Slideshow Archives – The Horse

2022 Best Barn Dog Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 15:00:14 +0000

Readers submitted photos and stories of their best barn dogs for a chance to win a prize from Vitalize K9.

Common Equine Skin Conditions

The Horse Staff — Thu, 12 May 2022 14:15:00 +0000

2021 “Itchy Horse Challenge” Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 16:00:02 +0000

Itchy Horse Challenge 2021 Contest Winner: "Opus"

Congratulations to Kimberly Foster, whose photo won our 2021 Itchy Horse Challenge contest! In her entry, Foster said Opus became extremely itchy this June after a reaction to something. "He was itching himself raw all over. He was put on steroids, antibiotics, and Kinetic vet medicated wash and salve. He is now on antihistamine for the itching," she said. "I would absolutely love to give the SA powder a try for him!" | Photo: Kimberly Foster

"Lyric repeatedly bends this gate with her itchy butt. She’d like any help she can get with itch relief (we’ve tried everything) and I would love anything that can help save the gate, too!"

— Paige Cerulli

"My poor special needs stud has been so itchy this summer! Nothing seems to help, all he dreams of is a permanent scratch right on his mane and he will love you forever!"

— Aubrey Northup

"Here is my itchy horse, Widget, showing her hives from a few years ago and another showing her true loveliness! She tends to get her itchy hives mostly in the autumn."

— Patrica Burg

"My poor flea bitten gray quarter horse gives 'flea-bitten' a whole new meaning. I've tried everything. He is so miserable in our Nebraska humidity. He needs to be stalled most of the day. He rubs his neck on fence posts till he bleeds. He has, however, learned to be creative with his scratching. Love my Frosty!"

— Linda Reynek Grunberg

"My poor girl would benefit greatly form Kinetic Vet she itches her mane and tail raw. She has made her mane uneven and has rubbed chunks out. She has even called in her friends to help her with her inches as she rubs her butt on the barn."

— Jessica Hudgins

"This is my horse that has an itchy mane, tail, belly, ears, butt, chest and forehead. He is plagued by midges and seeks relief in his run-in with his fan. I am sure this product will help him."

—‎Biljana Milosevic‎

"My beautiful super extra special and highly sensitive gelding is like taking care of a high-maintenance prince. I would love to try this. The photo is his reaction to a new grooming spray that his highness did not think too fondly of."

— Michelle Earle Donio

"All dressed up for a day with the flies."

— Linda Reynek Grunberg

2021 ‘My Horse is Worth Protecting’ Contest: Editor’s Picks

The Horse Staff — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:30:21 +0000

PPID: An Endocrine Disease

Michelle Anderson — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 17:05:31 +0000

Hypertrichosis (Abnormally Long Coat)

A long, abnormally shedding coat is the hallmark clinical sign of PPID. Body clipping the coat during summer months can help keep a PPID horse from overheating. | Photo: iStock

Early Signs of PPID

While hypertrichosis is a common sign of advanced PPID, horses might show other, more subtle signs earlier. These can include lethargy and decreased performance. Many people think of PPID as an older-horse disease, but studies have identified horses with PPID as young as 7 years old. | Photo: iStock

Affected Breeds

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Morgan horses and ponies are overrepresented in the PPID population. However, horses of any breed can get PPID. | Photo: iStock

Excessive Drinking and Urinating

Horses with PPID also drink and urinate more than normal, healthy horses. These clinical signs are called polydipsia (excessive drinking) and polyuria (excessive urinating). | Photo: iStock

PPID Testing

In addition to noting classic PPID clinical signs, veterinarians can use blood tests to confirm diagnosis. Learn more about diagnosing PPID in “At A Glance: Diagnosing Equine Cushing’s Disease."| Photo: Alexandra Beckstett/The Horse

PPID and Insulin Resistance

Horses with PPID can also become insulin resistant, which leads to many of the clinical signs associate with PPID, including abnormal fat deposits, lethargy, and laminitis | Photo: University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture

Laminitis Risk

Due to hormonal imbalances, horses with PPID have an increased risk of laminitis, a painful hoof disease that can be fatal. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

Nutritional Management

In addition to medication, nutrition plays an important part in managing horses with PPID. Veterinarians recommend decreasing nonstructural carbohydrate (essentially the sugars and starches in the diet) to reduce laminitis risk. | Photo: iStock

Exercise

Keeping a horse with PPID fit can slow muscle wasting while also prolonging his competitive career and long-term comfort. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Horse Time 2020 Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:26:39 +0000

2020 ‘Say Neigh to Sunburn’ Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 16:00:13 +0000

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Basics

Michelle Anderson — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 13:30:52 +0000

Learn about the risk factors associated with horses getting gastric ulcers, as well as diagnosis and basic management and treatment.

2020 ‘My Horse is Worth Protecting’ Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 18:30:36 +0000

Insect Control on Horse Farms

The Horse Staff — Thu, 28 May 2020 16:30:00 +0000

Flying Insects Spread Disease

Flying insects irritate horses and spread bacterial and viral diseases. | Photo: iStock

Allergic Reactions to Insect Bites

Some horses will have allergic reactions to biting flies, causing hives and pruritis (intense itching). Sweet itch is a seasonal dermatitis caused by biting midges. | Photo: Michelle N. Anderson

Insect Repellents

Insect repellents come in sprays, ointments, and wipes. Apply them according to the instructions to protect your horse from flying insects. | Photo: The Horse Staff

Fly Masks

Fly masks keep insects out of horses' eyes and help prevent conjunctivitis. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Fly Sheets

Fly sheets provide horses with a protective barrier against flying insects. | Photo: iStock

Barn Fan

Mosquitoes and gnats are poor fliers, so using a barn fan can produce enough breeze to disrupt them. Warning! To prevent electrical barn fires, make sure to use fans intended for outdoor/agricultural applications. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

Promote Swallow Habitat

One swallow can consume nearly 1,000 mosquitoes a day! Invite swallows to live near your horses by providing birdhouses and nesting materials. | Photo: iStock

Promote Bat Populations

Bats get a bad rap as carriers of diseases, such as rabies. Healthy bat populations help keep flying insects in check by feasting on them. Provide bat houses to promote populations on your property. | Photo: iStock

Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Conditions

Mosquitoes breed in shallow, standing water. Eliminate available breeding conditions by dumping or removing anything that might might hold water. | Photo: Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor

Clean Pastures and Paddocks

Certain types of flies and gnats feed on and reproduce in horse manure. Picking horse manure out of pastures and paddocks can help reduce their populations. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

Noninsecticidal Traps: Fly Paper or Tape

The market offers several types of simple, noninsecticidal traps for reducing flying insect populations. One of the cheapest and easiest is fly paper or tape. This is the old-fashioned type of coiled sticky tape you uncoil and attach to the ceiling. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Old Horses: Diseases and Conditions

The Horse Staff — Wed, 20 May 2020 13:45:00 +0000

Equine First-Aid Kit for Minor Injuries and Acute Wound-Care

The Horse Staff — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 12:15:00 +0000

Horses getting hurt usually isn’t a question of “if,” but rather “when.” Preparation is key, so we went to the team at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., to find out what’s needed in a first-aid kit to treat minor wounds and injuries.

How Hay is Made for Horses

The Horse Staff — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 15:00:00 +0000

Equine Dental Care and Health

Michelle Anderson — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 15:30:11 +0000

Dental care is an important part of keeping a horse healthy and happy throughout his life. Tooth problems can lead to pain-related training and behavioral issues, cause infection, and make it difficult for hard-keeping horses to gain and maintain weight. Work with your veterinarian to create an individualized dental care plan that works for your horse.

Dental Exams for Adult Horses

Adult horses should have their teeth examined at least once a year. Younger and older horses might need more frequent dental care. | Photo: Adam Spradling/The Horse

Visualizing the Mouth

Your veterinarian should sedate your horse for a thorough dental exam and treatment. A mouth speculum holds the horse’s mouth open during the exam and treatment, and your veterinarian will use lights to better see the horse’s teeth, cheeks, gums, and tongue. | Photo: Stephanie L. Church/The Horse

Tooth Abnormalities

During the exam, your veterinarian is looking for sharp points and abnormal tooth shape (shown), bite issues, broken or infected teeth, cheek ulcers, and other issues related to dental health. | Photo: Courtesy Bruce Connally

Floating

Veterinarians use both power and manual tools, called “floats,” to smooth out sharp tooth points and uneven teeth. | Photo: iStock

Long in the Tooth

Horses teeth erupt throughout most of their lives. This means older horses have “longer” exposed teeth. | Photo: Photos.com

Bridle Resistance

Resistance in the bridle can be a sign of mouth pain. A dental exam can rule out issues such as ulcerated cheeks and sharp tooth points. | Photo: iStock

Weight Loss

Weight loss can indicate a horse is having trouble chewing and digesting his feed and, therefore, isn't absorbing enough nutrients. | Photo: Alexandra Beckstett/The Horse

Quidding

Dental dysfunction and pain can cause horses to quid, which means they drop clumped balls of feed—particularly long-stem forage such as hay—as they chew. | Photo: Paula da Silva

Food Packed in Teeth

Food packed between cheek teeth can cause bad breath. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Caroline N. Niederman

EOTRH

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is characterized by resorption of the tooth’s hard, calcified tissues (cementum, dentin, and enamel. Resorption occurs when odontoclasts—the cells responsible for resorbing the roots of deciduous (baby) teeth during eruption of permanent teeth—become overactive and unregulated. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Shannon Lee

Winter Wear for Horse People

The Horse Staff — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 15:00:00 +0000

Celebrating International Donkey Week

The Horse Staff — Fri, 10 May 2019 17:43:51 +0000

Celebrating International Donkey Week

In honor of International Donkey Week (May 6-11), we asked our readers to share photos and stories about their favorite long-eared equines. | Photo: iStock

“All the kids call him 'Donkey' because he looks like the donkey in the (Shrek) movies. His real name is Louie. I think he likes Donkey better because all the kids brings him treats!” | Photo: Leann Conway

“Dominic looking cute as a button.” | Photo: Bonnie Schaff Davis

“This is Lady, our first donkey. This is a photo of when we first got her in November 2018. She knows she is special and demands attention and love. She gets very upset when she doesn't get her cuddles. She is a barn favorite and we estimate her age to be about 3 years old." | Photo: Felicia Jan Fontaine

“This is Tippa the donkey and her girl Taylor. They both love pink and having their picture taken together." | Photo: Beth McElwee Bristol

"My rescue donkey Oscar inspired our children's book, 'Beauford The Patriotic Donkey.' Folks love Oscar." | Photo: FJ Thomas

"This is Rosie. She's my first donkey and a mini to boot. This is the view I see most of her because all she wants from life is someone to scratch her rear. She’s a riot, she’s wicked smart, and she’s a super skeptic. I love her!" | Photo: Laura Moss

"Love, love, love this sweet mini donkey owned by a great friend. That's her 'deposit treats here' face!" | Photo: Suzanne Strickland Stern

"This is Yolanda. Nothing but sweetness." | Photo: Diane Fackleman Demott

"Geronimo (left) and Beauregard (right) have been steadfast companions to my horse, Ritzy." | Photo: Lynne Rose Galbreath

"I have two spotted miniature donkeys. The mother’s name is Ellie-Mae. Her small, spicy daughter is named Chili Pepper. After weaning, Chili Pepper bonded strongly with my retired appendix mare, and now the two are totally inseparable." | Photo: @KaitsCritters

"One of our four adorable donkeys at the Happy Little Hooves Pony and Donkey Sanctuary! This is Chocolate Puddin'." | Photo: Happy Little Hooves Sanctuary

"Our little donkey family. Mom Duchess (middle) was a wild donkey for 8 years. Son Charlie, 20 months old, has a congenital heart murmur and EPM. We adopted Charlie and his mom to save his life. She was pregnant with Norsu, born Feb 1, so we have a sweet foal. We love all them dearly!" | Photo: Carlota J.

Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event: Sights From the First Horse Inspection

The Horse Staff — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 16:15:46 +0000

Horses and three-day event riders from all around the globe have descended upon the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, in preparation for the 2019 CCI5*-L Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Mars Equestrian, taking place April 25-28. But before the event even began, all the equine athletes underwent a horse inspection to ensure they were fit to begin the competition.

Of the 42 horses presented Wednesday, the ground jury and veterinary delegate accepted 41.

Here are some sights from the jog lane at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Forages for Feeding Horses

The Horse Staff — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 17:20:00 +0000

Scenes from the 2018 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover

The Horse Staff — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:56:17 +0000

The Retired Racehorse Project’s 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover took place October 4-7, 2018, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The event was created to showcase the trainability of and talent of off-track Thoroughbreds. This year’s event featured more than 500 OTTB’s competing in 10 different equestrian sports. Here are a few of this year’s athletes.

Farm Tour: A Financially Feasible Horse Facility

The Horse Staff — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 14:22:15 +0000

How do you make a small fortune with horses? Start out with a large one! At least that’s the way the joke is told. It’s no joke that this landowner is working to make her horse property financially sustainable, something many horse businesses are not. Join in on this tour to learn how this equestrian property real estate broker has made unique adaptations to her boarding business to attract clients—and care for the environment.

Behind the Scenes With a Four-Star Eventing Barn

The Horse Staff — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:00:00 +0000

How to Bathe a Horse Like a Pro

The Horse Staff — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:00:00 +0000

High-Tech Horse Science

The Horse Staff — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Colic in Horses

The Horse Staff — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:00:00 +0000

Don’t Spook! Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Rehabilitating the Foundered Horse: Case Study

The Horse Staff — Wed, 17 May 2017 16:13:29 +0000

Equine Internal Parasites

The Horse Staff — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Horse Grains and Feeds

The Horse Staff — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 16:11:00 +0000

Countdown to Spring Challenge

The Horse Staff — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Are You Ready for Spring?

Here at The Horse, we've been anxiously counting down the days until spring. Check out some of our top tips from our Countdown to Spring Challenge to get your horses and farm ready! | Photo: iStock

Prepare to Battle the Bugs

Native birds and bats can provide excellent nontoxic insect control for your farm. Make sure they feel welcome by installing nest boxes and bat houses around your farm now before they begin to return from their winter migration. | Photo: Thinkstock

Get Your Horse Ready to Ride

Start your seasonal health preparations now to ensure your horse will be ready to ride this spring! This is the perfect time to schedule your horse's spring wellness exam with your veterinarian. Discuss your horse's annual vaccination needs, dental exam, and parasite control program. Also, talk to your farrier about ways to prepare your horse's hooves for a heavier workload and muddy springtime pasture conditions. | Photo: Kevin Thompson/The Horse

Spring Pasture Management

It can be tempting to throw open the gates and let your horses enjoy the early spring grass, but allowing your horses to graze before pastures are ready can damage your fields, making them less productive throughout the spring and summer. From applying fertilizer to creating rotational grazing areas, check out our spring pasture management tips to keep your fields in tip-top shape all season. | Photo: Adam Spradling/The Horse

Keep Your Horse Sound During Spring Training

Before you gallop off on your spring training program, read up on strategies for keeping your horse sound as he or she transitions back to work. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

A Love for Horses

The Horse Staff — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Your Horse Spooked at What?

The Horse Staff — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:30:00 +0000

Pumpkin Decorations

Chantel Hooks' horse found this pumpkin decoration particularly spooky. | Photo: Chantel Hooks

Scary Blue Barrels

Blue barrels can be scary! "Sage couldn't figure out the same blue water barrel in the barnyard. It's there everyday all year long," said Chani Atrieadies. | Photo: Chani Atrieadies

Toy Horses

"My horse spooked at the terrifying mechanical toy horse. He was so disturbed when it didn't sniff back," said Jess Bowers. | Photo: Jess Bowers

Leaves

Crunchy leaves are also scary subjects. Deborah Edwards said her friend's Morgan spooked at a leaf in the woods. "It's fall. Can't trust those dang leaves." | Photo: iStock

Animals That Don't Move

Nina sent in this photo of her horse, who found a roping dummy spooky. | Photo: Nina Schenk

Giant Spool

"This spool was upright, then I turned it on its side. When they were through snorting and prancing around, they stood around it all proud of themselves," said Evelyn. | Photo: Evelyn Garvey

Horses Wearing Fly Masks

Fly masks are apparently quite the spooky gear. "My horse has a full blown panic attack over a little pony wearing one of these," said Jacqueline Elaine. Another reader, Lisa O'Brien, said her horse spooked at two of his pasture mates wearing fly masks. "He was certain they were scary monsters," she said. | Photo: Jacqueline Elaine

Round Hay Bales

"A roll of hay, in the field she lives in, which gets delivered on a weekly basis," said Amy Willison. | Photo: Photos.com

Rubber Mats

| Photo: Jackie Lesan Ruggiero

Cows

"After moving from Texas with my horse, Tess and having been around cattle, who would have ever thought she'd spook seeing a heifer," said June Mellinger. "But after thinking about it later that day, heifers do look a LOT different than longhorn!" | Photo: iStock

Plastic Bag

“A plastic bag filled with air and blew through a doorway towards my ground tied horse," said Susan Hacko. "(There was) a lot of snorting and jumping in place when it landed on his front legs.” | Photo: iStock

Umbrellas

"My old steady Quarter Horse gelding wasn't afraid of anything--except umbrellas," said Aradia Diana Willard. "Once it was raining at a Pony Club rally and the steward had to tell all of the fence judges on the cross country course to put their umbrellas away before I started my ride." | Photo: iStock

What spooks your horse? Here are some horses’ scariest encounters, as told by our readers.

Help! My Horse is Sun-Sensitive Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:21:00 +0000

Behind the Scenes at the Rio 2016 Olympics Equestrian Events

The Horse Staff — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Olympic Horses Pull Shoes, Too

A tidy, fully equipped station allowed farriers to quickly address any shoeing-related issues that can arise during elite competition. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Inspiration at The Games

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games' farriers offered quotes to motivate people behind the scenes. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Rio Farrier Finishing a Shoe

Farrier Jim Blurton finishes a shoe in the Rio 2016 Olympics forge. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Olympic-Scale Biosecurity to Protect Horses

Humans were was required to walk over disinfectant mats to limit the spread of potential equine infectious agents. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Keeping Olympic Horses Cool

Misters and fans helped horses cool down after competition in the hot and human Rio weather. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

An Olympic Groom's Work is Never Done

Emma Ford, groom for Olympic individual eventing bronze medalist Phillip Dutton (USA), cares for Mighty Nice in Rio. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Olympic-Level Disinfection

A behind-the-scenes look at disinfecting equipment at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Clean Crocks ... Just in Case

Clean shoes stand by during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. To prevent disease spread, it's common for veterinary health care professionals to change out of street shoes into clean shoes like these before entering an ICU. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Veterinary Exam Area

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games equestrian facility included a full hospital, complete with stocks for veterinary examinations. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Veterinary Hospital Laboratory

The veterinary lab area at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Hand Grazing

Olympic equine athletes hand graze during downtime at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. | Photo: Diana De Rosa

Equine Veterinary Care at Rio 2016 Olympic Games

The Horse Staff — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:56:00 +0000

Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Veterinary Team

Dr. Thomas Wolff, president of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Veterinary Commission, leads a 130-strong world-class team of veterinary experts, including leading surgeon Dr. Carlos Eduardo Veiga | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Rio Veterinary Commission President Dr. Thomas Wolff

Dr. Thomas Wolff, president of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Veterinary Commission, has been the Brazilian Equestrian Federation's head veterinarian for the last 15 years. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Equine Surgery

Equine surgeon Dr. Carlos Eduardo Veiga tours a surgery suite at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Veterinary Services at Rio Olympic Games

Located at the Deodoro stables, the nearly 11,000-square-foot horse clinic features everything needed to keep more than 200 horses from 43 countries fit and healthy throughout the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Veterinary Team at Rio

| Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Clinical Pathology Laboratory

Aline Baumann da Rocha Gizzi is responsible for the clinical pathology laboratory at the games. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Veterinary Technicians

Ana Paula Marinho, an equine reproduction specialist by day, is serving as a veterinary technician for the Rio Olympic Games. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Orthopedic Specialist

Dr. Erik Bergman of The Netherlands specializes in equine orthopedics and is part of the Rio Olympic Games veterinary team. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Veterinary Equipment

| Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

Horse Ambulance

Nine specially equipped horse ambulances will be on site of equestrian events to transport horses to the clinic if necessary. | Photo: Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI

2016 Fly Mask Mishap Contest: Editors’ Picks

The Horse Staff — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:14:00 +0000

2016 From Rescue to Rockstar Contest

The Horse Staff — Tue, 10 May 2016 18:57:00 +0000

Helping the Working Horses of Honduras

The Horse Staff — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:15:00 +0000

Natural Horse Farm Insect (and Pest) Control

The Horse Staff — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:18:00 +0000

Conditions Helped by Hay Soaking

The Horse Staff — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Hay Soaking

Proper hay soaking can benefit several different, and sometimes related, equine health conditions. The process can reduce both allergens and nonstructural carbohydrates in forage. | Photo: Michelle N. Anderson, TheHorse.com Digital Managing Editor

Hay Nutrition Testing

Having a laboratory test your hay for its nutritional content can help you and your veterinarian make decisions about how to best feed your horse and determine if hay soaking is necessary. | Photo: The Horse Staff

Cushing’s/Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfuction (PPID)

Experts recommend feeding PPID horses hay with less than 12% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), and preferably less than 10%. Hay soaking can reduce NSC in hay. | Photo: Dusty Perin

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)

RAO, also known as heaves, is exacerbated by exposure to dust and pollen. Wetting down hay before feeding can reduce your horse’s exposure to these irritants. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Laminitis

Many horse health problems can lead to laminitis, a devastating hoof disease. Laminitis precursors include insulin resistance (IR), equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), and obesity. | Photo: Christy M. West

Insulin Resistance (IR) and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Horses are sensitive to even small increases in carbohydrate intake. One way to minimize laminitis development, particularly in horses with IR or EMS, is by soaking hay to reduce the NSC content. | Photo: Photos.com

Obesity

Obesity results from overfeeding and a lack of physical exercise. Reducing nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) in grass hay through soaking can help in managing obese horses' weight. | Photo: University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment

Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)

PSSM is a muscle disorder exacerbated by feeding high-NSC diets. Veterinarians and nutritionists currently recommend feeding horses with PSSM a diet containing less than 10% of daily digestible energy supplied by NSC. | Photo: Molly McCue, DVM,MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)

Soaking hay can decrease levels of certain minerals, such as potassium, in forage. Research suggests this practice could benefit horses with HYPP, a genetic condition that results in high levels of potassium, leading to muscle twitching or even paralysis. | Photo: Mathea Kelley

Farm Tour: Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center

The Horse Staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Horses and the Risk of Rabies

The Horse Staff — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Winter Fun

The Horse Staff — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Record Snowfall

Our fans submitted photos of their horses making the most of the recent snowy weather. Matthew Brown sent in this picture of horses in Dover, Pennsylvania, where they had 30+ inches of snow.

Winter Workouts

Deanna Belanger of Michigan sent in this photo of her two horses. "This is me riding Adele, and my gelding, Splash, being ponied."

Zorro

"Zorro is 34 inches tall with 18 inch legs, so 40 inches of snow can be a challenge for him, but he still has fun." Photo submitted by Stephanie Fitkin

A Mini Path for Zorro

"I spend my time digging paths for Zorro to get around." Photo submitted by Stephanie Fitkin.

Chief and Sully

Chief and Sully munch on their hay. Photo submitted by Sandra Church.

Yolanda

"Yolanda out for a stroll. My cousin put it perfectly. She looks like a powdered donut." Photo submitted by Diane Fackleman Demott.

Yolanda's Sidekick

Photo submitted by Diane Fackleman Demott.

Tater Tot

"Tater Tot playing in the Tennessee snow!" Photo submitted by Ashlee Jones.

Play Time

"We BOTH love the white stuff!" Photo submitted by Kathy Cleary.

Winter Fun

Photo submitted by Kathy Cleary.

Watching the Snow Fall

Retired Park Police horse. Photo submitted by Didi Culp.

Yolanda

"Yolanda out for a stroll. My cousin put it perfectly. She looks like a powdered donut." Photo submitted by Diane Fackleman Demott.

Spotted in the Snow

"You can spot her in the snow, on the trail, in the ring, or conquering obstacles." Photo submitted by Dawn Swope.

Nap Time

Photo submitted by Kevin Rasmussen.

Sid in the Snow

"My Percheron, Sid." Photo submitted by Karen Smith Lawrence.

Is It a Horse or a Moose?

Drea Rasmussen sent in this photo of her Quarter Horse, Moose.

Toby

Photo submitted by Petra Berglund.

Confinement Areas for Healthy, Happy Horses

The Horse Staff — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 13:46:00 +0000

Stalls with Runs

Here's an example of traditional runs off barn stalls used as confinement areas. Good footing helps minimize mud. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Enrichment

Adding enrichment opportunities to paddocks, such as toys and cones, can help occupy a horse’s time and prevent boredom. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Track Paddock

Track paddocks are designed to encourage horses to move. This paddock surrounds a rain garden, which uses water runoff and reduces mud accumulation. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Good Ventilation

Open-air barns offer protection from the sun and some weather but still provide plenty of ventilation. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Companions

Goats and other horse-friendly critters offer their confined equine buddies companionship and entertainment. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Odor Control

Keeping horses in confinement areas can lead to urine- and manure-related odors. Manage foul smells by keeping the paddock tidy and treating “pee spots” with odor-control products. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Winter Weather Confinement

Use confinement areas in the winter to protect wet or frozen pastures and grass from damage due to equine traffic. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Track Paddocks Surrounding Pastures

Want to protect your pasture but find yourself short on extra space? Consider installing a track paddock around the perimeter of your horse’s regular turnout area to provide confinement and protecting the pasture. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

2015 ISES Convention Highlights: How Horses Learn and More

The Horse Staff — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 18:24:00 +0000

2015 Hallowhinny Photo Contest

The Horse Staff — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 16:30:00 +0000

Hallowhinny 2015: Safari

Congratulations to Heather Morrissey on her winning photo in our contest! | Photo: Heather Morrissey

Hallowhinny 2015: Darth Vader

"Poco as Darth Vader." Congratulations to Lynn Witmer on her winning photo! | Photo: Lynn Witmer

Hallowhinny 2015: Pyro the Flower

Congratulations to Lynn Witmer on her winning photo of "Pyro" the flower! | Photo: Lynn Witmer

Hallowhinny 2015: Doctor and Ambulance

"Me and my little girls." | Photo: Laura Dixon

Hallowhinny 2015: Pumpkin Patch

"Pokey's Pumpkin Patch" | Photo: Rosanna Lehman

Hallowhinny 2015: Prisoners

"Mondo" the American Saddlebred. Photo submitted by Instagram user @mmcdoodle

Hallowhinny 2015: Seahorse and Mermaid

| Photo: Rosanna Lehman

Hallowhinny 2015: Super Horse

| Photo: Julia Westwell

Hallowhinny 2015: Sophia the First and Minimus

"We ride at dawn!" | Photo: Ellen Huffman

Hallowhinny 2015: Tigger Times Two

| Photo: Lynn Witmer

Hallowhinny 2015: Heidi and Cosmo

"Heidi and Cosmo" | Photo: Michelle Drake

Hallowhinny 2015: Pyro the Flower

Congratulations to Lynn Witmer on her winning photo of "Pyro" the flower!

Horse Feeder and Waterer Options for Every Barn

The Horse Staff — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 20:33:00 +0000

Horse Feeder Design

The best feeders allow a horse to hold its head in a grazing position. Nature designed horses to eat with their heads lowered, and doing so can reduce dust's negative impact on a horse’s sensitive respiratory system. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Feeders that Reduce Hay Waste

Your next consideration is whether the hay will stay in the feeder. Hay pulled out by the horse is often wasted or contaminated with dirt, urine, or manure, becoming a health risk for horses. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Corner Feeders

One option is to build a feeder, like this corner one made of wood. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Recycled Feeders

You can also make feeders by reusing plastic barrels. Just make sure to file down any sharp edges created by cutting the plastic. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Home-made Barrel Feeders

U-bolts secure this home-made barrel feeder to sturdy panel fencing. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Slow Feeders

Slow-feeders are a popular idea, allowing for restricted yet prolonged "grazing" of hay. Research shows slow feeding can help reduce the occurrence of gastric ulcers. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Corner Slow Feeder

You can purchase prefabricated slow feeders or make one yourself. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Horse Waterers

You can set up horse waterers in a variety of ways. Consider chore efficiency and horse health when making choice. Easy-to-clean waters will help avoid a dirt, algae, and mosquito larvae build up. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Shared Waterers

A water trough that services two areas or paddocks can reduce cost by conserving water and limiting the number of units you need to purchase. They also reduce chore load. That's just one trough to clean and fill instead of two! | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Frost-Free Water Lines

A frost-free water line running to each trough makes for easy filling, even during the cold winter months. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Automatic Water Fountains

Automatic water fountains provide fresh, clean, mosquito-free water. Many include meters so you can monitor your horse's water intake. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Clean Water All Year

Automatic water fountains are usually frost-free and provide fresh water year around. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

Helping Horses Through Rescue or Adoption

The Horse Staff — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +0000

A Look at Navicular Syndrome in Horses

The Horse Staff — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:38:00 +0000

A Day at an Equine Practice Abroad

The Horse Staff — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:51:00 +0000

Winter Horse Play

The Horse Staff — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 21:37:00 +0000

Winter Horse Play

Does your horse enjoy romping in the snow? Our fans submitted photos of their horses making the most of the recent snowy weather. Paola LZ submitted this photo of a 3-year-old Dutch New Forest and 2-year-old KWPN playing in the snow.

Snow Kisses

"My Girl Charlotte!" Photo submitted by Catherine Robertson-Thususka

Horsey Snow Angels

"Dutch making snow angels." Photo submitted by Charlene Aronson.

Snowy Landscape

"My mare OTTB Roxy running in the snow." Photo submitted by Raquel Hove.

Dusted by Snow

"A Dusting of Snow" Photo submitted by Marti Harris

Snow-Covered Track

"This is my Henry warming up before his race at Flamboro Downs." Photo submitted by Erin Mc"

Horse Play

"CF Dun By Dallas playing 'punch you, punch me' with Cassie's Nino del Sol." Photo submitted by Kari Hollman.

Trotting Through the Snow

"Ellie, my horse in the Cotswolds, UK" Photo submitted by Caroline Hooper

Enjoying the Sun and Snow

"My 6-year-old paint loving the sunshine and snow." Photo submitted by Angielynn horse adventures.

Snow Day Fun

"This is what Chocolate Puddin says about the snow." Photo submitted by Jill Harstrup

Romping in the Snow

"Pony Francais de Selle, 4 years old" Photo submitted by Paola LZ

Snow-Covered Track

"This is my Henry warming up before his race at Flamboro Downs." Photo submitted by Erin Mc"

Foggy Winter Morning

"Our herd on a snow/fog morning." Photo submitted by Gayle L. Anderson.

Winter in Wyoming

"Wild Horses in SW Wyoming (White Mountain)." Photo submitted by Julianne Zimmerman Alley.

Playing in the Snow

"Gryphon the Gypsy Horse in the snow." Photo submitted by Gypsy Horse Today

Snow Day Treat

"Grit eating carrots off his snow horse." Photo submitted by Diane Fackleman Demott.

How Did You Know I Rolled in the Snow?

"Dakota after a nice roll." Photo submitted by Wendy Hinton Miller

Slideshow Archives – The Horse

2022 Best Barn Dog Contest: Editors’ Picks

Common Equine Skin Conditions

Common Equine Skin Conditions

Sarcoids

Scratches

Aural Plaques

Rain Rot

Hives

Warts

Ringworm

Insect Hypersensitivy

Sweet Itch

Melanoma

2021 “Itchy Horse Challenge” Contest: Editors’ Picks

Itchy Horse Challenge 2021 Contest Winner: "Opus"

2021 ‘My Horse is Worth Protecting’ Contest: Editor’s Picks

My Horse is Worth Protecting 2021 Contest Winner: "Stefanie and Quinn"

"Thunder"

"Reina"

"Leo Lena Quest"

"Sparrow, Krymson, and Klover"

"Sterling"

"Stryder"

Elderly Equines

PPID: An Endocrine Disease

Hypertrichosis (Abnormally Long Coat)

Early Signs of PPID

Affected Breeds

Excessive Drinking and Urinating

PPID Testing

PPID and Insulin Resistance

Laminitis Risk

Nutritional Management

Exercise

Horse Time 2020 Contest: Editors’ Picks

Horse Time 2020 Contest Winner: "Greg and Biscuit"

Pools are Closed? No Problem!

Slade and "Bubba"

Quality Time

Keri and "Abby"

Jace Wild and Angel Steel Bar

Donkey Time

Morning Sunrise

Learning New Skills

"Cricket"

Donkey Selfies

2020 ‘Say Neigh to Sunburn’ Contest: Editors’ Picks

My Horse is Worth Protecting Contest Winner: 'Gucci'

My Horse is Worth Protecting Contest Winner: 'Pocohontas'

"R Pride and Passion"

"Zoey"

"Sophie"

"Sinatra"

"Misu"

"Sheba"

"Skip"

"Roxie"

"Nala"

"Foxy"

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Basics

2020 ‘My Horse is Worth Protecting’ Contest: Editors’ Picks

My Horse is Worth Protecting Contest Winner: 'Flirty'

'Navajo'

'Curly'

'Chip'

'Marott'

Santana's Valentino

'Guinness'

Heaven

'Claire'

Insect Control on Horse Farms

Flying Insects Spread Disease

Allergic Reactions to Insect Bites

Insect Repellents

Fly Masks

Fly Sheets

Barn Fan

Promote Swallow Habitat

Promote Bat Populations