Lauren Fraser, MSc, FFCP

A raised head, tense posture, and gaze fixed on something out of sight. This palomino is showing some of the quieter, easy-to-miss signs of separation distress. Not every herd bound horse screams and gallops the fenceline. Some simply watch, and wait. When your horse is herd bound, you are all too familiar with the signs. When asked to leave others, or when others leave, your horse may: Run the fenceline Call loudly, often until the other horse is back in sight Paw, toss their head, spin,...

What Holds People Back? When a horse is behaving in a way that their owners don't understand, or struggle to live with, they may be unsure if the problem is "bad enough" to call someone in to help - or even, who to call. But the best time to seek qualified help is when a problem is first recognised, because this type of behaviour rarely improves on its own. Equally important, getting the right sort of help early on protects the horse-human relationship, before it takes any more strain. The...

A veterinarian prepares to inject the jugular vein of a calm horse I recently wrote an article for West Coast Veterinarian Magazine, "Iatrogenic behavioural injuries in horses: causes, prevention, and treatment of needle-shyness in horses" Even the most experienced and well-intentioned veterinary staff can inadvertently contribute to a horse developing needle-shyness. This article explores how it happens, and what your veterinary team can do to prevent and treat iatrogenic behavioural...