Moon blindness is the common term for a condition in horses that most health professionals now call "equine recurrent uveitis (ERU)". This chronic, painful disorder is the most frequent cause of blindness in horses. Experts believe that records about moon blindness in horses pre-date records of human diseases. People call it "moon blindness" because previously horse owners erroneously thought … [Read more...]

Most images of horses involve running, jumping or simply grazing in an open meadow. From such scenes, it is hard to imagine these steeds in anything but excellent health. Yet equines suffer all sorts of maladies along with the rest of the animal kingdom. From broken bones to immune disorders to peptic ulcers, many horses suffer their fair share of pain and discomfort. Yet one symptom often escapes … [Read more...]

Few horse owners have encountered a more disturbing problem than stone bruises in horses because it causes lameness. Lame horses will have no choice but to sit idle in the stall or the paddock, and they won't be able to be enjoyed while on the trail or in the show ring. In some cases, lameness has brought on complex and serious problems like laminitis. In other cases, the lameness happens because … [Read more...]

Many horse owners believe a clubbed foot is a hoof blemish. Even though it's a common issue, a club foot can actually be a serious issue. While there is no cure, proper nutrition and management can make a happy lifestyle for a horse. This article will explain in-depth the causes, treatment, and management of a club-footed horse. What is Club Foot? To understand what clubfoot is, its good to … [Read more...]

Alfalfa hay is one of the most nutritious foods you can offer your horses. However, poor practices can affect the quality and nutritional value of these plants. To make sure you get top quality alfalfa hay, you will have to harvest the plants at the right time and store them appropriately. There are several ways of determining the right time to harvest alfalfa plants, and these will be covered in … [Read more...]

Owning horses comes with a wealth of responsibility. The topics of appropriate shelter, access to quality food, and regular veterinary and farrier trips merely address the beginning of horse care. An important but often ignored aspect of care involves horse teeth. The process of dental care for horses involves treatment by a veterinary specialist. Horse teeth require specialized care ranging … [Read more...]

Equine motor neuron disease is a disease which affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem of horses. Cases have been documented in the United States and worldwide. While the exact cause of equine motor neuron disease isn’t known, researchers have correlated a vitamin deficiency with the likelihood of horses developing the disease. Fortunately, the chances of a horse getting … [Read more...]