The Chilean Equine Veterinary Association (ACHVE) and the Chilean Veterinary College (COLMVET) have pledged support of the responsible use of nosebands in all equestrian disciplines. In their press release, they acknowledge the research that has found restrictive nosebands are associated with an activation of the physiological stress response, the presenceRead More →
Whenever we want to get to the bottom of a question regarding equine performance, welfare, nutrition or disease, we must consider the science. Scientists make it their life’s work to drill down on their areas of interest in an effort to answer all the questions they and their peers haveRead More →
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 tongueRead More →
You go to his stall, put his halter on him, lead him out away from his companions, and take him to that Great Contraption that he’s finally learned to accept. You guide him into the enclosure, tie him up, give him a friendly pat on the croup and tell himRead More →
Horses may not be able to say how much it hurts with words, but researchers show their face tells all. Learn to recognise the signs of the equine pain face, also known as the equine grimace scale, with Karina Bech Gleerup. To download The Equine Pain Face Poster, scroll downRead More →
When it comes to horse (and rider) welfare, the “dreams of the youth” aren’t to be taken lightly. According to one Swedish researcher, professionals and scientists can learn a lot about developing more ideal riding schools tomorrow by listening to the young riders of today. Young people make up theRead More →
Horses are instinctively ‘stoic’, they do their best to mask all signs of pain in an effort to keep-up and blend-in with the rest of their herd. By the time your horse shows clear signs of lameness or injury, it is likely a lot of damage has already been done.Read More →
The first two weeks of the coronial inquest into the deaths of Olivia Inglis and Caitlyn Fischer, who died while competing at separate horse trials events in 2016, have been challenging and the process widely reported by mainstream media. The social media commentary has been polarised and emotional, sometimes derailingRead More →
If your horse is cold, rug him. The trick, though, is to know if he really is cold. Unfortunately, humans (and even equine scientists themselves) aren’t necessarily very good at picking up the signs that our horses are too hot, according to a recent study. Using a commercial sensor canRead More →
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 drag out the rugs we stored away lastRead More →
