All pets require proper care for a long life. Horses may be bigger in stature than most pets but they have similar basic needs. Proper horse care requires providing exercise, water, food, and shelter.
Some horses are raised to work on a farm or ranch. These animals often get all the exercise they need on the job because their owners ride them regularly. Others are kept more like pets and are prone to gaining weight due to inactivity. These horses will require a special diet to compensate for the lack of regular activity.
Horses require wide open space to walk, play, and run. A pasture should provide approximately one acre of land per animal. Inspecting the pasture for hazards is crucial before leaving horses unattended. Certain plant species, holes in a fence, and trash can put horses at risk of injury or illness. Poisonous plants to look for include yew, buttercups, locoweed, star thistle, laurel, and deadly nightshade.
Wire fencing held up with strong wooden posts is enough to keep horses with a barcoo bridle confined to a pasture. Rail fences made of wood are even more secure but require extensive maintenance. Barbed wire is not a suitable option because of the risk of injury.
Shelter is another basic requirement. Horses must have somewhere to stand that offers protection from the sun, rain, and wind. An enclosure with three sides is the best configuration. The back wall should be placed to block prevailing wind.
Straw and wood shavings are suitable bedding for these animals. Straw is an inexpensive option but fungal spores can be dangerous if horses eat the bedding. A rubber mat can offer some cushioning for the animal but should be covered with hemp, straw, or wood shavings for additional warmth.
Owners must attend to the stable daily. Clearing out all the droppings should be done at least three times each day, especially if the horse spends all day inside. It is also important to spread the bedding out evenly on the floor.
A nutritious diet and clean water are essential to proper horse care. Providing a water trough supplied constantly by a pipe is the most convenient but the pipe will have to be inspected regularly during the winter to make sure it has not frozen. Following these tips will provide any horse with a long and healthy life.
Some horses are raised to work on a farm or ranch. These animals often get all the exercise they need on the job because their owners ride them regularly. Others are kept more like pets and are prone to gaining weight due to inactivity. These horses will require a special diet to compensate for the lack of regular activity.
Horses require wide open space to walk, play, and run. A pasture should provide approximately one acre of land per animal. Inspecting the pasture for hazards is crucial before leaving horses unattended. Certain plant species, holes in a fence, and trash can put horses at risk of injury or illness. Poisonous plants to look for include yew, buttercups, locoweed, star thistle, laurel, and deadly nightshade.
Wire fencing held up with strong wooden posts is enough to keep horses with a barcoo bridle confined to a pasture. Rail fences made of wood are even more secure but require extensive maintenance. Barbed wire is not a suitable option because of the risk of injury.
Shelter is another basic requirement. Horses must have somewhere to stand that offers protection from the sun, rain, and wind. An enclosure with three sides is the best configuration. The back wall should be placed to block prevailing wind.
Straw and wood shavings are suitable bedding for these animals. Straw is an inexpensive option but fungal spores can be dangerous if horses eat the bedding. A rubber mat can offer some cushioning for the animal but should be covered with hemp, straw, or wood shavings for additional warmth.
Owners must attend to the stable daily. Clearing out all the droppings should be done at least three times each day, especially if the horse spends all day inside. It is also important to spread the bedding out evenly on the floor.
A nutritious diet and clean water are essential to proper horse care. Providing a water trough supplied constantly by a pipe is the most convenient but the pipe will have to be inspected regularly during the winter to make sure it has not frozen. Following these tips will provide any horse with a long and healthy life.
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