Recent News for Seasonal Care
Article
Internal Combustion
January 01, 2003
Horses can be amazingly hardy. On a below-freezing day, your horse can stay warm and snug. So warm, in fact, that if you put your bare hands into his coat, you can actually warm them up. It's hard to imagine how a horse can keep himself... Read More
Article
Frozen Feed?
December 01, 2002
Q: I live in northeastern Ohio, and it gets pretty cold here at times. My question is: Have you heard of horses getting colic from frozen sweet feeds? I have had horses for the past 40 years and have yet to come upon this... Read More
Article
Clipping the Coat
October 01, 2002
As the days grow shorter, the diminishing sunlight triggers your horse to grow a winter coat. This built-in prompt means he is certain to grow a coat no matter what climate he lives in, warm or cold. It's an amazing protective device for your... Read More
Article
Safe Travel in Winter
February 01, 2002
You're driving a loaded horse trailer in winter despite rain, snow, ice, and a low wind chill factor. Why? Unfortunately, schedules for breeding, competition, and sale require that horses be transported in all seasons and weather despite... Read More
Article
Winter Traction Devices: Get a Grip Before You Slip!
January 01, 2002
Snow and ice during winter can cause footing problems for horses, especially those which are called upon to do something other than loaf in the pasture or paddock. The problems include snow and ice, which translate into difficulty in maintaining... Read More
Article
Mild Winter Weather: Affect on Horses
December 17, 2001
It is well-accepted that the foal losses and other problems seen in several states in the spring of 2001 were triggered by environmental factors, meaning weather. Farmers and livestock managers have known for years that weather conditions affect the ... Read More
Article
Frostbite: The Bite of Winter
December 01, 2001
Growing up a child of the South, I never expected to live far beyond Atlanta’s warm glow. However, fate dictated otherwise, and I have had to learn to cope with nothern winter weather. During my first winter in New York, I learned just how cold... Read More
Article
Wintering a Geriatric Horse
December 01, 2001
Depending on where you live, your equine companions might have to tough it through harsh conditions in the winter months. No matter their age, most horses entering the winter season in good condition will do fine on the same routine with only... Read More
Article
Chilling Out After Exercise
July 01, 2001
The mid-summer heat brings added challenges in managing the athletic horse. Regardless of whether your horse is competing in a show, trail ride, or high-level three-day event, hot weather places additional demands on his body. You need to be... Read More
Article
Dehydration Alert
July 01, 2001
When horses are working hard, especially in hot weather, they are particularly prone to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. The official term for one symptom of these problems is a mouthful: synchronous diaphragmatic flutter... Read More
Article
Winter Messages
June 01, 2001
It will be late January when you receive this issue of the magazine. Winter already has been tough on many of us, and on our horses. Lots of snow, freezing rain, and below-normal temperatures make us wish for more temperate climes where we... Read More
Article
Anhidrosis Research Challenge Announced
May 01, 2001
An anonymous gift was recently announced by the American Quarter Horse Foundation that has the potential to raise $20,000 per year benefitting equine research and in particular anhidrosis.Anhidrosis, from the Greek meaning "without sweating," is... Read More
Article
Water Temperature and Drinking Behavior
February 01, 2001
A few years ago I read an article describing research done at New Bolton Center on drinking behavior. It said that the research showed that in winter, horses prefer to drink warm water rather than ice cold water, and as a result veterinarian... Read More
Article
Winter Stress
November 01, 2000
Winter weather can be responsible for stress that compromises a horse's health. The good news is that we, as caretakers, can alleviate that stress or even prevent it from occurring in the first place. Of course for some animals, such as show... Read More
Article
Blanket Fraud?
October 06, 2000
All blankets are not created equal. This is especially true for blanket manufacturing company Rose America Corp., which discovered blankets they didn't make were being sold in packages bearing a photo copied directly from Rose America packaging.... Read More
Article
Fluids And Electrolytes
April 01, 2000
With the summer months approaching, it is time for a refresher on the impact of the warmer environmental conditions on your horse. Warmer temperatures and high relative humidity place added stress on horses during exercise because of their... Read More
Article
Mild Winter Brings Early Onslaught of Mosquitoes: Have Equids Vaccinated Against Sleeping Sickness
April 01, 2000
After a mild winter, Louisiana already has reported its first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), or "sleeping sickness" in a six-year-old unvaccinated Shetland pony in Vernon Parish, adjacent to Texas' Newton County. "We recommend that... Read More
Article
Winter Shelter
December 01, 1999
On those long winter nights, when frigid winds chill to the bone and snow or sleet or cold rain makes outdoor activities decidedly miserable, most of us like nothing better than to curl up with a good book and a steaming-hot beverage.... Read More
Article
Blanket Coverage for Your Horse
November 01, 1999
Horse blanket manufacturers have taken advantage of many of the warm, lightweight fabrics developed for skiers, incorporating them into stormproof, windproof, chafeproof, practically bulletproof creations which, while marvels of engineering, can put ... Read More
Article
USDA Issues Heat Advisory For Traveling Animals
August 06, 1999
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service advises animal owners to be aware of the daily temperature and its effect on their animals, especially when transporting them.... Read More
Article
Cool Aid: Beating the Heat With Working Horses
July 01, 1999
Anyone who has worked or played in high heat knows how exhausting it can be. High, fluid-sapping desert heat can drain you in no time as you sweat away volumes of fluids and electrolytes. Then there’s the suppressive, sweaty,... Read More
Article
Giving Horses Warm Water
February 01, 1999
I've heard it's necessary to give horses warm drinking water in the winter. Is this true? And if so, how warm should it be? Do you have any suggestions on how I can keep my horse's drinking water warm when it's freezing outside?... Read More
Article
Chewing And Weather Changes
February 01, 1999
Does your horse have unexplained, occasional cravings for woody snacks? Gourmet items such as Fence Board Flambé, Stall Door Surprise, and Tree Trunk Tantalizers? If so, it could be the weather! Explained Wayne Loch, PhD (Animal... Read More
Article
10 Tips For Winter Hoof Care
January 01, 1999
Does the sound of sleigh bells set your nerves on edge, anticipating a wreck on the icy patch down the road? Do you dream of the day next spring when you will be able to see your horse below his knees? Do you lie awake at night designing... Read More
Article
Indoor Exercise In Winter
December 01, 1998
Training programs often are affected by cold, rainy weather or deep snow during the winter, but the primary concern when planning a wintertime workout is the footing that your horse will encounter. Although winter weather brings... Read More
