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Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Shedding Light on Equine Night Vision  *
Do you ever worry about being out on the trail after dark? It's a legitimate concern; after all, if humans can't see well in low light, how well can a horse? Researchers already know that horses have the physical equipment for scotopic (night) vision, with more rods than cones and a reflective structure in the retina. Experience tells us that they ... Read full story
 10/12/2009
WCVM Student's Horse Anatomy Project Goes Live  *
When Dane Tatarniuk began his summer research project in 2008, the second-year veterinary student wasn't expecting to play a role in developing a minimally-invasive surgical technique for treating sinusitis in horses. "My initial project was to investigate the normal anatomy of the horse's nasal maxillary opening--the opening that leads from the ... Read full story
 7/16/2009
Equine Sinus Infection Treatment Balloons at WCVM  *
A few years ago, a magazine article describing a minimally-invasive treatment for people with chronic sinusitis caught the eye and imagination of Chris Bell, DVM. What if such a treatment could be adapted for use in horses? Last summer, the chance to test that theory came up for Bell when second-year veterinary student Dane Tatarniuk began working ... Read full story
 7/3/2009
'Soapy' Protein in Horse Sweat Evolved to Dissipate Heat   *
Latherin, a soaplike protein in horse sweat and saliva, helps spread sweat over the coat, maximizing evaporation of water for heat loss, and causing the foam that we see when horses sweat profusely. Latherin is also found in saliva, which might explain the foam often seen around a bitted horse's lips. New research sheds light on this unique feature ... Read full story
 6/11/2009
Will the Worms Win? (Part 1)  *
Common intestinal parasites and why they are problematic . Intestinal parasites, or "worms," have been problematic since the domestication of horses. In this first section of a two-part series, we’ll review the identification, transmission, and problems associated with internal parasites. Dawn of a New Era It's important that we focus on equine ... Read full story
 4/1/2009
Skin Deep  *
Your horse's skin is a huge and complex organ that serves as a barometer for his inner health. We tend to think of a horse's skin as just the envelope that contains all the important stuff. But the skin is an organ--the largest one your horse possesses. And its importance to his overall health is, frankly, staggering. The skin is the first line ... Read full story
 1/1/2009
Speed Researcher Says Horses Have Reached their Limit  *
It doesn't look like Thoroughbred racehorses will be breaking records anytime soon ... or perhaps ever again. According to Mark Denny, PhD, of California's Stanford University, a plateau in racing speed was reached back in 1949, 1971, and 1973 for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, respectively. Denny analyzed the records ... Read full story
 12/11/2008
Comparing Humans and Horses  *
Comparisons of humans to horses logically can start with the anatomy. We stand upright; horses stand prone on their four limbs. What we call our knees are the stifles of horses, and our heels or ankles are horses' hocks. Our foot is their cannon bone, and from the fetlocks to the ground are our fingers and toes. Our fingernail is their hoof, and our ... Read full story
 10/8/2008
Electrolyte Basics
Principles that will help you know when and how to supplement horses with electrolytes. One topic that horse owners repeatedly wonder about is that of electrolytes and specifically how and when they should be used. In general, horses participating in most equestrian sports don't need electrolyte supplementation. A horse that sweats during a short ... Read full story
 7/1/2008
10 Principles of Exercise Physiology  *
Basic principles you can apply to your everyday training to boost your horse’s performance. Elite athletes are always looking for an edge over their competitors, and many times they find that edge by applying the science of exercise physiology to their training. From energy metabolism to the kinetics of joint movement, exercise physiology is geared ... Read full story
 6/1/2008
Urinary Tract Problems  *
The urinary tract is a vital system that should never be taken for granted; if a problem develops, it can rapidly become a crisis (Editor's Note: Contributing to this article was Hal Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University.) The body produces many wastes ... Read full story
 4/23/2008
The Airways and Lungs  *
The forgotten organs. By the time a horse crosses the finish line in a five-furlong race, has completed a Grand Prix show jumping round, or gone one-sixth of the way round a 3-star cross-country course, he will have moved somewhere around 1,800 liters of air in and out of the lungs. If you find 1,800 liters hard to visualize, then think of six ... Read full story
 11/1/2007
Treating Irregular Heartbeats  *
Chances are you know someone with a heart murmur--you might even have one yourself. Usually it's discovered at birth, and most often it's nothing to worry about. The heart is fine; it just makes a sound associated with blood flow. The same can be said for horses. A heart murmur is, essentially, the sound the blood flow makes, and flow murmurs or ... Read full story
 10/1/2007
Unilateral Castration in Horses Contraindicated and Costly  *
Unilaterally castrating horses (removing only one testicle), often as a result of failure to identify cryptorchidism prior to commencing a surgical castration, is an expensive and unethical procedure that continues to occur too frequently, according to researchers. David Moll, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS and colleagues at the Oklahoma State University College ... Read full story
 9/29/2007
In Living Color  *
I volunteer with a group helping kids with simple science concepts, and I was wondering if it has been sorted out whether horses can see in color? This question comes up over and over. Back in Pony Club, we were taught the traditional view that horses see in black and white. Then, somewhere along the line I read that there was some debate about that. ... Read full story
 6/1/2007
Gait Analysis for Horses  *
There has been a long journey over a relatively short span of time in the world of equine gait analysis. The first studies utilized high-speed cameras and a treadmill and took place at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences some 35 years ago, with Sune Persson, DVM, PhD, as one of the guiding lights. Today, that rudimentary science has evolved ... Read full story
 4/1/2007
The First Supper  *
Your new foal is struggling to his feet and instinctively wobbling toward mom. You watch in anxious interest as she licks and nudges to encourage him--while he noses at her front leg, her flank, her buttock, and finally, DINNER! The mare's first milk is crucial for the foal's survival. Colostrum contains several important ingredients to give him ... Read full story
 12/1/2006
Anatomy and Physiology Part 11: Of Blood and Breath  *
There are few similarities between horses and automobiles, but in a manner of speaking, the horse's circulatory and respiratory systems constitute its engine. The food a horse consumes is its fuel. The fuel is converted into nutritional energy that powers the muscles. The respiratory system provides oxygen to facilitate metabolism, and the cardiovascular ... Read full story
 11/1/2006
Internal Insights  *
Veterinary internal medicine is a growing specialty that boasts nearly 400 large animal internal medicine specialists, many of them focusing on horses. In a time when humans seek out experts in varying medical fields, it's only logical that we seek the same for our animals. Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) ... Read full story
 10/1/2006
Blue's Clues  *
The foal flutters his eyelids in the dawning hours during his first day of his life. He stands, wobbles around his dam, and finally nurses, showing the vigorous signs of a healthy newborn. Now that the foal has safely made its way into the world, the breeder starts inventorying exactly what she has in front of her: a colt. Strong Quarter Horse body. ... Read full story
 10/1/2006
Bad to the Bone  *
It began with a common paddock accident--crashing into a rail--and progressed into a bone infection. After several months of nursing and repeated surgeries, veterinary efforts failed to save the life of Alywow, a former Canadian Horse of the Year and million-dollar-plus Thoroughbred broodmare. While bone infections don't automatically end with euthanasia, ... Read full story
 10/1/2006
No Vertical Vision?  *
I follow Pat Parelli's training methodology. While doing the exercise of desensitizing my horse to a ball, I quickly realized that her focus never followed the ball over her head. If I rolled it at her feet, or played with the ball anywhere below her eye-level, she followed it. But, when I tossed it above her head, she never followed it up, and she ... Read full story
 8/1/2006
On the Forehand  *
The foreleg of the horse is, for the most part, a model of good engineering. It is structured in such a fashion that the horse can move slowly or at speed with the concussion of each footfall minimized by a sophisticated shock absorbing system. The system works very well when the horse is doing what nature intended--wandering about over large expanses, ... Read full story
 3/1/2006
Advanced Procedure For DDSP  *
A new surgical procedure known as the laryngeal tie-forward might provide a more reliable treatment for dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), the most common airway obstruction affecting performance horses. Current surgical procedures have about a 60% success rate, but Cornell University researchers say this procedure has a 10-20% greater ... Read full story
 10/21/2005
Heart Size and Racing Performance in Trotters  *
When it comes to the hearts of Standardbred racehorses, size does matter. Danish researchers recently published the results of an echocardiographic study in which they found that heart size correlated with athletic performance. However, "excellent cardiac function is only one of the important requirements to become a successful athletic horse," concluded ... Read full story
 7/5/2005
Cold Air and Lung Health  *
Researchers at Oklahoma State University (OSU) recently completed a study on airway cooling and mucosal injury during cold weather exercise. Using the Thoroughbred racehorse as a model, scientists found that even cantering in sub-freezing temperatures can induce airway obstruction (bronchoconstriction, or airway contraction). The research appeared ... Read full story
 4/8/2005
History of the Horse  *
Who, what, when, where, and how? These journalistic questions also are the backbone of historic research into the history of the world. There are many scientists who have studied and theorized about how man and horses came to be together, but modern science has changed some of what we thought was fact. Except for horses and chickens, the farm and ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP Convention 2004: Medicine II--Thyroid/Cushing's Disease  *
Babretta Breuhaus, DVM, PhD, associate professor of equine medicine in the department of clinical sciences at North Carolina State University, provided a review of thyroid function and dysfunction at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. Hypothyroidism (underactivity of the ... Read full story
 2/14/2005
Cauda Equina Syndrome   *
In the roll call of neurological diseases from which horses can suffer, there is one many horse owners don’t yet know about--cauda equina syndrome. Caused by myriad infectious, inflammatory, and/or traumatic factors, the syndrome includes many hind-end neurological clinical signs stemming from damage to the cauda equina, the tapered end of the spinal ... Read full story
 1/18/2005
Anatomy and Physiology  *
The evolution of the horse from a tiny, four-toed animal, perhaps no more than one foot tall, to the variety of equines in existence today, is one of the wonders of nature. During that process of change, the horse evolved over many thousands of years from an animal that predators hunted for food to an animal that became a servant and friend for mankind. ... Read full story
 1/1/2005
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow   *
When it comes to winter coats, most of us think of the long hairs that end up down our shirts, up our noses, in our mouths and eyes, and all over the floor during springtime shedding. However, there's more to a winter coat than shedding aggravation. If we want to better manage our horses' winter coats, first we need to understand what they are and ... Read full story
 11/1/2004
Using the Twitch Properly   *
I attended a short course on horse behavior at New Bolton Center where you explained how a twitch works and your recommendations for how to use it most effectively. It seemed to make so much sense why sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and especially why horses can get to hate the twitch. Can you describe that in your column in The Horse ... Read full story
 11/1/2004
Warm Springwater Immersion   *
Immersion of the body in natural springwater has been studied extensively in humans and dogs for its healing effects. The theory behind immersion is its ability to temporarily suppress the sympathetic nervous system (SNS, the part of the nervous system responsible for the "fight or flight" response) and enhance the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS, ... Read full story
 10/1/2004
Understanding Equine Pain   *
Would you know if your horse was in pain? "Sure," you think, perhaps picturing your horse with a notable limp or a gaping wound. But what about less dramatic scenarios? Does it hurt your horse when you pull his mane, give him an injection, or have him freeze branded? Would you know if he had internal discomfort or a low-level, nagging ache? What signs ... Read full story
 10/1/2004
First Look Inside the Live Equine Heart   *
On July 9, a human interventional cardiologist and an equine veterinarian in Lexington, Ky., successfully completed the first step of a landmark procedure to repair a heart problem in a 5-month-old Thoroughbred colt called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). At best, the problem could cost him his athletic career if not corrected. At worst, it could ... Read full story
 9/1/2004
Miniature Horses' Eyes   *
It is tempting for veterinarians to use laboratory reference ranges collected from full-sized horses when treating miniature horses. This is not always appropriate, however, as miniature horses have some breed characteristics that are only now becoming apparent. In fact, researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) have been diagnosing ocular abnormalities ... Read full story
 4/1/2004
AAEP 2003: High-Pressure Eyes (Equine Glaucoma)   *
"Glaucoma (increased fluid pressure within the eye to a level incompatible with eye health) in horses is not well recognized, but look for it in cases of cloudy cornea, corneal edema, or severe unrelenting ocular inflammation," said Brian Gilger, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVO, of North Carolina State University, during his presentation on diagnosing and treating ... Read full story
 2/23/2004
Glass Horse Model Expanded  *
The popular three-dimensional electronic horse model, "The Glass Horse CD," which offered a novel look at the gastrointestinal anatomy of the horse when it was introduced in November of 2001, has a new companion that depicts the structures of the equine distal (lower) limb. This CD, called "Elements of the Equine Distal Limb," should be available for ... Read full story
 1/7/2004
No Grass, No Horse  *
Research published in Nature shows that climate changes and the highly specialized digestive system of the wild horse Equus ferus might have contributed to its extinction in North America. COURTESY MARIE GILBERTINSTITUTE OF ARCTIC BIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS Guthrie's findings were based on measurements and radiocarbon dating ... Read full story
 1/1/2004
Analyze This! (Blood Tests Part 2)  *
Blood tests are a part of veterinary care known as laboratory medicine (for more information, see "What Blood Can Tell You" in the August 2003 issue of The Horse, article #4514 online). Laboratory medicine is used by your veterinarian--along with physical examination findings--to aid, confirm, or disprove a suspected diagnosis. While the first part ... Read full story
 10/1/2003
Asleep on His Feet   *
After a long day at a horse show, I'm ready for a nice cool drink, a hot bath, and a good night's sleep in my comfortable bed. It's hard to accept that my horse, for all his hard work at the show, gets nothing more than a layer of shavings to bed down in. And while he might stretch out and snooze a bit after our long day, most of the time he's perfectly ... Read full story
 7/1/2003
The Whites of Their Eyes
I have a 3-year-old filly which has prominent white around her eyes. Most farriers and several others tell me this is a sign of madness in a horse. I always thought that this was an old wives' tale, but this particular filly does appear to be very nervous. Could you please clarify this for me or direct me to some articles I can read on the subject? ... Read full story
 5/1/2003
The Inflammatory Cascade   *
Equine pharmaceutical companies are developing new drugs every year that have the ability to reduce inflammation and pain associated with various horse injuries. When people hear of inflammation, the first thought that usually pops into their heads is pain and tissue damage at the site of injury. Before you can start treating inflammation, you need ... Read full story
 5/1/2003
Practical Equine Medications   *
Horse owners, in the everyday care of their animals, routinely need to administer medications in one form or another. The most common range from liniments and leg braces, to diverse anthelmintics for controlling internal parasites, to regular application of fly repellents. In addition to this familiar routine, the horse owner often finds it necessary ... Read full story
 1/1/2003
Is His Heart In It?   *
Do you know why a Thoroughbred can deliver that great burst of speed to eat up a mile in 1 1/2 minutes, or how an endurance horse can maintain the strength and stamina to cover long distances at steady speeds? Of course you do: Conditioning. Conditioning builds sturdy bones, develops strong muscles, and maximizes efficiency in the cardiovascular system. ... Read full story
 12/1/2002
Year by Year, Tooth by Tooth   *
It makes little difference if you are new to horse ownership or a seasoned professional, you probably aren't as familiar as you would like to be with the expanding field of equine dentistry. Horse owners have many questions about proper dental care for their equine charges. "My horse is only three years old. He doesn't need his teeth looked at...does ... Read full story
 11/1/2002
Eyelid Problems   *
This month we continue our in-depth look at the equine eye by focusing on eyelids. Without the eyelid to protect the sensitive structures of the eye, the horse would go blind very quickly. Therefore, even small injuries are important and require veterinary attention. The functions of the eyelids are to protect the cornea from dust and injury, produce ... Read full story
 4/1/2002
Color Vision In the Horse  *
A recent study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine has shown that horses do possess color vision, albeit a reduced form compared to most people. The cone cells responsible for color vision are arranged in a thin layer at the back of the eye (the retina). ... Read full story
 2/13/2002
Mother's Milk: Understanding Mare Lactation  *
Many think that lactation in the mare is not that important, especially compared to the dairy cow, from which milk is taken directly for human consumption. However, the importance of lactation in the mare must not be underestimated. Indeed, some cultures do collect milk from mares for human consumption, but normally mare milk production is only indirectly ... Read full story
 1/1/2002
Eye Anatomy and Physiology  *
Editor's Note: Following is the first of a 12-part series on the equine eye. We are bringing you this series because any eye problem should be considered an emergency. The equine eye is very sensitive, and even the slightest injury can result in blindness. While vision in only one eye does not mean the horse must be euthanized, it does somewhat limit ... Read full story
 1/1/2002
Turnout Time for Warmblood Foals
I am being told by "professionals" that warmblood foals should be turned out a limited amount of time. The "professionals" were a farrier (who shoes Olympic-quality horses) and a respected veterinarian. Their reasoning is that warmblood babies grow too fast and this would slow his growth down. This colt is trying to canter in a 12-foot by 12-foot stall ... Read full story
 12/1/2001
EIPH: Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage  *
Perhaps the most widely recognized of all disorders affecting racehorses is "bleeding," or exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). We now know that most racehorses bleed at some time during their careers. In fact, many horses might bleed every time they undertake intense exercise, such as breezing and racing. We also know that bleeding can occur ... Read full story
 11/1/2001
It's in the Blood  *
Blood tests aren't magic, but they do have broad capability that ranges all the way from helping determine pregnancy to diagnosing rare diseases. So helpful are blood tests in making diagnoses that in most equine clinics and hospitals, they are routine. It isn't that the blood test will necessarily pinpoint the malady from which the horse is suffering, ... Read full story
 10/16/2001
Problems With Blue Eyes?
Q: I'm looking at a Quarter Horse cross who is about 12 years old and appears to be perfectly healthy. My only concern is that he has two blue eyes. I have not had a pre-purchase vet exam done yet due to the vet's busy schedule, but was wondering if there is possibly a vision problem with a horse that has two blue eyes. Loni A: If this horse ... Read full story
 10/12/2001
Rectal Examination of a Colicky Horse  *
Horses with signs of colic can be grouped into one of three categories: horses which are resolved after medical management at the farm; horses which are resolved after more intensive medical management at a referral facility; and, horses which are resolved after performing emergency abdominal surgery. In a study of 1,929 equine ambulatory ... Read full story
 10/11/2001
AESM Convention  *
Researchers, veterinarians, and horse people from around the world gathered in San Antonio in April for the 16th meeting of the Association for Equine Sports Medicine (AESM). The program included three full days of presentations concerning the overall welfare and treatment of sport horses. The presentations, most of which were 20 minutes in length, ... Read full story
 10/10/2001
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease  *
The official title for an all-too-common respiratory ailment in horses is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the average horse owner, however, that rather cumbersome title has been reduced to a single word: heaves. Other people call it broken wind. In this article, we'll stick with the acronym COPD. While there is some debate about ... Read full story
 10/8/2001
Roaring  *
Old-time horsemen called it "roaring." The common scientific term is laryngeal hemiplegia. However you describe it, the condition involving larynx dysfunction can severely compromise a horse’s ability to breathe, especially during exercise. The problem often is first discovered in growing, tall male horses. It should be remembered, however, that the ... Read full story
 10/3/2001
Spleen Problems
Q: Can you help me settle a bet? I remember reading that a horse's spleen is unique, but my friend said that horses don't even have a spleen. What's the truth? A: Horses do in fact have a spleen, so you win that part of the bet. However, although some aspects of the anatomy and function of the horse's spleen are different from the human spleen, ... Read full story
 9/17/2001
Dehydration Alert  *
When horses are working hard, especially in hot weather, they are particularly prone to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. The official term for one symptom of these problems is a mouthful: synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF). Horse owners and veterinarians who have dealt with this condition through the years generally identify it with a simpler, ... Read full story
 7/1/2001
Can You Breed for Speed or Stamina?  *
For centuries, horsemen have tried to breed for speed and endurance and found that the greatest genetic potential can yield disappointment as easily as reward. Consider the indomitable Secretariat, who sired a string of mostly unremarkable racers, or the supremely talented John Henry, who sprang from an unheralded sire and dam. These are not isolated ... Read full story
 3/1/2001
A Nose for News--Equine Sense of Smell  *
A mare lies in the straw, devotedly licking dry her newborn foal. As she does so, she breathes deeply of the baby's scent, memorizing it so that ever after she can identify the foal as hers out of the herd. A young gelding being turned out with a group for the first time trots optimistically towards his new pasturemates. Out of the herd swaggers ... Read full story
 2/1/2001
AAEP Convention Preview: State-of-the-Art Topic  *
Milne Lecture Features 3-D Anatomy Software The Frank J. Milne Lecture is named for AAEP past president and distinguished life member Frank J. Milne. Each year, the lecture focuses on subjects and techniques considered "state of the art" by the equine veterinary industry. We've long known that "hands-on" learning helps an individual grasp a concept ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
AAEP Convention Topics Preview: Predicting Performance  *
If only we could accurately predict a horse's future athletic performance, we'd know which horses on which to spend our fortunes. Many early factors in estimating a yearling's potential have been proven correct, others false, and there's many for which we just don't have all the facts. To help us gain more information on this subject, Scott Pierce, ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Mystery Solved: Guttural Pouches  *
What an amazing athletic machine is the horse. Few other animals of similar size and bulk manage to move with such efficiency, grace, and sheer speed. But despite our having worked side by side for centuries, there's still much we don't understand about a horse's inner workings. Take the guttural pouch, for example. It's a strange, fist-sized cavity ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Spring Tuning (Athletic Conditioning)  *
Most will agree that thorough preparation of a horse is key to success in athletic competition. With spring hopefully just around the corner, this is an opportune time to discuss conditioning. Of course, the nature of a conditioning program will vary greatly, depending on the goal in mind and the length of lay-up prior to the start of training. Top-level ... Read full story
 2/1/2000
Total Parenteral Nutrition  *
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) frequently is used to provide adequate nutrition intravenously in small animals and humans, and it is becoming more commonly used in horses and foals when feeding via the gastrointestinal tract is impractical, inadequate, ill-advised, or impossible. The term parenteral means administration by means other than orally. ... Read full story
 2/1/2000
COPD  *
Please take a deep breath. Excuse me, I said could you take a deep breath please? No, stop nuzzling at my backside. Could you please just take a deep breath? This might be a typical one-sided conversation a veterinarian would want to have with one of his or her equine patients (highlighting a slightly different meaning to the word patient) when attempting ... Read full story
 11/1/1999
Gastric Ulcers  *
Stomach ulcers and lesions can be an affliction in horses young and old. The presence of ulcers often causes severe discomfort to the horse and, in radical cases, can result in death. Attempting to describe ulcers is a bit like trying to describe colic. In both cases, one word describes a disorder that is multi-faceted and which varies from case to ... Read full story
 11/1/1999
The Anatomy of the Ear  *
The ear is divided into three portions: the outer, the middle, and the inner ear. The outer ear is the visible portion that can be a strong indicator of the general mood of your horse, a tip-off as to where its attention is directed, and even a sentinel to a well-timed kick. The outer ear is also called the auricle or pinna—the word auricular often ... Read full story
 5/1/1999
Inflammation  *
Within every living cell (muscle, tendon, lung, bone, etc.), there is a biochemical and cellular time bomb waiting to go off—inflammation. However, it is to be noted that inflammation is a double-edged sword. More animals (and probably people) die from an inflammatory disease than all other disease processes combined, yet without an adequate inflammatory ... Read full story
 4/1/1999
Aortic Rupture  *
You’ve probably heard horror stories like these: A breeding stallion completes servicing a mare, slides off, goes down to the ground, gasps a few times, and dies. A 20-year-old pony being ridden by his young owner staggers sideways, falls to his knees, and dies moments later. The trail horse starts lowering his head, stumbles a bit, and drops dead. ... Read full story
 4/1/1999
Protect Your Horse's Mouth: Bits  *
A simple metal shape--and a complex tool of communication between horse and rider. Inside the horse's mouth, the bit's motion sends messages to the horse. The message can be as subtle as a twinge, obvious only to the horse. Or, a harsher sensation can result in the animal's gaping mouth and visible pain. SARAH LIBBY GREENHALGH The bit ... Read full story
 10/1/1998
Equine Dentistry Update  *
One of the oldest of adages in the horse world is, "No feet, no horse." We could add another that is just as appropriate, "No teeth, no horse." The teeth are one of the most important parts of a horse's anatomy, yet they often are neglected. Many horse owners make regular trips to the dentist to have their teeth cleaned, cavities filled, and, in some ... Read full story
 9/1/1998
Determining Conditioning  *
Among the animals we call "livestock," horses are unique because they are the only ones we regard as athletes. Unlike other animals that are bred for better milk production or tastier flesh, horses are bred for athletic performance, each type with its own particular talents. Some, like Thoroughbred racehorses, are track and field athletes; others, ... Read full story
 7/1/1998
Common Respiratory Problems  *
The main goal of the respiratory system is to transfer oxygen from the air we breathe to the red blood cells, where the oxygen will be transported throughout the body and be available for all organs and tissues. In addition, carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, is eliminated from the body via the lungs. While this seems a simple task, it ... Read full story
 7/1/1998
Skin Diseases in Horses  *
A horse's skin is vital to the animal's survival. It serves as its anatomical boundary and as the principal organ of communication between the horse and the environment in which it lives. As is the case with other body components, the skin of a horse is subject to attack on a number of fronts, ranging from infectious bacteria to biting insects. We ... Read full story
 10/1/1997
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage  *
The debate goes on. That brief statement is about the most accurate way to open a discussion on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in horses. The condition has been a concern for 300 years and, during that time, has been addressed, researched, and argued about by some of the most brilliant scientists in the world. Yet, there is much that ... Read full story
 9/1/1997
Life's Curious Brew: Fluids and Electrolytes  *
How would you feel if somebody told you that you are little more than just a bunch of salt water? Well, it's almost true--we and our favorite companion, the horse, are approximately 60% (by body weight) salty water. So now, with the help of a little arithmetic, we can calculate the following: A generic adult horse (named Salty) weighing 450 kilograms ... Read full story
 8/1/1997
No Sweat: Anhidrosis  *
Heat builds up rapidly in the body of an exercising horse and must be quickly dissipated if thermal injury is to be prevented. For the normal horse, this is not all that much of a problem. Like man, the horse cools its body by sweating, and this seems to take care of thermal buildup. Thermoregulation, of course, involves more than just sweating. There ... Read full story
 7/1/1997
Vision Testing In Horses  *
Have you noticed any changes in your vision? Yes, in fact I'm starting to have trouble reading the street signs while driving. Well then, sit back in the chair and relax. I'm going to dim the lights and have you read the letters while looking through the machine--which letter is sharper? This one or this one? This one or this one? This one or this ... Read full story
 4/1/1997
Drugs And Pain  *
When you feel stiff and sore, you can grit your teeth and work through the pain; or, you can depend on medication like aspirin, ibuprofen, or even a stronger analgesic. Like you, the horse suffers from joint inflammation and painful movement. Your horse relies on you to make the decision that determines his comfort level. Either he bears the pain, ... Read full story
 3/1/1997
Understanding Fitness  *
A person who loves horses and spending a lot of time in the saddle can gain a great deal of satisfaction from competing in endurance races. It is a special feeling when you know you have partnered well with your horse and that the two of you have completed a 50-mile or longer ride none the worse for wear. By the same token, failing to complete a ride ... Read full story
 7/1/1996




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