Category: Health
Mustang Tales: Not the Tale I Wanted to Tell
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The story I wanted to tell you was about my big mustang, Makanani (beautiful eyes). In the fall of 2011, BLM rounded up 1,132 horses from Wyoming’s Divide Basin Herd Management Area, permanently removing 993, of which my big bay colt was one. Adopted from Cañon City in 2014, Maka […]
It’s Time to Re-Think Early Weaning of Horses
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Separating them too soon benefits no one. For the most part, the symbiotic relationship between the domestic horse and humankind works out well. The horse gets immunization from fatal diseases, readily available food and protection from predators. (One can also argue farrier care and deworming, but neither of those would […]
Magnesium: The Mineral Superhero
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Very few people are aware of the enormous role magnesium plays in a horse’s body. After oxygen, water, and basic food, magnesium may be the most important element needed to maintain health. It is vitally important, yet hardly known. Magnesium is by far the most important mineral, regulating over 325 […]
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Sources
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Flax. Fish oil. Chia. Krill. Algae. By the time I write this there could be another source, also claiming to be the best for some reason. Do you need to supplement omega-3 fatty acids? If so, which source is best? Golden Flax Seeds Although research is lacking in horses, the […]
Tissue Mineral Analysis
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Mineral analysis, a hairy tool for preventive health. When Gold Medalist and three-time National Dressage Competitor Shannon Peters showed her nine-year-old Grand-Prix horse Flor De Selva in 2009, she had no idea that Lyme disease and chronic weakening would soon force her to retire the Westphalian gelding. The fat deposits […]
Get Growing!
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Planting A Medicinal Herb Garden For Your Horse. Before horses were domesticated, they roamed free and kept themselves healthy by grazing on a large variety of plants. They used their deeply-ingrained instincts to seek out the plants they needed to maintain their health. A wealth of herbal knowledge was acquired […]
The Bad Boy of the Mint Family
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Watch out, especially in late summer, early fall!! Many of us who strive to provide as natural a lifestyle as possible for our horses, include herbs into the environment. The most universally included herb in a natural horse husbandry is mint. Known for its soothing effect for gastrointestinal complaints, it […]
Does your horse need to detox?
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Detox diets are all the rage for people, so it’s no surprise we’re considering them for horses too. Let’s look at when your horse might benefit from toxin elimination, and how it can be done. You’ve probably heard of all the different detox regimes people use in their mission for […]
The Slow Feeding Movement
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It’s rapidly gaining in popularity, and no wonder. These tips will get you started and help you select the best slow feeder method for your horses. The slow feeding movement has come a long way in the last several years. Many horse owners and veterinarians are now familiar with the […]
Sheath Cleaning
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Stick my hand up where!? One of the joys of owning a gelding is periodic sheath cleaning. This is a mysterious topic to some, so Pat Harris wrote these instructions which she posted on Equine-L. Step 1) Check to make sure there are no prospective boyfriends, elderly neighbors, […]