For the Love of Horses

Two weeks ago we had a foal in our stable who was orphaned. Everyone, including myself, has been offering their best advise from how to best keep this filly warm to what kind of formula to feed. Of course, nothing is better than a vet's care and instructions. But what do you do if seeking a vet is not an option. It can be difficult to accept when cultural and economic differences define what care is given. As a concerned fellow horse owner sometimes it comes down to digging up the best information possible and passing it along to those who can communicate it best. Almost always it can be a delicate situation when differences in culture and language are the shakey bridge we face crossing. For myself, all I know is that it is paramount for the life of this creature, and giving and showing respect for others that I do what I can to contribute what vital information I can find. Surprisingly, in these two brief articles very good information is given. I pray that those who have the ...

This article is a VERY wise reminder to pay attention to the details of horse care especially after the summer is over. Here's a snapshot below, but read the article. It contains many bits of insight worthy of attention! Don’t Just Put Horses Away For The Winter | Farms.com 1. Fresh air and/or good ventilation are major requirements for horses kept inside. Keeping stalls clean is necessary to keep ammonia levels low. 2. Horses need free-choice, good quality hay. Hay generates more heat than grain does during digestion and thus is more helpful in maintaining body heat during cold weather 3. Horses not wanting to drink cold or freezing water can cause dehydration. Lack of water is the number one cause of impaction colic in horses. Loose salt and water warmed to 60 F will increase water consumption by 40 to 100 percent. 4. Horses not in competition should have shoes pulled and hooves trimmed regularly, every six weeks. 5. Exercising three times a week for an hour and...