It’s a scenario every horse owner dreads: a runny, black, foul-smelling discharge around the frog area of a horse or pony’s hoof sole. That’s the classic sign of thrush, a bacterial infection that involves the frog, including the grooves on either side of it and the cleft between the heel bulbs. “It can affect any part of the frog, but that’s where we see it the most, right where the owner would be using the hoof pick along the sides of the frog and along that...

If you run a business involving horses, whether it is training and boarding, offering riding lessons, or performing Photo: Pretty Pixels Photography farrier work, you need commercial equine liability insurance as part of your insurance risk-management plan. Sometimes referred to as general liability or just liability, it is protection that covers you and/or your business in the event there is personal injury, bodily injury, or property damage to others by you, your horse, or the premises for...

Cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the soft connective tissues under the skin, causes sudden, extreme swelling in the affected area—often in a leg. Given the condition’s seemingly fast onset and dramatic appearance, horses and ponies with cellulitis—especially if they are lame or unwilling to move—can sometimes look like they have a severe injury, such as a bowed tendon or a fracture. So, before taking any action, call your veterinarian for a diagnosis, advises Dr....

Hoof abscesses can be painful for your mount and cost you time in the saddle. We asked Dr. Luke Fallon of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for his best tips about dealing with hoof abscesses, including identifying, treating, and avoiding them. Read on to find out the signs that distinguish an abscess from another problem, what to put in your hoof-soaking solution, and what management techniques can help reduce your horse’s chance of getting a hoof abscess. A hoof abscess can look...

Mud is hard on human and horse alike, and many a barn manager undoubtedly has wished they could simply wave a magic wand to get rid of it. Reducing mud around the barn and pasture isn’t quite that easy, but there are things you can do to prevent it. We asked Dr. Stephen Higgins, director of environmental compliance for the University of Kentucky’s Agricultural Experiment Station in Lexington, Ky., for his top mud-prevention tips. “You have to be willing to try things and think...

Brittany Halstead and Dos Equis after their first hunter jumper round at Brownland Farm in Franklin, Tenn., on Oct. 5. Photo: Tina Halstead Brittany Halstead had the best of two equestrian worlds— hunter jumpers and polo—when a car crash nearly ended her life in 2014. Her recovery was nothing short of miraculous, and she credits working with two horses, polo ponies Fanta and Dos Equis, for helping her return to the saddle and the show ring. In return, she formed ReplayPolo , which...

“Research into the equine microbiome and specific probiotics already has affected nutrition knowledge a lot,” Dr. Bill Vandergrift says. Photo: Kim Russell Feeding horses today isn’t just a matter of tossing every horse the same kind of grain and adjusting the amount based on each horse’s weight. Today, thanks to research and advances in equine nutrition, feed works in a more efficient and targeted way. That presents opportunities to pinpoint and address specific needs...

With their striking looks, the Andalusian and Lusitano breeds seem to be plucked from a fairy tale. Both breeds have an abundance of hair, with enviable manes and tails. How do their owners, trainers, and grooms keep these voluminous, lush manes and tails up to par? With a consistent and thorough grooming regimen. We asked Erica Peet—Andalusian owner, trainer at Peet Equestrian and a member of the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association —for her top five tips to...

Mother Nature designed horses’ ears to be pretty much self-cleaning. She worked on the principle of preventing a problem, rather than correcting it. “In most situations, the normal amount of hair a horse has in its ears keeps debris out and the ears stay clean,” explained Dr. Nimet Browne of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute , in Lexington, Ky. Photo: AdobeStock/Mark But if you do clean your horse’s ears, Browne recommends doing it “not more often than once a week....

Good biosecurity protocols are key when a new horse arrives. Photo: AdobeStock/Rita Kochmarjova When a new horse joins your barn, he also joins your herd of horses. As he finds a place in your heart, he also finds his place in the herd. Your new horse’s connection with the other horses begins before he steps out of the trailer at his new home. Thinking of that relationship focuses your attention where it should be first: on the health of all of the horses. “Be sure the new horse is...