Welcoming a new foal into the world is a thrilling journey cherished by every horse owner. With the 2024 foaling season around the corner, breeders anticipate one of most significant and exciting decisions of the year: choosing the perfect name for their new foals! Did you know that certain breeds have traditions where foals are named based on the first letter corresponding to the year of their birth? For instance, breeds like Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds often associate each year with a specific letter for naming foals.

Naming a foal is a quest to define its personality, pedigree, or highlight a […]

In the world of equine health, distinguishing between the hemlock poison plant and the benign hemlock tree is crucial. Despite their shared name, one poses a hazard to horses, while the other may very well be an asset to your equestrian property.

Hemlock Poison (Conium maculatum)

Hemlock poison, scientifically known as Conium maculatum, stands as a threat to horses and various livestock. This toxic plant harbors potent alkaloids, including coniine and gamma-coniceine, capable of inducing paralysis and, in the most serious cases, death if consumed in large quantities. With its tall stem, delicate fern-like leaves, and […]

Positive reinforcement is an ethical training methodology that can help horses that lack self-confidence or willingness to benefit from an exciting learning experience, while building a stronger relationship with their human!

Horses are intelligent and emotional animals that can learn new tricks easily. For each trick, make sure to use repetition, consistency, and reward (positive reinforcement). At the beginning, reward each small step before asking for more, and keep sessions short (between 5-15min) to prevent your horse from losing patience and disengaging. Don’t forget to have fun and take it one step at a time!

Teach […]