Liv G.

You don’t always have to be extra with horses. Sometimes, less is more, which allows them to have a more natural life. We should still do what we can to help them be slow feeding grazers, but we don’t have to over-groom or over-train them. Less can be more!

You can help your horse feel their best in winter with a few touch ups using clippers. Switching to a different blade or doing a trace clip over your previous clip can help with thermoregulation and excessive sweat. You can also use clipper combs to modify your horse’s clip in winter.

You can use livestock clippers for horses, they are powerful, light, and easy to use. However, you want to switch the blending or blocking blade to a #10 blade as their coat hair is different. The livestock and equine clippers with detachable blades can easily switch from the cattle blade to the equine blade.

Monensin is an ionophore antibiotic for cattle, other ruminants, and chickens. In horses, it can quickly cause severe neurological and cardiac problems and often results in death. Avoid contamination by using horse specific feeds from trusted mills that are ionophore-free.

Spend a little more time grooming your horse’s long winter coat, add a dollop of product, and feed for healthy skin to keep your horse shiny in their winter coat.

Hay cuts differ primarily in protein, fiber, and energy content. Many horses benefit from second-cut hay for higher protein and easier chewing, while others may need first-cut hay for its higher fiber content.

Hold clippers in a logical way for you to stay comfortable, but vary things up depending on what area you rare clippings – legs, ears, body, a design, etc. – and how much hair you want to remain. So much of clipping can be trial and error, and a lot of it is just practice.

While laminitis and founder are used interchangeably, these two terrible hoof conditions vary just slightly. Laminitis is the swelling, while founder is the rotation of the bone in the hoof.

Should you body clip or trace clip your horse by using the clippers with or against the hair growth direction? While there is a general “rule,” feel free to chuck it out the window. Clip in the direction that makes sense for that area.

The complete guide to horse blanketing, from measuring your horse, choosing the best style of horse blanket, sheet, or cooler, and how to properly fit them. Also great tips about caring for your horse’s blankets, from daily cleaning to washing with and without a washing machine, along with long-term storage. And re-waterproofing!