Not all horses have the luxury of spending time out on green pasture, grazing to their heart’s content. Horse owners in some areas of the country are severely challenged by space or by climate, and their horses must be...
Soil is made up of organic matter, air, water and minerals. It provides nutrients for plants, which are the cornerstone of your horse’s diet. For desirable grazing to thrive, the soil must have the proper pH level. "pH” is...
Q: I know senior feeds contain a forage replacer for horses with difficulty chewing and digesting hay, but it doesn't seem like enough. What other forage options are there for the hard-to-keep senior horse?
A: Many horses begin to experience...
By Erin HsuConceptually, it all seems very simple: To lose weight, one needs to exercise more and eat less. But, as many of us know from our own struggles, weight management in the real world requires discipline, work, and...
In this column, Dr. Lydia Gray answers your horse-health questions at horseillustrated.com/AskTheVet. Got a question for Dr. Gray? Send it to hc-editor@luminamedia.com and use subject line "Ask the Vet."Q: My horse and I live in New England, and we...
Most horse people have heard of the practice of soaking hay before feeding it. Hay has long been soaked in water as a way to get rid of dust. Horses with recurrent airway obstruction, allergies or other respiratory conditions...
Equine hydration is always a concern, but it is critically important during times of stress, such as while traveling, after exercise or amid extremely hot and humid weather.
How Much Water Does a Horse Drink in a Day?
The average...
All across the country, grass is on the move—upwards! These are the weeks and months of hay production, and as the grass grows taller and taller, we horse owners get closer and closer to the time when we need...
A horse’s digestive system is very different from a human’s. Horses are hindgut fermenters, which means the bulk of their digestion happens in the large intestine. Forage is key to keeping this part of the system moving. Even horses...
Q: I’ve heard that horses shouldn’t be allowed unlimited grazing when the lush spring grass comes in—that it’s dangerous. How do I safely allow my horse to graze in spring?A: If your horse is on grass 24/7 while the...
