Dr. Robert Miller's Articles

Welcome to our holiday edition of the Robert M. Miller, DVM Newsletter. As I write this, I am on the eve of Debby’s and my departure to Hungary and Poland, and we’re excited to visit this part of Europe for the first time and see the newest...

In November of 2009, my wife, Debby, and I traveled to Hungary and Poland to do five, full-day seminars on the “Revolution in Horsemanship.” This was our first visit to Eastern Europe, and the warmth and enthusiasm of our hosts and the people...

Horses are more effectively trained with persuasive methods rather than with coercive methods. This concept motivated me to write this book. Persuasive methods, that elicit behavior that the horse wants to do, are safer, faster and longer lasting than...

The Ten Ancient Secrets Of The Horse's Mind The history of the human race and that of the horse are closely intertwined. The human fascination with horses dates back to our caveman ancestors and, perhaps, even beyond that. The earliest recorded...

Understanding The Instinct To Flee The primary defense of the horse is to flee from danger. Of all the common domestic animals, the horse is the only one in which flight is its main defense. Each creature has a primary defense system and an examination...

The Dominance Hierarchy is a scientific term referring to the social interaction within a herd and how leadership is determined. The word “dominance” infers cruelty. They think that it is cruel to “dominate” a horse, and prefer...

My horse farm, where I have lived for 40 years, is only 5 acres. Behind us is a mountain. Across from us is a lake. To the West there is a large ranch. East of us are two small 5 acre places, one with horses, the other with other animals. East of them...

I never could imagine in 1959, when I discovered that foals can be trained quickly, effectively and lastingly, that it would change my life and that, after practice retirement, it would result in a second career. I have taught at all but five veterinary...

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) of horses, commonly known as Cushing’s Syndrome is gaining more and more attention, and that’s because it is becoming more common. Affecting usually older horses, with a predisposition for certain...

Just A Dog “From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog.” or “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved...

In 2006 the Skyhorse Publishing Company produced a beautifully illustrated (with both photos and artwork) book titled The Natural Superiority of Mules . Other editors followed, in 2014, and in 2016. I was asked to do the forward to the 2016 edition, which...

Blindness is not uncommon in horses, sometimes the result of trauma, but more often caused by “Moon Blindness”. I am doing theses stories to show how remarkably well many totally blind horses get along. The horse’s other senses are...

I was an average student up until I finished high school. Why was I just “average”? Well, you see, I was top of the class in English, a born writer. I won every spelling bee in grammar school. I made A’s in history and geography and...

I never had a specialty in veterinary medicine. I worked on every conceivable species during my practice career, even dolphins and whales. We did a lot of zoo and circus practice. You name it; livestock, pets, birds, elephant. However more than any other...

Isn’t it interesting how the revolution in horsemanship, which began in the late 20 th century and which is now flourishing internationally, began with the efforts of a few cowboys in the Pacific Northwest of the United States? Who would have expected...

Because horses are flight animals, when they get involved in accidents they often worsen the situation and increase the damage that is done because of their frantic attempts to flee. Every veterinarian who does horse practice is familiar with this fact...

It is easy to understand why so many horses are “Barnsour” or “Herdbound”. They are reluctant to leave home. Going out for a ride means a slow pace. Conversely on the way home, they are in a hurry, have to be restrained, and want...

In 1998 I celebrated my retirement from practice by signing up for a veterinary C.E. and camera safari in Kenya. As a boy, reading the books written by naturalist and explorer Carl Akeley left me with a passion to see the wild animals of east Africa...

Ronald Reagan was one of my clients before he went into politics. He owned a horse ranch just a few miles from my clinic. I only saw him twice, both times when he was riding and jumping in his arena. I never spoke to him. I dealt with his ranch manager...

I have had several people ask me how I am able to teach horses or other equines, to allow dentistry (teeth “floating”) without resistance, using no means of restraint such as a twitch, or sedation or tranquilization. I will explain. You will...

Ever since I became a regular user of Spalding Labs’ Fly Predators, over 40 years ago, I have recommended them for fly control to my clients, my neighbors and my seminar audiences. Invariably, those who heed my advice are satisfied with the results...

The dog has been called "Man's Best Friend", and I do not dispute this. The cow has been called "The Mother of Mankind". I can accept this. But, if these things are true, then surely the horse has been "Man's Best Servant"...

Lulu was the only Donkey I have owned. She was one of my patients in a petting zoo, which was part of the facilities at a children’s summer camp in the mountains not far from my home. The petting zoo included miniature horses, pot-bellied pigs...

I will be forever grateful to the Spalding Labs company for their Fly Predators. I have previously described how our relationship began many years ago. It was 1978. I had read about the Predator Flies, and my practice partner, Dr. Larry Dresher, was using...