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It is true that during the winter months riding your horse can become a scarce occasion.  This means that your horse’s diet must also change.  Since the horse is not as active during these cold months, it requires fewer calories.  It was once believed that feeding your horse more corn during these inactive months is better for keeping the horse warm, but now science has discovered hay is better at converting calories into heat and also promotes good gastrointestinal health as well as helps to preserve the horse’s weight.  The horse’s diet should be at least 50% if not all...

Cold temperatures and brisk winter air may be refreshing for a deep breath or brief outdoor walks, but winter leads to many air quality issues that can create severe respiratory problems in horses, particularly in barns. While barns may keep horses safe and warm in the winter, poor ventilation can lead to a range of health concerns. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve winter air quality and keep horses breathing easy. Winter Barn Air Quality and Horse Health Issues When horses are stabled in secure barns in winter, they are warm, but they are also at risk from poor...

The importance of cleaning your horses’ hooves is two-fold: The first is that they need to be cleaned and the second is that by cleaning your horses’ hooves when they need it is a proactive way to spot potential problems that may develop there. Here are some ideas from Jayne Pedigo of Equisearch.com on effectively cleaning your horse’s hooves:- Make sure the horse is not going anywhere by tethering him by his halter.- Position yourself to where you can’t get kicked. Ideally this position will be with your shoulder against the horse’s shoulder with you facing his tail. Do not...

When there’s hot weather outside, it’s essential that you keep your horses cool. Here are some tips on keeping their temperature regulated even when the weather is hot:WaterThe most obvious thing to keep an eye out for is also one of the most important. Keep your horse’s drinking supply of water fresh and cool. If you have a lot of horses in one place, make sure they can all reach it.Water also has another purpose. If your horse is getting a little hot, consider sponging down the problem spots such as the legs, stomach and neck with cool water. Don’t...

Fly control is an important topic around many farms. They may be small, but flies are a big problem if not addressed properly through a combination of farm management techniques and fly-control products. Known as one of the largest nuisances on a farm or outdoors, flies will harass both you and your livestock non-stop until something is done. Another reason to control flies on the farm is to prevent the spread of disease. As temperatures continue to rise, so do the number of flies as they tend to thrive in moist, warm environments. Follow this article for helpful advice on...