Prevention

Pedal Osteitis

Updated:

July 25, 2025

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Over the past few years of shoeing rodeo horses with heavy competition and training schedules, I have noticed patterns emerge. Commonly, roping and barrel horses spend a decent amount of time barefoot during the off-season, and are put back to work for several weeks before being shod. These generally small and flat-footed horses can end up lame.

Your Horse: Heat Stress and Hydration

Updated:

July 18, 2025

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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.

Respiratory Risks Higher for Equestrians Working Around Crystalline Silica Dust

Updated:

July 10, 2025

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Those who primarily work in riding arenas or round pens with sand footing, such as equestrian riding coaches, riding instructors, and horse trainers, are at an higher risk of respiratory issues.

Biosecurity Strategy for Equestrian Events

Updated:

July 3, 2025

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“Event Cancelled. Quarantine in Effect.” No equine event manager or exhibitor wants to hear these words. However, the growing number of equestrian events, increased interprovincial and international equine movement, and the rising concentration of horses at individual events have all heightened the risk of infectious disease outbreaks and transmission.

Tackling Dewormer Resistance in Equine Parasites

Updated:

June 23, 2025

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Parasite prevention remains a vital part of maintaining horse health—but gone are the days when you could rely on a routine deworming every eight weeks with the same product.

The Unseen Threat: Rats on Horse Farms and Stables

Updated:

June 23, 2025

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While horses are the heart of any stable, there’s a hidden menace that can undermine their health, safety, and even the structural integrity of the facilities: rats. These unwelcome intruders pose serious risks to equine operations by spreading disease, destroying property, and contaminating food and bedding. Understanding the threat and implementing robust prevention and control strategies is essential for protecting both animals and infrastructure.

Poison in the Pasture - Plants Toxic to Horses

Updated:

June 18, 2025

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"My horse is smart enough not to eat toxic plants" - This is a comment I often hear during property visits focused on responsible manure and pasture practices. While it’s true that horses generally avoid undesirable or toxic plants when there’s ample healthy forage available, issues tend to surface when pastures are overgrazed and food choices become limited. That’s when horses may resort to eating weeds or harmful plants. It’s essential for horse owners to recognize which plants pose a threat and to understand how to control their presence in grazing areas.

Horse Care During Wildfire Season

Updated:

June 12, 2025

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Canadian equestrians breathe a sigh of relief when long-awaited spring weather finally arrives and the outdoor riding season begins in earnest. Time to fit up our horses and ourselves for trails, competitions, and the pleasure of spending time outdoors, finally free of the layers of winter gear and horse hair that come with the chillier seasons…

Understanding Equine Husbandry For Your Horse’s Best Life

Updated:

May 30, 2025

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Is ‘natural’ just a label in equine care? In today’s equine industry, the terms natural and organic are commonly used. While "organic" is a regulated label in equine product development and marketing, "natural" is not subject to the same standards. Horse owners must exercise greater caution when selecting "natural" products, as the term can be misleading.

Equine Enteroliths: Causes, Risk Factors, and Impacts on Horse Health

Updated:

May 23, 2025

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Common in certain horse populations, enteroliths are mineral-based stones that gradually form in the large colon over several years. Composed primarily of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), these stones develop around a central foreign object—such as a pebble, hair, baling twine, metal, or rubber—and often take on round, triangular, or flat shapes. Although they may remain undetected for long periods, enteroliths can shift and obstruct the intestinal tract, leading to episodes of colic in horses.