Helping Your Horse Stay Happy And Healthy – A healthy horse is a happy horse, and you might be wondering how you can ensure your horse is both. Horses won’t always be happy, nor will they always be healthy. There are times when they become unwell, and this has an effect on their well-being. It’s important that you do your best to make sure the other 99% of the time that they’re as well cared for as they can be as this will help eliminate a lot of potential problems. So, if you want to find out some top tips on keeping your horse happy and healthy, keep reading…
Adequate Protection
Horses need protection from the outside elements even though they’re outdoors animals. During the winter, you want to make sure that you have warm horse rugs available for them to wear outside and inside the stable. This will ensure that they’re kept comfortably warm, as being too cold can potentially cause hypothermia. On the other hand, you also want to provide them with lightweight rugs and sheets on warmer days. These can help keep them dry during rainier seasons and also protect them from the burn of the sun. Take a look at the selection from Horse Rugs UK.
Your horse will also need protection in the form of a stable. One of the most important things is to make sure that the stable is well-ventilated. If there isn’t enough fresh air getting inside, it can cause condensation to build up and mould can occur. This can then lead to potential respiratory problems in your horse. Horses will often seek out shelter, so make sure that you have plenty of it even in the paddock as they can’t remain in the stable all the time.
Easy Access To Food And Water
Horses require a lot of food and it’s crucial that they have easy access to it. Making sure your horse is well fed is one of the best ways to ensure their happiness. Similarly, you need to provide them with plenty of fresh water each day. You’ll need to hold the water in a container that’s sturdy enough to withstand your horse drinking from it without it tipping over. In the winter it’s especially important that they have more water, as their hay becomes drier and less hydrating.
Proper Grooming
Grooming a horse is a regular occurrence. Not only does it keep their coat and mane looking nice and clean, but it also helps to improve their circulation which maintains their health. Grooming them properly also reduces the risk of skin problems developing. Getting up close to your horse during grooming allows you the chance to closely inspect their body for any signs of illness and catch any potential ailments early.
Plenty Of Exercise
Each day your horse will need exercise and quite a lot of it. Keeping them inside a stable all day becomes uncomfortable for them and can cause issues with their circulation. When this occurs, their legs may look puffy and swollen as they’ve become filled with fluid. However, once they are out and about moving again, it usually drains away naturally. Horses get their daily exercise through grazing as they move around the paddock, but some of them might need some encouragement, so you may need to lead them by hand to get them moving.
Consistent Routine
Horses enjoy a day that follows a strict routine. It helps them to feel secure and comfortable in their surroundings. Even something as simple as making sure you arrive at the same time each day can help them feel safe. Horses may seem like big, tough creatures, but in reality, they’re very anxious animals and prefer sticking to what they know. Keeping a consistent routine lets them know that they’re out of harm’s way and helps keep them happy. A lot of the daily routine is things that have to be done to ensure your horse is fed and cleaned properly, so it stops you from missing out any jobs that need doing.
Keeping your horse content goes hand in hand with their health, so make sure you work closely with your horse and take note of any changes you notice. A horse won’t start acting anxious or grumpy for no reason so if they do, you know something is wrong. There are lots of different factors that can affect your horse’s well-being, so it’s important that you provide them with what they need to thrive, and you’ll ensure you’ve got a happy and healthy horse.
Poppy Watt