Equiniction Blog
What Do You Need for a Horse? A Supplies Checklist for New Owners
Considering embarking on the grand journey of horse ownership? Bewildered by the array of equine items out there and unsure of what you'll need? This checklist is for you. We'll cover the basic supplies required for the daily care of your brand-new steed. Your...
Main Types of Horse Characteristics: Know your Horse!
Main Types of Horse Characteristics: Know your Horse!Humans have been interacting with horses for centuries and their strength and character has contributed much to human society and development. Horses have a number of characteristics that combine to make them...
What is a Green Horse? Deciphering Equestrian Terms for Beginners
As a beginner, one of the first terms you might encounter is "green horse," a phrase that likely raises more questions than it answers. Is the horse actually green? Of course not. So, what exactly does this term mean, and why is it crucial to understand it? This...
Training your Horse to Accept a Vacuum
Horse grooming: the invigorating sport of transferring grime from the horse’s body to your own. An especially effective upper body workout during the spring, or any time a show is right around the corner. If you think that you do not have enough time or upper body...
The Best Electric Fences for Horses
They say that good fences make good neighbors. This must have been thought up by a horse owner originally, because the motto of every horse seems to be “don’t fence me in.” No matter what the reason, every horse seems dead-set on finding a way out of the paddock or...
Massage Therapy for Horses
If you are like many horse owners, your horse has a better life than you do. He has multiple vets, a farrier, a chiropractor, a personal trainer, life with friends, and a maximum of one hour of light work per day. When he walks, breathes, or blinks funny, you get...
The 10 Best Horse Breeds and Their Unique Features
Many a horse-crazy child has pored over the encyclopedias of horse breeds like the beautifully illustrated Kingfisher Illustrated Horse and Pony Encyclopedia. Colorful steeds graced these pages: island ponies of Japan, desert sprinting horses as old as the human race...
Composting Horse Manure: The Proven Benefits for Your Garden
Composting, an age-old practice utilized by farmers and gardeners worldwide, is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic material into a rich soil known as compost. This natural fertilizer is prized for its ability to enrich soil health, promote plant growth,...
The Best Toys for Stall Boredom
Imagine you are in a small house all day and all night. You are not able to get outside to exercise for more than an hour, maybe a few per day, and even then, it may not be the exercise you would choose for yourself. You don't have direct contact with your friends,...
Arabian Horse Characteristics and Features
Every horse lover in the world has heard of the Arabian horse breed and for very good reason. Bedouins in the Middle East have been selectively breeding these fabulous horses for centuries. There are petroglyphs from as early as perhaps 4000 BC on the Arabian...
Top 100 Horse Names for Any Breed!
People picking a horse’s name think of many things when they are deciding. My horse’s name came to me before he was even born. Since his mother’s name was Aba, by breed registry rules her foal’s name had to start with A. I settled on Alegría for a girl and Aston...
Can You Ride a Mule? Exploring the Possibilities and Safe Practices
Have you ever wondered, 'Can you ride a mule?' The short answer is 'yes', but there is so much more to mule riding than meets the eye. It's not just about whether you can ride a mule, but also about how to do so responsibly and safely, and understanding the unique...
Horse Nosebleeds: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Horse owners and riders may be familiar with the sight of a horse experiencing a nosebleed, also known as epistaxis. While a nosebleed can be alarming, it is not always a cause for concern. In this article, we will discuss the causes, treatment, and prevention of...
Stretching a Mesh Field Fence
If you have a mesh field fence, it's important to keep it in good repair to ensure the safety and security of your horse. Here are some tips for stretching a mesh field fence and preventing your horse from damaging it: Increase the tension on the fence: If your mesh...
Converting Watts to Horsepower.
Horsepower is a unit of power used to measure the strength or output of a horse, engine, or other mechanical device. It is often abbreviated as "hp" and is typically used to describe the power of engines or motors, such as in automobiles or generators. To convert...
Why Do Horses Smile?
Horses are known for their expressive faces and body language, and it's not uncommon for people to interpret their facial expressions as smiling. However, it's important to remember that horses do not smile in the same way that humans do. There are several theories...
What is a Baroque Saddle?
The baroque saddle is a type of saddle that was popular during the Baroque period in Europe, from the 17th to the early 18th century. These saddles were designed to be comfortable for both the rider and the horse, and they were often decorated with intricate designs...
Bloated Horse (Excessive Gas) – Symptoms, Prevention and Probiotics
Bloating is a disorder of the digestive system, usually related to colic. A bloated horse's stomach or intestines are too full – usually of gas – which causes them to distend. The problem is painful and usually a symptom of deeper issues with the digestive system, and...
How Much Weight Can Your Horse Carry?
Even though weight is a very taboo subject in the United States, and body image issues are rampant in the world of equestrian sports, addressing the questions of rider’s weight is important. While horses have a remarkable amount of strength, and are tremendously stoic...
Difference Between English and Western Riding Styles
There seem to be as many ideas about riding as there are people in the world. Some picture cowboys, galloping across the plains in the American west with fancy silver bits. Some picture the riders of the Spanish riding school performing advanced maneuvers on...
Feeding Horses Different Types of Food: Dos and Don’ts
Do you have that one horse friend whose horse eats everything? Pancakes, potato chips, sodas, if it’s offered to him he’ll try it? Horses possess notoriously fragile digestive systems, and though they are often skilled at avoiding forage that will make them ill, other...
Gestation Period for Horses: How Long are Horses Pregnant for?
Who doesn’t love the spidery legs, the fuzzy mane and tail, the silky baby fur and velvety muzzle of a foal? The idyllic images of a mare and her baby running through the grass make the rest of the world disappear as the beauty of motherly love takes the viewer’s...
What to look for when buying a horse
When I was a little child, I found a length of rope that had no apparent purpose laying around my parents garden. I immediately claimed it as a lead rope for the horse I would one day own. I finally got my first horse when I was 25 years old, and the preparations I...
Signs of Colic In Horses
Colic is every horse owner´s nightmare and when it rears its ugly head it´s a stressful time for horse and owner. Colic is actually a catch-all term for abdominal discomfort and it has many causes that range in severity and causes. It´s important for all horse owners...
Cushings in Horses
Who doesn’t love the image of a cute, fuzzy pony relaxing in the middle of a field? While ponies in general are furrier than horses, an older furry pony may not be the picture of idyllic adorableness you might expect. Sometimes this can be a sign of a chronic...
Best Gifts for Horse Lovers: Gifts that Horse Owners will Love
Is there a horse lover in your life? Are you desperate for Christmas ideas? Well below is a list of great ideas for gifts. There are dozens of lists online suggesting cute gift ideas with equine themes, but for the actual horse owner, nothing beats practicality....
Do Horses Get Cold in the Winter or in Rain?
Winter weather is the year’s best in rain, cold and wind. Those of us who have horses do not have the luxury of hibernating inside our warm houses until spring returns. We get to watch their best efforts to thwart our best efforts to keep them as warm and dry as we...
Head Shaking in Horses
At best, a horse shaking its head can just be funny or annoying. At worst, it can be dangerous, unseating riders or yanking reins out of the rider’s hands. It is a symptom of frustration, either psychological or physical. It could be a response to flying insects,...
How to Back a Horse
In the equine world, there are three topics which can make the most placid equestrian foam at the mouth: bits vs. bitless, barefoot vs. shod, and the right way to back a horse. In the digital age, people have even more access than ever to information and the wisdom of...
Keep Horse Water Trough from Freezing
How much does a fat penguin weigh? Enough to break the ice. Sadly though, unless you live in Antarctica, you may not have access to a fat penguin to break the ice on your horse’s water trough in winter. Water is the most important ingredient for life. This is easy to...
The Different Types of Hay for Horses
Fields of fat, shiny ponies populate my stableyard, prompting visitors to ask what I feed them. When I respond that most of them get nothing but hay, people tend to be shocked. Yet grass – in the form of hay when necessary – is the ideal food for horses when fed...
5 Tips for Dealing With a Horse that Shows Aggression Towards Human
Horses have been our faithful servants for thousands of years, and today, they are best friends to many of us. But the fact remains that even the quietest of horses has the potential for being dangerous: all horses are flight animals several times our size, and all...
Horse Open Mouth When Riding
How many riders could have the theme from The Nutcracker accompanying their rides, for the constant snapping of their mounts’ teeth? As with life, when there is a problem there are two approaches: covering up the problem or addressing the root cause of the problem....
Best Supplements for Horses with Heaves
If your horse has heaves, you surely have spent a considerable amount of effort on eliminating dust, maximizing turnout, and doing everything else possible to alleviate your horse’s symptoms. If your horse is still coughing, there are several supplements that can help...
Horse with Scope? How to tell if your Horse is ‘Scopey’
Those who have moved around in the showjumping world are familiar with the particular language that is spoken there. At least they have heard it, even if they do not fully understand it. “Find your line!” “Don’t leave out a stride!” “That horse jumped flat, no bascule...
White Line Disease – Diagnosis, Treatment, & Prevention
White line disease is a laymans term used to indicate a condition of the horse´s foot involving separation of parts of the hoof wall. It´s always useful to have a reference guide to better understand the anatomy of the horse´s foot and which parts are affected in the...
Best Open Wound Treatment for Horses
No one wants to find their horse with an open wound, but we all know how good they are at getting themselves into trouble. Be it a cut from a stray, sharp stone or branch during a vigorous roll, a run-in with the fencing, or a kick from a field-mate, the sight of a...
Signs of Heat Stress in Horses
With summer here and the warm weather calling, it´s easy to get carried away with long summer trail rides and fun-filled days competing, but it´s important to remember that our horses can suffer the adverse effects of the heat and sun, just as readily as we can. This...
The Five Best Horse Treats
If you have a horse, chances are that you love to feed him a tasty titbit. There's something so satisfying about seeing your equine friend chow down on a yummy snack. But there are do's and don'ts when it comes to feeding treats. Read on for some practical tips as...
Barn Fly Control Strategies and Tips
Whatever area you're in and whatever discipline you ride, whatever breed of horse you have and whatever management system you use, one pest plagues all horse people: flies. These nasty critters can cause disease and discomfort to both horses and their people, and they...
Four Different Types of Horse Bits and Their Uses
For thousands of years, humans have been working with horses using bits. The art of communicating with a half-ton animal by a piece of metal in its sensitive mouth is central to what riding has become. In the right hands, any bit can be gentle, and in the wrong ones,...
Six Different Types of Horse Shoes: Uses and Where to Purchase
Controversial as they've become, horseshoes have been around since Ancient Greece, and they aren't going to leave us anytime soon. The majority of performance and riding horses are shod for a variety of reasons, and shoes do still have a purpose in modern horse...
Tail Rubbing Cures and Causes
Picture this: Your horse has been groomed to perfection. His coat has been washed and brushed and every hair is in place, his mane neatly trimmed and plaited, even his white socks are white instead of yellow for a change. The only thing ruining the image his the fact...
Western Saddle Buying Guide and the Eight Best Western Saddles
When it comes to buying a saddle for your trusty steed, there is a bewildering variety of options on the market, and it's easy to feel lost. As a qualified saddle fitter and stable manager, I've seen that look of confusion on many faces before – and this article is...
The Best Horse Shampoos
We all love to give our horses a good bath, leaving them silky, shiny, and smelling nicer than ever. For some horses with skin problems, bathing is an essential part of their healthcare routine. Others have white coats that just won't lose that yellow sheen or black...
The Different Types of Horse Feed: Which Feed Should you Give Your Horse?
Walking into a feed shop can be a bewildering experience for the new horse owner. The shelves are absolutely stocked with bales of hay, bags of grain in huge varieties, supplements that all claim to have some or another magical effect. If you listen to the...
Colic in Horses
Colic. It's a word that all horse owners dread, and rightfully so. Widely known as the most prevalent killer of horses worldwide, this disease can strike at any time and has claimed the lives of countless young and healthy horses. Yet there is much that can be done in...
How to Store Hay Without a Barn
All horses eat hay, but not all horse owners have the luxury of a spacious barn in which to keep said hay. Especially for owners of multiple horses, or owners who order large amounts of hay in advance, hay storage can become an expensive problem. Here's how to keep...
Horse Hoof Care: Best Technique
“No hoof, no horse”. Old and tired as the saying might be, it always applies. Most of us know to keep our horses on a regular cycle with a qualified farrier, but that's only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to caring for your horse's feet. The daily routine can...
How Often to Deworm Horses?
Most horse owners know that internal parasites can cause all sorts of problems for your equine friend. But opinions differ wildly on how often horses should be treated for these pests – ranging from every four weeks to just twice a year. Advances in veterinary science...
How to Keep Horse Water from Freezing without Electricity
Winter poses a whole new set of problems for the horse owner, from snowballs in their feet to protection from the elements. But one that many owners don't think about is keeping your horse hydrated. Believe it or not, most horses actually need more water in winter...
Caring for Horses in Winter (The Four Best Tips)
Caring for Horses in Winter can be hard, in many areas, its extreme temperatures and violent weather can pose a significant problem for our equine friends. Even in milder climates, winter presents the horse owner with a completely different set of challenges than...
Three Horse Cribbing Solutions
Stables vices have plagued horse and owner for many years – ever since we first decided that horses would be better off shut up inside. One of the most irritating of these pesky habits is cribbing. The habit is annoying and dangerous to the horse, but it can be curbed...
Alfalfa for Horses – Is It a Wise Choice?
Nothing smells better than breaking open a fresh bale of alfalfa hay; so green and fragrant you can't blame your horse for loving the taste. Horses have been enjoying the palatability of alfalfa for thousands of years. This legume was first grown in the Middle East...
The 4 Best Fly Masks for Horses
In the hot, summer-rainfall climate where I run my stableyard, flies are a continual pest. With the yard being on the same property as a working dairy farm, our problem is worse than most; the pesky critters absolutely thrive in these conditions. But over the years...
How to Treat and Prevent Saddle Sores from Horseback Riding
Long summer days, long trails, long hours in the saddle... it all sounds like utter bliss. But especially for those riders who don't get to mount up often and aren't fully fit, or riders who spend many hours riding every day, saddle sores can quickly ruin your...
“My Horse Keeps Losing Shoes!” – Top 5 Reasons for Lost Shoes
We've all been there: usually the morning before a show or clinic, or perhaps directly after the farrier has been, your horse comes in with three feet neatly trimmed with metal and one bare hoof. Somehow, he's managed to throw his shoe in the field. It's a frustrating...
How Much Hay Should a Horse Eat Per Day?
We all know that horses eat hay, but for the horse owner, it's not that simple. This aspect of horse management is utterly integral to the horse's mental and physical well-being. It's essential to feed hay in the correct amounts and using the correct methods. Receive...
Sweet Itch in Horses and the 5 Best Treatment Options
Sweet itch is the frustration of horse owners the world over. Occurring everywhere from Canada to Australia to Africa, this particularly persistent skin problem can make your horse absolutely miserable. The constant itching is enough to drive many horses to rub...
The Uses of 6 Common Types of Bridles and Where to Buy Them
I always find it entertaining to watch the look on new riders' faces the first time they walk into a tack shop. Their inner horse-crazy kid always seems to win out at first; as they stare at the incredible variety of horsey equipment, their jaw drops, and their eyes...
4 Steps that make Bathing your Equine Friend Much Easier
Gather your cleaning supplies and get ready, Collect the necessary tools to accomplish the job properly (Press green text for our suggestions) Equine Shampoo Equine Hair Detangler Rubber Curry or Grooming Mitt Sweat Scraper Long Sturdy Hose Bucket of Water Large...
3 Differences Between a Beginner and a Professional Dressage Rider
When it comes to dressage riding, it's not always easy to tell what it takes to be a professional. If you've ever seen a professional dressage rider, you know just how complicated things can get. It's not all about the tack, you also need good positioning and a...