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A Golden Retriever leads a horse from the barn by pulling on the lead rope.[/caption] On approach to the majority of equine yards you can almost guarantee you will be met by the boss of the yard and usually they are 4 legged, and hopefully with a waggy tail!   Why are so many horse owners drawn to ...

This skin is the horse's largest organ and is a barrier to external challenges[/caption] Why is the skin important? The horse’s skin is a very important but often overlooked bodily structure.  It has many functions, including acting as a barrier to external challenges, helping to control body tempe...

Every summer we have lots of people calling us concerned about their horse’s lack of energy. The first step we take is try to pin point what the likely cause is, and to do that we have to ask a few questions:   1.  Is the horse otherwise healthy? If your horse is normally happy and energetic and sud...

They are important antioxidants

We all know that antioxidants are a good thing, but does everyone know why? The oxidation process converts food (fats, carbohydrate and protein) into energy, carbon dioxide and water.  While necessary for cells to survive, this oxidation also produces free radicals...

Since my last blog I have discovered that Fantom and I were 3^rd in the National Championships at Horseshoe; what a little superstar he is! Watergate Endurance has been going through a somewhat quiet patch over the last few weeks, giving time to reflect and regroup with plans being made for the later...

The way we manage our horses can have a great effect on the health and function of their joints through-out their lifetime.  Due to a poor design, horses have relatively small joints in comparison to their body size, so a lot of pressure is put upon these joints. However, we see more issues in the d...

Written by Olivia Colton MSc Tying-up, Monday morning disease, exertional rhabdomyolysis, setfast and azorturia are alternative names for the same condition.  We still do not know all the answers about this muscular disorder, though modern research is helping us see how and why horses tie-up a littl...

  If your horse has been lacking in energy then start with some basic checks...

  Fuel – Are you giving the right fuel for your horse’s energy requirements?

• Feed quality (in date and good specification)
• Correct quantity – too little or too much can = less energy
• Vitamin & Mineral intake – p...

  Crib-biting and windsucking used to be called stable vices, but as horses are increasingly studied we understand more about the motivation behind these behaviours, and they have been renamed as oral stereotypies.  These ‘habits’ are defined as “repetitive behaviours induced by frustration, repeat...

We all know that we should feed electrolytes after our horse has been sweating a lot, but many people do not know what they are, and why they are important. Our Nutritionist Olivia Colton MSc explains…

What are electrolytes?

The science bit! Electrolytes are compounds that when in a solution ...

Giant Hogweed, or Heracleum mantegazzianum is a white flowering plant in the carrot family, which looks similar to a very large hemlock.  It is also known as ‘hogsbane’, ‘giant cow parsnip’ or ‘cartwheel flower’.  It was introduced to Britain by the Victorians as an ornamental plant, and is now ...