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Bonnie Anderson, author of Horse Tales & Tips
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About the Author
Bonnie Anderson has a two year degree in Horse Science, has worked at two
horse training/breeding facilities, and has had numerous articles
published while raising and training her own horses. She owned a saddle
shop for a few years and now has a book published called Horse Tales &
Tips. She is also a life time member of the Pony Express Riders of Iowa.
Visit our Equine Bookstore - loaded with the latest books on horse care, handling and training.
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KEEPING YOUR HORSE HEALTHY
by Bonnie Anderson
~ November 2000 ~
How do you keep your horse healthy? The first step is to take a good long look at your horse. Is he alert and interested in whats going on around him? Or do his ears droop, and he appears listless and unresponsive to his world? Is he well muscled with a shiny coat? Or is he thin and dull looking and has no energy to play? These are the questions horse owners need to ask in order to take action. Spending time with your horses, observing them at rest and at play, will help you In recognizing when they are not feeling well. They may need medical attention, or they may need an adjustment in their diet.
Does your horse carry the right weight for his breed? Some horses are naturally built to be fine boned but that doesnt mean they should be skinny. When you run your hands over his ribcage, you should be able to feel them but not see them. One possible problem a thin horse may have is teeth that need floating. Hell be losing the nutrients he needs if he cant chew his food properly. Having your horse on a good worming and vaccination program is also important. If your horse is sick or has an infection, this will cause stress to his system and he can lose weight quickly. Consult your veterinarian to see if he needs supplements added to his diet. Other horses that may also need supplements include hard working athletes, horses fed grass hay only, horses with long term medical problems, along with broodmares and growing foals.
Is your horse kept alone, or penned with herd mates? Some horses naturally hog all the food and the less aggressive horses may not be getting enough to eat. These horses need to be separated for feeding time, or try slipping a feed bag over their heads to make sure they getting their share of the grain. If your horse is kept on pasture then proper pasture maintenance is important. Keep weeds under control
by mowing them before they go to seed. If the grass gets thin in spots, then plowing and replanting sections with a commercial seed mix for pastures may be in order. And if possible, rotate pastures to give them a chance to rest and regrow.
Is your horse getting enough exercise? Simply turning a stalled horse out into a pen daily may not be enough exercise for a horse thats ridden only occasionally. longing, ponying, or leasing the horse to ride are good alternatives. A horse that is kept in good shape will live longer and remain healthier well into its senior years.
Is your horse happy? A horses mental health can be just as important as his physical health. If hes paid attention to, groomed, fussed over and knows hes appreciated hell be eager to please in return. Bored horses can end up with stable vices like pawing, chewing, and weaving. Yelling at them and making it seem as if they are nothing but trouble is not the attitude you want to project. Horses are sensitive to peoples moods and actions. A calm but firm manner is best when working around them. Throw in a few kind words and pats of appreciation and your horse will thank you for it by working hard and remaining honest.
We need to do our part in keeping our horses healthy if we expect them to give us their best effort in whatever we ask them to do.
. A few will be chosen for each issue.
Pony Express Riders of Iowa:
Each spring the Pony Express Riders of Iowa saddle up for a special
occasion. From across Iowa they gather together the local donations from
horseback. Then in an old fashioned Pony Express ride, they ride from all
corners of the state to converge on Camp Sunnyside, a camp for the
disabled near Des Moines. The donations are used to help run the camp.
Watching the combined horsemen ride the final miles to the camp brings a
lump to ones throat for the Pony Express Riders freely give their time
and effort for such a worthy cause. For more information about them
contact the Easter Seal Society of Iowa.
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