Just send your question to us and each month we shall select a few and find the answers [email]

My instructor says that if I do a shoulder in through the corner and then change rein across the diagonal, I can improve my horses' extended trot. How will this help?  KJ
 

Rosemary Dalton

It's a bit hard to do shoulder-in actually through the corner ...  the danger being that it won't be correct shoulder-in but more like a leg yield.     However, if you do a few steps of shoulder-in immediately after the corner, then yes, you have (hopefully) helped engage his hind legs to give you some really good extended trot.    When you ask for the extended trot, be careful not to throw away the outside rein ... you have to give a little of course to allow him to lengthen, but it's important to keep the contact and keep him round.       Rosemary Dalton

Are there any herbs that may assist my horse that has foundered? Bubba

 

  

Herbs that may assist a  foundered horse or pony are Rosehips:- because it is very high in Vitamin C which is excellent in times of stress and the exchange between arterial and venous circulation.

Other herbs that I recommend are herbs that will help with circulation. These being Nettle, Rue, and Hawthorn Berries. I also recommend Devils Claw or White Willow because of their marvelous anti-inflammatory and healing ability. 

Amounts to feed of each herb will depend on the individual case and also as your horse would be under veterinary care it would be important to discuss treatments with both your vet and herbalist before just adding anything to his feed.     Denise Farrugia - Herbalist Walkenny Park

Denise Farrugia

 

Information in this section is not to be used in place of veterinary care. If your horse is unwell, then a vet should attend to the horse. Your vet and your qualified herbalist can then select and guide you in the use of herbs or any alternative therapies [under  their supervision] Any reference to products/usage, etc within, is for information purposes only