Horses are most happy in a natural environment where they are free to roam, socialize and graze at will. They require close attention and care. A horse needs a safe pasture, good fencing, access to salt and minerals, adequate shelter from the weather, a continuous supply of fresh clean water and a high quality staple diet. Horses also need companionship, from other livestock and from you. Make sure to monitor your horse on a daily basis for any illness or injury. These are the tenets of being a good horse owner.

Health problems can often seem to come out of nowhere. One day your horse seems perfectly content and healthy, then the next day he is suddenly struck ill. Most horse-related illnesses can be avoided by taking preventative measures against all common diseases and disorders. As a horse owner, you will have to learn to take preventative measures. Here are some of the most common illnesses that can affect your horse.

Equine Respiratory Disease Complex

This condition, also known as ERDC, is incredibly common among horses. This condition is a result of the stress of transportation or strenuous exercising. It can also develop from exposure to new surroundings and other animals. A horse can easily become vulnerable to an ERDC viral infection as well as a secondary bacterial infection like Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The latter is a species that is probably one of the most common organisms isolated from foals with pulmonary abscesses or pneumonia. Pneumonia is another relatively common condition caused by the inflammation of the lungs. Viruses like equine viral arthritis, equine viral rhinopneumonitis or other forms of bacteria can cause it. Viral pneumonia can often weaken the horse, making them more vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections.

Signs and symptoms of this condition include nasal discharge, cough, increased respiratory rates and a fever of at least107 degrees F. Most afflicted horses appear depressed and will refuse to eat. S. Zooepidemicus can also create toxins that damage the horse’s airways, which can result in pneumonia and abscess formations.

In order to make a complete diagnosis, veterinarians will need to take the horse’s full history. The horse will need to conduct a full examination before deciding on a course of treatment. Most of these veterinarians will base the diagnosis on their previous clinical experience, so make sure you find an experienced vet that you can trust.

Laminitis is another common illness that results from a short-term disruption of blood flow to the laminae structures in the foot. This can affect one or all of your horse’s feet. The condition is most common in the front feet. This condition remains a mystery, but we do know that the underlying causes often begin as a disturbance somewhere else in the horse’s body. Some potential causes of this condition may include toxins released in the horses system, digestive upsets, excessive amounts of lush forage, high fever, severe colic, metabolic disorders, and retained placenta in a mare. Other factors that can increase a horse’s susceptibility are overweight and breed (draft horses appear to be more susceptible).

Signs and symptoms of this condition can include an increased digital pulse in the foot or feet, lameness, a reluctance to walk, pain in the toe area, rings or bruises on the hooves, flat feet, dropped soles or dished hooves. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the quicker that the recovery process can begin. Diagnosing Laminitis early is often challenging as it often begins somewhere else in the horse’s body.

Colic is another common problem that is often used to describe a wide range of abdominal discomforts. Colic can include worm infestations or even a twisted intestine. Colic is one of the biggest health threats to all horses. Causes of colic may include ingesting sand or other non-feed materials, over feeding, irregular feeding, poisons, bad feed, worms or a twisted intestine. Most colic is put into one of three categories: Intestinal Accidents, Intestinal Dysfunction and Ulcerations.

There are many signs and symptoms that can point to colic, including personality changes, not interested in feed or water, general unease, excessive rolls, sweat and tired appearance. Your horse’s body temperature may be higher than normal even though the pulse and respiration remains level. Other signs may include a horse stomping on his hind leg, swishing his tail, turning to look at his belly and nipping at his sides. Horses with severe pain may roll their eyes, groan, kick his belly and stretch out on the ground.

Visit your vet immediately if colic is suspected. The vet will take the horse’s vital signs. Write down all the symptoms you have noticed before the vet arrives. This will help the vet make the right diagnosis.

There is definitely something beautiful about snow in winter. The cold weather recalls moments of cuddling and family time. However, winter can be hard on your animals, especially horses. Horses have a lot more health problems in the winter than any other season. When the temperature drops, horses tend to get sick faster, especially if they are not protected properly.

Here are some of the major health problems that a horse can suffer from during the cold winter months.

Colic is a serious stomachache that horses sometimes suffer from. Colic doesn’t always appear in the wintertime, but horses appear more susceptible to it in cold weather. Horse reacts to having colic by not eating. They tend to lie down and keep getting up, trying to soothe the pain. In some severe cases, some horses will roll and thrash violently, kick at their bellies and grind their teeth. Immediately call a vet if you notice any of these things. This means that they need to get serious medical attention. Why do some horses seem more prone to colic during the cold months?

Dehydration is the major reason that a horse may get colic. When winter sets in and it begins to get colder, horses don’t care to drink cold water, especially frozen water. Horses don’t get many nutrients from snow. When they do drink, their body temperature will begin to drop. This means that their body has to work twice as hard to produce enough heat. When a horse becomes hydrated, its intestines become easily affected. This can cause your horse extreme pain. To avoid this, set a pan of lukewarm water in the barn and fill their water troughs twice a day with warm water.

Everyone loves warm food or hay, and your horse is no exception. Overfeeding in the wintertime is a common problem. Many horse owners think that since its cold out, they should feed the horses more. When your horse consumes its food too fast, it can cause problems such as colic or laminitis. Instead of increased feeding, try to feed more hay of a better quality about three times a day.

Horses will usually not eat weeds and stalks mixed in hay, as they simply won’t digest it as well as some animals. Your goal is not to make the hay moldy as this can cause Botulism.

Another problem is rain rot. This occurs when the ground is soggy and wet and bacteria moves onto the horses skin and dirt. Rain rot looks like tiny bumps or large scabbing along the front of the horse’s legs. This condition can spread rapidly if not treated right away. Try a betadine scrub bath and if this doesn’t work, a vet should prescribe antibiotics.

Just like humans can get it, horses can contract pneumonia as well. This condition has to do with fluid in the lungs from a viral or bacterial infection. Antibiotics can wipe it out if caught early enough, but it can lead to premature death if not treated promptly. Keep your horse in a stall in the barn that is clean and warm. A horse blanket can help raise a horse’s body temperature to fight off the infection. Make sure to pamper your horse in order to help it heal faster. Consult your vet if you have any question about caring for your horse in intemperate weather.

Horses, like people, need shoes to protect their feet. Most breeds of horses have hooves that are simply not strong enough to sustain them in their working environment. The horse that spends all day working on a farm needs the kind of foot protection necessary for long working life. Most horses work through mud, dust, water, and grass on a daily basis. Each of these things has a different effect on the foot. Foot infections, parasites, cuts to the foot and infection-all of these quickly invade the body and damage your horse’s health. So it’s clear that horses need shoes, but who invented these things?

There is no one clear line back to the first horseshoe. It appears that several societies noticed that their equine friends becoming injured and dying off too quickly from disease and injured feet. There is evidence that Romans devised a shoe that made of leather and cloth. The shoe apparently hugged the hoof and was tied down with the same leather straps that people used to make their sandals. With the development of the iron, many cultures began to make shoes that would last a long time and protect the horse’s feet from stones, sticks and other sharp objects found across paths and roadways. During the crusades, special horseshoes were made to protect the horse’s feet during battles. Ironsmiths were the secret heroes of many battles, capable of keeping the horses feet protected. It is believed that the iron horseshoe was invented in the 1600s, but it was not until the 1800s that the iron horseshoe was patented and mass-produced.

In the 1600 and 1700s, ironsmiths began to regularly produce horseshoes. This was exceptionally laborious work and many smiths could not keep up with the demand. After a horse died, the iron was often recycled. These horseshoes were often melted down and recast into new shoes. Nails were often put through the same process. Many iron horseshoes were used as currency throughout Europe. Automation was in its infancy during the 1800s, and the first massed-produced horseshoes are thought to have been sold in Boston, with a patent being developed soon after. Gone were the days of extensive waiting periods. Owners could now take their horses for a fitting and have new shoes by the next day. Horse labor became more attractive as less time was needed in order to fit a horse for a pair of shoes. Many horses were saved from early deaths thanks to these new innovations in hoof protection.

Horseshoes are now a staple that we can’t imagine living without. Even though most horses are used for racing or entertainment purposes rather than for regular work, every horse still needs a pair of reliable shoes that will protect their feet from the harsh conditions. When a hoof gets injured, this can easily lead to infection and even death. Thus, horseshoes have not lost their hold in the hierarchy of important horse accessories.

Horseshoes have taken on a whole new meaning in recent times. Hanging a horseshoe above a doorway is considered good luck. Iron has a history of being valuable, and it has long been thought to bring luck and prosperity to those who possessed it. This superstition persists to this day, although most people have horseshoe charm bracelets or such smaller objects rather than hanging real shoes over the door. Horseshoes have also developed as a source of entertainment, as in the popular horseshoe game. To play horseshoes, place a metal spike thirty or forty feet away and then take turns pitching horseshoes to see who can get the horseshoe around the spike. Although simple, the game can be quite challenging and fun, even spawning its own league of players.

The main purpose of horseshoes is still to protect the horse’s feet from objects that might injure it. A good set of horseshoes and regular maintenance can go a long way to protecting your equine friend’s health and well being for years to come.

Learning how to feed your horses correctly is one of the most important pieces of knowledge that you can learn as a horse owner. This article provides a brief overview of the nutritional aspects of hay.

The kind of hay that you feed your horse is one of the most important decisions you will make as an owner. Horses that spend six out of seven days in the pasture or paddock with little exercise will require a different kind of hay than more active horses. If you feed hay that is high in alfalfa content, then you will need hay that is high in protein. You can choose a grass hay with about a quarter alfalfa, as this is a good healthy mix.

Horses that are worked more frequently will need a higher alfalfa or protein content. This will help keep your horse’s energy up to perform his best. Here are some things that you should consider when making your hay purchase. First, make sure you understand exactly what you are buying. Here are some things you should watch out for when choosing your hay. First, look out for signs of mold or mildew. Either one of these will make your horse sick if he ingests it. Dust is another thing you should look out for if you are looking for hay. Dusty hay has been known to cause horse heaves. This condition is the human equivalent of emphysema. Dust will often affect your horse negatively, causing him to breathe with difficulty and cough. A horse’s cough may become so bad that it cannot be ridden, as exertion may only exacerbate the problem.

It is important to maintain a good relationship with your hay seller in order to ensure that you continue to get the best hay. Hay for horses-a nutritional aspect helps ensure that you get the most for your dollar. As a general rule, you should feed your horses the best quality hay at least twice a day. The ideal and more acceptable feeding schedule would be four times a day. This is because horses have small stomachs and thus need to graze on a long-period basis. Horses do not eat large meals and then digest, but rather they eat in small amounts, frequently.

Why is good quality hay so important for your horse? It will keep your horse’s digestive system running smoothly. The body works hard to digest the hay, especially the fiber in it. The digestion process will aid in keeping your horse warm. In general, you can feed hay all year around if you choose to supplement your horse with it. This can work as long as you keep your horse on grass pasture at the same time. Hopefully, both are available to you. If your horse doesn’t have access to a grass pasture, it is perfectly acceptable to feed hay each day.

How much hay should you feed to your horses? Some people feed large round bales to their horses. This can help eliminate some of the work associated with feeding several times a day, although it may cause quite a mess. Most horses like the grazing options that open feeding offers. Make certain to feed the same kind of hay for horses-a nutritional aspect on a consistent basis. Many horses have sensitive stomachs and will not take well to sudden changes in their diets.

Colic is one problem that many horse owners must eventually deal with. One way to describe this problem is as a bad stomachache in horses. Colic can be caused by any number of problems. One of the most common factors is a sudden change in the horses diet. Always make sure to make the change gradually if you need to change your horse’s diet. Once a horse has gotten colic, they are more likely to get colic again.

There is still some controversy surrounding the feeding of alfalfa to horses. When considering hay for horses-a nutritional aspect, alfalfa is indeed a very good supplement at any working level. Of course, you don’t want to feed an excess of anything. Feeding free choice hay is not the issue. A horse will not make itself sick on hay. In general, free choice hay feeding is a good option for feeding. However, just because you are feeding your horse on a free basis doesn’t mean you shouldn’t constantly check up on him.

What are the benefits of hay feeding? Grass, alfalfa, clover and timothy are easy to handle and easy to store and transport. The hay you feed your horse is as important as the water you give him. Thus, you will need to analyze your horse’s needs and make a choice as to what kind of hay and combination of grains will work best for your horse. If you have any questions, it’s best to seek the advice of your veterinarian.

Laminitis-what is it and how to treat it-is something that every responsible horse owner should know about. This article will give you a general overview of laminitis and its causes, and what you can do to prevent it in your horse.

Laminitis is essentially a condition characterized by an inflammation of the laminae inside the hoof. These laminae are what attach the coffin bone to the hoof wall. When they become inflamed or swelled, they can become very painful for your horse. Most of the time, the swelling will not be restricted to the interior walls. Inside the hoof, there is no room for swelling. Thus, any swelling will result in one very sore hoof. When laminae inside the hoof swell, pressure is put on the blood vessels inside that hoof. This, in turn, restricts the flow of blood inside the vessels of the hoof or hooves, thus causing in the hoof losing life. The coffin bone rotates and the hoof begins to die. This will cause a great deal of pain for your horse.

The good news is that Laminitis can be easy to detect if you know what you’re looking for. When a horse has sore feet or legs, they will often ‘rest’ the front hoof. Be aware that this is not normal or healthy behavior. If you should see your horse ‘resting’ a front limb, a vet should be consulted immediately. The vet should check the front limb for lameness. If the horse is rocking his weight from his fore limbs to his rear limbs, make sure to describe the horse’s behavior to your vet as soon as possible.

When it comes to laminitis-what is it and how to treat it-make sure you work with a qualified vet who is familiar with this condition. There are many potential causes for laminitis. These may include fever, overfeeding of grains, overeating of grain and too much early exposure to fresh spring grass before the horse’s body can become accustomed to it. Another probable cause is that you may be overfeeding grain to your horse. It’s perfectly acceptable to feed your horse the occasional grain treat, but doing this too often can lead to health problems, including laminitis.

If you suspect your horse suffers from this condition, the first thing you should do contact your vet for an examination. Make certain that the vet you work with has ample experience in treating this difficult condition. You will also want to ask certain questions. Can the vet shoe your horse for laminitis, or does he or she work with a good farrier that they can recommend? Ideally, you want your vet and farrier to have a close working relationship.

When you first visit your vet, he or she should take x-rays of your horse’s hooves to determine the degree of coffin bone rotation in the hoof. This will help determine the appropriate treatment plan. The more that you learn about this difficult condition, the more prepared you will be to treat for your horse.

In order to prevent this condition, it is absolutely essential that you find the right feed/exercise ratio. You should also make sure that the grains you choose are located where a loose horse cannot feast on too much feed.

You will be able to make the best diagnosis and treatment plan for your horse the more you understand about laminitis. In many cases, it will take months of corrective shoeing and vet treatments to help your horse move beyond this condition.