When Jack Frost first nips at your nose and your horse or pony’s coat starts getting fuzzy, it’s time to make your winter clipping plan. Before you pull out the clippers, consider several questions. How much work will your horse or pony be doing this winter? What kind of shelter do they have from winter weather? How old are they? Will they be showing? An Irish clip Photo: Courtesy of Shannon O'Hatnick Particularly in the case of older horses and ponies, it’s also worth...

Uveitis is a common cause of blindness in horses, but in some ways it remains mysterious. In its recurrent form, it also can be intractable. There’s no cure for it yet, but it also need not be a death sentence for a horse. Careful management and treatment can help preserve a horse’s sight longer, and even in cases where an affected eye has to be removed, many horses can still continue to live largely normal, active lives and even have successful competitive careers. Photo:...

Antibiotic-resistant diseases are a serious concern in both equine and human medical practice. Photo: dimasobko/Adobestock If you’ve got an old bottle of leftover antibiotics sitting in your tack room, it might be tempting to use it the next time you have a horse with an issue. But giving those antibiotics without a veterinary diagnosis and prescription could contribute to an issue that’s got veterinarians and human doctors concerned: antibiotic resistance. “It’s...

Have you ever wished you could pick up your horse’s hoof and read it, the way a fortuneteller reads your palm? What if that hoof in your hand were a crystal ball, and it could foresee how sound and healthy your horse’s feet have been, are, and will be? As it turns out, that’s not such a far-fetched idea. A horse’s hoof is a library of information, if you know how and where to look for information. Bring your hoof pick! Your eyes, nose, and touch can all help spot trouble...

It is a dreaded disease in the horse world, even though it often isn’t fatal. Strangles—one of the world’s most commonly diagnosed contagious equine diseases, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners —is feared because it’s highly contagious and can be carried by horses who have no apparent symptoms—and once it’s in a barn, it can be difficult to get rid of. Streptococcus Equi Photo: Stefan Walkowski The bacteria Streptococcus equi...

Sarcoids are the most common skin tumors diagnosed in horses and ponies. Although they’re not usually regarded as life-threatening, they can be unsightly and uncomfortable for the horse, depending partly on the tumor’s location. Sarcoids vary widely in size and appearance. Photo: Dr. Liz Barrett “They’ll infiltrate the local tissue and skin, but they’re not like a tumor that will metastasize and spread to the lungs or liver or different organ systems,” said...

Have you been receiving emails from US Equestrian asking you to check your points? This is a new feature that we have implemented, giving our members an easier way to keep up with any bad points they may have earned at USEF Competitions! For every competition, points are split into two categories: “good” and “bad.” Bad points don’t count towards Horse of the Year awards or qualifications for championships or shows. A horse can accumulate bad points for a number of...

Choking—an obstruction in the esophagus, often involving food—can affect horses of any age or type. And it can be serious: a bad choke can cause potentially life-threatening secondary lung infection and can injure the esophagus. Grass has more moisture content than hay or dry feed. In the winter, horses whose diets switch from less pasture to more dry matter--and who possibly are also drinking less--can be at higher risk of choking. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help...

Vaulting —gymnastics on horseback—is one of the world’s oldest equestrian sports. And while it might look exotic to those of us more used to riding or driving, the sport of vaulting offers a wealth of great training for any equestrian, regardless of discipline. Not surprisingly, many vaulters have fast-tracked into other disciplines, like dressage, jumping, and eventing, after building a strong foundation in vaulting. So what can you get from vaulting? We asked two vaulting...

Photo Credit: Kim Russell Photo If you like to reward your horse with edible treats, remember to be mindful of exactly what you’re feeding: some natural ingredients, like honey and licorice, can cause an accidental drug positive. “You may think something sounds familiar and benign, but you don’t necessarily know what’s in it,” said Dr. Stephen Schumacher, DVM, chief administrator of US Equestrian’s Equine Drugs and Medications Program. “You know the...