Horses

The seeds of Datura species can cause fatal impaction colic, warns Dr Mac.

Competitive behaviour is human nature. Deep inside all riders, there is a desire to compete in shows. You polish yourself and your horse, you practise until you’re sure that you’re ready.

Any horse person will tell you about the hours of laughter that you'll get out of sharing jump stories. Go to the Sappi horse trials and you will notice how difficult it is to find a spot next to the water jump.

It is important to know the basics when taking care of your horse, but in some cases you might do more harm than good. Kim Dyson explains when you can handle injuries and illness yourself, and when to call in professional help.

Unfit horses with long coats are more prone to heat stress, writes Dr Mac.

Your horse should lift all four feet willingly when asked, writes Dr Mac.

Laminitis often has devastating consequences for your horse's ability to work. If it's too severe, your horse may even have to be put down, writes Dr Mac.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of positioning the things around us so that we are in greater harmony with our environment.

Even though many South Africans live in remote areas and it is difficult to get a vet, in some situations there is no alternative.

Competitive long-distanc e riding tests the stamina of both horse and rider.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to improve the emotional, and in turn the physical wellness of the animal being treated.

In part one (Farmer's Weekly, 25 May 2007), Art McDonald told us the secret of an “ideal horse” was the balance of its proportions. In the second article, based on an interview published in American Horse and Rider 30 years ago, Diane C Simmons found out how McDonald used a computer program he developed to improve his breeding.