Equine health certificates are often required when horses travel for competition, sale, breeding, relocation, or international export. Issued after a veterinary examination, these official documents confirm that a horse met applicable movement requirements and showed no clinical signs of contagious disease at the time of inspection. Health certificates are an important part of equine biosecurity. Because horses can carry infectious diseases before showing obvious signs, pre-travel examinations help reduce the risk of illness spreading between farms, events, regions, and countries.

Blood glucose and insulin testing for horses helps veterinarians identify insulin dysregulation and assess a horse's risk of endocrinopathic laminitis. Because affected horses may have few outward signs and normal blood glucose, test results require careful interpretation. For horse owners, the testing process can be confusing because preparation, sampling conditions, laboratory methods, and diagnostic cutoffs may influence the findings. Choosing an appropriate test is also important when screening an at-risk horse or monitoring the response to management.

Reiki is a practice some horse owners use to support relaxation and overall well-being in their horses. During a session, a practitioner places their hands lightly on or near the horse while maintaining a calm, quiet presence. Owners may incorporate Reiki into their horse's care during periods of stress, rehabilitation, stall rest, competition, travel, or age-related changes. ^[1][2] Sessions typically involve little or no physical contact. Horses may lower their head, rest a hind leg, yawn, lick and chew, or stand calmly. Although these behaviors can be associated with relaxation, they are not unique to Reiki and may occur for many reasons. Research on Reiki in horses is limited, and more high-quality studies are needed to determine whether it provides measurable benefits beyond those associated with a calm environment, gentle handling, and human interaction. Keep reading to learn how equine Reiki is practiced, why owners use it, what current research suggests, and how to incorporate it safely alongside veterinary care.

Equine osteopathy is a hands-on manual therapy used to support mobility, comfort, and whole-body function in horses. Rooted in anatomy, biomechanics, and the relationship between structure and function, osteopathy focuses on identifying restrictions or imbalances that may affect how a horse moves, performs, and feels. Unlike therapies that focus primarily on one body region, equine osteopathy takes a broader approach. Practitioners assess posture, movement, joints, muscles, fascia, and other connected systems to determine where gentle mobilization, soft tissue work, or other techniques may help restore more normal function. It is commonly used alongside veterinary care, particularly for horses with stiffness, performance concerns, compensatory movement patterns, or age-related changes in comfort and mobility. Continue reading to learn how equine osteopathy works, when it may be useful, what the current evidence suggests, and how to safely include it in a horse's wellness or rehabilitation plan.