Six best ways to care for a horse

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Owning a horse is a big responsibility. Like other animals, horses require extra love and care. So, whether or not you're a first-time horse owner, you have to ensure that your horse is well-fed, well-groomed, and healthy.

Unfortunately, since every horse is different, many owners may find it challenging to provide proper care. In this case, it's always essential to ask for guidance and advice from a reliable veterinarian.

If you don't know where to get started, below are some of the best ways to care for a horse.

1. Provide enough water and quality food

Satisfying your horses' nutritional needs is one of the best ways to care for them. Ensure that your horses have fresh water and hay nearby. If your budget is tight, but don't want to compromise your horses' healthy diet, it's wise to look for pet food specials to enjoy savings on discounted quality horse food products.

Keep in mind that horses have delicate and small stomachs. Thus, they prefer something to nibble on a few occasions instead of enjoying several meals a day. If you can't provide pasture or fresh grass daily, a combination of grain and hay is a good option for your horse's diet.

However, if you have a racehorse, mare, foal, or a senior horse, you must enrich their diet with vitamins and supplements. In addition, be sure to consult a vet before you create a diet plan for your horse.

2. Pay importance to exercise

Since horses are active animals by nature, horses need regular exercise. In the wild, they can roam around up to 80km daily. But, they won't only move for the sake of it, unless they're being exercised or grazing.

A great way to get your horses moving is to let them bond with other horses. The reason behind it is that pasture makes the horses move.

3. Prioritize grooming

When taking care of horses, make sure to include grooming as part of their daily routine. It's essential to know how to groom for health to get rid of dust, dirt, and mud from your horses' bodies. This may also allow you to check for possible blisters, injuries, and scratches.

Grooming can also help eliminate sweat and improve your horses' blood circulation. Moreover, spending more time with your horses can make your bond stronger. Take note that horses are intelligent animals, and they'll always appreciate your grooming efforts.

Unfortunately, horse grooming requires time and knowledge. Asking for someone's assistance in the first few weeks may help you. It's also crucial to get quality equipment for grooming, such as face brush, sponge, mane brush, rubber comb, hoof pick, and dandy brush.

Horses don't require a bath daily. But, if you ride on your horse during rainy days, you might want to wash them with warm water and mild shampoo. Just be careful to avoid getting any soap or shampoo into your horse's eyes. Instead, use a damp cloth to clean your horse's face.

4. Schedule a yearly vet exam

When your budget is tight, the first thing that you'll probably give up is a vet exam every year. Besides, if your horse seems healthy and doing fine, why would you call a vet right?

However, just like humans, your horses need a yearly checkup. Even if your horse looks healthy, a vet can help you determine whether or not they're suffering from an underlying condition. So, if you don't want your horse to get sick or end up with a major illness, schedule a vet checkup every year.

5. Provide the best possible environment

Another way to care for your horses is to provide them with the best environment. Their environment should be as natural as possible, and, of course, safe. If possible, your horses should have other companions. This is because horses live in herds, which means they may get anxious if they're just the only ones around.

Other than giving them companions, it's also crucial to clean their stables daily. In terms of stables, they must be built with durable materials to protect your horses from indoor or outdoor elements that could pose a threat to them.

6. Keep your horses' hooves in good condition

If horses don't have healthy legs and hooves, you won't be able to ride them or use them as pasture ornaments. Since horses stand all the time, it's your job as the owner to keep their legs and hooves in good condition. With this in mind, make sure to provide quality hoof care regularly.

If you're planning to buy a racehorse in the future, it's wise to look for an excellent farrier with years of experience in equine hoof care. Creating a hoof care schedule for your horses can also make a difference to their health and wellbeing.

Conclusion

Proper horse care and maintenance includes many aspects, like your horses' mental and physical health. Their nutrition must be your primary concern as malnutrition can cause serious health issues. This can be solved easily using horse supplements that promote optimum health. Aside from that, make sure to schedule a regular check-up for your horses to help them stay in good shape.