Jacqui Avis, Equine Management Consultant

02/16/2026

Great article!!! 🙏🐴

"There is a growing discomfort in the horse world around the idea of correcting horses, particularly with groundwork," Lindsey Smith writes. "Words like structure, discipline, and physical correction are increasingly treated as red flags. Yet permissiveness (and feeding unruly horses treats by the handful) is reframed as kindness.

I understand why owners want to fawn over their horses with treats and cuddling. Horses give us an extraordinary amount of trust. We ask them to carry us, respond to subtle cues, and stay mentally present even when they are uncertain or afraid. We love them and want to reward them for this incredible gift. But if we expect that level of generosity from them, then we owe them something in return—communication they can understand.

Good horsemanship is about learning how horses experience the world and responding accordingly. When we communicate clearly, fairly, and consistently by using body language, we reduce stress, increase trust, and make their lives more predictable and safe.

Horses do not experience the world the way humans do. Groundwork and correction, when done correctly, are not acts of dominance. They are acts of responsibility. Confusing human sentimentality with equine welfare can quietly become far more harmful than the corrections we are trying to avoid.

Correcting a horse through groundwork is not about dominance or punishment. It is about speaking to them in a language they actually understand—body language.

Fair correction is about timing, clarity, and release. When a correction is immediate, proportional, and followed by a clear release of pressure, the horse understands exactly what was asked.

Allowing a horse to walk all over you, bite you, or ignore personal space while offering treats and affection instead of structure, is not kindness. It is confusing. And confusion, especially for a prey animal, is deeply stressful. In some cases, it is genuinely dangerous for both the human and the horse.

Horses are not humans. They are not dogs or cats. Humans, dogs, and cats are predators. Horses are prey animals. They do not think like us. When we ask horses to give us so much—to carry us, trust us, and perform under pressure—it is our responsibility to learn how to communicate in a way that makes sense to them."

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/02/16/structure-is-not-abuse-why-horses-need-clear-communication/
📸 courtesy of Lindsey Smith

02/05/2026

FOALING SEASON IS UPON US!

Foaling can be so exciting but oh-so-stressful! Education is key to a smooth delivery and a healthy mare and foal!

Are you ready to assist your broodmare? Here are some tried and true guidelines to remember during foaling:

• Unless there's an emergency, allow the foal time to break the fetal membranes. Once the foal breaks through, be sure it’s breathing.

• Generally, it’s not recommended to cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery, it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up.

• Encourage the mare and foal to rest as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.

• Following birth of the foal, the mare and her newborn should be monitored for normal breathing, brightness and alertness. The mare should be non-aggressive, curious and accepting of the foal.

• The foal should stand and nurse within two hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within three hours, call your veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or medical attention.

• By the third hour, the mare should pass the placenta, and the foal should pass meconium. Once the placenta has been expelled, examine it to make sure it is intact, particularly at the tips of the horns. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.

• A foal must receive colostrum (the mare's first milk) within the first eight to 12 hours of life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a stomach tube.

Contact your veterinarian to learn more so you can be prepared to help the new mother and foal get off to a great start! If your mare and foal are not meeting these milestones in the appropriate timeframe, call your vet immediately.

Information shared from AAEP’s FB page

01/28/2026

Interesting read! Hindgut health is really what it’s all about!🐴💩🙏

There are dozens of different conditions that can cause a horse to show signs of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestive system, most often the stomach or intestines. Therefore, it stands to good reason that understanding the anatomy of your horse’s digestive system can help you become a better steward for your equine friend.

Fun fact: many people associate digestive health with stomach health. But did you know that the horse has the smallest stomach in relation to body size of all domestic animals? The stomach of the horse is also the smallest unit of the digestive tract, comprising less than 10% of the total volume of the horse’s digestive tract. By contrast, the hindgut is huge and plays a significant role in the horse’s digestive process by serving as the home of friendly bacteria that ferment fiber and turn it into energy.

Hindgut problems can produce obvious physical signs like loss of weight, poor condition, poor performance, diarrhea and colic. Some symptoms however can be less obvious, like poor temperament and training issues.

The key to ensuring good digestive health is good management practices that include (but are not limited to) establishing a set daily routine; feeding a high-quality diet comprised primarily of high-quality roughage; avoid overloading the digestive tract with concentrate rations; providing clean, fresh water at all times; establishing a regular turnout and exercise routine; setting up a regular deworming and dental care program with your veterinarian; reducing stress and making any changes (to diet, housing and exercise) gradually.

*copied from the AAEP page :)

01/24/2026

Just home from a delightful equine consultation job in beautiful Montana! I love to travel and I love to help people and their horses thrive…. It’s a job made in Heaven! 💗🙏

01/20/2026

Do you get a knot in your stomach when you see a horse in turn out or a pen with a nylon halter on? 😱 I do… and you should too.

Leaving a halter on a horse when it is unattended is risky and strongly discouraged because of the serious safety hazards it creates. A horse can easily catch a halter on fencing, gates, feeders, trees, or even another horse, leading to panic and severe injuries or fatal accidents such as broken necks, facial fractures or potential hanging. In herd settings, other horses can grab or pull on the halter, escalating normal social behavior into dangerous situations. Even well-fitted halters can rub and cause sores over time, especially when wet or dirty.

Unless a horse is under direct supervision or wearing a breakaway halter (or better yet, a leather halter)…. halters should ALWAYS be removed.

These types of accidents happen more than you would think… and they are totally preventable. It’s understandable that new horse owners wouldn’t know this, which is why it’s an important lesson to share.

PLEASE, remove halters… or if you have to, put a leather halter on. If you have a friend that doesn’t know the risks, please explain to them 🐴🙏

01/15/2026

It’s a common misconception that donkeys are well equipped for winter weather. This is a great article on the differences between a horse and a donkey when it comes to cold and wet weather! 🥶🐴🫏

The "Raincoat" Mistake: Why a Donkey is NOT a Small Horse.

We see it all the time: A horse and a donkey standing in a field during a cold rainstorm. The horse is grazing happily. The donkey looks miserable.

Many owners think: "If the horse is fine, the donkey is fine."

Wrong. Biologically, you are looking at two completely different animals.

🌵 1. The Desert DNA Horses (Equus ferus) evolved on windy, rainy temperate plains. They are built for bad weather. Donkeys (Equus africanus) evolved in the African Desert. They are built for dry heat, not wet cold.

🧽 2. The "Sponge" Effect Run your hand over a horse in the rain. The water beads up and rolls off. Why? Because horses produce sebum (natural grease) and have a dense undercoat that acts as a natural raincoat. Donkeys do not have this. Their hair is coarse and lacks that protective grease layer. When it rains, water doesn't roll off a donkey—it soaks in. A wet donkey is wearing a soaking wet wool sweater against its skin. It sucks the heat right out of their body.

⚠️ 3. The Danger Zone Because they lack this waterproofing, a donkey can enter hypothermia in temperatures where a horse would be perfectly comfortable. Without shelter, this leads to:

Pneumonia (a leading killer of donkeys).

"Rain Scald" (severe skin rot).

Immense stress (look for the "hunched" posture).

📚 The Science: According to The Donkey Sanctuary (UK), the world's leading authority on donkey welfare: "Donkeys do not have a waterproof coat like the horse."

The Rule: A horse can stand in the rain. A donkey MUST have a roof.

Be a pal. Build the barn. 🏠🫏

01/13/2026

Does your horse get enough turnout time?

Turnout is ESSENTIAL for a horse’s physical and mental well-being. Regular time outside allows horses to move naturally, promoting healthy joints, strong muscles, proper digestion and improved circulation. Just as importantly, turnout supports mental health by reducing stress, boredom and unwanted behaviors. It also allows horses to express natural instincts like grazing, socializing and exploring. Consistent turnout helps create a happier, healthier, and more balanced horse overall.

01/09/2026

Sharing this information on winter laminitis that was posted by Mad Barn. Laminitis is not only a summer concern and since we are finally having some winter weather in Colorado, I figured this was a good time to post!

Laminitis doesn’t only occur on lush spring pastures - cold weather can also trigger episodes in at-risk horses. ❄️🥶

Winter laminitis develops when seasonal changes affect circulation, metabolism, and hoof health. Cold temperatures cause blood vessels in the lower limbs and hooves to constrict, reducing oxygen delivery to the laminae. Reduced movement and underlying metabolic conditions can further elevate the risk.

If you suspect your horse is suffering from laminitis, contact your veterinarian immediately.

01/07/2026

Does your horse stand quietly for the farrier?

Remember it is not the job of the farrier to train your horse to stand well to be safely shod or trimmed. This responsibility falls on the horse owner and proper handling of the feet should be one of the very first lessons a horse should learn.

Your farrier’s ability to work is his livelihood, please don’t expect them to work on dangerous horses or horses with zero manners. 🙏🐴 Consult a trainer if you need help.

Pictured: My horse, Fearless, being good AND looking pretty 😍 And our farrier, Ryan!

01/05/2026

I’ve been guilty of not paying much attention to my professional page😱 But 2026 is here and that brings new goals and new resolutions 🎉🐴

I’ve always taken great pleasure and pride in helping horse owners by assisting with their equine management needs and answering questions they might have.

I’m going to focus more on this in 2026 as well as work to obtain some of the goals I have for my personal horses this year.

I will be posting more tips, articles, information, etc to help horse owners stay informed with proper equine management practices. Stay tuned!

Happy 2026, The Year of the Horse! ❤️🐴

11/06/2024

Good info!

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR HORSE IS ACCIDENT-PRONE...🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises, and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency that horse owners must contend with.

Do you know what to do if your horse is cut or bleeding? The initial steps you take to treat a wound can prevent further damage and speed healing, and maintaining your presence of mind could save your horse's life. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind in case of emergency; how you will ultimately proceed will depend on your horse's individual circumstances, and on the advice you receive from your veterinarian.