horse Whether you're sharing your passion with your kids or being around horses is something new for the entire family, child safety around horses should always be a priority. Weighing over 1,000 pounds with a tendency to bite and kick, horses can be dangerous for children who don't know how to act around them. It...
Rescuers Come Together To Save A Senior Horse Trapped In Mud
The firefighters of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue in Florida are no strangers to animals in peril. They extracted a frightened kitten from the engine compartment of a citizen's Jeep earlier this month. But that was nothing compared to their full-scale rescue effort to free an elderly horse named Kiersa from the mud on the evening...
Rare Twin Foals Born In Texas Are Improving Every Day
When Jenny Tucker's mare, Sophie, went into labor on May 11, she and her husband were expecting a normal birth. Tucker has been a part of the rodeo scene her entire life, and she first started breeding quarter horses when she got married. She's seen many expectant mothers give birth to healthy foals, but Sophie's...
Frisky Horse Loves Playing Fetch With His Bucket
Whoever said the game of fetch is only for dogs never met a horse like this! Horses actually make great playtime buddies when the mood strikes them, and the horse in this video is definitely in the mood! Watch as he dutifully retrieves his favorite bucket and returns it to his human to throw again...
4 Common Horse Skin Conditions & What To Do About Them
Finding a strange lump, bump, or bald spot on your horse's skin is always concerning. Even if it doesn't seem to bother them, its mere presence means something isn't right. You don't want to call the vet for every minor thing, but if your horse is showing signs of a horse skin condition it can...
The Best Way To Cool Off This Summer: Horse Surfing!
There is nothing like an exhilarating gallop through the breakers with the salt air blowing back your hair. If you are lucky enough to live by the beach, you may be searching for a new seaside pastime to enjoy with your horse. Over the last decade or so, a growing trend has been combining equestrians'...
Farmer's Uncanny Intuition Leads Him To Horses In Peril
Sometimes, Mike Lanigan swears the universe is trying to have a word with him. Maybe it spoke to him when he made the fateful decision to transform his cattle farm — a place where animals were raised only to be slaughtered — into the Farmhouse Garden Animal Home, where they could live their lives in...
The 10 Most Toxic Plants To Horses In North America
There are hundreds of poisonous plants growing wild in North America, and some of these plants are toxic for horses. Luckily, horses are pretty discerning and don't tend to bother with strange, bitter plants when their pasture is full of delicious grasses to graze on. And they also have size on their side. It takes...
The 5 Most Common Types Of Cancer In Horses
Nobody wants to think about their equine friend getting cancer, but it is something that many horse owners are forced to deal with. Are you familiar with the most common types of cancer in horses and what you should be watching for? We've compiled a list of the 5 most common types of cancer in horses....
Horse & Rider Rescued From 300 Foot Ravine
What began as a relaxing afternoon ride became a terrifying ordeal for an equestrian and her horse in Angelus Oaks, California. They were riding along the Santa Ana Trail around noon this past Thursday when they fell into a 300-foot ravine. Officials were able to rescue the woman, who suffered only minor injuries, but recovering...
Mare Rescued While Pregnant Surprises Everyone With Twins
Donna was already in foal when she was found abandoned in Cheshire, England last year. She was welcomed by Hillside Animal Sanctuary where she became one of about 40 rescued mares preparing to give birth in the spring. During an examination, the sanctuary's vet noted that one of the mares might be carrying twins. That...
Mini Therapy Horses Comfort Weary Travelers At This Airport
Airline travel can be extremely stressful. Should you find yourself waiting for a delayed flight at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, you may be lucky enough to meet Denver and Ruby. The adorable pair of mini therapy horses are two of 34 mellow minis from Seven Oaks Farm helping to stomp out airport stress and better...
5 Ways To Avoid Getting Kicked By A Horse
Horses kick for a number of reasons, and their powerful back legs are nothing to scoff at. A well-placed kick is enough to send experienced riders to the hospital. They leave bruises and broken bones, and full-force kicks have also been fatal. Equestrians are quick to take pride in surviving a kick, but there's also...
Blind Woman Spends Entire Life Savings To Help Her Guide Pony
Ann Edie, a 61-year-old blind woman, has lived with Panda by her side for the last 14 years. Panda is her guide pony, standing just 29" tall and providing much more than assistance in getting around their New York town. Just last year, though, Panda suffered an intestinal blockage that led to emergency surgery to...
Rescue Pony Meets His Floral Doppelgänger And Can't Stop Smiling
World Horse Welfare is a UK-based, International charity devoted to improving the lives of horses around the world through rescue, community education and improving legislation. On May 3, in honor of its 90th anniversary, the charity unveiled a life-size horse sculpture created from nearly 3,000 white carnations at the Royal Chelsea Hospital in London. The...
The Horse Who Decided Not To Run The Kentucky Derby
The 2017 Kentucky Derby can be summed up in one word: Muddy! And it may have been that very mud that caused one colt to opt out of the race before it even began. Horse lovers across the world were concerned that poor Thunder Snow injured himself when he stumbled at the starting gate, but...
7 Important Things You Should Know About Horse Teeth
You may know that your vet needs to periodically “float” your horse’s teeth, but do you know what that entails and why it’s important? What other dental problems are horses prone to? And what are the signs that something is wrong with your horse’s dental health? Here’s everything you should know about horse teeth. #1 -...
How The 2017 Kentucky Derby Thoroughbreds Got Their Names
Earlier this week we featured a story on the strict and strange rules involved in naming a thoroughbred racehorse. Now that the 2017 Kentucky Derby is less than 24 hours away, we thought we'd feature how each of the 20 horses racing at Churchill Downs got their own unique names! A post shared by Kentucky...
Kentucky Derby History, Traditions & Champions
On Saturday, May 6, 2017 the 143rd Kentucky Derby race will enter the history books. With such a long legacy, there is quite a bit to know about this cherished equine event. Here we will explore Louisville, Kentucky's biggest claim to fame with a breakdown of fun facts, curious traditions, race records and some of...
This Former Kentucky Derby Winner Is As "Popular As Elvis"
Hall of Fame horse trainer, Bob Baffert has his favorite Kentucky Derby winner and it may surprise you! Most people assume that 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah is Baffert's most beloved racer. While the extraordinary horse will always hold a special place in his heart, no one compares to Silver Charm, the horse that...
80+ Horses At Beloved Nonprofit Contract Contagious Disease
An outbreak of equine Strangles has made its way into the herd of horses and ponies at Westernaires - a non-profit organization in Jefferson County, Colorado - causing financial losses of up to $15,000 per week. More than 80 of the 230 Westernaires equines have come down with cases of the illness which is easily spread...
Horse Who Lost Both Eyes Can Do Anything A Sighted Horse Can
I'm a sucker for a good underdog story, and Endo the Blind may have the best one of all! Despite losing both of his eyes at the age of eight, this brave boy can do anything a sighted horse can do - and much more! Along with his utterly devoted mom and handler, Morgan Wagner,...
It's All In The Name: 5 Rules For Naming Racehorses
Practical Joker, Irap, Always Dreaming–these are only a few of the thoroughbred racehorses preparing to compete in the 2017 Kentucky Derby. They're the best of the best, and some of the most interesting things about them are their names. Racehorse names are known for being both creative and poetic—My Wife Knows Everything and Flat Fleet...
Woman Reunites With Her First & Only Horse After 10 Years
It certainly seems that fate has played a major role in the story of Erin Herberger of Brighton, New York and her horse, Nemo. A twist of fate brought them together, another tore them apart, and a third brought him back into her life 10 years later. Now that Nemo is back where he belongs,...
Shetland Pony Adopts Foal Rejected By Her Mom
Little Tinkerbell, an energetic skewbald foal, has found an unlikely surrogate mother in a sweet Shetland mare named Poppy. Poppy's own foal was stillborn, and although she was still grieving for her loss, she lovingly took on the task of caring for Tinkerbell when she was rejected by her birth mom. Tikki Adorian, of...
Dramatic Horse Hilariously Conquers Ditch
Whether it's a young horse, an inexperienced rider, or a combination of both, it's important to develop that human-animal bond. As trust develops, both horse and rider gain confidence in one another. This video seems to show a budding horse/rider relationship. Watch as the horse approaches a ditch, gently inspects it with its hoof, hesitates...
Generous Gift Is A Dream Come True For Girl Battling Cancer
When Lauren Mullins was 14 years old, two things happened that changed her life. First, her dad signed her up for her first horseback riding lessons with Prestige Equine. The lessons were a birthday present, and she instantly fell in love with the sport. But shortly after starting lessons, Lauren was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her life...
Metro: The Retired Racehorse With A Creative New Career
After crippling knee injuries ended his racing career, a horse named Metro Meteor faced a bleak future. He was a star on the track, winning eight races across the country and earning over $300,000, but retired racehorses don't always move on to good second acts—especially when they're injured. His future was uncertain, but then an...
Riding Horses May Boost Your Child's Intelligence
You already know that spending time caring for animals helps children learn empathy and develop responsible life skills. Now a new study has found that the act of riding a horse may strengthen their cognitive abilities! According to researchers from Tokyo University of Agriculture, vibrations created by horses while being ridden activate the sympathetic nervous...
One-Eyed Horse To Compete In Kentucky Derby
For this young horse, having one eye won't stop him from succeeding in racing... and competing in the Kentucky Derby! Patch is a 3-year-old Thoroughbred who lost his eye in a track accident. You'd think that this impairment may slow him down, impacting his vision and depth perception... but not for this resilient guy! ...
Celebrities Join The ASPCA In The Fight To Ban Horse Slaughter
April 26 marks the annual American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) “Help a Horse Day.” This year, celebrity ambassadors and animal welfare experts converged on Capitol Hill to discuss the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act. If passed, the legislation will permanently ban horse slaughter and prohibit the transport of American...
Annual "Pony Swim" Protects Wild Horses & Draws Crowds
Every year, tens of thousands of people crowd tiny Chincoteague Island to watch the wild ponies plunge into the water and swim toward shore. The annual Pony Swim is a tradition that's more than 90 years old, and it's now an ingrained part of the culture for both island residents and the countless visitors who look...
5 Tips To Help Your Senior Horse Live The Best Possible Life
With advancements in veterinary medicine, horses are living into their late 20s and early 30s. But there’s a big difference between surviving and thriving. Do you know what changes you should make to your horses' routine as they age? Here are 5 tips to help your senior horses live their best possible life. #1 -...
Video of Collapsed Horse Brings Scrutiny On Carriage Tour Industry
Tourists and onlookers in Charleston, SC witnessed a heartbreaking scene Wednesday afternoon. A horse named Big John collapsed on a busy street, still harnessed to his first carriage tour of the day. Images and videos of the incident spread like wildfire, bringing fresh awareness to an industry animal welfare groups say is not properly regulated....
Sassy Mare Leads Police On A Five Mile Chase
Philadelphia has yet to put the days of horses in the streets behind them. Lonnie Sullivan was paying a visit to the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club stables in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood when a mare, Proud Queen, bumped him and knocked him over. He hopped on a bike and rode after her, but was...
Horse Saved From Meat Auction Looks Like A Fairy Tale Princess Now
When people visit a sprawling, green sanctuary in Ontario, Canada, there’s always one horse who stops them in their tracks. There’s just something about Barbie. Maybe it’s because she strikes such a towering figure, a massive, powerful horse with an almost regal bearing. Then there’s that mane — radiant blonde tresses of fairy tale...
Old Horse Once Almost Too Weak To Stand Is Now A Healthy Stallion
Not many people could see the proud outlaw in Jesse James. When he arrived at the Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Maryland last October, he seemed more like a tired, old horse. “He was emaciated,” Erin Clem Ochoa, executive director of Days End Farm Horse Rescue, tells iHeartHorses. “He was pretty much just...
7 Tips For Helping Your Horse Manage A Snake Bite
Did you know that 90% of snake bites (in the northern hemisphere) occur between April and October? Do you know what to do if your horse gets bitten? Here are 7 tips you should know in case your horse ever gets bitten by a snake. #1 - Be prepared The best way to help your...
5 Things To Know About Transitioning Your Horse To Pasture
Spring is here! Time to turn out your horses to pasture, right? Not so fast. Transitioning your horse from hay to pasture too quickly is a recipe for inducing laminitis. So how slowly should you transition your horse? And what’s the big deal, anyway? Here are 5 things to know about transitioning your horse to...
6 Common Causes Of Lameness In Horses
Lameness is a problem that will affect most horses at some point in their lives. Up to 90% of lameness originates in the foot, but there are a wide variety of causes. Some of the things that cause a horse to be lame are preventable and many are manageable if caught early enough. While lameness...