You are here:
- Home
- Animals/Pets
- Horses
- Horses
Horses/Questions Answered by Expert Lynne Curtis
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Freeze marks | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: I've got 2 mustangs with their marks on their left side necks. I've just learned how to read their ... A: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) handles round-ups and adoptions of mustangs. The BLM should ... | |
| Kimblewick | 8/4/2011 |
| Q: I hope you can help me, my friend has a very strong pony and the only bit she can control him in is ... A: Your friend needs to educate her own hands before she can educate her pony. I once put one of my ... | |
| vintage jockey saddle | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: Hello I am looking for some information on a vintage belmont registered jockey saddle- I am not ... A: I would try Googling your terms. If you are not involved in the equestrian community, would you ... | |
| antique steel fork saddle | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: how much would a antique steel fork saddle be worth? A: First caveat is that what something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it. There are ... | |
| horse | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: i was wondering if her lip tattoo can give me information on her.thank you A: I see your question has been languishing in the question pool for a while, so I thought I'd answer ... | |
| Lunging | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I have been horseback riding for about 3 years, and I have a lot of experience with a particular ... A: My apologies. I thought I had already answered this question. It must have been on a day when our ... | |
| Riding | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: I am 5 ft and about 100 lbs. I have a mini horse and have ridden him a couple of times. I train tiny ... A: The classic rule of thumb is that the rider shouldn't exceed more than 20% of the horse's weight. ... | |
| Costs | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I'm thinking of getting just one horse, but I've been hearing all sorts of things on how much they ... A: You will have to do the research where you live and depending on what kind of boarding facilities ... | |
| Horse pregnant and is about to deliver | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a mare and she has dropped dramatically. Her milk veins are very protruded, but her udder ... A: Do you know how many weeks along she is in her pregnancy? Just how close is she to her due date? ... | |
| Horse pregnant and is about to deliver | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a mare and she has dropped dramatically. Her milk veins are very protruded, but her udder ... A: More information please! Exactly how old is she? Does she show any signs of an infection? Does she ... | |
| training an older arabian | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: everytime she see's or hears the buckles on the halter she runs. I would love to get her haltered to ... A: From what you have said, I get the idea that you can touch her and handle her but that she objects ... | |
| need help | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: i am trying to run my own business with abused or abandon horses. i have done stuff like this ... A: I am not certain what you are asking. Do you mean what costs need to be considered such as vet ... | |
| tennesse walkers | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a now 4yr old mare and she is not completely finished what would you suggest for winter ... A: I am assuming from your question that you don't have the luxury of an indoor arena. First, a little ... | |
| horses | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I can be on the other side of the gate and he'll rear up still and kick the gate and bite and he ... A: This exuberant colt needs a trainer, now. If you were in New Mexico I have an excellent natural ... | |
| western riding horse breeds | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to buy a new horse. In the past my family has owned Paso Finos. I know little about ... A: This is an enormously broad question. I have had great trail rides on Tennessee Walkers, Quarter ... | |
| HORSE CARE | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: WHAT SUPPLIES ARE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF A HORSE? A: This is a pretty open-ended question. If you mean, what do I keep in my tack room in case of ... | |
| driving a miniature team | 5/29/2010 |
| Q: i recently bought two miniature mares, and have the time and horse experience to teach them to ... A: Since I don't have Minis...I am enlisting my experience as an investigator rather than a as a horse ... | |
| Front legs not symetrical | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: First I'd like to say I am impressed by your profile.Thanks for being one of the "EXPERTS". My ... A: I've started horses as old as 20. If he has a good enough disposition to play "carrot ... | |
| 7 year old sorrow | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old gelding. He has had some nutrition issues in the past. I was able to put weight ... A: Have a vet check him out. There are a multitude of things that can cause a horse to lose weight. ... | |
| trot racing | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: A trot horse which has been with us for the last 2 years is giving a bit of problems on the last ... A: Let me start with the caveat that my racing backgruound is in flat racing, not trotters. I am also ... | |
| building up my confidence | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: how on earth can i make it so that my horse will stop trying to take advantage of me? i try my best ... A: Sounds like you and your horse may not be a good match or you could use a good clinic together. For ... | |
| Leasing a Horse | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: Jessica, I am sophomore in high school and have been riding since I turned thirteen. A few months ... A: Boy, I sure wished you lived in the mountains of northern New Mexico. I have a young horse that ... | |
| angle of hoof | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know what the correct angle (degree) a hoof should be trimmed to?...I have heard ... A: I wrote this answer and then decided to get a second opinion from a long time shoer friend of mine ... | |
| whalebone whips,baby racehorses | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: 1)what are whalebone whips??? Do they really harm horses??? if you dont mind, can you please post me ... A: 1. Before the advent of plastic, many things that are now made of plastics were made of products ... | |
| thoroughbred confirmation check | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: what all equipments required for the trainer to check the confirmation, i mean is confirmation ... A: I am going to assume you mean conformation as opposed to confirmation. I know the words are ... | |
| horse gestures-friendliness | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I need to know: What gesture a horse gives when it meets a friend What gesture a horse gives when it ... A: I was struggling with trying to explain all the things I know about horse body language, things ... | |
| stifel injury | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10 year old Thoroughbred gelding i got off the track when he was about 3, i used him for ... A: I suggest a better vet even if you have to haul him to one of the veterinary teaching universities. ... | |
| calcium needs in broodmares | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: we hava a TB mare who was starved while pregnant and is now nursing an 8 wk old foal. she was on ... A: Many of the starving concentration camp survivors of WWII died AFTER their rescue as a result of the ... | |
| Allergies and Shipping Fever | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a yearling Moriesian filly and she came with a snotty nose. The previous owner had ... A: The dermatological problems that can plague horses are many. Many years ago I spent time with ... | |
| brands | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: sorry but I just picked your name at random; do you know how I can get a list of Texas horsebrands? ... A: In looking around I found a really useful website. It talks about locating the brand origin. ... | |
| pregnant mare | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: my question is how far long does a mare have to be before the foal will start to kick and moving A: I think that you are asking, "When will I be able to see fetal movement?". A veterinarian can ... | |
| Taking the bit | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a 16 year old Quarter Pony mare. She has a major problem taking the bit. It takes her maybe ... A: Gee, I wish I could see a film of this. Of course it may be that your bit doesn't taste good or is ... | |
| Did My Mare Have A Mischarge? | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: Today when i went to the barn my mare was acting really funny. she was rubbing her butt on her stall ... A: It does sound like a miscarriage. Did you know she was bred? Sometimes nature decides things ... | |
| Buying | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: i am looking to buy a horse, ive looked on every website i swear for about a month and i know some ... A: When I am looking, I just cruise the web. A Google search using the words horse"for sale" will get ... | |
| pregnancy | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: there is a pony very near to my house. we think she may be pregnant because we passed once and she ... A: If it were certain that getting mounted meant instant pregnancy, there would not be veterinary ... | |
| Horse, foaming at mouth, trying to throw up | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: Situation: 4 horses came out of field, recent rains. Given about 1-1/2 lbs of all stock. Within 15 ... A: Two things come to mind. I would be concerned about a contaminate in that batch of feed. If it was ... | |
| rescue remedy | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: how long does four drops of rescue remedy work on horse will it work longer than 1 hour please ... A: Dr. Foster and Smith on their website have some official info ... | |
| triping horse | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: my horse is 21. i've had her for 5 years and shes allways seemed to trip/ dosent pick up her feet or ... A: Are her toes too long? Have you had her trimmed regularly? If it is not a trimming/shoeing issue ... | |
| TWH | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: my twh mare is 5yrs old. I just got her today.. She tends to cross her front feet while i am on her ... A: If you just got this mare today, I do hope you got her "on approval". Did you get a veterinary ... | |
| Strange Lump | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: My friend got a horse that was pregnant. They didn't know she was bred with a donkey until she gave ... A: Your friend needs to have a veterinarian look at this mare. It could be many things ranging from ... | |
| hay bale twine | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: Your might wonder why in the world am I asking you this, but I've asked so many craft people (no ... A: I use hay twin in my garden for tying up plants. I make hay nets from it or repair the commercial ... | |
| mare | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: i have just bought a mare and foal 2 weeks ago ,and i can catch the foal but i cant get even close ... A: Sorry, maybe it's a language difference between the U.K. and the "colonies', but I can't picture ... | |
| Endurance Trail Rides On Horses | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: Hi I am wanting to ride my horse for long distances and i have a Saddle pack but i need a list of ... A: When I rode my horse long distances it was 2,400 miles. What you carry depends on how long you will ... | |
| Sweetness of Grass | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: One of my horses has developed founder, and I was wondering if the grass is sweeter in the morning, ... A: Grass is sweeter when it has been frosted. I see you are in Canada. Those early morning frosts on ... | |
| two horses together | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are very new to the horse world. My husband horse is pregnant and is expecting any ... A: You are describing a herd bound horse. This can take a little time, but if you are patient, it ... | |
| Turn Out/Hacking Turn Out | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you would be able to tell me what i need to wear and what my horse needs to wear ... A: My show experience is all in the U.S. However, I did a quick Google search and ... | |
| Horses | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm hayley I've loved horses for as long as i can remember but have never really looked into getting ... A: Buying a horse is the CHEAPEST part of the equation. IN this bad economy, there are some very nice ... | |
| Haltering A Foal | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: My mare had a beautiful baby filly just over a month ago now. We handled the foal from day one and ... A: First and foremost DON'T LEAVE A HALTER/HEAD COLLAR on any horse when you aren't there. Yes, I know ... | |
| Bits | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I recently decided to start showingmy horse, and when i arrived they told me i couldnt use a ... A: I would guess it PROBABLY isn't AQHA rules as that is American Quarter Horse Association. Since ... | |
| gaited paint horse | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: we purchased a solid black yearling colt two years ago and were told he could be paperred as a ... A: Paint isn't really just coloration. Take a look at www.apha.com Paints have a breed registry and ... | |
| Bits | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I recently decided to start showingmy horse, and when i arrived they told me i couldnt use a ... A: I also do all my training and normal riding in either a snaffle or a bosal. You need to read the ... | |
| 4 month old horse | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: My young horse came down with a fever last night 104.1 I called the vet he gave him a shot of ... A: You don't say where you are located. You also don't mention if your colt had any symptoms prior to ... | |
| field fertiliazation | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: i know you probably might not be able to answer this, but if you can then please do! : on average, ... A: I might be able to answer this question if I had a lot more information. 1. What's an "average" ... | |
| underweight pregnant mare | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: a friend of mine has a paddock he agists horses on. a friend of his has just put a very pregnant ... A: You don't say how old you are, but yes, it is a cruel world sometimes. However, there are also lots ... | |
| underweight pregnant mare | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: a friend of mine has a paddock he agists horses on. a friend of his has just put a very pregnant ... A: Perhaps it's an Aussie word....but I don't have a clue what you mean by "agists". Here in the ... | |
| horses away from baby horse | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: How do you get a mama horse away from its baby, because we can't get a haulter on the mama so its ... A: You don't mention anything about your facilities or whether or not your mare has had any training or ... | |
| moving to new barn | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I will be purchasing a new horse next week, and she will be alone in a home for 2 weeks. What is ... A: If I understand you correctly; your pasture is ONLY fenced with electric tape. If this is so, I ... | |
| moving to new barn | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I will be purchasing a new horse next week, and she will be alone in a home for 2 weeks. What is ... A: First, keep your own anxiety down. She MAY be a relaxed mare that doesn't get too anxious. Allow ... | |
| minis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: Minis look so cute. Can minis do any kind of work or are they just pets? A: You didn't mention how much you know about horses. A mini requires every bit of care a full sized ... | |
| horse tossing head when cantering | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: I am Kimmy i am 14 years old i have an Arabian gelding he is 19 years old. I have recently started ... A: Two things come to mind. He may just need more warming up before you try lateral moves and jumps ... | |
| help me | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: i have just resently bort a 15 yr old gelding but he has a tiny bit of arthritis will my two kids ... A: You need to chat with your vet about this. It depends on how severe his arthritis is. If he is ... | |
| Tennessee Walking Horse | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: I am looking to purchase a horse in the next year, and I am trying to decide which breed to choose. ... A: This is a complicated question. If you seriously want to do endurance, then look for an Arab with ... | |
| Horse Care | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: Could you briefly explain to me the daily chores of a horse owner? A: Answer, yes. Brief, well...it depends. If you want a brief answer, please let me know how you plan ... | |
| asking a question | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: Why is my pony spooky at shows ? how can i make him stop and make him jump without getting scared!? A: Ponies or people, we all have different personalities. Some are naturally bold, and some timid. ... | |
| Horseriding | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: I go to a small stables near where I live, and I love it there. I pay £25 a week, and I get to go ... A: I apologize that it took me a few days to answer. I am out of the country and I had missed some of ... | |
| Suddenly fell to knees during ride | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a 20 years old mule that suddenly went down on his knees this past Sunday during a trail ... A: This is one of those, "have your vet check him" questions. Causes of stumbling and falling can be ... | |
| horse pregnancy | 11/8/2008 |
| Q: Will I be able to hear the foals heart beat before birth with a stethoscope? A: I am also an EMT and I auscultate human heart sounds all the time. I personally have never had any ... | |
| synovial joints | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: how many synovial joints are there in a horse and where they A: All moving joints contain synovial fluid. ALL joints that have motion are lubricated with synovial ... | |
| pedialo cystitis | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: We are looking at a horse for sale and the owner says it has pedialo cystitis. I have never heard of ... A: I looked at this question again and realized he probably meant Pedal Ostitis. Pedal Ostitis is an ... | |
| Food Supplement - Colt horse race | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a foal that now is on the stage to get ready to run her first race; however, she is not ... A: You didn't say how old this foal is and when you intend on running her. Any horse that could be ... | |
| Ex racehorse, ex dressage, ex lesson | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: I am being offered a 20 yr old thorobred gelding with some issues. I am 57, have had horses of my ... A: This is a hard one to answer without watching the horse or perhaps riding him. I would suggest you ... | |
| miniature horses | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: i am getting a miniature horse and i wonder if you could give me some good exercise ideas and some ... A: You don't say if you are already a horse person just extending into miniatures, or if this is your ... | |
| W bit | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: my horse has a very short tongue and always manages to get his tongue over the bit. I was given a W ... A: I apologize, but I don't know what you mean by a W bit. However I do have a suggestion for your ... | |
| Allergies | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: My cousins horse just had her foal and he has a sun allergie, if he is exposed to the sun at all his ... A: Sounds like your cousin's foal is extremely photosensitive. I once had a horse who would keep his ... | |
| horse brand | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I just got a horse with a brand of NS3. I am trying to find out where this horse orginally came ... A: Most states have a “brand book” that lists all the registered brands for that state. Texas is a bit ... | |
| my horse has a swollen bump the size of a golf ball on her neck not jaw or face neck | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: it dosent hurt or bother him but its not hard like a rock but not soft either its like the ... A: Without palpating the mass myself, it's a bit hard to say. Sounds a bit like a thrombosis. This is ... | |
| a "dirty" horse? | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a four year old oldenburg gelding, Rocco, who refuses to do just about anything asked of ... A: It sounds like Rocco is the leader of your pack. Some horses require a more dominant rider. If you ... | |
| Dislocated shoulder in horse | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: I recently read an answer you gave to a lady that you thought her horse had dislocated her shoulder. ... A: First, that other answer about the horse with the dislocated shoulder was Lyn Kamer, not me (Lynne ... | |
| horses, kyphosis, roach back | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a horse that has a funny looking backbone. she has a hump right in the middle of her ... A: Since I can't see exactly what you mean by "a funny looking backbone" I am going to assume you mean ... | |
| abscess | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: .he has tender soles and tends to get an abcess in one front foot..sometimes it comes out at the ... A: Two abscesses in five years would not worry me too much. However, if both abscesses occurred very ... | |
| abscess | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: .he has tender soles and tends to get an abcess in one front foot..sometimes it comes out at the ... A: From what you say, this sounds like a chronic problem. A joint consultation with both your vet and ... | |
| striking | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: I have 20+ years of experience with horses, being an owner since the age of 9 and I am 30-ish :) ... A: From your description, I am picturing the mare striking forward with a front leg. Is she striking ... | |
| beatle looking things on a big area of my horse | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: what are those little beatles my horse has them down her neck in her main and just above her tail ... A: Sorry Wendy. Without a photo of the "little beetles" and without knowing where your horse lives and ... | |
| pasture grass | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: My small pasture is looking great with different types of grasses (orchard, timothy, fescue). My 2 ... A: There isn't a really simple answer here. If you live in a warm part of the country where the grass ... | |
| Training a 9 yr. old arabian stallion. | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I have recently acquired a black Egyptian Arabian stud horse. Although I have been around horses ... A: I am sure you have heard this before. First, you need to geld this horse. There are already too ... | |
| What are some signs if my mare is pregnet? | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: Hey! I have a standerbred/shetland mare and she was with a stud for the month of September so she ... A: You didn't mention where in the world you are. Assuming you are in the northern hemisphere, you ... | |
| Half -breed horse and Tevis | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: What is the breakdown of the "mixed breed" horses who have won the Tevis Cup? A: You can take a look at ALL winners of the Tevis at http://www.foothill.net/tevis/TEVISWIN.HTM and ... | |
| my horses head pushing problem | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: in the stable and even when holding her she pushes her head up against you not a muzzle but a bang ... A: Your horse is treating you as an equal. Unfortunately, you aren't as big and tough as another ... | |
| Horse Problem | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: my name is Jenna. I own an Arabian riding pony mare and she is an angel in the arena and the ... A: I'm not sure I have a clear picture in my head of what you are describing. I THINK you are saying ... | |
| Rearing | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: I have an 8 month old (just) gelded young man that will rear when he doesn't get his way. He also ... A: At 8 months old, rambunctiousness is a usual problem. I work my colts in a round pen. First I let ... | |
| Bucking | 12/25/2007 |
| Q: I bought a 14 year old quarterhorse. He was previously used for hunting. I fox hunt. He racked ... A: Is your horse kept in a stall? Some horses just don't have the "whatever" it takes to spend most of ... | |
| Head Throwing | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I bought my first horse approx 3 months ago after riding on and off most my life (I am now 24). My ... A: I get the idea from what you say that your horse is kept in a box and doesn't get out except for ... | |
| another strange callous | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: Lynn, You answered a question about a strange callous not to long ago. My mare has one on each ... A: Still chestnuts. Every horse I have ever seen in my life has them on the inside of the legs, but ... | |
| Re: strange callous above the heal | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I HAVE A 7 YR OLD MARE WITH A CALLOUS ON EACH FOOT, THEY ARE GETTING ALMOST 2"- 2 1/2" INCHES IN ... A: I can't tell from your query EXACTLY where these calluses are located. If they are located on the ... | |
| 10 year old Quarab mare add-on | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I did do some research about how a western saddle should fit. I put both of my western saddles on ... A: I certainly would get this mare checked by a vet. However, you are a 100% right. A badly fitting ... | |
Horses
Answers by Expert:
Lynne Curtis
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I do not participate in shows any more so some of my show specific knowledge could be out of date.
Experience
I have been involved in horses for approximately 45 years. I showed hunters, jumpers and stock horses. In the 80's I was licensed as a trainer on the race track. I have run broodmare operations, delivered foals and taught everything from what to feed and which end the shoes go on to advanced jumping. I tend to be impatient with owners who think their horses prefer to be locked up in confined spaces. Even my show and race horses rarely spent more than only the night before an event in a stall...the rest of the time they had room to run. In 1975 I rode a Quarter Horse Stallion and a Thoroughbred Mare solo from Minneapolis to San Francisco.
Organizations
The Long Riders Guild (an international organization of equestrian explorers who have ridden over 1,000 miles for non-commercial purposes)
Publications
"The Long Ride" Published in Women Sports Magazine March of 1975 an article regarding the author's cross country horseback ride from Minnesota to California.
"A Horse is a Horse,of Course" An article regarding investigating horse incidents and the Equine Liability Act for investigators and attorneys. published in The Legal Investigator, February 2004
"Investigating Animal Cases:" A chapter written at the request of the editors for a professional textbook entitled Advanced Forensic Civil Investigations published by Lawyers and Judges Publishing June, 1997
"Murder by Another Name:" An article published in The John Cook Fraud Report, December 1994 regarding the intentional killing of horses for greed and insurance fraud.
"The Responsibilities of Horse Owners in Rural Communities:" A paper presented before the Regional Seminar of the National Association of Legal Investigators in November 1987 at Phoenix, Arizona.
"The Old Gray Mare is Worth $10,000,000 Now." A professional paper on the investigation of cases involving bloodstock and racetracks presented before the National Conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators in Washington, D.C., June 1986.
Education/Credentials
Approximately 3 years of confined college....no degree. Advanced degree from the university of experience :>)
Awards and Honors
Recepient of the 1st place Anthony M. Golec Editor-Publisher Award 2004
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.