Equus

New research from Europe suggests that castration can be performed on colts without adverse effects far earlier than previously thought—even at 3 days of age. Colts are generally castrated at 12 to 18 months old, but Stefan Deleuze, DVM, PhD, of theU

Schedules fill up quickly in springtime. Whether it’s social obligations, competitions or just a mile-long to-do list, it can be easy to postpone making an appointment for your horse’s spring vaccinations. The longer you wait, however, the greater th

On average, AHFEH member organizations find forever homes for more than 1,000 horses each year. In 2022, an estimated 7,829 horses were being cared for at AHFEH rescue facilities, and 1,241 of those horses found their forever homes. Celebrate with us

A new study from the University of California, Davis, challenges the common assumption that misbehavior in mares is often linked to “elevated ovarian hormones” and instead suggests other potential causes. The California researchers reviewed 2,914 hor

By now you’ve probably put away your blankets for the season, but a study from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, may have you rethinking how you will use them when the cold weather returns this year. Researchers found that blanketing has litt

Although they have tended to be forgotten, Highlanders were almost as important in shaping the Saddlebred as the Chiefs and Denmarks. Highlanders descend from Scottish Galweys, sturdy horses with cob-like conformation and ambling gaits. I present ima

We had an early whiff of spring last week, but then came a Monday snowstorm with another one predicted midweek. It started early morning and I debated turnout. My senior, Homère, isn’t entirely steady on his feet and the compression sock he wears on

During an outbreak of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1), repeated testing helps identify infected horses and guide biosecurity efforts, such as quarantines. However, horse owners sometimes balk at the preferred testing method—the insertion of a long

The decades following the Civil War marked economic boom times in America, a period of unbridled consumerism for those who could afford it and a period of opportunity for people at all economic levels. During the Gilded Age, horses of every class and

An intriguing question which crops up in all studies involving ancestry is—when, exactly, can we say that a horse like Gaines’ Denmark, who is half Thoroughbred, “stops” being a Thoroughbred and “starts” being a Saddlebred? It is arbitrary, because t

Gaines’ Denmark sired a dozen good sons, most of them gotten before the Civil War. In terms of registry representation, Washington Denmark 1855, Star Denmark 1856, Diamond Denmark (also called Gays’ Denmark) 1858, Sumpter Denmark 1865 and Lail’s Denm

Black Squirrel: A branch of the Denmark family that deserves special mention, the squirrels descend from Black Squirrel 1876. A great-grandson of Washington Denmark, his dam was Mollie 1st, an inbred Highlander mare who also has lines to *Janus, *Fox

This sidebar features a succession of stallions beginning with Squirrel King, an elegant gray son of Black Squirrel foaled in 1882. Note how, thanks to judicious selection by knowledgeable breeders, conformation faults are balanced out through succee

Shopping for a riding helmet can be unexpectedly over-whelming. Sure, it’s a simple enough piece of equipment, but with dozens of brands, each with numerous models, there’s a lot for a consumer to compare and consider. For the safety minded, though,

This group represents available photos of Chief-bred stallions. They are not as conformationally uniform as the Denmarks, nor as beautiful, but all are substantial and useful. The fountainhead of this family is Mambrino Chief 1844, primarily known fo

It’s one thing to be on the leading edge of change, it’s another being 30 years ahead of your time. For one equine practitioner, a realization about the nature of traditional deworming practices and a crusade to change them put him decades ahead of t

For more than 30 years, Madison Seamans, DVM, MS, has been taking care of horses. His veterinary practice has taken him from Texas to Kentucky, California, Idaho and New Mexico. In his new book, Never Trust a Sneaky Pony, he shares stories about hors

The sample invoice below illustrates how Horsemen’s Laboratory reports the results of the fecal egg count tests it conducts for clients. “We are priced by the kit—which is used for a single test—not the horse,” says owner Ivy Lewis. “So, whether you

Q: I’m worried about how my 16-year-old gelding is moving. He doesn’t look or feel lame, but his stride seems to have gotten increasingly shorter over the past year and he’s reluctant to move off my leg. My veterinarian says he doesn’t see anything o

Sometimes, working with horses can feel like an endless “discussion,” the kind in which you try to explain to them why your ideas are best and your company the sweetest. But however persuasively you argue, in your darkest moments you find yourself se

Our Paint mare Sugar died this past December, at 30 years old. Sturdy and sure-footed, she was watchful and steadfast to the end. Sugar was sorrel with plenty of white, and when winter-shaggy she looked like a stuffed animal. She reminded me of the W