ASKHQ: TAIL CUTTING

Q: How do I cut my horse's tail correctly? Asked by Emma Wood A: To avoid cutting the tail too short, and to make sure that you cut at the correct angle, you need to put your arm under the dock of the tail to raise the tail to the position it is in when the animal…

BylizzieDecember 18, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: GRACKLE NOSEBAND

Q: What is a grackle noseband? A: The grackle noseband is also known as the figure-of-eight noseband. The grackle is designed with a main pressure point at the crossover point on the top of the horse's nose. The straps pass through a slotted leather circle, which often has a sheepskin backing to prevent discomfort or rubbing.…

BylizzieDecember 15, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: IMPORT ISSUES

Q: When you import a horse, what is the flight like? Do horses find it very stressful? A: There is a variety of flight options available for horses. If a horse is coming in from Europe, the most expensive option is the direct flight from the origin to Johannesburg, while the cheaper option is to fly…

BylizzieDecember 14, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

ASKHQ: WESTERN SPURS

Q: Western spurs look so different. Do they hurt the horse more than conventional spurs and how are they used? A: Western spurs may look different but they are designed not to lock against the horse but to rather move and roll when applied. When using Western rowel spurs, you squeeze the horse, allowing the rowel…

BylizzieDecember 11, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: UPHILL OR DOWNHILL

Q: Is my horse built ‘uphill’ or ‘downhill’? A: Body balance is partly determined by the relative height of the croup and withers of the horse, but also by the positioning of the spine in terms of how high or how low the base of the neck is, and where the neck vertebrae join the thoracic…

BylizzieDecember 10, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: PASTERN BONE

Q: When is a pastern considered too short? Q: The pastern is the area between the fetlock joint and the top of the hoof, and consists of two bones: the long pastern bone, or first phalanx, under the fetlock joint, and the short pastern bone, or second phalanx, which joins with the coffin bone, the third…

BylizzieDecember 10, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: LARGE FEET

Q: Why are large feet preferred in horses? A: It is not simply that large feet are preferred, but rather that the feet need to be in proportion to the body of the horse. If feet are too small for a horse’s build, they are less likely to hold up under strenuous work. The bigger the…

BylizzieDecember 9, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive therapy used most frequently to treat soft tissue injuries. In this therapy, a high-energy soundwave is produced outside of the body (hence the therapy is referred to as being extracorporeal) and transmitted into the target tissue. The effect of the high-energy soundwave is to stimulate the growth of…

BylizzieNovember 28, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

ASKHQ: SHORT OR LONG BOXING BOOTS

Q: Does my horse need short of long boxing boots? A: Boxing boots are worn when travelling and come in either a short or long version. Short boxing boots fit only around the cannon bones, and offer no protection to the elbows, hocks, pasterns or heels. Front and back long boxing boots cover the leg from…

BylizzieNovember 27, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: FRESH

Q: What is the longest I can leave my horse unworked without him getting fresh? A: This is a difficult question to answer, because so many factors come into play: feed, turnout, breed, way of going, temperament etc. Some horses are no different even after a few weeks' holiday, and others are impossible after only a…

BylizzieNovember 25, 20190Comments

HQ Newsletter