5 Articles

tania millen horseback riding, telegraph trail on horseback, blackwater river, rob lafrance telegraph trail, trail riding in canada

“Let’s take a break here,” Rob LaFrance called from behind me. It was late May, 2019 and three of us were riding a 60-kilometre stretch of the historic Collins Overland Telegraph Trail in central British Columbia, which hadn’t been ridden in its entirety in at least half a century. The trip was an opportunity to ride along a piece of history, experience the challenges of those who had traveled before us, and celebrate the reopening of the trail.

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Horses are commonly housed in individual boxes. While this may be convenient and prevent injuries from other horses, it may also be detrimental to the horse’s welfare, especially if access to pasture is limited. A paper by Alice Ruet and colleagues investigated the effect of various management practices on the display of behavioural indicators of compromised welfare in housed horses.

Horses in war, war horse, horses world war 1, horses world war 2, dumb heroes, Riding into War, The Horse in War, my horse warrier, the war illustrated

The sacrifice of the ten million men who lost their lives during the conflict, which endured from 1914 to 1918, is well known. Less well known is the price paid by the estimated eight million horses that perished in the Great War, a fact lamented by Private James Robert Johnston, a horse transport driver who served with the 14th Canadian Machine Gun Company, in his memoir, Riding into War: “Very little has been said about the horses and mules that were used and what they suffered is beyond all description.”

equine Diarrhea, winter diarrhea Horses, Equine Digestion, chronic horse diarrhea, equine Diarrhea

During the switch to a 100 percent hay diet in the fall of the year is when many horse owners first notice that some of their horses are getting loose manure. The situation can quickly evolve into a management mess where one or more horses are so loose they can spray fecal material on the walls of the stall when they pass manure. Winter grooming becomes a major challenge for those who care for these horses as they struggle to keep tails, hocks, fetlocks, and equine clothing clean and free of encrusted manure.

how do i canter my horse, preparing a horse to canter, ways to canter, jec ballou horse training, types of equine gaits, benefits of cantering horse

When it comes to cantering, riders seem to divide in two camps. In one camp are those who favour it above all else, while the other camp includes those who find it scary or unpleasant. I would like to add a third camp: riders who understand the unparalleled physiological benefits of cantering their horses. Beyond the obvious cardiovascular conditioning, cantering can improve muscle tone, symmetry, and flexibility more than other gaits. Let me explain this further, in addition to offering some tips and guidelines.

horse fencing problems, fixing horse fence, equine flex fencing, electric fence horses, equine guelph, system fencing, board fencing horses, gates horses

The cold weather is slowly sneaking up on us. Guaranteeing your fences are prepared for this year’s winter will save you a significant amount of time, stress, and money. No matter what type of fence you have, there are several protective and preventative measures you can take to ensure your fence is in prime condition for the upcoming Canadian winter.

introduce dog horse farm, horses and dogs, the horse listener, herding dogs and horses, working dogs and horses

If a dog is man’s best friend, then the horse is his most loyal servant. – Joseph V. DiBianca, Loudly They Speak: The Memoirs of a Horse Listener - What is it that makes the vast majority of horse people love dogs? Dogs indeed possess some of the same admirable traits as horses and complement the lifestyle of a horse person very well.

war horse, horses in war, horses in service, world war two horse, world war one horse

As leaves fall and tears flow, horrors of another time sear the collective consciousness. Each Remembrance Day we think of lives forever changed, forever lost. And many of us think of the four-legged ones by their side.

Mud fever, equine pastern dermatitis, horse greasy heel, equine skin disease, fungi infection horse

Mud fever, also known as scratches, pastern dermatitis, and greasy heel, is a common equine skin disease affecting the lower limbs, particularly the back of the pasterns and the bulbs of the heels. The ailment is most prevalent during autumn, winter, and early spring when horses are more likely to spend prolonged periods of time standing in wet, muddy conditions where the bacteria and fungi that cause mud fever thrive.

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Stall confinement. Tighter living quarters. Trailering and travel. Indoor exercise and dusty arenas. These factors have led to a significant increase in allergic reactions and low-level respiratory disease.

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Winter can make the most mundane tasks challenging. This reality is clearly illustrated when it comes to watering animals. For as long as man has worked alongside horses and livestock, there have been different watering methods and their seasonal variations.

horses in canadian history, fire horses, horses used for fire trucks horse drawn fire engine

Today, the piercing clamour of a fire truck’s alarm brings excitement and awe from people gathered on the street. We admire and even gawk at the skiny red and chrome mechanical beast, carrying its dark-suited riders as it winds its way through the city. But once, when the streets were still dusty, our cities relied on much more than the cold steel of a fire engine; they relied on the courage and heart of the fire-horses. Then as now, people would line the street to admire the beauty and bravery of these public servant horses.

schooling horses, lindsay grice, canadian equestrian coaches, horse learning styles, how do horses learn? types of horse training, horse riding lesson plan, communicating with horses

Keys to an effective horse training session. I’ve trained a lot of horses. After nailing up my sign as a “professional horse trainer” several decades ago, I learned quickly that overhead is high in the horse business so you’d better make some hay if you’re going to pay your bills. Consequently, I rode many horses each day, breaking young ones and tuning up show horses.

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In the Autumn season, beautiful leaves and cooler temperatures are a reminder that winter weather will soon settle in. Horses have already shed their summer coats and are busy growing thicker winter ones, and their environment is adjusting to seasonal changes too. The arrival of fall is a great time to assess your horse’s overall health and body condition, and determine what he needs for winter.

welfare horses, animals are sentient beings, equine science update, horse psychology, welfare horses in canada

According to recent research, equids whose owners believe in their capacity to experience emotions or share an emotional bond with them tend to be in significantly better health.

horse scared trailer, horse psychology, how to be respectful of my horse, how to talk to horse, helping my horse hard times, alexa linton

How clear communication and great preparation is your best support for an easy transition.

best types of barn dog, best type of barn cat, horses and cats, horses and dogs, taking care of barn animals

Essential Workers - Farm dogs and barn cats are indispensable team members at many horse farms. Dogs protect the farm, help round up livestock, keep predators away, tell their owners if a horse is in trouble, and are cherished companions. Meanwhile, barn cats prevent mice and other rodents from taking over the grain bins and hay storage, plus entertain their owners with funny antics. But not every dog or cat is suitable for a horse farm.

donkeys in the cold, how to keep donkeys warm, keeping horses warm, keeping equines warm

Donkeys are not well suited to cold, wet environments and need extra protection in the winter, new research has found. The findings have been incorporated into the UK's updated Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Code of Practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids.

how to store horse hay, how to test horse hay, amino acids in horse hay, steam horse hay, hay fire, is brown horse hay okay

Hay is the bulk of the horse’s diet. Recognizing and purchasing good quality hay that’s of high nutritive value is of the utmost importance to horse owners. Test your knowledge of hay with the following quiz.

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