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The Internet is full of articles discussing the theory of why horse's crib and how to manage them. Even with this vast store of information, there is still a lot of rural folklore about cribbers that cast them as virtual pariahs of the barnyard that should be avoided. Woe to the unfortunate owner who happens to have a cribber reside in their pasture or barn.

I have had the privilege of living with Miniature Donkeys for the past 20 years. I love to watch the language they use with each other. It can be so subtle. Horses in a social situation can be explosive in that they will sometimes squeal, spin and kick with both hind feet, bite, etc to assert their dominance over each other.

Is it your horse’s fault if he’s an “easy keeper”? A horse, like a person, has his own metabolic rate and genetic tendencies. Add in a lack of exercise, too many treats, overfeeding, even stress, and the easy keeper is at risk for hormone imbalances, arthritis, and laminitis. Certainly, the overweight horse will not perform at his peak.

I have offered to check horses before they are purchased for as long as I have been shoeing horses. I offer this service for free as I am the one that will be stuck with dealing with conformational problems for the new owner.

While we’re here at Equimed, let’s talk equine meds: medications, pharmaceuticals – drugs, baby! 

The energy level of the horse is one of the most commonly analyzed factors of performance. Horses that compete in energy-oriented competitions need the proper amount of fuel to perform at their best. While the main source of energy in feeds for performance horses is carbohydrates, other sources should not be dismissed.

Carbohydrates:

Based on his latest release, WAR HORSE, this new kid – Steven Spielberg, I think his name is?

When discussing the quality of hay, we often hear the terms “first cutting”, “second cutting”, and “third cutting”. The type of cutting that hay is derived from has often been used as an indicator of quality, but this method of evaluation is not the most accurate.

Do you ever wonder if your horse’s feed is affecting his behavior? The way we feed our horses and the ingredients in feeds can contribute to behavioral changes, but with knowledge of how feed can affect behavior and diligence in the way we feed our horses, we can prevent behavioral upsets.

Grain Load in the Diet

Feeding and Managing the Overweight Equine is a two-part blog post. Today’s post discusses how to properly feed and manage the overweight equine. For the first part of this series, please click here.