Is your horse generally healthy? Do you need to worry about your horse getting ulcers?

Ulcers are most commonly found in high performance horses, race horses and show horses. They can also be common in foals, especially those who have been sick and have had to be hospitalized. Not all stress to horses are caused by humans though.

Why is it that some horses just seem to have the best feet? They can go barefoot anywhere without any problems; they never get thrush, their feet never crack, chip or get abscesses. These horses never lose shoes and the hoof is always healthy and strong. If you have a horse like this, then don’t change whatever you are doing because it’s obviously working. But, if you think your horse’s hoof health might need a little extra attention then here are some tips to improve your horse’s overall hoof quality.

The West Nile virus has been around the US and North America for about 10 years now. The West Nile virus can be life threatening to both horses and humans alike and should be taken very seriously. The way the disease is transmitted to horses is by mosquito bite. A mosquito takes a meal from a bird infected with WNV, and then goes and feeds on a horse. Some horses infected with the disease show no signs at all; meanwhile the virus causes inflammation of the spinal cord and brain and can often be fatal.

So you have an extra stall or two in your barn and you think it would be a good idea to rent it out and make a few extra bucks. Although this sounds like a simple and easy thing to do there are many things you need to consider and make sure you write them all out and outline them in a horse boarding contract. Leave nothing out. From the big things all the way to the little things. A proper horse boarding contract outlines all the issues so that nothing is left to the imagination if it is all to go sideways.

I have always been a fan of alternative medicine for myself as well as for my animals. I find all too often we treat the disease and not the symptom and that leads to further complications down the road. A good friend of mine, a Registered Equine Therapist who also practices Ayurvedic medicine has given me a list of her top 5 favorite herbs that heal.

Your horse will probably get its first worm when still just a foal. This parasite is introduced to the foal’s digestive tract when swallowed, and once inside the young horse the parasite will develop within about 12 weeks. Begin your worming early and repeat as indicated by the veterinarian.

As a groom I am at one with my horse, the smells, the sounds, there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than here.

Grooming is not only beneficial for us horse owners but it provides countless benefits to our horses as well. When used in a small circular motion the curry comb helps to promote circulation of the skin by removing built up dirt and hair from the skin.

Even if you have the nicest horse at the show, turn out is important at all levels of dressage. First and foremost it shows respect for the judge, your competitors, your sport as well as your self. Being properly ‘turned out’ is very important and should not be taken lightly. This is your time for you and your horse to shine so putting a little extra effort in goes a long way.

Much time is spent finding the winning combination of grain vs. hay to reach optimal levels of performance. With little room for error performance horses are kept in smaller paddocks vs. fields to hopefully cut down on the risk of injury. You’ve done everything right. You’ve worked hard, spent a lot of money to have your horse become the best that he can be. Somewhere along the lines we forget that a horse is a horse, and unintentionally cause our horses to develop gastric stomach ulcers.

During the winter months when it gets cold and miserable we usually tend to put our trusty steeds on a Rest & Relaxation plan for these cold winter months but are we making sure they are getting what they need?