In a new University of Guelph study at the Ontario Veterinary College, preliminary findings reveal that a perception exists among horse owners and some event organizers viewing vaccination as a ‘bullet-proof’ intervention that will protect their horse from ailments.  While vaccination is important, it does not make horses invincible to infectious disease and there are…

Sickness Prevention for Horses Begins with You! We all cough into our elbow to try to keep our germs to ourselves and we stay at home when unwell, but what if you are a horse?  TheHorsePortal.ca course for Sickness Prevention in Horses is coming up faster than event season (and fly season)! For this March…

April is coming and that means time for shots, right?  While there are several core boosters that are annual, if you are looking to provide optimal immunity for your horse, a ‘one and done’ approach may not be the best fit. Each March, Equine Guelph declares the month as Vaccination Education Month and this year…

What happens if the quarterback of the immune system goes rogue? In a study set to begin in June 2023, Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Dr. Janet Beeler-Marfisi, will be looking at macrophage responses to the agents that cause asthma in horses.  While studies on equine asthma have been ongoing for over 40 years, we still…

Each February, Equine Guelph declares the month as Colic Prevention Education Month. The number one killer of horses, colic is a topic every horse owner wants to stay current on. Equine Guelph provides many ways for horse care takers to do just that with the Colic Risk Rater (www.TheHorsePortal.ca/ColicTool), a highly popular, free, online healthcare tool.  And…

Standardbred Canada (SC) is partnering with Equine Guelph, Ontario Racing and COSA to offer three online courses in Winter of 2023 in priority healthcare areas of lameness, respiratory and gut health. Sponsored by SC, the Racehorse Injury/Lameness Prevention & Care course will be first off the gate in January of 2023. The two-week online short…

Heaves is known as a disease that can leave a horse struggling to breathe, ending athletic careers and even rendering a pleasure horse unsuitable for riding.  Commonly known today as equine asthma, it’s an irreversible disease brought on by repeated exposure to dust and moulds.  Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Doctor Bienzle has a long history…

Equine Guelph has announced that the month of September will be Senior Horse Education Month. As our landscape starts to turn golden with the approach of fall, and a nip of nostalgia in the air, we pause to think about our equid friends in their golden years. The next four weeks will be dedicated to…

Get Savvy for your Senior Horse If you fail to plan, you can plan to fail the adage says.  It is certainly true when it comes to keeping your horse comfortable in its golden years.  Picking up on subtle cues and knowing when to make management changes can make all the difference in the world…

Whether you are brushing up on Emergency Preparedness with a course in equine first aid or other stable management priorities like learning what’s in your forage; TheHorsePortal.ca has been helping equestrians advance their knowledge with one and two-week online courses that are easy to fit into busy schedules. Thirteen short courses on hot topics give…

Just one horse with an infectious disease diagnosis can close a stable or event facility.  Vaccination is the best way to lower risk of loss of use, high treatment costs and unnecessary suffering for the horse.  Tailoring your annual immunization plan to each equid in your care is the best way to practise prevention from…

Equine Guelph has announced that the month of February, Canada’s coldest month, will be Colic Prevention Education Month. The next four weeks will be dedicated to increasing awareness of ways for caregivers to decrease the risk of colic in their horses. Although horses can be afflicted with gut pain in any season, the cold weather…