Equine Mindfulness

08/12/2025

🧂 Salt Information ℹ️

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 - 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞?🐴 👅

There’s a widespread belief that horses should be fed loose salt instead of block salt, based on the idea that they can consume loose salt more easily. This belief stems from the fact that salt blocks were originally designed for cattle, who have rougher tongues and can more effectively lick salt from a block.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡?

At the 2025 Equine Science Society Symposium in June, my friend and colleague, Dr. Devan Catalano of Colorado State University, presented new findings that aimed to answer this very question.

🧪 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬

Sixteen mature horses were individually housed and assigned to one of two treatments:

🔹 Loose salt

🔹 Block salt

Each horse remained on one treatment for seven days before switching to the other in a crossover design. The entire study was repeated so that each horse received both treatments twice. Salt consumption was measured by weighing the salt before and after each seven-day period.

📊 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬

The form of salt (loose vs. block) did not significantly impact overall intake. However, individual variability played a major role in which some horses consumed more salt than others, regardless of the form offered. This highlights the wide range of intrinsic motivation among horses to seek out and consume salt.

💡 Interestingly, only 7 of the 16 horses met the recommended daily salt intake of 30 grams per day, suggesting that many horses may not self-regulate adequately when left with free-choice salt alone.

💭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

These findings suggest that free-choice salt access, whether loose or in a block, may not be sufficient to meet the daily salt needs of many horses. If you’re concerned about intake, top-dressing salt onto feed can help ensure your horse gets enough, but keep in mind this can sometimes reduce palatability of the meal.

📣 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞

Free choice access to loose salt isn’t necessarily better than a block, but neither may be enough on its own. Monitor your horse’s intake and consider top-dressing if needed to meet their daily requirements.

Cheers,

Dr. DeBoer

Murphy BA, Catalano D. Effect of form on equine salt intake. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2025 May 1;148:105502.

08/08/2025

⚠️FYI🩺🧪

07/31/2025

🔥🐴 Heat & Horses: Facts, Prevention & What Actually Works ☀️💦
Your horse wasn’t built for this. Horses evolved for subzero climates—not 95°F Florida humidity with no wind. One mistake in heat management can turn into a life-threatening crisis within minutes.

⸻

🧬 Scientific Foundations
• Horses maintain core temperature between 99.5–101.5°F, with thermoneutral comfort ending around 86°F. Above that, they rely solely on sweating for cooling—which fails in humidity [1].
• Horses sweat up to 4 gallons per hour, losing electrolytes critical to muscle and nerve function [2].
• Their low surface-area-to-mass ratio (~1:90 m²/kg vs humans ~1:35) makes them poor at dissipating heat [1].
• UC Davis notes: RR >40 bpm, delayed return to baseline HR, dry gums, and reduced gut sounds are early heat stress indicators [3].
• NMSU warns: HR >80, RR >50, or re**al temp >103°F with no drop despite cooling = active heat illness [4].

⸻

🚨 Stages of Heat Injury (TPR Guide)

1️⃣ Heat Stress
Temp: 102.5–104.5°F | HR: 44–60 bpm | RR: 40–60 bpm
Action: Shade, cold hose, airflow, electrolytes

2️⃣ Heat Exhaustion
Temp: 104.5–105.5°F | HR: 60–80 bpm | RR: 60–80 bpm
Action: Aggressive hosing, fan, fluids, call vet

3️⃣ Heat Stroke (Critical)
Temp: ≥106°F | HR: 80–120 bpm | RR: 80+ bpm
Action: Cold immersion or saltwater spa, ice packs, rubbing alcohol, vet immediately
[3,4]

⸻

⚠️ Documented Complications
• Rhabdomyolysis, laminitis, acute renal failure
• GI stasis, colic, endotoxemia
• Neurological injury, seizures, permanent anhidrosis
[1,3,4]

⸻

💊 Medications to AVOID in Heat

🚫 Acepromazine → vasodilation → worsens low BP
🚫 NSAIDs → risk kidney damage when dehydrated
🚫 Diuretics/Thyroid meds → intensify fluid & heat stress
✅ Use vet-supervised fluids, cooling therapies, and antioxidant support

⸻

✅ Proven Supplements for Heat Tolerance

🧂 Electrolytes & Salt
Replaces sweat loss. Loose salt is often better absorbed than blocks. Always offer clean water.
[3,4]

🥜 Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA/DHA)
Studies show supplementation reduces inflammatory load and oxidative stress during heat and work [5]. Feed fish oil or stabilized flax.

🧪 Vitamin E + Selenium
Peer-reviewed data shows that antioxidant supplementation improves muscle function and immune response under heat stress [6,7]. Most horses on hay alone are deficient.

📌 At our clinic, we recommend daily vitamin E (2,000–4,000 IU/day), natural-source selenium (1–3 mg/day depending on diet), and omega-3s to help buffer the inflammatory and metabolic strain of hot weather.

⸻

❌ Myths That Put Horses at Risk
• “Cold water causes colic” → ❌ False. UC Davis confirms cold water is safe and helps recovery [3]
• “Don’t scrape or water traps heat” → ❌ False. Continuous hosing and airflow are what cools [3]
• “He’s sweating, so he’s fine” → ❌ Not necessarily. Monitor TPR, not just sweat
• “Fly sheets help in heat” → ❌ Most trap heat unless specifically engineered mesh
• “He’s acclimated” → ❌ Even Florida-born horses collapse from heat stress
• “Electrolytes fix it all” → ❌ Only if combined with water, airflow, and cooling

⸻

💡 Real Barn Strategy for Florida Heat

✔️ Fans angled downward from above to pull heat out
✔️ Cross-ventilate using aisle fans
✔️ Wet stall walls, bedding, shedrow, and barn aisles
✔️ Build a swamp cooler (fan + ice or alcohol slush)
✔️ Keep ice packs + rubbing alcohol on hand
✔️ Use a cold saltwater spa to cool core temp and reduce systemic inflammation
✔️ Offer cool water (50–65°F) and electrolytes
✔️ Supplement daily with omega-3s, vitamin E, and selenium

⸻

🧠 Internal Support: Equine Immune Boost

Our Equine Immune Boost supports heat resilience and immune recovery by enhancing circulation, lowering inflammation, and supporting antioxidant systems.
Especially useful in:
• Anhidrosis-prone horses
• Metabolic horses under stress
• Performance horses in hot weather
Used daily in our rehab and performance horses.

⸻

📍This month alone, we’ve managed heat exhaustion, metabolic crashes, and anhidrosis cases in Ocala.
We use cold saltwater spa, HBOT, IV ozone, metabolic therapy, and strategic supplementation.

Cooling isn’t optional. Prevention isn’t a luxury.

⸻

💬 Share this post with your barn team. Hang it in the feed room. Save it for emergency reference.



⸻

📚 References
1. Ohmura, H. et al. Heat stress in horses: A literature review. PMC10267279.
2. Mad Barn Nutrition. Heat Stress in Horses: Causes, Signs, and Prevention.
3. UC Davis Center for Equine Health. Keeping Horses Healthy in Hot Weather. https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/keeping-horses-healthy-hot-weather
4. New Mexico State University Extension. Recognizing and Treating Heat Stress in Horses. B-711. https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_b/B711
5. Silvestre, A.M. et al. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation reduces oxidative stress in performance horses. PMC8259830.
6. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. Selenium and Vitamin E for Equine Oxidative Balance. https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjas-2024-0051
7. BMC Veterinary Research. Antioxidant response to vitamin E and Se in horses under stress. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-022-03411-4

07/31/2025

🔥☠️ Heat & Horses ☠️🔥

The Aftermath, the Myths, and the Mistakes That Still Kill

🧠⚠️ The Final Post in the Series ⚠️ 🧠

“I’d rather waste a minute of my life than lose a life in one minute.”

This post is that minute. Don’t waste it.

—

📍 What We’re Still Seeing
Despite record shares, reach, and reads—we’re still getting panicked calls for horses down, horses not sweating, horses dehydrated but refusing to drink.

The biggest killers?
❌ Misinformation
❌ Delayed action
❌ Trust in the wrong people

And now, the silent wave begins—the aftershocks from horses that “seemed fine” days ago.

—

🩺 The Aftermath: Days Later, Still at Risk
✅ They cooled off.
✅ They drank.
✅ They walked away… or so you thought.

📉 What we’re seeing 24–72 hours later:
• Kidney damage – dehydration, NSAIDs, electrolyte mismanagement
• Liver enzyme spikes – hyperthermia, dehydration, metabolic crash
• Colic – ileus, impaction, gut shutdown
• Laminitis – under-recognized heat trigger
• Anhidrosis onset – body gives up on sweating
• Appetite loss, dull coat, dark urine – internal stress

📚 Confirmed by Cornell, UC Davis, p*er-reviewed equine heat stroke data (PMC10267279).
Even one overheating episode can leave permanent organ damage.

—

“He’s just quiet” = 🚨 until proven otherwise

💧 The Critical Dehydration Threshold 💧

Once a horse loses 6–8% of body water, they are clinically dehydrated.
By the time you notice, they’ve already lost liters of fluid.

📌 Once that happens, they often stop drinking.
Why?
• Thirst shuts down when sodium is imbalanced
• Gut absorption slows or stops
• The body begins internal shutdown

🧪 At this stage, IV fluids or NG tubing may be the only way to rehydrate.
⚠️ Don’t wait. If they’ve stopped drinking, you’re already behind.

—

🚫 The Fatal Fixes People Still Use 🚫

💥 Electrolyte tubes without water → worsens dehydration
💥 Electrolyte-laced grains → spike sugar, stress metabolic horses
💥 NSAIDs like Banamine, Bute, Equioxx → tank kidney perfusion
💥 Hose in the mouth → aspiration risk
💥 Hose in the re**um → gut rupture, electrolyte crash
💥 ACE → lowers blood pressure, shuts down organ perfusion

📌 Every one of these most likely killed a horse this week.

—

🧪 The Myths That Can’t Seem To Die
🛑 “He’s sweating = safe” → NO. Sweating means water loss.
🛑 “Electrolytes fix it” → Not without water.
🛑 “He’s acclimated” → Even Florida-born horses are dropping.
🛑 “I rinsed and fanned him” → Needs continuous cold water + airflow.
🛑 “Alcohol burns” → 1:1 or 1:2 alcohol-to-water = safe, vet approved.
🛑 “Ice water caused colic” → Wrong. The colic was already happening.

—

🧊 True Cooling = Cold Water + Airflow + Repeat
• Cold hose (50–65°F)
• Don’t scrape
• Add diluted alcohol
• Cold towels to neck/groin
• Shade and airflow
• Repeat for 20–30 minutes minimum

✅ Backed by: UC Davis, Cornell, AAEP, Ohmura et al. 2023

—

🌡️ Why Florida Is More Lethal Than Texas
= Humidity.

🔥 111°F + 90% humidity = 176°F heat index
🌙 Nights drop to “96°F feels like 106°F”
No relief ~ no recovery
Sweat won’t evaporate ~ internal boil

🧠 Even shaded, “acclimated” horses are cooking from the inside out.

—

📌 BOTTOM LINE:
👉🏼 Not drinking, Not sweating, Not p*eing, or Not acting right?
👉🏼 ACT NOW!
👉🏼 Don’t trust myths or Facebook advice.

You get ONE chance during collapse. After that? Just damage control—if you’re lucky.

—

📣 SHARE THIS. Tape it to your feed room. Send it to your barn.

Because someone’s horse is about to go down.
And this might be the post that saves them.

—

🧪 1. Baseline Bloodwork for At-Risk Horses
Metabolic, senior, performance, and anhidrotic horses should get preemptive panels:
• BUN, Creatinine
• AST, GGT, Bilirubin
• Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, CO₂
• Glucose, Albumin, Total Protein, CK

📚 Cornell and UC Davis recommend early screening to catch silent issues before collapse.

—

🧂 2. Switch from Salt Blocks to Loose Electrolytes
Salt blocks are useless in summer.
A horse can’t lick fast enough to replace 30–50g sodium lost/hour in sweat.

✅ Use plain salt + balanced electrolyte powders in every meal.
🧠 Critical for anhidrosis-prone, hard-working, or pastured horses in heat.

—

💨 3. Build a Swamp Cooling Stall
• Overhead and box fans
• Wet stall walls and bedding
• Ice water towels + misting alcohol
✅ Field-tested in Ocala: drops temp faster than hosing alone

—

📸 4. Use Thermal Imaging
Smartphone FLIR cameras detect:
• Poor sweat zones
• Limb inflammation
• Internal hotspots
✅ Catch heat injuries before clinical signs

—

🧠 5. Train Your Staff
Laminate posters:
• TPR cheat sheet
• 20+ min cooling protocol
• When to call vet
• What NOT to give
✅ Training = lives saved

—

🩸 6. Monitor the Recovery Phase (24–72 hrs)
Even if they “look better,” internal damage progresses:
• Creatinine and BUN spike
• Liver enzymes rise
• Gut perfusion tanks
• CK surges → rhabdo
• Neurologic signs days later

✅ Twice daily vitals, proactive fluids, repeat bloodwork

—

💊 7. Avoid DIY “Hydration” Mashes
• High molasses = more heat
• Poor electrolyte balance
• Fiber with no absorption unless soaked

✅ Stick to soaked hay, plain beet pulp, balanced electrolytes

—

🚫 8. NEVER Force Water by Hose or Re**um
Risks:
• Choke
• Aspiration
• Re**al rupture
• Gut shutdown
✅ No drinking means call a vet for IV or NG fluids

—

🧪 9. Horses That Stop Drinking = Red Alert
• Thirst mechanism fails
• Gut shuts down
• Electrolyte crash
✅ IV fluids may reset thirst in hours. DO NOT WAIT.

—

🧂 10. Only Use Electrolyte Paste if Gut Is Working
Signs NOT to paste:
• Dry gums
• No gut sounds
• No urine

✅ If eating, drinking, pooping: paste is okay.
Otherwise: fluids first.

—

🧠 11. Heat Stroke Can Trigger Permanent Anhidrosis
Damage to sweat glands, receptors, and thermoregulation may be irreversible.
📚 UF study: One collapse = higher chance of lifelong sweat loss.
✅ Monitor for sweat output after every heat event.

—

🏇 12. Performance Loss Can Last Weeks
Even “recovered” horses show:
• Reduced VO₂ max
• Poor muscle recovery
• Impaired hydration regulation
📚 Cornell & JEVS studies: 2–4 weeks for full return to baseline

—

📈 13. Track the Trends
Signs before collapse:
• Loose manure
• Corner-standing
• Subtle stiffness
• Dark p*e
• Low water intake

✅ Daily logs catch issues early

—

🧪 14. Repeat Bloodwork at 48–72 hrs
📚 AAEP: Delayed organ failure is common post-heat.
✅ Watch Creatinine, BUN, GGT, AST, CK, Albumin, Glucose

—

📖 15. Create a Heat Episode Logbook
Include:
• Vitals at collapse
• Cooling timeline
• Fluids used
• Products tolerated
• Vet notes
• Triggers

✅ This log saves lives in future heat events.

—

🔥 16. Subclinical Heat Injury Exists
📚 J Vet Internal Med: Horses with no collapse still developed:
• Muscle soreness
• Dehydration
• Organ stress
• Mood changes

✅ Treat every high-risk day seriously—even if “nothing happened”

—

⚠️ 17. Salt Alone Can Be Dangerous
Salt ≠ electrolytes.
Horses sweat out potassium, calcium, magnesium—not just sodium.

📚 Cornell: Replacing only sodium = worsens dehydration and thirst shutdown

✅ Complete formulas only

—

🩻 18. Post-Heat Laminitis Risk
Heat + gut shutdown + glucose spike = lamellar damage
📚 UC Davis + AAEP: Rads 3–5 days post-collapse in metabolic horses
✅ Catch it before mechanical failure

—

🧠 19. Heat Stroke = Higher Anhidrosis Risk Later
📚 UF study: Even fully recovered horses may stop sweating months later.
✅ Log TPR, sweat, and behavior every heat wave

—

💩 20. Leaky Gut After Heat = Weeks of Inflammation
Core temps >103°F damage gut lining
📚 Cornell + BMC: LPS leaks → colic, ulcers, immune crash

✅ Support gut with pectin-lecithin, S. boulardii, soaked hay

—

⚡ 21. Behavior Changes = Physical Damage
Post-heat:
• Spooky
• Grumpy
• Stopping at jumps
• Resistant to girth

✅ Full exam. Don’t assume it’s “just behavior”

—

📅 22. Acclimation Wears Off
📚 Comparative Exercise Physiology: Acclimation lasts 2–3 weeks
Rain, night turnout, or time off resets the clock

✅ Monitor ALL horses—even Florida natives

—

🧬 23. Subclinical Kidney Damage = Silent Killer
• High-normal Creatinine
• Persistent BUN
📚 SDMA, urine protein:creatinine ratios = better markers

✅ Avoid NSAIDs for 72 hrs post-event. Rehydrate fully.

—

🔁 24. Cyclic Heat Spikes Are Worse Than Consistent Heat
📚 NCSU + Texas A&M: Repeated spikes wreck thermoregulation
✅ Hydration/rest based on trends—not just the daily high

—

💉 25. Meds Stay in System = Delayed Collapse
• ACE → impairs thermoregulation
• Bute → hides symptoms, damages kidneys
• Gabapentin → dulls heat distress response

✅ Avoid or reduce workload 48–72 hrs post-medication

—

🧪 26. Glucose & Liver Values Predict Recovery Time
📚 UC Davis:
• High glucose = stress response
• High GGT/AST = gut-liver inflammation
✅ Soaked forage, Vitamin E, liver support for 7–10 days post-event

—

🦠 27. Heat = Mold & Mycotoxin Spike
• Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium
📚 Cornell: Symptoms mimic heat stroke

✅ Store hay dry, discard soaked feed, avoid sweet feeds

—

🧫 28. Endotoxin Rebound = Delayed Death
Even after cooling, gut sloughs → LPS leak → laminitis, lethargy, fever
📚 UC Davis + CSU
✅ Sucralfate, Biosponge, omega-3s, track vitals 48 hrs minimum

—

🔥 29. Internal Hyperthermia Lasts Hours
Re**al temp may read 101.5°F… but deep tissue still cooking
✅ Continue cooling long after normal readings
✅ Watch behavior, urination, manure

—

🥩 30. High-Protein Feeds Raise Internal Heat

14% CP = metabolic heat load
📚 Cornell + KER: Avoid alfalfa, high-protein grain post-collapse

✅ Use soaked hay + fat-based feeds only

—

🧂 31. Salt Craving ≠ Thirst
Licking people, dirt, buckets = sodium/zinc deficiency
📚 KER: Water and salt must both be replaced

✅ Salt in feed, soaked mash, and electrolyte water

—

🩸 32. Hemoconcentration Fools Bloodwork
“Normal” PCV + TP can hide dehydration
✅ Skin tent and MM moisture = more reliable in early crisis

—

🧠 33. Brain Damage From Heat Stroke Is Real
• Ataxia
• Circling
• Aggression
• Seizures (especially minis, foals)

📚 J Vet Internal Med: MRI-confirmed hippocampal damage in one survivor
✅ Monitor neuro signs, use Vitamin E, consider imaging

—

💪 34. Rhabdo Can Shut Down Kidneys Days Later
CK spike → myoglobin in blood → clogs renal tubules
✅ Watch urine color, flank pain, hydration status

—

🧯 35. Geriatrics & Minis Crash Quietly
Slow decline:
• Less drinking
• Dry manure
• Subtle mood change

📚 AAEP + Cornell: “Atypical collapse” = just as fatal
✅ Intervene early, hydrate, monitor TPR daily

—

‼️FINAL WARNING‼️

You may not get a second chance.

Act early.
Act smart.
Act like their life depends on it…because it does.

06/01/2025

Are you feeding the right amount but feeling like you're not seeing results? It may be time to add a supplement. Before supplementing, make sure the basics are covered with our pre-supplementation checklist.

Pre-supplementation Checklist:

✅ Forage quality: Horses should consume about 2% of their body weight in forage daily. If your horse is eating enough but not thriving, you may have a forage quality issue.

✅ Dental health: Poor dental health can hinder the ability to chew and digest food properly.

✅ Feed program: Confirm the correct product for your horse's life stage, activity level, and proper feeding per instructions.

✅ Veterinary consultation: Sometimes, medical issues may look like nutritional problems. Always consult your vet if something doesn’t seem right.

06/01/2025

🌾 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝑼𝒔 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆

Every day, we make choices for our horses: what to feed, when to ride, and where they spend their time.

Some horses sleep in stalls with soft bedding and controlled routines, while others spend their days under open skies, moving, and interacting with a herd.

Both options come with good intentions. Both reflect care.

But beyond tradition and habit, what does research reveal about how these choices affect our horses - inside and out? The answers go deeper than you might think.

🦴 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞
Research has found that stalling, even over short periods of time, can lead to a loss of bone mineral content and increased bone resorption (loss) compared to horses with pasture access, regardless of age.
📚 Hoekstra et al., 1999; Logan et al., 2019

🏇 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
A study evaluating 2-year-old Arabians beginning training found that pastured horses adapted to training quicker, required less time to reach training objectives, and had fewer undesirable behaviors under saddle compared to stalled horses.
📚 Rivera et al., 2002

💪 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
When comparing pastured horses to those stalled with and without exercise, the stalled horses without exercise lost fitness, while the pastured and exercised horses maintained their fitness.
📚 Graham-Thiers and Bowen., 2013

🧠 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬
When weanlings housed in paddocks or stalls were compared, paddock-housed weanlings had time budgets similar to feral horses, while stall-housed weanlings displayed more aberrant behaviors, including licking, chewing, pawing, bucking, and rearing.
📚 Heleski et al., 2002

🔁 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬
Horses were more likely to develop stereotypies—such as pawing, weaving, wall kicking, cribbing, and prancing—when stabled or housed in a corral compared to those kept on pastures.
📚 Kádár et al., 2023

🦠 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Horses moved into single-housing experienced a decrease in white blood cells, indicating that social isolation is a stressor that can weaken immune function.
📚 Schmucker et al., 2023

🤕 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
In a study of 327 horses in Sweden, stall-kept horses had higher incidences of respiratory problems, colic, and skin injuries compared to group-housed horses.
📚 Yngvesson et al., 2019

💡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
We all want what’s best for our horses, but when it comes to choosing between stalling and pasturing, the science offers a clear perspective: 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕—𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔.

At the end of the day, stalls offer us convenience, structure, and control, but they were built for our lives, not theirs.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness and reflection.

I will update to add that as with any managerment practice, there are always exceptions. While turnout is generally healthier for most horses, some individuals may require stall time due to medical needs, safety concerns, or management of specific conditions. Good horsemanship means recognizing and adapting to the unique needs of each horse.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞?
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈?

— Dr. DeBoer

Hoekstra KE, Nielsen BD, Orth MW, Rosenstein DS, Ii HS, Shelle JE. Comparison of bone mineral content and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in stall‐vs. pasture‐reared horses. Equine Veterinary Journal. 1999 Jul;31(S30):601-4.

Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Sehl R, Jones E, Robison CI, Pease AP. Short-term stall housing of horses results in changes of markers of bone metabolism. Comparative Exercise Physiology. 2019 Oct 9;15(4):283-90.

Rivera E, Benjamin S, Nielsen B, Shelle J, Zanella AJ. Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial training: the comparison between pastured versus stalled horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2002 Sep 10;78(2-4):235-52.

Graham-Thiers PM, Bowen LK. Improved ability to maintain fitness in horses during large pasture turnout. Journal of equine veterinary science. 2013 Aug 1;33(8):581-5.

Heleski CR, Shelle AC, Nielsen BD, Zanella AJ. Influence of housing on weanling horse behavior and subsequent welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2002 Sep 10;78(2-4):291-302.

Kádár R, Maros K, Drégelyi Z, Szedenik Á, Lukácsi A, Pesti A, Besenyei M, Egri B. Incidence of compulsive behavior (stereotypies/abnormal repetitive behaviors) in populations of sport and race horses in Hungary. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2023 Mar 1;61:37-49.

Schmucker S, Preisler V, Marr I, Krüger K, Stefanski V. Single housing but not changes in group composition causes stress-related immunomodulations in horses. PLoS One. 2022 Aug 17;17(8):e0272445.

Yngvesson J, Rey Torres JC, Lindholm J, Pättiniemi A, Andersson P, Sassner H. Health and body conditions of riding school horses housed in groups or kept in conventional tie-stall/box housing. Animals. 2019 Feb 26;9(3):73.

04/27/2025

With thanks to guest contributor Dr Andrew Hemmings, we are delighted to share this practical overview of the latest research and findings into crib biting:

''Over the past decade crib-biting has received much attention by researchers usually working at vet schools and Universities. However, the results of this work seldom leaves the pages of academic and veterinary journals. The aim of this article is to take the most interesting and useful aspects of this research and deliver it in such a way that it can contribute positively to the everyday management of crib-biting horses and ponies. In addition, my role as a lecturer and researcher has led to me into the company of many hundreds of horse owners, and it gives me great pleasure to share the fruits of over 20 years of conversations which adds balance and real life perspective to what we’re finding in the lab.''

Read the article in full in our latest newsletter: https://conta.cc/3Yv2meb

04/06/2025

A recent study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (Lesimple et al., 2025) investigated object permanence in horses, a key cognitive ability related to understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

The experiment, involving 63 horses, revealed that horses can locate a hidden treat even when the hiding process is not visible to them.

This suggests they reach at least Piaget's stage 4 of object permanence (where infants begin to understand that objects continue to exist even when hidden, and they will actively search for them.)

The researchers used a simple task where horses had to find a carrot hidden under a bucket and control groups were used to ensure that the horses weren't simply relying on their sense of smell to find the treat.

The experimental group achieved a success rate of 93.1%, while a control group that also familiarised with the task, but with no treat, had a 100% success rate in uncovering the location where the treat would theoretically be.

Another control group that did not go through familiarisation had a success rate of 60%, suggesting the bucket itself did not intrinsically drive exploration.

This study adds to the limited body of research on equine cognition, an area that has significant gaps, especially when compared to research on other species like primates or even domestic animals like dogs.

Brubaker and Udell (2016) pointed out that rat cognition studies outnumber those of horses by a factor of seven.

Study: To see or not to see: Horses’ ability to find the hidden treat: Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 285, 2025.

04/05/2025

✨🐎Here are a few tips and ideas to build up topline without overdoing it at this age:

1. Hill Work (as you mentioned)

Absolutely one of the best tools in your kit. Walking up hills encourages:
• Engagement of the hind end
• Lifting through the back
• Stretching through the neck

Stick to mostly walking at this age, with short trots if he’s balanced and ready. Keep the terrain safe and non-slippery.

2. In-Hand Pole Work

Working over ground poles in-hand can:
• Promote balance and coordination
• Encourage back and core engagement
• Help develop proprioception

Start with simple raised walk poles and gradually vary height and spacing.

3. Proper Nutrition

Make sure his diet supports muscle development without pushing growth too fast. A ration balancer or feed specifically for young, growing horses can help, with attention to quality protein and amino acids (lysine especially).

4. Correct Movement Over Sp*ed

Long, low stretchy walks on the lunge or in-hand (not overbent) help him learn to move correctly through his back. Avoid tight circles or gadgets at this age.

5. Turnout

Free movement in pasture is underrated. Time spent moving around outside naturally builds strength and balance.

6. Bodywork

Chiropractic care, massage, or even just regular grooming with a curry mitt can improve circulation, loosen tight spots, and support muscle development.

03/21/2025

02/24/2025

Happy Valentine's Day! We like to say that horses have a lot of heart, but did you know that is also true anatomically? The average adult horse heart weighs about 12 pounds, while some of our star equine athletes can have much larger hearts. Sham's heart weighed close to 18 pounds, and Secretariat's heart was a whopping 22 pounds!

Check out the infographic for other fun horse heart facts.

02/24/2025

This is not okay. There is no reason for this. Yes there may be underlying conditions etc. but this is not the case. This horse went into winter looking like this.