Healthy Horse=Happy Horse

When a horse gets sick, the right thing to do is take care of it. One must treat it properly in order for the horse to get better. A healthy horse always makes a happy horse.

Here I will discuss some treatments to some of the diseases named/not named in the last post.

Treatments:

• Heaves (3 stages)
• Mild Heaves: limit the horse's exposure to allergy-producing dust and other particles
• let the horse out into fresh air
• use chest-high feeders instead of ground feeders
• remove the horse from the building/stall when cleaning the stall
• Moderate Heaves: the vet will recommend a form of treatment
• oral corticosteroids
•  oral bronchodilators
• expectorants
• antibiotics
• Severe Heaves: the vet might recommend inhaled medications
• inhaled corticosteriods
• inhaled bronchodilators

• Abscess 
• hoof: properly opened and good homeopathis prescribing is used
• lymph glands: skilled homeopathic prescribing
• other areas: treat with homeopathy and warm bathing

• Ringbone 
• surpass (a topical anti-inflammatory cream)
• shock wave therapy
• treating the joint if the joint is actually involved

Sick as a Horse

Like all living organisms, horses get sick.

This post will talk about some of the common diseases found in horses.

Bots: This is where flies lay their eggs in the horse's hair. When the horse scratches, it swallows the eggs and the larvae live inside the horse like worms would.
Colic: Pain in abdomen. Basically it is a bad stomachache for horses. There are many causes for colic, ranging from mild and inconsequential to the life-threatening or fatal.
Rain Rot: Crusty yellow scabs on the horse's body. These are caused by bacteria.
Ring Worm: This is a fungus that causes the horse's hair to fall out in a circular pattern.
Worms: They live inside a horse's stomach and intestines. They eat the horse's hay, grain, and blood. Horrible little buggers.

Now these are just a very few. If you want to know more diseases, click on the link above or go to  http://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions#

Next week I will discuss some of the treatments for some of the many diseases found in horses.

Leave your thoughts/comments below. Don't be afraid to add your opinions. They are welcome here.

Feeding Your Horse

Okay so everyone knows horses cannot survive without food and water. The amount given to a horse varies upon the amount of work being done, the age of the horse, the condition they are in, and the climate. Now there are several types of horse feed out there. I'm only going to give a few examples of types of feed and specialist feed.

Types of feed:

• Pony Nuts
• made up of grass and molasses
• Barley
• given to the horse either flaked, rolled, crushed, or micronised
• high in energy but low in fibre

•  Chaff
• chopped hay and molasses sometimes with oat straw added

•  Beans and Peas
• high in protein and energy esp. in lysine

Specialist feeds:

• Milk Pellets
• contain calcium

• Biotin
• aids in keeping the horses hooves, coat, and skin healthy

• Cod Liver Oil
• supple joints with a healthy coat and shine

• Carrots, Apples, and Swedes
• given to brighten up feeds and provide something extra tasty as a treat or reward

Now of course these are only a few examples of each. There are of course many more. Just click the hyper-link above or go to http://www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com/horse-feed.html if you would like to learn more.

Differences between the Thoroughbred and the Quarter Horse

One of the most common comparisons among the horse breeds is between the Quarter Horse and the Thoroughbred.

Quarter Horse

The Quarter Horse is a famous horse breed that originated in the United States. It received it's name because of its ability to run a quarter of a mile faster than any other horse at speeds up to 55mph (89km/h). This is horse a crossbreed of an English Thoroughbred and a Native American Chickasaw. It stands at about 14-15 hands high (hh)*. The colors range from gray and black to various shades of brown. This horse has a warm-blood blood type and can live up to more than 30 years. They are best known for its ability in rodeos and horse shows, but are mostly used for riding events like barrel racing and calf roping. These horses have a temperament that are eager to please and versatile, calm and well balanced, highly intelligent, gentle, docile, and a sense of humor.

Thoroughbred 

The Thoroughbred is considered the fastest breed of horse in the world. This horse originated in the United Kingdom and usually stands at about 15.2-17 hh. The typical coloring of a Thoroughbred is chestnut, black, or gray. They have a hot-blood blood type and live around 35 years. These horses are best known for their well defined faces with long necks and broad chests and they are commonly used for Endurance Riding. Their temperament is courageous, alert, spirited, excitable, fast, athletic, and loyal. 

Here is a video that also explains a little about the differences between the two breeds.

*For those of you who don't know, hands high is the common tool used to measure how tall a horse is.

Comment your thoughts, opinions, or ideas down below. They are more than welcome. Also if you want know something specific, comment it below as well.