Horse Care
If you have a horse, it means you do have to work at providing the animal with the care it needs. First of all you have to make sure it has a proper living environment, Horses need to be outside in a large area where they are free to run around and get exercise. They also need protection from the elements of weather, which means you should have either a barn or stable where you can keep the horse during cold and inclement weather. The pasture should have grass that the horse can eat and there should be access to water. During the winter and in times of drought, you will also have to supplement the diet with feed that you can buy from feed stores.
When the horse is outdoors, it does need to be in a fenced area so that it will not wander off. This fence needs to be visible so that the horse will not run into it accidentally and be injured. It also needs to be either large enough that the horse can put its head through without getting stuck or small enough so that it cannot get its head through it at all. The fence must also be sturdy and solid.
The horse should be fed at least three times day, unless it is in the pasture full time. In addition to making sure it has adequate water, you should also have salt block available for the horse to nibble on.
Grooming is something that you should do on a daily basis. If this is not possible, you should make sure you groom the horse before you ride it so that chafing does not occur from the tackle. To groom a horse, you must first curry it using a tool with short teeth to remove any bits of dirt on the coat. A dandy brush removes the dirt that the curry stirs up and then a body brush removes any finer particles left behind. You also have to brush the mane and the tail. A hoof pick is necessary for removing the dirt from all four feet. Flies bother horses in summer, but spraying the horse with a special spray will help with this. When the horse sweats from the heat or from being ridden, you need to wipe off the sweat with a metal or plastic tool.
When you clean the horse’s hooves, you have to pick out any stones and loose pieces of dirt. This is necessary every time you ride the horse. They need regular trims and care from a professional farrier, a person trained in horse hoof care, every 6 to 8 weeks. Depending on the type of work the horse does, it may need horseshoes. It is illegal in the UK for anyone other than a farrier to take care of a horse’s hoofs.
You need to be aware of any changes in the horse’s legs, so you must always be checking for swelling or sore areas. Sometimes, you may need to wrap the horse’s legs to prevent injury. Liniment can also prevent stiffness from occurring. Horses need veterinary care and annual vaccinations to prevent them from such diseases as equine influenza.