Twice a year, our horses have a strenuous job to do: when they shed their coats, they need to perform at their best because their metabolism is working overtime. Some older or sick horses struggle with this. As a horse owner, you can help your horse get through the coat change more relaxed.
Everything still feels like summer, you're wearing a T-shirt and smiling in the sun, while the first signs of fur are already becoming noticeable when you groom your horse. Or you're still enjoying the beautiful snowy landscape, while your horse is already shaking off its winter coat in January. The coat change is controlled by photoperiod, i.e., the length of daylight, and can sometimes start unexpectedly. Whether it's summer or winter coat, the metabolism really gets going. In healthy horses, you probably hardly notice it, but conscious feeding will certainly do your horse good, as its nutrient requirements are increased during this time. Perhaps you could simply feed a few extras during this time as a kind of coat change cure.
In weakened horses, the coat change can place a heavy strain on the immune system, for example in old or sick horses, as well as in pregnant mares, who ultimately have another major task to accomplish.
If you notice that your horse is having difficulty with the coat change, it is advisable to seek help from a veterinarian. A blood test can be used to determine whether there is a deficiency in certain substances. The veterinarian can also clarify whether there is a metabolic disorder behind it.
They exist, those little helpers among minerals and vitamins. Some horse owners feed herbal mixtures as a preventive measure, for example. Cod liver oil is also recommended.
If a deficiency has been identified in a blood test, you should consult your veterinarian to find the right product to remedy the deficiency. Keep in mind that some vitamins require others in order for the body to absorb them properly.
Here is an overview:
It is important that you only feed your pet a suitable product after consulting your veterinarian. Too much is just as harmful as too little.
In addition to a supportive diet, you can also do something for your horse during the coat change. Thorough brushing stimulates blood circulation, is good for the coat and skin, and also has a feel-good effect for many horses.
Finally, all that remains is to wish you and your horse a smooth transition through the seasons!
Bitless riding simply means riding without a bit in the horse's mouth. There are many different reasons and just as many ways to ride a horse without a bit. Of course, there are always disadvantages as well as advantages. Think about which bitless bridle suits you, your horse, and your riding style in advance. And finally, practice makes perfect.
Sebadenitis is a progressive inflammatory change in the sebaceous glands of the skin in dogs and cats, which ultimately leads to their irreversible destruction. The disease was first described in dogs in 1986.
The most common types of horse husbandry are classic stabling, free-range stabling (active stables), paddock trails, seasonal grazing, and open stabling. One thing should be clear to every horse owner. Horses want to run. In the steppe, they sometimes spend up to 16 hours a day searching for food and water. They graze as they roam across the land. Now, our horses have been bred and domesticated for our time together with them; they are no longer steppe ponies. We feed them and care for them. Nevertheless, horses need exercise. We should definitely keep this in mind when choosing how to keep our horses. This also means that keeping horses exclusively in stalls without a sufficiently large paddock for free movement is not species-appropriate. In addition, contact with other horses must always be ensured, as horses are herd animals.
Hematology is a branch of internal medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. Hematological diseases include anemia, blood clotting disorders, cancer of the blood-forming cells or lymphatic system, and autoimmune diseases of the blood.
Many eye surgeries that have long been common in humans are now also performed on animals. There are now a number of veterinary specialists in ophthalmology (=ophthalmologists).
Even after centuries of domestication and breeding, the horse remains a flight animal. Some behaviors are undesirable to us humans, but they are not behavioral disorders; rather, they are part of the horse's natural nature. These include, for example, shying, bucking, or bolting. A typical behavioral disorder, on the other hand, is cribbing.
Summer eczema is a recurring allergic skin disease in horses that manifests itself in severe itching and hairless, open patches of skin. The disease can occur in horses of all breeds, although Icelandic horses, Norwegian horses, Shetland ponies, and Haflingers are significantly more commonly affected, while warmbloods tend to be affected less frequently.
Corneal ulcer, also known as corneal ulceration, is one of the most common eye diseases in horses. It is not a growth, but rather a tissue defect that does not heal chronically and can vary in severity. The treatment of a corneal ulcer can be very frustrating, and untreated or incorrectly treated corneal ulcers can lead to serious visual impairment or even loss of the eye.
Vaccinations for horses serve as preventive healthcare and protect against possible diseases and their spread. Depending on what you want to do with your horse, different vaccinations are recommended and even mandatory for competition horses. All vaccinations are correctly documented by your veterinarian in the equine passport.
As a general rule, every dog needs a certain amount of grooming, some more than others. For some dogs, it is even worth taking them to a professional groomer. As a dog owner, you can also do some grooming yourself at home.
Taking in a foal and choosing the long road to happiness on horseback is a real adventure! It is an opportunity to form a bond that can mature over many years and to watch a foal grow into a horse. But it also requires commitment on your part.
Doesn't every rider dream of an unforgettable ride on their four-legged favorite? Whether over hill and dale, along the coast, or simply from place to place. The feeling of sitting relaxed on your horse with the wind in your hair is amazing. Exploring nature together, perhaps racing neck and neck in a riding group or bravely riding into a lake to swim – you probably have all these images and stories of wonderful riding trips with happy horse-rider pairs in your head right now. We all know that it's not always sunshine and roses on four hooves and that some riders work up quite a sweat when riding through unfamiliar terrain. But with a little preparation and a few precautions, you can create the right conditions for returning from your ride full of enthusiasm and wonderful memories.
