Your horse is full of pressure points that he regularly uses to communicate with other horses. It’s incredibly beneficial for you to know what these points are and how to use them for more effective communication with your horse. Let’s first talk about volume. This is similar to how you …
To have a better relationship with your horse you need to have a better relationship with yourself. As long as you’re not grounded and genuinely connected to yourself, you’re never going to have the kind of relationship with your horse that will blow your mind. To have the kind of …
An idea begins to form in your mind: there’s something off with your horse. You can’t say where exactly this hunch is coming from because your horse isn’t thrashing or wriggling in pain. A quick once over doesn’t turn up anything obviously wrong. But you’re sure that everything isn’t as …
When it comes to the well-being of your horse, observation is your best tool. Your horse can’t tell you how they feel, but several indicators can help you determine if your horse is in prime condition. Spending time with your horse as well as knowing the general signs of well-being …
Colic in horses refers to abdominal pain and is a common condition that can have a range of causes. It’s important to understand that “colic” is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying problem in the horse’s gastrointestinal tract. Colic in horses is a term …
Deworming your horse is a critical component of equine health care. Horses are susceptible to various internal parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, bots, and strongyles. These parasites can infest the horse’s gastrointestinal tract and other organs, leading to health issues. Parasites interfere with nutrient absorption, leading to malnutrition and weight loss. …
Gaited horses are a specific category of horse breeds that possess unique, smooth, and natural gaits in addition to the traditional horse gaits of walking, trotting, and cantering/galloping. These additional gaits are often referred to as “ambling” gaits and are characterised by their smooth, evenly spaced footfalls. The presence of …
Equine ulcers, often referred to as gastric ulcers, are a common but often overlooked ailment in horses. These sores or lesions on the stomach lining can impact any horse, regardless of age or discipline. I wanted to shed some light on ulcers in horses, because I’ve seen so many horses …
Saddling a horse might seem like a straightforward task, but its implications run deep. Safety for the rider is paramount and an incorrectly saddled horse is a hazard. If the saddle slides, tips, or even falls off during a ride, the consequences can be severe, ranging from minor injuries to …
The terms “founder” and “laminitis” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different stages and severities of a similar hoof-related condition in horses. Both involve inflammation and damage to the sensitive laminae that connect the hoof wall to the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. The key difference between …
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a condition in horses characterised by a group of metabolic abnormalities that increase the risk of developing laminitis. It’s similar in some ways to metabolic syndrome in humans, which is a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. EMS is particularly prevalent in pony breeds …
Cushing’s Disease, widely recognised within the equine community, is a common hormonal disorder that predominantly afflicts older horses and ponies. While the name ‘Cushing’s Disease’ is borrowed from a similar condition in humans and dogs, the equine variant is distinct in its pathology, targeting a different facet of the pituitary …
The journey to becoming a confident rider is often riddled with fear and anxiety, especially for beginners. The enormity of the animal you’re faced with in your first lesson, paired with the unpredictability of the experience, can be as daunting as it is exciting. I wanted to go over some …
The classification of horses as hot, warm, and cold bloods can be confusing. As mammals all horses are warm-blooded – they don’t need to lie around in the sun to summon energy for the day, although some do like to! These classifications are based on their temperament, build, and historical …
Jousting is a medieval sport that has captured the imaginations of people for centuries. It is a competition between two armoured knights on horseback who charge at each other with lances, with the goal of knocking their opponent off their horse. Jousting was a popular sport in the Middle Ages, …
