Heather Smith Thomas
Nutrition Concerns in Older Horses
When addressing feed and body condition, be aware of related and overlapping issues.
Dental Issues in Older Horses
Dental or weight loss concerns can be managed in many horses with the help of a veterinarian and dedicated owners.
Immune Issues in Older Horses
The immune system of a horse often becomes less efficient as the horse grows older.
Exercise Tips for Older Horses
Since senior horses still need exercise, here are some tips to keep them happy, healthy and moving.
Caring for Senior Horses: Body Condition
It’s easier to keep a horse in good body condition than to try to bring a skinny horse back to proper weight, said veterinarian Tia Nelson.
When Is a Horse Considered 'Old'?
Not all horses age the same, so it is important for horse owners and veterinarians to work together to keep senior horses happy and healthy.
Equine Sarcoids
Sarcoids can be difficult to diagnose and treat in horses, and probably are transmitted from horse-to-horse.
Equine Warts
There are different kinds of warts that affect horses; your veterinarian can help you determine what the best recourse is to address equine warts.
Equine Ringworm
Ringworm in horses is a superficial fungal infection that can be spread to other horses or humans.
Bacterial Folliculitis in Horses
For any skin condition, your veterinarian should be involved in diagnosing the condition and recommending/prescribing the appropriate treatment.
Rain Rot in Horses
Moisture is needed for the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis to emerge and become infective, causing what horse owners call rain rot.
Scratches in Horses
There are a number of different types of skin problems in horses with varying causes—everything from parasites to viruses, fungi, bacteria and allergies.
Non-Chemical Weed Control in Horse Pastures
Here are some management tips to help horse property owners better control weeds in horse pastures without resorting to chemicals.
Chemical Weed Control on Horse Pastures
You can use chemical weed control on horse pastures, but there are steps to take to ensure that you are using it safely and effectively.
Rotational Grazing Helps Horse Pastures
If you want the horses to make the most of your pasture, you need to make them stay in each area until they graze it down to a uniform level.
Water for Horse Pasture Health
Whether you depend on rain or irrigation, water is important to keep horse pastures producing properly each year.
Management Tips for Dragging Horse Pastures
Timing is important when you are dragging horse pastures to break up fecal piles.
Tips on Fertilizing Horse Pastures
Horse pastures need proper management in order to provide the best nutrition for grazing animals
Seeding Horse Pastures
Here are tips on helping pastures that no longer have good stands of grass for your horses to graze.
Preparing Hard-Used Horse Paddocks for Winter
You must manage fall pastures and paddocks in order to have grass growth next spring.
Using Volunteer Labor for Maintenance and Improvements
Chose volunteer tasks around the barn wisely, then have fun!
Horse Farm Maintenance: Using Family Labor
Using family labor to do projects on your horse property can be fun, but you need to make sure the tasks are safely suited to the person.
Fall Weed Control on the Horse Farm
There are many ways you can control weeds on your horse property.
Paddock and Field Management - Fall Fertilization
Here are tips for getting the most out of your fall horse pasture fertilization.
Facility/Property Maintenance and Improvements
Pay attention to fencing, building maintenance and repair and amenities that can make your facility safe and enjoyable for people and horses.
Budgeting for Horse Farm Maintenance
It is important to prioritize, get quotes and be flexible in your plans in order to get your horse farm projects done efficiently.
Tips on Establishing Better Drainage on Horse Pastures
Drainage problems are the reason horse farms get mud in paddocks or fields.
Health Hazards of Mud on Horse Farms
Horses that have to stand in excessive moisture or mud can face increase health problems.
Mud Management on Horse Farms Might Mean Creating Higher Ground
You can reduce the "bog effect" if you take time to notice where water runs and settles after a rain, and plan your landscaping strategy accordingly.
Avoid Mud on Horse Farms with These Surfaces for High-Traffic Areas
There are ways to diminish mud in high-traffic areas on your horse property.
Reseeding and Renovating a Degraded Horse Pasture
Before you decide to reseed and renovate a pasture, assess its present condition and what plants are there. Dr. Glenn Shewmaker, Extension Forage Specialist, University of Idaho, recommended taking a close look to decide whether renovating will be economical.
Horse Tack Maintenance: Cleaning Non-Leather Tack
Nylon, biothane and fleece horse tack all needs to be cleaned regularly, and here are tips to do it quickly and easily.
Clean Tack, Happy Owner
Don't you just love going into a tack shop where all that clean, healthy leather just gleams? Here are tips to bring your old leather back to life.
Golf Carts on Horse Farms
Golf carts are versatile conveyances and are used on many horse farms for all kinds of things, including exercising horses.
Multi-Species Grazing for Weed Control in Horse Pastures
Rotating either sheep or goats through your horse pastures enables you to target some of the weedy species that horses won’t graze.
Herd Health Planning
A farm or boarding facility with multiple horses always needs a good herd health plan. This involves more than just vaccinations and deworming.
The Hay It Keeps A Changing
Hay isn't the same from day-to-day, field-to-field or harvest-to-harvest. Since pasture and hay are the forage foundations of your horse's diet, you need to know what nutritional values are in them.
Rodents: The Uninvited Guests
For the sake of your horses, tack and feed, make rodents unwelcome in your barn.
Emergency Fence Repairs for your Horse Farm
Keeping fences in good repair not only extends their life but also reduces risk of injury if horses have close encounters with their boundaries.
Tips for Fixing Sagging Gates
Gates can become a heavy burden to open and close if they sag and drag, no longer swinging freely. Gate posts should be sturdy and set deep in the ground, preferably with a good brace in addition to the gate post.
Figuring Out the Layers of Protection
Confused about what blankets are best? There are pros and cons to every type.
Tips on Cleaning Up Your Tack
Tack cleaning may not be fun, but it is essential to keeping your equipment safe and durable. Here are some tips.