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If you live in an area where you get the full spectrum of winter weather - freezing rain, sleet, snow, ice, and so on - getting ready for the onslaught can be a time and labor intensive process. There’s quite enough to do to make sure that your horses are prepared for dramatic long-term changes in weather. Making a checklist of tasks can help you compartmentalize and not get overwhelmed as the cold and wet time of year approaches. Depending on the size and scope of your barn and the acreage of the property you live on, some of the...

For some horse owners, winter is something we look forward to. There are charming country rides past fields covered in white snow outside, while inside we cozy up around the fireplace and enjoy a mug of hot cocoa. Of course, standing between the rides and cocoa, there are the reasons that many horse owners dread wintertime. These include the fact that along with the season comes a load of extra work. If you’re like me and live somewhere that has freezing temps, winter means dealing with ice. Lots of ice. It means breaking ice, picking ice out of horses feet,...

Laminitis is a potentially fatal and maddeningly-sneaky medical condition affecting the feet of horses. There are three major reasons why we refer to laminitis as a “sneaky” disease: Laminitis is a secondary condition with vague symptoms. As a secondary condition, it has a bewildering range of causes. Development is erratic and flare-ups are unpredictable. When a horse develops laminitis, the signs are often subtle. Since laminitis can arise from any number of underlying causes, it can also be difficult to pinpoint and diagnose. One of its most insidious features is its unpredictability. While overindulging on lush, sweet spring grass is...

A horse's risk for developing laminitis doesn't disappear with the leaves. As the autumn season approaches, factors like hormones, fall rains, and the amount of time and attention your horse gets can all negatively impact their health. Liv Gude has some pointers on horse care and barn management that can help you avoid fall laminitis.

What causes laminitis in horses? There are a number of contributing factors, overload, inflammation, metabolic issues, and physical trauma among them. Laminitis tends to be a secondary condition arising from a variety of sources, so we'll guide you through the most common.