Old Habits Die Hard

Learn now traditions in the horse woria may not simply be outdated but can actually be harmful to your horse's health.

- BY BARB CRABBE, DVM

Have you ever heard this one? One sock, buy him Two socks, try him Three socks, doubt him Four socks, do without him!

Yep. It's true. Old-time horsemen were known to advise against purchasing a horse with four white socks. Why? Because white socks meant white feet, and white feet were “weak.” Of course, these days, any horse you purchase is likely to be subjected to a thorough prepurchase examination, including not just a physical exam but also radiographs and maybe even ultrasound or MRI. And guess what? There's been many a successful high-level performance horse with four white feet.

So if you wouldn't turn to ancient advice when purchasing a horse, why would you depend on worn-out traditions to help you manage him once you bring him home?

The horse world is steeped in tradition. And horse people are generally the first to offer you advice. “Don't let your horse drink water after work—he'll colic.” Or “never ride your horse without boots on to protect his legs.” My personal favorite? “Horses can't eat alfalfa.” Do you find yourself doing things to care for your horse just because you've been told it's the only way? If so, you might be surprised to learn that some of those traditions are nothing more than stories that have been passed along from generation to generation, with no basis in fact. In fact, some of these traditions can even do more harm than good.

When it comes to your horse's health, you want to do what's best. And just because it is, doesn't mean it ought to be. (It's almost like Scottish philosopher David Hume who made this claim had a side gig as an equine veterinarian!) In this article, we're going to look at some of the most prevalent and hard-to-combat healthcare traditions that persist in horse barns everywhere. We'll learn what they are, why they're wrong, and, perhaps most important, what you should do instead.

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