General horse information, from the history of the horse to a look at different breeds.
Most horse care problems don’t start as emergencies. They start as small changes an owner misses — a horse eating a little slower than usual, a foot that feels warmer than it did yesterday, weight that’s crept down without anyone noticing until it’s serious. The best horse care routine is simple: pay attention every day, …
🚨 The 60-Second Triage Test (2AM Rule) Kit Location: Find it pitch black, no lights. <60 seconds? Pass. >60 seconds? Reorganize tonight. Thermometer: Normal = 99-101°F. Above 102°F or below 99°F = call vet now. Heart Rate: Normal = 28-40 bpm. Colic threshold = sustained 50+ bpm = emergency. Digital Pulse: Barely palpable = normal. …
Most horse ownership cost guides give you a purchase price and a monthly board rate, then stop. This guide goes further, drawing on 30 years of tracked expenses across Louisiana tracks and training barns — the routine costs, the surprises, and the expensive problems that can hit at 2 AM. The surprising part isn’t the …
The PPE report is back, and it isn’t perfectly clean. A horse doesn’t technically pass or fail a PPE—the exam identifies findings that you and your vet have to decide how to interpret. The hard part is deciding whether this one changes the purchase enough that you need more information, different terms, or a different …
Quick Answers: Pre-Purchase Exam Costs How much does a Basic Riding Horse PPE cost? • $450–$900 (Includes physical, flexions, trot, and targeted X-rays) How much for a Performance Horse PPE? • $1,200–$3,000+ (Extensive X-rays, ultrasound, drug screen, detailed analysis) What is the single most important diagnostic? • X-rays (Radiographs)—they reveal pre-existing issues like navicular changes …
You’ve probably got a rough sense that horse insurance exists, and a vague worry that it’s expensive. What most owners actually want to know is simpler: what does it cost, what does it cover, and is it worth adding to an already long list of horse-ownership expenses? Full mortality coverage typically runs 2.8% to 4.5% …
If Your Horse Has Bites Right Now Within the first hour: Rinse the bite area with cool water to remove any remaining saliva and reduce immediate swelling. Pat dry gently—don’t rub. What I keep in my barn: A spray bottle of diluted chlorhexidine (the same thing vets use), a tube of hydrocortisone cream, and Benadryl …
Finding the right horse is exciting, but this is also where many buyers get in trouble. The horse may look great, ride well, and come with a story you want to believe – but you don’t really know what you’re buying until you’ve had a proper pre-purchase exam. What is a horse pre-purchase exam? A …
The cost to raise a horse—from birth through adulthood—can be rewarding, but it also demands careful financial planning and preparation. Whether you’re planning to breed your own mare or purchase a young foal, understanding the full scope of costs is crucial to making an informed, responsible decision. This comprehensive guide breaks down the expenses from …
Most horse anxiety has a practical fix, but the fix depends on what is actually causing it. What looks like a behavior problem is often a management issue, a pain issue, or a training gap. This guide covers the safest ways to calm an anxious horse without supplements: environment, routine, groundwork, body language, and ruling …