Tips on how to win at the western mounted games
Western mounted games is the fastest-growing equestrian sport in South Africa. Barrel racing, which attracts large audiences and generous prizes in the US, is...
Teaching beginners to ride safely
It’s possible to mitigate the risks without taking the fun out of riding, says Dr Mac.
Helping a horse recover from injury
A good deal of supportive treatment is required to treat a physical injury, such as a tendon strain and soft tissue damage. Kim Dyson explains how to go about this properly.
Protect your horse from the sun
Lack of the dark skin pigment, melanin, on some parts of a horse’s body can lead to sunburn or skin cancer. Horses should have access to shade at all times of the day, advises Dr Mac.
Keeping your horse clean
Whether you manage a riding stable, stud, or herd of trail horses, a wash bay is very useful, says Dr Mac.
Dealing with hock problems
Unfortunately, bony changes of the lower hock joint are irreversible, but it is possible to manage the problem, says Kim Dyson.
Dealing with a fractured jaw
Breaks are often misdiagnosed and sometimes even heal on their own, says Dr Mac.
Dealing with sacroiliac injuries
Injuries to the posterior section of the spine are often caused by unbalanced stress on the pelvis. However, the prognosis is usually good if the horse is given time to recover, says Kim Dyson.
Cobalt now a controlled substance
Riders should be very careful about giving horses supplements before competitions, cautions Dr Mac.
Get your horse to canter correctly
Only when a horse has the correct lead is it balanced and safe to ride at a canter, says Dr Mac.
Ovulation and fertility
To make sure a mare conceives, you have to get the timing precisely right, so planning is crucial. Dr Mac explains.
Maggots in a horse’s ears: prevention is easier than cure
Flystrike can be just as problematic in horses as in sheep, says Dr Mac.
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