Eating Salt Licks
I have normally always provided the small brown salt mineral blocks for my horses to lick in their stalls. I have heard that they will lick these to the extent that their system requires it. I have...
View ArticleEffects of Limited Turnout
What are the effects and physical short- and long-term repercussions of limited turnout? Four hours a day in a field, twenty hours a day in the stall. I understand the mental cost – development of...
View ArticleChewing Trees and Ground
My 4 year old mare is constantly trying to dig through the snow to get to the grass and is chewing on the tree bark and her run in shed. Do you think she is lacking something in her diet??? She eats...
View ArticleElectrolyte Supplementation
In this kind of weather with the heat and humidity, what are the guidelines for giving or not giving oral electrolytes? As long as they have constant access to fresh water, most horses that are in...
View ArticleFeeding Senior Horses
This is a common problem that many older horses face. Despite the fact that their appetites are good and they appear to be eating well, many horses will suffer weight loss as they age. This can occur...
View ArticleDrought Grass- Laminitis Risk
The hot temperatures and lack of rain lately have certainly taken a toll on the pastures. If we were to get a fair amount of rain and the pastures were ‘resurrected’ would there be risks of laminitis?...
View ArticleHigh Iron Levels in Water
Are high iron levels in drinking water safe for horses? Iron levels are commonly quite high in well water. Fortunately, it is not considered harmful beyond the ugly stains that form around fixtures....
View ArticleLicking Mud
My horse is licking mud after the snow has melted. Is she deficient in something? Although it is a common assumption that animals can sense vitamin and mineral deficiencies and will seek out substances...
View ArticleFrosted Grass
Does frosted grass cause colic? This is a great question as I too was told that frozen grass caused colic when I was in pony club many years ago. The risk associated with eating frozen grass has...
View ArticleFall Deworming
Why do we wait until after the first frost to deworm in the Fall? With the cooler temperatures setting in it’s time to start thinking about fall deworming protocols. The life cycle for most equine...
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