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?

There is a long, exhaustive list of the causes of Colic and includes anything from heart problems to infection. It is, therefore, simpler to break the causes into two main groups; digestive tract related and non-digestive tract related.

Non-intestinal tract related illness can include, but not limited to; foaling, placenta retention, abortion, uterine torsion, pleuritis, botulism, renal and bladder stones, ruptured bladder, hepatitis, myositis and laminitis.

You only have to turn on the local news or log onto social media, and you are hit with a very sad story of an abandoned horse found emaciated, or worse, dead in a ditch covered in yesterday’s rubbish! It is an image that is very hard to swallow for horse lovers and fanatics, but one we see too often. Unfortunately, abandonment is on the rise and it is not, in some cases, quite as clear cut as you may think. In some cases, due to the economic climate, low wages, high prices of rent and stabling, and lack of knowledge, horses are ‘turfed’ out to face the world alone.

The controversy of rider weight has long been a popular topic for equestrians and the media. While we all want what is best for our horses, it is important to recognize the relevant factors that should be used in determining a healthy weight that a horse is capable of carrying.