Health

As the saying goes “Frustration begins where Knowledge ends” Getting frustrated happens often as we work with horses. They can hit every emotional “hot button” we have. They can make us feel brilliant and then turn right around and make us feel inept…all in the same session!    The control of emotions/frustration is very challenging for us humans because we invest so much of ourselves into our horses and our horsemanship. When our horse "...

How do horses get them, and can they be treated? Windgalls, also known as windpuffs, are terms used to describe puffy, fluid-filled swellings above and behind the fetlock of horses. These unsightly bulges cause owners to worry over the integrity of their horses' well-being, but are they serious?  First of all, what are they? All equid joints contain synovial fluid--a lubricating substance that allows the joint to move smoothly by acting as a lubricant. Inside the joint, syno...

 THE MOST DREADED DIAGNOSIS IN HORSES IS LAMINITIS  One of the most dreaded diagnosis in the horse world is laminitis. Laminitis is the inflammation and  dysfunction of the lamina that connects the coffin bone to the hoof wall. This time of year with the  onset of new grass growth, some horses over graze it and it can cause laminitis. Why does this  happen with the new grass growth, it has to do with the amount of non structural carbohydrates  present. Carbohydr...

Lyme disease may not be the most prevalent threat to your horse, but it can definitely impact their health. Lameness, arthritis, neurological disorders, dermatitis and moon blindness are the most common symptoms. Lyme Disease was first recognized as a disease in 1975, when 51 patients in Connecticut were diagnosed with oligoarthritis. The Tick Encounter Research Center in Rhode Island is a Nonprofit Section of the Department of Biological Sciences at Rhode Island University. Its entire  foc...

Every horse person knows the terror of the word “laminitis.” But what is the reason for this devastating disease? A specific singular cause is not known. Instead, laminitis is a multifactorial syndrome, meaning numerous elements may contribute to the development of clinical signs. First, what is laminitis? It is an inflammation of the laminae. These interdigitating layers of tissue act to support and secure the coffin bone to the hoof wall. The laminae contain extensive blood and...

I had never noticed that my horse, Jack, had ocular cysts in both eyes until a veterinary intern saw them and pointed them out to me. That realization made a lot of sense and explained some unusual spooking behaviors.  Corpora Nigra cysts are benign cysts that form in the irises of horses. It is believed to be a natural formation that acts as a shade to the sun, often occurring in horses who live outside and have limited protection from the sun. Mother Nature takes care of all her creat...