Tips that just make good horse sense!
As the owner of any pet, you understand how important it is to ensure that your horses have a safe, healthy and happy existence. Whether you’ve owned horses before or are just getting your first, it is important to understand their special needs and follow certain practices to ensure that you’re providing the best home for them. Here are 5 ways that you can keep your horse healthy:
1. Find a good vet
Not all veterinarians care for horses, so the most important thing to do is to find one that has extensive experience. You should ask people you trust in and around the horsing community and any friends that also have horses as pets. Your vet will be your partner in ensuring that your horse gets the proper healthcare, vaccinations and deworming. He or she will also need to give your horse a yearly exam to be on top of any conditions or issues that arise because early detection of medical issues is always best.
2. Make sure your horse eats well
Just like people, what your horse eats has a direct effect on how healthy or unhealthy they are. Give him high-quality grain and roughage (hay). Hay is the most important part of a horse’s diet; they can consume one to two percent of their body weight in hay per day. And it’s important to note that horses spend much of their time eating, so giving them the highest quality food is ideal to keep them healthy and at the right weight for their body.
3. Care for those hooves
Horses spend a lot of their lives standing, so it only makes sense to ensure that their hooves are healthy. Hoof care is as important as is the food that you feed them, so make sure you know how to care for your horse’s hooves and have them checked by the vet on a regular basis.
4. Don’t skimp on dental
Wild horses wear down their teeth naturally but domestic horses generally do not have that option. It’s important to either file your horse’s teeth on a regular basis or to have your vet do it. If they are not filed, many times a horse’s teeth will wear down unevenly which can cause problems with chewing. You will also want to have your horse’s teeth cleaned and checked on a regular basis to keep an eye out for abscesses and any other problems.
5. Keep mosquitoes, flies and other pests away
As humans we all hate mosquitoes and with good reason: they’re biting pests that can put a damper on any outdoor activity. But did you know that mosquitoes can also carry diseases that could harm your horse? These bloodsucking bugs carry potentially fatal viruses, and although your horse will be vaccinated, it is important to protect them from the bites of mosquitoes. Flies are also a big concern because they carry potentially harmful bacteria. Certain flies also have painful bites that can cause your horse to continually stomp their legs to find relief, which can damage their legs, joints, and hooves or cause loose shoes and loss of weight and condition.
Platinum Mosquito Protection can install an automatic misting system inside your barn, over the horse stalls to keep mosquitos and flies at bay. Caring for your horse can be simple if you follow these tips and ensure that you are up to date on all their medical needs. Contact us today to discover how our automatic mosquito misting system can eliminate mosquitoes, flies and other harmful insects.
