Equine Emergency Aid LLC

10/27/2025

A horse's full intestines can weigh over 100 pounds (45 kg), with the large intestine alone potentially accounting for that entire weight when full of feed.

The total weight depends on the horse's size and what it has recently consumed.
Key components of the equine digestive tract include:
Total capacity: The entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a fed, mature horse can hold nearly 50 gallons (190 liters) of fluid and feed.
Hindgut weight: The hindgut (cecum and colon) accounts for approximately 64% of the empty weight of the GI tract. This is the area where fiber fermentation occurs.
Large intestine capacity: The large intestine is a significant contributor to the total weight of the full intestines.
It can hold 80 liters (21 gallons) or more of food and water.
When filled with feed, it can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg).
Cecum capacity: The cecum, a comma-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, can hold up to 30 liters (about 8 gallons) of food and water.

Another thing to consider in our horses is that the small intestines is suspended via the mesentry to the vertebral column of the lumbar. The lumbar is one of the last places to mature in horses and is susceptible to problems. Lumbar pain is a common site of dysfunction in horses I see for several reasons…..that is another post!

Below is just the intestinal tract from a 15hh horse, in a dissection it takes 4 people to comfortably carry this all out on a tarpaulin.

Below is a link to whole collection of videos on the intestinal tract.

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1804697t

10/04/2025

“Learn Once, Save for a Lifetime”

Text:
Ever called the vet for something that turned out to be minor? 💸
We’ve all been there — a small cut, a swelling, a mystery lump — and a bill that makes your eyes water.

Our Equine First Aid & Horsemanship Foundations Course teaches you how to handle it first with confidence and skill.
It’s called “foundational,” but make no mistake — it’s way beyond basic

10/02/2025

REMINDER Sky Lanterns are ILLEGAL IN MAINE and should be illegal everywhere! But aside from that and the fires they can start, when they land on livestock its not pretty at all 🙁
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064733164851

09/25/2025

🐴 MENTAL DEFICITS IN HORSES
A topic I have not yet encountered in the equestrian world, yet I believe it is extremely important to talk about.

In human society, we have defined a wide spectrum of cognitive and intellectual disorders—reduced intelligence, attention disorders, or learning difficulties. We understand that individuals with such diagnoses face certain limitations and (ideally) we adapt to their abilities and provide support.

For some mysterious reason, however, we tend to assume that every horse is born fully functional and ready to perform for humans. In my therapeutic practice, I have worked with horses who showed signs of various mental or cognitive deficits. I have met horses I would certainly place somewhere on the autistic spectrum, as well as horses that displayed clear signs of intellectual disability.

These horses are not to blame for their condition. They are not capable of performing at the same level as their healthy peers. They may struggle with focus, attention, and learning, have difficulties forming social bonds with horses or humans, or be emotionally unstable and unpredictable. This does not mean they are “bad.” They are simply different.

Owners of such horses are often under extreme pressure from their surroundings. They are criticized for not training or disciplining their horse properly, they move from trainer to trainer, trying every possible approach and level of pressure to make the horse behave “normally.” But such a horse will never be “normal.” The only way forward is to accept this reality and offer support.

💡 Not every horse with unusual behavior necessarily suffers from a congenital mental deficit. Cognitive function can also be influenced by:

👉 Aging – degenerative changes in the brain or nervous system
👉 Chronic pain / physical discomfort – pain can take up attention and reduce focus
👉 Neurological disorders – infections or degenerative diseases of the central nervous system
👉 Metabolic disorders – diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome, or hormonal changes affecting the brain
👉 Lack of stimulation – horses kept long-term without proper enrichment
👉 Stress / anxiety / depression – psychological factors that slow reactions and reduce concentration

❓What can we do? Let’s talk about it! Let’s explore and study it. Let’s support such horses and their owners instead of blaming or shaming them. Every horse has its place in this world—though it might not be the one we imagined for ourselves.

K.

09/19/2025

🐴✨ **Fun Fact Friday!** ✨🐴
Did you know that not all horses see the world the same way? 👀

Horses with different head shapes actually *see differently*! This is because the density of their retinal ganglion cells—the nerve cells that send visual information from the eye to the brain—varies. In simpler terms, a horse’s unique head shape can affect how sharp their vision is and what parts of their environment they focus on most.

So the next time you look at your horse’s profile, remember—they might be seeing the world just a little differently than their barn buddies! 🌎💫

09/03/2025

🌾 Choosing the Right Hay for Your Horse 🐴💡

Selecting hay is one of the most important decisions in your horse’s feeding program. The ideal forage depends on their activity level, health status, and nutrient requirements. You’ll often see hay labeled as first or second cutting, referring to when it was harvested during the growing season.

🔹 First-Cutting Hay
Typically harvested in spring, it’s coarser, higher in fiber, and lower in digestibility. It may be a good option for easy keepers or horses with lower calorie needs.

🔹 Second-Cutting Hay
Usually finer and leafier, second-cut is more digestible and energy-dense, making it ideal for performance horses, breeding stock, and seniors with higher nutritional demands.

📉 But remember: hay quality depends on more than the cutting. Species, weather, and plant maturity all play a role, and the only way to know the nutrient content for sure is through hay analysis.

📖 Learn more about first vs. second cutting and how to choose the best hay for your horse:
https://madbarn.ca/first-vs-second-cutting-hay-for-horses/
https://madbarn.com/first-vs-second-cutting-hay-for-horses/

09/01/2025

08/08/2025

Rabid horse, I have not seen or heard of any where I live in Maine, but we have had plenty of local wildlife with it.

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

08/05/2025

This week Blazing Star Stables kids will be certified in both basic and advanced!

Check out Blazing Star Stables’s video.