Category: Welfare
What if I suggested that Horse Overpopulation May not be the MAIN Problem Equines Face?
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I’m a bit ashamed that it has taken too many years in rescue to see what should have been obvious to me way before tonight. It is something I’ve always known as “part” of the issue horses face, but I didn’t always consider “IT” the main issue until the last year or […]
Reining horses hardly stand a chance
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“A lot of reining horses eliminate themselves early on, even if they have the ability and the try, because they can’t hold up.“ – Timothy Bartlett, DVM, of Vincennes, Ind., has been actively involved in the sport as a president of NRHA and an NRHA judge. An interesting view that it […]
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 […]
How One Horse Says Goodbye to Another, and What We Can Learn
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The Trafalgar Square Books offices are located on a Vermont farm. We recognize ourselves as pretty lucky, seeing as in between meetings and calls with authors we can look out the windows and see both horses and Highland Cattle grazing in the green fields that slope up from the barn […]
No Really, Can We Stop Excusing Horse Abuse?
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I swear that Equestrians are experts in making excuses. Don’t get me wrong, I include myself in that observation as well. I’ve been called out more than a few times in the course of my riding (and life in general) to stop making excuses. But I’d like to take a […]
Horse Training or Abuse?
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Learn about some of the abusive practices that can happen in training, and learn how to avoid them for your horse. A 3-year-old stallion stands tied in a small, covered enclosure. His halter is hooked to a chain hanging from a rafter. The tether raises the colt’s head and neck […]
Recognizing & Reporting Equine Abuse and Neglect
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If you suspect a horse is not receiving adequate care, it is important to take proper steps to report it. We’ve all been there, though no one ever wants to be. You take a new back road route on your way to work, and notice a small herd of horses […]