Pat Parelli, who is a master horseman and has an uncanny ability to read horses, is known for saying the following: “A horse doesn’t care much about you until he knows how much you care.” So, to make sure that you are able to take care of him or her – as they deserve to be taken care of – we have put together a beginner’s guide to show you what the basics of horse care are.
Give Them A Good Roof Over Their Heads
Pay very careful attention to where your horse lives. Make sure that their stalls are well-maintained and that the stall is big enough for the horse to comfortably lie down in. If you have the ability to, let them out to graze. Just as humans are subconsciously influenced by our surroundings so too are horses, so you need to make sure that they are happy where they sleep.
Make Sure That Their Feed Is Right For Them
Each horse has its own unique requirements when it comes to feed so make sure that you get what they need. The Humane Society of the United States gives a number of recommendations about how you should be structuring your horse’s feed:
- A horse needs plenty of roughage, which they get from grazing. So, if your horse is kept in a stall all day you need to introduce this into their feed.
- Grain allows horses to better digest their food, however, many trail and pleasure horses do not need grain in their diet.
- If your horse is more active than others, make sure that you adjust the amount of food that they are eating.
In addition to this, make sure that the place where they graze is free from poisonous plants and other dangerous objects so that they do not mistakenly eat them and get sick as a result.
Check On Them Twice A Day
You should be checking on your horse at least twice a day. In fact, horse trainer – Judy Westlake – says that there are many benefits to riding your horse twice a day, one of which being that when you do this they build strength easier.
Keep Up With Their Regular Health Checks
It is vital that you keep up to date with your horse’s health checks and vaccinations. When you groom your horse, always be checking on the following:
- Skin and coat
- Teeth
- Eyes, ears, nose
- Legs
- Urine and faeces
- Appetite and water intake
- Behaviour
If you keep an eye on the above, you will be quickly able to pick up when something is wrong. As a result, you will be able to get it checked out by a vet before it becomes dangerous.
A horse is a rare being. It accepts you unconditionally and senses when something is wrong. They are always there to help you deal with what you are going through. You need to repay this kindness and loyalty by looking after them correctly. If you do this, they will be in your faithful companion forever.