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This article provides tips for first-time competitors and their parents when attending a horseback riding event. It dispels common myths, such as the need for an expensive horse or fancy equipment, and emphasizes the importance of researching opportunities that fit within one's means. The article also highlights the significance of knowing the horse's strengths and sticking to familiar events for a positive experience. It offers advice on trailer safety, creating checklists, dress rehearsals, and the importance of bringing necessary paperwork. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent feeding schedule, sticking to familiar training techniques, and filming runs for valuable feedback. The article concludes by suggesting that newcomers find a friend to accompany them, consider their own nutrition, and attend clinics to gain valuable insights. [Extracted from the article]

Horse obesity is a growing concern that can result in negative welfare. The role horse owners play in horse weight management is not well understood. This study aimed to: (1) explore the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of owners with overweight or obese horses regarding their horses’ weight; and (2) understand the motivators and barriers for owners to implement, improve and maintain weight management-related strategies. A semi-structured interview guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework was developed. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 owners in Prince Edward Island, Canada whose horse(s) were previously classified as overweight or obese by a veterinarian. Interviews were analysed using template analysis, organising patterns in the data into a codebook and overarching themes. Owners believed horse weight management was important, however, their perceived complexity of the issue made the implementation of the weight management practices difficult. Owners held conflicting perceptions, viewing overweight horses as well cared for, yet recognised these horses were at increased risk for negative health outcomes. Ultimately, participants felt emotionally torn about compromising their horse’s mental well-being to address weight issues. Owners considered the practicality of weight-management strategies, the strategies’ effectiveness, and whether recommended strategies aligned with their beliefs regarding good horse care practices. Knowledge was embedded into owners’ understanding of horse weight, however, some highlighted that traditional knowledge dominates the equine industry hindering systemic industry change. Increased understanding of the effectiveness and impacts of weight management strategies on horses and fostering a society that recognises and accepts horses within a healthy weight range are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses strategies for getting paid at the time of service in the veterinary industry, specifically in relation to equine care. It emphasizes the importance of charging fees that reflect the value of services and avoiding discounting, as discounts can erode profit. The article also suggests implementing payment at the time of service and utilizing tools like the CareCredit credit card to facilitate timely payment and provide flexible financing options for clients. Overall, the article highlights the financial considerations and challenges faced by veterinarians and offers practical solutions for managing revenue and improving financial success. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the idea of starting a barn buddy book club during the winter months when riding and barn activities may be limited. It suggests reaching out to barn friends to vote on a book and set a date to meet and discuss it. The article also provides a list of eight book recommendations, including fiction and practical horse care knowledge, suitable for different age groups. The books cover a range of topics such as horse rescue, horsemanship, horse care, and saddle fitting. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the option of loaning older horses instead of selling them. Topics discussed include horse owner Jo Ward's experiences of loaning the horse Leo to British Horse Society assistant instructor Fiona Burnard, expected health issues facing older horses and tips for loaning an older horse including the thorough checking of a potential loan home, establishing a written agreement and discussing possible health care and other emergencies.

The fee for this service is tiny compared to owning a horse that you can't sell in good faith (for more on pre-purchase exams, see "Buyer be Educated", Horse Illustrated September 2022 issue). Features horse care No one goes through life without making mistakes, and luckily for us, most errors have minor consequences. CONTRACTS FOR HORSE SALES OR LEASE AGREEMENTS The era of closing a horse sale with a handshake is long gone, yet many purchase agreements today have an abysmal paper trail. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses essential considerations when buying an equestrian property. It emphasizes the importance of identifying your specific equestrian needs, checking the condition of existing facilities, understanding soil types, obtaining planning permissions, and addressing potential legal issues like rights of way and agricultural ties. Topics include recognizing your equestrian requirements, evaluating property conditions, soil type significance, and legal considerations.

The article discusses the issue of Negative Plantar Angles (NPA) in horses' feet, its impact on musculoskeletal health, and the importance of a collaborative approach involving veterinarians, farriers, and podiatrists for diagnosis and treatment. Topics include the causes and effects of NPA, methods for assessing and addressing it, and the significance of factors like hoof quality, posture, and digital cushion health in the treatment process.

The article focuses on track systems for managing grass consumption and promoting movement among horses, highlighting the need for careful planning and monitoring when implementing such systems. Topics include the benefits of track systems, considerations for setting up and managing them, and potential drawbacks and challenges associated with this approach to horse care.

A study conducted by the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom explored veterinarians' experiences in caring for older horses in Great Britain. The research highlighted the importance of collaboration between veterinarians and horse owners in providing age-appropriate care and navigating the complexities of the veterinarian-owner relationship. The study emphasized the need for networks of relationships to support the provision of veterinary care for aging horses. This research was published in the Equine Veterinary Journal and has been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]

Stewart also reports that same horse was able to finish off a leg of mutton in a matter of minutes, and "roasted meat was his favourite dish." FEATURES In my 33 years as an equine nutritionist, I've fielded a wide variety of questions about what horses can and should eat. A practical manual for horse-keepers", George Martin mentions that horses in Iceland and some of the Shetland Islands were sustained on dried fish in light of sparse other feedstuffs during the winter. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses key takeaways from the Synchrony Equine Lifetime of Care Study and provides insights into horse owners' thoughts on horsekeeping and the cost of care. The study found that 90% of horse owners plan to keep their horses for life, and the cost of keeping a horse can range from $215,000 to $575,000. The survey also revealed that owners underestimate the cost of horse care and experience anxiety about horse expenses. The article emphasizes the importance of payment at the time of service for equine practitioners and highlights the need for proactive education on planning and preparing for unexpected health care expenses. It also addresses the challenges faced by equine veterinarians and the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on winter horse care, covering topics such as transitioning from fresh pasture to conserved forage to prevent colic, the benefits of allowing horses to naturally lose weight over winter to maintain metabolic health, and strategies for managing weight loss in senior horses through dental care and specialized feed. It mentions that maintaining a balanced diet with a focus on individual needs and considering environmental factors is crucial during the winter season.

The author shares her experiences of her horse named Roany that lived for 25 years with her. She shares that the nature of Roany was good and he used to greet her every morning, and shares that she called Roany as the horse of different color. She shares about the injury in Roany's feet and his worsened condition with time after which he died.

The article focuses on show horses and how their age impacts them. The author discusses scaling back for senior horses rather than just retiring them, explains the physiological and structural changes that happen as horses age, including their teeth, joints, and immune system, and presents questions horse owners can ask themselves. Information on horses that are too old to breed is also included.

The Equine Experience at Penn State's Ag Progress Days will feature crowd-favorite demonstrations for horse enthusiasts and casual spectators alike. Visitors can attend demonstrations and interact with Penn State equine science faculty and staff to learn about horse health and care. The Equine Arena and Equine Exhibits Building will showcase the versatility of horses, and there will be a variety of demonstrations covering different interests and horsemanship levels. The event will also include presentations and consultations on gardening topics in the Yard and Garden Area. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the significant of planning for to handle illness, accidents and emergencies that may happen in horses. It includes decision making during emergencies, selecting a caretaker and developing a trust or will with the animal's caretaker. Also mentioned is the significant of providing funds to support the long-term care in horses.

The article discusses ways to prevent monensin antibiotic poisoning in horses. Topics include use of monensin to feed cattle and poultry; death of horses at the Masterpiece Equestrian Center in Davie, Florida after consuming feed which had been purchased from Lakeland Animal Nutrition; low tolerance for monensin in horses; and the damage done by monensin to the mitochondria in the muscle cells throughout a horse's body, including the heart.

The article offers information on shipping fever in horses. It states that shipping fever is caused in horses due to long hours of transportation. Topics discussed include a unique combination of physical and psychological stressors during transportation that weakens a horse's defenses, indicators of respiratory illness in horses, and diagnosis of the post-travel respiratory signs in horses.

The article outlines the four simple guidelines to ensure that the horse's immunization schedule provides the highest level of protection for the longest time possible. These include adapting to the changes in location, lifestyle and social life, considering health status and activities when scheduling the vaccinations as a horse's overall health could affect their efficacy, and making sensible schedule and considering vaccination against insect-borne encephalitis diseases.

The article focuses on how horse owners can maintain the health of their horses and avoid the risk of white line diseases by administering regular farriery care and keeping the feet clean and dry. Topics include the possible impact of the disease to the hoof wall of the horse, the factors that can contribute to the development of white line disease, and the treatment options for white line disease.

The article offers information on the problem of choking in horses. Topics discussed inlcude the high risk for developing a blockage of the esophagus in horse in winter, inserting a nasogastric tube in the horse, and malocclusions and other dental abnormalities in the horse. Also being suggested are the ways to prevent the problem of choking in horses.

The article discusses several factors to consider before choosing the right retirement facility for older horses, which will ensure a good atmosphere and responsible care for senior horses. According to the author, determining the horses's specific needs like daily medications and feeding; paying attention to facility details like competency of care, experienced staff and a positive track record and determining veterinary costs will help select an appropriate retirement facility.

The article focuses on the management of impaction colic in horses during winter seasons. Topics discussed include impact of frigid weather, icy water and lack of pasture grazing on health of the horse; blockages in the cecum, small intestine and parts of the gastrointestinal tract; and feeding plenty of quality forage for preventing the same.

The article offers information on the seasonal veterinary examination checklist for the horse. Topics discussed include hands-on care, complete physical examination for the horse, and vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases. Also mentioned are the proper dental care, the steps to train the horse to accept, and the use of spring grooming checklist.

The article offers suggestions for dealing with stumbling behavior of horses and its relevance for horse riding. Topics discussed include equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) being a cause for stumbling, training the horse way from the behavior if there are no underlying physical and health causes, working with veterinary doctor for elimination of any physical causes such as improperly shod feet and ground working with obstacles that helps horses in minding of their step.

The article offers review on several products related to Equestrian health including Bodens Smart Horse Shaving from Bodens Group, Strawmax Straw Pellets from Bdmax Shavings, and Easibed Wood Fibre Bedding from Easibedding.

The article reports that the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) has urged the FEI to allow riders the choice to use a snaffle bridle instead of a double bridle in all international dressage competitions, citing the "precautionary principle" and emphasizing horse welfare.It mentions that the ISES expressed disappointment with the FEI's proposed rule changes that did not reflect the early recommendation of the equine ethics and wellbeing commission (EEWC).

The article discusses the need for focusing on several areas such as weight, joint health, immune function; conditioning and dental health of older horses which are affected by aging. Topics discussed include need for taking regular pictures with cell phone for comparing the physical appearance of horse and showing it to veterinarian; keeping aging horse on a consistent and appropriate vaccination schedule; and scheduling a dental checkups with a veterinarian.

The article offers information on the signs of inflammatory condition in horses like heaves and coughs. Among the signs that requires veterinary care are persistent coughs throughout a ride, type of cough that produce mucus, and coughs that occur after transport. It suggests that distinguishing the problem can keep the horse healthy.

The article focuses on the factors to be considered when investigating the health condition of thin horses. The author suggests comparing the thin horse with its herdsmates in the property and presents the steps to be undertaken when reporting a seemingly neglected or abused horse in the authority. The body condition score (BCS) system offering a method of estimating the body-fat levels of a horse is also presented.

The article offers suggestions regarding hoof care for horses that travel on trails . Topics include the need of having understanding of the hoof and its working mechanism for taking proper care; and tips like keeping the hoofs dry for more strength; benefits of natural living situations in terms of hoofs' health; significance of a horse's diet in hoof health; and need of proper protection and traction of horses during rides.

The article offers tips from equine nutritionists Katie Young and Karen Davison for horse owners to help ensure their horse is safe, cool, hydrated and pest-free during summer. They suggest to head off heat stress that can impair the horse's performance, provide adequate clean water to keep horse hydrated, and intensify electrolytes which are integral to nerve and muscle function. Tips to help horses stay cool as they are hauled during warm summer months are also offered.

The article offers suggestions on cold-weather care for aging horses. Topics discussed include emphasis laid by David Trachtenberg, owner of Trachtenberg Veterinary Associates, on feeding and blanketing of horses; benefits of increasing a horse's forage intake; importance of feeding only good-quality hay; and the need for monitoring an older horse's weight all winter.

The article discusses the four ways on how the body of a horse is affected by aging. Topics discussed include the occurrence of inflamm-aging which is one of the significantly changes in the horse's aging body, the consideration of immunosenescence as the inevitable effect of aging, and decline of the athletic capabilities of the body.

The article offers a four-step strategy to safe winter hauling of a horse all year long. It includes the need to ready the rig, trailer- load safely, keeping the horse comfortable, and drive carefully. It also offers a disaster-preparation tips, if there is a need to evacuate the horse in case of a weather emergency or loss of power.

The article offers tips on ways to operate the interior environment of trailers to enhance the safety, well-being, comfort and health of horse. Among the suggestions include the insulation of trailer, the evaluation of ventilation system, and the installation of safe windows to provide temperature control and light to horse.

The article discusses a checklist for horse riders to be considered before going for a ride by knowing the health status of the horse. Topics discussed include having a routine checkup for health-care issues, knowing how much body fat the horse is carrying and paying attention to horse's level of fatigue.