Udder Woes Rare in Mares
It would be easy for many mare owners who use them as saddle
horses rather than breeding stock to forget that their mares have udders.
Fortunately, problems with the horse's mammary glands are
fairly uncommon. A mare who has never been pregnant usually has a very small
udder, which is... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Horse's Coat Shine Reflects Healthy Nutrients
Everyone wants to see their horses with a sleek, glowing coat
and supple, healthy skin. If you browse through the product selections of any
supplement supplier, you'll likely find at least 10 products devoted to skin and
coat care, sometimes more than 20! Before you rush out to buy a... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Horse Journal
Survive Your Horse's Shedding
Shedding in horses is triggered by
hormonal changes that are tied to day length. With mares especially, you can
stimulate shedding by mimicking longer day lengths. Keeping a 100 or 200 watt
light bulb turned on in your horse's stall so that the total hours of sunlight
and stall-light... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Help Your Horse Slick Off His Coat
Most of us choose to let our horses grow a long, shaggy coat
over the winter. It's natural for the horse, and it's easier for us. There are
no blankets to mess with, and no worries about monitoring body temperatures
underneath heavy clothing. But, when spring arrives and we want to get back... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Foal and Mare Health Care
Life around horses is never boring, but it sure can seem that
way in the small hours of the morning when you are on foal watch and nothing is
happening. You have been dreaming about this event for nearly a year, but you
have also spent the past three cold nights camping out in the stall... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Protecting Your Horse Against West Nile Virus
A study looking at antibodies for West Nile virus in more
than 400 horses on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico found 52% were positive, but
none had ever shown symptoms. In a similar scenario, all the research herd
horses at the USDA Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, eventually tested positive for West... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Horse Gestation Period
Horses normally carry their foals for 340 to 342 days, but donkeys carry theirs for a full year. The llamas gestation period is about 10 days shorter than a horses, but camels stay pregnant for more than 400 days, while the deer gets the job done in only about 200. | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Horse Journal
Prevent Dehydrated Horses in Winter
The colored urine that some horse owners find in their horse's pasture is from
plant and bile pigments. It's excessively dark because the urine is
concentrated. The horse isn't
taking in enough water. Dehydration in winter is a real threat. Loss
of fluids in sweat obviously is greatly... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Cold Weather Riding Considerations
Winter riding is
nothing short of exhilarating, but it can pose some challenges. Your horse is
probably not moving around during turn-out as much as he did when temperatures
were balmy, and periods of bad weather may require you to take breaks from
riding. The end result is that your horse... | read »
Health: Seasonal
from the pages of Perfect Horse
When Horses Get the Flu (Can You?)
With all the concern
over "bird flu" being transmitted to people, influenza is very much in the news
these days. And although horses can get influenza, too, the good news is, you're
not likely to "catch it" from your horse. Even so, there are things you'll want
to know about equine... | read »
QUESTION:
We
travel all over with our horses. For years, we’ve heard about equine distemper,
also known as strangles. Please tell us more about the strangles, how to prevent
it, and what to do about it should one of... | read
