A comprehensive and thoroughly practical book on every aspect of horse care. The essential book for every horse owner, The Complete Horse Care Manual contains everything you need to know to give your horse the best care possible. Stressing the importance of understanding a horse's basic needs, Colin Vogel provides precise advice on: feeding, grooming, and exercising your horse all year round; stabling your horse; fitting bits, bridles, and other pieces of tack -- and keeping them in top--notch condition; handling your horse properly -- using correct techniques along with your knowledge of your horse's patterns and temperament; recognizing and treating the symptoms of common equine illnesses; dealing with emergencies, either on your own or with the help of a vet. Complete with charts covering daily, monthly, and annual routines and care, information on transporting and showing your horse, and explanations of how the natural behavior of horses can help you understand your own horse's behavior, The Complete Horse Care Manual provides all the information and the insights you need to keep you horse healthy and fit. This book is in great condition. ISBN-13: 9780751302134 ISBN-10: 0751302139 Author: Vogel, Colin J. Binding: Hardcover – 192 pages Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd Published: 1995
If you are short on time and looking to get more results out of your workouts, then resistance band training […]
The Hoof Care Kit - What Every Horse Owner Needs There are plenty of times that horses will thrill and panic us with what could be an emergency. Our trouble doubles when those situations involve the hoof, simply because so much of our horse’s health resides (literally) on his hooves. A simple Vet Kit is a
Nobody likes to imagine worst case scenarios, but it is crucial to have a plan in case you have to evacuate with your horse in case of an emergency. Depending on where you live, you
HandsOn Gloves, the All-In-One Shedding/Bathing/Grooming Gloves, outperforms traditional curry combs, bathing mitts, and any de-shedder on the market.
Every horse owner should be aware of these before there is an emergency and you have your vet on the other end of the line. Remember that every horse is different so know what is normal for each ho…
Beginning treatment during the acute phase of laminitis helps give the horse the best chance of recovery. Here's what to know.
A new must-have for every barn. With each passing season, it's a harsh reality that we seem to be facing more extreme weather than ever: From flooding in the south to wildfires in California and Canada to crippling blizzards all winter long, we too often read about horse owners forced to make tough decisions to...
Your horse has a hoof abscess, bruise, puncture, or something else wrong with his foot. Should you call the veterinarian or farrier?
Belly lifts are beneficial for strengthening your horse's back. Here's an alternate way to upward finger pressure at the girth area to help your horse do this exercise.
Learn the basics about daily horse care and grooming. Know the right questions to ask if you're buying a horse and how to respond to health emergencies.
Proper horse care during the winter season is essential.
When it comes to DIY horse care I’m all for putting in a little blood, sweat (and usually tears) to help save a few bucks. After all horse care is rarely cheap, or easy. Luckily,…
Discover essential, budget-friendly items from the dollar store for your next horse show. Perfect supplies for riders and horses alike!
If you think that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or our 24-hour emergency poison hotline directly at 1-888-426-4435.
You don't want to call the vet for every minor thing, but if your horse is showing signs of a horse skin condition it can cause you a lot of worry.
Each of the horse’s gaits offers a unique tool when conditioning for performance and, used correctly, can accomplish results that might otherwise be missed. Optimally, horses should spent equal time in all three gaits during training sessions in order to achieve both looseness and strength. Certain conditioning phases, though, sometimes necessitate prioritizing one gait over another. This article will clarify how and when individual gaits can serve the equine athlete, especially the way he uses his back, and how cavalletti routines can help.
10 Common Horse Diseases and How To Avoid Them For every horse owner, rider, groom, it is a huge responsibility to take care of their four-legged companion. Even under the best caring conditions, some horses can be prone to different diseases ranging from skin problems to respiratory issues or digestion system problems. Therefore, it is vital for each equestrian to know the most common diseases to avoid them or, if the horse is already sick, how to act for a quick recovery. Common Digestion Conditions 1. Colic is the most common digestion system problem in horses. It can emerge when a horse doesn’t drink enough water, eat enough roughage or has untreated dental problems. Signs of colic include anxiety, restlessness, sweating, gut pain, lack of appetite, lying down more than usual. To avoid, keep the water and food supplies clean, make sure the horse has a well-balanced diet, don’t forget to float your horse’s teeth every once in a while. If you suspect the signs of colic, call the veterinarian to get professional help. While waiting for the veterinarian, you can walk your horse to reduce the pain and provide him a large area to roll. 2. Inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, is made up of a collection of different diseases of the intestines, which is demonstrated by inflammatory cells. Even though there are several different types of IBD, common symptoms can be chronic weight loss, lack of appetite, fever, skin lesions, diarrhea. There is not an exact cause for this disease, therefore, it is really tricky to avoid. You should call the veterinarian as soon as you suspect IBD. The best treatment technique varies for different horses. Common Respiratory Conditions1. Common cold is generally caused by a viral infection contracted by contact with other infected horses. The symptoms are unrelenting cough, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. To avoid, you can consider vaccination, isolating the new horse at the barn from others, and check the water your horse drinks at shows. If you think your horse has a common cold, isolate him in a dust-free area, call the veterinarian, try to feed him soft food so that it can swallow easier. 2. Equine herpes virus is an infection that can cause respiratory difficulties, abortion, and neurological problems. Early symptoms are generally fever, cough, nasal discharge and loss of appetite. To prevent, there are vaccinations available but, according to Vivienne Irwin of the Animal Health Trust, they should be used for healthy horses only, before they get sick. If you think your horse is already infected keep him away from all the other horses and call the veterinarian. Common Skin Conditions1. Ringworm, contrary to the common belief, it is caused by a fungus. It spreads quickly from one horse to another. Infection shows initially as tufts of raised hair, which eventually fall off and leave lesions. To avoid, try not to use the same tack for different horses and pay attention to hygiene. If there is a new horse, keep him away from the others until you are sure of its health. If a horse already has ringworm, the first action should be isolating it from the others. The infected horse can recover with an anti-fungus wash and clipping the infected hair. Also, the barn and tack should be properly cleaned to prevent the spread. 2. Mud fever is a skin issue associated with wet and muddy conditions. It is caused by an infection that thrives in the mud. Once infected, the skin of the legs and the stomach become inflamed and scaly and, the horse can develop a fever. To avoid, clean the legs after every workout by washing and drying properly. If you recognize mud fever on your horse, keeping the infected areas clean is the basis. Further treatment is to penetrate the causal organisms under the scabs under the control of a veterinarian. 3. Rain scald, also known as mycotic dermatitis, is another skin infection caused by a fungal that comes with wet weather. It can occur if the horse stays wet for a long time or when leaking or non-breathable rugs are used. The infection causes patchy hair loss along the back and quarters. The hair can become matted, and the skin may develop sores and lesions. To avoid, make sure your horse has a shelter in the pasture and try to use the correct type of rugs. The affected horse can be treated with a special medicine wash so if you suspect rain scald, consult your veterinarian. Common Neurologic Conditions1. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, also known as EPM, is a neurological disease caused by a parasite called Sarcocystis neurona. Horses can get the parasite through unclean water or feed. The disease is recognized by seizures, vision problems, lesions, and abnormal behavior. There is no proved medicine to prevent this illness. To avoid, the best thing you can do is to keep the horse feed and water clean. If a horse already has EPM, there are several pills to treat. Just call your veterinarian and get some help. 2. West Nile Virus is an infection carried by mosquitos. If mosquitos bite the horse, the infection can spread in the horse’s blood and lead inflammation in the brain. Symptoms of infected horses can be fever, impaired vision, convulsions, head pressing, difficulty swallowing, and paralysis or weakness of the hind limbs. To avoid, horse owners can try vaccinating the horses and take precautions to get rid of the mosquitos. The treatment for the infected horses is by medicine. If you suspect there is West Nile Virus, call the veterinarian and get professional help. 3. Lockjaw is one of the most serious bacterial diseases that affect the central nervous system of the horse. It is also known as tetanus and mostly known symptoms are heightened sensitivity, spasms, and protruding eyelids. To avoid, the best option is to get tetanus vaccination. For the horses that are already infected, treatment can be by antibiotics under veterinarian control.
Get 10 easy-to-follow expert recommendations from equine nutrition specialist Emily Smith to help prevent horse colic from occurring. Read now.
