Q: The vet says my 18-year-old gelding has a Grade 3 heart murmur. (It was only a 0.5 last year.) She suggested no strenuous exercise, but should I be worried about light trail rides and trotting? A: If you think...
In our Ask the Vet 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: Have you ever heard of dewormer causing...
The Coggins test is an integral part in maintaining the health and welfare of the United States’ horse population. However, even though many horse owners in the U.S. are familiar with the test, few know much about the disease...
Sweeping, scrubbing and removing cobwebs from each stall is a ritual at Jill Girardi-Thomas’ Franklin, Tenn., barn. But all this cleaning is not just about presenting a spotless environment to her riding students and other visitors. It’s all about...
In Part 1 of Road-Ready Tips for Hauling Horses, we looked at routine cleaning and checking of your horse trailer. In Part 2, we looked at the maintenance that needs to be performed before your first trip of the...
In developing solutions for horse training problems, it’s important to look at things from the horse’s point of view. If your horse is particularly lazy and unmotivated in the arena, even if he is fine on the trail and...
Q: I have a gray horse with multiple melanomas under his tail. Can these be treated or cured? Will they affect his daily health?
A: If you read the veterinary literature, you can find reports that 80 percent of...
Q: My horse is not respectful on the lead rope. He barges into my personal space and sometimes tries to bolt off. How can I teach him to lead more safely?A: Safety is your first priority, and respect is...
Q: All of my horses are now retired from competing and I keep them at home where there aren’t other horses coming in and out of the barn. Do I need to continue to vaccinate them on the same...
Q: I just finished reading the article "Too Heavy to Ride?” and I have a question about rider weight in relation to back length. I read that back length affects a horse’s ability to carry more weight, and that...
