A diagram showing the molecular structure of amino acid - HQ Magazine

ASKHQ: AMINO ACIDS

Q: What are amino acids and why are they necessary? A: Amino acids are biological building blocks that link together to create proteins. Those proteins form everything from muscle and organ tissue to enzymes, hormones and antibodies. Amino acids are particularly helpful in cellular regeneration of muscle in performance horses. This role in regeneration makes…

BylizzieNovember 23, 20250Comments

Horse Health

WHAT IS FASCIA? AND HOW DO WE KEEP IT HEALTHY?

Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue surrounding, supporting, and holding every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve, and muscle. Yet this tissue does more than just provide structure; it has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin, and it is designed to move with the muscles and tissues. Although fascia looks like one…

BylizzieMarch 4, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

UNDERSTANDING WINDGALLS, PART 1

Windgall, or windpuff, is the term used to describe the soft swelling seen just above the fetlocks or the forelegs and hind legs of typically older or harder-working horses. The term refers to either an enlargement of the fetlock joint capsule (an articular windgall) or an enlargement of the digital flexor tendon sheath (a non-articular…

BylizzieApril 22, 20210Comments

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

ROADWORK – WORTH DOING OR NOT?

Recent research now suggests that particularly trotting horses on tar roads leads to more incidences of lameness than was originally thought. The benefits of riding on roads are that they are flat, generally even surfaces and many people have previously suggested that roadwork is good for joint, tendon and bone health. However, the new research shows…

BylizzieOctober 6, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: CLICKING FETLOCKS

Q: My horse's fetlocks click when I pick up his feet. What could it be? A: Clicking joints and fetlocks are fairly common in horses, and are generally speaking nothing to worry about. Clicking joints in horses are very similar to clicking joints like knuckles and knees in humans, where sudden expansion of the joint creates…

BylizzieSeptember 13, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: OSTEOARTHRITIS

Q: My mare has osteoarthritis in her hocks, which can make some schooling difficult for her. I want to maintain her fitness, without stressing her joints or making her arthritis flare. Do you have any advice for how best to achieve this? A: Osteoarthitis is a condition that commonly affects older horses, but it doesn't have…

BylizzieAugust 30, 20190Comments

Horse Health

Positive flexion tests

A flexion test involves compression of joints and soft tissues through forced bending of the limbs. [dropcap]F[/dropcap]lexion tests of both the fore- and hindlimbs are common diagnostic tools, particularly used for the purposes of pre-purchase examination. Many of us have heard the words ‘failed flexion test’ or ‘positive flexion test’ when looking into buying or selling…

BylizzieMay 2, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

Going herbal

Over the years, there has been a real boom in herbal supplements, not only for horses but for other animals and humans too. A lot of horse owners understand the value of feeding herbal supplements to their horses on a regular basis. Today, horse owners are rather spoilt for choice when it comes to herbal mixtures,…

BylizzieNovember 7, 20160Comments

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