Behavioural Issues

Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work

Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work

Mares and Reproductive Health, Behavioural Issues, Gastrointestinal (Gut) Health, Hoof Health, Immune Health, Metabolic Health, Musculoskeletal Health, Performance Horses, Pharmaceutical Medications, Racehorses, Stallion Fertility & Libido, Yearlings / By / September 15, 2021

There’s much interest in ulcers in horses and for very good reason. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) affects 60-90% of adult horses and 25-50% of foals and weanlings. The condition collectively refers to sores or erosions that develop in portions of the horse’s sensitive stomach lining. EGUS is largely a man-made disease: common feeding practices,  …

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Why do horses wind suck and crib bite?

Behavioural Issues, Gastrointestinal (Gut) Health / By / August 24, 2021

Wind sucking or crib biting in horses is most likely to first occur in association with boredom and lack of forage/grazing. Most people are well aware that a diet high in long-stem fibre plays an essential role from a physiological and digestive standpoint in the horse. However, what is often overlooked is the crucial role constantly …

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An Holistic Approach to Mare Behaviour

Behavioural Issues, General Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Mares and Reproductive Health, Metabolic Health, Performance Horses, Therapeutic Nutrition/Nutritional Supplements / By / August 24, 2021

For those of you who ride mares and/or fillies you may have noticed somewhat erratic changes in her mood and behaviour during spring. The mare who was steadfast and easy going over the winter months may have at times started to become irritable, anxious, ‘girthy’, aggressive and painful or sensitive around her flanks. Gait abnormalities …

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Calming Supplements: Use in the Horse-Optim-Equine

Calming Supplements: Use in the Horse

Behavioural Issues, Herbal Medicine, Performance Horses, Racehorses, Therapeutic Nutrition/Nutritional Supplements / By / August 21, 2021

One of the most often talked about and popular types of supplements on the market are those used with the intention of helping to ‘calm’ the horse. The quality of these supplements and ingredients contained within them vary greatly. Many contain nutritional and/or herbal constituents such as: magnesium, tryptophan, B group vitamins, chamomile and valerian. …

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Wind-sucking, Crib-biting, Cribbing: The role of Antioxidants, including Selenium

Behavioural Issues, Therapeutic Nutrition/Nutritional Supplements / By / August 21, 2021

Wind-sucking/ crib-biting/ cribbing is a compulsive, repetitive behaviour in horses. It is the most prevalent stereotypy in the equine and is characterised by grasping a fixed object with the incisor teeth and aspirating air with an audible grunt. The habit can negatively effect a wide range of horse health parameters, resulting in conditions such as …

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Nutrient Synergy: Magnesium and Vitamin D

Behavioural Issues, Therapeutic Nutrition/Nutritional Supplements / By / August 21, 2021

Magnesium is one of the most commonly self-prescribed nutrients by many horse owners, breeders and riders. This mineral plays an essential role in more than 300 enzymatic reactions within the body. When prescribing magnesium, to derive optimal therapeutic benefit, it is essential to know the bioavailability of different forms of magnesium and its interactions (both …

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Lignophagia: Why Do Some Horses Chew Wood?

Behavioural Issues, Gastrointestinal (Gut) Health, General Nutrition / By / August 21, 2021

Lignophagia (or chewing wood) is an all-too common behaviour observed in horses. Whilst it can be both practical and tempting to lather stable boards and fence posts with products to discourage this, it is wise to also consider and address the possible reason(s) for this undesirable chewing in the first place… From a dietary perspective, …

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Regumate / Altrenogest and Difficult Mares & Fillies: What Are The Alternatives?

Behavioural Issues, Mares and Reproductive Health, Performance Horses, Racehorses, Therapeutic Nutrition/Nutritional Supplements / By / August 21, 2021

With the rulings of Regumate/Altrenogest use in racing coming under the spotlight around the globe, now is an opportune time to address nutritional and management factors which can contribute to undesirable behaviour in mares and fillies. Whilst no nutritional supplement will prevent estrus in the mare/filly: signs, symptoms and behaviour may be able to be …

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Why-Can-such-an-Average-Horse-Achieve-at-the-Highest-Level

Why Can such an ‘Average’ Horse Achieve at the ‘Highest” Level?

Behavioural Issues, General Health/Other / By / August 21, 2021

Good horse people know that in many equestrian disciplines, success depends on an optimal partnership between horse and rider, rather than excellent individuals (either horse or rider alone).There is a small amount of research which demonstrates that a rider’s emotional state can directly influence that of the horse. Horses are known to react differently when …

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