Penn State Extension
Penn State Extension
Articles About AgrAbility
Connie Baggett, Ph. D.
AgrAbility is a project designed to assist agricultural workers with disabilities or long-term health conditions by providing the resources they need to continue in production agriculture. More
Articles Older Horse Care
Ann M. Swinker
Horse owners need to consider different and special care for the aging horse. More
Articles Begin Your Horse’s Spring Grooming
Ann M. Swinker
Spring grooming of the horse assists in promoting a clean, shiny coat and skin. More
Articles When acquiring ownership, you assumed responsibility for the health and welfare of your horse. More
News Yard waste “trimmings” can be toxic to livestock. More
Articles Common Sense Fencing for Horses
Laura Kenny, Ann M. Swinker
Safe fencing needs proper planning and installation. More
Articles Fall Leaves In Horse Pastures Can be Toxic
Ann M. Swinker
Disposing of fall leaves properly or composting them in an area outside of pastures is an important aspect to horse management. More
Videos Are Roadside Springs Safe?
Bryan Swistock, Susan Boser, Mark Madden, James Andrew Clark, Diane Oleson, M.S., Amy Galford, Gary William Micsky
Many people drink water from roadside springs in Pennsylvania. But recent research suggests that you should use caution when consuming spring water. More
Articles Managing a Horse with Laminitis on Grass Pastures
Ann M. Swinker
Horses prone to laminitis need help when grazing on grass pastures, in the Spring time and early Summer, when grasses grow quickly and lush. More
Articles Roadside Springs
Bryan Swistock, Susan Boser, Mark Madden, Diane Oleson, M.S., Amy Galford, Gary William Micsky, James Andrew Clark
This article discusses a research study on the water quality and use of numerous roadside springs across Pennsylvania. More
Articles Nutritional Considerations for Broodmares
Ann M. Swinker
The success of any breeding program depends partially on correct nutritional management of broodmares. More
Articles When to Blanket a Horse
Ann M. Swinker
Horses have two natural defenses against cold; a long hair coat and a layer of fat beneath the skin. Both provide an excellent means of insulation. More
Articles How to Analyze Feed and Forage Sampling for Horses
Ann M. Swinker
It has been said that art and science are combined to determine the best feeding program for your horse. The best way to determine the nutritional value of your feed is to have it analyzed. More
Articles Feeding Horses
Ann M. Swinker
When you feed your horse, take into account its age, weight, work and growth to determine its diet. More
West Nile Virus - a Threat to Horses
Ann M. Swinker
West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of arbovirus encephalitis in horses and humans in the United States. More
Articles Equine Insect Pests
Ann M. Swinker
Important arthropod pests of horses are flies, gnats, mosquitoes, bots, lice, ticks, mites and blister beetles. More
Articles Horses May Be at Risk of Colic in Cold Weather
Ann M. Swinker
When it is very cold, horses will reduce their water consumption and be at risk of colic. More
Articles Winter Care for Your Horse
Ann M. Swinker
With winter approaching, horse owners will need to prepare and conduct a different approach in caring for their horses. More
Articles Rain Rot in Horses
Ann M. Swinker
Rain rot or rain scald, is caused by bacteria and often is mistaken for a fungal disease. The bacteria live in the outer layer of skin and cause crusty scabs. More
Articles Hay Quality for Different Classes of Horses
Ann M. Swinker
Hay is the most important part of the horse’s diet and makes up 50-100% of the horse’s diet. More
Articles How Much Drinking Water Does Your Horse Need?
Ann M. Swinker
The average horse will intake 5 to 10 gallons of fresh water per day. Water is needed to avoid colic, dehydration and death. More
Articles Useful Tools In Equine Parasite Control
Ann M. Swinker
Some livestock parasite populations have developed to be increasingly resistant to the drugs. More
Articles Winter Horseback Riding
Ann M. Swinker
Many riders experience the outside winter weather astride their horse. More