by: Marcia King

Click this link for the original article in its entirety: TheHorse.com

Whether you consider a horse to be old at 18 or 25, at some point, senior horses are going to start showing clinical signs of aging–moving more slowly or stiffly, becoming unthrifty, developing a dull coat, or displaying subtle or obvious signs of a disease process. Here are some of the common problems you could encounter in your aged friend and what you should know about those topics to help him through those golden years.

In today’s Part 3 we will cover the following topics:

- Eye Problems

- Hoof Changes

- Reproductive Function

- Respiratory Factors

- Weight Loss

- Take-Home Message

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Eye Problems

“Any older animal will eventually develop age-related ocular disease,” says Ursula M. Dietrich, DrMedVet, Dipl. ACVO, ECVO, assistant professor in the department of small animal medicine and surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia. “This is due to the biologic clock ticking and decline of the cells’ regeneration capacity, but it is not known if the aging process may also be influenced by environment, nutrition, care, etc. Treatment of some ocular diseases in horses can be Read the rest of this entry »

by: Marcia King

Click this link for the original article in its entirety: TheHorse.com

Whether you consider a horse to be old at 18 or 25, at some point, senior horses are going to start showing clinical signs of aging–moving more slowly or stiffly, becoming unthrifty, developing a dull coat, or displaying subtle or obvious signs of a disease process. Here are some of the common problems you could encounter in your aged friend and what you should know about those topics to help him through those golden years.

In today’s Part 2 we will cover the following topics:

- Cushing’s Disease

- Degenerative Joint Disease

- Dental Disease

- Chronic Diarrhea

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Cushing’s Disease

Equine Cushing’s disease (ECD, or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) is commonly diagnosed in aged horses, says Rachel Jahnke, BSc, DVM, of Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital in Oconomowoc, Wis. Due to a tumor that forms in the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland, Cushing’s results in excess production of cortisol hormone, which in turn leads to hirsutism (a long, often curly hair coat that does not shed out well), laminitis, lethargy, Read the rest of this entry »

by: Marcia King

Click this link for the original article in its entirety: TheHorse.com

Whether you consider a horse to be old at 18 or 25, at some point, senior horses are going to start showing clinical signs of aging–moving more slowly or stiffly, becoming unthrifty, developing a dull coat, or displaying subtle or obvious signs of a disease process. Here are some of the common problems you could encounter in your aged friend and what you should know about those topics to help him through those golden years.

In today’s Part 1 we will cover the following topics:

-Cardiac Dysfunction

-Colic

-Compromised Immune Function

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Cardiac Dysfunction

“Older horses, in general, do not commonly develop life-threatening or career-limiting cardiac problems,” reports Laurie A. Beard, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, associate clinical professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Nevertheless, a decrease in aerobic and exercise capacity occurs in older horses. Older horses are not as able to Read the rest of this entry »

Written By- Dr. John Kohnke BVSc RDA.
Talking Horses Equestrian Issue 22

Rain Scald or ‘mud fever’ is a common skin condition which is favoured by wet weather. The common cause is a fungal-like organism (Dermatophilus congolensis) which colonises the skin of horses, cattle and sheep.

Horses which share pastures with sheep or cattle often have a higher risk of rain scald or even ‘greasy heel’, which is also caused by the same organism, combined with skin reaction to sunlight on non-pigmented skin (horses with white socks on their hind fetlocks and pasterns).

Although it is a soil contaminate, it is difficult to culture the fungal-like organism from soil in muddy areas. Studies have shown that the common black house fly Read the rest of this entry »

This shows why the traditional opinion of how hoof mechanism works is completely backwards.

This video contains essential information maximizing your horse’s performance and keeping him sound.

Hoof mechanism is what keeps the hoof alive and frog pressure is what keeps the hoof mechanism alive.

If your horse suffers poor hoof growth, poor horn quality or poor healing capacity the hoof mechanism is most likely out of order.

There is much more information on NoFrog.NoHorse on Facebook.

Thanks to EasyCareInc.com for posting this very interesting video on their Facebook page a few days ago…

This is extremely enlightening and once again opens up the debate of Traditional VS Natural (Barefoot) Hoofcare…

This video shows what could be considered one of the most important breakthroughs in modern hoof research. It proves the complete foundation for the traditional hoof care to be wrong. Since the coffin bone apparently is NOT hanging from the hoof wall the hoof wall should not be forced to carry the horse’s weight.

On the contrary- it would indicate that the hoof wall AS WELL AS frog and sole also need to bear the horse’s weight.

Therefore the practice of traditional hoof care and shoeing is forcing the horses to carry its ENTIRE weight peripherally (on the walls). This can cause significant damage as well of discomfort and even extreme pain.

By Faye Birkin

Sometimes we as riders, lose sight of the concept of riding just because we love it.  We get stuck  in the rut of thinking that we always need to be doing something ‘worthwhile’ like schooling, training, working towards a showing event or sometimes even that awful ‘obligatory feeling’  of having to ride because we feel bad that we haven’t ridden enough and our horse needs to ‘get out’.

I guarantee you that your horse doesn’t care about all these reasons in the slightest.  The only thing he can really appreciate is when you spend quality one-on-one time with him.  No pressure, no expectations, no rules or preconceived ideas… just being one with him.

It is often during these un-structured, un-scheduled and un-forced moments, that the greatest Read the rest of this entry »

There is a saying that if you always do what you’ve always done, you continue to get what you’ve always got. This applies to every aspect of life, but is particularly true of riding.

It is easy to carry on doing what we’ve always done – after all some of us learned to ride years ago and are unaware that we may have developed bad habits, perhaps to compensate for physical changes in our bodies, or not realizing that we are capable of riding more effectively.

Horses that continually do the same thing quickly become bored and unmotivated. This January, why not resolve to put some sparkle back in to your lives and try something new?

You will be surprised at just how much fun and enjoyment you can have, and how your confidence and relationship with your horse can be strengthened, simply by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Here are ten ways to ensure that 2012 really is a happy new year!… Read the rest of this entry »

I would like to begin an “Equine Glossary” soon since there are literally 1000′s of equine related words, (both slang and actual) that we as horse-owners hear and use every day. Even after owning horses practically my whole life I still hear words now and then that I dont know!

Before we do that however, I would like to share a more humourous side of the Equine Glossary with you…please note that these definitions are only meant to entertain not inform…;-)

Auction

A popular, social gathering where you can change a horse from a financial liability into a liquid asset.

Azoturia (Monday Morning Disease)

a condition brought on by showing horses all weekend. Symptoms include the feeling of dread at having to get out of bed on Mondays and go to work.

Barn Sour

An affliction common to horse people in northern climates during the winter months. Trudging through deep snow, pushing wheelbarrows through snow and beating out frozen water buckets tend to bring on this condition rapidly.

Big Name Trainer

Cult Leader: Horse owners follow them blindly, will gladly sell their homes, spend their children’s college funds and Read the rest of this entry »