Laminitis is one of the most dreaded words in the horse world. It’s a painful and potentially devastating disease that affects the sensitive laminae inside a horse’s hoof, compromising the bond between the hoof wall and the coffin bone. While many people associate laminitis with spring grass, the truth is that this condition can strike at any time of year and for many different reasons.
Category: Medical
Smart Tack: How Technology Is Reducing Pressure and Protecting Your Horse
From advanced noseband sensors to thermal imaging under boots, modern technology is giving riders tools—finally—to see what horses have been hiding. In this article, we’ll explore how smart tack innovations help detect pressure, inflammation, and injury—even before behavior changes appear. Pressure-mapping technology reveals how tight nosebands and ill-fitting tack can cause harmful compression at the poll and … Continue reading Smart Tack: How Technology Is Reducing Pressure and Protecting Your Horse
Understanding Equine Ulcers: What Every Rider Should Know
Equine ulcers are one of the most common—but most overlooked—health issues affecting horses today. They can cause everything from poor performance and girthiness to dangerous behavioral changes, and yet many riders still mistake the signs for “attitude” or “training problems.” In this post, we’ll break down what ulcers are, how they happen, what signs to look … Continue reading Understanding Equine Ulcers: What Every Rider Should Know
Strangles in Horses: What Michigan Horse Owners Need to Know
June 27, 2025 - Washtenaw County, Michigan A confirmed case of strangles was reported in Washtenaw County on June 23, 2025, involving a 6‑year‑old Thoroughbred mare demonstrating fever, lymph node swelling, and difficulty swallowing. The mare tested positive via PCR on June 20 and is currently under voluntary quarantine. Approximately 23 other horses at the … Continue reading Strangles in Horses: What Michigan Horse Owners Need to Know
The Importance of Dental Care
As it is with humans, dental care is extremely important to a horse’s health. Owners should keep a close eye on their horses so that problems can be detected early. If an issue is suspected, the owner should contact his vet or dentist right away. Let’s take a quick look at a horse’s mouth in … Continue reading The Importance of Dental Care
To Inject, Or Not To Inject
Injections are becoming more and more common in all Equestrian disciplines. While they can be helpful in restoring proper joint movement and relieving pain, are injections really the best option for your horse? Biomechanics: As a horse is ridden, normal wear and tear on the joints, tendons and ligaments is expected. More damage is … Continue reading To Inject, Or Not To Inject
Kissing Spine
Overriding Dorsal Spinous Processes (ORDSP), commonly known as Kissing Spine, tends to occur where the saddle sits. ORDSP can occur in any breed of horse, although it is more common in Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and other performance horses that are 5-10 years old. The Spine: Five types of vertebrae exist in a horse’s spine: cervical, … Continue reading Kissing Spine
Navicular Syndrome
Navicular Syndrome can affect any horse; however most cases tend to occur in heavy horses with upright pasterns and small hooves. The poor conformation of these horses means that the heel is taking on too much weight and the force isn’t dispersed throughout the entire hoof as it should be. In fact, anything that … Continue reading Navicular Syndrome
Cushing’s Disease Explained
Cushing’s Disease, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) is an endocrine disease that creates hormonal imbalances. PPID can occur in horses of all ages but is more likely to occur in those over 20 years old. This disease is closely related to Parkinson’s Disease and has several of the same symptoms, including lethargy and poor … Continue reading Cushing’s Disease Explained
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy, or the therapeutic use of cold, is a powerful technique that riders use for several reasons. Most riders think to use cryotherapy on their horses for new injuries, but don’t necessarily consider the therapy for old injuries or for faster athletic recovery. New injuries: When a horse is injured, whether it be a muscle … Continue reading Cryotherapy
Dressage Discussions 