Thoroughbred Horse Welfare Challenges: From Rape to Relegation
Written here as a poem, each verse is structured as a three-line haiku. The haiku is a Japanese poetic form, in this case consisting of seventeen phonic syllables in a five-seven-five pattern. Traditionally, haiku evoke images of the natural world. The author's aim:...
A Bit-FREE, Pain-FREE Future for the FREE-Breathing Horse
Without food, a horse’s expectation of life is measured in weeks; without water, in days; without air, in seconds. The purpose of this article is to provide an illustrated sequel to a previous article "Horse Sports’ Option: Ban or be Banned” (Cook 2024). A series of...
Renowned welfare expert recommends British Horseracing update their horse welfare assumptions
A critique by Professor Emeritus David Mellor, ONZM, of the website Horse PWR, British Horseracing's website on equine welfare and safety. Emeritus Prof David Mellor is the architect of the Five Domains Model for Animal Welfare Assessment and Monitoring, which he...
The Evidence for Allowing a Bit-Free Option in Equestrian Sport
If equestrian sport remains in the grip of an Iron Age custom, and continues using the bit as the means of rider-horse communication, its social license to operate will be lost. It is time to relinquish the A.B.C. of Atrocity, Bit usage and Cruelty that stems from the...
Racing Victoria releases new Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Policy
Racing Victoria (RV) has released its new Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Policy (TRWP). The policy defines the minimum standards and best practice guidelines for caring for and interacting with thoroughbred racehorses in Victoria. The TRWP will come into effect from 1...
A mission to make Paris 2024 the Olympic Games of horse welfare
This post is an AI aided translation of the online article published by Le Parisien, following up on the French Parliamentary report sent to the Games' organising committee in 2022, and which included 46 recommendations for welfare reform. Most of which have not been...
Le Parisien: What if the Paris 2024 Olymic Games were about horse welfare?
Last Sunday’s edition of Le Parisien, a French daily newspaper with a circulation of over a quarter of a million copies, devoted a full page to the welfare scandals of Tokyo, and questioning whether enough will be done to protect horses and the sport from such...
Horse Sports’ Options: To ban, or be banned
Firstly, this article is about a basic need of the ridden and driven sport horse, the need to breathe. Secondly, it is about the role of veterinarians in drawing attention to this need to breathe. Thirdly, it is about the responsibility of horse sport administrators...
Living History: Saving the world’s last wild horse
Takhin tal Research Camp, Gobi B Strictly Protected Area, July, 2023. Lit only by a faint glow on the eastern horizon and the fading light of stars, we hike into the hills at 4am, stumbling on loose sheets of rock which shear away in thin vertical slices under...
Horse welfare through the lens of the Five Domains
Postgraduate students, representatives from the equine industry, teachers and riding instructors came from as far as Australia, Canada, Spain, Hungary, Great Britain, Finland, Denmark and Sweden and gathered at the picturesque and wintery Equine Centre Wången in...
International racing bodies urged to engage with horse welfare perception and reality
Racing representatives from around the world have been urged "to positively engage with both perception and reality, and show real commitment to change to ensure positive welfare" at the 57th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, organised by the...
International focus on horse welfare and racing’s social licence to operate
Safeguarding horse welfare and exploring horse racing’s social licence to operate will be the focus of the 57th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), which will take place on the 2nd of October, in Paris, France. The IFHA is among many...
Kiwi’s statue unveils striking welfare statements
Forty years after Kiwi’s remarkable dash to victory in the 1983 Melbourne Cup, a lifesize statue of the Waverley horse was recently unveiled in his home town. The statue was the last work of sculptor Fridjof Hanson, completed not long before his death in September...
British Vets Embrace Horse Behaviour
The value of behavioural science was in the spotlight at British Equine Vets Association (BEVA) Congress last week. Gemma Pearson and Sarah Freeman shared their considerable knowledge and experience in two complementary plenary lectures, on how embracing learning...
Racing Horses on Forage-only
Forage is the preferred and ideal diet for most classes of horses, but can it meet the needs of the performance horse with high energy & nutrient demands? To help us in our quest, we spoke to Dr Brian Nielsen, a licenced racehorse trainer and Professor of Equine...
Only 30% of show horse owners surveyed in Australia agreed with whisker trimming ban, new study reveals
New research published in the CABI journal Human-Animal Interactions has revealed that only 30% of show horse owners surveyed in Australia agreed with a ban on the trimming of facial hair prior to its implementation in July 2022. The research found that when asked if...
UNE takes the lead on horse welfare with new short courses
The University of New England (UNE) has launched two industry-focused online short courses that will see improvements in the welfare of sport and recreation horses across Australia. Created and backed by some of the country’s leading equine experts, the courses are a...
Exclusive Interview with Thoroughbred Geneticist, Dr Emmeline Hill
Dr. Emmeline Hill is an Irish equine geneticist and horsewoman who has dedicated her career to understanding the genetics behind thoroughbreds. An early fascination with genetics led her to study human genetics and cattle genetics during her PhD. However, time and...
A Lasting Legacy: The Grace and Grandeur of Senior Horses Through Artful Photography
When a horse is nearing the end of their time we are often forced or rather gifted, the opportunity to reflect on their journey and the road we’ve walked together. Some stories are too painful to share with words and I am thankful for the opportunity to create a wonderful visual legacy to remember them by.
Why not bit-free? Expert says it’s time to draw the equestrian iron age to a close
Dr Robert Cook, a veterinarian, researcher and Professor Emeritus who focused his entire career on the equine ear, nose and throat, makes a strong case for allowing bit-free riding in all horse sports. He argues that the equestrian community is ready for a change and...
Danish concern over the use of horses in sport
Danish report recommends doing away with the view of the horse as an athlete. Saying we should instead recognise that horses' participation in competitions is only about the interests and ambitions of people. It calls for specific legislation to be drawn up if the...
Will Paris 2024 be an Olympic Games-changer for horse welfare?
The question of whether horses belong in the Olympic Games is not a new one, what is more recent, however, is the shift in public attitudes towards how animals are treated. This raises questions about whether the welfare of horses (or any animal) can be protected when...
Tool Use Confirmed in Horses
Horse owners have helped researchers confirm tool use in horses. You may have seen viral videos circulating online of a horse picking up brushes to groom another horse, or another using a broom to "sweep" the floor. They are nor just incredibly amusing, these videos...
Australian Vets at Odds with Horse Racing Whip Rules
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has updated their position on the use of whips on horses at competitive events, placing it at odds with the current whip rules of Racing Australia (RA) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), which recognise the use of...
Study identifies genes linked to successful galloping performance in horses
A new DNA study has identified a set of genes linked to successful galloping performance in horses selectively bred for racing. Horses have been selected for athletic characteristics for thousands of years. Traits that first evolved in the wild when horses needed to...
Racing Victoria’s Horse Welfare Strategy Released
Behavioural horse welfare is now a feature of Racing Victoria's Equine Welfare Strategic Plan. Racing Victoria (RV) has today released its 2023-27 Equine Welfare Strategic Plan (EWSP). It will set the agenda for the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry’s equine...
Horses recognise human emotions. Use that to strengthen your bond
Horses are incredibly good at recognising human emotions in your voice and expressions, but did you know how to leverage that super power to strengthen your bond?
Horse owners’ Hendra vaccine class action dismissed by Federal Court
The Federal Court has dismissed an application for $53 million in damages in a class action by horse owners over alleged deaths and side effects from the Hendra vaccine.
Clear evidence that equestrians are concerned about the welfare of horses in sport
Research by the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission shows clear evidence that both equestrians (75% of those surveyed) and the general public (65%) have concerns about the welfare of horses in sport.
Horse Welfare, Social Licence and Ethics Generates Heated Discussions at FEI General Assembly
The FEI equestrian community must strengthen its social licence to operate in light of growing public concern related to the welfare and wellbeing of horses in sport.
Financing Your Travel Options For Dressage Competitions
Getting the right travel option for competitor and horses can yield dividends instead of sinking money into costs that you’ll never recoup.
What is a tongue tie?
What is a tongue tie? A tongue tie is a band that ties the horse’s tongue to the bottom jaw. Once fitted, tongue ties are fairly inconspicuous. Does a tongue tie hurt the horse? Because the tongue is very mobile, wet and slippery, the tie has to be fitted tightly to...
The Road to Bridle-less Explained
At the 1998 Equitana, my husband, Dr Andrew McLean, decided he would demonstrate riding bridle-less, with a rope around the neck of the stallion Tintagel Magic. At the time, Andrew was competing Magic in dressage at Advanced and Prix St George level, and managed to...
Making Success a Habit
When you talk to yourself (in your own mind), do you tell yourself that you are heading for success? Or do you tell yourself that you are failing? Our thought patterns create a large part of our reality because we act on our thoughts. They can also become habits. I...
The horseracing industry is ignoring what science says about whipping
When the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) released its recent whip consultation report, it claimed to have consulted the science. But it insists whipping doesn’t hurt horses and fails to recommend that the racing industry changes its approach.
4-Step Guide to Safe Weight Gain
Is your horse showing a bit more rib than you like to see? Is he or she losing the fat layer along the spine that is often referred to as topline? Have you tried everything, but your horse never seems to gain weight? In this article, nutritionist Larissa Bilston...
When Dogs Meet Horses in Art
As we see above, in de Vos and Wildens’ dramatic ‘Horse attacked by dogs’, dog and horse contact can end in disaster with both reverting to their raw primal selves and the humans ending in a heap. Each day, different versions of the above scenario occur thousands of...
Let’s Talk About Horse Poo
Anyone who has ever had to look after a horse for any length of time knows that they produce a lot of manure. In fact, a 500kg horse defecates about 4-13 times a day, producing 15.5 to 22.5kg of faeces and urine daily, which adds up to 8 metric tons a year! While...
Feeding the ‘Hot’ and ‘Fizzy’ Horse
Most horse owners have heard the terms ‘feeling their oats', ‘high’, ‘fizzy’, ‘hot’ and ‘hyper’ all used to describe the effect grain or certain feeds seem to have on the behaviour of some horses. Does feeding management or individual feed ingredients really...
British Racing’s Disappointing Whip Report
The long awaited report from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on the use of the whip represents a lost opportunity for rebuilding trust and bringing back enthusiastic crowds to British racetracks.Despite its 95 pages, the report overlooks almost the entirety of...
Has Thoroughbred inbreeding reached breaking point?
From winning it in 1964 to being in the pedigree of all 20 runners in the Kentucky Derby fifty years later, Northern Dancer’s impact on the thoroughbred breed continues to grow. And while this ‘sire of sires’ sprinting legacy has been long celebrated, the recent news...
Retired racehorses benefit from QOTT Grants Program
The Queensland Off-The-Track Program has allocated more than $100,000 to not-for-profit organisations and charities that provide a lifelong safety net for retired racehorses. Having launched the QOTT Grants Program last month, seven organisations were successful...
The Coaching Sweet Spot, Part 4: The Happiness Factor
Happiness is like balance – it’s not something you can teach because it’s a result of what you’ve already taught. If you’ve ever wondered what motivates us to connect so closely with our horses, and what drives this life-long equestrian passion, you could cheerfully...
Feeding Foals, Weanlings and Yearlings
Fewer topics in equine nutrition stir more controversy than feeding the growing horse. Many factors add to the confusion of providing nutrition throughout these critical stages of life. For example, growing horses may have different commercial end points. Some will be...
Sport Horse Welfare: Where are we at?
In a thorough review titled 'Champing at the Bit for Improvements: Equine Welfare in Equestrian Sports in the United Kingdom', independent researchers Tim Holmes and Ashleigh Brown, explore the effect of equestrian sports on the lifelong welfare of horses, highlight...
How to get more out of your next horse transport purchase
We all want to save money on horse and transportation – equestrian, racing, and other horse related activities can add up to a lot! With the current international shipping delays, some horse goosenecks, trucks, and trailers may be delayed – and be quite expensive...
Horse Training Course: Part 1 The Engagement Zone
The engagement zone. If you ever thought there must be a better and easier way to train your horse, this training series by Kate Fenner is designed for you! Get the tools and confidence you need to educate your own horse. The articles will walk you through specific...
Horse Training Course: Part 4 The ‘Head Down’ Lesson Made Easy
The Head Down Lesson. Have you ever had your horse do the perfect imitation of a kite on a lead, or have you had to try to bridle that convincing giraffe impersonation? If so, stick around because in this step-by-step guide, you can learn how to train your horse to...
Horse Training Course: Part 5 Learning to Give Part 1
If you ever thought there must be a better and easier way to train your horse, this training series by Kate Fenner is designed for you! Each article walks you through specific lessons and how to teach them. From stress-free trailer loading, to handling head-shy...
Horse Training Course: Part 6 Learning to Give Part 2
Give to the bit. If you ever thought there must be a better and easier way to train your horse, this training series by Kate Fenner is designed for you! Each article walks you through specific lessons and how to teach them. From stress-free trailer loading, to...
Horse Training Course: Part 7 Long-Reining Part 1
If you ever thought there must be a better and easier way to train your horse, this training series by Kate Fenner is designed for you! Each article walks you through specific lessons and how to teach them. From stress-free trailer loading, to handling head-shy...
Horse Training Course: Part 8 Long-Reining Part 2
If you ever thought there must be a better and easier way to train your horse, this training series by Kate Fenner is designed for you! Each article walks you through specific lessons and how to teach them. From stress-free trailer loading, to handling head-shy...
Stereotypies
In this article, Dr Rachel O’Higgins examines the current understanding of stereotypies - a group of behaviours which are commonly referred to as ‘stable vices’. As Dr O’Higgins explains, horse owners must change the way they think about stereotypies; instead of...
Facts and Myths in Horse Training
Have you ever trained your horse to do something completely by accident? Unfortunately, when we do teach something by mistake it is rarely a behaviour that we want. I’ve seen a number of horses that have been taught to rear by mistake, but few that have been taught...
A Guide to Self-Carriage
What do you picture when you think about ‘self-carriage’? Many of us picture a horse, perhaps in a dressage arena, travelling in a certain outline and maintaining gait and direction. In this article, however, I am going to discuss why self-carriage has a much wider...
Why Does my Horse… Buck? (And How to Avoid it)
Most riders have experienced a bucking horse at least once in their riding careers and, for the majority of us, once is more than enough! Bucking is such a dangerous behaviour, it is important that we understand how and why horses start to buck and how we can stop a...
Why does my horse… Put the tongue over the bit?
Sometimes, horses get their tongues over the bit. When this happens, the tongue may loll out of the mouth in a very unsightly way, and all hope of achieving a good contact or communication line with the horse’s mouth will be lost. In horse racing, it is believed a...
Why Does My Horse… Rear?
Why Does My Horse Rear? If you have a horse that rears, you will know that it is very dangerous behaviour and, as such, it is important to know why your horse rears, how your horse learned the behaviour and what you can do about it to prevent it from happening in the...
8 Reasons to Train Your Own Horse
Have you ever looked at your trainer riding your horse and wondered ‘why can’t I do that’? Or wanted your horse to do something, such as load on to a trailer, only to have to get someone else to help you out? If the answer is yes, the problem may be the fact that you...
The Confident Horse
The confident horse. We talk a lot about confident riders, about losing our own confidence with horses and about strategies to re-gain confidence, but what about the horse’s confidence? Surely that’s just as important. After all, our horse is the other half of the...
Step-By-Step Guide to Skyrocket Your Confidence
The Cambridge Dictionary defines confidence as: “The quality of being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans or the future”. This applies directly to our riding - confidence is being certain of our riding and training abilities, having trust in...
The Science of Rugging Horses: What rug to use and when!
The Science of Rugging Horses: As we move towards winter and despite enjoying warm autumn days, the colder nights and mornings probably have most of us reaching for our body-warmers, fleeces and jackets when we go to see our horses. But, does this mean it's time to...
Researchers Study the Effect of Different Rugs on Skin Temperature
Horse core body temperature and the effect of rugs on skin temperature. Many horse owners rug their horses all year round, however, a preliminary study, warns that the ambient temperatures expected and the type of rug needs to be carefully considered as horses can...
Transport-related Pneumonia: Can we reduce the risk?
Transport-related Pneumonia. It is well-known transporting horses carries a significant risk - not just of injury, but also disease, such as colic and respiratory problems. Studies have shown transport is stressful, but does the level of stress experienced by the...
Why Does My Horse… Spook?
Why does my horse spook? Most of us have been on, or at least seen, a horse spooking (some call it shying), and many of us have experience with horses that can have massive spooks, spin around and run away. Others, whose behaviour may not be as exaggerated, can seem...
6 Ethical Ways to De-spook Your Horse
Horses are flighty and suspicious by nature but they can also easily get used to (habituate to) things that would normally cause them fear. A thorough understanding of the learning mechanisms which result in habituation has enabled Dr Andrew McLean from Equitation...
Fire Risk Management Planning
Risk Management Plan This information about fire risk management planning has been compiled by the Queensland Horse Council Inc. to assist horse owners to prepare and respond to bush fires. Reproduced with kind permission. Before the Fire In times of crisis, people...
Small Strongyle Worm Management – Seasonal Guide
Use this year-round guide for managing worms, particularly small strongyles, in healthy, adult horses from the age of 3 years. Young horses, broodmares, seniors and horses with health conditions (e.g. Cushings) require a tailored worm control program. MOST IMPORTANTLY...
Evidence of cross-grazing benefits
Cross grazing benefits. The practice of cross or mixed grazing is often suggested as a useful strategy to manage intestinal parasite infestation, but until recently, evidence of its efficacy was limited. A French team has provided the first evidence of the benefits of...
A New Era in Worm Control
Worm control. Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Queensland, Dr Anne Beasley, explains the importance of sustainable worm control and why we must no longer rely on the old-school interval treatment regime. This article provides all the basics on...
What is that? Lumps, Bumps and Swelling
Finding lumps, bumps and swellings on the skin of horses is a very common problem for owners. In this article, veterinarian Dr Rachel Kent sorts the harmless lumps from the nasty bumps to help you identify ones that may require veterinary treatment, versus those...
The Ultimate Guide to Worming Your Horse
This article contains the 6 simple steps you can take to get your worming program to a great start. Spring is the best time to kick-start Evidence Based Worming on your horse properties. Most horse managers are, by now, very familiar with the narrative that small...
Drug Resistance in Horse Worms: An Australian Study
Three years on from the launch of an Australian study into drug resistance in horse worms, the results are in! The project produced some really useful data which was lacking in the Australian literature and also shed light on some concerning issues that impact all...
Cross-sector collaboration for equine welfare improvements
Leaders from a wide range of equestrian and racing disciplines came together to discuss challenges and opportunities around the social licence to operate. They took on the challenge of working together to "do more, faster” to demonstrably prioritise equine welfare. An...
The Shoulder-in: More Than Dressage Gymnastics
Recent scientific findings support what many students of Classical dressage principles have known all along: The shoulder-in exercise is not only good for the horse's physical development but it also influences their mental state - and the benefits of practicing it...
The Science on Choosing and Training a Show Jumper
If you want your jumping horse to be a successful and “happy athlete,” choose - and train - that horse wisely. But what is the wisest way to choose and train a show jumping horse? According to equine biomechanics specialists, traditional equestrian wisdom can...
Researchers Recommend Helmets On and Off the Saddle
Head injuries and broken ribs are common injuries in equestrian sports, but they don’t have to be par for the course. According to a new study looking at horse-related accidents in a primary (non-trauma) care centre, falls cause the most injuries, but ground-level...
Roadmap for the Ethical Use of Horses in Sport
A British researcher has mapped out an ethical framework to help horse sports assess issues affecting their social licence to operate. It is hoped that different organisations will use it as a starting point, to critically assess existing and proposed practices, as...
It’s More than the Early Starts. Horseracing’s Staff Recruitment and Retention Challenges
The problems surrounding the recruitment, training and retention of stable staff in horseracing extend beyond the early starts. For at least half a century, the multi-billion-pound horseracing industry in the UK has had a hard time keeping staff on board. And that’s...
Horse Riders’ Attitudes to Managing Risk “Disturbing” Says Safety Researcher
So, horses are dangerous. Is that just the way things are? And does taking risks with horses make you look braver, more confident, or more of a leader? According to one equestrian safety scientist, there are better ways to deal with horse-related risks. And there are...
French Parliament Calls for Horse Welfare Overhaul at Paris 2024
Nine months after several incidents and accidents marred the equestrian disciplines of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, a study group from the French National Assembly (the lower house of the French Parliament), makes 46 recommendations for making Paris 2024 the Olympic...
Standardbred Freeze Branding System Discontinued
The 2021 foaling season will see changes to the current practice of freeze branding Standardbred horses. Microchips, which have been mandated for the past three years, will now become the main form of identification for all standardbred horses, replacing freeze...
Racing Victoria’s ‘Medicare for Thoroughbreds’ Aims to Minimise Injury Risk
Racing Victoria (RV) has announced a new subsidy scheme for owners and trainers to offset the cost of advanced diagnostic imaging on Victorian thoroughbreds. The Diagnostic Imaging Subsidy Program is a proactive approach to injury prevention for thoroughbred...
Citizen Science: Your Contribution to E-BARQ Already Giving Back
E-BARQ, the citizen science project on horse behaviour and management is already giving back, thanks to the contributions of thousands of horse owners. While 2020 offered fewer opportunities for us to be out and about with our horses, behind the scenes, equine...
Next Step in the Evolution of Pony Club Coaching
Pony Club Australia has developed a new education and training course for Preliminary coaches. The new PCANCAS Preliminary Coach course is aligned with the PCA rider syllabus and brings together a range of material produced since the launch of the new PCA rider...
British Racing on climate change and sustainability
The summary findings and recommendations from an independent assessment of environmental sustainability across British racing and breeding have been published today. Project objectives: To review British racing’s current progress on environmental sustainability,...
Swiss Guide to the Ethical Use of Horses
A guide to the ethical use of horses, with a focus on their welfare. Horse sports are struggling to successfully match the public's expectations of welfare. Competition demands are not always compatible with satisfying the horse's needs, and the tension...
Perceptions of Sport Horse Welfare Issues: New Study
There are growing concerns about the welfare of horses from within and outside sport and these concerns are threatening horse sports' social license to operate. In early 2021, the Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN) and National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) ran an...
Open the Gates to Good Horse Welfare
Horses thrive with friends, forage and freedom to move. When we picture scenes of animal cruelty, we generally imagine thin, malnourished horses in haphazard paddocks filled with abandoned cars, barbed wire fencing and empty gas cans. Less commonly associated with...
When in Doubt… Turn the Horses Out!
Going down in history as one of the best Melbourne Cup wins, a horse named Kiwi, originally purchased to round up sheep, dashed to victory in the 123rd Melbourne Cup of 1983. With only 100 metres to go, and at 10-to-one odds, the chestnut gelding upstaged the best...
Will You Know When It’s Time? Horse Euthanasia, the Hardest Decision by Far
This article will help all horse owners who are either grappling with an end-of-life decision or aiming to plan ahead. It covers when and how to take the decision and who to involve. It explains the difference between welfare state and quality-of-life, and how to...
Can Bedding Improve your Horse’s Performance?
If you were asked how to optimise your horse’s performance, it is likely you will think about meeting his nutritional needs, following a strict conditioning regimen, or ensuring that he is in ‘good’ health... Would bedding even come into your mind? ‘Good’ sleep is...
The Impact of Birth Trauma on Horse Welfare and Performance
Help! My horse is girthy, crooked and has uneven front hooves… What can I do? This problematic trio is one of the most common reasons owners decide to seek some form of body therapy for their horse. After treating more than 10,000 horses and analysing related...
Journal Opens Access to Heat and Humidity Research Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics
To help vets protect elite horses from the extreme conditions expected at the Tokyo Olympics, the Equine Veterinary Journal is providing free access to a Special Collection of eleven landmark papers covering the health and welfare of horses competing in hot and humid...
Strengths and Weaknesses of a National Equine Database
French researchers investigate the strengths and weaknesses of a 45-year-old National Equine Database. Their findings can help all countries optimise the efficiency and management of horse traceability systems. A national equine database can help keep track of where...
The Saddle Fit Guide
Here is some advice for fitting, using and maintaining your saddle, compiled by the Animal Health Trust, in collaboration with World Horse Welfare. Their research has highlighted some areas that should be carefully considered when fitting a new saddle, which will help...
How to Find the Right Bit for your Horse
What’s the best bit for my horse? Well, I am glad you ask! It is a very important question that directly affects your horse’s well-being, but finding the answer involves considering and balancing many aspects, from the horse’s history, individual anatomy, conformation...
Horses and Floods
Horses and floods Floods are one of the most frequent natural disasters that horse owners have to deal with because many of the properties horses are kept in are floodplains. Despite this, it is easy to become complacent. This helpful information has been compiled by...
Effective Horse Cooling – as Recommended by the FEI
Hot or hot and humid environmental conditions are a serious risk to health and performance unless properly managed. Research into the effects of heat and humidity on horses during competition has been ongoing since the Atlanta Olympic Games. Here is some practical...
