Horse Care For Beginners

Many horse owners assume that rain rot (dermatophilosis) is caused by a fungus.   However this is incorrect as dermatophilus congolensis shares characteristics with both fungus’s and bacterias. It is an actinomycetes, which behaves like both bacteria and fungi. Many people believe that the organism is present in soil, however, this has not been proven. The [...]

It was only recently that I came across the name, Jesse Beery. Perhaps this was due to the fact that I’m “way down-under” tucked away in Tasmania, Australia. Anyway, it appears that he was a significant figure in the “horse world” during the latter 1800s until he passed away in 1945. Based on what I’d [...]

I was looking for one of my old books a few days ago and came across my copy Black Beauty. Memories came flooding back. Along with a book titled Tess and Tony, it was a book that I loved and read over and over.
For those who don’t know, and for those who’ve forgotten, Black Beauty is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell.

Before giving your horse drugs or hormones, it’s important that you know and understand the reason for doing so and what the risk or benefit might be. If your veterinarian has recommended drugs or hormones for your horse, you should discuss it thoroughly with the vet and make sure you understand the reasons behind their usage.

When it comes to keeping your horse healthy, cleanliness is vital. Many illnesses and infirmities can be avoided simply by maintaining a clean equine environment. As a horse owner, it is your responsibility to provide proper care to your pet, which includes keeping the horse and its environment clean and healthy.

Once again, as a change of pace for my Posts, this time I’m talking about a “horse game”.
The game challenges players on three fronts: cross country, show jumping and dressage. The ultimate goal of the game is for you to win all four-star events in Adelaide, Badminton, Burghley, and Kentucky. Before you get ahead of yourself, however, you need to cover the basics.

My first experience of horse loneliness was about nine years ago. A year prior my partner, Jill, and I moved from the mainland to a property in Tasmania bringing our horses with us … plus two dogs and a cat! We’d been here roughly a year and where just driving out to meet a friend in Hobart. Our horses were in our front paddock and as we drove past I had a feeling that something was wrong.

What are bell boots?. The best way I can describe them is to say that they are ‘protective boots’. When they’re fitted they encircle your horse’s ankle, and serve to protect the back of your horse’s pastern and his heels. The boots are named ‘bell boots’ due to the shape they make when they’re fitted and wrapped around your horse’s feet. The primary purpose is to protect the coronary bands, heels and bulbs of your horse’s front hooves.

While you may think it’s a simple thing to do … feed your horse … you’d be surprised at the number of horse owners that don’t know and understand the very basics. There’s no rigid rule of thumb for feeding as each horse’s nutritional needs will vary depending on a number factors. These include your horse’s age, his weight, and the level of activity.

  Bolting horse … one of the most serious risks the novice rider has to face! There are numerous reasons why your horse may bolt. It could be that he’s just plain frightened or he may be just taking advantage of your lack of experience and ability. If it’s the latter, you can be sure [...]