Exploring Horse Care
So you are thinking of adding a horse to your family - an equine companion to care for and ride. Before you bring your new horse home, you need to know how to take care of him. Here we will fill you in on the basics of equine health, including how to prevent illness and when to call the vet.
Shelter – Proper Horse Housing
You’re probably not surprised to hear that housing a horse is a lot more complicated than housing a cat or dog. Horses are big animals that have very specific needs. And they also live outside, so keeping them in the bedroom is out of the question.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own horse property, your horse can live where you do. If not, you need to keep him at a boarding facility. Both of these options require careful thought. A boarding stable is a commercial establishment that provides housing and limited care for a monthly fee. Some also offer horse owners additional horse care, such as exercising or blanketing their horses. Boarding does offer some advantages. You get to be with knowledgeable horse owners that will offer a social life with other horse people. Some boarding facilities offer on-site trainers and instructors.
When choosing a boarding facility, look for safe and sturdy accommodations. Visit the site to evaluate the surroundings and the type of corrals, shed row barn or housing offered. Make sure that the current boarders’ horses have fresh water and the stalls are maintained. Some facilities offer round-the-clock security and veterinarian care.
Some lucky owners will get to keep their new companion at home. If that is the case for you, there are several things to consider. Continuing your equine education is beneficial for both you and your horse. The type of enclosure to purchase is a major decision and you should do your homework. The space available and weather conditions in your area are factors. You will also need a place to exercise your horse such as an arena or round pen.
Horse Care – Dealing with hunger and thirst
A steady supply of food is very important to a horse, probably even more important than it is to humans. Nature designed the horse to spend the majority of his time chewing, swallowing and digesting. The equine digestive system is meant to be constantly on the go and to process vast quantities of fibrous foods.
What you feed your horse and how often you feed him plays a big part in determining your horse’s physical and psychological health. In the horse world, many people debate about the best feed to give a horse. The reason for the confusion probably lies in the fact that individual horses have different nutritional requirements. Several factors determine your horse’s diet such as where and how the horse lives, the age of the horse, what kind of work the horse does, and the horse’s own physiological make-up. The best person to guide you on this is your veterinarian. Your horse needs water – lots of it – to stay alive and to ensure a healthy digestive system. You can water your horse either with an automatic waterer set up in the horse’s stall, a large bucket that you can fill several times a day or a trough that holds enough water for a day or two.