Colic
What it is:
Abdominal pain due to intestinal gas, impaction, torsion (twisting) or other causes.
Symptoms:
Variable, depending on the type of colic, the amount of pain (and the horse’s pain tolerance) and duration. Can include restlessness, sweating, looking at the belly,...
Choke
What it is: An obstruction of the esophagus, usually caused by eating too fast, but may be caused by narrowing of the esophagus due to a previous choke episode or in rare cases, pressure from a tumor.
Symptoms: Discomfort, repeated...
Abscess (hoof abscess, sole abscess)What it is: A pocket of infection in the foot.Symptoms: Lameness, which can be severe; heat in the foot (hoof feels warm); swelling and redness in the bulbs of the heel; a dark area on...
In the 1920s, author Hugh Lofting wrote a series of charming children’s books about Doctor Doolittle, whose pet parrot, Polynesia, taught him how to speak with animals in their own language. As a horse owner, you may sometimes wish...
As winter draws closer, it’s time to start thinking about your horse’s feeding plan. Many people don’t realize that their horse will need more calories to keep warm in cold weather, resulting in a seemingly sudden weight loss over...
Q: My horses have Bermuda grass hay in front of them at all times, and I give them a flake of alfalfa in the morning and at night. Are they getting enough vitamins in their diet?
A: Access to...
The foundation of every horse’s diet must be forage, which is most commonly provided in the form of either hay or pasture grass. While forage contains a certain amount of energy, protein and vitamins on its own, its fiber...
Curry CombsRubber Curry CombMade of rubber with textured nubs. Use in a circular motion
to loosen dirt, shedding hair and "scurf” from deep within your horse’s coat and bring it to the surface where it can be given the brushoff....
Q: I recently began leasing a 20-year-old mare. She’s a sweetheart, but she hasn’t been in regular work for about three years. I can only ride about once a week and while there is plenty of space to trail...
