Wendy Sumner

There are two benefits to grooming your horse daily. Grooming helps us to develop a positive relationship and to check on the horse’s physical health. We need to know what…

All friendships require to give and take. Are you giving enough so that your horse enjoys your friendship? Before man adapted horses to suit his needs, they ran wild and…

Horses should eat many small meals several times a day. Sometimes they eat more than the forage and grain we provide for them. You are probably familiar with horses eating…

The horse approaches the water cautiously. He puts this nose down and investigates, slowing wading into the water. You urge the horse to move forward into deeper water. It is…

When horsemen use the word “cast” when referring to horses, they are usually not talking about a covering made of plaster. Instead, they are referring to a horse that has…

During this time of pandemic scares, did you know horses, donkeys, and mules have been fighting their own pandemic since the middle ages? Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory disease…

When the weather changes from season to season, the question arises, should I cover my horse’s ears? Spring brings the bugs of summer, or fall leaves change into the winter…

Horse owners spend a small fortune on tack and supplies for our equine partners. The options available are limitless. So how do we know which is the right choice? Read…

Often, a hard to catch horse will be turned out in the pasture wearing a halter. The halter makes it easier and saves time when the horse needs to be…

Horses are talented at getting themselves hurt. Sometimes in the most unexpected ways. A horse lays down in a puddle to cool off, only to find there is no traction,…

When a horse bends its front legs and lays down to roll, it is usually natural and healthy. However, there are times rolling can indicate health-related problems we should be…

Does your horse act up when you are trying to saddle him? Does he buck as soon as you get on? Maybe he behaves okay at the walk and trot…

Horses are hardwired as fight or flight prey animals. It is how they have survived for centuries. They have powerful legs for fighting, but they would rather use them for…

Horsehair and skin are as varied from horse to horse as humans’ hair and skin varies. Some horses don’t need baths at all, while others need baths on a regular…

All animals under the sun can suffer from heatstroke. Horses are not an exception. Have you ever been riding and felt utterly exhausted by the sun? Imagine you are wearing…

Is a mare more difficult under saddle than a gelding? Opinions vary from person to person within the horse industry. Some feel mares can do anything the geldings can do,…

Whether you are providing a salt block or feeding it in granulated form, salt is an essential mineral needed by horses. Sodium and chloride are the two components of table…

The right amount of sweat is normal and needed to keep a horse healthy. On the other hand, if they are sweating too much for the situation, it is not…

Riding horses can be a challenge for someone small. If the horse is very tall, getting on without a mounting block can require a lot of effort. With that being…

Ever wonder what those callous areas found on your horse’s legs are? The majority of horses have them on all four legs. The growth seen in the inside of the…

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “It is a day’s ride away.” But what exactly does that mean? How far can a horse travel in a day? The truth is,…

Do you dread feeding time because your usually sweet horse has a complete personality change, and becomes food aggressive? Food aggression in horses is common but not desirable. Understanding why…

It is no secret that horses can develop destructive behaviors. These behaviors can vary from stable vices like cribbing to misbehaving under saddle, to just being cranky. But what is…

Did you know that music can be a very effective tool for working with horses? Yes, horses like music. However, they aren’t crazy about all kinds of music. By using…

It goes without saying that pretty much every horse person has heard the saying “no hoof, no horse” at least once in their lifetime. Horseshoes serve a very important purpose,…

It is very common to see horses that look like they are wearing socks. Socks can be found on cats, pigs, mice, rats, and cows also. Socks are hair on…

Talking with your horse can have benefits for both the horse and for you. It’s not crazy, and it’s something that every horse owner should do for many reasons. In…

In the first part of this series, we covered developing a positive leadership role with your horse. It cannot be said enough how important this role is to build your horse’s…

We all are familiar with the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs. These are widespread procedures used for behavior and health reasons, along with working towards reducing the number…

Do you have a horse that is skittish about everything? Perhaps it is a young horse or one that has been rescued from a situation of neglect or abuse. There…