Articles

Explore the history, characteristics, coat patterns, temperament, and uses of the American Paint Horse. Learn what separates a registered Paint from a pinto, how tobiano, overo, and tovero patterns develop, which disciplines suit the breed, and which inherited conditions owners and breeders should understand.

A popped knee can range from a harmless cosmetic blemish to a painful joint condition. Learn about the anatomy of the equine carpus, common causes of knee swelling, signs of lameness, carpal hygromas, chip fractures, arthritis, veterinary diagnosis, and when a swollen knee requires urgent care.

Rabies in horses is uncommon but almost always fatal once neurological signs appear. Learn how the virus spreads, which wildlife species pose the greatest risk, how infection travels from a bite to the brain, and why early signs may resemble colic, lameness, choke or other neurological diseases. This guide also explains diagnosis, pathology, treatment outcome, vaccination and what to do after a suspected exposure.

Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can cause fever, weakness, ataxia, seizures, and death in horses. Learn how WEE spreads, which warning signs require immediate veterinary care, how the disease is diagnosed and treated, and why vaccination and mosquito control remain essential for prevention.

Learn what polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) means for horses, including the differences between PSSM1 and conditions historically grouped as PSSM2. Explore common symptoms, tying-up episodes, inheritance, diagnosis, treatment, diet, exercise, emergency care, breeding considerations, and long-term prognosis.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease that attacks a horse’s brain and spinal cord. Learn how EEE spreads, recognize its early and advanced neurological signs, understand treatment and prognosis, and discover why vaccination and mosquito control are essential for protecting every horse.

Senior horse care should be based on health, comfort, dental function, mobility, and body condition rather than age alone. Learn how to monitor an older horse, adjust feeding, recognize signs of PPID, support joint comfort, manage dental issues, and track quality of life with practical, owner-friendly senior horse care tips.

Fibrotic myopathy in horses causes a shortened, hoof-slapping gait. Learn about its causes, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Dressage has evolved over thousands of years, shaped by ancient horsemanship, Renaissance riding academies, royal courts, military cavalry schools, and modern international competition. Take a trip across the history of Dressage in this article.

Understanding the Thoroughbred requires looking at the purpose for which it was developed. For more than three centuries, breeders have selected these horses to run efficiently at speed. Thoroughbreds dominate flat racing internationally, but their importance reaches well beyond the racetrack. Learn more about thoroughbreds in this article.

Selecting the broodmare is one of the most important decisions made in any horse breeding program. The mare contributes half of the foal’s genetic material, but her influence extends well beyond genetics. Learn the dos and don'ts of selecting a mare for breeding.

Modern research has dramatically changed our understanding of shivers. What was once believed to be primarily a muscle disease is now recognized as a neurologic disorder involving the cerebellum, the region of the brain responsible for coordinating smooth, controlled movement. Read this article to understand this progressive neurologic movement disease.

Known for its towering height, flowing feathered legs, and calm demeanor, this Scottish draft horse has become an international symbol of strength and elegance. Although many people recognize the breed from the famous Budweiser hitch teams, the Clydesdale's history stretches back centuries and is rooted in agriculture, transportation, and hard work. Learn more about this majestic breed in this article.

Stringhalt is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder characterized by sudden, exaggerated flexion of one or both hind limbs during movement. Learn the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for this condition.

Equine Body Muscle Scoring is a practical system used to evaluate visible and palpable muscle over key regions of the horse. The goal is not simply to decide whether a horse “looks fit,” but to identify whether muscle is normal, reduced, uneven, or progressively wasting. Learn how it works, and how it differs from Body Condition Scoring, in this article.

A horse’s mouth is a finely tuned machine that grinds forage into fuel. When enamel points develop, or teeth wear unevenly, that machine starts to misfire: feed is wasted, gut health suffers, and subtle discomfort can snowball into training and behavior problems. Learn the ins-and-outs of equine dental care in this article.

Body condition scoring (BCS) is one of the simplest and most valuable tools available to horse owners. It allows you to objectively evaluate whether a horse is underweight, overweight, or maintaining an appropriate amount of body fat. Learn how to evaluate your horse in this article.

Horses require consistent daily care, proper nutrition, safe handling, regular hoof care, routine health monitoring, appropriate living conditions, emergency planning, and a long-term commitment of time, money, education, and effort. For first-time horse owners, the amount of information can feel overwhelming at first. This article covers all the basic topics you need to be aware of, and introduces you to the FREE online certification course "Horse Ownership Foundations.

Sidewinder syndrome is one of the more unusual gait abnormalities seen in horses. It is also called sidewinder gait, side-walker syndrome, side-walking, or crab-walker syndrome. Learn the causes, treatments, and prognosis of this disease.

Epiphysitis, more accurately called physitis, is a growth-related condition in young horses that affects the physis, or growth plate. Learn what causes it, how to recognize it, and how it should be addressed.

For horse owners, students, and equine learners, the mustang offers an important lesson: horse history is rarely simple. Behind every familiar term is a deeper story shaped by biology, culture, and human choices. Learn the history and ancestry of the horses we call "Mustangs".

Growth plates are one of the most important parts of the growing horse's skeleton. They are the reason a foal’s legs lengthen, the reason young horses change shape as they mature, and one of the reasons training decisions must be matched to age, development, and individual condition. Learn everything a horse owner should know about growth plates here.

Upward fixation of the patella, often called a “locking stifle,” can look dramatic and alarming. A horse may suddenly appear unable to bend a hind leg, drag the toe behind, hesitate when stepping forward, or release the limb with a sudden snap. Learn what upward fixation of the patella is, how to recognize it, and how it is treated.

Back pain is one of the most frustrating problems horse owners encounter because it can affect performance, behavior, comfort, and training. Scientific research has shown that many horses with back pain have more than one contributing problem. Learn about them all in this article.