HEALTH & EDUCATION

Health & Education

We all want the best care possible for our horses. The Heath & Education section covers both Learning Institutions, Organizations as well as many sources for equine assistance including Veterinarians and Farriers.

For those who want a to formally study horses, the Education section includes College Riding, Equine Studies, and Veterinary Schools. Learn about the wide variety of horses in the Horse Breeds section. Supplements and Treatments Therapy are also included in the section.

Everyone can learn from Fine Art and there are some specialty Museums that might surprise you.

Horses as a therapy partner enrich the lives of the disabled. These facilities are listed in our Therapeutic Riding section. To help children and young adults build confidence and grow emotionally, please see the resources available on the Youth Outreach page.

Looking for a place to keep your horse? You can find it in the Horse Boarding section. Traveling? Find a Shipping company or Horse Sitting service if your horse is staying home!

Want to stay up to date with the latest training clinics or professional conferences? Take a look at our Calendar of Events for Health & Education for the dates and locations of upcoming events.

Do we need to add more? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!

For years, Kathy sought healing from an emotionally destructive relationship. Through working with horses in a mental health therapy program she was finally able to uncover and confront the root cause of her suffering. Kathy’s interactions with horses served as a catalyst for her to find healing within herself. Watch the video below to see how horses helped Kathy uncover a 30-year secret.

As part of our mission to spread awareness of the healing power of horses, we seek to share stories of transformation that illustrate the healing journey and personal growth people can experience through the involvement of horses in mental health programs and services.

The American Quarter Horse is such a popular breed for several reasons.

Versatility: They are incredibly versatile horses, excelling in a wide range of disciplines. From ranch work to rodeo events like barrel racing and calf roping, to dressage and show jumping, Quarter Horses can do it all.

Speed: As their name suggests, they are incredibly fast over short distances. This makes them ideal for racing and other events that require quick acceleration and bursts of speed.

Gentle Temperament: Quarter Horses are known for their calm and docile nature, making them suitable for riders of all levels. They are often used as family horses and are great with children.

Athleticism: They are athletic and powerful horses, with a strong build and muscular physique. This allows them to perform at a high level in various disciplines.

History and Legacy: The Quarter Horse has a rich history and has played a significant role in the development of the American West. Their legacy as working horses and their association with cowboys and ranching has made them iconic.

Popularity: The American Quarter Horse Association is the largest equine breed registry in the world, with millions of registered horses.

This popularity has helped to solidify their place as one of the most sought-after horse breeds.

You can learn all about The History of the American Quarter Horse Breed courtesy of the AQHA. Interested in becoming a member? Learn more HERE.

You can find more interesting stories in our section on Health & Education.

Watch the story of the incredible impact that a small nonprofit organization is having on the community of Oakland, California. “We Ride Too” is committed to serving a wide range of young people in the Oakland area who face various challenges and traumas with limited access to resources. Through programs for youth to connect with nature and horses, each child has a place where they are told they "can," instead of "can't," breaking barriers and making a difference for their mental health and future.

In this episode of StallSide, we sit down with Dr. Katie Garrett, the current president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). Dr. Garrett shares her insights on the evolving landscape of equine veterinary medicine, the role of AAEP in shaping the future of the profession, and the challenges and opportunities facing equine practitioners today. She also highlights the important work of The Foundation for the Horse, the charitable arm of the AAEP, which supports equine welfare through education, research, emergency relief, and equitarian initiatives that provide care to underserved horse populations. Tune in to hear about her leadership journey, key initiatives within AAEP, and how the organization and its foundation are advancing equine health and supporting veterinarians in delivering the highest standard of care for horses.

There once was a horse called Ace who used to bite and intimidate people. Watch as his owner seeks Monty Roberts' help to change this behavior and witness how quickly Ace learns to become a good citizen. See how his owner works with Certified Monty Roberts Instructor Maya Horsey to learn ways to establish clear consistent boundaries and improve the relationship with Ace. Go to: montyroberts.university.com.

Putting a leather pad on a sore footed horse.

While successful in her corporate career, Adina was struggling with feeling burned out, losing her spark and increasingly unmotivated. Deciding to get help, she attends a personal growth workshop incorporating horses to address her burnout.

Watch how the horses play a pivotal role in her self-discovery and transformation. Through a series of experiences with horses, Adina learns to focus on the present and develops a new sense of joy, connection, and meaningful purpose.

Help us raise awareness of the power of horses by sharing this video and supporting the Seen Through Horses Campaign.

Photo courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

The digestive system of horses and ponies is designed to process forage for the majority of each day. With modern management practices, however, horses are often maintained in stalls and fed meals twice daily, which can be consumed in a few hours or less. Horses left without forage for more than four or five hours may develop gastrointestinal or behavioral problems.

One option for decreasing the amount of time a horse spends without forage is the use of slow feeders. A recent study showed that consumption time was up to 61% higher when ponies were given access to partially filled haynets than when fed hay on the ground.

Another study exploring the benefits of slow feeders tracked chewing patterns with various slow-feeding devices.^* Those researchers hypothesized that haynets with smaller holes would increase chewing frequency compared with feeding on the ground. Chewing stimulates the production of saliva, which contains bicarbonate, a compound that buffers the acidity in the stomach. More chewing produces more bicarbonate.

“Horses continuously produce gastric acid but only produce saliva while they are chewing. Therefore, continuous chewing can help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers by producing bicarbonate in the saliva,” explained Ashley Fowler, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.

To test the hypothesis that haynets increase chewing and alter chewing dynamics, the researchers fitted eight horses with “chewing halters.” These devices recorded individual chews using a pressure sensor on the noseband. Horses were maintained in stalls and fed bermudagrass at 1.5% body weight twice daily at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The researchers calculated the number of chews per kilogram of hay, chewing duration (total time spent chewing per day), and the percent of chews completed in the first 120 and 240 minutes of feeding. Horses were fed using haynets with large holes, haynets with small holes, haynets with only a bottom hole, and unrestricted off the stall floor.

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Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, the haynets did not increase chewing frequency. Horses fed from the small hole haynet, however, had a longer chewing duration than horses fed off the stall floor. Further, fewer chews were completed in the first 240 minutes of being fed for horses feeding from small hole haynets compared to haynets with a single bottom hole.

“This research shows that slow feeders do not increase the number of chews for a specific amount of hay, but the small hole haynet did lengthen the amount of time that the horse spent chewing. This study also found that the horses had an increased rate of consumption from the haynets with a single bottom hole, which means not all slow feeders are created equal and need to be carefully evaluated,” advised Fowler.

In addition to access to forage, another way of protecting the sensitive squamous region of the stomach from acid damage is by offering a product containing antacids and stomach-coating agents.

Fowler added, “The squamous, or upper, portion of the stomach has fewer protective mechanisms against acid compared to the glandular, or lower, portion of the stomach and is more susceptible to developing ulcers from acid splash. Along with stimulating alkaline saliva production, consuming forage also helps create a fiber mat in the stomach, providing a physical ‘splash-guard’ to stop the acid from spraying on the squamous mucosa.”

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

An average Thoroughbred’s racing career spans only a few years, yet horses often live well into their 20s and sometimes into their 30s. Successful transition to a second career helps protect and build the Thoroughbred industry, improving the welfare of horses as well as the image of racing in general.

According to a recent study of off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTB) sold through an online auction, some horses are more likely to be adopted than others.^*Here’s why:

Age. A horse’s sale price increases until it peaks at the age of 9 years old when it begins to decrease. The value continues to decrease each additional year. By 19 years old, the horse would probably be given away rather than sold.

Gender. Mares sold for about $924 less than geldings. “In this study, there was a larger number of mares. Of 170 horses included in the study, 63% were mares,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., of Kentucky Equine Research.

Color. Chestnut, gray, or roan horses were valued at more than $1,000 compared to bay, brown, or black horses. “This could have been because the more popular colors were less common, with only 26% of the 170 horses in this study chestnuts and only 12% gray or roan, which is less than half of the study population,” Crandell said.

Registrations. Horses registered with the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Hunter Jumper Association, or United States Eventing Association had an added value of nearly $2,000. “Horses with showing or competition experience appear more popular. Potential buyers can look up the horse’s past placings, and likely have more confidence regarding whether the horse was suitable for competition,” explained Crandell.

“This may also reflect some concern for injuries,” she added. “For example, horses that have not competed may have been injured on the track and therefore may not be able to compete in second careers and might be more suited to trail riding.”

“Understanding market demands can help identify desired characteristics for Thoroughbreds entering alternative disciplines, which may in turn improve welfare by better aligning buyer demand with available market supply,” wrote the researchers.

Ultimately, improving our understanding of factors that make Thoroughbred marketable will lead to long-term placement of OTTBs in new careers.

According to Crandell, “These horses can have special nutritional demands as a result of intense training at the track. Making sure they have a balanced diet is key to transitioning to a successful second career.”

Joint supplements are among the most popular nutritional supplements given to equine athletes. These can include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and even long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. A focus on joint health also includes maintaining an appropriate body weight, which proves problematic even for some athletic horses.