Masterful videos by Masterson

For more than a decade, Jim Masterson has been doing good works for horses in the way of massage, tension release, and interactive body work. He’s traveled with the US Endurance team to Malaysia, Germany, and Chile and treated the team’s equine athletes. He’s presented […]

Equine Dentistry, a quick tale and a big man

I visited with Steve Akeley the other day. He’s is a talented horseman as well as one of Maine’s most popular equine dentists. Steve floated my horses’ teeth for years. Always thorough. Always professional. Always willing to take the extra time horses often need during […]

To Stall or Not to Stall

The evidence connecting stables to stress is solid. Popular consensus, backed by this research and good ol’ common sense, is starting to lean towards a less-managed lifestyle, too. But there are still plenty of naysayers and traditionalists, especially in the helicopter-parenting world of high-end equines. […]

Peters weighs in on Rider Weight

Dr. Steve Peters, the neuropsychologist whose collaboration with horseman Martin Black produced Evidence-Based Horsemanship, joined the call for better horsemanship through better personal health with his recent Personal Statement, posted on the Evidence-Based Horsemanship facebook page. It echoed recent BestHorsePractices posts, which explained research and […]

What we owe them

Ultimately, it’s about suffering. That was the impetus (Call it negative reinforcement!) behind the recent article on Horse Ownership. At NickerNews and BestHorsePractices, we recognize that with the privilege of ownership comes the responsibility to keep our charges safe and sound and to prevent or […]

Choosy Horses Choose This Salt

Since we’ve partnered with Redmond Equine, many readers have received complimentary products like Redmond Rock salt. One lucky Mainer used some simple experimentation to find out which one her horses preferred, Redmond Rock or Himalayan salt. She writes: “ I hung the Redmond Rock right […]

Deworming Debunked, again

Just because we’ve always done it, doesn’t make it right. That’s the thing with deworming. Many of us have been dosing our horses several times a year for years with all variety of worming pastes and gels. Valley Vet Supply sells thousands of dollars worth […]

Welcome 5 Star

Saddle pads and cinches aren’t the most glamorous tack items in your barn. But they may be the most essential. Bad ones make your horse miserable and cause sores and sore muscles. Good ones make even marathon rides easy and fuss-free. Just ask Ben Masters, […]

Fatal Virus is Here

While dry weather is making wildfires a constant concern for horse owners out west, the wet weather is increasing the threat of contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus in New England. This week, EEE was detected in York County (Maine) mosquitoes. It’s a […]

Water and Salt – hot items

From Utah to Iowa to Maine and all points in between, it’s been a warm summer. Some weeks in some states have been downright hot. Hydration for you AND your horse is key. So is salt intake. I like tortilla chips myself. My horses like […]