Heather Smith Thomas

A common issue with older horses is stiffness and pain in various joints due to arthritis.

Metabolic issues are common in older horses, and early veterinary intervention is key to keeping horses living longer, healthier lives.

Much as been learned in the past decade about better caring for senior horses through diet, exercise, joint management and pain relief.

Keeping an older horse fit is easier than bringing an older horse back from being away from activity.

The most common causes of hives include sensitivity reactions to biting flies or insect stings and allergies.

Sarcoid and melanoma are the two most-common types of skin cancer in horses.

You need to know if your horse has biting or sucking lice because the treatments are different.

Grazing cows or sheep with or after horses in a pasture can benefit the animals and the land.

Temporary electric fencing can allow you to make the most of your pasture grazing while keeping horses safe and where they belong.

Taking good care of your horse's tack will keep it safe and useable for years.

Here are some tips from industry experts on washing and thoroughly drying your horse blankets.

Stable owners recommend that you run your business from passion, but make sure to use good business sense and community outreach.

Understand what you want your digital communications to do for you, whether it is to keep current clients up-to-date on happenings at the facility or to gain new business.

Whether you focus on one breed or discipline, or like a mix at your facility, keeping horses healthy and clients happy is paramount to your business.

You need to decide what your focus is for your equine boarding and/or training facility.

Prepare the area where your horses will winter if you keep them penned off of your pastures.

Give tasks to working students that help you and prepare them for future horse facility responsibilities.

Sometimes it’s difficult to prevent spread of contagious diseases, but it helps to thoroughly disinfect the stall where a sick horse has been before using it again for any other horse.

Jenny Wilkinson, DVM, of the University of Vermont, said that horse owners need to know rain rot is contagious. “People originally thought it was caused by a fungus that lived in the soil. Research showed it is caused by bacteria that live on the skin. Horses may carry it and never develop a problem, but other horses they come into contact with might be susceptible to infection.