| Horses require constant maintenance, such as feed, | | | | is a very serious condition that if untreated will cause |
| clean fresh water and plenty of it, hay or pasture, | | | | lameness or worse. Thrush is distinguished by a black |
| yearly vaccinations against diseases and shoes if you | | | | tar like substance and the smell is horrendous, not your |
| choose to shoe your horse, blankets to keep them | | | | typical manure in the foot smell. If the thrush is |
| warm and so much more. | | | | attended to immediately, it is easily stopped. If the |
| The list above is just a few of the basic requirements | | | | thrush is severe it will eat away at the horses hoof |
| you will want to think about if you are considering | | | | tissue and frog and cause bleeding which will make the |
| purchasing a horse. Of course this does not include | | | | horse very uncomfortable and/or lame. Thrush can be |
| veterinarian bills if your horse becomes ill or needs | | | | easily treated but if you are unfamiliar with it, call your |
| dental care and/or a shelter plus you will need mineral | | | | blacksmith for advice. Thrush thrives in damp and wet |
| salt blocks, blankets, first aid kit, bandages, and | | | | conditions, such as dirty stalls or muddy paddocks. A |
| wormers for parasite control. These are just some of | | | | clean stall will make a happy environment for a healthy |
| the things you will need to consider if you want the | | | | horse. |
| horse to be kept in optimum condition for overall health | | | | Horse Vaccinations |
| and wellness. | | | | There are unfortunately many diseases that can |
| Hay and Pasture | | | | affect our horses. Horse vaccines should be given at |
| Hay comes in many varieties, such as alfalfa, timothy, | | | | least once a year (sometimes twice yearly or a |
| coastal, orchard and so on. Usually your coastal and | | | | booster) for Encephalomyelitis (Sleeping Sickness) |
| orchard hay is of a moderate grade, whereas alfalfa is | | | | Tetanus Toxoid,influenza and the West Nile virus. If |
| very rich in proteins and nutrients and therefore should | | | | you have a horse that is in foal, additional shots should |
| be fed sparingly. A good quality hay should smell like | | | | be given such as the Rhinopneumonitis vaccine which |
| fresh grass after mowing. The amount you feed your | | | | is given to healthy pregnant mares in the prevention of |
| horse will vary depending on type of hay, the quality | | | | abortion from a respiratory disease that is caused by |
| and when it is cut, these are all factors to be | | | | the equine herpes virus 1. (EHV-1) |
| considered. If you are unsure, ask you veterinarian. As | | | | Horse Teeth |
| a general rule of thumb a 1,000 pound horse will forage | | | | A horses permanent teeth will come in at 5-6 years of |
| approximately 2.0-3.0 percent of its body weight in | | | | age. Caring for your horses' teeth is essential for the |
| forage daily, this includes hay and/or pasture. Of | | | | overall health of the horse. Your horses teeth should |
| course if you have good quality pasture you will need | | | | be checked at least once a year as part of a yearly |
| only to supplement the horses diet with hay during the | | | | checkup. If you notice your horse is dropping |
| winter months. | | | | excessive food from its mouth and/or doesn't want to |
| Feed and Grains | | | | accept the bit, you will want to call your veterinarian |
| There are many different types of gains n the market | | | | and have there teeth checked. A horse is a constant |
| and consist of pellets, sweet feeds, oats, corn, barley, | | | | eating machine and as a result sharp points or hooks |
| beet pulp etc. | | | | can appear on the horses teeth which will make eating |
| Pellet feed comes in different percentages based on | | | | uncomfortable. The vet can float the horses teeth |
| the amount of protein it contains, such as 10% - 12% | | | | (when the vet uses a file to file down the sharp points) |
| and higher for high performance horses. The | | | | or pull a bad tooth, whichever is the case. Your horse |
| percentage you feed your horse usually depends upon | | | | will feel better and eat better too. |
| how much the horse is worked. Remember that not | | | | Worming Your Horse |
| only the feed your horse eats contains protein, but | | | | Your horse should be wormed every 6-8 weeks. This |
| take into account that hay and good quality pasture | | | | will get rid of any parasites he may have picked up. I |
| also provides protein and should be included in there | | | | use a wormer that has Ivermectin in it and I have |
| overall daily ration. Protein is important for the | | | | never had a problem with parasites. I usually rotate my |
| development and repair of the horses' muscle tissue | | | | wormer every other month, but I always get a |
| and it is great for healthy skin, hair, and hooves. | | | | wormer that has the invermectin in it. Your horse |
| Treats! | | | | should be wormed every 6-8 weeks. This will get rid |
| Lets not forget treats! Horses love their treats just as | | | | of any parasites your horse may have picked up. I |
| our children do. Sweet treats such as sugar cubes | | | | personally use a wormer that has 'Ivermectin' in it and I |
| should be avoided, but horses love carrots, apple slices, | | | | have never had a problem with parasites. I usually |
| yogurt and there is a great selection of treats at your | | | | rotate my wormer every other month, but I always get |
| local feed store. | | | | a wormer that has the invermectin in it. There are |
| Hoof Care | | | | many wormers on the market in paste and pellet form, |
| First and Foremost - pick your horses feet every day. | | | | always read the labels as all wormers are not equal. |
| Check for stones, debris and manure that can | | | | There is allot of horse advice out there, I have just |
| become trapped in your horses feet. Most horses | | | | given you a few of the most important items that I |
| should have there feet trimmed every 6-8 weeks, this | | | | believe will give you an idea of what having a horse |
| depends on the rate of hoof growth and your horse. | | | | and caring for a horse is all about. The health and |
| You will also want to check for loose shoes (if your | | | | happiness of your horse is in your hands, if you don't |
| horse has shoes) because they will need to be | | | | know something, ask, if you don't know anyone to ask, |
| repaired to prevent lameness. Always be on the look | | | | do some research or speak with a Veterinarian. |
| out for thrush, thrush is a fungal infection of the foot. It | | | | |