Latest Articles
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How Your Horse Breathes in Canter
I had an interesting conversation with someone who was wondering why her horse’s rhythm speeds up when it begins to tire in canter? In this case, her horse hasn’t cantered under saddle in quite a while and loses her wind easily. When resting, walking, trotting and breathing hard after exercise your horse’s rib-cage expands and… Read more
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Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum)
Bracken Fern is found throughout the world in open pasture and woodland. It’s one of the top 10 most toxic plants for horses in the United States. Bracken fern has broad, triangular fronds that grow up directly from stout, black, horizontal root stalks and is the only fern that develops side branches. It’s bright green… Read more
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Red Maple Leaves and Horses
Red Maple trees grow all across North America and are one of the top 10 most poisonous plants in the US to horses. Toxicity typically (but not always) occurs in the fall during leaf drop season and when pastures tend to have less available forage. Other factors such as frost, tree trimming and storm damage… Read more
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What Protects Your Horse’s Muscles From Over Stretching?
Muscles are protected from over-stretching by several receptors that are located within the muscle itself and in the surrounding connective tissue. One of the most important receptors that protect muscles from over-stretching is the muscle spindle. Muscle spindles are sensory receptors located within the muscle that detect changes in muscle length and rate of change… Read more
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More Chew Time = Less Time on an Empty Stomach
Did you know? The number of chewing movements for roughage (hay, grass, etc.) is much greater than with concentrates. Horses make 800 to 1200 chewing movements per 1 kg (2.2 lb) of concentrate, while 1 kg (2.2 lb) of roughage requires 3000 to 3500 chewing movements. Meaning it takes at least 3x longer to chew… Read more
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What are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are a small portion of muscle spasming in a miniature Charlie horse. They can cause localized pain and tenderness, as well as referred pain to other areas of the body. Trigger points often form in clusters, shortening the muscle(s) and restricting movement first in one area, then the rest of the body. They… Read more
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Trigger Points, Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Massage Therapy
Have you ever had a Charlie horse in your muscle? If so, then you know how it feels. The whole muscle goes into a painful spasm, and the only thing that helps is gently lengthening and stretching the muscle back out. Trigger points are a small portion of muscle spasming in a miniature Charlie horse.… Read more
