Equine Chronicle | Archive | Health & Training

Circling Back to Joint Health in Horses

January 9, 2023 Comments Off

Kentucky Equine Research Regardless of discipline, young horses in training frequently work in circles, either on longe or long lines, under saddle, or in round pens. During these exercises, horses typically lean into the center of the circle to maintain balance. As a result, the strains placed on the inside limbs are different from those […]

Expect The Unexpected

January 5, 2023 Comments Off

The anticipation grows with each day that gets crossed off the calendar. For months, mare owners have researched bloodlines, plotted a course, and then bred their mare in hopes of producing a dream maker. As days get closer, a breeder’s heart swells with the pride that will soon be a wobbly-legged “trophy” for the time, sweat, and money spent on the pairing of mare and stallion

Equine Respiratory Exam

January 3, 2023 Comments Off

By Brian S. Burks, DVM Diplomate ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Fox Run Equine Center Reasons for an airway evaluation in an adult horse include coughing, bilateral nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, and/or increased respiratory rate either at rest or during work. Coughing, whether acute or chronic, should form the basis of a lower airway examination, […]

Does Early Castration Affect Foals’ Development?

December 30, 2022 Comments Off

Equine Science Update Tuesday, December 27, 2022 Posted by Mark Andrews Male horses are generally castrated to make them easier to manage. Traditionally equine castration (or gelding) has been carried out at the yearling stage (c6-18 months of age). The procedure may be delayed in the hope that doing so will allow the colt to […]

Water: An Oft-Forgotten Nutrient for Horses

December 28, 2022 Comments Off

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff The most important nutrient in the horse’s diet is one that is rarely thought about in detail: water. An adult horse’s body is composed of roughly 70% water, which equates to about 95 gallons (360 liters) of water for the average 500-kg horse. Foals have even higher water content, roughly […]

Horizon Structures Presents Series: Selecting The Right Starter Horse Barn

December 27, 2022 Comments Off

By Nikki Alvin-Smith Most folks don’t have an unlimited budget and capital to spend on buying their first horse barn and selecting just the right starter horse barn can be difficult. While planning for the possibility of adding more horses to the herd for spouses and/or children or developing the property to keep several horses […]

Cold Weather Care

December 27, 2022 Comments Off

Dr. Sarah Reuss, Chair of the AAEP’s Horse Owner Education Committee As severe winter weather marches across the U.S. and Canada, Dr. Sarah Reuss, chair of the AAEP’s Horse Owner Education Committee and a horse owner herself, shares the following advice for keeping your horse safe during this extreme weather event. 1. While lots […]

Exercise and the Older Horse

December 20, 2022 Comments Off

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff Through a combination of commitment by horse owners and improved understanding of the special needs of geriatric equines, aged horses are living longer, richer lives. In turn, many older horses continue to earn their keep, so to speak, and undertake various athletic activities with their owners. The question is, can older horses hack the […]

FDA Cautions Horse Owners Not to Feed Recalled Lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes

December 20, 2022 Comments Off

FDA December 17, 2022 FDA Cautions Horse Owners Not to Feed Recalled Lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes Due to Reports of Illness and Death FDA, in cooperation with state departments of agriculture in CO, LA, NM, and TX, is investigating cases of illness and death in horses. Fast Facts The U.S. Food […]

Boehringer Ingelheim Launches The Stable Life

December 19, 2022 Comments Off

Equine Veterinary Sustainability Initiative Designed to Help Practices Thrive Boehringer Ingelheim DULUTH, Ga. (December 15, 2022) — With the equine veterinary industry facing a shortage of new veterinarians and the exit of existing veterinarians, Boehringer Ingelheim is launching a program to help transform the future of equine veterinary practice. “Equine health care as a whole […]