Recent News for Seasonal Care
Article
Summer Games: Keeping Equine Athletes Cool
February 18, 2008
David Marlin, BSc (Hons.) PhD, of David Marlin Consulting Ltd., worked on heat and humidity research for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. He elaborated on some important steps being taken to protect horses from the worst effects of heat... Read More
Article
Winter Weather Halts Racing at Several Tracks
February 13, 2008
Aqueduct canceled its Feb. 13 racing card due to adverse weather conditions after the wintry mix that hit the area the night before turned to heavy rain. The track remained open for simulcasting. The nine-race card was the last scheduled under... Read More
Article
Cold Weather Nutrition
February 01, 2008
Cold and inclement weather conditions present special challenges for the horse. Whether a horse is turned out or exercised regularly, you need to focus on his nutritional requirements. Horses are naturally well-adapted to thrive in frigid weather ... Read More
Article
Keeping Horses Comfortable in Winter Temperatures
January 30, 2008
Horses prefer, and are better off, outdoors even in cold weather, and will acclimate to cold temperatures if given the opportunity, according to Marcia Hathaway, PhD, a professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota... Read More
Article
Readers Respond: Winter Refreshment
January 17, 2008
More than 1,500 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "How do you encourage adequate hydration during cold weather?" <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=210 align=right... Read More
Article
Olympic Organizers Confident Hong Kong Weather will not Endanger Horses
January 10, 2008
Olympic organizers do not expect other equestrian teams to follow the lead of Switzerland by pulling out of events at this year's Games due to Hong Kong's heat and humidity. The Swiss team said Wednesday that it would not take part in the... Read More
Article
Winter Storm Bearing Down On Midwest
December 11, 2007
The icy storm that has blasted Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas has so far killed at least 22 people, with the worst death toll from ice-coated highways in Oklahoma, and storm warnings are up now for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and... Read More
Article
Winter Care: Use Caution when Changing a Horse's Rations
November 16, 2007
Some horses might need more feed to replace energy loss brought about by harsher weather conditions as the temperature turns colder. Equine owners must practice sound management in altering their animals' rations if problems with colic... Read More
Article
'Winterizing Your Horse' Seminar at the Kentucky Horse Park
November 14, 2007
The Kentucky Horse Park will be hosting a winter horse care seminar this Saturday (Nov. 17). Topics will include: Where Did All the Feed Go? (9:00-9:45) Feeding Challenges, nutrition, alternative feeds, and... Read More
Article
Heating Barns in Winter: Use Caution to Avoid Respiratory Problems
November 14, 2007
Horse owners who heat their barns to keep water from freezing and to protect horses from cold temperatures during late fall and winter should remember supplemental heat can cause problems if used incorrectly. Ventilation is important when... Read More
Article
Warm Winter, Continued Drought Forecast
October 10, 2007
The government's winter forecast includes some bad news--continued dry conditions in an arc sweeping from the Southeast across the Gulf States and into the Southwest. Much of that region is already struggling with drought and "right now the... Read More
Article
Preparing for Winter Trailer Storage
August 18, 2007
While it might be hard to imagine that winter weather is only a few months away, now is the time to perform preventative maintenance on your horse trailer so that your rig is road-safe and ready come spring. "Your trailer has safely... Read More
Article
Coping With the Heat
August 01, 2007
During hot weather, heat dissipation is primarily dependent on evaporation of sweat on the skin surface. Horses are capable of producing large quantities of sweat--sweating rates of 10-15 liters/hour1,2 have been reported during exercise... Read More
Article
Sweat Glands of Anhidrotic Horses -- Short Circuit Found
June 27, 2007
Results of a study performed by scientists at Glasgow Caledonian University and Michigan State University have revealed that the sweat glands of anhidrotic horses secrete chloride ions differently than normal horses--these chloride ions underpin the ... Read More
Article
Heat Stress: Prevention, Recognition are Key
June 16, 2007
Now that summer weather is here, it's important to make sure you aren't asking too much of your equine partner. The conditioning program you implement for your horse is a big factor in preventing dehydration and heat exhaustion. Clinical signs... Read More
Article
Leptospirosis: Mild Winters Could Mean More Cases
June 03, 2007
Several years of mild winters in the Midwest might bring veterinarians and physicians more than the usual number of cases of leptospirosis, or "lepto," a bacterial disease that can affect cattle, swine, horses, wildlife, dogs, and humans.... Read More
Article
Below-Zero Temps Hit Plains, Northeast
February 05, 2007
A bone-chilling Arctic cold wave with temperatures as low as 38 below zero shut down schools for thousands of youngsters Monday, halted some Amtrak service and put car batteries on the disabled list from the northern Plains across the Great... Read More
Article
Wellington: Winter Horses Returning
January 22, 2007
Things are getting back to normal in Wellington, Fla.,in the aftermath of a deadly horse virus. Thirteen horses across the state contracted the contagious, airborne, equine herpesvirus in December. Six of them died. Barns across... Read More
Article
Baby, It's Cold Outside; Tips to Keep Horses Healthy in Falling Temperatures
January 12, 2007
Something about cherry blossoms blooming in January had many of us looking over our shoulders and wondering when winter would arrive. Although much of the country has been experiencing a mild winter, some parts are snow-bound, and a nationwide... Read More
Article
BLM Begins Winter Wild Horse Gather
January 07, 2007
A roundup is under way to reduce two overpopulated herds of wild horses in eastern Sweetwater County, Wyo. The roundup started Friday and is expected to take four to five weeks. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management plans to capture 1,760 horses... Read More
Article
Vet Check Protocol for Winter Equestrian Festival Issued
January 03, 2007
Stadium Jumping Inc. announced yesterday (Jan. 2) the protocols that are now in place for horses arriving at the WEF Showgrounds at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington. All information is also posted on the Stadium... Read More
Article
Mosquito-borne Illness Threat Persists in Winter Temperatures
November 19, 2006
Although cooler temperatures have arrived in Florida, horses in the Sunshine State are still at risk for contracting potentially fatal mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, University of Florida veterinarians and state officials warn... Read More
Article
Preparing Your Horse for Winter
November 17, 2006
Here are tips in four different areas of horse management to help your horse not only survive, but thrive during cold weather so you have a healthy and willing partner when warmer temperatures return. Nutrition Forage, or hay,... Read More
Article
Chill Out on Hoof Care Concerns
November 01, 2006
Whether winter means a well-deserved break for your horse or the start of the "snowbird circuit," your horse's hooves might need some special "seasonal" attention. Exactly what adjustments you'll want to make depends on the type of winter weather... Read More
Article
Feeding Horses in Winter (Book Excerpt)
October 04, 2006
A horse's nutrient requirements increase with cold weather; he needs more calories to generate heat to keep warm. Mature horses in good condition usually don't need grain, however, if they have good winter pasture or grass hay.... Read More
