Horses are big, powerful animals, but they do have their limits when it comes to how much weight they can carry. Researchers have identified a suitable rider weight threshold of 20% a horse’s bodyweight, including the weight of the tack. Beyond this and a horse will be under strain, making injuries more likely and reducing the horse's ability...
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Dandruff is an uncomfortable and unsightly condition that affects as many dogs as it does humans. Like humans, some dogs are more prone to dandruff and dermatitis-related problems than others, but often there is an underlying cause that is triggering the dryness and scurfy coat. Essentially, dandruff is just the surface layer of skin that has flake...
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People often talk about over-excitable, ill-mannered horses, but what can you do with lazy or stubborn horses that can’t, or won’t, do as you want them to? Why are some horses ‘lazy’? There are several reasons why a horse might be sluggish and unresponsive, aside from just having a laid-back personality, and it is important...
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Headshaking in horses is a common problem and one that is still largely misunderstood. In the past it’s been considered many things, from a behavioural syndrome, to more serious neurological disease. Nowadays, it is widely believed that headshaking is caused by facial pain, resulting in violent jerking and thrashing of the head. In roughly 98...
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A barking dog can be annoying, but it’s as natural for dogs to bark as it is for humans to talk. That said, when it’s excessive and seems to stem for nowhere, it can cause a lot of stress and worry. Why is my dog barking? Is my dog stressed, unhappy, ill? Before deciding on a course of action for stopping the barking, it is important to...
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If you own cats, chances are at some point you’ll have scratched your head and wondered ‘why is my cat meowing so much?’ The reasons why cats meow are numerous – some just want attention, others are born great ‘talkers' and, sometimes, meowing is the first sign of a problem. Whatever the cause, excessive meowing shoul...
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Urinary problems are something we tend to associate more with cats than dogs, but a great many dogs suffer with urinary tract disease, and often the problem is recurring. Stress is often to blame for inducing urinary disease in cats, but in dogs the cause is sometimes harder to pinpoint. Multiple components can be at play – some, such as diet...
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There’s no denying the difficulty in not over-feeding a beloved dog, especially when they gaze up at you with those big puppy dog eyes and ask for ‘just one more treat.’ According to a recent study which looked at knowledge of nutrition amongst UK dog owners, roughly 90% admitted to not knowing how many calories their dog needed,...
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Sensitive to a number of stressors, horses get depressed just as easily as cats and dogs. Prolonged stress can lead to gradual withdrawal and decline in horses, whether caused by environmental triggers or chronic pain. But how do you know if your horse is depressed? Spotting depression: Identifying a depressed horse is usually very easy, as is iden...
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Weight is something that can both indicate, and impact, the health of your horse, whether they’re carrying excess pounds they need to shed, or are underweight. While we often think of obesity as being particularly unhealthy, weighing too little can also have major health implications if not managed, or may even be the first sign of an existin...
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