Mud fever, also known as pastern dermatitis, equine dermatophilosis, cracked or greasy heels, is a common but potentially serious skin condition affecting horses, particularly in wet and muddy conditions. South Africa’s climate, with its seasonal rainfall and damp paddocks, can create the perfect environment for this condition to thrive. With the wet weather up in…
Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis, generally referred to as sweet itch, is a common and debilitating skin disease. It is caused by an allergic reaction to the bite of the Culicoides midge, which is the midge that carries African Horse Sickness (AHS). All horses are bitten by this midge over the course of the year, but just like…
Colostrum is produced by the mare and is the first milk she produces when she gives birth. She only produces this milk for up to 24 hours after giving birth. The milk appears different from that which she will produce for the rest of her lactation period, in that it is yellow, thick, and sticky. As…
By Charlotte Bastiaanse When our horses suffer from conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it is very saddening to see them in such a state. In an article that appeared in HQ109 (order from CoolMags ), we took a look at how horses develop these mental conditions, and what the potential end-result of…
