Ask The Horse

This is a special Ask TheHorse Live bonus episode, revisiting our conversation with Dr. Patty Graham-Thiers on the topic of body condition scoring and managing your horse’s weight.
The most accurate way to measure your horse’s weight is on a scale, but because that is not accessible to many horse owners, weight tapes or body condition scoring your horse might be the best way to assess his condition. In this excerpt from Ask TheHorse Live, Patty Graham-Thiers, PhD, of Emory and Henry University in Emory, Virginia, explains how to accurately measure your horse’s body condition score and determine what a healthy weight is for him.
This podcast is an excerpt of our Ask TheHorse Live Q&A, "Managing Your Horse’s Weight Through Thick and Thin." Listen to the full recording here: https://thehorse.com/1132028/managing-your-horses-weight-through-thick-and-thin/.
About the Expert:
Patty Graham-Thiers, PhD, has 30 years of experience in higher education equine studies programs. She grew up in Massachusetts and received her BS in animal science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She then earned her MS in equine nutrition from the University of Florida and PhD from Virginia Tech in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She taught at Virginia Intermont College and currently teaches at Emory & Henry University in their Equine Studies Program. Her research focuses on protein and amino acid nutrition of exercising horses, and she also served on the National Academy of Science committee that published the 2007 Nutrient Requirements of Horses 6th edition.

This is a special Ask TheHorse Live bonus episode, revisiting our conversation with Dr. Steve Adair on the topic of groundwork and stretching exercises for horses with osteoarthritis.
Groundwork and stretching exercises can help horses build correct muscle and become more limber. Steve Adair, MS, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVSMR, of the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, explains how to implement these into your horse’s daily routine.
This podcast is an excerpt of our Ask TheHorse Live Q&A, “Equine Joint Care Strategies.” Listen to the full recording here: https://thehorse.com/1128717/equine-joint-care-strategies/.
About the Expert:
Steve Adair, MS, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, earned his veterinary degree from Auburn University, after which he spent two years in private equine practice and completed a surgery residency at the University of Tennessee (UT). He is a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at the UT Knoxville and is director of the Equine Performance Medicine and Rehabilitation Center. Besides his board certifications in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (charter member of the latter), Adair is certified in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and is a certified equine rehabilitation practitioner. His primary research areas include equine musculoskeletal conditions, regenerative medicine and equine rehabilitation.

Managing horses with asthma starts with controlling the horse’s exposure to airborne irritants, particularly dust and mold from hay and bedding. Modifying turnout schedules, improving barn ventilation, and adjusting feeding practices can improve affected horses’ clinical signs. If you suspect your horse might have asthma, work with your veterinarian to develop a management and treatment plan.
Two experts discuss the ins and outs of managing horses with asthma in this Ask TheHorse Live episode.
This episode is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products.
About the Experts:
Kelsey A. Hart, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (LAIM), is a professor of large animal internal medicine and Hodgson Chair of equine studies at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Athens. She received her DVM from Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, in 2004. She completed an internship and a residency in large animal internal medicine and a PhD in endocrinology at the University of Georgia. Hart’s research centers on immune-endocrine interactions during illness, and the diagnosis and treatment of equine sepsis and endocrine diseases.
Kate Hepworth-Warren, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, grew up in Indiana and graduated from Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 2010 with her DVM. Following graduation, she did an internship in Florida and then moved back to the Midwest for an equine internal medicine residency at Iowa State University (ISU), in Ames. After achieving board-certification in large animal internal medicine, she stayed on for a year at ISU and then spent four years in private practice in New Jersey. In June of 2019, she accepted her current position as associate professor at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, and moved south. Her favorite type of cases are neonatology, respiratory disease, and neurology.

This is a special Ask TheHorse Live bonus episode, revisiting our conversation with Dr. Frank Andrews on the topic of equine hindgut health.
Horses commonly experience digestive problems, which can present in a variety of ways from abnormal behavior to weight loss. Frank Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, of Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, explains common clinical signs that horses with hindgut problems might present with.
This podcast is an excerpt of our Ask TheHorse Live Q&A, “Understanding Equine Hindgut Health.” Listen to the full recording here: https://thehorse.com/1128070/understanding-equine-hindgut-health/.
About the Expert:
Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, is a graduate of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman, Washington, where he received a DVM and MS. After a year in private veterinary practice, he completed an Equine Medicine and Surgery Residency at The Ohio State University. After 20 years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, he is currently LVMA Equine Committee Professor and Head of The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, as well as the Director of the Equine Health and Sports Performance Program at LSU Vet Med. Dr. Andrews is Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Large Animal Internal Medicine. Dr. Andrews’ has clinical and research interests in gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal disease, and endocrine diseases and is involved in clinical equine practice and has been doing scientific investigation for over 35 years.

As horses age, their health care needs and associated costs often increase, making proactive management especially important. Having your veterinarian perform regular examinations, dental evaluations, and monitoring for common senior conditions can help you catch problems early and potentially reduce long-term expenses. Senior horses might also require specialized feeds, medications, or additional supportive care, which can increase monthly costs. Developing a preventive care plan and budgeting for age-related health needs can help owners support their horses’ comfort and longevity.
This episode is brought to you by CareCredit.
Meet the Experts:
Alex Bianco, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is a Minneapolis native and graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, in St. Paul. After completing a rotating equine internship at Kansas State University, in Manhattan, she completed a large animal internal medicine residency at Purdue University, in Lafayette, Indiana. Following her residency, Bianco remained at Purdue for an additional year working as an equine ambulatory veterinarian, before returning to the University of Minnesota as clinical faculty in 2016.
Jonathan Yardley, DVM, is a graduate of Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, in North Grafton, Massachusetts. He began his career with a private practice internship before joining a prominent racetrack practice, Teigland, Franklin, and Brokken, where he specialized in caring for an elite clientele of Thoroughbred racehorses. In 2014 Yardley shifted from private practice to academia as an ambulatory, clinical-track veterinarian in the Equine Field Service department at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Columbus, where he currently serves as an associate professor. As the equine rotating internship director, Yardley is committed to fostering an enriching learning environment that empowers interns to develop their clinical and critical thinking skills throughout their yearlong internships. Dedicated to veterinary wellness, Yardley serves as co-chair of the College of Veterinary Medicine Health & Wellbeing Committee, championing evidence-based strategies for healthcare improvement. He hosts the podcast “Horse Talk with Doc,” where he shares valuable insights into equine health and well-being. Outside of his professional pursuits, Yardley is an avid curler who enjoys traveling with his wife. They share their home with three beloved Doodles.