Launched in late 2021, the ASPCA Equine Transition and Adoption Center is an Oklahoma-based pilot program aimed at developing solutions to the barriers that get in the way of horses finding homes. Horse owners in the state of Oklahoma in need of compassionate help can access free services for their equines through the Equine Transition
Continue Reading...Equine Poison Prevention
Experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center have compiled a list of toxic plants for horses. Check out the following list for a few of the more common toxic plants you might encounter. Wilted red maple leaves Black walnut (e.g., as shavings in bedding) Oak (especially new-growth leaves in the springtime) Taxus species (yew, Japanese
Continue Reading...Why do fatal cardiac events occur in horses?
Belgian researchers are investigating the factors that put horses at risk for fatal aortic ruptures. Although arterial failures that result in the sudden deaths of racehorses and other equine athletes tend to garner the most attention, this problem is seen in a wide variety of horses, notes Annelies Decloedt, DVM, PhD, of the Equine Cardioteam,
Continue Reading...Are Markings Inherited?
Q: I understand that many people breed for coat color and they will go to great measures to choose appropriate stallions or broodmares. But what about white markings, such as socks or bald faces? Are they also genetic? In other words, if both the sire and dam have four white socks, for example, does the foal
Continue Reading...How to Tell a Horse’s Age by Its Teeth
Many people think that you can tell a horse’s age by its teeth. This isn’t quite true. Horse’s teeth aren’t like the rings of a tree that show each year’s growth. Telling a horse’s age by its teeth is not 100 percent accurate, but it will give you an approximate range if you don’t know the horse’s
Continue Reading...Why Do Horses Buck?
Skippy was almost aptly named. He didn’t skip, but he did hop and jump. And to his owner’s great regret, Skippy bucked. “He was a horrible ride,” recalls Amber Cash of Newark, Delaware. “He kicked, he bucked, he bit, he would run and not stop. I thought I could train it out of him, but
Continue Reading...13 bridles you might like in your tack room
The best bridles for your horse won’t be the same as the best bridle options for his field mate – it all depends on the size and shape of his head, what discipline you do, how he goes and what works for him. If you’re not looking for an anatomical bridle, but something a bit more traditional, a
Continue Reading...Stay Hydrated During a Summer Training Session
When summertime rolls around, the sun is blazing, humidity is high, and the temperatures are close to being in the triple digits, it’s hard to think about a long training session with your horse. When he’s sweating just from standing in his stall or pasture it seems like it would be impossible to keep him
Continue Reading...Which Vaccines Are Needed?
These diseases include West Nile Virus, and Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE). These are considered “core vaccines” and are recommended by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). “In addition, several diseases warrant risk-based vaccines,” says Jessica Morgan, Ph.D., DVM, DACVSMR, of the University of California-Davis. “Some diseases, like influenza, are not vector-borne but
Continue Reading...When Resistance Develops Suddenly
When a horse becomes resistant out of the blue, it’s important to determine the reason for the resistance. Trainer Tim Hayes discusses how to fix the problem. Q: I’ve owned my 6-year-old Fox Trotter gelding for three years, but just last year he started to periodically balk when my husband or I rode him. He stops
Continue Reading...Improvements Needed in Equestrian Sport
World Horse Welfare – an international charity that strives to support and improve the horse human partnership in all its guises – offered support to equestrian disciplines on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 as it challenged them to work together to “do more, faster” to demonstrably prioritise equine welfare. This challenge came at the end of an
Continue Reading...Trail Horse Hoof Care
Best trimming and shoeing practices to ensure your horse stays sound while traveling the trails When you’ve looked forward all week to your day off, so you can take to the trails, the last thing you want to find is your horse favoring a foot as he greets you at the pasture fence. Lameness can
Continue Reading...