| Horse Care |
Article Index for Horse |
Website Links For Horse |
Information AboutHorse Care |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HORSE CARE | |
| horse management | |
| horse health | |
|
BASIC REQUIREMENTS A horse or pony requires a check at least once a day. It must have access to clean fresh water at all times, and grass or hay too. If a horse cannot be visted by its owner every day, there is the option of keeping it at a livery yard, where the staff will care for the horse for a fee. Livery yards are very varied, you can keep your horse on full livery, part livery, DIY livery or working livery. Full livery involves the livery yard doing all the work and the owner just riding. Part livery involves the owner of the horse only doing part of the work and DIY livery is where the owner does all the work. Working liveries are particularly common on riding schools and it involves the owner paying a discounted fee so that the livery yard have the right to use the horse in lessons etc. The minimum requirements are that the horse/pony has plenty available to eat and drink at all times unless it has special dietary requirements, has regular farriery/dental/veterinary care and its feet are picked out daily to prevent thrush/lameness. It should also have some form of regular exercise whether it is being ridden, lunged or turned out in a spacious field. The horse or pony will need a field and possibly a stable. For those who do not own their own land, fields can be rented from a private land owner or a paddock and stable may be rented from a livery yard. As horses are herd animals it is advisable for the horse to have equine company. However, this is not always possible and it has been known for special bonds to be developed between horses and other species. There are always exceptions as some horses prefer to live on their own as they do not get on with other animals. FEEDING The horse/pony needs approximately 2.5% of its bodyweight in food per day. This may include grass, hay, haylage and hard feed. Most horses and ponies will need a ration of 60-70% grass/hay and 30-40% hard feed. These ratios must be considered when increasing the horses' workload, as the hard feed ration may need to be increased. Make any feeding changes gradually. Feed only good quality hay and feed. Feed plenty of bulk (fibre). Clean fresh water should be available at all times. Leave AT LEAST an hour after feeding before exercising. Keep feeding utensils clean. You wouldn't eat from a dirty plate. Feed according to age/workload/breed SHOEING AND FOOT CARE Horses or ponies are shod every 4-6 weeks. If the horse or pony is unshod (if it is a youngster or not used for ridden work) it must have a trim and leveling every 8-10 weeks. Your farrier should be a qualified and registered farrier, and should advertise this fact with a sticker in his/her van. If you are unsure, contact the Farrier's Registration Council. It is illegal for anyone else other than a registered farrier to shoe or trim a horse's feet in the UK. In the UK: The farrier should have any one of the following qualifications, the FWCF being the most highly skilled:
In the USA:
A set of four shoes and labour typically costs £50-£60 a set. This may be more or less if you have an unusually large/small/difficult horse or pony, or if it needs remedial shoeing. The owner should have the horse caught and ready for the farrier, and should be on hand to hold and quiet the horse. The feet should be picked out using a hoof pick at least once a day, to remove any stones, mud and dirt and to check that the shoes are in good condition. Feet should be kept clean and dry wherever possible, as wet, dirty conditions may lead to thrush and/or lameness. VETERINARY CARE It is sensible to register a horse or pony with a local equine vet, in case of emergency. The veterinary practise will keep a record of the owner's details and where the horse or pony is kept, and any medical details. Vaccinations The horse or pony should be vaccinated against equine 'flu and tetanus. Breeding animals and/or those frequently on the show circuit may also need vaccinating against equine herped. A vaccination card must be presented at many shows. If the horse or pony has never been vaccinated will be given an initial vaccination then a booster several weeks later, then six months later, and normally once a year after that. First-aid kit A well-stocked equine (and human) first-aid kit should be kept in a place where it is easily accessed. Any used or out-of-date items should be replaced as soon as possible. The basic items any equine first-aid kit should include are:
Worming All horses and ponies have a worm burden, and therefore treatment should be ongoing throughout the horse or pony's life. It is normal to worm every 8-13 weeks depending on the brand of wormer. A worming programme can be obtained from a local vet. Wormers come in several forms:
Powders and granules normally come in a sachet and the wormer is normally mixed in with the horse's feed. The pastes and gels normally come in a plastic syringe which is used to squirt the wormer onto the horse's tongue. Remove droppings regularly from the horse's field (at least once a week) help to reduce numbers of worms. There are several different brands of wormer, using different types of active chemical - which in turn kill different types of worm. It is often necessary to use a specific wormer at a certain time of year, to combat a certain worm (for example: redworm, which is normally treated during October and November). Active chemicals found in different wormers
Types of worm found in equines
'Ringworm' found in horses is not actually a worm but a contagious skin disease and is normally treated using an anti-fungal wash. Dental care The horse or pony must have its teeth checked by a vet or professional qualified dentist at least once a year, as the teeth can wear down and create sharp edges which may cause problems when eating/being ridden. If the teeth are sharp, the vet/dentist will rasp them until they are smooth. Some horses and ponies object to this procedure and must be sedated. |
|
|