You’d think a colic surgery, PSSM and shivers, headshaking, and even a pulled suspensory years ago would be enough problems in one horse. But you’d be wrong. What’s wrong with the silly horse now? I don’t know whether my horse…
SmartPak Equine
Healthy Horses, Happy Riders
Blog Archives
Newman’s Notes on Driving
Eating… Grass. Eating… Grass. I’ve watched my mom drive up to the barn, set out a bunch of stuff, and get chased into the other pasture by the thingy with wheels. Now she’s putting brightly colored buckets all over THIS…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Blankets and Shelter for Horses
I have two new horses this winter on 24/7 turnout. One is an athletic build and has the start of a nice fluffy coat. The other is more classic stock horse and if anything is a little on the heavy…
Posted in Ask the Vet
Checking Your Horse’s Winter Weight
I have an 18-year-old off-track Thoroughbred who lives on pasture. His weight is normally pretty steady, but as he ages, I worry about him dropping weight. The problem is, he grows a super thick winter coat, and I have trouble…
Posted in Ask the Vet
Protecting my pony from her pushy pasture mates
I keep my 30-year-old pony at a boarding stable where she’s turned out in a fairly large field with four other horses. Most of the time they seem to peacefully coexist, but when push comes to shove, my pony is…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Misc. Topics
Forage For Senior Horses
I know senior feeds contain a forage replacer for horses with difficulty chewing and digesting hay, but it doesn’t seem enough. What other forage options are there for the hard to keep senior horse? – Via Horsechannel.com You are definitely…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Nutrition
“Stacking the Deck” Towards Joint Health
My horse seems to have normal, healthy joints, but I know joint health becomes an issue for many horses as they get older. So my question is, how do I prevent joint degeneration in the first place? – via Horsechannel.com…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Blogs
Joint Injection Options
I’ve had my 10-year-old Quarter horse gelding for almost two years. A few months before I bought him, his previous owner gave him hock injections. He’s still a bit stiff in his back right hock. I don’t want to jump…
Posted in Ask the Vet
How I Became a Vet Part IV — Getting to SmartPak
Be sure to read part 1, part 2 and part 3! Where We Left Off In the last installment, I had graduated from veterinary school and found a position as an associate veterinarian at a mixed practice. In addition to…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Help for a Horse with Sweet Itch
My 8-year-old AQHA gelding has a bad case of sweet itch. When I bought him three years ago, I was told he liked to scratch his stomach, but I eventually figured out that he’s very allergic to the bite of…
Posted in Ask the Vet
Keeping Flies out of My Horse’s Eyes
Is there a safe way to keep flies away from my horse’s eyes? He always manages to take off his fly mask, but it doesn’t seem safe to use fly spray near his eyes. Are there any other options? –…
Posted in Ask the Vet
Supplementing a Horse for Anemia
I recently had my horse’s blood tested due to concern of anemia. He is a 4 yr old WB/TB, gelded just a few months ago. During work he has plenty of energy and is very fit, but he is the…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Diseases and Conditions
Tying Up in Horses (exertional rhabomyolysis)
I have a question regarding the issue of tying up. I’ve decided to put together a SmartPak for my horse, Liam, to aid in his muscle development. He’s very young (5) and we imported him from Ireland about a year…
Posted in Ask the Vet, Diseases and Conditions
Seasonal Shoeing
In the winter I usually pull the shoes off my horse and then come spring I put fronts on and then move back to shoes all the way around when summer approaches. I’ve heard this can be a bad thing.…
Posted in Ask the Vet
