Nicky Ellis, Author at Horses & Foals

Arthritis In Horses: How Do You Exercise An Arthritic Horse?

Many horses, especially older horses, develop arthritis (aka: degenerative joint disease or DJD), one of the most common equine ailments. Just as with people, arthritis in horses is a painful condition and can make moving about difficult. There is no cure for arthritis, but with proper diet and care and a regular routine of light-to-moderate … Read more

Alfalfa Hay Vs Timothy Hay And Other Grass Hays: What’s The Difference

When determining how to feed your horse, it is always important to remember that horses are grazing animals. This means that they must nibble hay, grass or other roughage almost continuously for proper digestion. The greater part of any horse’s diet should be roughage, and it is wise to choose a form of roughage that … Read more

What Is The Recommended Diet For Horses With Ulcers?

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 … Read more

Is Feeding Oats To Horses For Weight Gain A Good Idea?

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 … Read more

7 Equestrian Apps {That Any Horse Rider Should Try}

In this day and age of fast, speedy technology at our fingertips, it is no longer enough to trudge up to the field twice a day to check that your horse still has four legs, or boast to your friend about the awesome ride you just had. Nowadays, as with just about any activity you … Read more

11 Reasons Why Horse Riding Is Good For You

You may be just starting out into this wonderful hobby, and need a few reasons to nudge you into the saddle a bit quicker. You might be persuading a friend to come out hacking with you, and they have demanded proof about this strange thing that keeps you occupied and so happy. Or maybe you … Read more

What Do You Feed A High Energy Horse?

Horses are individuals, and different activities require different levels of energy and types of fuel. For this reason, it is not possible to identify the “best horse feed for performance horses”. There are lots of good choices in horse feeds, and there are management techniques you can use to optimize the effectiveness of the feed … Read more

Should I feed my horse more in the winter

Feeding Horses In Winter: Tips & Tricks

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 … Read more

Horse Clipping Tips {To Help You Keep Your Horse Tidy}

As the weather warms up in the springtime, you naturally want to get out and ride. Unfortunately, since your horse’s winter coat will not have shed out completely, activities in the spring sunshine can leave you with a bit of a dilemma. At the end of your ride, your horse’s heavy fur coat may be … Read more

How Do I Know If My Horse Needs Salt?

Along with feed, hay, grass and water horses need a regular supply of salt in their diet. Salt (NaCl) is made up of sodium and chloride, which are two of the electrolytes horses need to maintain proper bodily functions. The other three are magnesium, potassium and calcium. In this article, we discuss the importance of … Read more