Fungi Directly Linked to Inflammatory Airway Disease in Horses, Finds Study
A major piece of the puzzle of equine airway diseases has been discovered: the role of fungi. A three-year study published by The Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM) involving over 700...
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What Can You Do to Help Horses Cope with Box Stalls?
If you have your horses where they can hang out with their buddies in big grass pastures, good for you. Good for them, too. Horses are social creatures. They are very curious about other horses and...
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Colic is Not a Disease
I’ve written a few articles about colic—myths, when to go to surgery, and such—and, with all that’s been said, by me, and by many other folks, I think that there’s something really important that...
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The Four Biggest Problems Affecting “Performance” Horses
You have a horse. You take him to shows (doesn’t really matter much what kind). Congratulations, you horse is now a “performance” horse. Look out. You are undoubtedly subjected to—or going to be...
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The Breakthrough I Witnessed in the Healing Power of Horses
I’m all in for “anything horse.” Riding, grooming, sharing a horse’s space, stroking a muzzle, emanating every fiber of love of my being for the creature, whispering sweet nothings into his or her...
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Scratches (etc.)
There’s a problem that crops up pretty regularly when it’s wet outside. I hope that you horse hasn’t had it. It’s called “scratches.” Or mud fever. Or greasy heel. Or dew poisoning. Or “grapes.”...
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Why Aren’t You Wearing a Dust Mask?
One evening, I was cleaning stalls when a friend, who is a nurse, stopped by the barn. She walked to the stall where I was stuffing a haynet and, without saying hello, asked, “Why aren’t you wearing a...
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The Difference(s) Between Performance Horses and Other Horses
I get that some horses cost more to buy than others. In fact, I wrote about it. (Read “On the Value of Horses.”) Over my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to see and to take care of some pretty great...
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The Confidence Crisis in Equestrian Sport
If you are an equestrian athlete, you know that confidence is your secret weapon. There is no sweeter feeling than knowing that, no matter what the situation or degree of pressure, that you have what...
View ArticlePraise Away Pawing
Most equestrians have suffered through an incessantly pawing horse in the crossties. Frustration often gets the best of us and it can be tempting to resort to scolding, yanking on the crossties, or...
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Horses and the Holidays
I’ve often thought it was kind of unfair that reindeer get to be so closely associated with the Christmas holidays, instead of horses. When it comes to human history, horses have been a whole lot more...
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Skip The Risk and Savor The Rewards
I breed, train, and show my own horses. I know the highs and lows of doing what we all love so much. As much as a perfect ride can take my breath away, so can an unexpected catastrophe. The latter...
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7 Rules for Feeding Your Horse
I tend to be pretty flexible. There aren’t a whole lot of things that I believe are absolutely critical. But when it comes to horses, when it comes to feeding them, there are a few well-defined,...
View ArticlePrepare Your Mare to Be in Foal
A tiny brown muzzle and dark, confused eyes are finally visible. The grey mare, flanks slick with sweat, rallies and completes the last push. It’s really happening; your foal is here! The new baby’s...
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Vaccines: What’s the Right Amount of Preventative Medicine?
If you look through any horse periodical, or get any horse-related catalog, or if you listen to just about anyone talking about horses and horse health, you may have noticed that there are lots of...
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The Art of Seeing Lameness
We are all familiar with the scenario: We know our horse isn’t right…he isn’t performing like he used to, doesn’t seem comfortable, his transitions are poor, his willingness lacking. Of course, we...
View ArticleQ&A: Can a Minor Drive a Golf Cart at a Horse Show?
Q: We are planning to rent a golf cart during an upcoming horse show in Florida. Can my 14-year-old daughter drive the cart, even though she doesn’t have a driver’s license yet? The first thing to...
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Q&A: How Can You Tell If a Horse Has Scope?
Question: I often hear riders refer to a horse’s “scope.” What does that mean exactly and which factors determine whether a horse is scopey or not? Dr. Tim Worden: If you spend much time around...
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Blanketing, and other Colorful Considerations
So, I was walking up to this barn, and I see a client strolling down the aisle, shaking her head, obviously concerned about something. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “I had my horse talk to the...
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Stifle Surgery and Treatments: Guarded Prognosis and More Doesn’t Help
Lameness, as pretty much everyone knows, is the bane of anyone who wants to ride a horse: particularly horses that are being asked to perform. Although the most common site of lameness by far is the...
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