Alabama Equine Extension

01/31/2026

Snaps are such a simple and useful item, but they can cause problems for horses if not positioned correctly. Snap protrusions can create pressure, rip skin, or cause other health issues. The direction to place the snap depends on the situation and type of bolt. There are many types of snaps out there, but let's focus on just one - the bolt snap (in the infographic below, it is the one used to hang the bucket)

If you are using bolt snaps to hang buckets, make sure the bolt/snap opening is facing towards the wall. If you are using bolt snaps with tack on the horse, make sure it faces AWAY from the horse.

Are your snaps facing the right direction?

11/20/2025

❗️Important information concerning the Equine Herpesvirus outbreak❗️

The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is closely monitoring the recent confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in Texas and Oklahoma. Currently, NO cases of EHV-1 have been reported in Alabama.

If your horse attended the World Championship Barrel Racing (WPRA) Finals in Waco, Texas (November 5–9) or the Barrel Futurities of America World Championship in Guthrie, Oklahoma (November 14–18), where EHV-1 exposure has been confirmed, please take the following immediate steps:
☑️Isolate the horse(s) from all other horses for a minimum of 21 days upon return to Alabama.
☑️Monitor twice daily for clinical signs of EHV-1, including:
◾️ Fever (>101.5°F / 38.6°C)
◾️ Nasal discharge
◾️ Coughing
◾️ Neurological signs (hindlimb weakness, ataxia, toe dragging, “dog-sitting” posture, urine dribbling, or f***l incontinence)

If any of these signs are observed, immediately contact your private veterinarian and ADAI's State Veterinarian’s Office at (334) 240-7253.

EHV-1 is highly contagious and spreads primarily through direct horse-to-horse contact via respiratory secretions, aerosolized droplets, and indirect contact with contaminated equipment, water buckets, feed, tack, or human hands/clothing. Humans do not become ill from EHV-1 but can mechanically transmit the virus between horses.

Strict biosecurity remains the most effective means of preventing introduction and spread. Key measures include:
☑️ Disinfection of all shared equipment and surfaces with appropriate virucidal products.
☑️ Limiting unnecessary horse movement, especially for animals with recent travel history to affected areas.
☑️ Implementing isolation protocols for any new or returning horses.

For more information, please visit the websites below.
https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Equine_Biosecurity.html

10/01/2025

The Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences is conducting a survey aimed at improving the development and delivery of Extension educational resources. We encourage you to participate!

Participants who voluntarily provide their Email address are eligible to receive a YETI Tundra 45 Hard Cooler upon random selection.

Please visit https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6JWjOlE3gcS0zvo to learn more. Reach out to Dr. Leanne Dillard at [email protected] if you have any questions. Thanks!

09/08/2025

Got questions about Horses or Forages? Our Extension Agents are located across Alabama and ready to help—reach out today!

07/22/2025

When was the last time you checked your horse’s hydration status?

Sun, sweat, and summer stress can take a toll fast. This 5-step hydration check is designed to help you make informed, hands-on assessments right in the barn.

☀️ Use it as a quick reference guide, not a replacement for professional care.
If your horse shows heavy signs of dehydration, or if you’re ever unsure, consult your veterinarian right away.

Small signs can point to big issues — catch them early.

07/18/2025

Seeing a horse lying down can be concerning—it’s a sure sign of colic…right?

Actually, horses need to lie down for a 30 minute period each day to get REM sleep to remain rested and healthy, and many enjoy stretching out to sunbathe when they feel safe and relaxed.

True colic, on the other hand, often presents with additional symptoms such as pawing, rolling, looking or biting at the flank, loss of appetite, reduced manure production, and other signs of discomfort or restlessness. If your horse is showing these signs and colic is suspected, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. While waiting for the vet to arrive, remove access to grain and closely monitor your horse for any changes in behavior or condition.

Lying down can be one sign of colic, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Taking time to assess your horse’s overall behavior—looking for other signs of discomfort or change—can help you decide whether it’s time to take action or simply let them rest. Understanding what’s normal and what’s not is key to making the right call when it counts.

07/15/2025

Smart tack choices can make all the difference when riding in the southeastern summer heat. With the right materials, colors, and fit, you can help your horse stay comfortable, safe, and ready to perform.

Take a closer look at this week’s Southeastern Summer Series infographic to see what’s horse-approved—and what’s best left in the tack room this season.

07/10/2025

Offering forage to your horse in the form of hay, pellets, or cubes (or letting your stalled horse graze while you groom) before exercise is not only safe—it’s beneficial. The equine stomach produces acid continuously, regardless of whether the horse has been eating. Unlike humans, horses only produce saliva, which naturally buffers stomach acid, when they are eating or chewing. Without saliva produced to act as this buffer, acid can more easily splash upward from the lower, protected glandular region into the more sensitive squamous, or non-glandular, portion of the stomach. This upper region isn’t designed to handle constant acid exposure, making it especially vulnerable to gastric ulcers.

Providing a snack before a ride helps reduce this risk by supporting the formation of a fibrous “mat” that settles along the dividing line between the two stomach regions, known as the margo plicatus, as the horse eats. This layer helps prevent acid splash, and therefore, ulcers.

However, it is important to note that this science applies solely to forage. Grain and other concentrated feeds should not be given right before exercise, as they digest differently and may increase the risk of metabolic or gastrointestinal complications when fed too close to physical activity.

A simple handful of hay can make a big difference in a ride—don’t let outdated myths get in the way of smart horse care.

07/08/2025

In the Southeast, where summer often brings high temperatures and intense UV exposure, making informed decisions about turnout timing is essential for equine well-being.

This infographic maps out an hour-by-hour snapshot of heat and UV index trends based on data from Auburn, Alabama, on June 26, 2025. Use it as a guide to help plan your horse’s routine with intention—minimizing risk and maximizing comfort. It also outlines practical strategies and considerations for managing horse turnout during peak summer weather.

Please note that this graphic does not include humidity or heat index, but it’s important to remember that these factors can significantly alter how weather conditions feel to your horse. Smart turnout starts before the halter goes on!

07/03/2025

Throughout modern horsemanship, bitless bridles have gained popularity as a seemingly kinder alternative to traditional bitted equipment. On the surface, removing the bit might feel like the obvious path to a better connection; however, in practice, the story is far more nuanced.

While bitless bridles are marketed as a setup that takes pressure out of the horse’s mouth, thus becoming a wiser tack choice, the lack of a bit does not make a rider’s contact influence disappear. Instead of primarily targeting the tongue, lips, and bars of the mouth, as a traditional snaffle bit does, bitless bridle mechanics shift these points of pressure directly to the horse’s poll and nasal bone.

Neither side of the bridle coin is inherently right or wrong, and the true severity of any particular setup typically lies in the hands of the rider, both literally and figuratively. What feels effective and appropriate for one horse-and-rider pair doesn’t always translate to every situation, and it is always worth considering the individual horse’s needs, along with the rider’s ability and training goals to use equipment thoughtfully and make that decision.

Overall, respectful riding does not come automatically from what is on the horse’s head, but from the knowledge and intention behind the reins!

07/02/2025

We need YOU! Please take our quick, 5-minute survey to help the ACES Animal Sciences and Forages team understand what educational topics and programming interests and can benefit you.

Please be sure to share this with any equine, beef, swine, or other livestock producers you know.

You can participate by scanning the QR code shown on the flyer or by clicking the link below.
www.aces.edu/go/ASFNeedsAssessment

06/19/2025

Historically, the world’s brave and heroic soldiers rode horses not for pleasure or sport, but as quick, efficient partners for travel and battle. Their swords hung at their left sides, providing an easy maneuver from sheath to right hand. Thus, mounting their noble steeds from the left was a practical matter of necessity. Today, riders still climb atop their horses from the left, but as a remnant of equine history rather than for a specific purpose.

Over time, this once-logical practice has turned into the habit-based myth: horses must be mounted from only the left side. While there is nothing inherently wrong about this tradition, moving the mounting block to the opposite side every once in a while is not only safe, but beneficial to both horse and rider. This change promotes growth of both physical and mental balances of the horse, reducing the tension that may have built up in a horse’s body or brain over years of one-sided mounting. Perhaps most importantly, switching up riding routines can influence adaptability and prepare a pair for real world situations. Most trails rarely offer a conveniently placed mounting block in case of an unexpected emergency dismount. In unconventional moments like these, getting back in the saddle from either direction isn’t just helpful—it is a skill that adds a valuable layer of safety to any given ride. Next time you and your horse come up to a mounting block, try stepping up from the right—you will end up behind the same two ears, but the horse beneath you will be ready for anything after a built in warmup exercise!