How To Keep Your Horse Happy

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 horse that is calm and responsive is generally happy. He will keep a low head, relaxed jaw and have soft eyes.

A happy horse will seek affection from you and show respect by not invading your personal space. When a horse yawns this is not a sign of being bored, but a sign that he is calm and relaxed. If your horse is holding its head high with a tense jaw and has darting eyes and a reluctance to stand still, then there is something wrong – he is not comfortable. 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. You should perform regular inspections of your horse’s teeth, eyes, hooves and shoes as well as keeping an eye on his droppings.

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 worming treatments and routine vaccinations are important and you should make sure that you book appointments for these with your vet. 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.

Vaccinations for encephalitis, rhinoneumonitis and influenza are essential for a healthy horse. Also advisable while not necessarily essential would be vaccinations against tetanus and rabies. 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. Long and imbalanced feet will soon cause discomfort to a horse and both mood and performance will be affected. A horse’s hooves will need to be trimmed every six to eight weeks – your farrier may suggest more often.

During wet and cold weather you should provide a blanket or coat for your horse, and in the summer he will need a fly-protective sheet. If your horse is prone to lathering during or after exercise then it may be best to use a horse cooler until he has calmed down. You should not give a horse water straight after being ridden – this could induce a shock to their system. When you have been exercising your horse, allow him to cool down sufficiently before a meal. You shouldn’t exercise your horse straight after eating – leave it for at least an hour.

Horses need to have a purpose in life – whether this be for work or pleasure. Horses glory in feeling worthwhile. A horse needs to feel a purpose and that everything is ok – a young horse in particular should be praised often even for simply standing still. Horses are also inquisitive, so by introducing new experiences to them, the more positive, confident and brave they will become.

A horse is a beautiful and magnificent creature that deserves a good home for life with excellent care. Before even purchasing a horse you need to be aware of the responsibility you have as a horse owner to provide the best in health care and welfare. 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. A horse will show you vast amounts of love in return for the simple effort of attention and care for his well-being.

Tagged with: donkey • equestrian • equine • equine insurer • farrier • horse • horse care • horse insurance • horse riding • horse welfare • pony

Filed under: hobbies • horse back riding

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