Square Up Your Horse
Despite your possible preconceived notion about the subject, squaring up isn't just for show horses. The simple process of placing each hoof neatly on each of the four corners of a "square" (which really is more of a rectangle) teaches your horse obedience, patience and balance.
A squared-up horse is easier to mount than a sprawled one, because having his feet firmly planted as you swing your leg over his back makes him less likely to move as he strives to keep his balance. Plus, squaring up also makes getting a... | read
Congress Checking into Racing Safety
Horse racing has fallen under the watchful eyes of Congress. High-profile breakdowns of horses such as Barbaro and Eight Belles, while not necessarily related to abusive drug practices, have turned the spotlight on the racing industry. Now Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, and Rep. Edward Whitfield, a Republican from Kentucky, are reviewing breakdown and injury data from three horse racing industry groups. Udall and Whitfield have asked whether the industry has toughened its anti-doping rules after the 2008 Kentucky Derby, when a horse racing safety... | read
UC Davis Vet School Faces Budget Cuts
The poor economy and less money spent on animals has meant fewer customers for UC Davis, the acclaimed veterinary teaching hospital, reports the Sacramento Bee newspaper. And that has triggered layoffs and furloughs. In 2009, the hospital saw a 20 percent drop in demand for large-animal treatments. W. David Wilson, director of the teaching hospital and the UCD vet school's associate dean for clinical programs, told the newspaper, the reason is simple: "Some people just can't afford it at this time." Wilson said fewer large animal owners —... | read
Herd Saves Horse's Life
A horse that was shot twice with a crossbow (yes, you read that right) was saved by her herd mates, says a UK horse owner. The four horses took turns licking the injured horse's wound. By doing so, they kept the wound clean and stemmed the blood loss.
Witnesses saw a group of teenage boys running away from the scene. The police are investigating, reports Foxnews.com
The Daily Express newspaper reported that the 20-year-old horse, who has competed in show-jumping and dressage events across the UK, was blasted in the stomach while... | read
Dutton's Blog offers View Inside Road to the WEG
U.S. three-day eventer Phillip Dutton shares his personal experiences in preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in a new online blog from top horse websites EquiSearch.com and DiscoverHorses.com.
Presented by Cosequin, Dutton's Road to WEG blog is available at http://duttonweg.blogs.equisearch.com. The WEG will take place September 25-October... | read
