Study and Self-Assessment Articles

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.

Learn all the anatomical parts involved in the equine fetlock joint

Learn how rocker toe horseshoes influence breakover, what conditions they can help with, and when to stay away from them.

Timothy hay is one of the most common hays fed to horses in the US because it is usually consistent, easy to manage, and works well as a baseline forage for many adult horses. But “best hay” depends on the horse in front of you. A hay that keeps one horse perfectly fit can cause weight gain in an easy keeper, or fall short for a hard keeper. Your horse’s weight, workload, and metabolic risk matter as much as the hay label. If you are choosing between hay types, start with thi

A deep dive into the equine hip joint covering osteology, articular structures, ligaments and biomechanics

Everything a horse owner should know about the horse's hip joint: from its anatomy and unction, to common issues and injuries that can affect it.

Learn the anatomy and function of the equine stifle, and its importance to soundness and performance

Hind limb lameness in horses is frequently attributed to the hock, stifle or back, but what are the symptoms and how do we determine which area is causing the lameness?

Rice bran can be a useful tool when you need more calories without more starch. That is why it shows up in weight gain programs and in cold weather feeding plans. But rice bran is also one of the most misunderstood feeds online. The details matter, especially the difference between stabilized vs not stabilized, and how a high fat supplement affects omega balance and the rest of the diet. Educational only. Always match feeding changes to your horse’s health status and your vet