Natural Horse Care in an Unnatural World

When I arrived at the barn today, I noticed Kobeejo just standing in his small paddock (cut down while he recovers from his surgery), which is not normal for him. He's almost always eating when I arrive. I noticed his hay had been picked through but not as much as normal. So, I removed his blankets because it was a hot day (70 degrees, which is very warm for March) and he was a tad sweaty. I decided he needed a walk and grazing, so I took him out and walked him to where the best grass is (this winter has been the warmest on record, with no snow since December). His appetite for grass was normal. I brought him into the barn and put him on the cross ties so I could clean his stall and put him in. My friend Wendy noticed Kobeejo's right knee was swollen. I didn't feel heat in it, but it was observably larger than the left. Also, he was showing some signs of stocking up in his sheath and both hind fetlocks. Wendy mentioned infection and said I should take his temperature...

Horses closed up in stalls are prone to health issues due to dust, endotoxins, urine, feces, etc. I have boarded my horse at 9 different barns in the 15 years I have owned him, moving 13 times for various reasons from lack of proper care, raised board fees, death of the owner, to simply not getting along with owners or boarders. Some were small family barns, others large public barns. All varied in the degree of airflow from too much (a wind tunnel) to not enough (stifling and hot inside). Some offered windows of various sizes or even run-outs so the horses could remain outside if they wished or go in if the weather was bad. Barns! The worst, however, (something I find mostly in larger barns), are barns with no windows and are shut up at night (one barn I was at even shut the place up and locked it all summer, the horses sweating horribly inside). Barns can get hot at night with the heat of the horses' bodies (even winter, so keep blanketing in mind). I've seen hors...