Do you feed your horse oil?
Oils are a highly debated topic in equine nutrition, and their use in horse feeds can divide people. The type, quality and quantity of oil, along with the state of
Do you feed your horse oil? Read More »
Gestation in the broodmare
Did you know that the average gestation period in a broodmare is 11months (340 days)? This however, can vary significantly, ranging from 320 days to 370 days. Factors which influence
Gestation in the broodmare Read More »
Antibiotic use in foals: long-term effects on health and athletic performance
What happens in a foal’s gut during the first few weeks of life may matter for much longer than we once thought. The gut microbiota (the community of bacteria, fungi,
Antibiotic use in foals: long-term effects on health and athletic performance Read More »
Stallion fertility….what may be happening when sperm motility, morphology and count are good, yet fertility rates are low…
Few issues are more frustrating for a stud than a stallion with unexplained subfertility. The financial implications, management pressure, reputational impact, and disruption of an entire breeding season can be
Magnesium for horses: Is it helpful? And what do I need to know?
Learn the benefits and risks of magnesium for horses, including calming effects, gut health impacts, and correct supplementation for metabolic, behavioural and performance support. Magnesium is one of the most
Magnesium for horses: Is it helpful? And what do I need to know? Read More »
Equine asthma in horses: the risks of clenbuterol and long-term medication use
Learn about equine asthma in horses, common treatments, and the hidden side effects of clenbuterol. Discover a better approach to respiratory health. Equine asthma is a condition that can affect
Equine asthma in horses: the risks of clenbuterol and long-term medication use Read More »
What can herbal medicine do (and what can’t herbs do?)…
When used appropriately, herbal medicine can be a powerful support tool for our horses’ health. In my work as an equine naturopath, clinical nutritionist & herbalist, I use herbal medicines
What can herbal medicine do (and what can’t herbs do?)… Read More »
Broodmare Body Condition & Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) Risk in Foals, Weanlings and Yearlings
Most breeders focus on broodmare nutrition in late pregnancy or once the foal is at foot. However, how you feed and manage your broodmare year-round has a direct and lasting
Joint injections and laminitis…what is the risk?
Intra-articular (joint) injections are frequently used in horses and ponies with the aim of managing pain and inflammation, particularly in conditions such as osteoarthritis. One of the most commonly used
Joint injections and laminitis…what is the risk? Read More »
The risks associated with automatic watering systems
Whether you’re experiencing summer and hot weather or winter and enduring the cold, hydration remains key to the health of our horses and ponies. Automatic watering troughs can seem like
The risks associated with automatic watering systems Read More »
One of the most commonly overlooked factors which can contribute to gastric ulcers
It’s well known that what and how we feed our horses can significantly influence their likelihood of developing gastric ulcers. It is also appreciated that the use of medications such
One of the most commonly overlooked factors which can contribute to gastric ulcers Read More »
How does our horse’s gut health influence their behaviour, immune function and overall health?
Our horse’s gastrointestinal (GI) system, or ‘gut,’ communicates with their brain through multiple channels. One of these pathways involves their immune system, which is aided by their gut microbiota. A
Carrots: Are they a suitable treat for horses and ponies?
Most of us love to give our horses and ponies treats, whether as a reward or simply as a way to interact with them. However, it’s important to recognise that
Carrots: Are they a suitable treat for horses and ponies? Read More »
Foal Delivery Method: A Key to Gut and Immune Development
The way a foal enters the world can have a lasting impact on its gut health, immune function, and even its risk for developing inflammatory conditions later in life. In
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Relocating/travelling mares prior to foaling
How does travelling/relocating a broodmare prior to foaling influence a foal’s immune system? In the lead up to and during breeding season, many pregnant mares are relocated to different properties
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Mare behavioural issues and pregnancy loss: is altrenogest really the answer?
From spring through to autumn (fall) mare behavioural and reproductive issues often come to the fore. Mares and fillies who exhibit overtly hormonal behaviour can be a real challenge and
Mare behavioural issues and pregnancy loss: is altrenogest really the answer? Read More »
How many bacteria are in a horse’s digestive tract?
A horse is able to host up to 10¹⁵ bacterial cells within their digestive tract! The majority of these bacteria reside in the colon, particularly the caecum. These bacteria play
How many bacteria are in a horse’s digestive tract? Read More »
Horses, Ponies and Pain
Pain can be one of the most heartbreaking things to watch our horse or pony experience, particularly when we can’t accurately identify the source of and provide relief from the
Horses, Ponies and Pain Read More »
The importance of trace minerals in late pregnancy
During late pregnancy, a mare’s nutritional requirements increase to meet the demands of her rapidly growing foetus. When feeding heavily pregnant mares, many focus primarily on providing increased calories to
The importance of trace minerals in late pregnancy Read More »
Broodmare nutrient requirements, foetal growth rate and the influence of nutrition on the skeletal health of a mare’s offspring
A mare’s nutritional requirements vary throughout different stages of her pregnancy, with the last three to four months placing the most significant nutritional demands on the mare. This is a
Spotlight on Stallion Fertility
When looking to help promote optimal fertility in a stallion, it is never too early in the year to start. Often, we only turn our minds to helping our stallion’s
Spotlight on Stallion Fertility Read More »
Side effects of commonly used medications in horses and ponies
The judicious use of many medications in our horses and ponies can be important and even life saving in some situations, yet they are not without their side effects. Some
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Concerned about colic in your horse or pony?
Colic is one of the most common causes of death in horses and ponies. Colic episodes can be most distressing for both the horse suffering from it and the caretake/owner
Concerned about colic in your horse or pony? Read More »
Gastric ulcer medications (omeprazole and esomeprazole) and the effects they have on our horses
Omepazole and Esomeprazole, the most commonly used medications for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) are not without their safety concerns. One welfare issue which may be associated with the use
Photosensitivity in horses…Lucerne (alfalfa), clover and other potential contributors
Photosensitization (also known as photodermatitis) is light-induced inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) caused by a heightened sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. This condition is non-contagious and often looks like
Photosensitivity in horses…Lucerne (alfalfa), clover and other potential contributors Read More »
Salt: Too little or too much?
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we’re currently in summer. Which means in many regions the weather is hot and/or humid. This in turn affects the nutrient requirements of our horses.
Salt: Too little or too much? Read More »
Stress and stallion fertility
With breeding season now underway in the Southern Hemisphere, stallion fertility is an area of focus.
Stress and stallion fertility Read More »
Foal feeding habits and growth
Did you know that when a foal is born, it weighs approximately 10% of its mature body weight? This can vary however from about 7% of mature weight in draft
Foal feeding habits and growth Read More »
Abstract: Non-pharmaceutical interventions in the successful management of refractory lymphocytic-plasmacytic enterocolitis
Background: Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enterocolitis (LPE) is a rare, poorly understood form of infiltrative intestinal disease in horses, with a generally grave prognosis. Corticosteroids are the drugs most commonly used in treatment,
Post Viral Syndromes in Equines
We commonly hear of ‘viral infections’ being blamed for a horse’s poor performance, recovery, lethargy or general lacklustre health. The horse who doesn’t look a picture of health; is not
Post Viral Syndromes in Equines Read More »
Omeprazole and Stallion Fertility
With our attention on the breeding season, looking at ways we can increase stallion fertility parameters and resulting pregnancy rates in broodmares is of immense value. Whilst we are always
Omeprazole and Stallion Fertility Read More »
Probiotics for horses
Probiotics for horses is something which is continuing to become more popular. Many feed and supplement companies are now adding probiotics to their formulations. Plenty of horse people feed their
Probiotics for horses Read More »
Help! Why is my horse eating manure?
Eating manure (also known as coprophagy), is a common, yet transient phenomenon in foals. Coprophagy is thought to potentially offer multiple health benefits in foals. It is far less common
Help! Why is my horse eating manure? Read More »
Diarrhoea in Foals
Up to 40% of diarrhoea cases in foals are due to Rotavirus infection. Other common causes of diarrhoea in foals include Foal Heat Scours. In addition to compromising the health,
Diarrhoea in Foals Read More »
Hoof Health: Beyond Biotin
When thinking about nutrition for hoof health, biotin gets a lot of attention. Supplemented in appropriate amounts, biotin may help to improve hoof wall integrity. Conflicting evidence exists as to
Hoof Health: Beyond Biotin Read More »
To ice or not to ice?
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we’re enjoying warmer weather and competition season in various disciplines is in full swing. As a result, it is commonplace to see horses and ponies
To ice or not to ice? Read More »
Longeing Horses and Joint Health: A Helpful or Harmful Practice?
Across a variety of equestrian disciplines, longeing horses and ponies is a common practice. It may be used to start a young horse under saddle; contribute to developing or maintaining
Longeing Horses and Joint Health: A Helpful or Harmful Practice? Read More »
Antimicrobial Resistance
At the time of writing this article, it is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week: an important week not only in terms of equine, animal and human health, but also in helping
Antimicrobial Resistance Read More »
Spring, Summer and More Riding!
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, the weather is warming up, daylight hours are getting longer, show season is in full swing, and eventing, dressage, showjumping and polocrosse events are underway.
Spring, Summer and More Riding! Read More »
Grain Free Feeds….What does this mean, and do our horses really need these feeds?
What we feed our horses and how we feed them are crucial to their health. Diet and nutrition are known to play an important role in our horse’s gastrointestinal (GI),
Grain Free Feeds….What does this mean, and do our horses really need these feeds? Read More »
How does your stallion’s body condition influence his fertility rate and libido?
We all love a stallion looking strong, healthy and well. Yet it is all too easy for this vision of how we want a stallion to look to adversely impact
How does your stallion’s body condition influence his fertility rate and libido? Read More »
Why is it important to make dietary changes slowly in horses and ponies?
We commonly read or hear that when introducing a new feed into our horses’ and ponies’ diets that we should make the change slowly. But why is this? And is
Why is it important to make dietary changes slowly in horses and ponies? Read More »
Congenital Flexural Limb Deformities: Why both feed and body condition in the broodmare matter
There are many possible factors believed to contribute to foals being born with contracted or lax tendons (congenital flexural limb deformities). These include intrauterine positioning, ingestion of certain toxins by
Grass, Hay, Fibre and Short Chain Fatty Acids
When we transition from winter into spring or from summer into autumn/fall weather, we can suddenly find that our horses have increasing amounts of green grass to graze. With plenty
Grass, Hay, Fibre and Short Chain Fatty Acids Read More »
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and ovulation in the broodmare
The use of NSAIDs can have a negative impact on a mare’s reproductive activity. A study published in 2015 found that both phenylbutazone (bute/PBZ) and meloxicam (Metacam) interfered with pre-ovulatory
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and ovulation in the broodmare Read More »
STRESS: What is stress exactly when it relates to horses? And what do we need to consider?
When we talk about stress in equines, we often think of those horses and ponies that never settle, constantly spook, pace the fence line in the paddock, or sweat up
The Importance of Salt for Horses and Ponies
Whether you’re somewhere in the world currently enjoying warmer weather, or contrastingly, at the other end of the spectrum and starting to experience cooler conditions, salt is a crucial part
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Why do horses and ponies turn their backs to the cold during inclement weather?
Our horses and ponies have many natural ways to help them keep warm in cold weather. One of these ways is increasing their metabolic rate. Read more about this at:
Why do horses and ponies turn their backs to the cold during inclement weather? Read More »
Feeding Horses and Ponies in Cold Weather
Our horses and ponies have many natural and effective ways to help them keep warm during cold weather. One of these mechanisms is to increase their metabolic rate (and in
Feeding Horses and Ponies in Cold Weather Read More »
Rugging (Blanketing): Increasing the Risk of Laminitis, Insulin Resistance & Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
As we transition from early autumn/fall and get closer to winter, the conversations around when to start rugging/blanketing and what rug(s) to put on your horse or pony are commonplace.