Horse care

Ruth Benns drawing of Equine Skeleton

A New Approach for Treating Kissing Spine

Overriding Spinous Process, otherwise known as Kissing Spine can cause back pain and poor performance, especially when two or more vertebrae touch or overlap. Assistant Professor Dr. Nathalie Cote in the department of Large Animal Surgery at Ontario Veterinary College recently presented a new less invasive surgical approach to treat this issue that is showing…

Free Online Racing-Exclusive Courses Back for Winter 2024!

Thanks to Equine Guelph’s incredible racing industry education partners, Equine Guelph will host three racing-exclusive online courses again on TheHorsePortal.ca in the winter of 2024. With funding from Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Ontario Racing and Standardbred Canada, these short courses will be available free (value $95) for AGCO licensees and Standardbred Canada members. “Racehorses are…

Equine Guelph 20th anniversary logo

20th Anniversary Special Feature with Alumni Monica Laane-Fralick

20th Anniversary Alumni, Monica Laane-Fralick has a real appreciation for welfare-based management strategies thanks to Equine Guelph’s 12-week online courses. Of great interest was learning about the myths in some traditional stable management practices and dispelling them with evidence-based sources such as those provided by Equine Guelph courses. Anthropomorphism (attribution of human characteristics/behaviours to animals) can create misunderstandings…

OVC students, interns and residents took part in the Large Animal Emergency Rescue Workshop where they learned practical skills to aid large animals and livestock in emergencies. Presented by Equine Guelph & the Department of Clinical Studies at OVC

OVC Veterinarians Gain Skills in Large Animal Emergency Rescue

The final offering in 2023 of Equine Guelph’s Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) training was a specialized workshop for veterinarians held at the University of Guelph campus.  On Saturday, October 21, 2023, this course was presented by Equine Guelph & the Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.  OVC students, interns and…

A New Look at Lameness

Prevention is the ideal when it comes to lameness but practically everyone who has owned horses has dealt with a lay-up due to an unforeseen injury at some point.  The following article will provide tools to sharpen your eye for detecting lameness, review prevention tips and discuss the importance of early intervention.  It will also…

Ontario Racing Industry Scholarships from Equine Guelph

Tuition awards for the Ontario racing industry have been making a difference; giving racing industry employees a leg up in their careers. Hundreds of Ontario Racing industry members have discovered ways to optimize the health and performance of their racehorses by taking online short courses through TheHorsePortal.ca.  For those ready to take that learning to the…

World Rabies Day

September 28 is World Rabies Day

Did you know there is a Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC)?  On September 28, 2023, GARC coordinates World Rabies Day and this year’s theme is: All for 1, One Health for All.  This date also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first Rabies vaccine.  The…

Equine Guelph 20th anniversary logo

20th Anniversary Special Feature with Alumni Stacey Jennings

Equine Guelph alumni police constable, Stacey Jennings, has a real appreciation for stable management, including paddock management, thanks to Equine Guelph’s 12-week online courses. Of great interest was learning about fencing, water options, paddock dangers and the presence of wildlife on the property.

Equine Guelph 20th anniversary logo

20th Anniversary Special Feature with Alumni Mary Gibson

20th Anniversary Alumni, Mary has a real appreciation for environmental stewardship thanks to Equine Guelph’s 12-week online courses. Of great interest was learning about ways to use natural resources in every day barn management, improving ventilation and the benefits of composting manure.

Large Animal Emergency Rescue course participants

First Responders are Gaining and Implementing Skills for Large Animal Emergency Rescue

The next stop for Equine Guelph’s Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) training team will be Ashburn, Ontario on Sept 16 and 17, 2023.  The two-day operational level course, presented by Equine Guelph (University of Guelph), WindReach Farm and Scugog Fire Department, will be important training for emergency response teams that are called out to extricate…

Horses and riders on a trail ride through wooded area

20 Years of Supporting the Global Equine Community 

By: Anya Barradas This summer, Equine Guelph celebrates its 20th anniversary. The award-winning centre at the University of Guelph is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of horses through education and research.   “Over the years, our centre has become a model for online equine education programs and a hub for horse professionals from around…

20th Anniversary Special Feature with Alumni Robin Vanheeswyk

20th Anniversary Alumni, Robin Vanheeswyk has a growing interest in equine nutrition thanks to Equine Guelph’s online 12-week online courses. Of great interest was learning about the issues in equine nutrition pertaining to overfeeding horses which in turn can cause health problems, behavioural issues and also hit the rider in the pocketbook.