Horses are living creatures with needs and emotions. But if you love horses, you don’t need to be told that. And like all living creatures, they need to be kept healthy if they are to be happy and successful. However, this world can be tough, and “nature red in tooth and claw” has a number of threats to horse health that a wise owner will want to watch out for.
Living conditions are the first consideration when it comes to horse health. If a horse is kept stabled, the stable will need to be kept free from damp and mould – and, to consider the opposite extreme, protected from excessive heat.
The straw or other bedding used to cover the floor of the stable should be mucked out regularly, preferably daily, and care should be taken that the new bedding is free from mould, damp or mildew. The stable should also be checked carefully to make sure that there are no sharp edges that a horse can cut itself on.
If a horse is kept in pasture, a shelter of some kind must be provided so the horse can find shade from excessive heat, or cover from rain. The field must also be checked to ensure that no poisonous plants such as nightshade or hemlock are growing in it or near it where the horse can eat them. Fencing should be checked to make sure that the horse cannot escape and that it has no sharp projections that a horse could cut itself on if it uses the fence to itch itself.
Correct feeding is another vital aspect of horse health. While it is obvious that malnutrition is bad for any horse, excessive or incorrect feeding can also be a threat to horse health. Colic can be caused by eating the wrong sort of food, such as under-ripe apples are notorious and eating too much can cause a horse to founder and run the risk of laminitis.
Stabled horses, in particular, require especial care for their diets. The right proportion of energy foods should be given according to the work the horse is performing. Fresh food, such as raw fruits and vegetables, will be a welcome addition to a horse’s diet, and it stands to reason that horse health as well as human health will benefit from the vitamins provided by these.
Horses, like other companion and working animals, need protection and medication to ensure that they are free from parasites. Veterinarians recommend that horses be wormed twice a year, preferably in autumn and spring, to ensure optimum horse health.
Mucking out stables and/or pasture frequently is another important part of controlling parasites. In this respect, keeping a horse at pasture can be an advantage, as a horse can be moved from field to field, thus ensuring that any parasites in the dung will die and/or be dispersed before the horse returns to that particular field again.
On a day to day basis, the most important part of horse health is regular interaction between horse and rider. Daily grooming, feeding and riding is not only the source of much pleasure for both horse and human, but it also gives the rider/owner a chance to make sure that their horse remains in good condition.
By interacting with a horse daily, it is very easy to see if the horse is showing any signs of poor health, such as poor coat condition, mucus in the eyes, scouring (diarrhoea), strange lumps or cuts. But if you love horses, you’ll be spending time with your horse, anyway.
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For more information on horses, try visiting http://www.interestinghorses.com – a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on horse health.



October 9th, 2008
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That’s amazing! It always seem easier to draw on the computer then on paper. Really now, to color like that makes me curious, though everyone’s style of art is different.
together we exist together we suffer and forever we will recreate each other…. i witnessed a very magical moment just now…. thank you.
Paris Lo in las vegas
I always loved horses, but was only able to ride trails occasionally as a child, and took lessons for a very short time. I bought a horse when I was about 30, and that was a disaster, as the horse was, "hot". My daughter also picked up the love of horses, and wanted to ride, or buy a pony. We did buy a pony, but didn't know that much about horses. The kids enjoyed riding her, but she soon became unmanageable, because adults could not ride her. Finally, after selling the pony, my daughter (still intent on the whole horse thing), decided to take lessons. This helped her to learn the basics about riding, basics about horses, do a little showing, etc. I still was uncomfortable bridling a horse, saddling a horse, etc.
The best thing to do is find a barn with a very good trainer. You might even like to watch some of the lessons they are giving other people. Do a little checking to find out who is considered good. A person giving lessons can simply have a horse ready for you to ride, give you a lesson while they are talking to other people, and pay little attention to you, or your actual progress. Find someone who is interested in teaching you about riding, fundamentals of bridling, saddling, and horse safety. Often, a smaller private barn will provide a little more hands-on time, than a larger barn that has a production line of people going through, lesson after lesson. They are not necessarily "bad", but you may not learn as much with them, as someone who can spend a little time with you. Also make sure they are a good rider. Have they been showing their horses, or do their students show at shows other than just their own barn shows? This is not a necessity, but it might show that they are interested in getting better in order to be good enough to do well at shows. You would do well to do anywhere from 6 months of lessons to even a couple of years of lessons with a good trainer, before buying a horse. This does a lot of things for you, including allowing you to ride more than one horse, which is very good for you. Then, if you do decide to buy a horse, make sure you have a very experienced person helping you make your decision, because you can get a horse that is not trained well, too much horse for you, or simply of ill health, which is very difficult to discern. Never purchase a horse without a VET CHECK. The money spent on a vet check can save you more than you might even spend on the horse, and lots of heartache, if the horse is not even rideable, and you have to resell it, perhaps with no success. Get to know horse people, and consider joining a 4H club, because the people in these clubs are usually very helpful, and know quite a lot. These are usually good contacts. Good luck.
please look at these websites! i promise they will be worth youre time!!!!!!!!!
http://www.rollingrockrescue.comAvailHorses.htm
http://www.rersi.org/horses.htm
http://www.cmvhr.org/horsesadoptioninformation.html
http://www.rescueahorse.com/adoption.htm
http://www.heavencanwaitequinerescue.org/available.html
awesome stuff man,….ama practice hard to get to yo level!
it’s almost like a photo
great painting
You’re an amazing artist both painting and music wise. keep it up ^ ^
i use photoshop
It is always a good idea to isolate any horses that have come into contact with the infected horse, since the signs of the disease often manifest themselves days to weeks after the initial infection.
Your veterinarian can perform a swab of the nasal passages, throat, or abscess of the suspect animal in order to test for the Streptococcus equi bacteria.
I hope this helps =)
Sorry. I don't know what to tell you. You seem to have a good argument in your favor, but there must be something that your parents a afraid of. And by afraid I don't mean that they are scared of anything, just maybe if they say that they know you're mature enough and so on, maybe they're are just worried that it will come down to them being the ones to take care of it in the end. Sometimes parents have a way with saying one thing, but really meaning another. I know…I am one. I think if you give them time, and really present your side of it, you may be able to get their approval. It just might take more time than you are willing to wait. I would definately try to find out the real reason that they changed their minds. They might just have a good one.
I think the whole breed preference is almost like racism. Every horse is an individual just as people are. Not all arabians are smart, not all drafts are calm, and not all Quarter horses are perfect for ranch work.
When looking for a first horse, look at the horse's training – does it do what you want it to do? If not, how much time, money, etc will it take to get it there? Then how is the horse's conformation? It may be the best trained horse in the world, but if it's not built to do what you want it to do, it's going to have physical problems down the road. Next, is the personality. Do you get along with this horse? I've known some really great horses, that I jsut did not like. We couldn't connect, and thus could never really reach our potential. I've had to resell several horses, do to conflict of personality. Other personality traits you should look at is how personable is this horse? Do you feel safe having friends or family around it, or is it a one person horse? Just some things to keep in mind…
I would love to recommend a breed (I have a favorite just like anyone else) but there are always going to be exceptions to the rule. So look at the individual, not the breed, and you might be surprised by finding the perfect horse in a breed you weren't expecting.
I would also drive him backwards or away from me. I don't care if he follows to the gate, but once we reach it…they need to stay back.
I would step aggressively towards the other horse and tell him to back off. I would turn my horse around so I was facing horse number 2. I would stomp, wave my hands and use an agressive tone. If that didn't work…then I would have a crop the next time and move him off with that. Again…I don't care if they follow towards the gate…but they need to learn to stay back from the gate.
I don't recommend 'touching' another horse without that owner's knowledge or say so. That would make me incredibly angry if it was mine. I may tell you to go ahead and smack if you needed to…but if you did it without my permission…I would be mad. Same goes for giving my horse treats without my say so…
Find the owner of the second horse and talk to them about they would like you to handle this. Until then…you need to try and back the horse off…without touching it.
Just my opinion…
HOLY CRAP! Comparing this to the original picture, they’re identical!
véiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, que difuu
You mentioned that you'll be taking a gap year. Spend that year immersed in the horse world… mostly.
During your lessons, (especially if they're group ones, like mine) think about things that you can improve. For example-when you're warming up at the walk, see how far you can stretch your heels down. And at the trot and canter, drop your stirrups for one lap and pick them back up for another. This increases your leg strength and balance, and it helps you practice picking up a lost stirrup at the more jostling gaits.
Don't just stick to the discipline you're riding now. Find lessons in Western, if you're riding English now (and vice versa). Spend some time learning about every nook and cranny of the riding styles out there- even if it's just a lesson or two or if it's just reading about it in a book. This way your that much more knowledgeable about different riding styles, horsemanship, training methods, and riding in general.
See if you can spend time with a trainer. You can learn about different training methods and hopefully pick up things that you can use later on. Many professional riders also train to keep up the bills before they get that "breakout" ride.
See if you can get a job as a groom at a well known showing barn in your area. This way, you can be in the competition environment and gain the mindset. You'll also gain contacts and references for later. But I'm assuming you know that this pays… nothing.
Which brings me to my last (almost xD) point. Find a job in retail, etc. that you know a little bit about. Even if you work part time, it helps bring in the money. I would even go so far as to recommend that you save everything that you get from that job.
OK. Last thing- SAVE. I know it's so obvious, but it's necessary. Eat mac and cheese and ramen noodles. Don't buy new clothes. Live at home. Go to the extreme. If you're buying a horse 6 months before you go to college, you've got a double whammy of new costs coming your way.
I told you everything that I could think of because you didn't mention what you want to go into. Pro rider? Trainer?
Wow. All this talk about horses makes me want to take a gap year myself. Hmm… Might have to consider it.
dude, you own! this looks identical to a photograph
Welcome to the worked of riding! And good for you for having a professional out there ready to help as soon as you get your new horse!
Horses can carry up to 20% of their own body weight without having any ill impact. For example a 1,500 lb horse should be able to carry a 300lb human. If a 350lb human rides him though that is where the trouble comes in. One ride even can do irreversable damage to their spine and back muscles.
A great first horse for you all would be a draft horse. They are usually gentol, smart, and safe which is exactly what you want from a first horse. Look for a Clydesdale, Percheron, etc that has been broke to ride (that is key because a lot of people just drive draft horses).
You can do an advanced search and put in that you want your horse to be over 16 hh (you guys are so tall that you need something at least that tall or you will look silly) and how ever heavy it needs to be. Hope that helps and good luck.