4,777 answers about horses & farm animals
Horses and farm animals run on routine — feeding schedules, hoof and health care, safe fencing and calm handling, in all weather. This page gathers the horse and farm animal library of KinsLe Answers in one place, organized by topic from daily care to travel and senior animals. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
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449 answers in Health & Vet Care — page 3 of 19
A Clydesdale is best served by a large animal or equine vet who already works with draft breeds, not just light riding horses. Ask practices directly how many drafts they see, whether they have heavy stocks and hoof stands, and how they handle the dense feathering that can hide lower leg skin trouble. A good fit will…
An aging Boer goat with joint discomfort may rise slowly, hesitate before standing, limp or shorten its stride, lag behind the herd, and stop climbing onto favourite platforms or browsing high. Stiffness that is worst after rest and eases as the goat moves, swollen or thickened joints, and trimming tolerated less…
Watch a Boer goat for persistent scratching, rubbing against fences, patchy hair loss, flaky or crusty skin, sores, and a coat that turns dull, rough, or thin along the back and neck. Lice, mites, ringworm-type infections, mineral imbalance, and wet, muddy conditions can all sit behind similar-looking changes, so note…
Aging Nubian goats with sore joints often lag behind the herd, hesitate before climbing onto a stand or rock, lie down for longer stretches, and rise stiffly, sometimes shifting weight off one leg. Watch how yours moves on a familiar flat path first thing in the morning, when stiffness shows most plainly, and note…
Patchy hair loss, constant scratching or rubbing, flaky or crusty skin, sores, and a dull coat that loses its usual shine are the clearest signs a Nubian goat has a skin or coat problem. Run your hands over her neck, belly, and back during grooming and part the hair in any thin spot, because early irritation and…
An aging Pygmy goat may suggest joint discomfort by moving stiffly after rest, climbing less on platforms, and taking short, careful steps instead of his usual bustling trot. Watch for reluctance to jump down, uneven weight bearing, swollen knees, and a stocky goat who now avoids slopes, steps and the jostling at the…
Signs of a skin or coat problem in a Pygmy goat include rubbing against posts and fences until hair wears away, flaky or crusty patches, and areas where the dense coat thins or breaks. Look for scabs around the ears and legs, sores under the belly, dandruff-like flakes along the back, and skin that feels thickened or…
An aging Nigerian Dwarf goat may suggest joint discomfort by climbing less, hesitating before jumping onto platforms or milking stands, and taking shorter, stiffer steps after lying down. Watch for lagging on walks, uneven weight bearing, knees or hocks that look swollen, and a goat who chooses flat ground over the…
Signs of a skin or coat problem in a Nigerian Dwarf goat include persistent scratching or rubbing on fences, patchy hair loss, flaky or crusty skin, and a coat that turns dull, rough or uneven between one area and the next. Check for sores, scabs along the back or belly, hair that comes away easily, and bald patches…
An aging Mustang who once moved freely may show joint discomfort through stiffness after rest, a shorter stride, reluctance to turn tightly, or hesitation on slopes and uneven ground. Watch for uneven weight shifting at the hitching rail, dragging toes, or lagging behind herd mates he used to lead, especially on cold…
In a Mustang, watch for rubbed-bare patches along the mane and tail, a coat that sheds unevenly or stays dull and rough, crusting along the back, and skin that feels thickened or sore under your hand. A thick range-bred coat can hide a great deal, so part the hair down to the skin in several places rather than judging…
Look for changes from your Paint's normal coat: patchy hair loss, relentless rubbing, crusts or scabs, dull broken hair, and pink skin that looks red, peeling or sore. Paints need extra attention where white markings leave the skin lightly pigmented, because those areas show sun damage and irritation sooner, and…
In an aging Standardbred horse, joint discomfort often appears in the gaits his racing life trained: an uneven trot that no longer tracks straight, stiffness after rest, reluctance on tight turns, and a hind end that swings or drags instead of stepping cleanly under. Watch for shortened stride on hard ground,…
In a Standardbred horse, skin or coat problems often show where harness or tack once sat: rubbed patches over the shoulders and girth area, crusty scabs along the back, flaking at the mane base, and hair loss on the legs or face. Persistent tail rubbing, a dull coat that sheds unevenly, greasy heel skin in wet…
In an aging Andalusian horse, joint discomfort often appears first as a loss of the breed's signature elevation: lower knee and hock action, shorter collected steps, stiffness in lateral movements he once performed fluidly, and reluctance to sit into hindquarter work. Watch also for uneven rhythm in trot, difficulty…
In an aging Haflinger, joint discomfort often shows as stiffness on the first strides from the stable, a shortened, pottery stride downhill, reluctance to pick up or hold canter, and slower, more deliberate rising after rest. This sturdy breed tends to keep working cheerfully, so subtle losses matter: less enthusiasm…
In a Haflinger, skin or coat problems often announce themselves through that famous flaxen mane and tail: broken, rubbed-short patches along the crest, a frayed tail head from rubbing against fencing, scabs or crusts under the thick coat, flaking skin, and a dull, staring coat that has lost its usual shine. Hair loss…
In an aging Welsh pony, joint discomfort often appears as a loss of the breed's usual free, springy action: shorter strides, stiffness on the first steps out of the stable, and reluctance to canter, jump small obstacles, or work on a circle. A pony who once moved boldly uphill may start picking carefully down slopes…
In an aging Shetland pony, joint discomfort often shows first as stiffness after standing in the stable, a short shuffling stride on hard ground, and reluctance to trot up or turn tightly in the yard. Watch for a pony who shifts weight from foot to foot, rests one hind leg unusually often, lies down longer than usual,…
A Shetland eating and drinking normally works steadily through its forage, comes to feed with interest, chews without dropping half-chewed mouthfuls, and produces regular droppings of a consistent texture. Water habits are steady too: regular drinks rather than sudden long sessions, and a bucket or trough level that…
A Shetland's dense double coat hides its skin, so signs are often found by hand and behaviour first: itching and rubbing on fences, patches where hair thins or the coat fails to shed evenly, and flaky or crusty skin when you part the hair down to the surface. Look for sores under the mane, a rough or dull texture…
An aging Clydesdale carries great weight on its joints, so discomfort often shows as slow, careful rising, stiffness after rest, and a shuffling, shortened stride, especially behind. Watch for reluctance to back up or turn in the stable, dragging hind toes, uneven shoe wear, and resting the same leg again and again.…
In a Clydesdale, the loudest skin signs are behavioural: persistent stamping, biting or rubbing at the legs, and restlessness when standing, all pointing at irritation hidden in the heavy feather. Part that feather and look for crusty, thickened, or sore pastern skin, hair loss on the lower legs, and a coat that has…
In an aging Friesian, joint discomfort often shows as stiffness that eases once the horse is moving, a shortened stride, reluctance to turn tightly or back up, and dragging toes that scuff the ground. Watch for difficulty picking up or holding a hind foot for the farrier, slower lying down and rising, and choosing not…
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