Recent content by SullivanB

When horses play up or dont want to go forward they are trying to tell us something. They either dont understand, its too difficult or they are in pain. Have you checked everything, saddle, back, teeth?

Some ideas to keep your horse occupied... -cut holes in plastic milk cartons, fill them with food and hang them in the stable. -Get some chopped oat straw- they dont eat it like hay and will pick at it when they have finished their haynet. - Do some clicker training in the stable- keeps...

Horses that crib are often calm as they have found a way to cope with stress - it also releases endorphins so it becomes a habit. Can be ulcer related so as others have said, worth checking. Maybe provide him with a surface to crib on that wont damage his teeth also.

hope he continues to do well, would love to continue to hear more

You will need to start on a college course - think its 2 years to begin with, so asking at equine college would be the best place to start. When you go out on apprenticeship the college will be able to help.

These are some simple exercises i like to use: Turn on the forehand (in hand) start with 3 steps each way eventually building to 10. long reining including some pole work. I use walk poles and gradually raise them. Backward steps. leg yeild in hand- start with 3 steps. Hope that gives you a...

I dont really like the back on track rugs as all they really do is keep the horse warm. I would try and work out why the tigtness is there and ask physio for stretches to help and some simple massage techniques to do before you ride

sounds like a week core, do plenty of ground work before ridden work. also get a physio to check too

The plastic shoes are used in cases where the hoof is damaged as they can be glued on. They are also used in some lamanitic cases as they are thought to reduce concusive forces. Another thing to consider is that when horses place their feet they have a certain amout of slip forward, plastic...

Plastic shoes are normally used in remedial cases and are expensive. As for heal expansion, normal shoes allow for this on soft surfaces - such as a sand arena where the frog touches the surface, it would be the same for plastic shoes. Your farrier is always the best person to advise you...

sounds like they are going in a little hard too soon. The pressure should imcrease grandually as the horse exhales. some areas are always a bit uncomfortable though - like the hip flexors.

theraputic ultrasound, phototherapy - look up photizo could use laser but cant do this yourself and LED works just as well. hope your horse recovers!

I agree with SuzieT, do not put anything on it as it may get agrevated. At the end of the day they are cancerous cells and you dont want to put anything on that promotes healing as this will make them grow faster. You dont know if the people with sucess stories had their horses properly...

probably a gland, my horse had an inflamed gland in that area which went down after a week. get your vet out if you're worried though, sometimes its worth the vet bill to have the peace of mind

low level ultrasound has been shown to help with non union fractures. could also try a pulsed magbetic boot