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When it comes to allergies, as humans we know they can be difficult to diagnose. It is important to be fully aware of any symptoms the horse may be displaying in order to assist in the correct diagnosis of the problem. Horse owners should be aware that symptoms can easily be mistaken for other common diseases or conditions and due to this; acute observation is always helpful in the determination of the problem.
There are wide arrays of symptoms that can be portrayed by the horse,...
The problems of Itchy Horses & making a horse drink if you take him to water
Exzemoid Dermatitis is not a commonly recognised term, it is more commonly known as pasture rot, rain scald, mud fever, scratches or grease heel. Whichever way you are used to knowing it, it is not good for your horse to have. It is caused by a combination of fungal organisms and bacteria causing lesions on the skin after it has become irritated. Wrinkled areas of skin, as found on the bulbs of the heels or back of the pastern area are most commonly affected. Symptoms include;
β’ Inflamed...
Looking after your Horse in the Summer Months
It is not only humans that get hot and bothered in the hot summer months. Like us they can react badly in a number of ways to excessive heat and humidity. They too can suffer from;
β’ Heat Stroke
β’ Sunburn
β’ Exhaustion
As we use horses for recreational purposes this can often mean that we enjoy a ride on a summer's day. Horses can sometimes go through a great deal of additional physical exertion due to the heat on these days. Their body can struggle to properly regulate their core...
Horse Help: Preparing for Equine competitions
To ensure you are ready for the show ring there are many things you can do in advance to prepare. This will ensure you have more time on the day to concentrate on the competing rather than the details.
1. Pulling your horses mane / tail
2. Cleaning tack
3. Cleaning your boots
4. Loading the horse box for the competition you are attending
5. Pre filling haynets
Pulling your horse's mane and tail can be a chore for many of us, especially if we do not use the most efficient aids and...
What does an Equine Behavioural Consultant do?
If you are experiencing an Equine behaviour problem or if your horse is doing something that you do not understand then an Equine Behavioural Consultant is the person you need to help you fix the problem.
Problems that can be helped include β loading problems, leading problems, riding problems such as bucking, rearing and spooking; barging, biting and kicking to name a few.
An Equine Behavioural Consultant will start off by taking a full case history that could take up to a couple of...
Equestrian Care: Bathing a Horse
As most horse owners will know, there are many ways to get and keep your horse cleen. Some of these methods will vary depending on your horses preference to them.
At this time of year many of us are wanting to prepare and get ready fo heading out to the first shows of the season. This will not only include a more tailored training routine but will alse require you and your horse to look as smart as you can. A common way of gettin your horse sparkling clean is to give them a bath.
Items...
Equine: Hacking Out
Horse riding is recognised as a dangerous sport and riding horses out on the roads is particularly dangerous even for those who have a horse who is generally safe and well behaved. The quality of hacking varies a lot throughout the country with some places having safe bridlepaths and lanes to ride on whereas some people are not as fortunate and are forced to ride down busy roads in order to get to the destination.
Irrespective of where you are riding it is important that you are well...
Equine Diet: A Horse's Water intake
Water intake is a vitally important part of the horse's diet. An average sized horse will carry around 300 litres at any one time. For this reason it is essential that the horse has enough water in its daily diet. A horse can live for many weeks with no food but can only survive for a few days without water. At rest a horse will lose water through excretion, evaporation and evaporation from the skin. They will consume up to thirty litres on a typical day and on a hot summer day can consume...
Guide to towing a horsebox or trailer
Everyday horses are travelled in trailers either long or short distances. When towing a horse in a trailer it is important to ensure they have a safe and comfortable journey, if not it is easy to make them afraid of travelling and bad to load.
The safety of the trailer is important, before travelling you should check that the floor of the trailer is stable, if it is loose, rusty or soft then the horse will be able to feel this, or worse it could give way whilst travelling. You should also...
A guide to Polo with Horses
Polo is a game played with a team of four riders on horseback using a long mallet to hit a small ball into the opposing team's goal. The object of the game being the team to score the highest number of goals. Traditionally polo is played on a large grass field up to 300 yards and 200 or 160 yards wide. After each goal is scored the teams swap goals so as to account for the wind and conditions. In America polo is often played in arenas which are smaller and only have teams of three riders...
Saddle Fitting and why it is important for your horse
It is important that any saddle you use on your horse is well fitted so as not to cause any problems. A poorly fitting saddle can restrict movement and lead to further problems such as lameness, muscle spasms and even behavioural problems due to the pain.
If the saddle does not fit the horse properly it will shift the weight of the rider and this will mean that pressure points can build under the contact areas. Also if the saddle is too small for the rider then they will also be more...
How to warming up the horse before schooling
Before schooling, competing or exercising a horse intensively it is important to ensure they are warmed up fully. This helps to prevent injuries particularly of the musculo-skeletal system. Muscles that are not warmed up are not as flexible and elastic as those that are and so therefore they are more likely to become injured. Warm up is even more important during winter months when it is cold, particularly if the horse is stabled for long periods of time as muscles can become stiff and...
Equestrian Warm-up suggestions before a Schooling Class
It is sometimes underestimated how important the warm up before going into the class. Too often people walk about waiting for their class to be called when they could be working with their horse to ensure they are both ready to achieve what they need to in the class. This is the perfect time to finalise plans and goals of how you want to perform in the class and perfect your transitions etc with your horse.
Firstly you need to determine where your ring / arena is, where the entrance is,...
A Guide to Loading Horses
Horses should be trained to load from an early age so that they become used to the lorry / trailer. Foals will usually follow the mare into the box or young inexperienced horses will often feel more comfortable following an older more experienced companion. Food can also be used as a reward once in the box / trailer to relax the horse once in there. The space they first walk into should be as wide and visually spacious as possible. Front unloading trailers can also have the front ramp down...
Care of the event horse when competing
Feeding the morning should be done at least 4 hours before the start of the competition. Small concentration feed the morning of the event is important to remember as it will help keep the digestive juices of the horse going and prevent colic from occurring. Feeding hay before competing is not recommended as blood is better used to take oxygen to the muscles rather than being used to assist digestion.
It is wise to have assistance in preparing for in between phase B and C. During this...
How to Care for Horses when Travelling
The requirements for horses when travelling are similar to those of a horse in a loose box / stable. He should be warm in the winter and kept from being too hot in the warmer months. Have a plentiful supply of fresh air without a draught, a non slip surface / footing and the least amount of noise / disturbance as can be maintained. Many horses adapt well to traveling and will travel well if given the space and are driven with care and consideration along with the suspension of the...
Relaxing in the saddle will help with your schooling
Being tense in the saddle will always pass on to your horse and hinder any training you want to do. By identifying clear goals that you want to achieve with your horse it will help to reduce nervousness and anxiety and provide you with a clearer picture of how your training can progress. It is important to identify your horses strengths and weaknesses, determine what you feel he would be good at and areas that you need to work on to improve your riding.
Each schooling session should be...
The History of the Horse
Prehistoric fossil records indicate that Equidae (what is now known as the horse) underwent the majority of its evolutionary history within the last 60 million years.
This first horse was given the name Hyracotherium in Europe and Eohippus in America.
Eohippus was a browser, feeding on soft leaves and despite its short legs was able to move around between marsh land and lush woodland.
Due to its soft diet it did not require the use of large molars which were not evident at this early...
Equine Dentistry - Inside the Horses Mouth
All teeth are made up of enamel a hard but brittle structure; cementum produced continuously at the base of the tooth enabling the tooth to attach to the periodontal ligament; dentine this is produced continuously and is a soft structure supporting nutrients for growth
Incisors
Horses have 6 on their top jaw and 6 on their bottom jaw. All of these are deciduous (baby teeth), and are lost when the permanent teeth come in. Generally horses lose their 1st incisors at 2.5 years, their...
A Short Overview As To The Necessity Of Horse Dentistry
A short overview as to the necessity of horse dentistry.
A good equine dentist should always aim to provide ethical treatments that work towards improving the health, welfare, future comfort and performance of the horse.
The anatomy of the horses head has evolved for the primary purpose of eating. The gradual elongation of the head during evolution allowed individual teeth to become larger and stronger.
The horse's lower jaw is narrower than the upper jaw and allows for the circular...
The Need For Equine Dentistry - What to Expect from a Horse Dentistry Appointment
Your Dentistry Appointment
Dentists will have their own method in which they perform a dental examination and work but the following is a rough guide to the stages that should be incorporated.
When your chosen dentist arrives they should aquaint themselves with your horse. Usually if it is the first time the dentist has been to see you had your horse they will take a history of your horse and may even enquire into any previous dental work carrried out. After this the dentist will...
The Equestrian Triadan Numbering System
When using the Triadan classification for identifying individual teeth the horses' mouth is split into 4 arcades.
Each arcade has up to 11 teeth. The horses 4 middle incisors (2 form the top row 2 from the bottom) are number 1. All other teeth are then numbered consecutively from there. Each of the 4 arcades is numbered 1 - 4. The two numbers can then be joined to specify any single tooth.
Ageing Horses
There are many reasons why the age of a horse should be considered as...
Inside the Modern Horses Mouth - Dental Wear
Fossil samples dating back as far as 55 million years ago can help us determine how long horses (on average) lived. 55 million years ago the average longevity of the hyracotherium was 5 years of age. 20 million years ago during the Miocene, analysis indicates longevity of up to 15 years. 10 million yeas ago during the Pliocene period Equus population was thought to live up to 25 years.
Horses are herbivores and there teeth are designed for breaking down the hard structures like cellulose...
Recent advances in diagnosis and nursing techniques related to contracted tendons in the equine neonate.
A physical examination can often be ample to diagnosis this condition. The severity of the condition will determine the symptoms shown. Affected neonates have varying degrees of straightening.
Milder cases of contracture at the Distal Interphalangeal joint show a 'dished' appearance to their dorsal hoof surface, which can become more acute depending on external factors that may affect the condition. Cases that have failed to be corrected in the early stages can become so severe that the...
Veterinary Intervention relating to Equine Tendon damage
It is very hard to detect the severity or progression of tendon damage by visually examining or palpating the limb, ultrasound will be necessary to determine this. Veterinary involvement becomes necessary in more acute cases. Phenylbutazone is a popular choice for initial nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID's) therapy and does not affect the natural repair process. Corticosteroids are also used to decrease inflammation, oedema and adhesions between the tendon and sheath. It has been shown...
Hunt Horses and the Risk of Injury
The horse is an elite athlete and many of their natural characteristics can be harnessed for performance in sporting activities. National Hunt Racing incorporates many of the horse's natural physical abilities including speed, stamina and the ability to jump. The races are run over longer distances than flat races; up to 4½ miles, requiring the horse to have more stamina but a lower average speed. National Hunt races include a jumping element. This significantly increases the chance of...
The implications of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in the National Hunt racehorse
Every time the horses hoof comes into contact with the ground, the tendon is required to stretch. At speed or over jumps this is increased up to 8cm, (Nankervis 2002). The tenocytes within the extra cellular matrix run parallel to one another. The ability to aid cell realignment will aid the functional capabilities of the tendon after injury.
Tendon elasticity and its ability to function as an energy efficient spring, is vital for optimum performance in the National Hunt racehorse....
Equine Feeding on the Competition Yard
Finer details of feeding need to be considered once the work load intensifies. In order to sustain the maximum performance levels, it becomes more necessary to consider the losses that the horse is subject to due to the increase in workload. As stated previous it is still necessary to determine the goals that you wish to achieve from your feeding programme and aim to ensure the horses requirements are met as efficiently as possible.
Up to 75% of an adult horse's body mass is water. If...
Equestrian Feeding in Riding Schools: What To Expect
Riding schools are used by a wide variety of people for many different purposes, all of which must be catered for by the establishment. It is the manager's responsibility to make sure that the horses available for use are safe, fit and healthy. Along with the fitness regimes, shoeing needs and daily maintenance of the horses, the feeding of correct and suitable feeds is vital.
As so many horses are usually present in this form of establishment, it could become very complicated if...
How you Should Feed Your Horse If You Own Just One Horse
Often the single horse owner will use trial and error method over time to determine their horses feed ration. Many owners choose feeds that are well known and often don't always meet the needs of the individual. The need for a spreadsheet constructed feed ration may not be acknowledged by owners, but the benefits can be great. Financially, feed can be a large contributor to monthly bills. By formulating a diet that will allow the horse to gain the maximum nutrient and energy values...
Basic Horse Feed Rationing & Equine Parasites
A feed ration is a determined quantity and quality of feed, calculated using as much information about the animal and its lifestyle as possible. Rations can be made as complicated or as simple as desired. It is the final outcome that also determines the complexity of the ration. Age, needs, workload, breed etc must also be considered when determining the most suitable feeds and quantities for the individual.
There are different factors that determine the constituents and quantities of a...
Understanding Equine Digestion
Since its first domestication (about 5000bc), the horse has been used for many purposes; initially for meat, then for transport and for use in battle, leading us to its modern use, for pleasure. The horse is suited to a high fiber diet due to the continual microbial fermentation within its caecum and colon. It is its domestication that leads the horse to use and therefore need more energy than can be provided by their usual high fiber natural diet of grass. It is these requirements that have...
The Types Of Sports Injuries In Horses
When a horse has an injury the pain they feel can fall into three categories;
Inflammatory pain - inflammatory mediators increase pain sensitivity and can make to pain feel worse within 6 hours. Anti inflammatory medications can reduce pain due to this; however the inflammatory response does play its part in assisting with recovery of some injuries.
Neuropathic pain - From a major trauma i.e. spinal column.
Somatic Pain - Pain associated with the skin, joints tissues etc. The tissues...
The History Of Saddlery - How It Has Evolved
At around 700-800 BC there is evidence that the earliest predecessor to the modern saddle was in use consisting of a simple cloth and surcingle fastening. From this their designs evolved over time, breast girths and girths in 300 BC increased rider security, the introduction of the solid βtreeβ at around 200 BC that significantly raised the rider off the horseβs back increased the amount of time horses could be ridden for, the introduction of the first stirrup like piece of saddlery,...
Riding Jackets & Numnahs, Saddlepads And Saddle Cloths
It is important to remember what you want the riding jacket for before making your choice. Do you require a jacket with specific safety features that can include protective padding, reflective piping or reflective strips, do you want a jacket suitable for heavy rain that would require a windproof or waterproof outer layer or would a lightweight breathable jacket be more suitable? There are many equestrian jackets that provide the showing rider or competition rider with the correct image for...
Lameness in Sport Horses
Lameness can present itself in a number of different ways and for different reasons;
- There is more that one area of pain
- The horses performance drops
- The horse shows behavioral changes
Sometimes assessment of the problem can be challenging if there is no clear reason for the change / drop in performance and associated lameness. Knowing the history of the horse can greatly assist in the diagnosis of the problem. The horses training schedule, length of time taken to reach levels of...
Safety Horse Riding Hats: Types & Applications
All hats and horse riding helmets worn for horse riding should be designed and manufactured to conform to the correct safety standards. Safety standards for riding hats in this country include BSEN1384 and EN1384 which are the basic minimum safety standards that get reviewed every 5 years if a complaint is made and PAS015, which is a revised safety standard that addresses new areas of protection for riding hats including stability tests on hats when worn. The Kite mark signifies continually...
Lateral Schooling Can Be For Anyone And Can Be Done Anywhere
Hacking is a brilliant opportunity to sneak in the odd bit of schooling for you and your horse, without it seeming a daunting task. Hacking is a brilliant in helping you and your horse relax and enjoy time together and for practicing a number of different small lateral and disciplinary movements, many of which you many find in a Dressage test. The most obvious excercises are;
-Free walk on a long rein,
-Transitions
-Shoulder-In
-Quarters-In
-Lengthening and shortening strides
-Testing...
Horse Schooling & Important Information
The School (or arena) is the perfect place to safely exercise and train your horse. There are many factors involved with the construction, layout and position of the school that can alter determine how useful the school can become. Whether deciding to build an equestrian riding school / arena or whether choosing if the arena on your yard is suitable for what you want to do in it, there are factors that should be considered,
Is the schools surface suitable for the riding or exercise you...
Saddles - The Individual Parts That Make Them Up
Saddles are the seat for the rider that sits on the horses back. As with any horse riding equipment it is absolutely vital that the saddle fits correctly. An ill fitting saddle will cause many problems, not only physically for the horse but will also affect the way the horse moves and often how the horse behaves. Ill fitting saddles contribute towards creating unsafe riding situations as horses will try to evade the pain caused by them.
Saddles are a main point of contact between rider...
Selecting The Best Equestrian Rugs β The Benefits Of Each Type & Whats Best
STABLE RUGS
Stable rugs are designed for warmth when in the stable. Most stable rugs are made from synthetic materials. They are available in different weights / thicknesses and are usually either quilted or padded. The varying weights of stable rugs aim to cover all variety of needs, but stable rugs can be worn as a layer, with either thinner rugs underneath or layered in different thicknesses.
Stable rugs should be deep enough so as none of the horses belly is visible. Most will...
How To Fit A Horse Saddle & Saddle Styles
How to Fit a Horse Saddle
Styles of saddle
Dressage Saddles β Most offer a closer fit to the horse, maximising contact between horse and rider. Knee rolls and saddle flap length are often longer, helping to create a longer, more effective leg position. The pommel and cantle are often a little higher giving non restrictive security and support when in the seat and excellent centre of balance for the rider.
Jumping Saddles β Aims to give the rider extra grip and closeness. The...
Yard Care for Horses: Knowing What To Do
The yard is the place where it all happens for horses in terms of feeding, grooming, tacking up, bathing and mucking out are all commonplace making it one busy place to be. All horse yards are different and used in different ways but there are important key factors that all yards should try to remember. Safety and efficiency should be paramount on any yard for horses, riders and visitors. There are many simple safety procedures that can be put in place that will help to achieve...
Equestrian Field Management
The field is the place you want your horse to feel relaxed, natural and content and you can help him achieve this by providing them with as many of the resources they would require naturally whilst keeping them safe and secure.
Fencing should never be made up of barbed wire or any other wire that horses could get themselves, their rugs or their shoes caught on. Many suitable fences include post and rails, electric tape secured correctly, solid hedgerows and walls. They should be high enough...
Martingales: A Guide To What They Are & Their Application
The standing martingale is attached to the middle of the girth, passes up through the horseβs front legs and attaches to the underside of the horses noseband. Thus is considered to be the most restrictive of martingales. If the horse is unexpectedly caught off balance they could fall more easily if wearing a standing martingale as their range of movement is restricted. This martingale is however very effective at preventing the horse from raising their head, by applying pressure to the...
Horse Breastplates, How To Install On Your Horse
The Hunting breastplate are the most commonly used in English riding. They are fitted by sliding the encircled leather over the horses head, this is called the Yolk. Off this is the breast strap that attaches to the underside of the girth (between the horses front legs). The remaining two smaller straps on either side of the withers attach to the D-rings of the saddle. This can sometimes be a problem as this is a weak point for attachment and can often be pulled out. Standing and running...
How To Care For An Injured Horse
Anyone who cares for horses will, at some point, have to care for a horse with a cut or wound. Large cuts and lacerations should be seen by the vet, and if you are unsure of its severity it is better to be safe than sorry. It is not uncommon for horses to graze themselves for time to time and it is important to be able to provide your horse with the first aid it needs, whether treating it yourself or waiting for the vet to arrive. Sterile saline solution is best for cleaning open,...
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