| Basic Foot Care |
October/2009 |
A horse is only as sound as his feet. Care and management of the feet will vary, however, depending on the individual horse, his conformation and hoof structure, environment and climate, and use. Whether he needs to be shod or can be left barefoot will also hinge on these factors.
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| Barn, Stall, and Fence Maintenance |
September/2009 |
Take a closer look at your barn and property and ensure it�s safe for horses and handlers.
The care and keeping of your barn is important for the health and well-being of your horses and the humans that work with them. Barns are tough areas to keep in good order.
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| The Well-Equipped Vet |
August/2009 |
Veterinarians can better diagnose problems in our horses because of the improving array of equipment they have in their arsenals.
Technology has transformed our music, photography, movies ..
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| Learning About Horses (Stable Studies) |
July/2009 |
What do you want to learn about horses? There is a plethora of programs available to those interested in the equine industry.
There was a time when an individual seeking a horse-related vocation had few choices for equine education. About all that was available was working as an apprentice under a successful trainer or breeder--sometimes for little or no money.
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| Fences and Machines: Ways to Trim Expenses |
June/2009 |
Tips on maintaining fences and machinery to extend their usefulness; but keep in mind sometimes it’s cheaper to buy than to repair.
Fences and machinery are some of the higher-ticket items on a farm, and in this iffy economic climate, it might be overwhelming to even consider replacing these everyday necessities with new products. Having an organized, planned maintenance program can keep these items serviceable, and it can be much cheaper than replacing them with something new.
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| Filling a Need? (Supplements) |
May/2009 |
Do your homework and consider your horse's entire nutritional picture before adding supplements.
When was the last time you stepped into a feed room that didn't contain a wide array of buckets, bottles, and tubs of supplements? There might have been a time when horses were fed on hay and oats, but these days we're much more likely to be feeding a balanced diet and adding a whole lot of "bells and whistles." Supplements have become more the rule than the exception.
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| Competent Caring |
April/2009 |
Paying attention to details--and keeping a log of those details--will help you manage your horse better.
Proper care of a horse is a multi-faceted endeavor. In fact, when one looks at the big picture, it is almost overwhelming because there are so many aspects with which to be concerned.
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| A Need for Compounding |
December/2008 |
Veterinary compounding is an alternative source of medications when there are no commercially available products that meet the needs of a particular patient.
Compounding, by definition, is tailor-made preparation of a drug to meet the needs of a specific patient when an approved drug can't fit the bill.
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| Breeding Equipment |
October/2008 |
Want your mare in Texas bred to a stallion residing in Germany? It’s easy with today's equipment and technology.
Today's equine planned parenthood means that humans intervene, sometimes using veterinary equipment that helps them get the job done effectively. In this article we'll take a look at the modern tools you might use for breeding, whether you operate a prolific stallion station or have a small facility of your own.
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| Barn Upkeep/Equipment |
September/2008 |
Installation of high-quality products and regular maintenance can save you time and money, while providing a safer environment for your horse.
No matter what type of barn you have, there is always maintenance you need to perform in order to keep the barn safe and comfortable for your horses. Dave Preston, a longtime horse owner and contractor living in Central Kentucky, has been involved in a number of barn building projects, including some $750,000 Thoroughbred barns near Lexington, as well as smaller barns for his family and friends.
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| Wounds, Leg Trauma, and Respiratory Problems--Health Care Inside and Out |
August/2008 |
Discussions of products to treat wounds, leg trauma, and respiratory problems.
If you've been a horse owner for any length of time, there's a pretty good chance you've amassed an arsenal of products that claim some pretty spectacular results. While many might have delivered the goods, unless the fundamentals of a problem have been addressed, you very well could be wasting your money, or, worse, doing more harm than good.
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| Live and Learn (Equine Education Opportunities) |
July/2008 |
Educational opportunities abound for horse owners and handlers.
For horse owners and equine enthusiasts interested in increasing their knowledge, training, or skills, there have never been more opportunities to learn. Colleges and universities across the country offer classes in virtually every aspect of horse management.
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| Sound Choices |
June/2008 |
Many equine therapy devices are available, but which ones work?
Keeping your horse in action or getting him sound and back into battle: twin goals of just about everyone who works with competition horses or who spends a chunk of time playing with their pleasure horses. Consequently, an entire industry of physical therapy devices has emerged, promising to help heal your horse's sore muscles, mend hard- or soft-tissue injuries, or soothe acute or chronic lameness conditions.
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| Grooming Products |
May/2008 |
Good management is as important as good products when caring for your horse's coat, mane, and tail
Many horse owners groom their animals daily, especially when riding regularly or showing, and they use a wide variety of topical products--shampoos and hair conditioners, mane and tail detanglers, stain removers, coat polishes, fly repellents, etc. Jean Greek, DVM, Dipl.
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| A Clearer Picture (Imaging Technologies) |
April/2008 |
Advancements in imaging technologies make diagnoses easier.
For decades veterinarians have relied upon a number of different imaging tools, from radiographs to ultrasonography, to diagnose lameness, pregnancy, and soft-tissue-related conditions. In recent years a host of advanced imaging modalities such as digital radiography, CT, scintigraphy, and MRI have been added to the mix, bringing with them the ability to pinpoint lameness problems more accurately than ever.
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| Feeds and Supplements |
March/2008 |
The key to a good feed program is to start with the proper type of forage for the individual, then (if needed) pick the right concentrate or supplement.
Most horse owners try to provide the best diets for their horses, yet there's often a difference between what they think the animals need and what they actually need, and there are also some misunderstandings about how those needs can be met.
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| Ergonomic Tack |
March/2008 |
How do you choose the tack that is comfortable for your horse and helps him remain healthy?
Flip through any horse supply catalog and you'll see a myriad of tack choices designed to help your horse perform better and stay healthier. From bits to saddles and pads to girths, there are many options.
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| All We Want for Christmas... |
November/2007 |
A Christmas list of goodies for your equine partner.
Peruse a horse owner's holiday wish list, and it's a pretty good bet that most of the longed-for gifts thereon are more horse- than human-oriented. That's because horse owners always need something to enhance their horses' care, or simply to pamper their equine companions during the holiday season and beyond.
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| Barn Innovations |
October/2007 |
What's new in stall design, barn equipment, and mats for horse areas.
(Editor's Note: Any brand names noted in this article are for discussion only. This article is not intended as definitive list of suppliers or features; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
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| Well-Equipped Breeding |
September/2007 |
Tips on what you might need to equip your stallion breeding station, from microscopes to AVs
The lexicon of the breeding shed has changed dramatically in the last decade or so. Words that horse owners were unfamiliar with in the past are part of the vocabulary today.
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| Feed Supplements for Horses |
August/2007 |
A feed supplement is anything fed to a horse in addition to a natural diet of forage. Technically grain is a supplement. But the term has come to mean any additional nutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals, extra protein, energy, etc.) that might be lacking in the diet and are added to a horse's ration.
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| Thirst for Knowledge |
July/2007 |
Horse people are always searching for new ways to learn about their passion: the horse. Perhaps it is because our relationship with the horse is just that--a passion--that we are continually looking for ways to expand our knowledge base. It can be seen in the increasing subscription numbers for publications such as The Horse, the success of equine events such as horse expos, owner education opportunities from organizations such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and the increasing number of universities offering equine programs.
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| Stall Stuff |
May/2007 |
The care of horse stalls is an inherently messy part of horse management. There are a variety of opinions on how to cope with this daily chore. Let's face it: urine and manure reek. Additionally, an excess of these two elements creates unsafe and unhealthful conditions for the animals in our care.
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| Fencing for Pastures |
April/2007 |
What is the correct fencing for your farm? The correct answer is: it depends. It would be wonderful if there existed one type of Good Horse Fencing that we could all install and be done. While there is unacceptable fencing for horses, there is no perfect fence for all situations.
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| Healthy Habitats |
March/2007 |
There are many benefits to keeping horses on your own property, but there are also responsibilities, and one of the biggest is barn maintenance. Whether your barn is old or new, there are products on the market that can help ease the burden. And if your barn is too old to cut it, there are ways to augment what you have or replace it.
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| Building Better Hooves |
February/2007 |
At some point, probably all of us have used some type of product to improve our horses' feet. And many of us haven't seen the results we wanted, so perhaps we tried another. And another.
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| Readers Vote: Top Hoof Issues |
January/2007 |
A poll of readers showed laminitis, navicular disease, and barefoot vs. shod were their top issues involving horse feet.
When horse owners were asked in a poll on TheHorse.com, “What do you think are the top problems relating to the health of a horse’s foot,” we received answers that might surprise you.
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| Mobile Veterinarians (Mobile Veterinary Equipment) |
January/2007 |
In the early days of the large animal veterinarian, all medical supplies had to either fit into the back of a small car or a satchel. A bucket of cold water, a rough piece of burlap, and a hard bar of soap were the only things available for washing up.
When veterinary medicine advanced, diagnostic equipment was the stuff of hospitals, so veterinarians had to make referrals or wait to see the patient at a clinic.
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| Therapeutic Equipment |
December/2006 |
Higher, faster, stronger. It's human nature to push our horses to the edge, whether it be in the jumping ring, reining pen, or on the racetrack. But when our willing equine partners exert themselves on our behalf, they can sometimes push tissues past their limits. And when microtraumas--tiny, almost imperceptible signs of stress to tissues, ranging from torn muscle fibers to microscopic bone fractures--begin to accumulate, they can leave horses lame and laid up.
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| Home Sweet Barn |
October/2006 |
Change has been constant in the equine industry during the past couple of decades, ranging from sophisticated health care and treatment to improved living quarters for horses in our care, custody, and control.
When the horse was the prime source of power in agriculture, barns were basic and straightforward; often copies of what immigrants used in their home countries.
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| What's the Scoop? |
August/2006 |
With hundreds of equine nutritional supplements on the market, it's hard to know exactly which one your horse might need, if any at all. While not every horse requires supplements, they can be beneficial in specific circumstances.
According to Paul Siciliano, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, "A supplement is useful only when it provides nutrients that are lacking in the horse's base diet.
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| Learning to Earn |
July/2006 |
Considering a career in the horse industry? Formal education here is as necessary as for any other profession and as available. Many people who want to enter the horse industry are not aware of the opportunities for attaining marketable skills.
An objective approach to choosing the avenue of education to suit your needs is fundamental.
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| Pasture and Fencing |
June/2006 |
It's worth the time and expense to establish productive and nutritious pasture, then maintain it. And if you maintain your pasture, you'll want to keep your horses secure with a safe fencing system.
The following are tips on management of your pastures and fencing.
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| Product Spotlight: Equine Vacations |
May/2006 |
A full-color catalogue of exotic destinations where you can gallop a horse through the surf, trot through fields of lavender, or Paso up a mountainside to catch your first glimpse of Macchu Pichu..
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| Trailer Shopping |
April/2006 |
You're finally ready to buy a trailer--one of the more significant purchases you'll make as a horse owner. It's a lot of money, so you'll want to make a wise investment. It's a good time to buy a trailer, as horse travel has evolved into a part of everyday life with conscientious, well-informed owners demanding safety and comfort features for horse and human.
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| Housing the Horse |
March/2006 |
The health and safety of the horses that will live in a barn are of primary importance no matter the style. But barns come in many sizes, shapes, and styles to meet the needs of intended use, climate, site, and the owner's budget. Personal tastes and preferences of the owner also factor into the barn's construction.
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| Hoof Care For Your Horses |
February/2006 |
The horse's leg below the fetlock joint is similar to the human finger; the long pastern bone, short pastern bone, and coffin bone are comparable to the three segments of a human finger. The hoof wall is made of the same material as our fingernails--keratin (a type of protein that forms hair, skin, and horny tissue).
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| Veterinary Equipment |
January/2006 |
As research involving veterinary equipment results in more and more sophistication, both veterinarians and horse owners face something of a dilemma. For the veterinarian, the question involves how much a practice can afford to invest in the latest equipment. For the horse owner, the question often involves how much more he or she is willing to pay when that equipment is utilized.
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