Equine Guelph - Research Education Careers

08/30/2026

📝 August is Make a Will Month — and if you’re a horse owner, it’s time to think about them, just as you would your other dependents.

Who will look after your horse if something happens to you?
It’s a tough topic, but planning ahead can prevent equine welfare issues later.

🐴 Horses are living beings with daily needs and long lifespans. Without a clear plan, they can end up neglected, rehomed, or worse.

Here are a few things to consider:
Designate a trusted caretaker who knows your horse and is willing to take on the responsibility.

Include your horse in your will or estate plan, with clear instructions and financial provisions for their care.

Write it down: feeding routines, medical history, quirks, and preferences. This helps ensure continuity of care.

💔 The real stories of horses left behind without a plan are heartbreaking—and preventable.

This article from Horse Canada offers excellent guidance on how to prepare.
https://horse-canada.com/magazine/equine-ownership/who-will-look-after-my-horse-when-im-gone/

While you're on a roll making responsible (and sometimes tough) decisions, take the next step in your horse care journey by enrolling in our Senior Horse online course.

Learn how to support your aging equine partner with compassion and confidence—from nutrition and mobility to end-of-life planning.

Register for Sept 21 to Oct 10, 2026 offering of 's Senior Horse online short course https://thehorseportal.ca/course/the-senior-horse-fall-26/

Let’s make sure our horses are protected.❤️

08/29/2026

Last Call for the Youth Literary and Art Derby 2026! Entry Deadline is Aug 31, 2026

's Youth Behaviour and Safety online course is among one of the fabulous prizes to be won.

Young enthusiasts can learn how to enter the 2026 BGRA Youth Literary Derby and Art contest at: https://www.bgracingalliance.ca/

08/27/2026

Ontario Horse Council launches Survey.

As part of their launch, the Ontario Horse Council is asking horse owners, riders, coaches, breeders, businesses, professionals, volunteers and other participants to complete a short survey about the most important issues facing the industry and the services the organization should provide.

The survey asks participants about issues including the rising cost of horse ownership, access to trails and facilities, youth participation, insurance, education, horse welfare, government advocacy, competitions and biosecurity.

The Council's role will be to identify concerns, coordinate advocacy, and provide a voice for issues that affect multiple equine sectors.

08/26/2026

Is it too hot to ride?

Equus launches heat index tool https://equusmagazine.com/equus-interactives/is-it-too-hot-to-ride?

High temperatures combined with high humidity increase the risk for heat stress and potentially life-threatening heat exhaustion. Use this tool to check the current conditions in your area.

08/25/2026

🐴 Did you know? Horses don’t laugh the way people do.

That classic curled upper lip often called a “laughing horse” is usually a Flehmen response.

When a horse encounters a new smell, they may raise their head and curl their upper lip to help analyze scents using a specialized sensory organ. It’s a normal behaviour—but it isn’t a joke or a smile.

There’s another type of lip curl horse owners should know about.

1) A horse that curls the upper lip without raising the head may be showing discomfort or pain.
2) This subtle expression can sometimes be associated with dental issues, ulcers, abdominal discomfort, or other sources of pain.
3) Repeated lip curling should never be dismissed as a horse being "funny" or "silly."

Good horse care starts with understanding what horses are trying to tell us through their behaviour.

Learn how to recognize and interpret behaviours that can impact welfare in ’s Horse Care & Welfare online course .ca

https://thehorseportal.ca/course/horse-care-welfare-fall-26/

Oct 19 to 30, 2026
Flexible format
Certificate of Completion
Expert-instructor led

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08/24/2026

HEALTHflash Disease alerts from :

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) - Cowichan Valley, BC. https://equinediseasecc.org/alerts?alertID=5163.

& Foothills, AB. https://equinediseasecc.org/alerts?alertID=5162

Biosecurity resources available at
https://thehorseportal.ca/biosecurity-risk-calculator-tool/

Vaccination Equi-Planner tool .

https://thehorseportal.ca/healthcare-tools/vaccine-guidelines-core/

08/23/2026

How safe is your farm?

From cluttered aisles and poor ventilation to emergency preparedness and pasture hazards, farm safety involves much more than fixing the occasional broken board.

Guelph's free 41-Point Horse Farm Safety Checklist is a great way to assess your property and identify areas that may put horses, people, and visitors at risk.

The checklist covers everything from stable design and fire prevention to fencing, trailers, equipment, and worker safety. https://files.thehorseportal.ca/portal/uploads/2024/11/Horse-Farm-Safety-Checklist.pdf.

If completing the checklist leaves you wanting a deeper understanding of how to create a safer, healthier, and more efficient horse facility, consider enrolling in 's Management of the Stable Environment 12-week online course this fall.

You'll learn practical strategies for managing air quality, manure, drainage, biosecurity, footing, facility design, and environmental stewardship that benefit both horses and humans.

Start with the checklist. Build your expertise with the evidence-based, welfare-based, accredited course.

Management of the Environment begins September 14, 2026 in partnership with .

https://uoguel.ph/mgmt-eq-envt

08/22/2026

Ready for a little Alberta horse history? 📜 🐴

In the 1720s, horses made their long-awaited return to Alberta's vast prairies, marking an extraordinary homecoming. It had been about 10,000 years since the province's expansive grasslands echoed with the sound of equine hooves. Fossil evidence reveals that North America was the original birthplace of the horse, with the species first appearing millions of years ago. While other animals, such as bison and mammoths, migrated into North America from Siberia, the horse followed a different path, eventually being domesticated by the horse-riding cultures of the Central Asian Steppes. However, the ancient horse that once thrived across Canada mysteriously disappeared thousands of years ago.

If you found this interesting, read more of the story on our website 🔗 www.horsejournals.com/popular/history-heritage/horses-historical-hoofprints

08/22/2026

🐴 Did you know that environmental stewardship benefits both your horses and your property?

Understanding best practices for manure management and protecting natural resources can improve farm sustainability while supporting horse welfare.

Explore our free infographic discussing harnessing the sun, working with wind, harvesting rain and the power of p**p.

https://thehorseportal.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Environmental-Stewardship.pdf

Then expand your knowledge this fall with 's Stewardship of the Equine Environment accredited, evidence-based, welfare-based course.

Find out more .ca 12-week online course page. https://thehorseportal.ca/12-week-courses/