Horse Care Basics
A Brief Overview for Horse Owners
Proper horse care is very important to your horse's well being. When you first "take the plunge" so to speak into the horse world, it can be very overwhelming trying to figure everything out.
For those of you who have had horses most of your life it should be a snap. I am a prime example of someone who got into horses more as a young adult.
I rode and showed when I was a kid, but we never had the land to keep a horse on, and with board, vet, and farrier expenses my journey into the horse show world was short lived. As soon as I could afford a horse myself I bought one. I was a young adult who had no clue on how to pick the right horse for my level of experience.
I made many mistakes in the early years, all of which I learned from. Taking the time to do your homework will make the day you first bring that new horse home much easier. I have highlighted below some of the more important aspects of routine horse care that every beginner should know.
Expenses
When
you first make the decision to purchase a
horse, you should keep
in mind some of the added and hidden expenses you may not have planned
on in the beginning. Whether you are buying a horse just to share and
enjoy with the family or to take into the show ring, they all have basic
horse care needs and expenses.
All horses are in need of food, water, shelter, veterinary visits, and farrier visits. These are the "bare bones" basics of horse care. If your horse has an accident in the pasture or the stall guess what, the vet will likely have to be called and I guarantee it will be more expensive if you have an emergency on the weekend. Extra money may be needed to replace your horse equipment such as halters, bridles, and blankets. I currently own a horse that can't go a full winter season without somehow destroying his blanket.
You should also keep replacing your stock of first aid supplies for smaller scrapes and cuts. Making the decision to buy a horse is nothing to walk into lightly. It is a big time commitment and you need to have the funds to provide needed horse care services to your horse. If your horse is on your property you also have to be pretty dedicated to the necessary upkeep of your property and horse's living area.
Make sure you are truly ready to embark on the path to horse ownership. Many horses in this country are neglected and sold into slaughter each year, please make sure you don't add to those statistics.
If you are new to horses and horse keeping, please visit our friends at Wallis 'n Daughter Farms for helpful articles and equine terms for the new horse owner
Please
sign up for your FREE copy of "All-Arounder
Magazine". It's packed full of helpful horse
show news, information, tips and horse keeping advice. Our magazine
contains information exclusive to readers only! Sign up NOW and you'll
also receive a FREE
printable Horse Show Checklist!
Living Quarters
Just as you or I need a place to live and spend our days, so too does your horse. Although I think we get the better end of the deal in terms of being warm and comfortable. Whether you keep your horse at home or board him at a stable, you usually have some choice about the type of shelter he will have.
Horses generally do ok if they are kept outside all year long. If you choose this option with your horse it is recommended your horse also have some sort built shelter from severe weather conditions. Most shelters have three walls and a roof where your horse can run in when he needs to get out of the rain or wind.
If your horse is kept outside most of the time you should also make sure he has quality horse fencing around to keep him in one place on the property instead of randomly wondering around. The fencing must also be made of SAFE and sturdy material to maintain proper standards of horse care. The pasture your horse is turned out in should also be free of any dangerous objects that could harm your horse.
Your horse will also do well if kept in a horse barn most of the time with some turn out time. Horse barns vary in size and type, mostly depending on the area of the country you live in. If you are planning to board your horse in a public barn, make sure you take a walk-through tour with the owner to get a feel for their horse care program. Even better, if you pass a place with a sign out front indicating that there is horse boarding available, just drop by to see the barn on a normal routine day of operation.
When looking around the barn take into consideration what it has to offer you and your horse. How big are the horse stalls? Do they look well maintained? What condition are some of the other horses in? Will you have a safe place to ride or work your horse? What do they offer in terms of turn out for the boarded horses? There are obviously many other questions you could ask so make sure you write them down.
If your horse will be kept in a stall, you may want to inquire on whether or not they use horse stall mats or if you have the option to bring your own in.
Feeding
What your horse has to eat everyday is also an important part of horse care. What you feed your horse has a direct impact on his overall nutrition, body condition and health. Your horse feeding schedule will depend on whether your horse is kept inside or outside. It usually includes some combination of roughage and concentrate.
If your horse is kept inside daily then you will likely be providing him with hay to meet his needs for roughage and grain for concentrate. If your horse is kept outside most of the day, you may only be supplementing their diet with hay while the pasture will provide the same nutrients as a concentrated feed. It really depends on the type of pasture they are on and how long they are kept outside.
Horse hay can also vary in type and nutrient content. Some hays are a richer source of phosphorus and calcium than others. The type of hay you feed will also impact the type of grain you choose. Finding that balance is needed for your horse's nutrition.
Grooming
As a part of your horse care program, you will also need to do some regular horse grooming. If your horse is outside a lot, brushing the dirt and mud off can help keep him clean and at less of a risk for skin irritations and other skin disorders.
Grooming will help keep your horse clean through the year and yes you have to keep in mind that right after that bath, he will find the nearest pile of dirt, manure or mud to roll in.
A short grooming routine before you ride is also an important part of basic horse care as it prevents dirt from irritating the skin under the saddle and to keep foreign objects clear from being further embedding in the hoof while you are riding.
Tack
Most people buy a horse with the intention of riding it. There are a few who bring a horse home just to look at, but it is a little less common. In order to ride your horse it is recommended you do so with the right horse riding tack. Your basic riding equipment includes a bridle, bit, saddle pad, and saddle. There are other odds and ends of added equipment you can look into, but these are the basics.
Transportation
When you bring your horse home or to another location from home such as a show or to a park for some trail riding, there are some basics you need to keep in mind for safe equine transportation. Loading and unloading your horse can be a challenge depending on how your horse is with trailering. Some horses are better about this process than others.
Horse trailers also vary in how they are built, which also has an impact on how you will be loading and unloading your horse. Once your horse is on the trailer, there are some important precautions you need to take while transporting. Being as safe and smooth as possible when driving will help prevent future loading and unloading issues and injuries in the trailer. Transporting your horse safely is another important part of your over all horse care.
Routine Care
As I mentioned above, your horse will need regular visits from your local veterinarian and farrier even when he is healthy. Most people have the vet out for shots in the spring. If you plan on traveling with your horse, you will also need blood drawn for a Coggins test. It may also be a good idea to give some thought to have the vet out for a series of fall shots as well.
Your local farrier will need to make an appearance to trim your horse's feet every 6-8 weeks. Your horse's feet are constantly growing similar to how your fingernails keep growing. The farrier will help keep the hooves trimmed and horse shoes will need to be reset as well. Neglecting to call the farrier can result in many leg and soundness problems for your horse.
Anatomy
Another aspect of good horse care is having some sort of understanding of basic horse anatomy. It will help you to better identify any injury or problem that may involve your vet and allow you to better communicate with your vet.
Having a basic understanding of the anatomy surrounding the horse hoof will help you with communicating with your farrier.
