Barb Crabbe, DVM

Learn what blood tests are most meaningful to your veterinarian—and what basic lab work will (or won’t) tell you about your horse’s health.

Do you have a plan for your horse’s retirement? Follow my tips for easing your horse out of work during his golden years.

Is your mare perfect one day and a demon the next? If so, you’re not alone. Learn steps that you can take to help manage your mare’s moods.

Careful parasite assessment and a five-day deworming treatment may help a thin mare gain weight.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall…all you’ve got to do is remember what your horse needs to stay healthy. Our seasonal guide will help you.

Learn when your horse’s odd behaviors might mean something’s really wrong, and what you should do about it.

Learn how to recognize these common skin tumors, and what steps you should take if you suspect you’ve found a sarcoid on your horse.

It may look worrisome, but in most cases swelling in a horse’s lower legs can be managed with a few simple steps.

Back to Basics

Whether a horse’s crooked tail carriage is permanent depends on the cause.

Teach your horse seven essential skills that will put him right on top of your vet’s ‘favorite patient’ list.

Fact or fiction? Learn the truth about safe and effective rehabilitation strategies.

Learn why obesity is a real health risk, and what steps you can take to help your easy-keeping horse.

You pick it up. You toss it out. But do you ever take the time to pay attention to your pony’s poop? Find out what you can learn about your horse’s health by reading his manure.

Learn do’s and don’ts for feeding your horse, and how to avoid making dangerous diet choices.

Learn about the 10 most common horse emergencies—and when it’s time to call for a lights-and-siren response from your vet…or not.

Feeding for good health doesn’t have to be complicated. Just follow these simple rules.

Learn to recognize the subtle signs of saddle-fit problems, and how you can prevent them.

Planning a summer trip that involves a long haul? Learn what it takes to keep your horse safe on the road when temperatures soar.

Learn how your horse with incurable Cushing’s disease can still enjoy a long, productive life.

What happens to a horse when no one wants him anymore? Abandonment? Starvation? Slaughter? Find out how you can protect the ones you love.

Learn how to make the most of what little we really know about vitamin and mineral needs for your horse.

Does your horse panic at the sight of a needle and syringe? Learn why he says "whoa, no way!" to needles and how to solve this frustrating (sometimes dangerous) problem.

Here’s a clip-and-save summary of how to assess your horse’s basic state of health.

Are you over- or under-vaccinating your horse? Hear both sides of the debate surrounding horse vaccinations to decide what's best in your situation.

This condition, commonly known as heaves, is the most prevalent lung disease seen in horses. Horse heaves is chronic and can threaten your horse's long-term health and performance. Although your horse's heaves can't be cured, and severe cases are difficul

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe offers help for your snake-bitten horse. Find out what you can do when you're on the trail to prevent snakebites and how to treat your horse if he does get bitten.

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe guides you on the trail--as you administer first-aid to your lame horse. Find out what to do when it happens and what you can do to prevent it.

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe guides you through the first-aid process when your horse suffers from allergies on the trail.

What to do if your horse is wounded on the trail and what you can do to prevent injuries.

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe discusses what "tying up" is and to watch for and what to do when your horse ties up on the trail.

How to recognize the signs of heatstroke when out riding on the trails, what to do if it happens and how to prevent it.

Barb Crabbe discusses eye injuries: How to recognize them, how to prevent them, and how to treat them if your horse is injured out on the trail.

How to recognize the signs of colic when you're out on the trail or on an overnight trip and what to do about it.

Part One of a nine-part series, First Aid on the Trail will guide you in assembling your first aid kit and explain what each item does and how to use it safely and effectively.

Learn how vaccines and dewormers work, how to make the most of them and what type of rotation schedule to use to keep your horse healthy.

It's getting into the hottest days of summer. Here's a quick heat-stress reference that'll help you know when your horse is overheated--and what to do to help him chill.

Here's a handy summary of recommendations to prevent lameness and keep your horse sound.

Seven tips to make sure longeing your horse is the safe and helpful exercise it was meant to be.

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe offers help for your snake-bitten horse. Find out what you can do when you're on the trail to treat snakebite.

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe guides you through the first-aid process when your horse suffers from allergies on the trail.

Veterinarian Barb Crabbe lists what to do when your horse is wounded on the trail. From Horse & Rider magazine.

Trail Terrors Part 5: Tying Up on a Trail Ride, How to Recognize it and What to Do

Barb Crabbe discusses eye injuries, how to recognize them, how to prevent them and how to treat them if your horse is injured out on the trail. From Horse & Rider magazine.

How to recognize the signs of colic when you're out on the trail or on an overnight trip and what to do about it.

Learn what to pack in your trail first-aid kit.

First Aid: A simple four-step method for finding your horse's pulse at the fetlock joint.