Remember the time, as a kid, you used to go for horse riding in fairs, wishing that you had one at home too! Well if you still are into thinking of buying a horse to pet around and enjoy a ride everyday then better be it, but before you get your horsey home, make sure you have ample space time and resources to take care of your friend. Horses need a lot of attention and maintenance on regular basis, else they might easily fall ill. PetAttack brings to you points to keep in mind and ways to take proper care of you equine friend.
8. Cost
Horses or ponies, you better buy them only if you can, because here my friends the cost of maintenance will be more than the cost of buying. Yes, the food, space, shelter and medical care are going to cost you a lot more than you think you can think. Never mind if you are cousin of Richie-rich. In the end its all about loving and caring for your friend which can give you as along as 35 years of companionship.
7. Space
You wouldn’t just want to buy that four legged mammal just because you like riding it. It is not a dog or cat or a parrot that you can keep in your home or lap and pet around. A horse needs ample space and when I say ample it literally means a lot. It needs to roam, stride, run and most of all graze whole throughout the day. So unless you are rich enough to have a huge grassland in your backyard or you are one among the bunch of hippies, that move across lands, your friend won’t stay happy in your home.
6. Food
Horses eat a lot. They have got weak digestion so they cant take in and digest two meals a day like we humans do. They simply graze throughout the day. They mostly feed on hay and forage. Grains can be included in their food twice a day along with veggies like carrots and apples.
5. Grooming and Cleaning
Get your brushes out folks, its time you give a little grooming to your friend. If the horse is outside most of the time, don’t groom it too much, that removes the good natural oils that keep it protected from weather. Grooming is a vital part of keeping a horse. You got to buy curry comb, stiff brush and not-stiff brush. If the horsey fur has got too dirty start with curry comb to brush of the dirt. Use a wet sponge, make your horse shine like a brilliant stallion. Brush the mane and tail with a comb. Try avoid getting kicked and for that don’t stay directly behind the horse. Believe me,you will not regret anything more than standing behind that tall legged creature.
Your horse might keep moving away from time to time while you brush and groom it. Try making them stand still by tying a quick release knot in the lead rope.
4. Hoof Picking
Here comes the most critical part of cleaning, the hoof picking. Probably you might not be knowing it, so please don’t try to do it yourself and hurt the horse or get kicked. It may be possible that your pet can get injured and never be able to run properly, so better contact a professional. A hoof pick is used for picking. Run your hand down his legs, press the fetlock and lift its foot. Be careful with the sensitive area that is the soft part called frog. Remove the dirt and small pebbles from the groove around the frog area.
3. Exercise
Your horse needs regular exercise. Take it out everyday for a ride or run into an open field or paddock. Make sure the fencing of the area where your horse moves around isn’t made of barbed wire else it may be a cause for injuries. After the exercise if it sweats too much don’t let it drink too much water, just few sips would do. Walk it around so that it cools off slowly. Go for the sweaty summer way, ride your horse and make him exercise while during winters keep it warm and don’t go hard on it. Sweat can be removed by wet sponge and again the grooming and cleaning with different brushes. There is no fixed time to groom your horse, do it when you feel like and do it properly and gently all over the body using different combs and curries. There are separate face brushes which can are made for the face, use sponge or cloth to clean the ears, eyes and nose. If you have multiple horses avoid using same wipes to prevent spreading of any infections.
2. Shelter
So you have a got a huge house, a wide backyard, nearby some stretch of fields and a separate paddock for your horsey, but it needs its own house too. A stable, a barn or a shed would do. Covered from three sides, this would be where your horse would take refuge in summers, during cold and in rains. Make sure the place around is clean, stuffed with hay. Make sure the droppings are cleaned regularly and your horse has a clean and dry bedding of its own where it can rest away, even the smell can irritate your pet. Even when the horse is outside the muck should be regularly cleaned.
1. Care
Horses are gentle creatures. They just need your care and patience and they can be your best friends. Buy when only when you think you can fully take care of it. Regular medical checkup is necessary. Horses need to get Tetanus and other vaccinations once in a while and regular veterinary care. On any medical eventuality, the costs are going to blow you away, so think before you wish to own your equine. Since they graze upon grass regularly, horses are prone to get intestinal worms, hence the deworming is required every six to eight weeks.
Remember a healthy horse is a happy horse.
The post Horses Neigh! appeared first on Pet Attack.
