ASKHQ: WHAT IS STOCKING UP?

Q: What is stocking up? A: Stocking up is a phrase used to describe what happens to a horse’s legs when they swell up below the knees. Commonly owners report that a horse swells up below the knees after a night spent in the stable, but then after turn-out in the paddock, the swelling goes…

BylizzieMay 7, 20250Comments

Horse Health

HOME SWEET HOME – CHOOSING A HOOF-FRIENDLY YARD

Text: Christine Pinna While I have come across many extremely well-managed yards that are horse and hoof-friendly and more than willing to accommodate management changes, I have also sadly dealt with many a distressed horse owner who is faced with the opposite scenario. After doing some research and deciding to go barefoot with their horse, they…

BylizzieMarch 16, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE

Text: Shelley Wolhuter Horses are designed to move. In fact, when it comes to horses, movement really is medicine. In the wild, horses have been known to cover an average of 40km daily. Different terrains and climates would affect this average, but regardless, that distance is still rather impressive! Living as Mother Nature intended offers certain…

BylizzieFebruary 6, 20250Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: PEELING FROG

Q: My horses frog peeled off. Is this normal? He’s sound and doesn’t seem bothered, but the whole thing just suddenly seemed to lift up and come off? A: The frog is crucial for overall hoof health, as its tough but elastic tissues absorb concussive forces and cushion the structures within the hoof. In order to…

BylizzieOctober 24, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: WHAT IS A BULLNOSED HOOF?

Q: What is a 'bullnosed' hoof? A: A true bullnosed hoof occurs when the dorsal wall of the hoof takes on a convex shape, typically due to the coffin bone having a negative palmar/plantar angle inside the hoof. A negative palmar/plantar angle means that the coffin bone is tilting upwards at the front and downwards at…

BylizzieOctober 16, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: BREAKOVER

Q: What is the breakover? The breakover is the last phase of the stride and covers the time between the heel leaving the ground and the toe leaving the ground. ‘Delayed breakover’ means that this phase takes longer, as may be the case with a long toe, and a ‘shortened breakover’ means that it takes less…

BylizzieJuly 24, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: HOOF CRACKS

Q: What causes a hoof crack? A: Hoof cracks are simply splits in the hoof wall. They are often the result of trauma to the coronary band or hoof wall; irregular hoof trimming; poor hoof balance; poor conformation; poor quality of hoof; poor diet; and extreme weather conditions. Cracks are easy to see on the hoof…

BylizzieJuly 12, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: WIDER FROGS

Q: Why is a wide frog preferred? A: Frogs vary in shape and size, and while many horses with narrow frogs, can remain perfectly sound throughout their lives, a food with a wider, thicker frog is generally preferred. This is because in these instances the frog will be able to provide better support to the back of…

BylizzieApril 18, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: WHAT IS PEDAL OSTEITIS?

Q: What is pedal osteitis? A: Pedal osteitis describes inflammatory changes in the pedal bone (P3), otherwise known as the coffin bone, of the foot. It can be seen on X-Ray with changes to the surface and borders or P3. Areas of new bone formation or of bone loss (lysis) may be seen on the bone, particularly…

BylizzieApril 17, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: CORNS

Q: What are corns? A: The 'seat of corn' is the area of sole between the bar and the heel wall, and a bruise in this area is called a corn. Corns are a big problem in shod horses with collapsed heels. When the wall folds under at the heel and the bars become bent, pressure is…

BylizzieFebruary 15, 20200Comments

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