March 2009

  • Clipping Along into Spring!

    By macallister on 3/30/09 8:27pm
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    It's spring, and a lot of horse owners are dealing with leftover winter coat on their ponies during and after those early workouts. Spring can vary wildly in terms of weather, wind, precipitation, and fairly dramatic and rapid temperature fluctuation. All that winter hair isn't just messy when it's stuck all over your tack, it holds in heat and traps sweat produced when your horse exerts himself, and then it takes a long time to cool him out so he doesn't get chilled. So every spring, horse owners have to consider whether or not to clip.

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  • What your horse needs to know

    By macallister on 3/13/09 11:24am
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    Loading calmly in a trailer can save your horse's life

    The time to school your beloved equine buddy on the things she needs to know for a trip to the vet is not when the vet is trying very hard to coax her into the stocks for a ticklish bit of examination. That way lies madness for everyone involved.

    Here's a very basic skill-set for your horse:

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  • When you need a vet, Part II

    By macallister on 3/8/09 2:54pm
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    What you need to know when you call your vet.

    So worst comes to worst, and you find yourself making one of those dreaded calls to your emergency veterinarian. Don't panic, because as stressful as an emergency medical situation can be for both you and your horse, you can still do quite a bit to help. It's going to be helpful to your vet if you already have some basic information written down, when you call.

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  • When do we need a vet? (Part I)

    By macallister on 3/7/09 2:20pm
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    The best thing you can do for your horse's long-term health and soundness is pay close attention.

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  • Equine First Aid kits

    By macallister on 3/1/09 1:20am
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    I'd like to make it clear that I'm not a veterinarian, and my intention is not to be giving veterinary advice. I've had horses all my life, worked with and for vets, and I've been a trainer and farrier for many years. So the following is intended to be simple and helpful advice for you and your horse, based on my own years of experience as both a horse-owner and a horse professional.

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