1. I have a 21-acre hay field that I harvest for horse feed. The field was originally seeded as alfalfa which is mostly gone at this point. Each year there seems to be more clover and weeds such as wild carrot and wild strawberry. Last year I had 7 acres plowed up and reseeded with a pasture mix. It seems to have been quite successful, but it also cost about $1,900 which will take a long time to recoup. I have been reading about the disadvantages of opening the soil and am wondering if it would be advisable to spray the weeds and add alfalfa and assorted grasses with a no-till method? Published: May 23, 2008
2. My mare had a bad reaction to hock injections (upper joint hyaluronic acid, lower joint hyaluronic acid, and cortisone) twice. Both times the hocks swelled and were hot and painful. Should I consider injecting again? Published: May 23, 2008
3. How can I keep ticks out of my horse's ears and off the body? We live on a very large farm, so ground control is impractical. Published: May 23, 2008
4. Are there specific or general rules for the containment of a stallion? Published: May 23, 2008
5. What is the proper way to use and accustom a horse to the use of spurs? Published: May 23, 2008
6. My horse is cribbing, mostly after feeding and when eating hay. I read recently that this can be a digestive problem. He is currently being fed a high-fat/high-fiber 8% pellet alfalfa and timothy hay. Should I change his diet? Published: May 23, 2008
7. How do you train a horse with bad ground manners, such as walking on you, nibbling, and just generally being disrespectful and pushy? Published: May 23, 2008
8. We are going camping with our two horses. Which is the best and safest method of containing our horses when there are no corrals in the campsite? Should we use portable metal corrals or electric corrals? Published: May 23, 2008
9. My horse has had a very painful left front hoof. He puts little weight on it. The hoof is draining now at the coronary band. He is walking better. What do I need to do now that the hoof is draining? Published: May 23, 2008
10. At feeding time, one of our horses has the tendency to kick the stall door until I either scold him or feed him. Any ideas to stop this action, and why would he do this? Published: May 23, 2008
11. My question is about a horse/child relationship. We just got a mini horse for our son, who is three. They are about the same height. She is showing definite signs of dominance toward him—backing up to him, pinning him between her and the barn, and trying to kick. How do we establish that he is the dominant one? Published: May 23, 2008
12. How do I become a certified horse show judge? Published: May 23, 2008
13. I have a 1½-year-old Shetland pony and recently got a 3-year-old female miniature donkey. The pony has been gelded. I am having problems with the pony chasing and biting at the donkey whenever someone goes near her. He also doesn't share well when it comes to eating hay. Is this something that they will work out over time? They have been together for about three weeks. Published: May 23, 2008
14. We store hay (for horses) in a multiuse 60 x 40 building. I would like to control insects (crickets, spiders) but do not want to harm the horses. What do you recommend? Published: May 23, 2008
15. What is the difference between full-quarter horse and semi-quarter horse bars on western saddles? Published: May 23, 2008
16. We are building fenced paddocks of about 60 feet by 110 feet, with five on each side of a center alley. What is the minimum width for the alley? Do I need to make it large enough for a truck? (There is no need to deliver hay, but I wonder about vet vehicles if an animal founders.) Incidentally, this will serve horses and miniature Jersey cows. Published: May 23, 2008
17. My 16-year-old grey gelding has a golf-ball-sized knot under his tail. It doesn't seem to bother him, and he acts normal. Should I bother with trying to have that removed, and how serious is it? Published: May 23, 2008
18. I have a mare who is due to foal in 10 days and is not bagging up. This is her first foal. What shall I do for her? Published: May 23, 2008
19. Is it wise to ride a horse with Cushing's disease? What should be the cut-off sign not to ride him? Published: May 23, 2008
20. Our foal is two weeks old, and his knees have gradually become more swollen the last week. The mare is on grass hay, and they are in a large pen. He is over at the knee now but was born straight. Published: May 23, 2008
21. What is the Wyoming Hay List? Published: May 23, 2008
22. What is the best feed-through supplement for fly control? Published: May 23, 2008
23. I have a Shetland pony that has a matted eye with some swelling. Is there a standard treatment you would recommend for these symptoms? Published: May 23, 2008
24. Is it common for 21-month-old miniature stud horses not to have their testicles descended yet? Published: May 23, 2008
25. My 18-year-old Thoroughbred had been pretty athletic and was a show jumper. He was overworked, tore a tendon twice, and is now retired but ridden lightly. He is getting better, but it seems his stifles are now "popping" as his muscle tone in his rump is low. I had been riding him very lightly in straight lines at a walk and trot and walking him up and down small hills to condition him, but the snow has hit, so riding is out for a while. Any ideas? Published: May 23, 2008
26. I have a warm-blood (Hanoverian) colt whose dam and sire are 17h. I think he'll be about that size. What is your opinion on when a horse of this breed/size should or could be broke to ride? Published: May 23, 2008
27. Is there a comprehensive list of plants poisonous to horses found in the Piedmont region of North Carolina? Published: May 23, 2008
28. How can I find horse shoers/blacksmith in my area? Published: May 23, 2008
29. I have a three-year-old Clydesdale/Percheron mare and am starting to train her. Is it O.K. to lunge her, or should I work her ground driving? I was told that you should not lunge a draft horse. I want to use her to ride. I have already saddled her and ridden her at a walk and trot around the farm, and she does well. I just want to do it correctly. Published: May 23, 2008
30. Has anyone heard of Ohio's new Equine Environmental and Liability Awareness Program? Published: May 23, 2008

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