The Five-Cross Files : Equine Health

Pedigrees on Fire

sgillies — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:15:00 GMT

Barn fires aren't a fun topic -- but these tips could save your horses' lives....(read more)

Mare Reproduction Rates Increase in Herd Setting

sgillies — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:00:00 GMT

An interesting article on our sister site has me thinking about herd dynamics with my own horses....(read more)

Horse Board -- Pasture vs. Stall

sgillies — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:54:00 GMT

A recent study finds that one choice is better than the other for overall equine health....(read more)

5 Easy Ways to Improve a Broodmare's Life

sgillies — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:13:00 GMT

They're asked to produce and nurture a new crop of runners every year. But what is the quality of life of the average Thoroughbred broodmare? Here are five tips to making your mares' lives better....(read more)

It's Foaling Time

sgillies — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:51:00 GMT

Nothing is more fun than watching a new foal's first few struggles to stand, nurse, and walk. But what happens when the delivery doesn't go according to plan?...(read more)

Frail Broodmare? Expect a Filly

sgillies — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:46:00 GMT

Thoroughbred breeding season starts in a couple of weeks. Here's an interesting research study that links a foal's gender to the conditon of its dam at the time of conception....(read more)

We Have A Crisis In Thoroughbred Racing

sgillies — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:13:00 GMT

"What is good for the horse is good for racing," AAEP vet Scott Palmer discusses why "we have to put the horse first."...(read more)

Broodmarathon -- Better Than Honour: Broodmare at Risk?

sgillies — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:25:00 GMT

Dam of Rags to Riches, Jazil, and Casino Drive fails to produce a foal in 2008 or 2009. Does that affect her value in the Thoroughbred sales ring?...(read more)

Scoped, Scanned, and Sound -- Yearling Sales Prep Update

sgillies — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:10:00 GMT

The sales repository offers potential bidders some health information about Thoroughbreds being sold at auction. It's part of the sales-prep process to have a foal scoped and x-rayed -- and good results make for happy sellers....(read more)

The Rest of Their Lives

sgillies — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:02:00 GMT

Are broodmares exploited? Is the Thoroughbred industry callously breeding our mares to death? When should a mare be retired -- and what happens to her then?...(read more)

Eating for Two

sgillies — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:10:00 GMT

Nutrition for your broodmares makes a huge difference in their foals' development. How confident are you in your feed regimen?...(read more)

Hay You Guys

sgillies — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:52:00 GMT

It's been a rough year for a lot of horse owners, with hay prices reaching record levels -- and that's if you can find any available. In addition to bemoaning the situation, I'm trying to figure out a way to avoid the same problem next year....(read more)

Too Much Winter

sgillies — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:20:00 GMT

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike winter. I grew up in the Northeast and Lexington is mild in comparison. And the horses like the cold much better than the sweaty mess of July or August in the Bluegrass. But this time of year brings other annoyances and frustrations, as well. My horses tell me when I've gone a little shy on the hay or beet pulp. They do so by chewing... everything. It's bad enough when they gnaw on the fence boards, but it's dire when they whittle the posts down to toothpicks or when they go after the lap boards on the barn. Of course, hay isn't cheap -- this year, it's not even easy to find -- and there's only so much beet pulp a horse is going to want to eat. ...(read more)