More important than anything else your horse should be happy and healthy. Besides training and riding with my horse Sebastian, I always put a lot of effort and thought into how to care for him. I know that my success in dressage depends ultimately on his health. Sebastian is very active and lively and to keep him that way I need to be sure to meet all his basic needs, such as feeding, brushing, grooming and hoof care.
Sebastian is not a complicated horse to care for, he enjoys my attention, and when I call his name, his ears perk up and point in the direction from which he hears my voice. Horses can hear sounds from as far away as seven miles, so when I whisper Sebastian’s name I know that he can hear my voice. When I am late to the barn Sebastian waits for me at the front gate. We both treasure the time we spend together. He loves to be groomed and will stand quietly while I brush his beautiful black coat. Then I spend another few minutes brushing his long tail which nearly touches the ground.
Sebastian loves his hay rack filled with luscious hay and his water buckets filled with cool water. He loves to dunk his hay into the water like a child dunks his cookies into milk. I also spend a lot of time and trouble, and money, finding him the best local hay. He is a really happy horse, as anyone could tell in a moment. I believe the reason for his happiness, aside from his own nature, is because he is treated with love, care and respect. I always make sure I praise him and tell him what a good boy he is. You know, horses are like people in that they need to feel loved and cared for. If you have a horse don’t ever forget that.
Sebastian’s day starts out with a hearty breakfast, which includes nutritious grain, and fresh hay. Breakfast his favorite meal. Sebastian loves to take his time and eat all the grain and hay that I give him. After breakfast he will be turned out to play and spend time with the other horses on the farm. I leave two big water tubs right outside of the barn so Sebastian can drink fresh water whenever he is thirsty. I also leave extra fresh hay for Sebastian and I see him return many times throughout the day, especially at this time of year when the grass has long since stopped growing. Horses, like people, need to have a set feeding schedule to assure good health and wellness.
I learned over the years, in order to assure a healthy and shiny coat, horses should be brushed daily. This not only promotes a healthy coat but gives the horse owner a chance to check for hidden cuts or puncture wounds that might otherwise be undetected. Horses often like to roll around on the ground sometimes if only for the fun of it. Good grooming habits by you the owner protect your horse from environmental conditions such as wind, rain and sun, too.
Sebastian loves being brushed. I often keep three or four different brushes in his grooming bucket. His favorite brush is a very soft body brush. Implementing good grooming habits on a daily basis not only keeps a horse’s coat healthy but also is very relaxing for both the horse and rider, and is a bonding process.
“Worming” horses could be easily overlooked with all the various responsibilities caring for horses will bring. I worm my horses at least three or four times a year. Worms are usually caused by flies that lay their eggs in low grass, hay or even on a horse’s coat. When ingested, these eggs can hatch in a horse’s intestine and cause major problems—loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, dull coat, or even colic. A wide variety of worm pastes are available on the market today. If you’re in doubt which worm medicine is right for your horse and how often to administer it, consult your veterinarian. Before I give Sebastian his worm medicine I use a weight tape to measure him, so as to gauge his weight, which determines the amount of medicine to administer. After I know approximately how much he weighs, I put the correct amount of worm medicine in his grain. Sebastian likes the apple flavor of the medicine and so he eats all of his grain. I will often watch and wait until he eats all the grain before I start to do something else in the barn.
Hoof care is also a very important aspect to your horse’s health. The health of Sebastian’s hoofs depends of having a well-skilled farrier. A farrier can help decide if a horse will be better off wearing shoes or simply going barefoot. Health problems can be avoided if a horse owner takes the necessary steps to ensure good hoof care. It is the horse owner’s responsibility to screen the farrier’s qualifications before allowing him or her to work on the horse. Horseshoeing or trimming is an art.
A skilled farrier will consider the whole horse, including the disposition, conformation and the tracking of his steps forward before developing a hoof trimming plan. Every horse is an individual and it is of utmost importance that a farrier has the knowledge and expertise to properly determine and care for each horse’s hoof needs. This was the reason I myself decided to learn to become a skilled farrier. Sebastian has gotten to know and trust my farrier skills; he gets excited when he sees me bring out my farrier tool box. He knows that I always bring carrots, apples, and sometimes even mint candy to reward him for his outstanding behavior while I work on his feet.
Part of good horse care is stable management. Sebastian loves a clean and well-maintained stall. This includes clean water buckets free from scum buildup. To keep water buckets clean I have a small brush and as I empty Sebastian’s water bucket I scrub all residues off the inside and outside of the bucket. To keep flies to a minimum I muck, or clean out, Sebastian’s stall on a daily basis. Then I sprinkle a fresh clean bed of sawdust into the stall. Taking good care of your horse’s basic needs and keeping good stable management practices can help your horse live a healthier, happier and longer life. Good stable management includes cleaning and mucking horses’ stalls on a daily basis. It is not sanitary to allow your horse to stand in manure or urine for long periods of time. Bedding should consist of wood shavings produced especially for horses. Use of straw bedding can be problematic for some horses because it can cause colic if ingested.
It is very important to vaccinate your horses at least once a year for rabies, flu, and tetanus and west Nile virus. Vaccinating your horse can prevent viral illnesses that may lead to common ailments such as respiratory infection or heart related issues. When health concerns arise, consult a veterinarian who specializes in equine care.
It is important to have water buckets and abundant fresh water available for your horse at all times. In the winter, it’s best to have heated electric water buckets available both inside and outside the barn to keep your horses hydrated and to help prevent colic.
I recommend blanketing horses, especially older horses that may lose much of their body heat in colder winter month. A wide variety of blankets are available for every season, including medium to heavy, waterproof blankets for rainy conditions, and fly sheets for summer months. Blanketing your horse correctly can help it stay cool and offer protection from the sun, flies, and mosquitoes. Protecting your horse with waterproof blankets can help prevent skin and coat condition such as rain rot, a fungus caused by excessive wetness. A blanket in the winter is always a good idea. Sebastian loves to wear his blanket as soon as it gets colder outside and winter approaches. It keeps him warm and gives me peace of mind to know Sebastian is warm on a cold winter night.
Besides caring for your horse, spending leisure time together helps build your horse’s good attitude and can be one of the most rewarding ways to develop a relationship with your horse. There are no special skills to sit or walk a horse. Observing your horse while in the stall or grazing in the pasture can help you better understand its habits and behaviors. You don’t always have to be riding your horse. Special time spent together just hanging out will strengthen the bond between horse and rider.
We should always think about staying safe while spending time with your horse. In order to stay safe you should consider a few basic rules. Horses have blind spots—one in front and one in back. When I refer to a horse’s blind spot I don’t mean that the horse is blind but rather when a person approaches a horse from a certain angle, the horse cannot clearly make out the person rightly and sees him or her with blurry vision. The first blind spot is located right in front of his head. A horse cannot see an object clearly until it is six inches in front of his face. The second blind spot is located right behind a horse, and therefore, it is always safest to approach a horse from the front, and in a slow and calm manner.
Take care never to alarm your horse. If a person startles or surprises a horse, it can result in an extreme reaction, which may cause serious injury. People’s quick movements can trigger a horse’s natural fight or flight instinct and can cause it to kick, bite, or even bolt. It is our responsibility to be aware that horses can have quick reactions to certain triggers. A horse will allow its handler to step into its inner circle to groom it when a trusting relationship has been established.
Finally, horses have a great recognition of a person’s voice. So speak to your horse a lot, and speak gently. This can be one of your most valuable tools when handling horses!
