Bitless Bridle vs Snaffle Bit Comparison
A treadmill study explored upper airway dynamics in horses, comparing the effects of a bitless bridle with that of a bridle fitted with a conventional snaffle bit.
The Science of Rugging [blanketing] Horses
We should not necessarily judge what ‘clothing’ our horses’ need based on how we feel for two very good reasons. The first is, of course, that the horse has a fur coat. The second is that due to its size, the horse does not lose heat as rapidly as we do. This means that at…
Is Artificial Weaning Hard On Horses?
Weaning, where a foal is removed from his dam, can be heartwrenching for both the humans and the animals involved. During traditional weaning, foals are forcibly separated from their dams at six months of age. However, left to their own devices, a foal will eventually separate from his mother on his own accord; this is…
Scoring System Finds Lameness in Horses Considered Sound by Their Owners
A recent study tested a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, made up of a list of 24 behaviours linked in previous studies to musculoskeletal pain. The majority of the behaviours have been shown in previous research to be at least 10 times more likely to be seen in a lame horse compared with a non‐lame horse.
Weight Loss Strategies for the Overweight Horse
Dr. Amy Burk shows how to identify an overweight horse and helps us understand the implications of obesity for the horse. She also describes a wide range of different strategies for controlling a horse’s body weight.
How to Bandage a Horse’s Wound
Learn how to manage minor leg wounds in this step-by-step visual guide.
Man Receives a PhD in Farriery
When Norman Johnson graduates from the University of Central Lancashire he will join just three other PhD qualified experts in farriery – equine hoof care. Norman, who has worked with horses since the age of 26, got the idea for doing the PhD while he was studying for a DipHE and BSc (Hons) degree in…
Can Horses Recognize Photos of Their Owners?
A study in France tested horses’ abilities to recognize photos of their keepers. The horses were presented with two screens with photos of two humans. Initially the screens showed random humans, but over time one side began to feature photos of their current or former handlers. Here’s what they found . . .
Algorithm Used To Analyze A Horse’s Stride
An algorithm [a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations] could prove useful in pinpointing longer break-over phases, which can indicate musculoskeletal problems. The break-over phase starts after the loading phase when the horse lifts its heel, causing a rotational movement around the toe, and ends with hoof…
What Makes a Horse an Easy Keeper?
The microorganisms that populate a horse’s gut are crucial to their health, and essential for the digestion of their fiber-rich diet. Little is known about how differences in this extremely diverse range of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, which scientists call the microbiome, affects the ability of horses to put on and hold weight. For…