Tips and Advice For A Happy Horse
Spending quality time with your horse is important in allowing a natural bond to develop, as well as allowing you to learn your horses responses and reactions to different situations. Over time you will learn his body language. A calm and responsive horse is generally a happy one. He will keep a low head, relaxed jaw and have soft eyes. By not invading your personal space your horse is showing affection by seeking your love and respect; this is a sign of a happy horse. Your horse may yawn to show that he is calm and relaxed - this is not a sign of boredom. You can tell by the way a horse holds himself if there is something wrong; a troubled horse will be reluctant to stand still and will hold his head high with a tense jaw and darting eyes. You must let the horse settle down in his own time, otherwise he may feel trapped and possibly go into “flight” mode, making him even more stressed.
When grooming your horse you also get the opportunity to check him over for minor ailments or other problems. Pay close attention to your horse’s eyes, teeth, shoes and hooves and inspect his droppings regularly. Any change in the normal should be reported to your vet at the earliest opportunity – any delay could cause you extra worry, expense and a potential claim on your horse insurance. Regular appointments for worming and routine vaccinations are essential. Medications should be rotated so that parasites do not get the chance to become immune - this also gives a wider circle of protection from worms and parasites. The result of insufficient or unsuitable medicines and treatment could be a colicky equine, with potential heart and immune system problems. Ensure that your horse receives vaccinations for influenza, encephalitis and rhinoneumonitis. Tetanus and rabies are also advisable, but not essential. If you are a regular with the horse trailers at horse shows etc, your horse may need to show a negative Coggins test, which is for a serious equine virus called equine infectious anaemia (EIA) for which there is no cure or treatment.
An important part of keeping a horse happy and comfortable is making sure you have a good farrier who visits regularly. A horse’s mood and performance will be adversely affected if his hooves are allowed to get too long as this will cause discomfort and imbalance. A horse’s hooves will need to be trimmed every six to eight weeks - your farrier may suggest more often.
Your horse will need a blanket or coat during the wet and cold winter months and during the summer, a fly protective horse sheet or mask is advisable. Horses can produce a soapy lather when they sweat, so it can be good to use a horse cooler after exercise. A horse’s body could go into shock if given water directly after being ridden. Do not feed your horse straight after exercising - you need to let him cool down first. Leave it for an hour after meals before exercising your horse.
Horses need to have a purpose, whether it is riding, showing, therapy, carriages or dray. Horses glory in feeling worthwhile. Always give your horse plenty of praise - particularly when young and unbroken - as this will give him a sense of purpose and of focus. Introducing new experiences to your horse will help his confidence and satisfy his inherent curiosity.
A horse is a beautiful and magnificent creature that deserves a good home for life with excellent care. As a horse owner you have a responsibility to provide the best healthcare possible for your equine companion. Keeping a horse can be a very expensive business, and without good horse insurance provided by a specialist equine insurer, it is possible to quickly run into financial problems if your horse should become sick or sustain an injury. The rewards to you for providing the very best for your horse are priceless, as they will give love back to you a thousand times over.