Posts Tagged ‘basic horse care’
A good book to prepare you for horse care?
Know any good books about horse care? I think I may adopt my first horse in a couple of months. I’ve never owned my own horse- just leased. I’m interested in books with a lot of good information and advice!
-Please note, i do not need you to explain basic horse care to me. I already know basic horse care. I’m more interested in finding a book that will help me understand advanced horse care- like arthritis and aging ect.
Some Basic Horse Care
When you are thinking about purchasing a horse, you will find that there are many things to keep in mind when you are thinking about looking after them appropriately. Far too many people purchase horses with only the vaguest idea of how to look after them and this will certainly lead to more problems down the line. If you are considering the responsibility of owning a horse, take some time and really consider what kind of care horses need. There are whole books written on the subject, but take a look at the broad outline below.
The first thing that you need to think about is where your horse is going to be boarded. If you have the land, you may keep your horse at home, but if you do not, you may also be able to board them at a boarding stable. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to both sides. If you board your horse at home, you can develop a much deeper relationship with the animal. You will be the one that the horse sees on a daily basis and you will also be able to keep a much closer eye on the horse on a day to day basis. This can make identifying problems much simpler.
On the other hand, you may not have the land, and you might not have the time to care for your horse as he or she needs, and in that case a boarding stable might be preferable. Some people like the idea of keeping their horses at home during summer and then boarding them at a place with an indoor arena during the winter.
If you are housing your horse yourself, they are going to need shelter. Many people feel that horses do not necessarily need to be kept in a stable and that living outside is healthy for them. However, even if they do not live in a stable, they do need some sort of shelter. A shelter will keep them warm in the winter and give them a place to get out of inclement weather. The size of your shelter is going to depend on the number of horses you choose to keep. If your shelter has three sides, make sure that you plan at least 64 square feet per horse, with a ceiling that is at least nine feet high. Because horses are so very hierarchical, make the shelter wide rather than deep, so that one horse doesn’t prevent the others from going in.
You should also think about what kind of food your horse is going to get. In most cases, the food that horses eat is divided up into pasture, hay and concentrate. Mature horses that do light work tend to do well on pasture food alone, as long as the area has sufficient grazing for them. Pasturing a horse means that they should have an area that is large enough to meet their grazing needs. Many people will divide up their pasture land and rotate their horses through them in order to give the grass a chance to grow back.
Hay is another food source that you should not overlook. Always make sure that you inspect the hay before you buy it; ask the dealer to open up a bale so that you can see that it is dust and mold free. If it feels warm, don’t buy it; moldy hay can give your horse some serious respiratory problems. If you are looking at working horses, pregnant or nursing mares or growing young horses, look into concentrates to add to the hay. Sweet feed, manufactured pellets and cubes or cracked grains all constitute concentrates.
Always make sure that your horse has access to clean water unless they are very hot from work. If you are cooling down your horse, give him a few small drinks instead of access to free water. Your horse will drink between five and ten gallons of water a day. Also make sure that your horse has access to a mineralized salt block. Ask your veterinarian if there are any other supplements that your horse should have. Some areas are poor in certain vitamins and nutrients, and this can mean that supplements are required.
Take some time and really consider what kind of care your horse needs; there are many things to think about!
Author: Marilyn Witt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Smiling shark
Basic horse care question, I need advise please?
ilih2006 asked:
I’m getting a new pony 16 yrs quarter pony 14.0 hands, and have never had my own horse before. I’m trying to keep my costs as minum as they can be. Please tell me:
How often should I deworm, and what is the cost per tube?
How often should teeth be floated, cost?
How often should i get her feet trimmed (no shoes), cost?
Am I forgetting anything? Thanks.
A good book to prepare you for horse care?
Stephanie V asked:
Know any good books about horse care? I think I may adopt my first horse in a couple of months. I’ve never owned my own horse- just leased. I’m interested in books with a lot of good information and advice!
-Please note, i do not need you to explain basic horse care to me. I already know basic horse care. I’m more interested in finding a book that will help me understand advanced horse care- like arthritis and aging ect.