Pastern dermatitis, often known as scratches, is a common problem of inflammation of the skin behind or around the pastern of the horse.  In most cases, the infection is caused by bacteria or fungus that entering through any openings in the skin – small wounds, cracks or even chapping. The most common signs of scratches are scabs and crusting around the pasterns. There may also be a clear liquid substance leaking from the area.

While many horse owners are used to trailering their horse for several hours, there may come a time when you’ll need to move your horse a much longer distance. This could be due to a move you will be making or the purchase of a horse that lives in another part of the country. If you have the time and the truck/trailer to do so, you can certainly trailer your horse yourself, but there are many benefits to using a professional horse hauling company.

With the constant changes of weather – warm to cold, wet to dry – it’s a common time for horses to develop a hoof abscess. A hoof abscess is a localized bacterial infection in the sensitive structures of the hoof, typically in the front feet in the sole of the hoof, but can also be found elsewhere.

When it’s time to bed your horse there are a wide variety of bedding options. Here are some things to consider when deciding on what your horse will stand and sleep on.

Leasing a horse is an ideal way to see if you want the responsibility of owning your own horse. You will have the benefits of riding the horse and bonding with it while also taking on the responsibilities that come with it. Too often people are quick to buy a horse and then realize it’s too much work. Sometimes the horse suffers from neglect when the owner becomes too busy or quickly sells the horse to an owner of even lesser interest.

Knowing your horses normal behavior when he is feeling good will help you to better realize when he may be feeling sick or not normal. Every horse owner needs to know what is “normal” for their horse. Being able to report these behaviors to your veterinarian when you contact him can help evaluate whether a visit is necessary and/or how quickly your horse needs to be seen.

While stall mats are great to use as the base layer in your horse’s stall for comfort, stall mats can also be used in several “non-traditional” ways to make your barn safer, cleaner and more user-friendly. Consider these alternate uses in and around the barn as well as other areas where you can use Classic Equine Equipment’s versatile and durable stall mats:

Thinking of remodeling or building a new barn? One of your big decisions (and biggest expense) may be the type of wood you use. There are several types of wood available  and it can be daunting to figure out which one to use. The general answer? It depends on what’s most available in your area as well as your area’s weather conditions. Heavy snows may require one type of wood while areas with insect issues might be best with another. Whatever you choose, if you’re building your walls with wood, use pressure treated wood whenever it’s in contact with earth or steel. However, keep in mind pressure-treated wood should never be placed where horses are in close contact.

Horses, like most prey animals, have their eyes positioned on both sides of their head. This is so they can have a wide field of vision to watch for approaching predators. Horses have “monocular” vision, meaning that each eye sees things differently and independently. This benefits the prey animal as it allows him to watch his herd with one eye while watching behind him to see if anything is coming after him with the other eye.

Since 1992 Classic Equine Equipment has been an industry leader in horse stalls and stable equipment. All the company’s steel products are made in Classic’s hometown of Fredericktown, MO. This ensures complete control over the quality of the process from the beginning to the end result.