Study and Self-Assessment Articles

Understanding the biomechanics of the acute phase of laminitis is essential for making informed decisions about hoof support, trimming, and shoeing. Every modality discussed in this article is grounded in a consistent set of mechanical goals that aim to protect the lamellae and stabilize the hoof.

Cervical stenotic myelopathy, commonly referred to as wobbles or wobbler syndrome, is a neurologic condition of the horse that affects the spinal cord within the neck region. Learn its signs, causes, and prognosis.

This article will help you understand what ataxia means, how to recognize it, what causes it, and why early action is critical for both horse welfare and rider safety.

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, commonly referred to as EPM, remains one of the most significant infectious neurologic diseases affecting horses in the Americas. This article is an advanced clinical and management overview of the disease.

Equine canker is a chronic, progressive disease affecting the hoof, most commonly the frog. It involves abnormal growth and breakdown of the hoof’s outer tissue layers. Learn what causes it, how to recognize it, and how to treat it.

Laminitis is a painful condition where the attachment between the hoof wall and the coffin bone becomes damaged. Learn it's causes, symptoms, and how to treat it.

The poll is a small area with a surprisingly large influence on how a horse feels and moves. Positioned just behind the ears, it marks the point where the head meets the neck. While it may appear simple from the outside, the poll is a highly specialized region where several important structures come together.

Some horses mature quickly, others take more time, and most fall somewhere in between. Learn how to assess your horse's physical and mental preparedness for work.

The pastern joint is one of those structures that rarely gets attention until something goes wrong. Yet it plays an essential role in how a horse moves, carries weight, and stays sound. Understanding this joint gives you a clearer picture of how the limb functions as a whole, and why small changes in conformation or workload can have significant consequences.

The "distal interphalangeal joint", commonly known as the coffin joint, sits entirely inside the hoof capsule, hidden from view, yet it plays a central role in how your horse moves, absorbs impact, and carries weight. Learn how this joint can impact your horse's soundness.

Crossfiring is a specific gait fault that is often misunderstood. Many horse owners and trainers mistakenly label gait irregularities as "crossfiring", leading to confusion and sometimes incorrect training approaches. Learn how to recognize crossfiring with this article.

Horse muscle anatomy is the study of the major muscle groups that help a horse move, support posture, stay balanced, and generate power. For horse owners and students, understanding horse muscles can make it easier to evaluate topline, conditioning, movement, and changes in the body over time. This guide explains the main muscle regions of the horse, what they do, and why they matter in practical everyday terms. Horse muscle anatomy at a glance Neck supports balance and head

Despite their similar appearance, donkeys are not simply small horses. They are a distinct animal with unique physical, behavioral, and psychological traits that influence how they should be handled and cared for. Learn what sets donkeys and mules, and horses apart in this article

Learn how horse and human brains differ, why horses do the things they do, and how understanding this improves training, behavior, and communication.

Think your horse is spooking for no reason? Discover the hidden changes horses notice and why they react when we don’t.

Learn how horses see the world, from wide vision and blind spots to color, depth, and behavior, and improve safer handling and training.

Orchard grass hay can be an excellent forage choice for many horses. It is often soft, palatable, and easy to build a ration around. But it is not automatically the “best hay for horses,” and it is not automatically low sugar. The right answer depends on the horse in front of you: body condition, workload, metabolic risk, dental comfort, and what the hay test actually says. This guide is meant to help owners make practical decisions. We will look at when orchard grass hay is

Hoof dressings are widely used and heavily marketed, but are the claimed benefits backed up by science? Learn what research has to say about hoof dressings.

The horse skeleton is the framework that gives your horse shape, strength, and structure. It is also the “map” vets, therapists, and trainers are thinking about when they talk about joints, lameness, posture, and movement. In this guide, you’ll learn the major bone regions, what each region does, and why skeleton anatomy matters for everyday horse care. We’ll keep it owner friendly, with the names you actually need and the practical reasons they matter. If you want to see ev

Learn what white line disease is, what causes it, how to treat it, and how to prevent it.