When you first start caring for a horse, there may seem to be lots to remember. But it’s important to ensure all their needs are met. When your horse is happy they listen better and learn to interact better with you.
Below is a list of basic things to remember when caring for your horse and keeping him/her happy.
Ensure that they have enough to eat
Hay and grass (also known as roughage) will be your horse’s primary food. Some horses also need grain in order to have sufficient energy for work and to keep their condition up. It will take a horse around two days for him to process what he eats. Food is one of the key instruments to his happiness and ensuring he has enough to eat is one of the most important things to consider when caring for a horse.
Fresh Water
Like any living thing, a horse needs access plenty of fresh, clean water. The water should be changed at least once a day to make sure it’s fresh. Once a horse eats, he needs to make soup in the hindgut. If a horse does not get enough water then the food will compact and that will cause him trouble. Keep your baby happy by making sure he has plenty to eat and plenty of fresh water to drink.
Buddies
Horses are herd animals and are usually happiest in a group or with a friend. It doesn’t even have to be another horse! There are many stories of horses who are best friends with a dog, the stable cat or even a bird. If it’s impossible to provide another animal for your horse, it’s important you spend extra time with him for company.
Exercise
In caring for a horse, remember, all horses need exercise. Exercise allows good blood flow to their feet; it helps to keep them in shape and helps them to digest their food. Unless your horse is injured, and you’ve been told by the vet to keep them still then they need exercise. Take them on a trail ride or, on days with bad weather, walk them up and down the aisle of the barn if that’s what it takes.
Routine
Your horse has an internal clock inside him. Horses very quickly get to know what time their food will arrive, when it’s time to exercise and all the daily things keeping him on a routine each day. Try to keep having him do each thing around the same time every day.. This will make for a much happier horse. If you have to make a change, try to do it slowly.
Down Time
Your horse needs “downtime”. Let him run around on his own in the pasture or in a fenced-in area where he has room to graze and just be himself. Putting him in a pen or on a waking line isn’t giving him downtime. At the least, put him on a lead, a ways from the barn, and let him graze or hand walk him.
Ventilation and Visual Stimulation
Have you ever noticed that if you walk through a horse’s barn in the dark, he isn’t really happy about it and will usually make “grumpy” noises? They don’t like not being able to see anything. Instead of using a solid door on their stalls, try using a stall guard. Have some cats in the barn for the horse to watch them play.
Make sure there is ventilation in their barn because horses love the natural smells of each season and it allows them to breathe free.
Veterinary Care
There are several things you need to attend to regularly, even if your horse isn’t sick. These include having his hooves trimmed, worming him and having his teeth checked.
You aren’t happy when your feet hurt, neither is your horse. If his feet get unbalanced or too long, it will begin to affect his performance and his attitude. He regularly needs a farrier come to check his hooves, trim them and, if you decide to shoe him, these need changing regularly.
You will also need to have your horse dewormed or he will have parasites. This can and will eventually cause him heart problems if not treated.
Also, make sure that the horse’s teeth are checked regularly. A horse having teeth that are too sharp can change his eating habits and even get him to where he doesn’t want to eat at all because it will irritate the inside of his cheeks.
Of course, you should also have a vet check your horse over regularly also.
Grooming
Grooming is an important process in caring for a horse because it is a perfect way to create a bond between you and your horse. Take the time to clean and groom him. He has an itch that he can’t reach just as you do. Find those special spots that he likes scratched and pamper him. Make sure to brush him before taking him out for a ride and brush him afterward too.
In doing these things, you’ll notice if he has any injuries or bad bug bites that need tending to.
Give Him Something to Do
Your horse needs to have a purpose. Something that he knows is his job to do. It can be something as complicated as barreling or it can be something as simple as going for his carrot. Racehorses know what their job is, and they love it. The same goes for cutting horses.
If your horse has a “lack of focus”, it’s probably because he doesn’t know what his “job” is in the world. Even if you make the horse’s job just for him to walk from one spot to another and then stand. Praise him for it every single time and you will start to recognize that look of happiness on his face.
If you are unsure of other ways to care for your horse or make him happy, talk with his vet. If you get the feeling that your horse isn’t happy, that is usually a sign that something is possibly wrong. Below are some signs to watch for in your horse that can tell you if he may be unhappy or getting ill.
Signs of an Unhappy Horse
Attitude
Depression, being withdrawn or aggressive
Bad Habits
Kicking, circling, lunging, cribbing, or weaving
Lack of Interest
If he seems bored with his surroundings
Physical Appearance
If he has a lackluster look about him or a sunken look
Changes in Appetite
If he refuses his food or starts eating his food rapidly
Training Problems
If he starts suddenly spooking, stubbornness, short attention span can all be signs that he is unhappy or getting ill.
Make sure that you discuss any of these symptoms with your vet.
The most vital thing that you can do in caring for a horse is to become familiar with its habits. This way if and when there is a change you will notice it immediately and can talk to the vet.