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
Endophyte-Infected Fescue
April 01, 2006
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a nutritious cool-season perennial grass that grows on more than 35 million acres in the United States. Introduced from Europe more than 100 years ago, it didn't become popular until the mid-1940s afte Read More
Protect Horses From Bugs
April 01, 2006
Flies and mosquitoes are a nuisance, causing irritation and discomfort as they feed on horses. They can also be a health risk, spreading West Nile virus, encephalomyelitis viruses, equine infectious anemia, vesicular stomatitis, and other Read More
Feeding the Problem Horse (Book Excerpt)
March 08, 2006
Some horses present special challenges, such as being too thin, too fat, or sick. Some horses are finicky and are hard to keep weight on, especially when working. The first option is to increase the feed's energy density by adding grain or fat to the Read More
Skin Problems in Horses
February 01, 2006
There are many problems that can affect a horse's skin--from insect allergies to fungal, viral, or bacterial infections. The skin is the body's largest and most important organ; it protects the inner structures of the body from the outside Read More
Hoof Care For Your Horses
February 01, 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 Read More
Winter and Cold Weather Care (Book Excerpt)
January 25, 2006
During winter the horse needs additional forage to create more body heat, clean unfrozen water, and some kind of shelter or windbreak. In some climates he may need blanketing if his winter hair coat is inadequate. Cold weather is not a problem if Read More
Hey There, Honey!
January 01, 2006
In nature, mares have a high fertility/ conception rate since they are continually with a stallion who teases and breeds them at the best times. But few domestic horses are bred under natural conditions in pasture harems, and broodmare managers Read More
Analyzing Forages
October 01, 2005
We all know a horse's primary food is pasture grass and/or hay (forage). The quality of the forage is, thus, a major factor affecting his health. Do you know if your horse's forage meets his needs? Truly, most of us don't--but we should. Read More
Biomechanical Efficiency
October 01, 2005
The horse is an amazing athlete, with great speed and endurance considering his body size and weight. For the past 20 years, researchers have evaluated what makes the equine locomotive system so efficient for racing and other strenuous Read More
Dung Beetles
July 01, 2005
Dung beetles are amazing insects that spend their lives mucking out your pastures. The adults use liquid contents for nourishment, and they lay eggs in small manure balls (brood balls) they bury in the ground. In the process, they serve as Read More
Photosensitization in the Horse
July 01, 2005
Photosensitization is a serious skin condition characterized by "sunburned," crusty skin that dies and sloughs away. It is usually caused by a reaction to something the horse has eaten, but the skin problem does not appear until the Read More
Weaning Foals
June 01, 2005
There are many ways to wean foals. Bob Coleman, MS, PhD, PAS, an equine extension specialist at the University of Kentucky, says there are basically two methods--abrupt weaning and gradual weaning.
"Whether you put the foals in a pen and Read More
Ponying for Exercise
June 01, 2005
Ponying is leading one horse from another. The pony horse is the one you are riding; the ponied horse is the one being led. Ponying is a good way to exercise a horse you don't have time to ride or one that can't be ridden. If you need to keep tw Read More
Innovative Mare Milker
May 12, 2005
A new invention by Buck Wheeler called the Udderly EZ mare milker is helping breeding farms manage colostrum collection and the sometimes difficult task of milking a mare.
The device is a hand-held, trigger-operated pump that fits on a Read More
Salmonella in Horses
May 01, 2005
Salmonellosis affects humans, horses, most mammals, and birds. It can cause debilitating--and even deadly--diarrhea. Salmonella bacteria can affect both foals and adults, and they spread easily by horse-to-horse contact and by fomites Read More
Controlling Influenza
May 01, 2005
Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a 12-part series of articles on vaccinations for horses.
Equine influenza is a common respiratory infection. While it affects many horses, it has a low mortality rate; horses generally recover. Read More
Settling Down: Reproductive Problems in Performance Mares
April 01, 2005
Let's say you've got a great performance mare you'd like to breed. But getting her in foal might not be as simple as swapping arena for breeding shed. Mares in performance careers can sometimes be hard to breed because these mares are under more Read More
Fetus at Risk
March 03, 2005
When a pregnant mare develops a problem that puts her fetus at risk, what can be done? Some of these foals can be saved if the problem can be discovered early and the mare given proper treatment to reverse the condition.
Jon Palmer, VMD, Read More
Diarrhea in Young Foals
March 03, 2005
Infectious diarrhea in young foals can be fatal without prompt treatment, and the age of the foal can make a difference in his vulnerability to certain pathogens and how deadly they might be. In foals less than a week old, the cause is often Read More
Lice on Horses
February 01, 2005
Horses occasionally get lice, and a horse owner needs to know what to look for and how to treat these irritating parasites. Bill Clymer, PhD, of Amarillo, Texas (now a livestock parasitologist on the professional services staff of Fort Dodge Read More
Waterers That Work in Winter
January 01, 2005
Fresh water is important to horses all year, especially in winter. Some waterers are designed to remain functional in cold weather--with an insulated tank or bowl, a heater, or a combination of a heating unit and insulation. Following are some o Read More
Water Access in Winter
December 07, 2004
Make sure horses have good access to water and are drinking. They drink less during cold or wet weather, but still need an adequate supply or they may become impacted. Read More
Winter Respiratory Health
December 01, 2004
Editor's Note: This excerpt is from Chapter 7 of Care & Management of Horses by Heather Smith Thomas. The book is available from Read More
Allergic Reactions: Types and Treatment
December 01, 2004
An allergy is a condition in which the body reacts adversely (locally or systemically) to a certain substance (allergen). Allergic reactions can be triggered in horses by many things--environmental allergens such as dust, pollen, and mold; insect bit Read More
Blankets and Blanketing
November 22, 2004
Most outdoor horses are better off without blankets, but a blanket can help keep a horse comfortable when trailering, during a severe winter storm, or when a horse is sick and having trouble staying warm. A clipped horse will need a blanket in cold w Read More
