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.
Normal temperature, pulse and respiration for a horse: TPR explained
Normal TPR for a horse at rest, how to take each reading, and why the textbook temperature range may be half a degree too high for yours.
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 is far easier to prevent than to clear. Why hosing the legs off every night makes it worse, what genuinely helps, and how it is treated.
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.
Read →