Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre

01/12/2026

A good read. Be prepared.

🐴 **Colic Awareness: Tips for Horse, Donkey & Mule Owners** 🐴

We’ve been seeing an increase in colic cases over the past few days, so our equine vets wanted to share a few important reminders for anyone caring for horses, donkeys, or mules.

**What is colic?**
Colic is a general term for pain in the abdomen or gastrointestinal (GI) tract of an equid. Signs can range from mild (quiet attitude, reduced appetite) to severe (rolling, thrashing). These signs are **non-specific**, meaning we can’t determine the exact cause based on signs alone.

**Common causes of colic include:**
• Gas or intestinal cramping (spasmodic or gas colic)
• Partial or full blockage of the intestines with hard f***l material (impaction colic)
• Twisting or trapping of the intestines (torsion, volvulus, strangulation)

✅ Ways to Reduce the Risk of Colic

💧 **WATER**
Dehydration — even short-term — can slow gut movement and make intestinal contents thicker and stickier, increasing the risk of impactions. Many impactions are linked to reduced water access.
Colic is more common in winter due to frozen water sources, poor footing limiting access, and increased dry hay intake.

🚶 **MOVEMENT**
Reduced activity can slow GI motility. This may occur with stall rest, lameness, injury, or poor footing that limits normal movement.

🥣 **DIET MANAGEMENT**
Most of the equine diet should be hay or pasture.
• Avoid sudden feed changes
• Limit excess grain
• Introduce pasture slowly in spring
Sudden changes can disrupt normal gut bacteria, leading to gas and cramping. Inadequate forage intake is also linked to gastric ulcers, which may contribute to colic.

Other risk factors include dental disease, gastric ulcers, sand ingestion, pregnancy/delivery, and internal parasites.

🚨 What To Do If You Suspect Colic

If you notice signs of colic, **contact your veterinarian sooner rather than later.**
Winter driving conditions and other emergencies can affect response times, so early calls are important.

While waiting:
• Move your horse to a safe area where they cannot get cast or injured
• Light hand-walking may help stimulate gut movement and provide distraction

Most colic cases can be managed on the farm, but some require surgery at a referral hospital. Not all colic episodes have a clear cause, which is why **each case should be evaluated with veterinary guidance.**

If you ever have concerns — call your vet. Early treatment saves lives.

1-902-758-3180 - Shubie Clinic
1-902-895-8195 - Truro Clinic

01/12/2026

What is a trick?

To us, a trick is a silly or fun behaviour that really doesn’t have a purpose other than to make us smile.

For some people, that means they don’t feel like it’s right to teach our horse’s tricks, because it isn’t necessary.

But a horse doesn’t know the difference between learning a trick and learning a “serious skill.” The only difference they see, is the difference in our approach when we teach or ask for the skill.

If we’re having fun and making the learning process rewarding for our horse, then they’ll enjoy any skill, whether it’s an important life skill or a silly trick.

My horses LOVE their tricks.

If a stranger comes to visit, they’re going to pull out all the stops and show off their favourite tricks. They learn tricks from each other all the time – I taught ONE horse to smile in my herd, and I have six and counting that love to show off their cheesy grins.

And teaching tricks is a great, low pressure, fun way to learn valuable positive reinforcement training skills, that you can then use to teach the “serious stuff” without losing the fun.

Because it’s all tricks to the horse.

🐴⭐🐴⭐🐴

Winter is a great time for trick training, as you don't need a lot of space and you can see progress in just a couple minutes a day as a part of your chore routine!

If you'd like to get started trick training with your horse, let me know - I've got a course for that!

📷Little Duke giving a "high five" - photo by @

01/12/2026

❄️ Winter Riding: Understanding the Physiology Behind Cold-Weather Training ❄️

When discussing winter conditioning, it’s important to recognize how significantly cold temperatures alter a horse’s respiratory function, muscle physiology, and recovery from exercise. The demands on the respiratory tract increase in cold, dry air; muscle elasticity decreases. These shifts mean that the same level of exercise can place very different demands on the horse in January than it does in June.

Thoughtful winter training, therefore, isn’t simply about extending warm-ups. It involves a more strategic approach: moderating intensity, prioritizing gradual muscle engagement, and allowing sufficient time for complete cool-downs to protect both respiratory and musculoskeletal health. These adjustments help mitigate cold-weather stiffness, minimize performance-limiting airway irritation, and support overall welfare.

Nutritional and environmental management also play a crucial role. Horses often drink less in winter and expend more energy maintaining body temperature. Ensuring consistent access to warm water, adequate forage intake, and appropriate dietary support helps maintain hydration, digestive function, and immune resilience during periods of cold stress.

With these considerations in mind, winter can remain a productive and beneficial training season.

Learn more about evidence-based winter training strategies:
🇨🇦 https://madbarn.ca/training-horses-in-winter/
🇺🇸 https://madbarn.com/training-horses-in-winter/

01/12/2026

Reminder if you own a donkey.

The "Raincoat" Mistake: Why a Donkey is NOT a Small Horse.

We see it all the time: A horse and a donkey standing in a field during a cold rainstorm. The horse is grazing happily. The donkey looks miserable.

Many owners think: "If the horse is fine, the donkey is fine."

Wrong. Biologically, you are looking at two completely different animals.

🌵 1. The Desert DNA Horses (Equus ferus) evolved on windy, rainy temperate plains. They are built for bad weather. Donkeys (Equus africanus) evolved in the African Desert. They are built for dry heat, not wet cold.

🧽 2. The "Sponge" Effect Run your hand over a horse in the rain. The water beads up and rolls off. Why? Because horses produce sebum (natural grease) and have a dense undercoat that acts as a natural raincoat. Donkeys do not have this. Their hair is coarse and lacks that protective grease layer. When it rains, water doesn't roll off a donkey—it soaks in. A wet donkey is wearing a soaking wet wool sweater against its skin. It sucks the heat right out of their body.

⚠️ 3. The Danger Zone Because they lack this waterproofing, a donkey can enter hypothermia in temperatures where a horse would be perfectly comfortable. Without shelter, this leads to:

Pneumonia (a leading killer of donkeys).

"Rain Scald" (severe skin rot).

Immense stress (look for the "hunched" posture).

📚 The Science: According to The Donkey Sanctuary (UK), the world's leading authority on donkey welfare: "Donkeys do not have a waterproof coat like the horse."

The Rule: A horse can stand in the rain. A donkey MUST have a roof.

Be a pal. Build the barn. 🏠🫏

01/11/2026

Winter program for this crew. Chatting about confirmation today. Such smart cookies.

01/08/2026

Good knowledge.

With some local cases of EHV (Equine Herpes Virus), we thought it would be prudent to make another post about EHV
😷EHV is quite common - many horses are carriers. Like human Herpes, carriers can shed in times of stress
😷 EHV most commonly causes respiratory disease (like a human cold!)... coughing, fever, nasal discharge, feeling overall icky
😷 The two most common stains of EHV (EHV4 and EHV1) are covered by the "5-way" vaccine. However, protection only is strong for 6 months so if your horse is out and about all year, we recommend a booster.
😷 Check out our EHV fact sheet on our website at https://www.valleyequine.ca/helpful-links for accurate information about this virus.
😷 There is a more serious mutation of EHV called EHM. This form has NOT been reported recently in this area to our knowledge
😷 Final (fun) fact this is the 4th time in a year I have used this graphic to post... EHV scares are not a new thing. Get vaccinated if you are worried, but don't panic. As always, good biosecurity is the best thing you can do against any virus.

Email us today if you would like to book a booster or have questions about EHV!

01/07/2026

Source: Kent Equine Hospital

❄️ Cold Weather = Higher Risk of Impaction Colic ❄️

As temperatures drop, the risk of impaction colic in horses increases. Winter management plays a big role in keeping equine digestive systems healthy—here’s what every horse owner should know 👇

⸻

🐴 What is Impaction Colic?

Impaction colic occurs when dry, firm feed material becomes stuck in the horse’s intestine, usually in the large colon. This blockage slows or stops normal gut movement, causing pain and potentially serious complications if not treated promptly.

⸻

🚨 Signs of Impaction Colic

Signs can range from mild to severe and may include:
• Reduced or absent manure production
• Dry, hard f***s
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy or depression
• Pawing, stretching, or looking at the flank
• Lying down more than usual or difficulty getting comfortable

Always contact your veterinarian if colic is suspected.

⸻

🧊 Why Does Cold, Freezing Weather Increase the Risk?

Cold conditions contribute to impaction colic for several reasons:
• Reduced water intake: Horses often drink less when water is cold or frozen
• Drier diets: Increased reliance on hay with less moisture than pasture
• Decreased gut motility: Less movement and colder temperatures can slow digestion
• Frozen or limited water sources: Even short periods without adequate water can lead to dehydration

Dehydration + dry feed = higher risk of intestinal blockage.

⸻

✅ How to Help Prevent Impaction Colic
• Ensure constant access to fresh, unfrozen water (ideally lukewarm in winter)
• Monitor daily water intake and manure output
• Soak hay or feeds if recommended by your vet
• Encourage regular movement and turnout
• Make dietary changes gradually
• Schedule routine dental care and parasite management

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean colic risk—with good management and close observation, you can help keep your horse healthy all winter long 💙🐎