A horse is a full-time commitment. Maintaining them can cost between 300 and 400 euros per month and their life expectancy can reach more than 30 years. However, a horse is a great companion animal, so make sure you provide it with a suitable environment and proper nutrition.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Providing him with the right nutrition and adequate shelter
Step 1. Make sure the horse always has a place to shelter
Your horse must have a place where it can live throughout the year. This means offering it an area sheltered from the elements, not too hot and protected from insects.
- A large, dry shed or barn is fine.
- You can also leave your horse in a riding stable. It can cost from 100 to 500 euros per month, depending on the type of riding school chosen (pasture alone tends to be cheaper). Sometimes you can do some work for the owner, amortizing the costs.
Step 2. Provide the horse with a place to sleep at night
Horses can sleep standing up, but they rest much better lying down; this means offering them a suitable place to spend the night. Obviously it must be clean and dry, so as not to cause problems for the horse.
- Straw is a low-cost choice. It's warm and comfortable, but it can contain fungi that can make your horse sick, so be sure to check his health often.
- Shavings are a little more expensive, but they are a good option. They are clean and hygienic, and your horse will not eat them (thus not ingesting anything that could be dangerous to his health).
- Hemp is gaining popularity, and it doesn't have the same fungal problems as straw.
Step 3. Provide your horse with adequate food
A medium-sized horse consumes about ten kilos of feed per day. Horses have relatively small and delicate stomachs, so they tend to nibble throughout the day, rather than only eating at certain times.
- Give it half a bale of green or green hay, approximately 2% of its weight. The bale can be composed of alfalfa, plain grass, or a mix of the two.
- Add wheat, oats or sweet feeds to the half bale of hay twice a day. Try to always feed him at the same time.
- Don't give him yellow, dusty, smelly hay. It can cause colic and breathing problems.
Step 4. Give the horse some salt to maintain the proper salt and water balance
Horses need minerals (such as salt) to maintain the right hydrosaline balance. Electrolytes are involved in the production of saliva, sweat, gastric acids, urine and mucus, in the function of the nervous and heart systems and in body hydration.
A salt block may be a good idea, but not all horses use it. If your horse doesn't seem interested in the salt block, you can add a couple of tablespoons of it to the feed, thus making sure your horse is getting the right minerals
Step 5. Give your horse fresh, clean water every day
Horses need at least 30 liters of water per day. The water must be fresh and clean, so make sure you change it every day. Also wash the water container at least once a week, so as to avoid the formation of mosses and bacteria.
- If you use a drinking trough, be sure to refill it at least twice a day.
- The best option is to use a pipe system, so as not to have to carry water every time. The pipes can freeze during the winter though, so be sure to check them often.
Step 6. Take care of the grazing area
Horses need space. They also need to graze throughout the day. It is advisable to plant pasture grass yourself, so as to be sure of what the horse is ingesting.
- Make sure you plant the right grass. This depends on the area, the climate and the time of year. If you are unsure, ask your vet.
- Check that there are no holes in which the horse can get hurt. Also make sure that the pen is in good condition and has no holes for the horse to get hurt or run away from. You can use wire cables, but not barbed wire, which can seriously injure the horse.
Part 2 of 4: Taking Care of Your Horse
Step 1. Clean the barn every day
It is important to remove the droppings, taking care to take them away from the barn or pen. He also arranges his bed, leveling it.
- If the horse is in a stable, you will need to clean it at least three times a day.
- Remove the dirty straw and, once the floor is disinfected, put it back on.
Step 2. Brush your horse
If the horse is in a stable, you will need to brush it every day to keep its coat healthy. You will need to do this gently, untangling the knots that have formed on the coat.
- Use a curry comb to get rid of dirt and mud. Start with a hard curry comb, then move on to something softer. It is important to use a gentle curry comb for the head and legs.
- Wash it when a sunny day arises. Make sure you use an anti-fungal shampoo. Wash it when you are sure it won't rain, otherwise you will need a waterproof cape to cover it.
- Brush the coat with a wide toothed comb. If you find any knots, untangle them with your fingers. Do not use scissors, it will take months for the hair to grow back. Do not pull the knots, it will weaken the coat.
Step 3. Exercise your horse
He has to exercise every day. If you can't handle it yourself, make sure it has room to move around, or ask someone to do it for you.
Horses need space to walk and relax after a ride. This is why it is important to have a grazing area
Part 3 of 4: Make sure the horse is healthy
Step 1. Check the paws
Horses, when not cared for properly, can easily develop hoof problems. Make sure you clean them every day, removing stones and small bits that could scratch them or cause infections. You will also need to ask a farrier to trim the hooves.
- For shod horses, be sure to trim their hooves every six weeks.
- For non-shod horses, be sure to trim their hooves every eight weeks.
Step 2. File your horse's teeth
It is very important, the teeth can become pointed, making chewing painful. You will need to ask a veterinarian to file your horse's teeth at least once a year.
Check your horse's mouth, making sure there are no problems. Check for sharp corners. Coughing, discharge from the nose, and food falling out of his mouth may be symptoms of a problem that needs to be investigated
Step 3. Have your horse checked by a vet
You must have your horse checked at least once a year. Veterinarians must vaccinate them, deworm them and monitor their general health. Uncontrolled horses can develop serious health problems.
- Your horse should be vaccinated twice a year against parasites: flu, rhinopneumonitis, encephalomyelitis and tetanus.
- Ask your veterinarian to deworm the horse at regular intervals. Some tips to reduce the risk of worms: avoid keeping too many horses in a confined area, change the grass in the pasture and remove excrement regularly.
Step 4. Watch out for poisonous plants
It is important to check that the pasture is free of herbs that are dangerous for the animal. If you take your horse for a walk, make sure the area is safe. If you suspect your horse has ingested something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Some dangers that arise during spring and summer: dry maple leaves, black walnuts, oaks, yews, pink laurels, rhododendas, azaleas and meloidae (common for example in the Middle East)
Part 4 of 4: Make sure you are ready for any eventuality
Step 1. Get your horse used to towing and other people
Get your horse used to hauling and halters, so that you won't have any problems in the future when you need to do it quickly.
Make sure your horse is used to other people. In an emergency, you may have to leave it in the hands of others
Step 2. Learn the emergency numbers and facilities in the surrounding area
Know exactly who to contact if you have any problems (for example if the horse has health problems or if a fire develops nearby).
Knowing the surrounding area will make it easier to direct help and move the horse to a safe area
Step 3. Get to know other horse owners in the area
It is useful to be in contact with people who can help you in case of danger, quickly alerting emergency services.
- This can be very useful in case of infections and diseases that are developing in the equine population of the region.
- Get help if needed. The more people you know, the more people will be able to help you with problems.
Step 4. Make sure important documents are in a safe and accessible place
Avoid having to pass hundreds of cards in search of your veterinarian's number, wasting time could be fatal for the animal.
- Make sure you keep your horse's veterinary data in a safe but accessible place.
- Always carry your vet number and emergency numbers with you.
Advice
- Some horses can get sick if the hay is on a dirty surface - be sure to put a tarp between the ground and the hay.
- When you change your horse's diet, get him accustomed gradually, starting with small portions.
- Ask for advice from people more experienced than you.
- Never give them too much food.
- If you've recently bought a horse, train with it. Start with a walk, then move to a trot and so on. By doing so you will get used to each other's presence.
- This is just an example routine that should not be followed to the letter.
- In this example there are only two feeders; it is advisable to feed the horse twice a day.
- Borrow rather than buy, at least in the early days.
- Buy large quantities of food if you have a safe place to store it. You will spend less.
Warnings
- Don't make any sudden movements around a pony you recently bought, it will take some time to get used to your presence.
- Watch out for the hind legs, kicks from a sore horse can be very dangerous. Also remember that horses can bite and that their necks can turn 180 degrees very quickly.
- Never walk behind a horse. He may be kicking for no reason.
- Check your horse before taking it home.
- This is a basic guide. Horses are not machines, they should be respected and treated with love. They should be looked after under the supervision of someone experienced who knows what he is doing and who can best advise you.
- No horse deserves to be overlooked. Make sure you REALLY want one before you buy it. Working in a barn for some time is a great way to find out.
