19 Articles

Proper Hoof Care

While partnering with a skilled farrier is essential to long-term hoof health, daily hoof maintenance begins with the horse owner. Your horse depends on you to maintain clean, healthy hooves and to minimize exposure to conditions that can lead to lameness or infection. Overlooking routine hoof care can result in preventable issues—such as thrush, abscesses, or structural damage—that negatively affect your horse’s soundness, comfort, and performance.

canada horse photo contest, equine photo contest canada, horse photos, gorgeous horse pics

Canada’s Longest-Running Equine Photography Competition! This year, participation soared with an impressive increase in both the quantity and quality of entries, making it a tough but rewarding challenge for our judges. We were thrilled to see many familiar contestants return and to welcome hundreds of new participants. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared their unique images and stories.

ataxia California horses, equine  Vitamin E deficiency, shivers in horses, cancer horses, sleep deprivation horses, equine headshaking, ulcers horse eye

Vitamin E deficiency can lead to distinct health conditions; Shivers can occur in the front limbs, but only if the hind legs are also affected; A horse’s brain weighs 1.5 pounds, but is still one of the largest brains among land mammals...

equine fitness program, jec ballou, how to increase my horse's fitness, plan to keep my horse fit

Is your horse ready to meet the increased physical demands of the spring season? Along with additional riding time, it's essential your horse is fit enough to hit the trails, compete, jump, or focus on endurance or dressage.

canadian vet shortage, equine veterinarians in canada, horse vets canada, rural equestrian vets, acera insurance

Canada is facing a significant veterinarian shortage that is adversely affecting horse owners. The shortage is particularly acute in rural areas, where equine veterinarians are often unavailable.

dr susan raymond, equine guelph equine research, horse commuity heroes, exceptionally horse people canada, large animal rescue courses ontario, canada horse rescue courses

A Lifetime of Helping Horses - In emergency situations my mom always said to look for the helpers, help the helpers, and if you can’t find a helper - be one. Dr. Susan Raymond, Communications and Programs Officer at Equine Guelph, at the University of Guelph in Ontario, has been helping the helpers since 2014.

dogs and horses, cowboys in canada, gang ranch cowboys, herding cattle careers canada, riding horses career canada, cowboy careers canada, feedlot careers canada, douglas lake ranch, mantracker, bar u ranch

Cowboys are icons of the North American Wild West, and the cowboy culture continues to dominate Canada’s Western provinces.

CWHBA FALL CLASSIC BREEDERS' SALE, 2024 CWHBA SALE, CARLOSWARMBLOOD

The 30th Annual Canadian Warmblood Fall Classic Breeders' Sale held October 18-21, 2024 was a record-breaking sale. With a gross dollar value of over $730,000 CAD it surpassed previous sales by a wide margin. Averages were up in every category, and of the 29 horses sold, eight went to the United States where the strong dollar gave them an effective 30% discount. Sixteen went to buyers outside of Alberta confirming the wide following that the sale has achieved over the years.

equine pre-purchase exam, lameness evaluation horses, lameness locator horses, equine veterinary diagnostic system, flexion testing horses

Keeping horses sound is one of the most difficult and important aspects of horse sport. Given that horses have an uncanny ability to injure themselves, at some point every rider or horse owner will need their veterinarian to conduct a lameness evaluation.

healthy horse hooves, nutrition for hoof care in horses, training exercises for strong hooves, jec ballou, best footing for healthy horse hooves, nutrition for hoof care in horses, training exercises for strong hooves horse, jec ballou

Unhealthy hooves in horses are often not due to genetic weakness, but rather preventable lifestyle factors. While it’s hard to admit, many common horsekeeping practices contribute to sore feet in horses. Key causes of weakened hooves in modern horses include limited movement, inappropriate ground surfaces, improper diet and supplements, and early development practices such as weaning.

Gayle Ecker honoured, director gayle ecker Equine Guelph, donations equine guelph

On October 22, 2024, at the Arboretum Centre, University of Guelph (U of G), in Guelph, Ontario (ON), Director Gayle Ecker was honoured for her more than 20 years of leadership at Equine Guelph. She was also recognized for inspiring a transformative bequest of approximately $7 million from the Estate of Donna Moore designated for the centre’s operations and equine research.

Horse Therapy Centre of Canada, horses for therapy, therapeutic riding, learning to be a therapeutic riding instructor, programs for therapeutic riding instructors

If you’ve dreamed of combining your love for horses with a meaningful career, Horse Therapy of Centre Canada (HTCC) offers the perfect opportunity to make that dream a reality. With over 15 years of experience, HTCC leads the field of equine assisted psychotherapy and education in Canada, offering certification programs that blend hands-on experience with theoretical knowledge to set participants up for success in this unique and rewarding profession.

how to break a horse, how to school a horse, will clinging, how to create a bombproof horse

My introduction to horses came through ranch work. I was earning my keep in the saddle, riding horses owned by the outfit I worked for. At the time, I assumed logging long hours on horseback meant I was skilled. The truth? I was riding animals that were considered "broke" by ranch standards.

rehabilitation for horses, equine rehab, endurance equine, hill top arena and spa, equivibe, undeniable equine services, bemer horse products, therapies for injured horse

In recent years, a growing number of facilities specializing in rehabilitation and fitness for injured horses have emerged in Western Canada. These centres cater to horses in need of recovery or improved fitness, offering a range of treatments tailored to individual needs. Services vary depending on the business, with options like treadmills, swimming pools, exercise equipment, saltwater baths, and solariums commonly available. Many centres also provide additional offerings such as bodywork, nebulizer treatments, and retail products.

help horse work through confusion, understanding confused Horse, horse aggression, giving proper horse cues, jonathan field

Confusion is an emotion that we do not always allow our horses to feel. When you work with your horse, think about the horse as being always right. Most horses want to please us, so when they respond to a cue, they respond the way they think we want them to.

carbon footprint horses, greenhouse gasses horses, international society for equitation science conference march 2024

The Hidden Carbon Cost of Equestrian Events Revealed - At the 19th International Society for Equitation Science Conference in March 2024, which took place in Cambridge, New Zealand, Iris Huisman from Wageningen University in the Netherlands presented research on the significant environmental impacts of sport horses, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions and their lifecycle footprint.

how smart are horses, do horses understand their humans? applied animal behaviour science equine, nottingham trent university equine, whoa, n-go study

Horses are more intelligent than previously believed, according to a new study that shows how they cleverly adapted their behaviour to maximise rewards with minimal effort.

eagle feather riding calgary alberta, horse riding lessons calgary, jacqueline louie horse writer, vickie tait riding instructor, bareback riding lessons, beginner riding lessons

Just west of Calgary, Eagle Feather Riding offers a peaceful escape where riders of all ages can develop trust and confidence with their horse in a calm, natural setting. Set against the stunning backdrop of Alberta’s foothills, this unique riding program focuses on connection, mindfulness, and learning the fundamentals of bareback riding.

horse riding holidays in vermont, best places horse holiday, horseback riding holidays usa, horse riding in the fall, shawn hamilton, vermont icelandic horse farm

Autumn is one of the most vibrant and beautiful seasons, and it’s also my favorite time to go horseback riding. With the bugs gone, the air crisp, and the horses feeling fresh and ready to go, it’s the perfect opportunity for a memorable trail ride. There’s nothing quite cantering through the woods while the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of fall leaves rush by. Living in Ontario, we’re known for our stunning autumn landscapes, but a short trip across the border to Vermont reveals the rolling hills of the Green Mountains, offering an equally breathtaking sight.

weight horse, equine obesity joint health, exercises for horse joint pain, equine joint injections, corticosteroid injections horses, equine joint supplements

Joint care can be a complex and sometimes overwhelming topic for horse owners. To help bring some clarity, we consulted Dr. Sarah le Jeune from UC Davis Equine Integrative Sports Medicine and Surgery, along with Scott Katzman from the Equine Surgery and Lameness team.

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