ASKHQ: MELANOMAS

Q: Is it possible for horses who are not grey to get melanomas? A: Melanomas are much rarer in horses with non-grey coats, but they can and do occur. Unfortunately, when these tumours appear in non-grey horses they tend to have a much worse prognosis, as they are more aggressive. When melanomas occur in grey horses,…

BylizzieJanuary 28, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: HE GIVES ME THE EYE

Q: I love grooming my boy, but when I go to brush the left side of his face with my soft brush, he tilts his head and looks at me. His ears aren't back, but the reaction is odd and leaves me wondering if he is comfortable with my grooming him in this spot? A: While your…

BylizzieJanuary 27, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Breeding Horse Channel Horse Health

GELDING YOUR COLT

If you are the owner of a colt, you have undoubtedly been asked if and when you are going to geld your youngster. In fact, you may have even found yourself wishing you'd had a filly, just to avoid having to make this tricky call. As with most horse-related issues, there are lots of opinions…

BylizzieJanuary 25, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

NERVE BLOCKING – GETTING TO THE ROOT OF LAMENESS, PART 1

Text: Hayley Kruger Photography: Shutterstock One of the biggest mysteries horse owners can face is why their horses may be lame. Lameness has a variety of causes, and it is often very difficult to pinpoint exactly what the cause of it is. With modern technology and extensive research, veterinary practices have advanced to making use of nerve…

BylizzieDecember 4, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASK HQ: TRIPPING UP

Q: How can I teach my horse to be more careful with his feet? He just doesn't seem to pick them up properly. A: Picking the feet up comes from an engaged, forward and uphill motion of the horse. If you feel like your horse is slow, dragging his feet or lazy in general, transitions are…

BylizzieOctober 28, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: SPLINTS

Q: What causes splints in horses? A: Splints are inflammation or injury of the splint bones in the lower leg and/or the adjacent bones (such as the canon bone) and/or the associated ligaments. Splints are most commonly seen in young horses training at very high intensity levels, such as Thoroughbreds. Splints also occur from working on…

BylizzieOctober 21, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: DOUBLE TROUBLE

Q: How often do horses have twins? A: Twins are conceived as a result of the stallion's sperm fertilising two eggs released when a mare double ovulates. Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods are the most likely to have mutliple ovulations, and they therefore tend to have more twins than other breeds. However, nature does not favour the birth of…

BylizzieOctober 19, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

BEAT THE BURN

It is no secret that the sun is strong in South Africa, and that any part of your horse's skin that is not pigmented - these are areas of pink skin, such as pink noses and heels - can easily become burnt and will need protection. Horses with a lot of pink skin, such as…

BylizzieOctober 13, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

CAPPED HOCKS

Text: Dr Luke Poore Capped hocks are cold, non-painful swellings that develop at the point of the hock, and can be caused by accumulation of excessive synovial fluid in a membrane-lined cavity called a bursa. The bursa is present in the tissues between the superficial digital flexor tendon and the skin as the tendon runs over…

BylizzieOctober 12, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: HOOF ABSCESS LOCATION

Q: How do you locate an abscess in a hoof? A: A hoof abscess is a localised accumulation of purulent fluid (pus) within the horse's hoof. The pus is produced as a reaction by the horse's body to infection. A hoof abscess generally causes sudden-onset, severe lameness. Despite the dramatic onset and severity of the lameness…

BylizzieOctober 4, 20190Comments

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