In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
Overcoming the Grooming Grumpies When you’re teaching your horse to stand patiently for grooming, the training will carry into almost everything else you do with your horse. SOME HORSES LOVE TO BE HANDLED, and they’ll stand quietly for everything from ear clipping to washing their tails. But if your horse doesn’t stand like a statue, don’t worry. We’ll talk about what you can do to make grooming a better experience for both of you and what cues you’ll need to establish good, safe control. De-stress the Situation If you have a horse who gets crabby when it’s time to groom him, you’ve probably already learned that trying to “discipline” him into cooperating doesn’t work… or it doesn’t work for very long. You have to take a different approach, one that…
Equine skin problems can make a horse miserable and lead to complications. Call your vet if you suspect any of the following skin issues in your horse. Bumps & Scabs Rain rot (or rain scald), common in warm, moist conditions, results in small bumps, crust-like scabs, and/or matted tufts of hair that pull off easily. It’s caused by a microorganism that behaves like both bacteria and fungi. Your vet may recommend a broad-spectrum antimicrobial shampoo. Scratches (or mud fever, pastern dermatitis) develops in muddy conditions. Bacterial and/or fungal microorganisms invade the skin of your horse’s lower legs, causing inflammation, swelling, itching, and scaly scabs. Antimicrobial shampoo and ointment, plus giving the horse a break from muddy footing, are common remedies. Sweet itch results in small, itchy bumps that your horse…
Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in your horse’s body? In fact, the skin of an average 1,000-pound horse is likely to weigh 60 pounds, or 6% of his body weight. This amazing organ stays healthy by constantly replacing itself to perform its vital role of protecting your horse’s body. Dead skin cells on the surface slough away and are replaced with new, young cells in a cycle that takes about 17 days. Agriculture, which includes horse-keeping, is one of the most significant contributors to both pollution and habitat destruction. That’s right: How you keep your horses can affect not only the wildlife around you, but also can be a significant contributor to environmental hazards. And these hazards have wide-reaching effects. Why is it so important…
It’s the night before a big show. You’ve worked at your “day job” all day, and now have a long night of prep ahead of you. Hours later, your horse is squeaky clean, outfitted in a sleazy, and covered with a sheet. You fall into bed, smelling like wet horse. At the show the next morning, you notice that although your horse is clean and well-turned-out, he doesn’t shine like the others. Their secret: A commitment to a daily grooming regimen. As an AQHA Professional Horseman, I frequently receive compliments from other trainers, exhibitors, and the judges on the quality of my horses’ coats, which I credit to my daily grooming routine. Here I’ll share the five techniques I use every day with my horses at Empire Performance Horses, to…
