Your Horse's Health And Happiness

We have all dreamed of having a horse, but when
your new horse arrives home, the reality hits
home that you are responsible for the health and
well-being of this creature. Owning and keeping
horses is a big responsibility, but with some
basic knowledge, you have probably picked up
from working at stables, vets will also be able
to offer advice, you can keep your animal, happy
and healthy

• Boarding

Before you even purchase a horse, you should
know where you are going to board the animal. Do
you have stables on your property, or will you
need to find stables that offer boarding
services? Costs of these facilities vary widely,
as services vary. Some boarding stables will
simply give your horse a stall to live in, while
others will feed and water your pet. Full service
boarding stables will also groom, exercise, and
possibly even train your horse, but these
stables are appropriately priced much higher.

• Grooming

Grooming your horse is not just so your animal
looks nice; grooming also keeps your horse
healthier. The hair and skin will stay cleaner
with regular grooming, and cuts, bruises, or
other irregularities will be noticed much sooner
with a regular grooming session. Use special
combs and brushes made especially for horses,
and start from the neck of the horse and work
back to the hindquarters. Hooves should also be
cleaned regularly with a hoof pick.

• Feeding

The stable may feed your horse, but you may
need or want to. Horses eat mostly hay or other
grass, plus a feed and snacks. Horse nutritional
feeds vary by breed, size, and age of the horse,
so find one that is suitable for your specific
animal. Make sure not to overfeed your horse. On
average, a horse should eat equal to about 2.5%
of its body weight daily. For snacks, horses can
eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Watering

The best advice when giving your horse water is
to be sure that your horse has constant access to
clean water. Along with water, keep a salt block
in your horse's stall to help them replenish
salt and other minerals lost through sweating.

• Exercise

The amount of exercise needed by your horse
depends on its breed, weight, and general size,
but all horses should be exercised at least
every other day. Make sure to warm up your horse
by walking him at first during your ride. When
you cannot exercise your horse, be sure it has
an open space in which to run.

• First Aid

In general, you should leave first aid efforts
up to your veterinarian. However, there are some
minor problems that may not require medical
attention. Here are some things to keep in a
first aid kit for your horse:

- Hoof picks, in case stones or other objects
get caught in your horse's hooves

- Antibiotic ointment to keep minor cuts clean
and avoid infection

- Thermometer

- Flashlight

- Lotion made specifically for bug bites on
horses

- Gauze and cotton, in case your horse is
bleeding*

*Note, if your horse is bleeding, use gauze and
cotton to attempt to slow or stop the bleeding,
but be sure to contact a veterinarian
immediately.

Using these tips to take care of your horse,
you'll be on your way to keeping your friend
happy, healthy, and living long. Remember to
learn about horse care before purchasing your
horse, so you'll have a basic understanding to
start out.

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Dodson and Horrell have been manufacturing
quality horse feeds for over 40 years<br
/>http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com<br />&nbsp;

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