Horse Health

BRIDLE PRESSURE POINTS

Understanding where pressure builds under bridles and bits can help prevent discomfort, tension, and resistance, and improve both welfare and performance. Poll (top of the head behind the ears) Why it matters: This area contains multiple nerve exits and major blood vessels. Risks: Narrow or layered crownpieces, overly tight browbands or bridles. Signs…

BylizzieAugust 14, 20250Comments

BRIDLES, BITS AND BIOMECHANICS

Rethinking what’s ‘normal’ The sight of a horse moving in a bridle, poll flexed, lips gently closed, has long been seen as the mark of advanced schooling and correct work. However, new research into bridle and bit pressure, nerve pathways, and facial anatomy is challenging that assumption, suggesting that many horses perform despite discomfort, rather…

BylizzieAugust 13, 20250Comments

Horse Health

BEYOND THE FEED BAG

How turnout, stress and routine affect digestion We tend to think of equine nutrition as the science of calories, minerals, and macros - choosing the right concentrates, balancing the forage, and tweaking the supplements. But true nutrition goes far beyond what’s in the feed bag or supplement tub. The way a horse is managed -…

BylizzieAugust 12, 20250Comments

Horse Health

SHOEING VS. BAREFOOT IN THE SPORTHORSE

What does the science say For some riders, shoes are non‑negotiable tools that let sporthorses stay comfortable, protected and competitive on modern surfaces. For others, the barefoot (often boot-assisted) model is a welfare-forward way to build stronger, more functional feet, and many swear their horses move better for it. The truth, as usual, sits somewhere…

BylizzieAugust 11, 20250Comments

Horse Health

INTRIGUING INGREDIENTS – SPIRULINA

If you’ve been reading ingredient labels on equine supplements lately, you may have come across a mysterious green powder: spirulina. This microalgae has made a name for itself in the human wellness industry, and now, it’s gaining popularity in the equestrian world for its purported immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and allergy-mitigating effects. But what exactly is spirulina,…

BylizzieAugust 9, 20250Comments

Horse Health

SOLE DEEP

What we know about sole thickness and soundness When we think about hooves, we often focus on wall cracks, flares, or the perfect white line, but the sole plays a vital and often underappreciated role in keeping our horses sound, especially in the age of synthetic surfaces and intense sport schedules. The thickness and integrity of…

BylizzieAugust 7, 20250Comments

Horse Health Horse Training

UNDERNEATH THE GIRTH

Does shape, material, or elasticity matter? The girth is one of the most fundamental pieces of tack in your horse’s wardrobe, but it’s also one of the most underestimated. For many of us, choosing a girth is often an afterthought: leather or synthetic, shaped or straight, perhaps with elastic on one end, and then we're…

BylizzieAugust 6, 20250Comments

Horse Health

DEPRESSION IN HORSES

Research indicates that horses can experience depression. Here we'll review the pioneering study that sought to identify depression in horses and examine some of the causes, list the signs to watch for and give tips on how to help alleviate depressive symptoms in affected horses. The study A French study evaluated domestic horses for signs of…

BylizzieAugust 4, 20250Comments

Horse Health

HAY! HAVE YOU HEARD?

Horses should have a diet based around forage, and while some will need more than others, this essential part of the diet is critical and should never be overlooked. Forage includes sources such as hay, grazing, high fibre cubes, chaffs, and even super fibres such as soya hulls and beet products. Without fibre, which is the…

BylizzieJuly 29, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

FIVE SIGNS YOUR HORSE ISN’T COPING WITH THE COLD

Winter mornings might make for stunning sunrises and misty arenas, but they can also take a toll on your horse — especially if they’re older, clipped, or struggling to maintain weight. As temperatures dip across South Africa this July, here are five subtle signs that your horse might not be coping as well as you think,…

BylizzieJuly 25, 20250Comments

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