Contributed by Washington State University - Breeding season for horses usually occurs in the spring. This makes winter a good time for breeders to plan for the upcoming season. Though people have many reasons for breeding a horse, whether for commercial purposes or as a hobby, there are some important factors that all breeders should consider before getting started.

By Dr. Nerida Richards, PhD - There is nothing more pleasing to a horse owner's eye than a brilliant, shiny coat. And aside from looking great, a shiny coat also indicates the horse is healthy inside and out. The question is: how do you make your horse shine? It is really quite easy if you follow these simple steps.

Olympic Gold Medal Eventer Phillip Dutton shares his thoughts about rider fitness in this video from Kentucky Equine Research.

Dr. Don Walsh, longtime veterinarian and president of the Animal Health Foundation, shows animated illustrations and photos of how laminitis and founder cause a horse's hoof to break down. He also discusses some of the leading laminitis researchers who are being funded by Animal Health Foundation.

By Mark Andrews - Do you know anyone with a horse that has had tetanus? Probably not. Despite the fact that the organism responsible for the disease is often present in soil and horse manure, tetanus is not a common disease. This is largely due to the widespread use of vaccination.

In order to maintain internal body temperature and keep warm, a horse requires additional energy during cold weather. The exact amount of energy depends on the severity and extent of the cold period and individual characteristics of the horse. When environmental temperatures, including wind chill, drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) or seven degrees Celsius (C), called the critical temperature, significant amounts of energy are used by the horse to maintain its internal body heat.

Contributed by Vettec - This episode of "Two Minutes With Tab" discusses thrush in the equine foot, how to treat it, and why it arises.

Contributed by Vettec - The equine hoof is a very intricate structure. Learn the basics of the internal and external equine hoof anatomy with Tab Pigg, a CFJ who has had decades of experience working on horse's feet.