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, or weight that’s crept off without anyone noticing. A good care schedule is really just a way of making sure you look …
🚨 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. …
If you’re thinking about buying a horse, figure out the ongoing costs first. The purchase price is the easy part. It’s the monthly bills and the surprise vet calls that catch most first-time owners off guard. Quick answer: A 2023 Synchrony study put the cost of owning a horse at about $8,600 to $26,000 a …
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% …
Your horse comes in from turnout with welts on his neck or a trickle of blood down a leg after an afternoon of stomping and swishing. Horsefly bites hurt, and while most settle down on their own, some swell badly or get infected. Quick answer: Rinse a horsefly bite with clean water and check it …
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 …