Owning a horse is a significant responsibility and it’s important you’re prepared to care for your horse properly. Your horse’s health can be significantly affected by the level of care you provide. Caring for a horse can be very rewarding, however there are numerous factors you need to account for. To help you care effectively for your horse, in this article we will be sharing top tips from the experts.
The Right Horse Feed for Your Horse
Horses should always have access to adequate food during the day. The feed must be high-quality and include roughage (pasture, hay, or chaff) to keep your horse’s body in healthy condition. There are 5 components essential to a healthy horse diet: plenty of fresh clean water, protein, fats and carbohydrates, mineral intakes, and supplements (where necessary).
If you’re unsure whether your horse needs vitamins or supplements, it is best to consult your veterinarian first.
Keep Your Horse Properly Hydrated
You should ensure that clean water is always readily available for your horse to drink. Horses drink around 25-45 litres of water every day. If they’re not kept hydrated, they are prone to fainting, sickness, weakness, and death (in extreme cases of prolonged dehydration).
You should make it a priority throughout the day to check your horse has plenty of clean water available. Any vessels you use for storing water should be checked, cleaned out, and re-filled regularly. This helps ensure the water is always clean.
Horses Must Have Quality Stabling
- Stable blocks
- Mobile field shelters
- Mobile stables
- American barns
- Internal Stables
- Static field shelters
Whether you want a mobile field shelter or a permanent stable block, we provide quality stabling solutions.
Exercise Your Horse Regularly
Horses are active animals and they need plenty of space to run around. Caring for your horse requires exercising him frequently to help him maintain a healthy physique. Whether you take your horse out for trail rides or you lead him through a vigorous training schedule, you’re in charge of keeping your horse properly exercised. If you want to find out how to exercise your horse properly, check out our tips in the article below.
Prepare the Right Paddock for Your Horse
Providing a shelter for your horse is one of the most important aspects of horse care. Horses need to be sheltered from the weather, so they do not develop illnesses from unnecessary exposure to temperature extremes. At Prime Stables Ltd, we provide high-quality, durable, and secure shelter solutions. We provide the following stabling options:
Caring for your horse well also means providing a well-kept paddock for him to enjoy. You must ensure all rubbish and weeds are regularly removed and that the fences are kept in good repair to prevent injury or escape. The reason you need to provide a paddock for your horse is to help encourage healthy exercise and contentment. Providing a well-kept field is an essential aspect of horse care and helps keep your horse happy.
Horse Vaccinations and Deworming
All horses need vaccinations, so they are protected against illnesses such as tetanus, influenza, and rabies. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on the necessary vaccinations and what’s best to do when. Your vet will also advise you on how to deworm your horse. This will help prevent issues of weight loss, colic, and poor coat quality. Ensuring your horse gets the right vaccinations and receives deworming when necessary is an essential part of correct horse care.
Care for Your Horse’s Hooves
Proper hoof care is an essential part of general horse care. Hooves must be trimmed every six to eight weeks to ensure your horse stays healthy and comfortable. Most horses don’t actually need shoes if their hooves have been properly cared for. Horse hooves strengthen naturally. Book a farrier to come and trim your horse’s hooves every 6-8 weeks. This will help prevent them from chipping, becoming too long, or causing discomfort for your horse.
Provide Company for Your Horse
Horses are naturally herd animals, so they don’t like being alone. Whether in the same paddock or neighbouring paddocks, it’s important to provide company for your horse. Keeping a horse on its own is not healthy. Loneliness in horses can cause problems of its own, such as aggression, behavioural issues, and restlessness. So, if you want to care for your horse well it’s important you provide him plenty of company.
Top tip: if stabling your horse with others isn’t a possibility, consider turning the radio on. Horses love listening to voices, it can help calm them down and feel they have companionship even when they don’t. It’s a far cheaper solution than buying another horse, that’s for sure!
Look After Your Horse’s Teeth
Another significant aspect of horse care if their teeth. Horse’s teeth grow continuously and can easily develop problems if they’re not properly looked after. As horses eat or grind their teeth, this can lead to uneven wear and sharp points and edges. These problems can cause difficult chewing and pain. So, it’s important they are avoided through proper tooth care.
Everything You Need to Know About Caring for Your Horse’s Teeth
Horse Grooming and Bonding
Grooming is another essential aspect of proper horse care. What’s more, grooming on a regular basis is one of the best ways to bond with your horse. Regular grooming helps keep your horse’s coat and skin healthy, while also developing a healthy emotional bond between you both. Grooming your horse includes the following:
- Cleaning your horse’s hooves
- Cleaning your horse’s face
- Brushing out the coat, mane, and tail
- Cleaning the rump
Correctly grooming your horse will ensure that he doesn’t just look great but that he learns to trust you, too.
Always Have a Plan for Emergencies
Even with the best intentions and appropriate horse care, emergencies can happen. Horses can get into accidents, they can become injured, or be caught off guard by a bout of sickness. In the event of an equine emergency, it is important to have a plan in place. This will help keep your horse safe and properly cared for during this time. You should also consider getting your horse microchipped. This will help identify your horse and your property in an emergency, should it be needed.
Check Out Our Informative Blog
For all things horse-care-related, you should definitely check out the Prime Stables blog! We post informative articles every single month. They are full to the brim with everything you need to know about horse care and so much more…click here to check out our blog!
