Just ask

BEMER (Bio-Electro-Magnetic Energy Regulation) therapy for horses is a non-invasive physical vascular therapy designed to enhance equine health, promote relaxation, and speed up recovery. The therapy is administered via special BEMER wireless, battery-operated components including an ergonomic blanket, leg wraps, and a neck applicator. A typical session lasts between 5 to 15 minutes.

Pre-exercise preparation: Helps horses warm up, loosens stiff muscles, and relax before training or showing.
Post-exercise recovery: Assists in faster muscle regeneration, reduces inflammation, and prevents muscle tension.
Rehabilitation: Aids in the recovery process for tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries.

Bute is the common barn name for phenylbutazone, a widely used, prescription non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for horses. It’s a potent pain reliever, fever reducer, and anti-inflammatory agent.

A Coggins test is a blood test to identify if a horse is a carrier of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), a potentially fatal viral disease in horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys. A negative Coggins test is required for all travel between states and at most equine facilities and horse shows. Read more about Coggins here.

Cold hosing a horse’s legs is a highly effective, low-risk therapy to reduce post-exercise inflammation, dissipate heat, and alleviate soreness. Hold a steady, cool stream of water on the legs for 10 to 20 minutes.

Colic is a general term for abdominal pain in horses, primarily originating in the gastrointestinal tract. It is a leading cause of equine emergencies and death. Symptoms range from mild discomfort (pawing and looking at the flank) to severe distress (repeated rolling). If you suspect colic, call your veterinarian immediately.

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) is a potent topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic widely used for horses to treat joint swelling, sprains, and soft-tissue injuries. It works by neutralizing free radicals and temporarily blocking nerve conduction. Because it rapidly absorbs through the skin, it is also frequently used as a carrier to help other medications penetrate.

Make sure to wear gloves when you put on the clear gel — and Nikki says, “Ouch it stings!”

A farrier is a person specializing in equine hoof care, responsible for trimming, cleaning, balancing, and shoeing the hooves of horses, ponies, and donkeys to maintain their mobility, health, and soundness. They craft or adapt horseshoes to fit individual horses, address foot abnormalities, and work with owners and vets to prevent lameness. 

A horse typically needs a farrier every 6 to 8 weeks, but this can range from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the horse’s hoof growth, activity level, living conditions, breed, and overall health. Factors like faster summer growth or riding on abrasive surfaces change the schedule, so consulting your farrier for a personalized plan is crucial. 

A stable hand. A groom in a barn is a dedicated professional or staff member responsible for the daily care, health, and well-being of horses, handling everything from feeding, cleaning stalls, and grooming the horses, to preparing their tack, exercising them, and monitoring for any health issues, essentially serving as the horse’s primary caretaker and a vital part of the barn’s operation. 

A horse hoof abscess is a painful, pus-filled bacterial infection trapped between the sensitive inner tissues and the hard outer hoof capsule. It is one of the most common causes of sudden, severe, non-weight-bearing lameness in horses.

Horse blankets have names based on their use, material, or style.
– Turnout. For outdoor use, often waterproof.
– Stable blanket. For indoor use, not waterproof, for warmth or cleanliness.
– Cooler. Wicks moisture after exercise or bathing, often wool or fleece.
– Fly sheet. Lightweight protection from bugs.
– Rain sheet. Light waterproof layer for warmer, wet weather.
– Winter blanket (heavyweight). Heavy, insulated blankets for cold weather.
– Quarter sheet. A small blanket covering just the horse’s hindquarters for warmth. 

In a horse arena, the in-gate is the specific entrance/exit point that horses (and humans) are trained to respect as a boundary and keep clear.

A horse is considered lame when they have pain, or a mechanical or neurological issue that changes their normal gait or stance. Lameness is a broad clinical symptom, not a specific disease, usually indicating an injury or soreness in the legs, hooves, or back.

To lunge a horse means to have it move in a large circle around you on the ground, using a long rope (lunge line) and a whip, while you stand in the center to guide it with voice commands and body language, teaching it voice cues, balance, and respect without a rider. It’s a versatile training tool for exercise, warming up, cooling down, introducing tack, and developing communication and suppleness. We often do this in the winter before riding when horses don’t get a lot of natural exercise outdoors.

A rated horse show is officially licensed by a national governing body like the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). These shows adhere to strict, professional standards, often spanning multiple days, with points tracking toward year-end awards, championships, and higher-level finals.

A schooling horse show is a low-pressure, educational competition designed for beginners, young horses, or green riders to gain experience in a less formal setting than rated shows.

A “popped splint” is a common, often benign bony lump on a horse’s lower leg. It results from inflammation or tearing of the ligament connecting the small splint bones to the large cannon bone. It is most common in young, developing horses in early training when the ligament is elastic. In older horses, these ligaments usually calcify and fuse the splint and cannon bones. So, a fresh injury to an older leg can cause severe pain, require longer rehabilitation, or indicate a direct fracture.

Most splints heal well with stall rest, cold hosing and anti-inflammatory medication, though older horses may take longer to return to full soundness.

The USEF is the national governing body for equestrian sport. The USEF select, trains and funds the US Equestrian Team (which includes the Olympics team). If you compete in rated shows, you will need to be a member of the USEF. www.usef.org

The USHJA is the nationally recognized Hunter Jumper organization that oversees educational programs, awards and recognition, communication, and rules for this discipline. Riders need to be a member of the USHJA to compete in rated Hunter Jumper shows. www.ushja.org