Heather Smith Thomas
Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband near Salmon, Idaho, raising cattle and a few horses. She has a B.A. in English and history from University of Puget Sound (1966). She has raised and trained horses for 50 years, and has been writing freelance articles and books nearly that long, publishing 20 books and more than 9,000 articles for horse and livestock publications. Some of her books include Understanding Equine Hoof Care, The Horse Conformation Handbook, Care and Management of Horses, Storey's Guide to Raising Horses and Storey's Guide to Training Horses. Besides having her own blog, www.heathersmiththomas.blogspot.com, she writes a biweekly blog at http://insidestorey.blogspot.com that comes out on Tuesdays.
Articles by Heather Thomas
Fields and Fences
February 01, 2009
There's a whole lot more to grazing management than simply turning your horses out when the pastures green up. Regular fence maintenance, careful Read More
Shoeing for the Job (Book Excerpt)
January 26, 2009
There are many kinds of horseshoes; try to select shoes well suited to your horse's work. While a horse with a problem may need a farrier to create a special shoe, many horses get along fine with factory-made shoes. Read More
Flies and Bugs
January 01, 2009
Mites, lice, flies, and mosquitoes can cause irritation and carry dangerous diseases. Be aware of the external parasite species that are in your area and when they are prevalent so you can control them. Measures to control include repellents for your Read More
Internal Parasites
January 01, 2009
There are several major internal parasites of horses, and control is aimed at reducing their numbers at certain Read More
As the Sperm Turns
December 01, 2008
Fertilization is the beginning of a new Read More
Impending Arrival
December 01, 2008
Gestation in mares is estimated to last about 340 days, but this is just an average, since mares often foal as Read More
A Need for Compounding
December 01, 2008
Compounding, by definition, is tailor-made preparation of a dru Read More
Cribbing: Can You Stop It?
November 01, 2008
Many horses kept in unnatural environments and subjected to the stress of performance careers resort to repetitive behaviors (called stereotypies) such as cribbing, weaving, or stall walking. Read More
Investigating Palmar Foot Pain
September 01, 2008
“We have two papers that will be published this year comparing horses without radiographic changes that were diagnosed by MRI with damage in the heel region,” says Sarah Sampson, DVM, of Washington State University.
“We looked at 72 Read More
Cases that Mimic Navicular Disease
September 01, 2008
"With MRI we've found horses with coffin bone fractures that weren't visible on X rays, but were treated like navicular horses because they blocked to the heel," says Sarah Sampson, DVM, of Washington State University. "If these are managed like Read More
Barn Upkeep/Equipment
September 01, 2008
High-quality products and maintenance can save time, money and providing a safer environment for your horse. Read More
Hope for Navicular Horses
September 01, 2008
In earlier years, a diagnosis of navicular disease was often considered career-ending for a horse. Chronic lameness was typical, in spite of therapeutic Read More
Making Hay
August 01, 2008
The difference between good hay and poor hay is often in the harvesting. Poor timing of harvest processes or bad Read More
Reconditioning After Layup
August 01, 2008
After any layup an athletic horse needs to be brought back to peak condition gradually. Read More
Biosecurity on the Farm
June 01, 2008
Reducing the risk and frequency of contagious Read More
Options for Ex-Racehorses
May 26, 2008
Only a handful of racehorses continue racing for more than a few years. The most talented runners are retired Read More
Grooming Products
May 01, 2008
Good management is as important as good products when caring for your horse's coat, mane, and tail. Read More
Sleep Over Safely
May 01, 2008
When traveling with horses, it's important to make sure they stay safe and healthy during their trip, and they don't bring Read More
Urinary Tract Problems
April 23, 2008
(Editor's Note: Contributing to this article was Hal Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, Read More
Fencing on the Rocks
April 01, 2008
Over, around, or through, when your fencing runs into rock, there is a variety of choices to solve the problem Read More
Feeds and Supplements
March 01, 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 provid Read More
Emergency C-Section
February 01, 2008
With the right care, mare and foal can survive this critical event.
The first step in the decision to do a Caesarean section is that all other forms of help have been exhausted. Often, Read More
Working With a Nutritionist
February 01, 2008
Using a qualified equine nutritionist can help you manage your horses to live and work better.
Feeding horses properly is an art and a science. Sometimes it helps to work with a Read More
Be a Hay Connoisseur
January 01, 2008
Good owners know whether the hay they are feeding is the right type and the right quality. Read More
Bedding Choices
December 01, 2007
Investigate which bedding choice is safe, healthful, and cost-effective for your operation.
Stalls have traditionally been bedded with materials that provide cushion and Read More
