Health, care and management

All equestrians can help horses to stay healthy by taking simple steps to promote good hygiene and help prevent the spread of disease, both at the yard, and when out and about

Like us, horse’s need a healthy, balanced diet, so it is important to understand their basic feeding requirements

It’s important for our horses’ wellbeing that we keep them at the optimum level of fitness for their age and individual state of health

Horses have special tactile sensory hairs, known as whiskers. The whiskers on a horse play an important role in their sensory awareness system. These amazing sensory hairs have their own nerve and blood supply and help horses navigate their surroundings

Lameness can come from any part of the horse’s body and alter the way they move, behavioural traits and their ability to perform.

Horses thrive off a regular and consistent routine and any change to your horse’s routine needs to be made gradually to ensure the health of your horse is not compromised.

Undiagnosed dental problems are a major concern as they can seriously deteriorate unseen until the horse shows signs that there’s a problem

Following a testing-led deworming programme benefits your horse and the environment by reducing unnecessary exposure to dewormer drugs and decreases the wider risk of dewormer resistance which is a major and growing threat

Maintaining your horse at a healthy weight can be a real challenge and is a balancing act between providing the right diet, health care, exercise and management

Smegma, a wax-like substance, can build up under the sheath on a male horse’s penis. Regular checks and maintenance is needed to avoid potential problems.

As horse owners we know and love our horses and as such need to translate the information they give us to determine their quality of life.

Elderly horses will become more susceptible to certain health conditions, however with the right management, care and veterinary support your horse can go on to enjoy their golden years.

Putting a horse to sleep (also known as euthanasia) is sadly something that many horse owners must face at some point when owning or caring for a horse, pony or donkey.

When looking to reduce costs, it’s essential that this doesn’t have a negative impact on your horse’s welfare or health.

Tethering is the practice of securing a horse to an area with a long rope or chain tied from its headcollar/neck strap to a stake in the ground.

Fly grazing and abandonment are where an owner allows their horses to graze on land without the landowner's permission.

Grazing muzzles can be used to restrict grass intake and help you manage your horse’s weight.

The amount and type of information on a bag of feed can often seem quite daunting. However, it’s important to check what you’re feeding your horse to help you make an informed decision on what’s best to give them