Horse care is a crucial aspect of Horse keeping. If for example, at dawn, you lead your horses out, work them or race them as the case may be, tie them to a trailer or pole in the scorching sun, feed them and water them. And at the end of the day, you head back to the stable and with a pat on the back, you say your goodbye and retire for the night. Chances are, if you keep the routine up day in, day out, your horses will grow tired and eventually, performance will decline. To allow you get the best out of your horses, here are few tips for taking care of your horses.
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Quality hay
Delivery of food to your horses must be timely, and balanced. Horses require high-quality food of the right quantity. Establish a feeding routine or schedule built upon little but constant feeding.
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Select the best brush for the season
Brushes are of different types and as expected, they serve different purposes. Brushes should be selected based on the season. A rubber curry brush can be used on delicate skin and hard brushes can be used to remove excess skin during winter.
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Pay close attention to the hair
When brushing the hair, smoothen and trim out the hair. The brushing should be to the direction to which the hair grows. Do not clip the ear hairs as they protect the horse from flies, dust, etc.
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Bath your horse regularly
Wash your horse frequently and ensure they are shampooed. It is advisable you prevent water from entering their eyes during the wash. Attention should be paid to areas like under the tails and between the hind legs that are easy to ignore.
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Vaccination
Diseases are also prevalent among horses. Vaccinate your horse frequently to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
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Isolation and quarantine
Sick horses should be isolated from the population. This way, a communicable disease can be curbed, and a further outbreak suppressed.
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Inspect the teeth
Ensure to have the teeth checked out routinely. They can be filed to even length by a dentist as in the case of uneven wear down of teeth. Other issues like loss of a tooth can be attended to.
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Have a timeout with your horse
Aside from work and all, it is essential you get to know your horse and allow your horse to know you. This way, you can discover its behavioral pattern and gain its trust. Just like Brian from australian writings review would always say; “the only thing I can accurately predict is the next thing my horse will do”. You should understand your horse.
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Don’t go hard on your horse, go slow
Understand your horse is not a computer. Eagerness to get it all into its head might set it on the edge. Teach your horse new tricks one step at a time.
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Engage the horse in joint strengthening activities
Allow the horse adequate grazing time and nutrients that possess curative properties. Frequent grazing also ensures an active digestive system. Engage your horse in healthy activities and keep it happy.
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Keep the environment safe
Anything that may be hazardous to the health of the horse should be removed. Poisonous plants, for example, should be weeded from grazing field, sharp objects around the stables should be removed.
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Get help
Issues can arise that will be higher than what you bargained for. Do not be shy of getting a professional’s help in handling your horse.
Conclusion
All things considered, whatever your purpose is for keeping a horse, you don’t need to be an expert to do so. The tips above will constitute a good start for keeping a healthy and happy horse.
Lilian Chifley is a writer and editor at australian writings review. She loves reading books about modern technologies, spending time with family and shopping.
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