Jessica DiCostanzo’s embrace of steamed hay came about in a typical manner – she started steaming for one horse with a clear diagnosis, then added more horses to the program after seeing the benefits.

It was Amore who brought Jessica and her White Rose Ranch to the Haygain threshold. The Welsh pony/Thoroughbred-cross had been with the eventing trainer’s Southern California facility for six months without health issues.

Equine respiratory health is a year-round hot topic for Megan Snyder, VMD, in her veterinary practice, Damascus Equine Associates in Mount Airy, MD. She focuses on internal medicine and sports medicine, two broad areas in which respiratory health plays a huge role.

Because respiratory problems often exist before obvious symptoms emerge, Dr. Snyder believes that educating her horse owners is essential to caring for their horses. It’s especially true of her many clients who board their horses at public facilities, and therefore don’t fully control every aspect of their care.

If there is one thing everyone can agree on in horses, it’s that they are expensive. I’ve always heard “there is no such thing as a free horse” and “the cheapest thing about owning a horse is buying one.”

While these two statements may be true, there are plenty of ways to save on horse care costs. Remember that time is money, so cost saving may not just be in the way of cheaper products, but also in items that help you work more efficiently every day.