Owning a horse is undoubtedly exciting, but there are a ton of things you should know about your four-legged friend. You have to learn about riding, training, and taking proper care of your horse. Thus, Clarendon Equine has brought you this guide on Everything You need to know about horses.
You must not focus on expenses and bills when it comes to taking care of your horse. Give them all the care and attention you can because they obviously deserve better than what the world offers them. Horse care is probably the most important responsibility of a horse owner and should not be ignored in any way.
Horses belong to the mammalian class and are domesticated animals. Most people get nervous and worried when they welcome a horse for the first time to their care. This nervousness mainly occurs as not many people are aware of how to look after a horse properly.
Looking after an equine is a unique and new learning experience for many people. Taking care of a horse is very different from taking care of common pets, such as cats or dogs. The horse owner must be aware of these basic horse facts and understand the needs and behaviour of the horse.
Everything You Need To Know About Horses Basic Needs
There are numerous basic needs that are essential to make sure that the equine is healthy and prosperous. These are:
An excellent pasture without any significant hazards or dangers. For instance, holes, loose wires, etc.
Appropriate fencing to make sure that the horse does not leave the designated property
Enough grass or hay for the horse to graze
Proper shelter from natural hazards such as storms, earthquakes, etc.
Love, care, and adequate attention
Good equine veterinary services
These are the six basic horse facts that are necessary to make sure that a horse is healthy, happy, and thriving.
How to choose the right horse breed?
If you are purchasing a horse for the first time, then you must choose a breed that suits your personality. It is difficult to know everything you need to know about horses before buying one.
There are so many horse breeds available in the world, and each breed has its own unique personality and attributes. A quarter horse may be the right breed for you if you enjoy barrel racing or trail riding.
A thoroughbred may be a more appropriate choice if you are interested in participating in dressage or show-jumping competitions. There is an ideal breed for you, depending on your personality and the type of events you want to join in. You just have to find the right horse for you.
There are few necessary questions that you must ask before purchasing a horse. These are:
What is the size of the horse?
How old is the horse?
What is the temperament of the equine?
Does the horse have any medical problems or not?
Are there any conformation problems?
When you start looking for the right horse for you, you will find them in all shapes and sizes. Taking care of a horse is a great responsibility and consumes a significant amount of time. Take your time to research, ask for expert suggestions, and learn how to look after a horse before buying one.
If you gain pertinent information about the breed before purchasing, then you will be able to save trouble. The most popular horse breeds for beginners are:
American Paint Horse
Connemara Pony
Quarter Horse
Welsh Cob
Morgan Horse
Basic Equipment Needed to Take Care of a Horse
Equine Feeding Equipment: feed tub, water heater, and water trough
Equine Emergency Service Equipment: first aid kits, stethoscopes, etc.
Barn and Pasture Maintenance Equipment: wheelbarrow, pitchfork, etc.
Horse Riding Equipment: boots, helmet, bridle, safety stirrups, saddle with girth/cinch, and blanket or pad for under saddle.
Horse Grooming Equipment: body brush, hoof picks, combs, halter leather, repellent, and lead ropes.
Tips for Feeding a Horse
Many people think that there is no need to care about proper horse feeding since horses are generally healthy animals. In everything you need to know about horses you need to learn how to look after a horse properly in every aspect.
Proper care and attention are required if you want your horse to live the longest and healthiest life possible.
Horses that are properly fed usually live a much healthier life than horses that do not receive proper food. So without any delay, let us look at a few tips for properly feeding a horse.
Every day, horses require about 2 percent of their body weight in hay or any other feed. Hay is an important part of an equine diet and helps to keep their digestive system running smoothly throughout the day.
Make sure that the hay you are feeding your horse is fresh. Some horses do not eat mouldy hay, and it can make the horses sick.
If you have a working or exercising horse, feed them a mixture of grains, supplements, and fresh hay. Grain is fed for extra energy, and fresh hay keeps them well-fed and nourished while working.
Do not overfeed your horse in any situation. Overfeeding your horse can result in serious equine diseases such as colic or laminitis and can be fatal as well.
Do not make sudden or unexpected changes to the diet of the horse. The digestive system of a horse is pretty sensitive, and sudden changes in the diet can prove to be fatal.
Make sure that you feed the horse on a schedule. Untimely feeding can create problems in the digestive system and lead to severe illness.
Pay proper attention to the feed bucket of the horse and occasionally watch the horses eat. If the horses are dropping feed, then it is a sign of teeth or other health problems.
Horses generally drink about ten gallons of water in a day. Make sure that the horses always have fresh water available near them. Horses can live a good while without food, but they will die in two days without water.
Basics of Grooming a Horse
Learning how to groom your horse is an essential and exciting trial but is not always easy. Horse grooming is one of the activities that helps the owner to build a loving relationship with the horse. It also gives the owner time and the opportunity to check whether there are any injuries or irregularities.
Make sure that you have the appropriate horse grooming supplies mentioned earlier in the guide. Ensure that your horse is in a comfortable position so that it cannot run off while you groom your horse. The position in which you get your horse into depends on how comfortable you are with your horse.
In order to groom your horse properly, follow these steps:
Clean the hooves of your horse
Comb out the tangles of your horse
Use the body brush to get rid of any dirt from the body
Carefully and properly clean the ears, eyes, muzzle, and dock area
