Horses

Pierre and Carine Kleinhans breed horses capable of patrolling large areas of land with minimal inputs, much like the animals used by cowboys in the American Wild West. The couple spoke to Glenneis Kriel on their farm near Touws River in the Western Cape about their operation.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is influenced mainly by feeding and management, says Dr Mac.

Developing an independent seat is crucial for horse riding, says Dr Mac. This means you need to learn to balance without using your hands, and relying only on your legs and core muscles.

Colic is the leading killer of horses around the world, and COVID-19 has made it harder for vets to go out to stables to diagnose horses. Virtual diagnosis and colic first-aid kits may be the solution, says Dr Mac.

When your horses don’t want to eat the hay you have bought in for winter, the bales could be mouldy, warns Dr Mac.

Deciduous teeth that are not shed can be problematic in young horses in training, warns Dr Mac

You have to vaccinate your horse annually against African horse sickness using a registered product, but this alone is not enough to keep the horse safe, warns Dr Mac.

Angular limb deformities can be treated in various ways, depending on the severity of the deformity, says Dr Mac.

While mares generally gestate for 11 months, this may vary. With this in mind, you should be on the lookout for signs that your mare is close to foaling, says Dr Mac.

There are pros and cons to breeding your mare at different times of the year, says Dr Mac.

The consumption of the lantana bush can result in severe liver failure and death, warns Dr Mac.

This recently described syndrome, which affects mainly American Quarter Horses, can be confirmed using genetic tests, says Dr Mac.