Horse Care 101: The Primary Steps to Follow When Caring for Your New Horse
Horses are majestic creatures. They can become your constant companion and your champion if you know how to care for them properly. Taking care of a horse may seem daunting, but the daily care and the interaction during grooming is a gratifying experience. These intelligent creatures know how to respond to caring touch, and they know how to reciprocate the love.
The first step is finding your horse the right place to live. Large stables are the first choice. If your stable is lesser than 12 feet by 12 feet in area, you will need to find a pasture big enough for their daily exercise and entertainment. They are smart, intuitive and intelligent. Keeping them indoors 24×7, especially in small stables is not a good idea.
There are three popular stabling material choices:
- Straw: this is the easiest one to procure and manage. The straw beds are comfortable and cheap.
- Shavings: these are quite easy to manage, and they are popular choices among breeders as well.
- Newspaper: this is the best choice if your horse is allergic to straw and shavings. While picking newspaper, be careful to keep the stable dry. Wet newspaper can transfer ink and prints to a light coat.
Once you have the stable in place, you need to invest in daily cleaning programs. Always remove all the solid waste regularly. Clean out the wet debris at least once a week. Sweep the area every day, clean the bed every week and change the bedding occasionally.
Grooming the horse is as necessary as keeping the area clean. The health of a competing horse can determine the Breeders Cup payouts any given year! A basic grooming kit should have:
- A body brush: a body brush can remove all the dust and grease from the coat during the warmer months of the year.
- Curry comb: this can remove any loose hair from the body.
- Dandy brush: it is tougher than a regular body brush. A dandy brush can remove dried mud from the body.
- Mane and tail brush: they can clean and untangle the mane and the tail without causing any damage.
- Mane and tail comb: this one is for pulling the tail and mane of your horse.
- Face brush: this is a delicate brush you can use to clean your horse’s face.
- Sponges: these are quite a recurring expense. Use two at a time – one for the face and the other for the body and rear.
- Hoof pick: hooves gather up a lot of dirt, mud and grit. You need to clean the hooves periodically. A hoof pick can clean out everything stick between the foot and the hooves, without harming your horse.
Horses need to eat correctly to stay in shape and perform well. The food quality and amount depend on the breed, health condition, age and the kind of exercise the horse gets. It is best to consult an expert veterinarian or an equine dietician before deciding your horse’s diet. Always remember to keep the quality of food and brand of food consistent. If you want to try something new, you should taper the previous brand/feed off, and increase the portion of the new feed in regular diet.
It is essential to have the number of a specialist on speed dial while you are taking the responsibility of any animal. If you think you are ready for a horse, talk to your nearest vet facility first to find out the kind of emergency care they offer.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
