Navicular disease is more accurately described as “navicular syndrome.” It is a soundness problem that affects horses, generally ones with hooves that are smaller than is proportional to their body weights. Navicular disease occurs almost exclusively on the horse’s front feet, and is generally described as the inflammation of the navicular bone in the hoof. ...
When the old cowboy delivered my new appaloosa horse to the house, he was less than complimentary, “Well, you’ve got yourself a real Indian pony here.” He spat a brown stream of chewing tobacco into the dirt as he prepared to open the gate of the trailer up. “She won’t haul. Won’t tie. And she ...
Pets are a part of most people’s everyday lives. A relatively new pet has become more and more commonplace nowadays. Miniature horses that were once considered ‘exotic’ pets are almost a common consideration now. Prices have become more reasonable making them more of a possible choice for casual backyard pet owners who want something cute ...
Keeping a horse’s hoof healthy is vital to the overall well being of the horse. There are many different diseases and conditions that you will need to keep your eye open for and take immediate action to remedy the situation. If a horse is suffering with a hoof ailment, the whole animal will suffer. Horses ...
Horses don’t get sick as often as other animals. However, a horse’s hooves are a breeding ground for most of the common horse diseases. The reason why is because horses spend most, if not all of their lives, standing and aren’t able to lie down for any length of time without getting sick. This is ...
How to look after Shetland ponies, also known as United Kingdom or Traditional Shetlands, is not much different from looking after a full-sized horse. Although they have the reputation of being self-sufficient, Shetlands need just as much veterinary, grooming and stabling care. Which Shetland? About 1900, there was only one type of Shetland pony ...
Most horse owners have seen, or at least heard of, the condition known as thrush. Often attributed to an unhealthy living environment and dirty stalls, thrush is a common occurrence in many horses and the causes of this condition continue to spawn debate amongst veterinarians. So what is thrush? What causes it? Read on to ...
There are many people for shoeing horses and just as many against. The pros and cons can be argued back and forth for days. Many people consider steel shoes harmful to the horse’s hooves as they don’t allow for the normal expansion and contraction that occurs in the hoof. It is believed they can hinder ...