The Stride Blog
Horse health, movement & performance.
Practical writing on the things riders actually search for at 6am. Soundness, conditioning, hoof care and what the data can and can't tell you.
Kissing spine in horses: the signs riders notice, and what the X-ray does and doesn't tell you
Kissing spine is when the bony tops of a horse's vertebrae touch or overlap. The signs under saddle, why X-rays alone don't decide it, and treatment.
Read →How often should a horse see the dentist?
Every 6 to 12 months, and at least yearly. How often young and older horses need their teeth done, the signs of dental pain, and who does what in the UK.
Read →Strangles in horses: symptoms, spread and what a yard should do
Strangles usually starts with a fever above 38.5°C, before any discharge. Signs, spread, how long it lasts, carriers and the yard traffic light system.
Read →Gastric ulcers in horses: the signs under saddle, the causes and what helps
Girthiness, resistance under saddle, picky eating and poor performance can all point to gastric ulcers. Why only a scope can confirm it, and what helps.
Read →Colic in horses: the signs, what to do, and why winter raises the risk
Colic is pain in the belly and always a call to the vet, straight away. The REACT signs, what to do while you wait, and why winter raises the risk.
Read →Winter horse care checklist: turnout, mud and the daily checks that matter
A winter horse care routine: daily turnout where the ground allows, ice-free water, plenty of forage, daily leg checks and weight tracked every two weeks.
Read →Horse body condition score charts: the UK 0 to 5 scale, the 1 to 9 scale, and how to score your own horse
UK guides score horses 0 to 5 (aim for 2.5 to 3); US guides use 1 to 9 (around 5). Both charts, how to score by hand, and when to call the vet.
Read →How to weigh a horse without a weighbridge: tape, formula and how accurate they are
Weight in kg = heart girth x heart girth x length ÷ 11,900, all in cm. A weigh tape reads about 6% light on average, so use either to track the trend.
Read →How much water does a horse drink a day? (And why winter is the risky season)
A 500 kg horse drinks 21 to 29 litres a day on a mixed diet or grass, close to double on dry hay. Why winter is when intake drops and colic risk rises.
Read →How much hay does a horse need per day? The UK answer, in kilos
About 2% of bodyweight a day in forage dry matter, never under 1.5%. For a 500kg horse that is roughly 11.8kg of hay or 15.4kg of haylage.
Read →Horses and fireworks: how to keep your horse safe on Bonfire Night
Keep horses safe in fireworks season: know local displays, keep the usual routine, clear hazards, stay nearby and check for injuries the next morning.
Read →When to rug a horse, and how to tell if your horse is actually cold
Rug a horse when it is clipped, old, thin or facing wind and rain, not because you feel cold. Healthy horses cope well from about 5 to 25°C.
Read →Hoof abscess in horses: the signs, the healing time, and when it isn't an abscess
A hoof abscess is trapped infection inside the foot that makes a horse suddenly, severely lame. The signs, healing time and how it differs from laminitis.
Read →Atypical myopathy in horses: sycamore poisoning signs and prevention
Atypical myopathy is a muscle disease caused by sycamore seeds and seedlings that kills around three in four affected horses. Signs and prevention.
Read →Why your horse won't canter on the right lead (or the left)
A horse that won't take one canter lead is often sore, not naughty. How to tell pain from rider or training causes, and when to call the vet.
Read →Normal temperature, pulse and respiration for a horse: TPR explained
Normal horse TPR at rest: 37.0 to 38.5°C, 28 to 44 beats and 8 to 16 breaths a minute. How to take each reading, and why your horse's own normal matters.
Read →Early signs of laminitis in horses (and why the classic stance comes too late)
The rocked-back stance appears in fewer than half of laminitis cases. What the early signs actually are, why most cases are hormonal, and when to ring.
Read →Mud fever: prevention and treatment that actually work
Mud fever treatment starts with getting the leg dry. How vets treat it, why hosing legs off every night makes it worse, and the prevention that works.
Read →Getting a horse fit after time off, week by week
Bringing a horse back into work takes longer than most people plan for. What returns fast, what doesn't, and a realistic week-by-week build.
Read →How often should a horse see the farrier?
Every 4 to 8 weeks, and six for many horses. How hoof growth, work, shoes and season set your horse's interval, and the signs a foot has run long.
Read →A horse's digital pulse: what it means and how to feel for one
A bounding digital pulse means inflammation inside the hoof. Where to feel for it, how digital pulses vary between horses, and when to ring the vet.
Read →How to tell if your horse is lame behind
Hind-limb lameness is harder to spot than front. Here's what to look for, why it hides so well, and when to stop looking and call the vet.
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