Category: Horse Health

Lesotho Rosehip Now an English Rose The Rosehip Company in Lesotho (RHC) is proud to announce the introduction of Elite Equine 100% Organic Rosehip Supplement to the UK market. For many years the value of rosehip for human ailments has been well-known, but only in recent years had the same been shown true in animals, and particularly in horses. The intrinsic value of Elite Equine lies in its unique anti-inflammatory agent that prevents the body’s natural inflammatory response from causing more harm than good. Couple that with high levels of…

No hoof, no horse is a phrase often slung around by equestrians and non-equestrians alike, and it is very true! Between summer and winter, horse owners try to tackle different problems as the climate and ground conditions change. But what problems are we most likely to see in the summer, and how can we optimise our summer hoof care for horses? What is good hoof condition important? Hooves are a vital supporting structure for all equines. When you think about it, the enormous weight the small surface area of a…

written by Abby Dickinson Simple yet effective, hot and cold therapies have been used for centuries. Both techniques aid limiting damage, speed of healing and healing quality for both horse, and rider. With methods of hot and cold therapies coming at little expense, there is no reason not to use them in the face of injury or discomfort, but how do they work? When should they be used on the horse? Which application method is the most effective? And are there any dangers of using this natural therapy? Cold Therapies…

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…

New from Animalife, Vetrolytes PLUS, an essential for every tack box this season at an affordable cost of £1.99 for x1 60ml (RRP). Animalife have revealed a brand new product for 2019. The Vetrolytes PLUS is a liquid electrolyte formula providing fast absorption to rapidly replace vital salts sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA). All of which are lost through sweat and are needed to improve stamina and recovery whilst encouraging water consumption. Ideal for general sweating, during hot weather or when they are stressed to…

Whether your horse is at peak competition age, a foal, or a veteran, the state of its digestive health will significantly affect its general health and well-being. Claire Gotto, an equine veterinary advisor, explains the importance of good digestion in keeping horses happy and healthy.  How Important is Fibre in a Horse’s Diet? Horses are designed to eat a diet high in fibre rather than the high-concentrate feeds we often give them. Fibre is a source of energy that horses have evolved to eat for a large portion of their…

Fly-Off Repellent, The Alternative to Sprays and Gels Here we discover Fly-Off Repellent, a unique type of fly repellent for horses, to use as an alternative to sprays and gels. What do you do when your horse rips fly rugs and doesn’t like fly sprays? Are you worried about how you’ll be able to keep your horse fly free this summer? Or Maybe you’re looking for a long-lasting fly repellent that doesn’t require application twice a day. Here we introduce the unique Fly-Off Repellent, suitable for use on your horse,…

Article 2 of 2 Here we follow on from our first article published from Dr Peter Kay on Optimising Hoof Care: The Importance of Hoof Moisture Optimising Hoof Care: 3 Things You Didn’t Know Were Damaging Your Horse’s Feet Despite endless visits from the farrier, maintaining the condition of our horse’s feet may seem like a never-ending battle. Yes, the farrier can rebalance and correct the shape of our horse’s feet. However, despite their talent, they cannot optimise the moisture content of the hoof wall, which often results in hoof wall…

Optimising Hoof Care: The Importance of Hoof Moisture Written by Dr. Peter H Kay For many years, horses have been selectively bred for their conformation, performance and temperament. However, the industry has ignored hoof condition, especially the importance of hoof moisture, when breeding. This has lead to a steady decline to their natural state. This has caused more frequent and difficult challenges, to both owners and farriers, when keeping our horses sound. Recently, the need for correct shoeing and hoof care has been highlighted. However, with the phrase “no hoof,…

National Equine Health Survey Survey Reveals Horse Owners Are Still Struggling with Worm Control Zoetis Inc. today announced that results from the latest National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) show that some horse owners are still not up to speed with best worming practice. More than a third of survey respondents don’t carry out faecal worm egg counts (FWECs) at all, while of those that do only 25% do so at the right intervals. NEHS is a snapshot survey, conducted by Blue Cross in conjunction with the British Equine Veterinary Association…

It’s Never Too Early To Plan for Spring Grass laminitis typically occurs in the spring when the early flush of grass produces a highly nutritious feed, rich in water soluble carbohydrates (sugars). Horses are not designed to consume such rich feed and so restricting the time at pasture or using a grazing muzzle is essential if intakes are to be controlled. However, there are other problems associated with spring grass that need to be considered if health and welfare are to be maintained. These problems go hand-in-hand with the rise…

How much do you know about things you should not feed a horse? Could those treats actually be doing more harm than good? Horses have very particular digestive systems, and certain foods that are perfectly fine for humans aren’t suitable for horses. The same goes for flowers and plants – there are some that can be harmful, even fatal if your horse eats them. So here are 19 things you should NOT feed a horse or ensure they steer clear from nibbling on… Foods That You Should Not Feed a…

Gastric Ulcers in horses was the third most claimed for health problem with leading horse insurer Petplan Equine in 2016.  Here we take a look at the condition with Petplan Equine’s veterinary expert, Gil Riley. This article considers What are gastric ulcers? Gastric ulcers in horses are generally small erosions in the lining of the stomach which are painful and can affect the appetite, appearance and behaviour as well as the riding experience of your horse. Gastric ulcers can affect horses of all ages and types and are most commonly…

How to Keep the Horse Hydrated Over Winter Written by Stephanie Davis, DVM Winter is finally (and unfortunately) here, and it is important to keep your horse well hydrated (for many reasons) but particularly to prevent dehydration and possible impaction colic. Horses tend to have impaction colic more often in the winter season because cold water is less inviting when it is FREEZING outside.  So, we need to monitor what they drink more closely during these colder months. The average horse should drink somewhere between 6.5 and 9 gallons of…