Being responsible for the health, grooming, and feeding of a horse is a major undertaking. There will be a millionaire questions and doubts in your mind when you purchase your first horse.
As luck would have it, communicating with your pet is a two-way street. You will quickly develop an understanding of how to decode its reactions to your good and bad moves. In addition, I will provide you seven suggestions that may prove useful as you care for your horse.
Protect Horse from Harsh Weather
While it’s true that most horses would rather be out in the cold than in the heat of summer, that doesn’t imply you should let one outside in the cold. Insulate the stall well, and make sure the windows are shut securely. That way, your pet can enjoy cool shade in the summer and stay safe from the cold in the winter.
In warm weather, blankets and saddle pads should be thin and lightweight. When winter arrives, you can switch to thicker ones to help the horse maintain a constant body temperature.
When you have to take the horse out, it is good to have a horse shelter for it. You can build your own cheap diy horse shelter or you can buy a horse shelter kit from any online store as well.
Quality of Food and Water is Important
The first step in caring for your horse is to meet its basic nutritional requirements. Always have some hay and clean water available for your pet.
You probably already know that a horse’s stomach is quite small and easily damaged. Therefore, it would rather have small meals more frequently than three large ones every day. It is permissible to feed a combination of hay and grain if you are unable to supply fresh grass or pasture on a daily basis.
You should supplement it with vitamins and minerals, though, especially if you have a foal, senior, mare, or racehorse. Before deciding on a diet, it’s important to get your pet checked out by a vet.
Stable Cleaning
Keeping stables clean is essential. Regularly clearing away debris, cleaning up any manure or trash, and brushing away any cobwebs should become second nature. If you don’t clean up pee and dirt leftovers, your horse could develop a hoof infection.
Bedding should be replaced on a regular basis. While equines may get by just fine napping in their feet, they nevertheless want a tidy, spacious area in which to lie down and relax. Remember to inspect the ductwork for any stored hay dust.
Make sure there are no exposed wires, sharp nails, or shaky planks in a stable. Insecticides aren’t the only option for keeping the bugs and flies at bay.
While you’re at the stable, make sure everything is in working order. The sweaty saddle blankets and padding should be changed out, the leather components of the saddle should be conditioned, and all ropes and ties should be checked regularly.
Daily Exercise Program
It is generally accepted that a weary horse is a contented horse. One of the fundamental requirements of horses is physical activity, but the specifics of that activity must take into account a wide range of variables.
In order to train an animal effectively, at least one hour per day is needed. Muscle development, cardiovascular health, bone and joint protection, and weight maintenance are all benefits of regular exercise for your horse.
Please keep in mind that horses thrive in familiar, predictable environments.
Health Care Procedures
If you lack experience teaching horses, you should take them to the vet more often to prevent injuries. Care for a horse on a regular basis, however, is a different matter. That at least once a year, you take your horse to the vet for a checkup. They will keep an eye on the animal’s temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and they’ll deworm it as well.
Annual vaccinations against rabies, tetanus, and rhinopneumonitis are recommended for your horse. Be aware that your horse may require additional vaccinations, depending on where you live.
Consider dental treatment for your horse as well. These animals frequently experience dental deterioration, chewing difficulties, and gingivitis. Because of this, your horse may lose appetite and become underweight.
Take Care of Social Needs of Animals
The horse must be integrated into the herd. The presence of more experienced horses helps a newborn foal learn more quickly, as any trainer will tell you. Because horses and other animals have their own language for passing on information.
Your pet will miss having animal friends even if you spend a lot of time with it. So, schedule some group rides once a month, or more often if you can. Humans, to put it simply, are insufficient. In the absence of other horses, your horse may choose to socialise with other animals such as dogs, cows, and even goats.
Mutual Bonding is Important
A horse is not going to come up to you or allow you to touch it until you have already established some sort of rapport with it. In order to train or care for an animal, you need to earn its trust. As luck would have it, there are measures you can do to win your new friend’s trust.
When you first approach a horse, you should act calmly and confidently. Take a few steps in the animal’s direction, but don’t rush it. The first contact is crucial, since a startled horse may step away from you if you go too quickly. Give it a few sniffs, and then maybe a treat.
You can take your time after making initial contact. Training and riding should not be rushed. Some horses require weeks of training before they begin to respond to your orders.
