First Aid

Diagnosing Foot Lameness in Performance Horses

Updated:

August 14, 2026

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Horses today are expected to perform across much of the year, whether their work involves dressage, trail riding, reining, show jumping, or another equestrian discipline. Regardless of the job, the foot remains the most common source of lameness in horses. Preventative medications such as Legend®, Adequan®, and Pentosan EQ™ can help support the longevity of an equine athlete’s career, but even with careful management, injuries can still happen.

Your Horse: Heat Stress and Hydration

Updated:

July 28, 2026

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Is it hot enough for you? If you feel suppressed by repeated days of hot and humid weather, you can be sure that your horse feels worse.

How to Build a Successful Rehab Program for Horses with Undiagnosed Pain

Updated:

July 9, 2026

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When a horse shows subtle signs of lameness or discomfort but no clear veterinary diagnosis, it can be discouraging and costly for owners. These vague issues are unfortunately common and often leave owners uncertain about the next step. This article outlines key principles to guide you through such cases, using the example of Remy — a mare who arrived with back pain and bucking behaviour but no definitive medical findings.

Silver Honey® - Why MicroSilver BG® and Mānuka Honey Make Sense for Horses

Updated:

June 23, 2026

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Horse people know that healthy skin is a cornerstone of comfort and performance. From small nicks to irritation around the pasterns in wet seasons, our goal is always the same: protect the skin barrier while keeping the environment calm, clean, and comfortable. Silver Honey® products bring together two nature-derived powerhouses, MicroSilver BG® and Mānuka Honey, to do exactly that. Below is a practical look at what each ingredient is, how it works, and why that matters.

Understanding Your Horse's Vital Signs and How to Monitor Them

Updated:

June 4, 2026

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Every horse owner should be familiar with his or her horse’s “normal” vital signs. Knowing your horse’s healthy, resting temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, capillary refill time, and gut sounds will help you realize when he is unwell. Additionally, in the event of illness or injury to your horse, being able to check and report his vital signs can help indicate to your veterinarian the horse’s present condition.

Tick Talk...Horses and Ticks

Updated:

May 28, 2026

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Not much can gross out a horse person. We happily pick out hoofs, observe the quality of manure, scrape bot eggs off our horses’ legs, and get a weird sense of satisfaction from an expressed abscess. But ticks… ticks are just nasty.

Cooling Before Exercise May Help Reduce Heat Stress in Horses

Updated:

May 26, 2026

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Hot and humid weather can place significant strain on exercising horses, especially during intense work such as racing, endurance riding, or eventing. Because horses generate large amounts of heat during exercise and have relatively limited ability to dissipate it, researchers have increasingly explored whether cooling horses before exercise can help reduce heat stress and improve safety.

Colic in Horses - Gut Health, Signs of Colic, and the Colic Risk Rater

Updated:

March 19, 2026

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If there’s one word that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of horse owners, it’s “colic.” Used to describe any form of abdominal pain, colic can affect horses for many reasons and in any season, although cold weather months are a particularly challenging time with increased risk of impaction-related colic.

How to Make a First Aid Kit for Horses

Updated:

March 16, 2026

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Generally, first aid equipment is inexpensive, and you can create a comprehensive kit for a reasonable cost, saving yourself hundreds of dollars in unnecessary vet calls.

Thrush in Horses: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatment

Updated:

March 12, 2026

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Thrush is a prevalent hoof ailment in horses, typically resulting from a fungal infection that deteriorates the frog's tissue. This condition primarily develops in the sulci (grooves) on either side of the frog and in the central cleft. If neglected, thrush can spread to the deeper, more sensitive structures within the hoof, potentially leading to lameness.