As cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis appear across the country, it's important for every horse owner to know the facts about this potentially fatal disease. Every year, this mosquito-transmitted virus shows up in the news as horses die and local communities struggle to contain the threat. In 2020, there has been a surge of cases...
Equine 411: All About the Falabella Horse Breed
When you think of small horse breeds, what are the first to come to mind? Perhaps the Shetland Pony or a Miniature Horse. How about a rare and absolutely adorable breed called a Falabella Horse? Not to be confused with a pony, these horses are beautiful and have a story to tell. History of the...
Why Horses Spook Easily, Plus Tips To Help
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 flight. Does your horse spook easily at what seems like nothing? In this article, we discuss why horses spook easily, plus tips to help. Monster...
How Often Should I Bathe My Horse?
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 basis. Read on to learn about the important roles of a horse’s hair coat and how often you should bathe your horse. Roles of a...
Heatstroke In Horses: What You Need To Know
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 a fur coat, a blanket, and carrying up to 20% of your body weight on your back. Doesn’t sound inviting, does it? However, it is...
Horse Therapy Center Aims For Indoor Arena To Help Others Year-Round & Honor Late Son
Hippotherapy has the ability to touch the lives of those who are willing to try it. Horses have the unique gift to be able to understand us without words, and their therapeutic capabilities are often overlooked. But Kelly Peterson, Founder and Executive Director of Acorn Hill EAAT in Motley, Minnesota knows just how powerfully therapeutic...
Study Shows Horses “Talk” To Their Humans
We all are guilty of having those long conversations with our horses; we are horse people and look forward to it! Sometimes we even catch ourselves asking our horses questions and swear that they answer back or tell us what they want. Well, did you know that research suggests that our horses do try to...
Is A Mare More Difficult Under Saddle? This Study Says No
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, sometimes better. Others say the estrus cycle of mares makes them not worth the trouble. The Sydney School of Veterinary Science, in Australia, recently did...
Horse Loving Celeb Makes Heartfelt Plea To End Horse Slaughter
With an impressive 15 Grammy Award nominations under her belt, singer Melissa Etheridge says her life changed the day her dad brought home a guitar. She's been part of the music scene since her debut album was released in 1988, and she's also made a name for herself supporting various social and political causes. And...
Why Do Horses Need Salt?
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 salt. For this article, we will be referring to the sodium component. Read on to find out why horses need salt and what is the...
Gentle Carousel Mini Therapy Horses Work Their Magic To Brighten People's Day
Horses have the power to uplift others when they need it most. And Debbie Garcia-Bengochea, the cofounder of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, knows that. She's made it her mission to help train miniature horses so they can spread joy to those less fortunate or for anyone that could really use a smile. For the...
Horse Sweating: What's Normal And What's Not
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 normal. Worse is not sweating at all when the situation calls for it. Horse owners need to know what is a healthy sweat and what...
Foal Cloned From 40-Year-Old DNA Brings Hope For Rare Breed
No longer science fiction, cloning could be the key to saving some of the world's most endangered animals. Scientists are hoping that the recent birth of a cloned Przewalski's horse will add genetic diversity to the breed's struggling population. The adorable foal named Kurt will help his breed battle complete extinction, and his successful birth...
Equine 411: All About the American Cream Draft
Have you ever heard of the American Cream Draft? It is a beautiful breed named after their gorgeous cream color. These horses are rare and are on the critically endangered list with only less than 500 American Cream Draft horses registered around the world. Keep reading for the scoop on the breed. History of the...
Best Horse Breeds For Small Riders
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 said, any horse breed can be good for small riders, if you have the right teamwork. But some breeds tend to have heights more suitable...
Ergots And Chestnuts On Horses: What To Know & How To Care For Them
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 leg is called a chestnut. Not to be confused with the nuts roasted at Christmas. In addition, horses have a similar growth at the rear...
How Far Can A Horse Travel In A Day?
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, no one answer is correct. In this article, we learn about several factors that can affect the answer to how far a horse can travel...
Horse Saved From Deep Mud When Trail Ride Turns Dangerous
There's a reason why the first rule of trail riding is to never go out alone. Gretchen Zwicker was out riding her 13-year-old horse named Libby when the pleasurable ride quickly turned dangerous. Thankfully, Zwicker was with a friend. When Libby started acting out and got trapped in deep mud, the riders were able to...
Interesting Facts About The Silver Gene In Horses
Horses with unique coloring will always make us horse crazy people do a double-take. Perhaps for you, it is a big blue roan horse with a black mane and tail. No matter what tickles your fancy, a dark horse with a flaxen mane and tail will always be a jaw-dropper. Have you ever wondered how...
Queen Of England Names Rare Shire Foal Born During Lockdown
Queen Elizabeth II is not only the longest reigning English monarch, she's also a bona-fide horse girl. Her love of horses has spanned decades, and even know, she's often seen either visiting the stables or in the saddle. So, when an adorable Shire foal was born at a Pembrokeshire horse farm on the Queen's official...
How Diet Coke Saved This Horse's Life
Equine Veterinary & Dental Services in Australia specializes in providing horses with life-saving veterinary services and dentistry care. They offer innovative services for the sake of horse health, but their clients also love them for carefully listening to concerns, not jumping to conclusions, and thinking outside the box. So, when a horse came to EVDS...
Food Aggression In Horses: What To Know & Ways To Help
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 horses have this behavior will help us to teach them to change their ways. If you would like to learn how to make feeding time...
Destructive Horse Behaviors That Give Insight Into Their Health
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 our horse trying to say? In most cases, they are trying to tell us that they don’t feel well in the only ways they can....
Why You Should Play Music for Your Horse—And What They Like
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 music in the correct way, we can help our horses to be more docile and willing to work with us. In this article, we will...
10 Facts About Foals To Make You Smile
Foals are spunky, gangly, occasionally mischievous, and downright adorable. They run around on their too-long legs reminding us all to never take ourselves too seriously and that life is always worth enjoying. It seems that no matter how a foal comes into this world—whether their birth was expected and surrounded by love or a surprise...
6 Rare Horse Coat Markings And Patterns
We all know that no two horses are the same. Even your seemingly identical bays and sorrels are special in their own ways. There are, however, some horses that are unmistakably unique. They have markings that make it impossible to confuse them with another horse, and their rare coat patterns always make them stand out...
Signs Your Horse Has A Fever
Our horses are such an important part of our lives. We’ve sacrificed social outings for years to spend time with them. We know our horses better than a significant other, so when they aren’t acting like themselves our horse-alarms go off. Every horse owner should know the signs of a fever and what to do...
Equine Massage: The Basics & How It Can Benefit Your Horse
Horse owners may not realize equine massage has been practiced since ancient times and is reflected in Egyptian hieroglyphics. It has long been used to assist with exercise recovery, improve circulation, range of motion, stimulate the lymphatic system, assist injury prevention and provide relaxation benefits. But do you know the various types of massage available...
Things Everyone Should Know About Horseshoes
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, but how much do you know about them aside from the fact that your horse wears them? The need to put shoes on a horse...
Why Do Some Horses Look Like They're Wearing Socks?
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 the lower leg that is colored differently than the rest of the leg. They are not cotton socks knitted by grandma. In this article, we...
5 Reasons To Talk With Your Horse Every Day
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 this article, we will provide you with the top five reasons why you should talk with your horse each day the two of you spend...
Four Zebra Foals Are Helping Their Endangered Species
White Oak Conservation in northeastern Florida is 17,000 acres dedicated to wildlife conservation. There are rhinos, gazelles, cheetahs, and other animals you'd expect to find on an African safari and not necessarily near popular Florida beaches. The refuge is one of the most well-known conservation areas in North America. And while there are 30 different...
Reward Of $5K Being Offered To Catch Horse Slaughter Criminal
As much as we do not want to think about it, we know that somewhere each day a horse is slaughtered. Sadly, this usually happens when horses are no longer wanted. And it's never something that's okay if you ask me, because it's never the horse's fault that they should lose their lives at the...
Horse And Mule Rescued In Shoulder High Mud
When it comes to animals, sometimes they can accidentally get themselves stuck in some pretty unfortunate situations. For Girlie the Mule and Tick the horse, they found themselves in an extremely life-threatening situation just this past week. On Sunday August 16, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Marion Fire responded to a call at Merrow Farm on...
Equine 411: All About Draft Horses
As the gentle giants of the horse world, draft horses are as beautiful as they are fascinating. With dozens of different breeds from all over the world, these "heavy horses" have captivated the hearts of thousands. From the majestic Clydesdale to the rare Suffolk Punch, draft horses have been bred for centuries to fulfill specific...
Mane Or No Mane? The Pros And Cons Of Roached Manes
We all love a horse with a long flowing mane blowing in the wind as they gallop across the field. Simply put, a long mane is beautiful. For some horses, however, a short mane is much more practical. This is especially true for horses who are often in the show ring. This is usually done...
The Legacy Of Picasso Lives On In The Hearts Of Many
Picasso, the most famous stallion of the Sand Wash Basin, has carved a spot into the hearts of many horse lovers across the country. A symbol of freedom, perseverance, and strength, Picasso accrued a legion of fans in the many years he spent here on earth. Thought to be born in 1990, the last time...
Why Do Some Horses Have Mustaches?
When you think about a mustache, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? Perhaps an old western movie with two cowboys about to have a shoot out and before they go for their guns, it’s a must to make a twist on their handlebar mustache. Or, maybe a milk mustache or a...
How To Help Your Horse Get Used To Touch
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 confidence. The article also explains techniques for haltering an abused horse that doesn't want to be haltered. This part of the series, we will discuss teaching a...
Why Is It Rare To Spay Mares?
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 of unwanted litters. But what about horses? To geld, a male horse is the neutering process. It is a relatively straightforward procedure that is very...
Last Chance Corral Saves Nurse Mare Foals That Are Born To Die
"Hold fast to your dreams...but temper your ideals with reality." This is the quote lifetime horse rescuer Victoria Goss lives by (it also happens to be the Vermont state motto). As the founder of Last Chance Corral in Athens, Ohio, her dream is a world where nurse mare foals don't exist. Reality, however, is much...
Equine 411: All About The Gypsy Vanner Horse Breed
Unmistakable thanks to their gorgeous manes, long tails, and heavy feathering, the Gypsy Vanner horse breed is one of the most popular (and most beautiful) horse breeds in the world. If the name isn't familiar, you might know them as the Gypsy Cob, Irish Cob, or Tinker Horse. Regardless of the name, this small draft...
Best Horse Breeds For Larger Riders
Horses are loved by people of all shapes and sizes, and individuals weighing in around 250 lbs or more may feel discouraged and shy away from ever throwing a leg over a horse. But that number on the scale is just a number. There are horse breeds out there to suit everyone, no matter your...
New Book Called 'Horse Crazy' Is Determined A Must-Read For All
If you're looking for the next book to add to your shelf or need an interesting read to enjoy in your free time, the 2020 nonfiction novel entitled Horse Crazy: The Story of a Woman and World in Love With an Animal is proving to be a popular choice for all horse lovers. Written by...
Horse Soring: A Cruel Practice That Many Fear Still Continues
The Humane Society of the United States gives a voice to animals who need it most. And this is especially true when it comes to those cruel and unnecessary acts that animals face at the hands of humans. Horse soring is absolutely on that list of acts that should be punishable by law. No matter...
Equine Photographer Beautifully Captures The Essence Of Horses
If you love horses like I do, then chances are that you can look at photographs of them all day long. But when it comes to equine photography, not all images are created equal. Horses have a unique wild spirit that can't be broken, and if the person behind the lens appreciates this, then they...
How To Build Your Horse's Confidence
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 are ways to build a horse's confidence. Patience, positive leadership, and time are the key ingredients. Don't forget to talk with your horse also. Something...
The Best Places To Pet A Horse And Areas To Avoid
Horses are like dogs in the respect that some want to be petted, and others aren't so thrilled about the idea. Some like to be rubbed in some areas, but other areas of their body are off-limits. This article is about petting a horse safely and finding out the "awe that feels good" spot on...
Five Funny Things That Horses Do And Why They Do Them
Although some may say horses are boring, the truth is, horses have comedic side. They might make faces and do things that look funny to us humans. But in general, there is a reason for their funny actions. Here's a list of five funny things that horses do and why they do them. 1. Showing...
Mother And Son Rescue Ponies Reunite After Four Years Apart
The pandemic has been turning life upside down since early March, and our horses haven't been immune to that turmoil. They've been dealing with stress and schedule changes, and a rescued gelding named Micky is no exception. The striking skewbald cob faced a major life change at the same time his country went into lockdown....