“Waxing” is a term used to refer to one of the symptoms a mare may exhibit when she is preparing to give birth. You may also hear this symptom referred to as “waxing up”. You will recognize this symptom by the waxy secretion that appears on the mare’s teats. You may see this three (or fewer) days before the big event. When you observe this symptom, you should begin checking on your mare regularly; however, not all mares “wax up”. Signs Your Mare Is Close To Foaling During this exciting time, you will observe other signs that give you clues as to just how long you have to wait for the big even ..read more

If your horse is pawing, it may be an indication that something is bothering him or her, or it may be a bad habit. In order to address this behavior, you have to understand it. No matter what the cause, you can be sure your horse is not just pawing to annoy you. Horses don’t think that way. Getting angry and scolding or punishing your horse for pawing won’t do any good. Very often, pawing has an actual purpose. To determine if this is the case, you’ll need to take in the whole picture. Is your horse trying to accomplish something by pawing. If you want to address your horse’s pawing successful ..read more

It’s not uncommon to see a horse foaming at the mouth during riding lessons, horse shows and horse races, trail rides and other riding events. While you might think this is a cause for concern, the fact is foaming at the mouth is not usually problematic and may even be a positive sign. In this article, we discuss the reasons why horses sometimes foam at the mouth and describe the circumstances in which this may be a negative. Read on to learn more. What Is Happy Foam? If a horse is relaxed while being ridden, he or she may foam at the mouth. This can be a sign that the horse is accepting or ..read more

Horse treats can be expensive, and if the truth be known, they are really not necessary. Even so, it can be fun to give your horse a treat from time to time. In this article, we share several simple recipes for making your own horse treats at home. We also share good advice on choosing plain, common foods that can make excellent horse treats. Read on to learn more about best horse treats and homemade horse treats. Quick And Easy Homemade Horse Treats Combine: Half a cup of whole wheat flour A quarter of a cup of molasses A cup of applesauce Two grated carrots 3 cups of oatmeal Mix the ..read more

Can you ride at night? Will your horse be able to see? You may be surprised to know that horses actually have pretty good night vision. For this reason, if you happen to get caught out at sunset in a familiar area, you needn’t be too terribly worried. This is especially true on a clear moonlit or starlit night. In this article, we explore the topic of horses’ night vision and horses‘ vision in general. Read on to learn more. Can horses see at night – FAQs Do horses see the same way people do? No, horses actually see very differently than people. Although their eyes respond to darkness and ligh ..read more

Ground tying is a valuable skill for any horse to have, and teaching it also teaches your horse to be respectful of you when you are handling him or her on the ground. A horse who knows how to ground tie knows how to follow your directions by standing still and staying in one place when instructed to do so. In this article, we provide step-by-step instructions and tips to help you succeed in teaching your horse to ground tie. Read on to learn more. Why Is Ground Tying An Important Skill? Good ground manners and ground respect are essential in your relationship with your horse. You will never ..read more

Horses have a number of odd habits, and one of them that is both comical and perplexing is rolling in the dirt. Why do horses do this? Sometimes, it seems to be triggered by getting wet (e.g. after a bath) and sometimes it seems like a reaction to a new situation. Still other times, it seems to happen for no reason at all. In this article, we explore a dozen possible reasons why horses roll in the dirt, mud, grass and even snow! Read on to learn more. 12 Reasons Why Horses Roll In The Dirt, Mud, Grass & Snow 1. Sweatiness When a horse sweats, his skin may get itchy, so a hot, sweaty horse ..read more

Many horses suffer from Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS). This is a very common and very serious condition that affects about half of all foals and leisure horses, approximately 65% of performance horses and a whopping 93% of racehorses. This condition develops due to injury (caused by acid) to the upper gastrointestinal tract and the stomach. It can be difficult to know what to feed a horse with ulcers. Even though this problem has existed for a very long time, we are still somewhat in the dark as to how to approach it. In the past, it was extremely hard to arrive at a solid diagnosi ..read more

Oats are a traditional mainstay in horse feeding. They are often thought of as a safe grain and frequently make up the basis of a horse’s grain diet. In reality, there are upsides and downsides to feeding oats. Is feeding oats to horses for weight gain a good thing? In this article, we explore the nutritional makeup of this traditional grain and provide sound advice on how, when and why it should be fed – or not. Read on to learn more. Not All Oats Are Alike Oats are sourced from all around the world. They are grown in Europe, Canada and the United States. The quality of oats varies depe ..read more

Wintertime is typically a less active time for horses as showing and riding activities slow down. This reduction in activity level can also mean a need for reduced calories if your horse is stabled and does not need extra calories to cope with very cold weather. So should I feed my horse less or more in the winter time? In the wintertime, grass is typically less abundant, so horses may need increased hay and other forage such as beet pulp. To feed your horse right through the winter months you must learn to correctly balance the essentials: nutrients, fiber and water. In this article, we share ..read more