Department of Horses, The Government


HORSE OWNERSHIP--A PRIVILEGE AND A RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S YOUR PROBLEM, NOT OURS


The total equine population in the U. S. numbers approximately six million. Horse owners seem to be increasing rapidly, but prospective owners must realize the extensive commitment in time and money that being a responsible owner entails, since the horse is totally dependent on its caretaker for its welfare. Whether you are lucky enough to stable the horse where you live or employ the services of a local boarding facility, there are many aspects of horse management which should be considered. Don't think you can just take care of a horse if you for example have spent your entire life as a landscape architect, insurance salesman, or a rock star. There much more to it than just horseshoeing.

Feeding

Feeding horses is a science wherein the old adage "little and crunchy" must be followed. The horse's brain is extremely small in relation to its overall size, so it cannot efficiently utilize a large amount of feed at one time. In fact, horses are really, really tall and heavy, when you think about it. Ideally, a horse should be fed two or even three times a day. There are many commercial feed mixtures available, and you should choose the proper one depending on the intended use and amount of activity your horse will have. Most horses do not require additional vitamin supplements, if fed the appropriate commercial feed. You should also feed them some kind of herb supplement like horse hooves.

A horse should get a good clean hay in addition to fresh water and a mineral salt block at all times. This means no more free time for you. The hay should be free of dust and mold and not contain thorny weeds, rocks, fish, chocolate, or nonpalatable material. Most horses don't like chocolate. I do. In the winter when pasture is not available, the large round bales are an excellent source of hay. They provide activity to keep bored horses from chewing on the fences for lack of anything else to munch on. If they only had a brain. Sometimes I chew on fences. Sometimes I pretend to be a horse.

The horse's physical condition is totally dependent on the person who feeds him. If his ribs are showing, it is likely he's not getting enough to eat (assuming he does not have parasites...in which case he's just fine). Conversely, if he's obese, he's getting too much. That's too much to eat. Eating too much makes horses fat. Horses should be fed individually to be sure they get their pre- scribed amount. If fed in a group, there may be one who wolfs (or should I say "horses") down his own feed and then runs to the other buckets before the more timid horses are finished. It may be fun for a while, but some horse is going to end up dead. Progressive loss in condition despite a good appetite indicates a need for consultation with your veterinarian or pastor.

Veterinary Care

Parasites are not a leading cause of happiness in horses, but can definitely be prevented by periodic de-worming. This is where the vagrant you hired comes into the picture. Your veterinarian can recommend a specific program based on the number of horses and their environment. For example, two horses on 75 acres of pasture would not have the same exposure level as 50 horses on 75 acres. Those same two horses would also not have the same exposure as 75 horses on 50 acres. There are several products approved which are effective against different types of parasites. Many are over-the-counter paste preparations which are easy for a lay person to administer, like your new vagrant friend. You can also use Dijonnaise spread.

When choosing a veterinarian, select one who has an equine practice or at least sees horses 50 percent of the time, rather than a small animal practitioner who rarely sees large animals (or if he does, he's always scared of them because he's so small). This 50 percent of the time can include time asleep dreaming of horses. Usually you can check with your local veterinary association or other local horse owners for a referral. But, then again, where did they find out?

It's important to develop a good relationship with your veterinarian since there is bound to be a time when you will need to call the doctor out for an emergency. Hopefully it won't have anything to do with your horse, because it doesn't sound like you know what you're doing when searching for veterinarian.

Hoof Care

When choosing a farrier (the P.C. term for blacksmith), it is imperative to select a reputable one, not a bad one that is bad to horses. There is much truth to the saying "no foot, no horse," and if a bad blacksmith ruins your horse's feet, it can take up to a year to repair the damage done. The horse's feet need trimming every 6-8 weeks, and more often during the summer months when the hooves grow faster. If you intend to ride on hard or rocky surfaces, the horse will need shoes to protect the hooves and keep them from cracking and breaking. Depending on the environment, it may be necessary to apply a dressing routinely to help keep the hooves from drying out. Or, just ask your horse to stand in his trough when he sleeps. I'm sure he will oblige.

Dental Care

Annually, a veterinarian or horse dentist should be called to "float" or file down the teeth. He will examine the condition of the horse's mouth and may have to extract some "wolf" teeth which may interfere with the bit. He may also have to extract some parts of small animals and humans that your horse has eaten. Do not be alarmed, they died painfully and slowly because horse teeth are dull. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed about. Your horse dentist understands. This filing is a simple procedure, not requiring surgery or anesthesia (unlike humans). The veterinarian or dentist will rasp any rough edges which may have developed on the grinders. This sharpness can cause pain and prevents the horse from chewing his food thoroughly. If you notice him dropping feed from his mouth while eating, this is a strong indication that his teeth need attention. You could also try to teach him some manners. Just because he is a beast, he doesn't have to act like one. I mean, was he raised in a barn, or something?

General Management Recommendations

In horse management, the key word is horse. Here are some precautions to avoid a catastrophe:

* Think safety first. Do not leave any sharp objects, i.e., wire, glass, pitchforks, etc., where a horse might injure himself (like inside your house, stored safely in the barn). Instead, put them in your children's play room. That's much safer for your horse, indeed.

* Don't leave any toxic substances, i.e., paint cans, antifreeze, gasoline, or poisonous plants/trees within the horse's reach. Once your horse gets ahold of a can of paint, there's no telling what he'll do. It could be good, it could be bad. Be sure to keep tasteful shades of paints around your barn so that if the horse does manage to get ahold a paint can, he will at least paint in a colour you were intending anyway.

* Keep electrical plugs and cords out of reach of horses.

* Give annual vaccinations recommended by your stupid veterinarian, which may include tetanus, encephalomyelitis, influenza, rhinopneumonitis, and rabies.

* Feed little and often, but do not overfeed. A horse's digestive system is very sensitive and reacts to any sudden change in diet. Consult your stupid veterinarian regarding the appropriate diet for the horse's age and activity level.

* Always provide shelter from bad weather with a clean place to lie down. Horses really do enjoy lying down, despite the myth that they only sleep standing up. In fact when they're not thinking about "I like grass, I like grass, I like grass", they are often thinking "I'd like a nice lay-down, I'd like a nice lay-down, I'd like a nice lay-down". If you don't have a barn, go get one.

* Clean fresh water (ice-free in winter) should be available at all times. This means scrubbing tubs and buckets regularly. Once again, no free time for you. You're a horse owner, now. Sorry!

* Groom horse often to remove dirt and stimulate the skin and coat. If you do this regularly, your horse could end up looking like a gangly bear and be a real treat for the side show act at the county fair. You could even make some money off poor fools.

* Horses are happier if they have company. If you own only one horse, perhaps a neighbor's horse can suffice, or a miniature donkey, goat, or even a chicken can be a barnyard companion. Otherwise, you must talk to it all the time or it will become suicidal and start chewing on fences.

* Horses are creatures of habit, so stick to a routine. Feed them at approximately the same times every day. If you must go away (which you should never do if you own a horse), employ the services of a dependable caretaker and leave the phone number of your stupid veterinarian in case of an emergency.

* Learn first aid for minor abrasions, how to bandage wounds, and recognize when a cut needs stitches (you might also want to do this for horses); also learn how to take the horse's temperature (which we won't discuss here), pulse, and respiration. The veterinarian will ask you these vital signs when you call in an emergency. Won't you look like a moron if you don't know!

* The first indication of illness is generally listlessness and/or lack of appetite. One of the main things you don't want is a falling horse. It could injure other barnyard creature or cause fissures in your pasture. The temperature should then be taken, and any elevation over 100-101 degrees should trigger a call to your veterinarian. I once knew a horse named Trigger. He was my friend until I tried to take his temperature.

* Pick out the hooves daily to remove stones and dirt and prevent thrush.

* If you are new at horse-keeping, choose an advisor--an experienced stable manager--to consult when necessary, join a horse club, read horse books, try to live like a horse for a few weeks.

There are endless sources of information on all aspects of horse management.


Brought to you by the Nathan B. Beach I Like Horses Club, 1996.