6/14/2013 by annablakeblog…

Hee is a website that gives you info on what diseases you should watch for in your quarter horses-

www.equinechronicle.com/health/genetic-diseases-in-quarter-horses

Last summer, some scientists published a paper about a “gait-keeper” gene in horses (see http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/08/29/one-gait-keeper-gene-allows-horses-to-move-in-unusual-ways/). A mutation in this gene appears to be responsible for the “extra” gaits in “gaited” horses (rack, foxtrot, running walk, etc.). The unmutated gene…

http://heatherclemenceau.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/trot-on-new-years-resolutions-for-horse-advocates/

I’m assuming that you,  dear reader,  have already made your New Year’s Resolutions.  Did you know that the average person breaks them after about one month? Yeah,…

Hey bloggers,

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and staying warm during this cold fall weather. This week the Baker's blog is going to specify in bandaging- proper bandaging technique, the importance of bandaging and proper bandaging products. Being a competitive rider it is very important to know how to properly protect and treat your horses legs after…

I found this great article on Horse.com that I found pretty helpful. I hope someone else could use the information.

Not all horses need to wear shoes. In fact, some horses experience less hoof-related problems by going barefoot. The only drawback with a barefoot horse is the lack of hoof protection can sometimes lead to injury from hard surfaces, sharp stones, and other…

This is pretty close to my heart right now. With most of Northern Ontario under fire, many people face the chances of evacuation, and not many are prepared. I am absolutely dumbfounded by the amount of people who are not prepared for situations where your pets need to be evacuated, or that there is some form of contingincy plan. 

I am going to give some basic information on what you need to do to be ready :)

First and foremost, since this is a horse forum, I'll start…

A few weeks ago I was in a used bookstore trying to find a horse book I didn’t already have and that might teach me something new.  The only one I could find was one written 30 years ago on race horse conditioning.  I got it, I wanted a new horse book!  When I got home I was looking through it and found a whole chapter on the walk.  If you have been reading my blogs you know that when I ride I walk a lot.  With my MS I just do not have the energy to do much more, usually I…

Kelly does morning feedings at the barn where her horse is boarded. Most of the horses just get a "scoop" or two of "pellets", plus a bit of beet pulp. The ponies get less, the school horses and hard keepers get more.

Until recently, Kelly had never thought about anything other than maintaining her horse's weight and energy level. She hadn't considered whether his vitamin and mineral requirements were being met. Actually, she didn't even know the "pellets" they feed…

For most riders, if you’re not riding, you’re thinking about riding. But when you’re counting the weeks until summer or the hours until 5 o’clock, you’re not dreaming about spooking horses or missing shoes. Fortunately, there are supplements that can help you make the most of your time in the barn.

PROBLEM: An anxious or spooky horse makes riding difficult

SUPPLEMENT SOLUTION: Calming Supplements

We’ve all been there —…

Gastric Health

The fact that 60% of performance horses suffer from gastric ulcers reinforces the idea that the life of a show horse isn’t easy. Prescription medication, like GastroGard®, is the only way to heal an active ulcer. However, gastric health supplements, like…

There are some great new programs and websites to help horse owners get timely information - check them out!

Outbreak Alert Gives Veterinarians and

Horse Owners the Edge in Fighting Disease

When it comes to equine health care, a partnership between horse owners and veterinarians is a must. Equally important is staying informed about potential disease threats that may put a horse’s health at risk. That’s the reason Merial…

This is how you can tell there is a tourist in the barn: they keep their eyes on the ground and there’s lots of erratic tiptoeing. Some even squeal at the sight of manure. I call it Fecalphobia- an irrational fear of digestive waste. Thankfully, humans are the only species prone to the disease. (Nincompoops.) Everybody else is fine about bowel relief.

People who live with horses don’t get emotional about poop. It’s such a normal part of the day-to-day…

A Small and Unexpected Miracle

Years ago, I’m not even sure when, I found a lump in Cruiser’s throatlatch area.  It didn’t seem to hurt him, so I waited until the next time the vet came out to ask her what it was.  She said it was a tumor on his thyroid, that there was nothing we could do about it and it wouldn’t do any harm.

 …

Your horse’s skin and coat form an important protective barrier against bacteria and infections. If his coat is short on shine, that could be an indication that his skin isn’t as healthy as it should be. Adding a high quality skin and coat supplement to his diet isn’t just a great way to boost his good looks, it’s an investment in his good health.

Fat Facts

To get a glossy coat, add essential fatty acids to optimize skin health. When comparing…