Huggett, Melanie Articles

sweet itch horses, allergies in horses, equine allergies, equine sweet itch, flies horses, remove flies horse barn

For some horses, certain flies cause an incessant, unbearable itch that won’t go away no matter how hard or long they scratch. This condition, called Recurrent Seasonal Pruritis or “Sweet Itch,” is a hypersensitivity to the bite of the tiny Culicoides fly, commonly known as midges, “punkies,” or “no-see-ums.”

Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, Mountie, North West Mounted Police, Musical Ride, NWMP that the Musical Ride, history RCMP, historical RCMP, Canadian history

One of the most prominent symbols of Canada is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) “Mountie,” wearing his red serge uniform and brown Stetson. Put many of these Mounties on black horses, have them perform intricate formations in front of a crowd, and you have another of Canada’s most recognizable icons: the RCMP Musical Ride.

Norwegian Fjord, Asiatic wild horse or Przewalski horse, Highland Pony and the Icelandic Horse. Horses used by vikings, Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia, American Driving Society (ADS), Wallace Point Fjords, Blue Raven Farm, and McKinnon’s Neck Farm

The Norwegian Fjord is considered one of the oldest pure breeds of horse. While they bear a striking resemblance to the Asiatic wild horse or Przewalski horse, they are in fact more closely related to the European wild horse, the Tarpan, as the Przewalski horse has 66 chromosomes while both the Fjord and the Tarpan have 64.

belle and sundance horse rescue, birgit stutz horse rescuer

In December, 2008, the Town of McBride, BC came together to dig a kilometre long trench through thick snow to rescue two starving horses trapped on the side of a mountain. Now the two horses, Belle and Sundance, are back at full health and doing well.

american saddlebred breed profile, versatile horses, american-bred horses

The American Saddlebred is the quintessential show horse. Proud and athletic, they light up any space with their presence and eye-catching looks. But the Saddlebred is also much more than a show horse. For 200 years, the breed has been a great riding horse, cavalry horse, and family companion.

Iberian Peninsula, Iberian horse, horse history, equine history, Lusitano

The Iberian Peninsula of southwest Europe contains the countries of Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Gibraltar, as well as a very small portion of France. The land’s mountainous slopes, arid plateaus, deep river valleys, and expansive coastline have been home to equines for many millennia. Today, there are 17 breeds native to the peninsula, which are thusly named Iberian horses.

history of welsh pony and cob, welsh mountain pony, coyote run welsh, daventry farms alberta, section c welsh ponies and cob, howran hills farm welsh, connecting dreams farm

Descending from prehistoric Celtic ponies, the native Welsh Mountain Pony has existed in a recognizable form since around 1600 BC. These early ponies adapted to the unforgiving terrain, sparse feed, and inclement weather, creating a hardy, agile, and intelligent animal.

horse blanket Tips, equine blanket tips, durable horse blankets, denier horse blanket, horse blanket fittings, Waterproof horse blankets, breathable horse blankets, equine fly sheets

The sheer number of horse blankets on the market can make choosing the right one rather overwhelming. Modern blankets offer many options in fit, style, fabric, and accessories, with innovations made every year.

conditioning horses, keeping horse fit, how to keep horse healthy and strong

Whether your horse is destined for the rodeo grounds, the jumper ring, or local trails, there is an expectation that he will be able to perform the tasks you ask of him at a certain level. By producing mild stress on the body with exercise, a horse’s systems — cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, and others — will adapt, and over time this leads to increased fitness.

type of horse bedding, stall bedding, wood shavings horse barn, straw bedding equine, peat moss horse bedding

A horse’s stall is his bedroom, a place for rest, relaxation, and recuperation. To aid in a horse’s comfort, bedding is spread over the floor. The following is an overview of many common and newly introduced bedding types available on the market.

horse fitness test, how fit is my horse? how to tell horse overworked, horse exhaustion

Many people consider tack fit in terms of the rider: the saddle gives us support and comfort on the horse’s back and the bridle reins to guide the horse’s front. But tack fit is also extremely important to your horse. Ill fitting tack can impede your horse’s performance as well as be a detriment to both his physical and mental health.

stonecreek friesians, 2-horse friesian carriage

The Friesian horse’s striking looks, long flowing hair, and expressive gaits make these “Black Pearls” a sight to behold. It is also a horse with a rich history and an endearing temperament. Ask any Friesian enthusiast and they will tell you these horses are creatures of dreams and fantasies.

Amber Marshall Heartland TV Show Interview

CBC’s hit TV series Heartland, a drama set on a ranch in the foothills of southern Alberta, has captured the attention of horse lovers across the country. The series centers on sisters Amy and Lou Fleming who live with their grandfather, Jack, on his horse ranch.

Regular horse care, every-day horse care, regular equine care, signs of equine lameness, horse hooves, horse legs, equine legs, horse tail, horse body condition, horse care, daily horse care

Regular care is necessary to keep your horse healthy, and can help you avoid costly vet bills later on. Knowing what is normal for your horse also makes it easy to see when something abnormal arises, which could be cause for concern; catching infection or injury early can lead to faster treatment by a veterinarian and quicker recovery.

Horse injection, equine injection, Intramuscular injections horses, IM horses, Subcutaneous injections horses, Intravenous injections horses, injection sites horses, sterile syringes and needles horses, administering horse medication

If your vet told you it was necessary for you to give your horse an injection, would you know how? Most horse owners will need to give their horse medication via a needle sooner or later, so learning how to properly and safely administer a basic injection is a good investment in your horse’s health care.

beth underhill at spruce meadows with the canadian show jumping team

Beth Underhill is one of Canada’s best known show jumpers, having competed in over 25 Nations’ Cup competitions as well as multiple Olympic Games, Pan Am Games, and World Equestrian Games. I have distinct childhood memories of sitting in front of the TV cheering her on as she and the black Monopoly flew over the fences at Calgary, Alberta’s Spruce Meadows.

Safe horse fencing options, effective horse fencing Options, what makes a good horse fence, choosing effective horse fencing, choosing quality eletrical fencing for horses

Fencing is an integral part of horsekeeping. Fences are needed to keep horses safe and secure, confine them to certain areas, and give them the opportunity to exercise, graze, and socialize. There are a wide variety of fencing types available, but only some of them are suitable for horses; what works for a cow, goat, or sheep, may be dangerous to a horse.

Fly Control for Horse, fly control for barn, horse deworming, horse vaccinations, fly mask horse, sticky traps, fly repellent

A large number of flying insects emerge with the heat each summer, and they can turn what should be long luxurious days in the ring, field or trails into painful, frustrating or itchy endeavours! While irritation may seem like a minimal concern, excessive flies can cause stress in horses, which can lead to reduced performance and malnutrition. Not only can insects be bothersome, but bug bites can cause a variety of allergic type skin reactions in many horses.

winter horse, snow horse, winter horse care, horse care snow, winter horse feed, winter horse diet, winter horse nutrition, seasonal horse care, horse care cold

Adjustments to your horse care routines will likely be necessary during the winter months, and should be tailored to your climate and the needs of each individual horse. Here are some tips to help keep your horse in health this winter.

horse Barn Safety Tips, smoking in barn, horse barn safety hazards, horse barn emergency plan, horse barn motion-detecting lights, Horse Barn smoke detectors

To our horses, and to many horse people as well, the barn is home. This often simple building is a place of rest, relaxation, and recuperation, of learning and training, of health and security, and of friendship and bonding. But if not built or managed properly, the barn can also become a danger; and even if we try our hardest to be vigilant, accidents and emergencies can and do happen.

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