Ask a vet – Pedal bone fractures in the horse

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he pedal bone, also known as the coffin bone or distal phalanx, is a small half-moon shaped bone within the horse’s hoof capsule surrounded by delicate tissue called laminae. The pedal bone articulates with the short pastern bone via the distal inter-phalangeal or coffin joint. As the pedal bone is close to the sole of…

BylizzieJune 30, 20170Comments

Performance saddles – Equipe

The art of crafting the perfect saddle can be likened to the age-old art of glassblowing. Each curve, each line and each stitch is a quintessential component of the overall product. One incorrect move and the end product will be flawed. A 1mm flaw in a saddle can be the difference between clearing a 1m…

BylizzieJune 28, 20170Comments

Horse Breed

The Nooitgedacht-Iberian

Nooitgedacht stallion owned by Floors and Lizelle Smit from Destalsmit Stud [dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the previous issue of HQ (122), the history of the Nooitgedacht was presented as him being the only recognised breed that has been developed out of the Basuto Pony, so highly prized for his hardiness and tractability, as demonstrated during the Anglo-Boer War at…

BylizzieJune 24, 20170Comments

Horse Health Know How

Winter Hoof Care

As the days become shorter and the nights longer, winter is certainly on its way. South African winters are considered fairly mild compared to other parts of the world, but in some of our regions, it can still get very cold at night! As the weather differs vastly throughout our country, with the Cape regions…

BylizzieJune 21, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Know How Lifestyle

Good Grazing

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]orage should always make up the majority of your horse’s diet, and winter is no exception. Understandably, grass takes a lot longer to grow back during the winter period, and some regions struggle more than others. Certain South African regions receive a lot of rainfall over winter, and so the grass recovers quicker, but those…

BylizzieJune 20, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Know How

What to look for when buying a youngster

A young horse is a rewarding investment if you're willing to put the time in [dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen you buy a young horse, you buy potential. The only thing a young horse can offer is his conformation, temperament and bloodline. Some young horses will be further along in their schooling and may even have gone to their first…

BylizzieMay 4, 20170Comments

Horse Health Know How

Headshakers

It's normal for horses to shake to relieve the irritation of flies. [dropcap]H[/dropcap]orses shaking their heads is quite normal. Horses need to get rid of annoying flies, which they can do by a rippling effect of the panniculus muscles on their flanks, tail swishing, foot stamping or headshaking. However, chronic headshaking is a different story. It takes…

BylizzieApril 27, 20170Comments

Know How

Home, sweet home

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ny horse owner only wants what’s best for his or her horse. As much as we’d all love to have our horses home with us, under our watchful eye, this simply isn’t a reality for the majority of horse owners in South Africa. This means we end up putting our horses into livery, trusting the…

BylizzieApril 25, 20170Comments

Know How

Boots: best foot forward

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e are spoilt for choice when it comes to boots, and these days boots are even more innovative and technologically advanced than ever before. Boots come in a variety of materials and are secured with Velcro, buckles or clips. With so many options available, it can be tricky to pick out the best boots for your…

BylizzieApril 20, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

Working equitation

Patricia Robertson, demonstrating working equitation at Monte Cavalo's open day last year [dropcap]W[/dropcap]orking equitation, better known by its Spanish name Doma Vaquera, can literally be translated into ‘schooling of the stock horse’. This fast-growing international equestrian sport is also representative of one of the oldest riding disciplines in the world. Its origins lie in the need…

BylizzieApril 6, 20170Comments

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