Mud fever—also called greasy heel, scratches, or pastern dermatitis—is a skin disorder that commonly affects the lower legs of horses, especially around the heels and pasterns. It occurs most often in the wet seasons of fall, winter, and early spring, when horses spend long hours in muddy conditions that allow bacteria and fungi to multiply.

Nowadays, the blaring siren of a fire truck elicits a sense of awe and urgency as it races through the streets. People pause, marveling at the sleek, red machines with their chrome accents, while firefighters in dark uniforms hurry toward their mission. Yet, this image of modern firefighting is a far cry from the past, when cities depended not on engines of metal, but on the bravery and strength of fire-horses. In those days, citizens gathered in awe to witness the magnificent animals spring into action, playing a critical role in saving lives.

Most riders who “earn” their spurs can recount at least a few stories about their potential harm or have known horses with ribcage scars and damage from overuse. Whether spurs are inherently good or bad, however, depends on numerous factors including an understanding of their respective role in different disciplines.

During periods of heavy rainfall, many horse owners may notice the emergence of rain rot in their horses. This skin condition can be frustrating, but with proper care, it is often manageable.

In all sports, communicating and working as a cohesive team takes effort, skill, and patience. This is especially true for equestrian sports, as they require a coordinated effort between human and horse to develop an understanding of each other through physical and verbal cues. This complex communication system relies on the rider’s ability to recognize how their horse responds to body language, weight shifts, and physical cues along with teaching them verbal commands. Through hours of interaction and training, the human-horse dyad can achieve successful athletic performances, harmonious partnerships, and long-lasting bonds.

Time off is an inevitable part of a horse's life, whether due to bad weather, personal schedules, or other factors. However, how horse owners manage these breaks can significantly affect their horse’s health, soundness, and performance over time. Research by veterinary colleges and experts on movement science reveals that large fluctuations in fitness can harm a horse’s well-being, especially for those beyond the middle of their teens. Extended periods of low activity—especially those spanning a month or more-can weaken supportive tissues and muscles crucial to posture. When training resumes, horses may use improper substitutive muscles and positions, leading to poor performance, injury, or a lack of training progress. To help you optimize downtime and keep your horse on track, here are three essential guidelines to coordinate breaks effectively and even use them to enhance your horse's training.

In January 2003, Penny Woodworth, who lives on Vancouver Island, BC, was taking a jumping lesson. “Smallish jumps, nothing exciting. My long-time error is looking down, which I did that day. My horse stopped, and I tumbled off. Not a bad fall at all, except that I landed with one butt-cheek on the ground pole. I got up and carried on, but I was crooked and stayed that way. After a week or so, still riding crooked and feeling shooting pains down my right leg, I went for physiotherapy. I had dislocated my sacroiliac (SI) joint. Regular physio treatments and exercises finally got it to stay in place and I continued riding.

Visionary, humanitarian, force of nature, mother - The horse community is full of everyday heroes. Sometimes those everyday heroes inspire someone to give back in such an incredible capacity that it creates an exponentially stronger community — one that, at the start, is hard to envision. Little did the horse community in 1970s Ontario know that by embracing a recently immigrated, newly widowed mother of four, they would be inspiring a horse community visionary who would change the face and accessibility of horsemanship throughout the world.

The shorter, cooler days of autumn herald the approach of the cold winter months. Starting with the spring season, we all race around to participate in shows, rodeos, or backcountry camping trips. When those exciting events wind down, we can focus on all the tasks we’ve put off — those “before winter rolls around” jobs.