In most cases, the majority of a horse’s diet should consist of forage, such as hay. A hay analysis can help you determine if your horse is on a well-balanced diet and can also be useful when managing horses diagnosed with nutrition-related disorders. When reading a hay analysis, values will be reported “as sampled” and…
When you greet your horse, or simply want to thank them for a nice ride, do you pat them or do you give them a good scratch? If you had to guess, which horse human interaction do you think horses prefer, to be patted or scratched? Three researchers at Nottingham Trent University asked this very…
The Quarter Horse is an American breed that excels at quick turns and stops and at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other horse breeds in short races of a quarter mile or less. Thoroughbred racing has the Kentucky Derby. Quarter Horse racing has the All American Futurity, the richest…
Forage makes up between 50 and 90 percent or more of a horse’s diet. Much of the forage part of the diet comes in the form of hay. Because it’s such a big part of the ration, a good quality hay can help keep a horse healthy, while a poor quality hay can be detrimental.…
A myriad of factors under the control of the human can affect the horse’s ability to develop. A young horse that is being fed sugar-rich rations and has been socially isolated in a box stall with metered turnout time will be ill prepared to engage in a learning environment not through any fault of the…
Math Playground created the Division Derby game to provide horse lovers an exciting way to practice their division facts. Follow these step by step instructions and you’ll be at the starting gate in no time! To start your game go to Division Derby Step 1 The first step is to create a player name for…
Have you ever had a horse refuse to eat a certain feed, treat, or supplement? If so, he might not like the way it smells. While plenty of studies exist on horses’ flavour preferences, little consideration has been given to horses’ preferences for smell. For example, researchers have shown that anise increases the palatability of…
For hundreds of years, the Suffolk Punch draft horse has been used by farmers to till fields across Great Britain. Now, Britain’s oldest native breed is on the brink of extinction. The breed was developed in the early 16th century, and still looks similar to its foundation stock. The Suffolk Punch was developed for farm work,…
New research shows wild horses and burros in both deserts can dig wells up to six feet deep to find water. These unexpected “ecosystem engineers” provide hydration for dozens of animal species, from badgers to elf owls to toads.
The model, called an equicizer, is used in schools, by professional riders and in equine assisted therapy programs. It’s constructed with springs that mimic a horse’s natural movement and can be used in multiple ways, such as a demonstration of how to put the bridle and saddle on a horse. It can also be used…