Posts Tagged ‘horse owner’

Unfortunately not every horse owner has the luxury of allowing their horses the benefit of unlimited pasture or turnout time. Horses kept in stalls most of the day can sometime develop a vice such as weaving. When a horse weaves he or she is standing in place but weaves its head and neck back and forth as it rocks from side to side. This can cause stress on the horse’s legs and may cause lameness to occur. Sometime horses that weave can lose weight or become physically exhausted caused by their weaving. The horses do not have a problem but are responding to a problem instead.

Behaviors such as weaving are usually only seen in horses where there environments are bare with no access to grazing forage or horses in confinement with little or no exercise. The horse has a problem it can’t resolve and has no control over the situation. The horse simply responds to its situation by weaving. There have been recent studies in the United Kingdom for horses with this particular behavior. The studies have discovered that placing a mirror in the horse’s stable the horse no longer feels isolated. A specially designed stable mirror is a simple solution.

The study had a high success rate fairly quickly. Research continues to discover if this solution is long term or not. The best solution for the problem is still social interaction with other horses and exercise but this is not always available. In such situations a stable mirror could be the solution. If you choose to try a stable mirror make sure it has been specially designed and constructed specifically for this purpose. Acrylic and glass mirrors can break and injure your horse making them a danger. Highly polished stainless steel mirrors are the best choice.

If a horse does not like other horses and behaves aggressively toward them it could have the same reaction to the mirror. Using a stall mirror can have positive effects for weaving horses rather quickly but with some horses it could take a period of time. Mirrors incorrectly positioned or of the wrong size may cause problems for some horses also. The choice is ultimately up to the horse whether to use the mirror or not.

For other useful and practical information for the horse owner, please go to http://www.wcf-ltd.com/horse

Author: Fran Mullens
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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From the minute your horse steps into a trailer to be transported, he’s completely dependent on you, the horse owner, for his well-being. As a reliable owner, this isn’t anything to be taken lightly. It’s important that you commit every effort to keep your horse secure and healthy while traveling.

When acquiring your trailer, ensure that it’s large enough for your horse. The average sized bumper pull trailer is normally 6 1/2 to 7 feet high. These trailers were intended for average size horses. Should you own a massive horse, consider a bigger trailer that could give your horse sufficient room.

Next, there are many things that you can do to ensure your existing trailer is safe. Check your floors underneath the trailer, especially when you have wood floors. Next, make sure there’s nothing on the interior of the trailer that may poke or scrape your horse. This is particularly important to check in older, steel trailers.

Once you have determined the trailer itself is safe, it’s time to focus on the health and well-being of your horse. If you’re going on a long journey, you might want to provide electrolytes ahead of the trip to help avert dehydration. This is above all essential if you know your horse is usually a nervous traveler. You should also consider wrapping your horse’s legs for a long journey. This puts a stop to scrapes, nicks and different leg injuries. Finally, never forget to tie your horse using a quick release snap or knot. Take a line from your horse stall us it. In the event your horse gets tangled or trapped somehow, these mechanisms will be much easier to release.

But, the safety doesn’t stop there. Make certain your horse and trailer are safe while on your way as well. Double check to make sure your trailer is secured properly to your truck and periodically check your mirrors for any sign of problems. Consistently checking out your horse at rest stops is also a good idea, but never take your horse outside of the trailer to let him eat the grass. Grass in these locations is often treated with chemicals that may quickly poison your horse or cause serious colic. At that point, you might be miles away from any veterinarian or other help. For lengthy trips, plan in advance for safe stops to take your horse outside like a vet, friend’s house or local fairgrounds.

Should you doubt the safety of your trailer or your capability to keep your horse safe while driving, it’s best to not go. If your trailer uses rubber pavers, make sure they are secure. Incidents involving horse trailers can be severe and you may hurt others including your horse. Create a checklist just before traveling to double check your safety measures and don’t forget – safety first.

Curtis Gardner is CEO of Triton Barns Systems online at http://www.tritonbarns.com. Triton Barns provides horse stalls, horse barns and horse barn accessories online to thousands of horse owner globally. Triton horse stalls are hot dipped galvanized and are covered with a 25 year warranty.

Author: Curtis Gardner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you own a horse, it is very important that you understand several basic parts of the horse’s anatomy to be sure you are caring for your horse in the best way possible. You can do this through studying on your own or you can talk to your vet to learn the basics.

First of all, you should know that laying down is very hard on your horse. If a horse lays down for any amount of time they are risking damage to their internal organs. A horse’s body is not meant to lay down for long periods of time, which is why you need to know that if your horse is laying down, there is something wrong with him. If you see your horse laying down, you have to be sure to call your vet immediately, because it is an emergency.

Your horse’s legs are the most important part of his body. Not only do they carry all of his weight, and support him while he is sleeping or while he is awake, they are very thin and are easy to damage. If a horse gets a broken leg, there is going to be a lot of problems because he won’t be able to lie down to mend it, which means that the healing process can be quite painful. What this means for you is that you have to be sure to always, always take care of your horse’s legs and feet. This is very important as a horse owner.

Another thing that you have to be sure to take care of is his skin and his coat. These are things that you have to focus on because they keep out a lot of problems and keep your horse happy and healthy. You should be grooming your horse each day, and especially should be grooming him after each time you ride him.

It is also important to note that a horse has a very advanced heart and lung system that can allow them to keep running or walking for long periods of time. This does not mean that your horse never needs to rest; it simply means that you can exercise your horse more than you are going to be able to exercise yourself!

Keep all of these things in mind if you own a horse. You always want to be sure that you are doing the best that you can do to care for all aspects of your horse.

Lynn Stanley was born in 1956 in Sandusky Ohio. He is a fun loving person who wishes nothing but the best for everyone.

For more articles on horse health as well as the latest in equestrian news please visit my blog at: http://horsehealthandyou.blogspot.com/

Author: Lynn Stanley
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A good sound knowledge in horse feeding is important for any horse owner. Even if your horse is stabled and fed by the staff at a yard, you ought to have a basic understanding of horse nutrition. A healthy horse fed a proper diet is a horse that will have the balanced energy to suit you.

If your horse is lacking in energy he may seem lazy to you, but have you looked at his diet? Are you feeding him enough of the right food? A diet consisting mainly of hay or grass is good for a horse living out in a pasture. Of course if that same horse is exercised on a regular basis that hay should be of high quality, good protein, and no doubt he would be having a grain too.

Besides low energy, a horse on an incorrect diet would lose weight, or gain too much weight. Both can lead to health concerns and problems, which usually would result in a veterinary visit and fee.

Feeding a horse more than hay obviously costs more, but you truly save on money in the long run. Horses that are worked need more than hay to replenish lost calories, to maintain his health and to repair the body. No different than humans who are not simply couch potatoes.

Pleasure horses that are ridden infrequently still benefit from grain. You can purchase grain or pellets that are best suited to your horses needs. Today feed bags have several labels which tell you the type of food and ingredients. Foods have been specifically developed for broodmares, senior and junior horses just to mention a few.

Knowledgeable staff at a yard and your veterinarian can further assist you in choosing the correct diet. You want a content, happy horse, but perhaps not a highly strung, spirited race horse between your legs…

Depending on your horse’s lifestyle, whether a competition horse, a companion horse or a pleasure horse there is a diet to match. Diets help you get the best performance from your horse. Supplements may or may not be necessary, if you are competing in a showing class on a regular basis, your horse may very well benefit from a supplement that adds benefits to his coat.

Feeding truly makes a difference to horses from birth up. You want a good healthy happy horse, read up on horse nutrition and find the correct diet.

Horses. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your horse, learn about Feeding Your Horse. Learn about your horses anatomy.

Author: Benjamin Wise
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Unfortunately lameness in horses is part and parcel of horse ownership, at some point in the horse’s life he or she will, most probably, be lame. As part of good horse care, horse owners and riders should familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of equine lameness and be able to decide whether the lameness is likely to be hoof or leg related, or could be attributed to the horse’s back. Any lame horse should always be seen by a Veterinary Surgeon in the first instance, as some limb lamenesses can manifest themselves as a back problem and vice versa. Although the attending Veterinary Surgeon should consider all the signs and symptoms, diagnose the problem and prescribe the correct treatment, the horse owner should know when the horse is lame, however slightly, so as not to make matters worse by keeping the horse in work.

Signs and Symptoms

Obvious signs and symptoms of lameness include wounds, tendon and ligament injuries, heat and swelling or other noticeable injuries to a leg or hoof which will make the horse lame. However sometimes the horse is only slightly lame and it is not easy to tell which leg is affected. In this case you have to look for signs which may be quite subtle.

When a horse is lame in a front leg or a front foot, the following signs may be seen:

• The horse will be reluctant to put its weight on the lame leg.
• On moving, the horse will raise its head as it puts the lame leg to the ground in order to keep as much weight as possible off this leg.
• When it puts the sound leg to the ground it will put extra weight on it and drop its head down as a result.
• This will be more evident when the horse is trotting and may vary from a slight head nod to a pronounced movement up and down of the head and neck.
• So if a horse nods its head when the right foreleg hits the ground it will probably be lame in the left foreleg.
• The horse may take a slightly shorter stride with one foreleg.
• The horse may not place a front foot normally.

When a horse is lame in a hind leg or hind foot the following signs may be seen:

• The horse may rest the lame leg and not want to take the weight onto it.
• When watched from behind, particularly in trot, the horse will raise the hip of the lame leg higher than the hip of the sound leg.
• The horse’s hip will appear to dip when the sound leg hits the ground.
• The horse may take a shorter stride with one hind leg.
• Limb or foot placement may not be normal.
• The horse may catch or drag a hind toe.

Hind limb lameness is more difficult to see so an additional test may be required, such as:

• Turning the horse in tight circles to both the left and the right will show whether the horse is reluctant to take his weight on a particular hind leg.

Differential diagnosis

It is said that a large proportion of all equine lameness is in the foot. Indeed most Vets will start at the hooves and work their way up the leg when investigating any lameness in horses.

However, when the most pronounced symptom is a shortening of the stride length with one foreleg it is not easy to tell whether the lameness is lower leg or not, and, horse owners often mistakenly believe this to be shoulder lameness. In the absence of a head nod, and particularly when riding, a shortened stride can feel like the shoulder is stiff and not swinging forwards freely. But, shoulder lameness in horses is quite rare so the hoof and leg should always be investigated first.

When it comes to hind legs it is even harder to tell as four legged animals are very good at disguising hind limb lameness.

The “hip hike” or dropping of one hip is almost always confused with a back or pelvic problem, as is a shortened stride or dragging of the hind toes. But these symptoms can equally be attributed to problems in the hock, stifle, hind suspensory ligaments and others structures, as well as being related to the horse’s back. So the first port of call should always be your Vet.

As a very general rule of thumb, a back problem usually causes an alteration in gait patterns or stride length, or a behavioural or equitation problem rather than a limp – however slight. If your horse is limping or head nodding it is probably hoof or leg related.

Find out more information on how to assess your horse’s movement: see – looking after your horse’s back.

Jill Firth is a lecturer in Animal and Equine Science and a qualified and experienced McTimoney Animal Therapist working with many of the Vets throughout Yorkshire. Visit Jill’s Back In Balance website.

Author: Jill Firth
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Owning a horse is a great opportunity and one that comes with a hefty weight of responsibility. Unfortunately many owners don’t think before they leap into purchasing a horse, resulting in a negative experience for both the horse and the owner. Even owners that have experience with the privilege of horse ownership may sometimes find it is a bit overwhelming.

The following are some basic strategies and tips for horse owners and especially potential horse owners to consider to make the experience positive and healthy. By avoiding these common pitfalls your relationship with your horse will be much better both short and long term.

The Right Horse for the Job.

Many horse owners make the mistake of buying a horse out of emotion. Perhaps it is that beautifully marked yearling or the grand champion that has just come on the market that becomes your “must have” horse. While both of these horses may be a good choice, they both may also be horrible choices as well. It is essential to have someone that knows horses with you to make a purchase and consider what you want the horse for before becoming an owner.

Horses have natural abilities and things that they aren’t so good at. While breeding does definitely factor in, there are going to be some horses that just aren’t suited for the type of riding you want to do regardless of their lineage, breed characteristics or how their dam or sire performed. Taking an honest look at the level of skill required to ride the horse or provide training in relation to your skill as a rider is a very important step. Never take on a horse that is more horse than you can handle or that you feel comfortable in riding. This almost always results in a horse for sale or a horse left out in the pasture with no interaction at all.

Priorities: Is The Horse At The Top?

If you aren’t committed to making your relationship with your horse a priority in your life then horse ownership is not a good idea. The owner has to make the effort, every day, to interact with the horse. This can include cleaning stalls, grooming, feeding and of course riding. Training that includes the basics as well as more advanced levels if you want to enhance your skills requires practice, a bond of trust with your horse and a development of a team mentality.

Specific types of training such as horse gymnastics training can be used to help develop these skills and this teamwork. However, the owner must be prepared to learn as well, you can’t have someone else train your horse, you have to be the one to work with the horse and learn the aids and riding techniques.

Long Term Commitment

Owning a horse is not a short term commitment. Horses can live to be twenty plus years, and will need to stay active, engaged and cared for throughout their entire life. Knowing that you are willing and able to commit to these magnificent animals as both a rider and an owner for their entire life is essential before bringing one home.

Keeping your horse health with the correct food, shelter, exercise and routine vet care is also important. Not only does the ownership experience include your commitment physically and mentally to the horse, it will also require significant financial support as well. If you can make this commitment you won’t be disappointed and your horse ownership experience will be positive and one you certainly wouldn’t trade for anything.

Cathy Barrea is an award winning trainer and creator of Gymnastics for Horses. Her career spans over 35 years, during which time she has traveled the United States and Canada showing, training and teaching students and horses.

Author: Cathy Barrea
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Horses were born to eat grass, it is their natural food. The supplemental feeding of grain was created by man in order to keep weight on horses as they were being used for beasts of burden. Horses pulling caravans across this vast country did not have time to graze, so man had to supplement their need for food. This is probably when feed bags were invented. As man settled and began to farm, horses were necessary for plowing and traveling long distances either for supplies or for herding cattle; again demonstrating the need for grain.

Horses can survive on grass alone. The need to give them grain will depend on the age of the horse, what kind of activity the horse is performing on a daily basis, the amount of pasture that is available for the individual and the quality of the pasture. Young horses that are weanlings (babies just weaned from their mother) and yearlings are growing at a fast pace. Actually any horse under the age of five for most breeds is still growing. If you want a horse that is strong and will grow to their full potential, giving them grain is the right thing to do. Horses that are being ridden often or on a daily basis should have grain. Now if your horse is in a pasture that has a lot of weeds or the grass stays short because there are too many horses in one pasture, then you may also want to supplement them with hay as well as grain. Another factor that comes into play is the breed of the horse. Certain breeds will need only a small amount of feed, others such as Thoroughbreds, need much more grain to accomplish the development of a healthy, strong animal.

Being a horse owner means that you must monitor your horses weight and condition constantly, whether they are in a stall or in a pasture. If you have a horse or pony that is an aggressive eater and is becoming too fat or even obese, when you are graining the other horses in the pasture, you will have to put that horse in a catch pen, usually built into a corner of a pasture, with no grain until the other horses are finished eating. Remember, if you are giving grain to pasture horses, the amount that you feed will be much less than that of winter time. Lets’ say you turn your horses out during the day in the winter. They will just forage around and pick a little on old dead grass that has little to offer as opposed to gorging themselves all day long and even during the nighttime. Horses can suffer from a severe condition called laminitis (founder) when they are carrying too much weight and producing too much heat in their bodies, and the heat travels to their feet. This condition is not only very painful for the horse but it is a permanent condition. They become more sensitive, can re-founder, will need extra care and specialized shoeing, and it can even cause them to loose their life if they are not removed from the environment that originally caused them to founder.

Horses have been around for millions of years and they survived without grain. The decision is yours and if you have horses in a rich pasture and they are not being ridden often and they have a healthy weight on them, then grain probably is not necessary. As long as your horse has a plentiful supply of rich grass, plenty of fresh water, trees or woods or a lean-to structure for protection, and you have them on a regimented worming program (will be discussed at a later date), life will be good for them without grain. Even though they seem to be self sufficient, horses always need to have a watchful eye on them at least once a day. It is necessary to check their water and clean the waterer or tubs often. Make sure all the horses seem happy, and are following their usual daily habits. You must also check them thoroughly making sure there are no serious cuts, wounds, or kick marks, and check their eyes for injuries or signs of illness or allergies.

Beverly Jansen
http://bevshorseadvice.com
I’m a licensed Thoroughbred Horse Trainer and a licensed Equine Message Therapist. I have devoted my entire life to horses and have over 40 years experience to share. My blog site was created to share my knowledge and will soon offer exceptional, all natural horse products that are above and beyond any other products in comparison and will guarantee fantastic results. I will also be posting “How To” videos on my youtube channel soon.

Author: Beverly Jansen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Ok, im 13 years old and me and my twin sister have been begging for a horse since we were just toddlers. My mom finally got tired of us nagging about how much we wanted a horse and she said she would build a barn in our 2 acre field in september and get us 2 horses. I have gone riding before and cared for horses and all but i want to be the best horse owner i can be so what are some good tips and stuff for caring for your horse?