Recent News for Horse Care
Article
Older Horses at Work
October 01, 1998
The aging process takes its toll on all working horses, but the rate of attrition can vary significantly. In this, horses are similar to humans. We all have met the person who is barely past middle age and because of mental, emotional, or physical... Read More
Article
The Aging Equine
October 01, 1998
The average lifespan of a horse is said to be about 24 years; but as with humans, a horse's chronological age isn't always a good indicator of how old he really is. Some horses still are active at the age of 35, while others suffer significant signs ... Read More
Article
Massage While You Groom
September 01, 1998
How much time per day do you spend grooming your horse? It probably varies between a minimum of five minutes to sometimes as long as 30 minutes, depending on what needs to be done. Over the months and years, this time adds up to a... Read More
Article
Working Horses on Hard Surfaces
September 01, 1998
Hard surfaces come in many forms. There's that parking lot where you lunged your horse last weekend at the horse show. There's that cracked-clay pasture where your horse was turned out all last summer. There's that poor-excuse-for-an-arena down at th... Read More
Article
Equine Dentistry Update
September 01, 1998
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... Read More
Article
Communication With Horses: Gaining Unity
September 01, 1998
Learning to communicate with equines can, and, should be, a lifelong endeavor on the part of the horse enthusiast. There is no quick fix in learning the art of communication because each horse is different. What works for one will not necessarily ... Read More
Article
Allergic Reactions in Horses
September 01, 1998
Allergic reactions are complicated and somewhat unpredictable events that are triggered by various environment... Read More
Article
Stallion Behavior
September 01, 1998
Dr. Sue McDonnell discusses observations of stallions in the wild and domestication. ... Read More
Article
Restraint Techniques
September 01, 1998
The first premise regarding restraint techniques for horses is the art of knowing when and when not to use them. The individual personalities of horses sometimes can make the decision to use restraint (and the particular type) more... Read More
Article
Necropsy: Searching for Answers
August 21, 1998
Whether your horse is a valued friend or a valued asset, the loss can be tough when he dies. But when your veterinarian presses you to get your horse necropsied, the thought of your horse's body being laid out, examined, cut up, and probed seems... Read More
Article
Egg Bar Shoes
August 01, 1998
An egg bar is simply an oval-shaped horseshoe. Where the heels would normally end, they keep going--but in a circular direction, creating an oval back to the shoe.... Read More
Article
Feeding the High-Octane Horse
August 01, 1998
But because forages are not high-energy feeds, the athletic horse's diet needs to be supplemented in order to provide enough energy for him to perform at peak capacity. Traditionally, this is done by feeding grains, which are rich in carbohydrates... Read More
Article
Communication: Horse Whispering
August 01, 1998
Learning to understand what a horse is communicating, whether to other horses or to humans, and how to communicate in return can be a lifelong endeavor for the avid horse owner because horses are not all the same.... Read More
Article
Equine Respiratory Disease Part 2: The Lower Airway
August 01, 1998
The lower airway consists of the lungs and the air tubing (bronchi) that supplies them. The lungs have some very interesting and unique protective mechanisms that put forth a great effort to prevent infection. Obviously, the air... Read More
Article
Rx: Responsible Drug Use
August 01, 1998
Tranquilizers can calm a nervous, first-time dam and allow her to accept her foal; anti-inflammatory drugs may... Read More
Article
Texas Horses Cooler Than Humans In Sweltering Heat At Racetracks
July 24, 1998
The United States is experiencing a record-setting summer, with temperatures in the Southwest topping the 100-degree mark day after day. The suspects among the causes of this heat streak range from global warming to La Niña,... Read More
Article
Determining Conditioning
July 01, 1998
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... Read More
Article
Capped Hock Injury
July 01, 1998
I have a three-year-old Thoroughbred filly who was shipped from Texas. When she arrived, she had a swelling on her hock that was called a capped hock. What exactly is a capped hock and how should I deal with it? Will it affect her ability to race ... Read More
Article
Cooling Overheated Horses
July 01, 1998
Q: With summer upon us, I am concerned about exercising my horse in hot weather. What can I do to make sure my horse is properly cooled out? Are there steps I can take before, during, and after exercise? ... Read More
Article
Equine Parasites
July 01, 1998
Controlling parasites that feed on and damage the equine digestive system and various body organs must be an ongoing effort on the part of horse owners if these relentless attackers are to be prevented from compromising the animal's health and... Read More
Article
Tendon Repair Drug Approved
June 26, 1998
The FDA has approved the first and only medication designed to improve the quality of repair to injured or "bowed" tendons. Bapten (beta-aminopropionitrile fumarate), manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, is labeled for use in treating... Read More
Article
Using Heat Therapy
June 01, 1998
Pain is due to muscle spasm, reduced circulation, and nerve pressure caused by connective tissue changes. Heat can address all of these causes and stimulate the repair process.... Read More
Article
Sports Medicine Meeting
June 01, 1998
The 17th annual meeting of the Association for Equine Sports Medicine was held in Leesburg, Va., from March 5-8. The meeting was attended by 400 veterinarians, sports physiology researchers, as well as others interested in equin... Read More
Article
Infectious Diseases in Horses
June 01, 1998
Viral infections of the equine respiratory tract are a veterinary challenge. They occur frequently and result in major economic loss to the horse industry. Currently available vaccines are not completely effective in controlling respiratory... Read More
Article
Summer Haircoat Tips
June 01, 1998
A guide to ensure your horse's hair coat stays healthy all summer long.... Read More
