How to properly care for a horse: tips for a beginner on caring for a horse

Horse nutrition

Even though horses are not used to picking at their food while eating, you need to learn how to feed them correctly. To do this, it is important to understand: the health of the horse will directly depend on how correctly the diet is selected. Firstly, the horse’s menu must contain vitamins and all the necessary minerals to prevent a deficiency of vital microelements. The horse's menu should change depending on the season, the age of the animal, and the purpose for which it is kept.

The most accessible food for horses is grain crops; their price is quite low. Many livestock breeders make the unacceptable mistake of overfeeding their horses with grain. The fact is that this can provoke serious problems in the digestive system, including stomach rupture from overfilling. Death in this case occurs in 99% of cases, and it will be terrible and painful.

Horses are representatives of herbivores, therefore, their diet should consist exclusively of plant foods. It is strictly forbidden to “pamper” your pet with confectionery, chocolates, and so on; a moment of weakness can cost several days of treatment and putting the gastrointestinal tract in order. The most successful components of a horse menu are considered to be hay or grass, depending on the season, vegetables and barley with oats. Here is an approximate daily menu for an average horse:

first grade hay - about 5 kg;
oats or muesli mixture - about 4-5 kg;
bran - normally about 1 kg;
vegetables (beet or carrots) - 1.5-3 kg.

Features of winter driving

When it comes to winter riding a horse, the most often asked questions are how to prepare the animal for a walk and how to “cool down” its hot muscles before returning to the stall.

Our ancestors believed that if a horse lies down on the snow, it will not lead to anything bad. On the contrary, such behavior was regarded as a sign of the speedy arrival of spring.

Preparing to ride

So, it's time for a walk, but before you leave, you need to prepare for the upcoming winter run.

Proper preparation of a horse for a walk consists of the following steps:

Warming up the bridle (using a special gel or boiling water). Cold iron will simply stick to the animal's oral mucosa.
Hoof cleaning. At the end of the procedure, it is necessary to treat the surface with oil or Vaseline to prevent a snowball from forming on them.
Warm up. It is necessary to warm up both the horse and yourself before winter riding.
Artificial heating. Some short-haired breeds need to be covered with special blankets (blankets).

Direction while driving

During winter walks, the location of the ride is important. It is advisable that this be a proven area or a place with a good overview. The snow height should not exceed 5 cm.

There are contraindications for travel:

Ice. Even a horseshoe with a rubber tread does not fully guarantee that a horse will not fall on ice, especially when running.
Deep snow. It can hide holes, stumps and other obstacles underneath.
Wet slopes. The horse will easily slip and fly down along with the rider.
Dirt, a large amount of which can hide dangerous objects. This can cause you to slip or get loaded.

Horse cooling

After a run, a hot animal should not be immediately sent to the stall.

Before feeding the horse and leaving it in the stable, you need to let it cool down by following these steps:

Check ear temperature. They should be warm. If they are hot, you need to lead the horse a little so that they cool down.
Dry the wool. Using a towel, just ruffle the surface of the body (this will help the moisture evaporate faster).
Remove snow from fur and hooves. Lubricate the horseshoes with Vaseline again.
Comb the fur. This will promote blood flow and warm the animal.
Short-haired horses must be covered with a special natural blanket.

So, caring for animals in winter is always a troublesome task, because during this cold season they need more warmth, vitamins and attention.

But if you follow simple rules (some are described above) and devote maximum free time to your pet, then no winter can harm the health of the horse.

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The importance of watering

The importance of water in a horse’s life is worth talking about in a separate section. It is strictly necessary to provide water twice a day, and the water temperature should be about 18-20°C.

The lucky owners of a sporting filly or foal should remember that she should never be given water immediately after finishing training; you need to wait about 1-1.5 hours.

It happens that a horse cannot calm his thirst. In this case, you can calm the animal in a cunning way: distract it from the water with food. Usually a handful of hay or grass is poured into a container with liquid, which switches the horse to food.

Horses, and especially foals, must have a place where they can hide from cold wind, rain or snow while keeping horses in winter. This can be a special room: a stable (stall) or an ordinary barn with a roof, where drinking bowls with clean running water should also be located.

Drinking regime

Water satisfies the animal's needs and improves digestion. A horse needs about 30-60 liters of water daily.

It is better to feed vegetables after hay

It depends on the load and air temperature. The water must be fresh and clean, so it needs to be changed every day. The water container is washed weekly to prevent bacteria from forming.

The best option is to use running water.

Important! In winter, more water is required due to the predominance of dry food in the diet.

The importance of watering

The importance of water in a horse’s life is worth talking about in a separate section. It is strictly necessary to provide water twice a day, and the water temperature should be about 18-20°C.

The lucky owners of a sporting filly or foal should remember that she should never be given water immediately after finishing training; you need to wait about 1-1.5 hours.

Containment systems

There are three main systems by which horses are restrained. We will tell you about each of them.

Herd system

Horses are kept in certain conditions, which are as natural as possible. Thanks to this, maintenance costs are reduced and the livestock increases faster. Horses are divided into several groups (distribution depends on age and gender). For example, among them are stallions, single and pregnant mares.

It is better to implement this maintenance method in practice in steppe and mountainous areas. In winter, animals need to be fed: put hay next to the place where the herd stands. Also remember that horses will need to be protected from the wind by providing adequate space.

Stable system

Animals are kept in stables that are specially equipped for this purpose. When it is necessary to walk animals or arrange training for them, they are taken out to pastures or separate areas.

Mixed housing system

It involves a combination of the two previous methods. When it is warm outside, horses graze in the open air, and in winter they are kept in stables. A mixed system is best suited for farms with a significant number of horses.

We bathe the horse

Regardless of what horse keeping systems are used in the village, it is worth mentioning right away that horses are bathed only in the summer, when the temperature outside is high. Moreover, it is also not worth forcing a horse or foal; it is recommended to take into account the mood of the horse. For example, if a horse has a strong fear of water, there is no need to force it to swim in the river at all costs, it will not do any good. Such a horse is bathed only at home, on the farm, using water from a hose. You need to start with a weak pressure so that the animal gets used to the procedure and understands that nothing threatens it.

It is important to use special cosmetics for horses when bathing. Nowadays there are a lot of detergents, shampoos and conditioners on sale that make the process of caring for a horse even more enjoyable and simpler.

Daily walks

Every horse needs daily walks. For this there must be a certain space: a pasture fenced with safe and durable material.

It is important to make sure that there are no grasses on the pasture that are harmful to the health of the animal. If the horse is in the stable for a long time, it needs to be warmed up. A walk should be an increase in vigor for the animal, and not a grueling ordeal.

Walking has several positive qualities: it strengthens the musculoskeletal system, restores the nervous and respiratory systems.

Any movement is useful and aimed at burning calories, which means that the animal is not at risk of excess weight. Every 2-3 weeks you need to give rhythmic exercise to the arena to strengthen the leg muscles and maintain shape. The longer the walks, the better.

Important! In winter, at a temperature of -20 degrees, the animal is not recommended to perform heavy work and work associated with fast running.

Tips for caring for horses

We figured out the conditions of detention and diet. Next, we should discuss the subtleties of individual care, which also affect the health and mood of the animal.

Cleaning and bathing

In addition to standard cleaning in the stable, each pet needs to have its coat brushed and washed in the shower to protect it from skin diseases and various infections. But how to properly wash a horse? For washing, use regular laundry soap or special shampoo.

First, apply detergent to the entire coat, including the tail and mane. Next, you can use a brush to remove pellets and possible parasites. You need to wash off the foam with water at room temperature from a hose or watering can.

Important! You need to thoroughly rinse off all the detergent, otherwise you may experience irritation or an allergy to the soap/shampoo.

It is recommended to carry out water procedures at least once a week. In winter, you should be careful, as the contrast between warm water and cold air can cause a cold.

As you know, brushing a horse is necessary to maintain an aesthetic appearance and remove debris from the coat, so we will tell you how to do it correctly.

Since ancient times, our ancestors have been breeding various animals: goats, sheep, bulls, rabbits.

Cleaning the horse begins with the head, then moves on to the shoulders, withers and limbs. While combing, stroke the horse's skin, trying to find any wounds or parasites. This procedure will not only calm the animal, but will also give you additional information about its health. For cleaning, use the following equipment:

brush;
soft bristle brush;
a long-haired brush or comb for the mane and tail;
2 sponges;
cloth or any other rag.

Unlike bathing, cleaning can be done year-round. Try to be careful during the process, otherwise the horse will feel pain and will be afraid of such procedures or may injure you.

Shoeing and hoof care

First, it’s worth understanding in what cases you need to shoe a horse.

The animal is involved in work on hard ground
The horse is used to transport goods
The horse has any hoof diseases
To maintain shape and performance

A difficult issue is the age at which horses should be shoed. If the animal does not have any problems related to its hooves, then the procedure can be performed from 3 years of age. If any diseases or abnormalities are noticed that require horseshoeing, then it can be done at the age of 1.5 years.

Important! Only a specialist should shoe a horse, since an incorrectly “nailed” horseshoe can cripple your pet or completely deprive him of the ability to walk. Therefore, you should not experiment or try your hand at this without having the proper experience and knowledge.

We've figured out how to shoe horses, now let's find out how to care for their hooves, with and without horseshoes.

Every day you need to inspect the hooves, clean them of dirt or stones, and, if necessary, lubricate them with special oils. Every 6 weeks, overgrown dead tissue should be removed from the hooves to prevent marks.

It is advisable from an early age to accustom the foal to presenting its leg for examination, otherwise in the future it will be necessary to inject a dose of tranquilizers at each thorough examination or shoeing.

Do not forget about calling a veterinarian for a preventive examination, since any disease associated with the legs is difficult to notice at an early stage without the necessary education or knowledge.

Did you know? The use of horses in battles began in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC. In the 10th century BC. The first horsemen appeared there.

How to take care of your teeth

As in the case of hooves, only a dentist can accurately determine the condition of the teeth and the presence of any problems. You need to call him to check the condition of the oral cavity once every six months to a year. The older the horse, the more often you need to call a veterinarian.

We list the characteristic features that indicate the presence of dental problems:

incontinence of food in the mouth;
slow chewing or complete refusal of food;
the animal bites or chews the bit;
The horse's back is very tense.

It is impossible to solve a dental problem on your own, so do not try to file sharp edges or pull out a sore tooth, otherwise you will injure the animal or deprive it of the ability to chew food.

Veterinary treatments

Every animal, regardless of living conditions, breed and diet, must be vaccinated against certain diseases.

Use these drugs to treat animals: Amprolium, Nitox 200, Solikoks, Gammatonic, Baytril, Enroxil, E-selenium.

1.Vaccination against anthrax. The procedure is carried out annually and only by veterinarians. There is no freely available vaccine, so you will not be able to get vaccinated yourself.

2. Research for SAP, INAN, breeding disease. They are carried out once a year, since this list refers to the most dangerous infectious diseases.

3.Vaccination against leptospirosis. Disease research and vaccination procedures are carried out as follows: once every 2 years, blood tests are done in breeding farms; carry out inspections before exporting/importing animals; if leptospirosis is suspected.

4. Flu vaccination. It is carried out once a year after the initial double or triple treatment. It is worth noting that there are a huge number of vaccines against different strains of influenza viruses, so it is better to contact a veterinarian for help.

5. Vaccinations against dermatophytoses. Animals are vaccinated once a year, in addition to primary treatment, which is carried out at intervals of 2 weeks. You must call a doctor to carry out the procedure, otherwise you may purchase the wrong vaccine or inject it incorrectly.

6. Vaccination against rhinopneumonia. Depending on the region, vaccination against this disease may be mandatory or at the request of the owner. However, if you are planning to breed horses at home, then the procedure is mandatory. Rhinopneumonia is a common cause of miscarriage in late pregnancy.

7.Vaccination against tetanus. If an imported vaccine is used, then the procedure must be carried out once every 2-3 years, if domestic - once every 3-5 years. Vaccination against this disease is mandatory, regardless of the region or conditions of keeping animals.

8. Rabies vaccination. It is not mandatory, but it should be carried out in order to avoid mass animal death. This is especially true for farms that are located in the habitats of natural disease carriers.

Important! If your horse is competing, then checks are carried out every 6 months.

There are also a number of vaccinations that are necessary to destroy various parasites that your pet can “catch” from contact with pets, so when dealing with horses, you should definitely keep in touch with your veterinarian.

All the rules outlined in this article are of equal importance when keeping horses. Take care of them, try to give the animal something tasty, take them for walks more often, and you will get a good friend with whom you can spend time pleasantly.

Place to rest

Raising horses will require a lot of space. When preparing a stable in a private house, make sure that it is spacious, warm, well ventilated, and sufficiently lit (ideally, with natural light from the windows). Cold and dampness in a stable are unacceptable. Horses are sensitive animals; in a damp room they will get sick and literally waste away. With the correct temperature, within +8...+15 degrees Celsius, it will be easier to care for horses.

A stall so that the horse can not only stand, but also turn around freely, as well as lie down. The bedding made of hay or sawdust is changed every day. One animal will need 5 kilograms of well-dried straw or 15 kilograms of dry sawdust. Therefore, when planning a stable, it would be advisable to immediately build a separate room or at least a covered place where all the bedding material will be stored.

What does the price depend on?

Origin of the horse and its condition

By “origin”, firstly, we mean the place where the horse was purchased - either from a private breeder or at a stud farm. Secondly, we mean the breed: if a future horseman decides to buy an unbroken or sick horse, then he may be able to meet the sum of up to 50,000 rubles. But if the buyer decides to definitely fulfill his childhood dream - to buy a beautiful horse, like in fairy tales - he will have to look for a representative of expensive breeds, for the purchase of which he will have to spend up to 500 thousand rubles.

As a result of the first case - with a sick or old horse - situations will certainly arise when you have to spend an extra few thousand on the animal’s health and call a veterinarian. Therefore, it is worth considering that the second case - with the purchase of a thoroughbred horse - may allow you to avoid additional expenses in this regard.

Habitat

Before purchasing a horse, you should think not only about its subsequent maintenance, but also about how much money will be spent on arranging and, in extreme cases, building a stable if the animal does not live in an equestrian club (the cost of a place can range from 15 to 40 thousand) . Its independent construction and arrangement - for example, if it is calculated that it will house two or three horses - will cost an amount close to 500,000 rubles (however, with an economical approach to maintenance, you can save about 100 thousand of the assigned amount) .

Pasture

Proper care and maintenance of horses must include daily walks. For these purposes, you can use special fenced areas - levadas. It is important that the levada is of the correct shape. Long but narrow strips of land are not suitable. The more space you can allocate for levada, the better.

A horse needs at least two hours of exercise every day. After a walk, you should definitely clean it, check the hooves and see if there are any wounds or abrasions on the legs. Please note that if the horse is grazed on the levada, then it already receives its necessary load.

Cleaning the stall

Before cleaning the stall, the horse should be taken out of it, holding it by a special horse walker. The feeder, water bowl and toys should be removed. Use a shovel or pitchfork to scoop up wet litter and excrement into the cart. Thoroughly clean the corners of the room. Sweep out dry debris. You can use safe disinfectants to clean floors. After complete drying, the floors should be evenly covered with clean sawdust. Replace the feeder and drinker, replacing the water and adding fresh food. Clean the toys and return them to their place.

Rules for handling horses

Noble animals require respectful treatment. You can’t shout at them, much less hit them. Horses are quite shy, so before entering the stable you should first call the horse, attract his attention, and then approach him. Forbidden:

walk around the horse from behind or crawl under its belly while in the stall;
bring your fingers to your pet’s mouth;
letting go of the reins when leading a horse out of the stable;
go to the right of the horse;
saddle a horse, finding wounds, abrasions, bumps on the body;
pull the bridle and demonstrate rudeness.

Attention! Horses cannot tolerate the smell of alcohol. You should not approach them after drinking alcohol.

Caring for a horse is not easy. This is a lot of responsibility and work. If you want to buy a horse, you need to understand that its maintenance will not only entail serious material costs, but will also require a lot of time.

What other care may be required?

Horses are bathed only in spring or summer, when it is warm. And you cannot force an animal to go into the water - they are often afraid of water.
Horseshoeing is carried out only by blacksmiths and only by those who know what and how to do; leading a horse to anyone is not recommended.
Veterinary treatments are carried out as necessary. Every few months it is necessary for the animal to be examined by a veterinarian.
Once a year it is worth checking the condition of your teeth. To do this, contact a veterinarian.

Cleaning the stall

To keep the horse clean, it is better to clean the stall in the morning. Once cleaning becomes a habit, it takes 15 minutes. Dirty litter provokes a lot of diseases. To create cleanliness, you need special clothing, gloves, a fork or shovel (depending on the filler), a wheelbarrow or cart for storing and removing dirty litter. A broom will be needed to collect the remains of straw and manure. We remove the part of the litter that is wet. The stall is completely cleaned once a week, then you need to take the horse out and wait for the floor to dry. After this, you need to scatter the straw or sawdust in an even, dense layer.

Caring for a horse in winter

How to care for a horse in winter? Caring for a horse in winter is not much different from spring or summer. But it also has its own characteristics.

It is important to closely monitor your health. Drafts, cold air outside, cold water, and dampness do not help strengthen the immune system.
If the horse is a riding horse, it is necessary to ride it approximately 4-6 hours a week in winter so that it does not lose the habit of physical activity. You can ride in a field, under a canopy.
Walking on ice or simply frozen areas where a horse can slip is not recommended, it is very dangerous for its life!
The temperature of food and water should be room temperature, not cold and certainly not icy!
The bridle and any materials that are used to harness a horse must be warmed up before use in winter (by pouring boiling water over it or kneading it in your hands), without this they quickly become unusable.
If it's cold outside, you should use a blanket.

We are building a stable

The most successful option for construction would be the location of the reservoir on the territory of the future stable. In the summer, a fence can serve as such a solution. And for winter frosts, a warm room is required, without drafts, with daylight. The air temperature should be kept at around fifteen degrees.

It is excellent if there is also plumbing installed. This greatly simplifies the work of caring for the patient and the premises.

To build a stable (or rent a ready-made one), you need to take into account the usual rules for keeping this type of animal. How to keep horses? Ideally, you need approximately a hectare of land area. According to the most economical calculations, approximately ten acres.

Construction of a stable

For the construction it is required to choose natural materials.

Often, the inside of the building is finished with wooden beams, which have been treated with a non-hazardous antiseptic.

The entire structure can be built from wood.

As usual, brick is used for exterior cladding. In any variation, the structure must be strong; it must withstand the impacts of animal hooves.

The height of the structure must be at least three meters. Constant ventilation is also required, which means the higher the structure, the better.

Typically, the stable is made in two tiers, the top one for storing hay. At the junction of the roof and the wall, we maintain a gap for improved air circulation. The horse is capricious in drafts, and this variation will be the best. It is possible to place a hood, but this will be an additional waste. The roof is covered with slate or tiles. The shed must be constructed thoroughly so that water does not penetrate inside the horse house.

For a mature individual, the optimal stall size is three by three meters, but it would be better to make a stall measuring four by four, then our pet will definitely be able to protect himself from injury. The door opening is approximately 1.20 meters.

Clay floors are a good indoor solution. With constant, minor installation, they can last a long time. Moreover, this variation is harmless. It is also possible to build sand or concrete floors or retain the earthen covering.

Nowadays, technology offers a large number of new products of this line, but what comes from our ancestors is preserved especially well.

The feeder finds its location with a distance of half a meter from the wall, at a comfortable height for the ward of seventy centimeters. Drinking from a bucket is allowed, but a drinking bowl with an automatic device is more comfortable.

Mating

Only healthy individuals who have reached a certain age are selected for mating.
Breeding horses at home requires the presence of at least two sires. Puberty in horses occurs between the ages of one and two years. But by this time, the animal’s body is still developing, so if you want to get healthy offspring, it is advisable to allow the mare to breed no earlier than three years. In some individuals, the period of full maturation occurs only at five years.

We stock up on food supply

Feeding a horse
in winter In winter, horses are offered hay, oats, and carrots for feeding.

These are the main lines in nutrition.

Be sure to give salt, vegetables (carrots, cabbage, beets), vitamin and mineral compositions.

On a winter day, a healthy individual eats up to twelve kilograms of hay.

Approximately five kilograms of oats, three kilograms of carrots, two kilograms of bran.

Salt in separate briquettes. This is a nutritional norm that will serve as a guarantee for the health of the animal.

In the summer months, the animal is released to pasture and freshly cut green grass is offered. When switching to a feeding diet in the spring, it is recommended to take special care. It is recommended to offer greens gradually.

The horses are released onto pastures after having been fed hay in advance in order to avoid diseases with the digestive system, and healing the horse will be expensive.

Pregnancy and childbirth

The mare's pregnancy lasts eleven months. A good owner must understand how to properly care for a horse during this time. She needs daily moderate exercise. Special food should also be given. The diet of a pregnant mare must include roughage and vitamins. And a month before giving birth, you need to get an anti-tetanus vaccination so that the foal has strong innate immunity.

The birth itself does not last long - a maximum of 45 minutes. In the absence of pathologies, the mare copes with them herself. You cannot help a newborn get to his feet. As the ancients used to say, “many animals die from negligence, and even more from ignorance.” But if the need arises, you can help him find the udder. For the first two hours it is better not to disturb the horse at all. At this time, her care for the foal begins. She will not only feed him. The baby follows his mother everywhere, as if attached, gradually acquiring the knowledge and skills he needs under vigilant, affectionate control.

If there are no pathologies, there is no need to interfere during childbirth - the mare will do everything on her own.

Typically, all a horse needs when giving birth is clean, thick bedding. You can keep an eye on her, but it is advisable not to be in her sight. After foaling, the mother stands up and the umbilical cord comes off. The mare immediately begins to lick the foal, freeing her mouth and nostrils from the remnants of birth mucus. Then the dried-up baby tries to eat on his own for the first time.

During the first month, the foal feeds only on mother’s milk, but from the second month, for better development, rolled oats can be given as a supplement. They start feeding with 100 grams per day, gradually increasing the amount of feeding to two kilograms.

Hygiene procedures

How to care for a horse? The mane and tail should be brushed daily. Plastic combs and combs are best for this. When combing your tail, you need to stand on the side and clean your hair from debris with smooth movements from top to bottom.

The eyes and nostrils should be treated with a damp sponge after waking up. A fluffy brush works well for wool. In case of heavy soiling, a horse groomer should be used.

Grooming should be carried out according to a brief scheme:

start from the head;
go down the shoulders;
clean your back;
wipe your limbs.

All procedures are carried out alternately on each side, using horse brushes. You can use inexpensive products to make your hair easier to detangle.

Attention! You cannot sit next to the horse’s legs or approach from behind. Brushing movements should be strong and gentle.

After cleaning, you should polish the horse with a dampened cloth or chamois.

Excess hair should be trimmed from the horse's legs. After exercise, remove dirt with water from a hose. When washing a horse, the water should be warm. No special skills are required.

General recommendations

Lameness in a horse should alert the breeder. If a visual inspection does not reveal a stuck stone or debris in the sole, then you need to call a specialist.

Each horse handles heat differently . Not everyone knows that a horse can suffer from heatstroke. If you notice lethargy, muscle tremors, or refusal to eat, then you urgently need to give the horse a drink, pour cool water over it, put it in a shed and call a veterinarian.

Shoeing of a horse is done once a month in order to preserve the hooves from injury. Damaged hooves are restored with special orthopedic forging. It is necessary to carry out flea prevention in a timely manner. You can use veterinary pharmacy products, you can use wormwood essential oil.

The appearance of a horse will tell about its health. Healthy teeth, pink gums, a thick silky mane, the same tail, shiny fur, clean eyes, a nose, a calm state are signs of a healthy animal.

Keeping horses is not an easy and troublesome task. However, having learned everything, you will get a lot of positive emotions from communicating with the smartest and most beautiful creature on Earth. These emotions are so valuable and delightful that they cannot be compared with the time or financial costs.

Women's question

Probably, almost every girl and woman dreams of a prince on a white horse. However, the reality is more prosaic: in the equestrian world, the vast majority are representatives of the fair sex. Although if we talk about top-ranking athletes and coaches, these are, as a rule, men. Just like grooms, who require remarkable physical strength.

Women love to tinker with horses (as well as other animals); they enjoy the process of communicating with them. They are ready to feed their pets carrots, apples and other goodies, graze them, and go for walks with them. Men are more ambitious: they need speed and competition. And, I suspect, many men are afraid of horses: a car is simpler in this regard, it goes where the driver needs it. But a horse has a brain, you never know what comes into his head.

Guzel and Nabik