Horse Care

Equine head injuries — what's the prognosis? *H&H VIP*

Trauma to the head can cause little more than a permanent bump on the nose — or something far more serious, as Phil Cramp MRCVS explains

Slipped hock injuries: Can horses recover fully?

Is there any hope for a horse’s athletic career once a hock tendon becomes detached from its anchor points? Matt Smith MRCVS outlines the nature of this relatively uncommon injury

Eggbutt snaffle or loose ring: what’s the difference?

Snaffles are the most widely used bits on the market, but what is the difference between a loose ring and an eggbutt and which horses do they suit best?

How to recognise pain in horses from their facial expressions *H&H VIP*

Do we always listen to what our horses are trying to tell us? A new study is linking facial expressions with the presence of musculoskeletal pain, explains Dr Sue Dyson

8 ways equine massage could help your horse (you may be surprised...)

Equine massage therapist Laura Marsden takes a look at how massage can improve and maintain your horse’s performance, from increased flexibility to relieving poll tension

Better bedding for Healthier Horses

Have you ever considered going to a bitting clinic to solve your problems?

Navigating the often bewildering world of bits can be daunting. Andrea Oakes finds out whether bitting clinics could be the answer

Haematomas in horses: how to beat them *H&H VIP*

A sudden and dramatic swelling could be a bleed into the body tissues, called a haematoma. Gil Riley MRCVS outlines treatment options

Locating lameness *H&H VIP*

Can modern digital gait analysis systems rival a trained human eye? Dr Thomas Witte discusses their role in lameness detection

Vets’ fears over illegally imported semen

The British Equine Veterinary Association has raised concerns that its members are being pressured to breaking the law by using illegally imported semen

Causes and treatment of rashes *H&H VIP*

Before automatically attributing an outbreak of lumps to summer heat, think again. The possible causes are many and varied, discovers Andrea Oakes

How do I add topline to a good-doer without feeding much hard feed? Spillers explains... *Promotion*

Spillers' equine nutritionist Clare Barfoot provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to add topline onto a horse who is a good-doer

How serious is scar tissue in horses? *H&H VIP*

Scar tissue may be superficial or more serious, but must it spell an end to a horse’s ridden career? Stephanie Bateman investigates

‘You’re supposed to take away anything they can scratch on — but I can’t take his teeth out’

Horse & Hound meets one owner whose horse is suffering from sweet itch — and finds out how she is managing the problem

Photosensitivity: ‘She looked like an acid burns victim’

Horse & Hound meets one owner whose 14.3hh all-rounder suffers from photosensitivity — and finds out how she is managing the problem

How blood samples can help your horse’s health and performance *H&H VIP*

Can blood sampling be instrumental in keeping a performance horse at the top of his game? Andy Bathe MRCVS and Rachel Read MRCVS discuss the pros and cons

‘You can never relax about laminitis — it’s always there’: managing the condition

As much as we look forward to the long evenings and warmer weather, summer can have its downsides too — especially if your horse or pony suffers from laminitis

'It is visibly distressing for him': coping with headshaking this summer

Blue skies and a burgeoning competition schedule mean most riders long for the summer, but for some owners it’s not all plain sailing

Carole Mortimer: Two decades of hot air for nothing *H&H VIP*

Horse & Hound's sport horse breeding columnist bemoans that British breeding seems to be standing still

23 ways to beat flies this summer

We might be excited about the prospect of some sun — but with it comes the pesky flies. So we asked Horse & Hound readers to reveal their handy tips for keeping flies at bay. Start stocking up...