Thrush describes an infection that develops in the frog of one or more of the horse’s hooves, caused by a fungal or bacterial pathogen. 

Hooves with frogs that have deep sulci are prone to becoming infected with pathogens that cause thrush. Wet and dirty environments contribute to the development of this infection as thrush-causing pathogens flourish under these conditions.

Typical signs of a thrush infection include hoof tenderness and a foul-smelling discharge from the hoof. Prompt treatment is necessary to stop the spread of the infection.

Management strategies to prevent thrush and support recovery aim at keeping the horse’s living environment clean.

This podcast reviews the causes, signs and treatment of thrush in horses.

Read more: ⁠⁠https://madbarn.ca/thrush-in-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) is a chronic condition in horses that affects connective tissue, including the suspensory ligament and other ligaments and tendons. This painful condition commonly leads to debilitating lameness.

In horses with DSLD, the suspensory ligament progressively weakens causing hyperextension of the fetlock, hock, and stifle.

The precise causes and mechanisms of DSLD are still an active area of research.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for DSLD and there are no reliable measures to slow disease progression. Supportive care including corrective shoeing, controlled exercise plans and pain relief can help lessen symptoms.

This podcast reviews DSLD, its causes, signs and symptoms and best management practices.

Read more: ⁠https://madbarn.ca/degenerative-suspensory-ligament-desmitis-in-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Riding and working with horses poses some inherent risk of danger, but the risk is greater when working with an aggressive or moody horse.

For this reason, horse owners often look to calming supplements to help make their horse more manageable and easier to train.

Calming remedies are also used during stressful situations such as trailering, showing, farrier work, and veterinary visits.

Despite their popularity, calming supplements may be one of the least studied supplement categories in horses. Behaviour can be hard to quantify which makes it a difficult topic for researchers to study.

In this podcast, we evaluate the mechanisms, bioavailability, safety and efficacy of some of the most popular calming horse supplements available on the market today. We also rate the ingredients on the strength of the research evidence in horses.

Read more: https://madbarn.ca/calming-supplements-for-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Swayback, or equine lordosis, is characterized by a large dip in the spine of a horse, often resulting in a high wither and severe downwards curve to their topline.

Swayback is more common in older horses and broodmares who have carried multiple large babies. Lordosis can also occur in younger horses with a genetic predisposition. 

Equine lordosis is caused by a failure of the ligament support structures along the length of the back. When the ligaments are weak, stretched, or compromised, the spine can sag toward the ground.

Although shocking in appearance, equine lordosis does not usually mean a horse must be retired from all ridden work. With good management, these horses can remain sound and pain-free through their ridden career. 

Swayback horses require appropriate conditioning to strengthen their topline muscles. Special consideration must also be given to ensure proper saddle fit.

This podcast reviews the causes and management considerations for swayback horses.

Read more: https://madbarn.ca/swayback-horse/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

A large, round belly doesn’t always mean your horse is overweight. Some horses have a hay belly that makes them appear pregnant, yet they may struggle to maintain enough body condition to cover their ribs.

While multiple factors contribute to abdominal distention in horses, poor hindgut fermentation of high-fibre, low-quality forage is the primary culprit.

These horses may not be getting enough energy and protein from their diet, leading to poor topline and body condition. Dietary changes or gut support are necessary to get rid of the hay belly.

This podcast will review the causes of hay belly in horses and discuss how a balanced feeding program can prevent it.

Read more: ⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.ca/hay-belly-in-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Soy is a common ingredient in many equine feeds. Different parts of the soybean can be used to provide protein, energy, and fiber in your horse’s diet.

Soybeans are popular because of their versatility and affordability. Soy oil is a palatable fat source for horses who require additional calories.

Soybean meal and roasted soybeans also have a superior amino acid profile compared to other commonly fed protein sources. This makes soy a desirable addition to the high-protein diets required by lactating and growing horses.

However, there is a concern in the horse community about whether soy products are harmful. If you are concerned about your horse’s soy consumption, listen to this podcast.

Read more: ⁠⁠https://madbarn.ca/soy-in-horse-feeds/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Your farrier and veterinarian will definitely agree that issues with your horse’s hooves can compromise the entire function of your horse.

Hoof problems not only cause your horse pain and affect the weight-bearing ability of the foot but also lead to compensatory movements, which can cause issues and injuries in other parts of the body.

Corrective shoeing is a common way to address or reduce the effects of many hoof issues.

From navicular syndrome to laminitis to tendon and ligament injuries, appropriate corrective shoeing done by a qualified farrier can reduce pain and increase the likelihood of your horse continuing to move their best.

Choosing the right type of corrective horseshoes when required is important for keeping your horse sound in their work, and in the pasture as well.

This podcast reviews the types of corrective shoes and when to use them.

Read more: ⁠https://madbarn.ca/corrective-shoeing-for-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Chasteberry is an herbal supplement that is used to support mood balance and hormone health in female and male horses.

The Chastetree berry (Vitex agnus-castus) plant is a shrub that grows in the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The fruits and leaves contain active ingredients that influence hormonal balance in horses.

This herb is purported to support hypothalamus and pituitary function in horses with Cushing’s disease/PPID. Anecdotally, chasteberry is said to help make moody mares easier to handle and may have a calming effect on aggressive stallions or geldings.

Chasteberry is safe to use, with no reported side effects in horses. It is not recommended for pregnant mares because of potential effects on the reproductive system which have not been evaluated in pregnant animals. 

This podcast reviews the benefits of chasteberry for horses and highlights its mechanism of action.

Read more: https://madbarn.ca/chasteberry-benefits-for-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠⁠https://madbarn.com⁠⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Canola oil is a calorie-dense fat commonly used in the equine diet to promote weight gain and help maintain body condition. 

This oil provides cool energy for performance horses and can replace grain-based feeds in your horse’s ration to support metabolic health.  Feeding fat also improves coat quality and can support gut health.

Compared to other oils, canola oil is relatively affordable and widely available. However, some horse owners might not want to feed this oil due to its fatty acid profile.

Canola oil is primarily comprised of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and contains more than twice the amount of omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3 fatty acids. 

The balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the diet is important because omega-3s are converted into anti-inflammatory molecules, whereas omega-6s are converted primarily into pro-inflammatory compounds.

This podcast reviews benefits of canola oil for horses with an emphasis on weight gain.

Read more: https://madbarn.com/canola-oil-for-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠https://madbarn.com⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.

Botflies (Gasterophilus spp) are parasitic flies that affect the horse’s digestive tract and can cause negative health consequences.

Botflies lay eggs on the horse’s coat in the summer. Some of these eggs, known as horse bots, are ingested as the horse licks and grooms itself.

The bot eggs hatch and the larvae develop in the horse’s mouth before migrating to the stomach where they attach to the gastric mucosa.

Once mature, they detach and are passed through the manure. They pupate into flies, and the cycle repeats with new botflies seeking out horses to host their eggs.

Prevention and treatment of bot invasion are essential to keeping your horse healthy. If you suspect that your horse is affected by botflies, consult with your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment options.

Read more: https://madbarn.com/botflies-in-horses/

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Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at ⁠https://madbarn.com⁠ for more resources, videos and articles.