Category: Horse Health

There are many health benefits of turnout for horses. From play time and socialising to having access to natural types of forage, it’s easy to see why horses do better outside. However, unfortunately for some, time outside poses risks to health such as laminitis, sweet-itch, UV damage and other related conditions. Ultimately, turnout is a balancing act for many horse owners. However, with the many benefits associated with turnout, it’s absolutely worth considering how best to maximise the time any horse spends outside. This article looks at four benefits of…

Learn more about thrush in horse hooves in our article here. Hoof problems in horses can be a worry for horse owners. Whether it be a crack, infection or ongoing debilitating disease, ultimately, we find ourselves turning to the internet to learn more about conditions affecting our horses. We’ve all heard the saying ‘no hoof, no horse’, right?! Maintaining healthy hooves doesn’t have to be a difficult job unless your horse is predisposed to conditions such as cracks and other problems. Ongoing care and maintenance is often all that’s needed…

Lameness with no heat or swelling? This type of lameness can have a number of causes, and could be a symptom of an underlying condition. In this article we takes a look at reasons why the lameness can occur, including what to do, with expert advice from Alex Mould. So, you go to get your horse in from the field when you notice lameness without any heat, swelling or obvious injury. You tentatively walk the horse back to the stable where you can have a closer look, but what do…

Promotional Content Maintaining your first aid kit is essential to be able to act quickly in the event of an emergency. This means making sure your kit is always stocked up and ensuring it is stored in an appropriate way. Being prepared is key to making life easier, especially in winter when there never seems to be enough hours in the day. If your horse suffers an injury and you reach into your first aid kit, only to find that you used your last tube of wound gel months ago,…

**Promotional Content ** As we all know, the bond between horses and their humans is a very special thing. It can develop over the course of decades, through all manner of highs and lows. While other companion animals become cherished members of the family and express their affection in a range of different ways, horses need to develop a deep level of trust in their humans – and vice versa – to truly thrive, feel safe, and lead their best lives. Not only is horse riding a highly active pastime,…

Equine BioSecurity: Healthy practices for any horse owner Biosecurity is a fundamental process of helping keep our horses safe, as successful measures can help prevent the transition of infectious diseases. Whether you look after your horse yourself or pay a livery service to do so, it’s wise to practice safety measures throughout our interaction with our fellow equines. In this article, Helen Whitelegg, Senior Campaigns Officer from Redwings Horse Sanctuary, explains the simple changes we can make in our horse care routines to help stamp out infectious diseases in equines,…

In this article, we take a look at 5 common horse health problems you may find your horse is prone to.

Veteran horse health during winter is a balancing act. For veteran horses or ponies, winter can be tough and presents owners with a challenge to ensure that they come through to spring in good condition. Horses and particularly ponies, can live active lives well into their twenties and beyond, defying the age bracket where traditionally we would have classed them as a veteran. As they age at different rates, feeding, exercise and general management regime may then differ for each case. For example, some will need their level of exercise reduced…

TopSpec UlsaKind Cubes TopSpec UlsaKind (Ultra Low Starch Anlaysis) Cubes are very low starch and formulated to provide calories for condition (12MJ/kg) whilst being highly sympathetic to the digestive system, even when it is compromised by extreme acidity. That means that TopSpec UlsaKind Cubes are suitable for horses prone to, or suffering from ESGD (gastric ulcers). UlsaKind Cubes are ideal in those circumstancaes where the internal surface of the stomach has been eroded because they contain very high levels of β-glucans which form a gel and coat the stomach lining…

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome: Expert Advice and Information Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) can present itself in many ways, leaving horses uncomfortable, irritable and in some cases unmanageable. Many horse owners are left frustrated as, without gastroscopic investigation (scoping) which can cause the horse additional stress, the condition can go undiagnosed for considerable periods of time. In this article we are joined by Saracen Horse Feeds nutritional experts to talk more about the different types of disease, risk factors, clinical signs and nutritional management. Horses evolved to ingest a high…

Suitable Saracen Horse Feeds for Horses with EGUS Although there are many feeds within the Saracen range that are potentially suitable for horses with gastric ulcers these are the main products we recommended in these situations. RE-LEVE®-MIX RE-LEVE®-MIX is a cereal-free, low starch feed specifically formulated to replace all cereal-based hard feed for horses in work that react adversely to high starch feeds or are prone to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. The use of alternative energy sources optimises power generation and recovery, providing controlled energy from highly digestible “Super-Fibres” and…

The Different Equine Myopathies and Making the Most of Nutrition In this article we take a closer look at the different equine myopathies Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis, Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy and Myofibrillar Myopathy alongside the role nutrition can play in the management of each. Provided by Kentucky Equine Research the exclusive nutrition partner to Saracen Horse Feeds Muscle pain and impaired performance that occurs during or after exercise is known as exertional myopathy and more commonly as tying-up. In the context of athletic horses, any myopathy has the potential to derail performance,…

Equine Nutritional Health: What does it really mean? This month we welcome Lizzie Drury, MSc, Registered Nutritionist from Saracen Horse Feeds, to talk about equine nutritional health. Lizzie explores what nutritional health means for the horse, alongside offering practical tips and insights on how horse owners can go about making the most out of resources available to maximise the horse’s wellbeing and performance. Written by Lizzie Drury MSc Registered Nutritionist, Saracen Horse Feeds We all like to do the best by our horses and ponies and will usually go that extra…

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…

Morris Animal Foundation accepting new proposals for equine behaviour studies Morris Animal Foundation is now accepting proposals for pilot studies focused on equine behavior, relating to health and welfare. Proposals should generate data to prove the viability of a novel approach or idea and may involve domesticated or wild horses. Dr. Wendy Koch, a veterinarian who has supported the Foundation for 30 years, is providing funding for awarded grants. She began a career in animal welfare with the federal government in 1990 and became board-certified in that field in 2016. Dr. Koch has…

Free Equine Webinar Series: Taking Science to the Stable Starts June 16 with Broodmare Management and Nutrition with Don Kapper A free equine webinar series starts on June 16 (2021) with a Broodmare Management and Nutrition focus kicking off proceedings. Hosted by Open Learning and Education Support at the University of Guelph, the Taking Science to the Stable series will run every two weeks until August 18. The exciting series of webinar talks will provide informative and insightful knowledge from experienced industry professionals, with webinars 1, 3, and 5 part…

Could mile-long trots protect young foals from lower-leg fractures later in life? Could mile-long trots protect young foals from lower-leg fractures later in life? Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) are evaluating the long-term effects of a moderately strenuous exercise plan on bone development in foals. Lower-leg fractures are a major welfare concern in horses that race or jump competitively, but they can happen in any horse. Understanding the impact of early exercise on growing horses – most horses don’t reach complete skeletal maturity until…