Horse Care For Beginners

Horses are a very sturdy animal in that they tend to be healthy and are less prone to sickness than other animals may be.     But it’s important to note that because of their unusual anatomy, they spend nearly all of their time standing. In fact, horses rarely lay down; a horse that lays [...]

Internal and external parasites can create discomfort, illness and even death in horses. As the owner of a horse, your main responsibility is to maintain your pet in good health, and to help it live a life free if pain or illness.

When it comes to keeping your horse healthy, cleanliness is vital. Many illnesses and infirmities can be avoided simply by maintaining a clean equine environment. As a horse owner, it is your responsibility to provide proper care to your pet, which includes keeping the horse and its environment clean and healthy.

As a horse owner, it’s important that you have a basic understanding of horse anatomy. Providing the best possible care for you horse requires that you learn as much as you can about their physical needs. Having knowledge of how your horse’s body works not only helps you care for your horse better, it helps you recognize when there’s a problem that may need a veterinarian’s attention.

Fact! Your horse needs periods of rest from the work you do with him, just as you need rest from your work. You could do this by letting him loose in the pasture, ideally with one or more friends, for an hour or so each day. Or perhaps putting him out on occasions for a few days or even weeks during your busy periods when you really can’t spend the time riding.

There’s been a lot written on the subject, but I have never before stopped to really think about just how extensive the list is, and just how dangerous some plants can be to horses. Obviously the list of plants will vary according to a number of factors such as which country or territory you’re in, the climatic conditions including the temperature range and rainfall, and the condition of your pasture. I’ll not try to cover them all (Wikipedia lists over 80 species) but just those that probably the most significant.

My first experience of horse loneliness was about nine years ago. A year prior my partner, Jill, and I moved from the mainland to a property in Tasmania bringing our horses with us … plus two dogs and a cat! We’d been here roughly a year and where just driving out to meet a friend in Hobart. Our horses were in our front paddock and as we drove past I had a feeling that something was wrong.

It’s worth stopping a moment to think about how your horse must feel when you put a metal bit into his mouth so that you have control while riding. I wonder how this feels to him? Your horse will react. He may chew on the bit and will probably move it around with his tongue. He may even try to sneak a mouthful of grass whilst bridled

While you may think it’s a simple thing to do … feed your horse … you’d be surprised at the number of horse owners that don’t know and understand the very basics. There’s no rigid rule of thumb for feeding as each horse’s nutritional needs will vary depending on a number factors. These include your horse’s age, his weight, and the level of activity.

While horse parasites may be out of sight, they do extensive damage internally. Parasites can steal nutrients from your horse and cause gastrointestinal irritation.While horse parasites may be out of sight, they do extensive damage internally. Parasites can steal nutrients from your horse and cause gastrointestinal irritation.