Dry and coarse coats can indicate nutritional deficiencies, and there are several ways to enhance coat health through nutrition. | Getty imagesQ: My 4-year-old gelding is losing hair in tiny half-inch spots around his face, jaw, and under his tail. Last year he almost lost his tail hair completely. This year I see signs of him rubbing both his mane and tail, but so far it hasnt fallen out.My vet thinks it might be a nutritional deficiency because his coat is coarse and dry. What could be causing this, and what can I do to improve his coat quality?A: Dry and coarse coats can indicate nutritional deficiencies, and there are several ways to enhance coat health through nutrition. Because your horse is losing hair, ask your veterinarian to help you identify the underlying cause; many potential causes require medical intervention.Alopecia, or hair loss, in horses is acquired (they are not born with the condition) and can have a variety of causes. Based on the information you provided, it sounds as though your veterinarian has ruled out the causes that would necessitate medical care such as bacterial infections, allergies, skin cancer, hormone imbalances, and parasites.Regarding your horses diet, healthy hair growth depends onadequate nutrition. Many nutrients play a role in coat health; therefore, a balanced diet is critical. If your veterinarian suspects a nutritional deficiency, consult a qualified equine nutritionist to ensure you are supplementing required nutrients in adequate amounts. Once you have completed that step, you can add additional coat support such as an omega-3 supplement or additional biotinto help improve your horses coat.A horses hair coat is primarily composed of the protein keratin, so for coat growth and maintenance, its important to supply an adequate amount of this essential amino acid. Other critical nutrients include fatty acids, vitamin A, zinc, copper, and, again, biotin. These nutrients all play imperative roles in coat health.Zinc and copper both impact the production of melanin, which is responsible for the pigmentation of the hair coat. Additionally, a hair coat lacking in melanin is at increased risk for oxidative damage? Zinc is critically important for the repair and maintenance of epithelial cells (cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body), and copper plays a crucial role in maintaining structural integrity and collagen production. These two minerals are present in the forages your horse eats but typically not in adequate amounts, and they often need to be supplemented.Vitamin A deficiency can also result in a dry, brittle hair coat. Healthy pastures normally contain adequate amounts of this vitamin, but you should supplement it if your horse is maintained on hay. You need to supply other nutrients, such as the potent antioxidants selenium and vitamin E, in adequate amounts to prevent excess oxidative damage that can affect coat health.Biotin is a B vitamin that is also well known for improving hoof health. Hooves are also composed largely of keratin, which is the same protein found in hair and skin tissue. For the average-sized horse, supplementing 20-30 milligrams per day of biotin is ideal for additional support above and beyond a balanced diet.You can also supplement omega-3 fatty acids to enhance coat health and shine. Horses do not have a set requirement for omega-3 fatty acids, but adding 2-4 ounces per day of an omega-3 rich oil such as flax or camelina can improve your horses hair coat appearance.To meet your horses essential amino acid needs, as well as vitamin and mineral requirements, you will likely need to add a high-quality ration balancer to his diet. Ration balancers normally have a high protein content and are designed to fill the nutritional gaps in hay. Evaluate thebalancers ingredient list carefully to be sure it contains significant amounts of high-quality protein such as alfalfa meal, whey protein, or soybean meal; this will be evident by these ingredients appearing close to the top of the list.Take-Home MessageIf you notice your horse losing hair, first consult your veterinarian and determine the underlying cause. Many causes for equine hair loss require medical treatment, but once health issues have been ruled out, investigating the diet is the next step. When feeding to improve coat health, first ensure that your horses basic nutrient needs are met with a high-quality ration balancer, then consider an additional supplement of biotin and an omega-3 fatty acid source. If you are unsure if your horses current diet is meeting his nutrient requirements, reach out to a qualified equine nutritionist.

Its lovely to see so many of our graduates in the showjumping classes at our local county show at home in Cornwall at royal Cornwall with so many good results ..Aswell as eventingand showjumping this lovely horse torie can now add workers to his cv after wining the hoys worker qualifier at royal Cornwall.Well done torie.#bshgraduate

A 31-year-old horse who was found severely emaciated and close to death after prolonged starvation has made an extraordinary recovery and is now thriving in the care of HorseWorld.The starving veteran Thoroughbred-cross gelding, named Clyde, was rescued in August 2025 after the RSPCA contacted the Bristol-based charity about a horse in critical condition.A veterinary assessment found Clyde was suffering from extreme neglect. He had a body condition score of zero, meaning he was severely emaciated, with his ribs, hips and spine clearly visible. He was also dehydrated, had very few teeth, severely overgrown and damaged hooves, and no suitable food available.Further investigations confirmed there was no underlying disease causing his condition and that his poor state was the result of prolonged starvation.Starving Clyde would have died without immediate interventionSeized on welfare groundsFollowing his seizure on welfare grounds, Clyde was transported to HorseWorld, where staff faced the challenge of nursing him back to health.Because introducing food too quickly to a starved horse can be fatal, the charity worked alongside veterinary specialists to create a carefully managed rehabilitation programme.It was heartbreaking to see Clydes condition when we arrived on site following an urgent call from the RSPCA, said Meg Challinor, equine welfare advisor at HorseWorld.Even after everything he had been through, he was a gentleman from day one and quickly won the team over.Rehabilitating a horse with a body condition score of zero is really challenging. After a careful vet assessment, we believed Clyde could recover and enjoy a good life, so our team were determined to give him every chance.With expert care and careful dietary management, he has made an incredible recovery.Clyde now lives happily with fellow veteran, FaganA wider welfare issueAs Clyde regained his strength, he was introduced to other horses at the charity, including 33-year-old resident Fagan. The pair quickly formed a close bond.Now aged 31, Clyde is almost unrecognisable from the horse who first arrived at HorseWorld. The charity says he is healthy, content and settled within the herd, and will remain at the centre for the rest of his life where his age-related needs can continue to be managed.While Clydes story has a positive outcome, HorseWorld says it reflects a wider welfare issue facing the equine sector.The charity investigated welfare concerns involving more than 700 horses during 2025 and reports increasing numbers of cases involving neglect, abandonment and horses requiring emergency intervention.HorseWorld chief executive Jo Coombs said Clydes rescue highlights the importance of charities being able to respond quickly when horses are found in crisis.Clydes story shows just how critical it is that we can act quickly when a horse is in danger. Without immediate intervention, he would not have survived, she said.Sadly, Clyde is not an isolated case. We are seeing more horses arriving in poor condition and more requests for help than ever before.Appeal for helpAccording to HorseWorld, Clydes veterinary treatment alone cost more than 1,100, with many rescue cases requiring extensive rehabilitation and ongoing care.The charity has launched an appeal for donations to its Emergency Response Fund, which helps cover the costs of rescuing and rehabilitating horses in urgent need.Images HorseWorldMore from Your HorseWe had zero worries about his age: Oldest horse in the field finishes best of Badminton first timersHow weight loss transformed my horse: four case studies you need to readSeven common dental conditions in older horsesVisit Your Horses veterans hubThe post Veteran horse found starving with body condition score of zero reflects growing welfare crisis, warns charity appeared first on Your Horse.

For some Thoroughbreds, the ultimate glory is sprinting down the home stretch on Ascots hallowed turf. For others, its charging down Cheltenhams challenging 46 fences or clearing Aintrees infamous Bechers Brook. Once their racing days are over, they can go on to any number of new careers, from dressage to polo, eventing to endurance but when it comes to retraining them, are there any differences between former Flat and former National Hunt (NH) racehorses, asks Catherine Welton?Jess Westwood runs Molland Ridge Stud and Rehabilitation and is a trustee of The Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Shes retrained around 400 horses and says that when Flat and NH horses first come out of racing, they tend to have different physiques. The Flat horses are generally smaller and their muscle group is a lot bigger. Think of them as your Usain Bolts, whereas your National Hunt horses are more like Mo Farah, she explains. Muscling upWhether you have a sprinter or an endurance athlete, both equine physiques are specific to racing and require transforming for a career outside it.Theyve all got a muscle group that encourages flat, long strides, but to do a different career requires the Thoroughbred to balance in a different way and slow down, adds Jess.Retraining starts when youre able to develop muscles they havent engaged before. This can be challenging in a fit racehorse when ideally you would let down their fit muscle groups first. Pam Atkinson, co-founder of New Beginnings, where racehorses have been retrained since 2010, agrees. It can take months for them to become a horse that used to race, she says. Then they need to rebuild their muscles to be able to carry additional weight, compared to a jockey anda racing saddle.The size of the matterFlat racers tend to start younger and retire earlier, whereas jump horses can continue racing into their teens. Jockey weights differ too, with Flat horses carrying a maximum of 64.4kg and NH horses carrying up to 76.2kg. This is something that Amanda Mills, who runs Mills Stables Retraining Racehorses, considers when matching an ex-racehorse to a new owner.Smaller and/or lighter riders will be more suited to most of the young Flat horses, because Flat horses often retire needing more time to mature and have always been ridden by small, light jockeys. It can take a lot of time until they are physically ready to carry an inexperienced rider, says Amanda, who has retrained and rehomed hundreds of off-the-track-Thoroughbreds over the years.Jump horses, usually being more physically mature when they retire, will still have the same issues with inexperienced riders retraining them, but their bodies are a bit more capable of withstanding the new style of riding. A horse-first approachThat said, Amanda doesnt let the horses racing career dictate what they might be capable of going forwards. Instead, she takes a horse-first approach. We start them all the same and sometimes I dont look at their racing records so that I dont judge them on what they have done, she says. I prefer to leave it down to them to let me know what they want to do.We have some jump horses who never want to jump again and some Flat horses who love it, she continues. Some of the best jumpers weve produced have been horses that only raced on the Flat. Perhaps surprisingly, teaching a former Flat racer to jump can be easier than teaching an ex-hurdler, because theyre not having to unlearn a previousway of going. When theyre racing, they tend to jump a lot lower and flatter and off a long, galloping stride, so when it comes to retraining, we have to reteach these horses how to jump if we are wanting to produce them for showjumping and eventing, adds Amanda. Keep an open mindEither way, patient, consistent training is key, as Jess is keen to emphasise. The biggest issue in retraining is people not giving the horses enough time to change their bodies, she says. Until they can sit on their hocks and canter, they cant learn to showjump and go cross-country. Jess advises giving the horse at least a year before jumping competitively.Go to some local dressage competitions, which are a perfect way to teach a horse to behave in a relaxed environment. Then the following year, youll have a different horse. As soon as theyve built up the correct muscles, they can all jump. And dont discount a former jump horse as your next dressage superstar either, says Amy Bannister-Bell, a BHSI and a Regional Development Officer for the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR).It is a common misconception that racehorses do not receive any education on the flat. Many yards are utilising and seeing the benefits of flatwork as part of the training regime for their National Hunt horses, she explains. It is important to keep an open mind to the potential second careers of these horses as they are good at demonstrating what they will be good at given a chance. And they can often surprise you. Seeing the worldAlthough all horses should be treated as individuals (see below), there can be differences in how much of the world Flat and NH racehorses see, which comes back to their maturity.The Flat racers start careers younger and tend to come to us younger, so sometimes theyve had a bit less exposure, explains Pam. But she also points out that where theyve been in training can have an equal impact on how worldly they are: Some horses in training go out hacking through the village, but if a trainer has their own gallops, they might not have seen as much. That said, they still go to the races, where theres a lot to see. Lucinda Sims is an accredited instructor with the RoR and she agrees. Many horses from big training centres are excellent in traffic, but those trained in quiet areas rarely see traffic, so its best to introduce it quietly and sensibly. Nonetheless, she points out that all racehorses have generally seen more of the world than an ordinary, privately-owned young horse. Lucinda currently has 12 RoRs in her care and holds regular clinics and open days to promote and champion the breed. Most Thoroughbreds have better natural manners and temperaments than your average warmblood or cob. I find them to be sensitive, empathetic, clever and brave I dont really want anything else on my yard.No two horses are the sameWhile researching a former racehorses background can provide helpful information, trainers agree its best to consider each horse on their own merits. As Amy says: Im yet to find two Thoroughbreds that are the same, even when they have had similar early life experiences.And whatever the horses background, Pam adds: If youre getting a racehorse for the first time, get it from somewhere that gives you a full understanding of the horse and provides continuing support, and surround yourself with knowledgeable people to help you.Train the horse in front of youLou Robson has been riding former racehorses since she was 15 and competes them at all levels of dressage. For the past 15 years, she has run Thoroughbred Dressage and is dedicated to retraining racehorses with a dressage focus. I have known of jumpers whove fallen out of love with jumping and made fantastic dressage horses, she says. When it comes to temperament, she advises treating them as individuals. Ive seen some horses leave racing fit and fresh. Then once they start their retraining, they are relaxed and Zen-like. Some just want to be happy hackers. The main thing is that we train the horse we have in front of us, love them for who they are, listen to them as to what they love and enjoy, and pursue that in their retraining journey. Image credit: ShutterstockRelated contentIs an ex-racehorse the right choice for you? We investigate Thinking about buying an ex-racehorse? Heres what you need to know abut where you can purchase oneTop tips for introducing hacking to an ex-racehorseHow to feed and retrain the gut of an ex-racehorseNew eventing initiatives for former racehorsesEx-racehorses shouldnt carry more than 17% of their bodyweight, says RoRThe post Flat vs National Hunt racehorses: how different are they when it comes to retraining? appeared first on Your Horse.

Apart from the usual greeting of a whinny or a snort, horses dont tend to make a lot of respiratory noise when they are at rest, so any increase in frequency or loudness of noise could indicate that there is a problem.There are of course sounds that are made during exercise, some of which are completely normal, and others that may need further investigation. Diagnosis and treatment may be covered in your horse health insurance policy, if you have one, so it is worth speaking to them to find out.Horses are obligate nasal breathers, meaning they carry out all of their breathing through their nose and are unable to breathe exclusively through their mouths as we can.When the horse takes a breath, the air passes through the back of the throat, through an opening called the larynx and down the windpipe (trachea) into the lungs. Usually, when a horse is exercising, the larynx opens up, allowing the free passage of air. However, in some horses the larynx cannot open completely, resulting in an obstruction to the airflow and an increase in noise.Snorting or blowing sounds at exercise may be normal in some horses due to vibrations of the tissue in the nostrils and these horses are given the name high blowers. As long as the amount of noise is consistent, and the horse is able to carry out the required exercise without any problems, then this shouldnt be anything to worry about.Respiratory noisesWhistling or roaringThese respiratory noises can occur when there is paralysis on one or both sides of the horses larynx, resulting in a narrowing of the larynx and therefore airway obstruction.It is more common in racehorses but can be seen in other breeds, especially in larger horses. In most cases surgery is required to open up the airway. This prevents the obstruction from occurring, allowing the air to move through the larynx more easily.GurglingA gurgling or choking noise, followed by the horse stopping or trying to swallow, can indicate another problem with the throat called displacement of the soft palate.Again, this more commonly occurs in racehorses. Sometimes a drop noseband or a tongue-tie can help to reduce the incidence of this occurring, but often surgery is required.CoughingOccasionally horses cough when first exercised, but if the horse is seen to cough multiple times, either at rest or during exercise, this should be investigated.Coughing often occurs due to the inhalation of an irritant such as dust or pollen and may be more likely during exercise because the horses airways are having to work harder.Continuous coughing at rest may indicate that there is a more severe reaction and may be associated with respiratory distress, seen as increased breathing rate and the horse needing to make more effort to breathe.Viruses can also respiratory noises such as coughing and there is usually more than one horse affected. They may also be off their food, lethargic and have a high temperature.WheezingThis noise can be heard alongside coughing as it is often heard in horses who have a dust or pollen allergy.Usually, the wheezing can only be heard through a stethoscope, but in severe cases it may be heard when you are standing next to the horse, being noticeable when the horse is breathing in and out.The noise indicates that the airways have become narrowed, causing the horse to struggle to breathe.Often a wheezing horse will be suffering from respiratory distress.If these signs are seen, your vet should be called straight away so that they can give treatment to open up the airways, making the horse more comfortable and enabling them to breathe more easily.Abdominal noisesWith the help of a stethoscope, your vet will be able to hear gut sounds in a normal, healthy horse. This indicates that the intestines are working to digest the food that the horse has eaten.An absence of gut sounds can be a cause for concern, as it could indicate that the horse hasnt been eating properly, or that there is an impaction or obstruction in the intestines.An increase in gut noises can occasionally be heard without the use of a stethoscope, and could be normal or could indicate that the guts are hyperactive.Sometimes, in cases of gassy colic, the horse will appear to have a bloated belly and will have increased gut sounds, which could be due to a recent change in diet and may be associated with abdominal pain, passing wind and diarrhoea. Often, horses will improve with the help of some pain relief, but they should still be checked by a vet to ensure that there isnt something more serious going onLimb notesSometimes, we can hear clicks and cracks from our horses legs. What do they mean?Clicking: When a horse moves, you may be able to hear popping or clicking noises, similar to the noise when we crack our knuckles or our back. Providing the horse is not showing any signs of pain or lameness, this is normal and is caused by gas moving around the joint.Crackling: When a joint is manipulated or moved around, sometimes crackling or crunching can be heard. This is known as crepitus and can be associated with arthritis. Arthritis is a painful condition and often the joint will be warm and swollen with lameness present. Anti-inflammatories are the mainstay of treatment and sometimes injecting medications into the joint can help to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.Scraping: When you are leading or riding your horse, listen out for any noises that might come from the feet. If you watch the horse carefully when they are moving, you may notice a reduced stride length, scraping of the toe on the ground or uneven placement of the foot. These signs can indicate lameness or neurological abnormalities and should be checked out by your vet.ObesityAn increase in respiratory noise can be heard in overweight and fat horses due to the excess tissue around their neck putting pressure on the throat. These horses are known as being thick-winded and, with a training plan to improve fitness, the noises they make should improve.Main image ShutterstockRelated contentWhy is my horse coughing?All about equine flu and how to lower the riskStrangles in horses: latest vet advice for this contagious diseaseHay vs haylage: which is best?The post What is that noise your horse is making and should you be worried? Vet explains appeared first on Your Horse.

HSI has received 1272 applications and issued 274 completed applications for foals born in 2026.1268 pedigree applications have had their foal kit sent to the applicant, with the remaining one issued imminently.It is important to note that, to date, 650 foal kits have not been yet returned from breeders to HSI for pedigree applications, which is 51 per cent of all applications.Of the 618 applications who have returned their foal kits to HSI, 274 have been completed and the passport issued, and 21 are currently undergoing quality control checks, while the remaining 323 applications DNA samples are currently with the laboratory for analysis.Of the 295 passport applications, where the DNA samples have been returned to HSI from the laboratory, 93 per cent are processed and complete, totalling 274.The remaining applications are pending QC checks before being completed, and the team is working hard to complete them imminently.In HSIs Customer Service Department, 230 calls were received this week, of which 91 per cent were answered, totalling 209.The post Updated figures of passport applications processed on Horse Source June 4th, 2026 appeared first on .

On June 1, a 26-year-old Paint gelding in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, tested positive for strangles. The gelding presented with swelling along his submandibular region and mandible. He is currently quarantined, and two additional horses at the private facility have been exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.