In nature, horses breed within a harem social unit that normally includes one mature breeding stallion and 5–10 mares with their immature offspring. However, in human-controlled horse reproduction, decisions regarding the housing and management of stallions may contradict what nature intended, leading to undesirable behaviours, the occurrence of respiratory disease…

Deep litter bedding is a popular method to save time on mucking out, especially during the Winter months. However, there are many hidden dangers in deep litter bedding that can impact on your horse’s health, as well as your own, if poorly managed. Due to the health concerns associated with…

Equine respiratory diseases are common in Winter and can affect horses of all ages. However, young horses are one of the most vulnerable groups due to the fact their immune systems are still developing. During Winter, it’s not unusual for young horses to be housed together in open barns or…

During their first year of life, the immune systems of young horses are developing to protect them from a myriad of bacterial and viral pathogens in the world around them. While scientific research into the development of equine immunity is ongoing, researchers have learned much in recent years about the…

There are so many safety precautions we take when transporting our horses, from quick release knots, to travel boots, sweat sheets and coolers, a hay net to ensure they are content and have access to hay or forage to keep them occupied for the journey. Similarly, there has been a…

Nortev Ltd When we think about the environment, we put our horses in, stables barns etc , we are forcing them into a challenging space for their respiratory health. Although we do it for their wellbeing -it can be a double-edged sword! …

Nortev Ltd Horses are herd animals that prefer to live in the comfort of social groups and acquire their nutrition through selective grazing. It is estimated that horses spend 10 to 17 hours per day grazing, which is often divided over 15 to 20 grazing periods. However, in the domesticated…

Nortev Ltd We all know that Autumn and Winter are cold and flu season. However, it’s not only people who are prone to catching infectious viruses or bacteria, the start of the cold season is also prime time for horses to succumb to upper respiratory infections as well! There are…

Nortev Ltd The days are getting shorter, the thermostat is dropping, and we’re all finding ourselves reaching for our jackets and jumpers before stepping outside to see our horses. Even though we’re starting to feel the chill, it doesn’t mean we should immediately layer on the heavy Winter rugs without…