My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
When Finn arrived in Massachusetts he was underweight and undermuscled. Although technically eight, he seemed more like a four-year-old — all legs, pretty angular, and wide-eyed. I didn’t feel like he could comfortably carry a rider, as his spine was too prominent and I didn’t want to make the experience uncomfortable for him, so my […]
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For the last three weeks, Zelda has been fighting to recover from an episode of laminitis. Over the weekend, a cellulitis infection caused her to spike a fever of 104, which triggered a second episode. Monday night she was in a lot of pain; my vet was with us until 11 p.m. Tuesday, x-rays confirmed […]
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When a horse steps on a nail it is a true emergency. Not only can a puncture wound damage important parts of the hoof, but it provides a pathway for dangerous bacteria that can lead to terrible infections. The lead photo for this blog was sent to me by a friend. Her horse came up […]
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After Zelda and Curly’s experience with the acorns, I’ve been thinking about the other plants that are toxic to horses. Let’s face it. Some horses — like Zelda — will eat just about anything they can get their mouths on. This propensity for sampling new foods can lead to horses eating plants that are toxic. […]
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It’s been a banner fall season for acorns. The deluge started a few weeks ago and all of a sudden we noticed Curly and Zelda were spending a lot of time under the oak tree in the back pasture. It’s a glorious tree and I never gave it a second thought, other than to admire […]
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Most of the time, Zelda is a perfect model of the noble steed. Her coat is gleaming, her expression is bright, her ears are pricked forward. But Zelda also has a goofy side. Usually after a ride, or when I’m giving her a massage or a laser treatment, she makes the silliest faces. You have […]
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Horses can sometimes develop lesions on their skin, usually around their lips and nose. These types of warts are known as papillomas. Horses can also contract ear papillomas, which are plaque-like patches of skin that occur in your horses’ inner ears. When left untreated, these conditions in your horse can become increasingly inflamed, which may […]
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Equine influenza is often referred to as “horse flu,” and it is one of the most infectious and highly contagious equine diseases in the world. The virus is caused by two types of influenza A related to flu found in other species. Within the United States, horses that develop influenza are usually around two or […]
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