Whether it is because the economy sucks or your area has had a “bad weather” year, hay for horses can be in short supply, especially during the winter. If the winter ahead looks bleak in terms of hay, consider these other options: – alfalfa cubes – chopped alfalfa – Ontario timothy/orchard grass balance cubes – … Continue Reading »
Most horses are happiest living in a pasture, and if your horse gets injured, most minor injuries will heal just as well with the horse turned out. Occasionally, however, a serious injury requires stall confinement. Prolonged stall confinement can lead to stomach ulcers or vices, such as cribbing or weaving. Here are 11 ways you … Continue Reading »
I have been working so much with horse digestion issues and ulcers lately and I feel the frustration of my clients about wanting to prevent these problems. Until recently I did not have much to offer other than doing everything possible to support good digestion. What I have come to understand is that digestive support … Continue Reading »
You know what they say about leading horses to water and making them drink … During the cold winter season, many horses drink less than they should, setting them up for impaction colic, poor digestion, and other kinds of problems. Most horses drink 8-10 gallons of water when the weather is warm, but may drink … Continue Reading »
Actually yes, under most conditions. For horses living in fairly natural conditions, such as those in living in pasture and exposed to the weather, being dirty actually helps them stay warm. Ugly as it is, dirt forms a layer of insulation in your horse’s coat, keeping him warmer than if his coat was brushed totally … Continue Reading »
HORSE Health Care in Winter: Tips on Horse Feed and More Keeping your horse warm, healthy, and happy during the winter can be challenging, especially if you live in a climate with extreme cold weather. While temperatures don’t drop too far here in Texas, I have many clients in northern states who struggle to keep … Continue Reading »
I get asked all the time, “Why does my horse buck?” The short answer to that question is, “Your horse bucks because he’s trying to tell you that something is wrong.” Bucking, like running, is your horse’s way of communicating with you. It is usually part of his fight-or-flight reflex. But answering the question of … Continue Reading »
I get asked all the time, “Why does my horse buck?” The short answer to that question is, “Your horse bucks because he’s trying to tell you that something is wrong.” Bucking, like running, is your horse’s way of communicating with you. It is usually part of his fight-or-flight reflex. But answering the question of … Continue Reading »
As you are no doubt aware by now, since I’ve been hammering on the subject mercilessly, there are four kinds of horse ulcers. But how can you diagnose what kind of ulcer your horse has? You may not be able to do that by yourself because the symptoms of all four kinds of horse ulcers … Continue Reading »
Bud continues to improve with his food sensitivities. He is now eating some grass like a normal horse and so far no colic. Now that he is getting to graze an hour a day he is not wanting to eat his beet pulp. Bud still gets his vegetables and his preference is, in order, carrots, … Continue Reading »
Not all horse ulcers are the same so not all horse ulcer treatments should be the same. I treat a lot of horses with ulcers, and one of the most misunderstood kinds of ulcers are those that occur in nervous horses. While many researchers deny that nervous tension can cause ulcers, I disagree. Of the … Continue Reading »
I hate seeing people walk out of a veterinary clinic carrying $1,000 worth of Gastroguard to treat their horse’s ulcer. Yikes! Not that this and other similar products were not lifesavers before we learned to use natural options instead … but these days I prefer to use natural herbs and supplements if possible to not … Continue Reading »
People dealing with horse ulcers often read my material on holistic treatments for ulcers, and then write me complaining that some of the treatments were not very effective on their horses. I agree. Not all treatments for horse ulcers are equally effective for every horse and every ulcer. That is because horses can develop four … Continue Reading »
I continue to gain with Remi on his feet. I absolutely love the Easyboot glove boots. Remi wore them pretty much 24/7 for about 2 and a half months and then we started getting rain. With the mud the gloves shifted on his feet and they started to tear at the toe and I was … Continue Reading »
Horses can develop ulcers for all kinds of reasons, and one of the biggest reasons I see horses develop ulcers is from the emotional stress of having the wrong career. Researchers rule out nervous stress as a cause for ulcers, but I disagree. My experience has been that I see more ulcers in horses who … Continue Reading »
Horse ulcers are a big topic these days with horse owners. Horses are highly prone to ulcers when under stress, whether physical, mental, or emotional stress. Physical causes of stress include diet, heavy training, injuries, chiropractic issues, and extreme weather. Mental and emotional stress can also cause horse ulcers. This kind of stress can happen … Continue Reading »
There are four kinds of horse ulcers, and there are more causes than that. Most people think that horses develop ulcers because of their diet or as a result of stress. While these reasons can cause ulcers, there’s more to the story. Causes of Horse Ulcers Horse ulcers occur for a number of different reasons, … Continue Reading »
These days most horse owners are clued-up enough to know that horse ulcers exist, as well as treatments. Some horse owners may even know some of the symptoms related to horse ulcers, including weight loss, colic, lack of appetite, pawing, and poor performance. But that’s about as much as many people know about horse ulcers … Continue Reading »