ASKHQ: CURB ON THE HOCK

AskHQ: I’ve been told my horse has a curb on his hock. What does this mean? A: A curb on a horse’s hock is a form of soft tissue swelling or thickening that appears just below the point of the hock, at the back of the leg. It’s usually caused by strain or injury to the…

BylizzieMay 11, 20260Comments

Horse Health

SCIENCE LEADS THE WAY IN TEACHING HOW TO BETTER ASSESS OUR HORSE’S EMOTIONS

It is one of the most unsettling findings to emerge from equine welfare science in recent years: most people, including experienced equestrians, are significantly worse at recognising pain in horses than they are at spotting discomfort in other humans, and in an animal whose evolutionary survival has depended on concealing vulnerability, that gap has serious…

BylizzieApril 20, 20260Comments

A title square image for an article about grooming as a diagnostic and why daily grooming can spot health issues

Horse Health

GROOMING AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Why daily hands-on grooming can spot early health and hoof issues In a world of thermography scans, digital lameness detectors, and ever-expanding supplements, it’s easy to overlook the most basic tool in equine care: your hands. But experienced horsemen have long known that grooming isn’t just about shine, it’s about surveillance. Done properly and consistently, daily…

BylizzieNovember 30, 20250Comments

Horse Health

GROOMING AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Why daily hands-on grooming can spot early health and hoof issues In a world of thermography scans, digital lameness detectors, and ever-expanding supplements, it’s easy to overlook the most basic tool in equine care: your hands. But experienced horsemen have long known that grooming isn’t just about shine, it’s about surveillance. Done properly and consistently, daily…

BylizzieSeptember 22, 20250Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: JUMP REFUSALS

Q: My horse has started refusing jumps he used to pop over easily. What could be going on? A: A sudden change in jumping confidence or willingness is often a red flag. First, rule out physical causes: discomfort from sore feet, back pain, ill-fitting tack, ulcers, or even subtle lameness can make jumping uncomfortable. A…

BylizzieAugust 25, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: HORSE HATES CLIPPING

Q: My horse hates being clipped. He kicks out and often sweats a lot. What can I do? A: Clipping anxiety is surprisingly common and often rooted in past negative experiences, noise sensitivity, or the feeling of static electricity that can come from being clipped. The first step is ruling out pain: if your horse’s…

BylizzieAugust 18, 20250Comments

Horse Health

DEPRESSION IN HORSES

Research indicates that horses can experience depression. Here we'll review the pioneering study that sought to identify depression in horses and examine some of the causes, list the signs to watch for and give tips on how to help alleviate depressive symptoms in affected horses. The study A French study evaluated domestic horses for signs of…

BylizzieAugust 4, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: ASYMMETRICAL REIN RESISTANCE

Q: My horse is always more resistant on one rein. Is this normal, or is something wrong? A: Most horses are naturally one-sided, meaning they’re more supple or ‘willing’ on one rein than the other. This asymmetry can be due to conformation, habitual patterns, or even the rider’s own crookedness. While a degree of ‘sidedness’…

BylizzieJune 16, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: HORSE GRIMACE SCALE

Q: What is the Horse Grimace Scale? A: The Horse Grimace Scale is a pain assessment tool that identifies six facial expressions of a horse and scores them on a scale of 0 (not present), 1 (moderately present) and 2 (obviously present). The actions are: Stiffly backwards ears – the horse’s ears are held stiffly and turned…

BylizzieMarch 21, 20250Comments

Horse Health

THE LANGUAGE OF EQUINE DISCOMFORT

Recognising signs of pain in your horse As devoted horse owners, we share a special bond with our equine companions. This makes us the best placed to notice when our horses are unhappy. Yet, deciphering the subtle language horses use to communicate their discomfort or pain is not always easy, even when we know our…

BylizzieJanuary 24, 20250Comments

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