Lost shoes are no laughing matter. They require time-off from the riding schedule and a call to the farrier. They can result in lameness and injury, not to mention the additional cost of re-shoeing. They can be caused by a number of situations, from running through a muddy ...read more
Fly sheets are for more than guarding against flies these days. Cashel’s line of Fly Sheets now offers UV protection. Not only can this help protect light-skinned horses from sunburn, it can prevent fading in the coats of dark-colored horses.Cashel’s Fly Sheets are made of ...read more
If you’re like me, you want your horse to have the best protection possible from those pesky flies. But you may be missing a spot: your horse’s neck.The Cashel Crusader Fly Sheet Neck Guard is here to fill the gap! The material is cool and breathable, and attaches easily to a fly ...read more
Cashel Fly Masks are made of soft coated nylon micro mesh that block 70% of damaging UV rays. No need to apply sun-block to your light-skinned horse on those sunny days! This micro mesh also helps protect the horse’s eyes from flying debris during trailering.In addition, Cashel ...read more
Adapted from an article by Fran Jurga in The Trail RiderTo help your horse grow the healthiest possible hooves, start with his or her diet—right down to good-quality hay. Make sure your horse has no digestive issues, is getting plenty of water, and is wormed regularly. Then, if ...read more
Let's face it: Horses are dirty critters that love to roll in mud or manure —especially right before (or during) a big event. But for those of you hardy souls aspiring to keep your steeds sleek and clean for competition, below are some tried-and-true suggestions for your ...read more
When it comes to hoof dressing, things tend to get personal. Some horse folk are staunch believers in it, while others prefer to let their horses' hooves go au naturel. Among those who believe in it, there are many different reasons they use it.1. DRESS FOR SUCCESSThe best way to ...read more
Many equine grain rations are designed to provide a specific level and balance of nutrition for an intended category such as growth, performance, stage of production, activity level, or age. Including additional feed ingredients such as oats and corn, or adding supplements such ...read more
It’s a buggy world out there, and your horse often pays the price. Now that warmer weather has finally arrived, many pests that were only memories during the winter are coming out in full force. Your horse’s comfort — not to mention his health — may face increased risk from a ...read more
Q: My mare is terrible about standing still for fly spray. She’s had this problem throughout the five years I’ve owned her. I used to have to stand about 20 feet away from her just to spray a rag to wipe her with. Now, I can stand 3 feet away, but she still won’t let me spray her ...read more
Horse owners love “barn smells.” Leather, shavings, liniment, hay, tack, that sweet horse smell … it is all part of barn life. Most people accept the smell of ammonia as just part of the deal. Eliminate that smell and you will come to appreciate all those “good” smells more and ...read more
It is important to put the right type of trap in the right location. This might be the biggest mistake retailers and misinformed customers make. It can be a whopper of a mistake too. Place the wrong trap in the wrong place and you’ll catch nothing or bring every fly in the area ...read more
If You Have To Spray, Do It SmartSometimes you have no choice but to use spray to protect your animals and yourself from pesky and potentially harmful insects. These can include Mosquitoes, Gnats, Ticks, Wasps, Horse and Deer Flies, No-see-ums, Chiggers, Fleas, Culicoides and ...read more
Prevent Flies With Fly PredatorsFly Predators break the fly’s life cycle. The hard working Fly Predator moms find and kill roughly 75 pest fly pupae before they hatch. Every female pest fly that doesn’t make it means potentially up to 900 fewer bothersome flies. They do the work, ...read more
Mosquitos are bad news! Not only are they irritating to you and your horse, they are also carriers of some deadly and dreaded diseases - West Nile Virus and Chikungunya have both been found in the USA and are potentially fatal for any horse. Malaria is a well-known mosquito-borne ...read more
Deadly Fly Transmitted Diseases in Horses - The Nose to Nose Potentially Fatal Infection - StranglesFlies carry infection, it is a simple concept - they land on one horse, pick up infection and fly on to the next, landing on the unsuspecting horse transmitting the infection it ...read more
Colic Basics: How To React if Your Horse Shows Signs of Intestinal Distress.You're at the barn and you notice your horse seems to be acting strangely. He's pawing the ground, rolling, sweating and he doesn't seem to be interested in food. All your instincts point towards colic! ...read more
If You Have To Spray, Do It Smart Sometimes you have no choice but to use spray to protect your animals and yourself from pesky and potentially harmful insects. These can include Mosquitoes, Gnats, Ticks, Wasps, Horse and Deer Flies, No-see-ums, Chiggers, Fleas, Culicoides and ...read more
If You Have To Spray, Do It Smart Sometimes you have no choice but to use spray to protect your animals and yourself from pesky and potentially harmful insects. These can include Mosquitoes, Gnats, Ticks, Wasps, Horse and Deer Flies, No-see-ums, Chiggers, Fleas, Culicoides and ...read more
Four Steps To Fly FreeWe recommend a simple four step plan that really fixes the problem, rather than just chase flies away temporarily. For most folks just adding Fly Predators® is all that’s needed but if you have flies coming from neighbors, adding traps and Bye Bye Odor® to ...read more
The idea of a food fight takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to horses eating at a common feeder. Most skirmishes over position at the feed “trough” don’t result in injury, but there is always that potential. So, what can you do to minimize the risk of fighting over food ...read more
Overlooking subtle change is easier than it should be. When you care for your horse every day, you may not notice slight variations in his body condition. Then one morning it strikes you: Watching him turn toward you in the paddock, you can see a faint outline of every rib along ...read more
When making decisions about installing or replacing fencing, most people go about it backwards. They start by making a list of fence types available in their region, and then choose one, usually based on installation costs and aesthetics. These factors are important, but your ...read more
Through October 7, you can prove that "Horses Have the Loudest ROAR.” The EQUUS Foundation is one of Animal Planet’s eight charitable partners participating in the 2014 Animal Planet ROAR (Reach Out. Act. Respond) Matching Campaign—and the only HORSE charity involved. The funds ...read more
Need a nudge to keep battling bugs through the summer? Flies aren’t just bothersome to your horses and you. They can also cause sickness or injury. Here's how.Spreading disease. Flies transport the viruses and bacteria that lead to influenza, equine infectious anemia, pigeon ...read more
Horse camping adds a special dimension to your trail-riding experience. Contentment commingles pleasantly with fatigue as you and your equine companion settle into camp after a day of exploring the wilderness. Dusk ensues, stars twinkle, and that pleasant munching you hear just ...read more
Fence materials: Wood boards and rails, synthetic rails and certain types of woven wire are safest. High-tensile wire, monofilament and rubber-strip fencing can entangle your foal. Height: Use your mare’s eye level as a guideline. If she’s 15 hands high, your fencing should be ...read more
Taking care of your horse as he ages means making management changes that reflect his current needs. So when is it time to switch to a senior feed? That depends on many factors. As a general rule, senior feeds usually become appropriate for horses when they reach the age of 15. ...read more
While investigating a 5,600-year-old village site in Kazakhstan, archaeologists determined that its Copper Age inhabitants were among the first cultures to tame horses. The evidence? The buried remnants of corral posts. Clearly, fences have been crucial to our shared ...read more
When professional rodeo lost one of its brightest rising stars this year at the age of 25, it brought to light what we truly value about cowboys in the first place. And “cowboy” was rarely defined more fully than by the late Broc Cresta.Groomed to be a world-class roper from the ...read more
A full mane, forelock, and tail act as nature's fly-protection system for your horse. But if your horse isn't so endowed, you may need to consider a fly mask. Learn more about how to properly use fly masks below. Biting and blood-sucking insects around your horse's face and head ...read more
These days, commercial feeds can contain a lot more than just alfalfa meal and cereal grains, and looking at feed-tag ingredients lists can be confusing. We asked equine nutritionist Clair Thunes, PhD, whose Sacramento-based Summit Equine Nutrition (summit-equine.com) advises ...read more
Fly season is just around the corner, and if you've not yet marshaled your defensive plan, now's the time. To help you in this task, we've put together a summary of methods and products designed to hold fly populations at bay and keep your horses comfortable throughout the ...read more
We were camped under aspens at an idyllic spot where two creeks met, our tent on high ground between the gurgling streams, our spirits not dampened by the several inches of new wet snow that weighed down the tent. We’d rigged a plastic tarp over our cooking area. After knocking ...read more
Combining a traditional look with the practicality of electric fencing, Equi-Safe embeds an electric wire in the rail portion of its post-and-rail high-density, polyethylene plastic (HDPE) fencing to help stop your horse from getting caught in a wire and eliminating the need to ...read more
Flies--annoying pests? An understatement, at best. Not only do these adversarial insects bite, buzz and sting, they also spread disease. The reality is that flies are enemies that come with horsekeeping, and you're not going to be able to take down every single one. But you can ...read more
You've taken stock of your barn-it's showing signs of wear and tear. Your fencing could also use a facelift. Or-you finally have that slice of horse heaven and are ready to build for the first time. Either way, a horse barn plan can help. First, we'll give you some horse barn ...read more
A temporary paddock is a great option to have along whenever you travel with your horse. Use these tips to decide which of the two basic types is best for you.Electric FenceWhat you need:Posts--fiberglass, polypropylene, or metalElectric tape or wireElectric charger--battery or ...read more
Question: What's inexpensive, easy to assemble, and and a doorway to a whole new world of enjoyment with your horse?Answer: A lightweight, portable pen or corral, designed to stow on or in your trailer and to set up with a minimum of fuss at a campground or trailhead. Put one up ...read more
