Cooler weather makes winter a favourite time for horses. With no flies, midges, or itchy sweating, horses can run free and soak up the winter sun!

Cool temperatures mean less stress and more time in the ‘thermoneutral zone’ (TNZ), the temperature range in which horses do not need to sweat or shiver. The TNZ varies with age, gender, breed, weather, exercise, and feed.

Typically, horses don't shiver until the temperature drops below 0°C for a weanling and –15°C for an adult horse.

Veterinary work often feels like working in a smash repair shop, constantly fixing problems after they occur. Common challenges veterinarians and owners face, such as stomach ulcers, colic, tying-up, laminitis, hoof conditions, leg and joint problems in growing horses, and performance issues, can be alleviated or even prevented with proper nutrition. Following a few simple rules can reduce many veterinary conditions and keep our horses stronger and healthier.

The condition known as 'bighead' was first identified in Australian horses grazing on subtropical pastures in 1974. Since then, it has become widely recognised in horses grazing on buffel, pangola, setaria, kikuyu, green panic, guinea, and signal grasses. These tropical grasses, commonly planted along Australia's seaboards, contain oxalate - a chemical that significantly interferes with mineral utilisation by horses.

Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) is one of the most significant risks for foals and weanlings. It encompasses any orthopaedic issue involving tendons, joints, or bone tissue in growing horses. The diseases included under this definition are osteochondrosis (OCD), physitis and epiphysitis, angular limb deformities (ALD), flexural deformities (including contracted tendons), and wobbler disease.