Fireworks, love them or hate them, they now seem to be a year-round occurrence. Julie Doorne has been highlighting across social media, how this issue affects horse owners, and is campaigning for change to help keep us all safe.

Happily living on the skin of horses is a bacterium going by the name of Dermatophilus Congolensis. Like most things in the world, the relationship between your horse and their naturally skin residing companions is all about balance. The skin microbiome plays its role for a healthy immune system among many other benefits. Their population is kept in check by the help of the flowing salts and oil excreted through the skin. However excessive and persistent moisture will disrupt this balance and provides the opportunity for the bacterium to get a little out of control. The result? Mud fever on the lower limbs and rain rot over the head, neck and body.

We’ve all experienced a Houdini horse; a horse that manages to escape from any and every fence. Stallions have been known to duck and dive under the tiniest of gaps between fencing and the ground, just to get to a mare in the next paddock. It's not unheard of for cheeky ponies to squeeze through all manner of fencing to go and explore. And we’ve all witnessed horses literally walk through fencing to get to the tasty green grass on the other side (you know, because the grass is always greener). 

Does your horse need Calcium?

It is widely understood that calcium is paramount to keeping strong and healthy bones and teeth; this doesn't only apply to humans, it also applies to horses, and in fact most mammals! Like humans, horses can sometimes be deficient in calcium.  But how do you know if your horse needs calcium supplementation in his feed?