ASKHQ: SUDDEN AGGRESSION TO OTHER HORSES IN THE PADDOCK

Q: My horse has become very aggressive suddenly with others in his paddock. The yard owner wants to separate him, but he was absolutely fine until recently. What could be the cause of this? A: The onset of, or a significant increase in, aggression towards other horses can have a range of causes, although the…

BylizzieOctober 31, 20250Comments

Horse Health

BEYOND THE FEED BAG

How turnout, stress and routine affect digestion We tend to think of equine nutrition as the science of calories, minerals, and macros - choosing the right concentrates, balancing the forage, and tweaking the supplements. But true nutrition goes far beyond what’s in the feed bag or supplement tub. The way a horse is managed -…

BylizzieAugust 12, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: TURNOUT IN OVERREACH BOOTS

Q: Is it okay to turn my horse out in overreach boots? A: It’s very common to see horses turned out wearing overreach boots. If your horse is prone to overreach injuries or the pulling of shoes, then these boots are a straightforward way of reducing the cuts to the heels or lost shoes. However, in order…

BylizzieMarch 27, 20250Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: ARE STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOURS CONTAGIOUS?

Q: The horse standing in the stable next to mine has a habit of crib-biting and wind-sucking. My horse has started a funny habit of opening his mouth and crossing his jaw when standing in his stable. I have only noticed it recently and I am worried he is picking up on the other horse’s…

BylizzieAugust 15, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: LIFECYCLE OF A FLY

Q: What is a fly’s lifecycle and are there ways in which we can control it? A: Flies thrive in stable yards, as horse manure is the perfect environment for them to feed and breed. A fly’s lifecycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. It takes approximately two to four weeks for a…

BylizzieJuly 13, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: WORMS IN THE PADDOCK

Q: How do you manage pastures to reduce the incidence of worms? Answered by Jassy MacKenzie A: In the vast open spaces of their natural environment, wild horses would not graze near their droppings, but very few owners are fortunate enough to have this kind of space. In limited space, or where grass is short or scarce,…

BylizzieJuly 4, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: LIVING OUT

Q: Can my horse live out? Answered by Charlotte Bastiaanse A: Before domestication, horses used to live out throughout the day and night. Nowadays, horses are generally, at least in South Africa, turned out during the morning and brought back into their stables in the late afternoon. Some yards, however, still only turn horses out for a…

BylizzieJune 15, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

MOVING YARDS

Problem: I need to move livery yards, but don’t really know what I’m looking for. Solution: There are several things to consider when choosing a livery yard that suits you and your horse. Below are a few of the major considerations that you need to bear in mind. Money matters Budgeting should always be your first step…

BylizzieMay 18, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: WOOD CHEWING

Q: My horse chews wood. People at the barn say it is due to a nutritional deficiency, but I'm not sure what that deficiency is? A: Many horses like to chew or eat wood in their stable, or nibble on paddock fencing. For owners, this can be frustrating, but chewing on wood, twigs and bark is…

BylizzieApril 27, 20200Comments

Horse Channel

PRIDEY’S LOCKDOWN LAMENTATIONS DAYS 3 AND 4

Dear readers, It is with great relief that I can inform you that it's been a much more pleasant two days chez moi. Turns out (conveniently) that my (very absent) father had his birthday today and my (sadly) ever present mother had to attend to creating a birthday under lockdown... It appears that this was stressful…

BylizzieMarch 30, 20200Comments

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