Equines: Horses and Donkeys

While many of us would love to have horses in our backyards or near our homesteads, the reality is that horses do require a certain amount of space. Keeping a horse in a small-scale pasture is viable if you stick a bale of grass hay in for their grazing needs.  But is it possible to […]

  An underweight horse lacks the energy to perform to its best ability. It may also experience pain when ridden and develop other health issues. Older horses are particularly prone to unhealthy weight loss. As a horse ages his digestive tract changes. This makes it harder for the horse to process nutrients. It’s not only

  I have been lucky to share a yard with a brilliant farrier who is also a great teacher. While I’ve never trimmed my horse’s hooves before, I had picked up a thing or two. However, nothing could prepare me for the task of trimming my own horse’s hooves for the first time. Luckily, I

  The first time I saw a clipped horse, I wondered if dog groomers had done it as a dare. After all, why would you clip the body hair of a horse? Worse still, why would you clip their hair in such strange patterns?  I soon learned there are many reasons to clip your horse’s

  One of the most common issues first-time horse owners have is caring for their horse’s hooves. Hoof care can be a real challenge for people who don’t know much about a hoof other than that a flying hoof (aka a kick) is dangerous and results in injuries.  I love watching some of the riding

  Most people see horsehair as the horse’s mane and tail, but horses are covered in a hairy coat. This coat grows and sheds, just like a dog’s. But sometimes, you end up with a horse that has bald patches, randomly loses hair, and ends up with scarring of their skin. Why does alopecia or

For humans, a broken leg is a painful yet treatable condition. For horses, however, the outlook is far less optimistic. Why is a broken leg often a death sentence for a horse? Horses have very little soft tissue in their legs. When a bone breaks, it can tear the skin or cut off the circulation

  Not long ago I researched the cost of a donkey before purchasing my own. I found numerous articles online that said that donkeys are inexpensive animals. Writers compared them to horses and said that because donkeys do not require as many visits from the vet or farrier, they are inexpensive to keep. While that

  Yesterday was unseasonably cold and wet.  I watched my horses shivering in the rain, and I wanted to cover how you can keep your horses healthy in the wet, rainy, and chilly weather. You may be asking; Are horses waterproof? Horses’ coats consist of a soft, fluffy undercoat and a layer of stiff, guard

A sweating horse is relatively common, but in some cases, can be dangerous. It’s essential that you keep an eye on your horse and recognize the danger signs that can accompany a sweating horse.  Do horses sweat? Like humans and other animals with sweat glands, horses sweat to lower their body temperature and relieve heat