Understanding Equine Insurance Whether a horse is purchased for personal or business reasons, ownership represents a significant investment of time, money and resources. While no one likes to think about the potential for tragedy, horses seem to be prone to illness,...

Don't Skip the Pre-purchase Exam   Owning a horse can be a big investment in time, money and emotion.  Unfortunately, horses seldom come with a money-back guarantee.  That’s why it is so important to investigate the horse’s overall health and condition through a...

Preparing for the Storm With hurricane season upon us for 6 months out of the year, it is important for horse owners to know what to do in the event of an impending storm.  The most important step is having a plan in place and making sure that everyone understands...

Weight Reduction in Overweight Horses As a horse owner, you play an important role in controlling your equine companion’s weight. Sound nutrition management, a regular exercise program and veterinary care are key to keeping your horse fit and healthy. Maintaining the...

Choosing the Best Hay for your Horse High-quality hay can be an important source of essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. A horse’s protein and energy requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. A mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5% of...

A healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost before your eyes.  From birth to age two, a young horse can achieve 90 percent or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as three pounds per day.  Feeding young horses...

Help Your Mare have a Safe Delivery If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you’re almost home free. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uneventful.  In most cases, you will simply need to be a quiet observer – if, that is, you are...

Foaling season is an exciting time of year.  Complications can occur, but you will be better able to stay calm and make it through if you are prepared.  The following is aimed at making sure you have what you need for the big day...or night. First off, talk to your...

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency.  From lacerations to colic to foaling difficulties, there are many emergencies that a horse owner may encounter.  You must know how to recognize serious problems and respond...

What is Sweet Itch?   Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis (SSRD) or "Sweet Itch" in horses is an allergic response to biting flies/midges of the genus Culicoides.  Most horses are bitten by these insects but only some will have an allergic response.  Sweet itch...

Ulcers are a man-made disease, affecting up to 90 percent of racehorses and 60 percent of show horses.  Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers.  A horse’s feeding schedule also can be a factor.  When horses are fed just twice a day, the stomach...

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all.  This is because some horses simply adapt to their discomfort.  For this reason, periodic dental examinations are essential to your horse’s...

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. This serious disease, which attacks the horse’s central nervous system, can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild to...

Every day veterinarians across the country see hundreds of cases of laminitis, a painful disease that affects the feet of horses.  Laminitis results from the disruption of blood flow to the sensitive and insensitive laminae within the foot, which secure the coffin...

Since first being recognized in the United States in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has posed a serious threat to horses and humans alike.   In the equine population, the virus is transmitted when a mosquito takes a blood meal from a bird infected with WNV, then feeds on...

Because of advances in nutrition, management and health care, horses are living longer, more useful lives. It’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s.  While genetics play a role in determining life span, you too, can have an...

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a potentially fatal disease that threatens the world’s horse, donkey and mule populations.  The virus that causes EIA reproduces in the white blood cells that circulate throughout the body.  The immune system, via antibodies, may...

The number one killer of horses is colic.  Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse.  Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored.  Many of the conditions that cause colic can become...

Internal parasites are silent killers.  They can cause extensive internal damage, and you may not even realize your horses are heavily infected.  At the very least, parasites can lower resistance, rob the horse of valuable nutrients, and cause gastrointestinal...

A. Neck B. Withers C. Crease in back D. Tail head E. Ribs F. Behind the shoulder   The ideal BCS is between 4.5 and 6 1. Poor Animal is extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae, and ischia projecting prominently.  Bone structure of...