Being a parent in a demanding horse industry career is challenging and incredibly rewarding at the same time. Many horse industry parents are making it work, but no one really knows what it takes and how they’ll balance the concurrent demands of parenting with the obligations of their career until they’re actually doing it.

How injury, overwork, and a culture of endurance are pushing Canada’s equine vets to the limit. With an ongoing equine veterinarian shortage in Canada, there’s a concern that equine vets, already stretched thin, are also being injured at work at alarming rates.

After many years as a dressage instructor and trainer, I received a phone call requesting help for an unlikely candidate — an Icelandic mare whose natural gait had disappeared, replaced by a shuffling amble-like movement. Little did I realize how many other gaited horses — from Foxtrotters to Tennessee Walkers — would soon follow.

Looking back, it is difficult to imagine how close two horses came to dying alone on a mountainside — and how a community’s determination turned that near tragedy into a story of hope that still resonates years later.

Equine asthma or “heaves” can cause exercise intolerance, difficulty expelling air, inflammation of lung epithelium and narrowing of bronchus, persistent cough, and nasal secretions from mucous production. All of the above can turn a riding horse into a pasture ornament and or in worst case scenarios, bring about important quality of life decisions. Don’t wait for these signs or a tell-tale heave line to appear before taking steps to reduce dust, mould, and particulates in your horse’s environment. Two of the top sources of these are hay and bedding. These management tips will help you minimize dust and provide a healthier environment for horses and people.

Positioned between Greenland and Norway, Iceland is nestled where the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meet. With approximately 364,000 people, the majority live in the capital, Reykjavik, located in the southwest of this small island nation. Iceland's landscape is renowned for its dramatic features, including volcanic mountains, glaciers, vast plains, waterfalls, geysers, hot springs, and striking black sand beaches. It is also home to a wide variety of wildlife. However, perhaps the most iconic aspect of Iceland's natural heritage is its unique breed of horses.

Most horses have some “down time” in winter, when adverse weather will not permit much riding or showing activity. A reduction in your horse’s activity level usually means a reduced need for calories, and requirements for grain or concentrate feeding can be lowered. During the winter season, temperatures typically fall below that necessary for pasture grass to grow. Pastures become rapidly depleted of natural forage and horses must increasingly rely on their owners to provide them with a nutritionally adequate diet. To properly feed a horse during the winter months the key factors of water, fibre, and essential nutrients must be addressed.

Have you ever looked through your photos after shooting your friend barrel racing, show jumping, or galloping across a field — only to find they’re all blurry? Or perhaps you’ve wondered why professional horse show photographers at ringside use those large, heavy lenses.

For over 25 years, Sore No-More (SNM) has been a trusted source of relief for our equine athletes. The demands of showing, training, and travel can lead to soreness, tiredness, and inflammation. Breaking this cycle can be difficult. Our SNM formulas are specifically designed to provide targeted relief, and our Performance Ultra line is the only liniment with university-led clinical research.