Horses

Bathing your horse is important. It can help desensitise a sceptical horse, making handling a lot easier. Kim Dyson shares a step-by-step routine to make bathing a positive experience.

Since more than 10 000 flies can emerge from 1kg of horse manure to terrorise your stable, some form of management is desperately needed. Dr Mac tells us how to fight this disease-carrying menace.

Last issue Kim Dyson covered the basics of feeding your horse. This week, she looks at how much to feed your equine sidekick.

After buying a horse, it's very important to know what to feed your new equine friend. Kim Dyson gives some useful feeding tips.

"We think the Appaloosa is the best multi-purpose horse around," says Rick Johnson of Sans Souci Farm in KwaZulu-Natal's Kamberg Valley.

Related to the nasal worms found in sheep, the larvae of the bot fly can cause digestive problems in horses, writes Dr Mac.

With the high price of diesel, many farmers are reconsidering using donkeys for small loads, or to transport workers on the farm. As the health of the working donkey is important to maintain its efficiency, it's worthwhile knowing how to see if they're sick, writes Dr Mac.

Conditions involving your horse's eyes are potentially serious and should be treated by a vet, warns Kim Dyson.
Issue date : 10 September 2010

Some people think those "cowboy" spurs look cool, others believe they're barbaric. Are they just for show, or can they serve a purpose, especially when it comes to Western riding? Dr Mac investigates.

There's no mysticism involved. To build a beautiful friendship with your horse, you just need to know how to speak its language, writes Kim Dyson.

Here’s how you can teach your horse to get used to strange objects and loud noises, provided you treat your horse sympathetically.

Lavender has healing properties and is an effective fly-repellent, writes Kim Dyson.