Horses have an extraordinarily large digestive system — compared to humans they have more than double the length if you were to place them side-by-side, start to finish! This long path for food digestion is packed with twists and turns (and the inability to vomit), so it’s easy to see how digestive upsets can occur in our equine partners. Below is a quick overview to give you a better understanding of how we can feed to our horses’ needs while keeping in mind how they evolved.

The Horse Habit located at Kemble, Ontario, was established 29 years ago by Ellen O’Reilly, with the mission “To bring quality equipment to the horse and their human.”

Shorter, colder winter days are the perfect time to take online courses and webinars that are prevalent throughout the horse industry. Online courses allow students to learn without leaving home, at times that fit their schedule, and increase engagement when riding time is limited. Courses are offered via live-streamed interactive webinars or symposiums, pre-recorded videos, or a series of videos and readings. Topics include business management, equestrian science, equine anatomy, equine journalism, exercise physiology, first aid, horse camping, horse welfare, nutrition, stable management activities, and many more. Timeframes vary from an hour to multiple days or weeks and pricing differs, too, with some courses offered for free while others are fee-based. Courses may lead to certification or provide continuing education credits for coaching certifications and there are courses for almost every interest, learning style, budget, and schedule — beneficial for those wanting to advance their horse industry skills and knowledge — plus advantageous for the horse industry overall.

Regenerative medicine covers a suite of different technologies that enhance the horse’s natural healing process and help them heal faster. Equine veterinarians have been using regenerative medicine for the past decade to treat joint disease and soft tissue injuries; however, it’s new to many horse owners and only equine veterinarians specializing in sports medicine tend to offer the technologies.