Learn to identify poisonous plants in your horse’s pasture by visiting these university websites. Plant photos, toxicity ratings, signs of poisoning in horses, first aid and prevention are just part of what you will find at:• Cornell University—www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants• Purdue University—www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/WS/WS_37_ToxicPlants08.pdf
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With fall comes cold weather that can lead to higher incidence of impaction colic. The most common reasons for this serious health problem are lack of quality forage and not enough water in a horse’s diet. Too much indigestible...
An adult horse’s teeth are not all that they appear. With a full length of about four inches, much of each permanent horse tooth is hidden within the jaw. In the days of roaming pastures, continuous grazing of rough...
Equine feed companies are required by law to include specific information on their complete feed and supplement labels: The name of the feed, the class of horse the feed is designed for (broodmare, growing horse, et cetera), ingredient list...
Cantharidin, the highly toxic substance found in blister beetles, can cause severe complications and death if ingested by your horse. Blister beetles swarm in alfalfa fields and can accidentally end up in hay bales. The best way to avoid...
Researchers in Australia* are warning that there “is an urgent need for research” to confirm the efficacy and safety of L-tryptophan supplementation in horses. A naturally occurring amino acid found in human foods such as turkey, chicken, pork and...
Like people, some horses seem to stay fat off the smell of an empty feed sack, while others can consume enough calories to, well, choke a horse without gaining a pound. Few equine management challenges are more distressing than...
By Cindy Hale
Late summer is the time of year when alfalfa hay is prone to infestation by the blister beetle. There are many varieties of beetles that contain a chemical known as cantharidin, which is corrosive to the skin...
The decision about what kind of hay to feed your horse is not an easy one, even if you know a thing or two about equine nutrition. After all, with several types of hays available at your feed store,...
Research published in 2005 revealed the presence of ulcers in the colons of performance horses. According to the study, conducted by Frank Pellegrini, DVM, 63 percent of horses involved in competition sports, ranging from dressage to racing, suffered from colonic...
