Recent News for Basic 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

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

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

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

Article

Club Feet in Horses

June 01, 1998

A foal born with club feet or a young, growing horse which develops the condition can be both a mystery and a problem for the owner and the veterinarian in charge of treatment. The condition can be mysterious because many factors might be... Read More

Article

Understanding Hoof Cracks

June 01, 1998

Hoof cracks can be as simple as something that merely irritates the observer from an aesthetic point of view to something so serious that the horse is dead lame and unable to perform. Hoof cracks come in a variety of types and sizes, and they... Read More

Article

Administering Medications

June 01, 1998

Author's Note: The purpose of this article is to act as a reference to aid the veterinarian in educating clients in the techniques of medication administration. This article is not intended to act as an encouragement to owner-prescribed... Read More

Article

Hoechst Roussel Vet Announces FDA Approval Of Dewormer Use

May 15, 1998

Hoechst Roussel Vet announced today that FDA approval of a new use indication for its dewormer will help eliminate a persistent parasite problem. The FDA's approval that Panacur (10% fedbendazole) Oral Paste can now treat all... Read More

Article

The Fat Farm: Nutrition for the Overweight Horse

May 01, 1998

Is your mare looking a bit rotund lately? Does her gait have a waddling roll to it? Has her spine disappeared in a dimpled groove along her back? Has she outgrown her girth, her winter blanket, and the stall door? If she’s not due to foal, then... Read More

Article

Barns and Stalls: The Air In There

May 01, 1998

Horse owners often tend to build and manage their barns more for their own comfort than for their horses'--and horses have far greater cold tolerance than we do. What might feel chilly to us often is perfectly comfortable for our hairy friends.... Read More