When the first McDonald’s opened in our small community, we talked about riding our horses over for the occasion. The route crossed into the city limits, so before we saddled up, I checked whether horseback riding was actually allowed there. You may be able to ride a horse on city streets, but the answer depends …
A horse can look perfectly sound in the morning and be nearly non-weight-bearing by afternoon. I’ve seen it happen with my horses more than once, and a hoof abscess can be the reason. A hoof abscess can cause sudden, severe lameness – sometimes bad enough to make a horse look like he’s broken a leg. …
If you’ve ever asked why horses paw the ground, the answer depends on whether the behavior is normal impatience—or a sign of pain. In many horses, pawing is a learned behavior or a response to frustration. But because pawing can also signal pain, I always look at the whole picture before deciding it’s just a …
My son is drawing plans for a new barn, and stall size was one of the first things we worked through — because it’s also one of the hardest to fix after the fact. You can adjust flooring, change doors, improve ventilation. But if the stalls are too small for the horses you’re housing, you’re …
Can a horse kick kill you? Yes. A horse kick can be fatal, especially when it lands on the head, chest, or abdomen. Key facts: Researchers and equine safety organizations estimate that a horse kick can generate thousands of pounds of force — enough to cause severe blunt-force trauma Kicks are one of the most …
Choosing horse barn flooring isn’t about finding one “best” material – stalls, aisles, and tack rooms often need different solutions. After 30+ years around horses and dealing with Louisiana weather, I’ve found the biggest mistakes usually come from choosing a surface without considering drainage, maintenance, and how horses actually use the space. Here’s what works, …
Some horses are prone to overgraze on lush pasture grass and become dangerously overweight. To combat equine obesity and reduce the associated adverse health conditions, horses are often fitted with grazing muzzle halters. But do they work, and are they hard to fit on a horse? Grazing muzzle halters, when used correctly, work to reduce …
The first fans I used in my horse barn were standard household box fans, tied with hay string to the front of the stalls. They worked for a time, but eventually failed as dust and shavings clogged the exposed motors. Over the past 30+ years, I’ve transitioned to enclosed-motor agricultural fans, which have consistently run …
Not every horse needs a bit to be ridden, but deciding whether bitless is right for yours takes more than a yes-or-no answer. When I choose tack for different horses, I look at their training, comfort, the job I am asking them to do, and the rider’s hands—not simply whether there is metal in the …
My friend euthanized his horse after its leg broke during a race. We knew the horse well, and it was a favorite of my grandson’s. He immediately asked why they couldn’t fix his broken leg or let the horse live with three legs. Horses can’t live with three legs because their massive weight needs to …
