalities and periodontal disease are very common in older horses,” she adds. “I routinely see horses with periodontal pockets, infected spaces (diastemata) between the teeth, cavities, broken teeth, and large overgrowths of teeth. Incisor disease becomes more common in older horses as well. We are recognizing more cases of a very painful incisor disease called equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis  (EOTRH), particularly in aged geldings. This causes the tooth roots to become diseased and the front teeth to become unstable, infected and painful.”

Kivett finds dental problems are more common in older horses that received inconsistent dental care when they were younger. Most horses need a complete dental examination once yearly. Some horses with dental problems or periodontal disease require more frequent exams, at least until the problems are under control.

This article about feeding the senior horse appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Feeding the Senior Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds

Adoptable Horse: Scar, a 9-year-old, 17.0hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds, Cocoa, Fla.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Scar

What a heartthrob! Scar is a stunning 17 hands high gelding who turns heads wherever he goes. With 39 races under his belt, he has truly seen it all.

Scar brings that life experience with him in the best way — he is calm, confident, and incredibly well-mannered. Scar has excellent ground and stall manners, is very intelligent, and picks up new things quickly. Hidden Acres can easily see Scar thriving in the show arena in any discipline or happily hitting the trails, soaking in the views. He has no injuries, no vices, and an exceptional temperament. A true gentleman with movie-star looks, Scar is every bit of the dream horse you’ve been waiting for.

Contact Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Scar!

Photo courtesy Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Scar appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Hooflex® All Natural Dressing And Conditioner

Made with herbal ingredients such as tea tree oil, arnica, comfrey and avocado oil, this all-natural hoof care alternative is known to help support shiny, healthy hooves and maintain the hoof’s moisture balance.

Available for $25.99 on absorbine.com.

Easyboot Back Country

A great boot for pleasure riding that can easily double as a performance boot. It features a Comfort Cup Gaiter that’s soft and thick, and a front shield with a sleek fit. Be sure to throw one in your pack as a replacement for a lost shoe.

Available for $$141.95 (single boot) on easycareinc.com.

Platinum Hoof Support

Supports healthy hoof strength and growth with concentrated levels of highly bio-available biotin, plus zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt and important amino acids L-Lysine and methionine.

For best results, use in conjunction with Platinum Performance® Equine, CJ, or GI.

Available for $56.00 (46 servings, or 1/4 lb) on platinumperformance.com.

Horseshoer’s Secret Hoof Conditioner

This exclusive formula absorbs quickly to condition quickly. Take advantage of the reconstructive power of avocado oil to help support strong hooves. Ideal for helping to prevent cracks, splits and contracted heels.

Available for $24.99 on farnam.com.

Cavallo Trek Regular Sole Hoof Boot

Our toughest trail riding boot is also perfect for the relief of chronic pain or hoof sensitivity, or rehabilitation from injuries, abscesses, navicular disease, laminitis/founder, punctures, sole bruising and contracted heels.

Available for $114.95 (single boot) on cavallo-inc.com.

Grand Hoof

Contains biotin, MSM & methionine, zinc, copper, lysine, and B-6, plus dried brewer’s yeast postbiotic fermentation product, which supports feed digestibility and utilization.

Available for $95.28 (5 lb.) on grandmeadows.com.

Soft-Ride Comfort Boots

For stabling on hard ground, trailering comfort to reduce vibration, or any tender, sensitive feet that need some support. Gel orthotics conform to and support the sole of the hoof and the hoof wall on shod and unshod feet, providing unparalleled comfort for your horse.

Available starting at $240.00 (pair — price dependent on size) on softrideboots.com.

This article about healthy hoof products appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Photo courtesy Second Stride

Adoptable Horse: Caramel Angel, a 9-year-old, 16.1hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: Second Stride, Prospect, Ky.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Caramel Angel

Caramel Angel is a 9-year-old thoroughbred gelding by Sidney’s Candy (Candy Ride (ARG)) out of B J’s Angel by Stormy Business. He last raced in 2021 and reportedly retired sound. Second Stride is not aware of any injury history. He has been living on his owner’s farm since retirement. He enjoys living outside 24/7 but can also spend time in a stall during the day. He would not be happy in a stall during the longer overnight hours on a regular basis.

Caramel is an intelligent, athletic, mature gelding who has real potential for sport development with the right adopter. He is just getting back under saddle after several years of pasture life with his race owner. Caramel is strong under saddle and needs a rider who can—with sensitivity—keep his attention and channel his energy. He has no vices under saddle, just is green and energetic.

Caramel has very nice ground manners; he is easy to groom, walks nicely on a lead rope and is respectful of his handlers. He loves treats and waits patiently while others receive theirs, too. He is a good friend in the field — a natural leader but will give way to a more dominant horse. He can be nervous when being tacked up, but this should pass naturally with more practice. He stood nicely for the vet.

Caramel should be sound for any non-racing discipline. A PPE is recommended for an athletic career.

Contact Second Stride today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Caramel Angel!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Caramel Angel appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.