Horse Health

Fireworks can be frightening for horses, but a little preparation can reduce the risk of injury and help you respond if your horse becomes distressed. Here is what to consider before, during and after a display. For many horse owners, the approach of Bonfire Night brings a familiar concern: how will their horse cope with the noise and flashes? Some horses barely react, while others become unsettled, attempt to escape or injure themselves in a moment of panic. Fireworks can also take place beyond 5 November, including at private celebrations and around New Year, so it helps to have a

Written by Loni Loftus, Clinical Animal Behaviourist.  In this article, Clinical Animal Behaviourist, Loni Loftus uncovers the mechanics of the horse’s digestive system and looks at how the health of the equine gut can have a direct effect on behaviour, including mental and physical health. We have all heard the old adage of ‘no foot, no horse’ well ‘no gut, no horse’ is just as worthy a pronouncement! The horse is a non-ruminant herbivore – this means that they are specialised to eat mainly plants. The equine gut or gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the largest organ in the horse’s body

Anyone who has spent real time around horses knows the feeling. You arrive at the yard wound tight from the day, and somewhere between the gate and the field your breathing changes. Your shoulders drop. The horse lifts their head, watches you for a moment, then goes back to grazing. Something in you has settled, and you could not have made it happen on purpose. That quiet shift is the ground a growing approach to equine therapy is built on. It is sometimes called somatic energy healing with horses, and it asks us to think about what horses offer us

Dehydration in horses is common during the hotter months, and with large parts of the UK experiencing prolonged periods of hot weather and official heat-health warnings in place, horse owners are being reminded that dehydration can become a serious welfare concern in a surprisingly short space of time. While most people associate dehydration with extreme temperatures, horses can begin to lose significant amounts of fluid and essential electrolytes through sweating long before obvious signs become apparent. Whether competing, hacking, travelling or simply grazing in the field, maintaining adequate hydration is essential for a horse’s health, performance and wellbeing. Left unchecked,

Acupuncture is increasingly used within modern veterinary medicine to support horses dealing with pain, injury recovery and performance-related issues. While rooted in ancient practice, veterinary acupuncture today combines traditional techniques with scientific understanding of how the nervous system and musculoskeletal system respond to treatment. What is acupuncture? Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine sterile needles into specific points on the body to help relieve pain, improve circulation and support healing. Modern veterinary research suggests acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles and connective tissue, encouraging the release of natural pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory substances such as endorphins and serotonin. These chemicals influence pain

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a common and often frustrating condition that can affect horses of all types and disciplines. It does not always present in obvious ways. Some horses become irritable or underperform, while others show only very subtle changes. Without gastroscopic examination, or scoping, it can be difficult to confirm, meaning some horses may go undiagnosed for extended periods. Awareness of EGUS has increased significantly in recent years, along with research into how feeding and management influence its development. As a result, horse owners now have a much clearer understanding of how to reduce risk and support

Winter colic in horses is something many owners worry about – and you’ll often see advice flying around online at this time of year. In this guide, we’ll explain why winter can increase colic risk, what signs to watch for, and the simple day-to-day steps that can help keep your horse drinking and their gut moving. During cold weather, many horses drink less than they do in summer. This matters because water plays a vital role in keeping feed moving smoothly through the digestive system. When gut contents become too dry, the risk of impaction colic increases. Colic is a

Learn how to recognise rain scald in horses, when to call your vet and which management changes can help reduce the risk in wet weather.

Article provided by Equine Guelph** Equine asthma is one of the most prevalent respiratory conditions affecting horses worldwide, impacting performance, quality of life, and long-term health. While the terminology used to describe this condition may vary between countries—with terms such as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heaves, or broken wind still commonly used—the underlying condition and its debilitating symptoms remain the same. This inflammatory airway disease affects horses of all ages, breeds, and disciplines, from leisure horses to elite competition animals. The condition occurs when the airways become hypersensitive to environmental triggers, leading to inflammation, mucus

**Advertorial** When you think about caring for horses, hay is often at the heart of everything.  Anyone who’s spent time with these wonderful animals knows that what goes into their feed bucket each morning truly shapes how they feel, look, and perform – whether it’s a fresh gallop on frosty grass or a quiet moment at the stable door. Horses: Health Starts in the Hay Horses aren’t just big; they’re sensitive and complex when it comes to diet. They’re natural grazers, built to thrive on fibre from well-maintained pastures and sun-cured hay.  The right hay keeps their digestive systems at

Equine obesity is now considered an equine welfare crisis by many leading animal charities in the UK. With the rise of equine obesity across a nation of horse-lovers, why are we facing an equine obesity problem? This article starts off by looking at the dangers of obesity in horses before looking at the horse owners’ part in the problem. The Dangers of Obesity in Horses With one study finding that less than 1% of horse owners perceived weight gain as an issue, the dangers of obesity are more of a concern than ever for equine welfare advocates. In horses, obesity

If you’re looking for essential weight control tips for your field-kept horse, then this article is for you. Although turn-out is extremely important in a horse’s regime, struggling to control how much they eat whilst they are out can be problematic. Over-grazing can cause weight gain and a predisposition to laminitis, with owner’s often deciding the stable their horse to prevent these common problems. Weight control tips for field-kept horses are even more sought after, with some having nowhere to turn if they stumble across over-grazing issues. With the grass growing at a prolific rate, we put together a few